Raiders’ David Sharpe stands tall as replacement for Trent Brown
ALAMEDA — The last thing an offensive lineman wants to hear is his name on the loudspeaker, and it happened twice to David Sharpe in the late first and early second quarter against the Green Bay Packers.
In his first start since the end of the 2017 season, Sharpe was starting at right tackle in place of Trent Brown, who couldn’t play because of a left calf strain. No pressure, really. Sharpe was not only replacing the highest paid lineman in NFL history, but a player who has played as if he deserves that distinction.
And twice in the same drive Sharpe was called for holding, the second time nullifying a would-be 29-yard touchdown pass from Derek Carr to Darren Waller.
The Raiders went on to score anyway on an 86-yard drive, and the rest of the day for Sharpe was uneventful — a description any lineman can appreciate.
“It was a little shaky at first, but I got in my groove later in the game,” Sharpe said Monday the day after a 42-24 loss to the Packers. “It’s been two years since I played so I definitely needed it to get back in the groove and get everything together.”
Sharpe, 6-foot-6 and 330 pounds, played all 66 offensive snaps. Coach Jon Gruden said Friday both Sharpe and Brandon Parker would play if Brown couldn’t go. Sharpe was playing so well there was no need to make a switch, as Parker played just two snaps as an extra blocker in a power formation.
“I practiced all week, they said I would be the guy if Trent didn’t go,” Sharpe said. “So they believed in me, that gave me confidence, and let me go the whole game.”
Gruden said at his weekly press conference if the Raiders had won, Sharpe would have gotten a game ball. The Packers came in with pass rushing outside linebackers Preston and Za’Darius Smith, who had combined for 13 sacks. Neither got much of a sniff at Derek Carr.
“We did a lot of things different in this game,” Gruden said. “We did a lot of different formations and plays and no-huddle things. He handled his assignments extremely well. All you heard about was the Smith brothers. I think he did a good job against two really good rushers. They both tried him. They brought some pressures. I thought he handled himself extremely well.”
Sharpe originally was cut by Gruden last season at the final roster cutdown. He ended up on the practice squad of the Texans and eventually the 53 man roster. When he was waived by Houston, the Raiders brought him back last Nov. 2.
“Having the ability to be a swing tackle where he backed up Kolton (Miller) and Trent really helped him,” Gruden said. “I think he has a better feel for the offense. He’s in better shape than a year ago and it shows.”
Gruden said Brown is “50-50” to play this week in Houston, although he’s optimistic. While Sharpe believes he could have played better, playing at a high level in place of a premiere lineman was a big career boost. Sharpe last started at the end of the 2017 season as an injury replacement for left tackle Donald Penn.
“Yeah, man. it’s been two years since I played a full regular season game,” Sharpe said. “So it was nice to get back out there and showcase my talent a little bit. I definitely needed that game, and moving forward it can be a lot better.”
NOTES
— Wide receiver Tyrell Williams (plantar fasciitis) did some running Monday and Gruden is optimistic there’s at least a chance the Raiders leading wide receiver will face Houston. Williams has missed the last two games.
— Gruden said quarterback Derek Carr is well aware of the mistake he made stretching for an end zone pylon and fumbling the ball through the side of the end zone for a turnover with Green Bay taking over at the 20.
“He knows . . . it was a great effort, a phenomenal effort,” Gruden said. “But he has to be careful with the football, especially when you put it in your left hand in traffic. The inside-out pursuit is coming hard. It’s unfortunate. That play changed the momentum of the game, but it didn’t lose us the game.”
— So what was the problem with defending Aaron Rodgers, who had 429 yards passing and five touchdowns? Rush, or coverage? Nine of Rodgers’ completions totaled 314 yards.
“It was a combination of both . . . we have to eliminate the explosive plays,” Gruden said. “We just can’t give up big, chunk yardage plays. That’s going to be an area of emphasis, as it has been.”
— Anthony Rush a defensive tackle who has spent the season on the Raiders practice squad, has been signed to the 53-man roster of the Philadelphia Eagles, according to multiple reports. Rush nearly made the Raiders roster with a strong training camp and preseason but was waived at the final cutdown after the club signed veteran Corey Liuget.
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