Silver and Black Report

It seems like every year the Oakland Raiders (2-6) hit rock bottom.

Well, sometimes, there are a few instances during a season that Raider fans point to as the final straw. 

Today in Oakland, the first – and what fans hope is the only – of those moments occurred, as the Atlanta Falcons dismantled the Silver Black 24-0.

The abysmal display put forth by Tom Cable’s bunch was painful to watch. And in comparison to a team that went 4-12 last season, had to deal with the Bobby Petrino fiasco, the Michael Vick scandal and that is starting a rookie quarterback with the burden of turning the page on a disastrous 2007, the Falcons appeared light years ahead of the Raiders in their effort to rebuild, reload and turn themselves into a functional football organization.

On the field, the Raiders were manhandled and the numbers throughout the game nauseated even in the most optimistic die-hard.

After the first quarter, the Falcons had a 14-0 lead, compiling 12 first downs, 180 total yards (81 on the ground), and a 12:19 to 2:41 time of possession advantage.

Oh, it gets worst.

At the half, Oakland was down 24-0 and Atlanta had a 20-0 lead in first downs converted. They had amassed 319 total yards of offense as oppose to the negative 2 yards posted by the Raiders. Ryan led them to 184 passing yards and Michael Turner paced them towards a 135 rushing effort. In total, 48 plays of total dominance, in comparison to Oakland’s 13 meager plays.

Oakland did not get their initial first down till the 9:26 mark of the 3^rd quarter.

And at that point, did it matter?

If the Raiders wanted to go out with a bang, they could’ve just gone the whole game without any pulse and it wouldn’t have mattered for the dejected fans that had to sit through that thrashing.

What was most disappointing was the disparity of play between the youthful quarterbacks tabbed to carry these clubs in the coming years.

Ryan appeared poised, making the right audibles at the line of scrimmage which helped the Falcons move the chains, directing his team effortlessly while showing great accuracy in total control of his team in his 17-of-22 for 220 yards and 2 touchdown effort.

In contrast, JaMarcus Russell ran for his life, looked tentative, indecisive and appeared to be the passer with the lesser of experience and upside during his 6-of-19 for 31 yards and 1 interception performance.

It didn’t help that Russell’s tackles couldn’t protect him from a terrorizing John Abraham, who tallied three sacks against Kwame Harris and Cornell Green. But Russell at times couldn’t even pump fake without losing his grip on the football or hit streaking targets when they were open down the field.

Atlanta even found ways to haunt former teammate DeAngelo Hall, who boasted before the game how he taught Falcon receivers a thing or two, and they in turn, returned the favor by torching the cornerback on the game’s opening score and throughout the afternoon.

The Raiders were bad today. Historically horrid!

During this six-year stretch of misery, you can make the case that this has been the worst they have looked at home.

Raider fans hope it doesn’t get any worse. Heck, after today, it would take some inhumane humiliation to surpass the level of embarrassment achieved today.

GAME STATS

                                                   ATLANTA                           OAKLAND

1^st downs                                      30                                             3

3^rd down conversions                  9-17                                        1-9        

4^th down conversions                     1-2                                        0-1

Total Yards                                    453                                         77

Passing                                            201                                        10

Rushing                                           252                                         67

Penalties                                         4-40                                        7-55

Turnovers                                        1                                                2

Time of Possession                      45:15                                            14:45

 GAME NOTES

 

• Oakland couldn’t even unveil their version of the ‘wildcat’ formation. In the 2^nd quarter, Ronald Curry was lined up at quarterback, but a false start penalty on Robert Gallery nixed that surprise play.
• The lone positive before the half was Gerard Warren’s strip of Ryan, and Kalimba Edwards fumble recovery with 16 second remaining, which ended their drive at the Raiders 16 yard line.
• Russell did show some moxy, going down with the sinking ship with some fight, especially after bruising his left ankle in the second half. The Raider passer appeared more comfortable when he was let loose and finally showed some decisiveness with his mobility, taking off twice on runs of 22 and 24 yards.
• Derrick Burgess and Darren Mcfadden were notables on the inactive list.
• The victory was the first ever for the Falcons in Oakland, as their road victory versus the Raiders was in Los Angeles in 1988.
• Robert Thomas, who started in place of Ricky Brown, sustained a hamstring injury, Tyvon Branch was also injured, and Tom Cable stated after the game he didn’t know how long either would be out. 

