(AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
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The Raiders absolute meltdown against the New Orleans Saints serves as a warning that the Raiders have serious issues to address in order for them to be ready for prime time. The Saints pulled their starters early and essentially called off the dogs, but still racked up a 45-7 win. The San Diego Chargers come to town one week from tonight, and they are a talented team whose strengths play to the Raiders weaknesses.
The San Diego Chargers have a high-powered offense with an All-Everything running back in LaDainian Tomlinson, Pro Bowl quarterback in Phillip Rivers, as well as a Pro Bowl tight end in Antonio Gates. That is going to provide a serious test for the Raiders, as they have had problems defending both the run and the pass. Tight ends Vernon Davis and Jeremy Shockey have already had their way with the Raiders, so Gates is going to be a real test.
Thus far in the preseason, the Raiders have allowed opposing rushers a whopping 5.2 yards per carry. This has been accomplished by a cast of backs who have had the writers consulting their media guides. LaDanian Tomlinson, on the other hand, has had many of his career highlights tormenting the Raiders. If a fourth stringer like P.J. Hill can break off a 5.9 yards per carry average, Tomlinson should be at least a yard higher.
The Raiders expected their pass defense would be the strength of their defense, but Drew Brees showed that to be a myth. Brees slashed the Raiders defense, abusing the defensive backs. It wasn't just Brees, Brunell had his way with the starting defense, and Joey Harrington even had a touchdown pass against the second team. The Raiders tried blitzes, man coverage, zone coverage, and nearly everything else they could throw at the Saints all to no avail.
It wold be easy to dismiss this disaster as being “just preseason” if it wasn't for the fact that it was the first team defenders who were taken to the woodshed. Hiram Eugene had a key interception on Brunell on the goal-line, but he also gave up several big plays through missed tackles as well as blown coverage. Stanford Routt was called for two key penalties to set up the Saints' third touchdown.
The biggest concern is that despite the players universally called the debacle embarrassing, they could come nowhere near a consensus as to what went wrong. Strong-side linebacker Jon Alston credited the breakdown to a “lack of intensity” and “communication issues.” Middle linebacker Ricky Brown concurred on the lack of intensity, but he said that they had “good communication.”
These two guys were lined up next to each other for most of the game, yet they had different views of whether or not they communicated. That would seem to lend itself to Alston's assertion. Coach Cable told the local media in today's conference call that the Raiders had fallen back on “old bad habits.” That would be a lack of communication as well as a lack of execution. That would go a long way towards explaining the totality of the breakdown against the Saints.
The problem is that no football team should every have trouble with their intensity any time they take the field. Teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis Colts, or New England Patriots could afford to take the attitude of “Its just a preseason game.” The Raiders are not on the level of those teams. In fact, they set a record for the most consecutive seasons with double digit losses, so they need to take the attitude that every game is important. Winning is all about attitude, and as of right now it does not look like the Raiders have the winning feeling.
You can also find Patrick Patterson on Thoughts from the Dark Side.
Thank you to Cal Bears Examiner, Rob Calonge, for his excellent team coverage of Training Camp.
Comments
It's really getting pathetic. The Raiders D gave up 300+ yards in the first half. They also got pounded for over 200 yards rushing again.
Yes it's preseason but you should never be pushed around for 200+ yards rushing. It's going to be another long season. I've been saying 4-12 due to another poor draft class but that might be giving them too much credit.
Patrick,
It's time to accept that we're looking at another horrible season. Both the offensive and defensive lines are sub-par and will be over-matched by most teams. We have 7 almost-certain losses: San Diego (twice), the Giants, Philly, Dallas, Pittsburgh and Baltimore. If we go 5-4 in the remaining games -- highly unlikely -- that's 5-11. So we're probably looking at 3-13 or, at best, 4-12. Then Cable will be fired and Al Davis will wear pajamas and a bathrobe to his next press conference. And the players have to wear "Commitment to Excellence" on their jerseys all season! What a travesty...
