Raiders whose play went under the radar in week two

The Raiders put it on the Jets in their home opener Sunday, with numerous weapons on full display. Most encouraging from a go-forward perspective is the Raiders put up 45 points with Marshawn Lynch playing limited snaps and Amari Cooper still struggling with drops.

Imagine this team firing on all cylinders.

Their defense, albeit playing the Jets, was fast, aggressive and efficient from the opening snap and special teams once again answered the call to make big plays. This was a game that was won as a complete team, with all three phases excelling when needed.

This team is showing that they have the stars to compete for it all in Derek Carr, Cooper, Crabtree, Mack, et al. Karl Joseph, now healthy, is quickly justifying his draft position and providing the Raiders another pass rush option from the secondary. He’s made numerous wow plays thus far in 2017, without losing his hard-nosed run support.

Offensive line performances are often under the radar, but the Raiders line gets a lot of love. Still, Marshall Newhouse deserves a specific mention due to his ability to solidify the RT position and fit right in. Newhouse looks at home beside four of the best lineman in the game, and the Raiders QB is enjoying tremendous Carr insurance as a result. Yeah, he’s fitting in just fine:

And the running game is continuing to excel.

But we already knew about all of those guys and the great things they are doing on the field. What will continue to take the Raiders to the next level are the performances that don’t always show up on the stat sheet, but are nonetheless incredibly important to such a complete victory, and the players that fill out the roster with depth and talent. Thus far both have been on display in the first two weeks, so let’s take a look at who stood out the most in that regard against the Jets.

SETH ROBERTS, WR

Here is the perfect example of an under-the-radar performance. Roberts had no catches against the Jets, yet his presence on the field was vital to the Raiders success.

It’s well known that Roberts is a good-luck charm – the Raiders have never lost a game in which he’s caught a TD pass. Those who watch the Raiders closely also know that Roberts is a fantastic and willing blocker in the run game, a big part of why the Raiders have a lot of success on the ground.

Cordarrelle Patterson is another somewhat under-the-radar guy that had a big game. His one-cut, block shedding speed burst to the end zone in one of his few carries was beautiful. But so was Roberts’ block to help him get there.

The Raiders hadn’t yet put the game away, but Patterson’s burst made the score 28-13 midway through the third quarter, basically putting it out of reach for the struggling Jets offense.

Roberts’ tenacity on this play is great. In his true fashion he finished his block all the way through the end zone. In fact, he takes out his man with such aggression on this play that he takes another out at the end zone while Patterson strolls in:

The “Dread Pirate” Roberts is loved for his clutch catches – but it’s the dirty work he does on the outside and down the field with his blocking that truly make him valuable to this team every single game.

NICK MORROW, LB

Chalk this one more up to the player under the radar than the performance. And after that performance, he’s not going to stay under the radar long.

Morrow is an undrafted free agent from tiny D-III Greenville (Ill.) College who got some run during rookie and training camp. Impressing coaches and teammates alike, Morrow was a somewhat surprise addition to the final 53 with the likes of LaTroy Lewis and Reggie McKenzie draft prodigy Shilique Calhoun being cut.

Morrow validated this decision immediately in opening week, making a few nice plays against the Titans and not being a liability in coverage.

He was much more than that against the Jets. He was great in coverage, breaking up one pass and diagnosing a screen, shooting the gap and making a solid tackle for a loss.

He was solid in run support as well, but looks to be a ‘backer that will be in on passing downs to roam from hash to hash and make plays in the passing game. Marquel Lee has proven a good run stopper thus far, and Core\y James and Bruce Irvin have been playing well also. Thought to be a weakness coming into the season, the play of Morrow, second-year man Tyrell Adams and the starters has been a pleasant surprise.

MARIO EDWARDS JR., DE

Edwards is well-known, and he had a great game on the stat sheet on Sunday. So how does he fit here? Other than those who cover the team or are an engaged part of Raider Nation, nobody really noticed.

On a day when Khalil Mack didn’t seem his usual self (when you end up with 4 tackles, a sack, and a TFL and people say you aren’t yourself – yourself is pretty damned good), Edwards, Eddie Vanderdoes and Jelly Ellis picked up the slack.

Edwards, though, really had a great game. It was a versatile, athletic, all-phases game that shows why this team absolutely needs a healthy Edwards to fulfil their overall potential.

He cleaned up pressure by Ellis by nailing McCown for a sack early in the game, and proceeded to own the Jets offensive line and wreck best laid plans over and over again. His talent and versatility, combined with Vanderdoes’ strength and push, ensure teams won’t be able to continue to double and triple Mack as they’ve done thus far in 2017. His presence opens up a lot of options for this defense.

He claimed his second sack at the end of the third quarter, stalling a Jets drive and putting a defensive stamp on the victory. He did a lot of damage in the pass rush, in very little time:

Despite having Mack and Irvin (combined 18 sacks) last year, the Raiders finished dead last in the league with 27 total. So all other defenders had 9 sacks last season. Edwards had two yesterday (1.5 technically, sharing with Denico Autry on the second) and Karl Joseph feasted with a sack of his own. This isn’t a two-horse race any longer.

Edwards is a versatile player who doesn’t just rush the passer. Edwards had 24 total snaps, and in total he racked up the two sacks, another QB hit, and 2.5 TFL. Though he only played 43% of defensive snaps, he and Joseph had the most impact plays. As Edwards returns to full health expect his snap count to go up – likely at the expense of Jihad Ward. Ward played the same amount of snaps as Edwards but was invisible on tape and put up goose eggs on the stat sheet. It’s time for this second-rounder to start producing or to sit down more often.

The line is deeper and more talented than it’s been in years. Edwards has shown in just two games, in limited snaps, how much value he adds to this defense.

TJ CARRIE, CB

Carrie was a forgotten man on Sunday with the debut of first-round pick Gareon Conley. While Conley had a nice debut, Carrie also played quite well. David Amerson struggled a bit, which was all the more glaring considering how well Carrie, Conley, Joseph and Reggie Nelson played.

As a collective this may have been the best this secondary has played and while the opponent certainly needs to be considered, their play cannot be ignored.

That includes the play of Carrie, who led the team in tackles with five and played solid coverage when needed. Carrie played all 56 defensive snaps, the majority in the slot, and received an overall 82.8 grade from PFF. Though he did give up eight catches on eleven targets, he tackled well and minimized YAC. Here’s a look at how Carrie has done through the first two games of the season:

His most standout play was a knockdown of a potential McCown TD pass, but his best play was the quick diagnosis and stuff of a screen pass later on in the game. The Jets receivers aren’t going to scare anyone – except maybe Todd Bowles – this is true. But if Conley can play well on the outside, Carrie can continue to play from the slot.

Conley showed well in his first game, and if Sean Smith can get healthy and Karl Joseph continues to shine, when Obi Melifonwu gets back this secondary will be deep and scary. The play of Carrie in the slot will go a long way to determine the depth on the outside – but so far, so good.