5 Biggest Takeaways from Oakland Raiders' Week 1 Loss
The Oakland Raiders don’t have time to overthink an embarrassing Week 1 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. As quarterback Matt McGloin phrased it in a postgame press conference, “It’s one game.” Now, the team must correct the mistakes and focus on the Baltimore Ravens.
It’s harder to forget a blowout loss on your own turf, but Oakland can redeem itself in front of its fans in Week 2 with better execution.
Head coach Jack Del Rio emphasized the need to get back to the basics on defense and applying film-room study to execute the game plan on the field.
Most of the Week 1 film serves as a remainder of what not to do on the field. What can we take away from the miscues and faint bright spots in the Raiders’ lethargic season opener?
Ken Norton Must Address Tight End Coverage
1 of 5
Defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. didn’t have an answer for Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert. In his most productive game as a pro, he recorded nine catches for 104 yards and two touchdowns.
Typically, a linebacker or safety handles coverage on a receiving tight end. The Raiders lost safety Nate Allen to a knee injury early against the Cincinnati Bengals. Strong-side linebacker Ray-Ray Armstrong struggled to keep pace with the tight end up the seam.
In Del Rio’s words from Sunday's press conference, “The tight end is still running wide-open.”
The Ravens will arrive in Oakland with a rookie tight end capable of racking up yards as well. Maxx Williams accumulated 569 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in his sophomore year at Minnesota.
Williams opened with a quiet NFL debut against the Denver Broncos, recording one catch for 15 yards. Nonetheless, the Raiders must game-plan to prevent another thrashing from a tight end with sure hands.
Give Matt McGloin First-Team Reps
2 of 5
Derek Carr’s stiff arm on Bengals cornerback Adam Jones might cost him some time. CSNBayArea.com reporter Scott Bair made note of the quarterback’s "hand and at least one finger in a splint" after the game.
Del Rio confirmed X-rays on the hand didn’t show any broken bones, but Carr’s pain threshold becomes a factor in his availability for Week 2.
Backup quarterback Matt McGloin should receive first-team reps in practice to familiarize himself with the offense and the talented group of receivers at his disposal.
The Raiders cannot afford to skimp on McGloin’s first-team practice reps in case Carr cannot endure the pain of taking snaps, throwing and possibly falling on that injured hand.
Carr has received more than enough reps from preseason into the regular season. He can start on Sunday without receiving high-volume reps at practice.
Oakland will likely get a better performance out of McGloin after a full week of practice with the first-team offense.
Expect More Impact from Aldon Smith
3 of 5
Aldon Smith clarified his role within the defense to reporters after the Week 1 loss. Norton designated Smith as a rotational edge-rusher against the Bengals. For the most part, Cincinnati’s offensive line neutralized the prominent pass-rusher in a limited role.
Smith’s role should increase after absorbing Norton’s game plan in a full week of practice. The fifth-year linebacker credited quarterback Andy Dalton with releasing the ball quickly to evade pocket pressure.
Smith made some breakthroughs late in the game, but he was still a step or two late for the sack. This week, he’ll spend more time in the film room, breaking down the Ravens' offensive line with a better know-how in attacking the pocket.
Left tackle Eugene Monroe struggled with the Ravens last season, per Pro Football Focus. He left the Ravens' Week 1 game with a concussion, per Baltimore Sun reporter Jeff Zrebiec.
Norton could explore matching Smith against whoever plays left tackle. Monroe's replacement James Hurst struggled in action. The Broncos sacked quarterback Joe Flacco twice in Week 1.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Rotating the Slot Receiver
4 of 5
Second-year wide receiver Seth Roberts struggled in his regular-season debut. He dropped a couple of passes from McGloin as the offense attempted to establish some sort of rhythm.
Usually, it takes more than one poor performance to bench any player, but the slot receiver position should become a revolving door for the Raiders. Wide receivers Rod Streater and Brice Butler share the same skill set as Roberts possesses.
One bad outing for a receiver could lead to a productive day from the next man up. Roberts recorded the most impressive preseason among Oakland's wideouts, as illustrated by PFF stats, but all three receivers showed the potential to excel at the position on any given week.
A rotation keeps in-house competition fresh and forces the defense to game-plan for a trio of receivers that may or may not contribute in that particular week. The process starts with keeping Butler on the active roster.
Keep Marcel Reece Involved
5 of 5
Marcel Reece’s involvement within the offense served as the single silver lining in the Raiders’ Week 1 loss.
Reece moved from fullback to H-Back in the offseason, and his role within offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave’s offense didn’t seem solid. He played sparingly in the preseason, but showed up in the passing attack in garbage time against Cincinnati.
Yes, he scored two meaningless touchdowns to avoid a shutout, but at the very least he’s making plays instead of decorating the sideline.
Oakland’s offense should attempt to carry over Reece’s momentum as a potential mismatch against the Ravens defense. The former fullback serves as a viable receiver who’s capable of extending short passes with yards after the catch.
When utilized adequately, he presents a matchup problem for slower linebackers or smaller defenders who struggle with tackling.
Follow Maurice Moton on Twitter for news, updates and intriguing discussion about the Oakland Raiders.
Week 1 statistics and play-by-play analysis provided by NFL.com.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
