Colts Gameday Thread
Well, after last week's (near) debacle, I don't know what to expect. The Raiders don't look very well coached right now. Thank goodness for Gregg Williams and his idiotic blitz, or we'd really be pulling our hair out. It's time to right the pirate ship after two consecutive weeks of letdown. Win out, give the playoffs a chance. GO RAIDERS!
posted by Raider Take at 2:08 PM
25 Comments:
Maybe the Raiders should consider hiring Williams to replace Guenther. One historically bad call and bounty-gate aside, he's still better than Guenther.
3rd and 10 and Raiders give up a 15 yard run.
That's unbelievable!
There's no discipline.
I'd rather have Wade Phillips or Raheem Morris over Williams. Raiders playing some ugly ball on both sides right now. Giving up the first down on 4th on a fake punt/run. Interception by the Colts in the end zone (Carr too reliant on Waller there). Starting the game down 10-0, with Carr 0-2, and Jacobs 1 carry for 2 yards. To be down only by 6 at the half is amazing to me. Raiders have to come out in the 3rd Quarter a different team. JUST WIN, BABY!
Indeed. Raiders are lucky to be down by only 6 pts.
Colts having their way with the Raiders defense. Even if Guenther is not entirely to blame, a change needs to happen.
Abram with another tough day. He got called for a late PF, was torched on a TD pass, and managed to get injured, again! He's too aggressive during and after the play. He's hurting the Raiders more than he's helping them.
4 straight short passes to Richard led to Pick 6.
That stupidity rivals anything on defense.
Lights out!
Thursday night against Chargers. This game is important only so the Raiders can avoid the same total collapse they experienced last year.
We shall see.
Raiders have fired Paul Guenther! 2 weeks too late, in my opinion. Marinelli takes over as interim DC, but they should hire Wade Phillips. The only other exception for me is if the Falcons don't hire Raheem Morris.
I don't think this move helps our chances for the playoffs though; but we will see. The page is turned, on to the Dunder Dolts. JUST WIN, bABY!
Guenther had made no progress but seems to have been dealt a losing hand. A revolving door of players the past three years compounded with many injuries and 6 new starters this year. I guess with the money spent on D in FA this year and the picks the last two years someone had to go. Its telling when Morrow is the best player on D today
FA has been a disaster for the Raiders. Kwiatkoski, Nassib, Littleton, Collins, Mariota, that is a lot of money wasted. Only good signing was Aghlor. FA is fools gold
Oh well the o line generally looked great today against a very very good Colts defense. I am turning the page. If the Browns beat the Ravens tomorrow the Raiders control their own destiny and by running the table (three wins in a row) they make the playoffs. Let's hope this firing sparks the D to a mediocre performance the rest of the year and the Offense can carry the team to the playoffs
Go Raiders
Sandy
Kwiatkoski, Nassib, and Aghlor have been good signings, and they have done good things for the Raiders. Littleton and Collins have been a waste. Not sure Marinelli is the answer because he is the D-Line coach, which has been ineffective.
Not happy with this loss, but on to the next. Raiders control their own destiny here on out. They have to win the next 3 games.
Nate how in the world do you think Nassib has been a good signing? He got 16 million guaranteed, has 1.5 sacks, and can not even get on the field as he has been a healthy scratch for two games in a row. Finally Gruden has said he is not showing effort in practice. Seriously bro he is the worst FA signing this year, where do you come up with these statements?
The Raiders do not control their own destiny unless the Ravens lose tonight
Sandy
Nate, Nassib was recently benched. He's under-performed with the rest.
Marinelli is an interesting choice because it's his position group that has been least effective on the defense. Collins came over after Marinelli (presumably, at Marinelli's recommendation) and they both have failed the Raiders.
Nonetheless, hopefully, this shakeup provides a spark to the defense... at least for a game or two.
On a related thought, I'm concerned about Abram. He sucks in coverage and lacks discipline during and after plays. He doesn't appear to be making corrections. Raiders need him to stop blowing coverage, play smarter and cut out the extracurricular BS that cost the team yardage and downs. His energy and tenacity are what you want but he lacks football acumen.
Very frustrating and disappointing season. While much needed, firing a DC with 3 games left says it all.
I guess I was thinking about Nassib earlier. He was getting consistent pressure and out-playing Arden Key; but didn't realize he hasn't played the last 2 games. Arden Key and Abram over-pursue the play. Abram goes after the big hit, and usually ends up getting burned. Arden Key is going straight after the QB, and blows run coverage. Both are similar in regards to their football acumen. However, Abram hurts the team with his penalties. I wonder how much of that is a maturity issue. Key has been in the league long enough to show he is not coachable, and is not going to change how he plays.
