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Ahead of the Denver Broncos' game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 14, we asked Levi Damien of Raiders Wire five questions about the Las Vegas squad and Sunday's showdown. View our questions and Levi's answers below.
A top quarterback in next year's draft. It's been a very long time since the Raiders had a real shot at one of the top quarterbacks in the draft. The last time, the top draft QB was JaMarcus Russell. So, yeah, terrible luck. It's past time to have a blue chip, high-ceiling QB behind center. These mid-round guys, retreads, and scrap heap QBs are just going to keep them watching the playoffs every year. This gift would most likely require a top three pick in the draft.
No. Not really. They've only played one game since Chip was fired, and there isn't much that a team can fix in one game. McMahon definitely needed to go. As for Chip, from the looks (and reports) of things, the real problem was that they simply weren't running his offense. Causing a lot of confusion and making everyone wonder why in the world they would make him the NFL's highest paid coordinator if they weren't going to let him fully install and run his offense. Things are just a mess over here and firing a couple coordinators ain't gonna fix much.
I'd give him a B-. He has made something out of nothing a lot and has shown everything as a runner he was expected to show. Unfortunately, the overall issues with the offense have forced him into way too many situations where he has to make something out of less than nothing and that's too much to ask of him. His one area where he's shown some issues has been pass protection. Though it's hard sometimes to tell if that is also a symptom of just how discombobulated the offense and blocking schemes have been. Plenty of guys look like they don't know where they're supposed to be or what they're supposed to do. And often times he is being asked to block top edge rushers one-on-one. For instance in the first meeting when they put him against Nik Bonitto. Obviously a big mistake.
The Raiders would have to find a fast-paced offense they just haven't shown this season. Get the play in quick, get the ball out quick, and get back to the line quick. Where they have seen marginal success is when they have gotten the ball to Jeanty in space and anywhere near Brock Bowers. Not surprisingly, the top two offensive weapons who have too often been neutralized by terrible blocking up front. The Raiders defense would have to have a performance like the last meeting between these two. Something they haven't done in the three games since in which they've allowed an average of nearly 30 points per game.
I predicted a close Broncos win last time and that turned out to be the case. This time I don't see it being quite as close. Let's go Broncos 24, Raiders 10.
Sunday's game (2:05 p.m. MT) will be regionally televised on CBS (view the TV broadcast map).
This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Broncos vs. Raiders: 5 things Denver fans should know
Continue reading...
1) What would you consider the biggest Christmas gift of the Raiders season?
A top quarterback in next year's draft. It's been a very long time since the Raiders had a real shot at one of the top quarterbacks in the draft. The last time, the top draft QB was JaMarcus Russell. So, yeah, terrible luck. It's past time to have a blue chip, high-ceiling QB behind center. These mid-round guys, retreads, and scrap heap QBs are just going to keep them watching the playoffs every year. This gift would most likely require a top three pick in the draft.
2) Have things improved since the Raiders fired Chip Kelly and Tom McMahon?
No. Not really. They've only played one game since Chip was fired, and there isn't much that a team can fix in one game. McMahon definitely needed to go. As for Chip, from the looks (and reports) of things, the real problem was that they simply weren't running his offense. Causing a lot of confusion and making everyone wonder why in the world they would make him the NFL's highest paid coordinator if they weren't going to let him fully install and run his offense. Things are just a mess over here and firing a couple coordinators ain't gonna fix much.
3) How would you grade running back Ashton Jeanty's rookie season from A-F?
I'd give him a B-. He has made something out of nothing a lot and has shown everything as a runner he was expected to show. Unfortunately, the overall issues with the offense have forced him into way too many situations where he has to make something out of less than nothing and that's too much to ask of him. His one area where he's shown some issues has been pass protection. Though it's hard sometimes to tell if that is also a symptom of just how discombobulated the offense and blocking schemes have been. Plenty of guys look like they don't know where they're supposed to be or what they're supposed to do. And often times he is being asked to block top edge rushers one-on-one. For instance in the first meeting when they put him against Nik Bonitto. Obviously a big mistake.
4) What will be the key(s) to making a Raider upset possible on Sunday?
The Raiders would have to find a fast-paced offense they just haven't shown this season. Get the play in quick, get the ball out quick, and get back to the line quick. Where they have seen marginal success is when they have gotten the ball to Jeanty in space and anywhere near Brock Bowers. Not surprisingly, the top two offensive weapons who have too often been neutralized by terrible blocking up front. The Raiders defense would have to have a performance like the last meeting between these two. Something they haven't done in the three games since in which they've allowed an average of nearly 30 points per game.
5) Final score and why?
I predicted a close Broncos win last time and that turned out to be the case. This time I don't see it being quite as close. Let's go Broncos 24, Raiders 10.
Sunday's game (2:05 p.m. MT) will be regionally televised on CBS (view the TV broadcast map).
This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Broncos vs. Raiders: 5 things Denver fans should know
Continue reading...
