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Raiders Mailbag: How does the offense plan to rebound from Week 2?

Sep 17, 2025 at 03:18 PM

Levi Edwards

Digital Team Reporter

Kim Kaye Harrison from Texas asks:

"Geno Smith threw three interceptions ... with many of his throws going into heavy coverage. What is the coaching staff's plan to help him improve his decision-making and performance going forward?"

Despite the abnormal performance from Smith, Pete Carroll still has the utmost faith in his quarterback.

The head coach said Wednesday that the goal is to keep the offense as explosive as possible, with an attack designed to follow through with that plan. The area of improvement he wants to see is decision making on broken plays.

"It's when things get off rhythm sometimes, that's when the quarterback really has to decide what's going on and always protect the football first," Carroll said. "We need to do a better job in that, and Geno knows that, I know that and we didn't get that done."

With those three interceptions in tight window pass attempts, finding the open man and moving the chains will be at the forefront in Week 3.

"I think we might've overdid it a little bit," Smith said. "We had a lot of explosives in Week 1 and obviously we wanted to carry that over. I always speak about us being explosive, but being efficient is the number one thing. I thought the efficiency wasn't there and that would've led to some more explosives if we were more efficient. Take what they give me. I mean, it's that simple."

Hector Mejia Perez from Mexico City, Mexico asks:

"Will Jeanty get more run?"

This was a frequently asked question this week.

After seeing 19 carries in Week 1, the rookie running back saw eight fewer carries on Monday Night Football against the Chargers. He's displayed great ability to gain yards after contact with a 34.5 missed tackle forced percentage, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. However, he's still averaging only 2.7 yards a carry through two games.

"He'll get more. That'll come," Carroll said postgame Monday. "We're going to have to run the football more effectively. We've got to get more yards. We had 50 or 60 yards or something rushing. That's not enough. We've got to get more than that. So, I'd like to see that just as well as you would, but as far as pushing the issue with him, trying to get him 25 carries or something like that, we're breaking him in and so that'll come."

Before practice Wednesday, the rookie running back made it clear he's still adjusting to the league, but ready for those added carries.

"I'm ready for the responsibility," Jeanty said. "Like I said, it's going to start with me in the run game and I've got to continue to get better."

Litz Young from Virginia asks:

"Why not put JPJ back in at center?"

Carroll remains confident in Jordan Meredith at center despite a few miscues on snapping the ball against the Chargers. The former guard is continuing to find his groove at his new position, and his seven percent pressure rate allowed is the lowest of any Raiders offensive lineman this season, according to Next Gen Stats.

"That was really just Jordan trying to get out of his stance really quick," Carroll said, addressing a bobbled snap that led to a sack in the red zone. "And the ball hit his butt on the way out and, and so it was a miss-snap. We can be more accurate. Geno was reaching for the ball some. We'd like to settle those down. He's pretty good at doing it, so it's not an issue. But that one bad snap was a real mistake and he got a little over anxious and tried to get out of his stance a little quick and didn't work out."

As for Jackson Powers-Johnson, he was back at practice Wednesday in a no-contact jersey as he progresses through concussion protocol.

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Las Vegas Raiders safety Tristin McCollum (27) is introduced onto the field before the regular season home game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Allegiant Stadium.