Silver and Black Report

As I stated yesterday, Florida Gators center Maurkice Pouncey has caught the eye of the Oakland Raiders.

That’s not too much of a surprise considering the need along the offensive and how you can justify the Silver & Black upgrading the center spot.

In 2009, Oakland juggled Chris Morris and Samson Satele at that position with neither really cementing themselves as the incumbent for 2010.

Satele was the more reliable of the two, but that’s not saying much considering how poorly Morris played at times.

The Raiders have a history of great centers along the trenches. Jim Otto is a hall of famer, Dave Dalby has three Super Bowl rings, Don Mosebar tallied three Pro Bowl appearances before an injury forced him out of the game and Barret Robbins was a first-team all-pro in 2002 before his life came crashing down.

Tom Cable will undoubtedly fancy an anchor along the offensive line. And the Raiders need a lot of help in that area. But before you assume it will come at either tackle spot, realize that the need at center is a real one.

The only question is whether or not Oakland likes him enough to take him with the 8^th overall selection?

Pouncey is projected as a mid-to-late first rounder. But those projections can be thrown out the window when draft boards vary from club-to-club and needs dictate who is taken on any particular slot.

Especially when the Raiders are selecting; a team who rarely follows trends or that are easy to predict come draft day.

Last year, Darrius Heyward-Bey was taken 7^th overall. Michael Crabtree, Jeremy Maclin among others were widely regarded as better prospects, but the Maryland product’s speed infatuated the Raiders. Could they have traded down and got him later? Most likely. Would have that been the smarter move financially. Absolutely.

So will this be the case in 2010?

Pouncey is a legitimate talent. He’s stout at the point of attack, is big and strong, and the type of talent the Raiders need in the trenches.

But could he be had later?

If Oakland really does like him and they feel that he’s their guy at the end of the evaluation process, it won’t be a surprise to anyone if the Gator is selected.

Again, a trade down would be the smart move financially. Slotting a lot lower and getting the player you want at a reasonable spot and picking up extra compensation is always a win-win scenario.

But these are the Raiders, and if they really want Pouncey and he’s there, and they don’t want to risk losing him to someone else; they wont be afraid to take the prospect that could anchor their offensive line for years to come.

(Photo used courtesy of: http://www.gatorzone.com/football/bios.php?year=2009&player_id=123)

According to reports, the Oakland Raiders have tendered cornerback Stanford Routt and offensive lineman Chris Morris tenders.

Morris, who has accrued three seasons, will receive a contract worth $1.1 million should he sign the tender. A part-time starter at center and guard in 2009, Morris can receive offers from other clubs, but the Raiders have the right to refute the offer. If Oakland decides to let him walk, they will receive a seventh round draft choice.

Routt reportedly received a first- and third-round tender. He could be scheduled to make more than $3 million in 2010.

The speedy cornerback has been a spot starter and a nickel back for most of his time with the Raiders. His physical tools have not translated to football ability since Oakland drafted him with the 38^th overall pick in the 2005 draft.

QUARTERBACK: D

Charlie Frye dropped to 7-15 as a starter. He put the Raiders behind the eight ball early in the contest with his first pass of the game. David Bowens intercepted Frye as the passer tried to get the ball to Darren McFadden on a slant. The linebacker drifted into the area Frye was locked in on and set the Browns up at Oakland’s 17-yard line before Jerome Harrison drove it in for a score to give Cleveland a 7-0 lead. His next two passes were deep balls to Chaz Schilens that were off the mark. At times Frye was decisive and handled the offense smartly. He hit Schilens on a 16-yard gain on 3^rd and 3 in the first quarter, combined with Zach Miller for a 5-yard completion on 3^rd and 3 right before the half and he used his feet to extend plays. But the turnovers thwarted too many drives and his miscues crippled the offense when they needed big plays. He ended 26/45 for 333 yards, no scores and 3 interceptions.

RUNNING BACKS & FULLBACKS: C

Michael Bush had 9 carries for 50 yards at halftime. Oakland only fed him the ball on the ground one other time in the second half for 2-yards. Bush had a decent start running for 14-yards on the Raiders third drive and gaining 12 on a 2^nd and 8 in the 2^nd quarter. But for some reason, the Raiders abandoned the rushing game and made life easier for the Cleveland defense. Darren McFadden tallied 23-yards on the ground and 55-yards receiving. Against a team that allowed 149.6 yards per game on the ground and the opponent within reach, Oakland failed to establish a run game and give Frye a more balanced attack. Gary Russell added 2 catches for 14-yards, the key one being an 11 yard toss out of the backfield when Oakland started a drive backed up against their own goal line. But the fullback blew a block at the start of the 4^th quarter that led to a Matt Roth sack.

WIDE RECEIVERS & TIGHT ENDS: C-

Zach Miller was stellar, compiling 9 receptions for 110 yards. His taunting infraction was sketchy after a remarkable 27-yard grab in the 4^th quarter. Chaz Schilens ended with 64-yards on 4 grabs. Johnnie Lee Higgins victimized Frye with two key drops and was out of sync in the passing game. His lone haul was a 33-yard pass on a double move, beating cornerback Eric Wright on Oakland’s first play of the final quarter. Louis Murphy had a key catch negated by a penalty that could’ve set Oakland with a 1^st down at Cleveland’s 2-yard line. His 3^rd and 1 reception late in the game for 6-yards was a nice snatch on a high toss.

OFFENSIVE LINE: F

This group allowed four sacks and offered very little support to the ball carries, as the Raiders ended with a feeble 88-yards rushing. Cornell Green’s holding infraction on 3rd and 4 wiped away Murphy’s 14-yard reception at the Browns 2-yard line in the 1^st quarter.  Once Langston Walker left the game, the Raiders lost their toughness. He was replaced by Chris Morris who quickly picked up a false start flag on a 3^rd and 3 and the Browns overloaded the left side of the formation on the ensuing play to rush Frye and facilitate an incompletion. Morris was later penalized for a hold and on the next play; Roth mauled him on a blitz that put the Raiders in a 2^nd and 26. Mario Henderson faced a lot of blitzes on his side of the formation and was flagged for a false start as the game wound down.

DEFENSIVE LINE: D

Harrison had a strong outing with 39-carries for 148-yards and a touchdown. For some stretches, the Raiders held up at the line of scrimmage and battled against an offense that wanted to stay on the ground most of the day. But Harrison pounded away and a few times, his offensive line was able to open up some gaping holes. Matt Shaughnessy gave a solid effort today with two tackles for losses – displaying strong backside help on one 8-yard loss. Gerard Warren continued his solid play and tallied a sack versus his old club. Richard Seymour single-handedly gave the Browns seven points with his personal foul and unsportsmanlike conduct infractions late in the 1^st half when the contest became tense. “A little light just started the whole thing,” Seymour commented. “Everybody just jumped on. Obviously, we have to keep our composure. You never want to have personal fouls on a drive, especially on a play that didn’t even happen and you get another one.”

LINEBACKERS: D

Kirk Morrison was out of position on many of Harrison’s key runs; getting caught in traffic or getting late to a meeting point with the ball carrier around the line of scrimmage. Thomas Howard had one stand out play in coverage against Evan Moore. Otherwise, it was a quiet game from this group, including Trevor Scott who was sold at times versus the run, but did not provide the rush he has in recent weeks.

SECONDARY: C

Stanford Routt was ejected for a head-butt in the 2^nd quarter and was seen pushing Eric Steinbach a few plays before Mohamed Massaquoi’s 19-yard touchdown reception versus Chris Johnson. Johnson again had a tough time being the focal point of the opponent, beaten by Massaquoi for a 28-yard gain and getting flagged for pass interference on a 3^rd and 16 for 18-yards. Tyvon Branch was active again against the run, but he continues to have lapses in space allowing a 24-yard completion to Michael Gaines. Derek Anderson only had 17-pass attempts, but he completed eight of them for 121 yards.

