Silver and Black Report

The Oakland Raiders (1-0) defeated the Dallas Cowboys (1-1) 17-9 in their first pre-season action. Here are some highlights of the contest:

It was a good showing for rookie defensive end Lamarr Houston. He started and played the entire first half and tallied two-sacks. He acknowledged during the game’s telecast that the solid coverage down the field helped him get to Tony Romo. His horrible haircut, at the hands of John Henderson, was also on display when he spoke to sideline reporter, George Atkinson.

Jon Condo got down the field on punts smoothly and made two solid tackles. Hiram Eugene assisted on Oakland’s first punt coverage attempt in the first quarter.

Nnamdi Asomugha stared down Romo and nearly picked off his pass attempt to Roy Williams on 2^nd and 5 on Dallas’ first drive. Stanford Routt played well in run support and was in coverage on a 3^rd and 7 that forced Dallas to punt.

Chris Johnson was beat for 24-yards by Miles Austin on 3^rd and 12 in the first quarter. The Cowboys breakout wide receiver last season made an athletic play to haul in the Romo pass. Austin again beat Johnson on a slant for 9 yards on a 3^rd and 6.

Michael Huff stuffed a screen to Marion Barber on 2^nd and 19 early in the contest. Later, he tallied a tackle bouncing Austin out of bounds on an end around that Mike Mitchell dissected perfectly.

Trevor Scott’s sack and forced fumble on 3^rd and 18 forced a long field goal attempt in the first quarter.

Langston Walker had a crucial flag that turned a 3^rd and 4 into a 3^rd and 9. The OL started with Walker at RT, Cooper Carlisle at RG, Samson Satele at C, Robert Gallery at LG and Marion Henderson at LT. The second unit struggled with Kyle Boller under center. Khalif Barnes was infracted for a false start to start Boller’s night and on the ensuing play, second year tight end Brandon Myers was flagged as well for the same penalty. Chris Morris was even called for holding, but Dallas declined it.

Jason Campbell chucked up a few long tosses to Louis Murphy. His best pass was a 3^rd and 3 completion for 7-yards to tight end Zach Miller. The former Redskin was getting hit as he released the football, still getting good velocity on the accurate pass towards the sideline. On that drive at the end of the first quarter, Campbell was sacked when Samson Satele was bulldozed on 2^nd and 10.  On a 2^nd and 5, Campbell got appeared in rhythm when he hit Todd Watkins on a quick slant for 10-yards – changing the pace of the stagnant Raiders’ offense as he noticed the CB was playing off his target.

Matt Shaughnessy continues his solid development with a two sack performance. On back-to-back plays in the 2^nd quarter, he almost recorded a safety with his powerful penetration into the Dallas backfield.

Tom Cable went for it on 4^th and 1 in the 2^nd quarter. The play: Campbell taking the snap from a shotgun formation, but flailing his toss incomplete. On 4^th and 1 in the 4^th quarter, Boller sneaked for a first down behind Veldheer.

Dallas also took a shot on a 4^th and 1, but Ricky Brown stuffed the screen play on a solid Raider defensive stand.

Rookie Jared Veldheer sprung Rock Cartwright for 16-yards with a solid block. He played at center in the 4^th quarter.

Michael Bennett showed his swiftness through the line of scrimmage and play making ability as a receiver out of the backfield. Rock Cartwright did a little bit of everything throughout the night. With Darren McFadden not playing, Oakland displayed their depth at running back. Bennett’s 68-yards on 12 carries and 33-yard reception were crucial in the win.

Shane Lechler was in All-Pro form with a 62-yard punt.

Shaun Bodiford muffed a punt that Dallas recovered at Oakland’s 11-yard line.

Kyle Boller’s lofted an out pass to Yamon Figurs for 18-yards in the 4^th quarter. The toss just got over the defenders fingertips and Figurs did a fine job staying in bounds. The WR/specialist followed that up with a 7-yard catch on 2^nd and 5.

Nick Miller appeared to grab a touchdown on a fade pattern near the back pylon late in the contest. The back judge called it a score initially, but the referee announced that the play was incomplete. Oakland challenged and won.

Oakland was fortunate when Leon Williams dropped a deflected pass up in the air that could’ve ended their late scoring drive. Raiders rookie Stevie Brown could’ve had a game closing interception with under 90 seconds left.

Jerome Boyd ended all hope for the Cowboys with a 50-yard interception return for a score. The deflection was bounced right into the safety’s arms.

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

Here are some major storylines heading into training camp for the Oakland Raiders. Depending on the outcome of these stories, the Silver & Black could continue their miserable losing stretch or finally show signs of being a respectable football club.

• Can Jason Campbell stabilize the offense and be a starting caliber QB for Oakland?

In 2009, Campbell topped all his career marks with 327 completions, 507 attempts, 3.618 passing yards, 20 touchdowns a completion percentage of 64.5% and a rating of 86.4. That was with a Washington team that had a new offensive hierarchy practically every season and a leaky offensive line. The Raiders will gladly take numbers like that. But this is Oakland – a wasteland for talent many times – and if Campbell can’t continue his growth and prove to be a starting caliber passer, the Silver & Black will be shuffling to find a passer on their roster full of back-up signal callers.

• What will the offensive line alignment look like, and can it be cohesive?

