Raiders player grades – Page 3

Ballers & Busters for Raiders Week 12 vs Seahawks

Digging into the tape to give out some recognition for another hard-fought OT Raiders win in week 12

For the second game in as many weeks the Raiders won a walk-off game in overtime. This one had much more scoring in the game itself, leading to the 34-34 tie at the end of regulation. It wasn’t always pretty, but there were some wow moments along the way and the Raiders once again came out victorious.

Ballers

RB Josh Jacobs

Now the reigning AFC Offensive Player of the Week. Jacobs had a monster game by any measure. But especially in terms of stats, where he finished with a career-high 229 yards rushing with two touchdowns along with 74 yards through the air to give him 303 yards from scrimmage and two scores.

The first TD came on a toss from 30 yards out to give the Raiders their biggest lead of the day at 21-13.

The Seahawks answered with a touchdown drive of their own to bring it back to a one-point game. With just over five minutes left in the first half, the Raiders looked to Jacobs to sustain a long drive. After a couple five-yard runs early in the drive, the Raiders found themselves in 4th and two. Jacobs got the ball on a toss and picked up seven yards to put the Raiders in field goal range, allowing them to score to take a 24-20 lead at the half.

Down 34-27 with just over five minutes left in the game, the Raiders would need to once again drive for a score. This time a field goal wouldn’t cut it. The third play of the drive, Jacobs caught a pass for 14 yards to put them at the Seahawks’ 33-yard-line. A few plays later, he put the Raiders in first and goal at the ten and they went on to score the game-tying touchdown.

Jacobs did his part to put the Raiders in scoring position to start overtime, with three runs for 24 yards, but it stalled at the 38-yard-line, and Daniel Carlson missed the 56-yard field goal attempt.

The defense held to give Jacobs another shot and he took that opportunity and ran with it…86 yards to the house on the first play of the drive to end the game.

His big game helped him become the league’s top rusher at 1159 yards. Already a career-high with five games still left.

WR Mack Hollins, WR Davante Adams

The first long pass play of the game went to Hollins on third-and-four on the Raiders second possession. It went for 20 yards to put the Raiders in business at the Seattle 23-yard-line. Three plays later they tied the game at 7-7.

The first big play for Jacobs had involved Hollins and Adams. Down 13-7 in the second quarter, with Derek Carr already throwing two interceptions, the Raiders offense needed a spark.

A couple nice Adams catches gave them two first downs to put them at the Seattle 36-yard-line. Then Jacobs got the handoff up the middle, the Seahawks sold out to stop him. With the defense committed, Jacob pitched it back to Carr on the flea flicker, barely getting it back to him as defenders swarmed him.

Adams and Hollins played it perfectly, with Hollins acting like he was blocking, and Adams slowing up as if he was a decoy. The moment the pitch back happened, Adams picked up speed, drawing a double team from the the only remaining Seahawks left in the secondary. So when Hollins peeled off his blocked he was completely uncovered with plenty of open field in front him for an easy 36-yard catch and run for the score and a 14-13 lead. That play was a clinic in how to execute a successful flea flicker.

Down 34-27 late in the game, the Raiders needed a TD drive. That drive started with an incredible one-handed grab by Adams up the right sideline. The defender was holding Adams’s left hand down, so he simply reached up and snagged the pass with his right hand and pinned it to his chest for a 28-yard grab. A few plays later he caught a pass in the right flat, broke a tackle and picked up a first down at the 22.

Still tied at 34-34 in overtime, Jacobs broke through for his 86-yard touchdown run. And he hit the next gear and ran away thanks to a downfield block from Hollins.

FB Jakob Johnson, RT Jermaine Eluemunor, C Andre James

Hollins wasn’t the only one to help open things up for Jacobs on that game-winning run. The initial hole to get him to the second level was opened by Eluemunor and Johnson. They gave him the daylight, and Jacobs took it from there.

That was Jacobs’s second TD of the game. His first TD came on a toss in the second quarter. Once again Johnson was there to clear a path for him as was James.

James also laid key blocks on a couple big runs by Zamir White to set up a game-tying field goal in the third quarter. While Eluemunor blocked for Jacobs on another couple nice runs, one of which was on the first drive of overtime.

DT Andrew Billings, DE Maxx Crosby, DE Chandler Jones

Carr’s two interceptions in the first quarter, put the defense in a tough spot to try and stop the Seahawks from scoring. But in between, they did some good work. In particular, Billings shot up the middle to get a run stuff for a loss and share of a sack. Jones and Crosby helped with the sack by getting around the outside, forcing Geno Smith to step into a quickly closing pocket.

It was a new game at 27-27 in the third quarter, and the three-and-out that came afterward was completed in part because Jones did a nice job disguising. He made it look as if he was coming on the rush and after one step. turned to follow the tight end, thus closing off the outside for the screen, stopping it in its tracks and forcing a punt.

Jones’s final act falling on a fumbled handoff to stop what would have been a scoring drive for the Seahawks, and giving the Raiders the ball back.

The Raiders offense couldn’t capitalize on the turnover this time. When the Seahawks took over on downs, Billings and Crosby teamed up to sack Smith.

After the Raiders tied it up at 34-34, the defense still needed a stop. The Seahawks had 1:54 left to score. They got one first down and then found themselves in third-and-10. Cue Maxx Crosby who shot in to get another sack and send the game to overtime. Second straight week he did that.

As is often the case, Crosby clearly got stronger as the game went longer. In OT, the Seahawks got the ball with a chance to win it, but instead went three-and-out. On third and five, Crosby flew around the edge, using his wingspan to grab Smith’s throwing arm with the QB barely getting the pass off. All he that did was save a few yards as the pass went into the turf and the Seahawks punted it back. You know what happened next.

