The defensive line was bullied and rendered ineffective all game. The offensive line was no better; it was on its heels the entire game. The running backs were completely negated, and Derek Carr was never able to get comfortable in the pocket.
The team's ineffectiveness in the trenches, where the game was really decided, wasn't lost on the players.
Following the loss, left tackle Donald Penn gave his assessment of the offensive line's performance, via CSNBayArea.com's Scott Bair:
Coming off the field, I really thought we lost the line of scrimmage...If we would have sustained one block or taken a better angle on another, we could have made a real difference...You need little things to make a big difference. We didn’t do those things, and that’s why we only had 25 yards rushing. We need to find a way to be a difference maker, so we can get more yardage and get better and bigger runs.
The Jets dominated the Raiders in every statistical category, yet Oakland was still in it the entire game. And despite struggling in every area, the Raiders had a chance to win the game late.
With all of the new additions to the roster and a rookie at quarterback, it's understandable that Oakland would need some time to turn from a collection of players into a cohesive team.
It also partially explains the cautious play-calling from the coaches. But with the game within reach in a season where wins will be hard to come by, the coaches never seemed to go for it. Protecting your rookie quarterback makes sense, but it shouldn't come at the expense of trying to earn a victory.
The Raiders are hosting the Houston Texans on Sunday. This is a winnable game, but Oakland has to go out and take ...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Oakland Raiders