Mario Henderson at left tackle and Robert Gallery at left guard are the only two players set in stone along the trenches.  Yes Samson Satele is the projected center, but nothing along this offensive line screams out solid or cohesive. They have some youthful alternatives in Bruce Campbell and Jared Veldheer, but giving rookies a lot of reps is always a risky proposition. Campbell’s success and the rush attack will be reliant in this group. If there is a mess on this unit, the offense will struggle mightily.

• Will the run defense be a joke, again?

The deficiencies here have been well documented since 2003. But now Richard Seymour has a year under his belt, John Henderson has been added and rookie Lamarr Houston looks promising. The woes of the defense have stemmed from their inability to stuff the run. More talent appears in place for John Marshall, but will it finally get fixed?

• Is the mix at linebacker the right one?

This revamped grouping will be interesting to observe. Kamerion Wimbley, Quentin Groves and rookie Rolando McClain are all new faces in 2010. And it’s conceivable that all three start together. Thomas Howard is under the radar for the first time in Silver & Black and veterans like Sam Williams and Ricky Brown at this point appear to be special team contributors. If the defensive line protects this group, they have enough ability to support versus the run. But how they fare against opposing passing attacks and play in space will be the major question mark.

• Will a running back finally step up?

There is no denying that the Raiders have ability in the offensive backfield. Darren McFadden and Michael Bush could combine to give Oakland a solid ground game. But can either one break out? Who will give Hue Jackson the consistent battering ram they need to move the chains and control the clock? Their third rusher could be just as important, since McFadden will likely be used all over the formation to present match-up problems. Rock Cartwright or Michael Bennett are two veterans that could get more carries than expected because of Jackson’s intentions.

• Are the wide receivers young and exciting, or too raw and not ready for the spotlight?

Darrius Heyward-Bey could not have had a worse rookie campaign. But he did work hard during the off-season and is putting the effort in to prove naysayers wrong. That alone won’t change the opinions of those still wonder whether or not he can be a well-rounded target. Louis Murphy has starting caliber potential and Chaz Schilens wets the coaching staff’s appetitive, but his fragility is a major concern along with the looming question of whether or not he can be expected to play with expectations on him for a 16-game stretch. They are no veterans on this unit with past success and that could hurt Jason Campbell. The rest are late draft picks, projects and talents that may not make it on any other roster in the league.

• Is Tom Cable really the right coach for this team?

Cable has talked up the team and the new aura surrounding them. But it is his job to get them to believe they can win and ultimately, prove it on the field. That’s a difficult task considering their current losing streak and the sense of failure this Raider bunch has had since 2003. Another losing season and Cable will be gone. If Oakland wins and turns the page, Cable will be in a nice position to negotiate a multi-year deal to remain as coach.

• How much influence can Hue Jackson have in year one?

The offense has been anemic. The play calling, uninspiring. Enter Hue Jackson, who want to pound the football on the ground and make this offense more diverse. With Campbell at quarterback, Oakland can expand on their playbook and not be such an easy group to dissect for defenses. If Jackson can squeeze out a respectable offense out of this roster, he’ll be looked at as a savior in Raider land.

• Which young player(s) on defense shine in 2010?

McClain and Houston are two highly touted rookies. But Tyvon Branch, Trevor Scott, Matt Shaugnessy and Mike Mitchell are players that will receive significant playing time and can prove to be surprise performers. Oakland has a lot of youth on defense. If they get a few to play up to their potential, John Marshall’s group could be in the top half of total defense in the league.

• Who on special teams can shine other than the place kicker and punter?

Johnnie Lee Higgins was the break out player for the Raiders two tears ago. After a pedestrian performance from all their return specialists in 2009, a return to form for Higgins could help this special teams get back to respectability. Yamon Figurs, Jacoby Ford and Nick Miller will try to unseat Higgins. Sam Williams, Ricky Brown, Jon Condo, Travis Goethel, Mike Mitchell among others will have to cover kickoffs and punts a lot better. Which linebackers that are not in the starting line-up will wind up on special teams?

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

One unit that will be distinctively different in 2010 for the Oakland Raiders will be the linebackers.

The shuffle started before the Silver & Black drafted Rolando McClain, but the alteration hit its peak during that weekend when captain and starting middle linebacker Kirk Morrison was dealt to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

McClain has already gained the respect of veterans and inherited the spot once held by Morrison with a strong first impression in minicamp and tangible skills that translate to him being a solid pro at that position.

“Man, he’s bigger than I thought he was,’’ veteran linebacker Thomas Howard stated of the rookie. “He works hard, he’s a smart player and he jumped right in and he was able to control the defense. Like a middle linebacker is supposed to, he has great feet to be such a big guy, humble, hard worker.”

The first team linebacker corps that began work in early May consisted of McClain in the middle, flanked by Trevor Scott and Kamerion Wimbley.

And at this point, all impressions are that that alignment is the one we’ll see barring any injuries come the start of the season.

Scott, who tallied five sacks in the final six contests last season, will be given every shot to continue his development on the weak side of the formation.

He supplanted the speedy Thomas Howard, who is still on the roster and could be used in multi-faceted ways on a defense that will try to diversify its packages.

Howard signed his one-year $1.759 million tender for next season. And with a new role in a contract year, the former 2^nd round selection may be able to use his range in coverage and speed to find a niche in the revamped defense.

Wimbley is the unknown commodity that is intriguing in the grouping. The 26-year old was the Browns 13^th overall selection in the 2006 draft when then general manager Phil Savage stated, “The very first time I saw Kamerion in person I said, ‘This is the prototype’ — the arm length, the knee bend, the athletic ability, the flexibility.”

