Raiders offense 2024: Varied way team can attack defenses with wide receivers is name of game

Coach Edgar Bennett believes Las Vegas has personnel to create headaches and mismatches

For Edgar Bennett, versatility is imperative to success.

The Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver coach has been in the game so long — 32 years as a coach, seven as an NFL running back to be exact — that he knows being adaptable and an all-around asset is vital to longevity and success at the pro level.

“The name of the game is to have a lot of different weapons and play a lot of different personnel groupings,” Bennett said during his media availability after the Raiders’ mandatory minicamp session two weeks ago.

The varied way Las Vegas can attack defenses its wide receivers group is indeed the name of the game. Especially considering the top three incumbents — Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, and Tre Tucker — can be moved all along the formation depending on personnel groupings. Adams paced that trio with 103 grabs for 1,144 yards and eight touchdowns last year with Meyers right behind him with 71 catches for 807 yards and eight scores. Meyers also had two rushing touchdowns, too. Tucker, a rookie last year, hauled in 19 passes for 331 yard and two scores.

Each had opportunities on the boundary as outside options and shuttled inside to the slot spots, too, and to really maximize the Raiders offensive output, that should be a factor again in 2024 under new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy. Bennett expanded on what Meyers brings to the table as a Raiders wide receiver. The 27-year-old who enters his second year in Las Vegas (sixth overall in his career) signed with the team as a free agent last offseason and the 6-foot-2, 200-poound North Carolina State product has gone from undrafted to reliable receiver in the NFL.

“Yeah, all around, I mean, he his game overall, because he is very versatile, can play all three spots at the receiver position,” Bennett began regarding Meyers. “He can block, his run after the catch, obviously, he has really good hands and he can create separation. And those are some of the things you look for, those a lot of characteristics that you’re looking for, or traits that you look for in a receiver.”

And of course — this goes without saying, really — it helps Bennett tremendously he has a high-effort, high-standard tone-setting veteran the wide receiver position group in Adams. The 31-year-old who entered his 11th season in the NFL is in Year 3 as a Raider and isn’t showing signs of slowing down. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Fresno State product is a blueprint-type other Raiders receivers (any wideout in the league) can base their craft upon. A crisp and precise route runner who can make even the best cornerbacks in the league look foolish, Adams brings the same effort and dedication to his craft to practice and game day.

“It’s very helpful. When you have a guy that’s that committed, that dedicated, and leads by example, it helps,” Bennett said of Adams. “But our room is filled with quite a few guys that go about it that way, and it’s just the standard. It’s the mindset, it’s how they prepare every day, we take it no different than getting ready for our game.

“I know we’re in OTAs and now we’re in our mandatory minicamp, but it’s no different as far as the preparation, they take it very serious. Anytime we got an opportunity to step out on the field we’re trying to get better, we’re trying to improve.”

A Raiders wide receiver room exhibiting a similar work ethic to Adams would be a tremendous boon as the team is installing Getsy’s scheme. It’s not a stretch to say Las Vegas’ offense is trailing the defense. Getsy is the new play caller and has his own philosophy which he’ll impart on the Raiders. Over on the defense, coordinator and play caller Patrick Graham enters his third year with an ascending group that undoubtedly made strides last season.

Yet, despite the accomplishments from 2023, there’s no guarantee for 2024, thus attention to detail, assimilating to scheme, and digesting what’s being taught is instrumental towards what ever the Raiders record will be this coming season. The offseason and training camp later next month is the ideal time to have growing pains as the team will learn where the areas of opportunity are and have the time to strengthen them. And for Bennett, who is primarily responsible for wide receivers, he knows a solid collective effort with standout performers will go a long way compared to a fractured effort. Which is why when the Raiders reconvene, the grinding must occur in earnest.

“I really think is just more the culture that AP (head coach Antonio Pierce) builds here where it’s about a brotherhood. It’s about us taking care of each other and holding each other accountable and being responsible to each other,” Bennett noted. “And so, it’s more of that than anything, I think guys buy into that. As far as the same way a linemen blocks, pass protection, and a receiver gets opened on the route, and the quarterback makes the correct throw.

“It all works together. It’s 11 of us, without all the 11, none of us can be successful.”

There’s also a slew of newcomers at the wideout position under Bennett’s charge with veteran Michael Gallup (free agent who was previously with the Dallas Cowboys) chief among them. He’s joined by Jalen Guyton, Alex Bachman, and youngsters Tulu Griffin, Jeff Foreman, Ramel Keyton, and Tyreik McAllister. Incumbents DJ Turner and Kristian Wilkerson round out the group.

Bennett noted Gallup has the experience, production, and tape that the Raiders like (266 career catches for 3,744 yards and 21 total touchdowns) and like every other receiver, the 28-year-old is getting acclimated to the Raiders offense.

“He can create separation,” Bennett began when talking about Gallup. “He seems like another guy that can kind of move around as far as playing a number of different positions. But his ability to catch the football creates separation, those things stand out.”

Again, flexibility on where wide receivers can line up.

We’ll see soon enough if it’s talk or the real deal.