Rebound: Texans @ Raiders Preview

 Posted by at 3:37 AM  No Responses »
Oct 032010
 

The Raiders wasted an opportunity an opportunity to get to 2-1 last week, while the Houston Texans fell to 2-1 after a loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

Both teams will try to rebound in week four and put tough losses behind them on the 100% grass surface at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum this Sunday.

These teams are familiar foes, having traded blows each of the past four seasons. The Texans defeated the Raiders 29-6 almost exactly one year ago in Houston. The previous three games were in Oakland with the Raiders winning 27-16 in 2008 and the Texans defeated the Raiders in 2007 and 2006.

Offense


The Texans pass defense has surrendered 369 yards per game through the air in the first three weeks, having played Peyton Manning, Donovan McNabb and Tony Romo. Bruce Gradkowski has the opportunity to expose the Texans young secondary with a big day. The Texans have surrendered pass plays of 60 yards or more in each game this season.

It is possible the quality of quarterbacks had something to do with exposing the Texans young secondary meaning Gradkowski will not be able to match the same level of production. However, the Texans corners still have limited experience and Gradkowski has mobility that could get the Raiders young receivers open deep. The Cowboys were able to set up their passing game behind a solid running game early, look for the Raiders to do the same.

The Texans have surrendered just 54 yards per game on the ground, but surrendered 101 yards last week against Dallas. Stopping Indianapolis and Washington on the ground isn’t much of a task and the Raiders run offense will be their biggest test of the season.

Look for the Raiders to run around the edges and throw screen passes with McFadden to tire the pass rush of Mario Williams. Michael Bush could see more action running the ball at the untested heart of the Texans defense.

If the Raiders don’t fall behind early, the Raiders ground game must be a priority. If the ground game doesn’t get going, there will be nothing to keep the Texans pass rush from spending their day in Gradkowski’s lap. A good running game will really put the pressure on the young secondary to deal with the added dimension of play action and open up the passing game.

Match-ups To Watch:

Young Receivers vs Young Secondary

If Louis Murphy is healthy enough to go, he should be able to do damage against the rookie Kareem Jackson. Darrius Heyward-Bey had a few good moments last week and has been Gradkowski’s favorite target. The banged-up receivers have drawn soft match-ups and need to step up and perform against a bad one.

Wario Henderson vs Mario Williams

Sometimes Wario does get the best of Mario and the Raiders need that to happen this Sunday. Mario Henderson had his best game of the season in week three, but that isn’t saying much. His finest game as a professional may have been against Williams two season ago. If Henderson is effective, the Texans may flip Williams to the left side to go against Langston Walker. Close your eyes if it gets bad.

Defense


The Texans 146 yards per game ranks just one yard behind the Raiders. This Texans team is much more difficult to stop offensively with a solid running game. Arian Foster leads the league in rushing yards with 406 through three games, but has only mustered 170 the last two weeks. Foster was held to just 69 yards against Washington in week two.

The Texans deploy a zone-blocking system not too dissimilar to the one Tom Cable knows and loves, so it should be no secret to the Raiders how to stop it. The Texans will get the entire offensive line moving one direction and use it to seal off defenders so Foster can cut back up the middle. The linebackers will have added pressure to maintain their gaps.

The secondary may have to come up and support the run when the Texans try to get Foster around the edge. Tyvon Branch and Michael Huff’s tackling will be tested by Foster’s size when he slips past the linebackers.

The Raiders should have Richard Seymour and John Henderson to deploy up the middle with Tommy Kelly, something they haven’t had since week one.

If Andre Johnson plays, Nnamdi Asomugha should be able to limit him. Kevin Walter has the ability to shred a secondary when the opposition can’t focus on him, meaing this could either be a breakout game for Stanford Routt or one that exposes him. Jacoby Jones can be dynamic and the Raiders will need the nickel corner to handle his speed.

Match-ups To Watch

Nnamdi Asomugha vs Andre Johnson

Larry Fitzgerald received the Nnamdi Asomugha treatment last week and only caught one pass against him. It was the first game the Raiders have allowed Asomugha to shadow the opposing team’s number one receiver. When the Raiders played zone, Derek Anderson immediately threw to Fitzgerald for a touchdown.

Andre Johnson hasn’t had much success against the Raiders and it isn’t hard to figure out why.

