…put a back in the backfield for extra protection. But he still refused to change the gameplan in order to attempt to take advantage of the blitz. Clearly, he didn’t mind giving up some opportunities for the chance to see how his receivers would do in man-coverage. He was looking for them to make adjustments to their hot-reads as per the base Offense, but they couldn’t or didn’t do it.

That said, he certainly could have mandidated a change to the reads or a change to the offensive look (i.e. “done something scheme-wise to take advantage of the blitz”), but he did not. He chose to stay very strictly vanilla.

Anyway, that’s the subtext, which, of course, explains everything he’s been saying all along, not that the reporters have understood it—to the exasperation of everyone. But for us here:

1. It’s a simple fix because the “correction” is a change to the WRs hot-read. He shouldn’t have to tell them again, but apparently he does.

2. This also explains—at least in part—why VY is holding the ball so long and getting so much pressure. First off, pressure from the blitz, even when it’s picked up. Secondly, Vince is looking for the receivers to make a break, but they’re not making the right reads. So then he has to look to his check-down.

3. One can argue that all that blitzing is, in fact, game planning on the part of the Raiders. Certainly, it’s not the norm to blitz on the first three defensive plays from scrimage in the pre-season.

None of which excuses VY’s play. He was off-target a lot, especially as the first half went on. Still, one can imagine that it wasn’t a fun night for him. Trying to get into a rhythm and knowing that he’s basically got one hand tied behind his back. You could actually watch his form and confidence breaking down as the half progressed.

… did that to us a lot in preseason last year.

It’s like they don’t want Vince to get in a rhythm or something….