Busters
C Andre James
Anyone looking at this situation objectively would figure the transition from Pro Bowl center Rodney Hudson to undrafted-former-tackle-making-his-second-career-start was not going to be seamless. But few probably figured it would be this bad. And make no mistake, it was very, very bad.
James wasted no time killing drives. The Raiders drove all the way to the Ravens’ 21-yard line to open the game. Thanks in large part to Marcus Mariota’s 31-yard run. Then James was flagged for holding. Two plays later, the Raiders found themselves in third and 17 from the 28. Still in field goal range. Carr was making some calls at the line and James snapped the ball. It flew past the unsuspecting QB who chased it down and fell on it at the 43. Punt.
The first possession of the second quarter began with James giving up a run stuff for a loss. They went three-and-out. He gave up another run stuff for no gain on the next drive too.
In the third quarter, the Raiders had a drive that James almost single-handedly destroyed. A big pass interference penalty was worth 32 yards to put the Raiders in Baltimore territory at the 40. James was flagged for holding on the next play to back them right out of Raven territory. A couple of long catches had the Raiders back in business. They lined up to go for it on fourth and one from the 13 and James was beaten to get Jacobs stuffed for no gain and a turnover on downs.
The next Raiders possession ended with a three-and-out because Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen came on a delay and James wasn’t even looking. He was busy not blocking anyone to his left while Queen shot in through the big hole where James was supposed to be and sacked Derek Carr for a 13-yard loss.
James gave up another pressure on the next drive, forcing Carr to throw the ball away. The first drive of OT he gave up a run stuff for a loss. I can say with no uncertainty that I’ve never talked about the play of a center more than this. When centers are at their best, you barely have anything to say about them. It’s times like this you realize how spoiled we all were by six years of Rodney Hudson.
LB Cory Littleton
I’m not ready to give up on the possibility that Littleton will be back to the player he was with the Rams two years ago. But it didn’t show up in this game. Don’t let the ten tackles fool you.
On the first touchdown of the game, Littleton overran his gap assignment, the back then cut through the gaping hole and ran 34 yards for the score.
To start the third quarter, Littleton gave up a ten-yard catch. The next drive, he missed the tackle on Lamar Jackson to give up 11 yards on the scramble to set up a field goal and a 17-10 lead.
The Raiders tied it up in the fourth and on the ensuing drive, on third and three, Littleton missed the tackle on the end around to give up the first down. They finished that drive off with a touchdown to take a 24-17 lead.
The Raiders tied it back up and on the ensuing drive, Littleton missed another tackle on Jackson who ran for 28 yards. They finished that drive with a field goal to take a 27-24 lead.
In the overtime period, the Ravens got one first down. It was on a 10-yard catch by Sammy Watkins with Littleton allowed.
OT Alex Leatherwood
The first start for the rookie was a bit of a rough one. He gave up a sack and a loss of 13 yards to begin the second quarter that ended the drive.
Late in the fourth quarter, with the Raiders down 24-17 and set up in first and goal at the ten, Leatherwood was flagged for holding, putting them in first and goal from the 20. Lucky for him, Waller made a couple of catches to score anyway.
The next penalty by Leatherwood, the Raiders were not so lucky. In the overtime period, the Raiders set up in second and goal from inside the one-yard-line and Leatherwood jumped early. It backed the Raiders up to the six, which turned it into a passing situation. And two plays later it was intercepted. Leatherwood also gave up a run stuff for loss on that drive.
CB Trayvon Mullen
On the Ravens’ first scoring drive, they lined up in third and seven and Mullen gave up a six-yard catch. In fourth and one from the 34 the right call is to go for it. And they ran for the touchdown. Even fourth and two might’ve had them thinking field goal try.
The next Ravens drive went for a score as well. With Mullen giving up a 29-yard catch. Then to begin the third quarter, he was flagged for illegal hands to the face. To start the fourth quarter he gave up a 13-yard catch.
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