Raiders Ballers and Busters – Page 3

Ballers for Raiders Week 1 loss to Chargers

Even in a tough loss like this, the plain truth is not everyone was bad. In fact, through three quarters, the Raiders had a lot going for them and it was still a two-point game. That doesn’t happen by accident.

So, before we get into how it all fell apart, let’s give credit to those who kept the Raiders in this game through three quarters.

Ballers

DE Maxx Crosby

While the Chargers are pumping their chests at how well their rookie tackle held up against Crosby, he still was a major factor in this game. The Chargers started the game with a three-and-out. And the final two plays featured a Maxx Crosby tackle for loss and a sack off a stunt. So much for Alt deleting Crosby.

He ended another drive in the second quarter with a QB hit on third down to send the two teams into the locker room with a 7-6 Raiders lead.

The Chargers went on a long drive early in the third quarter. but it also featured two Crosby run stuffs and ended with a Crosby pressure for an incompletion, so the Chargers settled for a field goal.

He finished with a sack, three QB hits, and five tackles, one for a loss.

LB Robert Spillane

Spillane led the team with ten combined tackles (seven solo). Two of those tackles ended drives. On one possession in the second quarter, he made the tackle on all three downs including a tackle for loss. He started out a three-and-out in the third quarter with a tackle as well.

CB Jakorian Bennett

He stayed in Quentin Johnston’s hip pocket up deep up the left sideline to knock the ball away and end the Chargers’ second possession with a three-and-out. He didn’t give up a catch all day after that either.

RB Alexander Mattison

After a couple of drives with Zamir White going nowhere, the Raiders put in Mattison. And he had the highlight reel play of the game for them. Mattison caught a pass in the right flat and looked to be stopped, but he evaded one tackler and hurdled Asante Samuel Jr without breaking stride and took it 31 yards to the house. He finished with nine touches for 62 yards and a TD.

DT Christian Wilkins

With the way the Chargers were able to break through on the ground in the second half, it may be hard to remember the Raiders had them hemmed up before that. Wilkins led the way in that department with three run stuffs. He finished second on the team with six combined tackles (five solo).

P AJ Cole

His first punt went 57 yards and was fair caught at the 13. His second punt went 52 yards and was also fair caught. His pooch punt in the fourth quarter was fair caught at the eight. He finished averaging 53 yards per punt with three stopped inside the 20 and one touchback.

T Thayer Munford

While Kolton Miller was having all kinds of issues on the left side, Munford held his own on the right side. Not giving up any sacks or run stuffs.

Honorable Mention

WR Davante Adams — Led the team with 59 yards on five catches. His two catches for 29 yards on the Raiders third drive both came on third down to set up the team’s only touchdown of the game.

CB Nate Hobbs — Chased down two long runs to keep it from being a touchdown. The first one ended in a field goal.

Continue to the Busters…

Busters for Raiders Week 1 loss to Chargers

Those responsible for the Raiders’ collapse in LA.

The good news is that the Raiders held a one point lead at the half of this game. The bad news — aside from the fact that they lost that lead — is that they only scored once to get that early lead.

The second half brought very little scoring from the Raiders while the Chargers eventually found the cracks in the defense to run away with this one. Let’s look at why.

Busters

T Kolton Miller

I can’t recall Miller ever having a game this bad. Not even as a rookie. He simply had a horrendous outing.

Even starting the game with a nine-yard completion, the Raiders went three-and-out. That’s because on the next two plays, Miller got beat to give up run stuffs for no gain. The next drive, the Raiders were in fourth and one and opted to go for it. And Miller was beaten again to give up a tackle for loss.

Another three-and-out to begin the second quarter because Miller gave up a pressure that flushed Gardner Minshew from the pocket and his scramble was stopped at one yard. Next drive he gave up a sack. The drive after that he gave up a pressure for an incompletion.

The Raiders needed to answer after the Chargers got their first touchdown of the day to take a 16-7 lead. They had a nice looking drive going, but it was upended when Miller gave up a sack. They settled for a field goal and didn’t come any closer after that.

HC Antonio Pierce

When to be aggressive and when to live to play another down was something Pierce seemed to struggle with in this game.

