Raiders’ offense looks for elusive spark vs. Kansas City Chiefs

ALAMEDA, Calif. — As Todd Downing spoke Tuesday, he knew.

These words may sound like fluff to some.

Optimism regarding the Raiders’ offense would seem expected from Downing. He is, after all, the offensive coordinator. And a glass half-full outlook would stand at direct odds with recent results, given the Raiders have failed to score 20 points in four consecutive games for the first time since quarterback Derek Carr’s rookie year in 2014. All four games have been losses.

Oh well. So be it.

While the first-year coordinator is in no way satisfied with the offense’s production so far, he said Tuesday that he finds encouragement from game film. Specifically, he sees a small margin of error that has separated the Raiders from more success on offense, a gap they look to close Thursday against the Kansas City Chiefs.

“When you look at the tape, you can see that we’re so close on so many things,” Downing said in a news conference. “I know that sounds cliché, and I know that sounds like someone sitting up here and trying to give you the rose-colored glasses, but it’s the truth. We know that we’re just this close to making a couple more plays each game and being able to come out on top and feeling like we put together a good product. …

“Stats aren’t everything, but they are often an indicator in areas that you might be struggling a little bit. We know that there are some areas that we’ve identified that we want to get better at quickly.”

This season, the Raiders have gone three-and-out on 20 of 66 drives, a 30.3 percent frequency that ranks third-highest in the NFL. The rate climbs to 37 percent when isolating the current four-game losing streak; that is worst in the league during that span.

Points matter more than duration.

But the Raiders have failed to sustain drives consistently, just one facet to their struggles.

“We’re looking for answers right now, but we know those answers exist in our room and in our scheme,” Downing said. “Once we hit our stride, we’re excited to see what it looks like.”

Rookie returns

Obi Melifonwu made an expected but significant step Tuesday toward his NFL debut.

The Raiders safety and rookie second-round pick practiced for the first time since undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery in late August. He began the season on injured reserve but has been designated to return. The earliest he can do so is Nov. 5 for a Week 9 game against the Miami Dolphins.

As for what impact he can make in 2017, the Raiders appear eager to learn that themselves.

Melifonwu missed a large chunk of training camp to an ankle injury. The team drafted him with hopes he could serve as a coverage asset against tight ends.

“It’s been a while since we’ve seen him,” defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. said. “So it’s up to Obi to show us what he has, and we’re all waiting and watching and interested in seeing what he brings.”

Melifonwu said Tuesday he feels “100 percent.”

“As a guy that never has really been hurt, it was kind of tough,” he said. “It comes with playing football. I’m just glad to be out there now.”

Notable

— An NFL team can designate up to two players per season to return from injury reserve. Melifonwu is one. Guard-tackle Denver Kirkland (foot) is another. Kicker Sebastian Janikowski (back) technically is eligible, but that development appears highly improbable.

— Cornerback Gareon Conley (shin) and right tackle Marshall Newhouse (foot) were the only Raiders not to practice. Vadal Alexander would start Thursday if Newhouse is unavailable.

— Six Raiders players were listed as limited participants: right guard Gabe Jackson (foot), linebacker Cory James (knee), linebacker Marquel Lee (ankle), linebacker Nicholas Morrow (ankle), fullback Jamize Olawale (concussion) and tight end Lee Smith (knee).

Contact reporter Michael Gehlken at mgehlken@reviewjournal.com. Follow @GehlkenNFL on Twitter.