Red Zone Amateur Hour

Cardinals 24 - Raiders 23

SeaBass was an obvious choice to wear the goat horns in this heartbreaking loss to the Red Birds. Missing a 32 yard chip shot with 00:04 on the clock was the ultimate choke job. However, if you view the game as a 60:00 contest, the offensive unit and OC/Playcaller Hue Jackson should shoulder the majority of blame. In 5 red zone possessions, the Raiders came away with a paltry 13 points. If you were to categorize the outcome of 5 red zone possessions, the grading scale should look something like this:

15 points - 5 easy FGs, 0 TDs; "running on empty" (1 star out of 5)
19 points - 4 easy FGs, 1 TD; "1st gear" (1.5 stars)
23 points - 3 easy FGs, 2 TDs; "efficient" (2.5 stars)
27 points - 2 easy FGs, 3 TDs; "well oiled machine" (3.5 stars)
31 points - 1 easy FG, 4 TDs; "robust" (4 stars)
35 points - 0 FGs, 5 TDs; "juggernaut" (5 stars)

When you look at the cliff notes version of the 5 red zone possessions and realize that if the Raiders were merely inept (15 points) instead of atrocious (13 points), this game should have been in the win column.

1st Red Zone Possession-> 1st and 10 from the AZ 7 yard line
- D.McFadden left tackle to ARZ 4 for 3 yards
- B.Gradkowski pass incomplete short right to D.McFadden
- B.Gradkowski pass incomplete short right to Z.Miller
- S.Janikowski 22 yard field goal is GOOD
Comment: Really Huey? On 2nd down from the 4 yard line, did you think about giving Ski a Pass/Run option or a delayed QB draw or emptying the backfield? The playcalling was uncreative and execution subpar.

2nd Red Zone Possession-> 1st and 3 from the AZ 3 yard line
- (No Huddle) B.Gradkowski up the middle to ARZ 2 for 1 yard
- D.McFadden left tackle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN
Comment: Good use of no huddle on 1st down and solid execution on 2nd down

3rd Red Zone Possession-> 1st and 10 from the AZ 13 yard line
- D.McFadden left tackle to ARZ 10 for 3 yards. PENALTY on M.Henderson, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at ARZ 13
- D.McFadden right end to ARZ 23 for no gain
- B.Gradkowski pass incomplete short right to DHB
- B.Gradkowski pass incomplete short right to Z.Miller
- S.Janikowski 41 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right
Comment: The Raiders are at the 13 yard line and "Super Mario" holds on a running play backing the Raiders up 10 yards. It is one thing to hold when in pass protection to save your QB from a beatdown but to do so inside the 20 on a running play is a complete meltdown.

4th Red Zone Possession-> 1st and 1 from the AZ 1 yard line
- M.Bush left tackle to ARZ 1 for no gain
- PENALTY on OAK-B.Gradkowski, Delay of Game
- (Shotgun) B.Gradkowski pass incomplete short right to DHB
- (Shotgun) B.Gradkowski pass incomplete short right to DHB
- S.Janikowski 23 yard field goal is GOOD
Comment: This one is entirely on Ski. If you were to isolate 1 play that truly cost the Raiders the game, this is it. It was 2nd down on the 1 foot line and he had no clock awareness.

5th Red Zone Possession-> 1st and 10 from the AZ 13 yard line (:55)
- D.McFadden up the middle to ARZ 17 for -4 yards
- D.McFadden up the middle to ARZ 14 for 3 yards
- (:04) S.Janikowski 32 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left

Summary: 5 offensive possessions with 1st down on the 13 yard line or better.
FG, TD, missed FG, FG, missed FG. Make the FGs and add 1 TD and that is a 13 point swing.

Until the Raiders solve their red zone ineptitude, the team will continue to flounder. The "Red Zone" should be called the "Green Zone" because it is an opportunity for a team to "Go" instead of "Stop" and a time for offensive personnel to earn their greenbacks.