The season is approaching. The editorial staff of DNA of Sports invites you to take stock of the strengths and weaknesses of the 32 franchises. Today, the Las Vegas Raiders 2023. You can find all the presentations by clicking on this link.
In a city popular with tourists, the Raiders are just one entertainment among many and the fill rate of the Allegiant Stadium was only the 26th in the NFL in 2022!
Just Win Babythe motto of the legendary Al Davis (ex-owner) seems far away.
Last season: 6 wins – 11 losses, did not qualify for the playoffs
Movements in the off-season
Notable arrivals: Jimmy Garoppolo (QB), Marcus Peters (CB), Jakobi Meyers (WR), Austin Hooper (TE), DeAndre Carter (KR), John Jenkins (DT), Robert Spillane (LB), Brian Hoyer (QB)
Re-signings: Jermaine Eluemunor (OL), Alex Bars (OG), Brandon Parker (OT), Jerry Tillery (DT), Ameer Abdullah (RB), Jakob Johnson (FB)
Draft: Tyree Wilson (DE), Michael Mayer (TE), Byron Young (DT), Tre Tucker (WR), Jakorian Bennett (CB), Aidan O’Connell (QB), Christopher Smith (S), Amari Burney (LB) ), Nesta Jade Sivera (DT)
Notable Losses: Derek Carr (QB), Darren Waller (TE), Mack Hollins (WR), Clelin Ferrell (DE), Denzel Perryman (LB), Rock Ya-Sin (CB), Johnathan Abram (S)
The main change comes in the most important position: goodbye and thank you Derek Carr, welcome Jimmy Garoppolo. As always in this sport, the win-loss balance will depend above all on his success (or not). The newcomer has the advantage of knowing the playbook of coach Josh McDaniels well, whom he previously worked with at the Patriots.
Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham had the opportunity to coach a team during the all-important Senior Bowl 2023. What to evaluate the players: qualities, fit with diagrams of the Raiders and characters. No coincidence then if Jakorian Bennett, Tre Tucker and Nesta Silvera were drafted by Las Vegas: all three spent the first week of February under the orders of Patrick Graham in the team National. The Raiders also chose Byron Young (DT) and Christopher Smith III (DB), two players who also shone in the 2023 Senior Bowl (team American).
The team therefore bet their draft on players who were assessed as compatible with the team’s systems. How to make them perform quickly?
The strong points)
Football is a collective sport but the results of a team often depend on individuals. The Raiders have one of the five lowest roster in the NFL but have five top 5 players in their positions! Starting with receiver Davante Adams, runner Josh Jacobs and Mad Maxx Crosby on defense.
The latter conquered the fans from his rookie season, in 2019, with 10 sacks! In 2021, he dominates his position with 101 pressures, 19 QB Hits and a pass rush win rate by 24.2%: leader in the NFL in all these categories! He does it again in 2022 with a little less pressure (81 all the same) but more sacks (12.5).
Thanks to his wife and a franchise known to support its players in this type of event (cf. Darren Waller), he knew how to put all the assets on his side, as he told ESPN before the 2022 season:
“Alcoholics are very numerous in my family and I was one of them. From high school all the way to the NFL, I was partying all the time! It was hard to change but I was able to get to the point where I wanted to do it right: sobriety, training and nutrition. »
Despised or at best ignored players, kickers and punters are nevertheless important in a game. Just like Adams, Jacobs and Crosby, the Raiders have two players also in the top 5 NFL at their positions with Daniel Carlson (K) and AJ Cole (P).
Every coach has their own way of looking at football. So smartly, manager Dave Ziegler provided Josh McDaniels with seasoned players for his system.
Jakobi Meyers has very sure hands: 344 career receptions for only 8 drops! He is also very precise in his lines to stand out between 8 and 12 yards. Recruited as a quarterback by NC State in 2015, this experience allows him to understand how to make himself “open” for a pitcher. He knows by heart the play calls of his coach with whom he had three joint seasons in Boston.