SPECIAL TEAMS: B+

Sebastian Janikowski nailed a career long 61-yard field goal as time expired in the 2^nd quarter. He also booted both of his other two attempts through the uprights from 44 and 34-yards out to give the Raiders their only scores of the game. Oakland had directional kick-offs to avoid Joshua Cribbs, but it hurt them on one instance when Harrison recovered the football and went 39-yards to the Oakland 43-yard line. That field position led to a Phil Dawson 33-yard field goal, which gave the Browns a 20-9 lead. Slade Norris and Isaiah Ekejiuba had a nice stuff on Cribbs, as well as Gary Russell, who helped corral the explosive returner for 60 total yards on the day on 5 touches. The return units for Oakland continue to be abysmal and to compound the misery today, Tony Stewart was ejected after Russell’s horrific 11-yard kickoff return in the 4^th quarter.

COACHING: F

Tom Cable’s bunch again failed to notch back-to-back victories. They abandoned the run and came out with Frye firing against a team that has struggled all season stopping consistent ground attacks. The play-calling was lackluster, especially late when they attempted to run fade routes to Murphy on back-to-back plays – one which ended on a interception by Eric Wright that was overturned another on a busted play that Frye was not able to get off after penetration disrupted his short drop in the pocket. The Browns have an anemic offense as well, ranking 31^st in total yards per game entering the contest. But allowed too many big plays to help them move the chains and sustain drives. What also helped was how undisciplined the defense was, losing their composure and imploding in certain spots. Oakland tallied 13-penalties for 126-yards. Add the three turnovers, and this just proves that it does not matter who the opponent is, the Raiders are not ready to build on their recent success and go on the road and take care of business. “Some it is uncalled for stuff,” Cable said. “We’ve got to see what’s going on, but that’s 130 yards and that’s disappointing.” And that falls directly on the coaching staff, their preparation and inability to challenge these players. Another defeat next week extends their already agonizing 11 losses or more streak.

GAME NOTES:

• Inactives included: Bruce Gradkowski, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Justin Fargas, Khalif Barnes, Brandon Myers, Javon Walker and Nick Miller.
• “I didn’t give our team a very good chance to win. Turnovers trump everything,” said Frye after the game, who sustained a concussion last week and faced his former team today.
• “We’ve shown flashes of being a championship-caliber team. We’ve shown flashes of being one of those cellar-dweller type teams,” Nnamdi Asomugha said. “It’s kind of like we haven’t been able to figure out who we wanted to be. If you want to be a contender in this league, you have to have an identity.”

Contact Author:  Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

Starting left guard Robert Gallery is out for the remainder of the season with a lower back strain injury sustained against the Pittsburgh Steelers last Sunday.  Gallery hurt his back blocking on the trick hand-off to Darren McFadden and lateral to Bruce Gradkowski that loss 16-yards.

Tom Cable said after practice that the injury would require surgery. “He’s a very good player, was playing very well before he got hurt in Kansas City, so he comes back and gets back in the groove,” Cable stated. “It’s disappointing for him and our team. He’s not had these types of things that have kept him out of games in the past. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but it’s the game, and it does it to a lot of people.”

The former number two overall pick in the 2004 draft has been Oakland’s best lineman since being moved to guard in 2007.

So far in 2009, Gallery has missed time in camp due to an appendectomy and six-regular season games with a broken leg suffered during a week-two contest. If Samson Satele is healthy and ready to start at center, Chris Morris will take Gallery’s position in the line-up. If Satele cannot see action due to his strained calf, recently acquired Langston Walker will start at left guard for the first time in his career and Morris will man the center spot.

In the six-games Gallery has played in, the Raiders are averaging 120.3 rushing yards per game. During the six-games he was out, the team ran for an average of 89 yards per contest.

OTHER NEWS

• Receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey and defensive end Greg Ellis did not practice today. Both are not looking to be ready for Sunday’s game.
• The game will be blacked out for the sixth time this season. Against Cincinnati, the recorded attendance was 34,112.

