A lot of Raiders fans will be in SoFi hoping to witness the Raiders get their first win in the Chargers’ home since the COVID season. Many Chargers fans will hope Jim Harbaugh’s new era starts with a victory over the Raiders.
The Raiders offseason was headlined by additions to the trenches. Vegas added a linemen in the second and third round of the NFL Draft. Third-rounder Dj Glaze is the backup right tackle. Second-rounder Jackson Powers-Johnson is the backup left guard after injuries most of the offseason. They also added veterans Andrus Peat and Cody Whitehair. Both bring guard and tackle experience. Whitehair is starting at guard and Peat is backup at left tackle. Vegas made these moves to win these physical division games.
Los Angeles also made moves along their offensive and defensive fronts. Defensively, the Chargers added Bud Dupree to an already deep defensive line. We know what Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack can do. They are explosive technicians. Tuli Tuipulotu should thrive with even more depth around them. Morgan Fox has thrived as a tackle/end since joining the Chargers. Defensive Poona Ford comes over from the Bills. He has experience in multiples schemes. Otito Ogbonnia enters his first season as a starter. They will need those big bodies versus the Raiders’ front.
Of course, the key matchup is whoever lines up against Mack. Mack balls every time he plays the Silver and Black. No six-sack game, please? Thayer Munford has been a mix-bag in camp. Munford struggles with speed so Mack and Dupree might hurt them.
Enter Zamir White. He showed enough to warrant being the unquestioned starter last year. Now he needs to make good versus an improved Chargers’ front-seven. Los Angeles added Denzel Perryman to improve the run defense. Daiyan Henley is going to be relied on more. That gives the Chargers a chance to play both the run and the pass out of of their base defense. White will get no favors versus this front.
That is where the Raiders receivers come in. The Chargers’ most glaring weakness is on the backend. Safety Alohi Gilman and corner ja’Sir Taylor got some time last year. They found ways to make plays. We know Derwin James and Asante Samuel Jr. are proven playmakers. Still, the Raiders haven’t spent all that money at receiver, and all those draft picks at tight ends, to lose this matchup.
Rookie TE Brock Bowers was selected high to own the hashes and make contested catches over folks like Derwin James and Henley. They’re also going need TE Michael Mayer to help them too. Mayer can also be a security blanket. Vegas knows Davante Adams can win the one-on-one outside. They know Jakobi Meyers is good for a couple of big plays. However, they need their tight ends to eat on some of the junk plays they hoped Hunter Renfrow would do last year.
Moving to defense, the Raiders will be down Malcolm Koonce. Koonce has dealt with injuries before but this is worse since it is a contract year. The Raiders needed big performances out of him.
Now, back to hoping Tyree Wilson develops ASAP. Wilson and Crosby will draw Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater. Some predict this is one of the best offensive tackle groups around. Crosby is going to have his work cut out for him. The Chargers have had success on the edges versus the Raiders. Wilson needs to play with his hands. It will be a long day as the Chargers will run right at those ends.
Vegas signed Christian Wilkins to get pressure from the middle of the defense. Los Angeles is weak at the center of their offense. Wilkins needs to win at the point of the attack to kill the run and push the pocket. We know the Chargers want to establish the run.
Overall, the Raiders secondary received a lot of praise in camp. The Chargers receivers received the opposite reaction. Rookie receiver Ladd McConkey stole the attention. Receiver Josh Palmer has burned the Raiders before. Receiver Quentin Johnston is a threat on paper. Corners Jack Jones, Jakorian Bennett and Nate Hobbs should win these matchups but big plays happen with Justin Herbert at QB. The Raiders secondary group must be discipline.
An interception from the Raiders safeties and linebackers won’t hurt. Linebacker Robert Spillane started last year as a turnover-machine. Safety Tre’von Moehrig is off his best season as a pro. Safety Marcus Epps is a big earner and linebacker Divine Deablo is finally healthy. The Raiders bet on this group getting better as a collective.
In the end, the Raiders need to establish their identity. Both the Chargers and Raiders are going to try and establish the run. Each team wants to get after the quarterback. Neither team has a proven commodity at RB. The difference is the Raiders got an elite receiver and the Chargers have a top QB. Big plays are going to be the difference but this game is going to start upfront.
Vegas has a chance if they can stop the run and pressure Herbert. Otherwise, they need to get White moving the ball. Get him going earlt and often. The Raiders need to hit on big plays with Adams and Bowers. Make this easy on QB Gardner Minshew. If the Raiders can play their brand of football, there is no reason why SoFi won’t be filled with happy Raiders fans.
Winning this game is key to officially starting the Antonio Pierce era. We all know the statistics as far as interim coaches. Pierce needs to win these close division matchups. He needs to prove he can carry last year’s second-half momentum into this year with a huge win.
