Stephen Angelucci from Connecticut asks:
"Your thoughts on naming Gardner Minshew the starter?"
It may sound odd, but Gardner Minshew II is a safe and a risky pick for the starting quarterback job.
Minshew has a much larger sample size of play. In the three seasons he's started at least eight games (2019, 2020 and 2023), he compiled nearly 9,000 passing yards with a 52:20 touchdown to interception ratio. His mobility also gives him an edge among the other quarterbacks on the roster, with 621 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns in his career.
"Experience, the operation, the processing. The same thing we saw in practice, some of it showed up in the games," Head Coach Antonio Pierce said Sunday. "A lot of stuff we can get better at. I don't think anything here is a finished product but based off the first quarter of the season, we feel like Gardner gives us the best opportunity."
As for the risk that comes with Minshew, he certainly fits the bill of a gunslinger. He chases big plays, occasionally finding receivers downfield on the run and using play action and bootleg passes to his benefit. In two preseason games this year, Minshew has gone 3-of-5 for 121 yards on passes over 20 yards including two strikes to Tre Tucker for 48- and 44-yard gains.
"His personality is affectionate, his image is affectionate, his leadership is affectionate," Pierce said. "Things of improvement: footwork in the pocket, staying on script. There's some magic about him when he does break the pocket and does his thing, but there's a lot of times where if the first or second read is there, we've got to let it rip. He understands that, and more importantly, taking care of the football."
Lee Ryan from Minnesota asks:
"How many linebackers will the Raiders carry this year?"
As a former Super Bowl-winning linebacker, there's not secret Antonio Pierce has an affinity for the position.
I think the linebacking corps has been one of the more polished position groups in camp – playing in sync with the rest of Patrick Graham's system. It's also helped having former NFL linebacker Mike Caldwell around to coach the unit.
The Silver and Black carried five linebackers to the initial 53-man roster in 2023, giving me the belief they'll carry the same amount or even one more. Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo are near guaranteed locks to be the starters, with Luke Masterson, Amari Burney and 2024 fifth-round pick Tommy Eichenberg pushing for rotational roles. Another player who's emerged within the room is UDFA Amari Gainer from North Carolina. He's received a 89.9 defensive grade from Pro Football Focus this preseason, having totaled five tackles and two pass deflections.
Jordi Smith from Barcelona, Spain, asks:
"From what you've seen in camp, who are going to be the gunners this season?"
I truly appreciate the question, Jordi. It's not every day someone asks a question about kick and punt return coverage.
It's been clear that several young players have a sense of urgency in practice during special teams period. They're using it as opportunities to carve a role out for themselves and potentially make the roster. One of the top options at gunner is DJ Turner, who certainly has the ability to make tackles in open space. He continued to impress at the role last Saturday against the Dallas Cowboys, recovering a fumble on a kick return.
Along with Turner, Gainer and safeties Chris Smith II and Isaiah Pola-Mao have impressed me.
View director of photography Michael Clemens' top picks of black and white photos from the Raiders' Preseason Week 2 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Divine Deablo's (5) pads in the locker room prior to the Raiders' arrival for their preseason home game against the Dallas Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Luke Masterson's (59) locker in the locker room prior to the Raiders' arrival for their preseason home game against the Dallas Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers' (16) pads in the locker room prior to the Raiders' arrival for their preseason home game against the Dallas Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium.
A pair of pants hang in a locker in the locker room prior to the Raiders' arrival for their preseason home game against the Dallas Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Woo Governor's (44) locker in the locker room prior to the Raiders' arrival for their preseason home game against the Dallas Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers' (89) locker in the locker room prior to the Raiders' arrival for their preseason home game against the Dallas Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Marcus Epps (1) arrives to the preseason home game against the Dallas Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive line coach Rob Leonard arrives to the preseason home game against the Dallas Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders run game coordinator and linebackers coach Mike Caldwell arrives to the preseason home game against the Dallas Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Dylan Laube (23) arrives to the preseason home game against the Dallas Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Noah Shannon (62) arrives to the preseason home game against the Dallas Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Nate Hobbs (39) arrives to the preseason home game against the Dallas Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Luke Masterson (59) warming up before the preseason home game against the Dallas Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders guard Jackson Powers-Johnson (70) on the bench before the preseason home game against the Dallas Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders center Andre James (68) warming up before the preseason home game against the Dallas Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium.
Fans before the Las Vegas Raiders' preseason home game against the Dallas Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Nesta Jade Silvera (99) warming up before the preseason home game against the Dallas Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Matthew Butler (91) warming up before the preseason home game against the Dallas Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end TJ Franklin (57) warming up before the preseason home game against the Dallas Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback M.J. Devonshire (26) warming up before the preseason home game against the Dallas Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Amari Gainer (53) warming up before the preseason home game against the Dallas Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders signage around Allegiant Stadium before the preseason home game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Malcolm Koonce (51) signs autographs for fans before the preseason home game against the Dallas Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium.
The Las Vegas Raiders huddle before the preseason home game against the Dallas Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Kristian Wilkerson (83) waits for the team to be introduced onto the field before the preseason home game against the Dallas Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Nate Hobbs (39) waits to be introduced onto the field before the preseason home game against the Dallas Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) waits to be introduced onto the field before the preseason home game against the Dallas Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Luke Masterson (59) on the sidelines during the preseason home game against the Dallas Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) on the field during the preseason home game against the Dallas Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders punter AJ Cole (6) and tackle DJ Glaze (71) during the preseason home game against the Dallas Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium.
Raiderette Kylie on the sidelines during the preseason home game against the Dallas Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (12) on the sidelines during the Las Vegas Raiders' preseason home game against the Dallas Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Matthew Butler (91) on the sidelines during the Las Vegas Raiders' preseason home game against the Dallas Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Alexander Mattison (22) on the sidelines during the Las Vegas Raiders' preseason home game against the Dallas Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (16) on the bench during the Las Vegas Raiders' preseason home game against the Dallas Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receivers coach Edgar Bennett on the sidelines during the Las Vegas Raiders' preseason home game against the Dallas Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium.
