MODS PLEASE LOCK | The Oakland Raiders 2015 Season Thread: Week 17 @ Kansas City / 7-8

[mr jordan04]

the offense reminds me of last year's.

Get into the red zone and choke

 

[laker4lifeman]

They were #2 in redzone efficiency last year.

 

[Johnny_Cakes]

Raiders tackle Menelik Watson out for year with ruptured Achilles
By Vic Tafur August 30, 2015

Injuries have been devastating NFL teams this preseason, and the Raiders got their share of the pain Sunday night when they lost starting right tackle Menelik Watson for the season. Watson ruptured an Achilles tendon in the first half.

“He was having a great camp for us and really playing well,” Oakland head coach Jack Del Rio said. “Good young man. He’ll bounce back, but big setback.”

Sixth-year veteran Austin Howard, who started at guard for the Raiders last season, replaced Watson. Howard struggled Sunday, especially with run-blocking.

“Austin has gotta step up,” left tackle Donald Penn said. “I feel tremendously bad for Menelik because he worked his butt off. Next man up. We gotta get it going because today we took a step back in the running game.

“Austin is feeling more comfortable being back at tackle again and has looked good in camp.”

Good first impression: The Raiders’ defense held the Cardinals to 115 yards in the first half and had three sacks and two Nate Allen interceptions.

“I thought we flew around,” safety Charles Woodson said. “That’s going to be really the key to our success this year, flying around, getting to the football and being able to harass the passer.

“Nate was in position, being where he was supposed to be. Good things happen.”

Carson Palmer was in a hurry all half, and his first interception to Allen was tipped. Palmer’s second interception sailed into Allen’s arms.

Arizona backup QB Drew Stanton led an 80-yard touchdown drive against the starters in the third quarter.

“It’s the preseason, so we’re not going to get too bent out of shape over anything, but we know what we have to work on,” Allen said.

Offensive highlights: Though QB David Carr struggled, he did complete a 41-yard pass down the sideline to fullback Marcel Reece.

Tight end Mychal Rivera had an 18-yard catch on a 3rd-and-16, and Seth Roberts had three catches for 52 yards.

Early returns: Running back Taiwan Jones handled early kickoff returns. Cornerback TJ Carrie was in for punts. That speaks to Trindon Holliday’s chances to stick. He returns kicks and has no other role.

Bad introduction: The big play on Arizona’s game-winning drive was a 38-yard pass from Logan Thomas to tight end Ifeanyi Momah. Safeties Taylor Mays, in his first game with the Raiders, and Brandian Ross had a chance to bring down Momah 20 yards earlier.

The Raiders cut safety Jonathan Dowling, who got second-team reps this preseason, on Saturday.

 

[Johnny_Cakes]

Raiders dominate 1st half, but lose to Cardinals 30-23
By Vic Tafur August 30, 2015 Updated: August 30, 2015 10:56pm

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Onetime starter Matt McGloin led Oakland 83 yards down the field in 12 plays. He threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Kris Durham and then a two-point conversion pass to Brice Butler to tie the game 23-23 with 2:18 left.

McGloin’s annual domination of third-team defenses would not save the day, as with 31 seconds left, Marion Grice ran for a 12-yard touchdown and a 30-23 Arizona win at the Coliseum on Sunday night.

It was a fitting end to an uneven game the Raiders had dominated — in ugly fashion — early.

Head coach Jack Del Rio, with his team up 15-3, wanted his starters to get a taste of playing in the third quarter in their third preseason game.

So, he watched Derek Carr lob a pass into double coverage and the Cardinals’ Cariel Brooks returned the interception 81 yards for a touchdown. Then, Oakland’s starting defense gave up a 12-play, 80-yard touchdown drive to Arizona’s second-team offense.

Just like that, after a failed two-point conversion, the Raiders were down 16-15 and a dominant first half by their defense wasn’t the main story line.

Khalil Mack and rookie Mario Edwards Jr. each had two sacks, torturing former Raiders tackle Jared Veldheer, Denico Autry knocked down two Carson Palmer passes and Nate Allen had two interceptions in the first two quarters.

“We feel like our front is going to be pretty stout,” Del Rio said. “Some lapses there at the end, need to see the tape on that. I thought early in the game, they were rugged, did a good job clogging the running lanes, did a good job knocking the ball down and sacking the quarterback.”

The offense couldn’t capitalize, settling for five Sebastian Janikowski field goals. Including Carr’s third-quarter interception, Oakland didn’t score a touchdown on its first four trips inside the red zone.

“We’d obviously like to close the deal there,” Del Rio said.

Carr finished 18-for-34 for 213 yards and the interception, with a lot of his passes sailing high.

Wait … we know what you’re thinking. Why did Carr throw the ball 34 times in 2½ quarters?

Because the Cardinals’ defense ate the Raiders’ offensive line for dinner, and Oakland running backs could muster only 28 yards on 18 carries through the first three quarters. Starter Latavius Murray gained a yard on seven carries, Roy Helu picked up 8 on four carries and Trent Richardson — more and more a longshot to make the roster — had 4 yards on four carries before popping a 15-yarder.

“I didn’t see anything from our running game,” Del Rio said. “We expect to run it better. I told our team tonight after the game, we’re going to run the ball better than that. We have to. We will. …

“Clearly when they’re nailing you behind the line as many times as they hit us tonight, not a good night for the running game.”

A national television audience stayed tuned, and did get to see first-round pick Amari Cooper, after some early troubles with the sun, pull down four catches for 62 yards.

The fans also got to see that bad decision by Carr to toss a ball while back-pedaling, intended for a double-covered Butler. Carr said he was not trying to throw the ball away, and Del Rio said that was the problem.

“The play started breaking down and he kind of tried to keep it alive; he knew that was his last series,” Del Rio said. “I don’t know if that played into the decision to go ahead and put it in play there ... really, we’re better off with him just dumping that ball and moving on to the next play.”

Kicking enthusiasts probably didn’t mind the offense’s struggles as they got to see Janikowski swing true on field goals of 49, 33, 42, 28 and 32 yards.

Vic Tafur is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: vtafur@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @VicTafur

3 players of note

Khalil Mack: Defensive end continues to look like he is on verge of Pro Bowl season. Had two sacks and a forced fumble in the first half, and harassed Carson Palmer countless other times.

Matt McGloin: Treated fans to another preseason comeback. Will it be enough to beat out Christian Ponder for the backup quarterback job? Will Raiders keep three quarterbacks? Stay tuned.

Sebastian Janikowski: Five field goals in a half deserves a tip of the cap, preseason or not.

 

[whoyouthink]

They couldn't finish off any drives tonight

 

[mr jordan04]

They were #2 in redzone efficiency last year.

Because they scored field goals? I want touchdowns man. These field goals aren't gonna win games
Looked up a stat that showed they were like 27th in offense efficiency, **** a red zone efficiency if your offense efficiency is ranked 27
ESPN had them ranked last in total offense in 2014.

 

[oaklandca]

I was more impressed with the no huddle than I was with the drives on offense. 

Jano is still saving the Raiders 13 years later...

 

[laker4lifeman]

They were #2 in redzone efficiency last year.

Because they scored field goals? I want touchdowns man. These field goals aren't gonna win games

I totally agree. Run game needs to be better by the 1st week it was bad today. DL has been very surprising.

 

[mr jordan04]

They couldn't finish off any drives tonight

That's what I meant to say

 

[mr jordan04]

My biggest issue last year was they would get you within the 30, but then would go 3 and out from there and/or just call 3 stupid *** plays. And you're like, you just drove nicely for 50+ yards, to call this ******** when you smell the end zone?

Jano would at least salvage a field goal, but you don't see the elite teams settle for field goals the majority of their drives

 

[whoyouthink]

16th Season for Jano



Still the team MVP

 

[monstar]

Any cjance we try to grab Tim jennings from the bears?

Dj hayden doin all he can to not make the roster lol. How many penalties did he have?

 

[The_Isomotion31]

^They called off one. To be fair to him it wasn't even PI in my eyes at all.

TJ Carrie and Nate Allen though. Shine on.

 

[MajinZuub]

^They called off one. To be fair to him it wasn't even PI in my eyes at all.

TJ Carrie and Nate Allen though. Shine on.

I hope you're not talking about when he put that dude in a headlock

 

[The_Isomotion31]

LOL. Nah the one where Palmer tried to hit Brown in the endzone.

Oh eff ya'll for reminding me about the fanatics code and making me buy a Mack jersey. shame on you. LOL.

Short week this week. Hoping they give the starters at least a full quarter if not the half.

 

[HNL HI]

Think we need a veteran receiver, I also like the idea of a veteran QB as 2 or 3.

 

[blakmn89]

Mite as well take a look @ Fred Jackson trich is doin nothing to save his career

 

[HNL HI]

@VicTafur Gotta think OLB Sio Moore can be had for a fifth-round pick. Watched 2nd- and 3rd-team defense by himself on the bench last night. #Raiders

 

[The_Isomotion31]

Damn...What did he do. Is it really because of injury and not being able to be on the field? I trust Jack Del Rio and Ken Norton Jr. know what they are doing.

 

[raider5]

Damn...What did he do. Is it really because of injury and not being able to be on the field? I trust Jack Del Rio and Ken Norton Jr. know what they are doing

Got me wondering the same thing...like Sio don't seem like the type to not buy into the program, can't be injury that put him in the dawg house. I did see he was only in on special teams play last night.

 

[laker4lifeman]

Ray Ray was pulling off WWE moves in piles yesterday

 

[HNL HI]

yeah, he was in on special teams so it was weird he didn't get any defensive reps.

 

[whoyouthink]

@VicTafur Gotta think OLB Sio Moore can be had for a fifth-round pick. Watched 2nd- and 3rd-team defense by himself on the bench last night. #Raiders

Talk about falling off

 

[raider5]

Ray Ray was pulling off WWE moves in piles yesterday

bruh............i seen him a couple of times trying to do the  flying DDT lol

 

 

[The_Isomotion31]

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Reminded me of


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