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2017 Oakland Raiders: Third quarter report card

By John Buhler

OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 03: Derek Carr No. 4 of the Oakland Raiders calls a play against the New York Giants during their NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on December 3, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 03: Derek Carr No. 4 of the Oakland Raiders calls a play against the New York Giants during their NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on December 3, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI GARDENS, FL – NOVEMBER 05: Marquette King No. 7 of the Oakland Raiders kicks a punt during a game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on November 5, 2017 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FL – NOVEMBER 05: Marquette King No. 7 of the Oakland Raiders kicks a punt during a game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on November 5, 2017 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

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

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