Teams Las Vegas Raiders - The Black Hole

[exe ex machina]

He's a stone around Olson's neck, because thing is, Olson's foundation is the WCO, which uses the HB and FB a lot in passing and rushing.

Still, he'd be better being converted to a HB, keeping Olowale as the blocking FB, and getting rid of McFadden and Jones-Drew.

 

[Chewy316]

He's a stone around Olson's neck, because thing is, Olson's foundation is the WCO, which uses the HB and FB a lot in passing and rushing.

Still, he'd be better being converted to a HB, keeping Olowale as the blocking FB, and getting rid of McFadden and Jones-Drew.

Disagree. He's no better a running back than either Jones-Drew or McFadden. Reece will always be a part time playmaker. Nothing more.

Olson's offence isn't really a true WCO anyway though. Uses a lot of short routes, but even then, it doesn't incorporate any zone schemes (which are traditional WCO based). It's more of a hybrid west coast that is based around power running.

 

[exe ex machina]

Disagree. He's no better a running back than either Jones-Drew or McFadden. Reece will always be a part time playmaker. Nothing more.

Olson's offence isn't really a true WCO anyway though. Uses a lot of short routes, but even then, it doesn't incorporate any zone schemes (which are traditional WCO based). It's more of a hybrid west coast that is based around power running.

Did you not see this stat?

Josh Dubow ✔ @JoshDubowAP
#Raiders Reece averages 123.4 yards from scrimmage in 5 career starts at tailback. Only McCoy, Charles and Gordon topped that last year

 

[exe ex machina]

Did you also see that Chris Hansen article again highlighting McFadden's terrible vision, how he takes the wrong cuts, runs into blockers, and even runs into tacklers. He did a similar expose last season, which I posted in the Strategy/Tactics thread. And he did a new expose last week vs Texans which can be found on Hansen's twitter account.

 

[Chewy316]

I've seen both Dubow's stat line and Hansen's articles. The sample size used in the stat line is way too small. You see many running backs popping up and getting 100 yard games here and there. It's about being a bell cow, being able to carry it 20 times a game for 16 games. Reece isn't capable of doing that.

As a change of pace back, McFadden is very good. He's not a lead back but can be a weapon if used properly. He was running very hard last week. Also note that a lot of power runs have a pre-defined running hole, as opposed to zone schemes which rely on the running back waiting patiently for the hole to open and then to hit it as a cutback.

But yes, there are times when McFadden makes me cringe when he tries to beat people with his shake. He's not going to beat many DBs in the open field when one on one. All about either trucking them over, or hitting the hole at an angle which gives you an advantage over the defenders at the second level, and that isn't easy when you first need to get to the second level in the first place!

Could very well be a change in OC in a few weeks time if DA goes. Been told Olson could very well go with him.

 

[exe ex machina]

I'm tired of the "could" and "might"

Allen and Olson and Tarver are terrible at what they do.

I think oddly Tarver could make for a good HC. But if he were to be one, we'd need a really aggressive OC.

For the next two weeks, I'm actually tipping us to beat Pats and Dolphins. Mainly because they're on the road for an entire two weeks, and it'll be like a school camp feel for the whole team, bonding better, away from their routines etc, less stress.

 

[Chewy316]

I'm tired of the "could" and "might"

Allen and Olson and Tarver are terrible at what they do.

I think oddly Tarver could make for a good HC. But if he were to be one, we'd need a really aggressive OC.

For the next two weeks, I'm actually tipping us to beat Pats and Dolphins. Mainly because they're on the road for an entire two weeks, and it'll be like a school camp feel for the whole team, bonding better, away from their routines etc, less stress.

I'm in agreement with you that DA and Olson are subpar. I want DA gone. Olson I'm indifferent about. He'll be gone at the end of the year anyway.

Tarver is not HC material. He's not even coordinator material. Big deal if he sounds good in a once a week presser, he can't cut the rest of it. His idealistic top down cover schemes do not work in the NFL as it is designed today with the spread offense.

You're going to be disappointed if you expect us to win the next two games. I'm expecting to get thrashed tomorrow, and the Dolphins game could bring anything. The players are apathetic regarding DA, the "leaders" of the locker room have said off the record that practices lack direction. I have no reason to believe that we'll do anything apart from lay an egg tomorrow, especially against the darling Patriots, can't even sneeze on Brady without getting a 15 yard penalty for unnecessary roughness.

 

[exe ex machina]

I'm in agreement with you that DA and Olson are subpar. I want DA gone. Olson I'm indifferent about. He'll be gone at the end of the year anyway.

