Raiderstation

Mike Tice once said while coaching for the Raiders: “If you look at the offense like a fancy car, the offensive line is the engine. Even though we might have nice spinners and nice rims and tinted windows and some neat paint job, it doesn’t mean crap without the engine. If the engine’s not working, the car might look like a pretty nice car, but it’s a piece of crap.” And he was 100% right. I wish we had him back. Changes must be made on the O-line. Charles Grant is a very athletic lineman. We should give him some reps at right tackle. Bring back Powers-Johnson as the starter at center. Parham has got to go. Maybe we should consider moving Meredith back to guard. He did so well there last year.

WolfRaider wrote: Wed Jan 07, 2026 11:22 am after seeing JPJ talk on the Crosby podcast, I think he lacks a filter at times, and acts like he's a vet in a hierachy way, and probably said somthing to Brennon and Pete that they didn't like coming from a second year player.

Good. Thats exactly how I want my center. Mean and unfiltered. But not always injured. Thats a problem.

WolfRaider wrote: Wed Jan 07, 2026 11:22 am after seeing JPJ talk on the Crosby podcast, I think he lacks a filter at times, and acts like he's a vet in a hierachy way, and probably said somthing to Brennon and Pete that they didn't like coming from a second year player.

I still think JPJ made a wise a$$ crack at Brennan early on in offseason workouts. Given all the gifs we've seen of Carroll this season....he is an easy target for these wise cracks.

Personally I liked the idea of JPJ at guard more than center even before Pete/Brennan. I don't think you win the Rimington Award for your line calls at center, I think you win for moving the guy in front of you because they can't judge a guy's ability to make line calls from watching the film. And those line calls are way more important in the NFL than in college because the defenses are a lot more complex. He wouldn't be the first guy to win the Rimington and end up as a guard in the NFL.

I can't tell anyone for a fact that he's not cerebral enough to play center in the NFL, but nobody can really say he is. He also reportedly needed help with protection calls in 2024 under Philbin.

There's definitely a mulligan for anyone on the oline under Carroll to a degree. I love JPJ's attitude, but I also think that attitude is a great fit as a mauler at guard. I'll root for him to succeed wherever the Raiders play him - I really don't have any interest in trading him away.

Yeah, with was it coaching? Now you allow doubt to enter the conversation.

Was it mostly coaching? Was it mostly players?

I know I want new talented names minimum 3 on my oline next year.
I want the talking heads telling me how we killed it here.

I'm doing everything not to be caught with my pants down sporting 2 inches next year and finding out the OL is another disaster.
We have to over compensate right now and smooth it out later.

IMO you don't do that you failed as a GM. It's all about Mendoza and the Oline year 1.
That's what Ben Johnson would to, that's what Skullcrusher would do.

If Brennan Carroll didn't like JPJ then that is even more of a reason for me to like him. That guy screwed up this line soooo bad.

Interesting story about JPJ at the Raiders Beat that’s relevant to this discussion.check it out

https://www.raidersbeat.com/raiders-exe ... jpj-trade/

Good Lord man, what could he do with some blocking?

GoodTimeCharlie wrote: Thu Jan 08, 2026 2:53 pm Good Lord man, what could he do with some blocking?

I'm just happy he got out of the year healthy. It can only get better for him - Jeanty and Bowers are going to be awesome for our new QB, but we need to address oline and get some better coaching.

chucker wrote: Thu Jan 08, 2026 2:57 pm I'm just happy he got out of the year healthy. It can only get better for him - Jeanty and Bowers are going to be awesome for our new QB, but we need to address oline and get some better coaching.

it is the perfect storm. Blue chip TE, great potential at RB and a solid slot receiver and a new head coach. Fix the line and he could have a once in a lifetime rookie year

BoJacksonRules wrote: Wed Jan 07, 2026 8:31 am I’m amazed we have concluded that JPJ can’t play Center because of decisions made by Pete Carrol and his dipshit son.

JPJ is a great player, but im concerned about his susceptibility to concussions. If that was no concern I would be ecstatic about him. Its similar to Tua on Miami, without the concussions he is the top gunslinger QB out there, but he is concussion prone and a team has to consider that.

Coaching is what destroyed this O-line. And everybody knows it.

erickench wrote: Thu Jan 08, 2026 4:48 pm Coaching is what destroyed this O-line. And everybody knows it.

Coaching didn't help but let's not pretend that this wasn't a crap O line to start with.

rcraider wrote: Thu Jan 08, 2026 5:33 pm Coaching didn't help but let's not pretend that this wasn't a crap O line to start with.

We'll never know since The Raiders drafted two offensive linemen that Carroll made sure they didn't see the field. The O-line could be just a Free Agent (or two) away from being solid.

I would like to hear some of the questions and answer sessions during the interviews about this topic. Is JPJ a OG, OC or is he a trade guy?

I am expecting a big uptick from JPJ. Sure he has injury concerns and hopefully it does not continue. Maybe put one of those bed mattresses around his helmet. This kid brings versatility and tenacity. The worst position on this team for a young player was OL. Papa Pete was an egomaniac who obviously did not like the pups. To make matters worse, our OL coaching was f[raiders_icon]cking ass. I laugh at the rumor of him not being smart enough to handle the center position. I would still like to sign a Linderbaum but I really doubt the Ravens let him go. Maybe there is another center out there just to give us options. We are already ahead of the game with addition by subtraction (no wonder twin Carroll's, Parham, Cappa, and Putnam).