#1

less glamorous end fresh. The Raiders basically did the oppos

in Events im JuZ Idstein 18.12.2019 04:50
von elaine95 • 481 Beiträge

OAKLAND Derek Carr Jersey White , Calif. (AP) — Tyreek Hill streaking downfield for big receptions from Patrick Mahomes figured to be a major part of Kansas City’s passing offense this year.The Raiders were counting on technician Antonio Brown to get open on intermediate and deep balls to provide a needed spark in Oakland.When these two AFC West rivals meet Sunday in the second game of the season in Oakland, they both will need to figure out how to thrive without their most dangerous receiving options.Article continues below ...“I’m big on next guy up,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “We’ve done that over the years and so I expect the next guys to step up and play. Nobody is alike, but most of the guys at this level have strengths, and so you play to their strengths and then you keep coaching them and teaching them to make their things that maybe they’re not as strong better. But when you are putting your game plan together, you play to your strengths.”Hill was sidelined by a broken collarbone in a season-opening 40-26 win at Jacksonville. Sammy Watkins stepped up to fill that void last week with nine catches for 198 yards and three touchdowns.Second-round pick Mecole Hardman also figures to carry a heavier load this week.The Raiders did just fine in last week’s 24-16 win over Denver two days after releasing Brown following weeks of turmoil and missed practices.Tyrell Williams had six catches for 105 yards and a touchdown, showing he has the skills to be the No. 1 receiver the Raiders thought he could be when they made him their top target in free agency even before making the trade for Brown.“It’s definitely an opportunity I’ve been excited for,” Williams said. “My second year in the league when Keenan Allen had gotten hurt, I kind of was the No. 1 receiver that year (for the Chargers). I kind of just went unnoticed I guess. Just getting this opportunity and being able to showcase this is exciting.”Tight end Darren Waller, whose career has been hampered by substance abuse issues, had seven catches for 70 yards and proved to be a matchup nightmare for Denver’s defense.Here are some other things to watch:WORKHORSE BACKOne of the big questions surrounding running back Josh Jacobs after the Raiders drafted him 24th overall was how he’d handle the load of a featured back in the NFL after being a part-time player at Alabama. Jacobs had more than 15 carries in a game just twice in college but raced past that mark in his NFL debut when he ran 23 times for 85 yards and two TDs andcaught a 28-yard pass. He became the first player since LaDainian Tomlinson in 2001 to gain at least 100 yards from scrimmage and score two rushing touchdowns in his debut.“It was just something to show durability,” he said. “That I can take 20 carries a game and still come out and be full.”OPPORTUNISTIC DSince Reid took over as coach in Kansas City in 2013, the Chiefs lead the NFL with 26 defensive touchdowns. No opponent has been victimized more than the Raiders, who have given up four of those scores, including two thrown by Derek Carr in 2015 and last season. Carr has thrown nine career interceptions against the Chiefs, his most against any opponent.BLIND SIDEThe Raiders saw big improvement from second-year left tackle Kolton Miller in the opener. After allowing an NFL-worst 14 sacks as a rookie, according to Sports Info Solutions, Miller completely shut down Denver’s Bradley Chubb last week. He gets another tough test this week against Frank Clark, who had 2 1/2 sacks against Oakland last year when he was with Seattle and faced Miller on a gimpy knee.“He’s just stronger, he’s more experienced, he’s healthy,” coach Jon Gruden said. “Those are three things that have taken his game to another level and he’s got to continue to prove it every week.”END OF ERAThis game could be the final one played with infield dirt across the field. What once was a common sight in the era of multipurpose stadiums is now almost a relic as the Coliseum is the only remaining stadium used by NFL and baseball teams. The Raiders’ next scheduled game in Oakland isn’t until Nov. 3, after the end of the World Series, so the dirt will be gone for the final five home games of the season; they have a home game in London. The Raiders are set to move to Las Vegas next season, where dirt won’t be an issue.