Silver and Black Report

In seven career games versus the San Diego Chargers, Michael Bush has amassed 490-yards rushing (4.3) and four touchdowns, including his record breaking 242-yards from scrimmage performance earlier in this season.

Norv Turner and San Diego’s defense is well aware of the rusher’s prowess and his importance to Oakland’s offense.

“[Bush] is a big, physical guy. He’s a downhill runner,” Turner said. “What’s happened with us the last two times we’ve played them, they’ve gotten ahead in the game and he’s gotten an awful lot of carries. Two of his biggest plays the last time we played him came on screens.”

Hue Jackson is known to pull rabbits out of his hat, but Eric Weddle simplified Oakland’s attack and hit on an important aspect for them.

“They’re going to run the football. They’re going to take shots up the field. It’s pretty simple,” Weddle stated. “They’ll be successful if they win on first down and get into second or third-and-manageable.

“Carson’s an elite quarterback. He has his ups and downs, but he can make all the throws. When he’s protected he can sling it around. We didn’t play particularly well last time, 24 points, but we gave up too many big plays. They ran the ball efficiently so we have to go out and play great. It’s got to be a team effort to go out and win in Oakland with a lot riding on the line for them.”

Jacoby Ford said he is ready to go on Sunday. So is Michael Huff.

“I’ll be out there,” Ford said. “If I practice this much this week and I’m not out there, I’d be mad. I’ll be out there, though.”

If he plays, it will be as a receiver, as Oakland will not gamble with Ford as a kick returner. Bryan McCann has done well enough to maintain that job and limit any risks with Ford.

Al Saunders stated, “Well, [Ford] has practiced and we are excited to see that. He is a very talented young man with great speed and he adds another dimension when he is able to be there. He has done a nice job this week. He hasn’t practiced fully, but he has been worked in and is very, very good at what he has done so we are excited about the possibility of him making a contribution.”

John Henderson will not play, and unless Oakland gets into the deep playoff run, don’t expect the veteran back on the field this season.

Saunders on the playoffs:

“You know what, that is funny because somebody asked me just before practice, what are the scenarios of the wild card? And in all honesty, I really don’t know. I just know that we have to win. And I know having been in this league for 30 years, you can’t control anything other than what you do. And all of our focus and all our attention and all of our energy has to be spent on what we need to do against the San Diego Chargers. And then after the game, the chips will fall where they may, but I really don’t know, and I don’t look at those things, it is wasted energy. We have got enough to worry about what is going to happen over there on Sunday at 1:00.”

NOTES

• There is a lot of speculation surrounding the Chargers and whether it will be Norv Turner’s final game with the organization. As a Raider, Turner’s tenure ended after a 9-23 overall record and 1-11 divisional record, including a 0-6 mark against the west in 2005.
• “This is a rival. They hate us and we hate them, and they want to spoil our playoff run,” said Michael Huff.
• Weddle: “I love playing on the road, especially at Oakland.”

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Robert Gallery is ready to move one and start fresh somewhere else.

The Oakland Raiders, who have been busy trying to retain most of their free-agents to be, have lost a key component to their roster. Gallery, who started 91 games since entering the league, stated, “With the end of the league year coming today, and the few conversations I’ve had with the Raiders and Mr. [Al] Davis, we’ve come to a mutual agreement that it’s time for me to move on with my career.”

Reportedly, the starting left guard was seeking a contract worth about $8 million a season. Per John Herrera, the Silver & Black were willing to offer nearly $2.5 million per campaign.

“I’m looking for a new start somewhere else, to experience another place, and to be able to accomplish some of the things I want to,” Gallery said. “It’s best for everyone.”

Gallery’s agent, Rick Smith, commented that all indicators from his meetings with the club hinted that the Raiders wanted to go with their youth along the trenches.

In 2004, the Raiders drafted Gallery with the 2^nd overall selection.

The former Iowa star stated, “I appreciate the start that they and Mr. Davis gave me and I truly have enjoyed my time wearing the silver and black. I wish them well, I thank the fans and I take away great memories of my time in Oakland.”

He continued: “I’ll always remember being able to come out of the tunnel of that stadium, into the Black Hole. That was exhilarating and never got old. I loved being a part of a group that helped bring the Raiders back to where they were in the past. It’s just that now it’s time to go someplace else.”

ANALYSIS

In an off-season where the Raiders splurged, they found a line in the sand and bullied Gallery. The reported $8 million he was asking for was far too much money for a left guard that consistently missed games due to injury and may not fit the new philosophy offensive line coach Bob Wylie will install.

