Silver and Black Report

OAKLAND — Oakland Raiders’ quarterback Jamarcus Russell, cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, defensive lineman Richard Seymour and receiver Chaz Schilens talk to the media after their loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Here is video of the sessions:

JaMarcus Russell
video management, video solution, video streaming

Chaz Schilens
video management, video solution, video streaming

Nnamdi Asomugha
video management, video solution, video streaming

Richard Seymour
video management, video solution, video streaming

QUARTERBACK:

Charlie Frye – A

Frye was gutsy during his performance, limping around till halftime and compiling 180-yards passing and 1 touchdown on 18-of-25. He led the Raiders to 191 total yards of offense. He knew were he wanted to go with the football giving his targets a chance to move the chains. Frye started Oakland’s third drive down 7-0 with a 15-yard pass to Chaz Schilens. A few plays later, he connected with Johnnie Lee Higgins for 16-yards and then on 3^rd and 7, he spun around and scrambled to free himself and hook up with Higgins for 16-yards. Oakland scored on that drive and cut into the Baltimore lead, 7-3. In the 2^nd quarter, he performed an outstanding play fake, turning his back to the defense and then hitting Higgins for 21-yards. Five plays later, he showed great touch lobbing a 12-yard pass to Zach Miller in the end zone. The score cut the Ravens lead to 14-10 and gave him his first touchdown pass since October of 2008.

JaMarcus Russell – C-

His insertion came with a chorus of boos, but often he was able to turn the jeers to cheers. On 2^nd and 7 on his first series, Russell scanned the field and then hit Schilens for 18-yards. On 2^nd and 8 in his second drive, Russell hit Louis Murphy in stride for 11-yards. And on 3^rd and 14 a few plays later, he rocketed a pass to Schilens for 17 yards. Oakland was able to cut into the Baltimore lead on that drive, 14-13. But then he unraveled at the end of the 3^rd quarter with a pivotal interception into the hands of linebacker Dannell Ellerbe, who ran it back 28-yards to the Oakland 22-yard line. A few plays later Willis McGahee tallied his third touchdown of the game to give the Ravens a 21-13 lead. It appeared Russell would shake off the turnover with completion of 18 yards and a 3^rd and 7 conversion to Murphy for 20-yards. But in Russell fashion, he coughed it up again when he did not feel the pressure on his backside and Antwan Barnes forced a fumble at the Baltimore 25-yard line.

RUNNING BACKS & FULLBACKS: D

Michael Bush was used as a battering ram against that stout Ravens rush defense. Problem was, he had no room to wiggle through and had little effectiveness throughout the afternoon. Bush ended with 10 carries for 18-yards. Darren McFadden did not fare better with 9 yards on 5-carries. He only paid dividends on a 2^nd and 8 in the 1^st quarter when he drew an illegal contact flag on Frank Walker split out wide as a receiver. McFadden did aide Frye on a scramble on 3^rd and 1, blocking defensive tackle Haloti Ngata at the 1^st down marker.

WIDE RECEIVERS & TIGHT ENDS: A

Chaz Schilens compiled 99-yards on 8 receptions. He had his best game of the season and provided one of the better highlights on Sunday jumping over former Raider Chris Carr on a 22-yard gain. Higgins closed the season on a high note as a receiver with 4 catches for 71-yards. Murphy had a career best 6 grabs for 59-yards. Zach Miller ended with 7 catches for 38-yards, including a solid route beating Ray Lewis into the end zone and leaping to haul in his third touchdown of the campaign.  Marcel Reece was used as a target and saw increased playing time in the finale.

OFFENSIVE LINE: D

They were not able to move the Ravens front seven and the running suffered with only 51-yards in the day. Baltimore compiled three sacks as well. Cornell Green added to his penalty resume with a ineligible man down the field infraction to open the game, a false start on 3^rd and 9 when Russell entered in the third quarter and another false start on the Raiders last offensive possession.

DEFENSIVE LINE: F

The Ravens ran for 240 yards. Baltimore’s offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage when they decided to run the ball consistently and stabilized a Raiders front four that can get to the passer. Jay Richardson chased down Joe Flacco as the passer got back to the line of scrimmage. Greg Ellis was quiet this afternoon and Richard Seymour had a few highlights, but not enough to significantly affect what the Ravens wanted to accomplish.

