The Las Vegas Raiders are in serious trouble after blowing yet another lead. To include all of the future worries this team has, I believe I would need a podcast. However, let’s focus on these three issues for the time being as they relate to their upcoming matchup with the Indianapolis Colts.
Are the Raiders going to be prepared for the unexpected?
Only a few teams are more dysfunctional than the Raiders, and their opponent in Week 10—the Colts—is one of them. Former offensive lineman Jeff Saturday has been hired as the Colts’ temporary head coach after they fired Frank Reich as their head coach. Saturday has only had experience as a high school coach, despite the fact that it makes sense on paper. To make matters worse, his squad finished 3-7 in his final season, 2020. Add to it the Colts’ lackluster performance as a football team, and it makes a recipe for disaster.
Since the Colts have a new coach, the Raiders can’t really game plan against them, so they should be prepared for anything. Players generally play either harder or worse after a coach is fired, which is an unnoticed aspect. The Colts that the Raiders will encounter are not at all like the ones shown on film. For this unusual game, head coach Josh McDaniels must have his team ready.
Will Josh McDaniels finally call four quarters of good offense?
Inconsistent play calling and McDaniels go together like peanut butter and jelly. He once again demonstrated to us that he is not capable of calling an entire game with his play-calling against the Jacksonville Jaguars. In the first half, the Raiders offense took off, but they were shut down in the second. McDaniels might be able to correct his play-calling against a Colts squad that is just as dysfunctional, if not more so, than his.
When creating the weekly game plan, McDaniels’ mindset is where it all begins. If McDaniels hopes to ultimately call four effective offensive quarters, he must adopt the “all gas, no brakes” philosophy. The involvement of his two top playmakers, Josh Jacobs and Davante Adams, will be beneficial to him. Watch how much better the Raiders’ offense will appear if you engage those two frequently and early.
How do the Raiders’ stars respond to a 2-6 record?
Being 2-6 is never a good indication for anyone, but star players in particular. Maxx Crosby and Jacobs have experienced this difficult situation, but Adams hasn’t. These three players had to lead by example and show they had what it takes to get this ship moving again. The Raiders’ guys will respond in the same way as their stars. And it all starts with their preparation and execution for the game. If the other players see that these three are prepared to change the situation, they will follow.
*Top Photo: Official Raiders YouTube Channel