NFL Oakland Raiders

5 Takeaways From Oakland Raiders’ Week 13 Loss

5 Takeaways From Oakland Raiders' Week 13 Loss

derek carr
Getty Images

Where should I get started with the Oakland Raiders? After getting their first win against a good Kansas City Chiefs team, the Raiders laid a goose-egg against a Shaun Hill-led St. Louis Rams team. The Raiders are looking forward to the future, but they still have four games left. Here are five takeaways from their Week 13 loss.

Follow me on Twitter @RyanRattyNFL

5. Need Better Play From Weakside Linebacker

Sio Moore Cover
Getty Images

5. Need Better Play From Weakside Linebacker

Sio Moore Cover
Getty Images

I fully believe that Sio Moore is a competent NFL linebacker, but he has serious problems on the weak side. Considering how fast teams are in the NFL, the Raiders need to have a good weakside linebacker and they aren't getting that from Moore.

4. Raiders Miss Latavius Murray

latavius murray
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

4. Raiders Miss Latavius Murray

latavius murray
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

After breaking out against the Chiefs despite having just four carries, Latavius Murray wasn't able to suit up for the Raiders in Week 13. Murray has a ton of promise, while the duo of Maurice Jones-Drew and Darren McFadden is incompetent to say the least. Murray also makes Derek Carr a better player.

3. Run Defense Needs to Improve

miles burris
Getty Images

3. Run Defense Needs to Improve

miles burris
Getty Images

Miles Burris is a decent middle linebacker in the NFL, but the Raiders are lacking quality players in their scheme against the run. Week after week, teams are running the ball with effectiveness against the Raiders. This continued in Week 13 with the Rams and they way rookie Tre Mason absolutely gashed the defense. If the Raiders can stop the run, they will make teams one dimensional.

2. Raiders Need a No. 1 Receiver

james jones
Getty Images

2. Raiders Need a No. 1 Receiver

james jones
Getty Images

Many NFL Draft pundits have the Raiders selecting Amari Cooper in this year's draft, and to be honest, it makes a ton of sense. The Raiders paid James Jones a lot of money to be their No. 1 receiver, but he hasn't done much in 2014. When Carr gets weapons he will be a fun player to watch, but until then, Raiders fans will have a ton of headaches. Carr to Cooper sounds quite good nonetheless.

1. Raiders Need to Build in the Trenches

brandon scherff
Getty Images

1. Raiders Need to Build in the Trenches

brandon scherff
Getty Images

Not only is the defensive line a problem, but the Raiders also have an awful offensive line. The Raiders can't run the ball with consistency and are not giving Carr enough time in the pocket to go through his reads. Because of that, Carr is handcuffed and prone to giving the ball away. In this year's draft, the Raiders need to upgrade in the trenches.

Share Tweet