The Oakland Raiders will have their ninth straight blacked out home game because it failed to sell out by Thursday’s deadline.
Oakland’s last televised home game was the 2009 opener. Since 1995, the Silver & Black have had 78 of 122 games blacked out for local residents.
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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist
The high-powered Houston Texans offense (2-1) and the third ranked Oakland Raiders (1-2) defense will meet on Sunday at the Oakland Coliseum. Last weekend, the Raiders failed to come away with a road victory after Sebastian Janikowski missed three field goals, including one as time expired that would have given them the win. Houston lost 27-13 at home against the Dallas Cowboys.
OAKLAND RAIDERS
On Offense:
Michael Bush will get more involved this weekend after Tom Cable got his feet wet on the road with 3-carries for 13-yards. The thumb passed the first test against Arizona, and now the Raiders can use both of their young rushers as they expected in the summer. Darren McFadden has taken advantage of Bush’s absence, becoming a productive every-down rusher with 345-rushing yards (4.7 per carry) in his first three contests.
Louis Murphy, who leads the Raiders with 15-receptions for 238 receiving yards, was back on the practice field on Thursday, but they are concerns about his injured clavicle. With Chaz Schilens still out and not looking to back anytime soon, the Raiders needs a healthy Murphy. Murphy and Darrius Heyward-Bey have combined for 25-of-the-28 catches made by wide receivers this season.
Robert Gallery (hamstring) is expected to be inactive again.
What to Expect:
The Texans rank second in the NFL versus the run, allowing a measly 54.3 yards per game. Oakland would like to keep McFadden rolling and merge Bush into the attack as well to give them a powerful ground game. With Gallery likely out and the Texans playing sold run defense (teams are attacking their weak secondary), the Raiders may try to spread the ball around and use McFadden more as a wide receiver, especially if Murphy is not in tip-top form. Houston on the other hand allows a NFL worst 368.7 passing yards per game. So Bruce Gradkowski may have to pass and connect often if Oakland wants to put up points. With shaky tackle play and Mario Williams (4-sacks) on the other side, this could be a long day on offense for Oakland.
On Defense:
Nnamdi Asomugha shut down Larry Fitzgerald last week. But now, he faces another top target in Andre Johnson. Even though the Miami product has a bum ankle, he is expected to play and face the top cornerback in the league. “He’s a great player, arguably the best cornerback in the game,’’ Johnson said. “He doesn’t really have many balls thrown his way. It’s not shocking to see that.’’
Oakland’s pass defense ranks 2nd in the NFL (127.7 yards allowed per game). Their run defense is not as tight, allowing a hefty 133.0 yards per game (24th in the NFL).
They will need big efforts from Richard Seymour at the line of scrimmage and John Henderson, who was inactive last weekend against the Cardinals.
One of their tackles realize the importance of staying stout and staying consistent, especially when they face a rusher like Arian Foster and a high powered attack like Houston.
“We’ve got to play more attention to detail, a little more focus on every snap,” Tommy Kelly said. “We’re really good, stop, stop, stop – then they pop one. That’s frustrating.”
What to Expect:
How many times the Raiders blitz and how they try to contain Foster will be the key. Oakland cannot expose their secondary against Matt Schaub, who can pick apart any defense, so getting a four-man rush is imperative for John Marshall’s group. If they can’t get to Schaub with four-down linemen, then Oakland’s defense will be un-balanced and allow big yardage on Sunday. Foster likes to cut back and find creases in Houston’s zone-blocking system. This is a contest in which the Raider defensive tackles must stuff their gaps and the linebackers must stay disciplined.
HOUSTON TEXANS
Steve Slaton stuffed by the Raiders defense
On Offense:
Foster leads the NFL with 406-rushing yards and was named the AFC’s offensive player of the month.
Houston feels confident they can continue to roll with their hot-rusher, but can they protect their passer and get that aspect of the club going against a tough Raider secondary?
Schaub has been sacked 11-times this season – seconds most in the NFL. “We’ve got 11 sacks, way too damn many,” Texans coach Gary Kubiak said, per the Associated Press. “I don’t care whose fault it is — mine, Matt’s, the O-line. We’ve got to fix it. We’ve got way too many.”
And if Johnson does not go, they have to find ways to get the football to Kevin Walter, Jacoby Jones and Owen Daniels.
“This team poses matchup problems for us,” Kubiak stated. “I think they’re third in defense in the league right now. They’ve got a great corner so obviously they can cause us problems.”
