Silver and Black Report

John Fassel, who has been with the Silver & Black since 2009, will join the St. Louis Rams’ new coaching staff.

The Oakland Raiders also lost Mike Waufle to Jeff Fisher a few days back.

Fassel has become one of the better special team coaches in the league since arriving in Oakland. Sure, it makes his job easier when he has perennial Pro Bowl punter Shane Lechler, two time Pro Bowl long snapper Jon Condo and one of the more dangerous legs in the league in Sebastian Janikowski.

But his units have shown to be fiery and very creative in recent years.

In 2010, Fassel left his mark in an early October match versus the San Diego Chargers. He saw protecting issues along San Diego’s punt formation and Oakland got two key blocks in that contest.

A year earlier, Brandon Myers had a game altering forced fumble on special teams in the Raiders win versus the Bengals.

Fassel has groomed some very good players on the unit, including Condo, Myers, Hiram Eugene and Isaiah Ekejiuba.

In recent years, he’s helped develop Jacoby Ford into a threat as a kick returner with solid blocking schemes in front of the speedster and even designed a touchdown pass, from Lechler, to Kevin Boss off a fake field goal in a contest versus the Browns.

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The Oakland Raiders are one win and some help away from reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2002. It all boils down to one more game, but how did they get to this point? Here are five reasons why the Silver & Black have a shot at a post-season berth:

Carson Palmer

Plain and simple, trades of that magnitude featuring quarterbacks of his caliber just don’t happen during the regular season. Especially after a team looses their starter due to injury. Oakland was very fortunate that Palmer and the Bengals were at odds. They were also very lucky that they could pull off that trade and bring in a veteran, who even at his semi-retired state, could potentially bring more to the table than a Kyle Boller or any other journeyman that was out there for the picking.

Jason Campbell entrenched himself as a starter and the team was playing well while he was under center. A significant dip would have been the outcome if any other passer took over. A rarity in the league, Oakland may have upgraded their quarterback position in the coming years with an in-season move.

Michael Bush

Darren McFadden’s injury would have crippled other teams. The most dynamic player on their offense, McFadden was the league’s best rusher when he went down. But Oakland’s depth and strength at running back kept them afloat.

Bush’s presence was needed, even though the team has not been the force on the ground they were when both shared time in the backfield. This proves Bush’s value and how imperative it will be to keep around for next season. Oakland could tag him to keep him from testing the free-agent waters. It would be foolish to trade either back, especially since McFadden missed the entire second half of the campaign, Bush has demonstrated to be valuable and no other rushers on this team that has proven they can produce at this level. It’s an area of strength… and Palmer hasn’t even had a full complement on offense to his disposal.

Richard Seymour

Missing in action in a few games, the veteran for a couple of weeks did not impact games the way Oakland needed him to. Against Miami, Seymour continued his streak of ejections and many were wondering when would this former Super Bowl champion make plays to help this team turn things around?

In Kansas City on Saturday, he had two blocked field goals, one at the end of regulation, which kept the Raiders alive to see another weekend.

At times he’s had penalties that have hurt Oakland and his play may have been slowed due to injuries. But his leadership in the locker-room and winning past may begin to pay dividends.

Special Teams

Sebastian Janikowski kicked a team record six field goals versus the Bears, Bryan McCann had a 91-yard return at Kansas City and Shane Lechler continues to help Oakland shift field position on opponents.

This valuable component is an x-factor in every game Oakland wins. John Fassel is one of the more underrated unit coaches in the league and if the Raiders can get Jacoby Ford back healthy, they could put more pressure on foes with another special teams threat.

New England and Buffalo

Two teams that Oakland were defeated by have helped the Silver & Black in the last two weeks. The Broncos have lost two in a row, losing 41-23 to the Patriots and 40-14 to the Bills.

Wins in those games would have put the AFC West out of reach for Oakland. Instead, Tim Tebow and the Broncos face a crucial final game against the Chiefs, starring at a possible three-game losing streak to end the campaign after wining six in a row to take a lead of the division.
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To everyone in the Raider Nation – enjoy a safe and prosperous Holiday Season with best wishes for the New Year. Since this is the season of giving, SBReport.net will hand out presents to a few Oakland Raiders:

Kevin Boss, TE

A few more plays in the weekly game plan: After back-to-back 500 yard-plus seasons with the New York Giants, the tight end, who inked a deal with $8 million in guarantees, has had his number of targets and touches go down dramatically in this wide-receiver friendly system that also have dangerous pass catchers out of the backfield.

