Did Raiders take running game for granted?
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Monday, October 5th, 2009 at 1:58 pm in Oakland Raiders.
Throughout training camp, through preseason games, coach Tom Cable made it no secret that the mission was to upgrade the passing attack.
Setting aside that through four games the passing game remains awful, an unwanted anicillary benefit is now the Raiders can’t run, either.
In the first half of the season opener, the Raiders rushed for 105 yards on 22 carries, averaging 4.8 yards per carry. In the ensuing three and a half games, Oakland has 250 yards on 80 attempts, averaging 3.1 yards per carry.
That the Raiders are 32nd in passing is no surprise. Being 28th in rushing, at 88.8 yards per game, is a bit of a shock.
“I do get a feeling, like during the preseason and stuff, we ran the ball a little bit, but it was more of a thing where we say, ‘Well, we know we can run it. Let’s work on the pass.’ And you can’t hang your hat on what you did before,” running back Justin Fargas said Monday. “It’s kind of like you have to still improve it. Like yesterday, teams stack the box against us. And if you’re not really detailed and if you don’t control the line of scrimmage — you’re not detailed in your assignments, you don’t control the line of scrimmage, you’re not going to be able to run the ball.”
Fargas gained 24 yards on 10 carries against Houston and was hit for the first safety of his career, with seemingly the entire Texans front seven meeting him four yards deep in the end zone. It was the first time the Raiders had given up a safety on a running play since Fargas joined the team in 2003.
In fact, the last time a safety was recorded against the Raiders on a run was in 1993, when Seattle’s Rob Stevens dropped Nick Bell in the end zone of the Los Angeles Coliseum.
As diplomatically as possible, Fargas allowed the play call might not have been ideal for the situation.
“I don’t want to be like T.O. (Terrell Owens) and say we can only go with the plays that are called, but it’s tough,” Fargas said. “I think it that situation you want to try and get downhill. We were running an outside play, we were using a hard cadence.
“Things were working against us. In that situation you want to do anything you can to get the ball out of the end zone and we didn’t do it. We didn’t execute the play. May have not been the best play at this time. And it just . . . it was all bad.”
It was suggested that the hard count afforded an opportunity to get the Texans to jump and give the Raiders another five yards to work with.
“You have the risk-reward factor, you understand that,” Fargas said. “But you’re on the road and you can’t really hear the snap count anyway. I felt like they got off the ball before we did and knocked us back a little bit.”
With JaMarcus Russell and the passing game faltering, opponents don’t feel as if they’ll pay by crowding the box.
“It seems like they’re challenging us a little bit to throw the ball,” Fargas said. “Sometimes you say, ‘Hey, you know what? We’re gonna stick to what we do, and we can run it anyway.’ But like I said, it’s tough. And if you’re not at your very best, it’s gonna be hard. And we weren’t at our best.”
The ability to complete a higher percentage of passes would make a world of difference, Fargas said.
“Oh, it changes everything. You don’t have to be all the way down the field, long passes,” Fargas said. “Just throw and catch, get the ball in the receivers’ hands, whether it’s quick gain, anything to move the chains and get conversions and build confidence, and you build your swagger and belief. When you win you’re able to do that.”
More to come following Cable’s press briefing . . .
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October 5th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
this season is over…
October 5th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
I wish we had a bye week. I cant take this anymore.
October 5th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
season is over, i agree boycott this trash, who cares about the remaining games……i got better things to do on sundays then to watch this train wreck, my fellow brothers and sisters…PLEASE STOP WASTING YOUR TIME ON THIS GARBAGE LETS SET APOINT TO MR.DAVIS THAT ENOUGH IS ENOUGH PLEASE BOYCOTT ALL RAIDER GAMES.
October 5th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
all of the Raider players are zombies…
they need to change the team name…
the Oakland Zombies…
October 5th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
Tennessee stacked the box against the Jags yesterday. Funny, I didn’t see Jax respond by dropping back 7 yards and throwing the ball downfield. They just picked up the pressure and used slants. They won 37-17.
October 5th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
Of the Olinemen who started against Houston, only Henderson is remotely good enough. Pears is a back-up Tackle. Morris is nothing special. Carlisle is over-the-hill and Green is a joke.
