Oakland Raiders veterans should help quell locker room woes
Sep 21, 2014; Foxborough, MA, USA; Oakland Raiders defensive end Justin Tuck (91) reacts to a call against the Raiders during the second half of their 16-9 loss to the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Tough loss. There’s no other way to say it than that. It was a tough, hard-fought loss that still amounts to a record of 0-3 at the end of the day. The Oakland Raiders are in a very rough situation right now. With all the rumors and reports swirling around the teams coaching situation, it will be the veterans who have to keep the locker room in order.
Players who are relevant, like Justin Tuck, Charles Woodson, Antonio Smith, James Jones, etc…, must help the other players keep their wits about them in these trying times. As they say, cooler heads will prevail. Let’s hope so. Obviously something changed from Week 1 and 2 to Week 3. The team that took the field against a Tom Brady fueled offense was definitely not the same team Raider Nation had previously seen. What changed?
The players in the locker room are what changed. The veteran presence has helped to mold the younger players and keep them moving forward. Although there were some distasteful words from Charles Woodson after the Week 2 loss to the Houston Texans, his words were absolutely true and warranted. Those words may very well have been the fuel that helped to stoke the fire of change within the locker room itself.
Week 4 will be a test of durability and moral fortitude, as the Raiders will travel a long distance across the Atlantic Ocean to play against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday at Wembley Stadium in London, England. With the injury bug beginning to bite, it’s time for players to step up and start making some plays. Those hard catches are going to need to be caught, the tough runs extended a couple more yards, quarterbacks sacked, balls taken away, etc… A win headed into a two-week break (bye week) will be something that can help to turn this thing around.
Though, the Dolphins will be a tough team to beat. If the Raiders can somehow get this running attack nailed down, then there’s a chance that it will open up the passing game a bit more. The defense was working hard to give their leader, Derek Carr, a chance to come from behind and bring home that win in Foxborough, now it’s time they do it in London. The more chances Carr gets, the more he will prove to be everything that we, the fans, are hoping he is.
0-3 is not the end of the world, but it is a very tough place to be. Not many teams have been able to get into the post-season when they have started 0-3, but there’s always a glimmer of hope. I don’t know what the bye week will bring (new Head Coach or not), but the Raiders desperately need the veterans to step up and lead this team to a victory over the Dolphins. Go Raiders!