Silver And Black Pride
The Las Vegas Raiders get one last tune-up for heading into the regular season, taking on the Arizona Cardinals for their third and final preseason game. For the rookies, that means they get one more trial run before the bullets really start flying. So, let’s dive into three matchups between first-year pros to keep tabs on.
One note before diving in, with no injury report and several starters not playing in the preseason, there’s a chance a player or two below doesn’t suit up for the game.
Thornton has generated plenty of buzz in training camp, but has only one catch for 17 yards on five targets during the preseason, according to Pro Football Focus. So, he could use a confidence booster heading into the regular season by putting together a noteworthy performance in Arizona. However, that won’t come easily against Johnson.
Had it not been for injury concerns, the Michigan product might have been the first cornerback off the board and likely would have been a first-round pick last April. He’s healthy now, though, and has been drawing strong reviews during camp to earn a starting spot on the Cardinals’ defense.
That being said, Johnson’s long speed was questioned during the pre-draft process. Lining up across from the 6-foot-5 wideout who runs a 4.3-second 40-yard dash will certainly put that to the test, if the cornerback suits up on Saturday.
Especially with Bech’s position flexibility, there could be a good amount of crossover between these first two matchups.
Like Thornton, Bech is still waiting to have a true “breakout” performance this summer. He’s shown growth from game one to game two, recording just one catch for five yards against the Seahawks and two grabs for 21 yards versus the 49ers. But there’s still plenty of room for the second-rounder to build some momentum heading into September.
Meanwhile, Burke is fighting for positioning on Arizona’s depth chart. He’s currently listed as a second-stringer, but there could be an opportunity for him to move up, since starter Max Melton is entering year two and only made three starts as a rookie.
However, the Ohio State product likely needs to have a strong showing against the Raiders. Per PFF, he’s been targeted nine times, yielding five catches for 53 yards and a touchdown on 46 coverage snaps in the Cardinals’ two preseason contests.
After a tough debut in pass protection, Grant bounced back last weekend. He recorded 26 snaps in pass protection and only surrendered one pressure to earn a 78.5 grade from PFF in that department against San Francisco. That’s a significant improvement over the four pressures on 29 pass pro snaps and the 40.7 mark he posted the week before.
But one of the concerns about the third-round pick is his ability to anchor against power rushers. That sets up for an interesting battle against fellow third-rounder Jordan Burch.
Measuring [6-foot-4...
