Oakland Raiders: A Few Reasons For Optimism, A Few Reasons for Concern

Concern: Vanilla, Conservative Play Calling

It’s entirely possible that the bland, vanilla, conservative play calling we saw from OC Bill Musgrave last season was simply a product of having a young core of talent and not being entirely sure that they could execute if he threw the playbook wide open.

Let’s hope that was the case, anyway.

Now, in year two of his system, Oakland’s offensive players – young and veteran alike – should have proven that they can be a dynamic, electrifying unit. And it’s a unit that Musgrave should now trust enough to be more creative with them – as well as take some risks.

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Carr, Cooper, Michael Crabtree, Seth Roberts, and Clive Walford, among others, are leading this Oakland offense back to heights it hasn’t seen in more than a decade. But to get there, to be as prolific and electric as they were back in the late ’90’s/early ’00’s, Musgrave is going to have to take the shackles off and let them go crazy.

If these players – and this unit as a whole – is anywhere near as good as most people seem to agree that they are, then the results of turning them loose to terrorize opposing defenses can only be positive for this team.

We’ve seen some positive signs that Musgrave is turning over more ownership of the offense to the players. Carr has had the freedom to tweak and refine some plays – especially down near the red zone – through the early parts of the offseason work. We are also hearing that Carr’s ability to check down at the line and call some of his own plays is being expanded – something that can greatly benefit this team.

Giving Carr a little more autonomy at the line, the freedom to adjust on the fly to conditions on the ground, are going to further his development even more, as well as be a huge benefit for this offense. If Musgrave learns to trust in Carr and give him the keys to the machine, it will pay big dividends in the long run.

Next: A Potent Brew of Talent