3 weapons Broncos can use to exploit Raiders' defensive weaknesses
With a new offensive scheme and plenty of new players, the Denver Broncos are poised to see an improvement in the product on the field.
Of course, the Broncos have to be able to go out there and execute. Finding the players that can be used to exploit the opponents' weaknesses is the goal of every coaching staff in the NFL.
I wrote about what areas of weakness the Broncos can exploit against the Oakland Raiders, and there are three offensive players that really stand out to get that done. The play-style of these three players directly attacks those Oakland weaknesses.
Based on those weaknesses, the Broncos should utilize the following players as the tip of the offensive spear.
DaeSean Hamilton, WR
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Gareon Conley is the best Raiders' corner, and he will be taking on Courtland Sutton or Emmanuel Sanders all game long, with the other likely to be facing Daryl Worley, who also can be exploited. However, the Raiders No. 3 and 4 corners are both rookies and looked really bad in the preseason.
Both of them had issues sticking through routes, and the more savvy route runner they faced, the worse they looked. That is one of the many flaws I noticed in their game, but that is the easiest one to exploit. That weakness is where DaeSean Hamilton comes in.
Hamilton is the Broncos' best route runner. He is crisp and clean through his routes and can be hard to stick with for corners. The finer nuances of running routes are keys to his success. With those two rookies struggling with the savvy route runners, Hamilton can exploit them and have a big day. His route-running prowess plays right to their weakness.
Denver can exploit the secondary with whomever Worley is covering as well, but those two rookies are prime pickings. Also, the Broncos need to watch out for Lamarcus Joyner who could come down into the slot or help with Worley. Whomever Joyner goes to help, the other one should be the target.
If Sanders gets matched up against one of those rookies, it'll demand Joyner comes to help, which will free Hamilton, even going against Worley, who was one of the worst corners in the NFL a year ago. It's hard to not see Denver utilizing Hamilton in a big way and having pre-snap motion to help get him into the best matchup possible.
Noah Fant, TE
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In the previous areas to exploit article, I talked about the horrible coverage the Raiders get from LB Tahir Whitehead, who will likely see himself matched up on Noah Fant. The linebacker at one point was allowing a perfect passer rating when targeted and gave up a whopping seven touchdowns in coverage last season. He is 29 years old, limited athletically and not very quick in coverage
Fant, on the other hand, is very quick and fast for a tight end and that is going to be hard for any linebacker to cover. Fant has the athleticism and speed to really lose Whitehead in coverage and will demand safety help over the top, but for the Raiders to do that, it opens up opportunities for either Emmanuel Sanders, or guarantees Hamilton isn’t getting that help. It all fits together
Denver has the weapons on offense to exploit the Raiders' defense, but they need the O-line protection to help. If they can’t, look for quicker passes or for them to make like an Autobot and roll-out. Doing that only makes it more important that Fant has a big role in this offense.
Phillip Lindsay, RB
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The Raiders' linebackers don’t have much speed sideline-to-sideline, and Lindsay has plenty of it, and quickness to get to the corner and turn upfield. Also, with the strength of the Raiders' run defense being their defensive line, that makes outside runs even more important.
Royce Freeman has the power to run between the tackles, but his speed is lacking for outside runs, which just adds to the importance of Lindsay. Using that speed to tire out the Raiders' D-line will help the Broncos' O-line in controlling the unit. It also opens up bootlegs/roll-outs for the passing game because Lindsay's speed can be scary.
The Raiders also have to worry about him as a receiver, which the Broncos want to utilize a lot this year. With Oakland's linebackers being weak in coverage, having to fear his speed is going to cause problems for the defense. The Raiders did add to the unit, but they are still weak where the Broncos have the best pieces to exploit and the Broncos coaches know that.
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