Silver and Black Report

QUARTERBACK:

Charlie Frye – A

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

JaMarcus Russell – C-

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

RUNNING BACKS & FULLBACKS: D

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

WIDE RECEIVERS & TIGHT ENDS: A

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

OFFENSIVE LINE: D

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

DEFENSIVE LINE: F

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

LINEBACKERS: D

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

SECONDARY: B-

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

SPECIAL TEAMS: C-

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

COACHING: B

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

GAME NOTES

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

Contact Author:  Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

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

QUARTERBACK:

Bruce Gradkowski – A

The Oakland offense looked lively again with Gradkowski under center. The underdog passer displayed his elusiveness and ability to spark the play of others with his 10-of-18 for 153 yards and 3 rushes for 16-yards. But he couldn’t finish the game, leaving at halftime with a torn meniscus ligament in his left knee and a partially torn meniscus in his right knee. “See what the MRI says tomorrow but who knows?” Gradkowski said after the game. “I don’t count myself out. You never need surgery with MCLs. I’ll do whatever I can to get healthy fast, if I can.” Some highlights included a 3^rd and 10 hook up for 15-yards to Chaz Schilens – the key play on a drive they took a 10-7 lead – a 10-yard scramble on 3^rd and 10 before the half and a 6-yard pass to Justin Fargas, improvising and getting the football to his running back as he was being tackled.

JaMarcus Russell – F

The life was drained out of the offense once he came into the game. Oakland’s play calling was effected by his insertion, they were not able to move the yard sticks and the immobile passer was sitting duck for salivating Washington defenders. Russell was sacked six times partly due to the offensive line’s ineffectiveness, but also because of his lack of pocket awareness and lumbering movements. Unlike Gradkowski, Russell could not extend plays, make something happen with his legs or formulate quick decisions. Oakland regressed to their old selves with shorter routes to Zach Miller. On his interception, Russell delivered the ball late to an open target and LaRon Landry was able to break on the ball.

RUNNING BACKS & FULLBACKS: D

Darren McFadden had a great start to the game.  He had a 43-yard reception to open Oakland’s third drive and an acrobatic 26-yard reception on a slant and go, hauling in the pass as he fell to the turf. But McFadden had only one other catch the rest of the way for 15-yards and was pedestrian with his 8 carries for 21-yards on a sloppy field. Justin Fargas had 9 carries for 21 yards and the team’s only touchdown on a 1-yard run on 4^th and goal in the second quarter.  Gary Russell had 2 carries for -2 yards, but fared better as a receiver with 22-yards on 2 grabs. Both times Russell ran the ball, he was the lone set-back after Oakland motioned McFadden as a flanker.

WIDE RECEIVERS & TIGHT ENDS: D

Zach Miller again became Russell’s security blanket on short routes and at the end; he tallied 7 receptions for 46 yards.  Miller had a 21-yard reception negated by an Schilens pass interference penalty. On 1^st and 10 at the OAK 37, Gradkowski delivered a strike to Miller after he avoided the rush moving toward the line of scrimmage, but the tight end dropped the pass near the Redskins 30-yard line.  Johnnie Lee Higgins ended with 3 catches for 35 yards; his best receptions being a 16-yard out pattern on 1^st and 10 on the last drive before halftime and a 3^rd and 3 conversion on a 10-yard slant in which he took a major hit from cornerback Carlos Rogers. Chaz Schilens had 2 receptions for 20-yards and Louis Murphy finished with 1 grab for 8 yards. Murphy gave great effort on a 28-yard sinking Gradkowski toss that appeared to be a reception, but was overturned by a booth review.

OFFENSIVE LINE: F

Robert Gallery was missed. The line got no push at the line of scrimmage and was often manhandled which led to the putrid 65-yard effort on the ground. Washington compiled 8-sacks – yes many during Russell’s stint, when he was not able to feel the pressure and react accordingly – four by rookie Brian Orakpo and two by Andre Carter who now has 10-sacks in his last nine contests.  Cooper Carlisle got infracted for a false start in the 3^rd quarter on a 2^nd and 16 and a few plays later, Russell had to face an insurmountable 3^rd and 35 because Cornell Green was flagged for being illegally down the field as Oakland tried to set up a screen.  Green was penalized again in the 4^th quarter on a 3^rd and 5 for holding.

