PFF Recap: Grading the Oakland Raiders in Week 7
By Austin Gayle
Cooper Passes the Torch to Crabtree, For Now
Though Oakland walked away from their Week 6 affair with the Kansas City Chiefs with the loss, Raiders second-year receiver Amari Cooper torched the Chiefs’ passing defense, bringing in 10 of 13 targets for 129 yards.
Because of his performance, Cooper drew the Jaguars’ top cornerback, rookie Jalen Ramsey. The first-round pick lived up to expectations, holding Cooper to just four receptions for 29 yards.
Opposite of Cooper, Raiders receiver Michael Crabtree picked up the slack.
Crabtree brought in 8 receptions for 96 yards and a touchdown, ultimately embarrassing Jacksonville’s No. 2 cornerback Prince Amukamara.
According to PFF.com, Crabtree earned the third highest offensive grade on the team (78.5).
"“They did a great job,” Del Rio said. “Michael Crabtree made some incredible plays today for us. There was one early in the game on third down where the ball was out way before he turned his head around and he made a tremendous play there for a third down conversion. Throughout the game he came up big for us and I thought he play[ed] really, really well for us. Obviously our quarterback is a good player. He did a good job for us hooking up with different receivers, but today Carr to Crabtree was special.”"
Adding to his total with that “tremendous play” on third down, Crabtree has registered 11 receptions for first downs on third down, tying for second place in the NFL behind Green Bay Packers receiver Randall Cobb, via The Washington Post.
His counterpart Cooper shares the second place nomination.
With two top-tier talents on the outside, opposing defenses are forced to place their No. 1 cornerback on one of the Raiders’ elite outside receivers.
The Jaguars rolled the dice on having Ramsey shadow Cooper; Crabtree rolled over Amukamara, ultimately leading the Raiders to a victory.