Tarver is not HC material. He's not even coordinator material. Big deal if he sounds good in a once a week presser, he can't cut the rest of it. His idealistic top down cover schemes do not work in the NFL as it is designed today with the spread offense.

You're going to be disappointed if you expect us to win the next two games. I'm expecting to get thrashed tomorrow, and the Dolphins game could bring anything. The players are apathetic regarding DA, the "leaders" of the locker room have said off the record that practices lack direction. I have no reason to believe that we'll do anything apart from lay an egg tomorrow, especially against the darling Patriots, can't even sneeze on Brady without getting a 15 yard penalty for unnecessary roughness.

I agree Tarver is not good at Xs&Os. He also is to blame for not realizing to make things simpler so the players can just play naturally and with their instincts/athleticism. Just think he has a bit of passion, guts. Often a good HC is more of a man-manager and motivator, than a schemer. That can work if you have genuine NFL-caliber coordinators...like say Mike Nolan and Norv Turner. But if you have guys like we do at OC/DC, then they're just in over their heads and the players know it.

Realistically, we'll get smashed. But you never know, sometimes little things like being in a camp atmosphere for two weeks, or players feeling disrespected or laughed at, makes them win -- for themselves, their own careers, not their HC's job.

 

[exe ex machina]

@RapSheet: #Raiders source close to Mark Davis notes GMs get more than one coach. Belief is foundation being built, Reggie McKenzie in no trouble

 

[exe ex machina]

Ian Rapoport ‏@RapSheet 1h
@TheRaidersDaily Asked a Raiders source about Sparano. Response was he’s not exactly going to fix things. Would be a place-holder

 

[GeeCats07]

We're just so bland. So so bland. I firmly believe in Carr. He hasn't looked spooked or out of his depth once, it's just that he has nothing to throw to and we're not creative or good enough to give him anything. We need a scary playmaker at some offensive position and there's no one on our roster that even remotely matches that. Unless we do go with the Reece/Murray backfield combo which could give us SOMETHING. ANYTHING!
We had a chance to win today (again) and we never looked like we believed we could. Bullshit!

 

[exe ex machina]

Olson fcked up again. We should've been 14-0 up. And it was seriously Dmac up the gut for every single 1st down for the entire game except late in the fourth. There's no reason to baby carr ffs. And our best receiver James Jones saw limited snaps. Wtf. Seriously fire Olson today.

 

[andana]

Branch is out for the year. Brandian Ross is back. He may have some inside info against the Dolphins.
Down to about 3 LB, including a rookie and a guy they just signed.

Who's looking good for pick one in the next draft?.

 

[GeeCats07]

Branch is out for the year. Brandian Ross is back. He may have some inside info against the Dolphins.
Down to about 3 LB, including a rookie and a guy they just signed.

Who's looking good for pick one in the next draft?.

Trade down! We don't need a QB and Mariotta looks the goods so someone will happily trade up I reckon.

EDIT: I feel so sad that I honestly answered that expecting us to have the number 1 pick. Sigh.

 

[manureid]

I dont remember what it was like to watch us win...been so long.

 

[andana]

Trade down! We don't need a QB and Mariotta looks the goods so someone will happily trade up I reckon.

EDIT: I feel so sad that I honestly answered that expecting us to have the number 1 pick. Sigh.

cbssports have already given us the #1 pick. [I was only joking]

We had a big bag of money to spend, got some good players in the draft and we have gone backwards.

 

[exe ex machina]

Film Room: Khalil Mack

by Cian Fahey

The spotlight isn't something Khalil Mack is used to.

He was an afterthought for the big colleges when being recruited out of high school. According to Rivals.com, Mack was a two-star recruit coming out of high school. He received just two scholarship offers, one from Liberty University and one from Buffalo. After failing to find an opportunity with a big-time college football program, Mack was also slighted by EA sports, who rated him as a 46 out of 100 in their now-defunct NCAA football game. Mack took notice and wore number 46 while playing for Buffalo.

Even when Mack established himself as a top prospect ahead of the 2014 draft, he was still masked by the shadow of other, supposedly more enticing players.

Jadeveon Clowney, Sammy Watkins, and Greg Robinson were considered the potential generational talents of this class, while Johnny Manziel quickly became the media's favorite character to follow. Mack quietly impressed throughout the draft process and solidified himself as a top draft pick, but he was rarely viewed as the fan favorite or the option teams wanted over any of the other top picks.

