The Oakland Raiders have a subpar defense and are 5-2. How? Because Derek Carr and a pair of receivers are lighting up opponents.
Oakland has not made the playoffs since 2002. If the NFL season ended today, the Raiders would not only be in the postseason, they would be the No. 2 seed in the AFC.
While all of that is moot and premature, it’s worth understanding why Oakland is enjoying success. Part of it is head coach Jack Del Rio, who’s all-in attitude has helped garner a 5-2 record. However, the majority of the praise belongs to quarterback Derek Carr and receivers Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree. Together, the trio is torching opponents in a bombs away style we haven’t seen by the bay since the glory days of Al Davis.
After seven weeks, the Raiders rank 11th in total offense and 13th in passing. Neither number is gaudy, but the prolific nature of the passing attack should be respected. Carr is coming into his own as a third-year pro, throwing for 1,808 yards with 13 touchdowns against three interceptions.
As for Cooper and Crabtree, the duo can stake a claim as the best in the league. Cooper, a second-year star out of Alabama, already has 40 catches and 614 yards. Crabtree, the wily veteran by comparison, has amassed 461 yards on 39 receptions, along with a team-best six touchdowns.
This weekend in Jacksonville, the Raiders plowed over the Jaguars by a 33-16 count. Here, we look at two plays that exemplify why Oakland is both good now and dangerous going down the stretch.
Play #1
The Raiders are leading 13-6 with less than a minute remaining in the first half. Oakland is facing a 3rd and 5 from its own 43-yard line and Jacksonville has called a virtual prevent look. The Jaguars are dropping seven with a quarters coverage. In essence, it’s three zone defenders underneath with four over the top, each taking a quarter of the field.
Oakland is running a four-wide set with Carr in the shotgun. The Raiders are in “11” personnel with a tight end and running back on the field. Both outside receivers, including Crabtree at the top of the frame, are running fly patterns.
Already, Carr has a good idea of where he’s going. Prince Amukamara, the corner guarding Crabtree against a deep route, is showing awful technique. Amukamara has help underneath and can’t allow anybody past him. However, look at his position. He’s flat-footed, sitting on a curl or out route.
Compare that technique to rookie corner Jalen Ramsey (arrowed). Ramsey has been in bail technique the entire way against Cooper, not allowing him to stack.
Carr buys time by scrambling out to his right and loads up. At the point of release, Crabtree is even with Amukamara. Carr also knows that the corner has no help, giving Crabtree a good chance to either catch the pass or draw pass interference.
From here, we see a beautiful throw and catch.
Look at the placement of the ball. Crabtree tracked the throw looking directly above him, a la Willie Mays. It’s a tremendous bit of work on both sides, as Amukamara showed speed to recover from poor technique.
Crabtree ends up tackled inside the 5-yard line. The drive ended in a 2-yard touchdown from Carr to Crabtree.
Play #2
This play is a brainchild of offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave. He has the Raiders in 12 personnel with a back and two tight ends on 1st and 10, early in the third quarter. Crabtree is lined up at the top of the screen and Cooper (arrowed) is hidden as the deep tailback.
Jacksonville is in a base 4-3 defense with a zone blitz called. The Jaguars are playing a deep safety over the top and man-coverage underneath, with a defensive end dropping off the line. It’s a complex call, and the young unit makes an error.
No artwork is necessary here. Look at middle linebacker Dan Skuta coming clean on an A-gap blitz. He’s also getting help from outside linebacker Myles Jack – a rookie – who is coming with pressure on the right side. However, Jack was supposed to drop out of the blitz and run with Cooper, who ran a wheel route into the flat. Cooper is wide open as Carr loads to throw, with nobody seeing him.
Here’s Cooper at the point of the catch. Jacksonville’s closest defender is 15 yards away. The Jaguars are able to contain this to a 6-yard gain, but it remains a nice net positive on first down. This was called against the right defense, taking advantage of inexperience on a blitz.
Oakland does a lot of different things offensively, and getting Cooper in different positions is chief among them. With such a varied skill set, he can line up both outside and in the slot, while occasionally moonlighting as a running back. The Jaguars should have recognized his presence in the backfield and accounted for him, knowing he was not likely to run the ball or block.
Still, the Raiders found a way to utilize their best weapon. With games coming up against the Broncos and Chiefs in the coming months, Oakland has to scheme opportunities into reality. This is a nice example of that.
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