The Oakland Raiders 2018 Rookie Minicamp has officially concluded, and over the three-day program several players put their best foot forward in hopes of being invited back for the Offseason Training Activities and Training Camp.
Saturday, the weather was a bit overcast, however, the sun came out to play Sunday, and the smell of fresh grass drifted with the breeze. The conditions couldn't have been much better for the rookies, and you could sense their enthusiasm to get the day started; so let's get started with some observations from the final day of practice.
**The defense made some highlights
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Contact is prohibited during Rookie Minicamp, but if it was allowed, several players on offense could've been lit up during seven-on-seven drills. The defense line was active in the trenches, and showed impressive burst when rushing the quarterback. The pressure applied from the D-line forced the quarterbacks to throw with some urgency. Several of the skill positions were able to make plays in the flats, but nothing was working down the seams. On a couple of occasions the offense tried to stretch the field, but the defensive backs were quick to bat down any passes that came their way.
Johnny Townsend got some run
The Raiders selected a punter with one of their fifth-round picks in the 2018 NFL Draft, and man, does he have a boot. Townsend was accompanied by Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Rich Bisaccia on the field as the team ran special teams drills. The 23 year old displayed his ability to drop some pinpoint punts deep in enemy territory, and did so with some massive punts that looked as if they hung in the air in slow motion. The hang time was more than enough to allow the gunners to sprint to the returner and keep him from gaining any serious yardage.
**The camaraderie was evident among everyone
Check out some of the best photos from Day 2 of Raiders Rookie Minicamp.
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Competing against guys fighting for the same job you want can create tension, and bitterness between players, but that wasn't the case with this group over the weekend. The day started with a group huddle that demonstrated the team's togetherness with each player participating in a chant. From there the players were quick to lend a hand whenever someone fell to the ground, needed a pat on the back, or some words of encouragement. Throughout the day, the coaches kept reminding the men that football is intended to be fun, and that's what Sunday was all about. The team finished practice with the same chant they started with, and a pep talk from Head Coach Jon Gruden. Whether some of these players make the team or not, they'll always remember their first NFL experience.
Notables:
- The draft picks had a light day of work, and finished practice a little early.
- Once again, you could feel Gruden's intensity from the sideline.
- Offensive Coordinator Greg Olson pulled some guys aside to talk one-on-one, discussing a variety of topics.