LB Denzel Perryman

The man who deals with the coverage criticism probably a lot more than he should, made the Raiders’ biggest play on defense in coverage. As middle linebackers are asked to do from time to time, he dropped back to patrol the middle zone and watch the quarterback’s eyes. That put him in the right position to pick off Geno Smith’s pass and return it 25 yards to the Seattle 30. And the Raiders converted the takeaway to the touchdown in one play to take a 21-13 lead.

Come the third quarter, the score was tied up at 27-27 and Perryman shot into the backfield to make a tackle for loss, leading to a three-and-out. It was still tied up heading into the fourth quarter and Perryman chased down Kenneth Walker trying to find round outside to stop him for a 13-yard loss.

Perryman finished with a team-leading nine tackles, two for a loss, along with his interception.

LT Kolton Miller

Kept the left edge clean and free from blindside pressure to give Carr plenty of time. That’s most of his job and he did it perfectly.

Honorable Mention

QB Derek Carr — He spotted the Seahawks with two scores early with two interceptions in the first quarter. But kudos to Carr for shaking it off and throwing three touchdowns to help send the Raiders to overtime. The first and third TD’s to Abdullah and Moreau were absolute dimes for throws too.

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Ballers & Busters for Raiders Week 11 vs Broncos

It was a nail-biter for these two teams trying to fight their way out of the ranks of the worst teams in the NFL. It was also a field goal festival as neither team does well in putting the ball in the end zone.

The game went back and forth all game with regulation ending with a 16-16 tie. Then the Raiders got the ball first and ended it in three plays.

Ballers

ED Maxx Crosby

It was the offense that won the game in overtime. But it was Crosby who got this game to OT in the first place. As the game went on, it was clear Russell Wilson was downright terrified of Crosby every time he got near him. And you can’t blame him, honestly.

With the Broncos up 10-7 approaching halftime, they lined up in third and one from inside the five-yard-line. Melvin Gordon took the handoff and looked like he would pick it up, but Crosby punched the ball out. The Broncos recovered, thinking they could at least get a field goal out of it. Crosby had other plans. He blocked the field goal try and in two plays turned a long Broncos drive into zero points.

He then ended three consecutive Broncos drives in the third quarter with two sacks and a pressure to force an incompletion. He would end another Broncos drive in the fourth quarter and they settled for a field goal to take a 16-13 lead. Holding them to three turned out to be the answer as the Raiders tied it up at the end and won it in OT.

WR Davante Adams

It was Adams’s savvy route running that sealed the Broncos’ fate. He had noted the way Patrick Surtain was covering him and made it look like he was running an over route only to run a corner route. Surtain sold out for the over, leaving Adams wide open for an *easy* 35-yard walk-off touchdown.

Adams scored both the Raiders’ touchdowns in the game. The first one came in the second quarter from 31 yards out. This after making a 23-yard catch to start out the drive. In total, he had seven catches for 141 yards and two touchdowns.

One of his more heads-up plays wasn’t a catch at all. Early in the fourth quarter with the Raiders down 13-10, Carr stared him down, causing the pass to be batted at the line and Adams turned defender to slap the ball down to keep it from being intercepted. That allowed for Daniel Carlson to come out and hit a 57-yard field goal to tie it.

LB Denzel Perryman

Perryman was definitely back. His presence is noticeable on this defense and he was feeling good too.

The defense started to pick things up in the second half. It started with Perryman shooting into the backfield to make a tackle for loss, helping lead to a three-and-out. He also led out the fourth quarter with a tackle for loss which led to another three-and-out.

Perryman finished tied for the team lead with five solo tackles, two for a loss and two QB hits.

RB Josh Jacobs

Jacobs was just churning out first downs in this game. He had three in the drive late in the first quarter to put them in scoring range, including a 14-yard run. He had two more on their touchdown drive in the second quarter.

Jacobs started out their second scoring drive with a 15-yard run. Then he had three consecutive runs for a total of 18 yards to set up their third score. And he made a 43-yard catch to set up their game-tying field goal at the end of regulation.

Jacobs finished with 109 yards on the ground and 160 yards from scrimmage.

G Dylan Parham

Somebody had to block for all those Jacobs runs. And often times that man was Parham. The rookie left guard was a rare bright spot on this shoddy Raiders offensive line. And he did his work without his lefthand man, Kolton Miller in the lineup.

Parham cleared the way on two good runs by Jacobs on their first drive into scoring range and the second went for a first down. And his block on a five-yard Jacobs run in the fourth quarter set up the long field goal to tie it at 13-13.

K Daniel Carlson

Rather unexpected that Carlson is named a Baller in the game that had his first missed field goal in over a year. But after missing from 46 yards out, Carlson went on to make from 52 yards out, a career-high 57-yarder, and the game-tying field goal from 25 yards away at the end of regulation.

He may have had a 56-yard field goal as well, but for some reason, Josh McDaniels opted to punt it instead. It was a strange decision to say the least, especially considering Carlson nailed the 57-yarder in the thin Denver air.

Honorable Mention

S Roderick Teamer — Looked better than Johnathan Abram did on his best day. Had some nice coverage and solid tackles and filled in well for Duron Harmon when he left with cramps.

LT Jermaine Eluemunor — Filled in admirably for the injured Kolton Miller. He wasn’t stellar, but wasn’t a glaring liability either, which is saying a lot considering the difficulty of the position.

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Ballers & Busters for Raiders Week 10 vs Colts

As Week 11 approaches, we look back at the Ballers & Busters for the Week 10 debacle vs the Colts

Many of you have probably already moved on from the Raiders loss to the Colts last Sunday. Normally Ballers & Busters comes out early in the week, but coming down with a vicious cold on Monday put a kink in that for me, so here we are the day before their next game.

Better late than never, right? For posterity?

The way the Raiders got their two wins this season were by putting together a full four quarters. In most of their six losses, they were shut down for a full half of football. Whether that was a slow start or a late collapse. This one was a bit of both.

In the end they were still shut down for a half of football. It was simply split up between the first and fourth quarters. Hence, the slow start AND a late collapse. They were decent in between, but that won’t get it done.

