Silver and Black Report

According to ESPN, Al Saunders has accepted the offensive coordinator position for the Oakland Raiders.

He will work alongside Hue Jackson once again, as both were part of the Baltimore Ravens’ staff in 2008 and 2009.

“He’s been huge for us, but you don’t want to deny guys opportunities either,” coach John Harbaugh said. “So, we’ll just have to see where it goes.”

Saunders has worked with Jason Campbell in Washington in 2006/2007, could alleviate Jackson’s move to the top by taking on offensive coordinator duties – helping with the game plan with his extensive playbook and preparing the players during the week leading up to the game. Jackson has stated he will continue to play call on game days.

Saunders has interviewed for the Raiders many times, including in 2004 when Bill Callahan was canned and in 2006 after Norv Turner was fired. In 2009, Saunders interviewed for the vacant offensive coordinator position, a Raider official confirmed.

“We expect to talk to him in the next day or two,” team executive John Herrera said. “He’s a guy we’ve known for a long time on the other side of the field.

Al Davis has admired Saunders, as the long time play caller is a proponent of the “Air Coryell” passing game.

When Saunders was the Chargers head coach in 1986, he stated about the Silver & Black, “The Raiders defensive mentality push ‘em in the face and crunch ‘em.”

Saunders in 2006 accepted a three-year, $6 million deal to become the Redskins offensive coordinator.

Now, the Chad Ochocinco to the Raiders speculation by fans and some media will only heat up, especially if the Cincinnati Bengals decide to part ways with the talkative and boisterous target.

As soon as Jackson became head coach, the Bengals’ wide receiver tweeted:

“Congratulations 2 Hue Jackson for becoming the Oakland Raiders new head coach. Best receiver coach I ever had.”

He also posted these messages in the past regarding the new Raider head coach:

“It would be refreshing to be with Hue Jackson again. I know I wouldn’t have to worry about being thrown under a bus again.”

“I would not care where Hue Jackson got a job. I would go play for him, run through a wall, jump in front of a bus, etc. u get the point.”

The need is there for Oakland.

Jacoby Ford appears to be headed in the right direction. Louis Murphy is fiery and a tough competitor, but still way too inconsistent to be a starter in this league. Chaz Schilens is cheap and has solid attributes – the only reason why he is kept around, because his fragility would have been a major reason why other team’s would’ve released him already. Darrius Heyward-Bey is on the road to ‘bust-ville’ and any other receiver they have is a never will be or not NFL material.

With as many points Oakland scored this year, imagine an attack with Ochocinco, those young developing targets getting pushed down the depth chart with not as much pressure on them, Zach Miller getting some aide in the passing attack and Jason Campbell comfortable with a ‘go to’ target in his second year with Jackson. Sprinkle some more reliable offensive line play and now you can talk about the offense taking that next big step to the elite level of the league. A lot of ‘ifs’ and many of those positives are not just going to happen as easy as saying it, but the framework can be there.

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

Is Jackson being looked at to groom Russell?

A report by ESPN states that the Oakland Raiders are asking permission to speak to Baltimore Ravens’ quarterback coach Hue Jackson.

The Raiders reportedly have received permission to talk to the 24-year coach for an unspecified position.

We can assume that Oakland is looking for as much support as possible for JaMarcus Russell. Jackson worked his first season as a quarterback’s coach in 2008 with rookie Joe Flacco.

Jackson has been the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons (2007) and the Washington Redskins (2003).

Under Jackson’s tutelage, Flacco became the first rookie in NFL history to win two playoff games under center. While with the Cincinnati Bengals (2004-2006), Jackson worked with receivers.

Chad Ochocinco (1,369) and T.J. Houshmandzadeh (1,081) became the first duo at wide receiver to put up 1,000-yard seasons for the organization. Ochocinco had his best years under Jackson and Houshmandzadeh developed into one of the better pass catchers in the AFC.

Sanjay Lal has not had success working with some of the young wide-outs in Oakland. Could this be an addition to boost their development? Is to help out Russell? Heck, it’s Raider-Land, so for all we know, he may be interviewing for a head coaching spot.

Or, is Jackson being looked at to groom young targets such as Higgins?

No announcement has been made about Tom Cable’s status, so its unlikely talks with Jackson will help the Raiders comply with the Rooney Rule.

All we know at this point is, Jackson has been contacted and with his expertise, the Raiders could surely have him dabble in many of the non-functional spots on this club.

