On a three-game losing streak, the Las Vegas Raiders need to make changes in the secondary and adjust to Brock Bowers, who hasn’t been the same since suffering a knee injury.
The Raiders have allowed only five passing touchdowns in four weeks, but they’re 23rd in passing yards allowed, and one of their starting cornerbacks is struggling in coverage.
Bowers is playing through a knee injury, but he’s lost the ability to make big plays because of it, and the offense needs a spark in the passing attack.
Head coach Pete Carroll and his coaching staff can address these issues by expanding roles for a few rotational players.
Here are three Raiders who should get more snaps in Week 5 against the Indianapolis Colts.
Cornerback Darien Porter
In Week 4, Eric Stokes sprained his knee. He’s practicing with limitations, which is a good sign for his availability against the Colts.
The Raiders should rotate Darien Porter into action as Kyu Blu Kelly struggles on the opposite boundary, allowing a 125.7 passer rating in coverage against a perfect 158.3.
At the beginning of the season, Carroll told reporters the team would insert a number of guys at the No. 2 cornerback spot, but Kelly took all 54 snaps.
Over the last two weeks, Porter has played 26 snaps out wide, per Pro Football Focus.
With Kelly’s lapses in coverage, the Raiders should allow Porter to showcase his potential before they consider a trade for Seattle Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen, who, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, may be available.
Tight end Michael Mayer
Since suffering a knee injury in Week 1, Bowers looks like half the player we saw from his All-Pro rookie campaign.
In three consecutive outings, Bowers has totaled fewer than 47 receiving yards, averaging less than 10 yards per reception. He wears a bulky knee brace on game days but missed practice on Thursday.
If the Raiders don’t want to shut down Bowers in the short term, they should lighten his workload by giving Michael Mayer more snaps at tight end.
Mayer missed the team’s previous game while in concussion protocol. Leading up to Week 4, he didn’t practice, but the second-year tight end went through limited sessions this week.
When healthy, Mayer should take on a prominent role as Bowers plays through injury. The backup tight end has 54 catches for 507 yards and two touchdowns in 28 games.
Wide receiver Jack Bech
Carroll said he wants to see Jack Bech take on a bigger offensive role.
Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly has to incorporate the rookie second-rounder into the weekly game plan.
Kelly can use Bech in the slot or on the perimeter in three-receiver sets. In two seasons at LSU, he lined up in the slot before transitioning to the outside for two seasons at TCU.
Unlike Donte Thornton Jr., Bech didn’t generate much buzz during the offseason, but he can help fill the void in the passing game while Bowers battles a knee injury.
Through four games, Bech has seen only two targets; he caught both for 33 yards. The versatile wideout could be a factor in a matchup against the Colts’ 21st-ranked pass defense.
Maurice Moton covers the Raiders for Sportsnaut. You can follow him on Twitter at @MoeMoton.