When Cleveland selected him, Savage proclaimed, “There’s no reason to think he won’t have an outstanding, Pro Bowl-caliber career.”

As the 2009 season was winding down, Browns head coach Eric Mangini commented, “Kamerion Wimbley has made a ton of progress from the beginning of the season to where he is now in terms of his approach to the game plan. It’s dramatic.”

Mangini praised his work ethic, study habits and discipline on the football field.

“The amount of mental errors he has made is dramatically different,” said Mangini. “It’s a great thing to see.”

Wimbley had five sacks in the first seven games of the season. He missed a game against the Steelers with the flu and when he got back into the line-up, opponents keyed the linebacker, which freed up other teammates.

The Browns moved him around on defense, another reason why he Mangini was happy to see his development.

“It gives opposing teams a different look and made it a little more difficult for them to prepare,” Wimbley said. “It gives us things that we can play around with in the game, bringing other people from different spots and then not knowing where they’re coming from. It just mixes it up a little bit.”

At the end of the 2009 season, Wimbley stated, “I think I’ve gotten better every year and I plan on continuing to do that.”

If Wimbley can regain the form that made him a highly touted prospect coming out of college, Oakland will have the makings of a very reliable and diverse collection of linebackers.

The rest of the crew: Ricky Brown, Isaiah Ekejiuba, Quentin Groves, David Nixon, Slade Norris, Sam Williams and rookie Travis Goethel will be battling for reserve roles and/or vital assignments on special teams.

Ekejiuba is a mainstay on punt and kickoff coverage units. Jacksonville couldn’t wait on Groves’ development, so he was shipped to Oakland and the veteran Brown has not shown the ability to stay healthy or handle increased reps in the regular season on defense.

Overall, John Marshall does have more options and looks to his defense with this crop of linebackers.

Something the Raiders needed the last few years.

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

In this final installment of the Oakland Raiders draft outlooks, we analyze the mid-section and backfield of the Silver & Black’s defense.

LINEBACKERS

Oakland has tried to gauge the interest around the league for middle linebacker Kirk Morrison. Ultimately, no club felt that he was worth his 3^rd rounder and the Raiders brought him back at a one-year deal worth nearly $2.5 million. Thomas Howard also signed his tender at $1.759 million for 2010. Neither is a lock to remain with the club, as they could be used as trade bait to bring in mid-to-late round selections and open up spots for cheaper alternatives on the roster. Ricky Brown is one of those other options, but he’ll also make $1.7 million and his inability to be durable and unproven play over a course of 16-games may leave Oakland very light in the middle of the defense with the 6’2, 235 pound talent who has mainly played on special teams. The trade for Kamerion Wimbley was an under the radar move that could pay dividends. But he’ll be on the strong side initially, and all indications are that Trevor Scott will be given every shot to continue his solid play from the end of last season along the weak-side of the formation.

The rest of the unit; Sam Williams, David Nixon, Slade Norris and Isaiah Ekejiuba will compete for depth or be pillars on special teams.

OUTLOOK:

In the last week, Oakland has shown interest in Rolando McClain (Alabama) and they’ve viewed film of the talented linebackers. Mock drafts have shifted a tad and more pundits are speculating whether or not he could be a selection. And if the Raiders pull off a trade prior to the start of the first round, and Howard or Morrison are jettisoned, then McClain could be a real possibility. Could they add McClain anyway knowing a deal could be brokered? Sure. You’ll also wonder if this team could be better of as a 3-4 unit with the talent on the roster and Richard Seymour anchoring the defensive line.

DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD

Nnamdi Asomugha, Chris Johnson, Stanford Routt, Mike Mitchell, Tyvon Branch and Michael Huff at this point are all expected to be on the roster in 2010. You can realistically look at this collection and say that there is no immediate need in the secondary. But the Raiders – Al Davis – find it irresistible adding athletic talents to this corps.

OUTLOOK:

Joe Haden (Florida) has been rumored to Oakland, as they are indications that the Silver & Black may not be too enthused with the corner play opposite Asomugha. But it is more likely that the Raiders will add a speedier or more physically gifted defensive back later in the draft that may fly under the radar or drop on draft boards. Taylor Mays can be aggressive in run support, is a physical specimen and enjoys making the big hit in the open field. Problem is, many of his vitals and attributes may not translate well on the next level and many scouts believe he won’t be versatile enough to succeed as pro. Oakland could be enamored enough to take him in the 2^nd round if he is there.

Outside linebacker Thomas Howard signed his one-year tender offer with the Oakland Raiders.

The speedy defender is expected to make $1.759 million in 2010.

Oakland could deal one of their linebackers as draft time approaches. Trevor Scott, a player that came on strong in 2009 after his transition from defensive end, could snag Howard’s position along the linebacker corps. Kamerion Wimbley is expected to start at the opposite end, with Ricky Brown and Kirk Morrison dueling for the top spot in the middle of the formation.

No player on the unit except for Wimbley should feel secure about their roster spot in 2010 as a member of the Silver & Black.

Duke University linebacker Vincent Rey has visited with the Raiders according to a report on the National Football Post. He’s projected as a 4^th round selection or later in next week’s draft.

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).

On Sunday, the Oakland Raiders (4-8) will host the Washington Redskins (3-9). It will be the 11^th regular season meeting between both clubs with the Silver & Black holding a 8-3 edge including their victory in Super Bowl XVIII. Oakland has won four of the last five meetings including their last match-up during week-eleven of the 2005 season when Kerry Collins passed for 289-yards and the Raiders won 16-13.

