Raiders news fit for print
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Sunday, May 2nd, 2010 at 10:25 am in Oakland Raiders.
Links to Sunday stories in today’s Bay Area News Group papers:
Beat writer Steve Corkran on how Rolando McClain has stepped right in to the job at middle linebacker.
Columnist Monte Poole on how far Darrius Heyward-Bey has come since last year, and how he still has to go.
I’ll be filing practice updates on the last minicamp practice on my Twitter page. Practice is scheduled to start at 11:15 a.m.
[You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.]
May 2nd, 2010 at 10:32 am
On DHB:
“He was one of those guys, when the season got over he took a very short (amount of) time off and then was back working. He’s with the equipment guys and the trainers, he’s getting the JUGS out and (saying) ‘I want somebody to throw me the ball.’
- You gotta root for this kid, he’s trying hard and it’s obvious he cares, hard work pays off, hopefully good things are coming his way.
May 2nd, 2010 at 10:33 am
Ok
May 2nd, 2010 at 10:39 am
Yep
May 2nd, 2010 at 10:40 am
Murphy will probably be the #1 wr with D-Bey at #2. Im probably one of very few people who was never really sold on Chaz Schiliens. Put him at slot & I still wouldnt rule out a cheap veteran Wr to sign on within the next month or so.
May 2nd, 2010 at 10:42 am
Chaz just can’t stay healthy. Too bad for him.
We’ll get 8 games or so from him.
May 2nd, 2010 at 10:42 am
LOVE the McClain pick though.
May 2nd, 2010 at 10:44 am
And I the Houston!
May 2nd, 2010 at 10:44 am
Hell….
I LOVE THEM BOTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 2nd, 2010 at 10:45 am
Gotta get this running game back on track before any of ‘em can put up solid numbers. Bey looks bulked up from last year.
May 2nd, 2010 at 10:48 am
McClain was the smartest pick since Asomugha back in 03. He’ll be just as good as Patrick Willis, if not better. The McClain Train.
May 2nd, 2010 at 10:49 am
I think Shaughnessy is going to be a platoon player.
Your starting D-Line
Houston
Kelly
Bryant
Seymour
Bank on it! Cable has said as much.
Houston is here to abuse Tight Ends….Seymour is a defensive end…until I see or hear differently that’s how we role….
Tom Cable when asked about who will play NT: “Tommy Kelly or Desmond Bryant”
I am not drinking the Kool-Aid until I see them line it up on the field.
If you guys think McClain is going to be in beast mode with Bryant at NT…you don’t know football
May 2nd, 2010 at 10:51 am
Another heads up….our offense WILL NEVER be at the level of New Orleans or Indy….so skip all that “force the opponent to pass b.s”
The opponent will line up and run the ball at our greatest weakness. If the ends are secure…they will go right up the middle…if Bryant becomes the hero then the opponent will go outside….
Only way this is going to work is if Bryant becomes a beast at NT.
May 2nd, 2010 at 10:52 am
DHB was picked 7th overall. Not interested in hearing about his attitude…there are tons of players with great attitudes that are NOT COMMANDING $20 million.
His job is to be the Raiders #1 receiver and LOOK AND PERFORM like a #1 receiver.
Not act like a slot receiver who was a UFA.
Catch the ball….all the other stuff is window dressing
May 2nd, 2010 at 10:53 am
Going into another year with no 1 WR and don’t give me this Chaz is a 1 guy can’t even stay healthy , sure wish we had Crabtree over DudleyHB.
May 2nd, 2010 at 10:53 am
Someone got a little urine in the cheerios this morning!
’sup SnB?
May 2nd, 2010 at 10:54 am
Cable talks a lot about competition and accountability.
Let’s see if DHB truly beats out Murphy for the job. Or will they pull that…they don’t play the same position….B.S
Same with the Nickle Back….McFadden vs. Routt….not 5th round pick vs. 1st and 3rd round tender.
May 2nd, 2010 at 10:55 am
SaintKaufman Says:
May 2nd, 2010 at 10:53 am
Someone got a little urine in the cheerios this morning! ’sup SnB
=======================================================
I’ve been eating sh&& for the last 7 years….a little urine would be an upgrade!
What’s up
May 2nd, 2010 at 10:56 am
Why not wait and see what we do on Def. and how we do before you start your doom and gloom whining!!!!!!!!wah,wah wah,they didn’t pick who I wanted so we will suck-it gets old!!!!!!!
May 2nd, 2010 at 10:57 am
All kidding aside…these guys have to start catching the ball. Based on Jerry’s comments, the receivers struggled to catch the ball in practice.
You and I have seen through the years that what happens on this practice field becomes who they are when the lights come on
May 2nd, 2010 at 10:57 am
Why would you do that SnB?
May 2nd, 2010 at 10:58 am
LOL!
I just keep hearing this NT/ILB logic so much more since Ray Lewis made a big deal about it. You telling me Willis is a beast because Aubrayo Franklin is a beast? Dunno, but it is a long ways until week 1 to get all bent about it.
May 2nd, 2010 at 10:59 am
You complain about who we have on the Dline-Kelly isn’t a nose tackle,Bryant isn’t a NT-yet refuse to acknowledge SE and WR ARE 2 different receiver positions.
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:00 am
lefty12 Says:
May 2nd, 2010 at 10:56 am
Why not wait and see what we do on Def. and how we do before you start your doom and gloom whining!!!!!!!!wah,wah wah,they didn’t pick who I wanted so we will suck-it gets old!!!!!!!
======================================================
There was no doom and gloom.. I simply said that Dez Bryant is going to have to step it up if he is our NT.