What to Expect:
A heavy workload for Foster will be in order. Oakland can be susceptible to the run and if Johnson can’t go, they will need a balanced attack against a front-four that has a few pass rushing threats.
On Defense:
Mario Williams could give Mario Henderson nightmares. The struggling Oakland left tackle, who could lose his job to rookie Jared Veldheer, talked about the versatile defensive end, stating, “Normally guys his size don’t have that much speed and quickness, and that’s the thing that makes him different from almost every guy in the league is the fact that most guys that are tall like him are kind of slow, but he’s extremely quick and has very long arms. He knows how to use all three, size speed and quickness.”
With a run defense that has not been tested, the spotlight is on the Texans secondary and how will they fare against a Raider aerial attack that isn’t that explosive, but has shown signs of life in recent weeks. Kareem Jackson is a player who has to step it up and he knows it.
“I’m going to have to go through adversity sometimes and unfortunately, now is that time for me,” said Houston’s first-round pick from Alabama. “I think I just need to go out this week and have a good weekend and just apply everything in practice to the game. I think I’ll be able to bounce back.”
“This guy has the benefit of playing corner as a rookie,” Asomugha said of the youngster. “He’s going to be able to improve a lot sooner than I was able to.”
What to Expect:
The Texans come into the contest boasting about a solid run defense. So they’ll lean on that and hope to apply a lot of pressure on Gradkowski to help out a struggling secondary. If Williams and the front-seven get to Oakland’s passer consistently, this could be a cakewalk for the Texans.
GAME NOTES
KEY MATCH-UPS
How will the Raiders attack the Texans D?
Will they go with a heavy dosage of Bush and McFadden, or try to take advantage of a struggling Texans secondary with a spread offense? Bruce Gradkowski needs to be turnover free.
Can Oakland sow down Arian Foster?
If the Raiders can contain him, they can play freely versus the pass and try to get to Schaub.
PREDICTION
Texans 27 – Raiders 16
GAME INFO
Sunday, October 3, 2010 4:05 p.m. ET | Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, California
Road Team: Hosuton Texans (2-1) Home: 1-1 Road: 0-1
Home Team: Oakland Raiders (1-2) Home: 1-0 Road: 0-2
BROADCAST INFORMATION (cited from the official Oakland Raiders web site)
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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist
Nnamdi Asomugha has had his way with Andre Johnson
Houston Texans head coach Gary Kubiak confirmed Wednesday that star wide-out Andre Johnson would be a game time decision for Sunday’s match-up against the Oakland Raiders.
“I’m sure it’ll be a game-time decision,” said Kubiak. He added that Johnson is “sore,” and functioning as he did last week prior to their game.
Kubiak also talked about the Raiders and cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, stating, “This team poses matchup problems for us. I think they’re third in defense in the league right now. They’ve got a great corner, so obviously they can cause us problems.”
In Oakland’s last three contest against the Texans, Asomugha has held Johnson to five catches for 94-yards and no scores.
“I think he looked forward to it, prepared himself and I think the outcome showed that,” coach Tom Cable said about Asomugha’s match-up versus Larry Fitzgerald last week. “As we get ready to go with Houston now and Andre Johnson coming in here, then we’ll talk about that. But you’ve got to take your hat off to him.”
Kubiak is not looking past the Raiders and he will be relaying to his club that regardless of their 1-2 record, Oakland is a club that is playing a lot better than their record indicates.
“I think there’s two teams in this league that are in the top 10 offensively and defensively and they’re one of them,” Kubiak said. “That tells you how balanced they are and how well they’re playing.”
Langston Walker practiced on Wednesday, but had his right elbow wrapped. After the game in Arizona, I observed the right tackle getting his hand and elbow checked by a trainer.
Robert Gallery, Chaz Schilens and Richard Seymour were not at practice. WR Louis Murphy, CB Walter McFadden and S Hiram Eugene did not practice.
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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist
Three weeks into the NFL season and there is no denying who is the best cornerback in the league. That distinction belongs to the Oakland Raiders Nnamdi Asomugha.
Darrelle Revis and his New York Jets captured headlines all off-season and during the pre-season. Their vocal coach proclaimed Revis not just the best defensive back in the league, but the best defensive player around.
A television show and divisive hold out later, Revis supporters would have thought that their guy would have been head and shoulders above the rest.
This is the same Revis that was heralded after match-ups against Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Andre Johnson, Steve Smith, Marques Colston and Chad Ochocinco. This after a fabulous performance in 2009 that catapulted him to notoriety, and was capped by a playoff run where he shined and his club was one win from the Super Bowl.
But that was one season.
Revis wanted ‘Asomugha type’ money for 2010. He missed four pre-season games and caused an uproar all summer before landing a deal reportedly worth $46 million, including $32 million guaranteed.
He got his money, but he also got smoked by the receiver he called a ‘slouch.’ Former Raiders and now New England Patriot Randy Moss hauled in a 34-yard touchdown grab against Revis this season. And after the play, the cornerback who was touted as the best and was spirited about getting top billing at his position was grabbing his hamstring in pain.
As he sits now and watches from the sideline, maybe he can get a better perspective at the cornerback in Oakland that has a résumé dating back to 2006.
Asomugha tallied eight interceptions that year during a break out campaign. From 2007 through 2009, he has been a Pro Bowl selection. But more importantly, at the start of the 2010 season, he has proven again to be the ultimate defender at corner in the NFL.
Last weekend, against arguably the biggest threat the league has at wide receiver – Larry Fitzgerald – Asomugha allowed one reception. The other lone catch Fitzgerald had during that contest wasn’t even against Asomugha.
“To me, it wasn’t good enough because he did get the catch,” Asomugha said. “That’s what upset me. (But) then against a guy like Larry, that can happen. A guy like that comes around once a decade.”
New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan
Oakland coaches won’t get in front of a microphone and spout of bravado regarding their defender. Nor will you see a player in Oakland get as much coverage as a hold out in New York City.
But at this point, it is clear who the top cornerback in the league is. And there was a reason why Revis wanted ‘Asomugha type’ money…
He wants what Asomugha has – and everything that comes with it.
Being recognized the best overall cornerback in the league.
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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist
Against the St. Louis Rams, the Oakland Raiders tallied 25-first downs, 404-total yards of offense and controlled the clock with 36:39 of possession.
On Sunday versus Arizona, they posted 20-first half points, 364 more yards of total offense and led the time of possession again with 32:58.
Obviously, these are not the same Raiders that sputtered and struggled to get any consistency on offense the last few campaigns. Taking the game planning and play calling duties away from Tom Cable and delegating that to Hue Jackson has helped out. But competency at quarterback is one of the larger reasons why this team actually has a chance to take the field late in a game down by a score and feel like they can win.
“We’re no longer soft or not tough or can’t come from behind, whatever that is. Hell, we spotted them a touchdown and answered it right away and kept on playing. I like the mentality of our team a ton,” Cable stated.
Oakland chased the Cardinals all day. And they put themselves in a situation with their offense to tally a key road victory – something unimaginable under Cable and a certain number one overall pick recently.
Bruce Gradkowski is a major reason why this team believes they can produce and why those around him play at a higher level.
“You know, your going to have games where you make mistakes and things don’t go your way, but we fought to the very end,” stated the fiery passer.
And that fight has translated onto the team playing at a different level when he’s under center. Recent editions of this Raider offense would have folded in many spots encountered the last two weeks. But this group looks and feels different.
Darrius Heyward-Bey has 9-receptions for 129-yards the last two weeks. This past Sunday, Oakland looked for him in key spots near the goal line and throughout the contest, to the tune of 11 attempts. He drew key penalties on Arizona defenders and has become a legitimate threat after miserable rookie debut.
“I’m proud of Darrius. He’s a fighter, a warrior and he keeps getting after it. And I have all the confidence in the world to throw it to him,” stated Gradkowski when I asked him in Arizona about the targets development.
“You saw on that goal line I went after him a couple of times – all in a row. I know he’s going to make a play.”
Talking about play near the goal line; there is where Oakland needs to start cashing in. The offense currently ranks 10th in yards per contest and 5th in time of possession in the NFL, but tied for 22nd for points per game.
Ironically they are tied for the most trips inside the red-zone, but hitting paydirt has been an ordeal, as Oakland has the third worst percentage in the league punching the football into the end-zone.
“We’ve got to be able to score touchdowns in the red zone like that,” tight end Zach Miller said. “That’s what we’ve got to keep working on. We’re definitely doing things to try to get match-ups and that sort of thing in the red zone and call a few more plays where the ball was going to me. I liked our play calls. A lot of times we just didn’t execute.”
Jackson’s bunch has been inefficient in spots, but they look light years ahead of the group that took the field last season.
Louis Murphy has 15-catches for 238-yards and a score. Darren McFadden has the third most rushing yards in the league. Miller is looking like a pro-bowl tight end. Now imagine if they didn’t have a faulty offensive line. And if they had a healthy Michael Bush to complement McFadden.