Stanford Routt vs Kevin Walter

Routt will have his hands full with Walter. Walter shredded the Redskins in week two and is a weapon Matt Schaub will look to when Andre Johnson is covered. Routt will either continue his solid play and establish himself as a starting corner in this league or be exposed by one of the best offenses in the NFL.

Owen Daniels vs The Coverage

Daniels has killed the Raiders in the past, but was limited in the previous match up. Thomas Howard may get more playing time if Quentin Groves or Kamerion Wimbley struggle to stay with Daniels.

The Raiders may also commit a safety to Daniels, at the expense of deep help. This would apply added pressure to the Raiders corners and potentially open up short routes.

Special Teams


The Raiders allowed the opening kick off to be returned for a touchdown last week and last season against the Texans. Jacoby Jones did the damage last season and is just as dangerous this season to take one to the house.

Sebastian Janikowski will rebound from a terrible day and put a few through the uprights. The Raiders would prefer Seabass be limited to extra points considering their struggles in the red zone.

Prediction


Raiders eek out a close one at home and Janikowski gets sweet redemption by hitting a field goal to win it, 27-24.

Studs and Duds From Week 3

 Posted by at 1:00 PM  No Responses »
Sep 302010
 
Studs

Richard Seymour (+8/-1)

His hamstring didn’t seem to bother his play. He was applying pressure consistently and was a force stopping the run. The Raiders are paying Seymour elite money this season and can’t be disappointed with his play. Seymour and Henderson have both missed a game this season and have really stepped up in each others absence against the run. Seymour missed practice Wednesday, but if he can stay healthy he will have a chance to make this list weekly.

Marcel Reece (+8/-0)

It isn’t often a fullback will make a list of studs, but Reece had an amazing game last Sunday in Phoenix. He did an excellent job picking up blitzes and finding players to block in the run game. He became a receiver on multiple occasions and looked more like a running back catching the ball and running with it. He has come a long way and deserves some recognition for his efforts.

Rolando McClain (+7/-1)

McPain has game. He still learning things in coverage, but is beginning to trust his instincts more and play faster. We know he has a mean streak after body slamming Danny Amendola in week two. He tipped a pass, was in position and is showing up around the ball. McClain’s efforts may have gone unnoticed during the game, but watching film it was clear McClain had a game worthy of this list.

Lamarr Houtson (+5/-1)

Another good game by a rookie. Houston repeatedly sealed the edge in the run game and was applying pressure repeatedly in the first half. He didn’t have as strong of a second half. Chalk this up to endurance. The Raiders only have three true defensive ends and Houston wasn’t getting many plays off.

Nnamdi Asomugha (+4/-3) and Stanford Routt (+5/-1)

Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Breaston can be formidable pair of receivers that are difficult for opposing cornerbacks. Both receivers scored a touchdown on the day and it is no coincidence the touchdowns were not scored on the Raiders starting cornerbacks. The Raiders starting duo was so good the Cardinals were running plays to specifically target the safeties and linebackers in coverage. This was a wise strategy as the Cardinals were able to score two touchdowns.

Asomugha proved why many consider him the best corner in the league. Fitzgerald was physically frustrated with the match up. Asomugha had two negative plays in run support, with a habit of lowering his head and lunging for the tackle becoming a reoccurring theme. Routt has turned in a few solid games in a row and could be finally turning the corner. You haven’t seen many people calling for Chris Johnson and that’s a testament to Routt’s solid play.

Duds

Cooper Carlisle (-6/+1)

What can you say when one lineman keeps showing up on a duds list and yet there has been no discussion of replacing him? He is better in the running game, but hardly special. He was tossed aside like a rag doll by Darnell Dockett on multiple occasions including what could have been touchdown pass if Gradkowski was given enough time to find the open receiver. His play makes me cringe just thinking about it.

Khalif Barnes (-3/+0)

He comes in for a few plays and looks horrible. So much for the theory that Barnes was a better option than Walker. Last season he was going to press for the left tackle position, this season he is the backup right tackle, that should tell you everything you need to know.

Langston Walker (-3/+0)

Oh, a third offensive lineman makes the duds list? Walker was injured and out of the game and still couldn’t keep from making a handful of bad plays. His pass protection is embarrassing, but he can be a decent run blocker on occasion, so I guess he has that going for him.

