STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

NFL Team Report - Oakland Raiders</h2><br>PLAYER NOTES<p></p> --TE/WR Darren Waller signed with the Raiders off the Baltimore Ravens practice squad. Waller sat out last season under a league suspension and has been on Baltimore's practice squad all season.<p></p> --C Rodney Hudson (ankle) was limited in Wednesday's practice.<p></p> --CB Daryl Worley (shoulder) was limited in Wednesday's practice.<p></p> --DE Frostee Rucker (neck) was limited in Wednesday's practice.<p></p> --DE Arden Key (knee) was limited in Wednesday's practice.<p></p> --DE Jacquies Smith, signed on Nov. 4, was placed on injured reserve (Achilles) and is out for the season.<p></p> --WR Johnny Holton, who played as a special teams gunner against Baltimore, was waived and ended up back on the Raiders' practice squad.<p></p> --CB Arrion Springs was released from the practice squad.<p></p> GAME PLAN: The Raiders must do their best to keep the ball out of the hands of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who in his second season in the NFL out of Texas Tech has passed for 3,628 yards and 37 touchdowns, with only 10 interceptions. That means Oakland must run the ball effectively with Doug Martin and Jalen Richard, who have been effective since starting running back Marshawn Lynch went out for the season because of a groin injury. In addition, Derek Carr, who has passed for 2,827 yards but only 13 touchdowns, must keep the Chiefs' defense off-balance with head coach Jon Gruden's short passing game. Richard and tight end Jared Cook are the Raiders' leading receivers this season. Carr has been sacked a career-high 35 times and the Oakland front line, with rookie tackles Kolton Miller and Brandon Parker, must keep Kansas City pass rushers Dee Ford and Chris Jones, who both have nine sacks, off him.<p></p> Mahomes probably is licking his chops over the prospect of facing the Oakland defense, which has only 10 sacks (four by rookie defensive tackle Maurice Hurst) and nine interceptions this season. Mahomes has been lighting up defenses by throwing to tight end Travis Kelce (67 receptions for 914 yards and seven touchdowns), and wide receivers Tyreek Hill (65-1106-11) and Sammy Watkins (40-519-3). Should Watkins be unavailable because of a foot injury, the Chiefs will turn to Chris Conley (22-223-4). If the Raiders sit back to defend against his dangerous receivers, Mahomes will simply turn to running back Kareem Hunt, who has 824 yards and seven touchdowns rushing, plus 26 catches for 326 yards and seven more scores.<p></p> PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: CB Gareon Conley. The Raiders thought they had a star in the making last year when they drafted Conley in the first round (No. 24 overall) out of Ohio State and prep powerhouse Massillon (Ohio) High, and after some trying times in the last two seasons, it's starting to look like they might have been right. The 6-foot, 195-pound Conley missed most of his rookie season because of a nagging shin injury and struggled early this year in new coordinator Paul Guenther's defense. After being benched after a few games, there was talk around the trade deadline that Conley was a bust and might be dealt away. However, the Raiders put him back in the starting lineup instead and Conley has been impressive at times. He has made two interceptions this season, including one against quarterback Baker Mayfield of the Cleveland Browns that he returned 36 yards for a touchdown in one of Oakland's two victories this season in Week 4. Conley also has a team-leading 10 passes defensed and 25 tackles.<p></p>MATCHUPS TO WATCH<p></p> --Raiders secondary vs. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes. While they have shown growing pains, the Raiders also have gotten some solid play this season from CB Gareon Conley and Ss Karl Joseph and Marcus Gilchrist. Mahomes has picked apart some veteran secondaries with his throws to WRs Tyreek Hill and Sammy Watkins, and TE Travis Kelce, but he also has made a few mistakes recently. He has only 10 interceptions in 11 games, but has thrown at least one in six of his last seven games and the Raiders have to find a way to pick him off. Mahomes also is a threat to take off and run if no one is open, as he has rushed 42 times for 186 yards, a 4.4-yard average, and two touchdowns.<p></p> --Raiders front seven vs. Chiefs RB Kareem Hunt. Hunt rushed for more than 100 yards in both games against the Raiders last season, so the Chiefs obviously were confident they could run the ball against Oakland even before the Baltimore Ravens took over last week's game against the Raiders on the ground. The Ravens ran the ball on 24 of 30 plays on their first two drives of the second half, pounding out touchdown drives of 75 and 71 yards to take control of the game. Ravens rookie RB Gus Edwards rushed for 118 of Baltimore's 242 yards rushing in the game and the Raiders must keep Hunt, who has 824 yards and seven touchdowns this season, and the Chiefs from compiling similar numbers. </div> <div class="flex gap-2"> <div class="font-bold text-gray-600">The Sports Xchange</div> </div> <div id="comments" class="pt-6"></div> </div> </div> <div class="py-6 space-y-6"> <div class="space-y-4"> <h2 class="md:col-span-2 lg:col-span-3 font-bold text-xl text-gray-800">Recent Stories</h2> <a href="/feature/testing-buffalo-bill-page" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">Testing Buffalo Bill Page</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> Joe Horrigan knows the Buffalo Bills </div> </div> </a> <a href="/feature/06e3032cec6e442ab60a7fd8ae1b3701" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">Steelers positional analysis: Kenny Pickett stands alone in QB room</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> 2/17/2024If the Steelers were concerned about the uncertain future at quarterback when Ben Roethlisberger retired, the outlook at the position might not be any more ... </div> </div> </a> <a href="/feature/07f24b7086b24e9e83c29e8bf9cd913b" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">49ers coach Kyle Shanahan doesn’t deserve criticism since Super Bowl</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> Globe StaffUpdated February 17, 2024, 9:38 a.m.Kyle Shanahan has been on the defensive all week following the 49ers’ 25-22 overtime loss to the Chiefs in the Super ... </div> </div> </a> <a href="/feature/2ae9263e12c74de88c5fb4aa552a1f3e" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">New Raiders GM expected to be aggressive in search for top QB</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> February 17, 2024 - 4:19 PMIf Tom Telesco’s past offers clues about his future, expect the Raiders’ new general manager to be aggressive in bringing in a top-level ... </div> </div> </a> <a href="/features?skip=22" class="group flex items-center justify-center gap-2 bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg shadow px-3.5 py-2.5 text-gray-800 hover:text-gray-700 font-medium"> <span>Read More Stories</span> <span class="transition-transform group-hover:translate-x-1 motion-reduce:transform-none"><i class="fa-solid fa-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="space-y-4"> <h2 class="md:col-span-2 lg:col-span-3 font-bold text-xl text-gray-800">Latest Player Notes</h2> <a href="/note/65f70668f166e2567ab51b31" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">How a Wisconsin legend got his German protégé into Badgers pro day</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> <span class="font-light"> </span> Mar 15, 2024 Marlon Werthmann put his life on hold for the opportunity in front of him Friday at the McClain Center.Werthmann ... </div> </div> </a> <a href="/note/65f70667f166e2567ab51b24" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">Why former Wisconsin football running back Braelon Allen didn't run the 40 at pro day</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> <span class="font-light"> </span> Mar 15, 2024 Braelon Allen’s sweat covered his shirt and dripped off his beard as he approached a group of reporters Friday.The ... </div> </div> </a> <a href="/note/65f70667f166e2567ab51b11" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">How can UW recruit its best class ever? It starts with these five prospects</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> <span class="font-light"> </span> By Andy Yamashita Seattle Times staff reporter Jedd Fisch has lofty recruiting goals at Washington. He didn’t waste any ... </div> </div> </a> <a href="/note/65f70664f166e2567ab51ad3" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">Texas football kicks off spring practice Tuesday. We answer 24 questions for the 2024 team</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> <span class="font-light"> </span> Things certainly look fresh for the 2024 college football season, especially on the Texas campus.There’s a new conference ... </div> </div> </a> <a href="/note/65f70661f166e2567ab51a86" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">College Football Playoff: Conferences solve their differences (for now) and agree on general framework for 2026 and beyond</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> <span class="font-light"> </span> The FBS conferences and Notre Dame agreed on Friday to continue the College Football Playoff beyond the 2025 season, signing ... </div> </div> </a> <a href="/note/65f70661f166e2567ab51a7d" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">Ball security, leadership key as Aztecs look to identify starting quarterback</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> <span class="font-light"> </span> San Diego State seemingly auditions a new starting quarterback on an annual basis.In the past 12 years, the Aztecs have opened ... </div> </div> </a> <a href="/note/65f7065ff166e2567ab51a5a" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">Results and more: A look at what happened at Penn State football’s Pro Day inside Holuba Hall</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> <span class="font-light"> </span> Most of those at Penn State’s Pro Day Friday were relatively quiet throughout the afternoon’s workouts, but there was one ... </div> </div> </a> <a href="/note/65f7065ef166e2567ab51a4a" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">Defense dominates first two weeks of Oregon State spring practice as Beavers ready for 2-week breather</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> <span class="font-light"> </span> CORVALLIS – Oregon State hit the break of spring practices Saturday, not exactly the midpoint but a good place to assess ... </div> </div> </a> <a href="/note/65f7065ef166e2567ab51a31" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">Dillon Gabriel to have similar input, autonomy as Bo Nix had in Oregon’s offense</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> <span class="font-light"> </span> Published Mar. 16, 2024, 6:26 p.m.By James CrepeaEUGENE — Dillon Gabriel will have much of the same autonomy as Bo Nix did ... </div> </div> </a> <a href="/note/65f7065df166e2567ab51a1d" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">Two transfers, one underclassman who impressed in Missouri football's spring game</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> <span class="font-light"> </span> With that, spring camp’s a wrap.Missouri football held its Black & Gold spring game Saturday in front of a healthy crowd ... </div> </div> </a> <a href="/notes?skip=20" class="group flex items-center justify-center gap-2 bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg shadow px-3.5 py-2.5 text-gray-800 hover:text-gray-700 font-medium"> <span>See More Player Notes</span> <span class="transition-transform group-hover:translate-x-1 motion-reduce:transform-none"><i class="fa-solid fa-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> <!-- =========={ FOOTER }========== --> <footer class="bg-gray-900" aria-labelledby="footer-heading"> <h2 id="footer-heading" class="sr-only">Footer</h2> <div class="mx-auto max-w-7xl px-6 pb-8 pt-16 sm:pt-24 lg:px-8 lg:pt-32"> <div class="xl:grid xl:grid-cols-3 xl:gap-8"> <div class="space-y-8"> <a href="/" class="flex items-center justify-between md:justify-start gap-3"> <img src="/static/images/Pro_Football_Hall_of_Fame_logo.svg.png?v=c6d7cf3613f0e96a1fab7aab706baba8318bf3d016f59cbaef2b968d81cb8a3078e61f99dee19ca3a6a4bf476d34981c18a5b19f15ac2da0ae29d677be70ebad" alt="NFL Hall of Fame" class="w-2/12" /> <img src="/static/images/hall-logo.svg?v=7142371ad3e955e1749283170eb357dfed785130bc4b7018879d586e9bac3d40a3b7041b25e105981fd507b5f139a52b87438262733cadfa76f763ec18812523" alt="Hall of Football" class="w-6/12" /> <img src="/static/images/tsx_logo.png?v=eb566de558e45b6331e9b1ddba019c212d34ad6dddeab86829489d36e4974961a8dd4926d489b9ac8eaeeacdafce8a6f4974b5a97dd7df4694d4642b94c437ea" alt="The Sports Xchange" class="w-2/12" /> </a> <p class="text-sm leading-6 text-gray-300">Hall of Football is owned and operated by The Sports Xchange (TSX), which has provided news, analysis, and research for fans and professionals since 1987.</p> <div class="flex space-x-6"> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/sports-xchange/" target="_blank" class="text-gray-500 hover:text-gray-400 text-2xl"> <span class="sr-only">LinkedIn</span> <i class="fa-brands fa-linkedin"></i> </a> </div> </div> <div class="mt-16 grid grid-cols-2 gap-8 xl:col-span-2 xl:mt-0"> <div class="md:grid md:grid-cols-2 md:gap-8"> <div> <h3 class="text-sm font-semibold leading-6 text-white flex items-center gap-2"><i class="fa-solid fa-football fa-fw"></i>Preps</h3> <ul role="list" class="mt-6 space-y-4"> <li> <a href="/preps" class="text-sm leading-6 text-gray-300 hover:text-white">Latest News & Notes</a> </li> <li> <a href="/prep/ratings?ranking_id=" class="text-sm leading-6 text-gray-300 hover:text-white">Ratings</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="mt-10 md:mt-0"> <h3 class="text-sm font-semibold leading-6 text-white flex items-center gap-2"><i class="fa-solid fa-graduation-cap fa-fw"></i>NFL Draft Scout</h3> <ul role="list" class="mt-6 space-y-4"> <li> <a href="/features" class="text-sm leading-6 text-gray-300 hover:text-white">Latest News & Notes</a> </li> <li> <a href="/cfb/teams" class="text-sm leading-6 text-gray-300 hover:text-white">Teams</a> </li> <li> <a href="/player/ratings?ranking_id=" class="text-sm leading-6 text-gray-300 hover:text-white">Ratings</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="md:grid md:grid-cols-2 md:gap-8"> <div> <h3 class="text-sm font-semibold leading-6 text-white flex items-center gap-2"><i class="fa-solid fa-shield fa-fw"></i>Pro Football</h3> <ul role="list" class="mt-6 space-y-4"> <li> <a href="/nfl_features" class="text-sm leading-6 text-gray-300 hover:text-white">Latest News & Notes</a> </li> <li> <a href="/nfl/teams" class="text-sm leading-6 text-gray-300 hover:text-white">Teams</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="mt-10 md:mt-0"> <h3 class="text-sm font-semibold leading-6 text-white flex items-center gap-2"><i class="fa-solid fa-trophy fa-fw"></i>Hall of Fame</h3> <ul role="list" class="mt-6 space-y-4"> <li> <a href="/hofs" class="text-sm leading-6 text-gray-300 hover:text-white">Recent Hall of Fame Stories</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="mt-16 border-t border-white/10 pt-8 sm:mt-20 lg:mt-24"> <p class="text-xs leading-5 text-gray-400">©<script>document.write(new Date().getFullYear())</script> The Sports Xchange. All rights reserved.</p> </div> </div> </footer> <script src="/static/js/jquery-3.6.4.min.js?v=6913f9128895022b08339049963616cb09bbc61bd759a45c3bf7cb6662854f0c3ef16d975758468c34cd607176c011d9c62f5fcb8196cba93d0b4b265760747e"></script> <script src="/static/js/plotly.min.js?v=a8cca95f0be13f9712eebf9dfc13afb3aa92d319a96a0ee5540833aad7ace213d48ea1a1650310a035a02064ca97e09738bc4aad659ad66e840d408c6290fcee"></script> <script src="/static/js/flowbite.min.js?v=09453b0f96202c849a154e82a425e65c6e9d6430fb468601a1c1f0ba4c9ded2624172d29ee03f7cd71922ceb49d5b10b2672ba698060e2dee19e5d1df0393660"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/static/js/comments.js?v=75fa06f9940025e48e822761e5ffd57823c34ebd04636803f6d08b70a146d0360b304adbdbb2cc1e1686620862c3d94512a714acb1ea55855cb9db5c5d8c4115"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> // get any comments for this feature $(document).ready(function() { load_comments( 'note', 'strategy-and-personnel', '' ) }) </script> </body> </html>