When the Raiders return to practice this week, one of the biggest issues they will hope to address is the matter of their disastrous offensive line play.
Over the first three weeks of the season, the Raiders have featured arguably the worst offensive line in the NFL, and pressure is mounting on the players and coaches to correct the situation.
On the Just Win podcast this week, former Raiders’ offensive lineman Marshall Newhouse talked about the team’s issues in the trenches and said he is seeing a lot of “disorganization” and poor communication from the Raiders’ O-line.
Newhouse, though, isn’t in favor of making sweeping changes after the third week.
“The fact, to me, that they’re having communication issues and there’s been poor technique and poor execution means there’s nothing to say for shaking [up] the lineup right now,” Newhouse said.
“Pete Carroll alluded that it’s still an open competition. I believe them not hitting this week led to him not wanting to go with Jackson Powers-Johnson, so hopefully with an extra normal week of preparation and hitting, he gets to get his chance.”
“I don’t know if they’ll shuffle the center. Generally, the center is one that you want to change out less just because of the QB trust factor. We talked about Meredith having snapping issues. I didn’t see a lot of that [on Sunday], so hopefully some of that is corrected and leaving him as one less moving piece,” Newhouse continued. “We always said when you move multiple guys, you get worse at multiple positions instead of having one guy in one guy out. That’s easier said than done and the Raiders, I feel like, are approaching a moment of desperation.”
Meredith has been mentioned as a player that could be moved from center, but it’s likely that he would remain in the starting lineup even if the decision is made to put Powers-Johnson at center.
With Dylan Parham and Alex Cappa playing so poorly in the first three games, both are strong candidates to slide over to the sideline for Sunday’s game against the Bears.
x: @raidersbeat
It’s disheartening to see that these “pro” coaches just couldn’t see that the OL needed an infusion of talent. Instead they put the cart before the horse by drafting RB ,at #6 , to run behind this porous OL??!! Not impressed by Brady’s team building, or Carroll’s coaching, so far! Play basically is the same as under Pierce.
Well the young running back is slow from his stance and slow on the sweep … put in the back thay got from Miami to get things started .. he’s a little quicker off his stance and able to change direction if the hole is not open.. try a two back set.. with a fullback who can catch or a two tighend set so the QB has an option… still need a nose guard to clog the middle and take a couple guys to block him…if that don’t work MOVE BACK TO OAKLAND… THE ATTITUDE AND FAN BASE IS THE BEST IN THE NFL …. OUT DOOR STADIUMS ARE GREAT FOOTBALL IS A FALL SPORT… GO RAIDERS…
Anybody saying that the lack of a running game is on Jeanty don’t know squat about running backs. The Raiders oline has been worst then terrible. I also place some blame on Chip Kelly or who ever made the decision to be primarily a zone blocking team rather than gap or power. Which this team is probably