LINEBACKERS: D

It seemed like Kirk Morrison was out of position all day or being pushed around by Ravens’ linemen. He tallied a sack, but the linebacker was caught in pass coverage and his 9 solo tackles were not effective. Thomas Howard jarred a Ray Rice potential completion loose and Trevor Scott tallied another sack (7 for the season).

SECONDARY: B-

Nnamdi Asomugha shut down Derrick Mason. Asoomugha’s corner blitz on 3^rd and 8 forced Flacco into Morrison. Flacco ended with a meek 102 passing yards and Stanford Routt played solid for an inactive Chris Johnson. Routt’s lone blip was when he got beat by Mark Clayton on 3^rd and 5 for 7 yards with 5 minutes left in the game. Tyvon Branch had his moments, but he again at times was sub par in space. Branch was out of position on the Ravens big running plays. Mike Mitchell and Michael Huff shared a sack on 3^rd and 8 to end a Ravens drive in the final quarter. Hiram Eugene’s horrific attempt at a tackle sprung Willis McGahee for his 77-yard touchdown scamper. His high off-balance attempt was met with a stiff arm that left him in the turf.

SPECIAL TEAMS: C-

Sebastian Janikowski hit both of his field goals (37 and 39 yards). Shane Lechler capped off a solid campaign with 5-punts for an average of 52.4. But the coverage teams were bad; allowing 138-yards by Jalen Parmele including a 54-yard kickoff return to the Oakland 43-yard line that was a backbreaker after Oakland cut the lead to 14-10 (Brandon Myers missed tackle). Fortunately, the Ravens couldn’t score, as Billy Cundiff missed from 37-yards as time expired at intermission.

COACHING: B

John Marshall brought the heat on a few blitzes and it helped the Raiders corral the Ravens at times. Tom Cable tried to mix up the play calling with two reverses to Murphy that tallied 17-yards. And considering they played a solid defense that neutralized their running game, Oakland moved the ball well via the pass and gave themselves chances to stay close and possibly tie the game late. Cable’s team played well at home to close the season, and with little fan support due to an empty stadium, they tried their best to keep the ravens out of the playoffs.

GAME NOTES

• McGahee ended with 16 carries for 167 yards and 3 rushing scores. He had big runs all day; including a 36-yard scamper on 3^rd and 5 that ended any chance of a Raider comeback. That run was out of a spread formation and Oakland’s front seven was not able to seal the corner on the edge run. Ray Rice also was solid, compiling 70-yards on the ground. On his 27-yard rush, Kirk Morrison lost containment  and another run, Branch and Mitchell were caught inside with all the traffic.
• Russell ended his dreadful campaign 9/14 for 102 yards, one interception and a rating of 56.3.
• The loss extended the Raiders streak to seven straight seasons with 11 or more defeats in a campaign. That is a NFL worst.

Contact Author:  Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

In the season finale, the Oakland Raiders (5-10) will play host to the Baltimore Ravens (8-7). And it’s a simple formula for the Ravens – win the game and you’re in the playoffs. Oakland has lost five of the six meetings against Baltimore, the last time being a 29-10 thrashing in which they allowed 192-yards rushing during week-eight of the 2008 campaign.

OAKLAND RAIDERS

On Offense:

It will be Charlie Frye again under center, as Tom Cable continues to reiterate how the journeyman gives his club the best chance to win as oppose to the mega-bust in the making JaMarcus Russell.

Frye may have the services of Darrius Heyward-Bey and Brandon Myers this week. Both took the field during Wednesday’s practice session and Tom Cable stated that either might have a chance to see a reserved role on Sunday.

Justin Fargas (knee) and Langston Walker (ankle) don’t look as promising as they sat out during mid-week practices.

What to Expect:

It’s the last game of the year, so its time for Cable to throw the kitchen sink at the Ravens and open up the offense. Chaz Schilens has been a nice spark since coming off his injury and the combo of Darren McFadden and Michael Bush in the backfield could provide enough diversity to make some plays against the Ravens 3^rd ranked defense. Since there is no tomorrow for the Silver & Black, they should display ‘Wildhog’ formations with McFadden and let Frye air it out against a team that will desperately need the win to continue their season.

On Defense:

“It doesn’t motivate me to be no spoiler,” defensive Greg Ellis said yesterday. “I want to be the one that’s going there and somebody’s trying to spoil my stuff.

