Silver and Black Report

Rolando McClain notched his first career interception against the Dolphins last season.

There was Jacob Ford’s 101-yards opening kickoff for a score and very little else for the listless Oakland Raiders when they faced the Miami Dolphins in 2010.

The visiting Dolphins held Oakland to 16-yards rushing and piled up 471-total yards of offense in a 33-17 win.

Ford did all he could to spark the Silver & Black, tallying 108-yards receiving with a scoring receptions, but Miami dominated the time of possession (41:38 – 18:22) and Davone Bess’ homecoming ended with 111 yards as a pass catcher.

“That’s something we definitely scouted and wanted to exploit early and fast,” Bess said of the team’s intention to attack rookie Walter McFadden, and a hampered Nnamdi Asomugha.

Marlon Moore had a 57-yard score and Ricky Williams capped the contest with a 45-yard run to paydirt.

Here are post-game reactions from last year’s match-up:

Exclusive Audio: Raiders Bruce Gradkowski talks about his effort and more vs. Dolphins

Exclusive Audio: Raiders Asomugha talks about health & loss to Dolphins

Exclusive Audio: Tom Cable after the Raiders loss to the Miami Dolphins

A look back at their 2007 battle can be found here:

A Look Back: Dolphins vs. Raiders (2007)

Here are some images from that contest from our game archives:

Jacoby Ford on the run during his touchdown reception.

Darren McFadden found little room during last year’s match-up, finishing with 2-yards on 8-carries.

Ford turned in one of his better catches of the season versus the Dolphins.

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John Henderson & the run defense will be vital versus the Chargers

I just get the feeling that the San Diego Chargers will try to pound the football all day against the Oakland Raiders.

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

San Diego’s 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.

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.”

“There’s definitely a different feel,” stated left guard Kris Dielman. “Pass-blocking, you’ve gotta have patience and stay in balance. With run-blocking, you can be more aggressive. You can get after it. When you’ve got the lead and don’t need to keep throwing the ball and you’re able to open up the run, you can impose your will on (opponents), wear ‘em down, have some fun.”

The Chargers are averaging 4.0 yards a carry, a major improvement from last season, when at this point in 2009, they tallied only 3.3 yards per run.

“From our point of view, it’s very exciting to be running the ball and continuing to run the football,” said center Nick Hardwick. “To us, that’s big, being on the attack. By nature, pass-blocking is a retreat as a force trying to maintain our lines. As a run-blocking unit, you’ve got them on the retreat and trying to maintain their lines.

“We’re coming downhill. We’re getting two bodies on one body, and behind us, we have a battering ram in the fullback. And there’s another battering ram behind him. Offensive line. Boom! (Jacob) Hester slams. Boom! Tolbert comes in, slams. Boom!”

OTHER NOTES

• Malcom Floyd is expected to play after returning to practice on Friday. In their earlier meeting, the wide receiver had a career game, posting 213-receiving yards on 8-catches and a score.
• In October, the Raiders head coach put into perspective the win over the Chargers. “That’s a heck of a team, and it’s been nemesis for a number of years, obviously dating back to 2003,” Tom Cable said. “They’ve been the champ. And if you ever want to be that, you’ve got to beat the champ. So it’s just a good win.” He stated this week, it’s a must-win for the Silver & Black. “I think so.” Cable said, “We have to go down there and be at our best to have a chance.”
• Rolando McClain may miss his first game as a pro with arthritis in his left foot. “He was better last night, but worse this morning, so it will be day-to-day and we’ll probably have to wait until Sunday morning,’’ Cable said on Friday. If he can’t play, Ricky Brown will take over at middle linebacker.
• Chaz Schilens has practiced three straight days, but don’t think that will be enough for him to be active. Oakland has always taken a wait and see approach with the fragile receiver, and another week of practice may be what’s needed to get complete clearance so he’s ready to see game action.
• Richard Seymour and Zach Miller were limited in practice, but both are expected to play. Tyvon Branch’s shoulder could be worse than expected, and if he can’t go, Mike Mitchell will step in at strong safety. With Chris Johnson likely out again, the secondary could be limited again this week. Which is why Walter McFadden must forget about the rookie woes from last weekend and move forward because Philip Rivers and the Chargers could try to expose him once again.

