Lions Thread
Another late post, it’s all tied up in the fourth quarter, Got to get the lead and the defense cannot be like a stick of butter surrounded by hot knives at the end. Go Raiders!
posted by Raider Take at 3:50 PM
15 Comments:
Great win! Both the offense and defense had to come through, and they did.
Heroes of the game: Richard, Carr, Renfrow and Joseph. All came through when the Raiders needed it the most.
4-4 at the midway point is about all we could have expected. Perhaps getting there could have taken a different path but here we are.
Cheers!
Our defense finally made a stop! They tried to give it away with the Pass Interference and Roughing the Passer call; but Joseph swatted the Lions hopes.
NY, I thought it was a good win for the offense, but not for the defense. I give the offensive effort an A; but the Defense and Special Teams both a D. It always amazes me how much the other team gets away with crap on the Raiders. First and goal after the aforementioned penalties; both PJ Hall and Hurst were held, and brought to the ground, but no flag. Lions almost scored on that play. Then PJ gets a huge sack on 3rd down after plowing through another hold, and then the big stop by Joseph. Some good news, Raiders are working out DJ Swearingen today. I was hoping they'd take a look at him, he is a decent DB, and we need help there (as well as LB and DE).
I think the Raiders need to get out of Tampa-2 coverage. It's way too easy to take that coverage down today, and it is out-dated like Prevent-you-from-winning. Most of the Raiders deep touchdowns they have given up this year has come in the Tampa-2 coverage. Worley released Gallady too soon in Tampa 2 coverage on the bomb that put the Lions up 14-10. Then on the last drive on the play before the 2 penalties that put them first and goal, the Raiders played Tampa 2 coverage again, and was burned deep on a pass to Galladay. It was a sorry display on defense for the second straight week. We had three turnovers yesterday (the 4th and goal counts as a turnover); so that is a positive; but they couldn't stop my grandmother.
In the end, we got the win this week; the Pats lost, and I will take em both.
Three observations:
1. Gurden's play calling is superb, the fact that he totally switched gears and started using the Richard plays on the last drive was incredible and took balls
2. Carr looked fantastic his throw to Richard on the final drive was a thing of beauty that only a handful of NFL QBs can make
3. Gruden and Mayock drafting is very good, many rookies or 2nd year guys are playing and making plays.
4. Trent Brown is the best player on the team. When he is in the game Jacobs typically runs for numerous 10 plus yards per carry. When Brown went out it was a dog fight to get to 4-5 per carry.
Sandy
Nate, the defense clearly needs work but they came thru in the end, particularly on the last play. Pressure from Ferrell and textbook pass defense by Joseph... a most see in every highlight package.
A win!
correction above... "must see"
The secondary mostly got torched all day, just like they have in so many other games. But the Raiders were getting some pressure when it counted, including a timely sack by PJ Hall on the last drive. That's what I'm talking about; several players stepped up when it meant the most. That's what Mack used to bring to the Raiders defense. It was encouraging to see.
Defense is not very good, so we'd better get used to games like this.
Off season free agency and draft should focus heavily on the defense. Hopefully finally, finally, get a good group of linebackers together.
But last year, the Raiders would lose this game, so have to be encouraged by the improvement.
Another big test against L.A. this week. their defense shut down Rogers and the Pack, so will be interesting to watch.
The difference-maker is Jacobs. Raiders have a legit run game that should force LA into more single coverage. Hopefully, Carr can exploit that. Waller only had two targets this week. That should be unacceptable. He's the Raiders best receiver.
My recognition of the defense this week is that they played hard and persevered in the end. Indeed, definitely some holes to fill in the off-season but this is the team that Gruden and Mayock assembled. There are a lot of young players who we should expect to get better as the season progresses.
Honestly, it's valid questioning any defense that has Whitehead and Morrow both playing 100% of the snaps.
Bad news on Arden Key. He seemed to be turning the corner in the last couple of games.
Sandy
Over the last 6 weeks, #Raiders lead the NFL in yards per play (6.56) and rank 5th in points per drive (2.44)
Jacobs is the engine driving the train. Funny, Jacobs and McFadden both came out of college programs where they shared running duties with another back. Both were questionable whether they could handle being a feature back.
Remember how easy McFadden used to go down with the touch of a defender? Jacobs runs over and around defenders and is nearly impossible to tackle alone.
Gruden is the engine and the conductor.
Gruden is the engine?
If that's the case, Raiders should have won the SB last year.
Raiders released Brandon Marshall (again) to make room for Isaiah Johnson at CB. Josh Mauro has been ruled out, and with Arden Key out for the season, that puts a lot of pressure on Ferrell and Crosby at DE. Scott Bair reports that maybe the Raiders will call up Kendall Donnerson from the practice squad with Mayowa as the only backup right now for both.
This is going to be a fun game, the defense is going to have to find ways to make huge plays. We will see what happens, JUST WIN, BABY!
Raiders are wearing the throwback 70's uniforms tonight! YES! I love these uni's, and I think they should come back. The only reason the original silver in the color scheme was taken out was because the numbers and names were difficult to pick up on TV. Now we have High Def TV, and this should no longer be a problem. Raiders need to bring back the original silver. How badass would that be?
I was hoping for an all Black uniform tonight with a Silver streak down the pants and the number and names. That would be equally badass. Rumor is the League nixed the all black unis.
Gamenight thread is up!
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