Pete Carroll: Will discuss the good, the bad and the ugly aspects of pre-season match in detail
SEATTLE: Tonight at stunning Lumen Field, the Las Vegas Raiders welcomed Pete Carroll back to the Pacific Northwest, but the future Hall of Fame head coach didn’t get the result he was hoping for. The Raiders ended their season-opening preseason game in a 23-23 draw.
Both teams committed a lot of errors and looked sloppy, but they also offered their respective fan groups plenty to shout about in what was a typical first preseason game. Pete Carroll was inspired by his team’s perseverance.
The Positive
Cam Miller, a rookie quarterback making the switch from FCS to the NFL, had a strong showing. Miller completed six of seven throws for 76 yards and tossed one touchdown, earning an impressive rating of 151.5, despite the fact that he wasn’t facing the Seattle Seahawks’ starting lineup or even the majority of their second team. To what extent does the NFL replace FCS? In the locker room, he said that throughout his time in college, he had never had to employ a quiet snap count.
Early in the game, the rising star, Isaiah Pola-Mao (IPM), produced a fantastic interception against a formidable Seahawks defense. I thought he had the potential to play at this level but would need some time to grow when he came as an undrafted free agent. He hasn’t done much to alter that view so far. Although I believe it will take him a year to realize his full potential, I anticipate that by 2026 he will be a starter of Pro Bowl quality.
Tonight was the strongest preseason performance by Stanford defensive lineman Thomas Booker, who is in his third year. He made a powerful impression on the field with his remarkable motor skills and agility. Despite finishing the game with four tackles, he was instrumental in a number of other plays.
“Can’t keep a good man down” sums up Dylan Laube’s experience as a sophomore running back. There was conjecture at the beginning of camp that Laube may be left behind if youngster Tommy Mellott could make the switch. Laube, on the other hand, has stepped up admirably, playing well on offense and on special teams. He gained 31 yards from four runs, six yards from a reception, and one touchdown.
The Negative
Alex Bachman, the wide receiver, has earned a place on the 53-man roster after having one of the finest preseasons of any player on the squad. But there were worries after a non-contact injury late in the first half. He caught two passes for 36 yards throughout the game, but rookie offensive lineman Charles Grant’s penalty negated another strong grab that earned a lot of yardage. When I inquired about Bachman later, Carroll said that he had been injured early in camp but had recovered.
The Unpleasant
In the first half, Aidan O’Connell’s performance was difficult. An interception resulted from his underflung long pass that was meant for an open Dont’e Thornton. He later committed his second turnover of the game after being tricked into making another bad pass. It would be an understatement to say that O’Connell’s performance in the first half was disappointing; it was just awful. He finished the first half with a dismal rating of 30.6 and was 9/18 for 114 yards.
Give the Raiders and AOC credit. It didn’t occur to me that they would open the second half with AOC. When they did, he gave them a TD drive right away, which led to a TD throw to Dylan Laube, giving AOC a huge boost in confidence. He concluded the evening with 205 yards (18/30). His score increased to 63.9.