Barnes doesn’t want to play RT. We have no choice but to look at the FAs still available. Langston Walker is still unsigned?
October 5th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
I’ve been monetarily boycotting the team since the Gruden trade. Don’t have to tell me. And, no, I really didn’t buy the Russell jersey.
October 5th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Watching the Raiders and then watching the last part of the Dallas/Denver game was like night and day. One team, an inept bunch of bs……You know who I’m talking about. The other teams, solid play and making things happen as they fought hard to win like an NFL team should. I don’t know who the hell the Raiders are right now, but I’ve been a fan since 1975, and this is just pathetic.
October 5th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
DMC out 2-4 weeks
October 5th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
I hope Justin Fargas gets his scholarship revoked for talking to the media…
this clown needs to sit on the bench and let the talented, yet fumble prone youngsters have all the playing time. I don’t think Bush or DMC would have simply ran into the pile in hopes of moving it. They would have been smart enough to take what the defense gives you, not run right into what the defense already took away
October 5th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
if anyone here bumps into Jacarcass…
say to him: “hey jam, repeat after me… ‘i is a zombie’”…
then ask him to say it again with his arms out in front of him… bet he does it for a in’n'out burger
October 5th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
Langston Walker is still unsigned?
***
Scottish: please don’t get BSJ started on that rampage again … I agree with you though
October 5th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
repost:
exlaraiderseasonticketholder Says:
October 5th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Testimonial:
I wanted to let you know that the weeping Raider’s player monument was installed on Monday and we held a service for the Raider Nation to bless the monument. The Father said he has never seen any headstone like it. Everyone there thought the weeping Raider’s monument was absolutely beautiful. Words can’t express our thanks to you. We could never have created this without your help. We could never have had this done before Christmas without you. It really meant alot to Exlaraiderseasonticketholder to be able to present the monument to the Raider Nation before Christmas. It is a wonderfully beautiful tribute to the Raider season. You have been so very helpful and your carveman’s talent is unbelievable.
Thanks Again,
exlaraiderseasonticketholder
October 5th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
with the exception of Henderson…
i’ll bet we could blindly pick 4 linemen that have been cut by any other team… (and that means ANY linemen, including defense)…
and we would upgrade our o-line…
October 5th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
ExLA,
It’s like the Rocky statue in Philadelphia. The crying Raider. Cable’s going to start jogging today, with the “flying high now” theme playing. The Davis kool aid drinkers are going to follow him. They’re going to get to the steps of the coliseum, drop on their butts, and start crying, like the statue.
October 5th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
I wonder when Russell is going to come to the line, motion as if he’s calling an audible … then actually PASS THE BALL???
Gannon mentioned it in his color commentating of the Denver game, and I’ve noticed it every time since.
To the Rest of the NFL….
When Russell waves his arms like he’s trying to fly, the Raiders are going to run the ball. Shhhh don’t tell anyone.
October 5th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
repost:
DMC out 2-4 weeks
October 5th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
there is no “optimism” in Oakland…
in fact there’s really just the O…
October 5th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
torn maniscus…. if thats how you spell it
October 5th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
when I was a martial arts instructor(TKD)
***
don’t mess with Exla!
October 5th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
raiderrej Says:
October 5th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
repost:
DMC out 2-4 weeks
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
the only way anyone would notice is if the Raiders suddenly gained 100 yards rushing…
October 5th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
cable presser on CSBA
October 5th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
Is Exla down with the foot fist way?
October 5th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
The Real MaddenRaider Says:
October 5th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
He says he “sees it”, again. Said he’s been seeing it since he got here, but that it’s up to the players to enact it. OK. Well then, I see the Raiders winning every game from here on out. Now the players just have to do it. This guy is unreal.
==============
i tried giving this guy as a chance but im afraid he’s just not it.
October 5th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
# Florida Pete Says:
October 5th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
if anyone here bumps into Jacarcass…
say to him: “hey jam, repeat after me… ‘i is a zombie’”…
then ask him to say it again with his arms out in front of him… bet he does it for a in’n’out burger
——————————————————-
Triple stack extra cheese animal style is how he rolls.