Here is a link to Jackson’s profile on the official Baltimore Ravens web site:

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/People/Coaches/Hue_Jackson.aspx

OAKLAND — Here are exclusive videos of some Oakland Raiders talking after their home victory over the Cincinnati Bengals:

Wide Receiver Chaz Schilens
video management, video solution, video streaming

Running Back Michael Bush:
video management, video solution, video streaming

Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha:
video management, video solution, video streaming

Chad Ochocinco went from sore loser to being out-right bitter:
video management, video solution, video streaming

OAKLAND, CA — Oakland showed that it was not going to allow the Bengals to run on them from the outset. With the Bengals going on offense first, the Raiders looked stout against the Bengals’ run attack. Even Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha got in on the action with a 5-yard loss of a tackle. But that would be the only thing the Raiders could stop on the opening drive. Cincinnati would gash the Raiders for 23-yards, 32-yards, and 21-yards. Cincy QB Carson Palmer would punctuate the drive with a 1-yard dive to put is team up 7-0.

Oakland would get it’s shot at playing offense, but after a couple of modest runs and an incomplete pass, they were forced to punt the ball away. The Raiders would catch a break when Carson Palmer was sacked and fumbled by safety Tyvon Branch. The ball was initially scooped up by Raider LB Kirk Morrison, but he too was stripped while carrying the ball carelessly. Thankfully, Raider CB Chris Johnson shoved a would-be recovering Bengal out of the way to allow a fellow Raider recover it instead. Oakland QB Bruce Gradkowski would fumble the snap (more like a botched snap by the center, but the QB gets the credit for the fumble). The Bengals would recover the ball.

In the fist Cincinnati drive, they beat the Raiders defense with the pass. This next drive, the Bengals would beat the Raiders’ defense on the ground with a series of 15, 11, 10, 9, and 6 yard runs culminating in a 1-yard rushing touchdown by QB Carson Palmer to extend their lead to 14-0.

Oakland showed some resilience with Gradkowski under center; managing a drive of his own. WR Chad Schilens kicked off the drive with a 25-yard reception. That play would be followed up by a combination of smart running by Darren McFadden for 9-yards and Justin Fargas for 12-yards. Gradkowski would then find an open Zach Miller in the endzone for a touchdown to bring Oakland to within 7-points with the score of 14-7.

After Oakland forced the Bengals to punt on their following offensive drive, Gradkowski would put his team into field goal range, but not without TE Zach Miller being the beneficiary of a 19-yard pass from Gradkowski. Unfortunately, Jano missed he field goal (wide left). The moment prior to the attempt, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis called a time out to ice Jano. Jano had kicked it anyway and the ball was wide right. And that’s how the half would come to an end; with a score of 14-7.

In the third quarter, Oakland would receive the ball first and would see Janikowski successfully kick a 52-yard field goal following a balanced attack of runs and passes. Even WR Darrius Heyward-Bey got in on the reception party with a 7-yard catch. Jano’s field goal made the game 14-10.

The Bengals mustered a drive of their own to get their kicker into field goal range since they could not get into the endzone, but to the Raiders delight, their kicker missed a chip-shot of a 37-yard attempt to keep the Raiders hanging around.

The Raiders would give the ball right back however, after Raider running back Michael Bush fumbled the all and Cincy ran the ball back 38-yards to the Raiders’ 13-yard line. The Raider defense flexed it’s muscle by keeping the Bengals from scoring a touchdown. This time, Cincy kicker Shayne Graham would not miss from 25-yards out as the Bengals got a tad bit of breathing room with a 17-10 lead with 3:29 left in the third quarter.

The two teams defenses would trade offensive stops; playing the game of field position by forcing each other to punt up until 2:12 to go in the 4th quarter.

The veteran savvy of QB Gradkowski would rise to the occasion as he lead his offense 80-yards in a classic two-minute drill; a pass to McFadden for 6 yards, Miller for 19 yards, Miller again for 9 yards, a 1-yard run from McFadden, Schilens for 16 yards, and then finally…a great 29-yard pass and leg-churning run after the catch to WR Louis Murphy who willed himself into the endzone with a lone defender trying desperately to keep him out for the 17-17 tie (with the subsequent PAT).

On the subsequent kick off with 33 seconds left on the game clock, Raiders special teams would hit the Bengals returner and cause a fumble. Oakland quickly jumped on the ball to recover it on the Bengals’ 17-yard line.