“The Raiders don’t appear to have at true nose tackle, but Cable identified Desmond Bryant and Tommy Kelly as possibilities.” ~Jerry McDonald
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:01 am
SaintKaufman Says:
May 2nd, 2010 at 10:58 am
LOL!
I just keep hearing this NT/ILB logic so much more since Ray Lewis made a big deal about it. You telling me Willis is a beast because Aubrayo Franklin is a beast? Dunno, but it is a long ways until week 1 to get all bent about it.
===================================================
Well, the 49ers franchised his azz didn’t they?
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:04 am
Kirks gap assignment reactions were atrocious. Let’s see what happens if we have a MLB that doesn’t just crash into the backs of the DT’s. The RB’s knew this and would make 1 quick cut to the other gap and if the lane was there we got to see Howard and Branch chase them down the field.
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:05 am
lefty12 Says:
May 2nd, 2010 at 10:59 am
You complain about who we have on the Dline-Kelly isn’t a nose tackle,Bryant isn’t a NT-yet refuse to acknowledge SE and WR ARE 2 different receiver positions.
=======================================================
I believe that Louis Murphy is capable of playing the X or Y positions. I also believe that he is better than DHB at this point in time.
Is Murphy as fast as DHB…no. But Murphy ran a 4.4 or 4.3 in the 40x time too….and he’s got better hands.
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:06 am
People are complaining because our Rec. drop passes.By all accounts DHB dropped 2(two) passes in the 1st practice and both were difficult catches.A lot of these same people say ‘Go get TO’.Don’t you realize TO is always one of the league leaders in DROPPED passes every year.
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:07 am
I never said get TO
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:09 am
Murphy dropped more passes than DHB and thankfully what YOU believe makes no difference on what the coaches believe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:09 am
Remember, we keep ‘em to 3 YPC for most of the game and then BAM, Kirk washed up on the wrong side again and we give up a 60 yd TD. ALL DT/NT will give up the lane a couple of times per game, but if there’s no one there to plug it up then you wind up with the 2004-2009 Raiders.
Let’s see how McClain does. Is it coaching, scheme, or discipline? We’ll see….
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:10 am
By Jerry McDonald – NFL Writer
Saturday, May 1st, 2010 at 6:13 pm in Oakland Raiders.
The Raiders’ second practice session Saturday, accompanied by a stiff wind, saw far too many passes hit the ground to do much for the comfort level of coach Tom Cable and offensive coordinator Hue Jackson.
For the proper perspective, one needs to flash back a year when the Raiders were atrocious in the passing game. On many of Saturday’s misplays, receivers were at least in the right spots and passes were thrown to the right place.
It’s a matter of securing the ball and putting it away.
~Jerry McDonald
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:10 am
Let’s also remember that this kid is a rook so no bridge jumping until after week 12!
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:15 am
Defense and O get new looks
http://www.raidernationstation.com/2010_off_season
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:20 am
lefty12 Says:
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:09 am
Murphy dropped more passes than DHB and thankfully what YOU believe makes no difference on what the coaches believe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
=====================================================
He also CAUGHT more passes than DHB!
Both of them need to step it up big time….although, Murphy is a far better return on investment so far
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:20 am
SaintKaufman Says:
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:10 am
Let’s also remember that this kid is a rook so no bridge jumping until after week 12!
====================================================
Agreed! – I hope people realize the position he plays and the learning curve (and other challenges) he will have to deal with
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:25 am
Have a GREAT Day Nation!
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:25 am
4evaRaider Says:
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:25 am
Have a GREAT Day Nation!
———————————————-
Too nice of a day to be inside.
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:26 am
There you go linking YOUR site again Nnamdi, lol …
Are you on the payroll?
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:26 am
Glad Jackson is on board. Stay on em Hue…Stay on em…fix these problems so that we can have a competitive year….all the little things…Stay on em Hue
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:27 am
Damn, McClain is friggin huge! Can’t wait to see him blow up Moreno!
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:34 am
Monte Poole’s an azz hole.
Back handed swipes and jabs at every corner.
Davis is right for down playing the media when it comes to fools like Poole and Gay.
I bet back so long agao when this team was winning he’d bish about Oaklands ground game when Gannon was throwing for 4000+.
“Yeah but their ground game stinks!”
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:34 am
Yikes, that last post reads pretty bad! Perhaps putting ‘huge’ and ‘blow up’ in the same post was a really bad idea.
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:35 am
SaintKaufman Says:
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:27 am
Damn, McClain is friggin huge! Can’t wait to see him blow up Moreno!
==========================
I hope we destroy powerful but fragile Ryan Mathews.
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:35 am
It’s all about the drama Nnam.
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:36 am
If Seymour recognizes all of this infusion of talent on his side of the ball we might just get something great out of this defense. All signs are pointing towards bad ass!
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:37 am
jhill Says:
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:26 am
There you go linking YOUR site again Nnamdi, lol …
Are you on the payroll?
=================
lol! I should do a site! I just enjoy this one and no ones is on it. I should hit them up for some benjamins while I’m at it!
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:38 am
SaintKaufman Says:
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:35 am
It’s all about the drama Nnam.
==============
Or the Nnama dram.
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:38 am
They’ll get Seymour signed
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:41 am
I sure hope so Nnamdi. I always thought he was a dirty player but perhaps it’s just a huge chip on his shoulder. I mean, the dude had to put up with Belidick for all of those years. If he really brings it this year this whole defense just might dominate.
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:43 am
Now, how do we get this running game going? That to me is priority #1. Bush should start, get 20-22 carries a game. Period.
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:44 am
Our special teams should be mega improved this year as well.
Hey Jerry, how does the Ford kid look so far??
