Special Teams
The special teams have gotten progressively worse in each quarter for the Raiders. This was the side of the ball that the team had the most confidence in during the early part of the season. Not to say this is a liability for the Raiders now, but it’s starting to get there.
Rookie kicker Giorgio Tavecchio hasn’t had a lot of field goal opportunities of late. He made three of four kicks in the third quarter of the season, but did make all nine of his extra point attempts. On the year, he is making 81.6 percent of his field goals and 96.6 percent of his PATs. Not a bad first year for him at all, but nothing to really write home about.
Punter Marquette King has definitely cooled off after his hot start to the season. He was averaging well over 50 yards per punt in the first quarter of the year. King only had one game where he hit the 50 yards per punt threshold in the fourth quarter and that was last week at home. However, he did get tackled for an 11-yard loss on a terrible special teams play versus the Giants last week.
Lastly, Jalen Richard seems to muffle every other punt that comes his way. He has the yips out there and it’s going to hurt the Raiders if it continues. Cordarrelle Patterson has yet to take a kickoff to the house, though he has been a productive player on offense this season. Overall, the Raiders special teams feels only average at best. That’s not good for a team that historically prides itself on elite special teams play.
Grade: C