Friday, the Raiders took one full time starter's name off the list of those who had yet to be named a captain this season. For those who haven't been following along, Klint Kubiak has been naming his captains based around their performance in the previous game. And for the first seven weeks of the season, he didn't have a repeat captain.
At some point, the repeats had to start. And that week was last week when Ashton Jeanty, Maxx Crosby, and Dylan Laube were named starters -- all three of whom had been named captains for games earlier in the season. That continued this week with Brock Bowers being named a captain for the second time.
If it were simply a matter of making sure every starter got his turn as a captain, there would still be a few more
weeks before there was a repeat.
This week Jeremy Chinn was named a captain for the first time this season thanks, in part, to his interception of Geno Smith in last Sunday's game that sealed the victory for the Raiders. But he was one of several full time starers who were waiting on the C badge for the first time this season.
To be exact, there are three Las Vegas players who have started every game and have yet to be named a captain. And it's very telling of the season each is having.
1. LT Kolton Miller
The veteran left tackle got a big estension prior to the start of this season. And while he hasn't been what you would call terrible every week, he's had a couple doozies and has certainly not been the steady blindside presence he had been for much of his time in Silver & Black. Once he has a complete game in which he keep the pocket clear from his side, he could join the other captains.
2. LG Spencer Burford
While there has been a revolving door at the right guard spot, Burford has somehow kept his starting left guard job all season. Hard to say if/when his play will be able to rise to the level of captain. The team may just have to lower the bar if they want to give him his day. Or bench him. But there would have to be a better option to replace him and therein lies the rub.
3. CB Eric Stokes
This has to be another situation in which they're just waiting for him to make a play. He hasn't been terrible and he hasn't been outstanding. He's just been inconsistent. Just last week, for instance, he would give up a big play and then make a nice breakup back and forth he would go. The only cornerback for the Raiders who has earned a captain badge was Taron Johnson. And on a team that has been giving up the kind of yards through the air that this team has surrendered, that tracks.
This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: 3 full time Raiders starters not yet named captains telling of season performance
