Breaking down Raiders struggles to defend jet sweeps Monday following the Raiders week three loss to the Dolphins Bo Jackson Jersey , Jon Gruden addressed one of the major problems that has been plaguing the defense this season; the ability to defend against jet sweeps.“When you give up jet sweeps that go for 75-yard, 35-yard touchdowns, we’ve got to erase those. We got to clean that up immediately,” said Gruden. “I know Jarvis Landry and the Cleveland Browns are looking at our film probably thinking, ‘Let’s try a few of those again this week.’”Through three games the Raiders have seen a total of seven jet sweeps.Three of those plays have gone for touchdowns.The NFL is known as a copycat league. Gruden knows Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Todd Haley is scheming up ways to utilize rookie speedster, Antonio Callaway and Jarvis Landry on jet sweeps for when they face the Raiders next Sunday.“If there is twenty-dollar bills being spit out of a teller down the street, you and I are going to get in line. We are going to stand in line and pick up twenties,” Gruden continued. “The Rams got us, the Dolphins got us and I’m sure Cleveland is going to try and get us as well.”In order to better understand it, let’s take an extensive look at some of the jet sweeps ran against the Raiders defense to see why it is the Raiders struggle to defend it.First of all, it seems obvious to me that opposing teams are targeting the Raiders weak defensive end rotation. They also have rookie Arden Key seeing a high volume of snaps.Key was not drafted for his play versus the run.That is not the strength of his game.With the absence of Khalil Mack, Key has seen more snaps on first and second down.Second, the Raiders lack a high end linebacker with sideline to sideline speed.The linebackers are slow to diagnose and react to the play.Third, in some cases Raiders defensive backs are not getting off blocks.This was the case in the Rams game.The Rams offense deserves credit for their execution https://www.raiderslockerroom.com/authentic-antonio-brown-jersey , especially the wide receivers for their down field blocking.And finally, the Raiders have shown unsound gap and assignment play at times.Here is a clip from week one versus the Rams.On this play Todd Gurley takes the jet sweep around the right end for a 19-yard touchdown.The Rams attack rookies Key and Hurst on this particular play.Arden Key appears to over pursue and loses contain.Gurley is able to get to the edge because of this.Tahir Whitehead’s play recognition is just a second slow and is caught flat footed.Because of this he gets stuck on a block.Marcus Gilchrist should also come down from his safety position to make a play.The next clip is an example of what appears to be Raiders not staying disciplined to their gap assignments.Brandin Cooks is easily able to get to the outside because Bruce Irvin does not maintain control of the D gap.Having two players in the C gap leaves a vacant D gap.The third clip is again a great example of bad play by the defensive end, in this case Shilique Calhoun.The angle at which Calhoun pursues the ball is terrible.Rather than maintaining containment he takes a direct line to the ball and Grant easily runs around him.Give credit to Reggie Nelson who does make an effort to come up and at take on a blocker.Again, Tahir Whitehead is late recognizing the play and is taken out with a beautiful cut block.Marquel Lee, although improved, doesn’t possess the sideline-to-sideline speed that the Raiders desperately need in a linebacker.In the final clip, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie does a excellent job of forcing Wilson inside.This is where the Raiders need a linebacker to make a play.Unfortunately for the Raiders Whitehead and Lee are both unable to get off blocks and the rest is history. With the lack of talent the Raiders have at the defensive end and linebacker positions, jet sweeps and outside run plays are a trend the Raiders will continue to see. Two questions came to mind about Hunter Renfrow with regard to the draft; How did he last until the 5th round and how is it the Patriots didn’t get him before the Raiders could?Not only does he..." />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesHorizontal - WhiteSilver And Black Pridean Oakland Raiders communityLog In or Sign UpLog InSign UpFanpostsFanshotsRaidersOddsAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 322 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Raiders StoriesScheduleRosterStatsYahoo Raiders NewsYahoo Raiders Team PageYahoo Raiders ReportYahoo Raiders Depth ChartYahoo Raiders TransactionsYahoo Raiders PhotosOdds About Masthead Community Guidelines StubHub ✕Filed under:Raiders Draft 2019Was Raiders WR Hunter Renfrow utilized properly in college? How did the Patriots not draft him? We ask a Clemson writerNew,79commentsPDTShareTweetShareShareWas Raiders WR Hunter Renfrow utilized properly in college? How did the Patriots not draft him? We ask a Clemson writerJohn David Mercer-USA TODAY SportsTwo questions came to mind about Hunter Renfrow with regard to the draft; How did he last until the 5th round and how is it the Patriots didn’t get him before the Raiders could?Not only does he seem like the ideal slot receiver, but he seems like he has Patriot written all over him. s Clemson blog Shakin’ the Southland, he disagreed that Renfrow was destined to be a Patriot.On possible reason he didn’t end up in New England was they may have had him pegged for the fifth round and the Raiders traded up to ensure they couldn’t get him. The Patriots made a flurry of trades in the draft, giving them plenty of ammunition to trade up and get Renfrow in the fifth round if they wanted to do that. They ended up trading up twice late in the draft into the bottom of the 5th round.One thing that seemed strange to me was the difference between his red zone prowess and his production as well as not being drafted until the 5th round. I asked Kantor if Renfrow’s low numbers (545 yards, 1 TD) last season might have had more to do with him not being utilized properly or enough.Follow @LeviDamien