Biggest Takeaways from Oakland Raiders' Week 9 Loss
The Oakland Raiders’ Week 9 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers highlighted subtle trends that deserve consideration for the remainder of the season.
Through eight games, teams begin to reveal tendencies that could help or hurt their playoff chances. When dissecting the ups and down of an upstart .500 team, it’s difficult to map out the second half of the season.
As a young team looking to make the playoffs, Oakland must overcome glaring inadequacies, come to terms with reality over hype and ride the highs to survive the lows.
What can we dismiss as an aberration from the Raiders’ 38-35 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers? Which takeaways have become a trend over the past few weeks?
Ken Norton Must Improve In-Game Adjustments
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On Sunday, defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr.’s inability to make adjustments from half to half presented a major issue for the defense.
Norton failed to tweak man coverage on Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown, who embarrassed the Raiders secondary by himself. No other offensive player caught more than three passes for the Steelers. Brown caught 10 passes for 180 yards in one half.
And, still, the Raiders cornerbacks played man coverage on Brown during the final drive when he dashed down the field for a 57-yard reception. Head coach Jack Del Rio told reporters reporters that he (referring to himself) could’ve made a better call on that particular play.
The Raiders have put together solid defensive efforts against the Cleveland Browns, San Diego Chargers and New York Jets. However, the defense seemingly pulled back on intensity levels in prevent mode for the second half of those games.
It’s possible Norton may not have a counter to the opposition’s adjustments on offense in the second half. Keep an eye on Oakland’s defensive schemes with a lead going into halftime and thereafter.
D.J. Hayden Outmatched as Lead Cornerback
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Brown literally and figuratively ran circles around cornerback D.J. Hayden, which ruined any hopes that he’d become a solid defender against top-tier wideouts this season.
Hayden’s incremental progress turned the tide on his outlook as a decent cornerback. However, Sunday’s abysmal performance lining up against a dynamic wideout drops a cold reality on the former first-rounder.
The Raiders' oft-criticized defensive back allowed 11 receptions for 136 receiving yards with a 73.3 catch percentage and a touchdown as a lead defender on the perimeter.
In fairness to Hayden, cornerback David Amerson allowed nine receptions for 174 receiving yards with a 64.3 catch percentage.
Unfortunately for Hayden, his draft status has warranted high expectations with very little reward in his third season. He's surrendered five touchdowns in eight games.
Khalil Mack Not Living Up to Pass-Rush Hype
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The Raiders have a special talent in edge-rusher Khalil Mack, but he’s not panning out as a premier pass-rusher right out of the gate. The coaching staff moved Mack to defensive end with intentions of disrupting the passing attack through quarterback pressure.
In Week 9, when the Raiders needed the pass rush to slow down the Steelers offense, their star defensive lineman generated pressure but failed to record a sack.
The second-year hybrid defensive lineman has already matched his sack total from the previous year, but he’s not the breakout sack monster some analysts expected.
Pro Football Focus’ Sam Monson highlighted Mack as a potential budding star to watch after a productive preseason on the defensive line.
Mack ranks as the best run-stopping 3-4 outside linebacker in the league, but his pass-rushing skills may gradually improve as opposed to making leaps and bounds.
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No Clear-Cut No. 2 Running Back Behind Latavius Murray
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Who’s the solid No. 2 running back in Oakland?
Leading up to Week 9, Latavius Murray ranked sixth in yards among running backs, but the Raiders ranked 18th in rushing offense. The declining number of workhorse backs in the league places a premium on a solid backup.
For the Raiders, Murray’s injury history should place a higher priority on a productive backup to keep the offense balanced in the starter’s absence.
Taiwan Jones hasn’t recorded more than three carries in a game. Roy Helu Jr. missed the previous two outings as a healthy inactive with only 12 carries through six games.
Offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave has utilized Marcel Reece as receiver far more than a ball-carrier in an H-back role. He’s recorded five carries for 28 yards as a running back and 20 receptions for 203 yards as a receiver.
Thus far, Musgrave has created a committee behind Murray, but which running back stands in line for the bulk of the carries in case of injury?
On Sunday, Murray took a huge hit that knocked him out of the game. He must clear concussion protocol as clearance for practice in the upcoming week. If he's forced to miss time, the Raiders' ground attack could struggle against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 10.
Derek Carr Shows More Resiliency
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At times, young quarterbacks try to do too much or avoid making mistakes at the risk of missing out on an exceptional play.
Quarterback Derek Carr takes the field with one expectation—making a play. Carr answered his first interception of the season with a game-winning touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2.
On Sunday, in a similar sequence of events, Carr answered a costly red-zone interception with a touchdown drive to tie the game. He displayed a certain calmness in the pocket that exudes confidence and composure when picking apart the defense.
Carr isn't reluctant to air out a deep pass in critical moments to a rookie receiver or an intended target who previously dropped a pass. Amari Cooper dropped two passes and still converted 13 targets into seven catches for 88 yards and a touchdown against the Steelers.
Carr exhibits consistency and the ability to bounce back after missed opportunities. Despite a loss, there’s still some growth for the Raiders signal-caller.
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All statistics are provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com, Pro Football Focus and Team Rankings unless otherwise noted.
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