The 30-year-old will find a job quickly whenever free agency begins. He’s a hard worker, solid teammate and an effective guard when healthy, who could transition back to tackle in the right situation.

Oakland made the right move drafting him in 2004. Gallery was the consensus ‘lock’ talent coming out of college, with very few detractors. The nimble lineman had all the tools that projected him to be a cornerstone left tackle.

Many factors led to him failing at tackle, starting with the constant shifting along the line. “Robert took the bulk of the work at right tackle,” coach Norv Turner said in 2004. “And if things go as planned for the rest of the week, he’ll start.”

Turner had him at guard and tackle to get his feet wet. He was never stout once he got to left tackle, and in 2006 when the line allowed a league high 72-sacks, Gallery accounted for 10.5 of them while missing six-games.

Aaron Kromer, Jim Colletto, Irv Eatman, Jackie Slater, Art Shell, Tom Cable and Jim Michalczik were part of the revolving door of coaches that hindered his development through the start of a promising career, as well.

Cable transformed him into the solid left guard he is now in his zone-blocking scheme. But that was years after the Raiders took him atop the draft with other intentions.

Gallery and Jake Grove were taken together to form a dynamic duo. Oakland had the right idea to build a solid foundation, but that did not pan out in one of the many unfortunate breaks this organization has had since their loss to Tampa Bay in the Super Bowl after the 2002 season.

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

It’s the tale of two teams when the Oakland Raiders (5-6) face the San Diego Chargers (6-5). The Bolts are riding high, averaging 33.3 points per game and looking to grab the division during their four game winning streak. Oakland on the other hand has lost two in a row since entering the bye week with a three-game winning streak. “It seems like everything is going wrong right now,” safety Tyvon Branch said last weekend’s loss to Miami. “We haven’t been clicking.”

“We’ve got a group of resilient guys, that really play together and really believe in one another,” San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers said. “We’re right here in the hunt.”

OAKLAND RAIDERS

On Offense:

Oakland’s needs to get back to basics on offense; establishing the run with Darren McFadden and finding their tight end Zach Miller in the passing game.

McFadden has 18 carries for 16-yards during the team’s current two-game slide. “I’m doing pretty good, just working to get the offense back on track and keep pushing forward,” McFadden said Thursday.

Part of Oakland’s inability to run the football as they did prior to the bye week is that their falling behind in games and defenses are dictating the pace of the contest. “That’s one of the things we’ve been working on, trying to stay away from, is falling behind,” McFadden commented. “That’s what’s been happening to us – you fall behind, then you know you have to throw the ball.”

Miller has been absent from the attack, tallying 5 receptions for 23-yards the last 5-games.

What to Expect:

The Chargers rank 3^rd in the NFL at stuffing the run. So it won’t get any easier for the Raiders to re-establish McFadden’s dominant presence. They will have to and stick to it often and early if Jason Campbell plans to succeed getting the ball down the field. Expect Hue Jackson to force feed McFadden on runs and screens to soften up the Chargers defense. “We’ve got to get back re-establishing who he is and what he brings to the table and why,” said Cable about McFadden.

On Defense:

The rush defense is a major concern. In Pittsburgh, the Steelers averaged 4.9 yards per carry for a tally of 162-yards. On Sunday, the Miami Dolphins ran the ball 49-times and amassed 186-yards rushing, this after allowing an average of 75.3 yards per contest during their three-game winning streak.

On Wednesday, Tom Cable spoke about the defensive line rotation and whether any of the players can play tackle and end, stating: “You know, the one guy that can do that is Desmond Bryant. He can play inside and then move outside to spell you. But I would say, maybe in nickel, you might see Lamarr Houston go inside. We’ve done that a little bit. But really, to answer your question, no, I don’t see those guys moving in there very much.”

“There’s an issue there in terms of getting the right rotation now because of really only having the two [ends]. We’ll see what we can get done with Jarvis Moss this week in terms of preparation, if we can get him as part of that rotation.”

What to Expect:

Oakland allowed 506-total yards – 415 in the air – in their first meeting, and that was with a healthy Nnamdi Asomugha. They got to Philip Rivers at the end of that contest by blitzing and throwing off his timing with his targets. John Marshall has to rev it up again and bring heat to avoid another day where the Chargers march up –and-down the field. If Oakland’s can’t get to Rivers and slow down their rushers, it will be a blowout.