Oakland, CA - A tragic day for the Oakland Raiders. In an embarrassing performance in front of a sold out crowd, Oakland’s defense got spanked early and often. The Raiders defense only managed one defensive stop on Atlanta as the Falcons scored four times on four consecutive drives in the first half. Combine that defensive effort with an even worse offensive execution; the game would end 24-0.

Each offensive drive for Oakland ended in a 3-and-out and was met with a loud chorus of boos from the football starved Oakland fans. If this were a golf game, the Raiders would be in wonderful shape with a -2. Unfortunately, there is no Tiger Woods on the roster and this is football where that -2 means -2 yards total net yards (for the first half).

From the outset of today’s game, it was clear that Atlanta targeted Raider safety Gibril Wilson but using multiple positional players to cut block him and remove his run stopping presence from the game. Clearly, it worked to perfection as Atlanta ran all over the defense while accumulating 135-yards before the final whistle to end the second quarter.

The second half of the game was no different. Defensively, the Raiders weren’t being scored upon, but the offensive woes continued. Despite earning two first downs on different drives, Oakland could not do anything with it. Pass blocking was putrid as the offensive line allowed defenders to either sack or continually pressure quarterback JaMarcus Russell causing him to either throw the ball away or force him to throw errand passes.

Run blocking was equally anemic as often, defenders were meeting the runningbacks at the line of scrimmage or behind it (mostly).

The Raiders caught at least one break as the special teams for Oakland blocked an Atlanta punt to get the ball back with 9:56 left in the game.

But in typical Raider fashion, after JaMarcus Russell brilliantly scrambled for a big fist down after a big run from RB Michael Bush, Russell would throw an interception in the endzone to kill yet another Raider drive.

Abysmally, Oakland managed to only possess the ball for less than one quarter (14:45) for the entire game and somehow pulled of having it’s quarterback, JaMarcus Russell, to be it’s leading rusher with 46 yards.

There is no way to sugar-coat this loss. The team stunk it up on both sides of the ball as the coaching staff is equally to blame. The Raiders lack of attention to the offensive line and the receiving corps in the offseason has reared it’s ugly head and manifested in what we saw today; a butt whooping of epic proportions.

This weekend, JaMarcus Russell and the Oakland Raiders (2-5) face another team having a surprising season – led by a young quarterback – as Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons (4-3) fly into McAfee Coliseum for their 12^th all time meeting.

Last time both teams met on December 12, 2004, the Silver & Black were defeated 35-10, with their lone scores coming from a Sebastian Janikowski 52-yard field goal and a one-yard run by Zack Crockett. When Atlanta last visited the then Network Associates Coliseum, Oakland routed the NFC opponent 41-14.

OAKLAND RAIDERS

On Offense:

Darren McFadden has been slowed by turf toe once again, this time on his left foot, which has limited his effectiveness and kept him out of his first game last week versus the Ravens.

“You just hope it’s some kind of freak accident going out there and you get well on one foot, and then you come back and tweak the other one a little bit,” stated McFadden after not seeing action in practice on Wednesday. “You hope it’s just a freak accident and you just try to push through it like this.”

His presence was missed last week, as the Raiders managed only 35 total yards of offense in the first half, and only 47 yards on the ground for the game against a stout rush defense. And with the lack of playmakers on the roster and a deficiency in their play calling, it appeared that the offense did not have enough juice to put a scare into anyone.

What to expect:

“The first half, we just got our tails whipped at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball,” Oakland coach Tom Cable said about the game in Baltimore. “There’s really no other way to put it.”

The offensive line, particularly the tackles, had horrible games, and with little commitment beyond this year to either Cornell Green or Kwame Harris, the Raiders could and should to start looking at other alternatives that may fare better. Mario Henderson played well in replacing Harris earlier in the season, but lost his job once the former 49er was healthy enough to get back on the field. Since, the running game has not been revved up and Russell has had less time in the pocket.

On Defense:

The secondary has played better, despite allowing big plays last week against Joe Flacco. DeAngelo Hall has settled in and leads the team in interceptions after his nightmarish debut week-1 versus the Broncos. Now, he faces his former teammates and the boisterous cornerback commented on how it will feel to face the team that dealt him away in the off-season.

