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Jon Gruden insisted that he wanted competition in all positions, and he thought so.
Look at the wave of offseason signatures made to gather groups of positions you thought were already having enough body,
Let's take a look at the five training camp battles the most intriguing before Gruden & Co.
5. Quarterback of backup
The only reason this one makes the top five is because we saw Derek Carr fall last season. Who knows if a similar injury will happen again in 2018. The QB backup battle seems closer than last season, when EJ Manuel had a clear advantage over Connor Cook. Gruden seemed to take Cook more into account when the Raiders broke up for the summer, although that may obviously change the start of the regular season here.
Manuel replaced Carr when the Oakland starter fell during Week 4 last season, and he filled the void … respectfully. In the quarter-finals against the Broncos and Ravens, Manuel completed 24 of 43 pbades for 265 yards, one touchdown and one interception, even though both games were eliminated by Raiders. Ironically, Cook is the only quarterback in the lineup with playoff experience, having replaced injured Carr and Matt McGloin against the Texans in the first round, two seasons ago.
The Raiders will keep three quarters in 2018, and they are all on the list now. The only question is who will be the backup and who will be the third.
4. Security
Karl Joseph seems to be the only one to start safety, leaving Reggie Nelson, Marcus Gilchrist and Obi Melifonwu in second place.
Raiders fans may not appreciate it given his last season's fights, but I think Nelson, 34, will have the advantage over Gilchrist for the starting point next of Joseph. He has already played under defensive coordinator Paul Guenther, which gives him one length ahead of the other two, although his age is detrimental.
Even if Nelson does not start, expect to see the terrain often. Gilchrist, 29, started 13 games with the Texans last season and could very well start next to Joseph. And who knows how healthy Melifonwu will be in the regular season, and if a healthy Melifonwu can show why the Raiders used it in the second round a year ago.
3. Defensive tackle
Gruden and Reggie McKenzie obviously thought this position was a serious necessity since they made two choices in the rough draft. The addition of Maurice Hurst and P.J. Hall was only the beginning of the rectification of a unit that generated little pressure on the quarterback in 2017.
Denico Autry was the Raiders' best defensive tackle last season, and he is now a Colt of Indianapolis. Justin Ellis signed a three-year deal, but he's at best a good blocker. Mario Edwards Jr. looks to be inside the defense, and he knows what he can provide if he stays healthy. Hurst and Hall are in an excellent position to take on important roles as disrupters on the Oakland defensive line as rookies.
Hurst has attracted the most praise from Raiders coaches of any rookie, so expect him to play an important role on the D-line. Hall is hailing from the tiny Sam Houston State School at 6-foot-1 and 308-pound, a stature that lends itself well to getting leverage on the biggest offensive linemen.
Will Gruden have the courage to start two rookies in the regular season, or will Ellis and Edwards play more important roles than last season, even with new corps in the group? Regardless of the Raiders combo against the Rams on September 10, it will not be as good as Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh, but they will have to hope that that will be enough.
2. Right tackle
No, guys, Kolton Miller is not playing properly at the attack this season.
It will be either Breno Giacomini, Brandon Parker or David Sharpe who will line up at RT this season. The Raiders hope it's better than Marshall Newhouse.
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I think the Raiders want Parker to be ready to start on week 1, in an ideal scenario. There is a reason they exchanged to take it with the first choice of the third round. Giacomini is not good in pbadword protection, simple and clear, so avoid starting the 32-year-old would be best for everyone in the team. Sharpe, although he shone a few brilliant points by replacing Donald Penn at the left pad at the end of last season, is probably not ready for the role of a starter.
Parker could not be either, in which case Tom Cable and Co. should probably turn to Giacomini. But it will be a tight camp battle, nonetheless, while Oakland is trying to bring back that level of offensive dominance in 2016 this season.
1. Left plate
A 35-year-old patient who has just undergone Lisfranc surgery or the overall choice # 15?
This is the dilemma facing the Raiders at Carr's blind spot, and do not be surprised if Miller exceeds Penn despite his tenth year less. Gruden liked what he saw from the rookie during the team's offseason program, and Penn was limited in his activity while rehabilitating a foot injury that cost him the last two last season's games.
Like Parker's first selection, there's a reason the Raiders were set on Miller in the first round. Penn could not have taken it too nicely for his former head coach to take another left tackle with the team's top pick, but he will have to balance his mentor Miller with the possibility of losing his job for the next 23 years … old.
Oakland is arguably the best offensive line in the league. If the Raiders want Carr's protective shield to be feared around the NFL, he starts by choosing the right starter on his blind side.
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