Oakland Raiders Film Room: Week 6 (SD)

Defense

The Oakland defense, like many defenses this season had a tough time containing the exceptional San Diego offense. QB Philip Rivers was able to use his talents and confidence to find (or create) open receivers most of the day. RB Branden Oliver was able to rack up yards consistently, especially up the weak Oakland middle. There were some good signs though. CB TJ Carrie played a mostly solid game. LB Khalil Mack and DE Justin Tuck had good games, especially against run attempts more to the outside. Oakland even experimented with some different personnel packages in their attempts to slow down the Rivers led offense.

With San Diego in the red zone and threatening to score Oakland brings out their nickel sub package (2 DL, 4 LBs, 5 DBs) in Cover 4/Quarters coverage. San Diego motions into a compressed doubles formation with stacked receivers on both sides in 12 personnel (1 RB, 2 TEs, 2 WRs) and looks to use the size advantage on the TE side (bottom of image) to bully in a TD. San Diego TE Ladarius Green runs immediately toward the soft spot between the safeties in the middle of the field, pulling Oakland S Usama Young in with him. TE Antonio Gates crosses in front of Green on his outside stem and has one goal, to find the soft spot between Usama Young and TJ Carrie at the goal line. Carrie keeps watches Rivers and breaks on Gates’ route when Rivers moves his eyes to him then makes an impressive physical play to make sure Gates doesn’t come down with the TD catch.