“Oh yeah, I can’t wait. I cannot wait. I felt like I taught Roddy [White] a thing or two. As well as the rest of those guys. I can’t want to get out there and match up with them on game day and see if I taught him good enough. He’s obviously having a hell of a year. I text him almost every game just to tell him to keep it up, stay motivated and stay in it. I want to see him cross that water. [Make the Pro Bowl and go to Hawaii]. I think that’s the next step for him. I want to see him get paid obviously. That’s also a step that’s coming in the future.

I feel like they are my family. I’d been around them for so long. I’ve watched them mature as players and people. My kids know them. I have a lot of feelings tied up in this game.”

What to expect:

The Raiders are allowing 218.4 passing yards a game (19^th in the NFL), while the Falcons average 197.1 yards per game through the air. Oakland’s cornerbacks can match-up with Roddy White, Michael Jenkins and Harry Douglass, but whether or not the front seven can produce enough pressure to rattle Ryan will be the question.

ATLANTA FALCONS

On Offense:

Ryan is the 20^th ranked passer in the NFL (79.7 QB rating), but has shown great maturity and very good promise in his rookie season, especially after taking over at quarterback for the vilified Michael Vick.

He’s been aided by a productive ground attack, led by Michael Turner, who is third in the league with his career high 655 rushing yards and six touchdowns.

Third year pro Jerious Norwood has also provided a boost, averaging 6.3 yards per carry as Turner’s back up.

What to expect:

Oakland has allowed 162.6 yards per game in their last 5 contests. The Falcons need to establish the run early in order to give Ryan opportunities to find his weapons down the field on play action.

On Defense:

Former Raider Grady Jackson appears to be primed for game action on Sunday. If he plays, he’ll start along the defensive line with John Abraham (7 sacks), Jonathan Babineaux (7 tackles for loss) and Jamaal Anderson (2 sacks).

Starting strong safety Lawyer Milloy put a hit on Philadelphia tight end LJ Smith last week in which he was penalized for unnecessary roughness, but as of today, no suspension has been announced.

What to expect:

Abraham can have a field day with Harris. The speedy end can be menace, and if the Raiders don’t help out in pass protection, Russell could be in trouble. Oakland will try to move the mobile Russell out of the pocket, especially since their best blocking fullback is lost for the season. So how Atlanta adjusts and whether or not they bring heat with their linebackers will be key on how they defend the young passer.

GAME NOTES

 

• Jaamal Anderson will look to record a sack in three consecutive games when he faces Cornell Green this week.
• DE Derrick Burgess (triceps strain), LBs Ricky Brown (groin) and Jon Alston, and S Gibril Wilson (toe) were held outt of practice on Thursday.
• Wide receiver Ronald Curry talked earlier in the week regarding his demotion. “It’s like the team gave up on me. You go from playing to getting one or two snaps a game, the decision is being made. I’m going to go out there and continue to work at practice, work at games and once the season’s over, the picture’s pretty clear.”

KEY MATCH-UPS

Turner vs. Run D

Thomas Howard felt after the game in Baltimore that the Raiders weren’t doing to bad versus opposing ground games. The facts are, they’ve been bad and if it continues this week, against a very explosive rusher, the Raiders offense will be playing catch-up all day.

Harris and Green vs. Abraham and Anderson

The Raider tackles need to play better. And if they continue to struggle, Cable will have to consider making line changes next week.

PREDICTION

Falcons 23 – Raiders 19

TV & RADIO

The game will be televised on FOX with Matt Vasgersian providing play-by-play and former NFL performer J.C. Pearson handling color analysis. If sold out per NFL blackout rules, the game will air locally on KTVU Channel 2. The game will also air in Sacramento on KXTL Channel 40 as well as on KCVU Channel 30 in Chico/Redding, KCBA Channel 35 in Monterey, KVBU Channel 29 in Eureka and KMPH Channel 26 in Fresno. The game will air on Raiders Radio originating on KSFO 560 AM, the Silver and Black Flagship for the multi-state Radio Network. Greg Papa and former Raiders player, assistant and head coach Tom Flores will man the booth for the 11th straight year. The radio pregame show and postgame show will feature Raider Legends George Atkinson and David Humm along with KGO’s Rich Walcoff. (Broadcast information found on the official Raiders Web Site)

GAME INFO

Home Team: Oakland Raiders (2-5) Home: 1-2 Road: 1-3

Road Team: Atlanta Falcons (4-3) Home: 3-0 Road: 1-3

When and Where: Sunday, November 2, 2008, 1:15 p.m. PT | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, CA

 

On Monday night, there will be three of the top cornerbacks in the league gracing the field at McAfee Coliseum when the Oakland Raiders face the Denver Broncos.

