Raiders Insider Calls it “Pretty Conspicuous What’s Going on” with Powers Johnson

One of the biggest surprises of training camp this year for the Raiders has been the team’s approach to settling on an offensive line.

After more than a week of practices, the interior of the Raiders’ offensive line seems to be as unsettled as ever and based on the last few days, it sounds like Jackson Powers-Johnson might be moving from center to guard.

It could be that the coaching staff is just taking a long look at all their options, but they also might be sending a message to Powers-Johnson.

It’s also possible that Powers-Johnson hasn’t been handling pre-snap responsibilities in the new offense as well as the coaches would like.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vinny Bonsignore shared an observation from training camp on Friday, and it might be relevant to the team’s decision to move Powers-Johnson to guard in recent days.

“What was interesting… is when Alex Cappa was in there, he was making the line calls,” Bonsignore said on the Vegas Nation First and 10 podcast.

“Do you think [Powers-Johnson moving to guard] has to do with communication and understanding of the offense, and the understanding of calling things at the NFL level, that maybe they’re a little bit hesitant with Jackson Powers-Johnson right now?”

Considering Powers-Johnson was primarily at center for the first week of practice, it’s possible the coaching staff wasn’t happy with something they were seeing from him.

If Cappa was calling blocking assignments from the guard position, it’s hard to take that as anything other than an indictment on whoever was playing center at the time.

“I’m just wondering,” Bonsignore continued, “if Jackson Powers Johnson is at the point where… I’m trying to put myself in his cleats a little bit… ‘on notice, singled out’ or whatever the case might be, it’s pretty conspicuous what’s going on.”