Oakland Raiders: Four Things That Must Happen Against The Giants

Get the Tight Ends Involved

Given the fact that the Raiders will be dressing just four wide receivers – and none of them, their top two, thanks to Amari Cooper‘s injuries, and Michael Crabtree‘s suspension. Which means that Oakland is going to need some help in the passing game. Big time.

Now, to be fair, Cordarrelle Patterson, Seth Roberts, and Johnny Holton stepped up and produced when it was needed last week. But those will be Carr’s three primary targets, with practice squad call-up Isaac Whitney, unlikely to see any significant or meaningful snaps. Given that this will be his first NFL action, it doesn’t really stand to reason that Carr and the Raiders would put him in high-pressure, crunch-time situations.

Which means that the offense is going to need some more help catching the ball.

They, of course, have two running backs who do a good job catching the ball out of the backfield in DeAndre Jordan and Jalen Richard. Both are lighting quick, great in space, and make would-be tacklers miss. Carr would be wise to make full use of the both of them.

But, they’re also going to need to get better production out of the tight end spot.

Jared Cook, Oakland’s pricey free agent acquisition this offseason, is having an up and down year. Against Miami in week nine, we saw what having Cook heavily involved in the gameplan can yield. Against the Dolphins, Cook had eight catches (on nine targets) for 126 yards.

In the two games since, though, he’s had just three receptions (on 10 targets) for a less than stellar 38 total yards.

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For whatever reason, Todd Downing has yet to figure out how to consistently incorporate two talented pass catching tight ends – Cook and Clive Walford – into Oakland’s passing attack. Which seems unebelievable – especially given their lack of targets down in the red zone.

For the year, Cook has 537 yards on 42 receptions along with a single touchdown. Walford is little more than an afterthought at this point, with just 10 yards on three receptions.

This week, with a lack of warm bodies on the field, Downing needs to find a way to incorporate both of them into the attack. The Giants have had plenty of difficulty with pass catching tight ends this season, allowing plenty of yards and scores, and Downing would be wise to not only recognize the weakness in New York’s defense, but to exploit it.

With Cooper and Crabtree out, Oakland is going to need all hands on deck this week in the passing game. Downing needs to see that and make it happen.