Silver and Black Report

The San Diego Chargers turned out the lights on Shawne Merriman and the Minnesota Vikings disposed of Randy Moss to start the week. Via my Twitter account, I asked fans of the Oakland Raiders which one of the two would you want on the roster. Here were some responses:

Shawne Merriman by far. At least he’d be able to play against his old team and is an actual LEADER. Moss is a overrated cancer. – RaiderinNY

def merriman he would compliment our lindbackers pass rush nicely he is gonna wanna prove he still got it. – BigGriff28

moss could help. More Teams still double Moss. Dmc/bush wouldn’t see 8 in box It would also help Miller Dhb/Murphy more single coverage – Dan905

Moss has drama & Merriman is damaged goods … Both would be nice, but that’s a Big Chunk of $$$ – BiGGSLiNKYd0GG

Merriman for sure. Moss is like a plague. – CCRaiderNation

I’d go with merriman he always liked raider fans – King_Swaggz

dont want or need either of those distractions..come on..we’re jellin – bamartinez

I will be happy with either seriously….moss and merriman are good vets have made their own marks in history – klone187

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

This Sunday, the Oakland Raiders and the San Diego Chargers will face each other for the 101^st time since both clubs began play in 1960. The Silver & Black hold a 54-44-2 advantage in the regular season series and a 1-0 edge in post-season match-ups.

In their last contest on November 1, 2009, the Chargers prevailed 24-16, as LaDainian Tomlinson turned back the clock and had a solid performance, Shawne Merriman had recorded his first sack since 2007 and San Diego stretched their winning streak against the Raiders to 13.

“When I first got here, the intensity and atmosphere of the game, it rubbed me the wrong way,” said Tomlinson. “By beating them 13 times, it means 13 times their fans went home with their heads hanging.”

“It’s one of those things that was long coming,” Merriman said. “I don’t put as big an emphasis on sacks as everybody else does. But they are important. I realize I’ve got to go out and make plays and get those sacks in order for us to be a better defense. As long as I’m doing that and putting pressure on the quarterback and forcing him to do things that he doesn’t want to do, we’re going to be better.”

Oakland’s last win against the Chargers was on September 28, 2003. The Silver & Black triumphed 34-31 in overtime after Rich Gannon rallied his club from a 14-point deficit. “Rich did this, and we all helped,” said then Raider center Barret Robbins. “That’s why he’s the most valuable player of this league. You could sense a calm feeling out there. We were going to get it done.”

Gannon was 26-of-43 for 348-yards and three touchdowns. A 36-yard pass to Alvis Whitted cut the Charger lead to 31-24 in the 4^th quarter. Then on their next drive, Charlie Garner dashed into the end zone from 24-yards out to tie the ball game.

“I hope that this game serves as a catalyst and a launching pad to get us going again,” Oakland coach Bill Callahan said. “We came alive. We were wearing them down at the end. I thought our stamina was excellent down the stretch.”

Through the years, SBReport.net and Raiderfans.net have been covering this bitter rivalry. Here are some photos from out archives:

DeLawrence Grant (59) and Derrick Burgess (56) converge on Drew Brees during the 2005 campaign.

Tyler Brayton (91) gets his hands on Philip Rivers in 2006.

Andrew Walter (16) had a miserable night in 2008 against the Chargers.

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

Oakland Raiders beat writer Steve Corkran was dead on when he stated in a blog for Inside Bay Area’s web site that the Silver & Black should shy away from trading for linebacker Shawne Merriman.

The San Diego Chargers reportedly had three different trades for the linebacker during draft weekend, but contract demands apparently nixed any transactions.

Merriman and agent Tom Condon’s desire for a long-term extension has made life difficult for the Chargers. But Merriman has switched agents and now it will be David Dunn’s job to get his client into another uniform.

General manager A.J Smith has no intentions of giving Merriman a deal. And he shouldn’t after injuries, off the field incidents and a suspension for violating the NFL’s steroids policy.

“I have none,” Smith said when asked about his opinions on the switching of agents. “Shawne made a business decision that I’m sure he feels is in his best interest. Who players have to represent them means nothing to us. However, it means a great deal to the players. They should have an agent they feel comfortable with.”

Many times, this is when a team like the Oakland Raiders gets thrown into the mix.

Yes, the rival Chargers wouldn’t want to see Merriman twice a year, especially donning the Silver & Black. But this is not the same Shawne Merriman that tallied 39.5 sacks and went to the Pro Bowl in his first three campaigns.

So dumping him wherever, even to a rival, is a possibility. And Oakland’s brass wanting to add a high profile player, who can impact a defense that has been overhauled at linebacker, can then also become a possibility.

But Oakland has far too many linebackers already on their roster, are trying to move forward with young and hungry talents and more importantly, the rookie middle linebacker they have spearheading the defense should be allowed to lock in and take a hold of his unit without any players that could throw a wrench into the situation.

Merriman has a lot of upside and if motivated and playing at a high level, he can be one of the game altering talents in the league. But that risk is something Oakland cannot afford at this moment.

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

(Image used in article property of the official San Diego Chargers Web Site)

QUARTERBACK: C

JaMarcus Russell bounced back from his benching last week with a conservative and safe effort against the Chargers. When Oakland drafted him, they hoped that at this point of his career he’d be using his big arm to go vertical and deep. Today, the majority of his passes were short and non-threatening to the San Diego secondary. He opened the game with a quick 5-yard toss to Zach Miller for 5-yards. His second pass was off a play fake in which Russell overthrew Miller, who was covered by multiple defenders, and was intercepted by Antonio Cromartie. On Oakland’s second possession, he overthrew a wide-open Miller again on a 3^rd and 4, displaying poor footwork; as he never set his feet to get off a strong throw. He did the same thing in the 3^rd quarter, floating a pass to Louis Murphy – who was in double coverage – as he moved backward when releasing the football. His best pass was late in the 4^th quarter, facing a 4^th and 7, avoiding the rush in the pocket and finding Miller for 10-yards. He ended 14-of-22 for 109 yards at a measly 5.0 yards per completion. It’s agonizing watching this passing attack struggling for every yard they can tally and not being able to present a threat to opposing defensive backfields.

RUNNING BACKS & FULLBACKS: B

Justin Fargas again demonstrated great determination and fought hard to pick up every one of those 59-yards compiled this afternoon. He was able to tie the game at seven in the 2^nd quarter with a 3yard touchdown run – his first score of the season. Fargas added 3 receptions for 20-yards. Michael Bush got 7-carries for 27-yards. Early in the game it looked like he could romp through the Charger defense, but the offensive line could not sustain their blocks throughout the game and Bush’s production waned as the game went on. Luke Lawton blocked well in stints.

WIDE RECEIVERS & TIGHT ENDS: F

On 2^nd and 28 in the 4^th quarter, the Raiders receiver woes were highlighted when Johnnie Lee Higgins and Louis Murphy ran into each other at the start of the play, taking themselves out and collapsing to the turf erasing any chance of Russell having them as targets. On that play, Shawne Merriman recorded a sack. Higgins’ only catch of the game came on a 3^rd and 5 in the 3^rd quarter in which he gained 6-yards. Darrius Heyward-Bey finished with one reception for 10-yards, which came at the end of the 2^nd quarter right before they scored on a field goal to make it 21-10 Chargers. Higgins was futile in his attempt to volley a pass from Russell to Heyward-Bey on 4^th and 20 at the end of the contest – attempting a lateral before completing a catch. Murphy had a drive-killing false start on 3^rd and 8 at the start of the final quarter. Zach Miller compiled 5-receptions for 52-yards, but struggled blocking allowing Steve Gregory to blow past him for a sack on a 3^rd and 10 and was ineffective aiding the line on running downs. Brandon Myers recorded his first two receptions in the NFL.

OFFENSIVE LINE: D

Khalif Barnes was horrendous. He was flagged for a false start in the first quarter, and late in the game, and was consistently beat by an attacking Charger front-seven. Cooper Carlisle struggled inside getting any push, was infracted for a false start as well and Mario Henderson was victimized by Merriman and Shaun Phillips for a few sacks. This group looked nothing like the dominant unit that knocked around the Chargers during their first match-up.

DEFENSIVE LINE: C

The 100-rushing yards allowed were not crippling. The front-seven was able to contain LaDainian Tomlinson and Darren Sproles, but most of the day, they could not get any pressure on Philip Rivers. Matt Shaughnessy was the best performer on the defense tallying 5 tackles (most of them around or behind the line of scrimmage versus the run) and his first career sack.

LINEBACKERS: B

Jon Alston has his most active game this year with 5-tackles and solid play versus the Charger ground game. Kirk Morrison ran freely and Thomas Howard got good depth in coverage versus Antonio Gates. Their one-mix up when in zone coverage came when Morrison released Gates into the back-end of the secondary with no help for a gain of 30-yards on a 3^rd and 4.

SECONDARY: D

Rivers orchestrated a solid passing attack and finished with 249 passing yards. Vincent Jackson tortured Chris Johnson and Stanford Routt, as he tallied 103 yards and a score on 8 receptions. Malcolm Floyd out jumped Michael Huff on San Diego’s first play, a pass that gained 53-yards and set Tomlinson up for a 6-yard touchdown scamper on the next play. Floyd tormented Johnson, as he drew a flag in the first half on the Raider defensive back for illegal contact. Johnson’s second interception of the season came off a bobbled Rivers pass. That turnover helped the Silver & Black tie the game at 7. Tyvon Branch was very good at times covering Gates and helping in run support. But Jackson consistently beat the Raiders; gaining 20-yards on a 3^rd and 7, 14-yards on a 3^rd and 9 and scoring on a 3^rd and 4. Rivers challenged Nnamdi Asomugha once, as he completed a difficult 3^rd and 10 pass to Chris Chambers for 20-yards with the receiver looking into the sun and blanketed by the All-Pro cornerback.

SPECIAL TEAMS: A

Jonathan Holland had his best game returning this season. He compiled 145 yards on kickoffs, but none were more important than the 60-yards he acquired to set-up the Oakland offense at the San Diego 37-yard line before the end of the half.  Branch was stellar containing Sproles on punt returns. Sebastian Janikowski was 3-for-3, nailing field goals from 48, 41 and 28-yards. Sam Williams got penetration when attacking a punt, just barely grazed the football, but was not able to affect the flight of the punt enough to help Oakland. Sproles had a 39-yard return and was chased down from behind by rookie Mike Mitchell.

COACHING: C

Tom Cable is trying to ease Russell through his tough times. He has simplified the offense a lot, but at this point there is no scary aspect to this passing attack nor is there any chance of this team coming back when they are down in games or have to go the length of the field in a short time. When Oakland started their drive at the 4:38 mark of the 4^th quarter down by 8, you just got the feeling that there was no way they could move the chains down the field 74-yards for a chance at the upset. A few times on 3^rd downs, Oakland elected to run the ball with Fargas instead of letting their pricey passer find a way to get a first down. Unlike Russell, Rivers and the Chargers can get big chunks of yardage and find a way to convert when they are facing long down and distances. John Marshall’s secondary was torched and Norv Turner’s play calling at times had Oakland off-balance.

GAME NOTES

• Tomlinson scored twice, increasing his total to 25 against the Raiders. The Hall of Fame bound rusher has scored three touchdowns against the Silver & Black and none against any other opponent this season.
• Russell was sacked five times, twice by Shaun Phillips who increased his career total against the Raiders to 11.5. Merriman tallied his first two sacks of the campaign.
• Oakland has lost 13 straight games to San Diego.

Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist