Skip to main content

Week 9 Preview: Falcons @ Raiders

Often times the so called experts and others "grade" teams at the half way point. Although officially the half point for the Raiders comes next week, I thought it would be interesting to look at how we stack up against the NFL and "grade" the four major areas of the team for this week's preview. Before you stop reading, note that I wont do this based on any opinion. Simply put the grading will be A-F and split evenly based on ypg (which is a pretty standard statistic) in each area. To be conservative, six teams get an A, B and C and seven get a D and F. So that would be two A+, two A and two A- or two F+, three F, and two F- (I know there isn't technically an F+ or F-, but for the sake of these rankings there will be). I will do a more comprehensive analysis with other stats and position analysis next week after the Raiders officially reach the half way point. Also included is the Falcons rankings in each area to see how we stack up.

OFFENSE
Overall: F+ (ATL: B)
NFL Rank 26 (10)

Passing Offense: F (D)
NFL Rank 30 (21)
To be fair, Russell doesn't have anyone to throw to and Kiffin hardly was throwing the ball at all, but it is what it is.

Rushing Offense: B+ (A)
NFL Rank 7 (3)
I think this is inflated based on recent performance, but we have had significant injuries to Fargas and now McFadden that have limited the extreme potential of this group.

DEFENSE
Overall: F+ (D-)
NFL Rank 26 (25)

Passing Defense: D+ (D-)
NFL Rank: 19 (24)
If you would have asked me at any point before the season that it was possible the pass D would be so bad, I would have called you crazy. Hall has started to adjust after a horrible start, Asomugha is still a stud. Wilson is a liability in coverage and Huff hasn't played like a starting FS and looks like a bust now, which is the first time I have been able to admit that he was headed down that road. Maybe we should try Huff at CB?

Rushing Defense: F+ (D)
NFL Rank: 26 (23)
What started out promising has headed down hill. Burgess going down with an injury, and Warren having the nagging Pectoral tear likely played a role. It doesn't help we got blown out in a couple games.

The only area we have the advantage is Passing Defense, by a tiny bit. However, the Falcons aren't overwhelming in any area EXCEPT rushing offense. This leads me to believe that if we stop the run, we win. With what will possibly be a very sloppy field tomorrow, the run game will be important.

I also think we may finally be back to where we were as a team before the coaching change. The funny part about our position at 2-5 is that we are just two games out of first and we play all of our division again in back-to-back weeks starting week 11 with two of the three away and the easiest opponent being KC at home. That isn't exactly what you look at and think we can get back into the race, but at this point none of the opponents we face look formidable, meaning there is a slight chance we can win them. I'm not going to sit here and be a homer and tell you we will, but if Russell can mature a little every week and McFadden can get back on the field, there is at least a glimmer of hope. Besides, fat lady isn't going to sing in the AFC West for a long time, my guess week 17.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Oakland Raiders Swing for the Fences in 2016 NFL Draft

[embed align="center"]http://gty.im/153039819[/embed] These aren't your daddy's Oakland Raiders or even your younger self's Raiders. If anything, these are your newborn's Raiders or your puppy's Raiders. These are the Raiders we've never seen before. Indicative of the freshness of the franchise was their 2016 NFL Draft. No longer slave to a high draft pick and desperate needs, the theme of the draft for the Raiders was upside. It's as if general manager Reggie McKenzie got so used to hitting his draft picks out of the park that he started swinging for the fences. We'll have to wait a couple of years before we know if he struck out or if he'll continue his Ruthian ways. First, McKenzie boldly went with a safety at No. 14 overall. Kyle Joseph is coming off a torn ACL and fills a major need, but safety isn't a premium position. Only a handful of safeties have been drafted in the first 14 picks in the last 15 years and include names like Ea

The Raiders aren't who we thought they were....they're better

The Oakland Raiders are tired of being the team that will be good in a year or two. The team expects to win now and it is winning now. We thought the Raiders needed more talent. We thought that being in the playoff hunt was a year away for this team, but we were wrong. This isn't the team we thought they were, they're better. On Sunday, they moved to 3-3 on Sunday with a 37-29 win over the San Diego Chargers that wasn't close until the final minute. It was also the Raiders second road win of the season. The last time the Raiders had two road wins by their sixth game was 2011. Before that, a five-year streak from 1998-2002. The Raiders went 8-8 in 1998, 1999 and 2011 and narrowly missed the playoffs each year.  They made the playoffs in 2000, 2001 and 2002. They didn't have a losing record in any of those seasons because teams that can win on the road are usually pretty good. As the season matures, there is more and more evidence that some of the "best-case scenario

Looking Forward: Raiders 2012 Free Agents

Khalif Barnes - Weakest link on the offensive line with youth behind him. Raiders will look for for other options. It's not as if there aren't a dozen Khalif's on the street each year. Darryl Blackstock - Was a Chuck Bresnahan guy, but found a home on special teams. Would have to make the team as a reserve LB and special teams guy next training camp. Wouldn't be surprised to see him back as a camp body or gone entirely. Kyle Boller - Hue didn't have enough confidence to turn to Boller. Expect the Raiders to look elsewhere for a backup to Carson Palmer. Jerome Boyd - Was nothing more than a reserve and special teams player. Some good moments and some very bad ones. Camp body again and fate will depend on the defensive coordinator. Tyvon Branch - About the only consistent producer in the secondary. Raiders will want to bring him back. Desmond Bryant - He's been great in limited action and can play inside and out. Key reserve. Michael Bush - He'll find a home a