ANALYSIS

He may not be the dominant all-pro tackle many predicted he would become prior to the 2004 draft, but Gallery’s presence will be sorely missed along the Raider trenches. The 29-year old is the best offensive lineman on the Raiders and one of the better run blocking interior lineman in the AFC. His mobility and ability to pave lanes on counters, sweeps and trap plays will effect the production on the ground. And that will directly effect what plays Tom Cable is able to call as the season winds down. With Bruce Gradkowski at the helm, Oakland has not relied upon the vitality of their rushers, as oppose to when JaMarcus Russell was in the line-up. So leaning more on the passing game, their fiery quarterback and the development of their young targets is in order for the Silver & Black. The Raiders are not a physical bunch along the offensive line. When they have short down and distances or goal line situations, it will be interesting to see how they handle their play-calling.

The Oakland Raiders (1-3) travel east to face the New York Giants (4-0) on Sunday. This will be the eleventh time they will meet during the regular season with Oakland having a 7-3 edge dating back to their first contest in 1973. In their last meeting, the Giants went into Oakland and beat the Silver & Black 30-21 on December 31, 2005.

OAKLAND RAIDERS

On Offense:

It’s time to rev up the running game if you are the Raiders. Currently, they rank 28^th in the league in rushing, a surprise considering that was the lone aspect of this club that any prognosticator expected to be productive prior to the season beginning being the only position on the roster with considerable depth. For the next few weeks they will be without Darren McFadden (meniscus), so Justin Fargas and Michael Bush will carry the load. But it must start from the trenches, and since their game versus San Diego, the Raiders have lost any toughness and chemistry on the offensive line.

“It can go two ways,” starting left tackle Mario Henderson said this week, looking ahead to the Giants. “We can go out there and embarrass ourselves or go out there and make a name for ourselves. It’s a good opportunity for us.”

Chris Morris, who may start at left guard state, “That’s how we will measure ourselves, going up against the best. If we can put up a good game like we plan on doing it will be good for us.”

What to Expect:

The Giants defensive line can bring the heat. And their rush defense is stout. With Oakland re-shuffling their line and trying to find a way to get back a respectable ground game, it spells trouble for Tom Cable’s bunch. JaMarcus Russell will face intense pressure and there won’t be many run lanes for Fargas and Bush. New York’s defense is a prideful bunch and with their offensive leader possibly sidelined, they will make sure Oakland’s offense continues their woes, as they’ve averaged 7.3 points per game in their last three contests.

On Defense:

Oakland’s front-seven must be primed to face a tough ground game. Tommy Kelly, Gerard Warren, Richard Seymour and Greg Ellis must hold their ground and improve on the 146.3 yards allowed rushing per game so far in 2009.

“You don’t get to see 270-pound backs running that fast, but I mean he’s human so if you hit him around his beak a couple of times, he’ll slow down,’’ Tommy Kelly stated about Brandon Jacobs.

What to Expect:

The Raiders will stack the line of scrimmage in trying to slow down the Giants running backs. But they cannot allow their receivers to exploit the secondary in man-to-man coverage, as Chris Johnson has given up big yardage opposite Nnamdi Asomugha and the Giants receivers are having a solid start to 2009. If they can slow down the duo at running back for the Giants, they must attack whoever is at quarterback with their four down linemen and get there with consistency to have any shot at staying close late.

On Special Teams:

The play of the coverage units has fallen dramatically since last season; and the team returned the same components to a steady group in 2008. Oakland ranks 29th in punt returns, 32nd in kick coverage and 31st in kick returns.

Justin Miller was cut again this week, replaced by running back Gary Russell due to the injury to McFadden. Russell may see time returning kickoffs, as the combination of Louis Rankin, Jonathan Holland and Miller has been non-threats to opponents.

NEW YORK GIANTS

On Offense:

Much of the talk this week surrounded the health of starting quarterback Eli Manning. On Thursday, head coach Tom Coughlin did not predict whether or not his starter would play on Sunday after sustaining a heel injury last week, while back-up David Carr has taken snaps with the first team leading up to the game.

“I am sure he wants to play really bad, probably as bad as I want to play,” Carr said of Manning. “It’s the same for every competitor, every guy who wants to be on the field. Everybody gets hurt. We’re down a lot of guys now and I think everyone on the side wants to be out there to help the team.”

