Oakland Raiders: Notes and Observations From Week Four
By Kevin Saito
Oct 4, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Eddie Royal (19) scores a touchdown past Oakland Raiders cornerback D.J. Hayden (25) during the first quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
Holding Out For A Hero
There is just no way to put it nicely or to sugarcoat it – the Raiders’ secondary is atrocious. It’s an abomination. Reggie McKenzie’s insistence on letting the young guns develop on the fly rather than bringing in veteran talent has blown up in his face. The experiment has failed miserably.
Aside from Travis Carrie – who is now injured, but has been playing safety the last two games – Oakland’s corners have been the worst in the league. Hands down. They can’t cover, they can’t make stops, they can’t do anything right – at least, not on a consistent basis.
Neiko Thorpe has provided some good play and good moments. So has D.J. Hayden. Keith McGill? Not so much. But those plays and moments have been very few, and very far between. The only thing Oakland’s corners have done consistently is draw dumb penalties and get burned big time.
The very recently acquired David Amerson seems to be adjusting to his role and provides a spark of hope for the abysmal darkness that is Oakland’s secondary. Against the Bears, Amerson recorded seven tackles and made a terrific play on a ball. It wasn’t a bad showing for a guy who’d been with the team for a week. It was certainly a better showing than Hayden, who’s been with the team for three years.
The secondary is a huge problem the Raiders are going to have to fix and fix very soon. They may have found a diamond in the rough – or at least, a serviceable corner – in Amerson. But they are going to have to scour the waiver wires, make a trade, look at other team’s practice squads, maybe even try out the peanut vendors and beer salesman at the O.Co, because the problem isn’t getting better. It’s only getting worse.
The Raiders need help on the corners desperately. Thorpe, Hayden, and McGill aren’t getting it done and they need bodies who can. And they need them now.
Next: Don't Stop Believin'