SB Nation - Trevor Scott

Horse Tracks 12/18/09 - Hill, Law, Buckhalter miss practice again; Dumervil returns; Shanny may take 'Skins job

Douglas A. Lee — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:30:13 -0000

NFL Films - Week 15: Raiders vs. Broncos Preview - Video

DB - Week 15 - Thu: McDaniels - Broncos TV

DB - Ready to Seize the Moment - Zach Eisendrath
"There were three changes to the Broncos Week 15 Injury Report on Thursday. After not practicing on Wednesday, Elvis Dumervil (toe) and Brandon Lloyd (not injury related), participated in full during Thursday’s practice session. A limited participant in Wednesday’s practice, Knowshon Moreno (ankle) also participated in full on Thursday."

DPP - Broncos sack master Dumervil still learning fine points of 3-4 defense - Lindsay Jones
"Safety Renaldo Hill and nickel corner Ty Law both missed a second consecutive practice Thursday, increasing the chance for significant playing time for rookies David Bruton (for Hill) and Alphonso Smith (for Law). . . . Running back Correll Buckhalter is unlikely to play Sunday after missing his second consecutive practice."

DPP - Broncos QB Orton's toughness earns respect - Mike Klis
"If they would have made a one-for-one deal, I would take Orton straight up over Cutler, no question," said Joe Theismann, an NFL Network analyst and former quarterback. "Noooo question."

DB - Week 15 - Thu: Marshall - Broncos TV

DB - Week 15 - Thu: Bailey - Broncos TV

DB - Eddie the Entrepreneur - Zach Eisendrath

LTC - Denver to face Frye - Brian Howell

DPP - Orton a winner, but not a keeper - Dave Krieger

DPP - Analysis: Raiders, Miller could be good test for Broncos' Bruton - Jeff Legwold

DPP - Q&A: Another Peyton Hillis question - Jeff Legwold

DPP - Spotlight: CB Alphonso Smith - Lindsay Jones

CSG - Broncos' Bailey lends time to Denver Rescue Mission - Frank Schwab

CSG - Broncos notes: Rivalry strong - Frank Schwab

AP - Broncos Banged-Up On Both Sides Of The Ball - Arnie Stapleton

NFL Results

NFL - Indianapolis Colts 35 at Jacksonville Jaguars 31

Y! - Manning takes a page from Marino's book - Jason Cole

SI - Unpolished Colts should keep chasing perfect season - Jim Trotter

FH - Caldwell's Gamble Dumb, but Peyton Saves Him - Jay Mariotti

CBS - Still-unbeaten Colts can now take foot off gas pedal ... right? - Pete Prisco

AFC West News

DPP - Raiders owner Al Davis' football genius conflicts with recent struggles - Jim Armstrong

FH - Fassel: Losman Can Thrive With Raiders - Anthony Olivieri

SFC - Raiders opt for mobile Frye over Russell at QB - David White

OT - Raiders' Trevor Scott has flourished since moving to weakside linebacker - Steve Corkran

OT - McFadden strictly a singles hitter - Jerry McDonald

OT - Branch will play anywhere - Jerry McDonald

SDUT - High-scoring Chargers driving on pass plays - Kevin Acee

SDUT - Boomer bullish on Bolts’ passing game, shot at Super Bowl - Jay Posner

SDUT - Bolts not pressured by blitzes - Kevin Acee

SDUT - Blackout lifted for Chargers game

KCS - Chiefs game won’t be on local TV - Adam Teicher

KCS - Albert’s poor play has weighed heavily on the Chiefs - Kent Babb

KCS - Chiefs buzz | Bowe still getting up to speed - Adam Teicher

Redskins/Shanny

NFL - D.C. shakeup: Allen will run Redskins as GM after Cerrato resigns

NFL - Redskins hiring Allen could be first move toward adding Shanahan - Jason La Canfora

DPP - Shanahan may become Washington's next head coach - Mike Klis

NFP - Diner morning news: ‘Skins clear way for Shanny - Mike Lombardi

CBS - Cerrato latest to earn scapegoat label under Snyder's 'Skins - Clark Judge

NFP - Will coaching dominoes start to fall? - Robert Boland

NFL News

NYT - Congress Schedules 2nd Hearing About Brain Injuries in Football - Alan Schwarz

NYT - New Stadium at the Meadowlands Allowed to Bid for Super Bowl in 2014 - Joe Lapointe

NFL - Thursday Injury Reports

NYT - Friday Morning QB: Updated Playoff Possibilities for Breakfast - George Bretherton
The Jags' loss to the Colts was good for the Broncos, as another contender for the 5-seed fell out.

NFL Opinion

NFL - Five teams nobody wants to face in the playoffs - Vic Carucci

FOX - Boom or Bust: Woodson is NFL's best on D - Adam Schein

ESPN - New Orleans Saints are the soul of America's City - Wright Thompson

CBS - Having Brees instead of Romo has Saints feeling blessed - Larry Holder

PFW - Texans' defense makes remarkable turnaround - Mike Wilkening

Y! - Browns search raises Rooney Rule concerns - Jason Cole

FH - Mike Holmgren a Popular Choice With Browns Players - Josh Alper

FH - Lions' Coach Frustrated With Team of 'Castoffs' - Chris Burke

SI - Adrian Peterson or Chris Johnson? NFL players, GMs debate - Jim Trotter

NFL - In quest for 2K, CJ might have passed AD as NFL's top RB - Bucky Brooks

PFW - Jay Cutler, with glimpses of Jeff George - Tom Danyluk

PFW - Jones not leaving Jets for a while - Dan Parr

Y! - Jones-Drew Q&A: Stop the Bush comparisons - Jason Cole

NFP - Evaluating two early entry wideouts - Wes Bunting

Picks/Previews

NYT - Week 15 N.F.L. Matchups - Mike Tanier

NFL - Oher gets latest test in Ogunleye and other Week 15 matchups - Gil Brandt

ESPN - John Clayton breaks down the biggest NFL games of Week 15

RIP Chris Henry

SI - Chris Henry's death latest tragedy to hit Bengals - Don Banks

SI - Chris Henry's death interrupted his redemption with Bengals - Paul Daugherty

