Las Vegas Raiders Thread

eire4 wrote: »

No question given how tough the first half if the season was schedule wise if you offered me 4-3 I certainly would have taken it. Not going to get too excited yet but certainly looking at the 9 games remaining the chance is definitely there for the Raiders to grab a wild card spot.

I'm just liking the fact that we still have something to fight for in November, although even by saying that shows how low we've become as a sports franchise....we're almost afraid to dream!!! The Pass rush or lack thereof still worries me but I'm much more confident and excited about the offensive side of things.

Prefab Sprouter wrote: »

I was actually sitting there going "Thats it. We've blown it. Bloody typical" and I dont mind admitting my guilt in not having faith in the lads!! But the defense is still a worry. And whilst next week isnt the hardest opposition (although we could still lose, it isnt a lock) with the Broncos, the Chiefs will be fired up for that one. But hey! Its Monday after a win and the world is always a little better for that!!

I had a few moments like that in the game - just right before half time when there was a big turn in momentum and they scored 10 pts in the last minute.

The Broncos are turning things around and I do worry that our defense will struggle to contain Phillip Lindsay.

That said I am much happier to be sitting at 5-3 than 4-4. Hopefully we get some of our O Line back in the next few weeks to have a real crack at the second half of the season.

Kev8360 wrote: »

Took us a while to get going last but the second half was really great to see the defense step it up and make some big plays. Pass rush was really getting after Drew Lock all night and the early hits I think contributed to the INTs he threw late on.

The run game really choked the life out of denver in the second half (time of posession was so lopsided) - good practice for what we need to do against Kansas City next week (we will certainly need it because they will come out firing after a week off an given we took away their unbeaten record).

The only thing I would be really worried about is the ability of our WRs to make crucial downfield plays - Waller, Ruggs and Aghalor all had big drops that in a tighter game would have killed us.

Apart from that , strong performance and great to see 6-3 for first time in forever ! (ok 10 years ago but if feels like longer)

What about that Defense??? Where did they come from??? LOL. It was a great win and I think we need it going into next week's game. A good performance from all aspects of the team (Yes I know the passing game struggled, but the Ground game more than made up for it). I'll be honest, I'm not expecting much from next week's game but if we can control the ground game and keep Mahomes off the pitch (and KC are ranked 27th against the run) then we have a fighting chance. But yeah, 6 and 3...Whoop Whoop!!!

golfball37 wrote: »

Agree 100%. We were always playing for second in this division with the chiefs in it, as would 28 other ball clubs. With an extra wc spot we are in a good position. I certainly would have taken it ten weeks ago

It would appear that there is a consensus amongst us! I'm really happy with our position at the moment. Progress is in our own hands, if we dont take it we have no-one to blame but ourselves. Its a strange season (look at the NFC East!!!) but we need to take advantage of it. I'm still not at the stage where I can look at a match without the fear of a collapse but psychologically I'm getting there!!!

Only got to see the highlights of the game but from what I saw we were very competitive and in it right to the end which Is great to see given all the defensive disruption during the week with guys on COVID restrictions.

Next week is a big game against Atlanta - really need to get a win there to set us up for a strong finish to the season and let’s see where we end up.

Watched the highlights last night. A few observations:

1. Offensively we matched the Chiefs and there is no "Carr Controversy". That ship has well sailed. In addition, The receiving corps are well able to move the chains. I'd like to see Ruggs and Edwards getting involved more but I'm loving how Aghlohor and Renfrow are playing. And Carr trusts them.
2. Waller is a beast. No other way to describe him.

3. Eagle eye made the comment about being a good draft away from being very serious contenders. Well that draft is really going to have to concentrate on Defense again. The amount of times the Chiefs were 2nd and 1! They seemed to gain yardage at will. Now I know that it was the Chiefs, but the games are not going to get easier and we will have to face teams like Miami and Pittsburgh. Our Defensive side of the ball will need to step up big time.
4. Its great being relevant again!!!

Well that was a disaster - time to burn the tape on that game and move on

eagle eye wrote: »

I was dumbfounded looking at that last night. How a team can go from the performance against the Chiefs to that is unexplainable.

Welcome to life as a Raiders fan, eagle eye!!:D

golfball37 wrote: »

Ourselves, Ravens and Miami are battling it out for last spot imo. New England could come into equation but can’t see it. I think Browns are a lock and I also think both teams in South will make post season. Beat Indy and I’ll start to think it’s possible but I can’t see it.

