Raiders want a complete effort in South Beach
MIAMI >> The Raiders travel to Miami looking to avoid their first 0-3 start since Derek Carr’s rookie season in 2014.
The Dolphins, on the other hand, have won their first two games against the Titans and Jets. The Raiders beat the Dolphins in a Week 9 matchup in Miami last season 27-24.
The early kickoff in Miami has been a tricky one for the Raiders, who are 1-6 in early starts in South Beach since 1986.
Here are five things to watch in Sunday’s game.
CAN MARSHAWN LYNCH SCORE AGAIN (WHICH HE DID TWICE IN MIAMI LAST SEASON)? >> The Raiders’ starting running back has rushed for a touchdown in each of the first two
games, a 10-yard run on the season’s opening drive against the Rams and a 1-yard score in the second quarter against the Broncos. Lynch has run 29 times for 106 yards this season, good for 3.7 yards per carry.
Last season in Miami, Lynch returned from a one-game suspension and found the end zone twice in a three-point win, once from 22 yards and once from 3 yards. After storming onto the field to interject in a scrum against the Chiefs in Week 7, Lynch missed Week 8 against the Bills and returned with vengeance against the Dolphins. His two-score game on “Sunday Night Football” in Week 9 jumpstarted a run where he scored five touchdowns in five games.
This season, Lynch is running with the same purpose, possibly even more speed and force, as he looks to help the Raiders get on the board with more touchdowns in Miami. And since Lynch himself doesn’t talk to the media, one of his veteran offensive lineman evaluated his first two weeks instead.
“He’s doing good. We’ve got to help him out a lot more, got to be more consistent,” right tackle Donald Penn said. “We’ve got that roller coaster thing going like we have in the past. Got to be more consistent. He’s looking real good, doing a lot of real good things for us. Our main thing is to get him to the second level. If he gets to the second level, I’ll bet on him against anybody at the second level.”
ANOTHER BIG DAY FOR AMARI COOPER IN HIS HOMECOMING? >> Cooper reaped the benefits of some precise route-running and Carr’s pinpoint accuracy in Denver, enjoying a 10-catch, 116-yard bounce-back performance after a one-catch, 9-yard dud in Week 1.
Cooper grew up in Miami watching the Dolphins, and the Raiders wouldn’t mind a second straight
game like last week’s from their best receiver even if it comes at the expense of his childhood favorite team. Last season in South Beach, Cooper caught four passes on nine targets for 58 yards. Last Sunday he caught all 10 of his targets.
“I just remember growing up and watching Dolphins games on Thanksgiving and stuff like that with the family, having a good time,” Cooper said. “I can remember last year I had to give out a lot of tickets. (Raiders cornerback and Miami native) Johnny (Holton) gave out a hundred, so I’m not going to complain about my number.”
Cooper said this week his communication with Carr has improved, which clearly showed in their perfect connection against the Broncos. Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard told the Miami Herald he’ll following Cooper all game. Some stats on Howard, from Pro Football Focus’ Austin Gayle: “Howard has allowed a 28.2 passer rating when targeted through two games, ranking fifth among qualifiers. He’s also allowed just three receptions (nine targets) for 82 yards and no touchdowns while logging an interception. He’s allowed receptions of 17, 21 and 44 yards into his coverage.”
So after a first two weeks against the vaunted Rams and Broncos secondaries, it might not be much easier for Cooper on Sunday. WILL THE RAIDERS GET
MORE OUT OF BRUCE IRVIN? >> On Monday, Gruden said
he needs more out of his captain and defensive end. It wasn’t a direct shot at Irvin, more so a wish for Irvin’s effort to translate into more results.
The veteran tallied a strip-sack of Jared Goff in Week 1, but he took a step back in Week 2 with a costly unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and what looked like fatigue late in the game when Denver wore the Raiders down.
Irvin has plenty more on his plate after the Raiders traded Khalil Mack, who was supposed to free up space for Irvin to rush the quarterback. Now Irvin is the prime target for opposing offensive lines, and we’ll see if he can rise to the occasion.
“Well, first of all he can’t get penalties on third down. In a critical game like that, you can’t have those kinds of penalties,” Raiders defensive coordinator Paul Guenther said, referencing Irvin. “Obviously, as the game wore on, it was kind of hard to sub some of the guys at the end because they’re on a oneminute drill. I always say our best player has to play great all the time. He’s one of them and he has to play great for us to be successful all the time.”
HOW MANY SNAPS WILL KARL JOSEPH SEE? >> Are we seeing the deterioration of another Reggie McKenzie draft pick with the 2016 first-rounder?
Coaches insist otherwise, but Joseph has played only 10 defensive snaps through two games,
seven against the Rams after a Marcus Gilchrist injury and three against the Broncos. Gilchrist has been solid and so too has Erik Harris, and coaches continue to favor 35-year-old Reggie Nelson in the secondary.
That leaves Joseph on the outside looking in, at least for now, and time will tell if he seizes his starting safety role of years past or falls by the wayside like a handful of other high McKenzie picks.
“I just think Karl needs to keep working on what he’s doing. Keep progressing in practice, like I told him,” Guenther said. “Obviously, I have talked with him a bunch about those things. He just has to keep progressing. You get in those games where it is hot. You’re going to expel some guys and I think he’s going to have his chance this Sunday.”
CAN THE RAIDERS CLOSE OUT A GAME FOR ONCE? >> I know, I know, “for once” is a bit harsh since the Raiders are only two games into the season.
But both games have featured Oakland halftime leads, a 13-10 advantage against the Rams and a 12-0 lead against the Broncos. As we all know, neither result held, and the Raiders are left to lament what could have been if they hadn’t flopped in the second half.
Cornerback Rashaan Melvin said finishing games is just a matter of getting off the field on third down, something the Raiders clearly didn’t do well enough against the Broncos. So if the Raiders jump out to an early lead against the Dolphins, will the third time be the charm when it comes to holding off a comeback?
“Just finishing the games. I think we’ve done, really, a lot of good things,” Carr said. “We’ve been able to get first downs, move the ball, keep the clock running, scoring points. Obviously, I think we could score more touchdowns rather than field goals. Obviously, that would help.”