One Postgame Take
What a resounding start to the season. The Raiders looked locked in and fired up. The offense executed with a crispness we haven't seen in a while. Derek Carr was awakened, and Josh Jacobs looked like a revelation. So did Waller. Williams stepped up big time, as if saying, "A.B. who?" The secondary still looks prone to yielding big chunks (something you want to fix before facing the Chiefs) and patty-caking as ball carriers drag them down the field, hopefully Abram's megahit style will start rubbing off. Good thing that surefire TD pass bounced off that Bronco receiver's chest, or this could have gotten uncomfortably close. That said, and despite the score, the end result felt like total domination of the Broncos. Wow, good on Gruden and the Raiders for coming prepared and passionate in the wake of a crazy week. So far, so good.
posted by Raider Take at 7:13 AM
29 Comments:
I believe the secondary will gel. They are young. Mullen is getting an earful this week.
Some coach will ask him if he forgot he's not playing in college anymore after jumping over Broncos WR on the ground instead of tagging him down. Overall, more press coverage and less zone looked promising.
The unfortunate truth is the Raiders will need to dial it up even more next week. The Chiefs are much better than the Broncos... at least on offense. Maybe it will be an old fashioned Carr shootout.
For now, I will just enjoy this win!
The Defensive line looked a lot better last night, than they had in years. But the Doncos do not have the most stellar o-line in the league either. But to hold ZERO hits on Carr on the Doncos defense was pretty stellar! We will play against one of the better O-lines in the League vs the Chiefs next week, so I hope the D-line can keep up the intensity.
With that said, that was one of the weaknesses I saw last night. The Raiders started straight fire, and set the cruise control after that. You are right Take, this game was too uncomfortable especially in the 2nd half. The Raiders (on both sides of the ball) need to understand they need to play 4 quarters of intensity. The Raiders shut the Doncos out of the end zone twice before the first half, and held them scoreless on a missed field goal right before the half. A TD at any of those points made it a tie game because the Doncos were a different team the 2nd half, and the Raiders became less aggressive. But right when you thought the momentum had shifted, Harris takes the kick off 70 yards, and the Raiders score. So the Raiders had responses, but in the 3rd Quarter left the defense on the field too much. Have to figure out how to shorten the 3-n-out plays. Raiders only had 35 or so total yards offensively in the 3rd Quareter, and that is what brought the Doncos back in the game.
Here is a link to Neiron Ball's story. RIP Big Weezy:
https://www.onlygators.com/09/10/2019/former-florida-linebacker-neiron-ball-dies-at-27/
Cable should be fired - check
No one playing in preseason, will have the team behind the 8 ball - check
Gruden's ego has the team in turmoil - check
Kolton Miller is a bust - check
and so much more, way to go, you are so on top of it?
FUCK AB
I AM A RAIDER
Straw man - Check!
That's all you got?
Brother Darkness, you are a very weak individual.
Is this how you teach me about football?
SLAP
FUCK AB
I AM A RAIDER
Lol. Very childish, Jones.
I commented on the game in this thread and the previous thread. Extremely happy with the results.
Plan to enjoy the win.
Cheers!
Jones,
I should be credited for some of these things, not NY. I appreciate ya though, and love the banter between us. I appreciate everyone on this site because we all are passionate about the Raiders, and care deeply for them.
With that said, last night's game was straight AWESOME! The fire in this team seems to be more intense than it was a few years ago. I hope they keep the intensity through the season; and I really hope we beat the crap out of KC next week and dominate them like we did the Doncos yesterday.
Here are the statements I still adhere to:
Cable should be fired - FACT!
Gruden's ego has the team in turmoil - UNCHECK, I never said this. Gruden cares more about his celebrity ego than coaching is what I said. After one game in a 16 game season, doesn't negate this fact. It was a terrific win for the team, but reports are that DC's audio equipment wasn't working, and DC called most of the plays from the line. - CHECK
Kolton Miller is a bust - UNCHECK. I never said this either. I said that Miller needed to improve. What was unknown to me until listening to the Lincoln Kennedy on the radio broadcast last night, Miller was battling a severe injury last season, which slowed him down and contributed to his suckiness. He ended up hurting the team more because he wouldn't step out and rest.
Now what I did say was Brandon Parker was a bust. - CHECK
Tyrell Williams had a HUGE game last night, so did Waller and Jacobs. I really like Jacobs too. He's an animal! I want to see how the D-Line does against the Chiefs, and the coverage team. Good news on Conley, he is home and doing well, and may play this weekend.
Look at this stat too, will blow your mind, Derek Carr's last three games against the Broncos:
*Completed 70-of-84 pass attempts (83.3%)
*714 yards for 8.5 yards per attempt
*Zero interceptions
*110.0 passer rating
*2 passing TDs
For his career vs. Doncos:
*Completed 204 of 308 passes (66.23%)
*2,028 yards for 9.94 yards per attempt
*4 INTs
*91.2 passer rating
*11 TDs
Now for all the mediots out there hating on DC, tell me he is not an elite QB....
Great game. Carr looked awesome. As I wrote before hand it will take Jacobs, Trent Brown and Waller playing well to win.
Trent Brown was a fantastic FA signing. He was destroying guys in the run game.
Gruden might have an ego and make some very questionable personnel decisions but when it comes to coaching the game he is elite. His play calling was off the charts fantastic. He can also get the most out of Carr.
Vontaze was a great leader and Abrams looks like a beast.
What I am worried about is after Willimas the WRs look weak. Hate AB but you could really see how the offense would be top 3 with him. He would be dominate the middle areas. The Raiders really need to find a WR in the off-season because the other names, Grant, Renfrow, just can not separate from coverage.
Depth overall is an issue as soon as Conley went out we saw how unprepared Mullens was for playing first string. Non of this is surprising as creating depth on a rebuilding team will take time. This is evident on the D line as well
Sandy
Sandy, in fairness, the other WRs didn't get a lot of looks. Renfrow caught a ball thrown behind him near the end zone. No way he was going to be denied. He's a possession WR.
Carr was pissed off determined last night, like we've never seen. Maybe that was because of AB. Hopefully, it was because of Gruden's motivation. The AB issue will fade quickly. Gruden's coaching and play calling was far more prepared and lights out better than anything he showed us last year.
And I don't buy the idea we now have better players. It's much more than that. Carr was making his reads and getting the ball out quickly. That's what a prepared QB and a prepared team can do.
It was fun to watch. Raiders were in control and you could feel it. No cardiac stress! I need more games like that.
NY,
I hear you about the stress. I live on the east coast too and going to bed after the past few Monday late night losses while staring at the ceiling at 2 am is tough. lol
You don't think the o-line is better if only by the virtue of Brown and Miller looking improved?
What about the lbs, perhaps you have your man in the middle-Vontaze. Finally after you have stated for so many years of being frustrated about the lack of attention to mlb.
The DBs for sure with Joyner, Abrams alone.
There are three areas that now have better players.
What id you guys think about Crosby? He played limited snaps but seemed to get in on the action.
Sandy
Sandy,
My apologies. Reading that again, I may have misstated or confused my point. My comment about the players pertains more to Gruden. I expected to get bashed by Jones (as usual) for suggesting Gruden finally showed up (came prepared); something we didn't see last year. The point being it wasn't just the upgrades to the roster but Gruden himself who upped his game.
Brown is a monster at RT. And except for a few pre-snap penalties (which Gruden I'm sure was pissed off), the O-line played exceptionally well... actually controlled the game, then put an ! on their performance with back-to-back first downs to finish the game.
IMO, Crosby is raw. But he seems to have great attitude and aptitude, and proved he is tough as nails with his "get me back in the game, coach" after breaking his hand in preseason. He was in the mix and going after the ball against Denver. But he's also a liability out there while he has a cast. At one time, we saw a runner go by him on his cast side, where he can't grip.
Just reading that Abram might be sent to IR, out for the year with rotator cuff injury. That sucks! His aggressiveness is a big part of the Raiders improvement in their secondary.
Abram's is going to the IR, possibly out for the year with a torn rotator cuff and torn labrum. It happened on the hit when he knocked DaeSean Hamilton out of bounds to prevent a catch. His shoulder popped out, he thought it was just dislocated and popped it back in and continued to play which did more damage. He is going to be tough to replace. Curtis Riley is the next man up, then Erik Harris. The Raiders can also move LaMarcus Joyner back, and put Keisean Nixon in the slot.
We may have Conley back on Sunday too, which is terrific news! I'm sure Gruden won't just throw him back in the fray right away, but there is a chance he plays. I am hoping the Raiders stay aggressive.
Ironic that controversy already surrounds Antonio Brown, before he's taken a snap for the Patriots. This guy is a walking nightmare. Maybe he's innocent but that doesn't change the fact that he's now the news of the day in NE.
As good as Brown is, the Pats showed they do not need to load their WR corp. They had all the firepower they needed last week. Wonder when buyer's remorse will set in... maybe it already has.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZu16kU0EYU
That video is outstanding!
Did you post that Jones? thx!
Carr is the man. He is clearly on a mission this year. A total pro.
Just wanted you to know what it feels like to be a RAIDER.
FUCK AB
I AM A RAIDER
Good stuff. Almost brought a tear to my eye to see Carr so intense. There's a sense of commitment to excellence we've not seen in at least 15 years. Carr is an unquestioned leader of this year's team... and he won't have AB breathing down his neck for targets.
Burfict on defense!