On Special Teams:

Jacoby Ford was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for November. The rookie averaged 245 all-purpose yards and scored three touchdowns. Ford, the Raiders’ fourth round pick in 2010 out of Clemson, tallied 439 yards with a 29.3-yard average on 15 kickoff returns and two touchdowns. Cable said, “That’s a tremendous deal for our team. Obviously he has made a couple of big plays but he’s growing and he’s showing up more and more with each game. Hopefully we can do it again in December.”

What to Expect:

Oakland benefited from blocked punts after consecutive Charger possessions that directly led to points in their first meeting. San Diego is aware of those protection issues, so Oakland cannot expect those type of game altering plays this time around.

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

On Offense:

Rivers could be the league’s most valuable player, and the Raiders know it. “Who’s playing better than Phil?,’’ Tommy Kelly said .“I mean Phil is doing his thing, to me he’s the MVP because everybody around him that got hurt, and he’s still carrying his team. To me, that’s a leader right there. He done put the team on his shoulders and came up big.’’

San Diego’s franchise passer has thrown for 1,018 yards and 10 of his 23 touchdowns the last four games. The 431 yards he tallied at Oakland in October where the third-most in his career.

Mike Tolbert has carried for 214-yards and two scores the last two games and rookie Ryan Matthews could be back in the mix, as he’s practiced with the club this week.

What to Expect:

Norv Turner wants more balance. So don’t expect Rivers to chuck the ball around 42-times as he did in their first meeting. Tolbert is rolling and he praised his blockers, specifically Kris Dielman, Nick Hardwick and Louis Vasquez, stating, “[the offensive line] want to go downhill and want to block and want to pound on the people in front of them.” If San Diego is balanced, they’ll toy with the Raider defense.

On Defense:

“We still have a long way to go,” Chargers safety Eric Weddle. “But we are playing good.”

San Diego ranks first in the league in yards allowed per game (273.6), second in passing yards allowed (186.4) and 3^rd in rushing yards allowed (81.1).

Shaun Phillips has compiled 10.0 sacks, Kevin Burnett leads the team in tackles (60), has 5-sacks and 2 interceptions in 2010.

“We have 11 guys out there all working together, and I don’t think we’re reliant any more on one guy than another,” linebacker Stephen Cooper said after practice Wednesday. “We have feature players on this defense, but they don’t worry about individual accolades or seeing their name in a headline. We’re all about team defense, statistics and, most importantly, wins.”

Opponents have converted just 28 percent of their third downs during their winning streak, and only 4-of-24 in the last two games.

What to Expect:

San Diego is focused on one thing only; making the Raiders one-dimensional. And that will start with stuffing McFadden and putting the onus on Jason Campbell. If Oakland is sitting on 3^rd and longs, the Chargers will continue their dominance.

GAME NOTES

• Since 2006, the Chargers are 18-0 in December. Oakland last won at San Diego seven years ago.
• The Raiders lead the series, 55-44-2, in the regular season.
• Both teams feel like they can win the division. The Raiders remaining opponents’ record is 28-27. Chiefs’ opponents are 24-31 and remaining Chargers foes are 21-34.
• J.T. O’Sullivan was observed during the Raiders practice on Thursday. It appears that he’ll be the third string passer this weekend behind Campbell and Kyle Boller. Oakland had not officially released any news about his signing.

PREDICTION

Chargers 31 – Raiders 16

BROADCAST INFORMATION (cited from the official Raiders web site)

TELEVISION: The game will be televised on CBS with Jim Nantz providing play-by-play and former NFL player Dan Fouts handling color analysis.  The game will air in the Bay Area on KPIX Channel 5 and in Sacramento on KOVR Channel 13.The game also airs on KHSL in Chico, KION in Monterey and KJEO in Fresno. RADIO: Greg Papa and Tom Flores will call the game live on Raiders Radio Network originating on KITS LIVE 105.3 FM and KFRC 1550 AM, with pre and post-game analysis on KFRC. Papa and Raiders two-time Super Bowl winning head coach Flores will man the booth for the 13th straight year. The radio pregame and postgame shows will feature Raider Legends George Atkinson and David Humm as well as local veteran radio personalities Bruce Magowan and Jason Ross.

GAME INFO

Sunday, December 5, 2010 4:05 p.m. ET | Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, CA

Home Team: San Diego Chargers (6-5) Home: 4-1  Road: 2-4

Road Team: Oakland Raiders (5-6) Home: 4-2 Road: 1-4

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

The Oakland Raiders and the San Francisco 49ers will battle for Bay Area bragging rights this weekend.