Johnnie Lee-Higgins (-3/+0)

How did he even make the list having played so few snaps on offense? Horrible punt returning, that’s how. Just catching the ball and running straight forward was better than what Higgins was doing out there. It seems Nick Miller or Jacoby Ford could be given the shot to return punts sooner rather than later.

Sebastian Janikowski (-3)

He missed three kicks including the game winner, but he is still a weapon. He will bounce back as he has before and I’m predicting a game winner this week for redemption.

Notables:

Bruce Gradkowski (-11/+9)

It would be interesting to see what a Raiders quarterback could do with a little pass protection. Gradkowski had at least three passes go off the hands of defenders that are normally easy interceptions. He made some plays, but missed far too many open throws. One thing is clear, the Raiders quarterbacks can only go as far as the protection goes.

Quentin Groves (-7/+6)

He is always around the ball and seems to be making plays every couple minutes. His problem is mostly in coverage, but will also miss the occasional tackle. If he can eliminate the poor plays he would be a pretty good linebacker. The Raiders are clearly hoping addition playing time at linebacker will help him. He is certainly making an impact, I graded him on 13 plays second only to Gradkowski’s 20.

Gradkowski Graduates

 Posted by at 8:11 PM  No Responses »
Sep 222010
 

Bruce Gradkowski is the Raiders new starting quarterback.

The majority of fans get what they wanted.

There is no denying Gradkowski deserves to start based on his play in the second half of last Sunday’s win against St. Louis and his production last season.

If Jason Campbell wasn’t the answer, why name him the starter before training camp and not give Gradkowski a shot at the job?

Why bring in Jason Campbell for a fourth-round pick and extend his contract? If it was only because Gradkowski is injury prone it seems like a steep price to pay when Kyle Boller costs basically nothing.

Switching quarterbacks just six quarters into the season undermines what the coaches have been selling all offseason. The sell was that Campbell is the guy that can take the team back to the playoffs. By making the switch, the Raiders are basically passing the blame to Campbell and it encourages the players to do it, intentionally or subconsciously.

That makes it nearly impossible Campbell will be able to come back and be successful with this team. Six quarters to prove thyself is a quick leash, one the players will not forget if the Raiders don’t start winning.

Gradkowski gives the Raiders the best chance to win on Sunday or the coaches wouldn’t make the move. The problem is that they are just now recognizing it. Why not spend the offseason selling the team and media on the idea of Gradkowski as the starter?

The entire process has been counterproductive to the Raiders long term goals.

Despite this, winning cures all, so if the Raiders win behind Gradkowski and stay competitive in losses, all is forgotten.

If Raiders lose, much in the way they did under Gradkowski in Dallas on Thanksgiving, the entire locker room could meltdown and Al Davis could too.

What all this points to is that Jason Campbell is the owner’s quarterback. Tom Cable, Hue Jackson, Paul Hackett and company appeased the owner, sold stinky cheese for the entire offseason, but when the pressure was on and the Raiders were at risk of going 0-2, the coaches jumped off the bandwagon.

Al Davis doesn’t quickly forget and Tom Cable’s job now rests on Gradkowski’s bald head and right arm.

The Case For Campbell

 Posted by at 2:28 PM  1 Response »
Sep 222010
 

Every team and coach dreams of having two great quarterbacks and being forced to decide between them.

It isn’t unprecedented. The Falcons once had Michael Vick and Matt Schaub. The Falcons chose unwisely, but they still had two franchise signal callers on the roster. History seemingly repeats itself, now Kevin Kolb finds himself as the backup to Vick in Philadelphia.

Unfortunately, seldom are quarterback changes a good thing. More often quarterbacks are changed early when the offense is struggling and the team isn’t performing.

What kind of quarterback controversy does Al Davis and Tom Cable have on their hands?

Prized acquisition Jason Campbell went from the quarterback that could lead the franchise to the playoffs to the backup in six quarters and Bruce Gradkowski went from backup to favorite to start in two.

Did Campbell have enough time to prove himself as the starter?

Did Gradkowski do anything more impressive he did last season?

The answer to both questions is quite simply, “no.”

Jason Campbell needs more time to get comfortable with the receivers and the porous offensive line in front of him. Gradkowski did exactly what he did last season last Sunday, yet the Raiders still named Jason Campbell the starter before training camp.

