Jackson Powers-Johnson not being handed back Raiders starting center job

USA Today

3 days ago

Midway through last season, rookie Jackson Powers-Johnson went to head coach Antonio Pierce and told him point blank that he was the team's starting center. He had been bouncing back and forth between center and guard and the Rimington Award winner bet that staking his claim on the center position would go over well in the eyes of his former NFL player head coach.
He bet correctly. Pierce made him the starter and he remained there until injuries forced him back to the guard spot late in the season and Andre James returned to his former starting center duties.
This offseason the Raiders released James, seemingly paving the way for JPJ to be the man in the middle this season. It seemed so automatic that when they mentioned this offseason that there would be competition at all interior line spots, including center, it came off as coach speak.
But once again, Pete Carroll is practicing what he preaches.
After JPJ spent this offseason as the first team center and the first few days of this training camp there as well, suddenly he has taken a backseat to former starting guard Jordan Meredith. Suggesting that the fourth year lineman is getting an actual shot to take the job.
'This goes right to the heart of everybody's always competing," Carroll said. "These guys are battling for their playing time. And it's a good battle. You asked about Jordan specifically, he's done well. He played really efficiently last year. His numbers and his consistency really showed up even though he didn't seem right as a regular all the time. He just opened our eyes in the offseason studies, so we're just giving him a shot. JPJ's working his tail off and both those guys are battling, so it just makes us better.'
Earlier this camp, Maxx Crosby admitted that he and JPJ didn't get off on the right foot last season. As you'd suspect, it was because he wasn't putting the work Crosby deemed necessary at the NFL level. It showed up on the field as well. I noted during last season that JPJ seemed like he was dogging it. His body language was poor and it seemed after every play instead of hopping back up, he would lay on the turf for a few seconds as if he were hurt when he wasn't. It's just not a good look. And a new staff watching that tape would likely come to the conclusion that the second-year man needs a metaphorical kick in the pants.
Meredith came in and beat out Dylan Parham at guard last season, and put some good work on tape in the process. Mind you he is a former undrafted free agent out of Western Kentucky who fought his way onto the Raiders roster and has had to earn the right to stick around for three seasons. He has to be doing something right.
'He's a really good communicator. He's a little bit smaller guy," Carroll said of the 6-2, 300-pounder. "And the position is more adaptable for him, he doesn't line up on the three-techniques all the time. He can do it, he did it last year, but his power that he generates and then the quickness and the smarts, the combination is what really gives him a chance to compete for this thing.'
There are really three possibilities here. 1) Meredith has surpassed JPJ in the minds of his coaches. 2) The coaches are simply living up to their word about competition and giving Meredith a shot. 3) This is to send JPJ a message that he won't be handed the job without a fight.
Which it is should become more clear as camp goes on. The Raiders have a day off from on-field practice today. When they return to the field on Thursday, it will be worth noting who takes the first first at center to offer some clarity as to where the coaches see from this battle.