What to Expect:

Whether Manning plays or not, it won’t change what the Giants want to accomplish on Sunday. Their personality on offense is based on a tough ground game, and this may be the game to get back to being a dominant rushing unit. The Giants are averaging 145.5 yards per game rushing, but Jacobs is averaging almost 2 yards less per carry from his stats a year ago. Jacobs (288 yards rushing) and Ahmad Bradshaw (265 yards rushing) could combine for 200 yards rushing this weekend.

On Defense:

The Giants rank 19^th in rush defense (117.3), 1^st in pass defense (115.0) and 6^th in points allowed per contest (16.0)

All those numbers don’t bode well for a Raiders offense that cannot move the chains consistently or put points on the boards. Russell is struggling and is the worst starting quarterback in the league statistically, and he’s facing a team that can bring pressure with their down linemen and has covered well so far in 2009.

Linemen Justin Tuck (2.5 sacks) and Osi Umenyiora (2.0 sacks) are a quarterbacks worst nightmare, and either can line up anywhere along the formation.

What to Expect:

Antonio Pierce is the leader on defense, and his ability to dissect what offenses are trying to do and help his teammates get in the right position are invaluable traits. Oakland does not run an elaborate offensive scheme, so the Giants can just line up and play physical football. That is not in Oakland’s personality, so it will be tough for the Raiders to match New York’s intensity or style of play.

GAME NOTES

• The Giants are coming off a three-game road trip and will play in front of their home crowd for the first time since week-one. They have not begun a season 5-0 since 1990.
• Michael Bush will start at running back. He stated this week, “You want to be that man.”
• Chaz Schilens did not practice and will most likely miss another week of action. Nick Miller will be inactive and won’t be ready for at least another two-weeks. Zach Miller missed practice on Thursday, but is expected to play. Hiram Eugene finished practice and is on schedule to be activated this week.

KEY MATCH-UPS

Steve Smith vs. Nnamdi Asomugha/Chris Johnson

Smith is leading the NFL in receptions (34), yards (411) and touchdowns (4). The 24-year old is establishing himself as New York’s ‘go to guy’ and if he goes up against the best cornerback in football, it could be the best match-up of the entire weekend anywhere. Against Johnson, Smith could wiggle his way for big gains as he is a precise route runner.

RT Kareem McKenzie, RG Chris Snee, C Shaun O’hara, LG Rich Seubert and LT David Diehl vs. The Raiders front seven

That Giants’ offensive line may be the best in the league. Add FB Madison Hedgecock to that load and Oakland’s defense may be facing the toughest bunch they’ll see all year.

Can JaMarcus Russell play mistake free and make a big play or two…or three?

If by some chance Oakland is close in the 4^th quarter, they will need their QB to play over his head. They will need big plays out of him to stay close and pull an upset.

PREDICTION

Giants 29 – Raiders 3

TV & RADIO

The game will be televised on CBS with Greg Gumbel providing play-by-play and former NFL player and Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Dierdorf handling color analysis. The game will air locally on KPIX Channel 5. The game will also air in Sacramento on KOVR Channel 13 as well as on KHSL in Chico, KION in Monterey and KJEO in Fresno. 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, October 11, 2009, 1 p.m. ET | Giants Stadium, NJ

Home Team: New York Giants (4-0) Home: 1-0 Road: 3-0

Road Team: Oakland Raiders (1-3) Home: 0-2 Road: 1-1

Point Spread: Raiders are 14.5 underdogs

Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

Robert Gallery underwent surgery to repair a broken left fibula that could keep him out as much as six weeks.

“It’s not as easy as just plugging in a new left guard or a new center,” head coach Tom Cable said Monday. “You want to make sure it all gels together. If this was a week issue or something like that, maybe it’s pretty easy, but it’s not. I think you have to look at it as a month issue.”

Preliminary reports stated that Cable could opt to play either Khalif Barnes or Erik Pears at left guard; two players that are more adept at tackle spots. A long shot for the nod is Paul McQuistan, a career back-up who has stepped in due to injuries in the past for short spurts.