DEFENSIVE LINE: C

Tommy Kelly was physical at times, stuffing Quinton Ganther (14 car. 50 yards 2 TD) on short yardage situations. Gerard Warren hurt Jason Campbell (16-of-28 for 222 yards and 2 TD 0 INT) on a 3^rd and 6 when he tossed him to the turf and forced an incompletion to end a drive. Greg Ellis also got pressure along with Richard Seymour, but they both got penalized for offsides. Matt Shaughnessy recorded his third sack of the season and had a tackle for a loss. The Redskins rushed for 100 yards today, 61 of those coming in the second half.

LINEBACKERS: C-

Trevor Scott continued his solid play with a sack on the second play for the Redskins and keying run stuffs early in the contest. Kirk Morrison was out of position many times, trailing his assignment when in coverage; which helped tight end Fred Davis amass 50-yards receiving and 2 touchdowns.

SECONDARY: C-

Nnamdi Asomugha had a right forearm injury, but finished the game. Stanford Routt played in his place and was quickly greeted by Santana Moss. Campbell hooked up with his speedy receiver on a nice pitch-and-catch for 28-yards against Routt.  The 15-yard pass interference penalty against Routt that aided the drive in which the Redskins went up 24-13 was a bad call by the ref. Chris Johnson almost made a stellar interception in the 4^th quarter while trying to adjust to the flight of the ball against Moss. Tyvon Branch blew some coverages against Davis and was a victim in space, but again aided solid effort versus the run with his tackling. Mike Mitchell recorded his first NFL sack on a blitz on 3^rd and 10 that resulted in a 13-yard loss. Michael Huff left in the second quarter with a stinger.

SPECIAL TEAMS: B

Shane Lechler punted six times at a 49.5 average (68 long). Sebastian Janikowski nailed a 33-yarder to give Oakland a 3-0 lead in the first quarter and a 54-yarder in the 3^rd quarter to cut the Redskins lead to 17-13. His only miss was a 66-yard effort at the end of the first half. Higgins looked more elusive than what he has all season. The Redskins tackled well on punts, as a few times, it looked like Higgins could break a few returns for substantial gains. He ended with 47 yards on 4 punt returns. Russell sparked a Raider drive with a 41-yard kickoff return. The great field position by the Raiders was aided when Fred Davis was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct after a touchdown, which had the Redskins kick off on their own 15-yard line.  Eight plays later, the Raiders took the lead 10-7. Hiram Eugene had a better game on special teams than he did in the defensive backfield.

COACHING: D

Again, the Raiders failed to take advantage of a struggling opponent at home and notch a back-to-back victory. This troubling trend continued once Russell came into the game. The energy was sucked out of the offense and it appeared that the team lost any confidence it had when Gradkowski limped off the field. The play calling was simplified, the offense went back to their lackluster ways and the Redskins teed off on a passer that cannot handle a NFL playbook that is a stiff in the pocket and cannot inspire or elevate the play of others. Russell hamstrung Tom Cable’s offense and his play calling. But there is no excuses for a complete shut-down in the 2^nd half against a team that struggled recently in holding 4^th quarter leads and that entered this final quarter today with a lead for the 4^th straight contest. Oakland managed 39-yards of total net offense in the 2^nd half. At least the defense was on attack, keeping Campbell moving in the pocket and making life difficult for their targets. The Raiders had a couple of breakdowns on defense, especially when they brought the heat and had the linebackers and secondary in man-to-man, leaving Washington’s passer to scramble for some key yards. But for the most part, the effort was there and John Marshall called an aggressive game showing many fronts in trying to confuse Jim Zorn’s attack. John Fassel was flagged for a 15-yard penalty when he ran onto the field to argue with a judge.

GAME NOTES

• Russell ended 10-of-16 for 74-yards and 1 interception. He is public enemy number one in Oakland right now and he failed to live up to the comment he made just recently when he was asked what type of player he was going to be when he saw the field again; “A totally different JaMarcus – people are going to have their opinion, and I really don’t pay too much attention to that.” Today, the same JaMarcus was on exhibit.
• Tony Stewart recovered a muffed punt fumble by Antwaan Randle El in the 4^th quarter.
• Inactive players for the game included: Darrius Heyward-Bey, Khalif Barnes, Javon Walker, Nick Miller, William Joseph and Roy Scheuning. Scheuning was promoted to the 53-man roster when Robert Gallery was placed on the injured list.
• The Raiders had more penalty yards (108) than rushing yards (65).

MVP (Offense)

Zach Miller, TE

28 receptions 421 yards 15.0 avg. 1 TD

It’s quite impressive to put up those numbers on a team ranked near the bottom of every offensive team category like the Raiders are. Plus, he’s their only legitimate threat on offense, yet he still gets open and produces at an adequate level. Imagine if he was on a well-rounded offense, with complementary talent around him and an accurate passer? His blocking is top notch, Miller’s effort is never in question and he is legitimately one of the better tight ends in the conference.

Honorable Mention: Robert Gallery, LG

Since he broke a bone in his right leg Sept. 20 against the Kansas City, the offensive line has not been the same. He is Oakland’s best lineman.

Least Valuable Player LVP (Offense)

Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR

5 receptions 74 yards 14.8 avg. 0 TD

The seventh overall pick in the 2009 draft has been non-existent. Oakland took him in hopes of pairing his blazing speed with JaMarcus Russell’s huge arm. Instead, they have a un-polished receiver who gets mugged at the line of scrimmage, does not run clean routes and cannot get open; one of the main reasons to why this offense has struggled. Until he can get open on shorter routes and become a skilled route runner, no one will fear his track star velocity.

Honorable Mention: Javon Walker, WR

Walker has said he is ready to play several times this season. Oakland has consistently placed him on their inactive list. He’s banked a lot of money since signing with the team in 2008. At this point, we are all just waiting for the season to end so we can see the two part ways.

MVP (Defense)

Nnamdi Asomugha, CB

Pro-Bowl bound once again…

Honorable Mention: Richard Seymour, DL: 28 tackles 4 sacks 1 FF

His arrival changed the dynamics of the front-four. Yes they have struggled versus the run, but Seymour’s ability to apply pressure has made this defensive line a tough one to defend.

LVP (Defense)

Chris Johnson, CB

When you play opposite Asomugha, opponents will test you. But he’s been torched way too often and has played inconsistent football, not worthy of the $4 million signing bonus and $3.825 million per season average salary he got from Oakland after a brief stint as a starter last season.

MVP (Special Teams)

Shane Lechler, P

Lechler’s 44.0 net punting average is way above his NFL record for a season (41.2). His 52.3 average is currently higher than the league record for a year set in 1940 by Sammy Baugh (51.4).

Pleasant Surprise

Michael Huff, S 27 tackles 9 PD 3 INT

Took over the starting job a few weeks into the season with his solid play defending the pass. Early in the campaign, Huff looked like the playmaking safety the Raiders thought they were getting coming out of Texas.

The ‘I am Mr. Perfect’ Award goes to…

Sebastian Janikowski, K

The hefty kicker is a perfect 12-for-12 so far in 2009, including 7-out of-7 from 40-to-50+ yards out.

Biggest Disappointment(s)…

JaMarcus Russell, QB 48.4 completion% 38.3  QB rating 2 TD 9 INT

He looks overwhelmed, has been inaccurate, with no sense of leadership and a feeling from the fan-base that he may not be able to carry this moribund franchise.

Darren McFadden, RB 47 carries 146 yards 1 TD 2 lost Fumbles

The speedy running back missed four contests and has not been the dynamic presence Oakland wanted when they used the 4^th overall pick on him in the 2008 draft.

Best Rookie

Louis Murphy, WR 16 rec. 232 yards 1 TD

Wildly inconsistent from play-to-play, but he plays with fire and looks to be a keeper.

Rookie to look out for the rest of the season…

Matt Shaughnessy, DL

Has played well in spurts and recorded a sack versus the Chargers.

