Silver and Black Report

Javon Walker has been subpoenaed to testfy in the trial of the alleged killer of former teammate Darrent Williams.

Oakland’s receiver will most likely testify in the trial of Willie Clark, who is the suspect that allegedly shot Williams after a nightclub altercation on New Year’s Day 2007.

Walker and Williams were members of the Denver Broncos and the wide receiver was next to Williams in a limousine that was showered by gunfire.

Jury selection for the trial will begin in February. Clark, 26,  is charged with first-degree murder, but has denied firing any shots on that evening.

Walker told HBO’s “Real Sports” he was haunted by that event and still had objects from that frightful evening in an interview August 2007.

“I still have those clothes,” Walker replied.

When asked about the clothing, he said, “It’s just something that reminds me every day of what could happen and this is what happened to my friend. And this is like … what’s left of him is on my clothes.”

Walker signed with the Raiders in March of 2008. The six-year $55 million contract that included more than $16 million in guarantees will go down as one of the biggest free-agent bust signings for the organization.

He then restructured in March of 2009, saving the Raiders a reported $22 million. “We are very happy Javon agreed to restructure his contract and be a part of what we’re building here,” senior executive John Herrera said. “This shows his loyalty and commitment to being a member of the Oakland Raiders and we’re excited about that.”

The executive continued: “The guy can play, he’s proven that before. He was injured last year and didn’t get the chance to show what he can do. This gives him that opportunity.”

But Walker was a non-factor this season and was exiled on the inactive list all year, seemingly in the owner’s doghouse.

Walker stated in September of 2009, “I’m more than healthy enough.”

“I’m just going with the flow.”

Walker miffed the Raiders when he had a procedure done on his right knee that was a surprise to them during their camps. “We just found out about it,” Tom Cable said back in May. “Yeah, it is a little bit uncommon but we’re aware of it now and it was probably the right thing to do and get it cleaned up.”

It is expected that both parties will end their relationship with each other this off-season.

Oakland has a group of young players they like at wide receiver and at this point, there is no need to continue to keep a disenchanted bust on the roster that is ready to move on.

“That’s a done issue,” Walker commented in 2008 after reports circulated about the Raiders talking him out of retirement. “I’m not really sure what happened but that’s a done issue. That’s something that obviously people hear stuff. I’m here practicing, waiting, and [I] obviously can’t wait till the season starts.

“I’m in a great frame of mind. Why wouldn’t I [be]? I’m with a new team, a great bunch of guys. I’m looking forward to getting this season on the road and actually looking forward to going into next week and try to put everything together as a team and as an offense.”

That was just one incident after being called out by former coach Lane Kiffin for being out of shape and after he was reportedly abducted, beaten and robbed in Las Vegas. Walker was found on the side of a street with facial injuries after he was robbed for thousands of dollars worth of money and jewelry.

OAKLAND, CA — Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha speaks about former Defensive Coordinator Rob Ryan and about playing against the Cleveland Browns this Sunday:
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Linebacker Thomas Howard touches on what it took to defeat the Denver Broncos last week and about Rob Ryan’s ‘prank’ phone call:
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Always uber-cool, Shane Lechler briefly discusses about kicking to the dangerous Cleveland returner Josh Cribbs (Off camera, the Raider punter said that he will not kick away from Cribbs just before I began recording):
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Richard Seymour chatting about the challenges the defense faces against the Cleveland Browns:
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JaMarcus Russell came on in relief yesterday, and instead of dragging the team down with his uninspired play like he did versus the Redskins, he led a late charge for an Oakland 20-19 victory at Denver.

We all know what has been Russell’s demise so far in his career. But after being bypassed for Bruce Gradkowski and Charlie Frye, the young passer made the best of the opportunity presented to him on Sunday. And teammates were enthused to see a positive outcome for the besieged number one overall pick.

“I don’t think words can explain,” starting LT Mario Henderson stated. “He’s the No. 1 overall draft pick. He’s been hearing it from Day 1. For him to come in and do what he did today was amazing. One thing we did was step up behind him. We didn’t abandon him . . . the thing he showed us today is he was ready for the chance, he came back out strong and helped us when we needed it.”

Russell has been booed at home and the performance Gradkowski put forth in his stint had some wondering whether or not the former LSU star had any future in Oakland.

“I always say everybody is going to have their opinion. As long as my teammates have faith, and I have faith in those guys,” Russell said. `There’s always going to be tough times. It’s how you come up from behind and fight those tough times off.”

His 4^th down completion to Tony Stewart does not wash away a resume full of missed opportunities. The game winning score to Chaz Schilens does not change the consensus thought that he is still way too immature to lead this organization. And unless he changes his work habits and strives to make himself a better passer and director, we’ll continue seeing the same poor play that made all his fans turn on him.

Russell is not out of the woods yet, and Raider Nation needs to see more out of him before they can depend on him – and rightly so. “The man has been freaking dragged through the mud and people have been taking shots at him and the man has just been standing tall. He has a lot of growing up to do but when it came time he stepped up and did the job,” Stewart said.

