Oakland Raiders: Early path opens for Vadal Alexander at right tackle
The Oakland Raiders’ top-notch offensive line has a void at right tackle. With several options to fill the position, Vadal Alexander could claim the spot.
The Oakland Raiders offensive line allowed the fewest sacks during the previous season, per Pro Football Focus.
The unit takes pride in protecting their quarterback. After the first minicamp practice, Derek Carr gave insight on the collective mindset in the trenches during a typical game, per Raiders.com:
"Those guys take their jobs so serious. If I get hit, it like ruins their day. My relationship with those guys is just continuing to grow and learn that those guys are some of the most competitive men you’ll ever be around. They get on each other if even during a game I get touched on my jersey. They get on each other. For that to be their mindset, that makes me happy to stand behind them."
Vadal Alexander started five games for the proud unit during the previous year. At LSU, he started two years at left guard and two at right tackle. The Raiders took full advantage of his versatility and lined him up inside and outside as a rookie. Without Menelik Watson on the roster and Austin Howard still restricted from participating in full practices, per NBCS Bay Area reporter Scott Bair, there’s a clear pathway for Alexander to start in the upcoming season.
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Before practices in May, head coach Jack Del Rio pinpointed Marshall Newhouse as the frontrunner at right tackle, per ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez, but he’s missed recent practices with an injury. Alexander and rookie David Sharpe have received a bulk of the work on the right side.
Howard’s status for training camp seems murky as he recovers from multiple shoulder surgeries, which includes a torn labrum. Newhouse could see the field late July, but his veteran status won’t give him an early lead to the starting position. Alexander put together one solid year with the team, and Del Rio liked what he saw from the 2016 seventh-round pick, again per Raiders.com.
"“He got a lot of reps, and he played some last year for us,” Del Rio said. “So, we know he’s a good football player. He’ll obviously be in the mix.”"
Based on Alexander’s workload and Newhouse missing a handful of practices, the two offensive linemen should be deadlocked for the position. The coaching staff will likely alternate both players at right tackle until one clearly outperforms the other.
Keep in mind, Del Rio doesn’t hand out first-team reps based on past merit. Just ask linebacker Sio Moore, who lost his position to Malcolm Smith during the 2015 offseason. If Howard gets clearance from the medical staff, he may very well practice with the second team until he’s ready to upgrade on competition against the starters.
Next: Raiders: 5 Players ready to break out in 2017
Alexander’s one-year experience in the system, expected growth under offensive line coach Mike Tice and taste of action with the starters places him on the radar as a potential training camp stud. Nonetheless, he’d have to seal the deal in preseason play.