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Following a brutal 24-22 loss to the Tennessee Titans, the Las Vegas Raiders discover themselves getting ready to lacking the playoffs solely in a deep AFC. The Raiders went 1-12 on third down and 2-6 within the pink zone of their loss to the Titans, and the loss prompted a closed door assembly between head coach Josh McDaniels and proprietor Mark Davis. One once more, this occurred in Week 3!
The Raiders spent some huge cash within the offseason to have the identical quantity of wins because the Houston Texans via 3 weeks. Let’s check out what’s gone unsuitable in Vegas.
Offensively, the Raiders are twenty fourth in DVOA and within the dropback passing sport their EPA/play is worse than the Seahawks. Nevertheless, once you watch their sport towards the Titans, there actually isn’t a lot unsuitable with Las Vegas schematically. There’s a variety of the McDaniels Patriots kind of run sport with heavy I-formation and runs between the tackles, and within the passing sport they appear to know what they’re doing, with a QB who is aware of what he’s seeing on a all the way down to down foundation.
The offensive line is a matter, however contemplating they each knew this might be an issue coming into the season, and began rookie Thayer Munford at RT on Sunday, that’s a bigger dialogue for a way this crew was constructed, that we’ll have on the finish of this.
The Raiders largest problem, and one which popped up of their loss to the Titans, is their situational play, primarily on third down and within the pink zone. By means of 3 video games, Las Vegas is twenty sixth in DVOA on third and fourth down, and in keeping with StatMuse, solely changing on 35.3% of their third downs.
In opposition to the Titans, they solely transformed one first down, and that was in the beginning of the sport. Wanting again on the sport, they constantly shot themselves within the foot, placing themselves in move solely conditions with a nasty offensive line. For instance, on a 3rd and 4 from the Titans’ 9 yard line, they get a penalty for a false begin. Transferring them into a 3rd and 9 from the 14 yard line, when Denico Autry does this:
On a 3rd and 13 later within the sport, the Raiders get a delay of sport, placing them even additional behind the sticks they usually should throw a display move which works for a two yard loss. The Raiders aren’t serving to themselves or their offensive line by placing themselves in apparent passing conditions behind a patchwork offensive line that performed their seventh completely different OL group this season.
That is on a 3rd and 4, and Munford will get crushed on a pace rush to the surface by Curtis Weaver. The Raiders have gotten to assist their line out, both with chip assist by a again or TE, or protecting an additional man in.
What additionally intrigues me is the Davante Adams utilization in these crucial conditions. In keeping with Sports activities Data Options, Adams has 4 targets on third down over three video games, and a yards per route run variety of 2.7 yards. The Titans had a fantastic gameplan for Adams, virtually having two pairs of eyes on Adams always. McDaniels tried getting Adams open from the slot for a majority of his routes run on third down on Sunday, however the Titans bracketed him, forcing Carr to go the opposite method.
In some methods, they had been simply unfortunate. Carr focused TE Darren Waller twice on third down on Sunday, however they resulted in an unsightly incompletion and an INT within the pink zone. The incompletion was dangerous, as a result of the Raiders bought the look they needed, however couldn’t end. This needs to be a catch and an enormous acquire.
In the end, the Raiders are looking at an 0-3 gap in an AFC that’s loaded with contenders. In actuality, leaping on Las Vegas as a right away playoff contender might need been a mistake. When you take a look at their roster, obvious holes on the offensive line and on protection had been noticeable within the offseason, and have been their largest problem via three video games.
The rotating door up entrance hasn’t helped, however their incapability to win on third down and consistently backing themselves right into a nook is on teaching. Josh McDaniels has to organize his crew higher for these conditions, they usually merely can’t flip the ball over within the pink zone.
By means of the primary three weeks it simply appears unfortunate, however time will inform if it’s a pattern or not.
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