That is an awesome video. We've seen DC mic'd up before, nothing to this level of intensity. He wasn't "happy-go-lucky" like he's been in the past, he was straight fire! Like I said, I hope he is this way the whole season. He needs to be this way, even when things aren't going right. DC has a chip on his shoulder from the last 2 years, and all the flack he got from the media last season, and this offseason, he is out to prove one thing. As a RAIDER, I hope they prove it this year!
Last note about AB. I am going to laugh when AB doesn't play one game with the Pats, and they still have to pay him $9 million.
Learning J. Abram is out for season, and with possibly a career ending injury, should give us all greater appreciation for Jack Tatum & Ronnie Lott.
Tatum & Lott delivered the big hits game after game, season after season, and did it for a long period of time. Lott is in the hall of fame, and Tatum should be.
I hope Abram can come back and be the same player he was, but it will be hard.
Abram thing is tragic. He was going to step in and provide an immediate upgrade at S.
Nate, Carr's chip on his shoulder could also be related to Gruden's obsession with other QBs, including Kyler Murray in this year's draft.
In my mind, Carr is still the guy who threw 50 TDs in his final year of college. In the right system, he could be top 5 in the NFL. He already looks way more comfortable this year.
Abram kept playing while he was still injured, played half the game hurt, tough SOB. Abram wants a second opinion because he still wants to play, wanted to know if it was possible, that's the type of player you want on the back end of a D. Tough break for the team, maybe Joyner slots back into S and one of the backup DB's will play Nickel slot?
Carr looks (finally) comfortable with his O-line and the O he is running. Mayock and Gruden did a good job on the O-line this year, if it can be healthy, it will dominate and Carr will be very happy. Carr took a bashing in the press and from fans, then the AB thing this off season and he is so motivated. He has matured and is in his prime right now, if the O-line can keep the dogs off him, Carr is going to light it up.
I am a Raider
00, how are you
Why do you say it could be career threatening? Its not like he is a QB who relies on a throwing motion? It is nto to his legs?
00 btw greatest number in sports history especially cause it also matched his name (two Os and the same backwards or forwards).
Regards
Sandy
"Nate, Carr's chip on his shoulder could also be related to Gruden's obsession with other QBs, including Kyler Murray in this year's draft."
The problem with this is I don't believe the media when they say there is a "riff" between Gruden and Carr. Look how they interact together, you don't get that vibe from either one. Gruden will always have an obsession with QB's, that is his forte. So, lavishing over players like Kyler Murray is par for the course with this guy; but it doesn't mean that he wants to replace Carr (unless Carr really falls apart).
Gruden knows if he replaces DC, it has to be with a player better than DC; and there are not too many on that list in the NFL, let alone college. Maybe Clemson's QB when he graduates, but there the list ends.
I think it has to do more with the media giving him grief last season and this offseason. He even joked about it in his presser after the game with a remark about people thinking he was crying on a hit. You can tell he is not happy with all this talk about him, and is using this opportunity to shut everyone up. The catch 22 with this is that if he has the season of a lifetime this year, it is the new standard for the rest of his career. I think he has it in him, but he cannot lose the intensity he played with on Monday.
Nate, Gruden has expressed that he wants the QB to run more (when other options fail). You here Carr in the video Jones posted telling Gruden on the sideline, "[you should be happy] I ran twice." I believe the two have tremendous respect for each other and Carr is doing everything he can to be the QB Gruden wants and expects. But I would say the chip on his shoulder is many things, it's Gruden, it's the media, it's Carr's pride and professionalism. it's his leadership and sense of responsibility to his teammates, etc.
Whatever it is, I hope it sticks!
https://twitter.com/RaiderPosts/status/1172198873055539202?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1172198873055539202&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Foakland-raiders
"This looks like one of them bars thats gonna give ya diarrhea..." Awesome! I laughed through this whole video.
This is kind of a season opener for me because I have to go out to watch the game. There's no regional coverage of the Raiders in this market, which is 100% Jets and Giants every week.
The one thing we all know is, no team is as bad as its worst game nor as good as its best game. The Raiders probably had their best game last week. It was an all around team effort and pretty much flawless by Derek Carr.
WR Hill is out for the Chiefs but they have plenty of weapons. Mahomes might be slowed by an ankle injury, but don't count on that being a factor. These things get overblown.
Key for the Raiders will be to neutralize TE Kelce. Sounds easy. Ha! Who do the Raiders have that can match up? Both TEs should have success today... Waller for the Raiders.
Raiders D will be hard pressed to force a punt today.
IMO, Raiders best chance to beat the Chiefs will be an old-fashioned shoot-out. Derek Carr will have to channel his 2016-self and match score for score with Mahomes. Whoever has the ball last probably wins. And that's probably best case.
GO RAIDERS!!
Enjoy the game!
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