Manuel expecting smooth transition
Carr replacement hopes team won’t ‘miss a beat’
OAKLAND » EJ Manuel has been watching closely and taking notes.
He stepped up to the leadership role this week, and unless the Raiders have a major surprise in store for the home crowd, Manuel believes he’s prepared for final exams as the starting quarterback Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens at the Coliseum.
Derek Carr is listed as questionable with a fractured transverse process in his back. He did enough at practice this week to potentially be available Oct. 15 against the Los Angeles Chargers, but indications are Manuel will get his shot against the Ravens.
“Obviously, being around Derek for the past four weeks of the season, seeing how he does and seeing the rapport he has with other teammates, I don’t look at it as a challenge at all,” Manuel said. “I think it’s something I can fall right in to. Hopefully, we won’t miss a beat.”
Actually, Manuel will have to do better than that, because the
Raiders have played poorly on offense in the last two games under Carr, scoring 20 points combined in losses at Washington and Denver to fall to 2-2.
Baltimore arrives in a similar state. Wins over Cincinnati and Cleveland to start the season were followed by one-sided defeats to Jacksonville (in London) and a home loss to Pittsburgh by a combined 70-16.
The game against the Ravens will begin a threegame home stretch, followed by the Chargers and the Chiefs on Thursday, Oct. 19. The stretch could either put the Raiders in the thick of the AFC West race or seriously behind Kansas City and Denver.
“You try not to think about it because you take it one game at a time, but it is kind of in the back of your head,” left tackle Donald Penn said. “These three are good because they are home. But we’ve still got to get that first one. Don’t get ahead of yourself.”
If subsequent games are in the back of Del Rio’s head, he’s not copping to it.
“One at a time,” Del Rio said. “Looking back, we’ve played three of four on the road. It’s good to be home this week. I’m fired up about it.”
Manuel, who last started a game in Week 17 last season with the Buffalo Bills, is unlikely to be given the same free hand as Carr — which may not be a bad thing if the Raiders can use the week to get back to basics and execute a smaller package of plays.
“If you stick to your bread-and-butter stuff and you go with the concepts that your quarterback is familiar with, I think it’s a little bit easier,” offensive coordinator Todd Downing said. “That’s one of the things I feel fortunate about with EJ, is I have a history with him. I know what he likes and what he doesn’t like.”
Downing, the quarterbacks coach with Buffalo in 2014, lobbied to bring Manuel aboard in free agency to compete with Connor Cook as the backup to Carr.
Manuel, a first-round draft pick in 2013, started 10 games as a rookie but less time in each following season until his contract expired.
“I think he fell back in love with the game,” Downing said. “He just really enjoys coming to work and putting in a hard day’s work.”
Against Denver, Manuel gave the Raiders a spark when he came in for Carr, completing his first eight passes. He finished 11 of 17 for 106 yards, throwing an interception on his final pass that was intercepted on the 8-yard line with the Raiders threatening.
“You want to exude leadership. You want to exude confidence,” Manuel said. “Obviously when you exude confidence, your teammates have confidence in you as well. It’s a confidence position. If you have it, your teammates will
have it.”
What to watch for in Week 5:
MEAT AND POTATOES » After gaining 56 yards on 28 carries over the last two games, the Raiders look to get back on track with the running game. Marshawn Lynch has 30 yards on 15 carries in those two games. The opportunity should be there. Baltimore surrendered only 170 yards rushing in beating Cincinnati and Cleveland to open the season, but was gored for 339 yards in one-sided losses to Jacksonville and Pittsburgh. The opportunity is there for the Raiders for more basic runs from under center, as well as the occasional gun run.
MACK VS. HOWARD » Former Raider Austin Howard was a team player during his three seasons in Oakland, moving to guard at the request of Tony Sparano, then back to right tackle, where he competed with the occasionally healthy Menelik Watson. When they needed Howard last year, he played on a bad ankle in Week 2 and wasn’t right for the rest of the year. But it’s a tall order for Howard to deal with Khalil Mack, whose play against both run and pass through four weeks is exceeding his 2016 performance when he was the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year. FEEDING COOP » Amari Cooper has had rough stretches before, but they’ve never come this early in the season. Cooper’s 12 catches for 110 yards and the ineffectiveness of the passing
game when targeting the third-year receivers is one of the one of the mysteries of an offense that has been in decline for the past two weeks. Former Raiders Tim Brown and Rich Gannon believe Cooper needs the ball early to get going. Michael Crabtree’s return could get Cooper more single coverage. SECONDARY CONSIDERATIONS » With David Amerson (concussion) and Gareon Conley, the Raiders held up well against Denver after a rough start. TJ Carrie had his best game as a Raider against the Broncos and Dexter McDonald played 31 solid snaps in what amounted to a breakthrough game. Yes, there was the tight end touchdown (A.J. Derby) but safeties haven’t allowed big completions over the top of late. With Joe Flacco averaging 5.1 yards per completion, opponents have successfully suffocated the Ravens through the air.
HOME COOKING » If the Raiders get off to a good start and take control, it will be a raucous atmosphere. The place was jumping when Lynch and the Raiders danced all over the Jets. But the last two games have been sobering, and if the Raiders struggle against Baltimore, the crowd will get restless. The way to keep the Las Vegas relocation frustration in the background is to play well and win. A sputtering offense and a forgiving defense would bring that frustration to the surface.