That performance may have done one thing for Russell; it probably extended the leash Al Davis may have been tightening on him and gave the owner a sense of belief that his selection was the right one. Even though it was only a short appearance in a game in which Oakland was lights out on the ground and stout defensively, but Russell was at quarterback and made the throw to win the game.

And that may be enough to give Davis more ammo if he wants to keep this passer around or in the starting line-up in the foreseeable future.

BUSH-WHACKING – RUN DMC

“A game like this reminds me of last year,” Michael Bush commented last night. “In Tampa, the guys went down last year and I stepped in, same thing as today. Fargas went down a little bit and we needed someone else to pick up the slack. that is why you need a stable of backs like we have.”

Bush reminiscent of his 177 yard outing versus the Buccaneers almost a year ago, torched the Broncos for 133 yards, tallying his second 100 + yard performance of the season – the only two the Raiders have had in 2009.

Darren McFadden had a key fumble that led to the Denver go ahead score and Bush dropped a make able 3^rd down reception, but the duo really spearheaded an offense that was in need of a breakout rushing performance.

Justin Fargas was unable to play due to a knee ‘tweak’, but Oakland’s depth at running back finally paid off with their young ball carriers performing as many expected when they were first acquired.

BACK-TO-BACK…

The Raiders have been notoriously bad after wins since Cable took over. This season, they have stumbled versus the Broncos, Jets, Cowboys and Redskins after victories – and all of those losses had their lackluster and embarrassing moments. Next up is Cleveland, who are on a two game winning streak  and are coming off a 41-point effort against the Chiefs and a Jerome Harrison record breaking 286-yard outing, shattering Jim Brown’s single game club record.

OTHER NOTES

Erik Pears was stellar yesterday when Oakland used him as added bulk to their offensive line. Langston Walker also manhandled Denver linemen.

Cable stated after the game: “We’ll have to sort through the bodies on the way home and decide. Charlie was playing really well before he got knocked out. If he’s ready to go he’ll play. If not, we’ll go with JaMarcus but it’s too early to tell.” If Frye has any signs of concussions symptoms this week, Oakland cannot allow him on the field. The NFL will re-evaluate how teams handle concussions this off-season and it is of utmost importance that Frye’s health is the priority. That means JaMarcus Russell could see action against the Browns, as J.P Losman may not be ready enough due to his unfamiliarity with the playbook. And if Losman were to be pegged over Russell after this week, it would speak volumes on how the coaching staff feels about their pricey quarterback.

QUARTERBACK:

Charlie Frye: C

Oakland’s offense tallied 174-yards in the first half with Frye under center. In his second drive on 3^rd and 3, he inexcusably lofted a prayer to Johnnie Lee Higgins that was intercepted by Champ Bailey. That gave Denver the ball at the Raiders 41-yard line and five plays later, the Broncos went up 6-0 on Matt Prater’s 43-yard field goal. Frye ended the 1^st quarter with designed bootleg run after a fake to Darren McFadden, which netted 26-yards. A few plays later, he hit Higgins on 3^rd and 10 for a 12-yard gain and the Raiders ended that drive with a score. Frye had some tempo with the offense and he could’ve had a touchdown pass if Chaz Schilens would’ve hung on to a long toss in the 2^nd quarter that he could not come down with. At times, Frye had happy feet and bailed out on plays by using his legs to roll out due to pressure. Right before halftime, he had a chance to use his legs on a 3^rd and 3 and run for a first down, instead Frye tossed an incomplete pass and the Raiders settled on a field goal to extend their lead to 13-6. In the 4^th quarter, he took a big hit as he released a pass, the back of his head bounced off the turf and the way his body reacted on impact led you to believe that there was enough trauma there that he could not finish the contest.

JaMarcus Russell: B

Raider fans probably said, “Oh no, not again…,” as soon as he entered the game. Immediately, he faced a tough situation, a 3^rd and 12 that he was not able to convert when he bounced a deep out to Louis Murphy. On his second drive, he found an open Michael Bush on a 3^rd and 2 after scrambling, but the rusher was not able to convert on the catch-able pass. Russell did not feel the pressure early on that game-winning drive and disaster almost occurred when the fumbled on the first play. But he redeemed himself on 4^th and 10 – after missing the prior play due to injury – by hitting Tony Stewart with a 10-yard strike. On consecutive plays he hit Stewart again and Schilens for gains of 9 and 13 yards. He then slid in the pocket to avoid the Denver rush and hit Schilens for 4-yards on 2^nd and goal, but the Broncos were flagged for illegal contact and that gave the Silver & Black a new set of downs. A few plays later, Russell connected with Schilens for a 10-yard game-winning touchdown.