Gradkowski stated on Sunday, “We had plays out there that we need to make, and we can make and that’s just what we have to get better at.”
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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist
George Blanda, who played 26-seasons (1949-’75), the most of anyone in pro football history, died Monday at age 83.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of the great George Blanda,” the Oakland Raiders stated in a release. “George was a brave Raider and a close personal friend of Raiders owner Al Davis.”
At his retirement, Blanda was a month shy of his 49th birthday before the start of the 1976 campaign. Blanda played 10-years with the Chicago Bears, had a slight stint with the Baltimore Colts, seven campaigns with the Houston Oilers and his final nine with the Silver & Black.
“Football lost one of it’s all-time greats,” Hall of Fame coach John Madden commented. “He was the best competitor and clutchest player that I ever coached and I don’t know if there was anyone better that anyone else coached. George Blanda was a Hall of Famer in every way.”
Jon Becker took a look back at Blanda’s miracle 1970 season – a five-week stretch of heroics that added to his lore:
http://www.ibabuzz.com/oaklandraiders/2010/09/27/a-look-back-at-george-blandas-miracle-1970-season/
Jerry McDonald remembered Blanda on his blog, with some links about the historic figure:
http://www.ibabuzz.com/oaklandraiders/2010/09/28/bye-george/
“George Blanda will always be remembered as a legend of our game,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement, “including his amazing career longevity of 26 seasons in four different decades. George’s multi-talented flair for the dramatic highlighted the excitement of pro football during an important period of growth for our sport.”
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GLENDALE, Ariz. – Oakland Raiders defensive lineman Richard Seymour talks about the 24-23 defeat in Arizona against the Cardinals. Click on the link to load the locker room audio:
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GLENDALE, Ariz. – As soon as the fourth quarter began, the Oakland Raiders picked up a first down with a Darren McFadden 7-yard run on 3rd and 2. A few plays later though, Bruce Gradkowski fumbled during his throwing motion and Marcel Reece bobbled the ball out of bounds for a loss of 14-yards. Oakland punted after not converting on a 3rd and 28, but they got a break when the football bounced off wide receiver Andre Roberts and Quentin Groves recovered the fumble at Arizona’s 16-yard line.
Oakland then was the beneficiary of Cardinal penalties.
On 3rd and 10, Gradkowski tossed an incompletion to Zach Miller in the end zone, but Michael Adams was flagged for holding against Louis Murphy, extending the Raider drive. Then a few plays later, Greg Toler drew a flag after interfering with Darrius Heyward-Bey in the end zone, setting Oakland up at the 1-yard line.
The Raiders could not punch it in with Michael Bush, were flagged for delay of game and back-to-back incompletions to Heyward-Bey led to a Sebastian Janikowski field goal from 23-yards out to make it a 24-23 contest, in favor of the Cardinals.
Arizona began the ensuing drive with a false start by Lyle Sendlein with 7:50 remaining on the game clock.
Their drive took a nose-dive after Beanie Wells was flagged for a facemask penalty on Tyvon Branch as he attempted a stiff-arm. Arizona punted after not converting on a 3rd and 21 and Oakland took over at the 6:20 mark.
Gradkowski attempted to break the pocket on 1st and 10 and only gained one yard. On 2nd and 9, he completed a 25-yard toss to Louis Murphy – that was challenged by Ken Whisenhunt – and McFadden followed that with a gain of 5.
McFadden ran for 4 more yards on 2nd and 5 and on 3rd and 1; Mario Henderson was flagged for a false start.
Facing a 3rd and 6, Gradkowski’s pass to Zach Miller was broken up and play was stopped with 4:36 remaining.
Sebastian Janikowski attempted a 58-yard field goal attempt, which had the distance, but was wide right.
Arizona with great field position decided to start milking the clock with Tim Hightower and Steve Breaston rushes that combined for 5-yards. After Oakland called a time out with 3:44 left, facing a 3rd and 5, Breaston dropped a pass tossed slightly behind him, giving Oakland another possession after the punt.
With 3:33 remaining, Oakland began their drive at the 20-yard line.
Oakland faced a 3rd and 9, but converted with a Miller 15-yard reception. McFadden ran for 1-yard before the 2-minute warning.
Gradkowski was pressured into bad throws and on 4th and 10, he found Heyward-Bey for a 12-yard gain with 1:02 left.
On the next play, Dominique Rogers-Cromartie was flagged for pass interference on Heyward-Bey, giving Oakland the ball at the Cardinal 13-yard line [39-yards on play].
McFadden loss 4-yards on the following run and on 2nd and 14 with 49 seconds left, the former Arkansas star gained 3.
Oakland milked the clock and called a time out with 4 seconds left.
Janikowski missed a 32-yard field goal as time expired.
FINAL SCORE: Cardinals 24 – Raiders 23
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GLENDALE, Ariz. – The Oakland Raiders started the second half with the ball and the lead, but could not capitalize, going three and out on their first possession. On 3rd and 4, Bruce Gradkowski could not connect with Zach Miller – ending the opening drive of the third quarter.
Lamarr Houston was called for a neutral zone infraction on the first play of Arizona’s drive, but his rookie-mate Rolando McClain darted through the line of scrimmage to take down Beanie Wells for a loss of 3 on the following play. Matt Shaughnessy sacked Dreke Anderson a few plays later but on 3rd and 16, Larry Fitzgerald enjoyed his first success against Nnamdi Asomugha with a gain of 18 on a slant. On 3rd and 9 at the 8:36 mark, Richard Seymour stuffed the drive with a sack of Anderson.
Oakland began their next drive at the 11-yard line.
After Darren McFadden tallied 6-yards on 2 carries, Louis Murphy gave Oakland a spark on 3rd and 4. The second year wide receiver wrestled a short pass away from cornerback Michael Adams and then bolted 70-yards to the Arizona 13-yard line. Mario Henderson’s holding infraction on the ensuing play thwarted the drive, which eventually resulted in a Sebastian Janikowski missed field goal from 41-yards out.
The Cardinals went to work on the ground with Beanie Wells after Ben Patrick started the drive with an 8-yard catch. Wells ran for 15-yards on three plays before Steve Breaston hauled in a catch for 25-yards and Tim Hightower’s 13-yard run to the Oakland 8-yard line. Then, Larry Fitzgerald gave Arizona a 24-20 lead with an 8-yard touchdown reception against the Raiders’ confused zone defense.
With 1:01 remaining, Jacoby Ford took a knee in the end zone during the kickoff.
Oakland ended the 3rd quarter with a screen to Marcel Reece for 7-yards and a run by McFadden for 2-yards.
SCORE: CARDINALS 24 – RAIDERS 20
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GLENDALE, Ariz. – The Arizona Cardinals opened the 2nd quarter featuring running back Beanie Wells on runs of 12 and 6-yards. On 3rd and goal, Derek Anderson connected with Steve Breaston for 2-yards to give the Cardinals a 17-13 lead over the Oakland Raiders.
Jacoby Ford returns the ensuing kickoff 21-yards to the Oakland 23-yard line.
Oakland then ran the ball with Darren McFadden for 3-yards, completed a toss to Louis Murphy for 12-yards and attempted some trickery with a McFadden lateral after handoff, back to Bruce Gradkowski that wound up as a 7-yard loss. On 3rd and 14, Oakland’s passer connected with Darrius Heyward-Bey for 21-yards, but the drive stalled with a Michael Bush run for negative yards, an incompletion in the end zone to Murphy and a sack recorded by linebacker Paris Lenon.
The Raiders pinned the Cardinals deep in their own territory after a Shane Lechler punt and solid coverage. Arizona’s drive was brief, ending in an incompletion to Larry Fitzgerald, who was blanketed by Nnamdi Asomugha on a 3rd and 9.
Oakland started at the Arizona 42-yard line with 4:24 left in the 2nd quarter.
But that drive lasted one play when Lenon picked off Gradkowski, on a deflected pass intended for Heyward-Bey.
The Raider returned the favor four plays later when Anderson attempted a shuffle pass to Tim Hightower that rebounded into the hands of linebacker Quentin Groves.
Oakland then ran the ball with McFadden for 6-yards and completed a short toss to Zach Miller for 6-yards before the 2-minute warning.
At that point, McFadden took over, running for 33-yards, gaining 3-yards on another run, before hauling in a screen for 18-yards and finally scoring on a 2-yard run to give Oakland a 20-17 lead with ten seconds remaining in the 2nd quarter.
SCORE AT HALFTIME: OAKLAND 20 – ARIZONA 17
KEY STATS:
Darren McFadden – 11 car. for 74-yards and 1 TD; 1 rec. for 18-yards
Zach Miller – 3 rec. for 49-yards and 1 TD
FIRST DOWNS
OAK 12 - ARZ 12
TOTAL YARDS
OAK 206 – ARZ 130
PASSING YARDS
OAK 120 – ARZ 56
PENALTIES
OAK 5 (89) – ARZ 2 (30)
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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist
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