Tag Archive | "Chaz Schilens"

Jackson seeks improvement after Raiders opener

Posted on 13 August 2011. Tags: , , , , , , ,

AP Photo/Ben Margot

Oakland Raiders head coach Hue Jackson talks with cornerback Sterling Moore (39) in the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Oakland, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 11, 2011.

From botching the coin toss to allowing a go-ahead touchdown in the final minute to the 10 penalties and numerous blown chances in between, new Oakland Raiders coach Hue Jackson sees plenty to work on after his exhibition debut.
The Raiders lost their preseason opener 24-18 to the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday night, with many of the same issues that plagued Oakland a year ago still becoming problems.
“Those things in a first preseason game are things that a lot of people are trying to overcome, and we will,” Jackson said Friday. “It was good to see some guys really competing and getting after it. We have something to build on there.”
Jackson was pleased with the play of the first-team defense, the passing game and many of his offensive linemen, including rookies Stefen Wisniewski and Joe Barksdale.
The key in the upcoming weeks is to build on those and fix the lingering issues before the season begins Sept. 12 in Denver.
While all teams are hindered this summer by the lockout which canceled minicamps and OTAs, all of Oakland’s problems couldn’t be attributed to the lack of offseason work.
The issues began even before the opening kickoff. The Raiders won the coin toss and one of the captains apparently told referee Ron Winter the team wanted to kick off before another said defer. Winter went with the first declaration, allowing the Cardinals the chance to receive in the second half as well, when they got an opening drive field goal.
“I think it’s unfortunate that it happened,” Jackson said. “I’m glad it happened (in preseason).”
Then some of the same problems that plagued the Raiders a year ago reared up once again. Oakland drove inside the Arizona 30 five times but ended up with just one touchdown and four field goals on those trips.
Oakland was 22nd in the league a year ago, scoring touchdowns on 40.9 percent of trips inside the 30, but improved as the year progressed. Jackson expects similar improvement with more practice time spent in the scoring area.
“We’ve been there for two weeks and we’re trying to pack everything in as fast as we can and sometimes you don’t get to hit on all the things that you got to hit on right away. You get bits and pieces,” Jackson said. “As we move forward, we’ll make sure that those things are all tidied up and ready to go.”
The Raiders, who were the most penalized team in the NFL a year ago, committed 10 for 84 yards on Thursday in a performance that really riled Jackson because he has stressed reducing those.
Starting right tackle Khalif Barnes committed three false starts in two series, costing Oakland a chance at a field goal on the second drive. Rookie Richard Gordon also committed a false start, giving the Raiders four on the night. They led the NFL with 31 false starts last season
Backup cornerback Walter McFadden committed a pair of pass interference penalties on a touchdown drive late in the second quarter. Oakland had a league-worst 13 pass interference calls last season.
McFadden was one of many backup defensive backs who struggled in the opener but will be needed to contribute when the season starts. The Cardinals had few problems moving the ball through the air after starting cornerbacks Stanford Routt and Chris Johnson sat down following the first series.
Arizona quarterbacks combined to go 17-for-27 for 297 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions at a 137.4 passer rating once the starting cornerbacks sat for the night.
Rookie Demarcus Van Dyke was one of the players who struggled, getting beaten twice in one series by star receiver Larry Fitzgerald. Van Dyke also got beat by Stephen Williams on a touchdown pass in the second quarter.
“It’s a pretty good way to go out there and judge yourself on a guy of his caliber and see what I can get better at,” Van Dyke said. “I just have to finish on plays, that’s about it.”
With Chris Johnson moving into the starting lineup following the loss of All Pro Nnamdi Asomugha to free agency, the Raiders are searching for reliable coverage cornerbacks from a group that includes McFadden, fellow second-year pro Jeremy Ware and rookies Van Dyke and Chimdi Chekwa, who is out with a shoulder injury.
“It’s something we’ll continue to look at as we continue to move forward,” Jackson said. “But those young guys, they’ll step up. They got to rise up and play, and I expect that they will.”
Oakland also lost backup safety Hiram Eugene to a dislocated hip. Receiver Chaz Schilens and undrafted free agent safety Zac Etheridge had knee injuries. Jackson said he’d know more about the extent of the injuries in the next few days.
___
Josh Dubow can be reached at http://twitter.com/JoshDubowAP

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Posted in 1, Chaz Schilens, Hiram Eugene, Jeremy Ware, Khalif Barnes, Oakland Raiders, raiders-news, Walter McFaddenComments Off

Raiders once again struggle with penalties, big plays and getting into end zone

Posted on 13 August 2011. Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

“Those things in a first preseason game are things that a lot of people are trying to overcome, and we will,” Jackson said Friday. “It was good to see some guys really competing and getting after it. We have something to build on there.”

Jackson was pleased with the play of the first-team defense, the passing game and many of his offensive linemen, including rookies Stefen Wisniewski and Joe Barksdale.

The key in the upcoming weeks is to build on those and fix the lingering issues before the season begins Sept. 12 in Denver.

While all teams are hindered this summer by the lockout which canceled minicamps and OTAs, all of Oakland’s problems couldn’t be attributed to the lack of offseason work.

