Las Vegas Raiders

Week 3 Notes and Observations: Oakland Raiders at Tennessee Titans

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

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Miscellaneous scouting notes and observations following the Oakland Raiders’ Week 3 road victory over the Tennessee Titans.

In Week 3, the Oakland Raiders traveled back southeast with a 1-1 record. They returned home above the .500 mark with after a nail-biting 17-10 win over the Titans.

After allowing 500+ yards and 34+ points in each of the prior two contests, the Raiders’ defense turned a positive corner. Oakland reduced the yards allowed to a more manageable 393. More importantly, three forced turnovers and several key stops — including the final drive inside the red zone — meant the Titans could only muster 10 points.

PFF grades are in and, unsurprisingly, show an improved defensive performance in Week 3 — most notably in the secondary.

While the offense got out to an early lead and did enough to win, the team failed to score in the second half and almost enabled a last-minute Titans comeback. The offense must not stagnate when holding a lead, especially on the road.

Special teams did enough to help the team earn the win, with a notable achievement from the longest-tenured Raider, Sebastian Janikowski.

Here are various notes and observations from the second road win of the year, including all areas of the game — offense, defense, and special teams.

Sep 25, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Oakland Raiders cornerback Sean Smith (21) celebrates after defeating the Tennessee Titans 17-10 at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

Defense – Arrow Up

1. Secondary Rebirth

After two weeks of getting torched in the air, the Raiders’ defense showed a major improvement from the DB corps.

The Raiders caught a break just before the game, as Pro Bowl TE Delanie Walker was ruled inactive with a bad hamstring. Dating back to 2015, the TE position has been a major thorn in the side of the Raiders’ defense.

Not having to face Walker, who registered a 1,000 yard season last year, was a major plus before kickoff. Despite Walker sitting, the top air yardage allowed did go to Titans’ TE Jace Amaro, although the 59 yards did not change the game.

No other Titans receiving option topped 50 yards and the team as a whole was held to just 214 yards through the air.

Rookie first-round pick Karl Joseph got his first career start in place of the struggling Keith McGill, brining energy and physicality to the backfield that had been lacking.

Joseph played 61 of 68 defensive snaps and led the team in tackles with 10. It was a quality starting debut for the rookie, and certainly earned him another start.

Sean Smith, benched against New Orleans and abused again vs. Atlanta, finally showed why he got paid this offseason. Smith played all 68 defensive snaps and contributed a nice interception on an in-cut route off Tennessee QB Marcus Mariota. He broke up another pass and held Titans outside targets Tajae Sharpe and Rishard Matthews in check.

Additional offseason free-agent signing Reggie Nelson also played all 68 snaps and contributed an interception and nifty return at the end of the first half. Nelson also defended two balls and continued to prove himself as a reliable tackler as the last line of defense from the free safety spot. Like Smith, it was easily Nelson’s best game in the Silver & Black.

A recurring weekly theme at this point, David Amerson remained the top performer in the back line. Amerson, whose status was uncertain early in the week after an apparent concussion suffered in Atlanta, stepped back in and stepped up. The lanky outside CB swatted away a team-high four passes, and locked up the Titans’ target on his side. This was a repeat of a quality game in Tennessee last year for Amerson.

Even D.J. Hayden got in on the act with a pair of impact tackles from his new home in the slot CB position.

Overall, the DBs easily had their best game of the year and are a unit that should continue to rise as they gain comfort together and in the scheme. Veterans Joe Flacco, Steve Smith, Dennis Pitta and Mike Wallace will provide a test to the unit in week 4 in Baltimore.

2. Inside Backers

The Raiders’ Week 1 and 2 inside LBs of Malcolm Smith and Ben Heeney looked over matched versus both the run and the pass through two weeks of 2016. This subpar play opened the door for a second defensive rookie, ILB Cory James, to crack the starting lineup in Tennessee.

James responded in Heeney’s stead. The rookie put up seven physical tackles against the Titans big RB corps, and secured a nice gap-knifing TFL.

Smith stayed in the lineup and played all 68 snaps, with fine results, while James played 65 of the 68 snaps at the Mike. Heeney saw just one defensive snap on the day and had a bigger presence on special teams than defense.

Despite the improved overall defensive performance, the ILB corps continues to be a question mark going forward. The team yielded 181 yards on the ground to the Titans run game. Having James prove he can contribute only helps, however.

With Marcel Reece being cut, it remains to be seen if the Raiders will add competition to the ILB corps with an open roster spot available.

3. D-Line/Edge

While the defensive backs carried the defense and the ILBs continued to wobble, but improve marginally, the D-Line showed improvement but still lacked playmaking.

The much hyped Slash Brothers of All-Pro Khalil Mack and offseason acquisition Bruce Irvin continue to struggle to get off the ground with an edge rush. While Irvin had a QB hit and a forced fumble on a scramble, the overall pass rush continues to be stagnant.

With Mario Edwards Jr. sidelined with a bad hip, the Raiders have struggled to find an interior pass rush force. The team utilized a rotation of DL in another hot one, with Denico Autry playing 32 snaps, Stacey McGee taking 28, Darius Latham getting 27, Dan Williams taking 19 and Jelly Ellis seeing 17. The bodies are there, the issue is getting some production and push from these big fellas up front.

