How Do the Buccaneers Slow Down the Raiders’ Offense?
Rush the Passer
The Bucs are on a two game winning streak and are starting to finally get healthy for the first time since week one. This week they face Super Bowl XXXVII opponent, Oakland Raiders who have been cruising this season to a 5-2 record. Not only is the best start for the Raiders this decade they are undefeated on the road. The Raiders’ offense has been the main reason why they’ve performed so well. The combination of Derek Carr, Michael Crabtree, and Amari Cooper is one of the top quarterback and two wide receivers in the league.
Not only that they have a three-headed monster in the backfield with Latavius Murray, DeAndre Washington, and Jalen Richard. Latavius was the top back last season but the utilization of a rotation has kept the safeties on their toes on play action.
With Jack Del Rio at the helm the Raiders have been scary but the most important thing the Bucs have to do is to rush Derek Carr. Carr has only been sacked seven times this year behind one of the top lines in football this season. With all the time he’s had he is completing 66% of his passes for 1808 yards. The Bucs’ secondary has been better lately but they played Derek Anderson and Collin Kaepernick the past two games. Carr is young but he is much better than those two bench players. Only throwing three interceptions this season, the Raiders have played mostly turnover free football. If the Bucs want to continue this winning streak they are going to have to get after Derek Carr and make him make mistakes.