OAKLAND RAIDERS

On Offense:

In three-games as a started, Bruce Gradkowski has elevated the Oakland aerial attack, which has tallied an average of 217 yards per game in that span. With Robert Gallery out for the season and the Raiders not running the ball all that well, rookie Louis Murphy emerging as a legitimate talent, Chaz Schilens back in the mix and a competent quarterback under center, its safe to say that the Oakland passing game is at its peak. They’ll get a formidable challenge from the Redskins this week who have the 5^th best pass defense in the league (190.2 per game), but in recent weeks against Dallas, Philadelphia and New Orleans – all teams in the top-10 in passing yards per game – they have allowed 819 aerial yards.

Last week in Pittsburgh, Johnnie Lee Higgins had his best game as a target in some time after Darrius Heyward-Bey was inactive due to injury. “Yeah, it was rough. You know me, I’m a fighter, I just hate sitting back and watching, I want to be out there, but I just do as I’m told,” Higgins told reporters on Friday. “I go out there and when my number is called, I go out there and I perform. Complaining won’t get you anywhere. When it’s my time to shine, I go out there and try and do it.”

What to Expect:

Samson Satele is expected to start at center with Chris Morris taking Gallery’s spot at left guard. Oakland has to have some cohesion along the trenches if they don’t want Gradkowski scrambling against a Washington defense that has tallied 28-sacks (12^th in the NFL). Short down and distances will be a key as well as other running situations in the red-zone. If Gradkowski can rally this team to another win, it will be a huge indictment on JaMarcus Russell as the Raiders usually struggle after wins and have rarely put together solid back-to-back performances during his time as a starter.

On Defense:

Greg Ellis’ knee has hindered him all week, limited his action in practice on Friday and is listed as questionable for the game. Oakland will need a lively pass rush on Sunday due to the recent activity of Jason Campbell. Yes he has four interceptions in the last three contests. But he has also tallied 284 yards passing per game during that span.

Oakland has to bring the heat as they did versus the Eagles and Bengals in order to come away with a victory at home.

One player that helps in that aspect is Richard Seymour. And this week, he stated to the Boston Herald, “I still have an impact,” when talking about his play and the decision the Patriots made to deal him before the season. “Maybe I don’t get the glory all the time, but I free up somebody else and our team gets the success. I know what I bring to the table. They wish it was that easy to replace me, but it’s not.”

Trevor Scott could be freed up this weekend, and in two games at linebacker, he has three sacks, four quarterback pressures and five tackles for losses.

“Originally when they first said it, I was kind of shocked just because I’ve never really played it before,” Scott said. “But I just took it in stride and ran with it. It was one of those things where you’re thrown into the fire, and sometimes that’s the best way to learn.”

What to Expect:

Oakland is still susceptible to big plays against the run and pass, and can allow big chunks of yardage on the ground. But they have been stout in holding teams to field goals instead of touchdowns when they get the red-zone, forcing a key turnover or getting a vital sack to push the opponents place kicker out of field goal range. If John Marshall is able to get his pass rush going, Oakland’s secondary will be able to pick some errant throws and give their upstart offense a chance at some short drives.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS

On Offense:

“We could have been 6-6 and fighting for something,” Jason Campbell stated on the team’s official Web site after throwing for a career high 367 yards and three touchdowns. “Instead we’re 3-9.”

Clinton Portis was place on injured reserve this week, so Quinton Ganther and Rock Cartwright will carry the load the rest of the way. The second year rusher out of Utah has been more productive than Cartwright in recent weeks and now will be the fourth rusher to start in the backfield for Washington in 2009.

“I’m getting the opportunity that I haven’t had to show people what I can do,” Ganther said. “I just worked harder than anybody. The longer you keep you feet in the door, the better opportunity you have.”

What to Expect:

Oakland’s secondary will be tested by Santana Moss (49 rec. 642-yards 3 TD), Antwaan Randle El (40 rec. 458-yards), Fred Davis (32 rec. 319 yards 3 TD) and Devin Thomas (23 rec. 287 yards 3 TD). Chris Johnson has been picked on playing opposite Nnamdi Asomugha and far too often, second year pro Tyvon Branch and the rest of the Raiders secondary have been caught out of position on big plays. Many times, Oakland’s rush defense has allowed unknowns to have big games at running back starting for injured starters. If Ganther is given his shot consistently, he could have a career day.

On Defense:

Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth will miss his third game with a sprained right ankle.

Also, cornerback DeAngelo Hall will be out with a sprained right knee, as he will miss out on a opportunity to play against his former teammates During his eight-game stint by the Bay Area, Hall was torched and tormented by double moves and was a whipping boy of the fans after being traded and signed to an extension prior to the 2008 campaign.

“Al Davis told me it salary cap issues,” Hall said. “Coach Cable actually made the statement that they had somebody better behind me. So I kind of took a little offense to that, but I don’t have any hard feelings toward Coach Cable, the organization. It was a great, great, great time for me there, the short period of time that I was there.”

“DeAngelo’s a play-maker,” ex-corner mate Asomugha stated. “He wants to be free to go out and make plays and do what he does best. When you come here, you have to understand that you’re going to be in man-to-man 90 percent of the game. It was definitely something he wasn’t used to. It took some adjusting for him, and he never really got that full chance to adjust to that change.”