Best Moments…

1. Zach Miller’s 86-yard touchdown catch and run, aided by two stellar blocks by rookie Louis Murphy, during the Raiders 13-9 victory against the Eagles.
2. Murphy’s 57-yard reception on 4^th and 14 late in the 4^th quarter to give Oakland a 20-17 lead versus the Chargers in week-one.
3. Todd Watkins’ 28-yard reception on 3^rd and 15, late in the 4^th quarter to extend a Raiders’ drive. Two plays later, McFadden scored to give Oakland a 13-10 victory in Kansas City.

Worst Moments…

1. The 38-0 shellacking in front of the home crowd versus the New York Jets, a week after beating the Eagles.
2. Johnnie Lee Higgins and Louis Murphy bumping into each other as they came off the line of scrimmage, and taking themselves out of the play against the Chargers.
3. Russell being pulled after going 6-for-11 for 61 yards with 2 interceptions and a lost fumble against the Jets.

We should see more…

Mike Mitchell, SS

Hiram Eugene should not see the field, and Mitchell should share more time with Huff and Tyvon Branch as the season winds down. It’s time to see what the rookie can do in extended action.

Justin Fargas, RB

Fargas runs harder and has more determination than any of the other Raider rushers. McFadden’s explosiveness is needed when he is healthy, so that means less of Michael Bush.

Chaz Schilens, WR

Ok, so how much longer do we have to hear that is almost ready to play? Once he is active, Schilens and Murphy should be the starters. Heyward-Bey’s role needs to be simplified and his reps should be shrinking.

Blackouts

Fans are not filling those seats and why should they with the product Oakland has put out since 2003?

Father Time is creeping on…

Greg Ellis, DE

Since his knee started acting up, the defensive end’s production has slowed down. The bye was needed, but will it rejuvenate him?

We miss you…

Johnnie Lee Higgins, PR

The return units have been abysmal. And Higgins has not been the game breaking player he was in 2008.

Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

Once again, the Oakland Raiders kickoff their regular season under the lights of Monday Night Football as they take on the rival San Diego Chargers on September 14 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

The game marks the start of the Silver & Black’s 50^th season in professional football and the 99^th meeting between both clubs. Oakland has a 54-42-2 lead in those match-ups, with a 36-24-1 record overall during Monday night contests.

OAKLAND RAIDERS

On Offense:

The Raiders made the right move when selecting Darren McFadden as their starter for the home opener. His versatility running and catching the football and explosiveness adds more to the offense than what Justin Fargas and Michael Bush provide.

Tom Cable stated that the second year rusher would carry the ‘bulk’ of the load on Monday night.

Fargas did not practice late in the week “because we’re going to need him,” said Cable. His hamstring has not healed sufficiently, so that means that Bush will be the second option at running back.

Chaz Schilens also did not practice, but is expected to begin practicing soon with a chance that he may see his first game action in week-3 versus the Denver Broncos.

What to expect:

If Oakland has any shot of the upset victory, they will need big plays from McFadden and a steady ground game. The offensive line must control the line of scrimmage and when JaMarcus Russell drops back to pass, he has to have enough time to find his rookie targets; Louis Murphy and first round selection Darrius Heyward-Bey. There will be a time during the game where Russell will need to convert long third downs and move the ball down the field. How will the line react? How will Russell perform? And will the weak wide receiving corps find a way to make big plays? Oakland will not be able to answer all of those questions with positives.

On Defense:

Richard Seymour will play; so that is a big plus for the Silver & Black. But the Chargers will put their rush defense to the test immediately.

Enter John Marshall, who has stressed the need for more pressure via blitzes and has gone to basics in terms of plugging gaps along the front-four and sure tackling by the linebackers and safeties.

Cable has seen some positives in recent games versus the Chargers, commenting, “When you look back at those games we were able to stay in, keep the defense off the field, keep them fresher if you will. And I thought we played with a little more intensity and violence on defense. I’ve gone back and looked at those so I can understand what he’s getting at.”

What to expect:

The Chargers will attack the Raiders’ run defense and their new acquisition. Norv Turner wants to re-establish their toughness on the ground and if they can do that, then they’ll be able to play-action and keep the Raiders’ defense off-balance. San Diego will target cornerbacks Stanford Routt and Chris Johnson and starting strong safety Tyvon Branch.

On Special Teams:

Rookie Mike Mitchell will be limited to the coverage teams after injuries kept him in the inactive during pre-season games in the summer. “I’ll get my opportunities when they come,” Mitchell said. “It is frustrating, but I’ll get my chances.”

“I think his development … is coming along rapidly,” Cable said. “Even though he wasn’t out here, he was studying and getting a lot of film work in.”

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

On Offense:

What better way for LaDainian Tomlinson to have a bounce back season than to face the team he has tormented throughout his career?

Despite Tomlinson’s struggles in 2008, he torched the Raiders for 197 rushing yards in two meetings and the Chargers continued their recent dominance extending their streak of wins to 11-games against the Silver & Black.

“I’m certainly not thinking that I’m going to put up another season like I did last year, especially if I’m healthy,” Tomlinson said.  “Just having a chance to be healthy again is what I’m most grateful for.  I’m happy to be on a team that has a shot at winning a championship.”

What to expect:

Tomlinson and Darren Sproles will present a lot of match-up problems for the Raiders. They will form one of the better running tandems in the league in 2009, and with their ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, Oakland will struggle keeping both corralled all night.

Philip Rivers has two reliable targets in Vincent Jackson and Antonio Gates. When Turner sends in the call to stretch the field with both, Rivers will have an easy time picking apart a Raider secondary that will struggle at the safety positions.

On Defense:

Shawne Merriman has not seen action in a year. And when he hits the field on Monday night, the disruptive linebacker will provide a jolt to a Charger defense that missed his fiery play in 2008.

Merriman has made news off the field recently, issuing a statement regarding his arrest on allegations of assault and false imprisonment. He stated:

“Earlier (Friday) I learned that after a thorough review of the investigation, the San Diego District Attorney’s office has closed the case involving me. I want to express my appreciation and gratitude to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and the District Attorney’s office for carefully reviewing the evidence and not rushing to judgment on these serious allegations. I also appreciate the objectiveness expressed by the San Diego Chargers ownership and management, my teammates, my friends and especially all the fans. I look forward to continuing to stay focused on my career goals: a great season of football and the success of the San Diego Chargers.”

What to expect:

Larry English will spell Merriman at times and inside linebacker Kevin Burnett will start opposite Stephen Cooper.

San Diego will try to force the Raiders into long down and distance situations early in the game to rattle and pressure JaMarcus Russell into mistakes. If the offense scores early and often and the defense are playing in front all day, Oakland’s offensive line will get a heavy dose of blitzes.

GAME NOTES:

• Oakland has been outscored 104-35 in their last three regular season openers. In their last three Monday night games, the Silver & Black have been trampled by the Chargers 27-0, Seattle 16-0 and the Broncos 41-14.
• The Raiders sold out their opener, so the game will be televised locally after they were given an extension to avoid a local blackout. They have sold out 18 of their last 24 contests at home.

KEY MATCH-UPS

Oakland DTs vs. RG Louis Vasquez

The rookie won the right guard spot for the Chargers. He weighs well over 300 pounds and if Oakland cannot win this battle in the trenches, they’ll have a long night.

Raider wide receivers vs. the Chargers secondary

Even if Oakland is able to run the ball, they’ll need their young targets to play well. Javon Walker will be inactive, so the Raiders will be very thin at wide receiver.

PREDICTION

Chargers 27 – Raiders 17

Oakland will keep it close in the first half. McFadden and Bush will have some success rushing the football, but San Diego will play from in front which will force Russell to shoulder the burden in the second half. The Raider wide receivers are not ready for primetime and when the Chargers bring the heat, Russell’s offensive line may not be able to keep him upright. Oakland will allow over 130 yards on the ground. Marshall’s new attacking defense will get to Rivers a few times. But the fiery Charger passer will find his wide array of targets for a couple of touchdown passes.