October 5th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
“DEFENSIVE STUDS”.
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 5th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
I had a medial menicus tear when I was a martial arts instructor(TKD). Out 4-8 wks if he has surgery.
October 5th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
Cable:
“We dropped a ton of footballs”
6, Tom. Actually it was 6.
October 5th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
He says he “sees it”, again. Said he’s been seeing it since he got here, but that it’s up to the players to enact it. OK. Well then, I see the Raiders winning every game from here on out. Now the players just have to do it. This guy is unreal.
October 5th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
Commmmmme onnnnnn bye week!
…Anybody hear JR say, “I guess I need to play better.” WTF? This is baaaad. This is “Michael Jackson bad,” haha! Ahhhh….I don’t know why I look foward to Sunday’s. I don’t why I keep thinking that every year, every game, I anticpate the Raiders just shutting everybody up. Me, nor anyother Raider fan has any say or control over the outcome of those games. What is it about our dedication to a team, the Raiders, that drives us so insane? I don’t know what’s more pathetic, us fans who believe in them, or the organization that can’t indentify and fix the lack of leadership quality players we have on this team. Of course, that all starts from the top on down.
What I really don’t know, is what’s more pathetic: the fact that half my wordrobe is Raider clothes (being that i can’t afford any new clothes for about a decade) or the way this team is ran, and the key players it’s been built around, namely Russell.
October 5th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
“It seems like they’re challenging us a little bit to throw the ball,” Fargas said.
a LITTLE bit?
LOL
October 5th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
Cable’s being hostile with the press, accusing them of getting information from the internet, and not knowing anything about football. Uh, Tom, the press isn’t 1-4. You are.
October 5th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
1-3, excuse me.
October 5th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
fire Tom Cable!!!!
October 5th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Cable: “1-3 teams have won the Super Bowl”.
October 5th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Tom Cable is the man!
October 5th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
I AM NOT JOKING, YOU GUYS. It’s on comcast sports, right now, live.
October 5th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
After the safety & the punt return, I turned off the TV. it hurts so bad i’ve stayed away from TV & web sites related to football. How we have fallen so far from game 1 to yesterday? Coaching? Players? Ownership? How does Denver do it with a rookie coach and lesser talent? There’s no reason to call myself a raiders fan.
October 5th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Cable’s still stuck in the Matrix. The rest of us took the red pill and joined Morpheus…..
Ok, sorry, i am trippin…
October 5th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
only one team has started 1-3 and won it all. That team was the 2001 New England Patriots
October 5th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
Let me say this Tom Cable must have took the little yellow school bus to school because he keeps saying ridiculous things like Jamarcus had his best game what is he thinking!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He says the team is getting close….close to what!!!!! self destructing worse than it has already. AL please oh please fire Cable and bench Russell put us out of our misery and let us salvage whats left of this season and call it a rebuilding year were not ready to compete for a 500. season let alone a playoff spot. Lets get better so we dont give the patriots the top pick in 2011 Yikes!!! I think a big change is needed to turn this thing around and Cable and Russell shouldnt be part of it!
October 5th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
The Real MaddenRaider Says:
October 5th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
Cable’s being hostile with the press, accusing them of getting information from the internet, and not knowing anything about football.
————–
Maybe “the press” just watch Raider games like the rest of us. Maybe Cable should get his info from the press because apparently he’s watching some other football game than the one the Raiders are playing.
October 5th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
Let’s face it: practice is overrated.
You either have the players or you don’t.
You either have the skill or you don’t.
You either give the effort on game day or you don’t.
Practice is necessary but I’m sure the Raiders practiced running the ball enough during minicamps, OTAs, training camp and the preseason that the amount of practice is not the problem.
The fact that Gallery and two off-season o-line acquisitions who were expected to start (Barnes and Satele) are not playing right now combined with the passing game struggles are the real reasons the running game sux right now.
Guess again, Jerry.
October 5th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
Anybody see the “Fan Poll” on Raiders.com?
What do the Raiders need to do to defeat the Giants on the road?
Run the ball 21%
Stop the run9%
Avoid turnovers14%
Contain the Giants passing game10%
Make big plays in the passing game 46%
Haha! How about: Lock the Giants up in their locker room?
Too bad they don’t leave an option for “other”
I think Cable needs to stop kissing Davis’ butt, and Jamarcus.’ Somebody needs to light a fire over that O. I really wonder what coaching staff is saying to them…I don’t see much on the sidelines, and I haven’t heard anything in quotes. All I keep hearing is we got to do better, and we got to fix this thing. hmmmm…. which to me means no hope, no plan, but still get paid.
October 5th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
I give up.
October 5th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
“I don’t want to be like T.O. (Terrell Owens) and say we can only go with the plays that are called, but it’s tough,” Fargas said. “I think it that situation you want to try and get downhill. We were running an outside play, we were using a hard cadence.”
Wow, Fargas throwing Cable under the bus…I’ve seen it all now!
October 5th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
During the Battle of Britian Winston Churchill put it exactly: “Sometimes it is not enough to do our best. Sometimes we must do what is required.”
Time now for those who are just doing “their best” to take a seat and let others who have the desire step up do what is required.
October 5th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Is McFadden really hurt? I can’t find a report on it…is someone pulling a “Dakota” and filing false reports?
October 5th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
2001 Patriots finished 11-5. I can see us losing to the Giants & Eagles. then Russell gets benched and we win our next 10 games, head to the playoffs and make some noise!
October 5th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
new post barack worshippers!
October 5th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Some BIG changes will be made. Even Davis can’t stand an empty stadium. His empire is crumbling, and has nobody else to blame but the media. They’re all nuts. Sooner or later, we will see every man for himself…including Cable.
I don’t see Davis firing Cable this season, because he has nobody else to step in. Maybe Gruden is up to the challenge, try to do the whole “finish what I started,” but that would never happen.
October 5th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Anyone who closely watched yesterday’s game and knows anything about football knows that Cable is dead on and JaMarcus was not at all the reason the offense struggled yesterday.
– NINE dropped passes.
– 1.0 yards per carry(aside from a reverse to DHB).
– An o-line that got demolished all-game long and neither opened running lanes nor gave JaMarcus a reasonable amount of time to throw.
Any of that ring a bell with you JaMarcus bashers?
October 5th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Cable won’t make it to the bye…
we are about to witness an absolute implosion of Raider Nation…
all that’s gonna be left are a coupla a smelly socks and a condom…
October 5th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
haha! condoms? oh yeah….those!
The Nation is falling….that’s for sure.
October 5th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Good bye Al Davis…The 30 year Raider fan is off of the bandwagon for good…I am now declaring myself a football free agent. I will not waste any more effort on an owner who will not open his business up to new ideas. That is how the diosaurs of business failed. That is why execpt for a brief 4 year span where he brought in innovation (Gruden) the last 19 years or so have SUCKED!
I want to see JaBreakfast Buritto fall on his diamond earrings…I want to see the 4-3 man to man get pushed around for 100+ yards rushing every game…I am going to laught again on Sundays…Laughing at the FAIDERS!
I am putting all of my gear in a box and sending it to Alamedia with a letter saying as much…Peace out Nation, we deserve much better.
October 5th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
a culmination of Raiders losing and Niners succeeding is pushing Al Davis closer to a stroke… hopefully.
October 5th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
This is the worst Oakland team I have ever seen.
It’s embarrassing to watch the games alone in my house,let alone with friends or out in public.
Raider haters have stopped hating…because it’s no fun hating on a team that is so damn bad.
I have friends that are SD and Donkey fans and they actually feel sorry for the Raiders….
it doesn’t get much worse.
October 5th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
McFadden has a torn meniscus and will miss anywhere from two-to-four weeks.
October 5th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
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October 5th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
!!!!!!!!!!!!IGNORE “THE RAIDER CAST” LINKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IT JUST REDIRECTS YOU BACK TO THIS STORY WHILE HIS LAME SITE GETS A HIT.
GFY YOU HACK
October 5th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
we need to seriously upgrade the offensive line through the draft if the raiders are going to have a good offense.
October 6th, 2009 at 4:15 am
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