Oakland Raiders: Things Worth Keeping An Eye On Against Dallas

Eye Violations & Communication

Eye violations and communication are two issues that have been harped on all preseason long. In fact, those two things actually started to be harped on last season, if you remember correctly.

After a rough loss to the Atlanta Falcons last season, HC Jack Del Rio had this to say on the subject:

"“Priority No. 1 for our staff is to make sure we get our eyes were they belong with our players. Who sends the call in is not what’s most important. Priority No. 1 has to be getting our guys to stop having eye violations. Get your eyes where they belong and do your job.”"

The communication – especially on the back-end of that defense – was such an issue last season, that this offseason, Del Rio brought in former Chargers DC John Pagano to ostensibly, clean things up.

Through the first two weeks of the season though, it doesn’t appear that the problems have been corrected. This is a uni, after all, that made Goff look like an All-Pro, allowing him throw for 160 yards and a touchdown on 16 of 20 passing.

After the game, Travis Carrie – who had a miserable performance against the Rams – again, cited eye violations as the reason for his sub-par play.

"“My performance last game was poor, very poor as far as my eyes and leverage. So now coaches are really stressing that. Not that they should have to because it’s something that we’re supposed to do, but in that particular game and situation I was very poor with that.”"

The Raiders are going to need to get their eye violations and communication up to par – and quickly – or we very well may see more games this year where the defense gets burned for 500 plus yards as they did in back-to-back games against New Orleans and Atlanta last season.