Australia A 2 for 136 (Lynn 56*, Maxwell 46*) beat South Africa A 134 (Zondo 40, Boyce 4-21, Richardson 2-11) by 8 wicketsScorecard and ball-by-ball details
Glenn Maxwell chipped in with bat and ball to earn the Man-of-the-Match award in Australia A"s big win Gallo Images
Australia A bundled out South Africa A for 134 in Mackay, and then romped to an eight-wicket win with more than 30 overs to spare. The victory left them second on the points table, in position to push for a berth in the final against India A.
After Australia A opted to bowl, Chris Tremain swiftly set about justifying that decision with the early wickets of Heino Kuhn and Theunis de Bruyn, reducing South Africa A to 2 for 18 in the seventh over.
Khaya Zondo (40) and David Miller (25) rebuilt with a 53-run partnership, but they were dismissed within four overs of each other to leave South Africa A in trouble again. The trouble was compounded soon when Kane Richardson had Dane Vilas and Dwaine Pretorius caught behind for single-digit scores as the tourists were tottering at 6 for 88. Qaasim Adams (27) and Andile Phehlukwayo (22) provided the second partnership of any substance, putting on 36 off 52 for the seventh wicket.
But Cameron Boyce ensured that the rebuilding phase did not last too long. The last four wickets fell in the space of 10 runs to Boyce"s legspin as South Africa A were bowled out in 42.1 overs.
Much like South Africa A, the hosts lost their openers early and found themselves 2 for 32 in the sixth over. Thereafter, though, captain Chris Lynn and Glenn Maxwell made short work of the chase, sharing an unbeaten third-wicket stand of 104 off 79 to take Australia A past the target in the 19th over. Lynn ended with 56 off 51, while Maxwell scored a blistering 46 off 31 to add to his fine bowling analysis of 1 for 36 off 10 overs.
The result meant South Africa A needed a bonus point win in their last league match, against National Performance Squad, to have any chance of making the final.
Instant Game Review: Raiders Vs Titans, Highlights Breakdown Play By Play (Preaseason #3) 8-27-16
OAKLAND -- The Raiders may have found their complementary running back.
Times two.
A bright spot in a 27-14 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Saturday night at the Coliseum was the play of rookies DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard, a pair of sawed-off runners who look as if one was cloned from the other.
"It"s crazy," Richard said. "You see how we are stature-wise, and our skill sets are pretty much identical. He may be a step faster, and I may be a step quicker."
It was hard to tell the difference against the Titans, as Washington rushed for 55 yards on eight carries and Richard had 35 yards on seven attempts.
The Raiders" first scoring drive began with a 38-yard kickoff return from Richard and ended with Washington circling out of the backfield to catch a 6-yard touchdown pass from Derek Carr on third and goal.
Coach Jack Del Rio went into the game fully intending to get both running backs work behind the first-team offensive line, with Latavius Murray taking a temporary back seat. Murray carried only twice for zero yards.
Washington, 5-foot-8, 207 pounds, was a fifth-round draft pick out of Texas Tech who gained 1,492 yards as a senior and averaged 6.4 yards per carry. Richard, 5-8, 204, was signed as an undrafted free agent after gaining 1,098 yards and averaging 5.9 yards per carry.
"I thought they both ran hard, ran with vision," Del Rio said. "They make people miss. I think looking into the offseason we were hoping we could develop a running back that could be a really good backup, and it looks like we have a shot at having one of those guys help us -- potentially both. We"ll see."
With fullback Marcel Reece missing the first three games under suspension, it seems likely Washington and Richard could both stick on the 53-man roster, with neither having to be concerned with Tuesday"s roster cut from 90 to 75 players.
"The game wasn"t too fast for them. They weren"t anxious. They weren"t nervous," Carr said. "I remember turning around and handing the ball to Jalen, and he was just gone. The dude hit the hole so hard."
Washington had his biggest play on a 31-yard burst in a crease created by left guard Kalechi Osemele and center Rodney Hudson.
"Any chance you get a chance to mesh with the (first team) is good," Washington said. "It really motivated me, being with those guys, and our line did a good job paving the way."
In all, the Raiders rushed for 157 yards on 26 carries, and included four late carries for 35 yards (plus three catches for 40 yards) by George Atkinson III, who had two long touchdown runs in the preseason opener against Arizona.
It was easily the Raiders best performance running behind their first-team line, and that it occurred with Murray as a spectator will have no bearing on how the carries are distributed when the regular season starts, according to Del Rio.
Through three games, Murray has 12 carries for 40 yards with a long gain of 11. Aside from his two carries for no gain against Tennessee was two receptions for 19 yards and a dropped pass.
In 2015, Murray went to the Pro Bowl as an alternate selection and finished with 1,066 yards rushing, although he struggled toward the end of the season under a workload that found Carr as the Raiders second leading rusher with 138 yards.
"We have a body of work under Latavius," Del Rio said. "For us the bigger question was to find out who would be able to be the backup back for us. We wanted to give the two young guys a chance to run with the first group and give them exposure."
Not all the exposure was pleasant. On one play, backup quarterback Matt McGloin threw a checkdown pass to Washington just in time for the rookie to be blown up by Sean Spence, with former Raiders draft pick David Bass returning the resulting fumble 37 yards.
"I"m all right," Washington said. "It"s part of the game. It was a bang-bang play, but I"m built for it."
For more on the Raiders, visit the Inside the Oakland Raiders blog at ibabuzz.com/oaklandraiders.
LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- First-year defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard relied heavily on an explosive first step in college.
That approach worked at Florida, where Bullard won unanimous First-Team All-SEC honors in 2015 prior to the Chicago Bears drafting him 72nd overall (third round). But upon arriving in Chicago, Bullard learned quickly that life is different in the NFL.
