Chip Kelly repeatedly botched play calls with Raiders

LAS VEGAS -- The Las Vegas Raiders are preparing for their final meeting against the Los Angeles Chargers this Sunday. This will be Greg Olson's debut as the interim offensive coordinator and play caller. Olson has taken on offensive responsibilities following the departure of former offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. Kelly, who was making $6 million per season and was the NFL's most highly-paid OC per Bleacher Report, was dismissed after the Week 12 loss against the Cleveland Browns.

It is believed that this change in offensive leadership was necessary for the Raiders, as sources reported in previous games that Kelly repeatedly botched play calls. Sometimes he forgot to tag motion on plays. Further, on several occasions, Kelly called plays that were either not in the game plan or not even installed, according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero, who said:

“About just the dysfunction of the Raiders offense. There were times, I was told, where Chip Kelly was repeatedly botching the play calls, where he's supposed to be, for instance, tagging a motion on a play so the receiver’s on the left, not the right. He forgets to say it. So, Geno Smith is going to the line of scrimmage and going, 'This doesn't look right.' And they're trying to run a play. It happened on a third down in the game the other day.

“There’s times where Chip, I was told on several occasions, called a play that was either not in the game plan or not installed at all,” Pelissero added. “Things like that happen, you're not productive. That’s enough. You didn't need any extra excuses. But there were a lot of things that were popping up with.”

Dov Kleiman, while posting Pelissero's video clip on X on Saturday, wrote:

“Yikes: Former Raiders OC Chip Kelly was ‘repeatedly’ messing up his own play calls and calling plays that weren't even installed in the offense.”

Olson is becoming the Raiders’ play caller for the third time (he previously served in 2013–2014 and 2018–2021). In a media interaction, Olson said that learning a new offensive system is often like learning a new language for a quarterback:

“It’s difficult to change a whole lot,” he said. “Anyone that goes into an offensive system, it’s anyone, quarterback would tell you it’s often times like learning a new language.”

However, Olson confirmed that the team will make "tweaks":

“At this point with six games to go we will make some tweaks. But there won’t be a lot of wholesale changes.”

Head coach Pete Carroll, who is associated with the Raiders this season, noted that the Raiders’ recent 70% pass-to-run ratio is not the winning formula the team wants. He hopes Olson will increase reliance on the running game, especially with a focus on feeding the ball more to rookie running back Ashton Jeanty. Carroll also wants Olson to find new ways to involve tight end Brock Bowers in the offense, according to Raiders beat writer Vinny Bonsignore.

The offense will face a tough fight against Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers, who had won the Week 2 meeting 20–9. Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter’s defense is quite effective and excellent at mixing coverages and disguising intentions. In the previous match, it confused Smith. Without improved offensive line help, expecting a long day against this strong Chargers defense would be reasonable.

Meanwhile, the Chargers understand that facing a team with an offensive coaching change brings uncertainty. Maybe they are playing a mind game, but they are treating this preparation like it has a “training camp vibe.”

“I mean you can say training camp,” Chargers LB Khalil Mack told reporters on Saturday. “But football is football. You kind of get a sense of what you might have to react to. But all in all everything we do on defense is reactionary.”

However, instead of over-analyzing the Raiders’ possible new actions, Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. said they have to “just go to your spot, listen to the call, do your job.” The Chargers defense is focused on details.

The Raiders’ practice week ended with several key injury updates - Running back Zamir White and defensive back Darnay Holmes did not practice on Friday due to illness. Both are listed as questionable for the game. Tight end Michael Mayer has been ruled out due to an ankle injury. Offensive lineman Jordan Meredith (ankle) and defensive lineman Adam Butler (illness) were limited participants and are questionable. Defensive end Maxx Crosby (knee) and Tre Tucker (knee) fully practiced.

Raiders’ DC Patrick Graham's defense unit is ranked third in the NFL in tackles for loss (TFLs), with 68 TFLs. Their mark of 68 TFLs is the highest for a Raiders season through 11 games since 2000. Their yards allowed per rush mark is also the second lowest (under four yards). On the other hand, Crosby is close to a record; he needs just one more TFL to reach 20 TFLs on the season. If he does it, the four-time Pro Bowler will become only the fourth player in NFL history with 20-plus TFLs in each of his first seven seasons, joining JJ Watt, Aaron Donald, and DeMarcus Ware.

With six games remaining, the Raiders will have to win every game to finish the season with dignity. After facing the Chargers, Pete Carroll and Co. will face the Denver Broncos in Week 14.