Panthers Gameday Thread / Groundhog Day
If you are still here, I appreciate it. If not, I understand. Either way, here goes, because even though I've lost steam here, I want to keep the conversation available to RT old-timers and any newcomers alike.
Obviously, the whole Vegas thing is new and sticks in my craw, but I'll get over it.
Beyond that, this feels a bit like Groundhog Day to me. How many years (decades?) have we been saying, "Prove it" to start a season.
Ever since this blog was launched 16 years ago, after so many changes, so many players, so many picks, so many coaches and different management structures and even an ownership change along with a relocation, here we are again.
Prove it.
This is Gruden's third year, yet it still feels to me like we have a long way to go.
Of course, that feeling could go away today, if the Raiders come out and look re-energized and ready to compete at a high level, and become a playoff contender in 2020.
It's not too much to ask, or, more to the point, expect. Not after all of this time.
Entire organizations have been remade into Super Bowl contenders twice (see Niners) while the Raiders have been floundering since Gruden's first turn at the helm.
It's time. Prove it. GO RAIDERS!
posted by Raider Take at 8:10 AM
9 Comments:
Thanks, RT. I always appreciate your level perspective.
My regular watering hole cancelled its NFL ticket due to covid, but I actually found somewhere broadcasting the Raiders game. Raiders, wings and JD (3 things I only partake during football season) were a much welcomed combination, made even better by a road win!
Raiders are officially undefeated!
I thought Carr was steady, and even impressive at times.
Jacobs is still a monster, and Booker looked good in his role (more than just a backup).
Ruggs III was all over the field early on, and forced mistakes in coverage, then disappeared (presumably due to injury).
Ultimately, the defense saved the game, but it was the defense that got us into the high scoring jam. Panthers scored on every possession in the first half. We're talking about Teddy friggin' Bridgewater, not Drew Brees (next week) and not Patrick Mahomes (2x).
It's early and the D may come together. Hopefully, sooner rather than later. They clearly have better talent than recent years past.
One game at a time!
And for the game that matters, this was a really great road win for the Raiders!
Cheers!
Defense stepped up HUGE on 4th and inches! I'm still not sold on our D-line. Hardly any pressure through the whole game, but when they did, Bridgewater was able to move out of the way and cause problems. Raiders have to find an answer to pressuring a mobile QB, and keeping him in the pocket. We may see more "pressure" from our defense next week against Brees who is not very mobile. I tell you what, it was great to see Jonathan Abrams flying around! He and Erik Harris made some pretty big hits.
Jacobs is a beast, and we will need to rely on him next week to slow Drew Brees and the Saints offense. Our WR corp is still questionable, this is where the loss of Tyrell Williams hurts us big. Ruggs looks awesome though! Carr had a decent game, and we will need good management next week against the Saints; more so on defense. We cannot get into a shoot-out, and have to manage the game with the run and good passing. We have to get good pressure on Brees, make him throw earlier than he wants and force mistakes and turnovers. Gonna be a good game. This is where I wish they would allow fans at the games.
Other than that, thanks for keeping the light on Take! I know it is difficult, and I agree, this is another year of "JUST PROVE IT, BABY!" We have a tough one to prove too.
Nate, check the snap counts. I read that Hurst lost a lot of snaps so Guenther could play Ferrell in the middle. But Hurst was the guy who sacked the QB.
I'll say, unfortunately for fans of defense, Guenther doesn't like to blitz.
However, I also believe for this game Guenther's strategy was to contain McCaffrey. McCaffrey is the most prolific yardage machine in the NFL. In the end, Raiders actually did a decent job of containing him. (And the Panthers made a huge mistake not handing the ball to McCaffrey on the 4th down play.)
Up next, Kamara is another supercharged yardage machine. No single player can cover him. And Brews is clearly better than Bridegwater, so the Raiders have more than they can handle in the Saints.
If the Raiders can beat the Saints (ala, any given Sunday!), that would be an upset of epic proportion.
Tom Brady looked awful against the Saints. Jacobs, Carr and the Raiders might just give the Saints more than they expect.
Onward and upward!
I saw that too, but not sure it is a great idea on their part. I know it is probably to make room for Nassib, Crosby, and Key to play DE; but Hurst is also losing snaps to Hankins and Collins; which in my opinion, I am surprised Hankins is still out there. It looked like he lost a step.
Speaking of losing a step, Trent Brown, what's going on with him? Gruden not happy with him right now, and he may be on the trading block, or about to be cut outright; which would be a waste of about $21 million in cap space. I read he has only played in 10 games since signing with the Raiders, only 3 snaps on Sunday after being "injured" through all of training camp.
Lincoln Kennedy even commented how it seems he doesn't enjoy football and being with the Raiders during the LIVE BROADCAST on Sunday. I couldn't believe Lincoln called him out like that on a live broadcast, but I would trust Lincoln's opinion over anyone else's at this point.
Gruden, in his presser after the game, was pretty sarcastic in his answers about Brown, and it seems that he is in Gruden's doghouse. This is the "Antonio Brown" situation of the Raiders this season, and it may not end well for the Raiders.
Tough to have a doghouse for your RT. But the injury thing is bad. Is it that he's out of shape, overweight, or both? News reports say Brown may play this week.
Was reading that Jacobs took 48% of the Raiders touches on Sunday. That's Marcus Allen territory! Jacobs deserves it but I hope the Raiders don't overuse him. He's too important to their offense. Booker did some nice things on Sunday, but we hardly saw Richard at all.
That said, if there's anyway that Jacobs can be as durable as Marcus Allen was, then by all means get him the ball. Raiders were hesitant to use him last year as a pass catching back, but Week 1 proved that was a mistake.
Overall, Raiders have lots of weapons on offense. There's no time to get complacent. Every game needs a dynamic plan. Raiders use play-action effectively, but they rarely ever use it. Other teams use it way more and get results. Having someone as good as Jacobs screams for more play-action.
Calling Bryan Edwards, we need a Week 2 hero.
Hankins was dominant, nt don't get measured on stats. Football 101. He was the best dl last week. He stonewalled a double team on 4th and 1. Watch the film
Trent Brown cut outright such hyperbole from you
I'll check in... I watched zero football, and likely won't until Goodell is gone. It sickens me. Are Oak (oops, Vegans) taking a knee or ignoring the national anthem? If so, the organization and it's fans are the opposite of what I feel is right. Your opinion, my opinion, equally worthy, and worthless. But, maybe one last time, I'll say it. J.W.B. Out.
OTB, it's always been Raiders vs the rest of the NFL, Goodell included. This season and this team is about bringing the org back to some semblance of what they once were.
Expectations are high for Gruden. Clearly, the Raiders could do a lot worse at head coach, and have for two decades.
We have all been waiting since 2002-2003 for the Raiders to snap out of their funk. That's an epic period of failure. This team looks like it's headed in the right direction.
I don't expect the Raiders to beat a polished Saints team this week, but wouldn't that be nice.
Cheers!
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