That"s all I was doing was being a penetrating guy, Bullard said on Thursday. I got a lot off of that penetration, off of getting off the ball so fast that I shock them. Im not the biggest guy (6-foot-3, 290 pounds). I"m probably the littlest defensive lineman we"ve got, so I use that to my advantage. I had to learn to be stouter than just getting off the ball.
Bullard is accepting the coaching given to him.
One of the 2016 rookie-class standouts, Bullard is pushing hard to crack the starting lineup, along with 2015 second-round choice Eddie Goldman, free-agent pickup Akiem Hicks and veteran Mitch Unrein.
I think hes more comfortable in our scheme, whats being asked of him by his coaches, and transforming that into playing fast in game situations, coach John Fox said. Obviously if youre not thinking, youre performing and youre not being slowed down in the mental aspect. I think you just get more comfortable.
"Hes a tough-minded player; hes a tough player, physically. I think from a trait standpoint hes explosive, which helps, obviously, in a pass-rush situation. Thats a lot of the reasons why we drafted him. I just kind of liked his mindset and how he goes about his business so far.
Bullard rejoined the team Wednesday evening and practiced on Thursday after being excused for a couple days in order to fly home and deal with a family issue. The time away is not expected to be much of a setback.
"I kept up on my iPad at home, so Im up to speed on everything," he said. "And I met with defensive-line coach Jay Rodgers and he got me caught up, so Im fine."
Cleveland Browns vs. Atlanta Falcons Full Game 2016 NFL Preseason Week 2 18 08 16
Three preseason games have come and gone for the Cleveland Browns. With the team needing to trim their roster from 88 to 75 players by 4:00 PM ET on Tuesday, August 30th, it is time for me to unveil my second 53-man roster projection of the season. This edition is based on the weeks of training camp reports and performances from the three preseason games.
Pos
Final Roster
Players Cut
QB(3)
Robert Griffin IIIJosh McCownCody Kessler
Austin Davis
RB(3)
Duke JohnsonIsaiah CrowellTerrell Watson
Raheem Mostert*Glenn WinstonJahwan EdwardsRajion Neal
FB(1)
Malcolm Johnson
Robert Hughes
WR(7)
Corey ColemanTerrelle PryorAndrew HawkinsRashard HigginsTaylor GabrielRicardo LouisMarlon Moore
Jordan Payton*Darius JenningsJosh BoyceEd Eagan
TE(3)
Gary BarnidgeRandall TelferSeth DeValve
E.J. BibbsConnor Hamlett*J.P. HoltzDavid Reeves
OL(8)
Joe ThomasJoel BitonioCameron ErvingJohn GrecoSpencer DrangoShon ColemanAustin PasztorAlvin Bailey
Dan France*Garth GerhartKaleb JohnsonMike Matthews*Cory Tucker
DL(6)
Danny SheltonJohn HughesEmmanuel OgbahCarl NassibJamie MederXavier Cooper
Nick HaydenNile Lawrence-StampleChigbo AnunobyKenton Adeyemi*
ILB(4)
Demario DavisChristian KirkseyTank CarderDominique Alexander
Justin TuggleScooby Wright*
OLB(4)
Paul KrugerNate OrchardJoe SchobertCam Johnson
Jason Neill
S(4)
Jordan PoyerIbraheim CampbellDerrick KindredRahim Moore
Pierre Desir*Don JonesSean BakerTim Scott
CB(6)
Joe HadenJamar TaylorTramon WilliamsJustin GilbertCharles GainesTrey Caldwell
K"Waun WilliamsTracy Howard*Eric Patterson*Mikell Everette
ST(3)
Andy LeePatrick MurrayCharley Hughlett
Travis Coons
The list above contains 53 players that I kept, and 35 players that I cut. I did not include OLB Armonty Bryant and WR Josh Gordon, because will start the year on suspension lists.
General Roster Projection Notes
Since the first addition of my list, I removed the following six players from my 53-man roster projection:
1. FB Patrick Skov2. WR Jordan Payton3. ILB Scooby Wright4. OLB Barkevious Mingo5. CB K"Waun Williams6. K Travis Coons
All five of the roster moves are tough decisions since they are bubble players.
Since the first addition of my list, I added the following six players from my 53-man roster projection:
1. FB Malcolm Johnson2. WR Taylor Gabriel3. ILB Dominique Alexander4. OLB Cam Johnson5. CB Jamar Taylor6. K Patrick Murray
I will explain each of the roster decisions in the positional bullet points below.
Quarterback: This position seems pretty settled right now, and I expect Cleveland to carry three quarterbacks this season. Robert Griffin III is the clear starter, but Josh McCown is receiving too many reps and Cody Kessler is receiving too few reps for there to be a situation where Kessler makes it over McCown. Cleveland would really have to be impressed with a Cowboys trade package to not have McCown on the roster, and even in that case, I think they"d make Austin Davis the No. 3 guy.
Running Back: We know Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson will be big parts of the offense, but the third back is still up-in-the-air. I went with Terrell Watson because I could see him playing a role in some short-yardage situations, and he might look better if he actually got some time with the first-team offense. I like Raheem Mostert"s speed, but he wouldn"t have much of a gameday role besides kick returns, and that can go to someone like CB Justin Gilbert or WR Marlon Moore. I also put FB Malcolm Johnson on the roster. The fullbacks have been utilized very little during the preseason games, but Johnson has seen some work in the first two series of the game and has had a role on the special teams units. His blocking hasn"t been too bad either.