Y! - Henry was contrite, optimistic in camp - Mike Silver

NFP - Coping with the death of a teammate - Matt Bowen

FOX - A tragic end to Chris Henry's troubled life - Alex Marvez

FH - Chris Henry Another Senseless Statistic - Kevin Blackistone

FH - Unfortunate Break Derailed Henry's Shot at Redemption - Thomas George

FH - Sad Thing Is, Henry Really Did Change - Terence Moore

FH - Grieving Bengals Must Shift Focus to San Diego - Nancy Gay

DPP - Bengals' loss of Henry reminds Broncos of Darrent Williams - Jeff Legwold

CSG - Marshall "crushed" by passing of Bengals receiver Chris Henry - Frank Schwab

NYT - Saints Player With a Shared Heritage Mourns Henry - William Rhoden

Oakland Raiders Postgame Recap: Redskins 34, Raiders 13

Rated-R Superstar — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:32:23 -0000

Bruce Gradkowski tried to get his third win as a starter in the silver and black. [via cdn2.sbnation.com]

Fresh off of a win on the road as 15-point underdogs, the Oakland Raiders (4-8) took on the Washington Redskins (3-9) as underdogs once again. Trying to stay hot behind quarterback Bruce Gradkowski, the Raiders entered today's game 2-1 when he starts with wins over the Bengals and Steelers. Unfortunately, the game was blacked out locally. Banged up, Chris Cooley and Clinton Portis were among the many Redskins out for today's game. Dive in to see how the Raiders fared with the Redskins on a gloomy day at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. A bit of rain was in the air for this one.

Darren McFadden had a nice first quarter catching the ball. [via cdn1.sbnation.com]

First Quarter: A pathetic return by Gary Russell of 11 huge yards gave us the ball first. He did, however, make the only key play of the series before a sack by LaRon Landry forced the Raiders to punt the ball to the Redskins. Darren McFadden carried it twice on the opening series and basically went nowhere. Anyway, a 68-yard boot by Shane Lechler set up Washington at their own 20 for their opening drive. A five-yard run by Quinton Ganther was the only real positive play on the series. A sack by Trevor Scott, who has been on fire, and an incomplete pass by Jason Campbell forced a Hunter Smith punt. Johnnie Lee Higgins, who had some room on the return, managed to return it to his own 39 yard line. After Bruce Gradkowski hit Higgins for a nine-yard pass, Justin Fargas fumbled; however, Redskins cornerback Fred Smoot had one foot out of bounds on the recovery. It remained Oakland ball. Gradkowski then hit Zach Miller on a big play, but an offensive pass interference on Chaz Schilens brought it back almost to the original line of scrimmage of the drive. A timeout followed it up. The Raiders couldn't really amount anything after that. Another sack doomed a second consecutive drive and it was Lechler time again. A fair catch was called by Antwaan Randle El and the Redskins had it at their own 22. The defense made some nice plays, specifically Kirk Morrison and Chris Johnson, and a three-and-out forced the Redskins to punt. A big play opened up the next drive for the Raiders, as Gradkowski hit Darren McFadden on a slant for 43 huge yards. Unable to muster anything after that, a field goal by Sebastian Janikowski gave the Raiders a 3-0 lead with just over four minutes still to play in the opening quarter. Faced with a third down, Jason Campbell swung it out to Quinton Ganther on the left side. Busting through, Ganther picked up huge yardage to put Washington into not only Oakland territory, but also field goal range. Once again, the Redskins converted on third down. On the very next play, Fred Davis was hit for a touchdown. After whistled for a 15-yard penalty, the Redskins had to kick from their own 15. A 41-yard return by Gary Russell gave Oakland the ball at midfield. An acrobatic grab by McFadden at the 24 yard line capped a seemingly long first quarter.

Fred Davis found the end zone twice and celebrates with a teammate. [via cdn3.sbnation.com]

Second Quarter: Starting the second quarter, a stupid play call (a give to Gary Russell) cost the Raiders a yard. Zach Miller and Chaz Schilens each made grabs and the Raiders had a goal-to-go from the nine. After a miscue on the give to Justin Fargas, the Raiders hit Zach Miller on third down. He was short, however, but Tom Cable remained aggressive from last week. A fourth down carry and dive by Fargas gave the Raiders a touchdown as they had regained a 10-7 lead early in the second quarter. The rain got progressively worse at this point in the game, as noted by commentator Dick Stockton. Fred Davis, open in the secondary, caught a pass and it was for a good gain into Oakland territory. Back-to-back plays by the Raider defense stuffed Quinton Ganther in the backfield. Richard Seymour and Trevor Scott stopped the run and Kirk Morrison and Tommy Kelly blew the next play up on a screen in the backfield. Needing 12 yards on third down, an offsides penalty by Greg Ellis gave the Redskins five free yards. So, another offsides penalty hurt; however, it didn't hurt as much. Hiram Eugene made a great tackle on Randle El and Washington had to settle for a field goal. Graham Gano, just signed out of the UFL, connected on a 46-yard field goal. We were tied, 10-10, in a pretty evenly matched game with 7:27 left to go in the first half. After a three-and-out, a great 58-yard punt from Lechler set the Redskins up at their own 21. The Redskins didn't get far at all, and some good pressure by defensive linemen Matt Shaughnessy and Gerard Warren forced a punt. Jason Campbell was shaken up after the hit. A couple of stupid calls -- runs up the middle by McFadden and Russell -- brought up a long third down. Nearly intercepted by Reed Doughty on a pass intended for Oakland's Zach Miller, Doughy was flagged for illegal contact. It give the Raiders an automatic first down. On the very next play, an open Miller flat out dropped the ball. It was a good pass by Gradkowski, too, but Miller just let it slip through his hands. Welcome to the show Louis Murphy, as he pulled the Raiders to within two yards of the first down marker at the two-minute warning; however, on the next play, a catch of his was correctly called back on the booth review. The Raiders were forced to punt from midfield. A stupid penalty on the punt called against Hiram Eugene -- not stupid on Eugene's part but rather the referee's -- as Eugene was called for interference when he didn't even interfere. The bench was called for an unsportsmanlike penalty and so the Redskins had it at their own 40. Santana Moss made a 14-yard catch and the Redskins were threatening before the half. Next, a big play to Devin Thomas had Washington really in business. Two plays later, Fred Davis scored his second touchdown of the game to give Washington a 17-10 lead. (Damn, he's on my bench in a fantasy football league.) A holding penalty on the kickoff return set the Raiders up in bad position, and there was just seconds to go before halftime. A couple of runs by Gradkowski picked up some yards, but Oakland needed more with just 16 seconds to go without any timeouts remaining. Almost getting sack, Gradkowski flipped it out to Fargas in the flat and he ran out of bounds with less than 10 seconds to go. An incomplete pass on the next play basically made it impossible for a field goal try; however, Tom Cable decided to go for a field goal without running another play. A 66-yard field goal fell short, and Redskins safety Reed Doughty grabbed it and took off from his own end zone. Mario Henderson grabbed him and slammed Doughty to the ground to end the half. The Redskins had a 17-10 lead. For those of you keeping track, a total of 16 penalty flags were thrown. Yes, this was an ugly game.

