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2017 Oakland Raiders: First half report card

By John Buhler

ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 29: Micah Hyde No. 23 of the Buffalo Bills and Preston Brown No. 52 of the Buffalo Bills attempt to tackle Cordarrelle Patterson No. 84 of the Oakland Raiders during the fourth quarter of an NFL game on October 29, 2017 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 29: Micah Hyde No. 23 of the Buffalo Bills and Preston Brown No. 52 of the Buffalo Bills attempt to tackle Cordarrelle Patterson No. 84 of the Oakland Raiders during the fourth quarter of an NFL game on October 29, 2017 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /
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ORCHARD PARK, NY – OCTOBER 29: Reggie Nelson No. 27 of the Oakland Raiders listens as head coach Jack Del Rio of the Oakland Raiders talks to him during the first quarter of an NFL game on October 29, 2017 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NY – OCTOBER 29: Reggie Nelson No. 27 of the Oakland Raiders listens as head coach Jack Del Rio of the Oakland Raiders talks to him during the first quarter of an NFL game on October 29, 2017 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

Coaching

Where do we even start? With the way things are going with this team, Raider Nation can almost expect new members to be on this coaching staff next season. To say owner Mark Davis might need to clean house would be a tad drastic at the halfway point of the season. However, something has to give.

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Moving from Bill Musgrave to Todd Downing as offensive coordinator has been mostly a dud in the first half. If Oakland is going up at least a respectable defense, it’s hard for this team to generate points. The zone blocking scheme is not putting its ground game in position to succeed. Carr and his receiving are often not on the same page.

This Raiders secondary can and will give up yards to even middling, also-ran quarterbacks. It cannot force turnovers. It’s just not getting better. The players aren’t healthy. Defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. and assistant head coach John Pagano just can’t get that position group right.

Now on to the head coach. Jack Del Rio has been stubborn in his approach all season. When the Raiders devise a great game plan, it works out wonderfully. However, this team is not making the necessary halftime adjustments to win games that hang in the balances.

Next: Raiders: 3 takeaways from Bills loss

Overall, this team is not in a good spot. Oakland has bought into its own offseason hype and continues to overlook its opponents just about every week. Something is awry with this team’s culture. The lack of accountability across the board has shipwrecked this team’s playoff chances. Halloween is tomorrow.

Grade: F

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