OAKLAND -- The Raiders need some positive momentum after they lost some last week when Jon Gruden traded Khalil Mack to the Bears. The Silver and Black got a compensation package that includes two first-round picks and nothing to help the 2018 squad. If that wasn’t enough of a blow, Mack wrecked shop on national television Sunday night in Green Bay.
The emotional roller-coaster has taken its toll on the Raiders fan base, and a victory over the Los Angeles Rams in their season opener Monday night could be the tonic that soothes the transition away from Mack. That’s no easy task against a Rams team that many consider a Super Bowl contender.
The Silver and Black will need several players to step up to have a chance, so let’s look at four Raiders to watch in the game at the Oakland Coliseum.
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DE Arden Key
Nobody on the roster is going to replace Mack. The Raiders won’t use Key as a substitiute for a three-down player like Mack, but he will fill a vital role on passing downs. Expect Tank Carradine to start and play in the base defense, with Key rotating in as a situational pass rusher.
Key has elite physical skill, with bend and athleticism and speed to quickly reach the quarterback. He also has solid technical skill that must be refined. He’s a bit raw, but Key is the Raiders' best pure pass rusher outside Bruce Irvin.
The Raiders hope to get production from Key early on to help take attention away from Irvin and impact Rams QB Jared Goff’s rhythm. It tough to throw such responsibility at a rookie, but the Raiders believe Key is up to the task.
NFL
LT Kolton Miller
Coaches have heaped praise on the first-round pick from UCLA, lauding his physical and mental development since he turned pro. He’s clearly bigger and stronger that he was after the NFL draft, and he's far more confident within his skin and his role on the team.
The Raiders desperately need Miller to succeed, to validate the decision to move two-time Pro Bowl pick Donald Penn to the right side. Offensive tackle is the Raiders’ biggest question mark, but Miller needs to be the answer that protects franchise quarterback Derek Carr. If Miller suddenly struggles, the Raiders would move Penn back to the left side and have an unappealing answer in his place.
Coaches trust Miller to play right away. He’ll have to do so for the Raiders to function well.
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CB Gareon Conley
The Ohio State product is a second-year pro in name only. This essentially is Conley’s rookie season.
A shin injury stole his rookie year, save two early games, and a hip issue shelved him for training camp. Conley has been healthy ever since, and playing more like the No. 1 cornerback the Raiders thought he could be. Coaches still want to see him play physical and tackle well within Paul Guenther’s scheme, but he’s a natural cover man with great agility and speed.
Rashaan Melvin has had a suspect preseason, and Daryl Worley is suspended for the first four games, so the Raiders need Conley to provide stability on one side by staying healthy and playing well.
QB Derek Carr
The franchise quarterback is the team’s leader, a role he shared with Mack before this season. Carr also is responsible for the Raiders' fortunes, as offensive orchestrator in a scheme that heaps responsibility on the quarterback.
Carr and Gruden have worked incredibly well together, and will unveil his offense this regular season after playing coy during preseason games. Carr has performed well in practice. He has mastered the scheme and his role in it. Can he turn it on and rebound from a down year? That’s the season’s biggest question.
If Carr can, the Raiders will be in most every game. If he struggles, it will be a long year.