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ALAMEDA – The Raiders have trouble hurrying. The defensive line does not seem to be able to go home, creating problems in the passing game that the defensive backs can not solve.
The real question, it seems, is how to add to the current list. Head coach Jon Gruden relies on linebacker Bruce Irvin and a bunch of talented but green recruits to generate pressure.
It does not work well, and it is clear that the Raiders are missing from you-know-who.
The Silver and Black suffered five strikes in last week's loss to Rams L.A. It was a league minimum, by site-specific Pro Football Focus. They had only 12 points in the 20-19 defeat on Sunday in Denver, according to the first count of PFF.
The Raiders have two bags through two games. It's not sufficient.
"We need to make improvements," Gruden told a news conference on Monday. "At all levels, we need to make improvements. It was pretty obvious.
C & # 39; was. Finding a solution this season is the hard part.
[BAIR: Raiders Report Card]
This summer, the Raiders seemed to have a strong pass on the paper, with Irvin on one side, Khalil Mack shooting on the other and young defenders of the inner pass wreaking havoc in the middle.
Losing Mack has changed everything. The Chicago trader for future draft picks allowed the 2018 Raiders to win nothing in return. He did produce despite careful attention, allowing Irvin to work under favorable conditions.
Without Mack, everyone is struggling. That does not mean that Gruden has doubts.
"I do not regret it. We did the trade, "said Gruden. "There will be hindsight and all that. We would have liked to have it here. I will not continue to repeat it. I would have liked to train him. I would have liked to have it here, but it is not there.
"Someone must intervene. We must continue to build our football team. That's what we will do. Hope we see more of Arden Key. I hope we will see more PJ Hall when he is healthy. I hope we prove that in the long run we have made the right choice.
Mack's absence is certainly short-term. It made life harder for Irvin. Outside of his shoulder bag during week 1, the sniper was not very present.
"We have to make the most of our captain," said Gruden. "He has certainly been put in difficult situations. He is a good player and has played good shots. We need more and more of him. I know he gives us everything he has. It's hard for him because we have a lot of new guys around him, but we're glad he's here. "
Key, the rookie edge rooker, is a supreme talent who is still learning the ropes. He can be excitable on the field and be fooled by an opponent's ploy. Coaches try to develop Key's game, but it's unrealistic and foolish to expect success.
Hall is recovering from a sprained ankle and should miss at least one more match. Hurst made a sack against Denver but, like Key, he plays more than the Raiders would have liked so soon. Defensive tackling does not help much, with newcomers Brian Price, Clinton McDonald and Johnathan Hankins playing right away.
The Raiders have started well twice, but have lost second-period runs in as many games, resulting in frustration but not absolute pessimism.
"We are disappointed with the result," said Gruden. "We will continue to see the glass half full. But at the same time, I will lower my head and continue digging and scratching to find ways to build the foundation of this football team. "
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