Many will say health was the reason, but Gradkowski was basically healthy during training camp and there would have been no harm in leaving the competition open.

Campbell is a solid quarterback who got off to a rocky start. Much of that because of the vertical offense that was designed around him. A poor offensive line, deep routes, a pedestrian ground game and mistake prone defense have been the standard for most of Campbell’s six quarters as the Raiders starting quarterback.

Gradkowski has been the benefactor of better play from the team. The defense stepped up their game and the ground game got rolling behind Darren McFadden. The play calling also changed, or so it seemed. The Raiders went to shorter timing routes and away from longer routes which require addition pass protection.

Can’t Campbell also deliver on short timing routes? Isn’t that basically what he did in Washington? It isn’t as good of a fit for him, but no one is saying the Raiders need to become one dimensional. Use the shorter passes to get Campbell comfortable.

Campbell missed on a couple long throws against St. Louis, but if he connects on them next time for two long touchdowns am I even writing this?

Gradkowski came in and did a great job, no denying it. He is fiery and high strung and probably gets little bit more out of the offensive line. However, it’s the responsibility of the coaches to patch the leaky offensive line.

Tom Cable has to ask himself these questions, because this could be the defining moment in his coaching career.

If Bruce Gradkowski is the starter:

Can I bench Jason Campbell without backlash from the owner?
Can Bruce Gradkowski get this team to at least eight wins to save my job?
If Gradkowski falters or is hurt will I be able to trust Campbell after benching him?

If Jason Campbell is the starter:

How long do I give Campbell to gel before I am forced to make a change?
Can Jason Campbell get this team to at least eight wins?
If Campbell falters will I be able to trust Gradkowski after benching him?

The best choice for Tom Cable is to stick with Jason Campbell a bit longer. Give him four more quarters to work out some of his issues and to get the offensive line to block a little bit.

Studs and Duds From Week 2

 Posted by at 2:56 PM  No Responses »
Sep 212010
 

It wasn’t pretty, but the Raiders got a win to improve to 1-1.

Studs

Tommy Kelly and John Henderson

Stopping the run was the goal and these two guys were the biggest reason. Henderson’s efforts were almost entirely stopping the run, while Kelly also was getting to the passer. Kelly did have two penalties, but on this day he was dominant despite them.

Darren McFadden

A recipe for success is stopping the run and running it well. The Raiders were able to do this Sunday. Tom Cable has been impressed with McFadden “running behind his pads.” Indeed that could have been part of his issues in the past, lower his head and basically losing balance too often. McFadden is also pumping his legs after contact. This is newly learned skill for McFadden and it is benefiting him greatly with yards after he is first hit. Certainly his health and Hue Jackson’s scheme are helping him. He even had a couple nice blitz pickups.

Bruce Gradkowski

He came in and ignited the offense. He got the ball out quick, was very accurate and got his team a win. A lot of what Bruce was able to do was just having confidence his receivers would get to the open spot. Throwing to spots was allowing for a better rhythm and tempo. The quick designed plays were helping out the offensive line. The offense changed in the second half with shorter timing routes and Gradkowski executed perfectly almost the entire time he played.

Duds

Jason Campbell

He didn’t have many opportunities to make plays with the defensive line in his face. When he did he couldn’t manage to make the play. He had a couple of overthrows of wide-open receivers and just missed on a couple others. He was never able to get his timing down. The offensive line woes appear to be getting into his head. He looks scared out there behind this porous line. In contrast, Gradkowski is fearless. Given time, Campbell is still the superior quarterback, but if the Raiders can’t block for him he won’t produce.

Langston Walker

Worst player on the field on Sunday. His run blocking and pass blocking were terrible. Lineman routinely dominate him physically and speed rushers just go around him. He makes poor decisions on who to block on running plays. The second straight terrible performance from him. If he isn’t benched soon he better improve, because he could be on this list all season.

Rolando McClain

He graded him out basically neutral, but he should be the one making plays in the middle of the defense. McClain struggled in the first half, particularly in the first quarter. It is no surprise his play coincided with the defense as a whole. He had an above average second half. No better test for a rookie than Chris Johnson and Steven Jackson, so he had a steep learning curve. McClain can only get better from here, but he still needs to get better. He makes too many mistakes in coverage and arm tackles aren’t going to get the job done.

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