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New York Times
13 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Raiders training camp: Chip Kelly, offense ready for the pads to come on
HENDERSON, Nev. — Chip Kelly is ready for contact. When asked to assess various elements of the Las Vegas Raiders offense, the coordinator repeatedly noted that he couldn't make full evaluations until pads come on next week. 'Pads — I'll go back to that one,' Kelly said for about the 10th time during his news conference Thursday. 'I've seen guys look great, and then all of a sudden you put pads on and you're like, 'Where did he go?'' Advertisement Running back Ashton Jeanty is also itching for the sessions to get more physical. He has been able to work on his receiving skills, fundamentals and knowledge of the offense, but wearing shorts, he can't show what makes him truly special. 'As a running back, it's really when we put the pads on,' Jeanty said. 'I'll let that happen when it happens.' Turn him up!#RaiderNation — Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) July 23, 2025 And don't forget about the defense. 'We haven't even put pads on yet,' linebacker Elandon Roberts said. 'When the pads come on, then we'll start seeing what we got.' The Raiders' sessions in Week 1 of training camp still hold value, particularly for the offense as Kelly continues to install his complex system. Still, the players are starting to get excited about what it'll look like by the time the season gets here. 'Oh my gosh, I love Chip Kelly's offense,' receiver Tre Tucker said Wednesday. 'He's very good at putting guys in the right spot to succeed. I feel like, sometimes, people can just put people places and expect you to run a certain thing. But he's more of a players guy, not a plays guy. 'And it's just an explosive offense, man. … We're just breaking it in. But you guys will see. Over camp, it's going to pick up, and it's very explosive.' On the flip side, Kelly is getting to know his players and tweaking his system to optimize their abilities. Having a talented quarterback in Geno Smith has allowed him to be creative in that process. 'The beauty is that the guy pulling the trigger can run everything,' Kelly said. 'If we're with Geno and say, 'Hey, we'd like to do this,' he can do it. Whether it be quick game, he can do it. With throwing the deep ball, he can do it. With the intermediate parts, he can do that. He's got so much experience. To have a veteran quarterback there is such a comforting feeling.' Advertisement Here are more observations from practice on Thursday. • Dont'e Thornton is getting more comfortable and has stood out among the rookie receivers. He has been a constant in the starting lineup. 'He's done a really nice job — and (receiver coach) Chris Beatty does a great job with him — in terms of picking up our offense,' Kelly said. 'He's been sharp. And I know it's comforting for Geno knowing he's got someone that fast and that tall out there who's a big body to throw to.' Jack Bech has also started to rotate in with the starters as an outside receiver. He came along slowly during OTAs but is starting to get more comfortable. 'For all those guys, it's just really truly understanding the offense,' Kelly said. 'It's just him getting more comfortable in our scheme. … He's sharp and he's picking things up, but him and Dont'e and Ashton, they're still rookies.' • New arrival Jamal Adams was working with the linebackers on Thursday. The 29-year-old has played safety most of his career, but he doesn't have the same speed or athleticism he once did after suffering multiple significant leg injuries. At this point, Adams' skill set is best used operating primarily in the box. He has the size and strength to be an effective run stopper and blitzer as a weakside linebacker. 'It'll be second nature for him to walk down in the box with the 'backers,' Roberts said. 'He's an instinctual guy. He's got stuff you can't teach.' Even if the Raiders don't use Adams as a traditional deep safety, though, he'll still need to improve what he's put on tape in recent years in pass coverage to hang. During team drills, he was working with the second- and third-team defenses. Roberts and Devin White have continued to be the primary starters at linebacker. Germaine Pratt, who signed right before the end of OTAs, is working in slowly as he learns defensive coordinator Patrick Graham's scheme. • Offensive lineman Thayer Munford returned to practice Thursday after missing Wednesday's session due to the birth of his child. He was working at guard, which he started to do toward the end of OTAs. The Raiders tweaked their starting offensive line Thursday, with Jordan Meredith handing center duties over to Jackson Powers-Johnson. Meredith started games at guard last year, but he also has experience at center. Advertisement The rest of the starting O-line remained the same with Kolton Miller at left tackle, Dylan Parham at left guard, Alex Cappa at right guard and DJ Glaze at right tackle. The Raiders are likely getting Meredith more reps to get him comfortable working with Smith and to protect themselves in case of injury. 'You're only going to have seven or eight guys (active) on game day,' Kelly said. 'They've got to be able to go no matter who goes down.' Powers-Johnson held down center duties with the second-team offense. It'd take a major development for him not to be the starter for the Raiders, but he's behaving as if that's not guaranteed. 'I'm just trying to earn it every day,' Powers-Johnson said. 'Nothing's been given to me.' • Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins (foot/physically unable to perform list) was the only player who missed practice Thursday. • Cornerback Decamerion Richardson got a notable number of reps with the starters on Thursday. He struggled as a rookie but has looked solid during practices. He's tall, long and fast, so he fits what coach Pete Carroll looks for at corner. He has a lot of potential if he can put it all together. • Tyree Wilson spent a lot of time with the starting defense lined up as a defensive tackle. He has rotated inside throughout his career, so that isn't new, but the Raiders could use him there more often if Wilkins misses time.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Silver Minings: Is the offense being slept on?
