Mandatory Mini Camp June 9th-June 11th

[KillerRaider30]

May 18, 20-21, 26, and 28-29, followed by a final session on June 1-4.

These workouts are held at the Intermountain Health Performance Center in Henderson, Nevada.

They serve as the voluntary Phase 3 of the team's offseason program, where 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills are permitted without live contact.

Following OTAs, the Raiders are scheduled to hold their mandatory minicamp from June 6-11.

[BoKnows81]

Espn names Malik Benson as Raiders surprise offseason player.

WR Malik Benson

The Raiders drafted Benson in the sixth round with the belief that the former Oregon wideout could be a vertical threat who opens up the offense and makes explosive plays. He showcased that ability throughout OTAs and minicamp. He and quarterback Fernando Mendoza developed a strong connection during practices. Benson was Mendoza's go-to target during team drills, especially in the middle of the field. The competition at wide receiver is pretty much wide open, meaning Benson has a chance to create a role for himself in Year 1 if his production continues during training camp.

[SkullCrusher]

The funny thing is, even if you correctly predicted our wins and losses, or our draft slotting, the best you could claim is an educated guess. But it would be a guess regardless. I could make a guess right now that we are winning 7 games and drafting 14th and I could nail that guess and it would still be a simple guess. Are we drafting in the top 7? Based on the last few years we are far more likely to be drafting top 7 than bottom 7 for sure. But are either possible? Absolutely. The oddsmakers create betting lines to pull in bettors because that is their business. And you entice bets by making your lines reasonable to win or give such odds that even a bad bet, if won, is worthy of consideration.

It's why I cleverly put in "reasonably", it's not too far of a stretch to have this record.

I think 3 or less wins in very unlikely and 12 or more very unlikely as well.

[Attyla]

It's why I cleverly put in "reasonably", it's not too far of a stretch to have this record.

I think 3 or less wins in very unlikely and 12 or more very unlikely as well.

Oh yea, very true but so many things go into a season. Miami won 10 games one year after being completely terrible. You just never know.

[16 to 88]

So maybe we enter the season with three qb's. If they think AO is a quality backup maybe they sacrifice a position to keep him for next year or in case a trade opportunity for Cousins presents itself.

I think the only way we do not open the season with 3 quarterbacks is because...

-Fernando is up to speed that fast and has overtaken O'Connell or is close enough or right on Cousins tail
-They will taylor the offense to less under center looks
-The OL is looking really good

And they are willing to roll the dice that Cousins doesn't get hurt early in the season giving Mendoza more time to get acclimated. What might happen is a combination of events.

-Cousins looks great and so does the offense and the November trade deadline looms and another team needs a back up and AOC is traded.
-Cousins gets hurt halfway though the season and we really aren't in contention so I could see where they would insert Fernando at that point as long as we can run the ball and pass block and give him part of a season to set him up for next year.

Where things are probably dicey depending on the OL and Fernando having enough time to get more acclimated is if the OL is doing well, we are able to run the ball and pass protect but Cousins goes down early in the season. I could see where they would bring in Adian and move Fernando to #2 instead of insert him as the guy early on.

[SkullCrusher]

Oh yea, very true but so many things go into a season. Miami won 10 games one year after being completely terrible. You just never know.

Yes there are often an outlier. Unfortunately 7th pick of the draft is a reasonable possibility.

[powski]

I think we should just write "time will tell" for at least a week. Or end everything with that at least. And high five each other, quote each other saying "true!". I think we should do this because while we might think such and such might happen, only time will tell.

[ELCAraiderfan]

i doubt anyone hates O'Connell. He actually seems a very nice and genuine person. I don't even hate that he is the backup. Teams need that guy and he is not terrible in that role. I have heard he is really a good guy in the locker room as well. What I do not like is his stone feet and his deep ball. At this point in his career you cannot fix neither one of those traits. I am absolutely convinced he will have another 8-10 years in the league, mostly if not entirely as a backup.

That said, the one guy around here who thinks he is elite is misguided in the extreme and his takes are painfully bad. It is fans like that who are an embarrassment to the universal fanbase of football.

There are a few somebody's in here that hate AOC and always bash him, one in particular. I personally like AOC a lot. From the crap he's had to put up with with all the coaching changes, OC changes I think he's done pretty damn well. I also know he makes a good back up QB. I am interested to see what happens when he's got good, consistent coaching that are here for years to come. Unfortunately we probably won't see it here with the Raiders now that Cousins and Mendoza are here. I wouldn't be surprised to see him move on next year or year after that.

[mstrbass2000]

You say this so confidently-- I cannot do the same. I agree that the Pete Carroll experiment was a disaster, so coaching will be better. But, the draft, other than getting the QB we needed, has a ton of unknowns. Team talent? We made some free agent signings but most of those are "wait and see" other than the new center. We have been bad for so long...wait, that brings up a book from the 1960's: "Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up to Me" by Richard Farina.

im confident...new offensive minded head coach whom brought over some seattle championship staff, young defensive minded d cord, improved dline, much improved linebacking, improved oline (linderbaum) improved secondary 2 cbs 2 safeties...we have improved all over but we are still missing a few pieces on offense (wr,rt)

we have been losers reloading for so many yrs but we finally did it the right way and rebuilt by drafting a franchise qb

[Opoponax50]

Last years #7 had 5 wins.
The consensus wins for the Raiders currently is 5.5.

It's reasonably possible.

The events of last year is why I don't bet anymore. I thought for sure we'd win the over.

[Xramfan]

I think we should just write "time will tell" for at least a week. Or end everything with that at least. And high five each other, quote each other saying "true!". I think we should do this because while we might think such and such might happen, only time will tell.

True
But time will tell

[chucker]

Every time you post "time will tell" you need to pay royalties to cheapshotartist.

[Dr Death]

Every time you post "time will tell" you need to pay royalties to cheapshotartist.

...and.......

[Xramfan]

Every time you post "time will tell" you need to pay royalties to cheapshotartist.

Wasn’t CSA the “it’s only football” guy? Or was that HawaiianRaider?

[powski]

“it’s only football”

That's another good one. I like reading variations of "The bottom line is all they care about, it's just a business" too.
I love that take, and always shake my head in agreement, every time.

[Summerall-Madden]

Hopefully that there will be a new winning era in the Silver and Black!!