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

Where has the Oakland Raiders ground game gone?

In back-to-back losses to Pittsburgh and Miami, the Silver & Black has managed a combined 77-yards rushing. This after averaging 162.2 yards per game leading up to the game against the Chiefs a few weeks ago.

It’s one thing to get manhandled by the Steelers on the road, but to run for a mere 16-yards at home against the Dolphins is inexcusable.

“If teams are smart, if they have good defensive coordinators, they are going to load up against the run when they play us,” Langston Walker stated after the game.

But just 12 attempts during a game where the passer was unreliable are not going to get it done for the Raiders.

The Raiders need a productive Darren McFadden if they plan to put point on the board. They need a steady ground game to move the chains and put their quarterback in manageable 3^rd down situations.

All issues that Oakland encountered the last few weeks.

ROOKIE WATCH

Walter McFadden saw extended action and the Dolphins made sure to attack the rookie as often as possible.

The rookie allowed five receptions for 113 yards. Four of those were on 3^rd down conversions. With Nnamdi Asomugha not fully healed, the Raiders needed their 5^th round pick to step up, instead Chad Henne, Davone Bess, Anthony Fasano (McFadden was infracted on a defensive hold on the TE) and Roberto Wallace tortured him all afternoon.

“Sure it is,” a helpless Tom Cable said, watching McFadden’s play. “You put a guy out there to do a job and it’s not going his way. We tried to help him with some coverage and things like that and bring some pressure. We didn’t get to the quarterback enough, either.”

Chris Johnson and Jeremy Ware were inactive.

QB SITUATION

There may not be a full-blown controversy, but the Raiders sure have a mess under center. Bruce Gradkowski said he was told early last week that he would start versus the Dolphins. This after Cable stated after the game in Pittsburgh that Jason Campbell was his starter.

“You’re a competitor and you like to compete, but by no means are you understanding or anything,” Campbell said. “It’s kind of tough because you’re caught right in between something and you don’t know what’s going on.”

That instability is what Oakland has avoided this year, which has led to more success this far into the season than they’ve had since 2002. Steering away from that was vital this campaign, but it appears that this volatility and constant change at quarterback will come back to bite the Silver & Black.

Regardless of who the owner or coach wants, they must decided who will go on as the starter and make it public.

The rest of the team is clouded as well and with no clear-cut leader on offense, this mixing and matching will become intolerable.

The signs of distress are there. The two-game losing streak will expose all unhappiness about the situation. And one more loss next week will not only put the Raiders on the verge of another losing season, but quite possibly a player revolt if the quarterback situation is still muddy.

“I’ll go look at it,” Cable said about assessing the state of affairs for next week. “I don’t know that Bruce is going to be healthy, based on what I was just told.”

Campbell led the team to a three-game winning streak. The team was feeling good. But now, everything’s a mess.

You would think Oakland would go with the guy that was navigating the ship through their wins.

Then again; what’s a season in the Bay Area without any controversy or confusion?

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

OAKLAND, CA – The Oakland Raiders showed life on defense to start the 4^th quarter with a Desmond Bryant sack on 3^rd and 4 from the Miami 47-yard line.

On the ensuing play, Rock Cartwright busted through the line of scrimmage and nearly got his hands on a punt.

Bruce Gradkowski on the next play again under threw rookie Jacoby Ford on a deep toss, but the receiver made a spectacular catch, snatching the ball away from Chris Clemons at its highest point and coming down hard on the turf with a 52-yard gain.

The Raiders drive ended with a Sebastian Janikowski field goal from 30-yards out to cut the Dolphins’ lead, 23-17.