The Raiders, now in the driver’s seat with the ball on the Bengals’ 17 yard line and with 19 seconds left on the game clock. Cincy would use all of it’s remaining timeouts to stop the clock each time the Raiders would take down the ball. Sebastian Janikowski would kick the 33-yard game winning field goal with 15 seconds left on the clock for a score of 20-17 Raiders.

After a minimal kick off return, Bengals’ QB Carson Palmer would throw a Hail Mary, but to only have it intercepted by CB Nnamdi Asomugha to end the game, keeping their home game dominance over the Cincinnati Bengals.

*It should also be noted that Chad Ochocinco was rendered relatively inefective. 4-for-67 yards. Earlier in the week, Ochocinco was quoted as saying to Contra Costa Times Writer Jerry McDonald, “Oh, man, I’m just coming to give the Black Hole the best show they’ve ever seen. I’m not sure if they’ve really had much to look forward to this year but, man, we’re coming to town. It will for damned sure be a circus.” Ocho DID give the Black Hole the best show they’ve seen…at least since the Eagles game, by losing to the Raiders and shutting down Chad…and his mouth. Then on his Twitter page, he tweeted a post saying, “I’m scoring touchdowns for my man Ryan Hall’s fantasy team this weekend.” Gee…that worked out well for him.

With a new quarterback at the helm, the Oakland Raiders (2-7) will take on the first place Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. The Bengals have surprised the league with a 5-0 record within their division and last week, they swept the Pittsburgh Steelers for the season. The contest will be the 26^th between the two clubs, with the Silver & Black holding a 17-8 advantage. In their last meeting in 2006, the Bengals beat the Raiders at Cincinnati. Last time they met in Oakland, the Raiders won 23-20 in 2003.

OAKLAND RAIDERS

On Offense:

Bruce Gradkowski takes over for the beleaguered JaMarcus Russell. Oakland made the move this week after Tom Cable stated that the team needed to go in a different direction, which he felt could give the team a better chance to win. But don’t expect Oakland to alter their play calling much per the new passer under center.

“There might be a couple tweaks here and there, but we’re just going to run the offense, do what we do and try to make some plays,” Gradkowski said yesterday. “We have a lot of weapons. We just have to stay on course, keep doing what we’re doing, keep working hard and things will fall into place.”

One of those weapons, receiver Chaz Schilens, had 3-catches for 27-yards in his 2009 debut against the Chiefs. Darren McFadden came back from his injury last weekend and the Raiders implemented their version of the ‘Wildcat’ – named the Wildhog – on back-to-back plays on Sunday.

What to Expect:

The Raiders ran for 182 yards last week. And that support on the ground is what Cable would like for Gradkowski. If the Raiders can have success with their trio at running back, their new quarterback will be able to use his legs in play action, bootleg and add a different dimension to the Oakland offense. Cable has stated that they’ll run the same plays that Russell had to his disposal. But will Gradkowski’s confidence and decisiveness in the pocket increase the offenses’ output? We’ll see on Sunday…

On Defense:

Matt Shaughnessy started last week in place of Greg Ellis at defensive end and shined with one-sack and solid play versus the run. Cable stated this week, “Played outstanding he has, I have said this before, but every week he just gets better and better and better. Defended the run extremely well, one sack and a couple other hurries, the guy just gets better he is coached really well. His coached has raised his level and he comes
 to work every day and he is learning from Richard [Seymour] and Greg [Ellis] those guys have been good in terms of teaching him and he is a good football player.”

The Bengals 11^th ranked rushing attack could have a familiar face on Sunday. With leading rusher Cedric Benson (205 car. 859 yds. 6 TD) likely out with a hip injury, former Chief Larry Johnson could see his first action as a member of the Bengals.

What to Expect:

Whether its Johnson or Bernard Scott, the Raiders will have to key on the rush attack. Carson Palmer is in his prime, and with targets like Chad Ochocinco, Andre Caldwell, Laveranues Coles and Brian Leonard, the linebackers and defensive backfield could be kept very busy. Oakland’s 23^rd ranked defense will have its surprising moments on Sunday. Palmer is not very elusive, but he makes quick decisions. He’s only been sacked 14 times in 2009, but if the Raiders can apply pressure with their defensive front, they’ll be able to stay close and not allow Palmer to pick them apart.

