The Las Vegas Raiders’ season has been nothing short of a disaster in head coach Pete Carroll’s first and possibly only season with the team.
After starting 1-0 with a win over the now 9-2 New England Patriots, the Raiders have dropped seven of their last eight games and sit dead last in the American Football Conference West division.
Offensively, new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly hasn’t been a good play-caller and he isn’t getting help from quarterback Geno Smith or the offensive line. Smith has more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (11), the offensive line is banged up and even when it wasn’t, they weren’t doing much to help the run or protect their quarterback.
Rookie running back Ashton Jeanty has looked explosive at times this season but due to poor offensive line play, he hasn’t been able to generate much with little open space. Overall, Jeanty has 547 yards on 143 carries, averaging 3.8 yards per carry with four touchdowns. He has 23 receptions for 136 yards and three touchdowns.
Defensively, the Raiders defense is actually 15th in the National Football League in yards allowed per game (320.8) but tied for 22nd worst in points per game (24.4). Star defensive end Maxx Crosby is having a solid season but there is more to be desired from this unit.
The special teams unit has been a mess for Las Vegas, resulting in the team parting ways with coordinator Tom McMahon. He has been replaced by assistant special teams coach Derius Swinton II.
“Coach Pete Carroll said the team decided to move on from special teams coordinator Tom McMahon because ‘it was time for a change.’ Las Vegas' special teams unit was one of the factors in the Raiders' loss to the Broncos,” ESPN’s Ryan McFadden wrote Friday. “The Raiders allowed a blocked punt and Daniel Carlson missed a tying field goal in the fourth quarter. Assistant special teams coach Derius Swinton II was named the interim special teams coordinator. ‘There's [no] time to change a bunch of our scheme at this point, but it's to emphasize and focus on things that we needed to get better,’ Carroll said. ‘And so, I'm hoping that the voice change will help us in that regard.’”
The Raiders will host the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football in Week 11. If Las Vegas’ defense can keep the Dallas offense in check, the offense has a favorable matchup against a weakened Cowboys defense.