Letting go of Guenther and promoting Marinelli is not going to change how our defense plays. Marinelli is the D-Line coach which has been the problem all season long. I don't expect the defense to change. I hope that the Raiders get Wade Phillips or Raheem Morris for DC next season. Anyone else will be disappointing. Also, some position coaches need to change too. Greg Olson needs to go, and Edgar Bennett needs to be promoted to OC or they need to find someone else. David Lippincott (LB coach) needs to go. I am debating whether or not our DB coaches need to go as well (Taver Johnson and Jim O'Neil).
I expect a lot of changes this offseason, especially if we don't make the playoffs. We will see.
Abram is a bit of a head case. He's not smart and, unfortunately, he plays that way. His aggressiveness leads to over-pursuit and injuries... mostly his own.
I think Key has worked hard to bulk up and learn his trade. He spends a lot of time in the opponent's backfield but he can't close the deal.
IMO, Crosby and Mullen are the only standout players on defense for the Raiders. Everybody else is mediocre to downright bad.
Funny, Raiders had Mack and Autry, both highly regarded DEs. Autry plays on a far better defense with the Colts.
I guess Guenther got the bait and switch coming to the Raiders. Raiders had Mack! And Guenther had the promise of building his own defense. Except that the Raiders spent all their capital on offense. This is the first season they got serious about improving on defense, and that turned out to be a flop.
This process also showed that hiring the right coordinator can be huge. Guys like Littleton, Collins and Joyner all excelled in other systems.
Wade Phillips has expressed interest in being the DC for the Raiders. That is my pick, and I hope Gruden and Mayock pull the trigger on that move. I do not think it is too much to ask for a high quality defense and a high quality offense. I would also love to see Bill Romanowski become the LB Coach. What do we have to lose?
Defensively, Mullen, Morrow, Crosby, Nick K., Crosby, Ferrell, Lawson, Heath, and Arnette stood out this year. We've experienced a lot of injuries to those players lately, but that is part of the game. Littleton, Collins, Joyner, Hurst, McMillan, Johnson, and Amik Robertson have been disappointing. Defense has had some excellent moments this year, especially against the Chiefs. But for too long, they have looked lost on plays, out of position (Abrams), and it is a combination of coaching and player discipline.
Offensively, the entire O-Line has been amazing! Jalen Richard has had a rough year, so has Henry Ruggs. These two have only begun to shine brighter, but with expectations so high, and the way they have come out flat the majority of the year has been disappointing. Ruggs has had his moments, but feels like he struggles to get open. Nelson Agholor has been the same. He has had his moments, but has had his share of dropped passes. I am disappointed that Ingold, Moreau, and Zay Jones do not have more opportunities. Play-action pass to Ingold in the Red Zone would do a lot of good with the Raiders. Quite frankly, I've expected it more when Gruden came and do not understand what is happening.
I do not have any expectation of the Raiders making the playoffs. I think they will end the season 9-7. Vast improvement from the last 3 years, but we just do not have the pieces to make a solid run. FA and Draft will be huge for us this offseason, and defense needs to be the focus.
Raiders have been decent at identifying talent on offense, fielding a solid O-line (even thru injuries), grabbing Waller off Ravens practice squad, drafting a star like Jacobs as well as unsung guys like Ingold. Assuming Carr is still the Raiders "QB of the future," the offense should continue to grow and, hopefully, become more dynamic.
However, the defense has struggled since Day 1, and Gruden has been extremely slow to react. Now, three years into Gruden's contract, Raiders need a complete reset on defense. I like Philips too but he's a 3-4 guy, so that's a significant change from the Raiders current personnel and scheme. That exposes the entire front 7 as possibly expendable.
It's anyone's guess but this could take a few more years to correct.
Phillips prefers a 3-4 defense, but he has also worked well with a 4-3 base defense with the Cowboys, Texans, and Bills. He is an well rounded when it comes to defense, and quite frankly, there is no one better in the League in that category. I think he can drastically change the defense regardless of what base we run, because he is aggressive. I think if the Raiders hired Phillips, the defense would be top 10 ranked next season; that is how strongly I feel about Wade.