They found themselves in 4th and one from their own 41 midway through the first quarter and no score. This would seem like one of those times you just punt it away. But no, Pierce thought this was the time to show his aggressive nature. He called for the Raiders to go for it, handed it to Zamir White and he was stuffed for a loss. The Chargers only needed a few yards to get into field goal range and took the 3-0 lead.

With the game still 9-7 in the third quarter, the Raiders lined up in third and seven at the 32. It was clear the moment they lined up that they were playing for the field goal. Gardner Minshew scanned the field for a moment and then ditched it, just as he was told he should rather than risk anything. Then Daniel Carlson came out and missed the 49-yard field goal. Wasted drive.

The big one, however, came with 7:15 left in the fourth quarter with the Raiders down 16-10. They had added a field goal on their previous drive to make it a one-score game. Then the defense stopped the Chargers for a three-and-out, and a 21-yard punt return gave the Raiders great field position at their own 48. Three plays later they were in 4th and one from the LA 41. That screams go for it. And Pierce thought about it, but opted for the pooch punt instead.

The Chargers got the ball and drove for the touchdown. But even without hindsight, this was a no-brainer mistake by Pierce. After all the shifting in momentum and field position advantage, you simply DO NOT give up the ball without a fight. Even worse is the fact he was given several opportunities to admit he made a mistake, but still insisted he had good reason for his decision. None of those reasons held water.

QB Gardner Minshew

The only touchdown in the game was entirely because of Alexander Mattison made an amazing play to elude two tacklers, hurdling one to go the score. It was a whole lotta bad otherwise.

The poor offense directly led to the Chargers’ first two scores. The first was failing on 4th and one in the first quarter. The second was because Minshew had the ball slip out of his hand, causing a backward pass (which is a fumble) that was recovered by the Chargers in scoring range.

The Raiders managed just three points in the second half and the game ended with Minshew’s short pass attempt getting batted and intercepted.

LB Divine Deablo

Three big runs for the Chargers in the second half are what broke this game open. The first one, Diablo was blocked out of the way and it went for 46 yards, leading to a go-ahead field goal. The next was the first play of the fourth quarter. Deablo mistimed his blitz and was caught up on the outside while he was supposed to be inside the tackle. Without him there, JK Dobbins had an easy run for the touchdown. The final run, Deablo shot the inside gap and Dobbins jump cut through the outside gap and was gone for 61 yards. That one clinched it.

RB Zamir White

He had five carries for five yards in the first half. This included a stuff on third and one and a stuff for a loss on fourth and one. Leading the team to go with Alexander Mattison for a while. Then on his second carry of the third quarter, he went for eight yards and fumbled it away. His struggles are part of what had Antonio Pierce opt to punt late instead of take the aggressive approach.

C Andre James

Not helping in the run department was the play of James who was getting absolutely owned by Poona Ford. He and Kolton Miller both got beaten badly on that failed fourth down play. He would also give up another run stuff on the next drive and a sack on third down to end a drive in the second quarter after the Raiders had driven to the Chargers 43.

S Tre’Von Moehrig

The first big run of the game went for 46 yards but had several chances to be stopped before it got that far. Moehrig was the last line of defense and he missed the tackle. If not for Nate Hobbs chasing down the play, it would have been a touchdown.

The final touchdown of the game was given up by Moehrig who then also missed the tackle.

K Daniel Carlson

Kickers should not be missing field goals inside the 50. Carlson missed one from 49 yards out that would have given the Raiders the lead in the third quarter.

See the Ballers

Ballers for Raiders Preseason Week 3 vs 49ers

One last preseason game to cover for Ballers & Busters.

Ballers

DE Janarius Robinson

Robinson has been turning heads all preseason. He finished strong too. His tackle for loss on a run was what killed the 49ers first drive. Keep in mind this was 49ers first teamers versus Raiders backups. Robinson made the big play that held them to a field goal.

Though the 49ers were able to score on their second drive, Robinson had a pressure that set up a sack on the drive. The next 49ers possession — with the first teamers still in the game — Robinson got pressure around the right edge to force a quick pass by Purdy that was deflected and picked off. That was Purdy’s last throw of the game.

