Oakland needs a few short drives
Poor field position gives offense more work to do
ALAMEDA >> There’s nothing wrong with the Raiders that a few short-field drives couldn’t make better.
Actually, there would still be a lot wrong with the Raiders, but it’s also true their inability to get decent field position has had made a bad team even worse.
The Raiders had 10 possessions in a 34-3 loss to the 49ers in falling to 1-7. All started on their own side of the field with an average drive start of the 24-yard line. The Raiders’ best drive start was their own 30-yard line on their last possession when the game was out of reach.
“Our field position has been almost horrific, to use a mild word,” coach Jon Gruden said Wednesday.
How horrific?
The Raiders have started drives at the 50 or inside the 50 just three times. All three came in a 45-42 overtime win over the Cleveland Browns in Week 4. A fumble recovery by Johnathan Hankins at the 7 set up a 7-yard pass from Derek Carr to Jared Cook. Another fumble recovery by Hankins at the Cleveland 20 opened the door to a 19-yard touchdown pass to Jordy Nelson. Finally, a 49-yard punt return to the Cleveland 29 by Dwayne Harris set up a 44-yard field goal by Matt McCrane.
That’s 17 points on three short-field possessions — without them, the Raiders would be 0-8.
In seven other games, the Raiders have had no possessions beginning on the op-
ponent’s side of the field and their average drive start has been at the 23yard line.
By contrast, the Los Angeles Chargers, who visit the Coliseum today with a 6-2 record, have started nine drives from the 50 or inside the 50.
None of those possessions came in either of the Chargers’ losses to the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams. The nine “plus” drive-starts led to 33 points in four games, all wins. The Chargers have won twice without a drive start at the 50 or inside the 50.
RIVERS ROLLS ON >> Carr had appeared to pass Philip Rivers in the pecking order of AFC West quarterbacks two years ago. He put together a season worthy of MVP consideration while Rivers led the NFL in interceptions on the way to a last-place finish.
The script has flipped. Rivers is playing as well as he has at any point in his 15-year career for the 6-2 Chargers, while Carr is struggling to find his way in Gruden’s offense.
“Obviously quarterbacks get way too much credit and way too much blame already, but I think we don’t give enough credit to guys who have played that long,” Carr said. “I’ll say it this way, the hardest part mentally going through a season is the days leading up to the game. Sunday is fun, man. You cut it loose and you give it everything you have. Having to recover, ice tub, wake up early to get treatment, the lift, to lift heavy when everything hurts, that’s when those guys don’t get enough credit.
“Here I am at five years, I’m fine. I’m good. I’ll keep doing this and I’m good. But, those guys that are in their 15th, 20th season, we don’t give them enough credit to mentally be that strong. It’s awesome.”
Rivers has career highs in yards per attempt (9.1) and passer rating (116.5), and is on pace for a careerhigh 38 touchdown passes while leading the Chargers to five straight wins.
The Chargers have strengthened their offensive line, have a potent running threat in Melvin Gordon, have plenty of outside targets with Keenan Allen, Tyrell Williams and Mike Williams, and a strong defense.
That has all taken pressure off Rivers to carry too much of the load.
“These last almost 20 games or so, we’ve had good balance,” Rivers said. “Leaning on one another offensively and defensively taking care of the ball — all of those things are important. So we’ve done a nice job of it so far.” BREAKING THROUGH THE ROOKIE WALL >> After the loss to the 49ers, Gruden met with his entire rookie class for a frank discussion on what they’ve done so far and what they need to do in the second half of the season. Arden Key, the thirdround draft pick from LSU, termed it a “wake up call.”
Mindful of the fact that rookies have been through four preseason games and eight regular-season games — essentially an entire college season — Gruden is looking for players to push through their difficulties and be part of the solution rather than part of the problem.
“Obviously the big part of the message is what a big part of the organization they are and they must handle that responsibility and take advantage of it,” Gruden said. “I think at the halfway point you make some key points to them with all the coaches in there so we’re on the same page. We want them united as a group that’s learning from the 1-7 start, how hard this business is, and how painful it is on all of us.”
Wide receiver Jordy Nelson, an 11-year veteran, has liked what he’s seen.
“I think a lot of them have been thrown into the fire, which is always tough on a group of guys coming into this league to play right away,” Nelson said. “There’s a lot to learn, whether it’s playing in the NFL, something outside the game, taking care of your body. They’ll learn a lot this year — from the good and the bad.”