GAME NOTES

• In Washington’s first seven contest, they allowed an average of 17.6 points and 283 yards per game. In the past five, foes have amassed 23 points and 352 yards of offense per outing.
• Andre Carter has eight sacks in his last eight contests.
• Gallery’s spot on the roster could be occupied by Roy Schuening, who is able to play center and is currently on the practice squad.

KEY MATCH-UPS

Can the Raiders passing attack continue to move it downfield?

The 4^th quarter versus the Steelers was explosive. If they can continue that output, they’ll be able to make life easier for a running game that has been disappointing and could use a boost from Darren McFadden.

Will the Raiders’ run defense get plowed?

This is the type of game where the Shonn Greene’s, the Jamaal Charles’ and Bernard Scott’s go wild on Oakland’s run defense. Campbell has been throwing it for big yards, the Raiders can allow big yards via the pass, and if Ganther rolls, there will be a lot of booing in the Black Hole.

PREDICTION

Raiders 26 – Redskins 19

TV & RADIO

The game will be televised on FOX with Dick Stockton providing play-by-play and Charles Davis handling color analysis. If sold out per NFL blackout rules, the game will air in the Bay Area on KTVU Channel 2 and in Sacramento on KXTV Channel 40. 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 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 KSFO’s Rich Walcoff. (Broadcast information was cited from the Official Oakland Raiders Web Site)

GAME INFO

Sunday, December 13, 2009, 4:05 p.m. ET | Oakland Alameda County Coliseum, OAK, CA

Home Team: Oakland Raiders (4-8) Home: 2-4 Road: 2-4

Road Team: Washington Redskins (3-9) Home: 3-3 Road: 0-6

LINE: Raiders are a 1-point underdog

Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

QUARTERBACK: A

Bruce Gradkowski had the best statistical game for any Raider passer in a long time. His poise was stellar along with his ability to extend plays and make clutch throws in key spots. Oakland would have never won this game with JaMarcus Russell at the helm. Early on, Gradkowski missed an open Louis Murphy on a 3^rd and 3 that would’ve led to a big gain. But he bounced back from that on the next drive hitting Johnnie Lee Higgins on a 22-yard pass on 3^rd and 14 – the key play on a possession that ended with a field goal to cut the Pittsburgh lead to 10-6. Gradkowski ended the first half 7-of-9 for 86 yards. He opened the 2^nd half with a nice sidearm delivery to Zach Miller for 10-yards on a 3^rd and 8, and in the 4^th quarter, he moved the chains on a 3^rd and 3 scrambling for 8-yards. Oakland’s passer could’ve had at least 30-more yards rushing if not for infractions that negated some nice runs. He made a strong throw to Chaz Schilens for 17-yards with a lineman bearing down on him for a score that made it 13-10 with 8:21 remaining. The 75-yard bomb to Murphy was vital giving the Raiders a 20-17 lead with 5:28 left in the game. Then his passes to Higgins for 17-yards, Todd Watkins for 12-yards on 3^rd and 10, and Murphy for 19-yards marched the Silver & Black down the field as time expired. His final throw, an 11-yard game-winning touchdown pass to Murphy to cap the frantic 4^th quarter became the best moment for Oakland in 2009. His final numbers: 20/33 for 308 yards and 3 touchdowns.

RUNNING BACKS & FULLBACKS: C+

Justin Fargas led the team with 15 carries for 63-yards. He kept the Steelers’ defense honest, but was not a major factor in Oakland moving the ball when they needed it most. Darren McFadden had a key run on 3^rd and 2 in the final quarter, darting for 6-yards on a pitch near the end of a drive in which the Raiders took the lead. He ended with 9 rushes for 25 yards. Michael Bush was a non-factor with one-carry for one yard and making a cameo as a passer on a toss in which he overthrew a wide-open Schilens. Luke Lawton was flagged for a false start to start a drive deep in their own territory.

WIDE RECEIVERS & TIGHT ENDS: A

The receivers had their best game of the season, without the presence of rookie Darrius Heyward-Bey – out with a foot injury. Murphy shined when it mattered most with 4-catches for 128 yards and two touchdowns. He had his best game as a pro and could’ve had another big gainer after beating William Gay on a slant and go route on the first play of the 2^nd quarter, but Gradkowski overthrew him. He torched Ike Taylor for the 75-yard touchdown and tiptoed his way into the end zone the last 5-yards. Higgins made his first sizeable contribution to this team in 2009. He had 4 receptions for 63-yards. Schilens also keyed the huge 4^th quarter with his scoring grab; ending the game with 45-yards on 3 catches. Zach Miller continued his solid play with 43 yards receiving.

OFFENSIVE LINE: B-

Samson Satele was injured, did not return to the line-up and was replaced by Chris Morris. Robert Gallery injured his back and was replaced by Langston Walker. Oakland as a team ran for 109-yards – a win considering that Pittsburgh is the toughest team in the league statistically to run against. They allowed only 2-sacks, keeping Gradkowski’s jersey clean for most of the day, but the passer’s legs were the main reason Oakland was able to extend plays. Mario Henderson was flagged for a hold on a Gradkowski 20-yard scramble.

