Raiders at Titans: 3 things we learned
The Oakland Raiders held on to beat the Tennessee Titans in Nashville, 17-10. Here are three takeaways from that contest.
Dating back to last season, the Oakland Raiders are now 5-5 in their last 10 road games thanks to Sunday’s 17-10 win over the Titans in Tennessee. Now if only the Silver and Black can get its act together at home. We won’t know that for a few more weeks as Jack Del Rio’s 2-1 squad heads to Baltimore next Sunday.
In any case, the Raiders are 2-1 on the young season, with all three contests decided by seven points or less. So what did we learn on Sunday?
1. The Raiders’ new-look secondary finally showed up
You will recall that general manager Reggie McKenzie spent his share of money as well as a first-round draft choice this offseason to secure his back four. The club added free-agents in cornerback Sean Smith and free safety Reggie Nelson and drafted strong safety Karl Joseph with the 16th overall pick. The Raiders also gave cornerback David Amerson a big contract extension.
On Sunday against the Titans, both Smith and Nelson had interceptions of Marcus Mariota and Joseph led the team with 10 tackles on the afternoon. This defensive unit is still a work in progress and Sunday’s performance by the secondary was finally a step in the right direction.
2. Michael Crabtree getting better with age
A year ago, the one-time San Francisco 49ers’ first-round pick wasn’t wanted as a free agent and the Raiders finally gave him a one-year deal. He would lead the team with 85 catches, good for 922 yards and a club-high nine touchdown receptions.
McKenzie re-signed the veteran wideout to a new deal and he’s picked up where he’s left off. After totaling 11 receptions for 118 yards and a score in the first two game, Crabtree led all pass-catchers in Sunday’s game in Nashville with eight catches for 102 yards in the 17-10 win. Adding the playoff-tested wide receiver to the Oakland offense has been an unsung move by the team’s front office and it continues to pay dividends.
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3. Marcus Mariota still has lots to learn
It’s been a very hot and cold start for the second-year pro in 2016. And ball security has been the main problem in the season’s first three weeks.
In Sunday’s loss to the Raiders, Mariota was picked off twice and lost one of his two fumbles in the disappointing setback. In three games this season he’s coughed up the ball a total of six times (4 interceptions, 2 lost fumbles). Meanwhile, the Titans have been limited to 16 points in each of their first three games.
To be fair, we haven’t even seen a full season of games from the 2014 Heisman Trophy winner. Sunday marked only the 15th game of Mariota’s NFL career. Patience must still be exercised.