Ellis has enjoyed a solid season with the Raiders, although knee injuries have hindered his availability to practice during the week. His ability to get to the passer this week will be of importance against Joe Flacco.

Oakland’s rush defense will be put to the test by Pro Bowl bound Ray Rice, who has paced the Ravens offense with 1,269 yards on 240 carries for a stellar 5.3 yards a carry average, 7 touchdowns and leading the team with 74 catches.

What to Expect:

Again, the Raiders have no tomorrow after Sunday, so John Marshall’s bunch should blitz alter their coverage’s and try to confuse Flacco and the Ravens offense. In recent weeks, we’ve seen solid outings from the front-seven in trying to slow the bleeding versus the run. Baltimore averages 130 yards per game on the ground and will pound away all game in order to make big plays in their aerial attack.

BALTIMORE RAVENS

On Offense:

When the Ravens win, Flacco is usually upright and making plays. The second year pro wants to take his team to the playoffs once again and if he does, it will behind the strength of their offensive line and their ability to pave lanes for Rice and protect their franchise passer.

“We just have to execute better,” left guard Ben Grubbs stated this week. “When you watch the film, there’s no special remedy to our problems. Literally, it’s sometimes about taking the right step or using our hands better. It could’ve been a different game. So we just have to focus on the little things, which could lead to big things.”

Jared Gaither has missed has missed the last three-games but could be available Sunday. “We’ve just got to block them. That’s as simple as it is,” he said.

What to Expect:

Ravens want to punish the Raiders’ front seven to slow down their rush and make Flacco’s play action more effective. In Baltimore’s eight wins, their passer has been sacked 14-times. During their seven losses, he has been taken down 18-times.

On Defense:

Ray Lewis still remains the emotional leader of this organization and this week, he has set the tone in regards of going into Oakland and coming out of there with a playoff berth.

“We don’t overlook anybody,” he said. “I don’t care what their record is or what their situation is.

“Everything is about beating the Raiders. Period. We will be ready.”

Ed Reed – who has been out of action with a groin injury – could play. Reed talked about an ESPN report that stated he would play Sunday, saying, “[Reporters] seem to know the decision before I even make it. It’s funny, but none of it is right. I don’t really pay no mind to it.”

“Honestly, it will be a game-time decision,” Reed said.

What to Expect:

The Ravens defense will play on emotion and with determination to get them into the post-season. But if they are down early, will they begin to panic or make mistakes that Oakland can capitalize on? If the Ravens just bring some consistent heat and don’t allow the Raider rushers to dominate on the ground, this game will be over and decided before the start of the 4^th quarter.

GAME NOTES

• “It’s a good group,” Raiders coach Tom Cable commented about his defensive line during a conference call with the Baltimore media. “We’ve got Richard Seymour and Greg Ellis and Matt Shaughnessy at the end spot and then inside with Gerard Warren and Tommy Kelly and Desmond Bryant. And they kind of offset each other and compliment each other in different ways.”
• In one of the most mind numbing moves of the season, Oakland decided to place receiver/returner Nick Miller on injured reserve this week. This after he was diagnosed with shin splints and later with a tibia fracture but remained on the roster and inactive list on gamedays all season. Slade Norris was also place on IR. Safety Jerome Boyd and end Greyson Gunheim will take their places.
• After the game in Baltimore last year, I spoke to Thomas Howard and he stated, “But I felt we did pretty well against the run. The pass is what hurt us. A couple of big pass plays; one to [Williams] and the one to Flacco.” The Ravens ran for 192-yards that day.
• A loss will give Oakland their 11^th defeat, continuing their NFL worst seventh straight season with at least 11 or more.

KEY MATCH UPS

Where is Ray Rice?

The Raiders need to be aware of this multi-faceted star. If he runs wild, the Ravens roll.

Cable vs. the Ravens defense

What does the coach implement this week to combat this tough defense? And more importantly, how does he get his team to perform at a high level to close out another terrible season?