Tyvon Branch, SS

Strong Pro Bowl consideration: Always known to be one of the more talented young strong safeties in the conference, Branch has put it all together in 2011.

Michael Bush, RB

A strong finish to the season: Darren McFadden’s injury showcased him to the league and now, he can go into the free-agent waters if he chooses to and land a nice deal. Rushers usually don’t get loads of money thrown at them, but he’s very young, does not have a lot of wear and tear and already knows how to share a backfield with another ball carrier. If Oakland does not place a tag on him, he’ll be a sought after player.

Bruce Campbell, OL

I’m sure he’ll love if Santa found a way to get him off the inactive list.

Jason Campbell, QB

A good home in 2012: Campbell was in and out of the line-up last year when Bruce Gradkowski was around. This year, the job was his and the team was rolling before his injury. Now, with Carson Palmer around and Terrelle Pryor looming, he may have to shop himself around in the off-seaosn. Campbell is a hard worker, very classy and a pros pro.

Aaron Curry, LB

More running backs and quarterbacks to hunt down: One of the better additions to this club, who looks to have found his niche in Silver & Black.

Jacoby Ford, WR/KR

Healthy set of legs: a quad injury, hamstring issues and a foot ailment have been some of things the second year talent had dealt with in 2011.

Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR

A bullhorn: DHB is not a diva and has worked hard to shed the image of being a one-trick pony. He’s become a more complete wide-receiver, but you’ll never here him say, “I told you so.”

T.J. Houshmandzadeh, WR

Gift Cards: For him to give to Hue Jackson and Carson Palmer – as they are the main reasons he has a roster spot.

Sebastian Janikowski, PK

Another 10-more attempts from 63+ yards out: The only kicker in league history that is expected to nail those lengthy field goals. He deserves to stand alone atop the record book for longest field goal made.

Shane Lechler, P

A tire swing for his backyard: He should practice his accuracy and sell himself as a passer for his final few years. Lecler’s spiral is tight, but…

Rolando McClain, LB

A new P.R. person: I’m sure whoever had that job this season had nightmares after McClain displayed his pearly whites while being handled by officers.

Darren McFadden, RB

Healing Pills and Wolverine like armor: Oakland would surely love to have him for the final weekend and a possible playoff run. Questions about his fragility will always be asked, so some sort of mutant-like armor would be very useful for the rest of his career.

Carson Palmer, QB

An entire off-season worth of workouts with the team: He’ll get that this time around and then we’ll be able to access the trade a tad better in the coming years.

Richard Seymour, DT

Manny Pacquiao’s hand-speed: Next time he clobbers someone, maybe he’ll do it fast enough where no one will see it. Then, he can avoid being booted from a game.

Jared Veldheer, LT

Suntan lotion: He’ll be going to many Pro-Bowls in his career.

Trevor Scott, DE

A compass: So he can find his way back. Since his injury in 2010, we haven’t seen the same explosiveness or fire.

Hue Jackson, Coach

A penalty box: Maybe he can put his players in it if they keep on accumulating flag after flag like it’s going out of style.

John Fassel, Special Teams Coach

A pencil and a pad: No one draws up fakes or other plays on special teams like he has the last few years. One of the more underrated unit coaches in the league.

Sanjay Lal, Wide Receiver coach

Acknowledgment: DHB, Ford, and Moore… he’s worked with a lot of young targets and they are coming along nicely.

Tommy Kelly, DT

Podium: No other Raider provides better quotes.

The Raider Nation

A playoff berth: Boy, do you guys really deserve it.
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Richard Seymour

I’ve talked about the veteran showing up and leading by example, and how he has failed to do so in vital games this season. Well, today, Seymour keyed Oakland’s road win with two blocked field goals. At the end of the half, with the game tied at three, Seymour got his hands on a Ryan Succop’s kick, his first miss since September. Then, with momentum on the Chiefs’ side and the game clock hitting all zeros, Seymour blocked Succop’s game winning attempt to send the game into overtime.

