Raiders vs Texans Not a Good Look For New Regime

Sep 7, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Jeremy Kerley (11) makes a reception in front of Oakland Raiders linebacker Miles Burris (56) during the second quarter of a game at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Horrible Personnel Decision

I’ve never seen a coaching staff try so hard to get a guy that’s so bad at what he does to start for his football team. Allen isn’t known for playing the best players as he showed in 2012 when he started Matt Giordano over Mike Mitchell at free safety. His new man is linebacker Miles Burris, who as a rookie, led the league in missed tackles and had the worst burn percentage in pass coverage among linebackers.

After missing last year with an injury, Burris was the starter over Sio Moore, the team’s best linebacker early in training camp. The cream rose to the top there so since middle linebacker Nick Roach sustained a concussion, Allen jumped Burris over backup middle linebacker Kaluka Maiava. Maiava is the best linebacker the Raiders have against the inside run while Burris can’t find the ball carrier before it’s too late.

The runs of 70 and 40 yards the Raiders gave up were right in the area the worst linebacker in the NFL should have been in.  Having the NFL’s worst middle linebacker has led to the Raiders having by far the worst run defense in the NFL. Allen’s determination to make Burris a star is killing the Raiders so there’s no need to talk about his game planning until that’s fixed.

You can’t get whiskey out of a bottle of wine and the fact that Allen is trying to isn’t a good look for the new regime.