Gallery had started 34-straight games at left guard and was the best lineman on the Silver & Black.

Oakland must get back to running the football the way they did versus the Chargers in order to help out an anemic offense that has been hindered by the inconsistencies of JaMarcus Russell.

Losing Gallery won’t help. And re-shuffling the line won’t either.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll see how Cable will cope and adjust to finding new chemistry in the trenches and how he will direct this offense.

Chaz Schilens is on his way back. Cutting down the load on Darrius Heyward-Bey and making him a third option could help the aerial attack. And finding creative ways to get Darren McFadden the ball while using Michael Bush and Justin Fargas to move the chains on the ground will be imperative.

One thing will be a constant; Chris Morris at center.

Cable likes the way he handles the middle and the technique he brings to the trenches.

BRONCOS DEFENSE STOUT EARLY

After two games, the Denver Broncos have allowed only one touchdown and 13 points. Opponents are averaging 70 yards a game on the ground (10^th in the NFL) and 204 via the pass (11^th in the NFL).

Add to that, their playmaking so far; as they have recorded three interceptions, tallied seven sacks, forced three fumbles while recovering two.

The Broncos are 2-0 on the strength of their newly revamped 3-4 defense. So if Oakland expects to threaten the upper half of the AFC West, they must play mistake free football on offense, establish the run and keep Russell upright on Sunday.

Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

The physical play of the Raiders on both sides of the ball

Oakland set the tone early with their powerful ground game. After the 1^st quarter, they had a dominating 81-yards rushing. On the other side of the ball, San Diego was only able to produce 9-yards on the ground. Tom Cable’s offensive line pushed aside the Charger’s front seven in the first half, which allowed Darren McFadden and Michael Bush to combine for 105 yards at intermission. Mario Henderson mauled Shawne Merriman at times; Robert Gallery, Chris Morris and Cooper Carlisle shoved aside any Charger opposite them and Cornell Green played over his head on occasion. Oakland’s defense also flexed their muscle with hard-hitting and relentless pressure. Tyvon Branch looked every part of a strong safety when around the line of scrimmage, Richard Seymour, Greg Ellis and Trevor Scott brought the heat and Tommy Kelly and Gerard Warren actually looked stout in the trenches. Oakland has not played with this physical nature in a long time. Did they wear down as the game ended? The linebackers getting depth in their coverages late and John Marshall hitting the brake pedal as time expired was disappointing, but overall, San Diego will feel the effects of the brute play of the Raiders this morning.

VERDICT: GOOD

The new acquisitions on the defensive line

Greg Ellis and Richard Seymour tallied all three Raider sacks. Seymour played every position along the front-four, was disruptive, and his utilization drove San Diego’s offense nuts. His play appeared to have elevated the performance of others and solidified a line that was in desperate need of a force in the interior. Ellis was the steady veteran he always is. Whether on run defense or chasing Philip Rivers down, Ellis provided more than what Derrick Burgess had in his last two campaigns in Silver & Black.

VERDICT: GOOD

JaMarcus Russell’s up and down night

At times, Russell hindered the offense, missing wide-open targets and looking like the passer still in development. Other times, he looked poised, steady and like a quarterback evolving. His 57-yard bomb to Louis Murphy in the 4^th quarter was clutch, especially after his accuracy struggles and missing a few plays on that same drive after a sneak in which he hurt himself. Ultimately, he has to make more positives plays to help this team perform at a higher level. The touchdown to Murphy, which the referees overruled, was a nice flash.

VERDICT: TIE

Darren McFadden getting his touches

Oakland has to continue to feature this dynamic talent. He is a scary weapon that can provide some moments of excitement. The Raiders used him well on runs, splitting out as a wide receiver and motioning him all over the formation. More screens to the speedster should be mixed into the game plan. There is no denying that he can run the ball between the tackles as well, as he can handle the pounding with his chiseled frame. Ball security is an issue, but until further notice, he should be the main ball carrier on this offense.

VERDICT: GOOD

Special Teams, not so special

Last year, the Raiders played well on coverage units. In the opener, they allowed momentum-swinging plays to the diminutive Darren Sproles. After Oakland took a 7-0 lead, on the ensuing kick, Sproles busted a 66-yard return. Then when they took a 10-7 lead, Sproles replied with a 59-yard burst.

VERDICT: BAD

John Marshall’s debut

For the most part, good, but the first year defensive coordinator inexplicably dropped his linebackers deep into coverage, allowing key yards late in the 4^th quarter to Sproles out of the backfield. Oakland forced a turnover in the 1^st half after the Chargers drove deep in their territory, a fumble by LaDainian Tomlinson; his first in 993 touches. The front-seven played physical and was disciplined. But the breakdown late could have been prevented scheme wise after the Raiders punished the Chargers all night.

VERDICT: TIE

NOTE: Game Grades will be posted soon…

Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

Best Offensive Player:

Zach Miller, TE

He’s the best blocker on the line of scrimmage and the most reliable pass catcher. In two seasons, he’s compiled 100 catches for 1,222 yards and 4 touchdowns – very productive for a tight end in a miserable offense. At 6-5, 255 pounds, he’ll be JaMarcus Russell’s ‘go to’ target until Chaz Schilens gets back. After that, his value may increase when the Raiders can actually field better talent at wide receiver and then vary what they can do on offense.

Mr. Reliable; Flying under the radar is…

Robert Gallery, LG

The former 1^st round draft choice has settled in at guard and has become the Raiders most consistent lineman. Oakland would have loved for him to pan out at tackle, but Gallery who was considered a can’t miss prospect coming out of college suffered through growing pains, a lot of movement along the line early in his career and a revolving door of coaches. He is the motor along the trenches, the Silver & Black’s best run blocker and a player that would be a pro-bowl contender on any other team.

Player ready to make his own highlight reel…

Darren McFadden, RB

Hand it off to him, pass it to him, wildcat formations…anything to see the football in his hands more often in 2009. That will equate to big plays, exciting moments, more points and an offense that will keep defensive coordinators on their toes. McFadden is one of the few multi-dimensional threats around the league that can legitimately score from anywhere on the field. But Oakland has to commit to giving him the ball at a higher frequency, or use him as a decoy to free-up others on offense.

Player that must take it to the next level…

JaMarcus Russell, QB

It’s time for Russell to start showing why he was deserving of that no. 1 overall selection. He has to show leadership, help this team win games with his abilities, elevate the play of others around him and give the organization hope of a brighter future.

Best RB not named McFadden is…

Michael Bush, RB

With all due respect to Justin Fargas, and what he has been able to demonstrate in recent years, but Bush needs more touches. He is a better pass catcher than Fargas and is the perfect complement to the explosive McFadden. Fargas is a relentless runner, but he does not have the game-breaking abilities of Bush, nor the size to move piles on short yardage situations.

What to look for…

Two Tight End formations

Miller is a stud and Oakland has high hopes for the nimble Brandon Myers. His 9 receptions for 131 yards and a score in the pre-season opened many eyes and gave the Raiders a legitimate secondary threat in a big formation with two tight ends. Both are adept at blocking and can get depth in their routes. Add McFadden into the mix in the backfield, and Russell has a nice grouping to move the chains.

A slow start to the speedy receiver’s career…

Darrius Heyward-Bey was named the starter and now faces the daunting task of making a splash at wide receiver in his initial season. Oakland must incorporate him on shorter routes; slants, hitches and crossing patterns, before opponents start fearing his ability to stretch the field. Once he becomes a reliable route runner, opponents will have more to deal with and be more surprised when he actually bolts down the field.

Can Chris Morris settle in at Center?

What he lacks in physical attributes, he makes up with technique and smarts. That is good, but ultimately, will he be able to handle the rigors of playing in the trenches and will he be able to play physical enough to help this run game evolve?

O’Neal and Lawton mixing it up at FB

Oren O’Neal’s knee is fine, but he looked slow at times and not as bruising as he did in the past. Luke Lawton will play mainly on special teams, but if he can be quicker to the line of scrimmage and find his assignments faster as a fullback, expect him to take reps away from O’Neal.

Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist