Since it's regularly early in the year, and the schedules have been release, I'm going to take a look at the Raiders' games coming up in the season. The first installments of this series, will detail the Division foes, simply, we play these guys twice, so we get a more familiar feel, dealing with the issues.
Our first candidate, is the San Diego Chargers.
San Diego, for it's record, it's reputation, and it's strengths, is one obstacle that has to be overcome, if we're ever to get back to respectability.
The biggest problem to this end, is the one named LT.
Game in and Game out, he has run roughshod over, around, and through our line, and for the life of me, there hasn't been many solutions that have worked.
Last year, in the first game, he ran for 198 yards, and 4 TDs.
He also has had games of 243, 140, 104, 109, 131, 164, 187, and 153.
I won't add up all the TD's he's scored.
But, there are ways to stop him.
The first method, is simply filling the box. 9 men tight formation, so nothing goes through.
The disadvantage to this idea, is that it opens up a TE like Gates having a good day, or, if a WR gets deep, you put a lot of money on your CBs.
Thankfully, we now have two of the best at CB.
The Second method, is using 3 or 4 man blitzes. This is a page from the old LA Raiders game plan, in the 1983 season. basically, you rush everyone, 2 on the QB, 2 on the RB, and everyone meets in the middle. Again, only works if the CBs are solid, otherwise a fast pass will kill you. There's also the risk, if everyone penetrates the line, that LT could run past the tacklers, and get into the flats....trouble time.
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The third option, would simply be a stonewall effect. typically on a 4-3 set, you simply run everyone forward, and make it so there's no holes anywhere. Then, if he bounces to the outside, and is committed to the run, you have the safety and CB come forward.
Only risk, then comes from the air. If he hasn't hit the line of scrimmage, he can still throw it, either short for a first, or go deep for a TD.
Primary method, I can see, would be, is play the box. It'll force the Chargers to beat you via the air, and if you put Rivers on his back 2 or 3 times a Quarter, it'll rattle him.
Also works if you have 2 or 3 picks in a game, killing potential drives.
Second weapon, is the air game. Right now, the Chargers aren't packing Randy Moss, but they have Chambers, who has some speed. Just not very good hands.
They also have Vincent Jackson, who, for a WR has 41 receptions. But looking at the numbers, they aren't showstoppers. It's still apparent this club lives and dies by LT's rushing. You close him up, the offense will be hard pressed to carry themselves to the goal.
Solution: We got the CBs to remove this threat, leaving proper numbers to go head to head with their sprinters. The key, is not getting lazy, out in the flats, and playing smart football.
Passing: Here's the bread and butter for the offense. Rivers, isn't Dan Fouts. He also isn't Steve Young. Last season, he coughed up 6 fumbles. His Rating is around the middle half of starters, behind guys like Derek Anderson of Cleveland. If you really want to know how bad it is, Chad Pennington had a better Rating, in only 9 games. Again, a lot of the bells and whistles aside, what drives this offense, is LT.
How you negate this, is remove him from the comfort zone. Blitzes, different looks, and above all, don't give him a chance to fix a mistake. If he fumbles, recover it, and if he's sacked on the left, take and go at him from the right too.
If all else fails, let him go to the sidelines groggy, a face mask full of turf, and a Black Hole full of happy fans.
Kicking-Special teams: Ah, no, we didn't forget about these positions. Kaeding, to his credit, only missed 3 FGs all year. and his XPs is deadly, only one miss in 208 tries. However, the further back you push him, the less he's likely to make it....but that's true for all kickers. Best thing to hope for, is putting the big guys up front, and trying to get elevated to stop a kick. Too bad we can't get Ted Hendricks in for special teams again. But I digress.
Punting, for this club, is handled by Mike Scifres. Good stats, talented numbers, Had his first one blocked last year. He's also been punting more, 81 times, against 69 the previous season.
Just as a fun thought, sneak someone with speed in on special teams, give him a slant to the side, and let him go full bore towards the ball. Might make it, might not....but won't know, until tried.
I'd say, a lot will tell when we play in Oakland early in the season. It'll also tell us, what we need to improve on, if we lose, and by how much.
Personally...I'd love a split on the season.
Coming up: Denver.
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2 months ago
Well LT runs over people LB too so hopefully DMac can do the same LT is a back that is hard to drop and every team needs a back like that
from 2 months ago
True John. With the possibility, maybe with McFadden, we can play AFL-style play. Lots of offense, no defense.
Trick is, having the ball, scoring, and no time left on the clock.
2 months ago
With the way things are now I'm hoping we have a solid offensive year. McFadden will get alot of attention from Safeties and LB's. Javon Walker will generate more attention then Jerry Porter. Ronald Curry is still a SOLID catching receiver along with the speed of Higgins and new Raider Drew Carter we should keep Defense's thinking. Not to mention Fargas if he's in a 2back set with DMC. Can't forget Zach Miller who showed he's talented making good plays on a horrible passing team last year. When you take all that into consideration along with a line that should improve some more after another year under the blocking scheme and more talented weapons which will keep them from blocking for too long we should be ALOT better. Like 'Raider Card' finished mentioning, having the ball, scoring and leaving little/no time on the clock will our backbone. The last few years we've seen our defense just get dogged due to the amount of time on the field. Go RAIDERS! See fellow Raiders fans at the August 8th Pre-Season game against the 49ers!!!!
2 months ago
Excellent analysis...except for the split part. I'm wishing Walker hadn't gone to Vegas and it could cost us a couple of game because he did. I'm hoping Terry Glen can't come to terms with the Cowboys and we get a shot at him. If Walker was 100 percent I'd say we win both San Diego Games, without the deep ball threat, our running backs take a pounding from the extra guy available on the line. So lets all pray Walker is 100 percent and Glen is picked up anyway. No wanting to waste a wish, I want the 32nd pick in next years draft too!
2 months ago
Typical Raider team. Miscast talent under little direction. Russel will be over his head with such mistrusted leadership. No accountability=NoTrust=Lose Baby.
from 2 months ago
Typical Bronco thought=raiders can't win, pointless to try, yadda yadda.
One little typo there, Nick.
Who killed your team, in Oakland?
Yep, the Raiders.
I could roll out the numbers, but one would wonder if your reading skills are impaired, that your math skills are much better.
As for Leadership, ask Cutler what he's going to do next year, after Bowlan fires shanahan?
Oh, sorry, I went off topic, just like you.
2 months ago
You'll get a couple wins here or there. But I am very confident that this Raider team lacks the right focus on top to have any sustained success. I am certain you don't want to engage in a debate regarding Shanahan's tenure, do you?
from 2 months ago
Wouldn't hurt. After all, Let's look at Shanahan's record in Denver, and compare it, say, to Tom Flores or John Madden.
Flores had to deal with the change from Stabler, to Plunket, to Wilson, while Shanahan's gone through 4 QBs....and even you would have to see that Elway's last year, was more Davis's action than an Elway job.
Shanahan, owns a record that is at the 60 percent level, .605.
Now, on the same numbers, that's 15 years, counting his stop in LA, as well.
Tom Flores, it could also be said, had a bookend to his career, when he tried to be a head coach in Seattle.
And needless to say, the results weren't great...If you don't count his two years with the seahawks, Flores win percentage is over 70....with it, you're at .527.
Both have 2 wins in the Super Bowl.....Shanahan's, both came in the late 90s, Flores, in 1980 and 1983.
thing is, if you look at Elway's stats....all those 4th quarter comebacks....they didn't help him on the biggest stage, did they?
It wasn't until the team was built up around Elway, did they finally get to the promised land.
Same issue, is playing out in Denver. Only problem is, after the failures of Cutler, Plummer, and Griese, what do you think the problem is? Playing the Colts?
Somewhere, you guys need a RB, with some staying power....a reliable WR in the form of Rod Smith....and you need a line that's not going to break down....that was last year's achillie's heel.
After all, if you can't protect the QB, he can't throw it, right?
Lastly, and most importantly, the Denver Broncos were around a lot longer than Shanahan's tenure. Just because you don't like to mention it, doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
I'm like the ghost of christmas past.....here to show you what you've forgotten, in the present.
2 months ago
Nice try I guess. I am not really sure what argument you are making. It's all over the place. Tough to respond to such scrambled thinking. Try again.
from 2 months ago
Lots of garbage on shanahan to nitpick on.
You could look at his record, the players he's used, his style of play, even his habit of recycling Runningbacks....almost like he's trading cards.
You could debate he hates Al Davis....that would put him into a category with maybe 12-15 coaches, a few non-coaches, and owners.
You could also put him into the category, or playoff faders, similar to John Madden I felt was a great coach, but had a problem, both teamwise, and official-wise, and in 10 years, got to the superbowl once, winning it all.
Shanahan, has made the playoffs a lot, 7 times with the broncos. In two years, they won it all, but in the other 5, they won only one playoff game.
Also, they missed the playoffs in 6 seasons. A lot more than Madden did, so there goes that comparison.
All said and done, what do you want me to compare to Shanahan? I just don't see what's so spetactular about this guy.
from 2 months ago
Blah blah. Recycled running backs? Denver's running game has been in the top ten every season but one in Shanahans 13 seasons in Denver. HE's done it better than anyone and he's done it cheaper than anyone. That's called a legacy. His winning percentage is elite in that time span as well. 2 super Bowls also makes him elite, if he coaches another 10 years at this pace, he'll be one of the greatest coaches of all-time.
from 2 months ago
Blah blah. Shanahan's eliteness has faded, since the super bowl years, how many playoff wins has he had? 1?
The biggest knock on Art Shell, was he wanted to stay with his old-school, old-system of learning.
And you saw where it got him, right?
Shanahan's biggest problem, is if things go wrong, they don't fire the right people. In the Broncos, they've fired everyone, except the Head Coach.
Do you remember when Bowlan sided with Elway, to get rid of Reeves? Elway isn't there anymore, to save Shanahan's job.
And Reeves, he went to how many super bowls?
Owners don't have a lot of paitence, to wait around for Shanahan's rookies to pan out.
Considering Shanahan himself felt that Brian Griese was going to be the next golden boy.
Lastly, if 2 super bowl titles makes you Elite, great....then Tom Flores should be inducted into the Hall of Fame, too.
from 2 months ago
I think there is some truth here Card. However, you must consider who the Broncos owner is. Do your homework on that and get back to me. I do think Shanny has made a lot of bad decisions both in personell and staff, but that's not to say anything about his system which is just beggining in it's evolutionary germination across the league. It's should be the prototyope for every team and is an incredible aspect of the business model. Think about it Card, the production to cost ratio is amazing. It's cheap both on the line and in the backfield and it's elite production.
from 2 months ago
A major problem I see, in Denver, Nick, is the formula that worked before, is not there now.
During the last year, they had the dominant Running Back, even stronger than anyone else could imagine. You had Smith, who was still a surprising threat, for being undrafted. You had Sharpe, who was a great find, and stayed around a long time....granted, he left later too. You had the Elway factor, who was determined for one last win, a capstone to his football career.
Then, you'd have to look at the coaches, then, and now. Anything that Shanahan did, was considered a bold and creative move. The previous season, they had knocked out the Packers, and now were going to back to back titles. Now, Shanahan's had a revolving door in several positions, sometimes due to jobs opening elsewhere, sometimes, due to conflicts of interest. It doesn't make the Head Coach's job easier....but it begs the question, after all this, do you think Shanahan has the components to do it again, or, does he even know what he'll need, in this day and age?
2 months ago
The Raiders need to win the time of possesion game in my opinion if they want to beat the Chargers. Keep LT off the field for as long as possible. But, can the Raiders O-line step up and give Russell time and open up holes for McFadden to sustain drives?
from 2 months ago
Brian, last year, we cut down the number of sacks, and held the pocket long enough to get several runningbacks gain good yardage. Fargas had over 1000 yards, and that was off a short year.
McFadden, by his own right, is going to become a nice fit, just because he can create.
Russell, as well, I think will be coming into his own. Last year, he was behind the curve, due to his late arrival, plus there wasn't a good position for him to fit into. Now that he's gotten his feet wet, It'll be a better run. Might also consider that he's in essence, getting his firs Preseason training alongside the future....it'll be fun to watch.
from 2 months ago
Good points Raider Card. It will be very interesting to see how Russell performs now that he will get a full training camp and preseason in. Russell definitely has the talent to have some big games this season for sure.
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