Con el inicio de temporada regular esta semana los titulares jugarán tiempo completo y ahora si veremos duelos importantes entre los jugadores importantes de cada equipo.
Los Oakland Raiders inician su temporada el lunes en horario estelar en contra de Los Ángeles Rams en el Coliseo de Oakland y no hay nada más emocionante que la Semana 1 de una nueva temporada.
Por ello revisemos algunos duelos claves que podrían determinar quien sale victorioso entre los Rams y los Raiders en el partido inicial del 2018.
Amari Cooper vs. Marcus Peters
Vaya duelo para Cooper en la Semana 1 en contra de uno de los mejores esquineros y viejo rival. Peters jugaba con los Kansas City Chiefs.
Aunque "Coop" no tuvo su mejor temporada en cuestión de estadísticas, aun cuando si anotó siete touchdowns, sigue siendo uno de los mejores receptores en la NFL y con certeza tendrá ardua labor enfrentando a Peters.
En el 2017, los Rams tenían una defensiva secundaria promedio al permitir 217 yardas aéreas por partido, pero eso fue antes que añadieran a Peters al igual que al veterano Aqib Talib.
"Esos jugadores son muy buenos," dijo Cooper. "Asechan el balón, pero de manera inteligente. Definitivamente serán un reto para nosotros. Eso me emociona."
Talib tiene 34 intercepciones en su carrera y su talento no está en duda, pero Peters podría ser mejor.
El originario de Oakland y primo del corredor Marshawn Lynch es un esquinero elite iniciando su cuarta temporada en la NFL y la batalla que tendrá con Cooper será entretenida.
The NFL is all about matchups, and as far as Week 1 matchups go, this one is about as good as it gets.
El Interior de la Línea Ofensiva vs. Aaron Donald y Ndamukong Suh
Mucho se ha dicho que el interior de la línea ofensiva de los Raiders es considerada una de las mejores en la NFL con el trio de Kelechi Osemele, Rodney Hudson y Gabe Jackson, pero en contra parte, es difícil encontrar una mejor línea defensiva que la que tienen los Rams con Donald y Suh en medio de ella.
Por su lado, Aaron Donald es un jugador imponente que registró 11 capturas el año pasado, pero al juntarlo con Ndamukong Suh, se puede decir que ahora tienen un dúo muy especial en Los Ángeles.
La línea ofensiva del Plata y Negro solo permitió 24 capturas durante la temporada pasada, pero mantener de pie a Derek Carr durante el partido del lunes será un gran reto en contra de los Rams.
El desempeño de la línea ofensiva será critico en cada fase del partido y si los Raiders quieren mover el balón por tierra como prefiere Jon Gruden, el trio interno tendrá que lucirse.
Es solo un preámbulo de lo que se espera ver en la trinchera el próximo lunes.
Jon Gruden vs. Sean McVay
El partido del lunes tendrá varios antecedentes que se intercalarán y uno de esos es duelo mental entre Gruden y Sean McVay.
Gruden y McVay se conocen bien. McVay inició su carrera como entrenador bajo la tutela de Gruden en Tampa Bay, por lo que será entretenido verlos enfrentarse en el primer partido de la temporada.
Ambos entrenadores inician la temporada con equipos con grandes expectativas. Los Rams de McVay clasificaron a la postemporada el año pasado y los Raiders con Gruden al frente se sienten re energizados.
Seguido se ven equipos en la NFL adquirir la personalidad de su Entrenador en Jefe y ese parece ser el caso de estos dos equipos en el 2018.
¿Quien saldrá victorioso el lunes? ¿El maestro o el alumno? Es una historia ya vista pero aun así será emocionante ver como se suscita.
The Raiders returned to practice Wednesday in preparation for Monday Night Football against the Los Angeles Rams.
Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) and quarterback AJ McCarron (2) on the field for practice at the Oakland Raiders Practice Facility, Wednesday, September 5, 2018, in Alameda, California.
Oakland Raiders tackle TJ Clemmings (74) on the field for practice at the Oakland Raiders Practice Facility, Wednesday, September 5, 2018, in Alameda, California.
Oakland Raiders quarterback AJ McCarron (2) on the field for practice at the Oakland Raiders Practice Facility, Wednesday, September 5, 2018, in Alameda, California.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Jordy Nelson (82) on the field for practice at the Oakland Raiders Practice Facility, Wednesday, September 5, 2018, in Alameda, California.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Brandon LaFell (19) on the field for practice at the Oakland Raiders Practice Facility, Wednesday, September 5, 2018, in Alameda, California.
Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch (24) on the field for practice at the Oakland Raiders Practice Facility, Wednesday, September 5, 2018, in Alameda, California.
Oakland Raiders offensive coordinator Greg Olson and alumnus Fred Biletnikoff on the field for practice at the Oakland Raiders Practice Facility, Wednesday, September 5, 2018, in Alameda, California.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver and return specialist Dwayne Harris (17) on the field for practice at the Oakland Raiders Practice Facility, Wednesday, September 5, 2018, in Alameda, California.
Oakland Raiders linebacker Shilique Calhoun (91) on the field for practice at the Oakland Raiders Practice Facility, Wednesday, September 5, 2018, in Alameda, California.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Jordy Nelson (82) on the field for practice at the Oakland Raiders Practice Facility, Wednesday, September 5, 2018, in Alameda, California.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper (89) on the field for practice at the Oakland Raiders Practice Facility, Wednesday, September 5, 2018, in Alameda, California.
Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Gabe Wright (97) on the field for practice at the Oakland Raiders Practice Facility, Wednesday, September 5, 2018, in Alameda, California.
Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquel Lee (55) on the field for practice at the Oakland Raiders Practice Facility, Wednesday, September 5, 2018, in Alameda, California.
Wide receiver Marcell Ateman (88) on the field for practice at the Oakland Raiders Practice Facility, Wednesday, September 5, 2018, in Alameda, California.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Saeed Blacknall (80) on the field for practice at the Oakland Raiders Practice Facility, Wednesday, September 5, 2018, in Alameda, California.
Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquel Lee (55) on the field for practice at the Oakland Raiders Practice Facility, Wednesday, September 5, 2018, in Alameda, California.
Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) on the field for practice at the Oakland Raiders Practice Facility, Wednesday, September 5, 2018, in Alameda, California.
Oakland Raiders linebacker Kyle Wilber (58) on the field for practice at the Oakland Raiders Practice Facility, Wednesday, September 5, 2018, in Alameda, California.
Oakland Raiders running backs coach Jemal Singleton and fullback Ryan Yurachek (44) on the field for practice at the Oakland Raiders Practice Facility, Wednesday, September 5, 2018, in Alameda, California.
Oakland Raiders cornerback Leon Hall (29) on the field for practice at the Oakland Raiders Practice Facility, Wednesday, September 5, 2018, in Alameda, California.
Oakland Raiders defensive back Terrell Sinkfield (39) on the field for practice at the Oakland Raiders Practice Facility, Wednesday, September 5, 2018, in Alameda, California.
Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Brian Price (93) on the field for practice at the Oakland Raiders Practice Facility, Wednesday, September 5, 2018, in Alameda, California.
Oakland Raiders outside linebacker Bruce Irvin (51) on the field for practice at the Oakland Raiders Practice Facility, Wednesday, September 5, 2018, in Alameda, California.
Oakland Raiders defensive end Fadol Brown (95) on the field for practice at the Oakland Raiders Practice Facility, Wednesday, September 5, 2018, in Alameda, California.
Oakland Raiders offensive guard Jon Feliciano (76) on the field for practice at the Oakland Raiders Practice Facility, Wednesday, September 5, 2018, in Alameda, California.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Seth Roberts (10) on the field for practice at the Oakland Raiders Practice Facility, Wednesday, September 5, 2018, in Alameda, California.
Oakland Raiders offensive tackle Donald Penn (72) on the field for practice at the Oakland Raiders Practice Facility, Wednesday, September 5, 2018, in Alameda, California.
Oakland Raiders alumnus Fred Biletnikoff and quarterback Derek Carr (4) on the field for practice at the Oakland Raiders Practice Facility, Wednesday, September 5, 2018, in Alameda, California.
Oakland Raiders players and coaches on the field for practice at the Oakland Raiders Practice Facility, Wednesday, September 5, 2018, in Alameda, California.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper (89) and alumnus Fred Biletnikoff on the field for practice at the Oakland Raiders Practice Facility, Wednesday, September 5, 2018, in Alameda, California.
Oakland Raiders punter Johnny Townsend (5) and kicker Mike Nugent (6) on the field for practice at the Oakland Raiders Practice Facility, Wednesday, September 5, 2018, in Alameda, California.
Oakland Raiders punter Johnny Townsend (5) on the field for practice at the Oakland Raiders Practice Facility, Wednesday, September 5, 2018, in Alameda, California.
Oakland Raiders punter Johnny Townsend (5) on the field for practice at the Oakland Raiders Practice Facility, Wednesday, September 5, 2018, in Alameda, California.
Oakland Raiders running back Jalen Richard (30) on the field for practice at the Oakland Raiders Practice Facility, Wednesday, September 5, 2018, in Alameda, California.
Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Maurice Hurst (73) on the field for practice at the Oakland Raiders Practice Facility, Wednesday, September 5, 2018, in Alameda, California.
Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Frostee Rucker (98) on the field for practice at the Oakland Raiders Practice Facility, Wednesday, September 5, 2018, in Alameda, California.
Oakland Raiders tackle TJ Clemmings (97) and offensive guard Gabe Jackson (66) on the field for practice at the Oakland Raiders Practice Facility, Wednesday, September 5, 2018, in Alameda, California.
Oakland Raiders offensive tackle Kolton Miller (77) on the field for practice at the Oakland Raiders Practice Facility, Wednesday, September 5, 2018, in Alameda, California.
Oakland Raiders linebacker Tahir Whitehead (59) on the field for practice at the Oakland Raiders Practice Facility, Wednesday, September 5, 2018, in Alameda, California.
