Official Las Vegas Raiders Thread

Tough blow - Koonce to IR. Out four weeks at least. Could be a season-ending injury.

 

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Quick Comparison
Composite Ratings

2023 Position 2024
Skill Positions - Offense
Garoppolo 60 QB Minshew 76
Jacobs 70 RB White 58*
Adams 87 WR Adams 87
Renfrow 54 WR Tucker 61
Meyers 81 WR Meyers 81
Mayer 66 TE Mayer 66
Hooper 65 TE Bowers 65
-On paper, the offense doesn't look much improved. We expect inconsistency at QB, we're running with a new RB, and the TEs are young but should be better than last year's group by season's end.

James 85 C James 85
Parham 77 LG Whitehair 61
Van Roten 86 RG Parham 77
Miller 81 LT Miller 81
Eluemunor 80 RT Munford 72*
-Similarly, in the trenches, the team doesn't look better. In fact, all three changes look to have been downgrades, at least at first glance. It may well be deeper, and that's important.

Defense
Front
Nichols 62 DI Jenkins 66
Tillery 67 DI Wilkins 82
Crosby 95 DE Crosby 95
Koonce 73 DE Robinson 38*
-What should have been a massive upgrade may have fallen apart in the last week of practice. No Koonce hurts, but Robinson has played well in limited time. His play may matter every bit as much as that of Wilkins's.

LBs
Spillane 87 ILB Spillane 87
Deablo 71 OLB Deablo 71
Masterson 59 OLB Masterson 59*
-No changes here, and that's not great news. This unit was soft against the run, but a stouter front may help that.

DBs
Jones 68 CB Jones 69
Hobbs 76 CB Hobbs 76
Moehrig 83 FS Moehrig 83
Epps 79 SS Epps 79
-Again, no real changes. That could be good news.

Season Projection
It's hard to see the Raiders winning more than 9 games unless someone has a breakout season. I put an asterisk next to the players I think are capable of doing that. Because we don't know AOC's top end, I'll add him to the mix (but if he's added in, it's likely because the team is floundering). It's also hard to see the team winning fewer than 6 games. I like the way this team is positioned for the future, but I don't think 2024 is a playoff season for the Raiders.

The Schedule
@LAC (5-12) Win
@BAL (13-4) Loss
vs. CAR (2-15) Win
v. CLE (11-6) Loss
@DEN (8-9) Win
vs. PIT (10-7) Toss-Up
@LAR (10-7) Loss
vs. KC (11-6) Loss
@CIN (9-8) Loss
BYE
Before the bye, the Raiders will be tested. They'll play five games against 2023 playoff teams and only three against teams with losing records. They probably have to start out fast and win 3 of their first 5 to have a shot at a winning season.

@MIA (11-6) Loss
vs. DEN (8-9) Win
@KC (11-6) Loss
@TB (9-8) Toss-up
vs. ATL (7-10) Win
vs. JAC (9-8) Toss-Up
@NO (9-8) Toss-Up
vs. LAC (5-12) Win
The second half of the season doesn't look much easier. They'll face three playoff teams, but again only three with a losing record. The Raiders will have to steal some tough games, but if they can win vs. Denver and Tampa Bay, I'll have them at 6 wins going into four games they can win. It took 10 wins to get into the playoff last season in the AFC, so there's a slight chance for the team. I'll call it at 8 wins.

Records Watch
Antonio Pierce is one of 9 Raiders coaches with a >.500 win rate. With 10 more wins, he'd move into a tie for 9th most wins as a coach. With just 5, he'd be tied for 11th.

Zamir White piled up 397 yards rushing in his four starts last season. At 99.3 yards per game, he would have posted the second highest total in Raiders history. Not that he'll keep that pace, but he has a realistic shot at going over 1000 yards if healthy.

You've always got to keep an eye on Davante Adams. He has totaled 100+ catches in his two seasons with the Raiders, making him the only Raider with two such seasons. He fell just 4 grabs short of tying Tim Brown's team record for receptions. Yes, I do think he'll be traded if the Raiders are floundering.

Finally, I think the new kick return rules will give someone a chance to make a run at some team marks. Chris Carr holds the top three kickoff return yardage seasons. Only Jacoby Ford and Justin Miller have scored multiple KO TDs in a season. I'm wondering if we'll see those marks challenged.

 

Gut check time.
Lost a fumble.
Forced a three and out.
Got the ball, trailing by 2, with 19 minutes to go.

 

Edit: 22 minutes to go.

 

9 plays, 49 yards, got into FG range, and Carlson whiffs.

Raiders immediately give up a chunk play.

 

8 plays, 56 yards, and a FG. Not bad. Raiders' two best consecutive drives.

 

For all the talk of culture, that is a bad look - ejections, fans throwing beer. Yikes.

 

That was bad. Then again, I'm a Notre Dame fan. So, I've had a pretty chilll weekend.

 

Composite Ratings from Week 1
SKILL POSITIONS
Meyers 78
Adams 78
Minshew 78
Bowers 74
Tucker 70
Mattison 68
Mayer 64
White 55
-White seemed to get something going on O later in the game, but his fumbler was a back breaker. Minshew was accurate, but he had two TOs. Bowers looked good in the receiving game, and that could be huge as the seasons progresses. Raiders seem to have serious receiving threats.

TRENCHES
Parham 91
Miller 84
Munford 78
James 73
Whitehair 69
-Miller had a solid showing despite a tough matchup. It was not his best day. Whitehair was horribly graded, but he didn't miss a snap. I still can't see why he's starting. He seems to have lost a step.

 

Composite Ratings from Week 1
TRENCHES
Wilkins 89
Crosby 88
Butler 86
Jenkins 81
Robinson 60
Snowden 55
Wilson 44
Jade Silvera 43
-Honestly, four solid dudes and not much depth behind them. Still can't believe Wilson managed only 6 snaps despite being in year 2 and having injuries already ahead of him.


SECOND LEVEL
Spillane 92
Deablo 50
Masterson 41
-Deablo's line was absolutely brutal. All three passes against him were completed but for just 29 yards. But he whiffed on 4 tackles. By comparison, he missed 7 tackles all last season.

SECONDARY
Hobbs 87
Jones 77
Bennett 74
Epps 71
Moehrig 67
Pola-Mao 34
-These numbers are driven by reps, as a composite rating is snaps and performance. Moehrig and Epps had poor to awful ratings. Not all the stats are uploaded, but it looks like Moehrig was responsible for the receiving TD.

 

We're 8.5 dogs in Baltimore. I don't expect a win but a competitive, cohesive game from us.

 

Hope so. Still finding out who this team is.

 

Projection...
Ravens 22
Raiders 17

Prove me wrong, gents.

 

Defense looking good. Solid drive (no run game). 3-3.

 

Carlson and Crosby for MVP in the first half?

 

Defense creates offense.

16-13, Raiders trailing.

 

Just like they drew it up. Lol.

 

Well...that was unexpected but glad we are in the W column...

 

Carolina in town... Take care of business. Let's not Baltimore the game.