After filling in for Bruce Gradkowski, JaMarcus Russell spent a ton of time on the ground. [via cdn1.sbnation.com]

Third Quarter: The Redskins started out with the ball at their own 30, and more importantly the lead. A pass interference committed by Tyvon Branch gave the Redskins a fresh set of downs. Michael Huff, who suffered a stinger in the first half, is still out with that injury and being replaced by Hiram Eugene. A couple of incomplete passes had Washington in a third and long situation. A rare blitz by the defense had Campbell sacked back at his own 26 by rookie safety Mike Mitchell. A punt followed that big play. The return by Higgins set the Raiders up in good field position, at their own 44. After going down with a knee injury just before the first half concluded, Gradkowski was out and unable to return. Yes, that means JaMarcus Russell was in -- and playing quarterback, too. Raiders fans everywhere are holding their respective breaths. Needing three years on third down, Russell called a timeout as Oakland was nearing field goal range. Still, they needed a first down if they even wanted to think about a pretty good try being at Washington's 38. A big play conversion to Higgins was followed up by a 10-yard loss on the sack. Ugh, Russell didn't get rid of the ball. Rookie Brian Orakpo brought him down. More stupid play-calling from Tom Cable, the reverse went nowhere. You've already called that play once, Tom. You can't fool the defense like that. An incomplete pass to Darren McFadden set up a 53-yard field goal try for Janikowski. Missing earlier from 66 yards out, this one was much more manageable and Sebastian knocked it through for his second of the day. The Washington lead was trimmed to 17-13 with just under nine minutes to play in the third quarter. The Raiders brought the heat some more on Campbell on the Redskins' next drive, as Stanford Routt nearly got to Campbell. By the way, Routt replaced by the injured Nnamdi Asomugha. Then, on second down, Matt Shaughnessy brought down Campbell for Oakland's third sack of the game. With the third down play coming up short, a good return by Higgins set up Russell and company in good field position just shy of midfield. A second down play resulting in a first down to Zach Miller had the Raiders in Washington territory; however, on the next play, McFadden slips on a run. He still managed to pick up six yards. A pitch that went backwards forced the Raiders to make a play on third down in order to keep the drive alive. Russell found Murphy and the Raiders moved the chains. It's a step forward and then a step backwards for Russell, apparently, as Andre Carter brings him down for a loss. A false start, which didn't occur under Gradkowski, moved the Raiders back five more yards. Another penalty and then another sack totally demolished the drive for the Raiders, and it became third down with 35 yards to go. Is anyone ready for Charlie Frye yet? The punt by Lechler hopped into the end zone, and Washington began their drive at their own 20 with the third quarter almost over with. Almost off of the field, Rock Cartwright made a play on third down for the Redskins and Washington's drive continued. A couple of runs by Quinton Ganther ended the third quarter. The Redskins had a 17-13 lead over three quarters.

Santana Moss and the Redskins ran away in the fourth quarter. [via cdn0.sbnation.com]

Fourth Quarter: Kicking off the fourth quarter was Washington in Oakland territory looking to add onto their four-point lead. Not surprisingly, the quarter begins with two penalties on the Raiders. Routt was called for pass interference -- which was a bad call as Santana Moss had slipped -- and then Howard was flagged for holding. A couple of plays later, the Oakland defense tried to get off the field with Washington tryign to convert a third down needing three yards. Of course, the Redskins picked up the first down with ease on a pass from Campbell to Malcolm Kelly. A touchdown basically kills any chance the Raiders have of winning this game, especially with Gradkowski shelved. An effective screen to Moss set up a touchdown run by Ganther, a Richmond native scoring the first time in his career, and Washington had taken a 24-13 lead with over 11 minutes to play in regulation. It was clearly a great drive by the Redskins. Chewing six minutes up and going 80 yards on 13 plays, you couldn't have asked for more if you were Jim Zorn. The Raiders had the ball back needing two touchdowns and a two-point conversion. In a shocking turn of events, Russell threw a pass that was picked off by LaRon Landry. Why am I still watching the game at this point? I don't know. Campbell to Moss goes for 30 yards, and the Redskins are a touchdown away from blowout city. Some plays later, Ganther's second touchdown of the day put Washington ahead by 31-13 score. Oh, yes, it was all over by then. Russell marched back out there and was sacked. We were all so very surprised. Luckily for us, Carter totally missed the fumble and Henderson pounced on it to keep possession. Blah, blah, blah, the Raiders had to punt without a first down gained; however, Randle El screwed up the punt return and dropped it. Tony Stewart fell on it and Oakland had the ball at midfield. On the very next play, Russell was sacked yet again and this time it was Lorenzo Alexander. That was the seventh sack of the game with five of them coming against Russell compared to only two when Gradkowski was in the game. God, this game couldn't end any sooner. I'll save the dramatics: Russell was sacked on fourth down. Getting Marcus Mason involved some in the fourth quarter, Washington marched down and kicked a field goal to extend their lead to 34-13. Terribly bad went to even worse as Zach Miller went down with an injury. After another useless drive that went nowhere led by the great JaMarcus Russell, the Redskins got the ball back and ran out the clock. Improving to 4-9 are the Redskins and falling to that same record are the Raiders by a 34-13 score.

Little Billy has some explaining to do. [via cdn2.sbnation.com]

The Report Card: I'll give grades to the pass offense, rush offense, pass defense, rush defense and special teams. Of course, you're welcome to give your own grades in the comments.

Pass Offense: D -- Obviously, things were going a lot smoother with Bruce Gradkowski back there instead of the totally inept and awful JaMarcus Russell. Still, we have to grade them both. Gradkowski was a little below average and Russell was awful, so I tried to find the middle ground.
Rush Offense: F -- The rushing offense was absolutely dreadful. On 24 carries, a 2.7 average just isn't going to cut it. Justin Fargas led the way with 21 yards and a touchdown, but that stuff is something that should be achieved in just one quarter and not one whole game.
Pass Defense: D+ -- Jason Campbell had almost a field day going 16-for-28 with 222 yards and a pair of touchdowns. They brought some heat, so that was a good thing but just about the only good thing.
Rush Defense: C -- It was a very average performance by the rush defense with the Redskins averaging around four yards per carry with a couple of rushing touchdowns.
Special Teams: B- -- Janikowski's only miss came from 66 yards. Shane Lechler averaged almost 52 yards per punt. Johnnie Lee Higgins was okay returning punts while Gary Russell was nothing special returning kicks. Overall, it was pretty decent and I guess I couldn't complain about the way special teams played. The coverage wasn't all that bad itself.

My Thoughts and Tidbits: It's quite simple, really. Once JaMarcus Russell came in for the injured Bruce Gradkowski, it all went to hell. Trailing 17-10 at the half, this game was clearly within reach all the way. Charlie Frye should start next week should Gradkowski be unable to go. Next up, we have the Denver Broncos who are 8-5 and leading the Wild Card race in the AFC. This was really rough in the second half. Enjoy your Sunday evening, guys, and try to put this one behind us.

Poll

Weekly Recap Poll: Who was the Oakland Raiders player of the game?

New York Jets Pass Offense vs. Oakland Raiders Pass Defense

John B — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:00:30 -0000

by Kathy Willens - AP

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After Mark Sanchez's meltdown last week, the Jets are going to try and run it a lot on the 28th ranked run defense. When they do throw it, though, somebody who has been quiet this year is going to need to step up. Jerricho Cotchery's status is up in the air. If he can't go, Braylon Edwards will have to deal all day with Nnamdi Asomugha. Aside from Darrelle Revis, there is no better corner in football. (Some might argue Asomugha is better than Revis, but you won't find any of those people residing on this site). There's a good chance the Raiders are going to be able to totally take Edwards away. Asomugha literally takes away half the field. Nobody ever throws the football near him.

That means Dustin Keller needs to step up and finally deliver a big game. Arguably no Jet has been more disappointing this season. He's got an edge in athleticism on Thomas Howard, Kirk Morrison, and Jon Alston, Oakland's linebackers (Alston may start for injured Ricky Brown).

David Clowney needs stretch the field. You can bet your life the Raiders are going to move safeties Tyvon Branch and Hiram Eugene down into the box and force a struggling rookie quarterback to beat them. He's fast enough to win one on one matchups with Chris Johnson if he can beat the physical corner's jams. It's time for him to pick up where he left off in Miami.

Also expect Leon Washington to play a major role in the passing game. Sanchez might be a bit gun shy after last week, and the coaching staff will probably want to give him safe calls, like getting the most explosive playmaker the ball in space.

Damien Woody's status is a concern. Oakland's defensive end rotation of Richard Seymour, Greg Ellis, Jay Richardson, and Trevor Scott have combined for 10 sacks this year. Is Woody healthy enough to play? Can he handle the rush? Can Robert Turner if Woody can't go? Can D'Brickashaw Ferguson handle Richard Seymour's finesse? The good news is the starting tackles for Oakland, Tommy Kelly and Gerard Warren, are easier to handle, which could allow the Jets to give Turner help. Lord knows the Jets don't want Sanchez pressured into bad decisions.

Richard Seymour Is Coming "Home" To Oakland!

saint — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 16:05:26 -0000

More photos » by Elise Amendola - AP

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Raider fans rejoice and Charger fans begin to fret because Big "Daddy" is Coming "Home" to roost!

That's right, Hater-Nation, Seymour is a lifelong Raider fan, who has come home!

There are two threads open here, on Silver and Black Pride, that contain quotes from the Big Fella himself that he is coming to Oakland and that he is happy about it.

From the Boston Herald:

"There are a lot of different emotions," Seymour said. "Football was not my main concern at that point. I have had discussions with the Raiders… I’m excited and happy with the way they’re looking at me."

I'm calling him "Big Daddy" because he mentioned that he has four children and is the guardian of his 15 year old nephew. With that being the case I can completely appreciate that he took some time to make the best decisions for his family. I mean, school just started, and now they are moving back to South Carolina!

I have three children, with a fourth on the way and I could not imagine just up and leaving them if my job told me that I was being permanently moving to New York...Tomorrow.

Now, according to him, we will all see him on Monday Night and he'll be right where he should be:

Seymour said if you want to watch for him with his new team, he’ll be wearing No. 92 on Monday Night. "I’ll be the guy on top of the quarterback," he said

This is quite a different stance than the one taken by Randy Moss when he rolled up to his first training camp in his Minnesota Viking SUV, so I, and the rest of you out there, should stop the comparisons between "Big Daddy" and every other big name that we've traded for in recent years.

Seymour is not overrated, see "'Angelo Hall" (He left the "D" in Atlanta). Seymour is also not a "prima donna" whiner who is looking for a way out.

