The Las Vegas Raiders are certainly in need of some change as they head toward their bye week. With a disappointing 2-5 record, there’s plenty for them to ponder looking ahead. From beginning the 2022 season as a surprise playoff contender by way of head coach Pete Carroll to making the worst-to-first turnaround, hopes have sunk completely. Of late, the team has been reeling, having lost five of its last six contests. That’s dropped their chances of making the postseason down to just 3% according to ESPN Analytics.
It’s a deepening crisis for coach Pete Carroll, the Super Bowl-winning guru of program-building who once seemed untouchable. Even with his playoff pizazz, the Raiders have had a tough time establishing a rhythm on the field this year. As of this writing they are dead last in the AFC West. This stands in painful contrast to the enthusiasm that greeted their opening titles.
Key reasons for the Raiders’ poor performance are numerous injuries to almost every starting position. Star performers such as Brock Bowers, Kolton Miller and Maxx Crosby have already missed significant time. These losses have compounded the team’s on-field struggles on both sides of the ball. The depth chart has really been decimated, and the loss has reportedly led the coaching staff to reaching and scrambling for answers.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Raiders have struggled to get pressure on enemy quarterbacks, with just two dominant outings overall. They have allowed a dismal 44.9% third-down conversion rate, making it increasingly difficult for them to get off the field and stop drives. Coverage issues, especially with their linebackers, make things worse. Second-year cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly has been targeted more than any other cornerback in the league, exposing key holes in the secondary.
In spite of these obstacles, many actors are optimistic that it’s not too late to right the ship. Receiver Tre Tucker acknowledged the team’s struggles, stating, “Everybody knows we are not where we want to be.” He expressed confidence in the team’s potential, saying, “I think they have all the makings to be where we want to be. Obviously we’re not.”
The Raiders’ offensive woes are equally concerning. In fact, after seven games, they sit ranked in the bottom third in nearly every major offensive statistic. In a recent performance, the team managed just 95 total yards and failed to make any appearances in the red zone. This startling deficit in offensive production has only increased the pressure on an already beleaguered defense.
Though very much in touch with all of these challenges, Coach Carroll was very open with his feelings of hope to bounce back. “I just hope we get our guys back so that we can utilize those guys to make our offense whole,” he remarked. He continued that “there’s some short-term pain in there that we have to suffer through. But it’s not what you do, it’s how you do it,” meaning that the team needs to turn these challenges into lessons to make progress going forward.
Looking forward, the Raiders have a pretty intimidating slate in front of them, adding to their bleak odds. Games against the Denver Broncos, Dallas Cowboys, and Philadelphia Eagles represent three of their most talented foes. These foes are hard-hitting and defiant performers, so it would be a must for the Raiders to quickly turn their deficiencies into strengths.
“I’m surprised that we’re not farther along than we are,” he admitted, reflecting on the team’s lack of progress despite his experience and insights.
One of the team’s new addition at receiver Jakobi Meyers stressed on staying calm in the storm. “I think anytime you invest in something, it probably won’t go [great] right away,” he noted. “You’re going to take a little hit, and you just hope that it’s a good product, and you keep moving up in the long run.”
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