Raiders' Michael Mayer Has Come a Long Way as a Blocker

Raiders tight ends coach Jerry Schuplinski said in Monday's media scrum that the progress isn't just a result of coaching, it's also been Mayer's work ethic.

"He's done a nice job in that, and I would say, a lot of the credit goes to him," Schuplinski said. "He's worked really hard on it. Not just during practice, but before practice, after practice, from things like hand placement to head placement to body position, body control, and all of that. 

"And he's done a nice job in all those areas. And if you watch him throughout the year, it's not always perfect on everything. He's always had a will to do it, which is a big part, and that he's sort of honed in on the fundamental technique of it.

"And whether it's a drive block, an angle block, a combo block, whatever we are asking him to do, he's been doing it. And I think that was a great example -- that play with Josh's run -- was a great example of how far he's come. 

"But he can really do it all in line and he's shown that throughout the course of the year and he keeps getting better at it."

The Silver and Black will return home to Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas to take on the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, December 10, at 4:05 p.m. EST/1:05 p.m. PST.