Nope, he is a "5 Time Pro Bowl, Three Time Championship Winning, Anchor of the D-Line, Nasty, QB Hungry" Raider and he is PROUD to be in Oakland!!!

So, take that Rodney Harrison. By the way Rodney, if you would NEVER play in Oakland, why were they your second choice behind New England? Actually according to you, and I will find the quote, the only reason you didn't come to Oakland was because you didn't want to disrespect the Chargers. Then again, who would expect a lying, cheating, roided up person like you to know which way is up anyway.

And take THAT all of you medi-diots who laugh at our proud organization at every turn. The Raiders are rising to the top again, trust me. Just ask Jon Gruden what he thinks about the squad that ended his tenure in Tampa.

Welcome to Oakland Richard and I look forward to seeing you, in #92, lined up against the Chargers on Monday Night.

I appreciate how family came first for you, and I now welcome you into our family, THE Nation, THE RAIDER NATION!

(Hey crew, maybe this means that we can play some 3-4 and move Trevor Scott to an OLB position on passing downs?...That is for another article...But I will say this, the defense just got quite a few new wrinkles and I am now looking for a #92 jersey!)

San Diego Chargers @ Oakland Raiders Game Preview

John (obviousman) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 18:30:31 -0000

by Gene J. Puskar - AP

3 months ago: In this Nov. 16, 2008, photo, San Diego Chargers running back LaDanian Tomlinson (21) takes a handoff from quarterback Philip Rivers against the Pittsburgh Steelers during an NFL football game in Pittsburgh. Tomlinson, the star running back, almost got the heave-ho in the offseason due to salary cap and injury concerns. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

View full size photo »

Football is back! WOOHOOO! It's like Chrismas in the Fall. Tonight, the Titans travel to Pittsburgh to take on the defending champions in a matchup of bruising defenses. I'll be watching, with a cold beer in my hand, and be happy that football means something again. However, in the back of my mind I'll be thinking about Monday's San Diego Chargers game against the Oakland Raiders.

After the jump, an in-depth preview on Monday's game.

When the Raiders Have the Ball

Week 1 games are difficult to analyze because mostly what you have to go on is the players and what happened in 2008. I'll try my best though. In 2008, the Raiders ranked 29th in total offense, 32nd in passing offense and 10th in rushing offense. You're not going to get very far with the worst passing attack in the NFL. Their leading pass catchers were Zach Miller, Darren McFadden and Johnnie Lee Higgins. McFadden had only 29 catches, Higgins only 56. I can't stress enough how horrible this passing offense was in 2008.

In his first full season as an NFL starter, JaMarcus Russell completed less than 54% of his passes. By comparison, Philip Rivers completed more than 65% of his passes. There's no doubt about it, the Raiders are a running offense. You could argue that with an improved offensive line (meaning Kwame Harris is gone) and a healthy Darren McFadden, the rushing attack will be even more potent. Also, with a legitimate deep-threat receiver in Darris Heyward-Bey, the Raiders may be facing more seven man fronts in 2009.

However, one of the reasons the Chargers were able to dominate the Raiders in 2008 (combined score 62-25) is because on defense San Diego's weaknesses were with the passing game. Although they were 25th in total defense, and 31st is passing defense, the Chargers were still able to finish 11th in rushing defense. With hope for Oakland's offense comes hope for San Diego's defense. Kevin Burnett and Shawne Merriman, along with a healthy Jamal Williams, should make the run defense even stronger. With Ron Rivera creating an aggressive scheme to get after the quarterback, Russell may have a difficult time throwing against the Bolts.

Advantage: Tie. The Raiders will try to run the ball and get control of the time of possession to keep Philip Rivers and the Chargers' potent offense off of the field. That might move the chains, but JaMarcus Russell will have to make a few plays for them to actually score touchdowns.

When the Chargers Have the Ball

Let us return to those 2008 team stats again. Last season the Raiders ranked 27th in total defense, 10th in passing defense and 31st in run defense. The Chargers ranked 11th in total offense, 7th in passing offense and 20th in rushing offense. In the offseason the Raiders replaced the very capable Gibril Wilson with fourth round draft pick Tyvon Branch (an SB Nation contributor), and have replaced DEs Kalimba Edwards and Derrick Burgess with Greg Ellis and Trevor Scott. Is that an improvement? It could be, but when you add Pro Bowl DT/DE Richard Seymour to the mix it's a definite improvement. Luckily for the Chargers, he won't be involved in this week 1 matchup.

A healthy LaDainian Tomlinson means bad news for the Raiders. Look at how consistently he's beaten them up:

10/16/05 - 31 carries, 140 yards, 1 rush TD. 2 catches, 39 yards, 1 rec TD.
12/04/05 - 25 carries, 86 yards. 5 catches, 24 yards.
9/11/06 - 31 carries, 131 yards, 1 rush TD. 3 catches, 18 yards.
11/26/06 - 19 carries, 109 yards, 2 rush TD. 1 catch, 5 yards. 1 pass, 19 yards, 1 pass TD.
10/14/07 - 24 carries, 198 yards, 4 rush TD. 3 catches, 16 yards.
12/30/07 - 16 carries, 56 yards. 1 catch, 7 yards, 1 rec TD. (*Week 17 with division clinched)
9/28/08 - 20 carries, 106 yards, 2 rush TDs. 2 catches, 9 yards.
12/04/08 - 25 carries, 91 yards, 1 rush TD.

Facing them in week 1, before he even gets a chance to get injured, means that LT should have a big game against Oakland's lack of a run defense. If they start sending their LBs on blitzes to help, Darren Sproles could create problems with the screen pass. The Raiders secondary did a good job of keeping Rivers in check in 2008, but he still managed to throw 4 TDs against only 2 interceptions against them. He won't look like a superstar against Oakland because their secondary is quite good, but should be able to find enough holes to get the job done and could probably burn the rookie SS once or twice as well.

