HENDERSON, Nev.—The next time the Las Vegas Raiders take the practice field, it will be in another city and against a team that will not be hesitant to make plays at their expense.
Tuesday marks the first day away from friendly confines for the Raiders, facing off against the Houston Texans in joint practice before the lone preseason game on the road at NRG Stadium on Thursday.
While it is always a challenge to walk into a hostile environment, the Raiders appear ready to make the most of their first experience on the road this year.
“It’s another day for everybody to get better together, going against another team,” said safety Isaiah Pola-Mao. “It should be a good challenge for us.”
For some of the rookies, this will mark their first road trip as professional players.
While much of the attention will drift to Fernando Mendoza on offense, it will be the defense that Raiders fans will be eager to see improvements from. In particular, a secondary loaded with youth are hoping to scrub a rough first outing against the Arizona Cardinals from their record.
“We got some young guys coming in. They’re young and hungry and eager to learn,” said Pola-Mao on his younger teammates.
“Them just being here has pushed me, honestly. [Klint Kubiak] has been pushing me. It’s on me. I got to push through and just make sure I’m on top of everything and make it a difficult decision.”
Getting the pass rush to alleviate the pressure from the young players would go a long way towards achieving that goal.
The pass rush could not get going early with Maxx Crosby sitting out against Arizona, leaving the Cardinals quarterbacks able to operate with a mostly clean pocket. It opens the door for players like Keyron Crawford to make an impact. The third-round pick had one of his better days of practice on Monday, and the hope is that he can build on that effort to make an impact against Houston.
“Just being able to stick to what I’m told and what I’ve been taught,” said Crawford about how his approach to joint practices.
“Nothing’s going to change as far as the work ethic and the things that all the guys come in here and put the work in to do, so we’re all going to play as one and compete.”
Even beyond the rookies, other young players are hoping to make an impression on a new coaching staff on the road.
The offensive line has quickly turned into an underrated storyline, especially after a solid effort against Arizona. Jackson Powers-Johnson and Caleb Rogers have engaged in a spirited battle at right guard, while the Raiders have turned to a duo of young tackles in Charles Grant and Trey Zuhn on the second unit to bookend for Mendoza. Against a talented group of Texans pass rushers, this week will be the ultimate test of where they currently are in their development.
“It’s a great opportunity to improve and compete, getting ready to play the best,” said Grant. “We got to show that we can work with the best.”
During the next few days, the Raiders are about to find out just where they stand to improve in what will be the most eye-opening stretch of training camp to date.