Raiders’ tight ends may see more action against Ravens
There are so many areas the Raiders are screaming “mulligan” about heading into Sunday’s game against the Ravens.
Somewhere down the list, below throwing downfield, running the ball, pressuring the quarterback and covering receivers, is their tight end usage.
The other teams had 232 targets, 151 receptions and 22 touchdowns (which was one more than wide receivers).
The Bengals’ Tyler Eifert had nine receptions and two touchdowns against the Raiders by himself.
Oakland head coach Jack Del Rio has said he wouldn’t draw too many conclusions from the first game, and Rivera says offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave is in tune with the matchup problems good tight ends cause.
Walford is supposedly a combination of both and played 24 snaps Sunday despite missing most of training camp and the preseason with hamstring and knee injuries.
The Bengals jumped them early, but Smith is uncomfortable with the idea that they were more physical or tougher than the Raiders.
Smith and the offensive line do get a small break with Ravens outside linebacker Terrell Suggs being out for the year with a torn Achilles tendon.