“It hurts. It hurts tackling and falling on that dirt,” Raiders safety Karl Joseph said. “But that’s part of who we are, the Raiders. I don’t think I’ll miss falling on that dirt too much. In their final AFC West showdown at the Coliseum, the Raiders made it count against the Chargers on Thursday Night Football with a narrow 26-24 victory. It was easily the best performance of the season for the defense, and the Raiders mustered just enough offense when it mattered most to grab the victory. Who excelled, who underwhelmed and what’s next? Here are this week’s Sensations, Frustrations and Declarations:Sensations:Erik HarrisHarris played the best game of his football career tonight and practically willed the Raiders to a win on his own. Seriously, he probably never even had a game that good in Pop Warner.Harris was most certainly the sensation of the night Bo Jackson Jersey , grabbing a pair of interceptions in the first quarter and nearly picking off five balls total on the night.He returned his first quarter interceptions for 59- and 56-yards, with the latter going for a touchdown that gave Oakland a 10-0 lead. Harris wasn’t fully trusted in this defense early on this season, but he sure as hell is now. Signed to just a $2.35 million deal for 2020, Harris is a candidate for a sizable offseason extension if his inspired play continues.Raiders pass rushThis one could go to Clelin Ferrell alone for having a true breakout performance, but the entire pass rush was sensational tonight.Sure, the Chargers offensive line has been lacking and was missing RT Sam Tevi and eventually LT Russell Okung during the game, but the pass rush was persistent and impactful all night. Along with Ferrell’s 2.5 sacks, Benson Mayowa stepped up for 1.5 sacks and Maurice Hurst and Maxx Crosby chipped in with a half sack each.Mayowa now has a career-high 7 sacks on the year despite playing less than half of defensive snaps in every game this season. He is making the most of his limited opportunities and has proven to be an underrated catalyst for the defense.Alec IngoldFULLBACK TIME! Let me preface this by saying that Alec Ingold is always a sensation. But tonight, he deserves some extra recognition. While he had two penalties early on in the game, he more than made amends.Ingold kept the Raider offense chugging with a key fourth-and-one conversion, before taking a Spider-2 Y-Banana for a 9-yard touchdown to give Oakland a 17-14 halftime advantage. The 23-year old undrafted rookie is carving out a name for himself at a position that is nearly extinct in the modern era, and he may even have put himself into Pro Bowl conversation with his showing tonight.Frustrations:Penalties. So many penalties.A whopping 12 penalties for 97 yards kept the Chargers in this game. Two interceptions were called back via penalty. The first on a Trayvon Mullen defensive pass interference call that negated a Karl Joseph interception, and the second on a Crosby offsides that waived off one of Harris’ potential picks.The Raiders defense was really trying to live in the Chargers backfield without paying any rent. They didn’t even consider chipping in for the utility bill, and in turn were called for an absurd four offside penalties. Even on the Chargers final gasp for air on the last drive, it seemed like the secondary was on the verge of being called for a penalty on every play.It didn’t prove costly in this one, but the lack of discipline will be a major factor in future contests as the Raiders march toward the AFC wildcard.Daniel Carlson’s missed extra pointIf Carlson’s missed extra point was the Raiders final undoing, he would never hear the end of it. Not for his entire career. That’s how Raider fans are. We don’t forget.Lucky enough for him, this abysmal moment will be overlooked unless the problem persists. As the SEC’s all-time leading scorer, you’d expect Carlson to be clutch. With the Raiders finding themselves in multiple fight-to-the-finish style brawls this season, he’ll almost assuredly need to find that clutch gene to win them a ballgame at some point over the final seven weeks.Inability to keep the defense off the fieldWhen your defense comes out and plays this inspired, you have got to help them out. String together some long drives, establish the run, control the clock, anything to keep the boys on the less glamorous end fresh. The Raiders basically did the opposite for the entire first half, settling for a quick field goal after the first interception before consecutive three-and-outs.Josh Jacobs had only 5 carries for 19 yards in the first half. After three quarters? Just 11 carries for 37 yards. Prior to the final 18-yard touchdown plunge, Jacobs had gone just 53 yards on 15 carries, with the offense unable to consistently move the ball on the ground for the first time in ages. Considering that the team’s ideal starting five up front was together all game for the first time all season, this was particularly perplexing.Late in the game, the Raiders took Jacobs off the field to create mismatches between Jalen Richard and the Chargers linebackers. They should consider playing Jacobs and Richard on the field more together, as it could give them an added dimension and offensive multiplicity if they occasionally use Richard as a flanker.Declarations:The Raiders will sneak into the AFC Wildcard as the 6-seedJosh Jacobs will win OROYBenson Mayowa will finish the season with over 10 sacks

nach oben springen


Besucher
0 Mitglieder und 16 Gäste sind Online

Forum Statistiken
Das Forum hat 19455 Themen und 77011 Beiträge.

Xobor Forum Software von Xobor | Forum, Fotos, Chat und mehr mit Xobor