He also led a charge on a 4^th down that Kansas City could not convert on.

Denarius Moore and Darrius Heyward-Bey

Both wide receivers made important plays all afternoon. After a Hue Jackson time out in the 3^rd quarter, on a 2^nd and 18, Moore streaked pass Kansas City’s safety and Carson Palmer hit him for a 61-yard score. That gave Oakland a 10-3 lead.

On the first play of overtime, Heyward-Bey hauled in a 53-yard bomb, which set up the game-clinching field goal. Jackson stated: “Sometimes you save a play in your pocket,” Romeo Crennel said after the game that on both plays, the safeties were victimized and it was similar coverage played in both critical downs.

“We set it up all day with the run and then called it. That was Carson Palmer at his finest,” Oakland’s head coach was quoted after the game.

Moore had four catches for 94-yards and Heyward-Bey finished with 70-yards on four grabs.

Special Teams

Bryan McCann: Oakland got going quickly on the road with McCann’s 91-yard return. That set-up Sebastian Janikowski’s first field goal of the game and gave the Raiders a quick 3-0 lead in the opening minutes.

Shane Lechler boomed a 76-yard punt that helped altered field position and Janikowski had three field goals (28, 31, 36). John Fassel almost pulled off another touchdown on a fake field goal, but it was nullified by a delay of game. Brandon Myers scampered 36-yards to paydirt on a beautifully executed fake.

The dangerous combo of Dexter McCluster and Javier Arenas were held to 44-yards of total return yards.

Matt Giordano and Stanford Routt

Routt had some chain moving penalties and was beaten by Dwayne Bowe for a touchdown late in the 4^th quarter, but he had a crucial interception earlier to thwart a Kansas City drive. Giordano also had a momentum swinging pick in the end zone that he returned 62-yards, on a 3^rd and 3 when the Chiefs looked like they were going in for a score.

MORE FROM THE GAME…

PENALTIES A-PLENTY

Oakland had 15 penalties for 92-yards. Many of them wiped away good plays or extended Kansas City drives. The Chiefs were also infracted many times, tallying 88-yards on 11 penalties. There were two illegal formation flags on Oakland when they tried to bulk up the line with additional linemen on (S.Heyer & K.Barnes), a holding on Jared Veldheer that nullified a nice Michael Bush run and the delay of game on the Myers score.

“They’ve been playing good defense and we knew it was going to be a physical game, that it was going to be ugly,” Palmer said. “We talked about getting an ugly win. An ugly win is always better than a pretty loss.”

The Raiders have been penalized 155 times for 1,293 yards this season. Kansas City has the NFL record with 158 for 1,304, set in 1998.

WHERE’S THE RUN?

Inexplicably, Jackson was pass happy with his play calling early in the contest against the 24^th ranked rush defense. Bush had a workmanlike 23-carries for 70-yards, but with Palmer throwing early picks and pressured into miscues, it could’ve been in Oakland’s best interest to establish more of a run presence.

Jackson said: “When you win like this, you take the win however you can get it, especially this late in the season. We should enjoy this. Last week we lost a game like this. I wish we could win 40-12, but we haven’t had one of those yet.”

CRENNEL AFTERWARDS…

“We had a couple of field goals blocked, we got a couple balls thrown over our head, we turned the ball over a couple times. In the NFL, it’s hard to win when you do those kinds of things.”

UGLY BOTH WAYS…

It wasn’t pretty either way, as both teams combined for 26 penalties, 6-of-23 on 3^rd downs and both passers had two interceptions apiece.

Oakland allowed 435-total yards of offense and were bad on defense late when they needed to close the game.

McCluster’s 49-yard catch and run, weaving through Chuck Bresnahan’s defense was troubling, especially after they surrendered the lead last weekend versus the Lions. After Janikowski gave the Raiders a seven point lead, Kansas City drove 80-yards on five plays to tie the game with 1:02 remaining.
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There’s no doubt that the Chicago Bears will miss Jay Cutler’s presence as the season winds down. The beneficiary of that right off the bat will be the Oakland Raiders, who will face a transitioning Caleb Hanie this Sunday.

