Nnamdi Asomugha: Oakland Raider Too Talented for His Team’s Own Good?

The Oakland Raiders usually play solid defense. They play solid defense for 85 percent of the game. The other 15 percent, they give up huge plays that turn the momentum of a game.

Why?

The Raiders tend to stuff runners, then give up a 40 yard sprint down field. Watching the film, this is usually on the rookie, Rolando McClain.

Let's say the opposing team runs a 22 dive up the middle. The center's job is to get McClain. Rolando is supposed to react and hit the gap with full force, but the center gets to him first due to hesitation. It's a matter of Rolando not reacting fast enough. It can be fixed, but it could also become a lingering problem.

Now, onto the big passing plays given up. This is a killer for the Raiders. If it's not a huge passing play, it's pass interference deep down field. Our safeties (Branch) or pretty terrible at covering. I'm sorry, but it's true. You might be wondering why Oakland gives up such big plays in the passing game. "We have Nnamdi Asomugha! He shuts down the field!"

Well, that just might be the problem.

Stanford Routt and Chris Johnson constantly get picked on. Think about it; the more you get thrown at, the higher the percentage of giving up a completion, right? Makes sense.

Nnamdi is so good nobody picks on him. This leads to Routt getting thrown at more, thus he gives up more completions.

The question in this slide show is, is Nnamdi Asomugha so good, he hurts his own secondary?

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