Oakland Raiders Defense: Blueprint: SD Chargers

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.

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.