One of them, DeAngelo Hall, who was acquired from the Atlanta Falcons this off-season, sat down with Silver & Black Report reporter DeMarcus Davis and talked about his new life in Oakland, playing on Monday night versus the Broncos and his health status going into the contest.

SBReport: Do you get a sense that this Monday night game is a little more than just a regular season game due to it being against the Broncos?

D.Hall: I’m obviously new to the rivalry, but I see how the coaches are, how Al Davis definitely wants to first of all, lock up this division and worry about playoffs and things like that later. So to get out, first game of the season, primetime versus a division opponent, it’s huge.

Oakland has struggled in recent years stopping the run versus the Broncos. Mike Shanahan’s team has averaged 150.9 rushing yards per game since 2003 against the Raiders. But Hall sounded confident about that changing on Monday night. He stated, “People think we can’t stop the run. We got a couple of great additions to the team. We are ready to display it to the world out there.”

As for his health, “I’m pretty good to go. I practiced all week with nothing on it. Still a little tender, a little sore, but I feel good. It’s Monday night, primetime; I’ve played with broken bones and things like that before, so I’ll be all right.”

Hall sustained ligament damage to his right hand during the pre-season, and had to wear a protective cast.

It seems that the cast nor what the Broncos present in terms of their attack fear Hall, as the confident cornerback commented, “I take my chances against any receiver in this league. One-on-one I like my odds. I don’t think Denver posses any threats. So I’m just ready to go out there and have some fun.”

A victory in their home opener is just what Oakland would need to top off a busy off-season of acquisitions in hopes of turning around the 19-61 slump they have been in since the start of the 2003 season. The fans are eager to get a victory against the rival Broncos, but as SBReport pointed to Hall, a good game on Monday night will have fans embracing you quickly, but a poorest effort may make you an enemy.

Hall responded, “It’s a good thing I don’t mess up [smiling]. I guess that’s a good thing. I’m ready. I got thrown into the fire at 20-years old.”

His transition from Atlanta has been a smooth one, and Hall talked about his head coach’s involvement in getting him in Silver & Black.

“It’s been cool. Kiffin was a big part of me coming out here. He was the middle man between Al Davis and my agent, definitely a move he wanted to make on this team.”

He continue to talk about his situation in the off-season, and the direction the Falcons headed after they decided to purge the club and begin a rebuilding process. “That situation in Atlanta, it is what it is. There is a business side of this. Arthur Blank felt like he had to sort of part ways with a lot of the guys who had any association with [Michael Vick] or ay feelings towards him. So that’s what they felt they had to do for that organization to get better, you might be a little bit worse before you get better, but at the end of the day, if you feel that’s the move you need to make, that’s what you do.”

As for being in Oakland, “I’m in a great situation right now, great place, so I’m not complaining.”

With Hall, teammate Nnamdi Asomugha and Champ Bailey on the field on Monday, you can make the argument that either one is the best cornerback in the league or that they all rank among the top three at their position. Hall talked about the competitive nature of the trio and how they’ll try to impress their counterparts with their play.

“Its always friendly competition. [Bailey & Dre Bly] taught me so much about football, life in general. We are real good friends off the field. So its always friendly competition. I want to leave the game with better stats than them. I’m sure they want to, ‘hey I’m still the young pup’, ‘I’m still the guy’, I’m sure they are coming in here with the same chip on their shoulder.

I definitely go out there trying one-up [Bailey].”

And that friendly competition trickled onto the Raider practice field this summer, where Hall and his new corner mate pushed each other to help the secondary become one of the elite in the NFL.

“Even me and [Asomugha] on the same team, we try to one up each other. It’s always love and friendly dealings off the field, but I want to be better than him and at the end of the day, he wants to be better than me.”