Las Vegas Raiders

Blackhanside's Raiders Recap: Remember The Titans

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

Video highlights and film review of the Oakland Raiders’ Week 3 victory over the Tennessee Titans.

Victory Monday — everything smells a little bit sweeter after victory.

The Oakland Raiders defense staggered into week three battered, bloodied and belligerent due to the absurd amount of yardage and points surrendered in the previous two weeks.

After record setting disappointments leading to the most yards allowed by any defense since WWII, Jack Del Rio finally told Ken Norton Jr. to “pass the sticks”.

Del Rio didn’t “fix” the defense in one week but he did give us several reasons to be optimistic.

While there are still things that need to be cleaned up, chemistry seems to be less of an issue.

Comparing Week 2 to Week 3 is night and day. No head scratching, confusion, or signs of DB’s throwing their hands in air in frustration. The defense came out as a unit for the first time in the 2016 Season.

The spark provided by first-round draft pick Karl Joseph and late-round selection Cory James was filled with physicality, confidence and vigor.

Perfect example of team chemistry on display. Malcolm Smith, opposite Cory James at ILB, avoids playing “Hero Ball” and kill this running play as a team:

Chemistry and physicality we didnt have last wk. Smith commits to the run taking on the OL trusting James to make the tackle #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/YGGOALcirc

— Blackhanside (@blackhanside) September 26, 2016

While Tennessee still had a good day on the ground, they were unable to turn loose the two behemoth backs consistently enough to present a solid threat. Largely because of the ILB’s tendency to attack the LOS:

Preventing the offense from going North and South helped neutralize the power that Tennessee’s backs use so successfully:

Another example:

There were instances where the Titans were able to head upfield. The Raiders’ defense brought the physicality necessary to stop them dead in their tracks:

Another example:

While there were plenty of smashmouth plays, ball skills were the most noteworthy area of excellence on Sunday. Reggie Nelson is “Johnny on the spot”:

Nelson, once again:

Sean Smith was probably the most improved player of the defense. While being targeted six times due to poor performances in the first two weeks, Smith only allowed one catch for 19 yards.

On this play he Ryan Lochte’d the WR for the ball. “Man my mama gave me that chain”:

In conclusion, this season is far from over. It seems like this team, this defense, is just getting started.

-Blackhanside