Miami answered with an efficient drive that started with Ronnie Brown runs for 5 and 8 yards. Then, Brown broke a Nnamdi Asomugha tackle and scampered for 5-yards before Brian Hartline beat the star cornerback for the Raiders for an 8-yard gain. Chad Henne a few plays later connected with Davone Bess for 29-yards, beating Walter McFadden again.

Seven plays later, Dan Carpenter nailed a 25-yard field goal to give the Dolphins a 26-17 lead with 4:03 remaining.

After a blown up screen, Gradkowski connected with Louis Murphy for 17 yards. On 2^nd and 10, Ford recorded 6-yards on a catch and on 3^rd and 4, Ford was unable to haul in a errant Gradkowski pass.

Facing a 4^th and 4 from the 46-yard line, Oakland’s woes on offense all afternoon came to an end with a poorly tossed ball by Gradkowski to Johnnie Lee Higgins that could’ve kept the drive alive.

Ricky Williams scampered for a 45-yard touchdown with 3:12 remaining to end any hope of a Raiders comeback. Miami led 33-17.

The Dolphins at that point had racked up 475-yards of total offense and 24 first downs. They were 9-of-18 on 3rd downs and owned the edge in time of possession.

FINAL SCORE: Dolphins 33 – Raiders 17

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

OAKLAND, CA – The Miami Dolphins had the first possession of the second half in Oakland. Ronnie Brown ran for 5 and 7 yards on consecutive plays before Miami faced a 3^rd and 7.

Then Marlon Moore got into the end zone from 57-yards out, beating cornerback Walter McFadden to give the Dolphins a 20-14 lead. Nnamdi Asomugha was not on the field to start the second half.

The Oakland Raiders went three and out on their first offensive possession of the final half.

Miami took over at the Raider 44-yard line after a 40-yard Shane Lechler punt.

Ricky Williams then ran for 15-yards on three plays before a 3^rd and 12 where back-up passer Tyler Thigpen ran a draw for 8 yards on 3^rd and 12. Dan Carpenter extended the Dolphin lead to 23-14 after nailing a 44-yard field goal.

Oakland had another three play drive after Louis Murphy dropped a potential first down reception and Darren McFadden was corralled on a loss of 2 and on 3^rd and 12, gaining just 7 on a dump off.

Davone Bess contributed on special teams on the ensuing play with a 47-yard punt return to the Oakland 30-yard line. At that point, Bess had also compiled 82-yards on 5 catches.

The Dolphins facing a 3^rd and 11 a few plays later went after Walter McFadden, who continued his struggles today with a defensive holding infraction on Anthony Fasano. The fresh set of downs set Miami up at the 26-yard line.

Vernon Carey’s second penalty of the game slowed the Dolphins’ momentum though, and on 3^rd and 16, Chad Henne was not able to hook up with Moore for a first down.

Carpenter missed a 49-yard field goal wide right.

Darren McFadden opened the next drive with a 15-yard catch and a 6-yard run on consecutive plays. After a McFadden 4-yard run, Bruce Gradkowski was late in seeing a wide open Jacoby Ford and severely under threw the rookie on a pass picked off by safety Chris Clemons.

Cornerback Walter McFadden was picked on again by Henne on 3^rd and 8 to close the quarter, this time beaten by Roberto Wallace for 19-yards.

SCORE: Dolphins 23  – Raiders 14

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

OAKLAND, CA – The Miami Dolphins were driving at the start of the 2^nd quarter, running with Ronnie Brown for 6 and 7 yards before Ricky Williams ripped a 4-yard gain. On a 3^rd and 6, the Oakland Raiders blitzed and Stanford Routt was beat by Brian Hartline for a 19-yard reception down to the 12-yard line.

But the Oakland Raiders held when Rolando McClain hauled in his first career interception to stall the Miami drive. Walter McFadden was hurt on the play, as Oakland blanketed the field and Chad Henne attempted to force a pass into coverage.