I'm not looking forward to next week. Whilst the Offense can compete, the Defense is odious. Rivers will carve up our secondary. And that means the Offense must perform...against a good defense...."curls up in foetal position and sucks thumb" :D:D

Guenther fired after last nights showing , not surprising but should have been done before now that the playoffs are essentially out of reach. Let’s see if they can improve under Rod Marinelli

Prefab Sprouter wrote: »

Watched the match last night. A few thoughts:

Watching the Defence was painful last night. The Colts worked us up and down the field at will. And if we did manage to get to 3rd down, you just knew the Colts would make it every time. At one point last night the Commentators made an observation about our Defense, using Kwiatkowski as an example. It was as if the players were playing to a system and not using their own instincts to watch a play develop. So when the Colts RB broke for that 62 yard touchdown, there was no Raiders LB covering him as Kwiatkowski had dropped back into a zone without even looking to see what play was developing. So I'm wondering if it is the system that is stifling the players or is it that the players are inadequate?

I thought the offense did okay but failing to finish off drives in the Red Zone cost us. That interception against Waller in the End Zone was an amazing grab by the Colts DB. Hat duly doffed in his direction.

Yeah I think that is a good question - kwiatkoski played well earlier this season and there are games where the defense have played really well(@kansas and home to saints) so I am not sure if its scheme or players - most likely a bit of both.

Every week I see some awful attempts at tackling players so it could be a case that Guenther was trying to paper over the cracks with a strict gameplan but it clearly is not working against teams late in the season. Even the Jets moved the ball easily enough on us!

That was an amazing interception just before halftime though by the colts - really was a big momentum turner.

I think that game answers the question of whether it was the defensive coach or players that was the issue. Huge improvements needed at all positions on defense in the off season. Secondary particularly is a cluster.

eire4 wrote: »

Didn't he sign a massive 10 year contract, think he did. So if the Raiders want to fire him just 3 years in it will be quite the pay off. To be fair I feel at least there has been progress each year. Obviously this off season is big. There needs to be a serious upgrade on the defensive side of things to compliment the offense which while obviously not without holes is in pretty good shape.

I agree that there has been progress but my Main worry about the Raiders since Gruden has come back is that we have brought in so many players that have been with the team for less than a season and then released - it feels to me as if Gruden and Mayock are trying to throw enough players into the mix and hoping a team forms rather than having a plan for the defense.

From what I have seen of Jonathon Abrahm and Henry Ruggs I feel as if these were 2 misses in the 1st round (not busts because they can contribute) but they are not the difference makers we need them to be. Abrahm has very poor tackle technique and seems to want to go for the knock out blow everytime - that type of safety is a dinosaur in the NFL now.

I don't doubt Ruggs speed and I hope he proves me wrong next year but he has dropped too many passes this year and not shown enough awareness on touchline catches for him to prosper in a west coast offense.

The players we have drafted in the later rounds have been way better - Renfrow and Crosby have been highlights.

This offseason will be another big step - the rebuild will be harder as drafting in the middle of the pack so it will be key to get some players who can immediately contribute. Pressure is on Mayock because no way are we throwing 70 million away and getting a new Head Coach.

Prefab Sprouter wrote: »

Lads, in a rare moment of off topicness, can I take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy christmas? As Raiders fans we plough a bit of a lonely furrow, being a team that is existing on past glories as opposed to current success but its nice knowing that I'm not the only deluded lunatic out there. This year has been mental. I got COVID back in early March (I gig in a Band and went down with it following a gig in a Malahide venue that was crawling with Italians the weekend of the cancelled Rugby match) and, although I have a day job, my weekends have never been as quiet in 20 years! And December is the same. So American Football has certainly helped me stop going insane and I do enjoy logging on every Monday or Tuesday to see what you guys thought of our latest win/loss. So thank you! And may you all have a very happy christmas! Now back to the matter at hand.....

Happy christmas to you as well ! wishing for a raiders win tomorrow to finish the year on a positive note.

So I didnt get a chance to watch the game live - I saw the score on Sunday morning and left it at that. Having watched it now all I can say is if you go 0 for 9(or whatever the final stat line was) on 3rd down and have the ball for 8 minutes less than your opponent the chances of winning are slim.

It may be a blessing that we don't go to the playoffs because I fear a hiding from the Bills in Buffalo based on the way the schedule is shaping up.