ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Was Oakland Raiders coach Jack Del Rio speaking in tongues following his team’s preseason finale loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night?
We’re talking clarity here, or lack thereof in some corners.
“There are a few undrafteds that have a chance to make the roster,” Del Rio said at the time. “If you have a really stacked roster, that’s typically not the case.”
Indeed, four undrafted rookies made Oakland’s initial 53-man roster -- running back Jalen Richard, receiver Johnny Holton, defensive lineman Darius Latham and cornerback Antonio Hamilton.
Plus, linebacker James Cowser, who suffered a concussion against Seattle, was waived-injured before clearing waivers and reverting to Injured Reserve (second-year linebacker Neiron Ball, a fifth-round draft pick in 2015 who is still working his way back from a knee injury that limited him to six games last season, went unclaimed and is also on IR).
So with five undrafted rookies still affiliated with the Raiders, does that mean their roster is not “really stacked,” or is that merely reading too much into things?
Besides, another thought is you do actually have a strong roster if players you waive are immediately scooped up by other teams. And such was the case with running back/returner/Raiders legacy George Atkinson III and defensive back Neiko Thorpe.
Atkinson was claimed by the Cleveland Browns (and former Raiders coach Hue Jackson) while the Indianapolis Colts claimed Thorpe.
“Usually, when you get as much tape as we have on these guys,” Del Rio said, “it becomes apparent who’s earned a right to be here and who maybe needs a little time on the practice squad and who’s going to have to take a shot somewhere else, perhaps.”
For Atkinson, it is a bittersweet departure as he Tweeted out his thanks to fans after leading the Raiders with 191 yards rushing and three TDs on 19 carries this preseason. He also caught six passes for 60 yards and returned a kickoff against Seattle 81 yards for a touchdown.
Thanks for all the Support today! #raidernation #rn4l☠🏈 #blessed🙏 #returntogreatness https://t.co/vJ3opGVPZY
— George Atkinson (@georgeatk3) September 4, 2016
Atkinson was eligible to be re-signed to the Raiders' practice squad after spending most of the past two seasons on Oakland’s practice squad. Thorpe, on the other hand, who was signed to a second-round tender this offseason, did not have practice-squad eligibility remaining and was squeezed out in camp this summer.
Del Rio, who was at his son Luke’s debut as the Florida quarterback in Gainesville for the Gators’ 24-7 victory over Massachusetts on Saturday, said he and Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie were on the same page heading into cuts.
Now, whether that is the case on Sept. 24 when Florida faces Tennessee, which is where McKenzie’s son Khalil plays, remains to be seen.
“We get together all the time and talk the roster all the time,” Del Rio said. “So yeah, we have a good idea how things are shaping up and where some of the decisions were made, where some of the tape from tonight will help provide that clarity.”
Clear enough for you now?