On defense: NO COMMENT. On offense: QB's looked good but Russell needs to show me he is alive, be a leader, show me an ounce of emotion. When Higgins dropped that pass, he needed to get in his face or something, anything. You are not in the huddle to make friends, you need to take charge. If you want the team to follow you, you need to show you are in command. At this point in the season, it is time for Cable to insert his foot in some players rear ends' and stop the babying. Time has run out. This team showed no emotion and couldn't have been flatter. At least Garcia showed some fight.
Here is the WHOLE Problem with this team-Its not communication-not Jamarcus-Not Ricky Brown or John Alston it is allllllllllllll--:D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line-D-Line
When Will we start drafting to stop the run for the love of GOD!
Patrick,
It's time to accept that we're looking at another horrible season. Both the offensive and defensive lines are sub-par and will be over-matched by most teams. We have 7 almost-certain losses: San Diego (twice), the Giants, Philly, Dallas, Pittsburgh and Baltimore. If we go 5-4 in the remaining games -- highly unlikely -- that's 5-11. So we're probably looking at 3-13 or, at best, 4-12. Then Cable will be fired and Al Davis will wear pajamas and a bathrobe to his next press conference. And the players have to wear "Commitment to Excellence" on their jerseys all season! What a travesty...
Put Cable on the D-Line....we need something, they are playing with no confidence, just going thru the motions! They better whoop Seattle on Thursday!
Patrick - last week your article quoted you as saying the raiders won't lose 10 games this year. I thought you were crazy, but now think you'rre right - they'll probably lose 12 or 13 games. Here's the problem Patrick... You're too much a fan to bbe objective. The Raiders stink because they have little or no talent. Year after year they draft in the very top of the draft and have nothing to show for it! Al Davis cannot assess talent. He has 2 all pors - namdi and our punter. Everyone he drafts is a reach based solely on speed or arm strength. TEAMS THAT DO WELL DRAFT WELL. Tommy Kelly, Javon Walker, James Trapp, James Jett, Derrick Gibson, Michael Huff. Even Jamarcus, he's big, clumbsy slow and uncomfortable in the the NFL. Heis horrible in the red zone, but he can throw a mile. Until Al hires someone better skilled than himself (that shouldn't be too hard) it will be the same story over and over, 4 & 12, bad draft. 4-12, bad draft,3-13, bad draft.
Patrick be more objective
First and foremost, I am A Raider diehard for life! And all I ask for is effort and attitude. I hope they turn this crap around real soon. Someone needs to step up and say "enough is enough, this sh!t is not going to be tolerated". There has to be an attitude of (never again). I expect good things from this team in 09 but, they better get their act together. Again, effort is all I ask. If they give it, then I expect a productive season. 8-8 will be a step in the right direction. Mark my words, will make a push for .500 and possibly a run for the AFC West. SD is not that good, if anything they're overrated and KC and DEN are going to be our little brothers and will have them in check. Say what you want but you'll see. RAIDERS ALL DAY!
First time I have ever seen a starting defensive unit QUIT and throw in the towel in a first half of a pre-season game. Sickening. Anyone else notice Eugen's 2-handed "touch" of the Saints running back in the second to last TD? We also haven't seen a sniff of our "premier" running game - which worries me that it will be neglected and we will be going 3 and out more often and keeping our defense on the field. We won late last year because we held the ball and let our horrible defense rest a bit. Anyone check the stat sheet on this game - absolutely disgusting. We are in huge trouble across the board.
i get tired of hearing the al bashing. the draft is a crapshoot. remember, a few years ago, the raiders were in the superbowl. who drafted tim brown? who brought in gannon? and gruden? it's too early to tell about dhb, but murphy was a steal, regardless of a couple drops/strips. same for meyers. and schilens. nobody valued nnamdi like al. and everyone ripped on gallery but he's now pretty good. the problem is the front seven sucks. not due to talent but heart. sands is a fat waste. had one good year, got a contract, and quit hustling. warren is pretty much the same. and i hate to say it but kelly is starting to look that way too. bryant and joseph have looked like they care. morrison has been ripped but how are they playing w/o him? howard sucks. and brown is marginal. alston is too small. scott is too small. ellis is the only solid every-down player on the front seven other than morrison. cb's are good. branch will be good. and mitchell will be good too.
the line is better. brown still needs to go when barnes gets back. te's are good. with schilens and murphy, plus walker, the wr's are looking like they could be good. dhb will take time. rb's are obviously good. garcia and gradkowski look much better than russell, but he's not hit his stride yet. he must be given half this season to see what he can do. if he still can't do it, then the raiders will need to look elsewhere. but there are lots of teams with early draft pick qb's that never pan out or take awhile. we'll see how he does. so far, russell has never played with the combo of a decent line and decent receivers.
