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Raiders week 1 report card vs Rams Week one of the 2018 season saw the Raiders fall to the Rams 33-13 in Oakland on Monday night http://www.oaklandraidersteamonline.com/reggie-nelson-jersey , although the final score represents a three score loss, it doesn’t tell the whole story.Early on the Raiders were firing on all cylinders. They scored on their opening drive and led 13-10 at halftime. Unfortunately for the Raiders things took a turn for the worse in the second half.The Rams coaching staff made halftime adjustments and the Raiders never countered.The Rams scored 23 unanswered points in the second half and that was it.There are positives to take from the first week.The defense held tough at times, getting several key third down stops.The Raiders were at least competitive for three quarters of the game against a very good Rams team. Let’s take a position by position look at the week one Raiders report card.Aerial attack: CAs Jon Gruden put it, “It was a tale of two halves” and this goes especially for Derek Carr.Carr’s final stat line included 29 of 40 passing (72.5%), 303 yards, 7.6 yards per completion, 3 interceptions and no touchdowns. One of those interceptions was a pick six to Marcus Peters to seal it.His completion percentage was efficient due in part to several check downs to Jalen Richard.Carr was on fire in the first half completing 20 of 24 passes for 199 yards.He did make one crucial error however.Inside the red zone, Carr under threw a ball to Jared Cook that was intercepted.The worst play of the game for Carr came mid-way through the fourth quarter.Trailing 23-13, on his own 25 yard line Carr threw an inexplicable interception.After the game Carr described the play as, “one of the dumbest plays you could ever have.”There is no excuse for Jordy Nelson, Amari Cooper, and Seth Roberts to only catch a combined four balls for 43 yards.How is that even possible?Was it a combination of them being blanketed by good coverage or was Carr not giving them an opportunity?For what it’s worth Cooper did have a 16-yard reception negated by a penalty.“It’s not an indication of Amari or anything like that. If the coverage looks a certain way during a certain play, we have different options http://www.oaklandraidersteamonline.com/seth-roberts-jersey ,” Derek Carr said postgame. “That’s why Jared and the running backs came up big in the pass game for us.”Tight end Jared Cook was easily the best thing the Raiders had going for them. He accounted for 180 of the Raiders 300 receiving yards on the night.He was targeted by Carr early and often.Ground game: B-For the most part, the running game was a non-factor.Lead back Marshawn Lynch carried the ball only 11 times for 44 yards. Helping the overall grade was his 10-yard touchdown run to finish off the first drive in which he literally dragged defenders into the end-zone.Jalen Richard chipped in with five carries for 24 yards, followed by Doug Martin’s four touches for 20 yards.The trio combined for 88 yards and one touchdown on 19 carries.The Rams stout defensive line made creating running lanes an issue all night, though Jalen Richard was useful in the passing game. Derek Carr targeted him 11 times. If Jon Gruden’s plan is to bring back the smash mouth run game of 1998, the Raiders run game will need to be more productive.Offensive line: B+All things considered the offensive line held up well.There are several things to consider when evaluating the offensive line play.A rookie made his first career start at left tackle and Donald Penn made the start at right tackle after only a couple of weeks of practice at his new position.The interior line was facing the Rams combo on Aaron Donald and Ndamkong Suh. And they gave up just one combined sack.Defensive line: C-The much anticipated debut of rookies Arden Key, PJ Hall, and Maurice Hurst was rather uneventful.Outside of each of them registering three tackles, it was a quiet night for the threesome.The defensive line applied zero pressure on Jared Goff, with the exception of one Bruce Irvin strip sack.At one point in the game Jared Goff was spotted doing his taxes while in the pocket.In addition to the lack of pass rush the Rams ground game racked up 140 yards on 26 carries.The defensive line was supposedly going to be a strength of the defense.Things need to get turned around quickly.Linebackers: BNo news is good news.In my opinion the linebackers didn’t do anything spectacular but also they were not a liability. Tahir Whitehead showed some flashes, finishing the game with 7 tackles (1 tackle for loss) and a pass deflection on a crucial third down. Secondary: B+In the offseason the secondary was completely re-worked.Last nights starters included only one starter from 2017, Reggie Nelson.The Rams converted only 36% (4/11) of their third down attempts.The majority of the seven plays that were not converted were a result of someone in the secondary making a play.Here is one from the first quarter with Rashaan Melvin.Marcus Gilchrist started the game along side Reggie Nelson at the safety position.Gareon Conley made a nice play on third down, breaking up a potential touchdown.Leon Hall played a great game for the Silver and Black.His pass deflection on third down was a crucial point in the game.It kept the Raiders hopes of a comeback alive.Special Teams: A-The teams units were solid on the night.Kicker, Mike Nugent converted both of his field goal opportunities as well as one extra point try.Nugent connected on kicks of 24 and 48 yards.Rookie punter Womens Donald Penn Jersey , Johnny Townsend punted four times for a total of 178 yards.That’s a 44.5 yard average, with a long punt of 55 yards.One of his punts came from the back of his own end zone.Kick and punt coverage teams performed well, limiting Pharoh Cooper to 12 yards on two punt returns.One thing to keep an eye on is the status of long snapper Andrew DePaola who left the game in the first quarter with a knee injury.Blocking tight end, Lee Smith