Tag: buccaneers

It’s Monday Night: Keys to Beating Atlanta

The Raiders faced the NFC South last week and got dominated by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. There’s not a lot of bright spots from that game. 

Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers did their thing. Michael Mayer was the surprise leader in yards and average per catch. Terrace Marshall even got into the box score. All those guys need to show up this week. 

RB Sincere McCormick has brought a surge to this offense. He averaged 5.2 yards per carry last week and looked better than all the Raiders runners combined. Let’s see what he looks like in a game with 20+ carries. 

Now, the Atlanta Falcons come to town. The Raiders will again be without Aidan O’Connell, despite them playing us with the possibility he could return. Ridder spent the first few years of his career in Atlanta, before they moved on to other options. 

Atlanta has lost four games in a row. They went from looking like a contender to a team that might need a QB change. 

Regardless, the Raiders will be without Maxx Crosby for this week and the rest of the season. It’s time for Tyree Wilson to show some development. He still sometimes looks lost but he has tools and flashes. 

Otherwise, the Raiders kept the game close thanks to some interceptions from Jack Jones and K’Lavon Chaisson. The Raiders also sacked the QB four times. They need all that action again to prevent a blow out at home. 

Further, the Falcons got blown out on the road last week. Before that they failed to score more than 17 points in the three games prior. They’ll look to get back on track with an explosive offense that features TE Kyle Pitts, WR Drake London, WR Darnell Mooney, RB Tyler Allegeier and RB Bijan Robinson. 

The Falcons size and speed out of the backfield means the Raiders tackling ability will again get tested. Mooney has the speed outside to push the Raiders’ secondary, while London has the size to beat all the Raiders corners in contested situations. We know the Raiders can’t cover TEs and Pitts brings x-factor ability no matter how inconsistent he is. 

In the end, Vegas needs to pressure Kirk Cousins into mistakes. They need to stay disciplined against all of Atlanta’s playmakers. They can’t make it easy with penalties and they can’t get down if they give up big plays. Plus, Vegas needs to create some turnovers. 

Offensively, Vegas needs to control the clock at home and protect their mediocre QB play. Expect them to spread the ball around to their various receivers. Ideally, they probably need to hit with a big strike too. Think about hitting Tre Tucker deep, again, like a few weeks ago. 

Some folks might think what do the Raiders have to play for? They’re eliminated in the playoffs should and the draft should be the focus. They’re not wrong, but you don’t want to build a culture around losing. The Raiders need to evaluate every player’s roster position, that includes the coach. It’s hard to see a world where head coach Antonio Pierce continues after a winless division record. However, he can get these guys right for the next coach and show some promise for his next gig. 

Either way, it’s Monday Night and nobody wants to see the Silver and Black embarrassed in Atlanta. 

How the Raiders can have Better Luck in Florida

The Raiders pissed down their own leg on Black Friday. They literally fumbled the bag on the last play of what should have been an upset win. Instead, they went home with buyers’ remorse.

Antonio Pierce might have been right when he said this team is allergic to winning. Unfortunately, that might not save his job. At the very least, the team showed up and competed on the special edition broadcast.

Vegas finally cracked 100 rushing yards. They honestly should have given the ball to Sincere McCormick more. Aidan O’Connell threw two touchdowns and zero interceptions. Tre Tucker made a big deep catch. Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers were consistent. Meyers flirted with 100 receiving yards while Bowers racked up 10 catches for 140 yards and a touchdown. This felt llike the first time the Raiders offense showed life in weeks. Yet, they left too many points on the board. Chris Jones’ two sacks were also a huge difference-maker.

Defensively, the four sacks were crucial. Mahomes only threw one TD and registered 20 incompletions. No player caught more than 100 receiving yards. Kansas City did not have a hundred-yard rusher. You can’t ask for a better game from the Raiders. They kept the offense off the field. K’Lavon Chaisson resurged with 1.5 sacks. Let’s see if he can help them again versus better tackles this week.

The Raiders don’t need any moral victories or help securing a draft pick. They need to reverse their losing culture.

Now, they travel to the East Coast. Tampa Bay features a top-ten passing and rushing offense. Running back Rachaad White and tight end Cade Otton offer tough match ups the Raiders coverage. Mike Evans is a living legend at receiver, Baker Mayfield has played hero versus us before and receiver Jalen McMillan had had flashes. This game could get ugly fast, especially if the Raiders come out flat. You remember the stinker they played versus the Dolphins the last time they went to Florida.

Linebacker Yaya Diaby, DB Antoine Winfield Jr. and defensive lineman Vita Vea give the Buccaneers a playmaker at each level of the defense. The Raiders offensive line had one of its best week, minus the last offensive play. Hopefully, they can carry that momentum.

The game plan should remain the same. Vegas needs to convert some big plays in the air. The Raiders need to control the clock with their running game. Ride Sincere and Abdullah. Some more help from special teams, again, would be be great. Keeping Baker Mayfield uncomfortable and forcing him into turnovers helps too.

Even if the Raiders should play for a draft pick, Raiders fans deserve a victory Monday. No let downs or blow outs this week. Execution is key for the Raiders to compete today.

Raiders End 1st Week of FA with BIG signing

The Raiders capped off the first week of Free Agency by adding some weight named Donald Penn to an Offensive line in need of some help at the left tackle position.

Donald Penn is a former undrafted free agent whom has spent the last few seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Penn chose the Oakland Raiders over the Redskins because he wanted an opportunity to play at left Tackle. Penn has started at left tackle the past few seasons for the Tampa Buccaneers. He has struggled with his weight but he was a pro-bowl alternate a few years ago.

PFF focus has a higher rating on Penn then Veldheer but Penn is aged 31. The move is a low risk one for the Raiders as it is a 2 year deal with less then 3 million a season guaranteed.

Football wise, Penn is a monster. He has a chance to compete with Manelik Watson for the starting position at Left Tackle. With Watson’s history of injury, I am glad to hear the Raiders have a back plan in case Watson gets injured or is unready to be a fulltime starter.

The past couple of seasons the Raiders have wanted establish an imposing bully on the Offensive line. Boothe, Howard, and now Penn are all quality veterans with a lot of experience and even more LBS. The Raiders should finally have the bully to open holes for McFadden, so he can get down hill and take runs the distance.

Best part of Penn’s deal is there are no big cap implications if he is cut after the season. Otherwise, Penn has a chip on his shoulder and something to prove after being cut by the Buccaneers. The Raiders should be able to get Penn’s best football in the twilight of his career.

Donald Penn celebrates after catching touchdown pass in 2012, and adds versatility to Raiders line via google images