Just Around the Corner: Five Storylines To Watch For In Raiders’ 2020 Training Camp
Jon Gruden, Derek Carr, Raiders
Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

With a month to go until training camp, hopes and expectations are high around the Las Vegas Raiders’ new facility in Henderson as coaches and players prepare for the 2020 season. With that in mind, here are five storylines to watch for in the weeks leading up to camp opening…

No more Napa

This one isn’t so much football related, but 2020 will be the first time in 24 years that the Raiders won’t be hosting camp in Napa, California. There were rumors about whether or not this would be the case, but then the NFL mandated that camps be held at team facilities. The good news for the Raiders is that their facility was scheduled to be done in time, but it will definitely create a different vibe around the team.

Maybe it’s a good thing as players can start developing a more consistent routine around the facility? Or maybe they’ll miss out on the bonds created in Napa and staying across the street in a hotel? We’ll see.

New Faces

If there’s one wild card in 2020, it’s what impact the coronavirus (COVID-19) will have on how quickly newcomers can adjust to their new surroundings. Normally by now, coaches have gotten their hands on rookies as they can get them in the weight room, around each other and the playbook. This year everything has been done over Zoom, however, which while better than nothing is still not ideal.

In addition to the rookies, this also could impact guys like Cory Littleton and Nick Kwiatkowski — the two guys the Raiders are hoping will solidify a defense that is desperate for some consistency in the middle of the field. Overall, the Raiders are projecting something like five new starters on defense (Littleton, Kwiatkowski, Maliek Collins, Damon Arnette and Damarrious Randall) and if they want any chance at the playoffs, that side of the ball is going to be critical.

Henry Ruggs’ Health

A few weeks ago, Ruggs — the team’s first-round pick at No. 12 overall — made the news when it came out that he had injured himself while helping a friend move in Alabama. According to his dad, a trailer pinned Ruggs but left just a small incision. Since then, all that has been revealed is that he received stitches and is expected to be ready for training camp, so it will be interesting to see what kind of shape he shows up in.

While I have my doubts about the total production one might reasonably expect from Ruggs this season, I’ve long said that his impact will go well beyond the box score. If Ruggs is at full speed, defenses will have to change everything they do — which will open things up for everyone else. But if he’s hobbled? That could be a disastrous start.

Wide Receiver Battle

If you’re looking for a position battle to watch, I think wide receiver might be the most interesting. Ruggs, Tyrell Williams, Hunter Renfrow and Bryan Edwards are probably the only guys with guaranteed spots — but the question is how many guys the Raiders might carry?

If Lynn Bowden is a running back will the Raiders carry more than four backs (Josh Jacobs, Jalen Richard and Alec Ingold)? What about tight ends — with the Raiders guaranteeing spots to Darren Waller, Jason Witten and Foster Moreau?

Last year the Raiders broke camp with six wide receivers, three tight ends and four backs. With Bowden’s position a bit vague, I don’t think it would be all that surprising to see the Raiders break camp with four this season — unless the Raiders are going to put more on Ingold’s plate in the running game.

Let’s say they do stick with six receivers, though, that means two spots available for: Zay Jones, Nelson Agholor, Keelan Doss, Marcell Ateman and Rico Gafford. Personally, I like Jones and Agholor (by a lot) from that group — but what if there’s only one spot for those two? This will be a fun one to watch.

Super Mariota

The starting quarterback for the Raiders is unequivocally Derek Carr. This is not an open competition, regardless of what anyone in the media might want you to believe — and yet, it will be fascinating to see how quickly Mariota can get acclimated to his new environment. It’s reasonable to expect a quarterback to be a bit slow in picking up an entire new playbook with new verbiage — which would relieve a bit of pressure on Carr, but what if Mariota comes out on fire?

What if the first two weeks of camp are dominated by reports of Mariota tearing it up and anonymous player quotes about how good he looks? Again, I don’t think Carr’s job is in jeopardy, but it would definitely make things more interesting as the season progresses.