Hanie has just thrown 14 regular season passes in four seasons. “He came in and ran the offense and got us within a touchdown of possibly taking us to the Super Bowl,” Lovie Smith said of his back-up, and his surprising performance in the playoffs last year, in relief. “So as you talk with our team, they are all going to say the same thing: We will miss Jay, but we’ll keep his spot warm. In the meantime, we’re going to continue to win with Caleb.”

“Obviously, Jay Cutler is one of the better quarterbacks in this league and one of their best offensive players,” Hue Jackson stated Monday. “But Caleb Hanie is a really good player. This guy played in the NFC championship game and almost won the game for them.”

Chicago has won five in a row and in the playoff hunt at 7-3, but unfortunately in the same division as the Lions, who also share the same record and the Green Bay Packers, who have not lost a game yet.

Long-snapper Patrick Mannelly will miss the rest of the season with a ruptured ACL. “We’re losing him for the season,” said Smith. “We’ll put him on IR, so two valuable guys in our program went down [Sunday].”

Oakland’s John Fassel has taken advantage of protection schemes in the past. He’s designed successful attacks at opposing punters with Brandon Myers and Rock Cartwright. The Raiders’ speed will be a concern for Chicago, especially since their staple on special teams won’t be there manning the middle.

Mannelly has played in 147 straight games and a franchise-record 215 games, missing just three contests in 14 seasons.

Whether Darren McFadden finally gets back into action will depend on the workweek. Jackson stated that his rusher made strides last week, but he hasn’t seen any reps in practice since his injury on Oct. 23.

The progress Jackson talked about was McFadden being out of his boot observing practice. Real progress will be when he is padded and running around at full speed, something we may not see this week.

“I don’t want a 70 percent Darren McFadden,” Jackson said. “I think that’s unfair to the player and unfair to the football team.”

Darrius Heyward-Bey looks to be in the clear now after sustaining a scary neck injury versus the Vikings.

“I think we’re beyond the major part of it,” Jackson said. “Now let’s see how fast he heals and see exactly where he is.”

DHB was seen wearing a neck brace and will likely have to go through a battery of tests, like Samson Satele (concussion) before they get back on the field.

 

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Oakland Raiders head coach Hue Jackson continued his audacious play calling on Sunday afternoon versus the Cleveland Browns.

A week after calling a fake punt, that ended in a 35-yard run by Rock Cartwright, Jackson picked the right spot to pull off a fake punt.

He said, “We are going to do whatever it takes to win football games.”

Even if it’s Shane Lechler tossing his first NFL pass. The lob to Kevin Boss, who scored for the first time as a Raider, gave Oakland a 24-7 lead.

Special teams kept them alive last week when Sebastian Janikowski booted some long field goals and they got a blocked punt. Dating back to last year, John Fassel’s unit has keyed many Raider victories.

Jacoby Ford returned a kickoff 101-yards for a score as well.

And let’s not forget the containment of Joshua Cribbs. Oakland held the dangerous return man at bay, led by Quentin Groves, who was pushed back onto the depth chart with the arrival of Aaron Curry.

“How about the play Quentin Groves made on special teams, down there on [Cribbs]? That’s what a team is. I put a guy ahead of another guy and the other guy went and did his other job and made plays,” stated Jackson.

Jackson’s daring decision making almost came back to haunt the Silver & Black. He went for it on 4^th and 1 at the Cleveland 5-yard line, opting to pass on a easy field goal and expanding their lead to 27-10. The Browns drove the length of the field, got a score, recovered the onsides kick and struck fear into the Black Hole in the closing moments.

“I kind of live on the edge,” said Jackson. “It didn’t burn me.”

CURRY AT HOME

Aaron Curry played his first game as a Raider and ended with two solo tackles. He started at weak-side linebacker and had glaring miscues. Not too shabby of a performance considering he only had one practice in Silver & Black. “I thought the guy was out there flying around and trying to make plays. As I told you when I traded for him, I traded for him for a reason,” commented Jackson.

LEFT IS THE WAY…

Rookie left guard Stefen Wisniewski and left tackle Jared Veldheer continue to get stronger as a pairing, as Oakland continues to pound away with Darren McFadden on that side of the formation.

McFadden tallied 57 of his 91 yards and the score on carries to the left side yesterday.

