The Kick Return Fail

Let’s play a game. Watch the video and answer this question: What on Earth is Neiko Thorpe doing?

Kicking in this game was generally wonky. The wind was largely affecting both Janikowski and Blair Walsh’s ability to get the ball downfield with appropriate strength or accuracy. However, the wind does not excuse poor kick coverage.

Sometimes teams do kick coverage differently. In one scheme the furthest person on the outside are the gunners and the second from the outside are the contain guys. In another scheme the gunner is the second person in while the outside guy has contain. The rule that generally stays the same is that whoever gets downfield behind the other guy is supposed to immediately work to contain in the event that the gunner blows the tackle.

As soon as Holmes gets run upfield Thorpe should be working outside to force the play back inside – especially when there’s a wave of blockers heading toward your sideline. Instead, Thorpe bounces around and watches the play go by him before he makes an aggressive move, which is by then too late.

The Raiders have a lot of work ahead of them if they want to get back into the playoff picture. Allowing or denying big plays has been the difference between close wins and big losses for them so far this season. With 4 more division games on the schedule it’s not impossible for the Raiders to recover, but with mistakes like these there’s simply no chance.