Winners and Losers of Oakland Raiders' Week 5 Performance
After dropping two games, the Oakland Raiders traveled back to their turf for some home cooking, and the meal began to spoil on the first drive. The Silver and Black lost a third consecutive contest in a 30-17 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
On the first defensive play, Raiders fans saw the same perpetual problems that have plagued this team over the past few years. How many times have you heard the coaching staff say, "we can't allow explosive plays." The Raiders did just that when quarterback Joe Flacco threw a dart to wideout Mike Wallace who played his best game of the 2017 season.
The Raiders didn't allow the tight ends to run amok in the passing attack, but the run defense gave up 143 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
Between the two faults, the defense leaked oil at inopportune times. The Ravens converted on 7-of-14 third-down attempts. Overall, the Raiders came close but never held the lead en route to another loss.
In the postgame press conference, head coach Jack Del Rio called the issue a "confidence thing," but when going through individual performances, you'll realize the dilemma traces back to the coaching staff.
Who put the team in position to win? Which players and coaches need to own some of the blame?
Winner: QB, EJ Manuel
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Quarterback EJ Manuel's box-score statistics won't impress you. He completed 13-of-26 attempts for 159 yards and threw one touchdown pass. However, he protected the football and didn't hurt the team.
For those nitpicking, he missed a few reads where he could've tossed the ball away to avoid early sacks on blitzes, but he didn't make a bad situation worse with interceptions or fumbles.
In several cases, Manuel kept plays alive with his mobility. In one instance, he found wideout Michael Crabtree on a 41-yard touchdown pass. The fifth-year signal-caller slipped and ducked under defenders to give his receivers more time and opportunities downfield.
The Raiders have acquired an upgrade at the backup quarterback position from last season.
Oakland didn't win the game, but Manuel didn't put his team in disadvantageous situations. He's a serviceable backup that can help a club win a contest or two with a quality complementary defense.
Loser: CB, Sean Smith
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Cornerback Sean Smith trailed on a few throws over the top, but it's not a new trending topic for his tenure in Oakland. On the first play, Wallace broke away for a 54-yard reception, which jump-started the Ravens offense.
Overall, Smith allowed three receptions for 118 yards, per Pro Football Focus. At some point, the coaching staff has to position the 30-year-old cornerback in a better spot to use his strengths as a stronger defender with less speed.
It shouldn't take hindsight to see that a matchup between Smith and Wallace could cause the secondary some issues, but the Raiders coaching staff found out the hard way.
The Ravens wideout caught all three targets for 133 yards. It's no secret the 31-year-old pass-catcher still possesses the speed to burn defenders downfield, but the Raiders coaching staff didn't seem prepared on Sunday.
In fairness, cornerbacks David Amerson and Gareon Conley didn't suit up, which limited the ability to hide Smith in coverage.
Winner: WR, Michael Crabtree
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As mentioned, Crabtree caught a long touchdown pass from Manuel who evaded pressure before delivering the throw downfield.
Crabtree missed Week 4 but returned as the primary target in the passing attack. It's a good sign to see him play without ill effects from the chest injury suffered in Week 3 against the Washington Redskins. He almost reeled in a second touchdown score but tripped in the end zone after beating his coverage.
Nonetheless, the 30-year-old wideout finished with six catches for 82 yards on Sunday. He's a vital component of the offense, and without him on the field the unit would likely hit a rut.
Crabtree's performance remained constant with Manuel under center, which serves as an indicator that he's a No. 1 wide receiver in this league.
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Loser: TE, Jared Cook
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Tight end Jared Cook lost a fumble on the Raiders' first offensive drive, which led to a 47-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown.
Manuel and Cook developed a rapport, which became evident in the previous outing against the Denver Broncos, but the 30-year-old tight end supplied the shovel that dug an early deficit.
Still, the coaching staff insisted on leaving tight end Clive Walford out of the offensive game plan. Cook deserves his opportunities, but the offense can challenge a defense with more weapons at the position.
Cook finished with three catches for 25 yards and a costly fumble. He provided very little impact on the overall contest.
The veteran's inconsistencies have been on display over the past few weeks. At one moment, he shows off reliable hands and in other instances passes slip through or roll off his fingertips.
Winner: RB, Marshawn Lynch
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Many expected running back Marshawn Lynch to resemble his heydays with the Seattle Seahawks, but he's behind an offensive line that's not as dominant when compared to last year.
At this point in his career, Lynch serves as a closer. He's a running back asked to pound the ball in short-yardage situations and goal-line scenarios to cap drives with a touchdown. He's no longer a consistent 25-carry tailback. and that's fine considering the team fields a crowded backfield with multiple offensive weapons.
Lynch did his job as a physical closer. He burst through the trenches for tough yardage and shrugged off a few tackles along the way. When the Raiders reached the red zone, he finished the drive with a touchdown.
For those who expected Beast Mode to run for 110 yards on 25 carries, it's time to move on from those fond memories. He's still a physical runner but shows his efficiency in doses, which fits the rotation in the backfield. On Sunday, he fulfilled that role with 12 carries for 43 yards and a touchdown.
Loser: S, Reggie Nelson
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With Smith's issues covering quick wide receivers downfield, you'd expect safety Reggie Nelson to provide timely help over the top. However, when Wallace gashed the pass defense, the help often came over too late to break up the play.
At 34 years old, Nelson doesn't have the quickstep to erase broken coverage downfield. Unlike last year, he's not recording interceptions on pop-ups and tip drills.
As the last line of defense in center field, there's no excuse for Nelson to trail a wideout who's already beat Smith on a route. After playing together for a season, it's inexplicable the cornerback-safety combination hasn't communicated or addressed the deep gap in pass coverage.
During the offseason, defensive assistant John Pagano joined the Raiders coaching staff and preached about communication to sew up the holes on the back end, but it's frustrating to see the same mistakes hurt the defense five weeks into the season.
Winner: Karl Joseph
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Safety Karl Joseph played the run much better than some of the bigger bodies in the front seven. He logged four run stops and seven tackles against the Ravens on Sunday.
Despite his smaller size, Joseph flashed his versatility as a playmaker in the box. The Ravens still managed to rip off 143 yards on the ground, but the gaps in the middle inflated those numbers. When the second-year safety stuck his nose in the fray, he brought down the ball-carrier as a reliable tackler.
Whether he's a blitzer off the edge or tracking running backs, Joseph has executed the game plan to a tee. It's fair to wonder when the coaching staff will move him into center field to assist with overhead coverage to limit the explosive plays.
It's too early to place Joseph in the Earl Thomas mold in terms of production, but he brings versatility to the secondary.
Loser: OC, Todd Downing
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In the first five weeks, we can highlight inexperience as a reason for offensive coordinator Todd Downing's gaffes and blind eyes. However, it's inexcusable to omit wide receiver Amari Cooper from the game plan.
Of course, Cooper must work on catching the football, but it's impossible to improve if the ball isn't thrown in his direction. He saw just two targets on Sunday and caught his first pass in the fourth quarter.
Despite Cooper's struggles, the lack of opportunities won't help him. Downing has to ensure his playmakers have a chance to impact the game.
Throughout the contest, fans wanted to grab the nearest milk carton and place Cooper's picture on it, but some of the blame goes to the offensive coordinator. It's a rough day when there's an increased affinity for former offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave, who's now the quarterbacks coach for the Broncos.
Advanced statistics provided by Pro Football Focus unless otherwise noted.
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