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Raiders Mailbag: How is the offense looking in early training camp practices?

Jarrett Leatherwood asks:

"Who's going to be the starting QB?"

That's the question everyone has been asking these days.

Both quarterbacks have had their moments to shine throughout seven training camp practices, splitting first-team reps each practice. With the Raiders defense playing a high level, it's been difficult at times for both of them. Nevertheless, things seem to be picking up as they get more comfortable with Luke Getsy's offense.

Top plays from O'Connell have included some play-action deep balls to the likes of Kristian Wilkerson and Tre Tucker. Minshew has showcased his ability to improvise in the pocket, consistently finding his tight ends Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer in the middle of the field. They've honestly been step-for-step within their battle for the starting quarterback job.

"I thought Gardner had a really good practice the other day, he made some really good throws, good control, good in operation. I thought Aidan made some plays [too]," Antonio Pierce said Friday. "But I don't want to get caught in an emotional game. That's like a rollercoaster ride. We're going to look at the body of work and there's not really a date that we've stamped, but we're looking to build on back-to-back days."

Brett Loranger asks:

"How are the running backs looking so far?"

The running back room has been the most unsung position group from my perspective.

Getsy's offense is predicated toward getting off the line of scrimmage fast, which the running backs are getting better at with each practice. Zamir White will provide the "thunder" of the unit with his physical and imposing run style, but the "lighting" of the room comes in a lot of different variations.

Alexander Mattison and rookie Dylan Laube are both hard runners as much as they are fast. Ameer Abdullah and Brittain Brown also provide versatility and make the most of their carries. According to Pierce, the depth chart for the running backs is completely "wide open" at the moment.

"[W]e got guys that have played in the league, guys that haven't played in the league, rookies," he said. "Guys have shown up and I think everybody that's getting an opportunity is making the most out of their opportunity. I mean, there's some rookies there that we see flashing. I think Zamir has gotten better, even late last season, his role and as far as catching ball at the backfield and blitz pickup."

Graphk Raider asks:

"Hearing great things about DJ Glaze, maybe a battle at right tackle on the horizon?"

There's competition at every position on the team.

DJ Glaze has turned up the intensity in training camp and seen reps at both tackle spots. The 2024 third-rounder from Maryland saw a lot of playing time with the first-team on the first day of pads with Munford being limited by a minor injury. Glaze held his own against some of the Raiders' premier edge rushers, and it didn't go unnoticed.

"He showed up," Pierce said. "He showed up in a big way. I mean, didn't blink, didn't flinch. Munford went down, and [Glaze] popped in there and first rep was against Maxx [Crosby]. OK, that's always going to be tough. But as the practice went on, you just saw a guy growing. But forget Tuesday, since he's gotten here, he's just been Steady Eddy."

"He's been consistent in everything he's done," Pierce added. "His approach to the game, he's taking it like a pro. He's learning from some of those veterans that we have in front of him. Doesn't say a lot, but he's out here working each and every day. And he gives us his best foot forward each and every day, you see it. You see growth and improvement."

To Glaze, competing for a starting job is less of concern. He's taking a day-by-day approach in camp, trying to improve as a player and find any role available for himself on the roster.

"The biggest thing [is] to work and get better," Glaze said after Friday's practice. "I may lose, I may win, but at the end of the day there's always something I can work on, something I can get better on. Just going into each day, 'Let me find a small thing I can do today' and working that throughout the whole day. Just trying to dominate that certain thing I'm focusing on for that day."

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