If the Raiders end their nearly decade-long playoff drought, they will need to rely on the experience of the few who have been there before.
Thirteen-year veteran defensive tackle Richard Seymour will need to play composed in his starting role on what should be a much-improved defense. The golden legs of both Sebastian Janikowski and Shane Lechler are essential to the battle of field position, which has become an overlooked part of today’s game.
Palmer, however, is undoubtedly the single most important veteran because of the position he plays. Thus far in the preseason, he is proving that just because a player is a veteran doesn’t mean he has learned from his mistakes.
Palmer has been altogether lousy through three preseason games. Hey, it’s the preseason. It doesn’t mean anything, right?
It’s common for a quarterback to show rust in the preseason, with potentially limited snaps in training camp. Palmer is also learning a new playbook under new head coach Dennis Allen.
Still, he continues to throw the same ill-advised interceptions that are characteristic of his play since his time in Cincinnati. He has been outplayed in each of the three preseason games by either backup quarterback Matt Leinart or Terrelle Pryor.
Palmer’s numbers are atrocious. He has completed just 33 of 56 passes for 321 yards, with four interceptions, no touchdowns and a passer rating of no higher than 53.5 in any game.
Sometimes, the case can be made that a player’s numbers are not indicative of the way they are playing. In this circumstance, Palmer might be playing worse than his numbers suggest.
In true Palmer fashion, the 10-year veteran quarterback is forcing the ball downfield into coverage. His receiving corps is ...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Oakland Raiders