He would get two more pressures in the game, including a QB hit on the second to last play of the game, resulting in an incompletion and preserving the tie.

DE Charles Snowden

Robinson’s tackle for loss was the big play on the 49ers first drive, but Snowden made sure of it. He chased down Purdy on second down to force an incompletion and on third down he came around the right edge and got his arms up to bat the pass at the line.

He ended a possession in the second quarter by making the tackle on third and four short of the sticks. Then he ended another drive when on third and 11, he came around the edge like a shot to sack the QB for a 13-yard loss.

Oh, and he even had the key block on the 81-yard punt return for a touchdown.

LB Amari Gainer

Gainer was a tackling machine in this one. His 12 combined tackles (10 solo) led the Raiders. Half of those tackles were for one yard or less, two were for a loss, and he even added a sack.

WR/PR Tyreik McAllister

McAllister burst onto the scene in the second quarter when he took a punt 81 yards for a touchdown. He saw his gap, made one cut, and was gone to the house.

The next time we saw him, he was getting downfield as the gunner, forcing a block in the back penalty on the 49ers.

In the third quarter, he began making his mark on offense. First he took a jet sweep for eight yards. Then he came back to make a brilliant catch on a pass well behind him, taking it away from the defender, then turning and scoring with it.

He added a 21-yard catch in the fourth quarter that put the Raiders in first and goal inside the ten. Giving him 58 yards of offense and 196 all purpose yards with two touchdowns. Have yourself a day, Tyreik.

S Phalen Sanford

The first two drives of the fourth quarter ended with Sanford plays. He recovered a fumble to start off the final quarter, and had coverage on an incompletion to end the second drive.

WR Ramel Keyton

He came on late in the game, showing his long arms and catching abilities. One particular catch, he leapt in the air and snagged it with one hand and a defender all over him. His four catches for 76 yards led the Raiders.

Continue to the Busters…

Busters for Raiders Preseason Week 3 vs 49ers

There was plenty to make Antonio Pierce unhappy with the performance of his team Friday night. These guys are all trying to make this roster and none of these guys did themselves any favors.

LB Kana’i Mauga

It was the 15-yard catch Mauga gave up on the 49ers first drive that put them in scoring range. And it was the 19-yard catch and 12-yard run he gave up on the next drive that helped them march down the field for a touchdown. The 16-yard catch he gave up on the next possession again put the 49ers in scoring range.

DT Byron Young, DT Matthew Butler

That first touchdown drive shined a bright light on the interior defensive line issues facing the Raiders. Or maybe I should say a black light. Because it was more like a crime scene out there.

The first play Butler and Young gave up an 11-yard run. Butler then managed a sack, though it was set up by Jenarius Robinson’s pressure running Purdy right into him.

The 49ers had driven to the Vegas 38. Then Young gave up a seven-yard run. Next play he seemed to have a shot at stopping Purdy on a scramble, but somehow missed him. Probably because he was jogging on the play, allowing Purdy to run for 13 yards. Next play, Butler was blocked back to give up a six-yard run. Next play, Butler wasn’t in his gap on another six-yard run to put the 49ers in first and goal at the five. Two plays later Butler was again blocked back to give up a four-yard touchdown run.

If the Raiders ever had to rely on either of these guys, Lord help them.

RB Dylan Laube

After that long drive put the 49ers up 10-0, the Raiders tried to answer. They would get their first first down of the game on a couple Laube runs of eight and five yards. Two plays later, they went back to Laube, dumping it off to him. He made the catch and then fumbled it away.

So, maybe he’s not ready to be a factor in the run game. What about as a kick returner? He fielded a kick two yards inside the end zone and took it out, making it to the 22-yard line. Had he just downed it in the end zone, it would have been a touchback and would’ve been placed at the 30. So, his decision, or lack of field awareness, cost the team eight yards.

T Dalton Wagner

Two Raiders drives stalled because of Wagner. In the second quarter, Sincere McCormick looked like he might break off a nice run, but when Wagner went to block his guy, he just stopped right in McCormick’s path and the back hit him and went down for a two-yard gain.

The final drive, the Raiders were down 24-21 and driving, looking like they had a real chance to score a touchdown for the win. They made it into the red zone one a nice 20-yard leaping grab by Ramel Keyton. Bradley came up to the line and spiked it to stop the clock at 36 seconds. And the next play, Wagner gave up the sack. This meant Bradley had to spike the ball again just to keep the clock from running out. And it meant the Raiders had to decide whether to go for broke on 4th and 15 or tie it up with the field goal. They opted for the field goal.

Also See the Ballers

Ballers for Raiders Preseason Week 2 vs Cowboys

There wasn’t much to cheer about in the Raiders second preseason matchup of 2024. But there were some bright spots here and there. And since these games don’t count, it’s easier to celebrate the small victories.

Ballers

WR Tre Tucker

This game was the Tre Tucker show. He had another long ball in this game, just as he did in the preseason opener. This one went for 48 yards and set up the Raiders’ first score. He might have had one on the first drive of the game had Minshew seen him break open. He would finish the game with three catches for 66 yards.

Tucker also did work in the return game, running a punt back 42 yards to put the Raiders at the Dallas 28 and setting up their second score of the game.

WR DJ Turner

The man who was to be Tucker’s primary competition at slot receiver has the Raiders thinking of ways to get both players on the field.

The Raiders had one touchdown drive in the game. It was their lone third down drive. And it was all Turner. He caught a short dump pass and turned it into 12 yards to put the Raiders in scoring range. Then on fourth and two, he made the catch for a seven-yard gain. A few plays later, on third and five, Turner made an outstanding grab, reaching around the outstretched arm of a defender to pull it in and put the Raiders in first and goal at the eight.

CB Jack Jones

Jones pass breakups ended the Cowboys’ first two drives. He also tied for the team lead with six tackles.

DE Elerson Smith

Smith blew up a run for a loss to end the Cowboys’ first possession of the third quarter. Then on the Cowboys’ final drive, he forced a holding penalty and on the next play got a pressure leading to an incompletion.

Continue to the Busters…

Busters for Raiders Preseason Week 2 vs Cowboys

We continue to the Busters for Raiders Preseason Week 2 vs Cowboys

After the Raiders jumped out to a fast start in the preseason opener in Minnesota, that didn’t happen against the Cowboys in Week two. Not much was working on offense and even the Cowboys backups were getting the better of Raiders starters on both sides of the ball.

Busters

QB Gardner Minshew

Antonio Pierce was hoping either Minshew or Aidan O’Connell would step up and claim the starting job. Neither of them did that and from the looks of things, Pierce had to look past his performance in this game in order to name hm the starter.

O’Connell threw a pick six in this game, but Minshew was lucky not to do the same on the first drive of the game. Twice, in fact.

The first drive, he missed an open Tre Tucker, opting to throw into coverage, having the pass broken up and threw a ball too high for Jakobi Meyers to get. Then on fourth and three, the linebacker stepped in front of his pass and would have had a clear path for a touchdown, but he dropped it.

A 48-yard connection with Tucker would get the Raiders in field goal range on their next drive, but another overthrow for Meyers would have them settle for a field goal.

Next drive, he waited too long to throw it and again nearly had it intercepted. It was only Michael Mayer turning defender that that pass was knocked down instead of picked.

Minshew’s final drive ended with him throwing it too high for Harrison Bryant on fourth and six.

G Dylan Parham

Just after the Raiders got to the 12-yard line on the 48-yard completion to Tre Tucker, Parham gave up a run stuff at the line. In the second quarter, he was slow to get into position on a screen, causing the ball to fall incomplete. On the final play of the third quarter, he was flagged for holding. Two plays later, O’Connell threw his pick six.

T Andrus Peat

Two plays following the 48-yard bomb, Peat gave up a pressure resulting in an incompletion. The drive would end on the next play. The next drive Peat would miss his block on a screen and it was blown up for a one yard gain.

T Thayer Munford

Peat was replaced at left tackle in the second quarter with Munford moving from the right to the left side. And on his second play at LT, Munford gave up a pressure, causing Misnhew to have to scramble for yards.

The final drive of the second quarter ended with Munford giving up another pressure, leading to an incompletion. After the Raiders finally got in the end zone in the third quarter, the two-point conversion fail in large part due to Munford giving up pressure on Minshew as he went back to pass.

DT Byron Young

It looked like the Cowboys game plan at one point was just simply to run at Young. He was getting pushed around a lot. On one drive in the second quarter, it seemed like every play. He was driven back on a seven-yard run, then gave up the first down on the next play, gave up a five-yard run two plays later, then later, with the Cowboys in first and goal at the four, he gave up a three-yard run. They scored the go ahead TD on the next play.

QB Carter Bradley

Bradley came in to start the fourth quarter. He was actually allowed to throw the ball this time. And he looked good at first, going six-for-six to start his day. Then the wheels fell off. His next two passes were an overthrown ball and a pass batted at the line. With a delay of game penalty in between.

His second and final drive featured two more batted passes and a ball behind his receiver on third and short.

CB MJ Devonshire

The final long drive for the Cowboys saw Devonshire give up a 17-yard catch, a 30-yard catch, and the third down catch that put the Cowboys in first and goal at the four.

See the Ballers

Ballers from Raiders preseason Week 1 vs Vikings

The positive standout performances from the Raiders first preseason game.

Welcome to year 17 of Ballers & Busters. The first ever B&B came out in preseason of 2008. So, let’s get it going for 2024, shall we?

There was a lot to like about what we saw from the Raiders first preseason action of 2024. They went on four scoring drives in the first half and held the Vikings to one to take a 20-7 halftime lead.

Things went awry in the second half, but, hey, preseason.

That being said, since the preseason tends to focus a lot on individual performances, let’s get to it.

Keep in mind, there are no Top Ballers or Top Busters for preseason. I pretty much just listed them in order of appearance.

S Tre’von Moehrig

After giving up a 19-yard catch on the second play, Moehrig settled in. He made two run stops on that same drive and had tight coverage for an incompletion on third and two from the four-yard line. The second Vikings drive, Moehrig made what could’ve been a touchdown saving tackle, stopping a run at 16 yards. He finished with a team-leading six tackles, all solo.

CB Jakorian Bennett

With the Vikings in 4th and two from the four, they went for it and Bennett was there to break up the attempt in the end zone to hold the Vikings scoreless on their opening drive and give the Raiders the ball back.

WR Jakobi Meyers

On third and three on the first drive, Meyers got open deep and made a leaping 24-yard grab. The next play he made the catch on a zero route in the left flat, stepped away from a tackler and ran for eight yards. Two plays later, in third and three, Aidan O’Connell looked for him again and he made a 13-yard catch to put the Raiders in Minnesota territory. One play later, they were in field goal range.

CB Jack Jones

The Raiders took a 3-0 lead into the second quarter. In third and eight, the Raiders blitzed, forcing JJ McCarthy to make a quick decision. He thought he had a man open, but Jack Jones undercut the route and picked off the pass, giving the Raiders the ball back. Jones then took his ball and went home (the sideline).

WR Tre Tucker

The offense came in after the turnover, this time with Gardner Minshew at QB. The second play saw Tucker make an adjustment on a pass slightly behind him on a cross, to make the catch for 29 yards. The next drive, he made an even more impressive adjustment. Going deep, he was turned inside, but the pass was headed to his outside shoulder, so he turned away from the pass, relocated it in the air and then laid out to make the catch for 44 yards. The Raiders would score touchdowns on both drives. The second one, Tucker laid a key block for Zamir White to run it in. He added a nice punt return at the end of the half as well.

QB Gardner Minshew

All three Minshew possessions, the Raiders scored. The first two for touchdowns. The first drive featured a 29-yard pass to Tre Tucker and a scramble for seven yards on third and three. The touchdown was on a perfect strike to DJ Turner at the right pylon. The second TD drive he aire out for a 44-yard connection with Tucker and found Cole Fotheringham for 11 yards on third and six. He finished 6/12 for 117 yards and one TD with a passer rating of 112.2.