PREDICTION

Ravens 27 – Raiders 9

TV & RADIO

The game will be televised on CBS with Jim Nantz providing play-by-play and former NFL player Phil Simms 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 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 directly from the official Oakland Raiders web site)

GAME INFO

Sunday, January 3, 2010, 4:15 p.m. ET | Oakland Alameda County Coliseum, OAK, CA

Home Team: Oakland Raiders (5-10) Home: 2-5 Road: 3-5

Road Team: Baltimore Ravens (8-7) Home: 6-2 Road: 2-5

LINE: Ravens are a 10.5 point favorite

Contact Author:  Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

QUARTERBACK: A

Bruce Gradkowski had the best statistical game for any Raider passer in a long time. His poise was stellar along with his ability to extend plays and make clutch throws in key spots. Oakland would have never won this game with JaMarcus Russell at the helm. Early on, Gradkowski missed an open Louis Murphy on a 3^rd and 3 that would’ve led to a big gain. But he bounced back from that on the next drive hitting Johnnie Lee Higgins on a 22-yard pass on 3^rd and 14 – the key play on a possession that ended with a field goal to cut the Pittsburgh lead to 10-6. Gradkowski ended the first half 7-of-9 for 86 yards. He opened the 2^nd half with a nice sidearm delivery to Zach Miller for 10-yards on a 3^rd and 8, and in the 4^th quarter, he moved the chains on a 3^rd and 3 scrambling for 8-yards. Oakland’s passer could’ve had at least 30-more yards rushing if not for infractions that negated some nice runs. He made a strong throw to Chaz Schilens for 17-yards with a lineman bearing down on him for a score that made it 13-10 with 8:21 remaining. The 75-yard bomb to Murphy was vital giving the Raiders a 20-17 lead with 5:28 left in the game. Then his passes to Higgins for 17-yards, Todd Watkins for 12-yards on 3^rd and 10, and Murphy for 19-yards marched the Silver & Black down the field as time expired. His final throw, an 11-yard game-winning touchdown pass to Murphy to cap the frantic 4^th quarter became the best moment for Oakland in 2009. His final numbers: 20/33 for 308 yards and 3 touchdowns.

RUNNING BACKS & FULLBACKS: C+

Justin Fargas led the team with 15 carries for 63-yards. He kept the Steelers’ defense honest, but was not a major factor in Oakland moving the ball when they needed it most. Darren McFadden had a key run on 3^rd and 2 in the final quarter, darting for 6-yards on a pitch near the end of a drive in which the Raiders took the lead. He ended with 9 rushes for 25 yards. Michael Bush was a non-factor with one-carry for one yard and making a cameo as a passer on a toss in which he overthrew a wide-open Schilens. Luke Lawton was flagged for a false start to start a drive deep in their own territory.

WIDE RECEIVERS & TIGHT ENDS: A

The receivers had their best game of the season, without the presence of rookie Darrius Heyward-Bey – out with a foot injury. Murphy shined when it mattered most with 4-catches for 128 yards and two touchdowns. He had his best game as a pro and could’ve had another big gainer after beating William Gay on a slant and go route on the first play of the 2^nd quarter, but Gradkowski overthrew him. He torched Ike Taylor for the 75-yard touchdown and tiptoed his way into the end zone the last 5-yards. Higgins made his first sizeable contribution to this team in 2009. He had 4 receptions for 63-yards. Schilens also keyed the huge 4^th quarter with his scoring grab; ending the game with 45-yards on 3 catches. Zach Miller continued his solid play with 43 yards receiving.

OFFENSIVE LINE: B-

Samson Satele was injured, did not return to the line-up and was replaced by Chris Morris. Robert Gallery injured his back and was replaced by Langston Walker. Oakland as a team ran for 109-yards – a win considering that Pittsburgh is the toughest team in the league statistically to run against. They allowed only 2-sacks, keeping Gradkowski’s jersey clean for most of the day, but the passer’s legs were the main reason Oakland was able to extend plays. Mario Henderson was flagged for a hold on a Gradkowski 20-yard scramble.

DEFENSIVE LINE: B-

Yes, they allowed 132-yards on the ground. But the defensive line was stout during some stretches and if you take away Rashard Mendenhall’s 60-yard scamper, the run defense would’ve had one of their best games of the season. They missed Greg Ellis’ pass rushing abilities, but they were able to keep Ben Roethlisberger moving out of the pocket. Pittsburgh’s passer is always dangerous on the run and he showed at times what he could do when improvising. A key play for this unit was a 4^th and 1 with their backs to the end zone at the 5-yard line, stuffing Big Ben on a sneak and keeping vital Pittsburgh points off the scoreboard. Richard Seymour was flagged for an illegal hands to the face.

