The Oakland Raiders won’t be shy in stating their sub-par performance on Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs. In their 26-10 loss, the offense couldn’t find any rhythm, while the defense continued to allow their opponents to score.
The Raiders lost the home contest and leave the Coliseum on a bad note. In order to improve, head coach Jack Del Rio is emphasizing some areas to improve upon. The head coach has his team off to a 4-2 start, tied atop the AFC West.
However, the NFL is a 16-game season, which requires constant adjustments in order to continue improving. Del Rio debriefed the troubles in communication and stated that being on the same page is the key to improvement, via Kyle Martin of Raiders.com:
“That’s an area that I can just tell you, that’s one of the areas when that cleans up, it’s going to alleviate a lot of issues that we’re having,” Del Rio said. “That’s why I remain very confident in this football team and our ability to grow as the year goes on. There are young players, and that’s not an alibi, that’s just reality. I think as they gain confidence, they’ll continue to grow and our communication will be better and better.”
The Raiders were unable to force a turnover against the Chiefs, while quarterback Derek Carr did have an interception. The team is off to a phenomenal start, but understands that this growing team is sticking together through the difficulties.
The group of players has bonded tremendously, attempting to create a winning culture in Oakland. Although the constant talks of relocation has the organization downplaying any announcements, Del Rio and the roster continue with their sights set on the playoffs.
Defensive end Bruce Irvin stated the team needs more consistency to advance onward, while Del Rio continues to trust the leadership of this roster:
“I think the leadership is pretty solid. I think the group’s working hard. It sticks together,” Del Rio stated. “I don’t sense any fraying whatsoever. I think the guys are a good, close group. We’re going to get better as we go. Fortunately, we have been good enough as a team to be 4-2 sitting here after six games. Clearly, we’re not pretending that we don’t have work to do. We know we have work to do and we expect to be better.”
While at the practice facility on Monday, Del Rio stated the team must move forward after the loss, which is a sign of a successful franchise. While going through the game tape, Del Rio was insistent that each player is focused on improving their game.
After two straight home games, the Raiders head out to EverBank Field, for their Week 7 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Raiders are 3-0 this season the road, while their 1-2 record at home surely needs to improve.
One thing for certain is that Del Rio will have his team ready and determined to get back on the winning track. In a winnable game, the Raiders can attempt to regain the lead in the AFC West.