OTHER NOTES

• Samson Satele sustained a sprained knee. Jackson stated he would be day-to-day and the center said he would be able to play next weekend.
• “I love it,” Shane Lechler said about the trickery. “This is a very, very aggressive staff. Hue is an aggressive play caller. Some of the chances we take on special teams, a few weeks in a row, it’s fun to play for him. You feel like you always have a chance.”

 

 

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The Oakland Raiders triumphed on the road, beating the Houston Texans, 25-20, a day after the passing of Al Davis. Here are some of the highlights, key plays and players that deserved game-balls during this emotional and memorable victory.

Darrius Heyward-Bey

Davis’ maligned first round selection a few years back posted seven-catches for 99-yards and one touchdown. The significance of the score was paramount. It cut the Texans lead to 14-12 in the 3^rd quarter, and was the second time in as many plays he hooked up with Jason Campbell. Heyward-Bey bolted into the end-zone after breaking a tackle – the first sign of a momentum change in the contest.

Sebastian Janikowski

He was 4-for-4, booming his first three field goals from 54, 55 and 50-yards out. In the 4^th quarter, he extended the Silver & Black’s lead with a 42-yarder, 25-17. Davis took him the first round, a move that was ridiculed by many at the time, today proved to be one of the main reasons why the Raiders were in this contest. When the offense was struggling, Janikowski’s powerful leg took advantage of the short field given, when Oakland’s offense could not.

Lamarr Houston

Houston had his most productive game as a pro. The interception of a deflection early in the contest led to three-points. He blew up runs at the line of scrimmage, was not fooled on a few of Matt Schaub’s bootlegs and play-action, and constantly won his individual match-ups all afternoon.

Richard Seymour

Yes, he had another critical 15-yard penalty late, when Houston was driving, but his two-sacks in the second half crippled any drives Gary Kubiak’s team tried to put together.

Michael Huff

Sealed the game with an interception in the end zone. That football will probably be given to Mark Davis.

John Fassel

The punt block in the 1^st half helped Oakland stay in the contest, giving them a short field and eventually three-points. The fake-punt, which Rock Cartwright took for 35-yards was vital. Mike Mitchell corralled Jacoby Jones, who is a dangerous return man.

Hue Jackson

The emotional outpouring after the win on the sideline demonstrated how difficult the weekend was. He guided this group to a victory, directing one of the most memorable wins in recent Raiders history.

Al Davis

That was his team, playing an inspired contest, after a poor start on offense in the first half. The maligned defense slowed down Schaub, found a way to stop the bleeding versus the run, and kicked up the offense as the game went on. As Davis would say, “Just win, baby!”

 

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On Monday, the Oakland Raiders confirmed their search for a new head coach.

Senior executive John Herrera told Steve Corkran, “We have begun the interview process,” and spoke on the anonymity of the search.

Oakland will not be disseminate the names of the candidates nor whether or not interviews have taken place.

The logical choice to inherit the job is offensive coordinator Hue Jackson.

If the Raiders want to keep some semblance of continuity, Jackson is their man.  Plus, the players respect and have enjoyed working with the first-year coordinator.

In January of 2010, Jackson stated upon his signing, “I’m hired as the offensive coordinator and I’ll be the primary play caller. That’s my role. It’s a chance to go out and assist the head coach and be the best offense we can be.”

Jackson was the driving force in the team ranking 10^th in the NFL in total offense and ending with 410-points, a year after ranking 31^st and scoring 197-points.

He interviewed for the 49ers before they landed their man, Jim Harbaugh. “Al’s very happy to do that,” senior executive John Herrera said of Jackson’s opportunity to talk to other clubs. “He would not stop Hue Jackson from having the opportunity to interview for a head coaching position. He believes in diversity. He didn’t need the Rooney Rule to hire Art Shell [in 1989].”

I never believed Jackson was the 49ers target and said so weeks. Jackson isn’t a candidate anywhere else; including Cleveland, as Mike Holmgren has his eyes on other coaches, Carolina, who will likely go another route and Denver, who at this point is targeting John Fox.

The Raider search is generally discreet and vague many times. Owner Al Davis speaks to many staffers across the league and in the college ranks to either gauge opinions or just to talk football. So it’s unclear by and large who are the real targets.

But such names as Kevin Gilbride, have drawn interest in the past and talked to Raider front office members for the position. Then the usual suspects are thrown into the ring; John Fassel, Dennis Green and Marc Trestman.