LINEBACKERS: B

Trevor Scott recorded the Raiders only sack of the game. Kirk Morrison finished with 7-tackles. Thomas Howard played decently in his first start as a strong-side linebacker. At times, this unit was late on their assignment on shallower routes when they were in zones, but overall, they played well enough to keep the integrity of the defense on run and pass plays near the line of scrimmage. Scott’s sack was imperative on 3^rd and 6 at the end of the 3^rd quarter, as it was a 9-yard loss for the Steelers and forced Jeff Reed into a 53-yard field goal attempt  that he missed, keeping another three-points off the board for Pittsburgh.

SECONDARY: C-

Santonio Holmes had a career game (8 rec. 149 yards 1 TD). And far too often, this group either had a blown tackle or a missed assignment. Chris Johnson almost had an interception on a 3^rd and 11 early in the contest. On Holmes score, Tyvon Branch and Johnson were beat on the corner route. The previous play, Branch was beaten by Hines Ward for 27-yards on a post pattern. Branch (11 tackles) was taken advantage of in coverage, but was at his best as the last line of defense on run pays and around the line of scrimmage. Johnson had a case for a illegal hands to the face/facemask penalty on Hines Ward during his 11-yard scoring reception that made it 24-20 Pittsburgh with 3:32 remaining. Michael Huff broke up several plays with big hits as the ball approached the intended receiver. Hiram Eugene’s first interception of the season was a stellar grab in the end zone as time expired in the first half. That was the only turnover in the game and it was another play that kept points off the board for the Steelers. Roethlisberger’s throw to Holmes for 57-yards in the 4^th quarter was precise and over the head of Stanford Routt – Branch made the touchdown saving tackle.

SPECIAL TEAMS: C-

Stefan Logan’s 83-yard kickoff return to open the game startled the Raiders. But Oakland’s defense kept the Steelers out of the end zone. Logan had another solid return later in the game for 37-yards to set-up a Pittsburgh possession at their own 40. Sebastian Janikowski nailed both of his field goal attempts (48 and 43 yards) in a tough outdoor stadium to kick in. Shane Lechler had 6-punts, averaging 46.8 per. Gary Russell had one of his better games with 72-yards worth of kickoff returns.

COACHING: B

Tom Cable got a little mischievous in opening the playbook. Bush’s halfback pass was on a 3^rd and 8 – a risky play – considering the field position they had. Ultimately they scored on that drive, but not the player you want passing the ball against a defense that likes to bring pressure. In their opening drive of the second half, Cable called for more trickery on a hand off to McFadden, which he lateral back to Gradkowski and wound up losing 16-yards. The passing plays called were aided by Gradkowski’s improvising, but Cable did make the right calls during that scoring outburst in the final quarter. Something he would have never been able to relay to Russell if he was in the game. The Raiders scored 21-points in the 4^th quarter – a stunning development considering their woes on offense late in games. And after disheartening drives by the home team, Oakland answered with big plays of their own – a credit to the coaching staff keeping the morale of this team up in a tough stadium to play in, on a cold day versus a team playing for their playoff lives. John Marshall’s bunch blitzed today from all the levels of their defense and gave the Steelers’ offense all they could handle. The defense played a solid game into the 2^nd half until the madness begun and both teams started exploding in the waning moments.

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

QUARTERBACK: C-

Bruce Gradkowski ended the game 18-of-35 for 200 yards one touchdown and no interceptions. Many times, he had to get rid of the football under the gun, which affected his accuracy. On back-to-back plays to open the game – on 2^nd and 6 and 3^rd and 6 – he was not able to set up his feet or release the ball cleanly to keep the drive alive. A few times, Oakland attempted to stretch the field and Gradkowski stated after the game, “There were plays there to be made downfield and I didn’t make them.”

His elusiveness helped the Raiders on their scoring drive and in total; Gradkowski’s feet helped him tally 30-yards rushing. Oakland’s passer misfired on plays that could have been converted which would have moved the chains.

RUNNING BACKS & FULLBACKS: B

Justin Fargas’ first half was superb. He ran hard and gained big chunks, compiling most of his team leading 63-yards rushing. Darren McFadden finished the game with 6 carries for 23 yards, but he was mostly used as a receiver, getting split out wide in one-to-one match-ups with the Cowboys’ cornerbacks. On 2^nd and 5 on the Raiders’ first drive, he hauled in a quick slant for 16-yards. McFadden had 4 catches for 43-yards.

