Cut the season in the middle

Halfway through the 2020 season, the Las Vegas Raiders hold a 5-3 record, the most impressive with four of those wins coming down the road.

The Silver and Black have beaten three teams over 0.500 and appear to be finding their rhythm, picking up steam as they tend to rise for the second half of the season. Now is a great time to reflect on what has happened so far and how the Raiders can still improve in the future.

Raiders.com writers Levi Edwards and Kyle Martin break down their observations and expectations halfway; let’s see what they had to say.

THE: As a guy who was raised in the Carolinas, I have to show love to Gaffney, SC native who was the unsung hero of the Raiders offensive.

Denzelle Good had to step in and play through the offensive line for players like Trent Brown, Sam Young, Richie Incognito, John Simpson and Kolton Miller. Good not only did well as a backing offensive guard, but he played exceptional football.

Good has played in all eight games this season and has played every offensive snapshot since Week 1. He also just won the best game of his career statistically against the Browns two weeks ago, when Pro Football Focus gave him a 90 PFF rating after not allowing a single QB press on Derek Carr the entire game.

I made the running joke that Denzelle Good will be the first third string tackle to make a Pro Bowl, but seriously, that shouldn’t be a joke anymore. Coach Gruden and Derek Carr came out and said Good is the attacking MVP so far this season, and his work has proven that to be true.

I think it’s fair of me to say that Denzelle has been – yes, that pun is intended – pretty good.

KM: Johnathan Abram has given us a taste of what he can bring to an NFL game, but this season we’re getting a full dose of it, and it’s a thing of beauty.

The former first-round pick received a lot of hype ahead of his rookie year, in part because of his charisma, but the former Mississippi State Bulldog has lived up to expectations in seven games this year. Not afraid to talk about trash, Abram backs him up with his hard-hitting play, totaling 42 tackles, one interception, one fumble recovered and four defensive passes this year. When the No.24 is on the pitch Paul Guenther’s defense is significantly better, and he’s been the most outstanding for me on defense.

KM: Derek Carr plays one of the best footballers of his career.

A former MVP contender, Carr looks just as good in 2020 as he does 2016 – a year in which he led the Silver and Blacks to the playoffs for the first time in 14 years. In eight games, Carr has the Raiders in playoff contention, threw 16 touchdowns (five short of last year’s total), just two interceptions and the second-best completion percentage of his career (69, 8).

Despite all the injuries and setbacks the Raiders have faced this season, they were able to use depth and young talent to make big plays and get the job done. This was most noticeable on the offensive line and in the secondary.

John Simpson and Brandon Parker joined Good to take the offensive line and continue to excel. Tom Cable has done a great job rallying his guys together and making sure they’re prepared for every contest, with the Raiders’ offensive line ranked 11th in track blocking and 12th in pass blocking this season, despite the fact that the starting unit only plays 10 collective shots. this season.

High school also saw guys come in big situations for injuries suffered by Damon Arnette, Erik Harris and Trayvon Mullen. Backing up safety, Jeff Health intercepted Patrick Mahomes to give the Kansas City Chiefs their only loss of the season so far. Isaiah Johnson also stepped in when it was important for the Chargers to replace Trayvon Mullen who suffered a hamstring injury. Johnson was tested at the goal line and forced two incomplete passes to win the game for the Raiders.

With all the adversity and obstacles the Raiders have endured this season, they left me amazed and surprised with their poise and level of effort.

From the 4-inch stoppage in Charlotte, to the season-long upheaval against the Chiefs at Arrowhead, to the Cleveland exit with a win in 40 mph winds at Isaiah Johnson saving the day against the Chargers in his Houston teammate … it’s just one of those “What the hell?” kind of seasons.

It really made me spin my head, question what I see and let out a “What?” from the classic fashionable Stone Cold Steve Austin press box.

Whether you’re listening to ESPN radio, FOX Sports, or whatever your favorite media source is, there’s one common thread among NFL experts: The Raiders aren’t a joke.

The Silver and Black are finally gaining some recognition and competing against some of the best teams in the NFL. Coach Gruden and general manager Mike Mayock wanted to build a base of foundational pieces that embody what it means to win, and for nearly two years together the duo have built a determined team full of potential. The Raiders are trending upwards thanks to their youth, the addition of off-season pieces, and Carr’s leadership. With a few favorable games ahead, I expect them to continue to stack W’s.

THE: They must involve their future receiver more.

Henry Ruggs showed he was an explosive receiver for years to come. However, Ruggs and the Raiders’ coaching staff must continue to find ways to turn those glimpses into a consistent performance. Since Ruggs’ 118-yard performance at Kansas City, he has combined for 3 receptions and 21 yards in the previous three games.

Granted Ruggs is just a rookie and still adjusting to the speed of the NFL since he thwarted college defenses in Alabama. I expect the Raiders to find more ways to put the stone in the hands of this young man throughout the season.

KM: Against the Los Angeles Chargers, the defensive line was able to come home for a pair of sacks, but that area has yet to improve going forward. The Raiders are at the bottom of the league in total with nine sacks, but maybe Sunday’s game is an indication that the unit is finally putting all the pieces together.

On the bright side, the Raiders played decently against the run and are ranked 17th, allowing 118.5 yards per game and haven’t allowed a 100-yard runner since week three.