Gareon Conley picked up the first interception of his pro career on Sunday (and even took it back for a touchdown), but it sounds like his challenge this week might be to find a way to keep his starting job. Conley was beaten a couple times late in the game against the Browns and his tackling has been suspect all year. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie replaced Conley late in the game on Sunday and it sounds like Conley may soon be at risk of slipping down the depth chart at cornerback.
“I think, you talk about the coaches focusing on the bad plays more than the good ones, Conley didn’t finish the game,” The Athletic’s Vic Tafur said on the State of the Nation podcast this week. “He’s made some plays but I think there’s some concern about the plays he doesn’t make. His tackling has not been great so Daryl Worley is back from suspension next week and so I think Conley is going to be guy that affects the most.”
For what it’s worth, Conley played 55 snaps (88% of plays) against the Browns on Sunday and Rashaan Melvin was on the field for 72 snaps (67% of plays). Rodgers-Cromartie saw 28 snaps.
It’s also possible that Conley may be dealing with something physical because he certainly didn’t look to have 4.4 speed on this pursuit of Browns running back Nick Chubb.
63-YARD TOUCHDOWN.@NickChubb21 scores his first @NFL TD! pic.twitter.com/X1bWSzAEXO
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) September 30, 2018
The Raiders will need the best from their entire secondary when they travel to Los Angeles this weekend to face Philip Rivers, who has already tallied 11 touchdown passes on the season. Very quietly, Rivers is on pace to throw 44 touchdowns to just 8 interceptions and he’s only been sacked five times in four games.
twitter: @raidersbeat
Without a pass rush and troubles with CB’s, Rivers could put up 500+ yds on this lousy defense.
I don’t give Oakland much chance to win this game. The offense isn’t going to score 45 points and the defense is still very much a work in progress. I think the scheme is good but not sure if the Raiders have enough quality players to execute it.
Offensively, Carr is still learning how to play in this system and Gruden likes to make at least 3 headscratching calls every game. The Chargers are far from a juggernaut, but I don’t think things have settled enough in Oakland with all the changes they’re going through for them to play 4 solid quarters against an above average Los Angeles team.
How are Melvins 72 snaps a significantly smaller percentage of plays than Conley’s 55?