Russell is going to be a very good QB in the NFL. So what we have is a young QB getting better and better, and a supporting cast getting worse and worse. Chaz is sorely missed. 1 carry for Bush? That being said i am seriously hoping Marshall is saving something for SD.
What else could it be? No defense in the NFL could be that soft.
That confused. That weak. Right????
We have the best athletes in the league, but close to the worst football players. I'm tired of the stat sheet; 40 times, bench press, verticle jumps and all that crap. I don't care how good you look in a uniform! Untill we start getting more guys with heart, brains, and desire we will continue to run all over the place and not know (or seemingly care) what the hell's going on.
Russell although had okay numbers, is not a good QB! This guy for whatever reason can't lead an offense. He can throw a mile, but yet has underthrown all of the deep passes he has attempted in preseason. Raiders need a smart savy,leader at QB! Russell is light years away from that, and He will never be that guy. He is Ryan Leaf all over again. Why do people keep making excuses for this guy? Because Al won't admit a mistake we will have Russell thrown down our throats for years. It's a shame to waste the talent around us because a QB doesn't have the IT THING to lead an offense. I pray Garcia gets in somehow! Russell gets credit for great throws on a 5 yard pass! My GOD I can do that! He calls 1 audible a game, can't read a defense at all, holds the ball too long, fumbles a lot during a sack,stares down His WR's. Enough already! Why do you think Kiffen and many others didn't want to draft Him? Wake up raiders! The defense and Russell are horrid! Why do you think every team blitzes us?
I agree Reality: Let Me ask a question? Why in the Hell does Al Davis hire 3-4 scheme defensive coordinators, but makes them run a 4-3! Ryan and Marshall run the 3-4 but good ole' Al calls for a 4-3. Makes no sense to Me at all. No wonder our defenses blow! Our coordinators are learning with our players instead of teaching them. can someone give Me the answer?
You know, it's the same old story and its been said repeatedly by many that we need to address our D-Line. Very similar to the Denver @ss kicking last yr. It's been that way for ummmmm too damn long. When was the last time the Raiders had a feared DL or D-Lineman for that matter? I'm waiting... Yet every year, we (scratch that - Raiders cough, mgt.cough) act like they have everyone they need on the DL (and OL) and stands pat when the draft and free agency rolls around. To call the OL patchwork is a compliment. Those who make personnel decisions cough, cough have to stop acting like the Raiders have everyone they need. We know they don't (see game tape for evidence), but when the off season hits, we ignore this gaping, bleeding, puss-filled wound called lack of depth on the DL and OLs. Buying a fresh new hat does nothing to address this obvious wound.
The first game is two weeks from today not one. C'mon. That's basic knowledge. You're being as sloppy as the team.
OregonR8dr--Thank you, I agree. This Defensive line is the most neglected red-headded-stepchild in the organization. I honestly do NOT understand the thinking behind passing time and time again on some really nice run stuffers.
Is AL blind to the fact that this entire division is built on Running the Ball????? If you can stop the run you have to force them to pass the ball and that plays right into our hands, but If you can't show that you can stop the run, forget it, they are going to jam it down your throats all game, hold the ball, and just when you start to get jumpy, Throw something over one of your crappy Strong Safeties, who are sneaking up in the box....
This is going to be another looong year, simply because we refuse to address the fact that we have had Zero Run defense in 6 goddamn years....! This defense is a freaking joke. Im not worried about the offense-Im worried about them never getting the ball except after a kickoff......
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