Raiders Seek To Slow Ravens’ Attack

Walking into tonight’s game versus the Baltimore Ravens, the Las Vegas Raiders need to expect a hungry team. Granted, Week One usually brings teams ready to go. Yet, in front of a nationwide audience and a full training camp behind them, the Raiders still have questions.

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The Offensive Line

While Kolton Miller and Denzelle Good earned new contracts, the other three members of the line remain up in the air. Richie Incognito will miss tonight’s game with a leg injury. Andre James steps into shoes formerly occupied by Rodney Hudson. Facing the Ravens interior presents as a gargantuan task for James. How will he keep Derek Carr clean? Remember, Carr enjoyed years off with little to no pressure upfront. Now, Calais Campbell will serve as the first test of the new center. Meanwhile, on the outside, rookie Alex Leatherwood faces a Ravens defense that blitzed an NFL-leading 44.1 percent in 2020. By that metric, look for Don Martindale to throw the kitchen sink at the rookie.

The Importance of Ruggs

With John Brown taking leave after his million-dollar summer internship in Nevada, all eyes turn to Henry Ruggs. In his second year, Ruggs should see some of the coveted Agholor routes. These patterns saw Derek Carr test defenses vertically and Nelson Agholor spring free deep. While it goes without saying, Ruggs does possess the ability to change the narrative. Blessed with speed is one thing, earning Carr’s trust is another. Right, wrong, or indifferent, Derek Carr does not trust wideouts immediately. In facing a secondary without Marcus Peters means that the Marlon Humphrey can’t cover two wideouts at once.

Gus Bradley Versus The Run

Regardless of who lines up in the backfield, the Ravens want to run the ball. Behind a stout offensive line, Baltimore prefers to get downhill in a hurry. Enter Gus Bradley. His sole task is to improve an atrocious defense, making the team a legitimate playoff contender. In this game, Lamar Jackson on the boundary will test new linebackers K.J. Wright and Denzel Perryman. How will they sift through the wash and make the play? Bradley preaches a fast-flowing, swarming defense. Right off the bat, the Las Vegas Raiders get their first test and this game does not look easy. The Ravens ran the ball 555 times in 2020. Run heavy feels like an inaccurate description