Wide Receiver: The biggest shake-up I made was cutting WR Jordan Payton. With how good WR Terrelle Pryor has come along and WR Josh Gordon inevitably coming back in Week 5, Cleveland won"t be needing all four of their draft picks at the position. WR Ricardo Louis has been nursing a minor injury and could be an IR-stash, considering they"d like to develop him more. However, I think they"d rather he be able to learn from the inactive list throughout the season while he"s healthy. Payton didn"t have a very high stock heading into the draft, so it"s tough to imagine him landing on another team"s 53-man roster. That"s where having the right roster-building skills will pay off, since he can be kept on the practice squad. I also inserted WR Taylor Gabriel into the mix. I think he"ll be here for depth purposes for a couple of weeks, and then when Gordon is activated, he"ll get the boot.
Tight End: After three preseason games, we haven"t learned a whole lot about the tight ends after TE Gary Barnidge. We do know that TE Randall Telfer has been used in a lot of two-tight-end sets with Barnidge, so his roster spot for that niche role seems pretty secure. TE Connor Hamlett has been more involved in camp than TE Seth DeValve, but I don"t think Hamlett"s importance is that significant to warrant a roster spot over your fourth-round pick.
Offensive Line: There was no change here. I think the right tackle position has yet to be decided, but I think all of the contenders will still make the team, regardless. OL Alvin Bailey was the closest player to being cut in favor of OT Dan France, but that was before France"s poor showing against the Buccaneers. If the team has any concern about C Cameron Erving"s ankle heading into the season, they could have C Garth Gerhart up as an insurance policy so they don"t have to move RG John Greco out of his spot.
Defensive Line: I"m happy to see DE Emmanuel Ogbah and DE Carl Nassib poised to see increased roles on the defensive line, but this team is also going to really miss having DE Desmond Bryant as a good all-around player. NT Danny Shelton has not looked good, and certainly nothing like a first-round pick. Overall, the defensive line (and the defense in general) seems pretty bad, but I also see this group being pretty settled. DL Nick Hayden could sneak on the roster if the coaches don"t trust their youth yet, but if you"re going to be bad, I say at least let the youngsters get their work over an average-at-best veteran.
Linebacker: There were two changes at linebacker. ILB Dominique Alexander is in, while ILB Scooby Wright is out. It"s not as though Alexander has lit the world on fire, but more so that Wright can just be stashed on the practice squad and hasn"t received much of a role on special teams this preseason. ILB Justin Tuggle could squeeze on to the roster if he has a strong fourth preseason game. The other change is that OLB Cam Johnson is in, while OLB Barkevious Mingo is out (by forced trade to New England). I"d seen signs that Johnson was winning favor with the coaches, and now that Mingo is gone, he more naturally slides up the depth chart.
Safety: None of the safeties have stood out this preseason, so it looks like the team will go with the status quo of their top four guys.
Cornerback: This is the most polarizing position on the team. CB Joe Haden is safe, and with his recent promotion(s), CB Jamar Taylor should be fine too. Everything else is fair game. Even though CB Justin Gilbert has been with the first-teamers most of camp, he could get the boot. CB Tramon Williams, a veteran, has already been phased out of his starting role. I still like what CB Charles Gaines can bring to the table, and if CB K"Waun Williams" relationship with the team can"t be repaired and if Williams is indeed being phased out, why not have Gaines there? CB Trey Caldwell has missed almost all of camp, but I think the coaching staff believes in him enough to warrant a roster spot.
Special Teams: The change we have here is a swap at kicker: Patrick Murray is in and Travis Coons is out. Murray has been the better kicker this camp, both of field goals and kickoff distance.
The single asterisks on the cut side represent my projected practice squad, which includes RB Raheem Mostert, WR Jordan Payton, TE Connor Hamlett, OL Dan France, C Mike Matthews, DL Kenton Adeyemi, ILB Scooby Wright, S Pierre Desir, CB Tracy Howard, and CB Eric Patterson.
If I had to take a wild guess at the 13 moves Cleveland will make to get down to 75 players, it would be the following:
1. RB Glenn Winston2. RB Jahwan Edwards3. FB Robert Hughes4. WR Ed Eagan5. TE J.P. Holtz6. TE David Reeves7. C Mike Matthews8. OG Cory Tucker9. DL Nile Lawrence-Stample10. OLB Jason Neill11. S Sean Baker12. S Tim Scott13. CB Mikell Everette
Feel free to share your roster projections here, or some changes you would make to mine.
Instant Game Review: Raiders Vs Titans, Highlights Breakdown Play By Play (Preaseason #3) 8-27-16
Defensive End Khalil Mack
RAIDERS HEAD COACH JACK DEL RIO FINAL
Opening Statement:[There were] a couple of things we went into the game wanting to do, really wanted to start fast. I thought we did on offense. [We] wanted to run the ball. I thought we made some progress running it, in particular with our backups. It was good to get some of those guys in. We talked about that, wanting to get DeAndr [Washington] and Jalen [Richard] some carries and we did that. I want to stop the run. We really havent stopped the run the way we expect to this year. Misfits continue to cause problems. We have to get that cleaned up with the season approaching. Obviously, thats a critical area that must be addressed and will continue to be addressed. The evaluation continues. Thats a part of this preseason, so that continues. Then we wanted to get out healthy, and we did. So that was a (inaudible). Good thing to have happened in the preseason. We get a lot of work, get the evaluation we need, grow your team and be ready to roll. I thought Derek [Carr] was sharp. He made a couple of real nice throws in the first half. We took him out in the middle of the drive there on purpose to put pressure on Matt [McGloin]; Matt not understanding it was coming. We planned to do that. Actually if the first half had gone a little differently, we likely would have done it in the first half. The way the time possession went, they controlled the ball too much. We didnt get enough opportunities, so it kind of pushed through to the third quarter. [We] accomplished what we wanted because we wanted it to be uncomfortable. We wanted it to be, Well what the heck? Come in and get the communication and be able to pick up. It was a learning opportunity there. So thats what it is. Questions?