filled in as the emergency long snapper. Overall grade: C+Scouting the Broncos ahead of Raiders week two match-up in Denver Familiar Faces in Rival PlacesFormer Raiders offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave is in his second year as the offensive coordinator for the Broncos and is already on his second starting quarterback. Musgrave is a solid OC and puts the Broncos offense in position to make plays. In their season opener against the Seahawks this Broncos team employed nearly a perfect 50/50 run versus pass play call while amassing 470 total yards. They ran the ball 32 times for 146 yards, and they passed the football 39 times completing 25 passes for 329 yards. Not too shabby. The OffenseCase Keenum is the new face under center for the Denver Broncos in a move that showed the complete lack of faith in former top pick QB Paxton Lynch. Despite a career year in which the journeyman veteran led the team to the NFC Championship game, the Vikings made an executive decision to sign Kirk Cousins and let Keenum walk.Keenum was hot and cold against the Seahawks. He completed 25 of 39 passes for 329 yards and 3 TD’s against a Ken Norton Jr. led Seahawk defense. He also threw 3 INT’s against that Norton led defense. You know, the same guy who was fired after his Raiders defense set a record by going 10 weeks without an interception. Not such an accomplishment, even if it was the great Earl Thomas III, fresh off a camp holdout and with just a week of practice under his belt.The safeties will have numerous opportunities to step in front of wide receivers and steal passes, because one thing Keenum doesn’t do well is look off the safety. He has a habit of locking in on his receivers and makes his intentions with the football known. Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas have been the Broncos receiver duo since 2014. Last season wasn’t particularly productive up to either of their standards. Much of that had to do with stopgap QB Trevor Siemian throwing them the ball.Against the Seahawks, Sanders caught 10 passes for 135 yards including a beautiful catch and sideline toe tap combined with 43 yard run, capped off with a front flip into the end zone for a touchdown. Thomas, didn’t miss out on the party as he came down with six receptions for 63 yards and TD.The receivers will be a factor that the Raiders must have a plan for. A route tactician in Sanders Womens Kelechi Osemele Jersey , a big physical monster in Thomas, along with talented rookie Courtland Sutton. The Raiders have the defensive backs to match up well with the Broncos. What will be imperative once again is the Raiders linebacking corp be quick to cover curl to flats. Also worth noting, Musgrave loves to draw up passing plays against cover-2 defense. Choosing to launch attacks on the safeties by forcing them to make a hi-lo decision. Philip Lindsay and Royce Freeman are a young prototypical thunder and lightning combination. The 5’8”, 190-pound Lindsay is the scat back who took a 19-yard screen pass to the house last week. He also split carries with the 6’, 229-pound Freeman. They ran for the exact same carries and yards17 times for 51 yards (4.7 ypc). These two backs will be featured and ran early as well as often. Musgrave is a believer in using the run to set up the pass. It’s always Miller time on defenseI don’t know how Von Miller didn’t win AFC Defensive player of the week. He sacked the Russell Wilson 3 times, caused 2 fumbles, and danced all over the Seahawks backfield. Miller is the unquestioned leader of this defense and they will go as he goes. Fifth overall pick Bradley Chubb showed promise but they ask him to drop back in coverage and he really shouldn’t. Chubb wasn’t asked to do much pass coverage at NC State, but he is now. Chubb has all the talent in the world and it would provide the Broncos with the luxury of two dominant edge rushers at a fraction of the price of $141/M with $90/M guaranteed. I’m just saying. The defensive backfield was once the most dominant unit in all of football. Now they are a shell of their former selves much like the now former Legion of Boom. Chris Harris Jr. is a great corner who gives receivers fits, Bradley Roby is a question mark, to be honest. He needs to have a good season now that he’s in the spotlight and no longer the third guy. Adding wily veteran Adam ‘Pac Man’ Jones is a risky move that could help pay off. Russell Wilson, in between running for his life, and avoiding pass rushers was able to complete 19 passes for 298 yards 3 TD’s and 2 INT’s. The GameplanOpportunities for Derek Carr and Amari Cooper to reunite and reform AC/DC will be plentiful. The Broncos gave up touchdown passes of 51 yards to Tyler Lockett, 15 yards to Will Dissly (3 catches 105 yards 1 TD Womens Justin Ellis Jersey , from a primarily blocking tight end), and 20 yards to 34-year-old Brandon Marshall. To handicap Wilson further, Doug Baldwin his favorite target was injured early in the first half and did not return. Head coach Jon Gruden has called out his quarterback and let it be known early he won’t be handling missed opportunity with kid gloves. An educated guess would suggest that Cooper, Jordy Nelson, and recently re-signed Martavis Bryant will get many looks this week. Dissly was targeted five times, catching three passes; one for a touchdown, one that narrowly missed, and another. Jared Cook is coming off a career night and a franchise record-setting performance, could this be part deux? Should the Broncos commit Brandon Marshall the linebacker to help the safety, it will further compromise a run defense which has been suspect as of late.The run game was abandoned early against the Rams, it was abandoned and Carr was without the threat of a play-action pass nearly all game. Lynch and the offensive line came out cracking pads and taking it to the Rams early, then it just went away. This offensive line must impose their will on the Broncos’ defense and maintain the edge in time of possession which won’t be an easy task.