We all know the Las Vegas Raiders' offense, as a whole, was mostly dreadful in the 2024 season. But it's over and it seems like the team has made some nice additions for the 2025 season this offseason, adding new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, quarterback Geno Smith and running back Ashton Jeanty, among others, to help build an offense that showcases 2024 star rookie tight end Brock Bowers Advertisement Frankly, the additions are impressive and it should help the Raiders become a competent offense this season. Yet, not everyone is convinced the Las Vegas offense will improve. Pro Football Network ranked the 32 offenses in the league. The Raiders came in at 29th. Basically, the site wants to see improvement before believing it. I guess that's fair, but the truth is the Raiders have an opportunity to prove that 2025 can be a different story than 2024 was and that's all they can ask for. In other Raiders news: Offseason winners: The Athletic thinks the Raiders were one of them. Best D-lines: PFF ranks the top defensive lines in the league. Best rookies: predicts rookie impact players. More from
New York Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
As Raiders start training camp, here are 5 position battles to watch
The Las Vegas Raiders have a roster loaded with unknown commodities, which means there will be position battles aplenty throughout training camp. That could be seen as a negative, but coach Pete Carroll believes the competition will push the team to improve overall. 'If you don't want to compete, you're in the wrong place,' Carroll said in January. 'Our players will understand that early on.' Advertisement Whether that comes to fruition won't be known until the season starts in September. But it's already easy to identify the most important position battles for the Raiders, who hold their first training camp practice Wednesday. Here are five positions to keep your eye on over the next few weeks. Jakobi Meyers is locked in as a starter, but the other two receiver spots are up for grabs. While Meyers can also line up outside, he spent most of his time during OTAs lined up in the slot. 'He's versatile,' offensive coordinator Chip Kelly said in May. 'He could play both inside and outside receiver. He's got experience doing both. His ability in terms of catching the football, his drop rate, I think, is zero. Anything thrown in his direction, he seems to somehow come down with it. He's got a really good understanding of coverage and schemes, where he knows how to get himself open. … You have to be where you're supposed to be when you're supposed to be there with separation and catch a football, and he can do all four of those things. He's the leader of that group.' If Meyers continues to work primarily from the slot during training camp, receivers who are more effective on the outside will have a leg up in the competition. As it stands, it'll be a three-man race between Dont'e Thornton, Tre Tucker and Jack Bech. Thornton stood out the most among the group during OTAs. He's just different physically — he's 6 feet 4 and has blazing speed — and is working on the nuances of route running and increasing his knowledge of Kelly's scheme. Tucker was also ahead of Bech in the rotation and had his moments during OTAs. For Bech, the key will be improving his ability to win from the outside. He's best from the slot, but there's a logjam there between Meyers and tight end Brock Bowers, who also works there frequently. The second-round pick has some work to do to make up ground on Thornton and Tucker. Bech way to start your morning✍️ 📰: — Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) July 18, 2025 Dylan Parham received the majority of the reps here during OTAs, but that doesn't mean the job is his. Jordan Meredith rotated in behind him and, toward the end of OTAs, Thayer Munford also got some work at the position. The real evaluation for offensive linemen doesn't start until pads come on in training camp. That's when each player will have an opportunity to separate himself from the pack. Advertisement Parham has started 48 of 51 games for the Raiders since 2022 between left guard, center and right guard. But while he has been solid, he has yet to prove himself as a difference maker. If he doesn't take a step forward, Carroll and company could turn elsewhere. The Raiders placed Christian Wilkins on the active/physically unable to perform list last Friday, putting his status for the 2025 season up in the air as he continues to recover from the Jones fracture he suffered in his left foot last October. If he misses time in the regular season, the Raiders will need someone else to step up opposite Adam Butler. During OTAs, most of the reps went to veterans Zach Carter and Leki Fotu. The Raiders used both five-man fronts with three defensive tackles and traditional 4-3 fronts. Whichever alignment they go with, it'll be difficult to replace Wilkins' ability to be a disruptive force as a run stopper and pass rusher. Second-year man Jonah Laulu has earned praise from coaches and players alike, and the Raiders spent Day 3 picks on defensive tackles Tonka Hemingway and JJ Pegues, so maybe a young player surprises here. This may be the most precarious position on the roster. The Raiders let Nate Hobbs walk in free agency and opted not to replace him in free agency or the draft. Safety Jeremy Chinn will rotate down to nickelback in certain situations, but he won't be there full time. The Raiders still need a reliable option to emerge at nickelback. Darnay Holmes, who played 28 percent of the team's defensive snaps last season, is currently the favorite to handle this role. Second-year safety Thomas Harper, who played 19 percent of the defensive snaps last season, could push him. Beyond that, it's undrafted free agents such as John Humphrey and Greedy Vance. This could be a spot where the Raiders look to add free-agent help. Advertisement While the options at nickelback may be the most concerning, this is the most important position battle on the roster. Darien Porter and Eric Stokes got most of the reps during OTA practices, but Jakorian Bennett and Decamerion Richardson will also be given opportunities to carve out starting roles. Bennett has had a similar journey in each of his first two NFL seasons. He was a day-one starter but lost that role due to injury. He had surgery to repair a torn labrum last season and was still working through the recovery process during OTAs. He was excellent when healthy last season and could be the Raiders' most complete corner if he can stay that way. Stokes has also struggled to stay healthy throughout his career. While he played all 17 games last year, he didn't make many plays on the ball. He'll need to do more to justify a starting role. Richardson was thrust into action out of necessity last season. His play was a bit rough, but it's hard to judge him too harshly given he wasn't expected to contribute much as a rookie. He has intriguing traits — he's tall, long and fast — and has a lot of potential if he's able to put it all together. The same goes for Porter, whom the Raiders drafted in the third round in April. He's Carroll's latest project at cornerback and held up well during OTAs. The Raiders also could explore the cornerback market at some point. First off, though, they'll see if they can identify a pair of reliable starters from this group. (Photo of Jack Bech: Candice Ward / Imagn Images)
The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Big Ten college football stadiums ranked from best to worst
There's the annual "White Out" game at Penn State. Michigan's record-setting capacity. The beauty of Pasadena at dusk. The unforgettable atmospheres at schools such as Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska and more. From top to bottom, it's hard to top the history and tradition found at these Big Ten venues. In terms of pure intimidation, though, there's a very clear group at the top (and bottom). Here's how USA TODAY Sports ranks Big Ten home fields from nastiest to kindest for visitors: 1. Ohio Stadium, Ohio State Trips to the Horseshoe are basically a guaranteed loss for teams in and out of the Big Ten, unless you're Michigan. (The Wolverines have taken two in a row at home in the series.) Since the stadium opened in 1922, Ohio State has posted a mark of 478-115-20, including a remarkable 55-3 record (94.9%) since 2016. The Buckeyes have turned the 'Shoe into maybe the most hostile locale in the sport. 2. Beaver Stadium, Penn State "White Out" games are among the most unique home-field sights in college football: Nittany Lions faithful across the board dress up in white tops to provide visitors with an unsettling, eye-popping backdrop. Combined with the deafening roar provided by 100,000-plus fans, this makes Beaver Stadium one of the elite settings in the Bowl Subdivision. PART OF PLAN?: NCAA settlement for college sports already faces challenges PLAYOFF PROBLEM?: Why committee could be tested by two SEC teams 3. Autzen Stadium, Oregon Autzen became a house of horrors for opponents in the late 1990s before reaching a peak during the Chip Kelly era, when the Ducks rolled off a 21-game winning streak before an epic loss to Southern California in 2011. Oregon has lost just once at home since hiring Dan Lanning in 2022 and gone unbeaten the past two years. 4. Michigan Stadium, Michigan The largest venue by capacity in college sports? Check. But that's selling Michigan Stadium short: This is the largest stadium by total seating in the Western Hemisphere and the third-largest in the world. It may not be the loudest in the conference, but it might be the most iconic. 5. Husky Stadium, Washington There are few scenes in college football more aesthetically pleasing than a packed, rocking-and-rolling Husky Stadium with sailboats dotting Lake Washington - what locals call "sailgating." Historically, Husky Stadium has been seen as maybe the loudest spot in the FBS when things are going right for Washington. 6. Kinnick Stadium, Iowa In addition to goosing Iowa's Big Ten chances - the Hawkeyes are 22-6 at home since 2021 - Kinnick is home to the best new tradition in the sport: Since 2017, players and fans turn at the end of the first quarter and wave to the patients at Stead Family Children's Hospital. "The Hawkeye Wave" is already an indelible part of the college football fabric. SPECIAL PLACE: Inside the unique Iowa wave tradition 7. Camp Randall Stadium, Wisconsin At the end of the third quarter, Wisconsin fans will "Jump Around" to the 1992 House of Pain classic of the same name. The tradition started in 1998, took a very brief, highly controversial, one-game hiatus in 2003 and became a rallying cry during the Badgers' development into a Big Ten powerhouse under former coaches Barry Alvarez and Bret Bielema. 8. Memorial Stadium, Nebraska A decided lack of success at home in recent years dunks the Cornhuskers down this list. But when Nebraska is playing well, Memorial Stadium provides one of the best home-field advantages in college football. And even when the program is struggling, Memorial Stadium's deep wealth of history captures your attention and is sure to be sold out. 9. L.A. Memorial Coliseum, Southern California The Coliseum's art-deco-influenced design speaks to the venue's extensive history as the host not just for USC football but also multiple Olympic Games, the Super Bowl, NFL regular-season games and more. While it can be hit or miss, the Coliseum ratches up the intensity for opponents such as Notre Dame or rival UCLA. 10. Spartan Stadium, Michigan State Spartan Stadium hosted one of the defining matchups of the 20th century during the famous (or infamous) 10-10 tie against Notre Dame in 1966. More recently, Michigan Stadkum turned in a dominant run at home under former coach Mark Dantonio, though that edge has diminished this decade with the program's downturn. 11. Huntington Bank Stadium, Minnesota The newest stadium in the Big Ten (for now, as we'll see), Huntington Bank Stadium's capacity of just over 50,000 makes it one of the coziest venues in the conference. The open-air site will also turn frigid and occasionally snowy later in the year, though that doesn't stop locals from enjoying a Dilly Bar in the cold temps. 12. Memorial Stadium, Illinois After suffering a major dip in attendance during the woebegone days of the late 2010s, Illinois has reestablished a home-field advantage since Bielema was hired in 2021. The Illini averaged almost 55,000 fans per home game last year, the program's most since 2009. Illinois won six home games last season for the first time since 2001. 13. Ross-Ade Stadium, Purdue We won't penalize Purdue for incorrectly calling its oversize bass drum the "World's Largest Drum." (There's nothing wrong with a little hyperbole.) Ross-Ade has been inhospitable at times throughout its history: in the 1930s, the 1960s, the late 1970s and most recently during the Joe Tiller era (1997-2008). 14. Memorial Stadium, Indiana The home-field edge was alive in 2024, at least, when IU sold out its final four home games in Curt Cignetti's debut and drew a record single-season total of 386,992 fans. While not the case historically, the Hoosiers showed that Memorial Stadium can bring the noise when the team is competitive. 15. SECU Stadium, Maryland As a men's and women's lacrosse venue, SECU Stadium can be hard to beat. Football? There's a national title banner hanging inside (1953), and SECU (long known as Byrd Stadium) also hosted Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip for an upset of North Carolina in 1957. But the stadium doesn't wobble the knees of Big Ten opponents. 16. SHI Stadium, Rutgers The environment can be intimidating, as Washington found out last September. Back in the program's Big East days, then-and-now coach Greg Schiano helped Rutgers turn SHI Stadium (then called Rutgers Stadium) into a surprisingly unfriendly host. That hasn't always been the case in the Big Ten, though. 17. Rose Bowl, UCLA There's the Rose Bowl game - one that has long defined college football's postseason - and there's the Rose Bowl itself, which shares an address with the bowl game but little of the pageantry and hoopla (or fans). UCLA's home stadium is at least 30 minutes or so from campus, longer depending on traffic, and while the crowd will show up for rivals such as USC there is little in the way of an obvious home-field advantage. 18. Ryan Field, Northwestern The Wildcats will play their games in 2025 at Northwestern's soccer and lacrosse stadium while extensive renovations are completed at Ryan Field. When done, Ryan will be a slightly cozier, much more 21st-century venue "engineered to create a powerful homefield sound advantage at games," the school said. We'll have to wait and see where it ranks when complete.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Big Ten stadiums rankings: Which college football stadiums finished first?
From the Horseshoe through Beaver Stadium, jumbo-size Michigan Stadium, the Rose Bowl and three different Memorial Stadiums, Big Ten football venues rank among the most iconic in the Bowl Subdivision. But none are as uninviting as Ohio State's Ohio Stadium. For decades, the Horseshoe has hosted memorable national champions and helped maintain the Buckeyes' place among the sport's most dominant programs. There's the annual 'White Out' game at Penn State. Michigan's record-setting capacity. The beauty of Pasadena at dusk. The unforgettable atmospheres at schools such as Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska and more. From top to bottom, it's hard to top the history and tradition found at these Big Ten venues. In terms of pure intimidation, though, there's a very clear group at the top (and bottom). Here's how USA TODAY Sports ranks Big Ten home fields from nastiest to kindest for visitors: 1. Ohio Stadium, Ohio State Trips to the Horseshoe are basically a guaranteed loss for teams in and out of the Big Ten, unless you're Michigan. (The Wolverines have taken two in a row at home in the series.) Since the stadium opened in 1922, Ohio State has posted a mark of 478-115-20, including a remarkable 55-3 record (94.9%) since 2016. The Buckeyes have turned the 'Shoe into maybe the most hostile locale in the sport. 2. Beaver Stadium, Penn State 'White Out' games are among the most unique home-field sights in college football: Nittany Lions faithful across the board dress up in white tops to provide visitors with an unsettling, eye-popping backdrop. Combined with the deafening roar provided by 100,000-plus fans, this makes Beaver Stadium one of the elite settings in the Bowl Subdivision. PART OF PLAN?: NCAA settlement for college sports already faces challenges PLAYOFF PROBLEM?: Why committee could be tested by two SEC teams 3. Autzen Stadium, Oregon Autzen became a house of horrors for opponents in the late 1990s before reaching a peak during the Chip Kelly era, when the Ducks rolled off a 21-game winning streak before an epic loss to Southern California in 2011. Oregon has lost just once at home since hiring Dan Lanning in 2022 and gone unbeaten the past two years. 4. Michigan Stadium, Michigan The largest venue by capacity in college sports? Check. But that's selling Michigan Stadium short: This is the largest stadium by total seating in the Western Hemisphere and the third-largest in the world. It may not be the loudest in the conference, but it might be the most iconic. 5. Husky Stadium, Washington There are few scenes in college football more aesthetically pleasing than a packed, rocking-and-rolling Husky Stadium with sailboats dotting Lake Washington – what locals call 'sailgating.' Historically, Husky Stadium has been seen as maybe the loudest spot in the FBS when things are going right for Washington. 6. Kinnick Stadium, Iowa In addition to goosing Iowa's Big Ten chances – the Hawkeyes are 22-6 at home since 2021 – Kinnick is home to the best new tradition in the sport: Since 2017, players and fans turn at the end of the first quarter and wave to the patients at Stead Family Children's Hospital. 'The Hawkeye Wave' is already an indelible part of the college football fabric. SPECIAL PLACE: Inside the unique Iowa wave tradition 7. Camp Randall Stadium, Wisconsin At the end of the third quarter, Wisconsin fans will 'Jump Around' to the 1992 House of Pain classic of the same name. The tradition started in 1998, took a very brief, highly controversial, one-game hiatus in 2003 and became a rallying cry during the Badgers' development into a Big Ten powerhouse under former coaches Barry Alvarez and Bret Bielema. 8. Memorial Stadium, Nebraska A decided lack of success at home in recent years dunks the Cornhuskers down this list. But when Nebraska is playing well, Memorial Stadium provides one of the best home-field advantages in college football. And even when the program is struggling, Memorial Stadium's deep wealth of history captures your attention and is sure to be sold out. 9. L.A. Memorial Coliseum, Southern California The Coliseum's art-deco-influenced design speaks to the venue's extensive history as the host not just for USC football but also multiple Olympic Games, the Super Bowl, NFL regular-season games and more. While it can be hit or miss, the Coliseum ratches up the intensity for opponents such as Notre Dame or rival UCLA. 10. Spartan Stadium, Michigan State Spartan Stadium hosted one of the defining matchups of the 20th century during the famous (or infamous) 10-10 tie against Notre Dame in 1966. More recently, Michigan Stadkum turned in a dominant run at home under former coach Mark Dantonio, though that edge has diminished this decade with the program's downturn. 11. Huntington Bank Stadium, Minnesota The newest stadium in the Big Ten (for now, as we'll see), Huntington Bank Stadium's capacity of just over 50,000 makes it one of the coziest venues in the conference. The open-air site will also turn frigid and occasionally snowy later in the year, though that doesn't stop locals from enjoying a Dilly Bar in the cold temps. 12. Memorial Stadium, Illinois After suffering a major dip in attendance during the woebegone days of the late 2010s, Illinois has reestablished a home-field advantage since Bielema was hired in 2021. The Illini averaged almost 55,000 fans per home game last year, the program's most since 2009. Illinois won six home games last season for the first time since 2001. 13. Ross-Ade Stadium, Purdue We won't penalize Purdue for incorrectly calling its oversize bass drum the 'World's Largest Drum.' (There's nothing wrong with a little hyperbole.) Ross-Ade has been inhospitable at times throughout its history: in the 1930s, the 1960s, the late 1970s and most recently during the Joe Tiller era (1997-2008). 14. Memorial Stadium, Indiana The home-field edge was alive in 2024, at least, when IU sold out its final four home games in Curt Cignetti's debut and drew a record single-season total of 386,992 fans. While not the case historically, the Hoosiers showed that Memorial Stadium can bring the noise when the team is competitive. 15. SECU Stadium, Maryland As a men's and women's lacrosse venue, SECU Stadium can be hard to beat. Football? There's a national title banner hanging inside (1953), and SECU (long known as Byrd Stadium) also hosted Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip for an upset of North Carolina in 1957. But the stadium doesn't wobble the knees of Big Ten opponents. 16. SHI Stadium, Rutgers The environment can be intimidating, as Washington found out last September. Back in the program's Big East days, then-and-now coach Greg Schiano helped Rutgers turn SHI Stadium (then called Rutgers Stadium) into a surprisingly unfriendly host. That hasn't always been the case in the Big Ten, though. 17. Rose Bowl, UCLA There's the Rose Bowl game – one that has long defined college football's postseason – and there's the Rose Bowl itself, which shares an address with the bowl game but little of the pageantry and hoopla (or fans). UCLA's home stadium is at least 30 minutes or so from campus, longer depending on traffic, and while the crowd will show up for rivals such as USC there is little in the way of an obvious home-field advantage. 18. Ryan Field, Northwestern The Wildcats will play their games in 2025 at Northwestern's soccer and lacrosse stadium while extensive renovations are completed at Ryan Field. When done, Ryan will be a slightly cozier, much more 21st-century venue 'engineered to create a powerful homefield sound advantage at games,' the school said. We'll have to wait and see where it ranks when complete.