It’s clear to me Jackson is the only ‘real’ candidate. Unless the Silver & Black feel he’s not ready for the head coaching duties, and how that could pull him away from the success he had in his first year with the offense, then expect him to be Tom Cable’s successor.

“The challenge with going to the Oakland Raiders and helping them become what they want to become is exciting,” Jackson said last year when he arrived. “That’s what you’re look for. I want to run to the challenge.”

Jackson thrived in his first challenge. But can he succeed in his second? A more challenging up hill climb, taking a team that is disappointed after an 8-8 season, not making the playoffs and losing their beloved coach, and turning a perennial loser from respectable, to a legitimate title contender in 2011.

“I spent most of my time talking with Mr. Davis,” Jackson said last January. “What a man. My conversations with him led me there. Hopefully, things will work as planned and I think we’re capable of doing it.”

Were does plans bigger than we expected? Was there foreshadowing in those comments?

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

The Oakland Raiders have been getting special contributions from Rock Cartwright all season. Since signing a one-year deal in April, the veteran has been a reliable presence on and off the field for the Silver & Black.

A teammate of Jason Campbell’s in Washington, Cartwright has provided invaluable support to the passer, young players and made John Fassel’s unit a solid one in 2010.

He was phenomenal against the San Diego Chargers with his blocked punt at the start of the contest that gave the Silver & Black a quick 2-0 lead. On the ensuing play, he wisely let the free kick bounce out of bounds so Oakland can start their possession at midfield.

The always supportive teammate was quick to credit his coach for putting players in the right spot after that victory. “We saw they were questionable at some spots and Bones [Fassel] did a great job drawing it up,’’ Cartwright said. “We needed a lift after what happened last week.’’

Last week versus the Chiefs, Cartwright’s hit on Javier Arenas jarred the football loose into the hands of Hiram Eugene. And lets not forget the key block on Jacoby Ford’s 94-yard kickoff return for a score.

It seems that anytime the Raiders have a stellar outing on special teams – Cartwright is a player always involved in the action.

He realized early in training camp that was his ticket onto the roster. And his prophetic words have rung true all season…

“I’ve returned kicks. On punts, I was the personal protector. So, I’ve been around. I was in Washington my whole career and that’s kind of what I do, play special teams. So, whatever I can do to help the team win, that’s what I want to do.’’

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

Here’s a summary of the best and the worst for the Oakland Raiders (4-4) so far in the 2010 season:

MVP (Offense)

Darren McFadden, RB

Explosive, dynamic and a workhorse – Raider fans never thought they would hear those words describing McFadden. He has been an All-Pro performer with 688-yards rushing (5.5 yds/att) and 4 scores on the ground. He’s also added 20 receptions for 217 yards and 2 touchdowns. He missed two games due to injury and is still on pace for pro-bowl type marks.

Honorable Mention:

Zach Miller, TE

Continues to be Mr. Steady with 34-catches for 461-yards and 4 touchdowns.

MVP (Defense)

Richard Seymour, DT

The veteran provides loads of leadership on a defense with a lot of youth. He’s dominated during games and looks at home next to Tommy Kelly. His 4.5 sacks rank him second on the club.

Honorable Mention:

Nnamdi Asomugha, CB

Plain and simple…the best cornerback in the NFL. If he misses any significant time after yesterday’s injury, Oakland will surely see how much they need him locking down wide receivers in their secondary.

LVP – Least Valuable Player (Offense)

Chaz Schilens, WR

Slow recoveries are part of his profile at the start of every season. Tom Cable said his progress is “just slow,” and at this point, there is no definitive timetable for his return.

Honorable Mention:

Mario Henderson, LT

Replaced in the starting line up by rookie Jared Veldheer. Henderson wont’ see any action this season unless someone gets injured in the trenches.

MVP (Special Teams)

John Fassel, Coach

In his third year as the unit coach, Fassel is doing his best job with a nice mix of veterans (Rock Cartwright & Sam Williams) and youngsters (Mike Mitchell & Stevie Brown). His game planning versus San Diego proved to be a integral part of that victory.

Earning their Paycheck in 2010…

Tommy Kelly, DT

The enigmatic tackle has been in on 30-tackles and has posted 3.5 sacks. He’s been far more active in the middle of the defense and more talkative after games in 2010.

