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Despite the Raiders defense only giving up one scoring drive to Washington in the first three quarters Sunday, the Raiders still entered the fourth quarter behind.
They also didn’t find the end zone until the fourth quarter. It was clearly the return of the slow start for the Raiders, something that plagued them over the early part of this season and dating back to last season.
At some point this season, it seemed like the Raiders had finally put those slow starts behind them. But over the past few weeks, those games increasingly look like a frustrating reminder of what this team is capable of, but rarely actually accomplishes.
“It’s definitely very frustrating and really annoying really just starting slow every week. I feel like it’s taking too long to be who we are,” said running back Josh Jacobs, who scored the Raiders’ only TD with ten minutes left in the game.
“I kind of voiced that a little bit today,” Jacobs continued, noting that he aired out his frustrations with his teammates.
“I just kind of come to the offensive line and to the receivers and tell them we got to be who we are or who we think we are and we got to have some juice and some energy and some type of swag to us. I feel like we just come in stiff and dull in games sometimes and I don’t feel like it should take somebody having a big play for everybody to take to that mindset of wanting to be on that. So, that’s just kind of where I was at with it, Kirby [Wilson] used to tell me all the time to inspire the guys with how you play and the effort you put on the field and that’s what I try to do, but some games will just be like, I don’t know.”
Sunday’s slow start was among the worst they’ve had this season. And that’s saying a lot.
The first quarter saw the Raiders with just one first down compared to seven for Washington. And the time of possession was expectedly lopsided with Washington having the ball more than twice as long as the Raiders.
By halftime, the Raiders had a net 120 yards of offense and had converted just two third downs. They managed to get their first points on the board with 08 seconds left in the second quarter on a 52-yard Daniel Carlson field goal.
The big play Jacobs could be talking about is the 34-yard completion to Foster Moreau late in the third quarter. It was Moreau’s first — and ultimately his only — catch in the game. It set up a field goal to make it a one-point game.
Their next drive saw Carr connect with Hunter Renfrow for 28 yards and then DeSean Jackson for 14 yards. A pass interference by LB Cole Holcomb in the end zone covering Renfrow put the Raiders in first and goal from the one. And Jacobs finished it off by breaking a couple of tackles at the line and breaking out left for the touchdown.
So, what does Jacobs think is the answer to solve the Raiders’ slow starts?
“I think it’s just coming in confident in the game,” said Jacobs. “Not trying to be out of your character, really, just executing the plays and what is called. And just being in the right spots. Whether it’s offense, defense, or special teams. It’s being in the right spot and when the time comes to make a play, make a play. I think it’s very simple really, honestly. I think it’s a mindset. We kind of just coast a little too much. That’s definitely frustrating.”
Jacobs criticized his own play as well, saying he ran the wrong way on a couple of routes and runs, so he isn’t removing himself from the need to improve. And he’s certainly not wrong to call out his teammates as well. Hopefully, some coaches were in earshot as well and take his words to heart.
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