With Notre Dame, Michael Mayer (2nd round of the 2023 draft) developed a very complete tree of routes and he excelled in particular in games cross And sail. The first starts on one side to go to the other and catch the ball in the middle of this race. The second road offers to take advantage of deep runs on each side, to capture the ball in the axis of the field (see diagram below). These two play calls are regularly used in Josh McDaniels’ offense.
credits: weeklyspiral.com
The weak spots)
Like a tree hiding misery, the five superior individuals must try to hide the weaknesses of the workforce in almost all positions! This is especially true in defense.
More than the race, it was the air defense that was pitiful in 2022: only 6 interceptions (no one did worse) and 27th defense allowing a 1st pass attempt!
Nate Hobbs, Jakorian Bennett, Duke Shelley, Brandon Facyson, Amik Robertson, David Long and Sam Webb: a list of cornerbacks that puts a smile on every Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert and Russell Wilson of the AFC West division! The staff therefore signed a player with 7 seasons of NFL experience. Native of Oakland, Marcus Peters and his 32 career interceptions finally joins this franchise of the Raiders of which he is a fan since his childhood.
And to help a defensive backfield, nothing better than to reduce their coverage time by forcing quarterbacks to throw very quickly. In 2022, the Raiders were the 30th team in number of sacks! Tyree Wilson, with his power to get rid of blocks and his stature as an NBA basketball player, is a reinforcement of choice alongside Maxx Crosby and Chandler Jones.
Often decried by fans of other franchises because following this from afar, the offensive line has held its rank in 2022: 9th in conceded sacks and efficient for the ground game. Arrived in the luggage of Josh McDaniels from Boston, Carmen Bricillo does a lot with little as a coach of the odefensive line.
The X Factor: Jimmy Garoppolo (QB)
For his second season in charge, the coach has obtained the object of his desire: a new quarterback. Jimmy Garoppolo knows the preferential patterns of Josh McDaniels: the two worked together in New England for three seasons. He therefore does not have to learn new verbiage (codes for each game), nor have to adapt to an unusual way of playing.
Sometimes criticized, “Jimmy G” still played a Super Bowl and won 44 games out of his 61 starts with San Francisco! Rarely spectacular, he also knows how to be precise when it counts the most with 62% completions when he is in the last 10 yards (4th NFL in 2022): enough to be realistic and materialize on a maximum of offensive series!
But to do this, he will have to stay healthy: 30 games missed in his last 5 seasons! If he is on the ground, he will be able to rely on a formidable playmaker.
Player to watch: Davante Adams (WR)
Nine NFL seasons and over nine thousand yards! Davante Adams is one of the best players in the league. Came to find his friend from college last year, he will have to be as efficient despite the departure of Derek Carr.
If he is the master of the air, he will be well supported with all kinds of profiles: Jakobi Meyers as a reliable WR2, Hunter Renfrow, Austin Hooper and Michael Mayer in the center of the field and the fast Phillip Dorsett (3 seasons with Josh McDaniels at the Patriots) and Tre Tucker to attack depth.
2023 Las Vegas Raiders schedule
@Broncos, @Bills, Steelers, @Chargers, Packers, Patriots, @Bears, @Lions, Giants, Jets, @Dolphins, Chiefs, BYE, Vikings, Chargers, @Chiefs, @Colts, Broncos
Las Vegas does not seem equipped to defend the air against players like Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson, Josh Allen, Justin Herbert, Aaron Rodgers, Kirk Cousins and Tua Tagovailoa, whom they will meet in two thirds of their matches in 2023!
The audio preview
In summary
The Raiders’ offense will score points but the defense will also allow plenty. In 2023, the Raiders fan feels like a gambler while playing: the hope of winning is exhilarating. But the sad reality (of too low a workforce) could quickly make him return home empty-handed.
Josh McDaniels nevertheless hopes that his strong assets will give him a “good hand”.
