Category: Features

Don’t let Denver beat you again

The Raiders got ran last week. They looked overmatched versus a desperate Dolphins team.

Now, they’re playing a Denver team that beat them this season. It was the first time the Raiders lost to the Broncos in years.

Denver starts a rookie quarterback. Their run game has been up and down. This defense is super stout despite the lack of big names.

The Raiders have a winnable game in front of them. Some folks may want them to lose to move up in the NFL Draft order. Personally, I am tired of losing. I don’t want to give a win to a division foe. Don’t forget this Broncos team was as bad as we were last season. Some how they have once again flipped the script. They leaped frog us in the rebuild and the standings.

At this point, it is about playing for some pride. Again, we want to see the team respond under Antonio Pierce. We want to see a spark on offense and effort on defense. They need to establish some sort of identity.

Run the ball, rush the QB, create some turnovers and don’t settle for field goals. That’s all I got.

Here We Go Again + Keys to Beating the Broncos

Another year, another star player going scorched earth. Yes, the Raiders pulled out an impressive home victory after looking dead in the water. And Davante Adams reportedly wants a trade.

At this point, Raiders fans should be numb to dysfunction. This ain’t quite Randy Moss, Amari Cooper or Antonio Brown. It is dissapointing to hear Adamas wants out after he said he would retire in the Silver and Black.

Still, Raiders fans have to be realistic. Was this team really going to win a Super Bowl with Adams? Not with what they have at QB. Therefore, trading Adams makes sense. The Raiders proved this week they can win without him. Trading him feels even more right if the Raiders can get a first round pick. That is more than Stefon Diggs got traded for. Obviously, that ends the nice home narrative.

Trading Adams for more than a second round pick feels like an unlikely scenario though. Adams wants a trade to the Saints or Jets. He wants to play with his old QBs. However, neither of those teams really need a receiver. Dallas makes sense but their season seems to be going a different direction. Pittsburgh might also make a call, but their QB situation is only slightly better than the Raiders.

Head coach Antonio Pierce proved he didn’t lose the locker room yet. This drama is a red flag, considering Adams was in Pierce’s corner. More players could easily turn on Pierce if the losses keep coming.

Last week, the team found a way to make enough plays versus the Browns. Cleveland could’ve easily won that game but they didn’t. Alexander Mattison was really the ex-factor as he popped off some big runs. He will get the start with Zach Moss out. Mattison struggled as the starter in Minnesota last year. He may hurt against a tough Denver defense if the offense can’t stretch the field. The Broncos allowed the 12th most rushing yards this season.

Gardner Minshew needs to be more effective this week. He only completed 14 passes for 130 yards. Minshew threw no interceptions or touchdowns. He has to step his game up with Adams out for another game. Brock Bowers only caught a couple of passes. He needs a better week too. Denver allowed the third least passing yards this year.

The Raiders’ offensive line forfeited two sacks to Myles Garrett. That is expected with the injuries they had at tackle. Kolton Miller should be back this week, even if Thayer Munford is out. The pass rush should improve this week since the Broncos don’t have an elite rusher like Garrett.

Otherwise, we saw Brock Bowers get a rush attempt last week. Let’s see the Raiders sprinkle in some trickery with Tre Tucker and Jakobi Meyers. If the offense struggles to get them the ball downfield, try to get them the ball with some blockers in front.

Overall, this week should feature a defensive battle. Denver is off a win where they threw for less than 100 yards. They did find Courtland Sutton for a TD reception. His size could give the Raiders problems.

Vegas also needs to stop the run. Last week, both Jaleel McLaughlin and Javonte Williams averaged over 4.5 yards-per-carry. Ideally, they offer a blend of power and explosiveness. They combined for 123 rushing yards against a stout Jets defense.

The Raiders manufactured pass rush last week. Janarius Robinson and Christian Wilkins split a sack. Charles Snowden and Isaiah Pola-Mao got home too. Vegas needs similar contributions across the board this week.

Safety Trevon Moehrig came up big with an interception last week. It was one of Watson’s only mistakes in the entire game. The Raiders need more plays from their DBs this week. They also don’t want to make it easy with any blown coverages. Vegas almost gave up a huge passing play to Amari Cooper.

Denver fields a young QB who doesn’t take a lot of chances. The Raiders need to stay discipline rushing the passer. Apply pressure but don’t force Bo Nix into 8 rush attempts like they did Watson.

We will find out who the Raiders are this week. Will this offense find a spark with Adams out? Can Mattison claim the starting RB role with White out? Do they trade Adams or find a way to work it out? Are the Raiders the team that edged out the Ravens and Browns? Or are they the team that got outclassed by the Panthers and Chargers?

The Raiders need to establish the run and find ways to spread the ball around to a variety of play makers. They will need to nickel and dime this stingy Denver Defense. Corner Patrick Surtain has an edge on every Raiders receiver, with Adams out.

Defensively, the Raiders will again need to get creative to generate pass rush. Crosby leaves a crater on the defense, but Tyree Wilson needs to step up. Robinson and Snowden are great stories but we can only rely on them so much. Wilkins needs to dominate against the run and pass. All the Raiders need to tackle well against a slippery Denver backfield. Vegas needs to play physical versus an equally desperate AFC West rival.

A win here steadies the Raiders against all these distractions. Losing sets them back more in the standings and they lose leverage with Adams. They have a tough stretch of schedule before their bye week in a month.

Ultimately, the Raiders need to establish their identity against the Broncos. Denver has yet to beat the Vegas Raiders. There is no need to start now.

A win and more draft busting

Last week the Oakland Raiders beat the Arizona Cardinals in a close game. Nothing to boast about considering the Cardinals started a rookie QB who the Raiders basically traded to Arizona for nothing. Still, Oakland’s defense made enough plays to win the game.

Of course, that cost the Raiders in the race for the No. 1 pick. The Cardinals are in the driver seat for the top pick with that loss.

Derek Carr doubled down on the team’s success by saying he wants to continue winning games. Carr said he wants people to be mad at him for ruining the team’s chances at a top pick.

See this wouldn’t be a big deal if the Raiders hadn’t traded two of their best draft pieces. Amari Cooper and Khalil Mack were both trade for first round picks. However, the homegrown talent now has their current team’s in the playoff race. Mack has the Bears looking like a Super Bowl caliber defense. Dallas is back in the playoff picture since acquiring Cooper. That means Oakland’s added draft capital is going to come in the middle to back end of the draft. It’s hard to find impact players that late especially when you consider both Mack and Cooper were top five picks.

Nonetheless, Carr needs to just play good. Forget the wins and losses, Carr just needs to elevate his game and prove us wrong that way. We’ve seen what Carr can do with no talent around him. He’s not that kind of player.

Sure, it’s not all his fault he’ll beat his brothers record for the most losses in their first five seasons. However, he doesn’t not deserve blame either.

The point is, Carr needs great players around him. That’s what the Raiders did in 2016. Unfortunately, I don’t know if they’ll be able to get that talent around him again before his confidence gets ruined on another losing team. The draft is crap shoot and the Raiders would need to hit instantly on all three picks to look like a contender next year. They’ve abandoned too much draft capital over the past few years so they lack talent in many places on the roster.

If Carr really wants to prove people wrong, he better elevate his game. DC is my boi and he would be great on another team with talent. He has the great leadership and talent to thrive somewhere he isn’t the focal point. Carr lacks that ball placement, pocket poise and decision making you want in an elite QB.

That means, Carr must use these next six games to show he’s an elite player and convince Jon Gruden he doesn’t need to draft a QB. Otherwise, it wouldn’t surprise me if the Raiders cash in their very good player for the chance at a great one in the draft.

The key to stopping Lamar Jackson

In other news, it’s looking more like Lamar Jackson will make his second start this week versus the Raiders. Jackson had the most rushing yards for a QB since Colin Kaepeenick. Jackson also showed some throwing ability which shouldn’t be a surprise given his history as a Heisman Trophy winner.

This is probably going to be a real challenge for the Raiders who have already lacked pass rush and discipline across the defensive line. Expect Baltimore to do a lot of misdirection to keep the Raiders defense on their toes. Containing a dual threat player like Jackson means applying pressure but also being discipline when plays breakdown. Players like Arden Key have got to step up.

Key has the length and acceleration to be a real disruptive player. However, he’s gotta work on his awareness. That will be tested this week as the Ravens rely on spread option and play action concepts meant to take advantage of Key’s aggression.

If Key can stay in his lane and react well, he should get some opportunities to make plays versus another rookie. Either Way, the Raiders have their hands full with Jackson in front of his home crowd. He can use one play to ignite his whole team which makes him a true phenom.

Other things to watch versus the Ravens

Seems like the Raiders have played the Ravens every year the past few seasons. Last year’s matchup ended in a narrow win for Baltimore but the Raiders won the previous two season’s close contests. This game should also be close. The Ravens looked like a contender than lost a bunch before Jackson emerged as a new hope.

Now, they’ll play an Oakland team off a nice win and looking like they finally have a bit of an identity. We can’t forget Michael Crabtree playing against his old team. However, most of the team and coaches he new left with the changing of the guard.

Regardless, the Raiders secondary looked improve last week. The Ravens receivers have been hot and cold. That will be a key matchup of inconsistent players.