Welcome to this Las Vegas Raiders training camp segment! We will dive into the positions and dive into questions heading into training camp. It’s truly crazy that football is right around the corner and feels like yesterday that the season ended. Today we will start with the quarterbacks and running backs and group them together! So here we go!

Quarterbacks

What will the Offense Truly Look Like?

When there are no pads, it’s easy to look effective. Plays are a bit easier to make and while you do like the stuff you are seeing, it’s not the real thing. So with all the pieces in place and pads are strapped on, what does this offense look like and what should we expect?

Geno Smith adds a nice dimension to this offense. He is mobile and can extend plays with his legs. The idea is that he should thrive under offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and he has already had success under Pete Carroll before.

Geno Smith did turn heads during OTA’s, with his ability to deliver accurate passes to his receivers, while also being able to air out the deep ball. That’s another thing, how are the Raiders going to execute that? The Raiders lagged with throwing the ball deep down the field and it’s not surprise given what’s been under center. They have the weapons and the talent to be able to execute these plays, so now it’s all about doing it.

All eyes will be on Smith and how this offense begins to click when running more at full speed. The other nice thing is that the Raiders finally have a leader under center. Is Geno Smith the best guy out there? No. But he has shown promise under Carroll and Carroll believes in his leadership skills.

“Geno is a natural leader,” Carroll said during minicamp. “He has developed over the years through all hard knocks and the tough ways that he’s come up through it all to be a great competitor, and he knows to be a great competitor, you have to go for every opportunity that you have. And that’s what he’s done.”

The Raiders need this type of leadership and compete level and it’s a good culture setting tone going into the season.

Running backs

Seeing Ashton Jeanty at Full Speed

I don’t think there is a world where we are asking many questions surrounding Ashton Jeanty. There is a reason why the Raiders took him 6th overall and named him the franchise cowbell back of this offense. They believe in his potential and believe in the player that he is and could be. He looked good in OTA’s, but even then there is only so much you could take from those.

The things that make him special is his ability to run with authority. He is fast, is a bruising back, and reminds me of Marshawn Lynch (who played under Carroll and was also a Raider).

Seeing Jeanty in full speed is going to be an absolute treat. Seeing him break tackles, explode through the open holes, and see how he can establish the run game is going to be something to see. Also, the run blocking, but we’ll get there.

Overall, this is the best these two positions have looked since Jacobs and Carr left. Now all eyes will be on them in the next month.

Up Next: Wide Receiver and Tight End