It hasn’t been the best start for the Oakland Raiders’ receivers. Is there a way that the receiving corps can get it right versus the Denver Broncos?
The Oakland Raiders a respectable 2-1 through their first three games of the season. However, last week’s loss to the Washington Redskins was all too revealing. Oakland did not show up in a primetime spot. While the secondary was picked apart by Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins, it was the Oakland receiving corps that was the most troubling.
Through the first three games of the season, it has been the Oakland receiving corps that has graded the worst in Pro Football Focus‘ eyes among Raiders’ position groups. Only one receiver for the Silver and Black has even an average grade on the year, according to PFF.
That would be Michael Crabtree, who garnered a 75.4 on 114 snaps. He had three touchdown receptions against the New York Jets in Week 2. Crabtree has a 75.0 receiving grade and a 74.5 run blocking grade. Those are solid, but the rest of the Raiders’ receiving corps has graded horribly.
Newcomer Cordarrelle Patterson has a 55.1 overall grade largely because he is a solid running back for a receiver with a 71.8 running grade. He hasn’t been much of a threat at receiver (48.2 grade) or in run blocking (43.2 grade).
Seth Roberts hasn’t made the most of his 134 snaps, which are the second most among Oakland receivers. He has a 40.1 overall grade, with a 40.7 receiving grade and 39.4 run blocking grade.
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The biggest culprit for the Raiders’ lackluster start at receiver has been No. 1 wideout Amari Cooper. He has been dealing with dropped passes throughout the first three games. Cooper has a 40.1 overall grade. While he has been decent in run blocking at 61.0, his receiving grade is terrible at 39.4.
In short, the Raiders’ receiving corps has to get better for this offense to live up to the hype. Other position groups need to get better as well, but the receivers have more work to do than the rest. Oakland has a tough matchup against the No Fly Zone defense of the Denver Broncos on Sunday. Is there any way that the Silver and Black receiving corps can get right in Week 4 on the road in Denver?
Simply put, attacking the Broncos’ secondary at the cornerback spots looks to be a lost cause. Aqib Talib and Chris Harris Jr. have overall PFF grades of 84.9 and 82.5, respectively. Add in third corner Bradley Roby and all three Denver cornerbacks have at least a 69.2 coverage grade.
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That being said, Denver is vulnerable in pass coverage at safety and the linebacker positions. Darian Stewart, Justin Simmons and Will Parks have been terrible in coverage at safety for the Broncos. Parks has been the best in coverage at 48.4.
Todd Davis and Brandon Marshall aren’t exactly holding their own in coverage at linebacker either. Davis has a decent 56.8 grade, while Marshall is certainly below par at 41.8.
What Raiders offensive coordinator Todd Downing needs to do is devise a passing game plan that involves targeting the Broncos’ linebackers and safeties. That will be hard if the Raiders continue to run 11 personnel. All that would mean is that Harris, Roby and Talib would lock down the three Raiders receivers.
Oakland can open up passing lanes for its wideouts in tight coverage in two ways: get the tight ends involved in the passing game or run the ball with conviction. Tight end Jared Cook and running back Marshawn Lynch have to lead in both of those areas on Sunday to help out the wide receivers.
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Leaning on the Raiders’ receivers will be very difficult for Oakland quarterback Derek Carr in this game. However, all it might take is one of the Raiders wideouts to go off on Sunday to lead this team to victory. Cooper played well against the Tennessee Titans. Crabtree shined against the Jets. It’s doable, but not easy in the slightest.