The Raiders Linebacker Problem

 Posted by at 8:00 AM  4 Responses »
Oct 062011
 

The strength of the Raiders defense as everyone knows is the defensive line. It is anchored by six-time pro-bowler Richard Seymour and 300-pounder Tommy Kelly. The defensive line also features two young stout defensive ends, Matt Shaugnessey and Lamarr Houston. This season has also featured plays by run stuffing 330 pounder John Henderson and a resurgent Jarvis Moss. This unit is the undeniable strength of the defense.

Coming into this season the biggest question regarding the Raiders defense was in the secondary. With Nnamdi leaving, the spotlight has been on Stanford Routt and he has quietly delivered. Tyvon Branch has made his fair share of plays, but he’s still working to improve his consistency. These two starters of the secondary are the only two starters that have stayed healthy and that played four games. Michael Huff, Chris Johnson, Mike Mitchell and DeMarcus Van Dyke have all missed time and the backups have played like backups. Once these four players return the play and potential of the secondary unit will come into focus.

What about the linebackers? Coming into the season, they were neither the strength of the defense nor the weakness. This unit has two former 1st round picks in Rolondo McClain and Kamerion Wimbley and a 2nd round pick in Quentin Groves. Since week 1, the Raiders linebackers have been struggling. The biggest problem with this unit is that Wimbley and Groves were both drafted into this league primarily on their pass rushing abilities and not their outside linebacker skills. Both of these men, are outside rush linebackers in a 3-4 system or a defensive end in the nickel or dime in passing situations. The problem with this unit is that Groves and Wimbley are not 4-3 outside linebackers.

McClain is a work in progress. Some plays, he makes a pass deflection or he makes the correct read, fills the correct gap and stuffs the run. But too often, he is slow to react, plays too high, takes bad angles and is easily sealed off. McClain can be a quality run stuffing middle linebacker but right now he needs his outside linebacker to back him up when he makes mistakes. Unfortunately for McClain, his outside linebackers are not linebackers who fit the system. This season is not the season to give up on McClain, the Raiders are putting him a very difficult position.

Wimbley and Groves can still find a home with the Raiders. Groves is not a financial liability and could actually provide quality depth in the linebacker or defensive line unit. Given that he isn’t relayed upon to produce as the starting outside linebacker. Wimbley, whose new contract is deserved, is his best and provides the most value when played at defensive end.

With Groves and Wimbley at outside linebacker the Raiders are trying to put a square peg in a round hole. Wimbley and Groves provide another example of how Al Davis loves size and speed. Having Wimbley and Groves start at outside linebacker is an experiment. This experiment has resulted in the Raiders owning the worst run defense in the league. Groves and Wimbley both need to quickly complete the transformation into quality 4-3 outside linebackers. If not, Oakland’s run defense will continue to be embarrassed and the Raiders will have to give up the experiment. If the Raiders are to win the AFC West and be playoff team, something has to change.

Studs and Duds From Week 4

 Posted by at 11:24 PM  No Responses »
Oct 052011
 

This a little late this week as it took an extra night to watch the game for the second time.

Studs

Darrius Heyward-Bey 

He made a great hands catch and already has nine receptions for 164 yards in three games which surpasses his entire rookie season.

Kevin Boss

4 catches for 78 yards. He’s proving to be every bit the weapon Miller was in the passing game and he blocks well also.

The Offensive Line

Without singling out a single player, these guys have been the surprise of the season. Campbell has all day to throw and they are opening holes for the backs as well. Jared Veldheer, Stefen Wisniewski, Samson Satele, Cooper Carlisle, and even Khalif Barnes. Sprinkle in a little Joe Barksdale. No stars here, this group is getting it done together.

 

Duds

Richard Seymour

Penalties, penalties, penalties. Complain if you want, but the penalties can’t happen. Giving free yards to Tom Brady is a recipe for disaster. To cap it off, Seymour didn’t have a very good day putting pressure on Brady. It’s Seymour’s defense and they got waxed on Sunday through the air and on the ground.

Joe Porter

I’m not sure who thought it would be wise to put Joe Porter on Wes Welker for most of the afternoon. That didn’t work out. I feel bad for putting Porter here because he was put in an impossible situation, but he still played poorly.

Rolando McClain

The Patriots ran all over the Raiders. Rolando McClain needs to be responsible for the running game as it is his primary job. There are many factors that go into stopping the run, but McClain is not getting it done. McClain has his own issues as a player and he can’t make up for others deficiencies. He doesn’t get much help and he’s not capable of overcoming others mistakes. He must play better for the Raiders to have a chance.

Tyvon Branch

A few rather poor angles and tackles in the game Sunday. Pretty uncharacteristic day for Branch. He’s always putting in the effort and that is admirable, but he didn’t play well last Sunday.

Jason Campbell

The first interception was killer and the second the final nail in the Raiders coffin. If the Raiders score a touchdown on that drive things could have gone very differently than they did.

Missing Hiram

 Posted by at 7:30 AM  1 Response »
Sep 292011
 

After the Raiders “bullied” the Jets it is easy to forget the team has inadequacies. Even though the Raiders have a very imposing defensive line and are tied for third in the league with 10 sacks, the defense is still allowing nearly 290 passing yards per game. What is also looked over in the Raiders 2-1 start is the inconsistent play of the kick coverage units. The Raiders were exposed on a couple long kick returns despite recovering a fumble by Antonio Cromartie. The punt coverage has been terrible and is a huge weakness on this team.

Stanford Routt and Tyvon Branch are the only healthy members of the Raiders secondary who were on the team last year. With the injury to DeMarcus Van Dyke (knee) coupled with his lack of development, the Raiders are extra thin in the weakest area of their defense.

Chimdi Checkwa, is showing why he was drafted and made the roster. After Chekwa’s promising performance the starting cornerback position could be his for the taking with Chris Johnson nursing a hamstring injury. Because of the Raiders tendency to run dime packages, Matt Giordano, Joe Porter and Jerome Boyd saw additional snaps last week. The Raiders will continue to rely heavily on these defensive backs because they now have pivotal roles  on the defense. The success of the secondary hinges on the performance of these young and unseasoned defensive backs.

The Raiders may be missing special teams ace Hiram Eugene. Eugene found a way to make an impact and in four years with the Raiders, Hiram played in 60 games and started in 19, with 10 being in 2008 over a healthy and disappointing Michael Huff. In four years Eugene accumulated over 120 tackles, most coming as the last line of defense or as the gunner on special teams. Not bad for an undrafted free agent out of Louisiana Tech.

Eugene provided depth in the secondary and supplied leadership as one of the premier gunners in the league. Eugene may not be a household name, but his presence is sorely missed. The Raiders have allowed punt returns for 53 and 90 yards without Eugene; there is no wonder the Raiders rewarded him this past off-season with a four-year contract.

The Patriots are averaging a gaudy 437 passing yards per game so Tom Brady and Wes Welker will be ultimate test for the Oakland Raiders secondary. The defensive line cannot take a play off and the linebackers have to play very well in space.  Special teams cover units cannot let New England have great field position or any free points.

The Raiders will miss Eugene for his special teams ability most of all, but with all the injuries in the secondary Eugene may be also missed as a backup.

Your Turn Secondary

 Posted by at 9:20 PM  2 Responses »
Sep 172011
 

Any NFL fan, outside of Buffalo, should have been surprised by the complete dominant performance the Buffalo Bills unleashed on the Kansas City Chiefs in week one.  The Bills, who been near the bottom of the AFC East for quite some time, killed last seasons AFC West champions 41-7. The Buffalo Bills, for now, deserve respect.   

Going into week two, both the Raiders and the Bills boast a 100 yard rusher and a very physical and at times dominating defensive line.  If the Raiders are to be become “bullies” their defensive line cannot take any weekends off, including ones in Buffalo. Together the savvy Fred Jackson and the explosive C.J Spiller pose a greater challenge to the Raiders defensive line then the maligned Knowshon Moreno and the aged Willis McGahee did.  Both offensive lines will have their hands full. The offensive line that finishes blocks and paves the better running lanes will give their team a huge advantage.

Despite this advantage the winner of this game will have to do more than run. 

Outside of Cam Newton’s performance the most surprising quarterback performance of week one belongs to Ryan Fitzpatrick.  He completed 68% of his passes for 208 yards but most impressively he threw 4 touchdowns, a career high.  It was just one game but Fitzpatrick might have just found his home in Buffalo. Last week, the Raiders secondary let Kyle Orton throw for more than 300 yards with most coming in the second half.  The Bills fans are envisioning another career week for Fitzpatrick, one where he solidifies himself and leads the Bills to a surprisingly 2-0 start.  

Balanced NFL offenses, like the one Buffalo displayed in week one, both use the run to set up the pass and the pass to set up the run. Because of Buffalo’s strong running attack, this game is the first real test for the Raiders secondary. The pressure is now on the Raiders secondary to produce.   The demands are on Stanford Routt, who had a great first game as the new number one cornerback, to lead by example, for Chris Johnson to maintain his stride and for Demarcus Van Dyke to not blow coverages. With Huff’s groin injury and perhaps limited snaps, extra responsibility will reside on Tyvon Branch, Jerome Boyd and Matt Giordano to not give up the big play. 

Even though there are multiple key match-ups in this game, the game will be won or lost in the Raiders secondary.  Last week, the Raiders defensive line did their job and the Raiders won. It is now the secondary’s turn to show if they can do their job.

Studs & Duds From Monday Night

 Posted by at 9:10 PM  2 Responses »
Sep 152011
 

Who played well on Monday? Maybe a few are obvious, maybe a few weren’t obvious. It’s always a little more difficult to determine a dud, expecially if the player didn’t make any glaring or obvious mistakes.

 

Studs

Darren McFadden - 150 yards. That should be enough to tell you everything you need to know about McFadden’s night. The Raiders rode on McFadden’s back to victory.

Matt Giordano - The interception was just icing on a very good game from Giordano. He was solid in coverage and a willing tackler and his excellent play enabled the Raiders to use Michael Huff as the nickel corner. Who Stevie Brown? Giordano didn’t even make the initial 53-man roster.

Quentin Groves - He forced a fumble and held his own in coverage making minimal mistakes. He did his job in the run game. For all the abuse Groves has taken for being the weakest linebacker he played like the best one on Monday night.

Kamerion Wimbley – He had his way with the rookie right tackle for the Broncos. He didn’t register any of the five sacks the Raiders recorded, but it was Wimbley who was applying consistent pressure on Kyle Orton. Wimbley also made several excellent run stops. He was the best defensive player on the field for most of the night.

Cooper Carlisle – The best of the Raiders offensive lineman. He’s making the transition from zone blocking to drive blocking quite nicely. When the Raiders needed tough yards they ran behind Carlisle. He didn’t have any penalties and allowed just about zero in the way of pressure on Jason Campbell.

Richard Seymour – Another dominating performance by the Raiders defensive captain. The defensive line has really followed Seymour’s lead. He had two sacks and two pressures.

Honorable Mentions: Darrius Heyward-Bey, Lamarr Houston, Tyvon Branch, Marcel Reece, Darryl Blackstock, Sebastian Janikowski

 

Duds

Stephon Heyer – Rough night for the player who was pushing Khalif Barnes for the starting right tackle job. Back-to-back false start penalties and he had trouble pass blocking. He came in for Barnes, but it didn’t last long as Barnes got twice as many snaps. Heyer should rebound from this dreadful performance and Barnes isn’t doing anything that will prevent the Raiders from giving him another chance.

Jacoby Ford – He hurt his hamstring in the second half, but he fumbled early and didn’t have the kind of impact everyone was expecting. It was a bit of a letdown and his status is very much in question for Sunday’s game in Buffalo. Ford should be fine going forward, but he was a dud Monday night in Denver.

Rolando McClain – He missed a couple tackles and was beat repeatedly in pass coverage. He took some heat in the offseason, but appeared to be playing very well this preseason. He had just one tackle Monday night. Pass coverage is not his strongest suit and he was forced into pass coverage plenty. It was a disappointing 2011 debut for the Raiders middle linebacker, but a batted pass in coverage gives hope for continued improvement. It should be noted also McClain led a defense that played extremely well, but it doesn’t outshine his poor performance.

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