The Las Vegas Raiders’ preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals offered a glimpse of promise for the offense, particularly with veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins and kicker Matt Gay performing well, while also exposing areas that need improvement.
Kirk Cousins took the opening thrust and completed 5 of 6 passes, including a 13-yard touchdown to Michael Mayer on a third-and-3 play. The unit looked crisp and efficient moving the chains and grabbing the lead. Cousins would watch from the sidelines for the remainder of the game as the Raiders added just one more touchdown and fell 27-14 to the Arizona Cardinals at Allegiant Stadium.
Kubiak said, “Really blessed with what the discourtesy did connected that archetypal thrust with Kirk starring america down the field,” Kubiak said.
Cousins said, “It felt smooth,” he said. “I was arrogant of the violative line, the communication, the receivers. We made a cheque at 1 constituent and everyone got it and did what they were expected to do. I thought Klint did a large occupation of getting the telephone successful aboriginal truthful we weren’t up against the play clock.”
He added, “Small illustration size, but ever bully to get retired determination and determination the shot and people points.”
Tyler Linderbaum said, “There’s a batch of unknowns in signifier for however you’re going to travel retired and vie as a team,” starting halfway Tyler Linderbaum said. “It was a bully archetypal drive. There’s a batch much shot to beryllium played, but it’s a bully start. Now we person to proceed to get amended and physique that cohesiveness.”
Regarding the quarterback competition, Kubiak said, “(Cousins) has been getting each the reps with the ones,” Kubiak said. “I deliberation he’s had a coagulated grooming camp.” “It’s his occupation to lose.”
On the kicking situation, Matt Gay was able to create more separation from rookie Kansei Matsuzawa. “The Tokyo Toe” not lone missed his lone field-goal effort disconnected the close upright, but besides missed the landing portion connected a footwear that went retired of bounds and allowed the Cardinals to commencement with large tract presumption astatine the 40-yard line.
Jermod McCoy struggled in his return. He was bushed on two goal-line slice routes for touchdowns in one-on-one matchups with Cardinals receivers. He also gave up a reception on the sideline in another iso spot in the second half. McCoy, who turns 21 next week, had not played for more than 18 months earlier Thursday. He had talked about how excited he was to get back on the field for his pro debut, but it’s almost certainly a night he will want to forget.
Defensively, the Raiders did not display much of their new-look scheme, and the Cardinals moved the ball with ease in the first half. Arizona converted all six third-down attempts before halftime and scored touchdowns on each of three possessions. While the second half featured mostly second- and third-teamers from both sides, the Raiders could take solace in the fact they managed some stops. Arizona went just 2-for-9 on third downs after halftime, and the Raiders were actually able to get off the field a few times. The starters will need to find a way to replicate that as they continue preparing for the regular season.
Sincity Press Staff
1 month ago 3 min read
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