WIDE RECEIVERS & TIGHT ENDS: D

Zach Miller recorded 5 grabs for 73-yards in the dual between two of the top tight ends in the NFL. Miller on national television demonstrated he ranks right up there with Jason Witten (5 rec. 107 yards) and was one of the few bright spots for the Oakland offense. Chaz Schilens outstretched on a 3^rd and 4 on the game’s third drive but could not haul in a make able reception. On the Raiders next possession, he ran a sloppy slant that the defender broke up on a 3^rd and 4. Schilens ended with 2 receptions for 32-yards. Darrius Heyward-Bey finally hauled iin his first professional touchdown. “I tried to help the cause with that play,” Heyward-Bey commented, “but when you lose, it’s all that matters. You want to win at the end.” The rookie had a nice block on McFadden’s best run of the game – a sweep for 12-yards.

OFFENSIVE LINE: D

Right tackle Cornell Green left the game for a few plays with an injury and was replaced by Langston Walker. He eventually went back into the game. Cooper Carlisle’s holding penalty thwarted any movement on Oakland’s second drive. The front looked good early in opening holes for their rushers, but did very little at times to keep Gradkowski’s pocket clean or his passing lanes paved. They allowed three sacks.

DEFENSIVE LINE: F

Dallas ran up 195 rushing yards against this defense. It all headed downhill after Tashard Choice’s 66-yard run to open their third drive in the 1^st quarter. To the defenses credit, they did hold the Cowboys to a field goal on that drive. But on the very next Dallas possession, Felix Jones erupted on a 46-yard scamper for a score. “What is Rule No. 1 in Pop Warner?” nose tackle Gerard Warren pose to reporters after the game. “Stop the run.”

LINEBACKERS: C

Trevor Scott had a stellar game at weak side linebacker. Due to injuries on this unit, Oakland mixed it up placing the defensive end in coverage situations and giving him the opportunity to use his instincts in space. Scott could’ve had an interception on a 3^rd and 9 in which Tony Romo carelessly tossed the football away,  on a 2^nd and 13, he dissected a screen and closed in on the pass catcher for a 4-yard loss and he ended with two-sacks when he pass rushed. “A few days ago they said they wanted me to start at (Will) this game so I was like, `all right, let’s run with it,’ ” Scott was quoted. “If it’s an opportunity to get on the field, so be it. Some guys don’t feel comfortable in a two-point stance, so if they stick with it, great.”  Sam Williams was beat a few times by Witten.

SECONDARY: F

Miles Austin torched this unit for 7 receptions, 145 yards and 1 touchdown. Nnamdi Asomugha was the victim a few times on man-to-man coverage. Michael Huff started the game nicely on a 3^rd and 24, breaking up a pass intended for Roy Williams and then on the next Cowboy possession on 2^nd and 9, jarring a pass out of Austin’s grasp with a solid hit. Romo had a field day with his 18 completions for 309 yards. Tyvon Branch had a beat on a deflected ball that could’ve been an interception for a touchdown, but Trevor Scott gave chase as well and both took each other out on the play.

SPECIAL TEAMS: B

The anemic return units continued with their struggles. Gary Russell did very little to add some pop to the kickoff returns as Oakland looked for a change of pace after trying Jonathan Holland in that spot for a few games. Shane Lechler punted nine-times for a 54.8 average. His season average is now 51.9 – keeping him ahead of Sammy Baugh’s single season record.

COACHING: D

On defense, it was nice to see the Raiders pressure from the linebacker spot and John Marshall mixing up the formations and disguising the coverages. But many times, the attacks along the line of scrimmage led to big plays due to the Raiders being out of position.  Not too much praise though can be given especially after Dallas racked up 494 total yards of offense. Tom Cable has altered his game plan and feels more confident with Gradkowski at the helm of the offense. The Raiders are mixing up more passing a play, but at times, that has taken away from their bread and butter – running the football.

