Throughout Raiders camp, the pecking order at QB has been Jimmy Garoppolo, Brian Hoyer, Aidan O’Connell — in that order. That was the order the three appeared in Saturday’s preseason game against the Rams. But with the performances we saw, a case could be made for a change up.
Garoppolo saw his first preseason action, leading the team down the field in a smooth, comfortable nine-play touchdown drive. It featured five runs and four passes, all completed. The touchdown came on a 68-yard, seven-yard Brandon Bolden run up the middle.
Then Jimmy G, having accomplished just what he set out to headed for the sideline, his day done.
The next drive for the Raiders, Brian Hoyer came in at quarterback. And the quality of play dropped off considerably.
Hoyer had seven drives over the remainder of the first half, and the only touchdown he had was to Jacob Hummel. He played linebacker for the Rams.
It was a pick six on a pass that was thrown almost right to Hummel, who covered the 21 yards to the end zone quickly.
After nearly two full quarters, Hoyer finished his day 12 for 22 for 144 yards and the one interception returned for a touchdown. Giving him a passer rating of 55.9.
After Aidan O’Connell’s fine performance in the first preseason, and with the way Hoyer was looking, many fans were calling for the rookie to get in the game. But the plan was to give him the second half, so they would have to wait for the third quarter for his grand entrance.
For all the anticipation and hype, O’Connell didn’t disappoint. On his first drive, he completed a 21-yard pass to Keelan Cole and a 40-yard deep post route to Tre Tucker. Then he capped it off with perfect throw on a jump ball along the right side of the end zone for the touchdown.
Then he came back out and did it again, connecting several more times with Cole, and finishing it off with a laser to Kristian Wilkerson in the back of the end zone. It put the Raiders up by the final score of 34-17.
O’Connell’s day was even more impressive than his already outstanding preseason opener. He connected on 11 of 18 passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions for a passer rating of 127.8. Giving him a combined 26 of 36 for 307 yards and three touchdowns.
That difference between what we saw from O’Connell and Hoyer was stark. Hoyer may be the one with the system familiarity, but that looks like the only thing he may have going for him. And even that didn’t show up in this one.
The obvious question now is if perhaps the young buck has surpassed the mentor in a short time. And perhaps he deserves to be the next man up in practices after Jimmy G. Which means, should that first drive be Jimmy G’s only preseason play, that O’Connell gets the first snaps ahead of Hoyer in the preseason finale.
I think it’s a valid question.
Yes, I know, it’s the preseason, so we shouldn’t make too much of it. But no one is saying O’Connell is the real deal here. Just that he has earned greater challenges from defenders who expect to make the team as well as working with receivers who are in that mix as well.
It will be worth watching in the final preseason game next week in Dallas if McDaniels gives his young rookie the first crack at the Cowboys defense to see if he can keep his momentum going. No doubt the kid has earned it.
