The Raiders showed flashes of a competent offense on Sunday against the Chiefs, but as has been the case in just about every game this year, the offense seemed to stall once they moved past the scripted plays at the start of the game.
Rookie tight end Brock Bowers, who leads the NFL in receptions, was a big part of the offense in the first quarter, but disappeared as the game went on and ended the game with just 5 receptions for 58 yards.
Bowers’ lack of involvement against the Chiefs has been a top conversation piece this week and Raiders’ flagship radio host ‘JT the Brick’ said on Monday that he believes the team let Bowers down.
“We had a game with Brock Bowers got five targets and only five receptions,” JT said in his weekday Raider Nation Radio show.
“We forgot about Brock Bowers. How do we do that?” he continued. “How did we let Brock Bowers down and not get him the football the entire game? What could have possibly went through the play caller’s head? What possibly could have went through any coach’s head to not continue to go back to Brock Bowers or Jacoby Myers when they got off and they were playing decent?”
Some have suggested the Chiefs made adjustments to slow down Bowers in the second half, but at least one insider covering the team doesn’t think that was the case.
According to Las Vegas Review-Journal insider Vinny Bonsignore, there were plenty of opportunities to get the ball to Bowers in the second half on Sunday.
“Looking back at the film, there are plenty of opportunities for Brock Bowers,” Bonsignore said as a guest on JT’s show on Tuesday.
“I know there’s been a lot of finger pointing at… Luke Getsy for not targeting Brock Bowers, but we don’t know what the play call is on those plays where Gardner [Minshew] looks elsewhere or gets rid of the ball quickly because he’s feeling pressure. Because if you watch the tape, you see that there’s designs for Brock Bowers to get open.”
Regardless of who is to blame for Bowers’ disappearing act on Sunday, it seems like there is a new reason every week for why the offense can’t get in the same page.
One week it’s the coaches, another week it’s the quarterback, and every other week it’s the offensive line.
In situations where something new seems to be the problem every week, Sports Illustrated insider Hondo Carpenter recently shared a piece of advice he learned from one of the most accomplished coaches in NCAA history.
“Years ago, Bobby Bowden, the legendary West Virginia [coach], and of course, most people know him from Florida State, and I [were] having lunch, and we had a long discussion about a lot of topics,” Hondo said on the Las Vegas Raiders Insider podcast. “But one of the topics we talked about was, I asked him, ‘How can I be a better analyst as a media member covering sports?’”
“He told me something I’ll never forget,” Hondo continued. “He said, if one or two players is playing poorly, then you can point a finger to the player. But when all of them are, or multiples are, and it continues over just more than a one game. He said [then] you have to look at coaching. I’m taking his words, and I think right now, everybody on that offensive staff has to be getting a long, hard look at, and that starts with [Luke] Getsy, doesn’t it?
The Raiders travel to Cincinnati this week and if Getsy’s offense doesn’t take a step forward this week against the Bengals, will it finally be time to shake up the coaching staff in some capacity?
x: @raidersbeat
Can we please just agree that AP is not our future. Dude is way to proud to admit any wrongdoing or advice, see ya dude !
Hondo Carpenter loves to hear himself talk. He consistently loves to name drop who he is friends with, shared a meal with, or went fishing with. Its annoying and he is getting numerous complaints in the comments section of his youtube page for his behavior. He has become very difficult to take seriously anymore.
This guy should be used like Frank Hawkins used to be on wheel routes. He should be running routes from the fullback position, from the slot using him on short yardage With Mattison More often. They should be using this guy in motion everywhere. It’s proof positive that getsy Has as much innovation as a snail. Him and Tucker should open this up,, Despite the fact, we don’t have a quarterback. It’s a testament to the weakness of our offensive coordinator.
JT doesn’t know crap about football. Bowers leads TEs in the league in receptions. Sometimes games dictate how things go. Bowers is their only weapon right now. Teams try and shut down that one guy. It’s not rocket science, unless you are a mot wit writer.
He should have never become the OC in the first place. He did nothing in Chicago.
How many times can you re-invent the wheel, I’ve been a RAIDER fan since ’74, and I’ve seen the good and the bad. I remember when Al Davis would get another coach even if he didn’t like what was going on and got rid of some front office people too, but I never would’ve though this organization would be this phucked up for this long.