The issues began even before the opening kickoff. The Raiders won the coin toss and one of the captains apparently told referee Ron Winter the team wanted to kick off before another said defer. Winter went with the first declaration, allowing the Cardinals the chance to receive in the second half as well, when they got an opening drive field goal.

“I think it’s unfortunate that it happened,” Jackson said. “I’m glad it happened (in preseason).”

Then some of the same problems that plagued the Raiders a year ago reared up once again. Oakland drove inside the Arizona 30 five times but ended up with just one touchdown and four field goals on those trips.

Oakland was 22nd in the league a year ago, scoring touchdowns on 40.9 percent of trips inside the 30, but improved as the year progressed. Jackson expects similar improvement with more practice time spent in the scoring area.

“We’ve been there for two weeks and we’re trying to pack everything in as fast as we can and sometimes you don’t get to hit on all the things that you got to hit on right away. You get bits and pieces,” Jackson said. “As we move forward, we’ll make sure that those things are all tidied up and ready to go.”

The Raiders, who were the most penalized team in the NFL a year ago, committed 10 for 84 yards on Thursday in a performance that really riled Jackson because he has stressed reducing those.

Starting right tackle Khalif Barnes committed three false starts in two series, costing Oakland a chance at a field goal on the second drive. Rookie Richard Gordon also committed a false start, giving the Raiders four on the night. They led the NFL with 31 false starts last season

Backup cornerback Walter McFadden committed a pair of pass interference penalties on a touchdown drive late in the second quarter. Oakland had a league-worst 13 pass interference calls last season.

McFadden was one of many backup defensive backs who struggled in the opener but will be needed to contribute when the season starts. The Cardinals had few problems moving the ball through the air after starting cornerbacks Stanford Routt and Chris Johnson sat down following the first series.

Arizona quarterbacks combined to go 17-for-27 for 297 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions at a 137.4 passer rating once the starting cornerbacks sat for the night.

Rookie Demarcus Van Dyke was one of the players who struggled, getting beaten twice in one series by star receiver Larry Fitzgerald. Van Dyke also got beat by Stephen Williams on a touchdown pass in the second quarter.

“It’s a pretty good way to go out there and judge yourself on a guy of his caliber and see what I can get better at,” Van Dyke said. “I just have to finish on plays, that’s about it.”

With Chris Johnson moving into the starting lineup following the loss of All Pro Nnamdi Asomugha to free agency, the Raiders are searching for reliable coverage cornerbacks from a group that includes McFadden, fellow second-year pro Jeremy Ware and rookies Van Dyke and Chimdi Chekwa, who is out with a shoulder injury.

“It’s something we’ll continue to look at as we continue to move forward,” Jackson said. “But those young guys, they’ll step up. They got to rise up and play, and I expect that they will.”

Oakland also lost backup safety Hiram Eugene to a dislocated hip. Receiver Chaz Schilens and undrafted free agent safety Zac Etheridge had knee injuries. Jackson said he’d know more about the extent of the injuries in the next few days.

___

Josh Dubow can be reached at http://twitter.com/JoshDubowAP

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Posted in 1, Chaz Schilens, Hiram Eugene, Jeremy Ware, Khalif Barnes, raiders-news, Walter McFaddenComments Off

2011 NFL Preseason, Raiders vs. Cardinals: Oakland Raiders Position Battles to Watch in the Preseason

Posted on 10 August 2011. Tags: , , , , , , ,

Read More: Oakland Raiders

As the preseason is about to begin, it is time to take a look at what positions will be contested leading into the season. The Oakland Raiders are coming off of their best season in over seven years and will be looking to build off of that momentum and possibly make a return to the playoffs this year.

In order to build off of last season, it is important that the Raiders have the right personell in the right positions to start the season. The Raiders are pretty much set, as far as depth is concerned, when it comes to the runningback, defensive line and safety positions.

However, there are a lot of questions surrounding the entire offensive line, the cornerback position, the wide receiver position and one outside linebacker position.

Offensive Line

The left side of the Raiders offensive line appears to be fairly set in stone.

Second year tackle Jared Veldheer will be given the opportunity to continue his learning process at the left tackle position. He had a solid rookie season and the Raiders believe he could be their left tackle of the future, so do not expect him to get unseated.

At left guard, second year Raider, Daniel Loper appears to be ready to step in for the departed Robert Gallery. When Gallery missed time last season with an injury, Loper stepped into the starting role and the offensive line did not appear to miss a beat. The Raiders hope he will be able to do the same as a starter this season.

The rest of the offensive line is up for grabs.

The center position was thought to be locked down by rookie Stefan Wisniewski, but with the re-signing of two year starter Samson Satele, the Raiders will hold an open competition and decide who is the better fit, with the loser likely getting a good look at the right guard position.

At right guard, most thought that last year’s starter, Cooper Carlisle, was going to be released by the Raiders this season. With Carlisle still on the team, the Raiders will be looking at him, second year player Bruce Campbell as well as Satele and Wisniewski as potential starters at right guard.