RUNNING BACKS & FULLBACKS: A

Even though Bush dropped a key pass on 3^rd and 2 late in the game, fumbled in the 2^nd quarter which was recovered by a teammate and Darren McFadden had a costly turnover that led the Broncos score that gave them a 16-13 lead, this group had a very productive afternoon. This is what Raider fans envisioned of this combo when they were drafted, as both combined for 207 yards on the ground. On Bush’s first touch of the contest, he rumbled for 23-yards and a score to give Oakland a 7-6 lead. On 3^rd and 9 in the 2^nd quarter, he ran for 13 yards and later that drive, he broke a Brian Dawkins tackle and weaved his way for 13 yards. Late in the 3^rd quarter he couldn’t punch it in near the goal line, but neither could McFadden who was thwarted by a stout Denver defensive stance on 4^th and goal, when he tried to cut his run back after initially taking the pitch and looking like he could get to the pylon. That drive got started with a bang when Bush gained 18 yards had a burst for another 40 and McFadden bolted for 28 yards on consecutive plays.

WIDE RECEIVERS & TIGHT ENDS: C

Tony Stewart was key with his 3 receptions for 37-yards. With Zach Miller out, he made vital receptions late in the game to keep a drive alive and to get them close to the winning score. Brandon Myers had only one catch for 6-yards, but his blocking was stellar. Schilens finished with 5 grabs for 37-yards and one touchdown. He caught the game winning score by breaking a tackle at the 3-yard line to hit paydirt. Louis Murphy gave good effort and his bets moment was when he beat Bailey for 14-yards on an out pattern.

OFFENSIVE LINE: B-

Oakland ran for 241-yards rushing. The offensive line was stellar when they asserted themselves and especially when Erik Pears was in as an extra blocker. Pears had key blocks on many of the Raiders big run plays as well as Langston Walker, who mauled the interior of the Denver defensive line on Bush’s score. Elvis Dumervil gave Mario Henderson many problems, but he did not add to his league leading sack total. Cooper Carlisle was flagged for being an ineligible man down the field to start a drive in the 2^nd quarter, but he won many matches in the trenches. Henderson was at the right spot at the right time when Bush fumbled right into his hands. You would’ve liked to see them get push near the goal line when Denver had their stand and not be so shaky late in the game when the Broncos were applying heat with only four-down linemen. But overall, they paved the way for a big day on the ground and kept Russell upright long enough to make plays as time expired. Cornell Green could’ve been a goat in the final drive with a false start from the 5-yard line with 45 seconds remaining.

DEFENSIVE LINE: A

At the half, the Broncos had 55 yards rushing. They only managed 25 the rest of the day on the strength of the defensive line of the Raiders. Matt Shaughnessy was outstanding versus the run and tallied another sack (4^th of the season) with a great bull rush. Tommy Kelly and Gerard Warren were gobbling up Knowshon Moreno, who ended with 19 carries, for 42-yards (2.2 per carry). William Joseph was even very active up front, giving the Raiders a nice rotation without any weakening along the trenches. Desmond Bryant also played well and Greg Ellis compiled two more sacks; one on Denver’s first play of the final drive. This group disrupted Kyle Orton’s timing with his targets all day.

LINEBACKERS: B

Kirk Morrison probably had his best game of the season. He had 8-tackles, one for a loss and was solid working in space when in zone. Thomas Howard ended with 4 tackles and got better in pursuit as the game went on. Trevor Scott did not tally a sack today, but his run defense continues to be a spark on the front-seven.

SECONDARY: C-

Denver’s targets tallied 278 yards receiving. Stanford Routt was beaten badly in the slot by Brandon Stokley for 63-yards on a play that could have been a back-breaker for the visiting Raiders. On 3^rd and 12 on the opening drive, Chris Johnson was beat by Eddie Royal for 18-yards, Brandon Marshall also terrorized him fooling him on one route for 24-yards, but he defended Jabar Gaffney well on a fade route that ended a drive. Mike Mitchell was stout versus the run and had a key blitz on a 3^rd and 6 that forced Orton into an incompletion. Nnamdi Asomugha was at his best tackling around the line of scrimmage and Michael Huff jarred loose a potential big play by Marshall on 3^rd and 17 in the final seconds of the contest.

SPECIAL TEAMS: B

In the thin air, this was a game of many touchbacks and of place kickers that had were on point with Sebastian Janikowski nailing field goal of 54 and 28 yards while Matt Prater connected on all four of his attempts. Shane Lechler averaged 54.8 per punt. Higgins had a nice punt return of 15-yards and Mitchell had a solid hit on the game’s final kickoff return.

COACHING: A

Tom Cable did a stellar job today. His play calling was rhythmic and precise. The bootleg when Frye was in the game for big yardage gave them life, the draw play on 3^rd down for a nice gain surprised the Denver defense and the run game kept them unbalanced. The offensive line was the facilitator, and he made the right choice playing Walker this weekend. When Russell was inserted, the game plan did not regress and they ran plays that kept Denver back peddling; which was vastly different from his approach against Washington once Russell entered. The again, he did not have the potent ground attack as he did today. Oakland’s defense kept the team alive. In the first half, they held the Broncos to 1/7 on 3^rd downs and Josh McDaniels’ offense only mustered up 3 more after that. The Raiders blitzed often, which affected the flow of Denver’s attack. Oakland was down 6-0 before battling back, And after a missed 4^th down opportunity with McFadden Stokley’ big play and losing his starter, Cable kept his team inspired and fighting on the road. Also, bringing Bush out of the doghouse helped, as the former Louisville star injected life to an offense that hadn’t run the ball well in recent weeks.

