@@Las Vegas Raiders

Why Luke Getsy might secretly be doing a decent job but we don’t know it.

  • September 26, 2024


Absolutely bananas. Right? But bear with me here.

Let's start where everyone can agree. The line's run blocking is fucking horrible. If you haven't watched Ted Ngyens video post on this, watch it now. It's two minutes long.

The line looks completely lost in the zone blocking scheme laid out by our new OLine coach James Cregg. James came over from the 9ers where they have the personnel to run this scheme. It's also somewhat of note that this is his first NFL gig where he wasn't an assistant OL coach. Assuming the coaching hierarchy is what's to be expected, Getsy may have input into this but it's the line coach's job to implement the blocking scheme. Not the OC.

A side note on the line, I have no idea why JPJ got put in for Parham when Parham is one of the best guards in the league and Whitehair is fighting for his life not to end up in Minshew's lap every play. AP refuses to really elaborate on this decision in his pressers and if Whitehair gets the nod over Parham again against the Browns, that decision has really got to be spotlit and called into question.

"Well if the run game isn't working, why are they calling so many run plays?"

They're not Raiders are running the ball lower than any other team in the NFL in run/pass ratio. Zamir White is the lead back and he's got 32 carries so far. For comparison, Rachaad White has 31 carries in three games and he is working in a very split backfield with Bucky Irving. Getsy is already trying to limit how much we run the ball with this disaster of a rushing attack.

"Well what about the passing game?"

Getsy calls the plays. He can't throw the ball for the QB unfortunately. This guy gives a pretty good breakdown of what all Gardner missed last week. It's not pretty. JT Sullivan pointed out multiple missed opportunities from the week 2 upset earlier in the game as well. He doesn't really shit on our playcalling but more so on execution. Which is something that AP himself has said is problematic. "We don't dial up plays short of the sticks on 3rd down."

So if your run game is abhorrent and the QB won't throw the ball downfield, what else is there?

Screens, quick outs, throws in the flat. Sound familiar?

Getsy might be calling these when we're down because the players are failing to execute what they're supposed to be doing. If he's drawing up the plays correctly but blockers are completely whiffing assignments and wide open guys aren't getting the ball, IDK what else he's supposed to do.

Now I'm not shirking all responsibility for him. I think there's some other things that Getsy is 100% responsible for that he could do better.

1: Stop running the ball on first downs: It's too predictable and not working. The offense regularly having to operate from 2nd and 9/2nd and 8 is officially a problem.

2: Run more play action: "But you need to have a run game to do PA!" Statistically proven to be incorrect

3: Half Field and Flood concept plays: Minshew is struggling to go through all of his read progressions consistently. Mix in more plays that shorten the amount of reads needed to make a decision and get some chunk plays down the field.

4: More Designed Bootleg and Rollout Plays: Minshew wants to have happy feet and leave the pocket? Alright, let's use it. He can always run for a gain here as well. Keep opposing defenses guessing a bit more

I shit on the Getsy hire from day one. So believe me, I was no fan of this move when it's announced. But the more I watch recaps and film from the games it would appear that the plays being called are actually pretty good to decent and the trigger just isn't being pulled or the run blocking is so fucking terrible it's knee-capping the rest of the offense.

23 comments

  1. There is one obvious change that can be made that could actually result in better results, bench the QB that won’t throw the damn ball to these wide open receivers and playmakers.

  3. I don’t think his plays are necessarily the problem but a good OC would tailor the offense to the QB he has not the QB he wants. It’s the same thing McDaniels did. I’m sure his offense would’ve worked if he had the correct players in place but you need to call plays for the team you have

  4. This is kind of what my eye test says as well. The shots are there, the routes are there, the players just aren’t executing.

  5. Great post man. Do you think it’s time to give AOC a shot? You didn’t mention him so you probably don’t but jw

  6. I disagree. This is, IMO, another example of Getsy trying to plug a circle with a square. Like he tried to in Chicago. Not every QB is Aaron Rodgers. Hackett made that mistake last year, and of course, this year he kind of looks like a genius because Aaron’s running the offense. It’s okay to have your own system, but it’s also okay to blow up your system and make a new one if the players don’t fit. I don’t see Shanahan running what he did in Atlanta for SF. And Purdy sure as hell doesn’t look like a 7th round pick. I imagine if Shanahan tried to run the same scheme in SF as he did in Atlanta, he’d been fired by now and would probably be OC for my Bears.

  7. In defense of White not having many run plays compared to the rest of the league, most of the time we make him run very often in the first half, and then essentially never use him in again because of how horrible the run game was lmao

  9. Not sure why people want to point a finger at a singular reason. Football is a team sport and what you are seeing is a team breakdown.

    Starts with Getsy and Cregg in calling the right plays and ensuring the line knows what they are doing. Clearly not only are assignments not correct, but even forgotten when you see the RB attacking the wrong hole or 3 linemen bunching to defend two or even one defender.

    Also a breakdown in coverage call-outs. This is James’ responsibility I believe – calling out blitzing personnel on the D and pointing out coverage protections. That’s also on Minshew to recognize defensive personnel and call out hot routes or audibles (to the extent he is given audible freedom to do so) based on what he sees pre-snap.

    Then it’s up to the players to execute. And if it isn’t working, on the coaches to adjust in-game and post-game to correct and adapt to the team’s strengths.

    Simply not running on first down as OP mentioned is not an answer. You need variability in playcalling in early downs to give you the most probability of converting on mid and late downs. Sometimes that is going to need to be running the ball.

    I like OP’s suggestion of other concepts, but bootlegs need to be in there too against aggressive run D and over-pursuit from one side.

    It’s up to the entire team – coach and personnel – to fix this. We will see if our OLine can scheme and account for Garrett, who is a little banged up. Browns have a middling run D in terms of yards allowed and YPC – we are at bottom in YPC, allowing a yard more than the Browns.

    Also going to be super important for JPJ and Glaze to mature super quick. We also shouldn’t abandon the run altogether – we saw the Giants able to wear them down in the second half despite struggling early against the Browns.

  10. This take doesn’t sound too crazy to me anymore after watching some people put out their film breakdowns of the All 22.

  11. Point number 4 is the one that is really confusing for me – the big argument for Minshew is that he’s mobile over AOC who is a statue in the pocket, but Minshew’s mobility hasn’t been utilized whatsoever so why was that a priority?

  12. Definitely agree on all of us bothers me is when he was with the Chicago Bears. He had the same issues with the quarterbacks, not being able to execute and throw the ball down field. I’m thinking he has a bad offensive line game plan for what he is actually doing? I just can’t figure out what it is, but it seems like we’re close and I think Aiden O’Connell might do a better job figuring this out faster

  13. Most of the issues in the video were execution issues. Guys didn’t block up to the second level correctly and left defenders unblocked.

    Usually there is 1 guy (safety) that you leave unblocked. All other 10 defenders should be blocked.

    Looks like shitty execution by the players. And some shitty execution by Zamir as well.

    In the 4 plays in the video, the line was getting a surge on the d line. But at least 1 person was failing to get to the second level or just missed the responsibility entirely and blocked the wrong person.

  14. How much is this is because our interior Offensive line is smaller, and more ‘finesse’. They seem to do okay in pass protection, but can’t get enough push in the run game and look overmatched in general.

    According to Google, Parham is 285lbs and the average Guard in the NFL is 315lbs.

    Andre James is 275.

    I wonder how much that presents as a factor?

  17. It might not be a coincidence that the Bears OL in Chicago under Getsy also didn’t look like they knew what they were supposed to do half the time.

  18. I’m not a fan of zone blocking, especially with a power running back like Zeus. Just let the boy run! 

  19. This kind of balanced, reasoned, and researched perspective is frowned upon around here. Ha, jk jk. Really appreciate it!

  21. The only thing I would add is the left side of O-line has been awful. Miller had a better game but James and Whitehair are getting blown up on play after play after play.

  22. I don’t put it all on Getsy but I also can’t point to a single play this year where I thought to myself, “that was a great play call right there”. Every great play I can remember was a player making an outstanding individual effort, i.e. Davante’s toe tap sideline catch.

    Granted I am old and my memory is shit so I’ll grant him a few that I’ve forgotten/didn’t notice. Even if I grant him 6 of those, that’s only 2 good playcalls per game.

    On the other hand, there’s a lot of bad that sticks out. Running out of the shotgun on 4th and 1. Not taking a shot downfield after a turnover. Double reverse bullshit when you can’t protect. Long developing screen plays when you can’t protect. Stretches of time where we forget about our best receiver. Predictable run calls.

    Again, I don’t put it all on Getsy. It’s a lot easier to call plays when you can hand it off for 4+ yards at a time. And even if he just sucks I don’t wanna put that all on AP either. Getsy wasn’t a choice, it was a lack of options after Kingsbury dipped unexpectedly. We’re not going to gain anything by firing Getsy mid-season; better to continue to grow within the offense and look for a suitable replacement next off-season with a new quarterback.

    I don’t think he’s a panacea either, but I also want to see more AOC. If the two quarterbacks are equally talented then there is no reason we should be playing an established veteran over a young man with room to grow. If someone wants to say the experience gives us a better chance to win then I’ll point at the scoreboard and ask what happened.

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