CINCINNATI BENGALS

Asomugha breaking up a pass intended for Ochocinco

On Offense:

During Ochocinco’s conference call earlier in the week, the boisterous target hyped his visit to Oakland stating, “Oh, man, I’m just coming to give the Black Hole the best show they’ve ever seen. I’m not sure if they’ve really had much to look forward to this year but, man, we’re coming to town. It will for damned sure be a circus.”

As for his match-up against Nnamdi Asomugha, one the elite cornerbacks in the league:

Everyone says he’s the best defensive back in the NFL, so I just go along and I agree with everybody else and then I will permit to go out there Sunday and have my fun, like I usually do every week. So, it’s no different. He’s an awesome, awesome defensive back. I watch him on film. I’ve dissected every single technique that he does. Every single one. So, he’s really awesome and he’s one of the few cornerbacks, where any defensive coordinator, I don’t care what team he played on, he makes a defense that much easier when you can leave somebody like that on an island by yourself and you can actually lock down one side.

What to Expect:

The Bengals will try to exploit the Raiders 29^th ranked rush defense (155.6 yds. allowed). And if they can run it consistently, keeping the rest of the defense un-balanced will not be difficult, especially with Chris Johnson’s struggles allowing big plays playing opposite Asomugha.

On Defense:

This side of the ball has been the biggest reason why the Bengals are challenging for a top spot in the AFC playoffs. They are allowing a measly 83.4 yards per game on the ground (2^nd in the NFL). And last week, they stifled the Steelers with four-sacks and 10-passes defended, while clamping down on 10-straight 3^rd down stops to end the game.

Palmer had lofty comments last weekend about the defense, stating, “The way our defense played and just teed off on [Pittsburgh] all day and dominated the line of scrimmage and dominated the backfield, dominated downfield in coverage. It was a team win, but you can’t say enough about our defense. They’re playing like they are the best defense in the league and they believe that.”

What to Expect:

Linebackers Dhani Jones, Keith Rivers and rookie Rey Maualuga will spearhead a unit that will be primed to stop the three-headed monster at running for the Raiders. The key though will be whether or not the front of Robert Geathers, Domata Peko, Tank Johnson and Jonathan Fanene can pressure Gradkowski into mistakes.

GAME NOTES

• Michael Bush leads the Raiders in rushing with 77 carries for 350 yards. Last week, his 60-yard run set-up Oakland’s first score on the game’s opening drive.
• Gradkowski is making his 13^th career start.
• When asked about Russell, Ochocinco commented, “Man JaMarcus is extremely good. You have to remember a quarterback can only be as good as his supporting cast. Case closed. Always. It will always be that way. Always. You put a Tom Brady or a Peyton Manning, you take them out of their supporting casts, you take them out of the elements they’re in now, and you put them in JaMarcus’ situation do you think it would be that much better. I’m just asking. Realistically.”

KEY MATCH-UPS

Which CB tandem prevails? Asomugha/Johnson vs. Hall/Joseph

Leon Hall and Jonathan Joseph have played well enough to gain consideration as one of the best tandems in the league. Oakland thinks their man-to-man covering tandem is just as good. With Palmer at the helm and facing a team that allows big yards on the ground; the Bengals will be able to mix the run and pass enough to get big chunks with their aerial attack.

The Gradkowski Effect

Can his mobility and decisiveness add another dimension to the Raider offense? Will his accuracy change the complexity of the passing attack? If the answer on Sunday is yes to both, we wont see Russell for the rest of the season.

PREDICTION

Bengals 27 – Raiders 22

TV & RADIO

The game will be televised on CBS with Kevin Harlan providing play-by-play and former NFL player Solomon Wilcots handling color analysis. If sold out per NFL blackout rules, the game will air in the Bay Area on KPIX Channel 5 and in Sacramento on KOVR Channel 13. The game will air on Raiders Radio originating on KSFO 560 AM, the Silver and Black’s 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 12th straight year. The radio pregame show and postgame show will feature Raider Legends George Atkinson and David Humm along with KSFO’s Rich Walcoff. (Broadcast information cited from the Official Oakland Raiders web site)

GAME INFO

Sunday, November 22, 2009, 1:15 p.m. PT | Oakland Alameda County Coliseum, CA

Road Team: Cincinnati Bengals (7-2) Home: 3-2 Road: 4-0

Home Team: Oakland Raiders (2-7) Home: 1-4 Road: 1-3

Point spread: Bengals favored -9.5

Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist