Raider Report: Des Moines Blaze- 31, Racine Raiders- 27

We see it at every level of football. Being a great team isn’t about doing everything well.  It’s about having two or three things you can hang your hat on, while remaining competent in other areas when your opponent takes your best qualities away.

 That’s why last week’s 65-0 win over the Chicago Colts worried me. The Raiders never had to dig deeper. They never had to find a solution to a problem. It was apparent that early on this season, the Raiders would rely on a potent running game to beat teams.

Everything started out fine Saturday, with the Raiders running the ball for 40 yards before quarterback Craig McClelland displayed great touch on a pass to Sam D’Alie for a 38-yard touchdown. The Raiders defense looked fresh, and held the potent Blaze offense to field goal attempts during the first quarter.

The second quarter was a series of traded touchdowns, as the Raiders’ defense began to look overmatched by an efficient pass game by their opponents. The Raiders looked impressive at halftime, as the Blaze began loading the box with 7 defenders to stop the run, the passing game produced touchdowns. The Blaze scored on a momentum-seizing drive to end the first half. Yet the Raiders still led 21-17.

Coming out to begin the final two quarters was when the Raiders got that first punch to the gut of the 2012 season. The running game was taken away by an aggressive front seven, and McClelland stopped capitalizing on the single coverage, finishing with three interceptions.

The Raiders have the talent and experience to play with anybody. That was abundantly clear as they matched the number one rated team statistically and physically. The Raiders only had one first down less than the Blaze. Racine rushed and passed for over 170 yards, and converted 60 percent of their third down conversions. The lack of composure was evident, as penalty yards added up to over 100 yards, and negated numerous key plays throughout the game.

The Raiders’ defense wasn’t bad or out of position. The Des Moines Blaze just had a really consistent offense. To beat a team that executes that well, you have to play smart football. The Raiders didn’t do that. The defense forced a big fumble late in the game, only to have the offense throw a costly interception on the ensuing drive.

The season is still young. League play begins for the Raiders this weekend as the Lake Geneva Generals (2-1) come to Horlick Field. If the Raiders cut down on the penalties and other mistakes, they have the coaches and players to beat anybody in the semi pro football leagues.

As fans left the field Saturday night, the players stood around crestfallen and quiet. Nobody knew what to do.  Expectations are so high every season when you have the talent and the history of the Racine Raiders.  Veteran players like Eric Feest, JR Taylor, and others have learned how to carry those standards of winning, and turned to the younger players last weekend to give them a helping hand.

In an overly cheesy Nike commercial from the 90’s, Michael Jordan says that failing over and over again is why he ultimately succeeded. The Raiders don’t often taste failure, but in the greatest of teams,  that is what makes the hunger for championships.