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  4. title => "Raiders receivers coach Edgar Bennett breaks down stacked position group"
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  6. article_body => "<p>Edgar Bennett has sincerely enjoyed coaching this Raiders receiver corps. A vastly upgraded group has the talent&nbsp;to spare, with more worthy competitors than he has roster spots.<\/p>\n<p>That units position coach has tough decisions ahead, but he isn\u2019t focused on that quite yet. The Raiders have two preseason games left before trimming the roster to 53 and 11 receivers to five or, more likely, six. Thursday night\u2019s exhibition against Green Bay in Winnipeg will provide another evaluation point for Bennett to chart his group\u2019s growth.<\/p>\n<p>He expects another productive night, even with frontline starters out, considering how they\u2019ve practiced and played.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt has been fun, and it\u2019s certainly unique from an energy standpoint,\u201d Bennett told NBC Sports Bay Area on Sunday in Napa. \u201cEvery guy brings so much every day. I love their mindset when it comes to preparation, and they attack each practice. They apply things well from the meeting room to the practice field, from the practice field to game day.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Bennett\u2019s crew has been good from top to bottom, easily the team\u2019s strength.<\/p>\n<p>The receivers have been solid even with Antonio Brown missing all but two full practices since training camp began. Tyrell Williams is banged up and won\u2019t play the Packers. Neither will J.J. Nelson.<\/p>\n<p>That provides an excellent opportunity to evaluate the back end of the position group, where several are battling for one or two spots.<\/p>\n<p>Brown, Williams, Hunter Renfrow and return man Dwayne Harris are locks.<\/p>\n<p>Ryan Grant looks more and more like a fit in preseason games.<\/p>\n<p>Marcell Ateman, Keelan Doss, Keon Hatcher and even Rico Gafford have had their moments in the sun this summer, and Bennett admits that skill set could weigh into that final spot if most things are even.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEach guy is unique,\u201d Bennett said. \u201cYou think about Rico Gafford\u2019s speed element or Keelan Doss\u2019 ability to play multiple positions well. Ateman has the size and can attack the football in the red zone. Even Hatcher has been so reliable and dependable. You just have to take all that into consideration and see who continues to play at a high level.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Head coach Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock will make final roster selections, but Bennett will have significant into choices made.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou get to voice your opinion before Mike and Jon make the final decisions,\u201d Bennett said. \u201cI try to keep my guys\u2019 thoughts away from cuts. It\u2019s more about improving as a player and putting good work on tape. That, more than anything else, will help you land a job in this league.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Here are some other highlights from my conversation with Edgar Bennett:<\/p>\n<p><strong>On the slot receiver competition between Renfrow and Grant:<\/strong><br>\u201cIt has been extremely competitive. Both of those guys have done a phenomenal job in what we\u2019re asking them to do as route runners and blockers downfield. They have great communication. But, the most important thing is that both Hunter and Ryan have been making plays. They create separation. You look at tape and see that both of those guys have done some great things in camp.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>How Grant has impressed, even with so many eyes focused on Renfrow:<\/strong><br>\u201cHe\u2019s proven, as far as what he\u2019s capable of doing. And I love that he shows up at big moments. He had some of his best days against the Rams when they were here in Napa. He has also taken it to game day. He might be quiet off the field, but he communicates well when we\u2019re working. He has done everything that we\u2019ve asked him to do.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>On Tyrell Williams as a complete receiver:<\/strong><br>\u201cHe\u2019s so versatile. You see a guy with that type of size and speed and you think deep threat, but he can play all three spots. He can jump in the slot, and create separation inside and out. He\u2019s another guy who will attack his job and high point the football. The other thing is that he\u2019s a leader. He\u2019s great in the classroom and gives us everything he\u2019s got on the practice field.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>[<strong>RELATED<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/bayarea\/raiders\/lamarcus-joyner-embracing-raiders-leadership-role-return-slot-corner\" target=\"_blank\">Joyner embracing Raiders leadership role<\/a>]<\/p>\n<p><strong>The key to quality leadership among wide receivers:<\/strong><br>\u201cThe No. 1 goal, when we talk about leadership, is showing the way. That\u2019s the starting point. The vocal aspect of leadership stems from that. You earn respect from how you work, and your voice gains weight after guys see how you perform. Actions speak louder than our words.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>What Bennett likes about Antonio Brown:<\/strong><br>\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of energy, a lot of passion. I love the enthusiasm and playmaking ability. Obviously, his talent is unmatched. He\u2019s so precise and in such great shape, and can make plays even when the defense is trying to prevent him from doing so.\u201d<\/p>\n"
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Raiders

Raiders

Edgar Bennett has sincerely enjoyed coaching this Raiders receiver corps. A vastly upgraded group has the talent to spare, with more worthy competitors than he has roster spots.

