Stacking losses are never good for morale. But the way the Raiders have lost this season and the quality of the teams they’ve lost to of late have put their low morale far behind and are in shambles.
This week there seemed to be pretty strong evidence that this team was packing it up and shifting their focus to next year. Or at least in terms of the transactions made, which saw several players put on injured reserve and a few players retired.
After Sunday’s 25-20 loss to the Colts, we received proof that the checkout has permeated the entire team.
Derek Carr took the podium, already visibly emotional, after he and other team leaders had a heated conversation about a perceived lack of energy and effort. This emotion continued as he was choked multiple times and either had to take a moment to calm down or couldn’t finish at all.
“I can’t speak for everyone. I know where I stand and I love the Silver & Black and I will give it my all every time I go out there. I can’t speak for everyone. For every man what’s on his mind, but I can tell you what’s on my mind and I’ll give it all I’ve got every time…”
That was Carr’s first answer and that’s all he got before he had to stop.
It was the emotion of a man who, at the start of this season, knew it seemed like the best, and perhaps last, chance that this team as it is currently structured would make a playoff run. And with nearly half the season left, this ship has already sailed.
But Carr went further. Give us a glimpse of how dysfunctional this locker room has become.
Carr said he “don’t think” the issue is related to a split between him and the coaches. Then he choked again and had to wait a moment.
“I’m sorry for being emotional. I’m just mad at some of the things a lot of us try to do just to practice. What we put our bodies through just to sleep at night,” Carr said through tears. “And so that’s the result. From all the hassle. It pisses me off. Annoys a lot of guys. It is difficult. Knowing what some boys do. Like I said, just for practice. What they put into their bodies just to sleep at night. Just so we can be there for each other. And I wish everyone in this room felt the same way about this place. And as a manager, that pisses me off.”
Davante Adams echoed those sentiments after the game. Though no one would point a finger.
What we saw from the Raiders early in the season was an inability to put together a full game. Sometimes it was a slow start, sometimes a flat finish. But at the time it seemed like growing pains. Something that would improve as the season progressed as players got used to the scheme.
It seemed to improve for about three games, with the Raiders beating the Broncos, hanging out with the Chiefs for most of the game, and then beating the Texans. Then they fell back to earth.
Since then, the Raiders have been locked out by the Saints, gambled away a 17-point lead to lose to the Jaguars, and Sunday got off to a slow start AND a flat end to lose to the Colts.
It was clear that this team was missing something. And Derek Carr wasn’t immune. He started the game with a 0-for-five pass in the first quarter with three straight 3-and-outs.
Then Amik Robertson had a forced fumble and suddenly the offense was energized. Then Maxx Crosby made a big sack that resulted in a missed field goal and once again the offense was energized and went down and scored.
“Having those tracks really got us pumped,” Derek said. “I’m glad we did those games because it really got us going.”
It was like a switch being flipped, and the light that came on, flickered out again a moment later.
The problem is clearly that this team cannot generate their own energy. It seems to need a jolt to reach its potential.
And nobody is immune to that. Derek Carr isn’t immune either, although he was the one who bemoaned the team’s lack of energy. After all, it’s part of his job to take this team to the top.
He did a wonderful job lifting this team at the end of last season. But that unlikely rally for a playoff run now feels like ancient history, and this team has lost its mojo.
And Carr knows it could mean a lot more than just “maybe next year” this time. I would think his time with the Raiders is over along with a few others as the Raiders try to shake things up.