After a 20-9 loss to the Chargers on Monday night, it’s safe to say the Raiders are still trying to figure out their identity under head coach Pete Carroll.
Offensively, the Raiders haven’t been dynamic in the first two weeks, and their 29 total points (14.9 per game) would suggest the coaching staff still has a lot to figure out.
The thought going into the season was that first-round pick Ashton Jeanty would be able to jump start the running game, but that hasn’t been the case so far. The Raiders’ offensive line has been a disappointment but considering they didn’t invest a lot in the offensive line in the offseason, it shouldn’t come as a big surprise that the O-line hasn’t been great through the first two weeks.
On the other side of the ball, Patrick Graham’s defense is off to a good start, despite a relatively quiet start from Maxx Crosby.
Through two games, Crosby has a Pro Football Focus grade of 71.8, and if he finished the season around that number, it would his lowest season grade since 2020. Crosby’s 2024 season ended with a major surgery on his ankle, so it could take a little while for him to return to his All-Pro form.
One veteran that doesn’t seem to be having trouble returning to his All-Pro form, however, is hybrid safety/linebacker Jamal Adams.
Adams has been the team’s highest-graded defensive player (Pro Football Focus) in each of the Raiders’ first two games, but he has only been on the field for about a third of the team’s defensive snaps.
In 129 possible defensive plays, Adams has played 44 snaps.
Considering Graham’s defense has played well, the coaching staff might not choose to change Adams’ role, but after the Raiders’ inability to get pressure on Justin Herbert on Monday night, it might be wise to get Adams involved in as many pass-rushing situations as possible.
For what it’s worth, the coaching staff might want to trust Adams in coverage a little more, too.
For most of his career, Adams has been considered a liability of coverage, but Pro Football Focus has given the Adams the highest coverage grade on the team over the first two weeks (82.0). The next closest coverage grade belongs to Germaine Pratt (73.9).
If the Raiders are looking for a defensive spark in Washington this week, why not put Adams on the field for more than a third of the team’s defensive snaps and see what kind of impact he’ll be able to have.
x: @raidersbeat
I’ve been a raiders fan for a long time, last night on mnf, that was the most pathetic I’ve seen the raiders play. They literally embarrassed themselves on mnf. They better get their **** together and quick. Being that the afc west is the toughest in football. Offensive line sux’s, db’s still have trouble in pass coverage they can’t tackle. I’m really hope’n they get their **** together soon, or their season is over…..
If that was the most pathetic game, you’ve ever seen them play, you haven’t been paying close attention have you?
Where have u been? The team has been playing inept football for the past 2 decades! They had a bad OL last season, but the only changes were the center and, of course, bringing in Carroll’s son to coach the unit. That says that they aren’t good at judging talent on the OL. Meanwhile Harbaugh has built a beast of an OL that we’ll have to contend with going forward.
Yur right. I’ve been a fan since the beginning.
Pola Mao was eaten alive last night. The entire secondary was atrocious in coverage.
Before the season, I harped on signing white. He’s playing as good as he’s ever played for us. In fact, our linebackers have played very well. The D line failed miserably in getting pressure on Herbert. When they did, he broke containment and there was nobody near him.
Geno Smith was back to his typical self. Being late getting the ball out to Bowers in the end zone for a touchdown, which could’ve ended in a pick and making really bad decisions.
It also didn’t help two obvious pass interference calls that didn’t get called in the first quarter. One to Myers in the end zone the other would’ve given us a first down. And then the shot to the head that Smith took that never got called. The officiating was obviously biased last night. I don’t think the chargers got called for one offensive holding penalty? And our O line got called twice on big plays that were called back.
Palo Mao is a backup, at best. Hard to fault the DL when they have to go against that monster OL that Harbaugh has built, while our coaches just can’t seem to be able to acquire top talent along the OL. We have basically the same weak OL as last season. It wasn’t hard to see that we were outclassed by a better built team.
All of that is irrelevant we got nobody that could throw the ball the Raiders every single year make the same mistakes in quarterback decisions this idiot playing for the Raiders is the worst they’ve ever had
Our quarterback situation is horrible. This guy is at a high school grade level. He is not a quarterback in the NFL should not be playing in the NFL as a quarterback the worst performance I’ve ever seen by any individual how they just blew the game Pete Carol needs to get rid of this guy end of story. He is horrible.
Are you suggesting we switch QB’s, maybe bring back Matt McGloin?
lmao
I head marijuanovich is out of jail.