That units position coach has tough decisions ahead, but he isn’t focused on that quite yet. The Raiders have two preseason games left before trimming the roster to 53 and 11 receivers to five or, more likely, six. Thursday night’s exhibition against Green Bay in Winnipeg will provide another evaluation point for Bennett to chart his group’s growth.

He expects another productive night, even with frontline starters out, considering how they’ve practiced and played.

“It has been fun, and it’s certainly unique from an energy standpoint,” Bennett told NBC Sports Bay Area on Sunday in Napa. “Every guy brings so much every day. I love their mindset when it comes to preparation, and they attack each practice. They apply things well from the meeting room to the practice field, from the practice field to game day.”

Bennett’s crew has been good from top to bottom, easily the team’s strength.

The receivers have been solid even with Antonio Brown missing all but two full practices since training camp began. Tyrell Williams is banged up and won’t play the Packers. Neither will J.J. Nelson.

That provides an excellent opportunity to evaluate the back end of the position group, where several are battling for one or two spots.

Brown, Williams, Hunter Renfrow and return man Dwayne Harris are locks.

 

Ryan Grant looks more and more like a fit in preseason games.

Marcell Ateman, Keelan Doss, Keon Hatcher and even Rico Gafford have had their moments in the sun this summer, and Bennett admits that skill set could weigh into that final spot if most things are even.

“Each guy is unique,” Bennett said. “You think about Rico Gafford’s speed element or Keelan Doss’ ability to play multiple positions well. Ateman has the size and can attack the football in the red zone. Even Hatcher has been so reliable and dependable. You just have to take all that into consideration and see who continues to play at a high level.”

Head coach Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock will make final roster selections, but Bennett will have significant into choices made.

“You get to voice your opinion before Mike and Jon make the final decisions,” Bennett said. “I try to keep my guys’ thoughts away from cuts. It’s more about improving as a player and putting good work on tape. That, more than anything else, will help you land a job in this league.”

Here are some other highlights from my conversation with Edgar Bennett:

On the slot receiver competition between Renfrow and Grant:
“It has been extremely competitive. Both of those guys have done a phenomenal job in what we’re asking them to do as route runners and blockers downfield. They have great communication. But, the most important thing is that both Hunter and Ryan have been making plays. They create separation. You look at tape and see that both of those guys have done some great things in camp.”

How Grant has impressed, even with so many eyes focused on Renfrow:
“He’s proven, as far as what he’s capable of doing. And I love that he shows up at big moments. He had some of his best days against the Rams when they were here in Napa. He has also taken it to game day. He might be quiet off the field, but he communicates well when we’re working. He has done everything that we’ve asked him to do.”

On Tyrell Williams as a complete receiver:
“He’s so versatile. You see a guy with that type of size and speed and you think deep threat, but he can play all three spots. He can jump in the slot, and create separation inside and out. He’s another guy who will attack his job and high point the football. The other thing is that he’s a leader. He’s great in the classroom and gives us everything he’s got on the practice field.”

[RELATED: Joyner embracing Raiders leadership role]

The key to quality leadership among wide receivers:
“The No. 1 goal, when we talk about leadership, is showing the way. That’s the starting point. The vocal aspect of leadership stems from that. You earn respect from how you work, and your voice gains weight after guys see how you perform. Actions speak louder than our words.”

 

What Bennett likes about Antonio Brown:
“There’s a lot of energy, a lot of passion. I love the enthusiasm and playmaking ability. Obviously, his talent is unmatched. He’s so precise and in such great shape, and can make plays even when the defense is trying to prevent him from doing so.”