Ballers

DE Maxx Crosby

As is often the case, Crosby was the best player on the field in Silver & Black. He had a run stop for no gain on the Colts’ final drive of the first quarter to hold it to a field goal.

Then he ended the Colts’ first drive of the third quarter by sacking Matt Ryan on third and one. The 14-yard loss resulted in a 48-yard field goal attempt that missed off the right upright. The play energized the offense and they drove for a touchdown and their first lead of the game at 14-13.

The Colts’ first drive of the fourth quarter was a three-and-out with Crosby making the run stop on third and nine. Once again, the offense responded with a go-ahead score. Even though in both instances, their lead didn’t last long.

P AJ Cole

Cole was launching rocket shots all game long. His punts traveled 50, 67, 61, 54, and 62 yards for an average of 58.8 yards per punt. Only one of his punts was returned past the 20-yard-line.

TE Foster Moreau

The first touchdown of the day for the Raiders was Moreau making a diving grab with a defender draped all over him. But it was also Moreau who got the Raiders in scoring range in the first place. He made the longest catch of the game for the Raiders at that point, taking a short pass for 21 yards. Then with the Raiders at the Indianapolis 36, he laid the key block to spring Josh Jacobs on a 22-yard run.

In the third quarter, the Raiders went on their second TD drive with Moreau perhaps making the key play on the drive. On second and 20, Moreau caught an 18-yard pass. They converted the third and two and scored the TD two plays later.

It’s a shame his day ended with a ball hitting both his hands in the end zone on what would’ve been the game-winning touchdown. But the moment the ball got there, it was swatted out by LB Bobby Okereke.

RB Ameer Abullah

Abdullah would’ve had an even bigger day than his four catches for 33 yards had Derek Carr not missed him wide-open over the middle late in the first quarter leading to a three-and-out.

As it stood, Abdullah had several third-down catches, converting on two, and putting them in 4th and one on the other which they converted.

He also returned a kickoff to the 38-yard-line.

WR Davante Adams

Finished with nine catches for 126 yards and a touchdown. Much of his yards came on his touchdown from 48 yards out.

Probably his most impressive catch came on the Raiders’ final drive. On third and eight, he took the pass in the right flat, broke a tackle, and dragged defenders for several yards to pick up the first down. Later in the drive, he made a catch, broke a tackle, and took it for 16 yards to the 19-yard-line.

Honorable Mention

CB Sam Webb – Kept most catches in front of him. Finished with a team-leading two pass breakups and a forced fumble.

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Ballers & Busters for Raiders Week 9 vs Jaguars

Raiders Ballers & Busters in the loss to the Jaguars

Jacksonville is often where teams go to bounce back from a funk. The Raiders sure could’ve used a bounce-back. But instead, they stayed in the funk they had been in after a 24-0 loss in New Orleans.

It appeared early on that the Raiders were putting New Orleans behind them. They jumped out to a 17-0 lead early in the second quarter. But the wheels started to fall off late in the second quarter and that car went off a cliff in the third quarter.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, the Raiders’ lead was no more. The Jaguars scored on their third straight drive to take a 24-20 lead and never gave it back. The high-powered Raiders offense from the first half was a distant memory and they were shut out in the second half to lose 27-20.

Ballers

WR Davante Adams

Adams scored the Raiders first two touchdowns. The first one, he played the DB perfectly up the left sideline. Carr’s pass was on target, but wasn’t out in front of Adams, so the savvy All-Pro receiver knew he needed to make sure he didn’t reach for the pass until it was right on him or risk the DB turning to bat it down. The DB never saw it coming and the result was a 25-yard touchdown.

On the second touchdown, Adams went on a corner route from left to right, got the safety turned around and broke wide open for a 38-yard touchdown.

Adams was a big part of the offense that put the Raiders in scoring position for three of their four scores as well. He had nine catches on nine targets for 146 yards and two touchdowns in the first half.

Though Adams was frustrated with how the game played out in the second half, he did still get eight targets. Just one of those passes could be considered a drop. Another would have taken a miraculous play by Adams to keep his feet inbounds. So, while his work was a big reason the Raiders’ offense was clicking the first half, his lack of catches in the second half was not his fault.

DE Maxx Crosby

Crosby was a big reason for the Jaguars’ inability to score early in the game. He recovered a fumble to end their first drive. Then he ended the second drive by making a tackle for loss on third and one.

Late in the game, with the Raiders still within four points, Crosby was still full board. He had a run stuff and then came flying in on third and seven and had to be held to keep from blowing up the play. The Raiders declined the penalty because it was stopped short of the sticks, but the six-yard gain on the play made for a 48-yard field goal and a seven-point lead.

He finished with five tackles, a tackle for loss, a QB hit, and a fumble recovery.

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Ballers & Busters for Raiders Week 8 vs Saints

Plenty of blame to go around for the Raiders terrible performance in New Orleans Sunday

If you’re reading this, I admire your perseverance. It isn’t easy to relive games like this if you’re a fan. But it can be cathartic. And sometimes you just go searching for answers. I hope I can provide some for you from this completely lopsided 24-0 game.

Ballers

None

This should come as no surprise in a game such as this that there were no standout exceptions to all the terribleness. I came out of the live viewing expecting this and the more in-depth look confirmed that. Pretty much just bad top to bottom.

And, no, there aren’t even any Honorable Mentions.

Busters

HC Josh McDaniels, DC Patrick Graham

The offense went nowhere and the defense couldn’t seem to stop anything. It was 24-0 and really it wasn’t even that close. The Saints missed a chipshot field goal and spent most of the second half just running the clock.

The Raiders were down 7-0 heading into the second quarter. The first play of the quarter was third and one. And instead of going to Josh Jacobs, McDaniels tried to get cute and gave it to Davante Adams on a sweep. It was blown up for a loss.