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:46 am
Jamarcus, Campbell, Boller, Michael Bush, Dmac, DHB, Murphy, Zack, THIS TEAM IS LOADED!!! RAAAAAAAAAIIIIDDDDERRRSSSS!
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:49 am
My biggest cocern for this season……
I keep hearing everyone saying, “The NFL has become a passing league.”.
The biggest concern for the Raiders has been “stop the run”.
Other teams ran on the Raiders….IMO because they COULD!. Raiders gave up too quickly on their own ground game (IMO relied too heavily on the wrong RB’S), and couldn’t score in the passing game parttially because other teams were also built to defend the pass. Opponents were afforded the ability to pound our weak D-Line and light/fast and indecisive/non-aggressive LB’s.
Now….we have bigger, stronger, more aggressive LB’s. My biggest worry is the size/aggressiveness (looking back to when we had bigger/more aggressive MLB’s) allowed other teams to take advantage of a soft short to medium defense over the middle. Just hope our safeties and nickle/dime backs can cover the slants and tight ends…….
Your thoughts/opinions/predictions ?????
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:49 am
Richard Seymour is our premier DT.
I would be surprised -and angry- if he does not play inside most of the time.
I’ve been saying it for a while now, Seymour is a natural DT, he played there in college and made his first Pro Bowl with NE as a DT before they switched to the 3-4, but even as DE in the 3-4, his role was pretty much that of a DT in a 4-3.
Here’s an article from a year ago, Seymour had not been traded to the Raiders yet.
“Pat Kirwan: Ranking the game’s top DT’s:
The defensive tackles in a 4-3 scheme are asked to attack gaps and be disruptive in the backfield.
The defensive ends in a 3-4 defense, who essentially play the same role as tackles, are asked to stop the charge of 350-pound offensive tackles and make plays at the line of scrimmage.
Of course, ranking the top tackles is problematic.
A 4-3 penetrator such as Tommie Harris of the Bears is asked to do different things than a player such as RICHARD SEYMOUR of the Patriots — who is listed as a defensive end in a 3-4 but plays the role of a tackle.
The same is true of a nose tackle such as San Diego’s Jamal Williams, who is asked to eat up double teams all game long.
To rank the top six tackles is very difficult, but when looking at who are the best at what they are asked to do, while also considering the different schemes, it becomes a manageable task.
#4. Richard Seymour, New England Patriots:
Seymour had a down year last year as he battled injuries, but it was just two years ago he was the No. 1 defensive tackle on this list.
He can play any defensive line spot, including a 4-3 right end or even a 3-4 nose tackle. Patriots coach Bill Belichick can scheme any way he wants with Seymour. Versatility and an all-around game are his big strengths.”
- Seymour should handle one of the DT spots for us, he’s either too fast or too strong for most inside OL.
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:55 am
As I looked around the tattoo shop yesterday, I tried my best to take in everything with fresh eyes… as if I were a new customer, seeing everything for the first time. There was all the typical flash (pre-made designs on the walls and in big pages); and there were strategically placed Raiders logos strewn about. There was the massive flag covering one of the storefront windows (in the back of the shop, but no other name for the type of window… unless “bay window” is accurate), there was the license plate hanging above the entryway to the tattooing studio room, and there was the Raiders helmet hanging above the back door. I asked myself what this would mean to a new customer… and couldn’t come up with anything.
At least twice a day, I get the question: “So, you guys are Raiders fans, huh?” I usually respond with, “No, just me” and a grin. I guess I take all the credit/blame for shop Raiders fandom on myself to protect Dave from any stigma attached to the madness and futility associated with loving our team, but I can’t help but wonder if it’s also kind of selfish… as if deep down, I want to hog it all to myself so that when the day FINALLY comes when the Raiders are good again, I can have all the accolades for sticking with them through the bad to myself. Maybe I’m just ruminating on nothing and this is all a meaningless waste of time and text, but there’s a funny little introspective bug digging around in my brain wanting to know what’s up. I just thought I’d share that with y’all and see if anyone else has any similar thoughts or feelings on the matter.
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:59 am
I got nothin Steve. I do however believe you are experiencing what is known as Lionitis. Just keep hangin in there!!
May 2nd, 2010 at 12:01 pm
RE: Post #50:
Saint, I am with you on that!
I don’t know for a FACT that conditioning was a problem for Bush and that it is the reason our HC seemed to hold him out. I hear folks say they believe it was because Bush “took himself out of games”. I believe he wants to be the #1 RB. I also believe he worked his fanny off to come back from the broken leg. When he did come back, he was able to cut….but not as well as I saw him cut in college. IMO he took himself out because there was still some pain and he did not wish to stay in to the detriment of the team. Only the player knows when he is too sore to keep going and/or needs a blow.
Bottom line……I hope (and believe) we will see him used more this season…AND….that he will hold up better…..AND…..if the gets 20-25 carries a game he will build momentum and be waving that “First Down!” signal in the faces of oppposing DB’S
May 2nd, 2010 at 12:04 pm
Repost regarding Richochet asking an explanation of what JaMarcus does well:
I know that you addressed the question to the guy who called us girls, but since I criticize the lazy fatass QB a lot, I’ll field that question regarding JR’s good points (this time I will limit my responses to things that are football-related):
He has a VERY strong arm.
When he was a slender high schooler, he was mobile and very good at keeping plays alive with his feet, then getting the ball downfield for a big gain. Hopefully, he can get in shape and regain that ability… it would be a VERY good point. (In high school, he was only one inch shorter than he is now, so it’s not like it’s impossible for him to get skinny on his current frame, it would just take a LOT of work… but if you’ll notice his arms… they aren’t big, so his body WANTS to be slender, but he’s put a LOT of meat and fat around his middle and in his ass and thighs. He needs to get rid of all of that to add another dimension to his game… one that would be pricelessly valuable.)
