The Latest: Texas cities start assessing hurricane damage
OAKLAND — Derek Carr was back at the Coliseum Saturday night, looking for the most part like the guy who led the Raiders to a dozen wins last season.
Marshawn Lynch sat for the national anthem, but it’s doubtful the home fan base will get too worked up about it based his first two carries in silver and black.
As for the first-team defense, the fans will be in a state of high anxiety until the regular-season opener based on how the Raiders were picked apart by second-year quarterback Jared Goff in a 24-21 exhibition loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
The Rams pulled it out when former Foothill High star Sean Mannion threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Josh Reynolds against Chris Humes with 1:11 to play.
Goff led the Rams to a 17-14 halftime lead and completed 16 of 20 passes for 160 yards and a 23-yard touchdown pass, looking nothing like the unsure rookie who was last year’s No. 1 pick out of Cal.
Carr led the Raiders to touchdown drives on two of his three possessions, going 7-for-9 for 100 yards and scoring passes of 19 yards to Lee Smith and 13 yards to Michael Crabtree.
“It was great to see Derek back out,” coach Jack Del Rio said. “Great to see Marshawn get a couple of carries, didn’t have a huge workload for him, but got him started.”
Carr threw a happy feet interception to Trumaine Johnson on the Raiders second possession, but all in all looked like the same player whose season ended last Christmas Eve with a broken fibula.
Lynch bulled for six yards on his first carry and four on his second. After a conversation with Del Rio, the two exchanged a laugh, and Lynch went to the locker room and took off his shoulder pads to take the rest of the night off.
The big concern for the Raiders was a first-team defense that was jeered by the home fans — and justifiably so — as Goff led the Rams 85 yards in eight plays and a 23-yard touchdown pass to an almost comically open Cooper Kupp.
By the end of the first quarter, the Rams had gained 138 yards, were averaging 7.3 yards per snap and had scored two touchdowns.
“Things that we’ve talked about for too long, in terms of communication errors and eye violations, just keep us from being a good defense,” Del Rio said.
THREE IMPRESSIONS
1. The stars are good to go: Carr’s first game back was a success, even with an interception and a delay of game penalty. It remains to be seen whether Del Rio will deem it necessary to have his most valuable player go into the third quarter against Dallas as often the custom in the preseason.
On his first snap on the Coliseum floor since his broken fibula, Carr lined up under center and handed it to Lynch, who bulled for six yards. Any fans who took issue with Lynch sitting for the national anthem were instead breaking into cheers.
Carr’s 14-yard touchdown pass to Lee Smith split two defenders, his 13-yard score to Crabtree was largely the work of Crabtree, who nearly broke the ankles of Troy Hill on a reverse pivot.
Free agent tight end Jared Cook flared on a crossing route and gained 19 yards on his first catch. Amari Cooper perfectly high-pointed a 31-yard contested pass.
And Khalil Mack thwarted the Rams second possession with a thundering sack of Goff.
Lynch had one more carry, gained four yards, and took the rest of the night off.
2. Defense a sieve: What can you say when the home crowd lets loose with boos after the very first possession?
The Rams and Goff made the first drive looked ridiculously easy. Kupp, a first-round draft pick, finished with six catches for 70 yards and a touchdown.
The Raiders defense gave up five of six third down conversions in the first half. Running back Todd Gurley took a handoff and what should have should have been a 1-yard gain turned in to a 9-yard gain.
Tight ends roamed free. Sound familiar?
3. Donald Penn may be getting antsy: If general manager Reggie McKenzie is trying to make Penn think the Raiders are fine going forward with Marshall Newhouse at left tackle, he got some help against the Rams.
Carr was given ample time to throw, and Newhouse was particularly stout on Carr’s 31-completion to Cooper.
Training camp is over and the Raiders have returned to the home facility in Alameda. After Penn’s initial absence, it seemed clear he had no intention of reporting to Napa and his scheduled $5.8 million salary.
The question is how far McKenzie is willing to go to squeeze a highly-regarded veteran player who clearly outperformed his contract. With the preseason halfway over and Sept. 10 looming, perhaps the two sides can get something done this week.
THREE WHO HELPED THEMSELVES
1. Quarterback Connor Cook: Directed an 11-play 65-yard scoring drive that ended with a perfectly thrown 17-yard touchdown pass to Johnny Holton to put the Raiders on top in the fourth quarter.
Cook at that point was 7 of 10 for 70 yards. Contrast that with a 3-for-9, 16-yard effort by backup EJ Manuel and the race to back up Derek Carr is suddenly a dead heat with two preseason games to go.
The game ended with Cook taking a sack, but he put the Raiders in position for the win.
“I thought he played better than EJ,” Del Rio said. “I don’t think either one of them was quite as sharp as the first night.”
2. Newhouse: Was solid as a pass blocker and looked as if he could hold down left tackle if the Raiders won’t deal with Penn.
Ideally, Penn comes back and the Raiders have what could be a quality tackle on the right side after struggling with Menelik Watson a year ago.
3. Linebacker Jelani Jenkins: Gave up a first-down throw, but saw a lot of time with the first unit and wasn’t a primary culprit for many of the errors.
Jenkins has been running behind Cory James all training camp, got his most substantial playing time, had six tackles, and at the least has kept himself in position to challenge for the weak side linebacker job vacated by Malcolm Smith.
THREE WHO HURT THEMSELVES
1. Defensive tackle Eddie Vanderdoes: The rookie has had the look of a step-in-and-play starter who the Raiders hoped could collapse the pocket.
There was almost no push against Goff by the first team defense other than Mack. Defensive tackle Justin “Jelly” Ellis can be included here too, because while the Rams didn’t run it all that often, they were letting Gurley get yards after contact.
2. Linebacker Marquel Lee: More of the same for the fifth-round draft pick out of Wake Forest, who struggled against Arizona.
For complete Oakland Raiders coverage follow us on Flipboard.During the Rams first possession, Lee was juked by not overly nimble tight end Gerald Everett for a 24-yard gain.
Del Rio said after the game he thought Smith has played well, particularly against the run.
3. Cornerback TJ Carrie: Sean Smith, free on bail after being arrested on two felony charges of battery, started on the outside and didn’t distinguish himself, but at least he had a better day that Carrie.
Kupp, the Rams rookie, got the better of Carrie from the outset. The fourth-year corner will be on the roster, but will be looking to rebound. It wasn’t one of his better nights.
EXTRA POINTS
— Regarding the arrest of Smith, Del Rio said, “We’ll let him battle what legal issues he has. I think you heard the story. He was defending his sister. Things occurred that were taken issue with so he’s having to defend himself.”
Smith’s lawyer, Daniel Rosenberg, has maintained his client’s innocence to several media outlets. Smith, Rosenberg said, will enter a not guilty plea at his arraignment and fight the charges.
— Safety Shalom Luani kneeled for the first half of the national anthem but said he was praying, as is his normal custom before games. Linebacker Bruce Irvin raised a first, and Carr kept his hand on Mack’s shoulder for the entirety of the anthem.
— Guard/center Jon Feliciano, perhaps buoyed by catching a Marquette King on the final day of practice, fielded a short kickoff and returned it 18 yards in the first quarter.
— Players who didn’t suit up for the Raiders were CB Gareon Conley, DB Keith McGill, LB Ben Heeney, G Denver Kirkland, TE Cooper Helfet and DL Jihad Ward.
Comments
Post a Comment