The Oakland Raiders travel back to Alameda knowing they lost a game within their grasp. The results usually trump the finer details that cause the outcome, but the takeaways weigh heavily on the Raiders' season outlook.
Oakland almost pulled off an unexpected pair of road victories after upsetting the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2. Itโs difficult to see the progress after a loss, but thereโs a silver lining within a black cloud of defeat.
However, a couple of alarming deficiencies have resurfaced that partially cost the Raiders a victory in Week 4.
Coaching staffs and front offices often show unrelenting faith in the talent assembled to the point of ignoring basic warning signs that could derail in-season progress.
What have we learned from the Raiders' Week 4 loss to the Chicago Bears?
Ken Norton Found the Formula for Pocket Pressure
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The Raiders have accumulated eight sacks in the last two games. That's a huge difference from zero sacks in the first two weeks of the season.
Defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. has pushed the right buttons with the defensive line. The pass rush hits the pocket fast and furious in spurts. Oakland needs an unstoppable pass rush to help its secondary, but eight sacks shows progress.
Edge-rusher Aldon Smith recorded his first sack of the season and looks like heโs on his way to becoming a force within the Raiders' defensive front.
Oakland must find a way to dominate offensive lines instead of flash here and there with the culmination of talent assembled for Norton.
The Bears starting left tackle Jermon Bushrod sat out with a concussion, and starting center Will Montgomery exited early with an injury. Vladimir Ducasse shifted from guard to center to fill the void.
The Bears' offensive line went through significant changes, but the Raiders couldnโt take full advantage of the makeshift group.
Typically, injuries across the offensive line equate to a quarterbackโs nightmare. Bears quarterback Jay Cutler managed to escape the pocket and make plays with one good hamstring.
Ken Norton Hasnโt Found the Formula for Covering Tight Ends
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Norton couldnโt find the solution to the Raiders' tight end woes in coverage. Bears tight end Martellus Bennett caught 11 passes for 83 yards and a touchdown. Without wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, Bennett became the clear-cut go-to option in the Bears' passing attack.
Norton likely studied film and practiced all week anticipating a breakthrough on covering tight ends, but the execution still lacked communication.
Bennett caught a wide-open touchdown five yards from the line of scrimmage in a clear miscommunication involving inside linebacker Curtis Lofton. Oaklandโs tight end issues show signs of a systematic failure on Nortonโs behalf.
At times, players are deemed unstoppable. However, it doesn't seem to matter who lines up at tight end against the Raidersโthat player inevitably becomes a valuable asset to the opposing quarterback.
Itโs time for Norton to take a whole new approach to covering tight ends; his minor tweaks to zone coverage have yet to pan out.
Raiders Need to Sign a Punt Returner
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The Raiders are placing starting players in position to get mauled by 11 special teamers running at full speed.
Defensive back T.J. Carrie took the fall in Week 4 against the Bears as the primary punt returner. The Raiders donโt have the depth or the talent in the secondary to risk losing Carrie on a six-yard punt return.
The risk clearly isnโt worth the reward, but the Raiders donโt have many options at the position. Following Carrieโs injury, wide receiver Amari Cooper took his place returning punts.
Apparently, no one told head coach Jack Del Rio that his roster doesnโt resemble a Pro Bowl team full of starters itching for some playing time.
Oakland has the financial resources to sign a free-agent punt returner.
Del Rio most certainly needs his No. 1 cornerback and No. 1 wide receiver healthy on Sundays. Thereโs no need to increase the probability of injury with extra punt-return duties for key players.
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Youth Movement at Cornerback Hurting Defense
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In the offseason, general manager Reggie McKenzie expressed the utmost confidence in his young core of defensive backs, per NBCBayArea.com writer Doug Williams.
Four months later, cornerback Keith McGill has become a special teams player. Cornerback David Amerson, who signed with the team two weeks ago, competes for a starting position over the young core of defensive backs that earned McKenzieโs trust.
Finally, former first-round pick D.J. Hayden continues to show very little improvement in coverage.
Itโs still early in the season, but the youth movement at cornerback didnโt provide much hope for drastic improvement with the exception of Carrie who inexplicably returns punts.
The Raiders must work with what they have on the roster that isnโt Norton's or Del Rioโs fault.
McKenzie didnโt provide enough talent to a depleted secondary, and that mistake separates the Raiders from potential playoff teams.
Derek Carr Still Improving
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Quarterback Derek Carrโs steady improvement has been lost in the hysteria of defeat. He continues to make pinpoint throws and lead his wide receivers open from the pocket and on the run.
He completed approximately 60 percent of his passes against the Bears and connected with Cooper on a deep accurate pass in the back of the end zone.
Carr has shed the image of a checkdown quarterback in the last three weeks.
Heโs comfortable taking shots with Cooper downfield and has established a formidable rapport with veteran wide receiver Michael Crabtree.
Carr played a solid game within his control and didnโt make questionable or predetermined decisions with the ball.
The second-year quarterback will attempt to dissect Denverโs No. 1 pass defense in Week 5. The matchup serves as a solid barometer for Carrโs progress.
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All statistics are provided byย Pro-Football-Reference.comย andย Pro Football Focusย unless otherwise noted.
Week 4 statistics and play-by-play analysis provided byย NFL.com.
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