Last time the Raiders and 49ers met, Oakland was defeated 34-20 in San Francisco on October 8, 2006 (week-5). During that contest, Alex Smith tossed three touchdown passes, two to Arnaz Battle, as the 49ers scored 27-second half points. Frank Gore rushed for a then career high 134-yards for offensive coordinator Norv Turner, who had coached the Silver & Black the prior two campaigns.

For Oakland, Andrew Walter was benched for Marques Tuiasosopo, LaMont Jordan dropped a lateral, disregarded the loose football and Melvin Oliver returned it for a score. Then Raider Randy Moss tallied his 100^th career touchdown reception in the losing effort.

“I don’t see any improvement with what we’re doing,” defensive tackle Warren Sapp commented. “We don’t make a play. We don’t make an adjustment to get momentum back on our side.”

Enjoy images captured by our photographers from that contest, dusted off from our archived game coverage:

Robert Gallery

Kevin Huntley

Randy Moss

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

Danny Clark targeting LaDainian Tomlinson during the 2004 season

Danny Clark, LB

In March of 2004, the Oakland Raiders lost Eric Barton via free agency and a week earlier they had released Bill Romanowski, leaving them with major gaps at linebacker. They quickly filled one of those voids signing Danny Clark away from the Jacksonville Jaguars with a two-year $3 million contract. Known as ‘Hammerhead’ to teammates, Clark finally was able to play every down in Silver & Black and he started all 16-games in 2004, leading the club with 129-tackles. “I appreciate where I am. I bleed silver and black now,” said Clark in 2005.

Verdict: A solid player on bad defenses, Clark always played with a good motor and gave the Raiders good value with that signing. He was released prior to the 2006 season after Oakland decided to go with their younger crop of linebackers.

Ray Buchanan, DB/S

The Raiders added Buchanan in April of 2004 with a five-year $12 million contract. The ostentatious defensive back was 32-years old when the Falcons released him due to his declining coverage skills, but the Raiders used him all over the secondary during his one-year stint. “I give them a lot of flexibility because I can play safety, but if they need me, I can go out on the edge and play corner, too, Buchanan stated upon his arrival. “They can use me in the slot to cover. My hands are not tied.”

Verdict: His lone season in Silver & Black was disastrous. Buchanan did not have anything left in the tank and his career was over after the 2004 campaign.

Desmond Howard, WR/ST

The year subsequent to signing Larry Brown after his MVP performance in a Super Bowl, the Raiders inked Desmond Howard to a four year contract worth $6 million after the Green Bay Packer became the first special teams player ever to win MVP honors in the big game. Howard’s 10-returns for 244-yards and a score in Super Bowl XXXI led him to Oakland. “This is totally amazing,” Howard said when he arrived. “To sign a contract and become an Oakland Raider, it’s an emotional roller-coaster … because I’m leaving a team I helped to win a world championship and a lot of close friends.” Then Raider coach Joe Bugel stated, “We’ve added yet another explosive, impact player to our football team.” In his first year in Oakland, he led the league with 61 kickoff returns, ending with 1,318 yards, but no scores. In 1998, he scored twice on punts, but his impact was never significant enough to justify the money he received.

Verdict: Howard was useless on offense. He never lived up to the hype he established as a collegiate and the Raiders continued to collect players with trophies rather than productive talents that impact the ball club in a positive way.

Kerry Collins, QB

In May of 2004, Collins signed a three-year $12 million deal. “I’m looking forward to playing in front of the Raider Nation,” Collins stated in a statement. The Giants released the former first rounder after drafting Eli Manning and Oakland picked him up as insurance after Rich Gannon and Marques Tuiasosopo ended their season on injured reserve in 2003. “Kerry is a highly productive performer who will add to what is already a talented position,” said coach Norv Turner. Collins took over as a full-time starter after Gannon sustained a neck injury early in 2004. He tallied a 7-21 record as a Raider, passing for 7,254 yards with 41 touchdowns and 32 interceptions.

Verdict: Collins had some streaky stretches with the Raiders, piling up passing yards with receivers Jerry Porter and Ronald Curry and leading Oakland to one of their most memorable victories the last 7-seasons during a snow storm at Denver on a nationally televised game. A cap casualty, Collins was not viewed as a long-term solution for the struggling Raiders.

Stay tuned for upcoming installments, looking back at the Raiders history during the free-agency period. Part-five coming soon…

Javon Walker, WR

Walker signed with the Raiders in March of 2008. The six-year $55 million contract that included more than $16 million in guarantees was restructured in March of 2009 after he tallied a putrid 15 receptions for 196 yards with one score after his first year with Oakland. He recorded no stats in 2009 and stated in September, “I’m more than healthy enough.

“I’m just going with the flow.”

Verdict: Walker’s contract with the Raiders will go down as one of the biggest flops in the history of free agency.

Anthony Dorsett, S

The Raiders signed the 26-year old Dorsett after playing 56-games with the Tennessee Titans. He started in Super Bowl XXXIV at free-safety and it was expected that the son of Tony Dorsett and Pro Bowl alternate at the end of the 1999 campaign, would have started next to Eric Turner. Turner passed away in 2000 and in November of that year, Jon Gruden stated, “Dorsett is a guy that’s going to continue to get better and better and better.” Dorsett had a key blocked field goal versus the Cowboys that led to a win and forced a fumble versus the Chiefs that also keyed a Raider victory in 2000.

Verdict: In his first two years in Oakland, Dorsett showed promise. But it was down hill after that and he became a liability in the secondary the last two campaigns in Silver & Black.

Kevin Gogan, G

The 6-foot-7, 320 pound guard signed a three-year $3.6 million deal with a $1.3 million signing bonus in 1994. At 30-years old, he made his first Pro Bowl in his first year with Los Angeles. Gogan was a grinder in the interior and had a reputation of being one of the toughest linemen in the league.

Verdict: A solid lineman while with the Raiders, Gogan was a perfect fit and his presence moved Max Montoya out of his starting spot.

Amos Zereoue, RB

The former West Virginia Mountaineer and Pittsburgh Steelers all-purpose back was expected to fill the void of the departed Charlie Garner in 2004. He inked a one-year deal worth $535,000 in base salary and a $25,000 signing bonus.

Verdict: Zereoue led the Raiders with a feeble 425 yards rushing in his only season in Oakland. His competition during that year; Tyrone Wheatley, Justin Fargas and Troy Hambrick were given the back seat by Norv Turner. Zereoue’s best outing was during a 30-17 loss versus the Texans when he rushed for 117-yards on 14 carries with 2 scores.

Stay tuned for upcoming installments, looking back at the Raiders history during the free-agency period. Part-three coming soon…

Johnnie Lee Higgins participated in the 2007 Senior Bowl

The 60^th annual Senior Bowl will be played Saturday, January 30 at 4:00 pm ET at Mobile, Alabama.

More importantly, the practices begin January 25. And there is where hundreds of NFL coaches, personnel directors, scouts and many other staffers from professional clubs go to observe and evaluate potential draft picks and talent that will be available in the coming months.

In the past, Oakland Raider coaches have spearheaded the staffs in charge of the squads. Here is a list of those that donned Silver & Black that were at the helm of a sideline during the Senior Bowl:

2008 – Lane Kiffin

2005 – Norv Turner

1999 – Jon Gruden

1992 – Art Shell

What will be interesting is whether or not the Raiders will send a large contingent to Mobile for scouting?

One team – the New York Giants – have already reportedly decided not to send their coaches next week due to varying reasons such as the economy, the new stadium and pending labor situation states the NJ Star Ledger. But I guess that is not a crippling thing, since they didn’t either two years ago right before their Super Bowl winning season.

Oakland still has a staff in place, and Tom Cable is technically still the coach of the Raiders.

Al Davis has not announced his fate, but at this point, isn’t safe to say that Cable is still the head coach until further notice? If there’s even a need to make that publicly.

Mike Waufle has been hired, Hue Jackson has been bantered about and Cable is still on board.

With the Senior Bowl work-outs around the corner, maybe things will become clearer over the next couple of days.

Since Jon Gruden compiled a 40-28 record with the Oakland Raiders, the revolving door at head coach for the Silver & Black has been kept busy with constant change. SBReport will take a look back at the dreadful track record along the sidelines since his trade to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers:

Bill Callahan (2002-2003)

He became just the fourth rookie head coach in league history to lead a team to a Super Bowl in his first year with the Raiders. A 15-17 overall record in two-seasons was unbalanced toward the loss column when Oakland piled up 12-defeats in 2003. What started as a joyous time for Callahan, ended with misery when his own team openly stated their dislike towards him. “I don’t think he was happy there, and I don’t think everybody was happy with him,” said Callahan’s starting left guard Frank Middleton at the time. “I felt like something had to be done, either with the players or with the coach.

“We’ve had that before on great teams”, commented Davis about locker room distractions during the 2003 season. “The thing with the coach [Callahan], and the players, that’s something that I don’t think we’ve ever had here, really to the extent that it went this year”.

His demise was a post-game rant in which he critiqued his team for being dumb.

“We’ve got to be the dumbest team in America in terms of playing the game!” Callahan yelled to reporters. “I’m highly critical because of the way we give games away — we give ‘em away! Period. It’s embarrassing, and I represent that. And I apologize for that. If that’s the best we can do, it’s a sad product.”

Norv Turner (2004-2005)

Turner tallied a 9-23 record during his two-year stint. Al Davis fired him with a year remaining on his three-year deal worth about $1.75 million. “I belong here,” stated Turner, upon his arrival. “When I got off the plane the other night, I felt like I was coming home. I feel like I’m home now.”

Oakland traded for Randy Moss and inked LaMont Jordan during his stay. But the crafty offensive mind was not able to ignite the offense for prolonged periods and his one-win against divisional rivals was his downfall. “I just thought it was the right fit,” said Davis, when he hired Turner. “Everything that we need at this particular time, we will rely on Norv to help us with.”

Players sympathized with Turner, as they knew the burden of all the losses and the misery during his tenure should be blamed on all involved. “I think he did what he could,” then starting linebacker Danny Clark stated. “Ultimately, everybody involved didn’t get it done. Unfortunately, this is a production-based business and if you’re not winning the weight falls on someone.”

Oakland at that time was the last of seven teams to fill their coaching vacancy when they inked Turner.

Art Shell (2006)

Oakland only managed two-wins in Shell’s second tenure. Again the Raiders were the last team to fill their coaching void that off-season, when they hired Shell,  after a search that included the courting of Ken Whisenhunt – who decided to remain on Pittsburgh’s staff – and offers to Bobby Petrino who stated he was flattered but wanted to remain in Louisville.

Raider quarterbacks were sacked 72-times that season, as Shell along with Jackie Slater and Irv Eatman attempted to work with the offensive line.

Shell’s feud with Jerry Porter made headlines, his handling of Randy Moss was atrocious and the offense was miserable (fewest points in team history – 168), while the defense played admirably under Rob Ryan.

“Everybody has a way of doing things. The Raiders have a way of doing things. We’re about winning. And we will win,” Shell said at introductory press conference.

Lane Kiffin (2007-2008)

During his 20-game tenure, Kiffin went 5-15. The then 31-year old was the youngest coach in Oakland’s history. Davis chanted to those loyal to his club when introducing Kiffin, “To the Raider fans, players, to the Raider nation, to the organization, that bleed and give their loyalty and skill to the organization…we will come back, and Lane Kiffin will lead us back!”

But a rocky relationship behind the scenes that included Kiffin’s reluctance to draft JaMarcus Russell and the notion that he wanted out and attempted to do so through insubordinate acts marred the marriage.

“I just couldn’t go on much longer with what I would call, propaganda, the lying that had been going on for weeks, and months, and a year, and time. And he had a few questions, he says ‘does that mean I don’t get paid’, I said that’s what I’m saying to you”, Davis said during a memorable press conference.

Kiffin was fired via phone reportedly and the official Raiders web site acknowledge the happening at the time, “Lane Kiffin has been released as head coach of the Oakland Raiders for cause.”

Per Davis, Kiffin complained, as he stated, “[Kiffin] complained he didn’t have this, and didn’t have that.” Remarks that peeved Davis which he in turn he stated to Kiffin, “If you don’t think you can win resign,” per the owner’s remarks in the almost 50-minute session which included an over-head projector.

Tom Cable (2008-current)

Cable joined the Raiders as an offensive line coach in 2007 and was the interim coach when Kiffin was dismissed.

He ended the 2008 campaign with back-to-back wins and all the players lobbied for his hiring. “I want to be the head coach of the Raiders, but it’s not in my hands. But I certainly know I put this team together and got it going in the right direction, and today proved that,” commented Cable after the win to knock Tampa Bay out of the playoffs.

But a tumultuous off the field in 2009 that included an alleged attack on Randy Hanson (Cable was cleared and no charges were pressed by the Napa police) and a story that aired on ESPN which exposed his history of violent behavior could be some of his downfalls this off-season.

Russell’s lack of development and Davis’ insistence that his quarterback is still a part of the team’s future could also lead to Cable’s demise.

Cable did surprise many by keeping his team competitive, pulling out solid victories against the Steelers, Bengals and Broncos in the second half of the season and giving this team some semblance of order after the Kiffin fiasco.

His record as coach: 9-19 and the extension of a NFL worst seven straight seasons with 11 or more losses in a campaign.

What did Davis say in hiring Cable back in February 2009:

Just listen to him. Just the fact what he did with the team at the end.

His excellence with the offensive line was never in doubt. He always did well with them.

He’s good, he really is. He really loves football; he has a passion for the goddamn thing.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS DURING THAT SPAN

“No coach has been hired. There will be a time period before a coach is hired,” stated Davis in January of 2004 when it was rumored that Sean Payton – then Dallas Cowboys assistant – could be a candidate to be the next Raiders coach. “Were this got started, was an assumption and it just carried. It seems like everything carries today, very, very quickly.”

“We have a coach with a very big ego, you know what I mean? He’s not listening to those veterans. And that’s what’s sad about it. When you get to a point, I think, in your life where you can’t listen to guys with the experience that we have on our offense, then I think there’s something very wrong”, Charles Woodson stated about Callahan early in the 2003 season, foreshadowing a lot of what would go wrong that season.

“I expect a whole lot out of myself,” Shell said as the 2006 season wound down. “I expected a whole lot out of this team. And when we don’t meet or come close to those expectations, then it’s disappointing.”

“I’m going for this job 100 percent,” stated Steve Sarkisian back in January of 2007. “I’m solely focused on this job with the Oakland Raiders.” He appeared to be the prohibitive favorite before bowing out. “The Oakland Raiders were not ready to offer the position and wanted to wait until after the weekend as the organization is still doing its due diligence,” the organization said in a press release prior to settling on Kiffin. “I thank them for their interest in me,” Sarkisian then commented. “While the job was never offered to me, at this time in my career, I’ve told them I want to stay at USC. I strongly believe that the Raiders’ job is a great opportunity for whomever their next head coach is going to be.”

 

 

JaMarcus Russell airing it out versus Buffalo last week

The Oakland Raiders (1-2) and the San Diego Chargers (1-2) will face off for the 97th time this Sunday at the McAfee Coliseum. Both teams are trailing the undefeated Denver Broncos in the AFC Western division, but the Chargers have looked far better in their one win start than the Raiders, especially after losing in heartbreaking fashion to the Panthers and Broncos at the onset of the season.

Oakland – who has a bye week after the contest – will try to even their record and brace themselves for two weeks of volatility considering the status of their head coach and the rumblings of his imminent departure.

OAKLAND RAIDERS

On Offense:

The passing game has not looked good to start, ranking 32^nd in the league. And minus Johnnie Lee Higgins’ 84-yard touchdown reception last weekend, the lack of pop and the leash on JaMarcus Russell has hindered the offense, which was a major component for the collapse in the 4^th quarter in Buffalo.

Lane Kiffin needs to open it up and give his quarterback more opportunities to get the ball down the field. Opponents will start stacking the line of scrimmage in hopes of slowing down the ground game Oakland relies on. And yes, the Raiders must establish their ball carriers, but without a threat of an aerial attack, it becomes a stagnant attack when games get tight and 1^st downs are needed at the end of contests.

Javon Walker’s two receptions through three games have been very disappointing. With his large contract and the lack of playmaking at wide receiver on the roster, Walker must become productive and stay in games to help Russell and the dormant passing offense. After a quick start in Buffalo, where he recorded his lone grabs as a Raider, Walker disappeared and was non-existent or on the sidelines when needed most. After signing a six-year deal with $16 million in guarantees, Walker has been injured or ineffective during the pre-season and early stages of 2008. Not exactly what Oakland expected when they paid him top-flight receiver money.

What to expect:

San Diego has allowed 284.7 yards per game (31^st in the NFL) through the air in their first three games. They have a formidable front seven and play the run very well, so Oakland must take advantage of the Chargers deficiencies in the defensive backfield for the upset to occur. It’s time to get Zach Miller involved in the passing game, and not as an edge blocker trying to keep defenders off his quarterback. Walker, Ashley Lelie and Ronald Curry have to exploit the secondary and get open for Russell. And since San Diego likes to attack on passing downs, a few misdirection plays and screens to Darren McFadden could help the Raiders move the chains with the passing game.

On Defense:

Much of the brunt after the Bills comeback last weekend fell on the defense, who gave uo 17-points in the 4^th quarter and allowed Trent Edwards to get the ball to his receivers with consistency. This after the Raiders applied great pressure for most of the game, getting into his face and blanketing his big play targets.

But they adjusted, the Raiders did not, and the rest is history.

With cornerbacks like Nnamdi Asomugha and DeAngelo Hall, who can be left out on an island, you would think that applying more pressure by sending an extra linebacker or safety is something that Rob Ryan could do when the game is slipping away.

This week, they will have to get into Phillip Rivers’ face and keep him from picking apart the secondary. Even on plays were he hands off to his all world running back, the Raiders should send defenders towards the line of scrimmage in order to disrupt the flow of their blocking schemes.

What to expect:

Oakland can’t sit back and let Rivers toss to his athletic targets. Derrick Burgess, Kalimba Edwards and Gerard Warren, who were on attack mode in Buffalo in the first half, must continue their harassing ways. For the secondary, more tight coverage should be implemented in order to prevent those shorter routes from being successful, which the Bills took advantage of during their comeback.

On Special Teams:

Johnnie Lee Higgins has been a weapon for the Raiders this season on special teams. His returns have set-up scoring drives and altered field position. The Chargers are allowing 27.4 yards per kickoff return (28^th in the NFL), but only 5.5 yards per punt return (6^th in the NFL).

Fortunately for the Raiders, most of Higgins’ damage has come on kickoffs, where he has compiled 327 yards, second most in the league.

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

On Offense:

Phillip Rivers bounced back on Monday night very quickly after an interception that led to an early deficit. His efficient 19/25 for 250 yards, spreading the ball out to eight different receivers showed the developing maturity level of the former first rounder.

And three games into the season, his 124.8 rating and nine touchdowns have been very impressive in giving the Chargers another threat not named LaDanian Tomlinson.

“I think he has grown a lot”, stated Norv Turner today when talking about his quarterback.

And after a 0-2 start, Turner also commented his team’s statement versus the New York Jets.

“Good players, good coaches and more importantly, good teams respond to adverse situations.”

What to Expect:

LaDanian Tomlinson has made a career of thrashing the Raiders defense. Whether as a rusher, receiver or passer, the dynamic running back has been a thorn on Oakland’s backside since he entered the league. The Chargers will try to establish him early on in order to open up plays down the field for Vincent Jackson, Chris Chambers and Antonio Gates. The Raiders have improved their run defense, but they have not faced a player who saves his best when he sees black jerseys.

On Defense:

“We see a very outstanding running game, talented offensive personnel group. Defensively, they are playing as good as defensive as anyone in the league”, said Turner about the Raider units.

And if they want to slow down Oakland’s running game, it will start up front with Jamal Williams, Luis Castillo and Igor Olshansky. Williams is battered right now, so the Chargers signed Ian Scott late Tuesday to help out the nose tackle who has been limited in practice with a knee injury.

Turner continued, “They’ve got a formula that’s been very good [on offense]….” And even though he waxed poetically about Russell, there is no doubt they will rather see the Raider passer dropping back more often than handing off to his talented rushers.

“He looks a lot more comfortable…[on Russell]”, said Turner.

What to Expect:

The Charger pass defense has struggled. But that won’t stop them from attacking the Raiders on passing downs, blitzing in order to fluster Russell and facilitate mistakes in their passing game. They probably feel that Quentin Jammer and Antonio Cromartie can match-up against Oakland’s receivers. So Russell will likely have a target on his chest, as the Chargers will come at him and play with eight men around the line of scrimmage for most of the game.

GAME NOTES:

• The Chargers have a nine-game winning streak against the Raiders. During that span, San Diego has outscored the Silver & Black 253 – 114.
• Oakland leads the overall series 54-40-2.
• As of Wednesday; Javon Walker and Kwame Harris worked out with the team. Those that did not participate I workouts were: Darren McFadden (boot on his foot), Cooper Carlisle, Gerard Warren, Derrick Burgess, Nnamdi Asomugha and Stanford Routt. All players mentioned with the exception of Warren and Carlisle are expected to practice Thursday.

KEY MATCH-UPS

Tomlinson vs. Raiders front-seven

If Oakland’s improved run defense (ranked 13^th in the NFL) can be formidable against their nemesis and force Rivers into making plays into an active secondary, then the Raiders will have a chance to keeping it close late in the game.

Oakland’s wide receivers vs. San Diego’s Secondary

It’s time for the Raider wide-outs to show up. Someone has to get open and haul in Russell bombs. The question is, can the Raiders get adequate protection, and will the coaches loosen the leash on the big-armed passer?

PREDICTION

Chargers 26 – Raiders 24

TV & RADIO

The game will be televised on CBS with Jim Nantz providing play-by-play and Phil Simms 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 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 11th 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, Sports USA Radio will broadcast the game nationally with Howard David, Terry Donahue and Rich Cellini calling the action. (Broadcast information found on the official Raiders web site)

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

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

When and Where: Sunday, September 28, 2008, 1:05 p.m. PT | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum