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GDT: Broncos @ Raiders


paul-mac

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Keys to our drive to get a top 5 pick:

1.  The battle of new Coordinators - no doubt Musgrave simplifying the O will make it easier for Lynch to find some success.   IMO the bigger story is OAK DC Ken Norton getting fired - going to interim DC John Pagano is a big boost to our chances to lose the game, as Pagano has been able to game plan against us very effectively.   How Musgrave vs. Pagano plays out likely has a huge impact on Sunday's game, more than any other coaching battle.   If nothing else, this 6-game stretch will be as much of an audition for Musgrave as a potential 2018 OC as it will be for Lynch as QB.

2.  OAK's front 7 vs. our OL - we can run block, can't pass block.   OAK's front 7 are responsible for a paltry 11 sacks.   Something's gotta give, unless we get out to an early lead and can lean on the run game.    Khalil Mack has absolutely killed us last year, but we did keep him in check earlier this season.  How Pagano schemes to get him free will be interesting.

3.  DT/Sanders vs. the OAK secondary - with rookies Melifonwu and Conley still out, that porous secondary looks like a prime matchup - 0 INT's in the first 10 games.  

4.  OAK's O exploiting our RB/TE weakness in pass coverage - the book is out, get after our LB/RB pass coverage.   Everyone else has been able to exploit this since Week 4, and OAK has the RB/TE talent (young RB's Washington & Richard, TE Cook).

5.  OAK keeping Carr clean in the pocket - to say he's regressed is an understatement - who knew that Watson was such an important part of their OL (because he sucks for us lol).  Their RT play has been just as bad, if not worse.    Still, if they can keep Carr clean, a very different game script than when we last played OAK.

6.  The ST battle - their P/K have been great, while we still rank 32nd in ST play - in a battle where our O and their D's suck, and their O / our D are struggling, the ST play likely plays a huge role, especially in the field position game.    This is crucial, because of the final factor....

7.  Lynch & going with youth - really, this year is now about whether Lynch is even close to ready to help in 2018.    If he's not, then we go back to the drawing board draft-wise.   While anything is possible, so much to improve on from last year and the preseason - slow read progression and D recognition, terrible footwork and ball placement, no anticipation, inability to look off the D and eyes down with pressure.    Apparently we're going to use a lot of shotgun to help him feel more comfortable and minimize his footwork issues, but that's also troubling at 2 offseasons of work.   Still, time to see where he's at, nothing to lose.   Likewise, we might as well see what Booker can do with more work, ideally with CJ being preserved - that means saying adios to JC...he's literally costing us 78K per game extra in bonuses - 500K rollover doesn't sound like much, but it's literally being wasted, let's save it for 2018.   Then we can dress Deangelo Henderson as our 3rd RB for Gameday.  If it's about 2018+, then JC has no place on the team.   Brutal, but simple to see.

So, looking at the above, unless Musgrave can hide all of the likely warts Lynch still has, OAK should take this, 24-17 type game.  Still, it's close enough that a W is possible - but if we can lose, really keeps our top 5 pick hopes alive.   Either way, will be watching to see how both Musgrave and Lynch fare.

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3 minutes ago, paul-mac said:

How the hell did Talib get ejected? That was all on Crabtree

He swung multiple punches.

Crabtree started the whole thing with completely unnecessary blocking, but you can't just get up and start swinging for a guy and expect not to get thrown out.

Both of them are idiots.

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Tip might have been unlucky, but THAT was an awful decision by Lynch there, throwing against his body, giving away 3 or 7 pts (OAK couldn't likely stop us running 2x more IMO from 1 yd line, but whatever).   Rookie mistake...except he's not a rookie.  SMH.

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