2019 Oakland Raiders Discussion

From Peter King's SI "Fine Fifteen" rankings:

10. Oakland (4-1). LW: 9. One thing to really like about this Raiders team: It’s gutsy. The latest example was going for it on a fourth-and-2 late in the third quarter against San Diego. The result was a Carr-to-Crabtree touchdown that was the go-ahead score.

 

Game is on local Channel 2 this Sunday... Bazinga!

 

More SI... Chris Burke Power Rankings:

9 Oakland Raiders

last week: 10
record: 4–1
The Raiders’ four wins have come by a total of 12 points, against teams with a combined record of 7–12. Does that mean they’re taking care of business or that they’re benefiting from a favorable schedule? Something tells me a franchise riding a 13-year playoff drought won’t bother nitpicking the details.

There is some validity that the teams we did beat have losing records but they are not The Little Sisters of Mercy either. Measuring stick this Sunday... Nervous anticipation about it but in a good way.

 

Raiders are just slightly above a .500 team, in my view. They should win 9 games, but a) they might get lucky and win 10; b) their defense might step up and they might be a legit playoff team; or c) they might just have the fight to take it to better teams and win even with their garbage defense. I could see them winning 11 or 12 next year though.

 

Oakland is 12th on Sagarin's ratings, with the Chiefs in 13th.

AFC West is officially the toughest division in his rankings.

Oakland is a decent pick, in Sagarin's system. They're +2.78 in his system, meaning that they're a better lock than the Giants, Eagles, Lions, Bears, and Panthers.

 

I agree with you. My view is that (a) is really dependent on (b). Next season is realistic given this year is for the new additions to assimilate their talents within the schemes...on defense that is. I watched the San Diego game on NFL TV last night and the big gains given up were a result of players not used to each other especially in the secondary. They are still figuring teammate's tendencies and on top of it learning their individual responsibilities.

This season, CB Sean Smith has already stated that their inconsistent ways will come back to get them one of these games or stretches. So far, we have played only one team that has shown to be legit being Atlanta. We were not dominated though like they did with their win against Denver.

Right now, at best I am thinking/hoping a Wild Card berth at most. We achieve that, I'd be ecstatic. Aside from our division foes, my take on the rest of the schedule:

Kansas City - I'd like to see us eke out a win...yes, I said "eke" as this will be another close one.
@Jacksonville - winnable...they're young and inconsistent as well.
@Tampa Bay - see Jacksonville
Denver - another measuring stick game...win and it would be a huge confidence booster.
Houston - No Watt this year...Osweiler struggling. Very winnable.
Buffalo - this will be a very difficult game if Sexy Rexy can keep his team's momentum and focus.
Carolina - not the same NFC powerhouse as they were last season...but they still have Newton.
@Kansas City - win during Raider week at a raucous Arrowhead Stadium? Possible but not confident.
@San Diego - either we blow them away or another down to the wire affair.
Indianapolis - another team that is like us...certainly beatable.
@Denver - division or wild card berth could be on the line by then for either us or them.

Best case scenario: 8 wins out of 11 and finish @ 12-4. Losses to Buffalo at home, Kansas City and Denver on the road.
Worse case scenario: 6 wins out of 11 and finish @ 10-6. Losses to Buffalo at home plus season sweeps of us by Kansas City and Denver.

As I have stressed before and will keep harping on...this crew plays better on the road than at home. Positives to look forward to are the returns of Mario Edwards and Aldon Smith. Hopefully by then, we are still in the thick of the playoff seedings race.

 

Quick hits:
- Captain Jack thinking they have nothing to lose by his gambling plus it gives his players confidence.
- Norton has a nice big puzzle on his hands trying to make the pieces fit.
- I am warming up to Hayden's play...
- still bemoaning the loss of Lee Smith.
- Cooper and Mack have yet to hit their stride.
- Riley could be a end up being very savvy signing. "Baby Reggie" Irvin has a familiarity with him.
- King's punting has me not thinking of Lechler as much.
- Janikowski is the least of my worries. That miss on Sunday was a bad shank.
- The Twins...Washington and Richard not too shabby. More screens and wheel routes Mr. Musgrave?
- can we please get a healthy right tackle? Watson...McCants and now Alexander ailing?
- learning on the job and doing well...Karl Joseph and Cory James.
- I'm glad we did not get rid of Rivera.

 

No Heimlich Maneuver needed for San Diego tonight...

 

For the moment, we're leading the division. After five weeks! When's the last time that happened?

 

We definitely have the talent but in a way trying to build chemistry. We have two rookies [Joseph, James] and four newcomers on defense [Irvin, Riley, Nelson, Smith]. It is just perplexing how bad they have performed. They have had two decent games against Tennessee and Baltimore respectively. Average showings by them and all wins would have been comfortable plus I think we would have beaten Atlanta.

I have a bone to pick with the offense too settling for field goals and having to resort to a gutsy fourth down call against San Diego. Overall, our running game has been sporadic at best. Carr has commented how they have left points on the field. I just read that he has been more freer to change plays at the line of scrimmage.

A mix of youth and new signees does not immediately translate to success. As far as winning, Del Rio is building a culture. He has stressed that last season, they did not finish games that was theirs. This season has been different. Yes, it may come off nitpicky but from last season's flashes and this one's good start, they have shown a really huge potential not just on paper. I don't see this group starting to fire on both cylinders until near or past the midpoint of this season. I did not include Special Teams because King and Janikowski have been solid.

The good part is that we have not shown our best yet. We still have players we are counting on that will be back. Watson, Allen, Edwards and Aldon Smith being notables. They make this even better. I am thrilled that we are atop our division...starting Sunday and through a two game trip in the Sunshine State we have a chance build a small cushion.

 

Watching and scouring the 'net...there are mentions of starting Alex Smith and Macklin on their Fantasy Teams because how they could put up points against us. Let's not forget they have a healthy Jamaal Charles too. Oddly enough, the Kansas City defense is on the low rungs against the run. There's something our offense can exploit. San Diego did hang an early 21 point deficit on them even if it was the first game of the season. Pittsburgh destroyed them too and our offense is only a few notches below theirs.

 

That's what's up - great start.

 

Mack attack!

 

Well, that's a really positive first series for both the O and the D.