Advantage: Chargers. There's no doubt about it. The Chargers offense is one of the best in the league and the Raiders, while respectable, will not be able to shut them out. I think the Raiders will have a hard time getting a pass-rush on Philip, which will lead to a lot of 7 yard passes over the middle to Antonio Gates. I also think the running game will be good enough to get first downs and keep the defense rested.

Don't forget to send in your Mailbag Questions to be answered on Saturday. Your questions do not necessarily have to be related to the Chargers.

The Best Is Yet To Come: My Thoughts On The Richard Seymour Acquisition

saint — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 23:58:32 -0000

Let's Hear It For Al Davis and his management team!

Seriously. Once again they have gone out and done the best they could with what they had to get a piece that can best help the organization!

How this move pays off in the near and long run remains to be seen, but from where I am sitting (in a comfy new leather seat) this move may be the best we've made since we brought in Rice, Parella and Woodson. And not one of those players was shy of 30 years old.

The pundits are already flapping their gums about this being a one year deal and the Patriots getting over on the Raiders again. To them I say that we are still repaying them for Jim Plunkett. We owe them two Championships and we may have just gotten over again.

Say what you want about first rounders and their value, especially in 2011 when the value will increase x5 for those who make it in this League and become factors, but I doubt that the pick we lost will be as good of an NFL player as Richard Seymour.

When I play imaginary defensive coordinator and I write down the names, Greg "The Raider's Unicorn" Ellis, Tommie Kelly, Gerard Warren and Richard Seymour as my front four, I am completely, out of my mind, encouraged and my mind races with how I will use Trevor Scott, Jay Richardson and Desmond Bryant in the rotation with The Law Firm shooting the gaps and wreaking havoc in pass coverage.

This doesn't even take into account the play making ability of the secondary with Nnamdi, CJ, Mini-Tatum and "New" Branch.

The addition of Richard Seymour has solidified the entire defense. He will take time off of the quarterback's clock, which will result in increased turnover ratings for all who dare to throw on this team.

He will also be the sealing force on "Hopefully" the left end that pushes the pile back and let's the linebackers and strong safety go to work against the running game.

Also, keep in mind Raider Nation, this will be his first time having a one gap assignment, the Raiders play a 4-3 instead of the 3-4 that the Pats play. Imagine how many sacks he can get in a 4-3 when he had 8.5 in a 3-4!

As the pundits continue to spew their hatred, I just sit back and laugh. We are on our way Nation, let's just be the one's who laugh loudest as we are the ones who will laugh last.

Working Toward The 53-Man Roster: The Defensive Line

LiveAdam — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 03:10:16 -0000

With the first preseason game quickly approaching, the battle between 80 men vying for 53 spots on the Oakland Raiders final roster is intensifying. While many of the 53 spots are nearly guaranteed to our feature players, certain positions such as wide receiver, offensive line, defensive line, and secondary still have a few roster spots that are up for grabs with several players making their case for the spot on the roster during training camp and the preseason games. Over the next month leading up to the season opener we’ll discuss position groups and who we’d like to see make the 53-man roster in those position groups.

Last season the Raiders kept 8 defensive linemen on their 53 man roster, 4 defensive ends and 4 defensive tackles. I expect the same basic format for this year’s defensive line, and I have identified 1 open roster spot at defensive tackle.

DEFENSIVE ENDS

The defensive end position has gone through a good bit of turnover from last season. Both of the starters at DE in the second half of the season, Derrick Burgess and Kalimba Edwards, are no longer with the team.

Greg Ellis

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For those of you who may be unfamiliar with Greg Ellis, he was drafted 8^th overall in the 1998 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys (much to the chagrin of Randy Moss). In 2006 Ellis suffered a season-ending torn Achilles tendon. Through vigorous rehabilitation Ellis came back in Week 4 of the 2007, and in 13 games racked up 12.5 sacks on his way to both the Comeback Player of the Year Award and his first Pro Bowl appearance. Ellis’ playing time decreased with the addition of DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer to the Cowboys, along with the transition from a base 4-3 to a base 3-4. While listed at 265 pounds, Ellis’ playing weight is probably closer to 280 pounds, and he was not able to make the transition to OLB. As a result, despite starting all 16 games and tallying 8 sacks in 2008, the Cowboys decided to release Ellis in favor of Ware and Spencer (Ellis’ request for a contract extension assisted in his departure as well).

Ellis has been penciled in to replace Burgess at left defensive end. Like Burgess, Ellis’ run stopping at the left end may be a bit of a question mark, but he’s a bit bigger than Burgess so it may be an improvement. Ellis should also be able to provide nearly the same pass rush as Burgess. So long as he can stay healthy, I think we will all be pleased with Greg Ellis at left defensive end.

Trevor Scott

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By now we all know the story of Trevor Scott. The University of Buffalo product was converted from tight end to defensive end in the middle of his college career and made the most of it. In just two seasons at DE in college, Scott racked up 19 sacks. As a rookie last season, Scott got work as a situational pass rusher and recorded 5 sacks, with his best performance coming against Brett Favre and the New York Jets.

In the offseason Scott worked diligently on his strength and conditioning as well as his technique in order to crack the starting lineup for the defensive line, and for now it appears that his efforts are being rewarded. Scott is penciled in as the starting right defensive end. This will be a position to take note of during preseason to determine whether Scott can wreak havoc on opposing QBs as well as be stout at the point of attack against the run. If he is unable to hold his own against the run, the Raiders will need to look to Richardson or Shaughnessy as a base end and continue to use Scott as a nickel pass-rushing specialist.

Jay Richardson

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The Raiders drafted Jay Richardson in the 5^th round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He proceeded to beat out 3^rd round pick Quentin Moses for a spot on the 53 man roster, and played in rotation in 2007. In 2008 Richardson was penciled in as the starter at right defensive end. Richardson didn’t get a lot of opportunities to play at that position however, as he shifted to left defensive end when Derrick Burgess suffered a triceps injury and missed six games. Working in rotation with Burgess and Trevor Scott, Richardson managed 3 sacks, including a safety sack on Miami’s Chad Pennington.

