Raiders To Renew Mile-High Membership

 Posted by at 5:02 PM  No Responses »
Oct 222010
 

Last season, the Raiders went into Denver and got a win on the back of JaMarcus Russell. Charlie Frye started the game and Russell came in when Frye was injured to lead the Raiders to victory.

Michael Bush had 144 total yards and a touchdown. Darren McFadden had 74 yards rushing. Chaz Schilens made the game-winning catch. Brandon Marshall had seven receptions and a touchdown and Kyle Orton went 19/34 for 278 yards.

The Broncos couldn’t run the ball that day and haven’t been able to run the ball much this season. The worst rushing offense in the league happens to be doing very well passing. The addition of receiver Brandon Lloyd and subtraction of Brandon Marshall has the Broncos ranked third, behind San Diego and Indianapolis in the NFL.

Offense

The Raiders may not be able to run the ball on Denver like they did last season. The Broncos added nose tackle Jamal Williams to help with their woes stopping the run and have held five of six opposing rushers under 100 yards.

Maurice Jones-Drew was held to 98 yards, Joseph Addai to 29 yards, Chris Johnson to 53 yards, Justin Forsett to 44 and LaDainian Tomlinson to 55 yards. Only Ray Rice was able to break the 100-yard threshold with 133 yards in week five.

The Broncos still have a dangerous secondary and have only allowed one receiver to eclipse 100 yards. Austin Collie had a monster game against the Broncos, but the Raiders don’t have anything approaching Peyton Manning.

It could be a tough game for the Raiders offensively if they can’t get the run going. At this point, Kyle Boller looks like the starter for the Raiders. He played well during the preseason and has plenty of experience. He has the ability to make plays, but his problem had always been making good decisions with the football. If he can avoid the interception he is more than capable starter.

Matchup to Watch:

Samson Satele vs. Jamal Williams

If the Raiders get their running game going they will have a chance to win. It hinges on Satele, who must do a good job against Williams. Satele must keep Williams from eating up multiple blockers and make sure he has to work.

If Satele can contain Williams and Darren McFadden returns to action, the Raiders will be able to employ a two-headed rushing attack to chew up yards. Many coaches will preach wearing down and wearing out the big boys up front. Expect the backs to see plenty of action up the middle if Satele does his job.

Advantage: Broncos

Defense

In many ways the Broncos passing attack is overrated, but that doesn’t mean they should be taken lightly. The Ravens and Colts have decently rated pass defenses and beat the Broncos easily. The other four teams are all among the league’s worst against the pass. The Jaguars (28), Seahawks(30), Titans (23), and Jets (22).

Despite the Chargers outburst, the Raiders are ranked eighth against the pass. The Raiders poor rush defense might yield yards to Denver, but the matchup couldn’t be better for the Raiders. The Raiders rush defense seems to be close, having held rushers in check besides a couple long runs. It depends on if the Raiders can prevent those long rush plays.

Matchup to Watch:

Nnamdi Asomugha vs. Brandon Lloyd

Will the Raiders treat Lloyd like a top receiver or allow Stanford Routt and Chris Johnson to cover him? My bet is the Raiders will shadow Brandon Lloyd most of the time with Asomugha. Stanford Routt and Chris Johnson will draw matchups with the other receivers.

Advantage: Raiders

Special Teams

Broncos have a 27.1 yard kick return average and 10.1 yard punt return average, both rank top ten. On the other side, they have allowed 27.4 yards per kick return and one touchdown and average just 63 yards per kickoff, both rank bottom ten. Considering the altitude of their home stadium, this is extremely poor.

The Broncos have made 11 of 12 field goals including two from more than 50. The Raiders have made the most field goals, but also missed the most. Maybe we will see the 63-yard record broken on Sunday by Sebastian Janikowski. He can probably hit from 70 in Denver.

The Raiders dominate all the punting categories thanks to Shane Lechler and the coverage units. The Broncos have punted decently well, but haven’t done a good job containing the returns ranking near the bottom in punting net and near the top in gross.

Advantage: Raiders

Other Notes:

Quentin Groves gets his job back at weak-side outside linebacker. Trevor Scott moves back to defensive end. Interesting to note that Scott will likely now be a nickel rusher, with Lamarr Houston and Matt Shaughnessy the first down ends.

Maybe the reason for Scott’s move to end wasn’t Groves rise or Shaughnessy’s regression, but actually Trevor Scott’s inability to solidify himself at a position.

Jared Veldheer may have won the starting left tackle position. Tom Cable still insists it is a rotation, but Veldheer got all the first-team snaps during practice this week.

Studs and Duds From Week 6

 Posted by at 2:52 PM  1 Response »
Oct 202010
 

The Raiders scored nine points on offense and gave up 196 yards passing to Alex Smith and 149 yards rushing to Frank Gore. Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis caught touchdown passes.

I’d call that a complete failure to execute any goals.

I’m sure every single game plan against the 49ers consists of scoring a couple touchdowns, forcing Alex Smith to make a mistake and stopping Gore, Davis and Crabtree.

The Raiders only managed to get two sacks of Smith and there was never enough pressure to force a turnover. Despite Smith’s terrible days early, he easily carved up the Raiders defense.

STUDS

Matt Shaughnessy

Why did Trevor Scott start in front of him at defensive end again? He either never regressed or he’s turned it back around. He applied the most consistent pressure on Alex Smith, working against their best offensive lineman, Joe Staley. He also forced Staley to commit a couple of penalties. He also did a good job stopping the run.

Former Raiders defensive end Jay Richardson called him “ShaughNASTY.” That might be the best nickname I’ve heard for a Raider in years.

Nnamdi Asomugha & Richard Seymour

They aren’t the problem with this defense. Both played well.

Shane Lechler

Sad day when your only offense is the kicker and your punter is getting plenty of room to punt the ball. Lechler had a 53.5 average and a 47.3 net. He’s ridiculous. He’s good. He’s a stud.

DUDS

Jason Campbell

Finished the game with a 10.7 passer rating. Went 8/21 for 83 yards and two interceptions and a fumble that was not lost. Not much more needs to be said. He got the best protection you can ask out of this offensive line and couldn’t produce. Were the receivers not getting open? Why can’t he rally the troops like Bruce Gradkowski can when things are going poorly? Pathetic display.

Kyle Boller may start this week for Campbell, who hurt his knee. I don’t know why Campbell continues to struggle so much, but Boller couldn’t be worse. Even JaMarcus wasn’t worse and that’s saying something.

Chris Johnson

Zone coverage or man coverage? He stinks at both. He completely missed his zone coverage assignment on Crabtree’s TD catch as the Raiders were about to gain some momentum from the self-destructing 49ers offense. Johnson’s head isn’t in the game. The only thing he should be covering is the bench. It shouldn’t be hard as the bench doesn’t move, but knowing your assignment in zone coverage isn’t much harder and he managed to not know it.

Jeremy Ware makes some rookie mistakes, but at least he doesn’t completely blow an assignment every week. Johnson also is making his teammates look bad, as Tyvon Branch hustles over to help people think he somehow made a mistake.

Kelly Trims Down

 Posted by at 3:06 PM  No Responses »
Aug 172010
 

In 2008, the Raiders gave Tommy Kelly a monster contract in the form of $18.125 million in guarantees with $25.125 million total in the first three years.

It is worth noting, Kelly stands to make about $4.5 million in 2010, having already collected all but $300,000 in bonus money. He will also now be bound to the Raiders until 2014 with only base salaries. He could be easily cut in future seasons.

The Raiders get much for those millions they paid Kelly as he recorded just 5.5 sacks in the two years since signing the deal.

All of this adds up to Tommy Kelly being a lightning rod for criticism. Some of the criticism merited and some not.

Instead of waste away as another member of Al Davis’ 2008 spending spree, Kelly has remained a professional. After playing the season at nearly 350 pounds, Kelly has trimmed down to 315.

Kelly looked quick and punishing as a 295 pound defensive end. Moving him inside to the pass rushing three-technique tackle position was logical, but after two seasons the Raiders are pulling the plug.

Kelly will move to the nose tackle position vacated by the release of Gerard Warren. Warren was much like Kelly in that he was much better rushing the passer than stopping the run.

Desmond Bryant, who played nose tackle last season, will see time as the backup at the three-technique to Richard Seymour and newly acquired John Henderson will backup Kelly at the nose.

Typically the nose tackle position is played by players upwards of 330 pounds. Henderson fits that mold perfectly, yet it is Kelly getting first team reps.

What is clear, the defensive tackle spots will be an ongoing rotation of players in 2010. Perhaps keeping the lineman fresh is just what the doctor ordered for the Raiders sickly run defense.

Despite a change in role, Kelly put in the work to trim down and has taken the position change in stride saying, “I’m strong enough and tough enough to play the nose, so I’m not even worried about it.’’

Fans were immediately excited when Lamarr Houston was drafted and when John Henderson signed, hoping that the moves would put an end to Tommy Kelly starting. Yet Kelly remains, trimmer and leaner starting along-side Richard Seymour and the young defensive end Matt Shaughnessy.

If the Raiders are more successful stopping the run in 2010, much of the success will be given to first-round draft selection Rolando McClain. If it is unimproved or worse, all that blame will be placed upon Tommy Kelly. Neither characterizations are accurate.

An improved run defense should be attributed to the entirely new front seven. Kelly and Seymour remain, but playing different positions. Shaughnessy and Trevor Scott ascended up the depth charts last season to end the year as starters. The remaining four were additions.

Don’t forget Kelly when distributing credit when the Raiders run defense is improved. Although he may never justify the contract, he might just turn a few critics into believers in 2010.

Post Game Wrap: Raiders 17, Cowboys 9

 Posted by at 6:26 AM  1 Response »
Aug 132010
 
News and notes from the Raiders 10-point victory Thursday night in Dallas:
Football season has arrived, officially, with the first game preseason game.
It doesn’t count and the score doesn’t matter, but the new season started and the fans were looking for hope in a new team lead by a new quarterback.
While the offense appeared calm, controlled and more organized under Campbell, the production wasn’t there. Campbell went 7 of 15 for 49 yards. Darrius Heyward-Bey didn’t have a catch. Zach Miller had three catches for just 15 yards.
Campbell only converted one third down out of six and didn’t lead the offense to a score.
Kyle Boller played the remainder of the game after Campbell took a seat in the second quarter. After a rocky start Boller settled in and ended the night 12 of 21 for 148 yards and a touchdown.
Observations:
- Johnnie Lee Higgins appears to be playing with the swagger he had in 2008. He had a few catches, even if he did tip a ball into the air that should have been intercepted.
- Yamon Figurs has a few nice catches, but was uneven (good/bad) as a return man.
- Nick Miller continues to impress and I’d be surprised if he is cut at this point.
- Michael Bennett is clearly the superior running back, but Rock Cartwright is much more versatile. The competition is now a dead heat.
- Michael Bush is a load to bring down when the defenders can’t square him up, but he is clearly the type of back that gets better as the game goes on.
- The starting offensive line allowed one sack and it was ugly. Three defenders blew by Samson Satele and Cooper Carlisle. Langston Walker also had a false-start penalty.
- Kyle Boller’s success was directly proportional to the blocking of the second and third string offensive line.Shaky early; solid later.
- Jared Veldheer does a good job run blocking for the center position. Can he put heat on Satele?
- Chris Johnson can’t cover the opposing team’s top wide receiver. It is important for Nnamdi Asomugha to shadow the opposition’s top receiver in 2010.
- Walter McFadden and Jeremy Ware aren’t going to put the pressure on Stanford Routt and Johnson anytime soon. That said, both seemed to grow as they received more playing time.
- Travis Goethel and Stevie Brown are among the lower round draft picks that could have an unexpected impact.
- Lamarr Houston benefited from good coverage and recorded two sacks. This will be a confidence boost for the rookie, who played off and on into the fourth quarter.
- Matt Shaughnessy was the most impressive defensive lineman Thursday night. He brought the pressure in the pass game and was getting plenty of penetration stopping the run.
- Rolando McClain didn’t see a ton of action, more wait than see for this year’s top draft pick.
- Trevor Scott is going to be moved around a lot, specifically as a nickel rush end with his hand in the dirt.
- Ricky Brown continues to be a preseason star. If only he could stay healthy.

What To Watch: Sophomores

 Posted by at 5:59 PM  No Responses »
Aug 122010
 

Every year and in every city the preseason is when the fans watch to see if they have the next impact rookie.

This year’s top crop includes Rolando McClain, Lamarr Houston, Jared Veldheer, Jacoby Ford, Bruce Campbell and Walter McFadden.

What is often lost in the rush to evaluate the rookies is just how much a second year player can improve and make an impact for a team. One recent example is Tyvon Branch.

Branch, as a Sophmore, lead all safties in tackles. He figures to be an impact player for the Raiders in 2010 and beyond.

The 2010 sophmore crop includes: Darrius Heyward-Bey, Mike Mitchell, Louis Murphy, Matt Shaughnessy, Desmond Bryant and Marcel Reece. These sophmores will all see significant playing time in 2010.

The offseason has been filled with reports on Heyward-Bey’s improvement. He’s looked like the best player on the field at times and his route running is much better. All the reports a vast departure his the drop-filled 2009.

Mike Mitchell’s rookie campaign was hindered by a hamstring that kept him out of camp and into the regular season. In limited duty late in the year he had success, but questions remain about his coverage skills.

Will Murphy be able to build on a successful 2009. You would think the addition of Jason Campbell would enable Murphy to take a leap forward, but unless Chaz Schilens remains on the sideline, Murphy could be forced to in the slot. Murphy will have to compete for reps with a more crowded core of young receivers.

Matt Shaughnessy has been so impressive the Raiders cut Greg Ellis and moved Richard Seymour to defensive tackle. Equally strong against the run and pass, Shaughnessy’s progression will go a long way towards determining the success of the Raiders defensive line in 2010.

Desmond Bryant is all of the sudden fourth on the depth chart at defensive tackle. This isn’t a terrible problem to have. Bryant still needs to become more consistent, but he can be a valuable member of the defensive line with limited snaps. Giving the aging Henderson, Kelly and Seymour a breather will be his primary role, but that’s not to minimize it. The Raiders will expect minimal drop-off in play when they call on Bryant’s number.

While many fans will keep a close eye on the rookies, perhaps it is the sophmores that are hungry and primed to make an impact in 2010.

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