Raiders Searching for Happy Medium for Davante Adams

The Las Vegas Raiders have the best wide receiver in the NFL on their roster, but have yet to master the balancing act that comes with having such a valuable commodity.

Having the caliber of a wide receiver like Davante Adams can be a blessing and a curse for the player and his team, especially after a big game like Adams had against the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

Adams had 13 receptions for 172 yards and two touchdowns in that game. 

“He's as tough as they come," Coach Josh McDaniels said. "I think that's more about us, just making sure we're doing all the right things so that he can impact the game the way that he needs to and should and deserves to. Whether that's through the scheme and or the execution of the play."

As frustrating as it may be, every Defensive Coordinator the Raiders face will likely center their game plan around taking Adams away from Las Vegas. Taking Adams away isn't just part of the game plan for an opposing defense; it is their main objective every week. 

The Las Vegas Raiders Davante Adams has been highly productive despite not getting all the attention he should have / © Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

On top of simply being the best receiver in the league, a big game like Adams had against Pittsburgh would only heighten the attention he receives in the following weeks. In the three games since, Adams has been held to 14 catches for 149 yards and no touchdowns. 

That proves Adams' value, though, as he can impact the game without the ball in his hands. Two of the Raiders' three victories have come during the three games Adams had a subpar game, by his standards.

Adams demanding as much attention as he does may equal a less-than-ideal game for him but create opportunities for other players on the offense.

"There are definitely some times where there is no way you can throw it to him based on what they do," McDaniels said. "There was a couple plays yesterday where there were three people running around chasing him and the [Tre] Tucker play only happens because the free safety double-teamed him, you know what I mean?

"So, there's a balance between being very smart with the ball and seeing the defense and not doing enough to put the ball in his hands. And so this is not the first time that I've gone through this. I've coached a number of receivers who would fall into the category of they are this type of player.

"I certainly am not going to compare all those guys -- Randy [Moss], Brandon Marshall, Davante, Gronk [Rob Gronkowski], there's definitely an element of where they take him away sometimes and sometimes they don't."

Everyone knows Adams deserves the ball more than he's been getting it, but his best three games this season have all come in games the Raiders lost. In their three wins, defenses successfully took Adams away. 

As imperative as it is to get Adams the ball every week, the Raiders' coaching staff finds themselves having to find the fine line between getting their best player the ball no matter what and doing what is best for the team. 

Depending on the opposing defense, those two things might not always be one in the same.   

The Silver and Black will head on the road to take on the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Oct. 22, at 1:05 p.m. EDT/10:05 a.m. PDT.

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