Q: What did you like about what you saw from DeAndr Washington and Jalen Richard?
Coach Del Rio:I thought they both ran hard, ran with vision. They make people miss, so I was pleased. Pleased with both of them really. They were pretty good in the returning game as well. So I think going into the offseason we were hoping we could develop a running back that could be a really good backup for us and it looks like we have a shot at having one of those guys help us, potentially both. Well see.
Q: Are you concerned about Latavius Murray?
Coach Del Rio:No. We saw him last year. We have a body of work under Latavius. For us the bigger question coming in was to find out who would be able to be the backup back for us. Obviously, we didnt feed himtonight. We gave him two carries and that was it for the night. So, no. I think for us, we wanted to make sure we gave the two young guys an opportunity to run with the first group and give them that exposure in this third game.
Q: Are missed tackles a concern for you right now?
Coach Del Rio:If there are any, yes. Wherever you see some, yes. I thoughttonightwas more just misfitting. Just missed a line or mental error, some of those things where your eyes arent right, youre just not where youre supposed to be and the whole defense is counting on you. Those things really cause problems and we have to get those cleaned up.
Q: Is it a matter of focus or what is it?
Coach Del Rio:I take it real personal. I dont know what to tell you. I dont have a good alibi, it bothers me. You cant be a great defense doing that. We have the intentions, weve set our intentions. Were not shying away from that. Were not backing down from that, but its got to be a whole h**l of a lot better than what I saw out theretonight.
Q: What happened on that long pass play where Nate Allen stopped started to celebrate?
Coach Del Rio:Yeah, I think we thought it was an interception. Sean [Smith] has a 100 jug b***s a day, startingtomorrow(laughing). So were going to make sure that doesntI mean it was like a pick, were on our way here and then the guy pops out of it with the ball. So that was unfortunate. I think well play much better, OK? Were counting on that, alright?
Q: Was it nice to see big plays on special teams?
Coach Del Rio:I think special teams remains a focus for us. Roster spots will be determined based on the ability for guys to help us with special teams. We place a lot of value on it. It is definitely good to see where were making some progress. I know theres still many things we want to clean up in that area as well, but overall pretty solid.
Q:There wasnt a lot of pressure on Marcus Mariota, was that part of playing conservative and not showing too much?
Coach Del Rio:Yeah, we played pretty vanilla, thats for sure. Even when were playing vanilla and rushing full, we have to get more rushing than we gottonight.
Q: What do you want to see out of Cory James?
Coach Del Rio:We like Cory. We think hes developing well. He and Ben [Heeney] and Malcolm [Smith] really we feel like we have three guys that can play for us. Well continue to get him exposure and bring him along. I think hes doing a nice job with the role that weve given him. Im anxious to see this tape, see how he didtonight, but hes had good exposure. Hes been running in practice with theones occasionally and mixing in, and we did that again in the gametonight.
Q: How do you think McGloin respondedtonight?
Coach Del Rio:It was OK. It was OK. The drive ended up stalling, so it wasnt great. We would have like to see him continue. Derek was moving. The team was really on the move and doing well and I caused it to go away(laughing). I took Derek out, but we accomplished what we wanted to accomplished. We need to prepare our football team. We had two examples of Derek having to go out in a game. One at home in the opener against Cincinnati and one at Tennessee where he justI just remember he had to come out for a play. So those things happen in games, you just want to see how your guys are going to respond. Its a good opportunity to kind of teach, learn, have those guys understand how quickly it can happen. Most other positions are really tuned in. The quarterbacks are kind of comfortable there, watching his buddy do it. There isnt a lot of change. You get another defensive tackle in, hes used to going in and rotate a lot. Linebackers, theyll rotate. Quarterbacks dont technically rotate in, so I thought it was a good exercise to evaluate it.
Q: The fact that you have a game again in four weeks, was that a factor at all tonight with the way you played?
Coach Del Rio: No, I wouldnt say that. I think both teams knew they were coming in. Its preseason football week three. I thought we did what we wanted to do, they did what they wanted to do. I think both teams got out relatively healthy. We had good work. We would have liked to see things finish a little bit better where Id have a big smile on my face right now. But, a good days work and well get ready for the next one. We have a short week with the Thursday night game approaching, at least it is here at home.
Q: How has Derek Carr been developing? Can you relax a little more?
Coach Del Rio: I think he was very successful throughout this offseason and camp and everything. I think its been a tremendous offseason for him. I feel really good about where he is. I think the fact that maybe other people can relax a little bit about him, maybe that helps. For us, we have and we know that hes had a tremendous offseason. I think you saw a couple examples of what weve been seeing. You guys are at practice, youve seen how hes carried himself and how hes connecting with receivers. Hes poised to have a nice year for us.
Q: Karl Joseph played on some special teams throughout the game. Is that just part of the process?
Del Rio: Yeah, hes still growing. Hes still competing for time, still developing. Remember, he missed the whole offseason. For a young guy, as far as getting reps, he was there mentally doing the best he could but it takes time. It takes reps and experience. Hes getting it on the run right now. h**l continue to work on it.
Q: I know you said missed tackles and poor tackling technique is something you take personally. How fine is that line when you miss a tackle between lack of desire and lack of technique?
Coach Del Rio: Effort is really a skill that we develop. Guys play hard. Our guys play hard. I dont think we saw any examples of a guy not wanting to do the right thing. I think, if anything, over-anxiousness and kind of wanting to go make the play yourself so badly that youre leaving your gap or your responsibility, getting caught out of position, false-stepping, things like that are occurring. Its not a lack of desire. Our guys want to be really good. Theyre hungry to play well. Theyre playing hard. So no, weve just got to clean things up and theyll be a whole lot better.