He is VERY durable… it’s hard to injure that big dude.
His play drastically elevates under extreme game-situation pressure. (The problem is that he only feels that pressure if there is under three minutes left and we are within 7 points… AND he is coming off the bench to do it. ANY other time and he doesn’t care about anything. Another imcompletion… “Oh well, doesn’t matter… I got paid.” He has to find a way to bring that sense of urgency and importance toward his play on EVERY snap.)
He is a FANTASTIC lead-blocker. Just check out his downfield blocking on reverse/end-around plays If he doesn’t work out at QB, we have found our bruising Fullback… or LT if he can improve his footwork… or DT if he can learn to hold onto someone else and take them with him when he falls down… but judging from his inability to hold onto a football as he falls, this might be wishful thinking.
Although he doesn’t throw screens well… or dumpoffs… or outs… or flies… or flags… or deep posts… or swings… or spots… or out and ups… or drags…
he DOES throw seam routes, curls/hooks, and short slants pretty well. He usually puts way too much heat on them and throws them high/behind the receivers about half the time, they are still the strength of his passing game as long as they are between 7 and 15 yard patterns.
He sells the play-action pretty well.
He hands off with authority and makes workable pitches.
His shovel passes are accurate… in fact, that’s the only time he exhibits ANY touch at all and keeps the velocity below 70mph.
He keeps his eyes downfield. (Unfortunately, he usually locks onto only one receiver and doesn’t know how to use his eyes/helmet to “look off” a DB… or only looks at a couple of options downfield… and pays no attention to ANYTHING or ANYONE in the backfield or the oncoming rush, feeling no pressure and having no pocket presence… but nevertheless, he DOES keep his focus downfield.)
When he actually eludes the rush and decides to take off, he picks up very good yardage with his feet, even though he’s pretty damned slow.
He’s nearly unstoppable on the QB Sneak.
I can’t think of any more things that he does well… and that’s a pretty pathetic list… but there’s potential there… somewhere. At least he MIGHT be able to become great if he gets his mind right and gets some urgency and QUICKNESS about him. The QUICKNESS is the biggest reason that I want him to lose weight… so that he can get out from under center, finish his drop, and MAYBE elude the rush to extend the play and complete the pass or pick up some yardage with his feet.
May 2nd, 2010 at 12:06 pm
Saint,
Isn’t that what the kid in “The Mask” had? Thanks for your support, LMFAO… ass-hole!
Thanks for the laugh, bro.
May 2nd, 2010 at 12:14 pm
Frank,
I think that all came from the Tampa game in ‘08. Bush was killin it but on one of his last carries I saw him get up and almost fall over, stumble and grab onto to someone before he went down again. He made it over to the sideline and looked like he had just been in a car crash when Fargas went out there and got hurt(again) and McFadden was still hurt(presumably from being drafted). They were calling for Bush to come in but he you could see he was trying to figure out which class he was late for and what mom was making for breakfast. It was very obvious to me that he had been rocked but it was never really mentioned. After the game Cable said some crap like you’d expect those guys to not take themselves out of the game when they’re playing so well.
I’ve seen him raise his hands a few times last year but it’s not like the dude is a scatback or anything. Perhaps if someone else in the backfield could stop getting hurt and would do more than just slam into the backs of the OLineman he’d be better conditioned come late in the season.
May 2nd, 2010 at 12:14 pm
Mike Wauffle’s addition can’t be underestimated.
Here are some of his concepts from a scouting form called the “Winning Edge” which they give to each of their players during game week:
- “Breaking down the Quarterback:
In the NFL, no other position is more important than the one calling the signals. We all know that the success of a team rises and falls on the QB – especially at that level.
Waufle knows this, so he spends extra time preparing his defensive linemen for the type of personality they will see behind center each week.
“The QB is the head of the snake,” says Waufle.
“Preparing for the QB goes under coached at a lot of levels … It’s always our first priority when going into a game.”
The first thing Waufle does is examine the depth of the QB on passes, or more specifically, his launch point.
Unlike college, many professional QB’s are pocket types that don’t like to get out of the pocket much. But that doesn’t mean Waufle doesn’t prepare for it.
On the “Winning Edge” form he’ll label what he calls QB escape points based on where he exits when pressure approaches. It helps players to prepare when they get him on the run and used mainly to track the angle of departure for the QB.
“It’s important that guys know where a QB’s exit strategy is going to be. There are some guys that scramble so we try to find out where. If Michael Strahan is chasing a QB that always scrambles to his side, he’s going to get a lot of depth on his pass rush. So that when the QB starts to run, he’ll change his angle to match up his depth.
There are great rushers that run right over the top of the QB and they run right by him because they don’t take proper angles to affect him. Osi (Umenyiora) does it because he’s extremely quick. If you’re playing a Donovan McNabb you have to control your rush and balance your rush lanes. You need to know where his escape area is either inside or outside.”
- Determining Pass Protection
According to Waufle, this relies either on the drop of the QB or the personnel in the game offensively.
“I figure out what the QB set target is per down, or where he sets,” said Waufle. “Most are at seven yards but some are different, including the shotgun formations. We control our blitz lanes and rush targets based on that.”
The type of protection will almost always be based on how many eligible receivers an offense will deploy.
“We zero in on personnel groups to identify what they are doing,” says Waufle. “For example, if you take each personnel group with two backs whether it be two backs and two tight ends, two backs and one tight end or two backs and no tight ends there is only a certain way they will protect. Chances are those backs will be involved in the protection scheme. Now, anytime there is one back it can really be two formations – a two by two receiver set or a three by one receiver set. Rarely does anyone go empty in this league; the QB would get killed. Who releases and who stays in is based on whether it is a two by two or a three by one.”
Waufle also will play a lot of games with his interior tackles to confuse the center. In most slide protection schemes the center will find the Mike, or middle linebacker in a 4-3 scheme, and set the protection to slide in that direction. A lot of teams will stem or move their front so that the center doesn’t get a clear identification. “If you just cover the guards once in a while, they just can’t figure out where to set the protection,” said Waufle.
“I also like to get those quicker defensive ends in space by widening them out. Put them in situations where they can try to handle us. We are better athletes.”
- Evaluating the Running Back
“The alignment and the depth of the back are important. When he’s deep at eight yards, you want to re-establish the line of scrimmage by using various one man or two man games. You got the time to do it. If he’s shallow in there at six, I also want them to know that because a lot of teams will do that in the pass game for protection purposes. If that back is involved in the protection, they want him at or near the line of scrimmage in a hurry. They don’t want to waste any time by getting those defensive lineman downhill.”
Because of those gap schemes where offensive linemen are often pulling at the point of attack, Waufle will have his guys examine the stance of their offensive lineman.
“One of the biggest things I look for in the run game is the offensive line either backing off the line of scrimmage and their hand placement.” says Waufle.
- Finding mismatches in the trenches
Probably the most important aspect of the preparation process is finding and exploiting mismatches up front.
In fact, the entire back sheet of “The Winning Edge” form is devoted to a precise breakdown of each of the starting offensive linemen they will be facing that week.
It details their strengths and weaknesses, giving the players a “how to” manual on getting to the QB.
“It provides immediate feedback for the players and their assignments,” said Waufle. “It’s a confidence builder and a security blanket that you can fall back on. This is the ultimate study tool. I walk out of the locker room and you won’t believe the number of players who are reading this stuff. They will ask me in the middle of practice and I just hand it to them. It’s on the sidelines with us all the time.”
May 2nd, 2010 at 12:16 pm
Keep those nine inch nails away from your eyelids!
May 2nd, 2010 at 12:18 pm
Saint,
You don’t… wanna fukk with Steven… cuz Steven… will fukkin kill you.
May 2nd, 2010 at 12:19 pm
And yes, now I have a barrage of Eminem/D-12 songs running through my head. All because I accidentally came close to a quote and you ran with it.
May 2nd, 2010 at 12:19 pm
Wow, great post Marley. Thanks.
May 2nd, 2010 at 12:20 pm
pluck twitter, eff it…
May 2nd, 2010 at 12:20 pm
Sorry about that Steve! Infectious grooves my brother.
May 2nd, 2010 at 12:21 pm
Hey LMN! Isn’t it like 13 o’clock at your place??
May 2nd, 2010 at 12:25 pm
LMN,
I signed up for a Twitter account two days ago. I chose to have my Jerry Mc, ESPN, and Raiders updates sent to my phone, but didn’t realize that there was an option to turn off mobile updates between whatever hours you choose. After no updates for about an hour or so, I had fallen asleep at about 2am (my time… about 11pm Oakland time), when I suddenly started getting a deluge of messages. Needless to say, I was awakened by the barrage of texts and desperately attempted to use my half-awake brain trying to figure out whether or not to put my phone on silent so I could go back to sleep… but saying to myself that I couldn’t do that, just in case someone sent an important message. I finally got up and logged in to twitter… and the option that I needed was staring me right in the face without even having to look for it. Apparently those guys know what they’re doing.
May 2nd, 2010 at 12:30 pm
Steve,
Re post #55.
Don’t even think about apologizing to the other nuts in this nut ward!
Fan….IS….a contraction of the word, “fanatic”.
Be proud of our shared luncy!
Stick with the team through the hard times….and the really good times with be that much more enjoyable!
May 2nd, 2010 at 12:30 pm
that was “lunacy”
May 2nd, 2010 at 12:31 pm
I have yet to make a single tweet, however. I don’t want the world to know what I’m doing at all times. Hell, I never even wanted any of my girlfriends to know what I was doing at all times… that’s why I had two failed engagements… I like my ME time, where there are no responsibilities and no one to answer to too much.
May 2nd, 2010 at 12:36 pm
DHB drops shallow cross from Campbell. Cable told us we ‘d be amazed by his progress. It’s been less than amazing
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Oh sht.
May 2nd, 2010 at 12:36 pm
Being of occasionally reasonable mind and body, the way that I look at DHB now is to forget where he was picked and to just think of where I’d like a guy with his physical skills and work ethic to end up. From that vantage point, if he can be as effective as James Jett was in his best seasons, that actually not a bad thing. Jett was a legitimate deep threat that you had to account for every down. Sure, he dropped more than his share, but he also managed to catch a few here and there and turned them into TDs.
It’s enough to make DCs have to scheme accordingly. That means deeper safeties with rolled up coverages which opens everything up underneath for the slot WRs and TEs. It helps the running game too that saw way too many in the box the last few seasons.
And if he can exceed that, it’s all gravy. Because he has greater size and moves than Jett (who had none) he’s actually a threat on short outs, slants, bubble screens, etc. If he can be used on a few of those early, it forces the CBs to play him tighter which in turn requires deep safety help.
Back to the physical attributes combined with ethic and attitude, and he really can be a solid #2 in this league. I’m cautiously optimistic.
As for where he was picked, I look at it this way. He was a legit early 2nd round pick. He may or may not have still been there when the Raiders picked Mitchell. Since Mitchell is going to be a stud moving forward, he’ll get back the top 10 pick value. In the end, it’ll still look like a good draft overall
May 2nd, 2010 at 12:37 pm
# DHB drops shallow cross from Campbell. Cable told us we ‘d be amazed by his progress. It’s been less than amazing 2 minutes ago via PockeTwit
Huff drops sure TD jumping Higgins route from Campbell as team session begins, offense backed up inside 10 7 minutes ago via PockeTwit
May 2nd, 2010 at 12:37 pm
DHB drops shallow cross from Campbell. Cable told us we ‘d be amazed by his progress. It’s been less than amazing
2 minutes ago via PockeTwit
May 2nd, 2010 at 12:38 pm
Frank,
The thing is that Dave really doesn’t even follow football, though… so I can’t very well say that he’s a Raiders fan, too. I HAVE TO take all the fanaticism on myself… not that I mind, though… I wear a shirt or practice shorts or Raiders sandals or a hoodie or a jacket at least 15 days out of the month. I show my support with pride. I also get to put a lot of bandwagon and fairweather fans in their place. People will say, “The Raiders suck” quite often. So I always ask, “Well.. who is your team?” They tell me, and it’s almost always a team that finished with a good record the year before.
So then I say that the Raiders do indeed suck right now, but that it won’t last forever and that things appear to be heading in the right direction… then I ask how come I never saw them wearing anything with THEIR team’s logo on it when their team was having a bad year. I particularly LOVE doing this to people that I know who are Steelers fans. I ask where all their hats and hoodies and shirts were after they fell apart last season. “Why weren’t you showing that you were a fan THEN? Oh, I got it… you stop being a fan when your team loses, right? Good job, buddy. I bet you have a few Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen Bulls jerseys laying around, too, right? Still a Bulls fan now, are ya? Yeah, that’s what I thought.”
May 2nd, 2010 at 12:38 pm
Campbell comes back to DHB in 7-7 vs. WMcFadden, he makes routine catch less than a minute ago via PockeTwit
May 2nd, 2010 at 12:39 pm
Frye finds Jacoby Ford, Yamon Figurs on consecutive throws. John Marshall not pleased less than 10 seconds ago via PockeTwit
May 2nd, 2010 at 12:41 pm
JB,
Time for DHB to start acting and performing like a top 10 draft pick.
May 2nd, 2010 at 12:43 pm
It would be nice but not going to happen immediately. I still have good hopes for this kid. Give him a little more time and we may really have something.
May 2nd, 2010 at 12:44 pm
Don’t blame DHB for being picked 7th, if he had been a late 1st rounder or early 2nd, as projected, he’d be getting praise right now for working so hard to become a player, everyone knew he was a raw and a project that would take some time to develop…and that’s exactly where he’s at.
Blame AD, not the kid who’s working his tail off…
May 2nd, 2010 at 12:44 pm
JaMarcus gets in for two throws, low and away, not close to Holland. Next pass high, but catchable to Bodiford. It sails through his hands 1 minute ago via PockeTwit
May 2nd, 2010 at 12:46 pm
Back to full team, Campbell quick out to DHB, bobble, then catch. Lofton used to say, ‘One catch per ball.’ less than a minute ago via PockeTwit
May 2nd, 2010 at 12:48 pm
Rolando McClain mostly a spectator today 1 minute ago via PockeTwit
May 2nd, 2010 at 12:48 pm
Back to full team, Campbell quick out to DHB, bobble, then catch. Lofton used to say, ‘One catch per ball.’
1 minute ago via PockeTwit
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I sincerely hope you are right about this kid. He’s got to step it up…he’s being paid too and he took the money.
We should have the same expectations of DHB as we do for McClain
May 2nd, 2010 at 12:51 pm
That was an interesting post by Bob Marley.
Makes me realize how little I know about the finer points of football.
If our D can incorporate all that, we can’t help but be better.
May 2nd, 2010 at 12:53 pm
Whether we have expectations or not doesn’t change a thing. They are what they are. DHB is going to take more time & RoMac is NOT. RoMac was basically at pro level coming in whereas DHB came in as potential. Where he was drafted was AD’s choice, not DHB’s. He’s a good high character kid who is willing to work. Let him grow into his destiny.
May 2nd, 2010 at 12:54 pm
# Routt by himself on sideline after ‘discussion’ with Marshall 2 minutes ago via PockeTwit
Campbell rolls right, beats JRich to corner and runs out of bounds for gain 4 minutes ago via PockeTwit
May 2nd, 2010 at 12:55 pm
Routt tries to rejoin first team, Lionel Washington sends him back off less than a minute ago via PockeTwit
May 2nd, 2010 at 12:58 pm
Frye lofts high arching pass to Todd Watkins along right sideline. He adjusts for catch over Joey Thomas less than 10 seconds ago via PockeTwit
May 2nd, 2010 at 12:59 pm
Eddie Anderson comes over to hear out Routt . . less than 5 seconds ago via PockeTwit
May 2nd, 2010 at 12:59 pm
What’s Eddie Andersons’s role nowadays – team counselor?
May 2nd, 2010 at 1:00 pm
Matt Shaughnessy limps off, looking for trainer .. . cramp? less than 20 seconds ago via PockeTwit
May 2nd, 2010 at 1:01 pm
Using the logic of many on here,we would never have seen the greatness of Freddy B,Branch,J.Rice,T.Brown and many others as they all had problems consistently catching the ball early in their careers.
May 2nd, 2010 at 1:03 pm
Travis Goethel forces Frye incompletion with middle blitz less than a minute ago via PockeTwit
May 2nd, 2010 at 1:04 pm
Bob Marley,
Long before I logged in and started posting, I just sat back and read this blog; probably a little over a year or so. You were one of the posters I enjoyed reading. One of the voices of reason amidst some of the nonsense that sometimes pervades this blog.
Then you just seemed to disappear for awhile.
I even mentioned it once. Said it’s almost draft time, where the hell is Tommy Trojan, and whatever happened to that Bob Marley guy?
Just take a little hiatus?
Glad you’re back.
May 2nd, 2010 at 1:06 pm
JB Says:
May 2nd, 2010 at 12:59 pm
What’s Eddie Andersons’s role nowadays – team counselor?
======================================================
Director, Scholarships Liason for the Head Office
May 2nd, 2010 at 1:07 pm
Steve Alford…
Im glad you like it, problem is, I rather see my news here, and if you can twitter (as a journalist) you also can update HTML, so get going Jerry…
May 2nd, 2010 at 1:07 pm
#98
Sounds about right.
May 2nd, 2010 at 1:08 pm
Russell throws nice swing right to McFadden, next rhrow at ankles of Rock Cartwright. less than 20 seconds ago via PockeTwit
May 2nd, 2010 at 1:08 pm
Steve,
I can easily handle the ridicule handed me because I am a Raiders fan.
I surely can handle it better than the guys I ran into a few months ago. Went into the Wallyworld in Reno two week after the Super Bowl. Saw EIGHT…..count ‘em……EIGHT…..guys wearing their BRAND-SPANKING-NEW Saints stuff!!!!!
I’d been going into that store every couple weeks in the six years since I moved to this area. NEVER saw any Saints jerseys, hats, etc.!
I was wearing my Raiders cap. Even thought my team has been on a “down low” for 7 years……they didn’t have a word to say when they asked, “How’s YOUR team doing?” and I answered, “Better than yours….we will be gaining better players this year and you will be losing some of your best……OH, and ….. by the way……where was that BRAND NEW Saints (jersey, hat…whatever) two weeks ago????
May 2nd, 2010 at 1:08 pm
Lefty,
If DHB is going to START, he has to be a reliable target….cannot have that stuff from last year.
That K.C game still sits in my mind vividly.
I am cheering for the kid, but the game is different nowadays….these top picks get big time dollars and have to start performing quickly as starters
You don’t pay top money for 5th round performance.
May 2nd, 2010 at 1:09 pm
Lefty,
Same argument could be made for JaDavis. QBs historically took a lot of time to develop…should JaDavis get another shot?
May 2nd, 2010 at 1:10 pm
Just catch the damn ball
May 2nd, 2010 at 1:13 pm
“You don’t pay top money for 5th round performance.”
That is unless you are drafted by AD. Don’t blame the player by where they are drafted. DHB may not even start. He may be more situational player. I see Schillins & Murphy starting assuming Schillins isn’t hurt and that we don’t bring in another veteran like TO.
May 2nd, 2010 at 1:14 pm
Jeremy Ware blankets Jacoby Ford on post, intercepts Frye’s deep pass half a minute ago via PockeTwit
Watkins makes leaping catch of Campbell pass from Campbell. He”s been one of the more consistent receivers 2 minutes ago via PockeTwit
Huff working outside as right corner this series 3 minutes ago via PockeTwit
May 2nd, 2010 at 1:14 pm
In your view he has to preform immediately,not necessarily in the teams view.If it takes a few years for him to get where they want,i’m sure they will be satisfied.Maybe you won’t,but they will.
May 2nd, 2010 at 1:15 pm
I would not be surprised to see Huff in at LCB this year thereby making room for Mitchell to play full time at safety with Branch.
May 2nd, 2010 at 1:16 pm
Frye nearly picked on sideline deep route, Joey Thomas, covering Hubbard, can’t hold it 1 minute ago via PockeTwit
May 2nd, 2010 at 1:16 pm
If JR takes a pay cut he will be given longer to become the player they expected when they drafted him,regardless of what I or anyone else wants.
May 2nd, 2010 at 1:17 pm
lefty12 Says:
May 2nd, 2010 at 1:14 pm
In your view he has to preform immediately,not necessarily in the teams view.If it takes a few years for him to get where they want,i’m sure they will be satisfied.Maybe you won’t,but they will.
====================================================
I think we all know that. Even if it takes 7 or 8 years…. we are on their time schedule.
May 2nd, 2010 at 1:19 pm
Russell misses Miller on overthrow, Stevie Brown picks it off. Comes back with completions to Watkins, Ford as practice ends. Minicamp over less than 20 seconds ago via PockeTwit
May 2nd, 2010 at 1:21 pm
Minicamp over so I guess there goes the weekend. LOL
May 2nd, 2010 at 1:22 pm
Buckeyeraider..post 97.
Thanks for the kind words man, love this blog, I wish I had more time but work gets in the way…stupid real life..lol.
May 2nd, 2010 at 1:22 pm
Oh well, back to watching the talking heads.
May 2nd, 2010 at 1:23 pm
I believe Jerry likes to feed the sharks.He didn’t want to pick DHB last year and he knows most others didn’t want him either,therefore he comments whenever DHB drops or bobbles a pass.I don’t read him mentioning it whenever someone else drops or bobbles a pass and by reading the entries,others are dropping passes.
May 2nd, 2010 at 1:25 pm
# lefty12 Says:
May 2nd, 2010 at 1:23 pm
I believe Jerry likes to feed the sharks.He didn’t want to pick DHB last year and he knows most others didn’t want him either,therefore he comments whenever DHB drops or bobbles a pass.I don’t read him mentioning it whenever someone else drops or bobbles a pass and by reading the entries,others are dropping passes.
*************************
Actually, that’s understandable. People doing what they are supposed to be doing is not news. The opposite is news that can be discussed on both sides of the issue.
May 2nd, 2010 at 1:34 pm
On post 61…
“Twocents Says:
May 2nd, 2010 at 12:51 pm
That was an interesting post by Bob Marley.
Makes me realize how little I know about the finer points of football.”
- I felt the same way, it puts things into perspective …. here we are demanding we pick this guy up, play that guy there or claiming this will never work … but we really don’t know much about the details.
May 2nd, 2010 at 1:47 pm
Everyone looks good in shorts and shirts, they’re pros they should be working out 11 months out of the year! What about the Offensive and Defensive lines? Whats going on there? What about our safties? Might be another long season. 8-8 is the best I can hope for.
May 2nd, 2010 at 2:02 pm
What the hell was Cam Inman talking about when he said Bruce Campbell looked too “lean” to contribute? Did he mean “raw”? The guy is like 6-6 and 315 lbs. Mike Mayock called him the most impressive looking physical speciman he’s ever seen. Anybody see the pic Dakota posted? WTF?
I think this guy is going to be the starting RG, and he is going to be a monster. I feel for the OLB or CB who is in his way as he pulls and leads DMac on a sweep.
May 2nd, 2010 at 2:05 pm
Robert Gallery is tall and angular at LG. The Raiders don’t really have any short, squatty, fireplug O-lineman.
May 2nd, 2010 at 2:10 pm
I hear a lot of talk about how we don’t have a true NT, a fat guy in the middle. Well, I’m going to try to theorize why that’s not such a big deal. Bear with me here. And then tell me why I’m wrong.
Looking at recent history, starting maybe 10 years ago, there was this trend towards the 3-4 in the NFL. The decade before that, pretty much everyone relied on the 4-3 or some variant. That’s the NFL. It’s a copycat league where success starts trends and the sheep follow.
But why are the successful those that start the trends and those that follow less successful? Because of adjustments. When you find yourself facing a majority of teams playing style X on defense, you come up with an offense that exploits its weaknesses. Over time, that style of offense becomes the trend, leading to someone to come up with a new (or rehashed) defense that works against it.
Back to the move from 4-3 to 3-4. My thinking is that this is an adjustment to the trend towards 300+ lb offensive lines that became the norm in the 90’s. Instead of trying to match beef with beef, teams moved to the more mobile 3-4 scheme and focused on speed on defense to outmaneuver the big but slow blocking beef. Think about the “Hogs” of Washington in the 80’s and the Jimmy Johnson counter to that with speed, speed, speed in his first few draft years. That was successful and the league followed.
So now we have a bunch of smaller, faster defenses in the league that neutralize the size of the hog OL approach. Enter the ZBS where the emphasis is on smaller, more nimble lineman that can get into the second level quicker and tie up the roving LBs. It also works well against the fat guy in the middle by not trying to overpower, but to instead flank and only control one side, leaving gaps for the RB to pick and choose. The goal of the fat guy is to tie up multiple blockers, but when the blockers become more mobile than the NT, he loses his effectiveness here, as a single C or OG can occupy him leaving the others free to chase down LBs.
See where this is going? The next wave is going to be a return to a 4-3 base to counter the trend towards more and more ZBS. This is a move away from 4 smaller LBs towards 3 bigger LBs and an additional DT. The 4 players on the line control the gaps that the ZBS seeks to control, and creates more traffic to protect the LBs. Meanwhile, the larger LBs are better prepared to take on the smaller OL that have the disadvantage of pursuit in space. Also, he additional size on the DL helps to generate the base pass rush where they can use their size and strength advantage against smaller OL.
Bringing this all home, the Raiders are possibly on the right track for the future to be ahead of the game on defense. Now that everyone is running some form of the ZBS and more and more teams are using it as their core philosophy, they’re ahead of the game with the scheme that is the right match up. And they have the right offense to practice against day in and day out.
May 2nd, 2010 at 2:13 pm
Thanks Jerry. Would never have known that those articles existed if you hadn’t given us that lengthy post on all things Raider.
May 2nd, 2010 at 2:15 pm
ENGLANDRAIDER
lol.. tell em…
May 2nd, 2010 at 2:18 pm
I feel Steve and FrankY about sporting my Raiders gear (and I got a TON of it). People will blow me crap when I wear it around town, but ya know what? I AM A FUKKIN RAIDERS FAN. For life. Have been since the days of Stabler and Biletnikoff. So screw the haters. Can’t wait to regain our glory and laugh at the Bandwaggoners. Like FrankY, I am here in Reno and consider a really lucky fact that there’s a TV station here that plays every Raiders preseason game. And its only about a 4 hr drive to McAfee. LIfe’s good, I’m feeling good about my beloved Raiders.
May 2nd, 2010 at 2:20 pm
Bob Marley:
Totally agree with your Post#1 about DHB. I’m pulling for him too.
The guy has the right attitude. He has committment,works hard, and I’m pulling for him too.
He even had enough sense to give up #12 this year.
The #12 belongs to a guy from Alabama who’s probably sitting in a bar in Mobile working on his sixth beer-if he isn’t in the East Bay doing the same thing.
You’d think Al would forget all that drinking and carousing, remember what a Raider he was, and retire the damn number.
The man’s a legend no matter how long you’ve been in the Raider nation.
May 2nd, 2010 at 2:22 pm
So I’m in the middle of watching the Laker game and my wife interrupts me to show me this!
You guys/gals gotta see this!
May 2nd, 2010 at 2:23 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xf8G-c_eAhs&feature=related
May 2nd, 2010 at 2:27 pm
dude…
May 2nd, 2010 at 2:27 pm
lol
May 2nd, 2010 at 2:35 pm
Thanks R8:
That made my cheese pizza a whole lot better.
Man, that guy should get his wife off his back.
May 2nd, 2010 at 4:52 pm
I’D SAY THAT QUALIFIES AS A ZIT!