We have yet to see the Raiders’ defensive front take over any portion of a game. After three games, it is becoming a notably dry unit of the team. DL coach Jethro Franklin has worked magic in the past and it is time to see the big dogs up front wreck an opposing offensive game plan.

Sep 25, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Oakland Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski (11) makes a field goal during the first half against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Special Teams – Arrow Flat

1. New Record for Seabass

Sebastian Janikowski, drafted in 2000, is the Raiders’ longest-tenured player by far. The elder statesman added to his record book listing by booting a 52-yard field goal in the first half. This kick gave him the All-Time NFL record for most 50+ yard FGs. Salute to the Polish Cannon on another achievement.

2. Punting

The Raiders punt game is a weapon. Marquette King has a boom and players like Brynden Trawick, Taiwan Jones and Daren Bates can cover. The problem this week was King put some punts in the endzone that could have been inside the 20 instead. King is a true weapon and the more he can give his guys a chance to corral the ball close to the goal line, the better the Raiders will be. This is something to tighten up for Week 4.

3. Taiwan Jones

The Taiwan Jones kickoff return watch continues. Jones had one kick returned for 16 yards. Better than last week’s muff, but still not a result that inspires confidence. Jones needs to dial it up, and catch/protect that ball reliably. There are other options on the roster.

Sep 25, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Oakland Raiders players Clive Walford (88), Kelechi Osemele (70), Derek Carr (4), Gabe Jackson (66) and Latavius Murray (28) celebrate after defeating the Tennessee Titans 17-10 at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Offense – Arrow Down Slightly

1. Passing Targets 

The Raiders put up a respectable 249 yards through the air, led by Michael Crabtree’s eight key catches for 102 yards in his 50 snaps of work. Crabtree was easily the skill player of the game, coming up with several key catches that moved the chains on critical third downs.

The problem for the rest of the unit was drops. Each of Amari Cooper, Seth Roberts and Clive Walford had a notable drop.

Cooper played 52 snaps, leading the WR corps, but settled in with just four catches for 62 yards. A key 3rd down drop in the second half kept the Titans in the game. Amari is a star in the making, but he needs to focus in and catch every pass. No excuses.

Roberts and Walford played 40 and 44 snaps respectively and contributed in the pass game, including a Roberts TD, but they both had bad drops. This can’t happen especially in close games.  Hit the jugs machine gentlemen.

2. The Offensive Line

For the third week in a row, the Raiders’ offensive line saw an injury-forced turnstile at right tackle. This time, rookie swingman Vadal Alexander entered the game for starter Menelik Watson. Alexander played a serviceable 44 snaps in relief. The injury bug at RT is shaping up to be a problem. Will the Raiders add an additional OT option with the open roster spot?

Derek Carr faced his first true sack of the year in this one — a four yard loss — but generally had time to work.

The four other OL stalwarts, LT Donald Penn, LG Kelechi Osemele, C Rodney Hudson and RG Gabe Jackson, logged all 65 offensive snaps. The run game piled up another 123 yards and a touchdown on the ground. After three games, the run blocking continues to be an area of strength. Big TE Lee Smith logged 35 offensive snaps and is an honorary Big Ugly.

The Raiders’ OL is a team strength but that RT position — with the injuries of Watson, Austin Howard and Matt McCants — is troubling.

3. The Backfield

For the third consecutive week, Derek Carr showed leadership and poise from the QB position. However, the third-year QB saw his streak without a turnover end, as he was intercepted for the first time on the year. The batted pass into traffic was intercepted by Avery Williamson and helped keep the Titans in the game.

Aside from the turnover, Carr continued to work efficiently, completing 21 of 35 passes despite the plague of pass drops. Carr averaged 7.1 yards per pass attempt.

The backfield is a full-on committee. Jack Del Rio indicated the strength of the backfield as a whole was a major reason for the release of long-time FB/RB Reece.

Latavius Murray remains the lead back, but his margin is slipping. Murray played 31 of the 65 snaps and ran 10 times for 37 yards, while also adding another TD from 22 yards out.  Murray continues to be the go-to RB in pass protection.

The now-established committee joining Murray featured a somewhat dazzling performance by DeAndre Washington, who busted open a nice 30-yard carry and led the team with 57 ground yards on just six carries in 18 snaps.

Fellow-rookie Jalen Richard played 13 snaps, with six carries for 28 yards and a 13-yard reception on a key third down on the first scoring drive.

Jamize Olawale did not contribute notably as a ball carrier, but saw a healthy 22 snaps in primarily blocking duty.

Overall, offensively, the team froze up a bit in the second half when one score would have put the game essentially out of reach.

Oakland Raiders Week 3 Conclusion

The 2016 Oakland Raiders secured their second road win in as many chances. Just two years removed from a 2014 season where the team did not win a road contest, this is a good sign of improvement already. That said, there remains much to clean up collectively.

While the defense showed a notable improvement, and the special teams did well enough to help earn the win, the offense took a step back and did not close the deal. The Raiders are still looking for that ‘A’ game in all three phases.

The Raiders face another road test this week, as they travel east again, this time to face the 3-0 Ravens in Baltimore. Will the team be able to string together its first win streak of the year?

See you here next Tuesday for notes on what is hopefully another road W for the Silver & Black.

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