Now fourth and two at their own 28, the Raiders lined up in punt formation. And McDaniels tried to get even cuter with a fake. The direct snap to reserve safety Matthias Farley was stopped for a loss and the Saints took over already in scoring range. They added a field goal to make those two bad calls by McDaniels worth three points and a 10-0 deficit.

After a Carr interception gave the Saints the ball in Raiders territory again, Graham’s defense quickly made it 17-0 when Alvin Kamara was left wide open over the middle for a 16-yard touchdown catch and run.

That was Kamara’s second TD of the game, but not his last. In fact, his third TD, he was also wide open over the middle, this time going 36 yards for the score. Graham’s defense wasn’t accounting for Kamara just as it was completely failing to contain Taysom Hill who got good yards time and time again on designed runs.

This team never got off the plane. How they could be this unprepared is mind-boggling. An earlier start due to the Eastern Time Zone doesn’t explain this level of ineptitude. Not sure anything does.

QB Derek Carr

Not one snap in New Orleans territory. Not one. His fewest yards ever thrown in a game (101) with at least ten completions or 15 attempts. His third-worst passer rating (50.3) of his career. His third fewest yards per attempt (3.88) of his career. His fourth-fewest completions (15) in a game in which he threw more than 25 passes (26).

The first drive ended with him throwing too high for a wide-open Mack Hollins. Second drive with him throwing short of Davante Adams. Fourth with him getting picked off.

The first drive of the third quarter ended with him getting sacked twice — the second time because he held onto the ball too long — and then giving up with a dump on third and 23. His next — and final — drive ended with him throwing a three-yard bubble screen to Davante Adams on second and 27. Then, of course, another give-up dump to call it a night.

CB Rock Ya-Sin, CB Anthony Averett

When Taysom Hill wasn’t running wild, Andy Dalton was picking apart the secondary. Andy. Dalton. And Ya-Sin and Averett were making it look easy.

The first TD drive featured Averett giving up a 30-yard catch. It was Averett again who gave up an eight-yard catch that put them at the 11-yard line and they scored on the next play.

Late in the first half, the Saints drove into scoring range with Ya-Sin giving up a 14-yard catch on third-and-nine and Averett giving up a 10-yard catch on third-and-four. They escaped it being a scoring drive because of a missed chip shot field goal.

They wouldn’t escape it to start the third quarter with Ya-Sin being called for pass interference on third-and-nine and the Saints going on to score their third touchdown.

The two of them would give up third-down conversion catches on the final Saints drive to allow them to bleed the clock down.

T Kolton Miller, G Alex Bars, TE Foster Moreau

Blocking was a real problem for the Raiders. No one was great. These three were especially bad.

It wasn’t a happy homecoming for LSU alum Moreau. He was getting pushed all over the place trying to block. The first play had him blocked into the gap to cause a run stuff. The second play he gave up a pressure that led to a tackle for loss and ultimately a three-and-out to begin the game.

The second drive saw Bars miss his block to give up a run stuff for a three-yard loss. The drive ended with Miller giving up a pressure that forced Carr to step up and throw on the run and the pass fell short and incomplete. Miller would end the next drive when he did a face plant on his block that got Davante Adams nailed for a loss on the sweep.

Moreau would give up another run stuff on the next possession, then Carr was picked off on third-and-two.

After falling down 24-0, Bars gave up a sack on Carr and he was sacked again on the next play while trying to make up the yards lost on the first one.

Carr’s final drive began with Miller being flagged for a false start. Then after Moreau made a first down catch, he gave up another hit on Carr that led to another tackle for loss. And Miller gave up a hit on Carr on the next play to set up third and 13. So much for all that settling in they were doing.

LB Denzel Perryman, LB Divine Deablo

It’s times like this that you realize just looking at tackle numbers doesn’t tell the whole story. If it did, it would look as if Deablo had a great game. After all, he did put up 14 tackles. But many of those tackles were downfield after the damage had been done. The same goes for Perryman and his eight tackles.

For proof of this, you need only look at the game Alvin Kamara had. Seven of his nine catches came with either Deablo or Perryman in coverage. Against Deablo he had four catches on four targets for 38 yards and a TD. Against Perryman he had three catches on three targets for 47 yards and a TD.

I don’t think much more needs to be said.

DE Chandler Jones, DT Bilal Nichols, DT Andrew Billings

Nearly the entire defensive line. Maxx Crosby did enough to stay off the list. The others did not.

Jones was routinely losing containment on the edge and watching Taysom Hill run by him for first downs and chunk plays. He let Hill get by him for good yards on each of the Saints’ three touchdown drives. And after an early pressure on Andy Dalton, he didn’t breathe on him the rest of the game.

Neither Jones nor Nichols nor Billings had a single tackle until after the Saints had taken their 24-0 lead in the third quarter. And none had a single stat other than that. Just utterly ineffective.

Just so you know they were actually on the field, the first TD of the game was set up by Nichols giving up a five-yard keeper on first and goal from the eight. And then Kamara scored from three yards out right through Billings’s position,

WR Davante Adams

I don’t blame him for much of what he’s going through. But he did have a drop, couldn’t seem to get open consistently, even when lined up against a rookie corner, and at one point was even flagged for an illegal shift. He was targeted five times with one catch on a bubble screen. In total, he touched the ball twice for a net of two yards.

Ballers & Busters for Raiders Week 7 vs Texans

Josh Jacobs had one of the best performances in the 15-year history of Ballers & Busters

Both the Raiders and Texans had similar seasons coming into their matchup Sunday. They both had one win to their names and had been part of several close games.

For the first three quarters, this game was shaping up just that way.

The two changed leads throughout the first three quarters, with the Texans holding a 20-17 lead as the teams went into the fourth quarter. But a few minutes in the Raiders took the lead and then ran away with the game, scoring three touchdowns in the fourth quarter while holding the Texans scoreless to win 38-20.

Lots of credit to go around. But one clearly stood out above the rest.

Ballers

RB Josh Jacobs

One of the most impressive performances in the 15-year history of this series. All the more impressive considering he did most of his damage in the second half.

Jacobs had a decent 45 yards on 10 carries going into the third quarter. Then he exploded in the second half.

On the first offensive play for the Raiders in the third quarter, he ran for 11 yards. Then he had runs of six, 12, six, and finally four yards in a pitch for the touchdown to give the Raiders a 17-13 lead.

The next drive, he had another 12 yards off a pitch. Next play, he got the ball, drew defenders and passed it back to Derek Carr who found an open Mack Hollins for 18 yards. Then in first and goal from the seven-yard-line, Jacob finished it off for his second TD of the day to retake the lead at 24-20.

Next drive, he made it a TD hat trick. But he also did the work to get there. First play, he broke a tackle and then drove through defenders to pick up 12 yards. On the next play, because he had established himself as such a threat, the Texans bit hard on the play action leading to a wide open 27-yard completion. And then Jacobs for 13 more yards on a pitch on the following play. A few plays later, he went up the middle and weaved 15 yards for the touchdown to give the Raiders a commanding 31-20 lead.

Jacobs finished with 155 yards from scrimmage which included 143 yards and three TDs on 20 carries. In the second half, he averaged nearly ten yards per carry and had a touchdown on a third of those carries. That’s insane.

LT Kolton Miller, LG Dylan Parham, C Andre James, RG Alex Bars, RT Thayer Munford, TE Foster Moreau, WR Mack Hollins

This sizable group of players make up those who were most often responsible for laying key blocks to help Jacobs break off his big runs in this game.

The Raiders scored their first touchdown to end the second quarter. It was made possible by a 13-yard Jacobs run on third and one, which was made possible by a Parham block. And the touchdown was a miraculous leaping Hollins grab over two defenders.

The next Raiders drive saw Parham lay key blocks on Jacobs’ first two runs to start the drive for 12 and six yards. The longest run on the drive of 12 yards was thanks to blocks by Miller and Bars. Moreau made the 17-yard catch to put the Raiders in first and goal at the four. Then Miller laid the block on Jacobs’ touchdown run.

It was an 18-yard catch by Hollins that put the Raiders in first-and-goal on their next drive. And James, Parham, and Moreau blocks that paved the way for Jacobs’ seven-yard touchdown run.

Hollins laid the block on the first play of the next scoring drive that went for 12 yards. Two plays later, Munford, Bars, Moreau, and Hollins all had blocks on a 13-yard pitch run by Jacobs. And on Jacobs’s 15-yard TD run it was Miller driving his man inside, Bars coming left on the stunt, and Munford getting to the second level to clear the path.

Carr was also sacked just once in the game.

QB Derek Carr, WR Davante Adams, WR Hunter Renfrow

Carr and Adams connected three times on the opening drive for catches of 14, 12, and 15 yards to put the Raiders in scoring range.

The three points they got on that opening drive would be their only points as the second quarter wound down. That all changed when Carr threw a gorgeous pass over the middle to a leaping Mack Hollins for the touchdown in the final seconds of the quarter. It made it a new game at 10-10 and took the momentum heading into the second half.

That momentum proved very real as the Raiders would reel off four straight touchdown drives. The second TD drive featured an eight-yard Renfrow catch on third and four. Then Carr escaping pressure to throw a laser over the middle on the run to Foster Moreau to put them in first and goal.

Adams would get back involved on that drive, making catches of eight, 15, and 16 yards. Renfrow would make a diving 27-yard catch on the next drive. Then Adams would make a 10-yard catch on third and 11 on the next drive, leading to the Raiders going for it on fourth and one. Carr got the defense to jump offsides to give them a first down at the 15. They scored the TD on the next play.

HC Josh McDaniels

With such a dominant offensive game, it wouldn’t be right not to give credit to the man who called the game. The halftime adjustments were perfect, even if it was simply a matter of realizing that Josh Jacobs was the key to all of it.

It started to become apparent near the end of the first half that the Texans were not going to be able to stop Jacobs, just as the last two Raiders’ opponents. Once he got going, they began selling out to try and stop him and McDaniels smartly took advantage of that fact.

First and foremost, he just kept feeding Jacobs. But he mixed it up with a good amount of outside pitches. And every now and then, he pulled the okeedoke, leading to a couple wide open passes — the first going for 18 yards, the second for 27 yards. Both helping set up their last two touchdowns. And the run blocking design on that last Jacobs touchdown run was just superb.

S Duron Harmon

Those four touchdowns in a row by the Raiders gave them a 31-20 lead with just over seven minutes remaining. That’s plenty of time for the Texans to attempt two scores.

They were well on their way to the first of those two scores, picking up the first down at the Vegas 40-yard-line. Then Davis Mills threw over the middle where Harmon was waiting. Harmon picked it off and returned it 73 yards for the touchdown, effectively stamping out any hopes the Texans had for sparking a comeback.

Honorable Mention

Bilal Nichols — Had three QB hits and four tackles.

Divine Deablo — led the Raiders with 11 tackles with one tackle for loss.

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Ballers & Busters for Raiders Week 3 vs Titans

Raiders Ballers & Busters in loss to the Titans

It was another partial game for the Raiders. And once again, their portion was not quite as successful as the opponent’s and they fell short in the end, falling to 0-3 on the season.

This one was similar to the season-opening loss to the Chargers where the Raiders dug themselves a hole they were unable to dig themselves out of.

This hole was a 24-10 deficit at the half. After giving up touchdowns on the first three possessions, they would hold the Titans scoreless in the second half. But the Raiders’ comeback attempt ended with a failed two-point conversion in the final seconds.

Ballers

WR Mack Hollins

It was the heroics of Hollins that gave the Raiders a chance late. Well, technically they started on the first drive when he had a 20-yard catch on third and 15. The Raiders were able to get a field goal on the drive.

