Oakland Raiders: Bye Week Notes And Observations

Jan 11, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; General view of a third down marker during the first quarter of the 2014 AFC Divisional playoff football game between the Indianapolis Colts against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Banish the Third Down Bogeyman

All season long, the Raiders have had some issues with their third down defense. That issue was highlighted particularly well against the Bears in week four when Oakland allowed Chicago to convert a staggering 10 of 17 third down attempts. That inability to get a stop on Chicago’s offense when it needed it most.
To be fair, the Raiders’ defense did a much, much better job against the Broncos, allowing just two conversions on thirteen attempts.

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But for the season, the Raiders are in the middle of the pack in the league, allowing opponents to convert 40 percent of their third down opportunities (28 conversions in 70 attempts) While that’s certainly respectable, it is still a bit of a problem.

The Raiders must find a way to get better at shutting down third down conversions, getting off the field, and getting that defense some rest. They can’t afford to let opposing offenses extend drives and continue marching down the field. They need to find ways to step up, make a play, and stop the opposing offenses from driving.

Having a defense that is rested and fresher will benefit the Raiders later in games and can potentially help put them in a position to make plays and win games. They took a good step forward against Denver and that particular arrow is pointing up – it’s a trend that must continue.

Next: Removing The Cloaking Device