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Raiders have a lot to assess during bye week

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ALAMEDA, Calif. — Now what?

Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis was on the record as wanting to see progress in 2014, and an 0-4 record is definitely not it.

He also said he didn’t want “no-show” games where the Raiders were noncompetitive. The Raiders have had two of those in four games, the most recent Sunday’s 38-14 loss to the Miami Dolphins at Wembley Stadium.

It was an international embarrassment, and it came against mediocre opposition: a Miami team that had lost its last two games and been unimpressive doing it. A Week 2 30-14 home loss to Houston was similar.

Davis wasn’t around to talk about the loss, but the bye week provides a break and a chance to reassess a head coach who is 8-28 in two-and-a-quarter seasons for a team that has lost 10 in a row dating to Nov. 24, 2013.

Miami put up 24 points after the Raiders scored on their first possession for a 7-0 lead. Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill finished 23 of 31 for 278 yards and two touchdowns. He was 17 of 19 for 204 yards and two scores in the first half.

In the second half, the Raiders lost rookie starting quarterback Derek Carr to injuries to both knees, turned the ball four times — including three times in a row — and faltered on nine straight possessions overall until quarterback Matt McGloin found wide receiver Andre Holmes on a 22-yard touchdown pass.

Asked if he expected to be the head coach after the bye, Dennis Allen said, “That’s not my concern right now.”

Allen, a defensive coach, put a defense on the field that couldn’t keep up with a Miami offense that has patterned itself after Chip Kelly’s Philadelphia Eagles. On a few occasions, Miami bunched three receivers to one side and the Raiders countered with two defenders.

Raiders players had no idea what to expect next with regard to a coaching change.

“I can’t even answer that. I can’t even consume myself with that,” fullback Marcel Reece said. “I’ve got to consume myself with my players right here and try and figure out how I can get these guys going. I put all my trust in our owner and our GM to make those decisions.”

General manager Reggie McKenzie has supported Allen, and he’ll likely have to make a strong case to Davis unsupported by results to keep him aboard.

“I’m going to support whoever the coach is, just like whoever the quarterback is,” center Stefen Wisniewski said. “It’s not up to me to make those decisions. Whoever’s decision that is, they get paid a lot of money to make that decision and will put a lot of thought into it and do what’s best for the team going forward.”

If Allen is dismissed, two staff members have experience as a head coach — assistant head coach and offensive line coach Tony Sparano and offensive assistant Al Saunders.

Defensive tackle Antonio Smith and running back Maurice Jones-Drew were concerned that dismissing the coach would send the wrong message.

“I ain’t never seen it work and I ain’t in the business of just chalking up the season for a loss and accepting being a loser for the rest of the year,” Smith said. “That ain’t why I came here; that ain’t in my heart and that ain’t what I want. I don’t think that’s the course of action we should take.”

REPORT CARD VS. DOLPHINS

PASSING OFFENSE: D — A strong start by Derek Carr, who completed 4 of 5 passes on the opening drive and threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Brian Leonhardt, but it fizzled afterward. The Raiders wouldn’t score again until a 22-yard Matt McGloin-to-Andre Holmes score when they trailed 38-7. Carr had one interception and McGloin two, for a total of 106 return yards.

RUSHING OFFENSE: D — Actually didn’t look bad early on until the run was taken out of their hands by the score. Darren McFadden had a spinning 12-yard burst to the 3-yard line that set up the first touchdown and had 40 yards on 11 carries. Carr had nine yards on two carries, including the 8-yard scramble that got him injured and knocked out of the game. Jamize Olawale was stuffed on a third-and-1 play that gave the ball back to the Dolphins.

PASS DEFENSE: F — There was no pressure on Ryan Tannehill, who was 17 of 19 for 204 yards and two touchdowns when the Dolphins put the game out of reach in the first half. He finished 23 of 31 for 278 yards and a meaningless interception to TJ Carrie with the game well in control. The Raiders were unable to tackle in space on short catch-and-runs and unable to cover on downfield throws.

RUSH DEFENSE: F — The Dolphins rushed for 157 yards, with Lamar Miller leading the way with 64 yards on 12 carries and touchdown runs of nine yards and one yard. Ryan Tannehill had 35 yards on five carries and it looked as if the Raiders had never seen a read-option before. Daniel Thomas also had 35 yards on five carries. The Dolphins did as they pleased.

SPECIAL TEAMS: C — Marquette King placed four punts inside the 20-yard line and had a 47.2 net average. TJ Carrie had a 17-yard punt return. Latavius Murray returned five kickoffs for 112 yards with a long of 32, but was twice stopped inside the 20-yard line. Sebastian Janikowski converted both of his extra-point attempts and did not attempt a field goal.

COACHING: F — In the game the Raiders desperately needed, they came out flat on defense and disintegrated on offense after an initial first possession. Players took responsibility for lineup errors, but when the defense more than once lines up two defensive backs to cover three receivers bunched to one side, something’s not getting through.

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