Pass rush could key push to playoffs
The NFL world is astonished and amazed because Derek Carr, the quarterback who never met a 5-yard pass he didn’t like, started flinging it long against Kansas City as if the Raiders were the Greatest Show on Turf reincarnated.
Even Kurt Warner, the Hall of Fame downfield thrower for the Rams when they were the original Greatest Show on Turf, listed Carr as his top Week 5 quarterback during his weekly NFL Network feature and cited his willingness to “push the ball down the field.”
It was impressive, with Carr completing 4 of 7 passes thrown 20 or more yards in the air, for 219 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Yet the win over the Chiefs had another development that will have more bearing on a potential run at a division title or playoff berth.
The long strikes, featuring rookie Henry Ruggs III, as nostalgic as they were for those who long for Al Davis’ “vertical game,” take a backseat to the way the Raiders bewitched, bothered and bewildered Chiefs quarterback and NFL standard bearer Patrick Mahomes in the second half.
A pass rush that had been virtually non-existent showed up in a big way. The sack totals weren’t much — just three for seven yards — and one of those was a Nevin Lawson tackle of Mahomes for no gain on a scramble.
But Mahomes was hit early and often, although still able to escape enough to put up good numbers in 24-24 first half. The second half was another matter, with Mahomes going 8 of 16 for 103 yards (78 yards of which came on a late
fourth- quarter drive) and an interception Jeff Heath returned 47 yards to set up a Raiders’ touchdown.
The Raiders were credited with 24 pressures by Sportradar, a data web site. The same site had the Raiders with 26 pressures in the first four games of the season combined. Sportradar had the Raiders with only three blitzes, which took away many of the quick-read, blitz-beating throws at which Mahomes has excelled of late.
Clein Ferrell, last year’s No. 4 overall draft pick, looked the part for the first time with five pressures, including the one that led to Mahomes’ fourth-and-7 interception. Maxx Crosby ran sideline to sideline chasing Mahomes to the tune of 1,423.9 yards according to Sportradar. Practice squad promotions Datone Jones and Chris Smith had their moments.
The 24 pressures were the most credited to the Raiders since Khalil Mack’s five- sack game against Denver in 2015, when they had 25.
The pass rush, combined with minimal blitzing, put more defenders in coverage and less time for receivers to get open.
“I think we simplified some
stuff for the guys, and allowed them to play a little faster and I think that helped up front,” Raiders defensive backs coach Jim O’neil said Wednesday in a video conference. “I think it helped us in the back end. But if the rush can save us a click, it helps us. If we can buy them a click, it helps them. When the rush and the coverage is working together like it was this past Sunday in Kansas City, it’s good for everybody.”
The pass rush supersedes the downfield field throwing aspect because if the Raiders can keep it up, they go from being a poor defense to average or even above average. The Raiders were already a good offense before they played the Chiefs. With Ruggs aboard, that could go from good to exceptional.
Without a decent pass rush, they’re not going anywhere.
Next up for the Raiders after this week’s bye is Tom Brady of Tampa Bay, largely a stationary target at age 43. Then it’s Baker Mayfield of Cleveland and Justin Herbert, the impressive rookie of the Los Angeles Chargers. We’ll know by midseason whether the rush the Raiders put on Mahomes was the real thing or a one-week aberration.
The Raiders’ postseason hopes will depend on it.
A few other bye week impressions of the Raiders’ 3-2 start:
MILLER TIME >> Remember the Rod Woodson coin toss at the 2018 NFL scouting combine? The one that gave the 49ers a first shot at tackle Mike Mcglinchey at No. 9 in the first round and taking the player the Raiders supposedly wanted? The Raiders ended up trading back to No. 15 and selected Kolton Miller of UCLA.
Offensive line coach Tom Cable swore by Miller, but the pick was universally panned as a reach.
Not only did the Raiders not get Mcglinchey, they also passed on Florida State safety Derwin James.
Fast forward to 2020. McGlinchey is playing poorly at right tackle for the 49ers. James has been unlucky, his career derailed by injuries.
As for Miller, he’s playing at a Pro Bowl level at left tackle and basically made rush end Frank Clark disappear against the Chiefs.
Not sure what happened to that coin, but G.M. Mike Mayock should find it and put in his pocket before the 2021 draft.
Devontae Booker (23) takes a handoff from Derek Carr against the Chiefs.
THE AGHOLOR AND BOOKER BARGAINS >> Much of the Raiders free agent buzz was about highend expenditures Cory Littleton (three years, $36 million), defensive end Carl Nassib (three years, $25 million) and defensive tackle Maliek Collins (one year, $6 million).
All three are a work in progress in a new defensive system, and Nassib (toe) and Collins (shoulder) are ailing.
Gruden and Mayock did some solid work in the secondary market on offense, however, landing Nelson Agholor and Devontae Booker to one-year veteran minimum contracts of $910,000 with modest signing bonuses.
Agholor, whose occasional drops with the Eagles became the focus of the notoriously tough Philadelphia fan base, has 10 catches for 182 yards and three touchdowns. Carr is 10 of 11 throwing to Agholor.
Booker is coming off a 7-carry, 62-yard performance against the
Chiefs and has 121 yards on 17 carries. Gruden and running backs Kirby Wilson expect Booker to get more work down the road to help keep Josh Jacobs fresh. Jacobs has an NFL high 106 carries through five games.
As a rookie in 2016, Booker, 5-foot-11, 219 pounds, carried 174 times for 612 yards. His workload dwindled to 79, 34 and two carries in the last three years.
“He had a couple of lean years in Denver when he didn’t get the opportunity,” Wilson said. “We thought when we got him up to speed here he would have an impact.”
The Raiders reportedly kicked the tires on Le’veon Bell before the Jets released him, and they may be better off standing pat. No one has seen Bell at his best since 2017, the year he had 406 touches rushing and receiving with Pittsburgh. He sat out 2018 in a contract dispute and with a poor Jets team was a faint copy of what he did with the Steelers.
How will Bell do splitting time with Clyde Edwards-helaire? And as much as the Chiefs pass the ball, can he get enough work to get back in to a groove? And even if Bell gets the ball often, how much did 2017 take out of him?
That’s a lot of questions that need to be answered. Sometimes when things seem too good to be true, that’s exactly what they are.