I agree NY, since day 1 with Gruden has done nothing but implode a defense. Remember, when he took over, all he needed was a couple of good CB's and LB's to be premier on defense and offense. He came in and dismantled the only thing we had going for us on defense, and completely dismantled the offense; and has rebuilt the offense to his scheme; but has not found an identity with the defense. This has been the toughest thing for me to swallow with Gruden's hiring. He just does not know how to coach to a player's strengths and abilities. This is why I was never big on his hiring, and now it is showing that he is in over is head when it comes to defense and assessing defensive talent.
Hiring Wade Phillips would prove to me that Gruden wants to win. Anyone else just shows me he is in it for the show and the money. JUST WIN, BABY!
Philips is the right hire but will Gruden have the balls to make that call? I think he hires his friend from Atlanta. Another personal relationship that will be difficult to break if the defense fails, again.
Thursday game, although on a shortened week, will be the players best opportunity to show us all that they are not to blame...
If they are successful and it carries over to the next 1-2 games, Marinelli might have a shot to stick as DC. My initial reaction to that is, NO! Marinelli's position group (DL) was the Raiders biggest failure this year.
I wouldn't mine Raheem Morris either, but I think he stays in Atlanta as Head Coach. The difference between the Falcons under him and under Quinn is night and day. So, for me, Wade Phillips has to be the guy. Like I said, anyone else proves Gruden is only in it for the show and money, and not to win. This is going to tell me a lot about his mindset.
Not sure about his mindset but Gruden has made bad decisions before.
Hiring Olsen as OC (2x)
Hiring Guenther as DC
Replacing Buckner with Marinelli as DL coach
Delaying firing Guenther due to a personal friendship with his coach.
These are just recent examples.
I expect Gruden to stay within a network of his coaching friends, like Marinelli. I've not read that Gruden has any connection with Wade Philips. So that leads me to believe Philips is not a candidate. I agree, if Philips is hired, it speaks to Gruden's desire to win... which is what we should hope for and expect.
Raiders pursuit of Morris will give him more leverage in Atlanta, for a better position. But I would guess the Raiders salary offer might be competitive with that HC job. You can be sure Wade Philips will want a big salary.
Whoever takes the Raiders DC job will have total control of the D and - out of necessity - will be the beneficiary of most the Raiders 2021 draft picks.
Be very careful about those vaccine shots!!!!
Zinc, vitamin C might help.
Stop being CHEAP!!!! why all the "Al ruined salary cap" talk and then not spend on free agents when you have the money!?
Offense looks like it can do something but needs healthy players.
They refuse to use to use their tight ends!!! They have four very good tight ends. Its' not the Waller show, use Whitten and the other tight ends!
They lack speed at almost every position. They need to sign a fast RB. Richard is o.k. but they need somebody with more speed.
There are guys who might help the pass rush!:
Tyre Coleman
Cameron Wake
Clay Matthews III
Anthony Zettle (as a dt)
They may have a pro-bowler I. Johnson but refuse to let him play, unless there's an injury!
They need stop signing guys with no NFL experience and find some veteran free agents who can help them win this year!!!
Find a new DC a let Marinelli handle the D.
and sign some speed (wr and rb) before Thursday!!!
I agree. Where's Whitten and Moreau? The Raiders have the best corp of TEs in the league but only throw to one of them. Mismatches exist every week.
Also, the Raiders have been short at RB for years, even after Jacobs arrived. I think the reason we see Richard on third down, besides his ability to catch, is because he can block better than Jacobs.
I was downplaying injuries before last week but this week is truly going to test that theory. This week it will be up to guys like Joyner and Littleton to play outside themselves, and possibly some scrappy vets like Worthly to play more on instinct than scheme..., then hope that Carr and Co. can simply outscore the Chargers.
Pretty much the same formula that's been in place all year.
Raiders are without the following for tonight's game against the Chargers:
Jonathan Abrams (concussion), Damon Arnette (concussion), Clelin Ferrell (Shoulder), Nick Morrow (Concussion), and Henry Ruggs (COVID)
We saw Moreau against the Colts make a 46 yard TD. But yes, we need more double/triple TE sets and pass to one of them. Let's start making teams pay for the mismatches. Quite frankly, I think Waller should line up as a WR.
Going to be an interesting game. Raiders need to win out to make the playoffs, and the Ravens to lose a game. JUST WIN, BABY!
It will take a miracle for the Raiders to win out and the Ravens to lose to either the Jags, Giants or Bengals.
The Giants are the only team of the three that can even justify wanting to win a game... and that might change quickly.
If the Dolphins lose one game, the Ravens won't even break a nail while coasting to the finish line.
It will take a miracle for you not to be such a sour negative hater, seriously just go find another team you seem more excited when the Raiders lose than win
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