Even when Mack was drafted fifth overall by the Oakland Raiders, most of the focus was on the surprise selection of Blake Bortles at third overall and the huge trade that landed the Buffalo Bills Sammy Watkins at fourth overall. Mack went to Oakland, Jake Matthews went to the Atlanta Falcons, and the "rest" of the draft began.

Now, months later, when draft coverage means nothing and players are supposed to be judged by what they do on the field, there may not be a better rookie than Mack.

In fact, none of the four players that went ahead of Mack have a strong case to suggest that they deserve more attention than he does. Clowney has been sidelined through injury, Robinson has been sidelined through performance in the preseason, Bortles is just about to come off the sideline for his first start, and Watkins' effectiveness has been curtailed by both a nagging rib injury and poor quarterback play. Mack, Aaron Donald and Kyle Fuller are the defensive players who have stood out to this point.

Donald and Fuller both have greater statistical production than Mack. Mack has 19 tackles without a sack, but Fuller has three interceptions with two forced fumbles and Donald has one sack while also leading the league in tackles for loss. Mack's statistics may not be on par with those of Fuller or Donald, but his impact certainly is.

As he proved against the New England Patriots in Week 3, he has the talent to disrupt offenses in a variety of ways.

Patriots left tackle Nate Solder hasn't had a good start to the season. Ever since the first week of the season, he has struggled to contain his assignments in pass protection. Still, in spite of his recent poor run of form, Solder is one of the more talented offensive tackles in the NFL right now. Against a rookie such as Mack, he should always be expected to get the better of the matchup. On Sunday, that didn't happen.

On this third-and-4 play, Mack doesn't beat Solder with his first step. Instead, Solder sets up to take away the bull rush or inside move and Mack hesitates off the line. Once Mack recognizes that he can rush the passer, he shows off a second burst of acceleration to whip right past the left tackle and close to the quarterback. Mack doesn't get the sack, but he prevents a first down with his hit.

When you look at this play down the field, quarterback Tom Brady had recognized Julian Edelman breaking free on an out route past the first down marker. While Brady is struggling a lot right now, this is a throw he made on a number of occasions during this game. If Mack had not got to Brady as fast as he did, the pass would likely have been completed and the Patriots drive wouldn't have resulted in a punt from that spot on the field.

On that play, Solder's technique was poor because he overplayed Mack's bull rush from the start. Later in the same quarter, Mack showed us why Solder was so wary of that bull rush.

Mack isn't a reckless pass rusher. He doesn't fly off the ball to ignore his run responsibilities or fail to recognize any potential help his immediate blocker may be receiving. On this play, he is initially hesitant off the ball as he is aware of the running back breaking to his side of the field. After the back commits to a move that takes him away from Mack, the rookie uses his hands to battle Solder before pushing him back into the quarterback.

Just like the previous play, Mack doesn't get the sack. He doesn't even touch Brady this time, but that is because the quarterback got rid of the ball so quickly, and not due to Mack's inability to beat Solder.

As a pass rusher, Mack doesn't have Cameron Wake's initial step or Von Miller's leverage. He doesn't bend the edge at speed like Robert Quinn. Instead, he is a very well-rounded player who can use his strength, speed, or fluidity to deceive the offensive tackle throughout each play. It's very difficult to set up against Mack initially because he can convert speed to power or use his quickness in tight areas to knock you off balance before knocking you to the ground.

The most interesting thing about Mack's impressive pass rushing to this point is that it was widely considered his biggest question mark entering the draft.

Mack was so well-rounded outside of his pass-rushing ability that it was unclear how he would be used. Against the Patriots, he primarily played outside linebacker in a 3-4 look that allowed him to excel. Not only was he beating Solder on a regular basis, but he had a huge impact against the run when the offense ran directly at him or tried to run away from him.

Towards the end of the first quarter, Mack lined up with his hand on the ground as part of a rare four-man front. The other edge defender was standing up, but on the line of scrimmage. Mack's first step suggests that he may have been running a stunt with the defensive tackle just inside of him. However, even if he was, his awareness to immediately recognize the running play and the gap that he could attack to close on Stevan Ridley for the tackle was very impressive.

Ridley gained just 2 yards and was held up by traffic in front of him, but Mack gave the play no margin for error with his speed to close on the ball from behind.

Mack has four tackles for loss on the season, just one behind a group of three players leading the league with five. One of those came on this play when the Patriots attempted to run right at him. For as long as Rob Gronkowski has been in the NFL, he has given the Patriots constant personnel advantages before the snap. Gronkowski has returned from a torn ACL he suffered last season, and while his receiving ability is hindered, but his strength and technique as a blocker has remained consistent.

Gronkowski may be a tight end by listing, but by most measures he is an offensive tackle when run blocking. Yet, on this play, Mack easily beats him by initially using his hands to negate Gronkowski's power, before showing off his own power and quickness to rip Gronkowski down and close to Ridley in the backfield.

After beating Gronkowski, Mack makes a very impressive ankle tackle in space to cause a 2-yard loss on the play. That play came at the start of the third quarter, but Mack had another tackle for loss for which he wasn't initially credited on the following drive.

This time it's not Gronkowski who is assigned to block Mack; instead it is Michael Hoomanawanui. Hoomanawanui is a tight end who, like Gronkowski, carries an all-around skill set. Unlike Gronkowski, he isn't the same physical specimen. On this play, Mack is able to sidestep inside of Hoomanawanui before the tight end can get out of his stance, then he knifes past his attempted block to locate the running back behind the line of scrimmage again.

So far, this year's crop of defensive rookies has been very impressive even without Clowney on the field. Mack may not have the sacks just yet, but he is definitely one of the players leading the race to the Defensive Rookie of the Year award.

The Oakland Raiders may not receive much national acclaim, but Mack should expect to get used to the spotlight over the coming years if he continues to play like this.

 

[exe ex machina]

Week 3 : A Look at 8 Raiders' Stunts v Patriots

by GipsySafety

Raiders Line Stunts, 8 Plays

Here's a look at 8 times when the Raiders Defensive line used a Stunt/Twist against the Patriots in Week 3

Play 1 : 2-8-OAK 45 (7:18) T.Brady pass incomplete short right to B.LaFell [A.Smith]


Stunt in the middle. DTs #78 Justin Ellis and #94 Antonio Smith will cross against C #63 Connolly and LG #61 Cannon. Here, Antonio Smith gets outside Connolly's shoulder, gets his arms between the blockers and uses them like the Jaws of Life to create space. When Cannon has to widen to take Sims, Smith is able to break thru.

Play 2 : 3-8-OAK 45 (7:13) (Shotgun) T.Brady pass short left to S.Vereen to OAK 36 for 9 yards (K.Mack)

End/Tackle Stunt on the right side. Antonio Smith slants to the inside, drawing LG #61 Cannon. #52 Khalil Mack takes a hard upfield step and then breaks to the inside. Mack has been beating LT #77 Solder a few times and so this time, Solder overcommits to what he sees as a counter move.

But Mack is turning inside NOT to try to rush Brady, but rather to crash down into LG Cannon and to free up Antonio Smith. With Cannon blocked and Solder chasing and commiting to Mack, Antonio Smith has a clearing to the outside.

Solder gets to Smith late and gets onto his shoulder. If Brady doesn't get the pass away quickly, Smith would have had a nice hit on him.

Play 3 : 3-15-NE 15 (13:42) (Shotgun) T.Brady sacked at NE 10 for -5 yards (J.Tuck)

Similar basic design as in Play 2.

Mack crashes down and frees Antonio Smith to the outside. One difference here is that Solder and Cannon are not switching and so Solder is following Mack while Cannon has to chase Smith.

It doesn't matter since Justin Tuck beats the RG Devey so quickly he gets the sack, but another count and Smith would have looped around for pressure

Play 4 : 2-11-NE 43 (7:04) T.Brady pass short right to S.Ridley to 50 for 7 yards (K.Maiava)

Dual Stunts on either side. Mack/Ellis on the right, Sims/Burris on the right.

Ellis was never going to loop around in time for a sack (he's 6'1", 335 lbs and not fast) , but what that Game on the right does is to take the C #63 Connolly an drag him out of the middle. Here, Mack attracts a double team and it doesn't help Jelly, it helps Burris.

When the Center turns to his left, it opens a huge inside lane for Burris to run into with only the RG Devey to protect it.

Play 5 : 3-4-50 (6:21) (No Huddle, Shotgun) T.Brady pass incomplete short right to J.Edelman [K.Mack]

3-man stunt on the left side with Burris, Tuck, and #95 Benson Mayowa on the outside.

Burris will attack the outside gap and Tuck will attack upfield. Mayowa takes an outside step and then loops underneath 2-gaps to the middle.

RT Vollmer and RG Devey switch and hand off their assignments on Burris/Mayowa, but this leaves the Center Connolly 1-on-1 against Justin Tuck as well as Devey chasing Mayowa another gap distance to the middle.

Tuck rips clear and has a nice path to Brady but Mack gets there first from the opposite side.