The right tackle position will likely be the weakest position along Oakland’s offensive like this season. The two front runners for the starting job right now are rookie Joe Barksdale and returning tackle Khalif Barnes. Barksdale has looked good in training camp and could push for playing time. However, there are rumors that the Raiders are trying to bring back Langston Walker. This could be a sign that the coaching staff is not impressed with Barksdale or Barnes at this point.

Wide Receiver

The Raiders receiving corps is full of young talent. Unfortunately for the Raiders, most of that talent has yet to reach its potential. With the return of a healthy Chaz Schilens, the Raiders have four players who are considered viable options as starting wide receivers.

Last season’s starters Darius Heyward-Bey and Louis Murphy will certainly receive strong consideration. DHB has yet to live up to his high draft status, but Davis seems intent on giving him time to learn while still playing in a starting position. Murphy has shown sparks of brilliance at the position, but has also shown a lot of inconsistency.

Meanwhile, Schilens is finally healthy after two years of injuries. If he can stay healthy and return to the form he had before the injury problems, he could easily become a starting option since the Raiders have been longing for a possession type receiver for years now.

Finally, last season’s rookie phenom, Jacoby Ford is clearly the fan favorite to be a starter. After a rather impressive rookie season where Ford showed the ability to be a game changing threat on offense and in the kick return game, he will be looking to solidify his role as a starting wide receiver for the Raiders.

There is also a dark horse candidate in fifth round rookie Denarius Moore. The wide receiver out of Tennessee has been the star of Raiders training camp so far. Injuries and inconsistency at the wide reciever position could enable Moore to see good playing time as a rookie.

Outside Linebacker

One of the outside linebacker spots is set in stone. Kamerion Wimbley was outstanding in his first year wearing the Silver and Black in 2010. It earned him a big contract and an unopposed starting position.

Opposite Wimbley is another question. Last year’s starter, Quentin Groves, played well at times and struggled a lot at others. Though the Raiders did not bring in any big name free agents to compete with Groves, the spot is not necessarily his for the taking. Rumor has it that second year ball hawk, Travis Goethel, will compete with Groves for the starting role.

Plus, the Raiders will need to figure out what to do with Trevor Scott once he is healthy, and the outside linebacker position is a possibility even though he did not excel there as a starter early last season.

Cornerback

The massive contract given to Stanford Routt means that one of the starting corner positions will certainly belong to him. The opposite corner and the nickleback positions, however, are far from set in stone.

Veteran speedster Chris Johnson is the most likely player to start opposite Routt. Before Routt’s seemingly inexplicable rise to stardom in the eyes of Al Davis, Johnson was the corner faced with playing opposite Nnamdi Asomugha and did a fairly good job at it.

Besides Johnson, the Raiders will be looking to see if second year players Jeremy Ware and Walter McFadden have matured enough to push for playing time opposite Routt. Both players saw the field as rookies due to injuries in the Raiders secondary, however, neither stood out in their limited time.

Rookies Demarcus Van Dyke and Chimdi Chekwa will likely be battling Ware and McFadden for playing time as the nickle back corner. However, there is also the possibility that safety Michael Huff will see time at nickle back, giving the rookies a year to get caught up to NFL game speed before being thrown into significant roles in the secondary.

These competitions will all start to heat up as the preseason games begin. Given the shortened off season, a strong showing in the preseason could easily lead to a starting role for any number of these guys come opening day.

What do you guys think about this.

Posted in 1, Bruce Campbell, Chaz Schilens, Cooper Carlisle, Daniel Loper, Jacoby Ford, Jeremy Ware, Kamerion Wimbley, Khalif Barnes, Langston Walker, Louis Murphy, Michael Huff, Oakland Raiders, Quentin Groves, raiders-news, Robert Gallery, Samson Satele, Walter McFaddenComments Off

NFL draft countdown: Oakland Raiders

NFL draft countdown: Oakland Raiders

Posted on 14 April 2011. Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Steve Corkran Sporting News

An analytical look at the Oakland Raiders heading into the 2011 NFL draft:

Team needs

1. Safety. Starting free safety Michael Huff is a prospective free agent and not likely to be re-signed. The Raiders allowed 29 touchdown passes last season — only four teams yielded more — and the safeties got beat on a majority of those back-breaking plays. Clemson’s DeAndre McDaniel is a realistic option in the second round (the Raiders don’t have a first-round pick). Boise State’s Jeron Johnson is an attractive prospect who likely will be available in the middle rounds if the Raiders opt to wait.

2. Offensive line. Left guard Robert Gallery, right guard Cooper Carlisle and right tackle Langston Walker are either free agents or on the backside of their careers. The Raiders used two of their first four picks last season on offensive linemen, and it’s likely they will use at least one choice this year on a top-tier player for that unit. Temple’s Darius Morris is on the team’s radar.

3. Quarterback. Jason Campbell is entering the final year of his contract. He started slowly in his first season with the Raiders but progressed well as he gained comfort in offensive coordinator Hue Jackson’s system and around his teammates. It’s past time for the Raiders to draft a solid quarterback prospect and give him time to learn behind a veteran. Delaware’s Pat Devlin is a potential choice in the middle rounds, though it’s possible the Raiders will draft Nevada’s Colin Kaepernick in the second round (48th overall) if he falls that far.