DEFENSIVE LINE: B-

Yes, they allowed 132-yards on the ground. But the defensive line was stout during some stretches and if you take away Rashard Mendenhall’s 60-yard scamper, the run defense would’ve had one of their best games of the season. They missed Greg Ellis’ pass rushing abilities, but they were able to keep Ben Roethlisberger moving out of the pocket. Pittsburgh’s passer is always dangerous on the run and he showed at times what he could do when improvising. A key play for this unit was a 4^th and 1 with their backs to the end zone at the 5-yard line, stuffing Big Ben on a sneak and keeping vital Pittsburgh points off the scoreboard. Richard Seymour was flagged for an illegal hands to the face.

LINEBACKERS: B

Trevor Scott recorded the Raiders only sack of the game. Kirk Morrison finished with 7-tackles. Thomas Howard played decently in his first start as a strong-side linebacker. At times, this unit was late on their assignment on shallower routes when they were in zones, but overall, they played well enough to keep the integrity of the defense on run and pass plays near the line of scrimmage. Scott’s sack was imperative on 3^rd and 6 at the end of the 3^rd quarter, as it was a 9-yard loss for the Steelers and forced Jeff Reed into a 53-yard field goal attempt  that he missed, keeping another three-points off the board for Pittsburgh.

SECONDARY: C-

Santonio Holmes had a career game (8 rec. 149 yards 1 TD). And far too often, this group either had a blown tackle or a missed assignment. Chris Johnson almost had an interception on a 3^rd and 11 early in the contest. On Holmes score, Tyvon Branch and Johnson were beat on the corner route. The previous play, Branch was beaten by Hines Ward for 27-yards on a post pattern. Branch (11 tackles) was taken advantage of in coverage, but was at his best as the last line of defense on run pays and around the line of scrimmage. Johnson had a case for a illegal hands to the face/facemask penalty on Hines Ward during his 11-yard scoring reception that made it 24-20 Pittsburgh with 3:32 remaining. Michael Huff broke up several plays with big hits as the ball approached the intended receiver. Hiram Eugene’s first interception of the season was a stellar grab in the end zone as time expired in the first half. That was the only turnover in the game and it was another play that kept points off the board for the Steelers. Roethlisberger’s throw to Holmes for 57-yards in the 4^th quarter was precise and over the head of Stanford Routt – Branch made the touchdown saving tackle.

SPECIAL TEAMS: C-

Stefan Logan’s 83-yard kickoff return to open the game startled the Raiders. But Oakland’s defense kept the Steelers out of the end zone. Logan had another solid return later in the game for 37-yards to set-up a Pittsburgh possession at their own 40. Sebastian Janikowski nailed both of his field goal attempts (48 and 43 yards) in a tough outdoor stadium to kick in. Shane Lechler had 6-punts, averaging 46.8 per. Gary Russell had one of his better games with 72-yards worth of kickoff returns.

COACHING: B

Tom Cable got a little mischievous in opening the playbook. Bush’s halfback pass was on a 3^rd and 8 – a risky play – considering the field position they had. Ultimately they scored on that drive, but not the player you want passing the ball against a defense that likes to bring pressure. In their opening drive of the second half, Cable called for more trickery on a hand off to McFadden, which he lateral back to Gradkowski and wound up losing 16-yards. The passing plays called were aided by Gradkowski’s improvising, but Cable did make the right calls during that scoring outburst in the final quarter. Something he would have never been able to relay to Russell if he was in the game. The Raiders scored 21-points in the 4^th quarter – a stunning development considering their woes on offense late in games. And after disheartening drives by the home team, Oakland answered with big plays of their own – a credit to the coaching staff keeping the morale of this team up in a tough stadium to play in, on a cold day versus a team playing for their playoff lives. John Marshall’s bunch blitzed today from all the levels of their defense and gave the Steelers’ offense all they could handle. The defense played a solid game into the 2^nd half until the madness begun and both teams started exploding in the waning moments.

For the 18^th time in regular season play, the Oakland Raiders (3-8) will face the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5). In their storied history, the Silver & Black hold a 9-8 advantage, but during the post-season, each team has notched three victories in six meetings. Oakland is trying to avoid a seventh straight 11 or more loss season while the Steelers are trying to hang on to their playoff lives as the campaign winds down.

OAKLAND RAIDERS

On Offense:

Bruce Gradkowski is at the helm for the Raiders again and will face a team he’s had a miserable time against. He has a 50% completion percentage no touchdowns, five interceptions and a rating of 20.3 against the Steelers in two career starts. Last December, he took aim at Pittsburgh as a member of the Browns and had a dreadful day. “Going up against a great defense and not really knowing your own offense, it was quite an experience against a team that was on fire and headed to the Super Bowl,” Gradkowski stated this week.

It’s also a homecoming for him, as Gradkowski starred at Seton-La Salle Catholic High School from 1997-to-2000 in the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL). “My family, my cousins, they’re die-hard Steeler fans. Last year when I was with the Browns it was hard for then,” Gradkowski said. “They wore neutral colors but I think being with the Raiders this past year and getting to know these guys and being with this team, I know I’ll have the family behind me on this one.”

What to Expect:

The Steelers statistically have the best run defense in the league (74.9 yards per game). So it will be a tough task for Oakland to establish Justin Fargas and Darren McFadden on the ground. Michael Bush appears to be in the doghouse, which leads you to believe that the Raiders will put the game on the hands of Gradkowski. Oakland needs to stay close, so the passer must keep the mistakes to a minimum and protection must be at a premium. Pittsburgh’s defense has been faulty in the 4^th quarter of games and the secondary without Troy Polamalu could be exposed. Problem is, will Oakland ever get a complete game from their targets?

On Defense:

Trevor Scott has found his way into the starting line-up as the weak side linebacker. Thomas Howard will move to the strong side of the formation for the first time in his career after Scott played well on Thanksgiving Day. “It will give us a chance to have what we want in terms of coverage and what we want vs. the run,” said Tom Cable.

Defensive end Greg Ellis was very limited all week in practice and is listed as doubtful for the contest Sunday. “[Ellis] made some improvement but has slowed down. So we’ll see,” Cable commented today.

What to Expect:

After getting torched by Tony Romo last week, Oakland’s secondary has to have a bounce back effort against the 8^th ranked pass attack in the league. Chris Johnson has been victimized way too often on big plays down the field and Nnamdi Asomugha had a tough time with Miles Austin, especially on shallower routes. More man-to-man coverage should be in play this week for the Raiders, as it appeared that many of their problems were due to blown assignments when they dropped back in zone.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

On Offense:

All signs to Ben Roethlisberger starting at quarterback on Sunday. “Ben hasn’t experienced any resurface of any discomfort from his concussion since Friday,” head coach Mike Tomlin said earlier in the week. “All indications are…ultimately play in the game on Sunday.”

Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians has been critiqued, especially since the Steelers have ditched their traditional run first mentality and have gone to a pass heavy attack, Many blame that for the defense giving up leads late in games and the inconsistency in 2009. Against Cincinnati and Kansas City, they combined for 82-passes and only 49 run plays. As for possibly running some Wildcat plays for last week’s starting passer Dennis Dixon, Arians stated, “He’s an extremely good talent as far as speed, and when a play breaks down and he can improvise, that’s when he’ll be dangerous,” and he continued; “But if you start designing runs for a quarterback, especially one of his stature, he’s going to get broken in half.”

What to Expect:

If there was ever a contest the Steelers would get their rush game going, it will have to be on Sunday with worries about Big Ben taking hits and facing a soft defense that allows 161.1 ground yards per game. And with Thomas Howard lining up on the strong side, tight end Heath Miller and the rest of the line could have a fun day pushing around that side of the Raider formation.

On Defense:

Dick LeBeau’s unit has taken some heat also, especially after their loss to the Baltimore Ravens. “We didn’t get off the field on critical downs,” linebacker LaMarr Woodley was quoted. “We can’t give up the big home-run hits, the passes down the field, long runs. We have to eliminate those problems.

“We knew what kind of player [Dixon] was. He put enough points on the board to give us a chance to win. We just allowed their offense to move the ball down the field on us.”

The Ravens stacked up 393 total yards of offense last week. But facing a Raider team with lesser talent could be just what the doctor ordered.

What to Expect:

It’s time for LeBeau to bring ‘Blitzburgh’ back in this contest. Gradkowski can be pressured into mistakes and the Raider wide receivers have not been able to consistently help their quarterback with big plays down the field. James Harrison (10-sacks) and Lawrence Timmons (6-sacks) can add to their stats if they constantly bring the heat.

GAME NOTES

• Rashard Mendenhall has rushed for 739 yards since being catapulted into the starting unit in week-four.
• Mike Tomlin stated, “We will not go gently. We are going to unleash hell here in December. Because we have to.” Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha stated after hearing Tomlin’s comments: “They’re used to winning, so when you lose three games or something like that, it’s the biggest deal in the world. They said everybody’s got hell to pay the next (few) weeks. They’re making a big deal about this.”
• When will the Raiders start using more of McFadden in wildcat formations? It’s obvious they don’t feel he’s an every down ball carrier, and they want to incorporate him into the passing attack, but he was a star in Arkansas with his multi-dimensional skill set out of that formation and in the NFL, many times have found a way to get consistent yardage out of that set.
• Running back Justin Fargas (stinger), linebacker Isaiah Ekejiuba (knee) and linebacker David Nixon (illness) are listed as probable.

KEY MATCH-UPS

Gradkowski vs. Pittsburgh’s pressure

If the Oakland quarterback can make the right decisions, use his feet to neutralize the pressure and get the ball to his targets quickly, it will help moving the chains and sustaining drives. Gradkowski has to avoid another dreadful outing versus Pittsburgh, or this will be a blowout.

Pittsburgh’s ground game vs. Oakland’s Front-Seven

Howard is not adept at his new position, Pittsburgh needs to establish their ground game and keep Roethlisberger healthy. If Oakland can’t keep the Steelers’ running backs in check this could get ugly.

PREDICTION

Steelers 26 – Raiders 6

TV & RADIO

The game will be televised on CBS with Greg Gumbel providing play-by-play and former NFL player and Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Dierdorf handling color analysis. The game will air in the Bay Area on KPIX Channel 5 and in Sacramento on KOVR Channel 13. 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 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 KSFO’s Rich Walcoff. (Broadcast information cited from the official Oakland Raiders web site)

GAME INFO

Sunday, December 6, 2009, 1:00 p.m. ET | Heinz Field, Pitt. PA

Road Team: Oakland Raiders (3-8) Home: 2-4 Road: 1-4

Home Team: Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5) Home: 4-1 Road: 2-4

LINE: Raiders are 14.5-point underdogs

Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

QUARTERBACK: C-

Bruce Gradkowski ended the game 18-of-35 for 200 yards one touchdown and no interceptions. Many times, he had to get rid of the football under the gun, which affected his accuracy. On back-to-back plays to open the game – on 2^nd and 6 and 3^rd and 6 – he was not able to set up his feet or release the ball cleanly to keep the drive alive. A few times, Oakland attempted to stretch the field and Gradkowski stated after the game, “There were plays there to be made downfield and I didn’t make them.”

His elusiveness helped the Raiders on their scoring drive and in total; Gradkowski’s feet helped him tally 30-yards rushing. Oakland’s passer misfired on plays that could have been converted which would have moved the chains.

RUNNING BACKS & FULLBACKS: B

Justin Fargas’ first half was superb. He ran hard and gained big chunks, compiling most of his team leading 63-yards rushing. Darren McFadden finished the game with 6 carries for 23 yards, but he was mostly used as a receiver, getting split out wide in one-to-one match-ups with the Cowboys’ cornerbacks. On 2^nd and 5 on the Raiders’ first drive, he hauled in a quick slant for 16-yards. McFadden had 4 catches for 43-yards.

WIDE RECEIVERS & TIGHT ENDS: D

Zach Miller recorded 5 grabs for 73-yards in the dual between two of the top tight ends in the NFL. Miller on national television demonstrated he ranks right up there with Jason Witten (5 rec. 107 yards) and was one of the few bright spots for the Oakland offense. Chaz Schilens outstretched on a 3^rd and 4 on the game’s third drive but could not haul in a make able reception. On the Raiders next possession, he ran a sloppy slant that the defender broke up on a 3^rd and 4. Schilens ended with 2 receptions for 32-yards. Darrius Heyward-Bey finally hauled iin his first professional touchdown. “I tried to help the cause with that play,” Heyward-Bey commented, “but when you lose, it’s all that matters. You want to win at the end.” The rookie had a nice block on McFadden’s best run of the game – a sweep for 12-yards.

OFFENSIVE LINE: D

Right tackle Cornell Green left the game for a few plays with an injury and was replaced by Langston Walker. He eventually went back into the game. Cooper Carlisle’s holding penalty thwarted any movement on Oakland’s second drive. The front looked good early in opening holes for their rushers, but did very little at times to keep Gradkowski’s pocket clean or his passing lanes paved. They allowed three sacks.

DEFENSIVE LINE: F

Dallas ran up 195 rushing yards against this defense. It all headed downhill after Tashard Choice’s 66-yard run to open their third drive in the 1^st quarter. To the defenses credit, they did hold the Cowboys to a field goal on that drive. But on the very next Dallas possession, Felix Jones erupted on a 46-yard scamper for a score. “What is Rule No. 1 in Pop Warner?” nose tackle Gerard Warren pose to reporters after the game. “Stop the run.”

LINEBACKERS: C

Trevor Scott had a stellar game at weak side linebacker. Due to injuries on this unit, Oakland mixed it up placing the defensive end in coverage situations and giving him the opportunity to use his instincts in space. Scott could’ve had an interception on a 3^rd and 9 in which Tony Romo carelessly tossed the football away,  on a 2^nd and 13, he dissected a screen and closed in on the pass catcher for a 4-yard loss and he ended with two-sacks when he pass rushed. “A few days ago they said they wanted me to start at (Will) this game so I was like, `all right, let’s run with it,’ ” Scott was quoted. “If it’s an opportunity to get on the field, so be it. Some guys don’t feel comfortable in a two-point stance, so if they stick with it, great.”  Sam Williams was beat a few times by Witten.

SECONDARY: F

Miles Austin torched this unit for 7 receptions, 145 yards and 1 touchdown. Nnamdi Asomugha was the victim a few times on man-to-man coverage. Michael Huff started the game nicely on a 3^rd and 24, breaking up a pass intended for Roy Williams and then on the next Cowboy possession on 2^nd and 9, jarring a pass out of Austin’s grasp with a solid hit. Romo had a field day with his 18 completions for 309 yards. Tyvon Branch had a beat on a deflected ball that could’ve been an interception for a touchdown, but Trevor Scott gave chase as well and both took each other out on the play.

SPECIAL TEAMS: B

The anemic return units continued with their struggles. Gary Russell did very little to add some pop to the kickoff returns as Oakland looked for a change of pace after trying Jonathan Holland in that spot for a few games. Shane Lechler punted nine-times for a 54.8 average. His season average is now 51.9 – keeping him ahead of Sammy Baugh’s single season record.

COACHING: D

On defense, it was nice to see the Raiders pressure from the linebacker spot and John Marshall mixing up the formations and disguising the coverages. But many times, the attacks along the line of scrimmage led to big plays due to the Raiders being out of position.  Not too much praise though can be given especially after Dallas racked up 494 total yards of offense. Tom Cable has altered his game plan and feels more confident with Gradkowski at the helm of the offense. The Raiders are mixing up more passing a play, but at times, that has taken away from their bread and butter – running the football.

GAME NOTES

• Jon Alston was placed on injured reserve, ending his season, after suffering two concussions in four weeks. Rookie Slade Norris was activated in his place after spending the majority of the season on the practice squad.
• CB John Bowie, forever linked as the player selected with a 4^th round pick acquired from the Patriots in the Randy Moss trade, was waived this week. His final stats with the Raiders – 2 tackles.
• Greg Ellis did not finish the contest due to swelling in his knee. “I don’t know what happened. I just know swelling, a lot of pressure, going down my leg, going down my knee down my shin and my calf. I don’t know if I did something during the game,’’ Ellis stated. “It started off swelling some but that’s to be expected coming off the scope but when we started playing, it was just killing me.”

Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist