The Las Vegas Raiders are having a joint training camp practice with at the Houston Texans on Tuesday morning before they play a preseason game there Thursday night.
This will be some of the most important work of training camp and the preseason because the starters should get a lot of work. Here are some things to watch at the joint practice:
Fundamentals:
The Raiders are entering their fourth straight season with a new head coach. New coach Klint Kubiak, a first-time head coach, has preached urgency.
We will see in this practice how the Raiders are coming along in terms of fundamentals. Kubiak wants the team to get the details right and that will be important to establish in this practice.
Tough challenge for offense:
Houston has one of the best defenses in the NFL. It will be interesting to see how much the Raiders’ first-team offense goes against the Texans’ first-unit defense. The Texans’ defense is fast and they pressure offenses. Keys for Las Vegas will be protection from the offensive line and ball security.
Limit fighting:
Yes, there will likely be, at least, one skirmish in this workout. It happens al the time around the league during joint practices and it’s been happening for years. It will be hot and players will have a short fuse and they will want to make a statement. The Raiders have had their share of joint-practice brawls. While it’s expected, Kubiak will likely warn his players about fighting, especially after Saturday’s dust up between Maxx Crosby and Kirk Cousins. Football must be the focus.
Health:
Just like the actual preseason games, staying healthy has to be major focus in joint workouts. As much as the getting quality work accomplished, getting out of the day healthy must be the main priority.