4. Cornerback. Three-time Pro Bowler Nnamdi Asomugha and nickel back Chris Johnson are free agents. It’s unlikely the Raiders will pay Asomugha a ton of money after spending so much to re-sign starter Stanford Routt. Second-year corners Walter McFadden and Jeremy Ware are intriguing candidates for increased playing time. However, it’s almost certain that Oakland will use at least one draft pick on a corner. North Carolina’s Kendric Burney and Texas’ Curtis Brown fit the Raider mold at this position.

5. Running back. The Raiders are thrilled with Darren McFadden and Michael Bush as their one-two combo. But Rock Cartwright and Michael Bennett are getting on in years, and the Raiders would like to add a reliable third back in case of injury. So look for them to use a mid- or late-round pick on a running back. Possible options include West Virginia’s Noel Devine and Notre Dame’s Armando Allen.

6. Defensive tackle. Richard Seymour and Tommy Kelly played at a Pro Bowl level last season, with Seymour being selected to make the trip to Hawaii. However, both are getting toward the end of the line and have a lot of wear and tear on their bodies. Al Davis loves to stockpile defensive tackles. Given that, don’t be surprised if the Raiders use an early or middle-round pick on a player such as Auburn’s Mike Blanc or North Carolina’s Marvin Austin.

Five-year history

The success of the Raiders’ 2010 draft class overshadows a spotty performance over the past five years. Of particular note is the 2007 draft class in which the Raiders whiffed on quarterback JaMarcus Russell at No. 1 overall and landed only one player out of 11 picks who is an unquestioned starter (tight end Zach Miller).

The 2008 class yielded four potential starters for 2011 out of five picks (Darren McFadden, Tyvon Branch, Trevor Scott and Chaz Schilens). Miller is the only one of the 38 players selected the past five drafts who has made the Pro Bowl, and he did it last season for the first time. Still, the past five drafts have produced as many as 15 offensive and defensive starters for next season.

2006: C

2007: D-

2008: A-

2009: C+

2010: A

Just one question

With a new head coach taking over the team, will there be an emphasis on addressing certain positions in this year’s draft?

Coach Hue Jackson: “There’s not a position, other than quarterback, that I feel like I want to look at to draft and say, ‘We don’t need anybody’ (for immediate help at that position).”

163 NFL draft countdown: New York Giants Tuesday Apr 12

Jerry Reese took over as general manager in 2007, and his first class was instrumental in the Super Bowl run, but since then, it has been hit and (mostly) miss. Reese has failed to find an impact linebacker and now’s the time to find one.

167 More Milestones Show All

If anybody needs tickets to games, remember to click the tickets link at the top.

Posted in 1, Chaz Schilens, Cooper Carlisle, Darren McFadden, JaMarcus Russell, Jason Campbell, Jeremy Ware, Langston Walker, Michael Huff, New York Giants, Oakland Raiders, raiders-news, Richard Seymour, Robert Gallery, Rock Cartwright, Tommy Kelly, Tyvon Branch, Walter McFadden, Zach MillerComments Off

Oakland Raiders’ owner hosts another bizarre chat session

Posted on 19 January 2011. Tags: , , , , , , ,

Any Al Davis speaking engagement promises a mix of historic tutoring, optimistic visions and contentious words. Tuesday’s show lived up to that all.

Davis did much more than simply introduce Hue Jackson as the Raiders’ ninth coach since the franchise’s return to Oakland in 1995.

After a 1 1/2-hour session that was mostly calm and rational, Davis turned the proceedings into the bizarre spectacle we’ve come to expect. He unleashed a torrent of ammunition as to why naughty Tom Cable was done after 2 3/4 seasons as coach.

Overall, quantity overshadowed quality in what Davis said, unless you wanted to sift through the dirt he shoveled on Cable’s Raiders grave.

Hue Jackson Day lasted maybe 10 minutes. After that, it was a walk through the Raiders’ troubled past, with Davis saving Cable’s woes for the grand finale.

Jackson and Davis spewed all the trademark optimism found at these introductory press conferences. You know, the Raiders are headed toward greatness, they’ve got a slew of young talent, they were oh-so-close to the playoffs and a potential Super Bowl run.

But that rhetoric got steamrolled when Davis took to task yet another ex-coach. This wasn’t as bizarre as when Davis fired Lane Kiffin and promoted Tom Cable on Sept. 30, 2008. That epic, two-part press conference was highlighted by Davis displaying a letter to Kiffin demanding he cease-and-desist insubordinate behavior.

These proceedings turned odd, however, when most of the 75 media in

attendance rose to their feet for what seemed like the end of the press conference. But Davis wanted to share something: He opened up a Raiders-issued folder and loosely described Cable’s dirty deeds as coach that ultimately led to $120,000 in fines.

Storytime with Al drifted into the far reaches of Cable’s legal turmoil that accompanied his first year as head coach. Davis brought up the incident of Cable allegedly breaking assistant coach Randy Hanson’s jaw, and then came the confusing barrage of allegations regarding Cable’s treatment of women.

