Oakland Raiders Hopefully Have A Plan To Avoid Re-Living A Nightmare

The Oakland Raiders take on New England in Mexico City, and hopefully have a plan in place to deal with a man who scorched them last year.

As if the Oakland Raiders didn’t already have enough to worry about as they stare down the barrel at the multi-headed beast that is the New England Patriots’ offense. Here’s another one though – Brandin Cooks.

The last time the Raiders saw the speedy receiver, he was wearing a New Orleans Saints jersey. Although, they may not actually recognize him since they only really saw him from behind as he sprinted away from them that day.

Yeah, we’re looking at you, Sean Smith.

If you recall last year’s season opener, Cooks absolutely set fire to Oakland’s secondary. With Drew Brees throwing darts to him all day, he racked up 143 yards on just six receptions, adding a pair of touchdowns along the way.

The most ignominious play of the day of course, being the 98-yard touchdown reception that left the Oakland defense in absolute tatters.

And now, the Raiders get another crack at Cooks. Or rather, Cooks gets another crack at an Oakland secondary that’s not even anywhere near as good as the 2016 incarnation. This year’s secondary has a real nasty penchant for giving up big plays that probably has Cooks lying awake in bed at night like a kid on Christmas Eve, too excited to sleep.

And it probably has Oakland’s coaches, defensive backs, not to mention fans around the world, lying in bed at night like somebody about to walk the Green Mile, too terrified to sleep.

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Given how meticulous and crafty Patriots HC Bill Belichick is, he already knows the problems Oakland’s secondary had with Cooks last season. And he will most definitely be looking for ways to exploit that. Not that he’s going to have to try all that hard.

Which means, the Raiders defense better be ready for a steady dose of Cooks all day long.

The good news – if it can be called that – is that coming off the bye week, Oakland should be a bit healthier. David Amerson, banged up and having missed some time already, could be back in the lineup come Sunday.

Or at least, signs seem to be pointing in that direction. But, given the way this season has gone, keep your fingers crossed.

If he is able to make it back onto the field though, Amerson isn’t going to solve all of Oakland’s problems in the secondary. But, he should help.

The fact remains though, the Raiders don’t really have a corner capable of keeping up with the speedy and elusive Cooks. The only corner they have who could have possibly kept up with him – Gareon Conley – landed on the IR this week.

As it stands, Smith, Amerson, T.J. Carrie, and Dexter McDonald don’t comprise the most fearsome or elite secondary unit on their best day. But, up against an elite offense with a burner like Cooks? It’s a recipe for disaster if they don’t get straight and come up with a smart, effective gameplan that involves getting a lot of help and avoiding those “eye violations” that HC Jack Del Rio has harped on all season.

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The Raiders are going have their hands full with an offense that can kill you a million different ways as it is. Adding Cooks and his deep play ability to that mix is almost – cruel.

The Brees/Cooks connection was bad enough on the Raiders last season. A Tom Brady hook-up with Cooks is absolutely the stuff of nightmares for an Oakland secondary that’s been banged up – but isn’t even that good when healthy.

The offense, so long as OC Todd Downing formulates a decent gameplan, has the potential to stand toe-to-toe with the Patriots. Which means the onus is on Ken Norton Jr. and John Pagano to come up with something that will help them get some stops at opportune times.

Sunday’s game in Mexico City is very likely going to be a shootout. Neither defense is all that good this year. But, it’s up to the Raiders to make some plays on the defensive side of the ball. They don’t have to be dominant, mind you, they just need to make enough plays to give the offense a chance to win it.

They’re going to have to play their best game in recent memory and they’re going to have to find a way to stop Brandin Cooks. If not, we may see a replay of last season – which is really just a highlight montage of defenders futilely chasing after him.