With Greg Ellis entrenched at left defensive end, Richardson and Scott are fighting for the starting role at right defensive end. Scott has the upper hand with his superior pass rush abilities. Furthermore, Richardson recently informed the media that he is still recovering from offseason knee surgery. So long as Scott proves he can handle himself against the run I expect Richardson to come off the bench to spell Ellis at left defensive end.

Matt Shaughnessy

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Much as the media labeled Darrius Heyward-Bey and Mike Mitchell as "reaches" in the draft, I actually labeled Shaughnessy as our biggest reach of our draft class. After reading some of the scouting reports on him I calmed down a little bit though. Every indication is that Shaughnessy is a high-motor guy who may not be the most talented but will work extremely hard to get the job done. Like Richardson, Shaughnessy is a more of a base defensive end, so it will be interesting to see if he can provide some pass rush. If he can and plays against the run better than Scott, he may actually find himself as the starter at right defensive end. If Shaughnessy gets outplayed by Gunheim or Gray he could be waived, but the Raiders cannot make a habit out of drafting 3^rd round players that cannot crack the 53 man roster.

Greyson Gunheim

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Gunheim signed as an UDFA last preseason and showed enough promise to earn a spot on the Raiders practice squad before getting signed to the active roster in November. His claim to fame is the sack of Jeff Garcia that ended the 2008 season with a win against Tampa Bay. I’ve heard significantly less about Gunheim during this year’s training camp than I did last season, and Gunheim only has more people in front of him now. I consider him a long shot to make the squad this season.

Derrick Gray

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Like Gunheim, Gray signed as an UDFA in 2008 and spent the year on the Raiders practice squad. Again, he’s got a lot of people in front of him, and we haven’t heard enough about his play in training camp to think he’s going to make the 53 man squad.

DEFENSIVE TACKLES

The defensive tackles for the Raiders take a lot of grief from the Raider Nation, some of it deserved and some probably not. We all understand that they are a talented group, but inconsistency seems to follow them wherever they go. Unlike the defensive ends, the group at defensive tackle is fairly set, with likely only one roster change from last year.

Tommy Kelly

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Kelly joined the Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2004. By 2008, he was one of the highest paid defensive tackles in the game, despite inconsistent play. Kelly has Ed Jasper and Warren Sapp to thank for his enormous contract, as both had high praise for him as a 3-technique defensive tackle. We all understand that Kelly may not be the best UT in the game, but he was the best UT in the 2008 free agent class and we absolutely needed to keep him around, so Al Davis did what he had to. Kelly had a fair 2008, collecting 4.5 sacks and 55 tackles. His presence in games varied from average to unstoppable. Raider Nation hopes to see more of the latter in 2009. Kelly once again will be the starting under-tackle on the defensive line.

Gerard Warren

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The Raiders made a rare trade with the Denver Broncos for Gerard "Big Money" Warren before the 2007 season. Much like Kelly, Warren is exceedingly talented, but is very inconsistent in his play, and goes from being mediocre at times to being absolutely dominant at others. Warren has the starting nose tackle job locked up though, so we can only hope for more consistency in his play in 2009.

Terdell Sands

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Terdell Sands – you either love him or hate him. Most fans expect a man with such an impressive stature to simply man-handle his opponent and win all individual battles. Unfortunately, Sands’ inconsistent play displays that he gets just as good as he gives at times. Part of our displeasure with Sands is his hefty contract that he simply hasn’t lived up to yet. Many fans call for him to be cut from the team, especially after allegedly punching Pro Bowl punter Shane Lechler in the face. Still, Sands is the closest thing to a true nose tackle the Raiders have, and he does flash dominance at times (see last year’s game vs. San Diego where he sacked Philip Rivers twice in dramatic fashion).

Reports indicate that Sands has reported to camp in significantly better shape than in previous years. Also, an interesting article including an interview with Sands surfaced earlier this offseason which indicated that Sands understood he needed to step his game up this year. Sands has a roster spot locked up, and we can only hope he can do more to stuff the line of scrimmage in the run game and demand double coverage in passing situations.

Desmond Bryant

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Desmond Bryant is my official dark horse candidate for the final roster spot designated for the defensive line. The Raiders love versatility from their backups, and at 6’5", 290 lbs with sub-5 second speed, Bryant has the size and speed to be useful both as a UT and as a DE. Many have questioned his meager numbers playing for Harvard in Ivy League football, but one article I read stated that Bryant was consistently double and even triple-teamed by opposing offensive lines. One training camp report I read stated that Bryant was man-handling Paul McQuistan in drills, and may be impressing coaches Marshall and Board. I’ll be very interested to see how much time Bryant gets during the preseason to prove he can play at the NFL level.

William Joseph

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The Raiders do love to collect former first round draft picks. Joseph was drafted by the New York Giants in 2003 and spent 5 years with them before signing with the Raiders before the 2008 season. Joseph did not make the 53 man roster initially last season, but was finally added to the roster in early November once the Raiders finally realized that they could not go through games with only 3 defensive tackles on the active roster. All indications are that Joseph is a fine athlete but is a perennial underachiever. I would not be too surprised if Joseph ended up as the Raiders 4^th defensive tackle, but I would prefer the more versatile Bryant to make the team over Joseph. The upcoming month will determine the winner of this roster battle.

Ryan Boschetti

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The Raiders signed Boschetti as a free agent this offseason. He had previously been on the Redskins’ practice squad, and Coach Cable touted Boschetti’s work ethic and high motor as a motivating force for the rest of the defensive line. Cable also stated that Boschetti was getting work at both DT and DE, showing the versatility required for a backup. Unfortunately, Boschetti’s only mention from training camp reports was when Darren McFadden knocked him on his ass during a pass protection drill. If the Raiders are looking for versatility they should look to Bryant rather than Boschetti. Don’t expect him to make the 53 man roster.

So Silver and Black Pride Nation, what are your thoughts on the Raiders’ 2009 defensive line lineup?

Poll

Of those players not necessarily guaranteed a roster spot, whom would you like to see make the defensive line squad on the 53 man roster? Please state why in the comments section.

