Wow. What a way to lose a football game. After losing to the Los Angeles Chargers last week, the Raiders did their best impression of the Los Angeles Chargers and found a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
Jon Gruden got it wrong again… again
Let’s address Gruden’s late-game strategy. He got it half-right. Also, to be fair, kicker Daniel Carlson put him in a tough spot with the missed extra point. So, where did things go awry? Not having running back Josh Jacobs score on first and second down was absolutely the right call. The goal should have been to take as long as possible to score.
The problem is you have to punch it in on third and goal from six inches out. At least try! Essentially, the decision comes down to this question: Is an extra three to five points worth keeping an extra 35 seconds on the clock?
Had Carlson made the extra point, it would have been a no-brainer to bleed the clock and kick a field goal. Play prevent for 20 seconds, if you give up a big play and give up a field goal you still go to overtime, but with a two-point lead, this strategy leaves little margin for error.
Three possible scenarios
An alternative would be to try to score on third down and then go for two afterward. That could play out in three ways:
A: You score and get the two-point conversion to go up by seven with about a minute left. Now, the Dolphins have to go 75 yards in 60 seconds with no timeouts. If they are somehow successful, they now have to choose between kicking for overtime and letting the game come down to a two-point conversion.
B: You score but do not get the two. Now up by just five, this is similar to scenario A but in this case, a touchdown ends it.
C: Worst case scenario (aside from a turnover of course), you do not convert on third down. Now you can still bleed the clock and kick the field goal.
The madness has to stop
Gruden’s decision felt meek and cowardly and felt like playing not to lose. This is not the first time we have seen this from him either. His conservative late-game strategies have burned the Raiders too many times. The frustrating thing is that Gruden is capable of being aggressive in these situations.
We saw it early in the season with deep shots down the field with a lead against New Orleans or going for it on fourth down against Kansas City. Also, we could go on for days about how he progressively gets worse throughout the season in red-zone and third-down play calling, but this piece is long enough already.
Bottom line: For two years now, it seems that the later into the season we get, the safer Gruden tries to coach and it is not working. If he cannot get out of his own way soon, he should be on the hot seat.
The Raiders defensive coaching staff needs to go
Speaking of hot seats, it is time to clean house with the defensive staff this offseason. Defensive linemen are either not being held accountable for their assignments or they do not know what they are. We have been watching Maxx Crosby lose his containment all year and nothing has been done about it.
Tackling has been absolutely atrocious all season and it cost the Raiders last night. More dumb penalties on defense did not help either. Also, why are linebackers covering Mike Gesicki? Finally, Las Vegas was once again done in by a blown assignment in the secondary. It keeps happening again and again, with various players involved. At some point, all you can do is look at the coaching staff.
In all fairness, the defense did look better this week despite several injuries to key players. The problem is that the issues we saw last night have been visible all season if not longer. I get that this defense clearly lacks talent, but the coaches do not seem to be making an effort to maximize the potential of this group. Players who have not performed well will almost certainly be held accountable this offseason, but what about the coaches?
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The Raiders must let Foster Moreau play!
What did Foster Moreau do this past offseason to get on Gruden’s bad side? He had a solid rookie campaign and looked like a good compliment to Darren Waller. Moreau was rewarded by seeing his role given to the ghost of Jason Witten. It makes no sense whatsoever.
There were several pass plays last designed for Witten that you just know Moreau could have gotten more out of. Also, the second-year tight end is by far the best blocking tight end that the Raiders have right now. Why is he not being used in crucial situations that call for the tight end to block?
The signing of Witten was always a head-scratcher, but you could justify him being a de facto tight ends coach that plays about five snaps per game. Making him an integral part of the offense is just baffling and totally unjustifiable. That signing had Gruden’s fingerprints all over it.
Bringing in a player past his prime at a position that was very solid (everybody sleeps on Carrier) and having him play a role far too big for him at this point in his career. It is eerily similar to when he had Amari Cooper take a backseat to Jordy Nelson.
Decisions like these are just part of the mounting evidence that Gruden might not be the savior that Raider Nation hoped he would be.
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Top Photo: The Las Vegas Raiders official website
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Same on anyone blaming the kicker in yesterdays game. How about blaming the lack luster of an offence that should be scoring 35 pts a game at worst. The raiders are crap. No will, disapline, just there for a pay check. Gruden can make all the angry faces he wants. It’s not going to change the fact that the team in general doesn’t seem to care about anything but them selves. Look at there record this year. 500 is pathetic at there level and the talent that they so called have. Just pissed and angry how pathetic they have become.
Gruden u need to go 4years u haven’t done s*** and Greg olson is garbage up the middle I can c the play coming so to me to he wit foster money what about ur play call and ur hiren of def come u need to stop sum one don’t u think and b 4 u say can I do a better job I don’t get paid 100million chicken and I don’t get paid what paul and Greg and rod get paid get sumthing done or resign ur not the RAIDERS p off how do u sign ur autograph to raider fans Jon gruden Superbowl champ 2002 yea bullshit if u ask me
Jon Gruden’s is an overpaid idiot they need someone else calling the play’s
Gruden sucks @ calling the play’s in they need someone else too do that.
We have an idiot for a coach he doesn’t deserve the contract that he got he makes every wrong move in the book. You got to go for the touchdown but of course you don’t and your defense that can’t stop a high school team.
Jeff Fischer defense COACH.
LB find some!
Gruden made the best decision. You are an armchair QB on Monday .That is all
Wouldn’t it be more correct to call me an armchair coach?
I am a life long Raider fan!! 19 seconds, 75 yards to go and no time outs!! John Gruden and the defensive staff should not only be fired, but should be forced to do line striping on the streets of Vegas in the summer months. This would be court ordered as a performance violation..
Great piece
Let someone else call plays, anyone else.
I’ve been a Raiders fan since 1960 and I’m sure Mr. Davis is rolling over in his grave. Taking less points is never an option. We need to quit giving up 1st downs.
We need to keep the opponents offense off the field like we did against K.C.’s home game. For some reason the defense coaching and playing changed after that game and I don’t understand why. Carr needs to maintain control and breath not panic and throw the ball away, Wasting downs. I realize Carr has had several injuries but, we need a quarterback that can scramble and run
Especially when the pocket collapses. He needs to put the team ahead of himself that’s a team player. Now then coach Gruden I don’t know what you think you were trying to do. It look like to me you were trying “not to lose” the game against Miami. You should have been trying to WIN. Had you taken the T.D. and the defense hold Miami on their final drive we would have given up 3pts. And still WIN. If you can’t coach both sides then get people that can so then you can coach. Your not doing a very good job of coaching and running the offense. You need to give up one or the other.
So far you’ve not earned your money In the past 2 years.
Where’s the coach Gruden of old the first time around
He’s not shown up. Mark Davis and company are still waiting through disappointment. We need a brain of offense coach, defense coach and head coach. I am a true Raider for life fan. When we make bad mistakes it hurts us all. I have more to say but, this will have to do for now. RF4LRN4L ðŸˆðŸ´â€â˜ ï¸ðŸ˜Ž