TV & RADIO

This week’s game will be televised nationally on ESPN, with Mike Greenberg handling play-by-play, and former NFL players Mike Golic and Steve Young as color analysts. Michele Tafoya will handle sideline reporting duties. If sold out per NFL blackout rules, the game will also be broadcast in the Bay Area on over-the air station KPIX Channel 5. The game will air on ESPN International in 180 countries and in Spanish on ESPN Deportes. The game will air on Raiders Radio originating on KSFO 560 AM, the Silver and Black 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 KGO’s Rich Walcoff. In addition, Westwood One/CBS Radio will air the game nationally with Kevin Harlan and former NFL quarterbacks Warren Moon and Mark Malone handling announcing duties. (Broadcast information cited from official Raiders web site)

GAME INFO

Monday, September 14, 2009, 7:15 p.m. PT | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

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

Road Team: San Diego Chargers (0-0) Home: 0-0 Road: 0-0

Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

Best Defensive Player:

Nnamdi Asomugha, DB

Oakland made him the highest paid defensive back in the history of the NFL this past off-season. And he is worth every penny. Not only a stellar performer on the field, he is class personified off it with his charitable work and community service. On the field, he has the perfect blend of size and speed, equally adept at covering any receiver or supporting around the line of scrimmage versus the run. He made his first all-pro team in 2008, and more will likely follow with continued health.

Mr. Reliable; Flying under the radar is…

Thomas Howard, LB

The speedy linebacker is only 26-years old, but he is one of the lone fiery, vocal on the field leaders in Silver & Black. Early in his career, Howard was at his best dropping back into coverage and having the knack of getting his hands on errant passes. He is now evolving as a better pursuer of the football with his closing speed and improved instincts. On another team, Howard would have more notoriety. And if he were on team with a stouter front-four, the former second rounder could be one of the premier weak side linebackers in the AFC.

Player ready to breakout is…

Trevor Scott, DE

If used correctly on long yardage 3^rd down situations and in rotation at either defensive end spot, Scott could become a solid pass rushing threat. If he starts and is in there for too many snaps, teams will expose his weakness defending the run on the edges, and he’ll get plowed and neutralized with rushes right at him. Scott has the potential to become what Trace Armstrong was to the Miami Dolphins late in his career. With his good motor and relentlessness, Scott could be a 8-10 sack performer.

Player that must take it to the next level…

Tommy Kelly, DT

He got paid like an all-pro, but has not shown he can play like one. If Richard Seymour ever decides to report to Oakland, Kelly’s presence along the defensive line could be magnified. Kelly is an enigma, looking like a force on certain Sundays, or looking like a mediocre lineman on others.

Don’t bet on…

Michael Huff, S

When will he ever show the instincts, play making ability or steady play that many thought he could demonstrate when coming out of Texas in the 2006 draft? He was benched in favor of Hiram Eugene last season; reaching a whole new low in his career in the midst of a 6-year deal worth $43 million and $16 in guarantees. He’s on 26, so if your Oakland, you may still have hopes that he can finally stabilize his career and become a reliable starter. But how long do you wait on potential?

Player that must continue to perform at an exciting level is…

Johnnie Lee Higgins, PR

He is fun to watch when returning punts, and afterwards, he may give you a light moment with his end zone celebrations. Higgins was one of the better return men in the league in 2008, tallying 3 scores on punts and averaging 23.4 yards per return on kickoffs.

The silent standout on Special Teams is…

Isaiah Ekejiuba, LB

Ekejiuba may be able to push for a pro-bowl roster spot this season as a special teams performer. The Raiders acknowledge his importance to the squad by signing him to a three year contract for $5.4 million with a $1.25 million signing bonus this off-season.

Look out for:

Desmond Bryant, DT

The undrafted free-agent worked hard this summer and landed a roster spot. The long-shot beat out the lackadaisical Terdell Sands with his smarts in the trenches and hard work.

Mike Mitchell, S

Actually, anyone carrying the football when Mitchell is on the field better watch out, because he brings a load when tackling. His coverage skills are suspect, but Oakland will try to bring him along slowly after missing the summer with an injury.

Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

Raider head coach Tom Cable addresed the media folowing the Raiders second practice this Monday afternoon to discuss the status of the Richard Seymour trade and the status of his curently rostered squad heading into the Monday Night Game against the visiting San Diego Chargers.

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With less than a week before the start of the 2009 regular season, I’ll give you 10 predictions for the upcoming campaign regarding the Oakland Raiders.

