Week 4 Mailbag: Oakland Raiders

Week 4 of the JBB Mailbag, answering questions from Twitter about the Oakland Raiders win against the Baltimore Ravens and also any questions looking ahead to the Week 5 matchup with the San Diego Chargers.

Three days later, and I’m still trying to catch my breath. Only four weeks into the season, and I swear this team has taken a decade (more!) off of my life with the climatic finishes.

Although before I glance at your submissions, this week, I want to say this: we should be proud of this team. Immensely. Now they don’t hand out Lombardi trophies for 3-1 records, and I’m aware of that. But are you witnessing what I’m witnessing? A year or two ago, we’re a 1-3 ball club, easily.

So I say that to say, let’s ease our fandom off the pessimistic gas pedal, and realize the progression we’re seeing transpire throughout this entire organization. The culture is changing for the Oakland Raiders — through leadership, heart, and resiliency. All those elements, combined, are translating into wins.

And that’s what this whole thing is about, no — just winning, baby?

Listen, it hurt us all to have to bid farewell to Marcel. With that being said, even with the unfortunate result of Lee Smith’s season-ending injury, Marcel Reece’ time as an Oakland Raider is a thing of the past.

It’s like the significant other before your spouse. You two had a nice long run, and they were a key part of your life, during a time — college, perhaps — that you may have been struggling. But ultimately, it ran its course. And guess what, as green as that grass was, the future looks like it’s about to get a whole lot greener.

The team promoted tight end Ryan O’Malley to the active roster, this afternoon, from the practice squad. O’Malley is a rookie out of Penn, and at 6’5″, 265, he boasts tremendous size. I, for one, am interested in seeing how the rookie fares in the blocking role.

I’d have to disagree, here. This would only be inviting more time on the field for our defense, in my opinion. Our offense is increasingly showing signs of the potential to blow through the tunnel, and right out the stadium lately. If we start hurrying our offense up, we could very well cut our time of possession down drastically — which would spell more snaps for our defense.

This is a tremendous opportunity for Mychal Rivera to show that he can still be a productive member of this offense, and team, in whatever fit our coaching staff deems best for him.

Certainly with the injury to Smith, there will be opportunity for Rivera, though let’s not forget that Clive Walford also got banged up in Baltimore. So now, more than ever, is the time for Rivera to capitalize on any and all snaps he receives.

As for Daren Bates, forget replacing Heeney — could we even see him start this Sunday, if Malcolm Smith can’t go?

The front office just signed veteran linebacker Perry Riley, but it’s unknown what sort of football shape he’s in, especially coming off of foot surgery this past February. I think Bates gets the start Sunday.

A little known secret throughout Raider Nation, I’m actually a lifelong ‘Bama fan. I’ve watched Coop since his junior year at Miami Northwestern, when Teddy Bridgewater was his quarterback. And what I’m noticing, based on his on-field body language, is that Coop’s confidence isn’t too high right now.

The kid has a work ethic that is arguably second to none. But I do believe there is a bit of a mental hurdle Coop is facing right now. Whether it’s a result of the critical drops (which I can’t ever recall from his prep or collegiate days), I’m not quite sure. But what I am sure of is that this is an issue that will ultimately correct itself.

The fascinating truth about receivers is that it typically only takes that one explosive play, or touchdown, to get the wheels back on track.

I guess it depends on one’s definition of improvement, with respect to our defensive unit. I think what we all need to realize is that stats — assuming that’s what this inquiry is essentially getting at — don’t necessarily tell the whole story. Personally, from watching, I felt there had been significant improvement from the Tennessee game.

JDR has been preaching “eyes,” players being disciplined with their eyes on defense, since the New Orleans game, and finally you saw that against Baltimore. Less mental mishaps, for example.

However, if we wanted to go the stats route, one could still find improvement. We gave up 181 rushing yards to Tennessee, and only 130 to Baltimore — and we sacked Joe Flacco twice, as opposed to Mariota just once.

You see, we could finish a game with five sacks, and still lose. Whereas, we could fail to register any sacks, though still have a positive affect on the outcome of the game via hits and hurries, and ultimately win.

This is why I’m not a stats junkie, because the only one I care about, is the one that matters most: a win. And to this point of the season, we’ve achieved that goal 75 percent of the time.

I told you all, last week, I felt we’d leave Baltimore 3-1. Mission accomplished. Let’s keeping it going, Sunday, and send the Chargers back to San Diego with their fourth loss.

Next: Week 4: Notable Raiders Quotes