GAME NOTES

• Frye ended 9/17 for 68-yards and 1 interception. Russell tallied 5 completions on 11 attempts for 47-yards and a touchdown pass. J.P Losman entered the game for one play – a 3^rd and 10 in the 4^th quarter – before being replaced by Russell, who was healthy enough to complete the game after sustaining an injury. Losman was pressured on his lone play and tossed an incompletion to Murphy. Russell received the game ball after the game, but Cable stated to reporters that Frye will be the starter next week versus Cleveland if healthy.
• Bush had his best game of the year with season highs in carries (18) and yards (133). Justin Fargas “tweaked” his knee according to Cable after the game.
• Former Raider LaMont Jordan rushed for 27 yards on 5 carries.
• Tommy Kelly was injured, but finished the game.
• The game was delayed with 6:53 left when a fan was apparently shinning a laser onto the field.

For the Oakland Raiders; T Khalif Barnes, QB Bruce Gradkowski, WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, TE Zach Miller, WR Nick Miller, LB David Nixon and WR Javon Walker will not see action. Recently signed J.P Losman will be the third string quarterback.

The Broncos designated QB Tom Brandstater their third quarterback, while RB Correll Buckhalter will be out. Also inactive: DE Chris Baker, SS Renaldo Hill, DB Ty Law, WR Brandon Lloyd, DE Jarvis Moss and G Seth Olsen.

The Oakland Raiders (4-9) will face the Denver Broncos (8-5) on Sunday at Invesco Field. Denver has won six of the last eight meetings but still trail the overall series 56-42-2. In their first contest in late September, the Broncos rushed for 215 yards and dominated the time of possession 36:15 to Oakland’s 23:45.

OAKLAND RAIDERS

On Offense:

JaMarcus Russell will sit again this weekend, but this time Charlie Frye will start ahead of him, as this current Raider staff has all but given up on the former first round picks ability to lead this team. Oakland will tab the journeyman to get an offense going that was jolted by the insertion of Bruce Gradkowski a few weeks ago. “Yeah, me and Bruce come from the same mold as far as our past and what we’ve done to get where we’re at,” commented Frye this week.

He may be without tight end Zach Miller who sat out practice on Friday and has been dealt with cautiously after sustaining his second concussion of the season.

Also, Langston Walker will start at left guard for just the second time in his career in place of Chris Morris. “Just the play of what we got last week at left guard and trying to secure that a little bit,” said Tom Cable, about starting the mammoth Walker.

What to Expect:

With Frye in, the Raiders will look more like the team that Gradkowski led rather than the Russell directed bunch. Cable will be able to expand on the playbook, continue to use bootlegs to move around the quarterback and utilize his passing game to attack the Broncos 2^nd ranked pass defense. Without Miller, rookie Brandon Myers will have to play a big role as Tony Stewart is not mobile enough to scare the Denver secondary down the field.

On Defense:

Greg Ellis will be handled with care as the season winds down, as the wily veteran has had knee issues since getting it drained back in October. He participated in practice, but Oakland will try to limit any strenuous work in the week so he can play at end once Sundays roll around.

Matt Shaughnessy has had groin issues, but he is listed as probable. Michael Huff, who suffered a stinger last week, could play and was active on Friday during practice.

One player in secondary who will see more reps as the season winds down is safety Mike Mitchell. The Raiders have set-up new packages in recent weeks for thee week and last Sunday; he tallied his first career sack. In the red-zone he is a solid tackler and even though he has issues covering in space, Mitchell can be used as a blitzer when the Raiders go to their Nickel looks.

What to Expect:

Since week nine versus Pittsburgh, Brandon Marshall has been tearing up the league averaging 108.6 receiving yards per game, including 5 touchdowns and a NFL game record 21-grabs versus the Indianapolis Colts last week. Oakland’s secondary has allowed big plays all season and back in week-three versus the Silver & Black, Marshall hauled in his first score of the season. The Raiders need to find a way to get to Kyle Orton and make him move his feet in the pocket to disrupt his accuracy. If Orton is hitting his targets, Oakland gets blown out.

DENVER BRONCOS

Daniel Graham mocking the crowd in Oakland during their first match-up

On Offense:

“Knowshon is going to be a great player in this league. He’s still learning a lot of things as a rookie. There are still a lot of things he has not seen. But, all in all, he’s doing great,” said Correll Buckhalter.

Knowshon Moreno had 21-carries for 90-yards in his first meeting versus the Raiders and in the last five weeks, he has tallied an average of 82.8 yards on the ground. The rookie is finding his groove late in the campaign and impressing his teammates and coaches.

“Knowshon runs the ball pretty tough in short yardage,” stated his quarterback Kyle Orton.

What to Expect:

Denver will run the ball to eat clock, move the chains and set-up big passing plays to their targets. They dominated the Oakland front-seven in their first match-up with the tandem of Buckhalter and Moreno. So more of the same can be expected. Kyle Orton waxed poetically about his big play receiver stating, “His size and physical ability is what to me is the most impressive. But he’s a total football player. You’re not as good as he is without understanding the game and understanding defenses and what teams are trying to do.”

On Defense:

Josh McDaniels has pointed out all wee the importance of corralling running back Darren McFadden. Last week, the multi-purpose rusher tallied 3 receptions for 85-yards and the Raiders will need him to be a focal point versus Denver if Miller cannot play.

“They’re using him split out, away from the formation and seeing what kind of matchup they get,” McDaniels said, “though I’m not sure the guy covering him really matters, because they’ve thrown on corners, they’ve thrown on safeties, they’ve thrown on linebackers and he’s been very productive in each way, and he can also throw the ball.

“So we’re aware of all the skills he has and all the ways he can hurt us.”

Elvis Dumervil is continuing his pro-bowl push and now has 15.0 sacks to lead the NFL.

What to Expect:

The Broncos’ resurgence on defense this season has been the reason why they are in a position to make the playoffs as we enter the last quarter of the season. They’ll try to make life difficult for Frye who has not seen football action since October 12, 2008. If they rattle him, he’ll make a mistake or two. What the Broncos cannot allow is the Raiders to run the ball for big chunks.

GAME NOTES

• Linebacker Sam Williams (illness) is listed as questionable.
• Darrius Heyward-Bey will miss his third straight game with what Cable said was a ‘foot sprain.’ The rookie has 9 catches for 124 yards.
• Center Tim Mattran was inked to the practice squad this week.

KEY MATCH-UPS

Nnamdi Asomugha vs. Brandon Marshall

Asomugha won’t cover him all over the field, but when they do square off, it will be a treat for all observers. Marshall will get most of his yardage when facing Chris Johnson.

Frye, or Fried?

If Oakland can get a steady performance out of their new passer, then they make this a competitive game. The Raiders won 31-10 in 2008 last year in Denver with steady play from their quarterback.

PREDICTION

Broncos 29 – Raiders 16

TV & RADIO

The game will be televised on CBS with Gus Johnson providing play-by-play and former NFL performer Steve Tasker 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 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, December 20, 2009, 4:05 p.m. ET | Invesco Field at Mile High, CO

Home Team: Denver Broncos (8-5) Home: 4-2 Road: 4-3

Road Team: Oakland Raiders (4-9) Home: 2-5 Road: 2-4

LINE: Raiders are a 14-point underdog

Head coach Tom Cable stated on Wednesday during a conference call with the Denver media that Charlie Frye will be the starting quarterback for the Oakland Raiders on Sunday.

It’s becoming obviously clear that JaMarcus Russell is not the answer and that at least this current coaching staff does not believe the number one overall pick in the 2007 draft is the franchise passer Al Davis thought he selected.

Russell was demoted a few weeks ago in favor of Bruce Gradkowski, who led the Raiders to two wins and immensely improved the output of an offense that was one of the worst in the NFL.

Gradkowski sustained injuries to both knees against the Washington Redskins, and now, the Silver & Black will hand over the starting duties to another journeyman.

Frye went from starter to being traded in a matter of two days early in 2007. He was benched before halftime during the Cleveland Browns opener that season and the following Tuesday, they moved him to Seattle for a sixth round draft choice.

The 28-year old was selected in the third round of the 2005 draft. Frye made his starting debut that season in week-13 versus the Jacksonville Jaguars and set a club rookie record with a 136.7 passer rating. A few weeks later, he led Cleveland to a 9-7 win in Oakland. His final stats: 21-of-32 for 198 yards 0 touchdowns and 1 interception.

In 2006, he played in 12-games tallying 2,454 passing yards with 10 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. Against the Raiders that season, Frye completed 22-of-32 passes for 192 yards with 3 scores and 2 interceptions, in a 24-21 road victory for the Browns.

Oakland signed Frye on June 8, 2009.

J.P Losman was added to the roster yesterday, but at this point, he’ll likely be the 3^rd string, emergency quarterback due to his unfamiliarity in the Raiders system.

If Losman by any chance jumps over Russell in the depth chart, the former LSU star will have hit the lowest point in his short career.

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QUARTERBACK: F

JaMarcus Russell continues to look lost, overwhelmed and his passing woes carried over this week again, which directly led to the ineptitude of the Oakland Raiders’ offense for a second straight contest. He was 12-of-21 for 61 yards and 2 interceptions. The 2.9 yards per completion was embarrassing. Oakland attempted to shorten routes, limit his attempts to dump offs and screens to his best players on offense – the running backs – and that still could not get the big-armed passer going. His interceptions led to ten Denver points. At the start of Oakland’s second drive, Russell was not able to hit his fullback on a short pass in the flat that Champ Bailey almost picked off. A play later, he went deep to Darrius Heyward-Bey, a poor decision due to the double coverage presented, being backed into your own end-zone and needing to be more of a game manager, playing smarter football in keeping your team in the game early, as the ball was intercepted by Renaldo Hill. His next throw was another overthrow to his speedy rookie receiver which fell into the hands of Andre’ Goodman. His best toss of the game was in the 2^nd quarter; an 18-yard rocket to Louis Murphy on 3^rd and 4 that hit his target in stride. Before the half, he appeared to hit his tight end for a gain of 29-yards, but a booth review determined that Zach Miller was not able to stay in bounds. Russell is not getting better. His confidence looks shot. And through this, Oakland is trying to run basic plays to get him out of the funk.

RUNNING BACKS: F

Darren McFadden looked fragile this afternoon. Denver rocked him a few times, which led to him going down easily on a few plays and coughing up the football in critical spots. On the second play of the game, a poorly executed screen pass, McFadden lost handle of the football. On 2^nd and 11 in the 2^nd quarter, he had the ball ripped out of his hands by Mario Haggan (a play that almost took them out of FG range) and in the 3^rd quarter, he fumbled away the possession in the red-zone during Oakland’s only realistic threat to hit paydirt. He ended with 12 carries for 45 yards. Michael Bush did not perform any better, tallying 20-yards on 6 carries. Justin Fargas recorded his first touches of the season in mop up duty. Luke Lawton made a cameo early in the game.

WIDE RECEIVERS & TIGHT ENDS: F

Again, Louis Murphy was the lone receiver to record some touches, ending with 2 grabs for 25-yards. Bush led the team in receptions with 4 for 20-yards, but most of them were off broken plays, short dump offs that were ineffective, as opponents are not afraid of the Raiders vertical attack. Defenses are collapsing on the Raiders, which is causing a lot of traffic around the line of scrimmage. Heyward-Bey is not ready to handle a starting role in this league, and it is showing week-to-week. Javon Walker was inactive. Oakland is pinning their hopes on Chaz Schilens’ return; a receiver with only 15 career catches to ignite a dormant aerial attack. Zach Miller had 2 receptions; his 12-yard gainer on a 3^rd and 16 helped the Raiders set-up their lone scoring opportunity.

OFFENSIVE LINE: F

This unit has gotten progressively worse since the 1^st half of the Charger game. They are not playing with any fire; they cannot push around anyone and are passive during run plays. Tom Cable’s favorite group is beaten at the point of attack consistently and it has a serious impact on their inability to run the football. They managed only 38-yards rushing at the half and 95 for the game. Robert Gallery’s presence was missing. Cornell Green would have added to his resume of penalties this week with another hold, but Denver had mercy on the Raiders and decline it to force a 3^rd and 10. Erik Pears had a false start infraction late in the game and looked mediocre at best in his first start as a Raider. The line allowed three-sacks and was out of sync for the majority of the game. Chris Morris was flagged for a holding penalty, negating a Raider first down and putting them in a 2^nd and 13 trap. Any success Oakland had running the ball came from rushing behind RG Cooper Carlisle.

DEFENSIVE LINE: F

Well, after three-games, we can establish that not much has changed concerning the run defense. The Raiders are allowing 155 rushing yards per game, as they allowed a season high 215 yards against Denver on Sunday. Correll Buckhalter ran for 108 yards and the rookie Knowshon Moreno added another 90. From the start of the contest, Denver gashed the Oakland front-seven, attacking Greg Ellis on edge runs and pushing aside Gerard Warren and Tommy Kelly in the interior. Richard Seymour was flagged for a personal foul on the opening drive of the 2^nd half. That 15-yard infraction gave Denver the ball on the Oakland 15-yard line, and two plays later, the Broncos hit paydirt to take a commanding 20-3 lead. The Raiders did not record a sack, nor did they even come close to Kyle Orton all afternoon. That lack of pressure let the Denver passer sit in the pocket comfortably and make solid decisions all afternoon. Oakland mustered up courage on Denver’s opening drive, stuffing 5 straight rushing plays before getting them off the field on 4^th down. Trevor Scott appeared out of position at times, as Denver took advantage of Oakland’s aggressiveness up the field.

LINEBACKERS: F

We observed poor tackling and an uneventful afternoon for starters Ricky Brown, Kirk Morrison and Thomas Howard. Morrison was torched early by Brandon Marshall; not being able to stay with the explosive receiver on gains of 14 and 11 yards on Denver’s opening drive, and on 3^rd and goal on Denver’s first touchdown, a 2-yard pass on the Broncos’ second drive. John Marshall did not adjust early to Denver’s game plan, isolating the linebackers underneath with shallow routes and causing favorable man-to-man match-ups with some of their elusive targets.

SECONDARY: D

They only allowed 157 passing yards, but only because Denver played a conservative game at and Orton was able to go to shorter routes to get his team down the field. Nnamdi Asomugha tried to help in run support, but to no avail. He even got beat late surprisingly, as Orton connected wit Marshall on a very good pitch and catch for 17-yards. Stanford Routt was beaten a few times by Jabar Gaffney, once on a 15-yard gain to set up a 1^st and goal. On 3^rd and 11 in the 3^rd quarter, Gaffney drew a pass interference flag on Chris Johnson and a few plays later, the Raider defense looked lost on Daniel Graham’s 24-yard reception on 2^nd and 15. Rookie Mike Mitchell recovered a fumble and was in on the Raiders only stout series at the end of Denver’s opening drive that ended at the goal line. Michael Huff almost came up with another interception on one of the few plays Oakland actually got pressure on Orton. On a 3^rd and goal, the Raiders blitzed and Huff jumped in front of Orton’s dump off option. That play at the time saved a touchdown and held the Broncos to a 13-3 lead.

SPECIAL TEAMS: D

Jonathan Holland will not make anyone forget about Justin Miller. Holland was not very good, nor did he put any fear into the Denver coverage unit. Sebastian Janikowski nailed his 48-yard field goal attempt and Shane Lechler punted four-times for an average of 47.5.

COACHING: F

Tom Cable’s team was not ready for this game. Was that Josh McDaniels on the sideline or Mike Shanahan toying with the Raiders’ defense? Oakland was out of position, off-balance on defense and it took them far too long to adjust to Denver’s schemes. McDaniels is off to a 3-0 start with a quarterback that plays it safe, can manage a game and that puts his team in winning situations. Denver jumped out on the Raiders with a quick 7-0 lead. They opened the 2^nd half with an 8-play 80-yard drive to take a 20-3 lead and the Broncos did not punt till the game was already in hand during the 4^th quarter. John Marshall’s defense was pushed around and since the 1^st half versus the Chargers, they have looked like the same unit from 2008 with major flaws and schematic deficiencies. Cable will now have to play the role of psychologist to get his quarterback right, his defense back biting instead of barking and his overall team believing that they can avoid another miserable year before this type of play lingers and they reach a tough stretch in their schedule.

DENVER’S DEFENSE SETTING THE TONE

After three-games, Denver’s defense has allowed one touchdown, 16-points and opponents are averaging 78.3 rushing yards per game. They have tallied 5 interceptions this season, 10-sacks and have recovered three-fumbles to start the campaign.

Elvis Dumervil has six-sacks this season.

INEPT OFFENSE

Oakland for a second straight week could not tally more than 200 yards of total offense. It was just the third time since 1993 that the Raiders achieved such ineptness in back-to-back weeks.

The crowd let Russell know how they felt in the 2^nd half with constant ‘boos’ and chants that were unfavorable to the former number one overall pick.

Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

On Sunday, the Oakland Raiders (1-1) will try to take a step towards the top of the AFC West when they face the rival Denver Broncos (2-0). Denver has won six of their last eight meetings, but Oakland leads the regular season series 55-40-2.

OAKLAND RAIDERS

On Offense:

It’s time for the Raiders to re-establish their run game and support JaMarcus Russell with a steady dosage of Darren McFadden and Michael Bush. Oakland’s passing game is erratic, mainly because of the inability of their young passer to accurately hit his targets consistently. Oh, and those targets themselves are not dependable considering their youth.

But the Silver & Black will have to get their offense in rhythm with a new left guard – Erik Pears. The former Bronco has a huge frame – 6-8 308 pounds – and how he will play in replacing the Raiders steadiest lineman could dictate how this offense performs. Cable talked about the similarities Pears has with Robert Gallery, who was a tackle in college and shares the same traits.

“We went through that same thing with Robert,” Cable said. “But I think having those same kind of talks with Erik, he’s a very bright guy and he’s figured it out pretty quick.”

Pears will have to be ready to slug it out and mimic what Gallery did in week-one against the Chargers. “Things are quicker in there. Outside it takes a little more patience,” Cable said. “Inside it just happens right now. It’s like a street fight. You start throwing and you start fighting. Outside you kind of… you’re like in the ring. You move around, you got more room.”

What to Expect:

Oakland will run…a lot. They can’t survive every week with Russell’s maddening stretches. They can’t expect to stay close every week and hope that he can put together one-drive, or make one-play that can alter a game. They’ll eventually be put in holes because of it. So trying to get the ground game going is imperative. Problem is, they showed a lack of muscle against the Chiefs and they are facing a tougher defense this week. Plus, they are missing their best lineman. Justin Fargas will be active; a positive as Cable described, “He runs so violently, he changes tempo. He as a starter kind of sets tempo for you. My opinion is, you need his energy and you need his intensity that he brings to the game.” Oakland will need that. And if they can’t run the ball, Cable better hope his defense can keep it close enough for another frantic finish.

On Defense:

Hiram Eugene did not practice late in the week and most likely won’t play. And after Michael Huff’s start to the season, the former first rounder deserves to be in the starting line-up. His interceptions have been game changing. And with young players expected to be in the back-end of the secondary, his experience should be a plus for John Marshall’s unit.

“He’ll just play more. But we’ll have a plan in terms of backing it up in with Tyvon (Branch) and Mike Mitchell, perhaps John Bowie,” Cable said.

Huff is steady, knows not to get over enthused about his start and is focused to continue his play.

“I try not to get too riled up about the first two games,” Huff stated this week. “I want to go out there and be consistent and prove it week in and week out.”

What to Expect:

Kyle Orton is steady. And the Broncos will not expose him, nor will they ask him to pull any rabbits out of a hat. So Oakland will have to pressure the first-year Bronco into mistakes. Richard Seymour, Trevor Scott, Greg Ellis and the rest of the front-four must get into the backfield and disrupt any timing Denver will try to develop in their passing game. The Broncos are averaging 130.5 rushing yards a game so far. And after giving up 173 yards on the ground to he Chiefs, will the real Raider rush defense please stand-up!

On Special Teams:

Johnnie Lee Higgins looks to be ready to take over the punt return duties after a week off.

“I’m not a person who likes to sit on the sidelines and watch,” Higgins stated. “ In Kansas City, when we came out of the locker room I still had the shakes and everything and was ready to go and I looked down and was like, ‘I ain’t even suited up.’ Just sitting on the sidelines, that’s really not me.”

Cable even stated that Fargas my see some action on special teams, on coverage units throughout the game.

DENVER BRONCOS

On Offense:

All is well so far for Josh McDaniels who had a tough start to his career in Denver with the Jay Cutler trade and the Brandon Marshall drama. “We can only be 2-0 at this point and we’re certainly not pleased with everything that we’ve done on the field, but we’ve played well enough to beat two teams.  In this league, every win is critical so we’re happy where we’re at and we’re getting ready for Oakland right now,” said the first year head-coach.”

Kyle Orton is directing his offense, tallying a steady 506 yards, 2 touchdown passes and no interceptions, completing 36-of-65 passes.

Orton has a nice complement of receivers, especially when Marshall is healthy and primed to play. This week, Marshall may see more action, and after missing last year’s contest in Oakland, the fiery receiver is anticipating his match-up with Nnamdi Asomugha.

“He’s a very smart player, athletically gifted,” Marshall said. “He just fights every play.”

Brandon Stokley leads the team in receiving, but with Marshall primed, Eddie Royal having a brief but successful history against the Raiders and Jabar Gaffney in the mix, Denver will look to spread out the Silver & Black and keep them un-balance on Sunday.

What to Expect:

Correll Buckhalter and Knowshon Moreno have combined for 216 rushing yards this season. There is no doubt that McDaniels will like to test the Raiders’ rush defense and see if they are the stout club that faced the Chargers, or the team that allowed Kansas City to rack up yards. Denver will spread out the Raiders, run the ball from many sets and then try to play action and get the ball to their many targets. They won’t try anything eventful down the field; but moving the Orton out of the pocket, short quick tosses and possession football will be the game plan, as they try to confuse the Raiders with their varying attack.

On Defense:

Elvis Dumervil leads the Broncos with 4-sacks. Oakland will have to contain the defensive end if they want their dormant passing attack to awaken on Sunday.

“I’ve always had tremendous respect for him,” Cable said. “He’s always a handful. He’s a competitor and he brings it every snap … To me, this was not really a breakout game. I think this guy has been a good player for a while.”

After two games, Denver has 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.

What to Expect:

Denver wants to clog up the trenches and put the game in the hands of Russell. If they can build an early lead and play from in front, force the Raiders to pass more than they would like, it could lead to the turnovers and big plays the defense has been accustomed to early in this season.

GAME NOTES:

• Orton ranks first in the NFL with a 4^th quarter passer rating of 152.1.
• The Raiders have not won back-to-back games versus Denver since 2002.
• Out for the Raiders due to injury: Gallery (broken fibula), Chaz Schilens (foot), and Nick Miller (shin).

KEY MATCH-UPS

Mario Henderson vs. Elvis Dumervil

The Bronco DE had a career day last week versus Pro-bowl LT Joe Thomas (Browns). This time, he goes against a first-year starter protecting Russell’s back side.

Raiders’ rush defense vs. Broncos’ ground attack

If Oakland cannot stop the run, this game won’t be close. They currently rank 20^th in the NFL after one good showing, and bad outing.

Orton vs. Russell

Both passers have had their moments in the 4^th quarter this season. Orton is the steadier of the two throughout the game and in the final quarter. Russell has made plays when the game is on the line. Will Russell dig the Raiders in a deep hole? Or can he play steady enough to keep them close and make plays at the end again?

PREDICTION

Broncos 26 – Raiders 24

TV & RADIO

The game will be televised on CBS. If sold out per NFL blackout rules, the game will air in the Bay Area on KPIX CBS 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, September 27, 2009, 4:15 p.m. ET  |  Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, CA

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

Road Team: Denver Broncos (2-0) Home: 1-0 Road: 1-0

Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist