Adjustments Oakland Raiders Must Make Post-Bye Week
The Oakland Raiders could elevate their bleak playoff hopes to feasible with a victory over the New England Patriots in Mexico City on Nov. 19. In between, the players and coaches will focus on development as well as potential schematic tweaks for the remainder of the season.
During Monday's media presser, head coach Jack Del Rio spoke with a clear perspective about the team's pathway to the postseason. It's about playing with renewed vigor after the bye week.
The coaching staff will continue to work diligently with younger players during the off time. Veterans take a small break for recovery in preparation for a strong finish.
First and foremost, Del Rio and his assistants can't allow the Patriots head coach Bill Belichick to put on a coaching clinic against a vulnerable defense.
What changes should the Raiders consider on both sides of the ball in an attempt to finish the 2017 season on a hot streak?
Slightly Increase Marshawn Lynch's Workload
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There's no reason to preserve the gas in running back Marshawn Lynch's tank. The Raiders must play like their postseason hopes are on the line every time they take the field. After an extra week of recovery, Beast Mode should have enough strength in his legs to handle approximately 15 carries per game for the final seven contests.
We saw a glimpse of Lynch's elusiveness behind a big offensive line during the Week 9 win against the Miami Dolphins. The 31-year-old ball-carrier didn't look slow with his cuts on two touchdown runs—one on a 22-yard dash.
Offensive coordinator Todd Downing shouldn't ignore complementary running backs DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard, but Lynch's powerful run style could become a staple in the game plan when he's averaging nearly four yards per carry.
Many talked about Beast Mode as the closer in the backfield, but he can also serve as the key to jump-start the offensive engine or unlock opportunities for the passing attack later in the game.
Reincorporate Clive Walford into the Offensive Game Plan
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Does anybody know what happened to tight end Clive Walford in Downing's offensive plan? At the moment, he's the odd man out as a pass-catcher.
Fellow tight end Jared Cook has earned his spot as a viable target in the passing attack and deserves all the looks he receives downfield.
However, the Raiders should experiment with two-tight end sets, especially against the Patriots, who lost inside linebacker Dont'a Hightower for the season with a torn pectoral.
Quarterback Derek Carr hasn't racked up consistent yardage throwing to slot receivers, but he may find more success targeting two big-body tight ends down the seam.
Walford has played just 77 snaps this season and recorded only two catches for six yards. In 2016, he registered a 63.5 percent catch rate with 52 targets, which illustrates his ability to secure the ball when given sufficient opportunities.
Assign T.J. Carrie to Perimeter Coverage to Avoid Matchup Disadvantages
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There's nothing more frustrating than watching Sean Smith or David Amerson trail the opponent's quickest wideout in coverage.
The Patriots acquired Brandin Cooks via trade during the offseason. There's no way Smith should attempt to jam the speedy receiver without reliable help over the top. In that particular scenario, fellow cornerback T.J. Carrie should line up on the perimeter.
The coaching staff doesn't have to restrict Carrie to the slot. He's also experienced on the outside. Expect Belichick to find an advantageous matchup, with Cooks lined up against Smith or Amerson coming off a foot injury. If Gareon Conley suits up, it wouldn't be preferable to leave him on an island against a No. 1 wideout in his first game back in action.
Defensive assistants Ken Norton Jr. and John Pagano can apply this Carrie rule to Kansas City Chiefs wideout Tyreek Hill and Denver Broncos receiver Emmanuel Sanders as well.
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Utilize Obi Melifonwu and Shalom Luani in Nickel Packages
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Safety Obi Melifonwu only played seven snaps in his regular-season debut against the Dolphins, which we should have expected after he missed significant time during the offseason.
As a rookie with a complex role, the coaching staff will likely work extensively with the second-rounder during the bye week to prepare him for a tough matchup against the No. 1 passing offense.
More importantly, he must learn on the job within a secondary that desperately needs a playmaker. To ease the difficulty, the coaching staff should split reps between Melifonwu and Shalom Luani in the nickel package. Both rookies would benefit from more live snaps.
Eventually, Melifonwu will earn the starting spot at safety, but Luani went through an entire offseason program. He's further along in development than his fellow 2017 draftee.
The rookie safeties also offer different qualities within their skill sets. The coaching staff may opt to utilize Melifonwu, who stands at 6'3", 224 pounds, specifically for tight end coverage while keeping Luani in center field because of his ball-tracking instincts.
More Disguised Blitzes to Increase Pocket Pressure
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A below-average pass rush combined with an injury-riddled secondary that doesn't force turnovers and allows subpar quarterbacks such as Jay Cutler to throw for 311 yards and three touchdowns without a turnover.
If Cutler can carve up the Raiders pass defense for 300-plus yards and only feel the heat on one sack, New England signal-caller Tom Brady could have a field day. Pagano built a reputation for creating pocket pressure with the Los Angeles Chargers. He must assert his influence on defense for the remainder of the season.
Oakland ranks No. 28 with only 13 sacks and became the first team in NFL history to go through nine gameweeks without an interception. During a media conference with local reporters, Del Rio directly called out the pass defense on multiple levels:
"I am a little surprised we haven't been a little more effective with [the pass rush]. We've got good pass-rushers. We need to have a little tighter coverage so that the quarterback has to hold the ball.
"To me, what it comes down to is the tackling on the back end has really been poor. You can't play great defense without being great tacklers."
Nonetheless, Del Rio can no longer depend on a four-man rush as a sufficient method to generate pressure. He must surrender to the idea of mixing in more blitzes to help the secondary. The defense should aim to disrupt quarterback pocket precision.
On occasion, safety Karl Joseph has been successful in forcing quarterbacks to throw the ball before plays develop. Linebacker Cory James racked up 24 sacks through four years at Colorado State. He's a viable pass-rusher in a disguised blitz scheme.
Regardless of the injuries in the defensive backfield, the coaching staff isn't excused from finding creative ways to ramp up the pass rush, which would aid the secondary.
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