Raiders' Youth Promising in First Preseason Victory
The Las Vegas Raiders won their first preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers, 34-7, in dominant fashion on Sunday.
There were impressive players and overall units on both sides of the ball, as the Raiders were the better team from start to finish.
General Manager Dave Ziegler put together what could be a foundational 2023 NFL Draft class, and several of those players showed promise Sunday.
Even a few players from the 2022 draft class looked solid, including running back Zamir White. White had been taking first-team reps throughout training camp in the absence of Josh Jacobs.
White got the start on Sunday, carrying the ball 13 times for 43 yards and a touchdown on the opening drive. He showed some of the traits that made him a star at Georgia with impressive downhill running and several forced missed tackles.
It appears that White will be a bigger factor in the offense this season than he was as a rookie.
Another second-year running back, Sincere McCormick, also had a good day. He rushed nine times for 27 yards and a touchdown, while catching a two-yard scoring pass as well. McCormick missed his rookie season because of a torn ACL.
One of the Raiders’ top draft selections, wide receiver Tre Tucker, showed some flashes as well. Even though he dropped a couple of passes, he still showed off the speed that made him a third-round pick. He finished the day with one catch for 15 yards.
A couple of rookie defenders played well, including linebacker Amari Burney, who had four total tackles, a sack and a near interception. Safety Christopher Smith II was constantly around the football on special teams as well.
While several of the Raiders’ expected starters and heavy contributors are veterans with multiple years of experience, they increase their ceiling as a team if their youth can contribute early on.
Many of the young players got a great opportunity to showcase their talent to the coaching staff on Sunday, as many starters did not suit up for the game. Many of them were impressive, and gave themselves a greater chance to earn playing time during the regular season.
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