ZACH MILLER WILL HAVE A GREAT YEAR, BUT WONT MAKE THE PRO-BOWL

In two-seasons, the tight end has compiled 100 receptions for 1,222 yards and 4 scores. Miller is JaMarcus Russell’s security blanket, an if Oakland can improve their passing attack, the former Arizona State star will improve his yearly stats for a third consecutive season. He’s already the best blocker along the trenches, so a significant hike in his numbers will make him a household name in the landscape of the NFL. But with Owen Daniels and Antonio Gates already established standouts, it will be hard for Miller to make a pro-bowl. And with Heath Miller getting more hype in Pittsburgh, Anthony Fasano developing in Miami and Dustin Keller ready to grab headlines in New York with his young passer, it will be easy to bypass Miller in Oakland.

DARREN MCFADDEN BREAKS OUT

The running back by far is the Raiders most dynamic talent. When McFadden touches the football, you expect big plays. And in the pre-season, he averaged 6 yards a carry, tallying 72 yards on 12 carries. He added 5 receptions for 35-yards. Oakland must start him and utilize him in many ways if they want this offense to scare opponents. He’s a multi-dimensional threat, so it will be a shame if they can’t get him at least 230 touches on the ground and 50 or more receptions. If they do, McFadden will easily rush for 1,200 yards and compile 450 receiving yards.

THE BACK-END OF THE SECONDARY WILL STRUGGLE…A LOT!

Rookie safety Mike Mitchell missed valuable practice and pre-season action. Oakland had plans to use him often, and if they insert him now, he will struggle mightily. He’s a big hitter, but when teams spread the Raiders out and stretch the field, that’s when he will be exposed. So will Tyvon Branch and Hiram Eugene. Both had mishaps in pass coverage during the pre-season and don’t look to have the ability to make plays in help coverage or while occupied to a target. After Nnamdi Asomugha, the Oakland secondary is shaky. The opposing cornerback spot could be in flux with Stanford Routt and Chris Johnson and Michael Huff is still trying to find his niche after being the Raiders first round selection in the 2006 draft.

JAMARCUS RUSSELL WILL BE OK…YEAH, JUST OK!

The Raider quarterback will play steady football in 2009. Will we see glimpses of his high ceiling? Yes. But many times, we’ll see much of what we saw in the pre-season; solid not stellar numbers, with just ok results for the offense. He will rely heavily on the ground game. And that’s where Oakland will have to open it up and hope that he can take advantage of teams not fearing his wide receivers and making accurate tosses down the field to his young targets. He was 26-of-39 for 283 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, a 66.7% completion rate and a 96.4 rating. You have to sign up for a carry over in those stats if you’re a Raider fan. And if you get that, you’ll be happy. Russell will throw for over 3,200 yards, 18 TD and 12 INT.

RUN DEFENSE IMPROVES TO MIDDLE OF THE PACK

Richard Seymour’s addition will help the Raiders vary their formations and bring more heat without having to commit an extra body on a blitz. But his impact will be on a run defense that has been abysmal since 2003. Oakland will not improve greatly, but they’ll rank in the mid twenties of the league allowing 120-to-125 rushing yards per game. Teams on their schedule like the Chargers, Giants, Cowboys, Steelers, Redskins and Ravens will all have good ground games and that will offer some tough times for John Marshall’s defense. If they play Trevor Scott a lot, foes will rush towards the edges and expose his inability to play the run. If Seymour is at one end spot, expect Greg Ellis to see a lot of action his way and the continued attack of Tommy Kelly and whoever is playing next to him until they show a competence along the line of scrimmage.

ASOMUGHA AND LECHLER GO BACK TO HAWAII

The best cornerback in the NFL and the premier punter in the league will represent the Silver & Black in the yearly all-star game. Nnamdi Asomugha will make the pro-bowl with his blanket coverage, tough tackling and complete game at cornerback. Not many quarterbacks will test him, especially with a questionable defensive back situation on the other side and a safety position with a lot of inexperience and shaky play. In 2008, Shane Lechler improved his game by landing more punts inside the 20-yard line. More of that will be seen along with his powerful leg.

