Oh yeah, friends…We. Are. Back.
With the rookies set to descend upon Napa Valley for training camp in less than a week, the Raiders.com Mailbag is making its triumphant return.
We're going to be answering a lot more of your questions this year, so make sure you send in the best you have to offer, football or otherwise.
This week we solicited questions on Instagram, so make sure you follow us there.
When y'all going to sign Mack? -nicholaskantor
EP: When social media czar Matt G. Walks and I were going through your questions this morning on Instagram, I'd say about 85 percent of your queries were in some way, shape, or form about No. 52.
Here's the deal; will Khalil show up to training camp when the veterans report on July 26? Truthfully, I don't know. What I do know is that Mack is going to do what makes the most sense for him, and as Derek Carr likes to say, I'm not here to take money out of another man's pocket.
Another thing I know for sure? When Mack does indeed come back to work, I have every confidence that he's going to be in absolutely stellar shape, per usual.
Here's a good rule of thumb to follow for the time being: just focus on the guys who are actually at camp, and the rest will work itself out.
What are we going to see a major improvement in? -aus._
EP: At the risk of sounding super cliché, and saying that I think this team will be a lot better across the board – which I do – I'll narrow it down a little bit and say the secondary.
First of all, all indications suggest that Defensive Coordinator Paul Guenther will have a healthy Gareon Conley at his disposal, and not only that, top to bottom, this group is much improved from a year ago.
Rashaan Melvin is a dude whose best days are ahead of him, and with a ton of veteran experience in that defensive backs room, I think we'll be seeing a lot more interceptions and passes defensed in 2018.
Are the Raiders going to make an appearance in Oxnard this summer? -guillermo_flores
EP: Alas, Guillermo, not this year.
The Silver and Black will be in Napa from July 26 to August 16, and while they won't be going anywhere during those three weeks, they will be welcoming the Detroit Lions from August 7-8 for a pair of joint practices.
Sorry about no Oxnard this year, my man, maybe next year.
It would have been a blast to spend some time with our friends from the Cowboys.
Pick a starting offensive line from any players in Raiders' history. -mmcfadden54
EP: Oh boy, here we go, from left to right: I'm going to go with Art Shell at left tackle, Gene Upshaw at left guard, Jim Otto is your center, Kelechi Osemele is your right guard, and I'm going to have big Lincoln Kennedy rounding it at right tackle.
That's three Hall of Famers on the offensive line, and when all is said and done, I think K.O. is going to have a bust in Canton too.
Also, I'd be remiss to not mention Rodney Hudson in this conversation too; I almost went with the current man in the middle for the Silver and Black, but with a gold jacket, I had to roll with Otto.
Fun challenge though.