Davis mentioned how the threat of lawsuits cast a terrible light on the Raiders, whose lawyers apparently braced for battle. Those lawsuits weren’t breaking news, not compared to Davis’ dismay over Cable breaching Raiders protocol by bringing a woman on team road trips.

“(One) lawsuit created work, stress and turmoil,” Davis said in reference to allegations from one of Cable’s ex-wives. “I told Tom earlier he could be fired without pay for the wrath he brought on the organization for the allegations of his treatment of women. … I asked Tom Cable at least three or four different times if there was anything else we have to deal with.”

Davis said he was surprised by an ESPN report about Cable’s domestic issues early in the 2009 season.

“He knew I could throw him out without any money,” Davis said of ending Cable’s tenure. “There’s no way he can come clean on this. He knows what he did.”

What took Davis so long, then, to part ways with Cable? Davis waited until two days after the Raiders’ finished 8-8, in their best season since 2002.

“We had a shot with five games to go to get in the playoffs,” Davis said. “There’s no telling how far we could have gone. … With five games to go, we messed it up. Not necessarily on offense. We didn’t play well enough on defense.”

While Jackson is the 18th coach in Raiders history, Jason Campbell is their 18th starting quarterback since 1995. There is a correlation between that turnover at both spots.

So did Campbell show enough in 2010 to solidify the Raiders’ unstable quarterback position? Both Davis and Jackson sung Campbell’s praises, Davis holding firm to his pre-2010 season statement that Campbell reminds him of Jim Plunkett circa 1980.

“Over the last seven weeks of the season, he played as flawless as almost any good quarterback can play in this league,” Jackson said. “I looked forward to another year in the same system to be great.”

While Cable had vast locker-room support up to his exit, Jackson feels he does, as well.

“I don’t feel I have to overcome anything,” Jackson said. “Our players have been very supportive.”

Said Davis: “As much as you thought Tom had support in the locker room, there was to a point with people he socialized with. Hue will have support in the locker room just as much as Tom Cable, if not more.”

Davis repeatedly cited how the Raiders offense “got into the end zone” with Jackson as their first-year coordinator. More of the same is demanded by Davis.

Jackson is adamant that the offense will again emphasize the Raiders iconic virtue of down-field passing, with Cable taking aim at young receivers such as Jacoby Ford, Louis Murphy, Chaz Schilens and Darrius Heyward-Bey.

Campbell wouldn’t be here, however, if the Raiders got what they hoped from 2007 No. 1 overall draft pick JaMarcus Russell, who was released last spring.

“We no longer as an organization can fight the personal problems of certain players,” Davis said. “We tried in the past and had been successful with some great players, and we failed with some great players.

“We had a big investment in this guy. Basically he’s a good person but had personal problems. I decided we weren’t going to fight it anymore. “… It hurt us a great deal, but you’ve got to go on and overcame these things, and we almost did this year.”

Because this was Davis’ first group session with reporters in 27 months, a vast array of topics were covered.

He said there is no need to hire a general manager to help him and his personnel department, especially with the league’s uncertainty regarding the stalled labor talks over a new collective bargaining agreement.

As he did in 2008, Davis pleaded for a new stadium, insisting that the Coliseum site is ideal because of its transportation options for fans. He remained cool to the idea of sharing a new stadium with the 49ers, as the league has recommended.

As far as the Raiders’ potential free agents, he called it “ridiculous” that there might be as many as 31 players with expiring contracts. One pending free agent, however, is cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, and Davis hailed his value on and off the field. But Davis also noted that the $17 million Asomugha might command in yearly salary could instead be used on three quality players “to help us win.”

In a rare moment of humility, Davis accepted some of the blame for the Raiders’ struggles, which have kept them out of the playoffs since the 2002 season.

“I’ve made mistakes, yes. No question. We also need great players,” Davis said. “Should I take some of the blame? I certainly do. You guys give it to me. You want me to get it from my wife? I do. She was used to winning.”

Jackson said “he’s hip” to the lion’s den he is stepping into as Raiders coach.

“I’m here to be great,” Jackson said. “We’ve talked about the coaches before me, and I have great respect for them. But they’re not Hue Jackson. I’m here to restore the greatness of the Raiders.”

So was Cable. So was Kiffin. So were so many others.

And then they’re gone, leaving a trail of evidence that Davis is willing to share when it comes time to explain their expulsion, as was the case yet again Tuesday.

What are your opinions.

Posted in 1, Chaz Schilens, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Jacoby Ford, JaMarcus Russell, Jason Campbell, Louis Murphy, raiders-newsComments Off

Raiders finish 6-0 in AFC West

Posted on 02 January 2011. Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

CBSSports.com wire reports
Jan. 2, 2011

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — If this turns out to be Tom Cable’s last year as Oakland’s head coach, at least he’ll know he made history.

After beating Kansas City 31-10 Sunday in their regular-season finale, the 2010 Raiders became the only team since the 1970 merger to go unbeaten in their division and still not make the playoffs. The short-handed Raiders (8-8) wrapped up a division record of 6-0, while the Chiefs (10-6) went 2-4 in the division and will host the Baltimore Ravens next Sunday at 1 p.m. EST as AFC West champions.

The Chiefs are the No. 4 seed, the Raiders are through for the year.

“We are disappointed because we are not going to the playoffs, but at the same time we stuck to the goal and stuck to the plan as we have done very week, and we got our eighth win,” said Cable, whose job status with the Raiders has been the subject of speculation. “I’m very happy about that.”

Michael Bush rushed for 137 yards and Jason Campbell threw a TD pass for the Raiders, who beat the Chiefs in Arrowhead Stadium for the fourth year in a row and ruined their perfect home record.

Running back Darren McFadden and Pro Bowl defensive tackle Richard Seymour were inactive because of injuries, but the Raiders dominated from start to finish, intercepting two of Matt Cassel’s passes and getting seven sacks. The interceptions both led directly to Oakland’s last two scores. Jacoby Ford scored on a 10-yard reverse after Michael Huff’s interception, and Stanford Routt returned a pick 22 yards for the Raiders’ final TD when Cassel was hurried while throwing from his end zone.

The Chiefs were still digesting their lopsided loss several hours later when Indianapolis beat Tennessee 23-20 and determined their seed and first-round opponent.

The Chiefs’ worst home game of the season came on the heels of news that offensive coordinator Charlie Weis is returning to college coaching to become Florida’s offensive coordinator. Weis, in one year with the Chiefs, has been given much credit for developing Cassel into a topflight quarterback and turning Jamaal Charles into a Pro Bowl running back.

“Charlie Weis is moving on. He’s going to go to the University of Florida as a coordinator,” said Chiefs coach Todd Haley. “This is a bittersweet thing for me as the head coach. Charlie was obviously someone I was excited about having in here. That being said, Charlie is a family guy and he’s got a family situation, where he can go to Florida and be with his son, who is going to get into coaching. This is a great situation for Charlie and I respect it 100 percent.”

Weis was not made available to the media.

The Raiders posted their best record since 2002 amid talk that Cable may be out; the team went to 17-27 since he became head coach four games into the 2008 season. It was the first time since ’02, when Oakland went to the Super Bowl, that it didn’t lose at least 11 games.

The Raiders had 344 total yards to Kansas City’s 201 and held the top-rated rushing offense to 115 yards on the ground.

Asked if he thinks he’s coming back, Cable did answer directly.

“We’re not losers anymore. We’re 8 and 8,” he said. “That’s not what we wanted. We wanted to be a playoff team. We came here to get the sixth win, which means we went 6-0 in the division and most importantly, we are done with that losing. We are not losers anymore.”

Charles, who came in trailing Houston’s Arian Foster by 56 yards for the NFL rushing lead, had 87 yards on 14 carries and held the advantage for a few hours. But Foster, who played in a later game, rolled up 180 yards in the Texans’ 34-17 victory over Jacksonville, giving him 1,616 for the year.

Charles finished the regular season with 1,467 yards and came within a whisker of catching Jim Brown’s NFL record of 6.40 yards per carry. He finished at 6.38.

“I wasn’t even paying attention that I wasn’t in the record books. I wasn’t even worried about it,” said Charles. “I was just going out there and just running the ball like I do every week. My goal is to go out and win. I’m disappointed we lost, but we’ve got to bounce back. We’ve got another week going. The Raiders don’t.”

The Chiefs’ pass protection, good most of the season, began breaking down in the second quarter. Cassel was flagged for intentional grounding and then sacked for an 11-yard loss on the next play by Jarvis Moss.

Campbell got the Raiders going with a 9-yard completion to Zach Miller. On third-and-10 from the Oakland 46, Campbell dumped off to Bush and he turned it into a 16-yard gain. With 7 seconds left in the half, Sebastian Janikowski kicked a 39-yard field goal for a 10-3 lead.

Campbell, after sitting out a series when he apparently hurt his right knee, scrambled 21 yards during a 14-play, 91-yard drive. He hit Jacoby Ford for a 35-yard gain to the 6 and Chaz Schilens was wide open in the end zone for the touchdown pass that gave the Raiders a 7-3 lead.

The Chiefs managed a meager 72 yards in the first half to Oakland’s 192, but Charles broke free for a 47-yard run to the 8. From the 5, Charles went in almost untouched for a 10-10 tie the Raiders erased on their next possession.

Aided by a 15-yard face mask penalty against Jovan Belcher, the Raiders moved 75 yards in nine plays. Bush went over the right side of the defense virtually untouched for a 27-yard touchdown, the first TD rushing the Chiefs allowed at home all season.

Notes

  • Kamerion Wimbley had three of Oakland’s seven sacks.
  • K.C.’s Tamba Hali had 2½ sacks, the ninth multisack game of his career.
  • Former coach Marty Schottenheimer was inducted into the Chiefs’ Hall of Fame at halftime.
  • Huff has four career interceptions against Kansas City.

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Posted in 1, Arian Foster, Baltimore Ravens, Chaz Schilens, Darren McFadden, Jacoby Ford, Jarvis Moss, Jason Campbell, Kamerion Wimbley, Matt Cassel, Michael Huff, raiders-news, Richard Seymour, Sebastian Janikowski, Todd Haley, Zach MillerComments Off

Raiders run through Chiefs

Posted on 02 January 2011. Tags: , , , , , , , ,

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Oakland Raiders have swallowed one bitter pill.

