2019 Oakland Raiders Discussion

The Tuck Rule..SB loss to Tampa...Carr breaks leg...the Mack trade...??? I will:

 

It's not just what's outgoing to players; it's about what's available to sign other players. I'd rather get two more good, top 30 players in the next two drafts - in the long run - than keep Mack with that salary. But it does mean we're going to SUCK.

I started looking at the 53-man roster, compared to the top players by position last season (based on snap count).

QB(2)
Derek Carr
AJ McCarron (37 on PFF)
vs. Derek Carr (92.5%), EJ Manuel (7.5%) (These % are snap counts)
--Let's hope Carr continues to improve and call that a wash. Manuel has thrown 43 passes for the Raiders, completing 24 for 265 yards, a TD, and a pick. McCarron completed 7 of 14 passes for 66 yards last season. Manuel's 67 rating was nearly twice McCarron's on PFF.
Verdict: hopefully backups don't play, but this can't be much of an improvement unless the Gruden magic works.

RB (5)
Marshawn Lynch 74.6
Doug Martin 53.3
Jalen Richard 68.9
DeAndre Washington 57.7
Keith Smith 58.8
vs. Lynch (45.7%), Washington (21.8%), Richard (21.4%), Olawale (8%)
Martin has the lowest rating of the bunch and perhaps the highest salary. I don't get it, and I'm not sure the group will be improved, as Olawale (65.2) posted even better marks.
Verdict: We aren't better here.

WR (6)
Amari Cooper
Jordy Nelson
Seth Roberts
Dwayne Harris
Johnny Holton
Keon Hatcher
vs. Roberts (74.3%), Cooper (70.4%), Crabtree (59.4%), Patterson (42.7%), Holton (22.8%), Whitney (1.6%).
--Crabtree posted a 72.0 rating on PFF and Whitney was a 47.5. Meanwhile, the replacements were Nelson (68.6) and Harris (61.6). Huge question marks surrounding Nelson, who caught 1 pass for 4 yards in preseason.
Verdict: we got a bit deeper and have a bigger dropoff after our #1 man.

I'm stopping here. I don't know if I'll continue. Yikes.

 

^I'll read it and me later on:

 

Tight End (3)
Jared Cook (63.2)
Lee Smith (58.6)
Derek Carrier (62.0)
vs. Cook (78.5%), Smith (33.5%), Walford (12.9%), Pharaoh Brown (3.9%)
Walford was at 56.7 rating last year, and he was just let go by a second team. Brown was a 51.5. The Raiders seem to have improved here with a legit third tight end.

Offensive Line (9)
Donald Penn (79.4)
Kelechi Osemele (76.1)
Rodney Hudson (75.7)
Jon Feliciano (73.5)
Kolton Miller (R)
Gabe Jackson (67.3)
TJ Clemmings (36.4)
Brandon Parker (R)
Justin Murray (NR)
vs. Hudson (100%), Osemele (99.9%), Jackson (88.1%), Newhouse (83.5%), Penn (81.4%), Vadal Alexander (25.4%), Sharpe (12.3%), Feliciano (12.3%).
--Newhouse's 57.9 was pretty dreadful, ranking 63rd among Tackles. If we look at this as Newhouse for Miller, I feel good about it.
Looking at depth, the Raiders cast off Alexander whose 55.1 was dreadful. At least the others beat out Giacomini (45.6, 77th among tackles). Sharpe may improve, and Parker's a rookie. The Raiders just dropped Sharpe (48.8) and Silberman (No rating); no harm done there, and they added Clemmings and Murray (cannot see the benefit at this point). So we'll see what happens there. This is one position where the Raiders have likely improved, at least in the top six players.

Okay - so less panic here. Our front line, non-skill positions are probably improved. Give Carr time, work the running game, and our offense could return to what it was two years ago - a top 10 unit.

 

This feels like 2015. Brandon Lafell added.

 

Let's get this going...

Carr Projections
Mine: 15.4 games, 15.4 starts, 62.6% completions, 548 attempts, 3665 yards, 26 TDs, 11 INTs
Bests: 62.6%, 4052 yards, 26 TDs, 11 INTs
Worsts: 59.5%, 3615 yards, 22 TDs, 13 INTs

Marshawn Lynch Projections
Mine: 13.3 games, 12.6 starts, 213 rushes, 920 yards, 8 TDs; 25 receptions, 202 yards
Bests: 213 rushes, 920 yards, 8 TDs; 31 receptions, 243 yards
Worsts: 182 rushes, 650 yards, 5.5 TDs; 23 receptions, 166 yards

Amari Cooper Projections
My Projections: 15.3 games, 14 starts, 65 receptions, 956 yards, 7 TDs
Bests: 81 receptions, 1061 yards, 7 TDs
Worsts: 65 receptions, 956 yards, 6 TDs

I HOPE Cooper destroys all these projections. I hope he catches 90 balls for 1400 and double digit TDs.

 

Carr and Cooper should have a more efficient season given health. Gruden wants to establish the run game so Lynch will benefit.

 

Not getting the "roasting" of the Raiders in light of Mack's game. Who didn't know that Mack is awesome? The Bears lost, blowing a 20-point lead.

 

Agree... It's not lost on management or the staff how great Mack is. I don't believe its not as if we did not try to retain him. An offer was made that would fit our salary structure. Just wasn't enough. Yes, I rooted for Green Bay. Next week, it will be Seattle.

Collinsworth broached a subject last night... Bears have a QB on a cheap rookie contract so they can afford Mack. Raiders? No.

 

^It would be amusing as hell to watch Gruden subjected to those Mack questions and to see how long he can deal with it. Two scenarios... Mack wanted an extension lower that what he has now, we did not bite. We tried to trade Edwards to free up an extra $3M to augment whatever the offer was this season. Didn't happen and here we are.

 

Amen!