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Matchups to Watch: Oakland Raiders at Tennessee Titans

By Seth Murphy

Aug 27, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack (52) attempts to rush past Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) in the second quarter at Oakland Alameda Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 27, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack (52) attempts to rush past Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) in the second quarter at Oakland Alameda Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 29, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker (82) catches the ball prior to the game against the Oakland Raiders at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 29, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker (82) catches the ball prior to the game against the Oakland Raiders at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /

Raiders Safeties vs. Delanie Walker

Who is going to cover Delanie Walker? I really don’t know. None of the LBs will be able to stay with him.

On Thursday I tweeted (with much disdain from Raider Nation) that Keith McGill may be the best option from a physical standpoint, but he isn’t particularly good.

It could be Nate Allen, though he isn’t a phenomenal option either.

Karl Joseph is likely too small to cover Walker, although he is athletic enough.

The fact is that it will probably be a mixture of Allen and McGill with LBs and CBs seeing some snaps matched up with him.

Fortunately for the Raiders, Walker is injured and was unable to practice on Friday. Unfortunately for the Raiders, Walker at 50 percent is likely far too much talent for the team to defend.

The teams ability to cover any player, particularly a TE, has been vomit inducing. Oakland gave up “Madden” yardage to a bunch of third-tier tight ends in Atlanta and now face the prospect of covering Walker, a veteran star TE that through two games, is on pace for 1,000 yards this season.

There is nothing that suggests to me that Walker will be kept in check unless he is unable to play on Sunday. He is too talented and any non-CB on this defense is either too small or not athletic enough (or in many cases both) to cover him.

Walker should be their bread and butter, racking up plenty of yardage and a TD or two if this defense doesn’t step up big time.

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