One of the biggest setbacks that the Las Vegas Raiders experienced in 2021 was self-inflicted penalties. With a new regime in charge, this is one of the biggest areas of work at the Raiders’ training camp.
When looking back at last season, Raiders fans were consistently screaming at their phones or television sets in frustration. Every week, the Raiders seemed to commit penalties that slowed drives and, in effect, killed their momentum. Who can forget the disastrous timing of Alex Leatherwood’s penalties during the team’s playoff game against the Cincinnati Bengals? As counterproductive as this was, most of the players along the offensive line will have a chance at redemption this season.
Speaking with the media, left tackle Kolton Miller shared some thoughts when questioned about the penalties. More importantly, he was asked how the team’s new standard of accountability would help to mitigate that issue.
“Yeah, we want to eliminate self-inflicted penalties. So, we try to really focus on our own accountability. If we have an issue, then we take a lap. We don’t say anything, it’s just next man up. We don’t stop practicing, and we just [have] to hold each other to a higher standard. So, that’s how we’re trying to execute that.”
Accountability is king at Raiders training camp
When asked for an honest assessment of how all of the above is going, Miller emphasized it’s a day-to-day process, obviously, it’s far from finished.
“Right. Yep. Through work each day and focus and keeping each other accountable.“
Miller is the stalwart along the Raiders’ O-line. He’s one of the best left tackles in the NFL and goes into 2022 largely underrated. With both Richie Incognito and Denzelle Good both gone, this group will look to Miller’s leadership. His exemplar play is no doubt a major factor, especially when you consider everyone in that unit is competing for playing time, so who better to model themselves after? For Raiders fans, it must be refreshing to hear a coaching staff take this matter seriously. For years, the Raiders have been victims of their own careless play. With Josh McDaniels in charge, that appears to be on the way out.
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*Top Photo: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
