These preseason games aren’t about wins or losses. And if last year’s preseason is any indication Antonio Brown Jersey White , it isn’t about the established starters getting playing time either. But that doesn’t mean there..." />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesSilver And Black Pride homepageHorizontal - WhiteSilver And Black Pridean Oakland Raiders communityFollow Silver And Black Pride online:Follow Silver And Black Pride on TwitterFollow Silver And Black Pride on FacebookLog in or sign upLog InSign UpSite searchSearchSearchSilver And Black Pride main menuFanpostsFanshotsRaidersOddsAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 321 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Raiders StoriesScheduleRosterStatsYahoo Raiders NewsYahoo Raiders Team PageYahoo Raiders ReportYahoo Raiders Depth ChartYahoo Raiders TransactionsYahoo Raiders PhotosOdds About Masthead Community Guidelines StubHub ✕Five things to watch for in Raiders preseason opener vs RamsNew,44commentsPDTShare this storyShare this on FacebookShare this on TwitterShareAll sharing optionsShareAll sharing options for:Five things to watch for in Raiders preseason opener vs RamsTwitterFacebookRedditPocketFlipboardEmailPhoto by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty ImagesThese preseason games aren’t about wins or losses. And if last year’s preseason is any indication, it isn’t about the established starters getting playing time either. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t anything worth watching. There is still the rest of the team to think about.1. GuardsThe Raiders will be without both starting guard for the first two games of the season due to Richie Incognito’s suspension and without right guard Gabe Jackson for at least the first four. That means the Raiders have to find not one, but two worthy guard to fill in for Jackson and Incognito. Jonathan Cooper is expected to start at left guard while Denver Kirkland appears to be getting the first shot at right guard.2. Rookie contributorsSeveral rookies could be starting for the Raiders this season. Namely the three first round picks Clelin Ferrell, Josh Jacobs, and Johnathan Abram. Will we get our first look at them in this game or will they sit with the established starters? If they play, they will be the key players to watch as they will be expected to upgrade their positions as starters this season. Others rookies to watch who could either start or play significant snaps this season include second round cornerback Trayvon Mullen, fourth round tight end Foster Moreau, and fifth round wide receiver Hunter Renfrow.3. Swing tackleWith Kolton Miller and Trent Brown entrenched as the starters at left and right tackle respectively. But who is the next man up at those positions? Expect to see a lot from former fourth round pick David Sharpe at left tackle and 2018 third round pick Brandon Parker at right tackle. Parker was dreadful as a rookie last season and hasn’t looked good in training camp. He needs to start showing improvement right now heading into his second season as does Sharpe heading into his third season.4. Third down pass rushersFerrell and Josh Mauro have been the first team defensive ends throughout the offseason and training camp. On third down passing situations, Mauro can move inside and another edge rusher can come in. Who that will be will be between veteran Benson Mayowa Bo Jackson Jersey White , second year edge Arden Key, and rookie fourth round pick Maxx Crosby. Their performance will be crucial in upgrading the Raiders anemic pass rush.5. PunterLast season Johnny Townsend was statistically the worst punter in the NFL. His primary competition is undrafted rookie AJ Cole. Gruden has raved about Cole’s punting in camp and I can confirm he has looked quite good. His one area of concern now is consistency. Pressure situations can bring out the best or the worst in a player. If he holds up in the game and can manage not to shank any punts, he should win this battle. If he struggles, the Raiders punter may not be currently on the roster.Follow @LeviDamien The competition between incumbent punter Johnny Townsend and undrafted rookie AJ Cole played out in Saturday’s preseason opener much like it has all camp. The two punters split time in the game...." />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesSilver And Black Pride homepageHorizontal - WhiteSilver And Black Pridean Oakland Raiders communityFollow Silver And Black Pride online:Follow Silver And Black Pride on TwitterFollow Silver And Black Pride on FacebookLog in or sign upLog InSign UpSite searchSearchSearchSilver And Black Pride main menuFanpostsFanshotsRaidersOddsAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 321 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Raiders StoriesScheduleRosterStatsYahoo Raiders NewsYahoo Raiders Team PageYahoo Raiders ReportYahoo Raiders Depth ChartYahoo Raiders TransactionsYahoo Raiders PhotosOdds About Masthead Community Guidelines StubHub ✕Jon Gruden invokes name of Raiders great Shane Lechler when speaking of AJ ColeNew,32commentsPDTShare this storyShare this on FacebookShare this on TwitterShareAll sharing optionsShareAll sharing options for:Jon Gruden invokes name of Raiders great Shane Lechler when speaking of AJ ColeTwitterFacebookRedditPocketFlipboardEmailThe competition between incumbent punter Johnny Townsend and undrafted rookie AJ Cole played out in Saturday’s preseason opener much like it has all camp. The two punters split time in the game. Cole had four punts and Townsend had three. And even with Townsend launching a 55-yard punt in the game, Cole still had a better average (43.0 yards per punt). Cole also had two punts stopped inside the 20 while Townsend had none.Here’s how their punts went: Townsend — 34 yards to the 21, 55 yards returned 6 yards to the 23, 38 yards fair caught at the 20.Cole — 46 yards fair caught at the 29, 33 yards downed at the 10, 44 yards downed at the 31 https://www.raiderslockerroom.com/authentic-derek-carr-jersey , 49 yards fair caught at the 18.This performance is not shocking. Townsend hasn’t looked really any different than he did last season when he was statistically the worst punter in football. Meanwhile the upstart Cole has done well with the occasional moon shot, showcasing his potential as a punter.I wrote of Cole this camp, comparing him to former Raiders punter Marquette King. Gruden did that and more following Saturday’s game.“We’ve got a battle there,” said Gruden. “I think Townsend has got his hands full in AJ Cole. It’s going to be interesting down the stretch. Cole proved he can kick off which adds to his versatility. He downed it inside the 20 a couple times. He put an orbital display the other day against the against the Rams. We haven’t seen kicks like that since [Shane] Lechler was here or [Marquette] King. This guy really has a live leg and it looks like he can directional punt and hold. So Townsend has his hands full. We like Townsend too. It will be a battle here in the next couple weeks.”Gruden talks about there being a punter battle in Oakland while simultaneously talking like there really isn’t much of a battle anymore. And, honestly, there may not be. Cole has thoroughly outperformed incumbent Johnny Townsend. Gruden isn’t just trying to talk up a young player, he’s merely calling it as it is.Follow @LeviDamien