Las Vegas Raiders special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis has a phrase he fancies when he’s talking about field-goal attempts.
“Closer is better.”
Plain and simple.
Said DeCamillis after training camp resumed Sunday morning at Intermountain Health Performance Center: “We had a lot of penalties in that two-minute period to back him up and we needed to hit the ball we needed to hit right there. So, we’d like to get that one over.”
The Raiders repped their two-minute offense during their fourth practice in training camp — following a a day off Saturday — but procedural penalties from their third-team offense halted a promising drive in its tracks. They subsequently summoned veteran kicker Matt Gay for a 52-yard field-goal try that he missed wide right, preceding the sermon from the special teams coordinator.
“In the kicking game, you really only have one down to get it right,” DeCamillis added. “It’s either fourth down, which obviously bad things can happen if you don’t execute. And then kickoff and kickoff return, you’ve got one play. There is no second or third down to get it right.”
Here are other observations from Sunday’s practice:
Fernando Mendoza learning on the job: The rookie quarterback looked the part in 11-on-11 and 7-on-7, lacking the rhythm and command of the offense he’d showcased at other practices. Case in point: pre-snap issues for the second team during the two-minute drill forced the Raiders to call a timeout before replacing Mendoza’s unit with the third-team offense.
During one 11-on-11 rep, he was indecisive while the pass protection crumbled, likely resulting in a sack if tackling were permitted in practice. During another, he floated an underthrow deep down the middle intended for receiver Malik Benson, who was tracked down by Decamerion Richardson — resulting in a pass breakup.
In 7-on-7, Mendoza telegraphed a hitch toward receiver Phillip Dorsett that was jumped by cornerback Greedy Vance for an interception and a would-be pick six.
Kirk Cousins was sharp again quarterbacking the first-team offense, completing passes for sizable gains to tight end Brock Bowers and receiver Jalen Nailor. Aiden O’Connell quaterbacked the third team, completing the longest pass in practice: a deep shot for six down the right sideline to EJ Williams in 7-on-7.
Movement at cornerback: Darien Porter reprised his role as the No. 2 corner opposite Eric Stokes after splitting reps with rookie Hezekiah Masses, who’d been starting team periods with the first-team defense. A fifth-round draft pick, Masses played with the second-team defense, mixing in occasionally with the first-team defense.
Pass interference and a pass breakup: Fellow rookie cornerback Jermod McCoy was flagged for pass interference — on the drive that ended with Gay’s field-goal miss — while guarding wideout Shedrick Jackson on a fly pattern. O’Connell’s pass was out of Jackson’s reach but officials determined McCoy interfered. That after McCoy broke up a would-be slant from O’Connell to Williams.
Roman Hemby hits the hole: The undrafted running back from Indiana — where he played with Mendoza — is playing behind Ashton Jeanty, Mike Washington Jr. and Dylan Laube, but maximized his Sunday carries. He took a third-team toss and hit a hole untouched for a chunk of yards and potential touchdown. On another carry, however, third-round rookie draftee Keyron Crawford came off the edge to meet Hemby in the backfield.
Kwity Paye back on the practice field: The defensive end left Friday’s practice during individual periods with a Raiders staffer, but returned to practice and claimed his spot on the first-team defense opposite Maxx Crosby.
Contact Sam Gordon at sgordon@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BySamGordon on X.