RAIDERS QB DEREK CARR
Q: There was a couple touchdown passes this game and the previous game; do you feel like it was crucial to get going like you did the previous game?
Carr: Yeah, I was really excited to finally watch some film and get some tendencies down and really game plan as much as you do in the preseason and go out there with that kind of mindset so it was nice to do that this week and to go out and score some points it was nice it was good to move the ball and show what weve been working on just a little bit but were going to be playing them here again in a few weeks so we cant show too much so we kept it pretty basic but it was good to go out there and get some points and just execute, it was nice.
Q: What did you see from the two young rookie backs in the backfield?
Carr: We all know what [Latavius] can do obviously, any running back that makes it to the pro bowl, I dont care how you get there, you earned your way, especially playing against these defenses. We know what we have in him so it was cool to see what we can get out of the two new young guys and I thought that they ran really hard and the game wasnt too fast for them I didnt think that they were too nervous or anxious or anything like that I thought they were just out there playing football and thats great to see. That only helps our offense and gives a change of pace kind of guy and we have two of them so its kind of nice.
Q: The last drive of the half obviously didnt end the way you wanted it to, was you coming back in the third quarter restricted?
Carr: No, we knew what we were going to do. We knew I was going back out there but if there had been any way I could have, I would have done that. To miss that, my goodness. Honestly, that will keep me up tonight, it drives me nuts but thats just who I am. To go earlier back in the week and when were practicing they let us know what their plan was and all those things.
Q: Del Rio said regardless of what happened the first two games, they know what have in you, but as far as youre concerned, are there any worries about your performance?
Carr: Not at all, I had a great camp, Coach Downing and Coach Musgrave have been pushing me really hard and showing me things I could do better and turning on the tape from last years camp to this years camp it was way better and so when it comes to the preseason I dont put too much into it. I remember throwing three touchdowns against the Seahawks my rookie year and then playing the Seahawks and throwing two picks so it holds a little bit of weight but to me, its not a big deal.
Q: It was a long training camp and being out there as much as you were, how much does this make you more antsy?
Carr: Im not kidding you, I think the source you get playing for the amount of time and then standing for however long, thats the hard part. Youre so conditioned and just keep throwing and you feel good and you want to keep playing and then they stop and youre out. Its like, Im good, I can play the whole game if you want. But I cant wait for the opener at New Orleans Im really looking forward to it especially being able to see Dennis Allen again so that will be cool but he gave me my first shot but I dont think h**l be rooting for me too much on that day.
RAIDERS QB DEREK CARR
Q: Have you seen differences from training camp to where you are now?
Carr:Yeah we definitely did some things that we liked. The nice thing is that the mistakes arent like, Dang how do we fix that? Is it going to be something thats going to take a lot of time? Are we going to have to maybe find a different way to do something? Thats not the case. The mistakes are me missing a couple throws by that much. The mistake is maybe missing a block by that much or a route by that much. Thats good especially this time of year. We definitely have worked really hard. A perfect example is Amari [Cooper] in the back of the end zone. Hes worked really hard knowing where the out of bounds is and doing those things. Youre seeing. He knows exactly where hes at. He catches it, puts the two down and you see him deliberately try and do it. Hes taking the coaching that Coach [Rob] Moore is giving him and what he sees on film and hes putting it to use. When you see stuff like that its like man guys are really taking hold of what they need to do better and that was a perfect example. The signs are looking good, but obviously when the real ones count well see.
Q: How do you feel the young running backs played tonight?
Carr:I felt that they did a great job. I was talking about it a little bit earlier. The game wasnt too fast for them. They werent anxious. They werent nervous. They just came in and ran hard. I remember turning around and handing the ball to Jalen [Richard]. I turned around and handed it to him and he was gone. That dude hit the hole so hard. Im used to Latavius [Murray] doing that but usually with a younger guy they kind of dance and they want to see it and things like that. Nah, he just put his head in there and didnt even care. Thats really good.
Q: Were you able to see DeAndr Washingtons run?
Carr:Yeah. That was a great block to give DeAndr [Washington] an alley to go through. I was able to see it. I try, especially with those young guys, usually when I hand the ball off to Latavius Ill do my boot and let him take care of the rest, but with those young guys I want to see how they do so I hand it off and turn around real quick to try and watch. Ill probably get knocked on that when they grade the film. To be able to see him hit that hole and there was no hesitation. He just hit and that shows that hes trusting in what Coach Bernie [Parmalee] is telling him and hes trusting in that and hes just hitting it. Hes just playing. To see that in two running backs, two young running backs, that havent played defenses that fast. They have seen physicality like that. For them to just get the ball and just go, thats a great sign.
Q: How do you, Michael Crabtree and Amari Cooper work on accuracy with long b***s?
Carr: Reps. Rep after rep. Ever since I was a little kid, my dad would stand 38 yards, as I got older 40 yards, 42 yards, 45 yards and he wouldnt let me leave until I threw three perfect ones. Id sit there sometimes hit two in a row and then miss one. Do it again. It wasnt in a bad way. Thats my mindset too. I wanted to make them perfect. Its just rep after rep. I get on [Michael] Crabtree all the time because in one-on-ones all he wants to do is run go routes. I said Crab, you know were going to have throw something else someday and he just laughs, but you see the hard work paying off. In the one-on-one drills we didnt hit as many as wed like, but at the end we started to hit them and then we hit one today and its like there we go man. Its good to see. Hitting those is just reps. Seeing how guys like them caught, seeing where they like the ball. A guy like Andre [Holmes] I might throw a little different than I would to [Amari] Cooper. I throw it different to Crab than Coop. Its just theres different ways that guys like it and how they want to play off the defender and you just have to learn those things.
RAIDERS DE KHALIL MACK
Q: Is there any concern regarding the defenses play this preseason?
Mack:Theres a lot of that. Theres a lot of concern, but at the same time with the group you got, you have to go to the drawing board and get it corrected.
Q: Does anything jump out to you as an issue such as bad fits?
Mack:Fits, everything... It is just a lot of different things that we could touch on. But, it starts with us and me and all of the different things. So, we want to get it corrected.
Q: Are the misfits playing a factor in the defenses ability to stop the run?
Mack:Most definitely misfits. Misfits, consistency, just staying consistent because those are the things you work on in the preseason. So, the good thing is we get to see those things now and correct them for the future.
Q: Does it bother you even though its a preseason game?
Mack:Oh yeah, oh yeah. It definitely bothers you, especially being a defensive guy and being a leader on this defense. Its stuff that you dont want to see, but at the same time, its a great learning experience right now. This will only get us ready.
Q: Are you used to the extra attention and chipping from the side?
Mack:Thats always part of the game, whether you think its dirty or not. I love it. You know what Im saying? So, I want some more. Love it and get ready for the next play.
RAIDERS RB DEANDR WASHINGTON
Q: To get some explosive runs were nice. There were actually a few times where there were threes, fours and five (yards). Was that what you needed, explosive runs are great but, to be a consistent running team?
Washington: We have to take them. Thats the biggest difference in the league. You have to take those three, four yard gains. As the game goes on, hopefully those will open up to 15, 20 yards and so on.
Q: On the touchdown, was that where you were supposed to run and Derek [Carr] just found you?
Washington: Yeah, it was kind of a game plan deal, there were some things that we liked in our film. He was just able to execute it. DC made a good ball and I was able to complete the pass.
Q: Was it nice to get in there with that first unit offensive line, guys that, if you come in to a normal game youre going to be fitting in with?
Washington: Definitely, just to be able to mention those guys and go up against their ones was a good feeling. To have some success was definitely a good feeling.
Q: It wasnt just in this game, it was back in game one, you had another big run, you created some big plays. Are those important things to show, that three and four yards come and so do those chunks when you find the right spot?
Washington: Yeah, anytime, any chance you get to make a big play, have an explosive play. We pride ourselves on having at least ten explosive plays a game. Anytime youre able to get one of those plays is always a good deal.
Q: On that one pass you took a pretty good shot, are you okay, clear-headed and everything?
Washington: Im okay, its part of the game. It was a bang-bang play. Ive dealt with it before. Im alright.
Q: Its been about a month since training camp started. How do you feel youve evolved and developed as a player this past four weeks?
Washington: Theres still a lot of work to be done. Its a process. From this game, were going to look and make the corrections and get ready for Seattle.
Q: You must feel comfortable at this level. I know its still preseason, its still practice, but you must feel comfortable at this level.
Washington: Im a lot more comfortable than I was when training camp started, but like I said, theres still a lot of work that needs to be done.
Q: Youve seen [Jalen] Richard run. People are going to look at you guys and see the height and say These guys are the same. Do you think youre the same, or do you think you guys are different with your style?
Washington: I think we rely on the same thing and I think were different in a lot of ways too. Were both here for a reason, to utilize our talents to the best of our abilities.
Q: [Coach] Jack [Del Rio] said hes going to get you in with the first team a lot this week. How does that excite you?
Washington: It really just motivated me knowing I was going to be out there with those guys. They did a great job making my job easier. It was a lot easier for me being around those guys.
Q: On that long run, [Kelechi] Osemele cleared the top for you. There was a nice little crease for you. How has the interior line be working for you, opening enough space for you to get through?
Washington: Im a smaller guy, so hiding behind those guys makes it a lot easier for me. They did a great job on that play. I was just able to make it explosive.
RAIDERS RB JALEN RICHARD
Q: You had to wait a little longer. Was it nice to get a shot?
Richard: It felt good to get the cobwebs off. I practiced all week but to really get out there with the full intensity and guys trying to take your head off that are not your teammates felt good. I did well, but theres always room for improvement. Im going to take this game is a step forward to continue to improve.
Q: On the first return, you ran it back 38 yards. Is that how you hoped you day would begin?
Richard: I was envisioning it the whole day. I wished I could have taken it to the house. That definitely got my confidence up for the rest of the game. To start a game like that on the kick return felt real good. That was one of the things that helped me continue with my confidence throughout the game.
Q: Howd you feel physically with all those touches?
Richard: I feel real good, great. I chuckled with the trainers on the sideline. They were happy for me. They were like You worked hard those two weeks coming back. I really did. This was well deserved. But like I said, we continuously have things to improve on.
Q: I know you havent been on the field these last two games. Your team has struggled. The line seems to be coming together. Did you feel there was a good rhythm tonight?
Richard: I feel like there was really good rhythm for both of us. The o-line was a focal point going into this game. Like you said, the first two games might not have been as great as the coaches and players would have wanted the run game to look like. That was a main focal point coming into this game. We really wanted to run the ball. With that, we did well today. Me and DeAndr [Washington] and whatever other backs were out there, we saw it and we did it. The line did a great job of game-planning. This game was more of a game-changing game than actually just running plays.
Raiders WR Michael Crabtree
Q: Could Derek Carr have thrown that ball any more perfect for you when you ran down that sideline?
Crabtree:That was because of a lot of practice. We"ve been practicing the go-ball and really all the routes. It was a good ball, and I think he couldn"t have thrown it any better.
Q: Could you have caught it any better?
Crabtree:It is one of those things where a catch is a catch.
Q: Was it nice to see the offense get going and get into the end zone?
Crabtree:Yeah, it definitely was. We came out here to compete today. Usually in the third preseason game, you play a little bit more and I felt like we did a good job of competing. We get to see these guys in Week 3, so you got to have your mind ready.
Q: Was it crucial for the offense to get going the way that it did this week?
Crabtree:I mean it is preseason, but like I said, you got to be competing, and I felt like we did that out there. Coop [Amari Cooper] caught some deep b***s, I caught some deep b***s, Johnny [Holton] made some plays, Seth [Roberts] made plays, you got Andre [Holmes] out there, so we got a good group of guys and we just got to put it together.
Q: Derek is in his second year in this system and so are a lot of the guys, so where do you see that benefiting you guys?
Crabtree:That is always good, that team chemistry, two years back-to-back. This program has not really had the same coordinator, same coach, same players for two years, so that is all good for those guys. I am just ready to put it all together and go out here and play. We got one more preseason game and then we on.
Q: How much better can you guys be with that second year as a whole?
Crabtree:You never know. The sky is the limit for us. Like I said, we got one more preseason game, we can"t wait to get out there, and then it is the regular season.
Q: Have you ever had your helmet pop off like that after a long catch?
Crabtree:Yeah, it is football. So, we are all good.
Raiders LB Bruce Irvin
Q: What did you see out theretonight?
Irvin:Just guys got out of their gaps. Tennessee made a statement that they were going to come in and run the ball and they did. You got to play good gap-style defense or you are going to see what happens. We didn"t play real good defensetonight.
Q: Mariota was elusive, and you guys had trouble getting to him. How much of that was you guys off your game, or maybe a vanilla game plan?
Irvin:You know, he is a real good athlete. We didn"t rush our proper lanes and he was going to get out of the pocket and make us pay a couple of times. That is something we have to clean up and prepare for when we play them again.
Q: Do you have any idea if you are going to play against Seattleon Thursday?
Irvin:No idea. I don"t know.
Q: I know it is preseason, but any thoughts on the Seahawks coming in here yet?
Irvin:I mean it is a football game. I was there for four years and it was cool, but I am a Raider now and am happy to be here. It is time to move on.
Q: I am sure you aren"t happy about the yardage total the Titans had in the first half, but is it because a play here or there, or is it anything more substantial?
Irvin:It is definitely a couple of plays. Guys getting out of their gaps and Tennessee made us pay for it. When you play a good running team like that, you have to play good gap-style defense, you have to set edges and play your gaps. If you don"t, then the other team will makes us pay and they did thattonight.
Q: Is it more of a desire thing or a technical thing for why guys were getting out of their gaps?
Irvin:Just doing too much. You hit it right on the head; just guys trying to do too much, trying to make a play. You know, if you play the defense right, the plays will come right to you. That is what we got to learn as a young team, continue to grow and continue to improve.
Raiders WR Amari Cooper
Q: You had a chance to talk to a couple of the Alabama guys after the game. How was that?
Cooper:It was good. Talking to those guys was real good.
Q: What did you try to do this past season to get better?
Cooper:Just try to work on the small things. Trying to get better at catching the ball, just making those routine things and taking care of my body.
Q: Could Derek Carr have placed that ball any better on that touchdown catch you had?
Cooper:He is one of the most accurate guys I have ever played with. It is crazy. I kind of compete with him in accuracy drills and he is really competitive too.
Q: You guys were in the two-minute drill and were moving the ball there. Were you guys a bit disappointed that you guys didn"t finish that off?
Cooper: Yeah, of course. We were disappointed we didn"t get to finish that off. But sometimes that is how it happens. Next time when we get similar opportunities, we have to make sure we finish it.
Q: Amari, are there any other receivers in this league you study to try to improve?
Cooper:I don"t really study other receivers. The only receiver I tried to emulate a little bit was Chad Johnson. He is like second to none with things he was able to do as a receiver. I just like his style of play.
Q: What did Andre Johnson say to you at the end of the game?
Cooper:He just told me to keep balling and keep doing what I am doing. That guy was my favorite receiver growing up. Played at the University of Miami, and I am from Miami. He is just a great receiver.
MTV announced on Tuesday thatBritney Spearswill perform at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awardsfor the first time in 10 years. Alongside rapper G-Eazy, Spearswill perform a world-premiere performance of the new single Make Me, in anticipation of Spears ninth studio album, Glory. The 2016VMAs will air live from Madison Square Garden in New York City on Sunday, Aug. 28 at 9 p.m.
The Entertainment Industry Foundation has announcedthat the fifthbiennial televised fundraising special Stand Up To Cancer(SU2C) will broadcast live on Friday, Sep. 9 at 8 p.m. Executive produced byBradley Cooper, celebrity appearances scheduled forthe telecast include Ben Affleck, Matthew McConaughey, Emma StoneandAnna Kendrick, among others. In addition, legendary pop star Celine Dion, along with Keith Urbanand Little Big Town, will perform tributes to those battling cancer.The telecast will airfrom Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles on numerous broadcast and cable networks, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, American Forces Network, ASPiRE, AUDIENCE Network, Bloomberg TV, Bravo, Comedy Central, Discovery Life, E! Entertainment, EPIX, ESPNEWS, FM, FS2, Fusion, FXM, Great American Country, HBO, HLN, ION Television, LMN, Logo, MLB Network, National Geographic, Pivot, RLTV, SHOWTIME, Smithsonian Channel, STARZ, STARZ ENCORE, TBS, Tr3s, VH1, and WGN America. The channels are donating one hour of simultaneous commercial-free primetime for the telecast.
Six-episode Brazilian series Motelwill premiere on Cinemax on Aug. 18 at 10 p.m., the premium cabler has announced. Theseriesexamines the sensual, erotic, mysterious and perverse activities in the Divine Sin Motel, with each episode exploringdifferent genres in different rooms of the motel.
