Oakland Raiders: Offense Looks Vastly Improved

ByJonathan George|

The Oakland Raiders defeated the St. Louis Rams 18-3 Friday evening, and while it is still very early in the process of Oakland’s franchise revamping process, there where definitely some distinct and positive signs that the team will be much improved on the offensive side of the ball. Time will tell if those signs where only a fleeting glimpse or something that the Raiders could look back on as the foundation of a successful season.

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To begin with, the biggest measuring stick was as much the success against a fairly tough defense as it was the ability to consistently move the ball. The Rams were no pushovers last season on defense; St. Louis was towards the top half of the league in 2014 in many defensive categories, and have some big time play makers on that side of the ball. I’m sure no Raider fan forgot the 52-0 beating the Rams gave Oakland back in late November.

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Offensive Coordinator Bill Musgrave has brought any entirely new feel to the team’s offensive play calling and more importantly, play structure. This was evident in several instances in the first half; the tricky draw play in the 1st quarter that broke Latavius Murray for 17 yards, the spread offense sets and quick passes that neutralized the Rams pass rush, or even the read option plays he incorporated near the goal line with Derek Carr and Murray.

A big indication of the success of Musgrave’s playcalling? The Raiders offense didn’t have one “3 and out” series all game. Zero.

Every play call and every decision Musgrave made while the first and second team group was in the game seemed to have a lot of logic behind it, and there weren’t a lot of “stinker” plays that had Raider fans scratching their collective heads over the last few seasons. A big indication of the success of Musgrave’s playcalling? The Raiders offense didn’t have one “3 and out” series all game. Zero. When was the last time Raider fans could say that?

Murray looked like he is primed for a breakout season; the cutting and vision he displayed was well matched with the speed he possesses, and he showed fans he is the definitive starter no matter what Trent Richardson does in the preseason. That being said, even Richardson shook off a lot of the doubt he gave fans by missing the beginning of training camp as he looked better than he has in previous years, and he may still benefit from Musgrave’s blocking schemes.

Sure, it wasn’t all good. Mistakes were made, as is expected at this point in the preseason.

Carr’s ill advised interception when trying to thread the needle to Amari Cooper on the goal line was one. His fade pass attempt to Michael Crabtree on a 3rd and 2 on the Raiders opening drive most likely should not have been thrown. And Oakland struggled on connecting with anything over 10-15 yards through the air. But it feels like nitpicking to mention this stuff when there were so many positive signs.

Carr to Cooper looks like it will be a worn out statement by week 16; Carr was making a very apparent decision to get Cooper the ball as much as possible, which was probably why Cooper was double teamed on the interception near the goal line in the 1st quarter. If Musgrave can continue to put them in a position to maximize Cooper’s size and strength, the Raiders will be enjoying a lot of production from the tandem in 2015.

Again, it’s one preseason game. Overreaction can create disappointment in future weeks, so tempering the excitement of what the Raiders did on offense Friday night is well advised. But for once in a great many years, Oakland Raider fans have a lot to be hopeful about for the upcoming season.

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