Missing two of their best players, the Raiders beat playoff-bound Kansas City 31-10 Sunday, becoming the first team since the 1970 merger to go unbeaten in its division and not make the playoffs.

The Raiders (8-8) were 6-0 in the AFC West. Kansas City (10-6), was outplayed by the Raiders in every way in its first home loss of the year and finished 2-4 in the division. Yet the Chiefs will host a playoff game next weekend as AFC West champs.

Michael Bush rushed for 137 yards and Jason Campbell threw a TD pass for the Raiders, who beat the Chiefs in Arrowhead Stadium for the fourth year in a row.

Running back Darren McFadden and Pro Bowl defensive tackle Richard Seymour were inactive because of injuries, but the Raiders dominated from start to finish, intercepting two of Matt Cassel’s passes and getting seven sacks. The two interceptions both led directly to scores. Jacoby Ford scored on a 10-yard reverse after Michael Huff’s interception, and Stanford Routt returned a pick 22 yards for the Raiders’ final TD when Cassel was hurried while throwing from his end zone.

The Raiders posted their best record since 2002 amid speculation coach Tom Cable may be out; the team went to 17-27 since he became head coach four games into the 2008 season. It was the first time since ’02, when Oakland went to the Super Bowl, that it didn’t lose at least 11 games. The Raiders had 344 total yards to Kansas City’s 201 and held the top-rated rushing offense to 115 yards on the ground.

The Chiefs’ worst home game of the season came on the heels of news offensive coordinator Charlie Weis is returning to college coaching to become Florida’s offensive coordinator. Weis, in one year with the Chiefs, has been given much credit for developing Cassel into a topflight quarterback and turning Jamaal Charles into a Pro Bowl running back.

Charles, who trailed Houston’s Arian Foster by 56 yards for the NFL rushing lead, had 87 yards on 14 carries, including a 47-yard burst that was KC’s offensive highlight. He finished the regular season with 1,467 yards.

The Chiefs’ pass protection, good most of the season, began breaking down in the second quarter. Cassel was flagged for intentional grounding and then sacked for an 11-yard loss on the next play by Jarvis Moss.

Campbell got the Raiders going with a 9-yard completion to Zach Miller. On third-and-10 from the Oakland 46, Campbell dumped off to Michael Bush and he turned it into a 16-yard gain. With 7 seconds left in the half, Sebastian Janikowski kicked a 39-yard field goal for a 10-3 lead.

Campbell, after sitting out a series when he apparently hurt his right knee, scrambled 21 yards during a 14-play, 91-yard drive. He hit Jacoby Ford for a 35-yard gain to the 6 and Chaz Schilens was wide open in the end zone for the touchdown pass that gave the Raiders a 7-3 lead.

The Chiefs managed a meager 72 yards in the first half to Oakland’s 192, but Charles broke free for his 47-yard run to the 8. From the 5, Charles went in almost untouched for a 10-10 tie the Raiders erased on their next possession.

Aided by a 15-yard face mask penalty against Jovan Belcher, the Raiders moved 75 yards in nine plays. Bush went over the right side of the defense virtually untouched for a 27-yard touchdown, the first TD rushing the Chiefs allowed at home all season.

The Chiefs took a 3-0 lead on Ryan Succop’s 30-yard field goal after Belcher recovered Darrius Heyward-Bey’s fumble on the Oakland 17 on the Raiders’ first play from scrimmage.

Running low on time today, i’ll be back tomorrow hopefully with some more news.

Posted in 1, Arian Foster, Chaz Schilens, Darren McFadden, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Jacoby Ford, Jarvis Moss, Jason Campbell, Matt Cassel, Michael Huff, Oakland Raiders, raiders-news, Richard Seymour, Ryan Succop, Sebastian Janikowski, Zach MillerComments Off

Oakland Raiders vs. Jacksonville Jaguars: A Plan of Attack For Silver and Black

Oakland Raiders vs. Jacksonville Jaguars: A Plan of Attack For Silver and Black

Posted on 10 December 2010. Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Oakland Raiders are now in Jacksonville set to play the Jaguars with the playoffs on the line. The Raiders are coming off of a major league upset of the San Diego Chargers but are only 2-2 in their last four games.

The Chargers are 3-1 in that same stretch with two of those wins against team that beat the Raiders this year. Add to that the fact that the Jaguars have won their last four games against the Raiders.

But styles and match ups make football games so there is plenty of reason to believe that the Raiders can win this game. 

Turn the page to see why.

Tom Cable’s Schedule

I have been real hard on Tom Cable for his choices at quarterback and on the offensive line this year. I’ve even gone as far as writing an article on wanting Jon “Chucky” Gruden back in Raider Nation.

He’s not an Xs and Os type of guy but Raider owner Al Davis has his coordinators in place for that.

So what is Cable for?

He is a good motivator and has helped change the culture in Raider Nation but that isn’t enough. But the move he just recently made going to Jacksonville has completely won me over.

What did he do?

Cable has the Raiders in meetings at 6:30 in the morning and on the field at 9:45 am. The move will get the Raiders ready for the 10:00 am west coast game time they have on the east coast.

West coast teams are beaten up regularly when they travel east because the bodies of west coast football players just aren’t ready to play football at that time. 

This brilliant move by Cable will help the Raider’s body clocks adjust.

Improved Raider Run Defense Vs Jaguar Run Offense

This is not the same run defense the Jacksonville Jaguars have gauged the last four time they’ve played. The Raider run defense is only ranked No. 23 now but that’s eight spots up from No. 31 earlier this year.

The Raiders only gave up 21 yards on the ground last week against the Chargers. This isn’t to say that the Raider run defense is dominant but definitely isn’t the same one the Jaguars have dominated the last few times they’ve played.

But the Jaguars do have the leagues second leading rusher in Maurice “Pocket Hurceles” Jones-Drew. However, the Jaguars don’t exactly play in a division full of run stuffers

This match up will decide the winner of the game. 

Raider Pass Defense Vs Jaguar Pass Offense

The Raiders have fallen to No. 9 in pass defense after a couple of games without Nnamdi Asomugha. But with Asomugha back in the fold, the Raider pass defense looks to be back on top of their game.

Add to that the fact that the Raiders are No. 1 in the NFL in sacks so far this season. Another ace in the hole is Michael Huff’s ability to play corner when Raider corners opposite Asomugha can’t handle it.

Jaguar quarterback David Gerrard has a 92.3 quarterback rating but pretty much manages the game behind “Pocket Hurcules.” I can’t see him putting the Jaguars on his back and beating the Raiders.

The Jaguars don’t exactly have a top notch receiver for Gerrard to do such a thing. 

Raider Run Offense Vs Jaguar Run Defense

After taking a couple of weeks off, the Raider running game is back in full stride. Last Sunday, the Raiders had over 250 yards rushing in San Diego against the Chargers.

Darren McFadden and Michael Bush were just inches away from rushing for 100 yards a piece. And that was against a Charger team that ranks No. 5 against the run even after the Raider a game like that.

The Jaguars rank No.17 against the run and aren’t nowhere near as physical as the teams that did stop the Raider run. The Raider run defense depends a whole lot how the Raider run offense does.

When the Raiders rush for 150 yards or more, they give up an average of only 55 yards per game. When they run for less than 150 yards, the Raiders give up 159 yards per game.

I guess it’s safe to say that McFadden and Bush have to stop Jones-Drew.

Raider Pass Offense Vs Jaguar Pass Defense

The Seattle Seahawks at No. 30 are the worst pass defense Campbell has faced this year. In that game, Campbell threw for 310 yards, two touchdowns, and a quarterback rating of 120.9.

The Jaguar pass defense isn’t much better than that of the Seahawks at No. 27. I don’t know how many times the Raiders will throw but I expect Cambpell to be efficient as he was against the Chargers, Broncos, Seahawks, and in the second half of the Chiefs.

The common denamenator amongst these team is neither one stopped the Raider running game. Another factor that favors the Raiders is the return of Chaz Schilens with more practice time with Campbell.

How can your passing attack not improve with the return of your best receiver. 

Special Teams

In the kick return department, Deji Kareem is better by a half yard with his average. (24.6-24.1) But I would still take Raider returner Jacoby Ford as he has run two kicks back for touchdowns vs none for Kareem.

Ford is just more likely to make a play.

Ford also has one more return over 40 yards than Kareem with three while he has one less fumble. Neither team is very good at returning punts this year so I’m really not going to go there.

The Raiders are better with field goal kicking and punting with Sebastien Janikowski and Shane Lechler.

Game Plan: Offense

The Jaguars aren’t the most physical defense in the league so it’s time to run again.

That’s what they do.

They really shouldn’t get away from the same game plan I wrote last week that they followed to perfection. They should still take their shots doen the field with Ford, Schilens, and Louis Murphy then look to hit McFadden and Reece underneath.

I hope Miller is healthy so he can get his targets as well.

I also want to see a deep ball to Reece as the mismatch is just to good to resist.

Even though the Jaguars don’t sack the quarterback much, the Raiders should still get Campbell out of the pocket with some designed roll outs just to keep him moving from time to time.

 

Game Plan: Defense

Oakland Raider defensive coordinator John Marshall should keep dialing up blitzes as he has lately. Last week, The Raiders blitzed early then started to get there with four as the Charger’s spirit was already broken.

It’s good to have Chris Johnson back but this week’s game plan should have Huff at corner. I still remember when Johnson first came back from his hamstring injury and was torched over and over.

Johnson should be walked back into it as a nickel or dime corner.

Huff is a better corner when Johnson is healthy anyway. 

Overview

I honestly believe that Sunday’s match up between the Jaguars and the Raiders favors the Raiders. The formula to beat the Raiders is to be big and physical up front on defense.

That way, you can stuff the run and force third and very long.

Then you pin your ears back and rush the passer.

The Jaguars just aren’t that type of team.

But they are physical on offense so that’s where they are a threat.

However, the Jaguars don’t have the defense to be able to just run the whole time. The Raiders have too many match ups that favor them on offense and I look for Jackson to look for them all. 

Don’t be surprised if the Raiders win big on Sunday.

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