Raider Recap: Week 10-- Giants

Offensive Futility Continues

Another winnable game slips away (Al Bello/Getty Images)

It was first and goal from the one yard line.

For a second, it looked like the Oakland Raiders were going to compile a respectable scoring drive all on their own, with no help from defensive turnovers or big returns. They had taken the second-half kickoff and driven 79 yards in over seven minutes, and found themselves three feet from opening up a ten-point lead on the road.

Jennings was stuffed on first down, and on second they attempted a play action pass that fell incomplete. Moore was double covered, and Pryor's throw took him out of the end-zone anyway. A penalty backed them up on third down, and after Pryor threw another incompletion, they were forced to settle for a field goal. Essentially, they were three feet from four more points, and they could not force the ball over the plane.

Those four points ended up the difference in the game.

But it is almost better that they did not win yesterday. If they had won, we would be commending the Raiders for traveling across the country and snapping an 11-game losing streak on the East Coast. (It is now 12.) If they had won, we would be looking toward a promising stretch of season, during which our offensive line would continue to improve, boosted by the return of its missing starters, and our running game would finally get on track when McFadden's hamstring heals.

But they did not win, and instead of deluding ourselves about the future, we are left to discuss the fatal shortcomings of the 3-6 Raiders.

First, it must be acknowledged that Terrelle Pryor is a terrible passer. Mechanics aside, the numbers say that the Raiders are ranked 31 of 32 in the NFL with only 187.6 passing yards per game. (Silver lining: the 49ers are ranked 32nd.) His best completions have been those where he has been able to escape a collapsing pocket, scramble to the outside and find a receiver downfield who has broken free from his defender-- and his route.

Can't fault him for trying (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Those are called broken plays.

They are not drawn up to be that way. This is not backyard football. But it seems that is where Pryor really excels. He truly is a freak athlete, and no one can blame him for not wanting to stand still as 300-pound D-linemen charge at him as fast as they can. And it would be unfair to blame him for scrambling when an amoebic offensive line fails to provide consistent pass protection. But if you took those improbable broken-play completions out of his season totals, you would surely believe me when I tell you he has been terrible from the pocket this year.

Next, play-calling has been questionable at times, but none more suspect than yesterday in the Meadowlands. Granted, every team has a game plan of what they would like to do. But in some situations, it is better to do what you know will work than try what you hope might do the trick. Example A: yesterday's best scoring opportunity.

The Raiders were on their best drive by far and had an opportunity to really steal the momentum by taking the ball over the plane to start the second half. The first-down run was stuffed, but with three remaining chances to gain one single yard, they abandoned the run for the rest of the drive.

Bear in mind, they had already been on the one-yard-line once in the game, and used their 6'4", 233 pound QB to sneak it in. Therefore they had a proven formula for success, but instead of sticking with it, they inexplicably tried a play-action pass on second down.

After the penalty backed them up, they had no choice but to pass on third (a draw was apparently out of the question) and the result has already been explained. They lost the game.

One the day, Pryor completed just 11 passes and had a completion rate of under 43%. Meanwhile, Rashad Jennings was averaging 4.4 yards-per-carry, and had already rushed for 28 yards on the drive. And when they found themselves one yard away with four chances to score, they threw two passes, committed two penalties, and settled on three points instead of seven.

Plays are called by coaches, and if coaching is an issue, then the buck stops with Dennis Allen. The Raiders have lost all three games against the NFC East (aka the weakest division in football) and the only team they have left to face is the one in first place, Dallas. They have dropped games to beatable teams (twice at home) and have shown an inability to make plays when they need to make plays. Expectations for them were low (or better, nonexistent) but still there is a common belief that they are not playing up to their potential as a football team.

Pained. Confused. On a short leash?
(Elsa/Getty Images)

If I scour my memory of the not-so distant past, I can remember a coach who was incapable in the same regard. He brought the attitude, he said all the right things, and yet when the team was on the verge of the playoffs, hosting a self-destructive San Diego team on the last game of the season in a win-and-you're-in situation, he lost. He lost the game, he lost his temper, and he lost his job after the season ended.

His name was Hue Jackson. He was fired by the GM he helped hire. And though Mackenzie hand-picked Dennis Allen two years ago, he has been quick to admit mistakes and cut ties with the failed experiments (see Flynn, Matt).

I'm not saying I want Dennis Allen fired. I'm not saying I want Greg Olson fired. I just want them to wake up! Because if they don't, then they just might be gone by the end of the year.

Consider yesterday's statistics:

Apart from the aforementioned drive (their longest of the day), the Raiders averaged 8.4 yards per-drive on the other 10 attempts. I'll state that again. Eight point four yards per drive is less than ten yards, also known as a first down, also known as the most fundamental baby-step that any offense can achieve. Two drives netted negative yards, and their second-longest drive of 21 yards resulted in a blocked punt that set up a New York touchdown.

Those drives lasted an average of 4.3 plays, and their second-longest drive from this standpoint was 7 plays for a net yardage of negative three. I'm not even sure how that is possible.

The breakdown for the day: eleven drives, one touchdown, two field goals, five punts, one interception (returned for a score), one blocked kick (to set up another score), and one fumble on the last drive of the day (down by four).

The offense went 2-12 on third-down conversions, and of the 20 points on the scoreboard, had only 3 to its credit. (The other 17 came off turnovers.)

If this trend disturbs you, then you haven't been paying attention. It has been happening all year long.

Oakland cannot rely on the defense to score points (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

Against Pittsburgh, Pryor's 93-yard run was the only highlight on an otherwise forgettable performance. He completed 10 of 19 passes for just 88 yards (seven less than he gained on that opening run.) He also threw two interceptions.

A blocked punt put the Raiders up immediately over Washington, but after scoring twice in the first quarter, the Raiders were unable to move the ball for the remainder of the game. The possessions that followed included 3 turnovers, 6 punts, and a missed field goal. Their longest drive was 7 plays. Yes, Pryor missed that game and Flynn played so bad he was demoted and cut from the team the following week. But nothing changed when Pryor returned, either.

That week Oakland hosted San Diego, and again managed just one respectable drive on the day. 17 of their 27 points came off turnovers, including a fumble-return by Charles Woodson (probably the highlight of the year) and a muffed punt that put the Raiders immediately in Janikowski's range. San Diego had 5 turnovers in the loss. It's a shame the Raiders can't play them every week.

By and large, the Raiders offense has been abysmal for the duration of ten weeks now. Yes their line is banged up, and yes, their star RB is again hampered by injuries. But they still have competed in games, and found themselves in position to win at times. Their own inabilities have doomed them in their losses, and these fatal flaws become more apparent in each disappointing performance.

"I can only show you the door..."  (raiderstribune.com)

I said before, there were virtually no expectations for this team to start the season, but the guys in the locker room never hear that kind of chatter. They believe they have a chance to compete with anybody in the league, and at times, they have proven it. But, as Charles Woodson pointed out before the game on Sunday, if they don't get their act together soon, it may be too late.

"We’re running out of opportunities as a club to do the things we set out to do at the beginning of the season. Every loss takes us farther from our goal."


After losing 5 of the last 7 games, it may be time to re-evaluate what that goal actually is.