Raiders’ Josh McDaniels wants ‘consistency.’ Is time running out for one notable player?
Alex Leatherwood started at right tackle for the Raiders in their third exhibition game Saturday, but it was all bad from the opening drive.
On second down, Miami Dolphins edge rusher Jaelan Phillips went around Leatherwood and nearly got to the quarterback. It was of little comfort that it was reserve Jarrett Stidham, rather than regular-season starter Derek Carr.
Two plays later, Leatherwood was pushed back and Phillips went around him again to nearly get Stidham, whose helmet came off as Zach Sieler picked up the sack after a blow-by of his own past right guard Lester Cotton Sr.
On the next play, Leatherwood got beat by defensive tackle Christian Wilkins
And that was it for the 2021 first-round draft pick, who then sat out before returning in the third quarter with fourth-string quarterback Chase Garbers in the game.
Leatherwood ended up playing the most snaps among the Raiders with 42, credited with allowing one sack, a hurry and a hit on 23 pass-blocking snaps.
Not ideal for a player who has been trying to find confidence in his second year.
How does Raiders coach Josh McDaniels — the man who ultimately will decide if Leatherwood even makes the roster, much less plays a key role in the 2022 season — evaluate the state of the competition at that position and others?
Even with the regular-season opener just three weeks away, McDaniels isn’t putting any pressure publicly on the offensive line. Instead, he prefers to preach consistency and teamwork.
“There are a lot of guys that are out there trying to improve and get better,” McDaniels said Sunday, a day after a 15-13 win. “An offensive line, the unit itself, is really a collective heartbeat, if you will. When one man does something that maybe is not exactly what we want, then it’ll affect the other four guys. Usually, when that unit plays well, it’s the result of all five of them – probably plus the tight ends – doing their job the right way, with the right technique and fundamentals.”
Leatherwood will have an opportunity to redeem himself this week when the Raiders and New England Patriots will have a joint practice on Tuesday and Wednesday in Henderson, Nevada.
The teams meet in the preseason finale Friday at Allegiant Stadium.
Leatherwood was drafted with the 17th overall selection in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft by then-Raiders coach Jon Gruden and then-general manager Mike Mayock.
It hasn’t panned out well for the Raiders or Leatherwood, at least not yet. Many fans already have rendered judgment.
Leatherwood struggled as a rookie, when he had a Pro Football Focus overall grade of 45.0 while allowing eight sacks.
In late July, Leatherwood talked about how he wanted to “improve my game as a whole.”
Will he get that chance with the Raiders or be cast aside when the final cutdown date arrives Aug. 30 for the initial 53-man roster? That remains uncertain, but his chances of being in the starting lineup are quickly fading.
The Raiders could also look at the waiver wire and see who’s available after the cut to 53.
Tackle Daryl Williams is a free agent after he was released in March, but at least for now it seems doubtful the Raiders will sign him.
The Raiders still have a little time to figure out who will protect quarterback Carr, not counting all-but-certain starters in left tackle Kolton Miller and center Andre James.
It is imperative that the right solution is found. Carr was sacked 40 times last season — sixth most in the NFL behind Joe Burrow, Ryan Tannehill, Zach Wilson, Baker Mayfield and Matt Ryan.
Jermaine Eluemunor could slide into the right tackle spot, since he’s playing left tackle as Miller rests in the preseason.
“Just staying consistent with what we’re trying to do,” McDaniels said. “We need to approach each day as an opportunity to get better and improve those things. But repetition, good repetition on the practice field is where you build good habits. There’s no shortcut to it. We just have to put the work in and stay consistent with our effort.”
Hankins, Nichols provides boost
Returning to the Raiders last week were defensive linemen Johnathan Hankins and BIlal Nichols.
Both were placed on the physically unable to perform list in late July.
While Nichols didn’t play on Saturday, Hankins finished with two tackles.
McDaniels is encouraged to have both players back.
“We now have more depth than what we’ve been practicing with, for sure,” McDaniels said. “I think any time you add players back, in this case two defensive linemen that we have some hopes for, it kind of reallocates the repetitions. It re-slots everyone into maybe a role that maybe fits them perfectly, or better than what we were doing before.
“I see those guys as guys that can contribute. They’re certainly vying for different roles across the front on our defensive line.”