WALKER, SCHILENS, MURPHY AND HEYWARD-BEY COMBINE FOR 180 RECEPTIONS

Paul Hackett and Ted Tollner have helped immensely improving the Raiders 32^nd ranked pass offense. But for the offense to balance itself out and become more efficient, it will need Javon Walker, Chaz Schilens and rookies Louis Murphy and Darrius Heyward-Bey to produce on a consistent basis. Walker will have a better year, but that’s not saying much after he sleepwalked to 15 grabs and 196 yards last season. He’s motivated, looked good to close out camp and is the veteran of the group. Schilens is next line to make a splash, and when he gets back on the field, Russell will be looking for him to be the ‘go to guy.’ Both rookies will have their moments, but either will be fighting to get reps over the other one. Murphy can run a varying array of routes at this point, while Heyward-Bey is less polished, will be used to stretch the field, and until he can develop a better repertoire in his route running skills, opponents will not fear much of his vertical speed.

GREG ELLIS WILL LEAD THE TEAM IN SACKS

The veteran will record 9-12 sacks and provide what Derrick Burgess was not able to his final two-campaigns in Oakland. Ellis will become a vocal leader on this team and will take advantage of having an elite lineman like Seymour in the trenches.

THE OFFENSIVE LINE WILL GO THROUGH A FEW CHANGES…

One concern along the offensive line is their ability to burst at the point of attack in goal line and short yardage situations and pass protection. In the last two pre-season games, the pocket was not ideal for any of the passers and when the starters were in, short yardage running situations were troublesome. The right guard and right tackle will go through changes if this continues and a change at center could be in the works as the season progresses.

OAKLAND WILL WIN…

Six games. They are in a horrible division, so getting victories over Kansas City and Denver should not be that difficult. Tough road games at Dallas and at Pittsburgh as they enter December in back-to-back weeks will test their mental toughness. But games at home versus the Jets, Bengals and Redskins are contest that they should be able to compete in if their youngsters are developing and the coaching staff is doing a good job.

Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

• Mike Mitchell will not see action tonight versus the Dallas Cowboys. The rookie safety is out with an injured hamstring, the same that kept him out a month during the off-season. “Disappointing,” Raiders coach Tom Cable declared yesterday at Napa. “It is a strain so it’s going to be a little while. How long, we don’t know. You’ve just got to deal with it, rehab and get him back.”
• At strong side linebacker, Jon Alston is questionable with a foot injury. Ricky Brown will start at that spot along with Thomas Howard on the weak side and Kirk Morrison in the middle.
• Speedster Darrius Heyward Bey saw limited action this week in practice, but Cable stated that the first round draft choice will be ready to go and possibly play a half on Thursday night.
• Chris Morris will play in place of Robert Gallery, who is still recovering from his appendectomy.
• Wide receiver Louis Murphy is having a solid camp along with Chaz Schilens, and both will be depended on to revitalize a passing attack that ranked 32^nd (148.1 yards per) in 2008. Nick Miller has a good character, solid work ethic and refuses to let up also during camp. So in every pre-season game, focus on the receiving corps, as there are a few battles for a couple of spots.
• Quarterbacks coach Paul Hackett has been a solid presence in camp this summer. He is constantly quizzing his unit, grading the game plan for that session up or down and really utilizing each passer’s abilities to fit what they are trying to accomplish. With Bruce Gradkowski and Charlie Frye battling for the third string job, Hackett will focus on how each moves their unit tonight, how they are composed and whether or not they are absorbing what he is preaching during camp. JaMarcus Russell will only play a quarter, and Jeff Garcia will sit out due to a calf injury.
• The three-headed monster of Justin Fargas, Darren McFadden and Michael Bush will see action in the opening half. Coach Cable wants to incorporate all three this season and use their best attributes seamlessly in the game plan. Louis Rankin, a strong performer last pre-season, will have to duplicate his output from last year if he plans to stick around. The fullback battle has been a quiet one, but if Lorenzo Neal stays healthy and strong, show some vitality and longevity, it will be hard to unseat his presence and the return of the bulky Oren O’Neal. Luke Lawton figures to be the odd man out at this point.

Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist