There is an unexpected battle brewing at training camp
The most surprising development in the first week of training camp practices for the Las Vegas Raiders have been the battle at center between Jackson Powers-Johnson and Jordan Meredith.
And make no mistake, this is a true battle.
Meredith worked with the first team offense on Tuesday. It was the third time in six practices that has been the case. So, this is more than just an experiment. These two are competing for the starting job and Las Vegas head coach Pete Carroll confirmed that fact after practice.
“Both guys are battling and it just makes us better,” Carroll said Tuesday.
What should we make of this unexpected battle?
Well, it’s pretty surprising. Look, I get the whole competition angle. But it was expected throughout the offseason that Powers-Johnson would be the starting center, but he is fighting for the job.
You’d think Powers-Johnson would given all the reps with the first unit, but that s not happening.
Whoever wins the job, it would be decided fairly quickly because whoever wins the job needs as much time building chemistry with starting quarterback Geno Smith.
Plus, I have a difficult time believing it would be in the team’s best interest is Powers-Jackson is not a starter somewhere on the offensive line. If the team thinks Meredith is the best center on the team, Powers-Jackson needs to playing guard over Dylan Parham or Alex Cappa.
The same may go for Meredith as well.
Overall, this competition is a good thing and it will be fascinating to see play put over the course of the next few weeks.
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