LB Amari Burney

Burney came to play. The 2023 sixth round pick clearly set out to let everyone know he was still here. His biggest play was late in the third quarter, when he ended a drive by coming up to make a stop at the line for no gain on third and one. That was his third run stuff of the day. The first went for a loss and the other for one yard. His four tackles in the game were tied for second on the team. He even had a QB hit in the game.

P AJ Cole

In the second half, when nothing was working for the Raiders on offense, Cole would come in an remind them that at least he can tilt the field. He had two punts of 60 yards – one that was fair caught at the 14 –, one for 56 yards that went out of bounds at the five, and one that went 43 yards that was fair caught at the 11. Weapon.

Honorable Mention

DE Malcolm Koonce – Had a run stop for no gain and a pressure leading to an incompletion on the first drive.

QB Aidan O’Connell – Went 7/9 for 76 yards on the opening drive, twice converting on third down.

LB Robert Spillane – Put on the pressure that rushed McCarthy into his throw that Jack Jones picked off.

WR DJ Turner – Beat his man and streaked toward the end zone to score the Raiders first touchdown of the day from 20 yards out.

DT TJ Franklin – Blocked a field goal attempt in the second quarter.

S Phalen Sanford – Caught the ball off the Franklin blocked field goal and returned it 42 yards to the Minnesota 40-yard-line.

K Daniel Carlson – Lined up for a 56-yard field goal off the blocked field goal and return and nailed it to give the Raiders a 20-7 lead. Carlson hit two other chipshot field goals in the game.

Continue to the Busters…

Busters for Raiders Preseason Week 1 vs Vikings

Raiders who didn’t make a great impression in their Preseason opener vs Vikings

There were many standout performances for the Raiders in their preseason opener in Minnesota. These are the wrong kind of standouts.

Busters

T Andrus Peat

The nice looking first drive was ended when Peat couldn’t keep Dallas Turner out of the backfield. First Turner laid a hard hit on O’Connell just after he released the ball. Then in third and goal from the three, Turner beat Peat again to sack O’Connell.

DT Byron Young

Young was abused on the first three plays he was in the game. He gave up a seven-yard run, then was blocked into the ground to give up the first down run, and then gave up a 16-yard run that only saved from being much worse because of a Tre’von Moehrig ankle tackle.

S Jaydon Grant

The defense bent but didn’t break on their first two drives. They broke on the third one. Grant was late getting over to give up a 48-yard touchdown run. The next drive, Grant gave up a 21-yard catch.

LB Luke Masterson

Grant was the last line of defense on that 48-yard TD run. Masterson was the first. That was his gap and he wasn’t there. The next drive, he came on the blitz on third and five but missed the sack to give up a nine-yard scramble.

RB Dylan Laube

Laube was twice needed to keep an oncoming rusher from getting to the QB, and both times failed to do so. He gave up two sacks on Brown. The second time, Laube was sent into a backward somersault. Laube had a total of eight yards rushing in the game and that came on a 13-yard run on third and 19. So, it was a give up play. On the other three runs, he had a total of -5 yards. His one return went for 16 yards and was stopped at the 19-yard-line.

QB Anthony Brown

From the moment he took the field, he looked out of his depth. He looked paralyzed, second guessing everything. Nothing looked smooth and he was unable to make corrections when things broke down. And they were breaking down. The first six plays featured no completions, two sacks and a delay of game penalty. In his four possessions, he had one completion for 24 yards, five scrambles for 13 yards, was sacked four times, and fumbled a snap.

S Trey Taylor

The Vikings scored touchdowns on their first two possessions of the third quarter. The first saw Taylor give up a 15-yard catch on third and nine. The second, Taylor was caught peeking in the backfield as his man ran by him for a wide open 33-yard touchdown.

G Corey Luciano

Luciano gave up the second sack on Brown when he didn’t switch on a stunt. Then he gave up the third sack in the same fashion.

C Ben Brown

After the Raiders went down 21-20 in the third quarter, they failed to answer because Brown was flagged for holding and then on third and 21, while Luciano was not switching up on the stunt, Brown was literally ran right by the guy, blocking no one.

TE Zach Gentry

Twice in the third quarter Gentry was tasked with run blocking and gave up the stuff. The first for no gain. The second for a loss of four on third and goal from the one.

As the name goes, we begin with the Ballers.