Klint Kubiak is holding Tre Tucker up as the Las Vegas Raiders‘ conditioning benchmark, and his comments reveal why the receiver could become an even bigger weapon.
Kubiak said at Friday’s press conference that practice competition has been a strong motivator this week. He noted that fighting for playing time is the best driver there is and that the staff is always creating those situations. With a young roster, he said, the team needs to learn who will be a big part of its future.
Kubiak also singled out Tucker for his conditioning. A starting NFL receiver has to be in great shape, he said, able to run and play 70 plays a game at full speed. That is the standard for the entire receiver room, and Tucker has stood out since April. Asked about Tucker’s speed as a fourth-quarter weapon, Kubiak called great shape the expectation and said everyone on the team needs to be in as good a shape as Tucker.
Kubiak’s emphasis on competition tells us that few roles are settled…
On a young roster, playing time is still being earned. That affects the depth chart at nearly every position. Players on the bubble have a clear incentive to produce. Those in the rotation know their spots can be challenged.
Tucker’s case is especially relevant at receiver. Kubiak described him as a starting NFL receiver. That confirms his place in the lineup and the standard attached to it. His speed is already a weapon. The conditioning to sustain it late in games could make him a more reliable late-game threat.
For a team trying to close out games, that kind of stamina can be a real edge. It gives the offense a vertical option when defenses begin to tire.
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The message to the rest of the roster is just as clear. Kubiak is using Tucker as a benchmark, and that raises the bar for the entire team.
If the young players keep pushing each other, expect Kubiak to reward the winners with larger roles over the coming weeks and for Tucker’s snaps to climb in the fourth quarter.
With so many Raiders fighting for playing time, which young player has impressed you most this season?
*Top Photo: Getty Images