Raiders @ Rams
Final Score: Raiders 34, Rams 17
Writer: Mike Miklius (@SIRL0INofBEEF on Twitter)
With the Raiders and Rams facing off in week two of the preseason, the story for me was all about quarterbacks. For the Raiders, rookie Aidan O’Connell looked excellent last week; could he keep it up? For the Rams, it was 2-time National Champ Stetson Bennett. The Raiders started with the first-team offense and quickly took the lead. Los Angeles answered, but couldn’t keep up. Aidan O’Connell looked great again and Stetson Bennet had a number of good moments. Here’s what I saw.
Four Up
- Rookie QB Aidan O’Connell looked great again for the Raiders and should be the QB2 in case anything happens to Jimmy G.
- Tre Tucker is a name to watch at WR. He was open deep three times (one catch, two off-target throws) and could have had a monstrous day.
- Rookie TE Dennis Allen had a great day, catching all eight of his targets. Allen showed steady hands and was reliable throughout.
- Zamir White (LV) and Ronnie Rivers (LA) both looked good in lead-back roles today with their respective starters out.
One Down
- Tyler Johnson and Stetson Bennett were clearly not on the same page, leading to a pick-six.
Las Vegas Raiders
| Preseason Week 1 |
Quarterback
Jimmy Garoppolo: 4/4, 39 yards
Jimmy Garoppolo played one drive–a long touchdown drive–and looked solid doing it. His first pass looked a little low, the second seemed like he floated it, and the third seemed just a little late. Still, he completed them all and the team scored. Garoppolo is the unquestioned starter here and should mesh well with Josh McDaniels.
Brian Hoyer: 12/22, 144 yards, INT, sack
Aidan O’Connell: 11/18, 163 yards, 2 TD | 3 carries, 5 yards
Okay, if you read last week, then you’ve been waiting to hear: how did Aidan O’Connell look? The TLDR version: good. O’Connell looked like he had some nerves tonight as he missed his first pass: an open deep shot that would have been a home run to fellow rookie Tre Tucker. Still, he came back with a nice throw on the next play. O’Connell hit Tucker with a second deep shot of the drive for 40 yards, but even this one looked like it could have gone for more: if Tucker was hit in stride, I saw a touchdown. O’Connell finished the drive with a great throw to Cam Sims. It was a tight window and excellent placement–not to mention a fantastic grab by Sims. The next drive was just as smooth, and it leaves us wondering if O’Connell should be the QB2. Personally, I say an emphatic YES. We know what Brian Hoyer is. Give the exciting rookie a chance and try to catch lightning in a bottle if anything happens to Jimmy G–ala Brock Purdy or Tom Brady. If it doesn’t work, you move on and no harm done.
Missed Opportunities
- Two almost-touchdown passes to Tre Tucker on the first drive (second went for 40 yards)
- Late deep shot to Cam Sims that he couldn’t find; was an easy catch and score if spotted
Running Back
Zamir White: 10 carries, 40 yards | 1 target, 1 reception, 9 yards
Zamir White took the starting work today and looked strong en route to the team’s opening touchdown. He had a good run for ten, blasting through a small hole. White took what was blocked for him and looks capable if Josh Jacobs somehow isn’t available.
Damien Williams: 5 carries, 19 yards
Darwin Thompson: 2 carries, 15 yards
Ameer Abdullah: 2 carries, 7 yards | 2 targets, 2 receptions, 11 yards
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Phillip Dorsett: 5 targets, 4 receptions, 76 yards
Phillip Dorsett made the first catch for the Raiders and he played most of the game. His first target was low, but he pulled it in anyways. The second was a deep shot that fell short–it looked catchable to me. Dorsett made a nice catch against tight coverage late and hauled in a 43-yard pass later. This outing was definitely more good than bad and Dorsett should have plenty of opportunity for the Raiders this year to show out.
Missed Opportunities
- An early deep shot was dropped
- Blatantly held on a deep shot where he was otherwise running free
Tre Tucker: 7 targets, 3 receptions, 66 yards
Tre Tucker is also getting the opportunity to flash and he made some great plays. His first target was a deep shot that gave him no shot at the ball; still, Tucker had a step and opportunity if the ball was in bounds. Tucker caught his next target, a screen, before dropping the third. He did a great job getting open but just didn’t finish the play. Tucker was open for another deep shot and again saw a bad throw derail the play. Tucker saw yet another deep look and had a chance for a score but the throw led him into a defender. Tucker finished his day with a great 22-yard catch that was challenged and upheld.
Missed Opportunities
- Two off-target deep shots and another deep shot that could have been better.
- Dropped a nice throw from Hoyer
Keelan Cole Sr: 6 targets, 5 receptions, 60 yards
Kristian Wilkerson: 12 targets, 5 receptions, 54 yards, TD
Los Angeles Rams
| Preseason Week 1 |
Quarterback
Stetson Bennett: 15/24, 142 yards, INT | 1 carry, 4 yards
Stetson Bennett started slow in this one before finding his groove. The team’s first drive was nearly all runs, save for one Bennett attempt that hit the turf. He hit a short pass to start the next drive before missing badly on third down–he threw into traffic and behind the receiver. It looked better after that; Bennett made a nice throw into a small window for 15 yards to start the third drive. The Rams went hurry up and Bennett completed his next two. The drive ended in a field goal and it looked like Bennett had settled in. Bennett’s worst plays of the day came back-to-back on what looked like miscommunication with receiver Tyler Johnson: the first was an interception after Johnson cut left and short. Bennett looked deep and right. The first play of the next drive was more of the same. Bennett showed more good than bad, but he clearly needs to develop more. Still, there was enough to like here.
Notes
- Bennett nearly had a second pick on a route that was jumped
Brett Rypien: 4/4, 14 yards, sack
Running Back
Ronnie Rivers: 9 carries, 42 yards
Ronnie Rivers started for the Rams and he ran well early–he had carries of six, seven, and six yards. He was more bottled up on the next drive, and his day was mostly done. I liked what I saw from Rivers and could see him getting more work.
Royce Freeman: 2 carries, 6 yards | 2 targets, 2 receptions, 3 yards
Zach Evans: 8 carries, 20 yards | 1 target, 1 reception, 7 yards
Rookie Zach Evans started the second half and never found much room to get going on his limited touches.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Davis Allen: 8 targets, 8 receptions, 53 yards
Davis Allen made his first grab when Stetson Bennett heated up. Allen struck me as sure-handed. I noticed a play where he pulled in a bad throw and another where he held on while getting hit. Overall, Allen impressed and should be a reliable weapon once the season starts.
Tyler Johnson: 7 targets, 3 receptions, 53 yards
Tyler Johnson made a few nice catches, but he also had two plays with Stetson Bennett where the two were clearly not on the same page. It’s hard to know who to blame, but one of them turned into a pick-six. Johnson was also targeted twice on throwaways, so it was pretty up and down.
Ben Skowronek: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 25 yards
Xavier Smith: 1 target, 1 reception, 25 yards
Demarcus Robinson: 7 targets, 2 receptions, 8 yards