GREENLIGHTS
Investigation Discovery has greenlita new series hosted by Emmy Award-winning journalist Tony Harris, entitled Scene of the Crime with Tony Harris. Executive produced byDavid Smith and Amy Bucher, the investigative seriespulls back the curtain to revealthe often nefarious players and foreboding places behind the crimes surrounding them, per IDs press release.The six-part series will premiere on Investigation Discovery in 2017.
EXECUTIVES
NBCs superhero comedyPowerless is parting ways with creator Ben Queen, Variety has confirmed. Queens exit was reportedly due to creative differences and was a mutual decision between the producer, network and studio Warner Bros. Television, where Queen is under an overall deal and will continue to developprojects. Production on the freshman season was set to begin in a couple of weeks, but has been brieflydelayedwhile the show seeks out a new showrunner. The half-hour comedy is slated for midseason at NBC, so the later start isnt expected toaffect the shows debut.
Troikaannounced thatAustin Katz has been appointed Chief Development Officer to lead strategic growth and development at the branding and marketing innovations agency. He joins Troika from The Company (The Ebersol Lanigan Company), where he served as Chief Operating Officer. Katz is also a graduate of UCLAs Anderson School of Management, and has worked with brands, shows and production companies such as AMCs Mad Men, Bravo, HGTV and Weber.
DIVERSITY
The eight writers who participated in the 2016 Disney / ABC Writing Program have landed staff jobs on Disney/ABC TV Group productions. The program includes a series of seminars, workshops and mentoring sessions designed to help develop promising new talent from ethnically and racially diverse backgrounds.
The newly staffed participants are: (Dayo Adesokan (ABCs Downward Dog), Amanda Idoko (ABCs Imaginary Mary), Andrew Mathieson (ABCs Dr. Ken), Ron McCants (ABCs Speechless), Miguel Ian Raya (Freeforms Famous In Love), Janine Salinas Schoenberg (ABCs American Crime), Christina Walker (ABCs Still Star-Crossed) and Jeffery w**g (ABCs Notorious). Raya is already at work writing an episode of Famous in Love while Schoenberg and Walker are co-writing episodes of their respective series.
Were proud that our selection of writers for this years writing program proved appealing to not only creative executives but showrunners as well, said Tim McNeal, Disney/ABC TV Groups VP of creative talent development and inclusion. Just as we pride ourselves by introducing new diverse voices to the creative process at the lower level, we find it equally rewarding to champion the staffing of program alumni as a means to career longevity.
Drinks from the pool-side bar at my hotel, the San Juan Marriott. Kate Taylor
When I told people I was going to Puerto Rico, they were jealous. When I told them I booked the trip through Costco, that jealousy transformed into confusion.
"You can buy a vacation through Costco?" I was asked at least a dozen times in recent months.
My answer: Yes, and it"s incredible.
I only became aware of Costco"s travel deals in May, when a friendsuggested checking out the warehouse store"swebsite while planning an upcoming vacation.
I was amazed by the variety of options, from airfare and hotel deals in Europe to Caribbean cruises. Costco even has a section dedicated to safaris, with options in Botswana and South Africa.
That"s right you can book an entire weeklong safari, including a guide, airfare, and a place to stay, throughCostco.
View from the hotel room. Kate Taylor
Theretailer launched Costco Travel in 2000.
"Following the same philosophy as in the warehouses, we offer a limited number of products in an effort to focus on partners who consistently produce high quality, exceptional value and superb service," Costco spokesperson Nikki Chellew told Business Insider. "Costco Travel adds to the overall value of the membership with savings that can exceed the cost of an annual membership."
Three friends and Isettled on a seven-day trip to Puerto Rico, and purchased a trip that provided airfare, seven nights in a hotel, and transportation to and from an airport in August, for a little more than$800 a person.
Now, having returned from the trip, I can confidently say that Costco Travel is going to completely change how I book vacations.
First of all, booking the trip through Costco left me confident I was saving money. While searching for deals, I perused packages sold by airlines, which included flights at inconvenient times, and semi-questionable websites that were too sketchy to trust. Costco matched or beat both in terms of cost, with the added bonus of reliability.
The hotel was close to the beach, and a 10-minute drive to Old San Juan. Kate Taylor
Second, it was incredibly convenient every step of the way. Scanning through Costco"s deals felt like browsing a diner"s extensive menu it had plenty of options, but also narrowed down my choices and spelled out the benefits of each one. Once I arrived in Puerto Rico, the bonus of having a car to take me to and from the airport included in the trip was an extra convenience I hadn"t given much thought about before booking the trip.
Finally, every aspect of the trip purchased via Costco hotel, airfare, travel to the hotel exceeded expectations. To head off skeptics: Costco did not know I cover the retailerwhen the dealwas purchased, this is not paid for by Costco, and there is no weird under-the-table sponsorship here. Everything was simply fantastic.
My biggest question after the trip was why everyone wasn"t booking travel through Costco and was forced to conclude that most people just don"t know that they can.
The Hertz rental car location in our hotel made it easy to take a road trip around Puerto Rico. Kate Taylor
"It is difficult to have travel be top of mind for members when they think of Costco as a warehouse full of tangible products," Chellew says.
However, the company istrying to change that.
Costco is now advertisingits travel packages using emails, travel brochures, and deals in the Costco Savings Book. Additionally, every month the retailer publishes an article by travel expert Peter Greenberg in its magazine, the Costco Connection.
Still, Costco is primarily growing its travel business via word of mouth. Chellew says that members sharing their experiences has played the biggest role in Costco Travel"s double-digit annual growth.
With that in mind, I"ll add my positive experience to the public record. Next time you"re booking a trip, check Costco Travel first. I know I will.