At the 11-yard line, Bruce Gradkowski hooked up with Zach Miller for 6-yards and two plays later, Darren McFadden scrambled for 20-yards on a screen.

Gradkowski attempted to hit Marcel Reece on a sideline pattern after a Miami timeout, but the toss was picked off by Yeremiah Bell and returned for 24-yards to their own 46-yard line.

Miami could not take advantage of the turnover, facing a 3^rd and 10; the Raiders blitzed Tyvon Branch, Michael Huff and Mike Mitchell. Henne was sacked by Huff and the loss of 9-yards forced a punt that Johnnie Lee Higgins returned for 15-yards to his own 26-yard line.

After a Jacoby Ford 6-yard catch, Oakland went to their ‘wildhog,’ but after McFadden handed off to Marcel Reece, the fullback fumbled setting up the Dolphins  at the Raiders 30-yard line.

On 3^rd and 8 for Miami a few plays later, Branch was able to sack Henne for a 9-yard loss. That pushed Dan Carpenter far enough to miss a 52-yard field goal attempt on 4^th and 17.

Jacoby Ford struck again on the ensuing possession, taking a reverse for 13-yards and then capping the 4-play 58-yard drive with a 44-yard reception to give the Raiders a 14-10 lead.

Ford beat cornerback Benny Sapp on an out pattern towards the sideline – a stellar catch that he was able to take to paydirt with his speed.

Miami got a break on their next possession when Nnamdi Asomugha was flagged for a defensive holding while covering Brian Hartline on a 2^nd and 15.

Davone Bess beat Asomugha on 3^rd and 7 a few plays later and then Hartline evaded Stanford Routt for a 23-yard gain.

At the 2:00 minute warning, Miami continued to mount their drive with a Bess catch for 18-yards and again on 3^rd and 10, a reception of 11-yards to give them a 1^st and goal.

Tyvon Branch had a key break-up on 3^rd and goal, hitting Hartline as the pass approached to force a Dan Carpenter field goal attempt.

Carpenter nailed the 23-yarder to cut into the Raiders lead, 14-13.

HALFTIME: Raiders 14 – Dolphins 13

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

Trevor Scott will see action at LB versus the Chargers

The Oakland Raiders have officially become the walking wounded. Their locker room is a mash unit, so lets go through the roll call of those that will be out this weekend, that may miss substantial time and the status of others that have been aiming to get on the field since the season began:

John Henderson, DT: Today we found out he has a stress fracture and there is no timetable for his return. Due to his size and the position he plays at, don’t expect the veteran tackle to bounce back from this right foot injury quickly. Cable said he could miss between two to five more weeks. Take the over on that one.

Rolando McClain, LB: The struggling rookie who was torched by Arian Foster for a score and has been learning that the NFL is not the SEC, will be back in practice on Thursday. The reason for his absence lately, Tom Cable stated, “a loss in his family.”

Darren McFadden, RB: All signs point to him being inactive on Sunday against the San Diego Chargers. He did not practice today and I doubt Oakland will risk aggravating the injury with a healthy Michael Bush ready to go. McFadden is a real weapon, so getting him completely healed is vital.

Robert Gallery, LG: Almost assured to be out another game. Gallery has not practiced and is too rusty to put out there. His return is probably two weeks away.

Because of injuries to Thomas Howard (knee) and Quentin Groves (hamstring), Cable commented that Trevor Scott would be back to weak side linebacker. Matt Shaughnessy will see more action at defensive end.

Walter McFadden, CB: Did not practice, as he is one of the many Raiders that have had hamstring injuries. It’s looking like he’ll be on the inactive list as well, again.

OTHER NOTES

Bulletin board material, verbal warfare prior to a contest, deep rooted hatred among two teams…

That describes the Raiders and Chargers’ rivalry. One of the Silver & Black’s most passive players let it loose when talking about their AFC West opponents and the current 13-game losing streak against them. “We don’t like it. We don’t like the Chargers at all. We don’t like anything about them,’’ Williams said. “We don’t like them, so we’re going to end this streak. That’s our goal . . . it’s something about the Chargers, San Diego and the Raiders that don’t mix.,” said Sam Williams.

That may not be the right tact, considering that the Chargers are already walking into a venue they hate playing in. The stands may be empty and there may not be too much animosity towards them from the crowd, making their job easier on Sunday, but the same can be said on the field, as the Raiders have folded on many occasions to the Chargers.

San Diego is the favorite in this contest. As they should. If Oakland really wants to really show their dislike towards San Diego, they’ll go out on Sunday and play a competitive contest. They should reward the handful of loyal fans that will show up to cheer for what has been a bad product for seven seasons.

San Diego signed safety Tyrone Carter and released defensive end Alfonso Boone.

Linebacker Shaun Phillips was named AFC defensive player of the week after a dominant performance in San Diego’s 41-10 win over Arizona.

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

Nnamdi Asomugha has had his way with Andre Johnson

Houston Texans head coach Gary Kubiak confirmed Wednesday that star wide-out Andre Johnson would be a game time decision for Sunday’s match-up against the Oakland Raiders.

“I’m sure it’ll be a game-time decision,” said Kubiak. He added that Johnson is “sore,” and functioning as he did last week prior to their game.

Kubiak also talked about the Raiders and cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, stating, “This team poses matchup problems for us. I think they’re third in defense in the league right now. They’ve got a great corner, so obviously they can cause us problems.”

In Oakland’s last three contest against the Texans, Asomugha has held Johnson to five catches for 94-yards and no scores.

“I think he looked forward to it, prepared himself and I think the outcome showed that,” coach Tom Cable said about Asomugha’s match-up versus Larry Fitzgerald last week. “As we get ready to go with Houston now and Andre Johnson coming in here, then we’ll talk about that. But you’ve got to take your hat off to him.”

Kubiak is not looking past the Raiders and he will be relaying to his club that regardless of their 1-2 record, Oakland is a club that is playing a lot better than their record indicates.

“I think there’s two teams in this league that are in the top 10 offensively and defensively and they’re one of them,” Kubiak said. “That tells you how balanced they are and how well they’re playing.”

Langston Walker practiced on Wednesday, but had his right elbow wrapped. After the game in Arizona, I observed the right tackle getting his hand and elbow checked by a trainer.

Robert Gallery, Chaz Schilens and Richard Seymour were not at practice. WR Louis Murphy, CB Walter McFadden and S Hiram Eugene did not practice.

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

Here are ten predictions about the Oakland Raiders for the 2010 season:

Darren McFadden will have 1,450 total yards of offense

Hue Jackson will utilize the running back in various ways and give him every opportunity to demonstrate his versatility. At this point, McFadden is not a featured rusher and more of a multi-dimensional weapon that should be used all over the formation to give Oakland’s questionable offense some mismatches. Michael Bush could be out the first few games of the season, but with Michael Bennett in the mix, McFadden doesn’t have to be force fed into a role he may not be able to handle. The key will be his health.

Zach Miller will get to the Pro-Bowl

The tight end has improved on his statistics every year since entering the league – and that was with JaMarcus Russell under center. With a more diverse playbook and stability at quarterback, this is the year Miller breaks the 1,000 yard receiving yards barrier and gets the recognition he deserves.

Darrius Heyward-Bey catches up to the game

The speedster has admitted to having more confidence coming into this campaign. That could co a long way in him finally looking like a legitimate wide receiver. Oakland has to use him on shorter routes and his ability to practice his craft and become a better target on intermediate passes will go a long way in making him a better down the field threat. I expect 55-receptions for 750-800 yards and minimal three scores.

Walter McFadden will lead the team in interceptions

In college, the cornerback had a knack for finding the football and sprinting into the end zone. Oakland likes his talents and will use him in varying dime packages. The 5^th rounder has ability, and if any of the veteran cornerbacks or safeties struggle, he’ll see full-time duty.

Kamerion Wimbley tallies 10-or-more sacks

As a rookie, he notched 11 and was expected to be one of the better rush linebackers in the game. He was derailed the last three-season in Cleveland, but still managed 15.5 sacks in that span. Oakland’s front-seven will be aggressive, and that plays onto Wimbley’s best attributes.

The run defense will…be ok.

This aspect of the Raiders defense has been in ruins since 2003. The additions of Jay Alford and John Henderson may not completely plug up their deficiencies, but it will alleviate some of the hemorrhaging they’ve had stopping opposing ground attacks. If they rank anywhere between 13-18 in the league this season, Oakland’s defense will be good enough to play into the post-season as a wild card hopeful.

Tom Cable won’t see a contract…for awhile.

The lame duck coach is on a short leash. He is operating with no safety net and if the Raiders lose 10 or more games, he is a goner. Heck, he may not see another campaign as the Raiders coach if he does not win 8-games. So a winning campaign may be the only way Oakland retains him for 2011.

Robert Gallery plays 16-games at LG – finally!

The former 1^st round draft choice has not been able to steer away from injuries the last few seasons. And when he’s out, Oakland’s rush game suffers. He’s by far their most consistent offensive lineman and a legit candidate to make the pro-bowl if he plays a full schedule.

Matt Shaughnessy and Lamarr Houston will combine for 15-sacks

This duo of young linemen for the Raiders knows how to get up the field and into a quarterback’s pocket. In limited action, Shaughnessy tallied 4-sacks as a rookie. Houston is more aggressive and will get a lot of action in the trenches. One thing is for sure, the Raiders end rotation will be solid in 2010.

The Raiders will win…8-games.

Their schedule is conducive to a solid start. Their set of back-to-back road games is not difficult, it appears that they won’t walk into any treacherous weather games in December, their bye week is placed perfectly and optimism is legitimately high in the Bay Area. With a break or two – which all playoff contending teams need – Oakland could be in the mix for 9-wins and a wild card berth.

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

Rock Cartwright taking a handoff from Jason Campbell

Oakland Raiders rookie middle linebacker missed practice yesterday to attend a personal family matter. Head coach Tom Cable stated, “He has a personal issue that he has been excused to handle. He’ll be back quick.’’

As for his performance versus the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday: “I think he did fine,’’ Cable said. “He ran the defense like you want him to. He ran to the ball, was in on a number of plays, so I think you could say it was a success, first time out.’’

It appears that Charlie Frye’s recovery has been slower than expected. The quarterback will see a specialist this week to get further news on his ailing right hand. While he’s out, Kyle Boller could snatch that third spot in the depth chart. Boller had mop up duty after Jason Campbell versus the Cowboys, and even though Cable enjoys having the coach-like Frye on the roster, if he can’t shake off his injured hand, Oakland has to go with the more healthy alternative.

Oakland will be very cautious with Darren McFadden the rest of the summer. They want the versatile talent to be a focus in Hue Jackson’s offense with his pass catching and ball carrying skills. Michael Bush will get the bulk of the load, but McFadden provides a vital threat in different formations that opponents have to key on. Cable said, “there’s no injury or anything. We just don’t want to mess with it.’’ In the mean time, Michael Bennett and Rock Cartwright will be able to get reps that will be important in deciding what the rushing unit will look like as they approach week-one. “It’s a good battle,” Cable said. “They’re going neck-and-neck. They both have a little different style. Rock’s maybe a little more physical and Michael may be a little quicker.”

“Walter McFadden is definitely not anything serious at all,” Cable stated on Friday. “In fact, he may be ready to go to work (Saturday).” The rookie DB suffered a minor shoulder injury last week against the Cowboys.

The Silver & Black will practice today at 3:30, with two sessions slated for Monday: 8:30 am and 4:20 pm.

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist