Silver and Black Report

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Carson Palmer

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

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

Michael Bush

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

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

Richard Seymour

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

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

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

Special Teams

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

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

New England and Buffalo

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

Wins in those games would have put the AFC West out of reach for Oakland. Instead, Tim Tebow and the Broncos face a crucial final game against the Chiefs, starring at a possible three-game losing streak to end the campaign after wining six in a row to take a lead of the division.
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If the playoffs were to begin today, the Oakland Raiders (7-6) would be on the outside looking in. After squandering a few chances to take a grip of the AFC West, the Silver & Black now will have to chase the Denver Broncos (8-5).

The surest way for Oakland to get would be to win their division. How can that happen? The Raiders need to win their last three games and hope for Denver to lose two of their final three; or fall to the Kansas City Chiefs. Hue Jackson’s bunch could also earn a wild-card berth, but many more things need to happen and a lot more help will be needed, since they will have to leapfrog the New York Jets and hope that others falter.

Here are a few reasons why they will or won’t make the playoffs:

Oakland will make the playoffs because Denver will falter.

Divine intervention may be part of the Broncos run to the top, but eventually you have to figure that teams will catch-up to Tim Tebow and the Denver offense.

They play the New England Patriots this week, then travel to Buffalo for a key road game on Christmas Eve. That could be the time where Oakland can sneak back to the top of the standings. After Todd Haley’s departure, Kansas City may pack it in on the final weekend at Denver. So with all the pressure now squarely on their shoulders and two tough weeks ahead, can the Broncos secure a playoff spot?

“Our mind-set now is to win the division,” said Denver defensive end Elvis Dumervil.

Oakland will not make the playoffs because of penalties, bad defense and squandered chances.

The Raiders lead the league with 130-penalties. That lack of discipline always comes back to haunt teams, especially in games where you can’t give opponents second chances. Oakland just can’t get out of their own way and they’ve had several contests that have been penalty-ridden.

The defense is allowing 160.2 rushing yards per game over the last four weeks. Down the stretch, teams will try to take advantage of that, and with the high-powered Detroit offense coming into town, and the Chargers tallying 289-yards on the ground the last two weeks, Chuck Bresnahan’s unit will have quite the battle ahead of them.

Oakland already had their chance to distance themselves from the rest. One defensive stop in the second half at Buffalo during week-two, and they could’ve been 3-0 to start the season. A three-game home stretch with a bye in the mix, versus the Browns, Broncos and Chiefs yielded just one-win. A lifeless effort in Miami, paired with a trouncing at Green Bay gave away their lead.

Oakland will make the playoffs because of their experience last season.

The Raiders went 6-0 against their rivals, but there was no solace in those achievements after losing key games down the stretch versus Miami, Jacksonville and Indianapolis, while the Chiefs put away the division before the final weekend.

“It’s just tough because all through training camp, we knew that we had a team that could win the (AFC) West, make the playoffs and compete,” Michael Huff stated last season. “I guess we’re not going to get the chance.”

“We can’t go undefeated in our division and let games like Arizona slip away. We got to have those,” said Tommy Kelly after their loss to the Colts in 2010.

This year, they suffered through tough losses and have fought back to be a streaky club. They’ll need a little help, but if those lessons learned last season served their purpose, Oakland’s veterans will remind the club what’s at stake and finish the season strong.

Oakland will make the playoffs because of their schedule.

Their last loss in Kansas City was in 2006. Oakland has not lost three-games in a row since the 2009 season and they dominated San Diego the first time around this year.

If they can’t come home and defend their field against the Lions, it will be a tough road and they’ll surely not be deserving of a post-season spot. So a big effort this weekend is expected, and you couldn’t have picked two better teams for them to try to beat than the two bottom clubs in the AFC West.

Oakland will make the playoffs because they will get healthy on offense.

Now they are conflicting reports regarding Darren McFadden’s foot injury, and whether he’ll be back at all this season. But Hue Jackson refuted that yesterday stating: “And it’s not a season-ender. I mean, that’s what we said – it’s a sprained foot, Lisfranc [injury], whatever you want to call it. Basically the same thing. I think Darren will be back before the season’s over. And when we get him back, we’ll get him back.”

Oakland has skirted around the McFadden issue and the ‘he’s coming along’ company line is drawing the ire of the fans. If he does come back, that can surely jolt an offense in need of some big-plays out of the backfield and that has been grounded the last three-weeks, averaging 78.6 per game after being atop the league the first half of the campaign.  Denarius Moore and Jacoby Ford will also get back into the mix and diversify their passing attack and special teams.

Carson Palmer has yet to play a game with McFadden or a healthy offensive roster.

Oakland will not make the playoffs because of their injuries.

Maybe McFadden will never be 100% the rest of the year. And if he’s not, there’s no guarantee he’ll even perform anywhere near like he has when he’s been healthy the last two years.

Michael Bush could be hitting a wall, as he has surpassed his career marks in touches and the passing game may never be the same with Ford and Moore consistently out of the line-up and Palmer never having a full complement since he has taken over the starting spot.

Oakland will not make the playoffs because of their lack of leadership.

Richard Seymour was acquired for moments like these; a team ready to turn the corner, primed to take that extra step… needing a leader with past experience to show them the way.

Whether limited by injuries or not, Seymour has paled as a leader, getting flagged often in keys games in vital spots or not showing up at all, as evidenced by his shut-out in the stat-box versus Green Bay.

If he can’t lead by example on the field, who will? Especially on a defense that has been allowing far too many yards and points.

On offense, will Jackson be the spark? Or will one of his players seize the moment?

Oakland will not make the playoffs because of Tim Tebow and the Broncos.

Yeah, it may just be some greater power. Marion Barber’s blunders have to be explained somehow. Denver has a knack of wining, and that’s all that matters this late in the year. And at this point, it’s hard to bet against a winner.

Oakland will make the playoffs because of their O-Line & Special Teams.

For most of the season, the Silver & Black’s offensive line, especially the left side, has been the backbone of the offense. Jared Veldheer and rookie Stefen Wisniewski can get back to being a force and aide an attack that will severely need a powerful force up front. Whoever is in the backfield should benefit from the line getting back into top form.

Same with the passing attack, as Carson Palmer has shown he can be dangerous when given time and some healthy weapons.

Having the best kicking tandem in the NFL will help. But if Ford, Moore and coach John Fassel can be difference makers and game changers, this could be a an advantage that could push Oakland towards January football.

Oakland will not make the playoffs because they have peaked already.

You can make the case that their best performance of the season was against the Jets in week-three, and their grittiest was versus the Texans on the weekend of Al Davis’ passing. A three-game winning streak that was halted in Miami may have been their high point and the start of anything that could go bad… which at this point, has.

They could still snag wins in all of their remaining games and still not make the playoffs.

TWITTER FAN REACTION – Why will the Raiders make/miss the playoffs?

“after Patriots beat Broncos, their confidence is shaken and lose two in a row.” – MandoVod

“no leadership at all!!!! no attitude, mojo, swagger whatever you want to call it!!!!” – cesarz77

“Offense inability to sustain long drives screws the defense. Which will screw their chances of making the playoffs.” – Gtwitten

“lack of discipline, lack of consistency, and not taking care of the ball will result in no playoffs.” – corona_mike

“the lack of discipline and bad coaching on the D side will be the reason why they don’t make the playoffs this year SMH” – Raiderfan_559

“Raiders offense built for speed, get their speed back they r in playoffs, if not they won’t win another game this year” – MattDanforth

“Reason the raiders will make the playoffs because mcfadden will be rested when he plays the teams on a whole other level” – robbiedorris
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On a day where both teams had explosive plays and long runs for big yardage, it was the special teams for the Oakland Raiders that was the deciding factor.

The Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Silver & Black 38-31 on Sunday on the strength of two vital plays on kickoffs.

The game’s momentum was already shifting after Rashad Jennings 74-yard scoring run cut the Raiders lead to 24-21. But on the ensuing kickoff, Jacksonville completed their comeback when rookie Jacoby Ford had his first blunder of the season; fumbling and giving the Jaguars the ball at the Oakland 22-yard line.

“The turnover on the kickoff return was big,” said head coach Tom Cable.

“I don’t even know where the guy came from,” Ford was quoted. “I just hit the hole and the ball just kind of came out. I’m probably not going to let that one go for awhile because that was a big momentum swing in the game . . . that’s hard to swallow and it’s on me.”

Five plays later, Mike Sims-Walker hauled in a ten-yard pass from David Garrard, and Jacksonville had their first lead of the game.

The home-team booted a 19-yard field goal on their next offensive possession for a touchdown lead. Oakland fought back admirably to knot the game at 31 with 1:53 remaining in the 4^th quarter.

But on the ensuing kickoff, Oakland shot themselves in the foot again, allowing Deji Karim to romp 65-yards to the Raiders 30-yard line. “It was blocked the way we planned it. Montell [Owens] sealed it and I hit it up in there,” Karim stated.

Maurice Jones-Drew hit paydirt a play later and the Jaguars were celebrating a hard fought home victory.

Jack Del Rio stated after the game, “I challenged our football team this week, special teams-wise, to be really good. I thought our special teams were special today.”

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

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Raiders Linebacker Quentin happily discusses his huge hit on special teams that the defense and the home crowd fed off of. Also, he touches on what kind of effect his own offense has on the defense.

OAKLAND, CA — Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha speaks about former Defensive Coordinator Rob Ryan and about playing against the Cleveland Browns this Sunday:
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Linebacker Thomas Howard touches on what it took to defeat the Denver Broncos last week and about Rob Ryan’s ‘prank’ phone call:
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Always uber-cool, Shane Lechler briefly discusses about kicking to the dangerous Cleveland returner Josh Cribbs (Off camera, the Raider punter said that he will not kick away from Cribbs just before I began recording):
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Richard Seymour chatting about the challenges the defense faces against the Cleveland Browns:
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