After back-to-back losses, many are wondering if this Raiders’ team is going to struggle to get many wins this season. With three more games away from home upcoming for the Raiders, they need several players to start to step up and play better if they want to stay competitive.
Today, we are looking at three key players who need to improve as they have struggled to start the season.
1. QB Derek Carr
Without a doubt, the Raiders need more from their franchise quarterback. Derek Carr is in his second-year with Jon Gruden, but it doesn’t appear that he is returning to his 2016 form anytime soon.
If the Raiders want to stay competitive, they need Carr to be better in the second halves games. Through three weeks, Carr has a passer rating of 107 in the first two quarters, but it drops down to just 75.8 in the second half. Too often, he isn’t looking to make plays down the field, and it is capping the ceiling of this offense.
If Carr can’t get this offense to be any better than what it is right now, it wouldn’t be a shock if Oakland moved on from him this offseason. These next 13 games are going to be huge for Carr’s future with the Raiders.
2. DB Lamarcus Joyner
In the offseason, the Raiders targeted former Los Angeles Rams’ defensive back Lamarcus Joyner in free agency and paid him handsomely. Unfortunately, they aren’t getting a strong return on their investment.
Through three weeks, Joyner is Pro Football Focus’ third-worst graded defensive back. The only players with worse grades are 2019 first-round pick DeAndre Baker and recently released cornerback Aaron Colvin.
With Johnathan Abram out, the Raiders need Joyner to make more plays on defense. He has just 13 tackles, no pass deflections or turnovers yet for the Raiders. That needs to change if he wants to start justifying his recent contract with Oakland.
3. LT Kolton Miller
After a rough rookie season, the hope was that Kolton Miller would get healthy and make massive strides in his second season. But through three weeks, that just hasn’t been the case.
Miller has continued to struggle with power, and he has allowed multiple sacks in the first few games. Oakland selected Miller high in the 2018 draft and need him to start performing like a top-tier pick.
If things don’t start to improve soon, it’s fair to wonder if Oakland won’t make a move to better protect Derek Carr’s blindside.