In the third quarter, he showed up on special teams when he kept an AJ Cole punt from bounding into the end zone and then fell on it at the one. Even with a 30-yard completion on the drive, the Titans still didn’t make it to scoring position on the drive.

His heroics continued with six minutes left in the game. Derek Carr threw for Hollins along the left sideline. Hollins made the catch, broke several tackles and took it for 60 yards. The Raiders got a field goal out of it to pull within eight points.

With three minutes left in the game, the Raiders would get the ball back. They quickly found themselves in fourth-and-ten and Carr again looked for his favorite target on the day. He threw it deep for Hollins, but he was turned inside and the pass sailed outside. Hollins tracked it down, twisting to adjust to the outside shoulder and made a ridiculous over-the-shoulder grab for 48 yards. It was an extremely difficult catch to make and if he didn’t make it, the Raiders’ hopes end there.

Later in the drive, the Raiders were in fourth down again. This time from the nine-yard-line. And, of course, Carr danced with the date that got him there. Hollins was covered, but Carr threw it anyway and Hollins leaped in the air and reached over the defender to pull in the touchdown.

The two-point conversion failed, but Hollins is the reason they were in that position at all.

Also see: Mack Hollins’s huge catches, career-day give Raiders chance late vs Titans

DE Maxx Crosby

The first stop of the game was Crosby making a tackle for loss on Derrick Henry. He was in on three of the first four plays, including a batted ball and another run stop for no gain. But he can’t do it all by himself and they drove for a TD anyway.

Crosby was a big part of the Raiders holding the Titans scoreless in the second half. He made the first tackle on a run stuff for no gain. On the next play, he got pressure leading to the pass not being delivered on time and an ineligible man downfield penalty. On third and long, Ryan Tannehill was picked off.

He had another run stuff for a loss on third and short on the following drive and it would end with a turnover on downs. And the drive after that he added another run stuff and a pressure leading to an incompletion.

In the final Titans possession, the Raiders desperately needed a quick stop. And Crosby provided it. He had a run stuff at the line on the first play and sacked Tannehill for a 12-yard loss on the next play. They went three-and-out.

He finished with a team-leading nine combined tackles (five solo) and the only sack and tackles for loss (2) the Raiders had in the game.

RB Josh Jacobs

Jacobs had 66 yards on 13 carries (5.1 yards per carry) and five catches for 31 yards, to give him 97 yards from scrimmage.

His first run went for ten yards, setting up their first score. And on their first TD drive, on consecutive plays, he had a six-yard catch, a throwback pass to Carr that led to a 17-yard completion to Davante Adams, and an 11-yard run to put them in first and goal at the one. They scored on the next play.

He led out the Raiders’ first scoring drive of the third quarter with a 13-yard run and added a five-yard run. Then he led out their final scoring drive with a 13-yard catch.

TE Foster Moreau

The Raiders’ first touchdown doesn’t happen without Moreau. He started out the drive with a 22-yard catch and two plays later added a 14-yard catch in which he dragged his feet inbounds along the right sideline.

On their scoring drive to start the third quarter, Moreau laid the block out right to spring Brandon Bolden for a 12-yard run. He added an eight-yard first down catch in the fourth quarter.

T Thayer Munford

The rookie seventh-round pick made his first career start and played every snap. In that time he gave up one sack and that was the only pressure he gave up all game long. He didn’t even have a penalty. Well done, rook.

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Ballers & Busters for Raiders Week 2 vs Cardinals

Raiders week 2 Ballers & Busters in loss to Cardinals

Hoo boy. It’s safe to say any ideas I had for how this week’s Ballers & Busters would go changed wildly between the end of the first half of this game to the day. That’s because the Raiders made the wrong kind of history, blowing a 20-point lead to lose to the Cardinals in overtime 29-23.

And it wasn’t just a 20-point lead, it was a 20-0 shutout at the half. Completely lopsided in favor of the Raiders. And all that dominance was flipped on its head in the second half.

For that reason, we’re going to start this week’s edition with the Busters, saving the list of those who deserve some credit for the end.

Busters

WR Hunter Renfrow

With the score tied 23-23 in overtime, the Raiders made a stop and were driving to try and escape with a victory. Renfrow ended all that and the game with consecutive fumbles, the second one recovered by the defense and returned for the game-winning touchdown.

In case you need a refresher, that’s both games this season that ended with two fumbles. Last week it was Derek Carr fumbling twice, this week it’s his usually sure-handed receiver who did it. Double woof.

QB Derek Carr, HC Josh McDaniels

In a second half in which the Raiders’ offense was stagnant and the entire team was watching their commanding lead slip away, the ball was not being thrown to their best receiver. How in the world does that happen?

Adams saw exactly one pass in the second half. Carr attempted to throw to Adams twice on their drive in overtime. The first one was short and incomplete. The second was off-target deep and nearly intercepted.

In a game where the Raiders may have needed just one big play in the second half to hold on, they didn’t throw for their big play receiver. McDaniels and Carr were instead too often content with dumps and check-downs without a single completion that traveled more than nine yards through the air.

LB Jayon Brown, LB Divine Deablo

The Raiders missed their middle linebacker in this one. Without Denzel Perryman, Brown and Deablo played nearly every snap and were picked apart, especially in the second half.

On the Cardinals’ first scoring drive, Deablo gave up a catch and missed the tackle while Brown was way out of position on a 29-yard pass play. The second-longest play of the game. On the next play, Brown was blocked onto his back to allow a 13-yard tight end screen. Two plays later, Deablo allowed an eight-yard read-option pitch.

The longest play of the day went for 30 yards on a pitch to open the fourth quarter and, again, Brown was blocked on the play. Then on the next drive, he was mowed over by the running back to give up the touchdown run from one yard out.

The game-tying drive saw Brown give up a 10-yard catch, he and Deablo caught flat-footed on an 11-yard catch. Deablo in particular was brutal on that drive. He was out of position on a nine-yard run, then give up the edge on fourth down to allow Kyler Murray to scramble for the first down, gave up a six-yard catch, and a ten-yard catch that put the Cardinals in first down at the 12-yard-line.

RT Jermaine Eluemunor, RT Thayer Munford, RG Lester Cotton Sr, C Dylan Parham

The entire right side of the Raiders’ offensive line struggled in this game. Their problems didn’t start in the second half, they were evident from the start. For instance, on the second play of the game, Eluemunor gave up the sack. Cotton could’ve helped him out, but didn’t. On the same drive Eluemunor gave up a tackle for a six-yard loss on a blown-up screen play. Parham and Cotton gave up a run stuff for no gain on that drive as well.

In the second possession, as soon as the Raiders got into the red zone, Parham was flagged for holding and Eluemunor gave up a hit on Carr on third down, forcing them to settle for a field goal.

Eluemunor left with an injury in favor of the rookie Munford. On his first play, he was flagged for holding. A few plays later on the same drive, he gave up a run stuff for no gain and on the next play was flagged for illegal formation.

This was all in the first half. And despite all these issues, the Raiders were somehow still up 20-0.

Eluemunor came back in in the third quarter. We know because on first and goal from the seven, he gave up the run stuff for no gain. Two plays later, Cotton gave up a hit on Carr, leading to an incompletion and the Raiders settled for another field goal to go up 23-7.

The Raiders would get a total of eight plays in the fourth quarter. In part because Parham gave up a hit on Carr to lead out a three-and-out, and gave up a tackle for a loss of four on a run on the other possession.

Those quick possessions gave the Cardinals plenty of time to drive for two touchdowns with successful two-point conversions to tie it up and send the game to overtime.

DE Chandler Jones

Through two games, Jones has been a non-factor. He’s been seemingly downright non-existent at times. And this was against his former team, so he had plenty of motivation.

I spotted him a couple of times in this game. When he missed the tackle on first and goal from the ten to give up a five-yard run. That ultimately led to the Cardinals’ first touchdown. That was one.

A couple of other times came on the final drive of the game when he didn’t keep containment to allow Murray to scramble for a five-yard first down. Or when he whiffed on that sack on fourth down that Murray kept alive long enough to garner a holding penalty in the secondary. That put them in first and goal.

Jones played 78 snaps (90%). He finished with three tackles and the only play he made was getting second pressure after Maxx Crosby which led to an intentional grounding penalty.

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Ballers & Busters for Raiders preseason matchup with Patriots

Those Raiders who made a strong impression in the preseason finale, and those who did not.

The 2022 preseason for the Raiders wrapped up Friday night in Las Vegas. It was the last chance a lot of Raiders players had of making a strong impression, both on the Raiders as well as other teams that may be watching.

The goal here for many of these roster hopefuls is to make the Raiders’ decision very difficult. For others, it was to make the Raiders feel confident in keeping them.

Some achieved those goals, others did not.

Ballers

CB Sam Webb

No one stepped up bigger than Webb did. If only because he stepped out of obscurity to making his presence felt big time. The undrafted rookie out of Missouri Western was all over the place.

A possession in the first quarter began with Webb forcing an incompletion in coverage and ended two plays later with him making the tackle short of the sticks.

The next drive, he kept a short catch in front of him to make the tackle, have coverage on an incompletion on third down to force the Pats to go for it on fourth down, and had coverage on Davante Parker in the end zone, forcing him to push off for an offensive pass interference penalty. Webb also on occasion forces run-on sentences.

The next possession ended with Webb again keeping the play in front of him to make the tackle short of the sticks. He ended two more drive in the third quarter with a tackle short of the first down and a pass breakup on a deep ball attempt. He finished tied for the team lead with five solo tackles.

DE Tashawn Bower

Bower took an already impressive preseason and put an exclamation point on it. With the team in much need of pass rush depth behind Maxx Crosby and Chandler Jones, Bower made a big statement that he can be that next man up.

He did it all in this game on defense. He made stops in the run game, he made a tackle outside on a receiver, and most importantly, he got pressure on the QB. To the tune of two sacks and a QB hit.

His second sack was a strip sack. And though the Raiders didn’t recover it, Bower made up for it later, when he recovered a fumble that ended the game for the Patriots. He led all defensive linemen with five combined tackles, all solo.

LB Luke Masterson

No player in this game did himself more favors than Masterson. He was simply masterful in proving his worth.

Why do I say that? Well, in part because fringe roster guys like him need to show up big time on special teams. And Masterson had two special teams tackles in this game.

It was more than his special teams play, though. He showed up as a linebacker on defense when he teamed up for a tackle for loss on the second play of the game. Then he showed up in coverage on the next drive, picking off a pass over the middle and returning it 30 yards. The Raiders would score a touchdown off that turnover.

LB Darien Butler

The man who led the team with seven combined tackles. He teamed up with Masterson to make that tackle for loss on the second play of the game. Then he just played relatively mistake-free football the rest of the way, being where he needed to be and making the stop when it had to be made.

P AJ Cole, K Daniel Carlson

If there were any other kickers on this team right now, these two would have been parked on the sideline with the starters. But there aren’t, so they just went out and showed they are arguably the best kicker/punter duo in the league.

Cole’s first two punts traveled 64 yards and 63 yards. Then he opened the third quarter with a 62-yard punt with no return. His final punt went 35 yards and was fair caught at the 13-yard-line.

Carlson made all three of his field goals, including a 50-yarder.

Honorable Mention

WR Isaiah Zuber — He earned the nickname “two-way Zay” in this one. Because he had a nice catch on offense, and then picked off a deep pass when put in the game at safety as well.

[lawrence-newsletter]

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Ballers & Busters for Raiders preseason matchup in Miami

Which Raiders on Saturday proved they belonged on this roster and which did not.

It was week two of the preseason for most teams. But the third preseason game for the Raiders because they played in the Hall of Fame game. More chances for some of these roster hopefuls to try and prove they belong.

Some did that (Ballers), while some did not (Busters). Let’s get right to it.

Ballers

DE Tashawn Bower

Bower showed up big time just when it was needed most. The Raiders are seeking some pass rush behind starters Maxx Crosby and Chandler Jones, and Bower stepped up and made the statement that he could be that guy.

The second play of the second quarter, the Dolphins lined up in third and one at the 19-yard-line. Bower was among those who made the stop to force a field goal and maintain the Raiders’ lead at 7-3.

The next drive, with the Dolphins backed up to their own eight-yard-line, Bower stopped a run at three yards. The following play resulted in a safety.

The drive after that, he blew up a screen play, tossing his blocker out of the way to stuff it for a three-yard loss.

Then he capped it all off in the third quarter with a sack on fourth down with the Dolphins at the Vegas 20-yard-line.

QB Jarrett Stidham

Probably Stidham’s best game of the preseason. And he only played two drives. The first drive he led the offense for a touchdown against mostly Dolphins starters.

Stidham’s first pass went for 16 yards to Tyron Johnson. A few plays later, on third and six, he found Johnson again for nine yards. This time taking a hit to the chops immediately after releasing the ball.

Three plays later, Stidham would line up in third and 18 thanks to getting sacked and pressured into an incompletion. He shook that off and completed consecutive passes for 14 and 15 yards on third and fourth down to put the Raiders in scoring range at the 26-yard-line. Then in third-and-four at the 20, he threw a strike to Keelan Cole on a slant that went for 18 yards to the two. The next play was run in for a touchdown.

The opening drive TD was the only one of the game for the Raiders. Did I mention that was against basically the Dolphins’ starting defense?

TE Jesper Horsted

Those two passes by Stidham on third and fourth down that went for 14 and 15 yards both went to Horsted. In the third quarter, he had a tremendous leaping grab over the top of a defender that went for 24 yards. Those three catches for 53 yards made him the Raiders leading receiver in this game.

RB Brittain Brown

The team’s leading rusher was Brown with 70 yards on nine carries (7.8 yards per carry). More than half of those yards came on one play. It was the game-ender, with Brown cutting back around the right side and breaking off 36 yards and allowing the Raiders to kneel out the clock and exit with a 15-13 preseason win.

In total, Brown had four plays go for eight yards or more and four of his nine runs went for first downs.

LB Curtis Bolton, LB Darien Butler

Butler got things started off right. Going against the Dolphins’ first team offense with Tua in at quarterback, he shot into the backfield on the first play to make the tackle for a four-yard loss. The drive would end on the next series with Butler in tight coverage to force an incompletion.

A couple drives laster, with the Dolphins at their own 11-yard-line, Teddy Bridgewater dropped back into his own end zone to pass. He tried breaking out right where Bolton was there to chase after him. Bolton was on top of him so quick, Bridgewater had no time to find an open receiver and was flagged for intentional grounding, leading to a safety. That meant two points and the ball back for the Raiders.

The next play for the Dolphins’ offense, there was that man again. Bridgewater tried dumping the ball off on a screen and Bolton was right there to stuff it for a loss of three.

The final possession of the first half for Miami would feature another forced incompletion from Butler and another run stuff by Bolton for one yard. Butler would add a run stop in the third quarter as well as a special teams tackle. Fine bit of linebacking by these two young men.

CB Isaiah Brown

Brown had two passes into his coverage. And he knocked down both of them. One was 20-yard pass into the end zone that he batted down. Can’t ask for anything more from a player than that.

Honorable Mention

DT Johnathan Hankins — Had a couple run stuffs in a row, reminding us he is back and what his specialty is.

S Johnathan Abram — Had a couple pressures on blitzes and laid a hard hit on tight end Mike Gesicki just as he caught the ball, knocking it free for an incompletion.

Busters

T Alex Leatherwood

With Brandon Parker and Thayer Munford both rehabbing injuries, Leatherwood got his second shot at starting at right tackle. His first shot was subpar. This one was downright awful.

He gave up at least two pressures on the opening drive that both led to incompletions. Then on consecutive plays in the second quarter, he was bull rushed into QB Nick Mullens, causing an incompletion, and then gave up the sack for a loss of six yards.

Leatherwood was taken out after that drive, only to return in the third quarter. A few plays into his first drive back, he gave up a pressure. Chase Garbers showed his elusiveness to escape the pressure and pick up the first down. There will have to be a lot of that when Leatherwood lines up at tackle.

RB Kenyan Drake

Once again, Drake was basically useless out there. Even before his statement today that he felt like he was never given a fair shot to win a job, it looked like Drake was mailing it in. He has six yards on three carries in this game and a total of 16 yards from scrimmage on six touches. This going against backups most of the game. So, either he’s lost a few steps or he just didn’t want to be out there and wasn’t going to put forth any effort because of it.

CB Sam Webb

Webb had a big time forced fumble and recovery in this that, had it been ruled properly on the field — would probably have been a long TD return. That’s great. Everything else Webb did in this game, however, was not great. Not by a stretch.

On the Dolphins’ second scoring drive, he gave up catches of 10 and 20 yards. The next drive, he gave up a 16-yard catch. That drive was in scoring range before he popped that ball out for the fumble.

The Dolphins got moving again in the third quarter when Webb gave up a 26-yard catch. the next play he missed the tackle on a 12-yard run. That drive too would have led to a field goal, but, since it’s the preseason, the Dolphins opted to go for it on fourth-and-seven and failed.

And one last time, the Dolphins moved into scoring range at the end. Webb gave up an 11-yard catch to put them in range of a late 46-yard go-ahead field goal and it was missed.

S Isaiah Pola-Mao

It was a missed tackle by Pola-Mao that allowed for the Dolphins’ only TD on a 19-yard catch and run. Then it was a 24-yard catch he gave up that put them in Raiders territory at the 36-yard-line for what would have been a field goal that put them ahead with 1:37 remaining.