Play 6 : 1-10-NE 41 (2:14) T.Brady pass short left to T.Wright to OAK 39 for 20 yards (C.Woodson) [J.Tuck]

Tackle/End stunt with #90 Pat Sims and #91 Justin Tuck.

Sims takes an upfield attack on RG Devey. Tuck jabs upfield and then cuts underneath Sims into the free A-gap between Devey and the Center. the RT Vollmer can't get to Tuck and the Center Connolly is a bit late getting there after double-teaming DT #78 Justin Ellis.

Also notice the nice "grab" #90 Pat Sims has on Devey. Devey grabs Sims' inside shoulder and tries to route him away from Brady; in response, Sims clamps down on that arm and then pulls Devey along with him, taking Devey away from the hole and leaving a lane for Tuck to run into.

Play 7 : 3-5-NE 39 (10:11) (Shotgun) T.Brady pass short left to D.Amendola to OAK 42 for 19 yards (T.Brown)

Stunt in the middle with #91 Justin Tuck and #94 Antonio Smith as in Play 1. This time the blocking knocks them together and Tuck falls to the ground. They can get no pressure.

Play 8 : 3-8-OAK 18 (6:28) (Shotgun) T.Brady pass incomplete short left to B.LaFell

3-man twist with #94 Antonio Smith, #90 Pat Sims slanting to the right and #52 Khalil Mack looping 2-gaps underneath. With the Center taking Sims and the RG Devey turning to the right, there's a HUGE hole in the middle.

As in Play 6, Pat Sims does a great job in clamping down on the Center Connolly's arms and dragging him out of the hole. In fact, it appears that Connolly is pulled farther out of the gap than Mack anticipated; Mack looks like he's prepared a wider loop than he has to and when he tries to cut inside, he slips.

Brady gets that ball out quick or else would have faced more pressure.

The Raiders' starting Front 4 in 2013 was Lamarr Houston, Vance Walker, Pat Sims, and Justin Hunter. In Week 3 of 2014, it is Khalil Mack/Lamarr Woodley, Antonio Smith, Justin Ellis, Justin Tuck. Essentially a complete makeover.

This revamped DL was held under control against both Houston (week 2) and NYJets (week1) and could rarely muster any pressure. Against the Patriots, though, this group looked very active and was often harassing Tom Brady.

They were able to generate pressure in a variety of ways, most of which did not require a 5th or 6th rusher meaning that back end was able to use 7 defenders for coverage. When the Raiders were stunting and twisting, the Patriots line was a step slow to react and at times even confused about what to do. On one-on-one matchups, they were often getting defeated and with some of the games going on, there were wide gaps and blockers not available to help each other.

The Raiders' DL did look a little more cohesive and a little more active. Khalil Mack looks like he has taken another step forward and Justin Ellis is stepping forward as an intriguing rookie. And while they appear to have benefited from a disorganized Patriots offensive line, they were often able to take advantage of it. If it were not Tom Brady, the QB may have been sacked several more times than he was.

For the Patriots, the OL looks bad and Logan Mankins' replacement at LG, Marcus Cannon, does not look good at all. It may not be a coincidence that Cannon is performing so poorly and that Nate Solder's performance has dropped off precipitiously. OL play is significantly based on cohesion and chemistry. They have to have the ability to be at full-speed and make adjustments in unison, fully trusting that the player to his side will do what is expected; when that happens, a blocker is never really "alone." But this unit seems a bit disorganized and out of sync. Cannon, in particular, doesn't appear to be of much help to Solder at all, meaning that Solder really is isolated out there.

Without studing that OL very much and for very long, it's hard to tell, but it's certainly something worth watching.

For the Raiders DL, going forward, they will find out if the pass rushing unit is actually improving that much or if this is a mirage given to them. The common wisdom was that Khalil Mack' performance may be stunted until Tuck, Woodley, Smith can step up; but it may be that Mack is going to step up naturally and as that attracts more attention from opposing offenses, it will free up the veteran defenders to make plays.

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

Our play calling is abhorrent.

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

Making Tannehill look like Joe Montana.

 

[exe ex machina]

I thought I saw the worst moment in Raider history. The coaching staff refused to call a timeout when Carr was clearly hurt and nobody came to his aid when he limped off the side. The nice kid doesnt deserve that

 

[exe ex machina]

Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter · 2m

There it is. RT @APtcollins: My sources tell me that raiders HC Dennis Allen is fired and an announcement could come as soon as Tuesday.

 

[manureid]

Rabble. We seem to have more talent than recent years which is why it is inexcusable.

 

[larkis]

Have fun with your 24 hour party GG

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

Allen gone.

Thank ****ing god.