GAME NOTES

• Jon Alston was placed on injured reserve, ending his season, after suffering two concussions in four weeks. Rookie Slade Norris was activated in his place after spending the majority of the season on the practice squad.
• CB John Bowie, forever linked as the player selected with a 4^th round pick acquired from the Patriots in the Randy Moss trade, was waived this week. His final stats with the Raiders – 2 tackles.
• Greg Ellis did not finish the contest due to swelling in his knee. “I don’t know what happened. I just know swelling, a lot of pressure, going down my leg, going down my knee down my shin and my calf. I don’t know if I did something during the game,’’ Ellis stated. “It started off swelling some but that’s to be expected coming off the scope but when we started playing, it was just killing me.”

Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

Bitter AFC Wet rivals meet again on Sunday when the Kansas City Chiefs (1-7) face the Oakland Raiders (2-6). During their week-two meeting, the Silver & Black pulled out a 13-10-road victory despite being dominated in total yardage (409-166) and time of possession (38:39- 21:21). Both clubs have had a lot off the field concerns and they will fight to avoid being the cellar dwellers of the division.

OAKLAND RAIDERS

On Offense:

Is Chaz Schilens finally seeing football action on Sunday? We’ll have to wait and see, but so far, all indications point to the 24-year old making his debut in 2009. “It’s feeling better, It’s not worse,” stated the wide out who has been inactive since breaking a bone in his foot back in the summer.

“I don’t know if it will be for right now, but I kind of just go to go and do what I can,” he continued when asked if his injury is completely healed.

Darren McFadden is set to return to the running back rotation. He has practiced with the team this week. And on Sunday, McFadden will face an opponent he has racked up 212 rushing yards, 79 yards receiving and 2 scores against in three career games.

What to Expect:

Kansas City is allowing 136.3 rushing yards per game. Oakland must run the football to have any success in this game. Getting McFadden back will help the diversity of this offense, but pounding the football with Justin Fargas will help them move the chains. If Schilens does play, expect Oakland to go with more three-receiver formations. The health of many of these players should help Tom Cable’s lackluster play calling.

On Defense:

Struggling cornerback Chris Johnson is highly optimistic regarding Oakland’s second half. “If you really want to look at it, you can go 8-0 and you might end up 10-6,” Johnson said yesterday. “There’s a possible way you can actually do it.”

The Raider cornerback may be kept busy this week with Matt Cassel coming off a 23-for-39 performance, with 262 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions. Johnson has the bull’s eye on his jersey being the second part of the tandem with Nnamdi Asomugha.

What to Expect:

The Chiefs offensive line has allowed 30 sacks this season (31^st in the NFL). Richard Seymour, Tommy Kelly and the rest of the front-seven has to be on attack mode. John Marshall’s unit had a field day against the Eagles by blitzing and confusing the Philadelphia offensive line. Greg Ellis will continue his recovery from knee and shoulder surgery, so Trevor Scott and rookie Matt Shaughnessy should get ample opportunities to stake their claim to more reps along the defensive line.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

On Offense:

The Chiefs parted ways with Larry Johnson, but now must find a replacement for one of the weakest ground attacks in the league.

Kansas City is averaging a pedestrian 96.1 yards per game and are the only team in the league not to tally a rushing score so far in 2009. Jamaal Charles and Kolby Smith are two options. But neither was impressive against Jacksonville last week.

In his first career start, Smith ran for 150 yards on 31 carries with 2 touchdowns against the Silver & Black on November 25, 2007.

What to Expect:

The Raider rush defense is allowing 161 yards per game. Just what the doctor ordered for the Chiefs. It won’t be easy after the lost of Mike Goff (RG), but Oakland struggles against teams that commit to run the football against them and Smith’s shiftiness could be effective versus a Raider team that can be undisciplined and can get sloppy in their tackling.

On Defense:

Kansas City corralled the Raiders ground game in their first match-up, allowing a measly 67-yards. They would sign up for similar results right now, especially if they could place the game in the hands of JaMarcus Russell.

Their 30^th ranked defense has many holes. But can scheme overcome many of their deficiencies and force Russell into miscues?

The front-seven tallied one sack last week, so more pressure will be needed. Tamba Hali has only three-sacks in 2009, and no other defender on this roster has more than one-sack.

What to Expect:

Starting cornerbacks Brandon Flowers and Brandon Carr cannot let the Raiders’ young targets gain confidence early in this game. They must play physical at the line of scrimmage and harass them all afternoon. Russell’s accuracy has been off all year. So the Chief secondary has to be ready to pounce on his mistakes and keep Oakland’s wide receivers from getting any touches.

GAME NOTES

• This will be the 99^th meeting between both teams. The Chiefs hold a 51-45-2 advantage in the regular season. Oakland has been victorious in three of the last four meetings.
• WR Nick Miller and LB Ricky Brown were inactive during practice on Wednesday.
• Chris Chambers, who faced the Raiders a few weeks ago as a member of the San Diego Chargers is now a Chief. Chambers recorded 3 receptions for 70 yards and 2 scores last week in his debut in Kansas City, this after Tom Cable stated he had no interest in the target due to the talent he possessed on the roster.

KEY MATCH-UPS

Chambers & Dwayne Bowe vs. Asomugha & Johnson

Cassel will look to have another solid game against Oakland and a consecutive week with productive numbers. Now that he has a second target teams have to focus on, it will open up the passing game for the Chiefs.

Which Run D breaks down?

Both teams can allow big chunks on the ground. McFadden’s memorable moments have been against the Chiefs and KC would love to get something going on the ground as to relive the pressure off Cassel’s shoulders.

PREDICTION

Raiders 19 – Chiefs 16

TV & RADIO

The game will be televised on CBS with Gus Johnson providing play-by-play and former NFL player Steve Tasker handling color analysis. If sold out per NFL blackout rules, the game will air in the Bay Area on KPIX Channel 5. The game will also air 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 Raiders web site)

GAME INFO

Sunday, November 15, 2009, 1:05 p.m. PT | Oakland Alameda County Coliseum, CA

Road Team: Kansas City Chiefs (1-7) Home: 0-4 Road: 1-3

Home Team: Oakland Raiders (2-6) Home: 1-3 Road: 1-3

Point Spread: Raiders -2 (favored)

Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

OAKLAND – Oakland Raiders wide receiver Chaz Schilens talks to the media about his health, possibly coming back this weekend to face the Kansas City Chiefs and his work with quarterback JaMarcus Russell.

video management, video solution, video streaming

The Oakland Raiders again signed defensive tackle William Joseph. This marks the third time this season the former New York Giant has landed in Silver & Black. And to make room on the roster, they released offensive lineman Paul McQuistan.

McQuistan has been serving as a back-up mainly since Oakland drafted him in the 3^rd round of the 2006 entry draft.

He started six games in 2006, but was benched for the remainder of the season due to poor play. The following season, he played in all 16-games, starting six of them when the Raiders sustained injuries along the trenches. In 2008, he spent most of the campaign on injured reserve.

Oakland got some of their injured players back on the practice field on Monday. Running back Darren McFadden, wide receiver Chaz Schilens and right tackle Cornell Green participated during Monday’s session. All three are expected to be ready for their match-up against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

“This is the healthiest this football team has been, there’s no question, particularly on offense,” head coach Tom Cable commented. “In terms of having them all back and into sync and the energy in the huddle and all those things, it was good to have them back.”

On the defensive side of the ball; end Greg Ellis did not practice, as he had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee last week and Tommy Kelly was exempt due to personal matters.

Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

Oakland Raiders head coach Tom Cable addressed the media this morning and updated the status of a few players. He stated that, “ Nick Miller is making some progress….”

He also mentioned receiver Chaz Schilens, who was expected to play against the Jets but suffered a late setback. “Schilens, we’ll see, he’s still pretty sore today,” stated Cable.

Cable informed the media that running back Darren McFadden and offensive linemen Robert Gallery and Cornell Green are improving and that he’ll know Wednesday or Thursday at the latest for their status next weekend against the San Diego Chargers.

In a look back at yesterday’s loss, Cable stated, “We had a number of errors, misalignments on defense. Fifteen missed tackles on defense. Offensively, we turned the ball over three times early in the football game and I thought two out of the three, we really could’ve done something about it, and didn’t.”

When asked whether he felt sure that JaMarcus Russell gave the team the best chance to win versus the Chargers, Cable answered, “Sure I am.”

“He is a strong young man, and I applaud him for that. You want to keep him that way,” Cable commented about the benching on Sunday. “I think he’s trying to bear it, and be strong with it.”

“He’ll learn form this and he’ll grow.”

Cable stated towards the end of the session that, “There’s a lot of football left. I still know that this team is going to succeed this year. To what degree, that will be decided in the next 9 weeks, 10 weeks.” He continued, “the biggest issue for us right now is making sure we take care of each other and this football team.”