The Las Vegas Raiders are at the bottom of a tough AFC West division, reeling from two consecutive double-digit defeats. Even with the challenges, the crew promises that they are not walking around with their heads hanging low like Chicken Little fearing that the sky is falling. As Week 4 comes upon us, the Raiders have an uphill battle on several fronts. They’re particularly miserable on offense and defense in attempting to turn their luck.
X-Factor Rookie running back Ashton Jeanty has turned into an all-star. His ability is no longer the question, but rather if he’ll have space to run free. This has resulted in him logging two receptions that went for negative yardage. And noted the team’s enthusiasm to learn and get better. New offensive coordinator Chip Kelly has expressed his desire to get Jeanty more involved in the passing game.
“I would like to see Ashton have 75 catches,” Kelly stated, emphasizing his belief in Jeanty’s potential. Kelly argued that Jeanty’s body type would be a true weapon to have on the field in various roles. She recommended that this creates new opportunities to leverage his influence to the greatest effect.
Offensive Struggles
As the Raiders head into Week 4, they sit 25th in points allowed in the first halves of games. They’re averaging just 15.7 points per game right now. That stat vividly shows their plight offensively and defensively. The team has been outscored by opponents 47-23 in the first half, a trend that should be addressed as soon as possible.
Aside from his wide receiver corps, the Raiders’ offensive line has been the most grievous area of failure. And yet, they still sit at dead last in run block win rate at 64.9%. This dismal showing effectively ends their slim hopes of crafting a viable ground game. On top of that, Las Vegas is 30th in yards per attempt, which only emphasizes their problem producing consistent offensive yardage.
On the other side of the ball, defensively the team is not doing much better. The Raiders sit 25th in pressure rate at 30% and 24th in total pressures. These figures are reflective of a complete failure to pressure opposing quarterbacks, forcing them to do a lot of their work comfortably and relatively unscathed.
Defensive Concerns
The deep defensive line has had its struggles, but certain players have stood out both positively and negatively on the unit. Second-year cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly was a punching bag for the opposing offense. This trend shows a potential weakness in the secondary that opponents are taking advantage of.
On defense, Las Vegas has surrendered a horrifying average of 214 yards in the first half of contests. This lackluster performance leaves them reeling at 30th in the league. This inability to contain opposing offenses early in games has left the Raiders playing from behind and struggling to catch up.
In one of those games recently, Alex Cappa started even though there was an opportunity for his teammate, Powers-Johnson, to be cleared to play after a concussion. The new coaching staff has been experimenting with the best mixing and matching for each unit on offense and defense. This decision demonstrates their continued work to address these chronic problems.
The Road Ahead
Through all these trials and tribulations, players and coaches are still very excited and confident about what’s to come this season. Geno Smith recently commented on the ups and downs of an NFL season, stating, “…We have a long season ahead of us. It’s never easy to lose a game. You want to win every game, but that’s not the reality.”
The Raiders’ new coaching staff is trying to find solutions in all areas to get the most out of every player. With new strategies and player utilization being explored, they aim to build cohesion and resilience as they move deeper into the season.
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