Raiders Training Camp: Offense begins to get established

COSTA MESA Calif. — After getting out-performed by defense in the opening days, the Raiders offense began to produce positive results during day six of training camp in Costa Mesa.

This shift in momentum was partly thanks to the efforts of several members of the rookie class.

Running back Ameer Abdullah credited three rookies, Brock Bowers, Dylan Laube and D.J. Glaze, for their performances throughout camp.

“Anytime you’ve got young guys that don’t need to be coached to do that I think you have a good team,” Abdullah said.

Abdullah said Laube, who took snaps with the first team at some points during 11 on 11, brought “a spark” when he got the ball.

On the defense, Trevon Moehrig  pointed to a solution, noting there’s room for improvement.

”The offense had a better day today," he said. "We’ve got to clean some stuff up in the film room on defense."

Starting up front, the offensive line was able to keep the defensive line at bay compared to the first week of practice, which prompted coach Antonio Pierce to challenge defensive lineman Maxx Crosby and the rest of the defensive line during the 11-on-11 period.

“That's just how it is in training camp, one day the offense might have it, the next day the defense might have it," Pierce said. "As long as we keep doing that, that means we’re getting better each day.”

QB competition

Both quarterbacks looked comfortable Wednesday. Gardner Minshew started practice taking first team reps and had a better day during 11-on-11 periods than Aidan O’Connell, but several of O’Connell’s passes were dropped by the receivers.

Pierce said both quarterbacks would alternate reps with the first team during camp, but O’Connell was taking the majority of snaps with the first team before Thursday.

Minshew was able to complete more passes than O’Connell, but it should be noted most of them were checkdowns. 

O’Connell did have arguably one of the best throws of the day though, when he found DJ Turner on a deep pass for a touchdown.

Although the offense took a steps in the right direction, neither quarterback truly separated themselves from the other Wednesday.