Five Things I Care About
The Raiders have instantly reversed their identity
Aimless wanders, a directionless map, a ship without a plan; all phrases that could have rightly described the 2022 and 2023 Las Vegas Raiders. All is not perfectly well in the land of the Raiders but they’re 2-0 since banishing all remnants of the Josh McDaniels disaster beyond the shadows. The best part is that interim head coach Antonio Pierce has made a sharp turn to alter the team’s identity.
The 2023 Raiders under McDaniels were attempting to be a pass-first team that spread the ball to all areas of the field. It didn’t work and it sure didn’t threaten any opponent. Opponents knew if they just had the current version of Jimmy Garoppolo running an old-school dropback offense, he’d give them the game. He so often obliged even in favorable looks. Defensive fronts pushed the Raiders around in the run game and up-front in general because of the lack of intimidation.
Pierce made it plain his version of the team would be running the ball with authority and make Josh Jacobs the heartbeat of the offense. Mission accomplished on that front.
Jacobs went over 100 yards against a tough Jets front and averaged 4.3 yards per carry. He lost a late fumble but was otherwise perfect as the driving force of the offense. He’s now carried the ball a whopping 53 times the last two games. There’s no reason to expect that to change.
While some will be quick to roll their eyes or throw meathead or football guy accusations at Pierce for going full “run the damn ball,” there is brilliance in his plan. And it comes from a self-awareness McDaniels never possessed.
This Raiders defense is a solid unit. Typically an also-ran, this one has a few signature moments on their resume. Las Vegas was 18th in EPA per play allowed on the year coming into Week 10; certifiably solid. The Raiders are getting a Defensive Player of the Year type of season out of Maxx Crosby — straight up one of the best football…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/week-10-caredont-care-the-raiders-new-identity-has-a-name–josh-jacobs-053147708.html
Author : Yahoo Sports
Publish date : 2023-11-13 05:32:40
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