Oakland Raiders: Some Numbers Important To The Team’s Success In 2017

147

For time out of mind, the Raiders have been synonymous with “penalty flag.” Once upon a time, they’d take roughing penalties or what have you as a way to intimidate or send a message to the other team. Back then, leading the league in penalties was a badge of honor, in a way. Other teams feared the Silver and Black.

Today though, the penalties they’re getting are simply the stupid, undisciplined sort. Holding, pass interference, false starts – just dumb, mental mistakes. Dumb mental mistakes that killed a lot of drives and momentum last season.

The Raiders took 147 penalties last season – by far, the most in the NFL. The team with the second most? The Jaguars with 129.

Oakland surrendered 1,251 penalty yards last year. On average, that’s just about 10 flags and 80 yards a game given up in penalties. The biggest penalties assessed to the team last year were for false start (25), offensive holding (22), defensive holding (22), and defensive pass interference (14).

Now, not having D.J. Hayden running around in the secondary is going to knock off some of those penalties straight off the top. That’s addition by subtraction, folks. But the team overall, is going to need to get it together, get their heads on straight, and quit making mental errors that are killing drives, momentum, and scoring opportunities.

And on the other side of that coin, they need to stop giving opposing teams second chances. The Raiders gave up 36 first downs via penalty last season, giving the opposition more chances to move the ball and score.

Penalties have been a problem for the Silver and Black throughout the course of their history. But they can’t keep making the same mental mistakes they have been. HC Jack Del Rio vowed to clean it up and if this team wants to make a serious postseason run, they’re going to have to get that done.