Desmond Bryant

240 votes

Greyson Gunheim

40 votes

Derrick Gray

20 votes

Matt Shaughnessy

382 votes

William Joseph

47 votes

Ryan Boschetti

42 votes

771 votes | Poll has closed

Recent Draft History: Oakland Raiders

Jeremy Bolander — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 20:00:11 -0000

2008 Draft:

1 (4) Darren McFadden, RB STARTER

No one doubts his talent, but better backs have faltered with fewer problems. McFadden spent he season never quite getting on track with various injuries, including the dreaded turftoe, which is the bane of speedsters everywhere. He will likely benefit from the new coaching regime in Oakland, and is a huge part of helping QB Russell develop.

4 (100) Tyvon Branch, CB STARTER

Multiple injuries put the kid on reserve, but in his short time starting, he made Michael Huff expendable. A key component going forward.

4 (125) Arman Shields, WR Backup

After missing most of offseason practices with a bum knee, he was finally IRed and missed the entire season. He'll get a chance to prove himself all over again in 09.

6 (169) Trevor Scott, DE Backup

As a rotational starter this late pick showed the kind of workethic that could elevate him to a star. WIth 5 sacks in only limited reps he looks to be a key piece moving forward, but his slight frame and lower weight than ideal for the position may cap his ceiling at exceptional backup, or roleplayer.

7 (226) Chaz Schilens, WR Backup

Another solid late round pick, injuries hampered him, but whne he was given opportunities, this big WR managed to make Russell's life a lot easier. A big third down target, Schilens could have a possession role for the rest of his career and thrive.

2007 Draft:

1 (1) JaMarcus Russel, QB STARTER

While his development may not be going at ludicrous speed, lost in all of that he is still the youngest QB in the league, who was drafted on upside. With his arm, he has the ability to get out of any predicament, but he still needs to get the nuances of NFL QBing under his belt. Development, development, development is the word with Russell. he can't be asked to dumb his game down with dink and dunk Flacco-style playcalling, or he will never see his full potential. The Raiders knew they would have some growing pains with this QB, and more important than laboring over every little flaw in his game, is the addressing of the offensive line to give him the opportunity to continue to grow.

2 (38) Zach Miller, TE STARTER

By far the most potent and consistent weapon on the offense, Miller will only get better as the team upgrades around him. Tough, no-nonsense, and a willing and capable blocker make Miller one fo the top finds for Oakland in this draft.

3 (68) Quentin Moses, DE Backup/Miami

Moses made no impact for Oakland, and was shipped out before the 2008 season. In Miami he has been injured and deactivated.

3 (91) Mario Henderson, OT STARTER

Henderson has been a huge part of Russell's development, and looks to continue to be so. With his ability to shift to RT, it will give the Raider's plenty of options in the draft.

3 (99) Johnnie Lee higgins, WR STARTER

One of the few Raiders WRs who isn't mired in personal problems, Higgins is their most legitimate threat at the position. He is better served in the #2 role however, so the Raiders will be hoping someone else steps up and allows Higgins to slip back into a less central role.

4 (100) Michael Bush, RB Backup

After failing to be activated in his rookie year, his development was even further delayed under oustered coach, Kiffin. When he can get into a game, he tends to have a dramatic effect, and his bruising style should be jsut what the 2009 Raiders are looking for. He has the potential to be a "breakout" player, just from being used consistently and correctly.

4 (110) John Bowie, CB Backup

After playing the role of weekly inactive his first season, his second season was over before it started with a trip to IR. Bowie will be retained for depth reason, but should be jettisonned once the team clears the high water mark in this rebuilding phase.

5 (138) Jay Richardson, DE Backup

Richardson has stepped in adequately the last two years in the event o fiinjury, and has a good, teamfirst attitude. he will likely serve a depth role for a while with Oakland, and has just enough potential to not be written off in the future as a player who could deliver some impact.

5 (165) Eric Frampton, S backup/Vikings

After failing to turn heads in Oakland, the Vikings poached Frampton and struggled to get him on teh field, deactivating him initally for depth reasons,a nd eventually for injury reasons. his future looks pretty uncertain.

6 (175) Oren O'neal, FB Backup

After an inconsistent rookie year, injuries reared again in 2008 and cost him the whole season. His rehab has been reported as going well, and he expects to be ready for 2009.

7 Jonathan Holland, WR Backup

After being waived with an injury settlement as a rookie, Holland was brought back to the practice squad in 08, and eventually promoted to teh active roster. He will be in the mix for reliable receiver depth in the 09 training camp.

2006 Draft:

1 (7) Michael Huff, S STARTER

Though the team was expected to let Huff go, the loss of Wilson in FA forced their hand. This highly touted prospect is essentially down to his last chance. If he fails to improve by leaps and bounds in his fourth year, there is no chance he even makes it through the whole season.

2 (38) Thomas Howard, LB STARTER

Howard has developed into a young stud, and has prompted comparisons to all time greats at the position. He is definitely an anchor that the team can rely on, and is a devestating force in the middle. 2008 seemed to expose some flaws in his coverage, but he will probably rebound from that in 09, along with the rest of the defense.

3 (69) Paul McQuistan, G backup

With Jake Grove leaving in free agency, the interior of the line should see some shifting to go along witht eh shifting on the ends. McQuistan is one of the bigger more powerful guards, but he will have a tough battle with icumbent Cooper Carlisle, who has done a good job and held his own.

4 (101) Darnell Bing, LB Backup/Detroit

After failing at LB in oakland, the 49ers picked him up and tried hima t safety, followed by an experiment witht he Jets, and finally an inactive roster spot on the Lions.

7 (214) Chris Morris, C Backup

Morris has amounted to little more than safe depth at the center position. As a value at #3, it is unlikely that the Raiders will part with him anytime soon, especially with the loss of a free agent C.

7 (255) Larry McMahan, WR Out of NFL

McMahan disappeared sometime during the 2006 training camp,a nd was never seen nor heard froma again...