There was a lot to like for the Raiders in their home opener. Especially if you were stil struggling with PTSD from watching their disaster of an offense last year. But there was also plenty of issues and players who didn't make a great first impression on the new coaching staff. Do they fall down and stay down? Or do they get up, dust themselves off and come back stronger next week? We shall see. For now, they are...
Busters
CB Jermod McCoy, CB Hezekiah Masses
The two drafted rookies have been battling for the starting left cornerback job. They came out together with the second team defense in this game, Masses on the left and McCoy on the right. And proceeded to get torched for much of the game.
Their first drive of the game, Masses gave up a nine-yard catch on third and four and missed a tackle on an 11-yard run on third and one. The next play McCoy gave up the touchdown catch.
Next drive, Masses gave up a 14-yard catch on third and six and a few plays later, McCoy gave up another touchdown catch. Coming out the half, Maxxes gave up a first down catch on fourth and two and two plays later, McCoy gave up an 11-yard catch that put them back in field goal range.
LB Tommy Eichenberg
He too came in with the second team defense. The first drive -- which was the second TD drive for the Cards -- he was flagged for unnecessary roughness when he tried punching at the ball well after the runner was ruled down and the play was over. Two plays later he gave up a nine-yard catch. On the third TD drive of the game, between catches given up by Masses and McCoy, Eichenberg gave up a ten-yard catch, a seven-yard catch, and missed a tackle on a run to set up a third and short.
K Kansei Matsuzawa
His nerves must have been all over the place in this one. He kicked off to begin the third quarter and it went out of bounds for a penalty that put the ball at the 40 to start the Cardinals drive. The short field helped them greatly to go on another scoring drive.
Late in the quarter the Raiders went on a drive in what was to be the final drive of the game for Fernando Mendoza. The drive made it into the red zone before stalling. Kansei came in for an easy 38-yard attempt. And it doinked off the right upright. Not at all how he imagined his debut going.
QB Aidan O'Connell
O'Connell would complete just four passes in this game on 13 attempts. His first drive started with a couple completions and ended with consecutive plays in which is seemed he and Philip Dorsett II weren't on the same page.
His second possesion was a three-and-out and included a bad pass behind Shedrick Jackson and another seeming miscommunication with Dorsett. His final drive began with a wide open 41-yard completion to EJ Williams and ended with a lame duck incompletion, a sack in which he held onto the ball too long on third down, and overthrowing Dorsett deep on fourth down.
WR Phillip Dorsett II
Dorsett saw six passes and just one actual catch. The first target was a drop right off his facemask. The other four were just the inability to connect with O'Connell whether it be not getting open or a miscommunication. Whatever it was, it was ugly and it kept happening over and over.
See the Ballers
This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: Busters in Raiders preseason opener vs Cardinals