Raiderstation

Competitive but just not there yet.

Discuss...

I posted this during the game

Washington 9 for 43 yards, with a 4.8 avg
Jeanty 10 for 22 yards =, with a 2.2 avg.

We keep talking about fixing the offense with better guard play, a true WR1 etc but being the second/third highest scoring offense says maybe we have to put next years draft capital into the defense.

Our #1s of late were Mendoza, Jeanty and Bowers.

Some of the free agents we grabbed are playing well but,

Its time to draft defense with high picks...

RaiderandBulldog wrote: Sun Oct 18, 2026 5:31 pm The next three games are against the Rams,at the Jets, and at the Niners. I expect to get one win there.

I think we can go 2-1. That Rams game is going to be a war IMO.

RunOverByHubbard wrote: Sun Oct 18, 2026 6:58 pm Um, no, don’t. You know why

Um, no, I don’t. You don’t know why.

RunOverByHubbard wrote: Mon Oct 19, 2026 12:37 am Myself and a few others predicted the probable loss of a home field advantage from a move to Vegas before a shovel was stuck in the ground. We were drowned out by the voices of “the Coliseum stinks” and it also became clear that even Raiders fans saw the move to a new stadium as an investment opportunity (as in sell their seats to visiting fans). I do note however that visiting (opponents) fans are louder than ever before in many stadiums these days. There are still places with the pretty pure home field advantage advantage like Green Bay and Seattle, but our situation is the worst in the league by quite a bit. Oh well - I have heard that the bathrooms in Allegiant are great.

You are and were absolutely correct. Until we start winning, fans from other teams won’t want to spend that kind of coin to watch their team lose.

Now that I’ve had time to sleep on it: not happy about losing, at the same time they fought. Not perfectly, not mistake free, but fought.

The reaction from the Bills fans at work? “These aren’t the same old Raiders.” Some of the other commentary: “they aren’t there yet, but are pointed in the direction.”

Another bills fan. We’ve been working together since we were sixteen. She was saying the same thing.

Why am I posting this

Because we are 1. So close to this team I think it’s impossible for some to be objective. Yes there are holes, yes there are things to fix, but are not pathetic as years past. 2. This isn’t going to be a one year turn around.

As I posted last week I’m going to continue to be hopeful. Why?

For the first time in decades we have a QB functioning at a very high level and his replacement waiting in the wings. A young HC, despite what some think: a competent FO, some pieces to build on. An owner who is simply sitting in the stands eating his Cheetos rather than meddling. And part time owner who I have no doubt will one day be a much more active part of the Raiders and does not tolerate failure.

Does this help us right now? Unfortunately not. But if it means another year of loses, but the signs are pointing in the right direction? I’ll deal with it.

Because what do I want and hope for? I hope for multi year dominance and a rebuilding of our storied franchise. We’re never going to be the feared Raiders of the 70s; that NFL doesn’t exist anymore. But an elite team once again?

I want to see in ten years Menodoza obliterating every Raiders passing record, hoisting multiple Lombardis. The media no longer saying “the same old raiders.”

Is this delusional? Is it hopium after yet another loss? Maybe. I see it as a team that yes, made mistakes and yet came up short but a work in progress one.

It’s also how teams start. Not reshuffling everything except what matters (the QB), doing it the right way: having a plan at QB, his successor etc.

I don’t know if it will pan out the way I’m describing but if they keep battling we have a chance.

We're just about two months into the season which is where teams start showing who they truly are. Sure you can improve or regress after this point, but I think us fans generally have a somewhat clear understanding of the expectations moving forward.

Here are my key takeaways through 7 weeks:

• The coaching staff is a substantial improvement over the previous regime. That being said this is still a roster that earned the 1st overall pick last year. Has Kubiak & Co. improved things? Yes. Are we still several players away? Also yes.

• Kubiak lacks the personnel to properly run his scheme here. Bad coaches allow the season to backslide by trying to coach up areas the team is bad at. Good coaches lean into what is working in order to win games. The run game needs to be deemphasized. Especially running on 2nd and long. It simply kills drives, and we can't keep calling plays as if we're good at rushing the ball. Truth is, this offense isn't bad. We're moving the ball and putting up points but specific playcalls that rely on our weakest link (The interior OL) consistently kill drives.

• Ditto for Leonard. I think he's trying to do too much with our talent. Our blitzes have been piss poor, and the phony disguises he runs to manufacturer pressure aren't doing shit. We were at our best week 1 playing a more vanilla defense, dropping back into coverage, and getting coverage sacks. You're putting too much pressure on the backend with these fruitless delayed LB blitzes from 5 yards off the LoS.

• Just about everyone on the OL is underperforming. Linderbaum is more good than bad, but he's not "Being paid like an OT" good, and that's the type of contract he got from us. For the first time this past week he came up short in pass pro as well, losing his 1v1's against a good DT in Walker. The guards on both sides of him are the worst pair in the league. Doesn't matter whether it's JPJ or Rogers at RG. We need two new starters there. Burford needs to be benched immediately. Charles Grant couldn't possibly be worse, that's not hyperbole. Give the kids some reps.

• We might not find out until the end of the season how healthy Jeanty truly is. I would not be surprised if he ends up getting some type of offseason surgery that would otherwise have ended his season, and is playing through it. At this point the staff needs to protect the player and shut him down, because his physical limitations are manifesting into sloppy/poor play. It's not just him lacking his full acceleration, he's looking tentative and undecisive. Give him a few weeks at least to see if you can get a fraction of last year's Jeanty back. But at this point you might be doing long term harm to the player's ego forcing the situation.

• The DL suffered without Tonka out there. It's actually infuriating how inconsistent Koonce and Paye are. Both of these guys are hard workers and good football players but lack the twitch and burst required to be high level pass rushers. Crawford was likely going to be that guy in the DE rotation before he got hurt. We're still 2-3 players away on the DL

We're a hell of a lot more competitive this year. I like what I see and I think more wins will follow once the schedule softens up a bit. Plenty of hope for the future, especially 2027 after some of these legacy issues (OL/Pass Rusher) are addressed.

When its all said and done, I think we will say this team fought hard against some of top teams in the league and will finish the season strong. 27 is the year we really arrive.

the team is closer then many think vs kc and buffalo the team was basically a mistake away from winning em both.the only game we really got dominated in was new england

its obvious we need to improve front line play on defense adn ad guard,quality guard in free agency, i d also like to see us play washington a lot more, the kid is bigger,faster and way more explosive then plodding/molasses jeanty whom cant even get to the hole even though he see em

RunOverByHubbard wrote: Mon Oct 19, 2026 12:37 am Myself and a few others predicted the probable loss of a home field advantage from a move to Vegas before a shovel was stuck in the ground. We were drowned out by the voices of “the Coliseum stinks” and it also became clear that even Raiders fans saw the move to a new stadium as an investment opportunity (as in sell their seats to visiting fans). I do note however that visiting (opponents) fans are louder than ever before in many stadiums these days. There are still places with the pretty pure home field advantage advantage like Green Bay and Seattle, but our situation is the worst in the league by quite a bit. Oh well - I have heard that the bathrooms in Allegiant are great.

I wanted the Raiders to stay in Oakland also but Oakland didn't. They really didn't do shit to try and keep them.

Someone needs to teach the D how to tackle. So many missed in this game.

Oaktownonly wrote: Mon Oct 19, 2026 8:05 am I wanted the Raiders to stay in Oakland also but Oakland didn't. They really didn't do shit to try and keep them.

This seems to be something most people conveniently forget. The city of Oakland practically pushed them out. Say what you will about Mark Davis, but he tried hard to keep the team in Oakland. At some point, when faced with, "F*** you" or "I can make the team billions of dollars more" you take the billion dollar path.

If this team becomes a winner, a lot fewer opposing fans are going to show up. So far, it's been a bucket list trip for them; Las Vegas and seeing their team win in a state of the art stadium is a pretty sweet vacation.

Dr Death wrote: Mon Oct 19, 2026 9:04 am Someone needs to teach the D how to tackle. So many missed in this game.

Leonard could be one & done...he's the only coach left from the old regime!

Opoponax50 wrote: Mon Oct 19, 2026 9:11 am This seems to be something most people conveniently forget. The city of Oakland practically pushed them out. Say what you will about Mark Davis, but he tried hard to keep the team in Oakland. At some point, when faced with, "F*** you" or "I can make the team billions of dollars more" you take the billion dollar path.

If this team becomes a winner, a lot fewer opposing fans are going to show up. So far, it's been a bucket list trip for them; Las Vegas and seeing their team win in a state of the art stadium is a pretty sweet vacation.

Agree with your first point. I mean, Oakland couldn't even keep the Walmart in town. Leadership has failed that community big time. To the latter point, I really don't think us becoming a winner will fix it. Before the move to Vegas, the first thing I did after the schedule released was look for better locations to watch the Raiders than Oakland. My family would make vacations out of it before Vegas was even an option, and I'm sure this isn't an uncommon thing for other fans too. Our stadium will always be a tourist attraction first and foremost. It sucks that we lost our homefield advantage but I have to admit I enjoy the trip a hell of a lot more than the Bay area.

Rabidraider wrote: Mon Oct 19, 2026 5:34 am We keep talking about fixing the offense with better guard play, a true WR1 etc but being the second/third highest scoring offense says maybe we have to put next years draft capital into the defense.

Our #1s of late were Mendoza, Jeanty and Bowers.

Some of the free agents we grabbed are playing well but,

Its time to draft defense with high picks...

Because you wash the Lambo, not the Pinto.

Our offense is a WR1 away (and maybe a guard prospect for insurance) from being a legit playoff contender. The NFL is an offensive league, so you get further fine-tuning your offense rather than overhauling the defense. There's nothing that can be done when you have a weak front four featuring an overrated player.

It would take too many seasons and too many pieces to get our defense right. Besides, a great offense keeps the defense fresh, gives the defense a lead to protect, and allows them to pin their ears back and pass rush.

One offseason gives us a completed offensive unit.

Dr Death wrote: Mon Oct 19, 2026 9:04 am Someone needs to teach the D how to tackle. So many missed in this game.

It aint just tackling. There's a lot of stupidity displayed on defense. Just horrible football instincts.
2 plays stuck out like a massive sore thumb to me. The Allen flip for a TD pass. Watch the replay from behind Allen. As he starts to run towards the line of scrimmage, not 1 defender, not 2 defenders, but 3 defenders very close to each other break off coverage and go for him leaving the receiver uncovered. Good lord, when we were kids playing in the park with no coach or even grown up around we had enough sense in a situation like that to communicate, and 1 guy take ball and the other the receiver. There were 3 of them and they all went for the same shit. That's ignorance.
The other play was that late screen to Cooks around the end. Our entire defense just collapsed into the center for no reason.
Amazing athletes with NO instincts. Hard to watch that garbage.