Best Coach

Hue Jackson, offensive coordinator

In 2009, Oakland combined for 17 touchdowns. They have surpassed that mark already in 2010 and Jackson is a major reason for the production on offense. The play calling has been superb in recent weeks.

Best Rookie

Jared Veldheer, LT

He’s in the starting line-up, was flip-flopped in and out of the formation early on and has been part of a line that has amassed chunks yardage. Impressive for a rookie that was considered a project.

Honorable Mention:

Jacoby Ford, KR/WR

The diminutive speedster has been used on reverses and spot duty as a wide receiver. He has a tendency to initiate contact at the end of his rushes and has been fearless since being inserted as a returner. Ford has a lot of spunk and his fumble recovery versus the Chargers was a unsung play.

Underrated Player(s) of 2010

Matt Shaughnessy, DE & Marcel Reece, FB

Shaughnessy leads the team with 5-sacks and has been outstanding in run support. Reece has been a surprise at FB – mainly out of the backfield as a pass catcher.

Honorable Mention:

Trevor Scott, DE/LB

Wherever he plays, Oakland gets solid performances.

Overrated Player of 2010

Michael Huff, S

Was named AFC defensive player of the week midway through the first half of the campaign and leads the team with 42-solo tackles. Yet, he can be very inconsistent.

Mr. Spark Plug

Mike Mitchell, SS

He’s fiery, fierce and highly energetic. When Mitchell blitzes, he gets to his target. And when he gets there, he generally delivers big hits.

The Scoring Machine of 2010…

Sebastian Janikowski, PK

He leads the NFL in scoring (78), field goals made (19), third in extra points made (21) and is tops with 24 touchbacks.

Mr. Tough Guy

Louis Murphy, WR

Played through injuries until a chest contusion sidelined him this weekend.

Best Acquisition (trade or signing)

Kamerion Wimbley, LB

Has 5.0 sacks (tied for team lead), a vital cog to the defense who was brought in for a 3^rd round pick.

We should see more…

• Important games later in the season: Oakland has not had a .500 record this deep into the campaign since 2002 – the year they faced Tampa bay in the Super Bowl. With Kansas City next week and match-ups at Pittsburgh and versus Indianapolis, Oakland has a tough road ahead to stay in the playoff chase. Wouldn’t it be exciting if that last game of the season versus the Chiefs were for all the marbles?
• Rookies and youngsters playing vital roles: Lamarr Houston, Stevie Brown and Desmond Bryant all have key roles and have had their moments. Rolando McClain should continue to get better at middle linebacker.

Can he stay healthy…?

Bruce Gradkowski, QB

He’s the starter per Tom Cable, but he’s useless when injured as evidenced by his performance versus the Chargers. Fans like his toughness, but if he can’t slide or learn to avoid major hits, Gradkowski will never be a reliable starter.

We should see less of…

• QB revolving door: Gradkowski is an igniter, but Jason Campbell has done his job very well the last two weeks – two Raider wins. Someone has to finally take this job and lock it down.
• Blackouts: Fans have a reason to come back…

We miss you…

George Blanda and Jack Tatum

We don’t miss you…

JaMarcus Russell

Best Moments…

• Raiders blocking back-to-back punts vs. the Chargers and building an early lead against their rivals. Eventually, the crowd was treated to a last second defensive stand that featured a Tyvon Branch 64-yard fumble return for a score.
• All 59-points during Oakland’s annihilation of the Broncos.
• Oakland finally tallying a consecutive victory, totaling 567 rushing yards, 1,053 total yards, 92 points, forcing 4 turnovers while giving up none, holding Denver and Seattle to 3-of-27 3^rd down conversions and tallying 12 sacks the last two weeks.

Worst Moments…

• Sebastian Janikowski missing a 32-yard field goal in Arizona as time expired during the Raiders 24-23 loss versus the Cardinals.
• Failing to win back-to-back games at San Francisco, and losing to the winless 49ers, 17-9.
• Allowing 205-rushing yards to the Titans in the season opener.

Best Win…

Raiders 59 – Broncos 14: On the road, this performance was epic.

Worst Loss…

49ers 17 – Raiders 9: Pathetic effort against a team in worse shape.

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist