Let’s see a youth movement in the last five weeks

Sorry for not summing up the rest of Sunday’s game.  Between traveling back from hanging with the Raiders Boosters of York PA and bad calls from the refs, I was in another world!  But, Sunday is a new game (yours truly and Mrs. East Coast Raider will be in attendance).  But, the Raiders have been mathematically eliminated from the AFC West title.  The wild card isn’t out or reach…yet.  Regardless, the Raiders have to be looking at the offseason.  There’s going to be a lot of dead weight to cut, and The Raiders need to get the future on the field as much as possible.

First, Terrelle Pryor needs to be on the field in some capacity in the next five weeks.  In no way am I saying Carson Palmer is failing at his job.  Actually, I’m not sure the Raiders would have won a game this year without him.  But even if he’s just in wildcat formations, we need to let Pryor loose to show off his freakish physical skills.

After a very slow start to the year, rookie wide receiver Juron Criner is starting to come around.  Two weeks ago, he caught his first touchdown pass.  I’d like to see more of him and Rod Streater, though not at the expense of Denarius Moore and DHB.  The four of them should be on the field as much as possible for the rest of the year.

Bandon Myers is producing well at tight end, so keep him out there.  But I’d still like to see David Ausberry used more.  He seems like a Marcel Reece-styler player to me.  Speaking of Reece, he cemented a spot (something many of us already knew) as a key member of the offense during Darren McFadden’s injury.  I’m not quite ready to give up on Run-DMc, but I also wouldn’t be overly surprised if the Raiders see what’s out there in trade value during the offseason.

On the line, let’s start with offense.  Rookie Tony Bergstrom got a few snaps on Sunday, and was horribly beat for a costly play.  But, at least he’s out there getting reps.  He’ll get better.  Hopefully the Wiz and Jared Veldheer can get some help next year.  I’d like to see Khalif Barnes and Cooper Carlisle wrap up their time in Oakland, and I’m on the fence about Mike Briesel.  On the defensive line, the only person on whom I’m sold is Lamarr Houston.  Everyone else should be on notice.

Linebacker was a very shaky position for the Raiders before the season.  Philip Wheeler and rookie Miles Burris are solid.  Rolando McClain, though part of Oakland’s youth, should either be given his walking papers or have his deal restructured.  Corner and safety are a mess.  Michael Huff has played corner well, and Tyvon Branch isn’t playing bad at safety.  However, beyond Branch, Oakland should overhaul the safeties after the season.  Matt Giordano has heart, but he’s just not good enough.  As for Mike Mitchell, I’m growing tired of his act.  I hear him complain more than anyone else.  He’s said he feels he can start on any team in the league.  He’s said he’s ready to start after feeling held back.  He’s now saying how tired he is of losing.  Nothing I’ve heard from him lately has been positive for grateful for his position.  Darrius Heyward-Bey, an Al Davis reach, works hard and keeps his head down.  Terrelle Pryor, Al’s last pick ever, has said how much he wants to validate Mr. Davis’ belief in him.  But Mitchell doesn’t come off like he wants to be there.  I’d let him on the field for the last five weeks.  Give him the start over Giordano, and let’s see what he can do.

Let’s have some fun the last five weeks.  Set the young Raiders loose to have fun, and kick a little ass while they’re doing it.

Thoughts at halftime: Free Fallin’

The Raiders are nearing rock bottom. The offense is standing still and the defense is moving backwards. Cincinnati is outclassing the Silver and Black every step of the way.

It might be time to start looking to the future. I’d like to see more of Marcel Reece, Juron Criner, Rod Streater, and maybe, just maybe, some Terrelle Pryor. What do the Raiders have to lose?

Maybe this will get better, but going into halftime, the Raiders seemingly have no answers to their never ending line of questions.

Final from Oakland – Saints 38, Marcel Reece 17

Actually, Reece didn’t even score during the game.  But, he pretty much did everything else.  The Raiders finished Sunday’s game with a little over 400 yards.  Marcel Reece nearly had 200 of them.

The story remained the same for a 3rd straight game.  The offense was average, and the defense was practically nonexistent.  Carson Palmer threw a disastrous interception that was returned for a touchdown.  It was in a familiar style, as Palmer attempted to force a pass that he never should have tried.  Perhaps in the back of Palmer’s mind was how incredibly out of sync he appeared to be with star receiver Denarius Moore.  Palmer’s frustration may have led him to throw a poor pass with terrible results.  Carson’s second interception of the day was less on his shoulders.  He threw a bullet into the end zone, which skipped right off Brandon Myers’ hands and into the hands of a Saint.  Myers was visibly frustrated after the play, and did manage to catch a touchdown pass later.  Also catching a touchdown was rookie Juron Criner.  It was Criner’s first NFL TD.  Congrats to him.

Palmer continued to stretch his Raider record of 16 straight games with 200+ passing yards.  Who would have figured the Raiders would have a guy who is right on the heels of being the top passer in the league in terms of yards and be 3-7?  And speaking of records and stats, the Raiders’ 9-game streak of scoring in the final two minutes of the first half was snapped on Sunday.
One bright, and by bright I mean it wasn’t as bad as the rest of the defense, spot on Sunday was the play of Rolando McClain.  He was all over the field, and made some good, solid tackles.  McClain has been baffling this year.  He has a good game and then disappears for the next four.  Maybe the news that his accuser dropped the charges in his Alabama case helped him clear his head.  Whatever the case, McClain and Mike Mitchell, subbing for an injured Tyvon Branch, led the team in tackling.

That was about it in Oakland.  Not nearly good enough.  After the game, Mark Davis even spoke to reporters, expressing his displeasure.  There are some pretty interesting storylines this week.  Carson Palmer returns to Cincinnati to face his old team.  Hue Jackson, now a Bengals assistant coach, faces his old Raiders team.  If these two teams aren’t incredibly motivated to beat each other, I’m not sure what’s going on.

Where was Taiwan Jones on Sunday?

Will Taiwan Jones ever get his shot? (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Many people, myself included, though Taiwan Jones was finally going to get his chance on Sunday.  Fans have wanted to see what the lightning-quick Jones can do since the Raiders drafted him.  However, like the rest of the season so far, Jones barely had any touches, even after the first and second string running backs went down.  When you’re the third sting back, and numbers 1 & 2 go down, and you’re still the third string running back the next week, it shows the team’s lack of confidence in you.

I commend the Raiders’ coaching staff for utilizing Marcel Reece as much as possible.  The X-Factor has been seen a little bit this year, but he was all over the place on Sunday, gaining over 100 total yards.  Reece should continue to see significant playing time in the next couple of weeks, as Darren McFadden and Mike Goodson recover from high ankle sprains.

Back to Jones.  Head coach Dennis Allen has specifically referenced Jones’ questionable durability and fumbling issues.  Granted, those are two of the last traits you want to be known for if you’re a running back.  Still, Carson Palmer seemed excited for Jones to be let loose.  The fans wanted to see it.  Yet we didn’t.  The question now is, if Taiwan can’t get his shot with Darren McFadden and Mike Goodson both inactive, will he ever get one?

Raider Nation shows up to Baltimore; Raiders defense doesn’t

We had a great weekend in Baltimore, meeting up with fellow members of the Raider Nation from all over the world, including Oscar and his Raider TailGator and Crusader Raider.  Once the game started though, we all waited for a defense that never seemingly took the field.
Carson Palmer continues his Raider record-setting pace.  He’s now #3 in the league in passing yards, and #1 in the AFC.  Unfortunately, those yards haven’t equaled nearly as many points as they should.  Still, Palmer was able to work with the makeshift backfield of Marcel Reece and Jeremy Stewart.  Palmer sent touchdowns to each of the Raiders’ primary receiving targets, Darrius Heyward-Bey and Denarius Moore.  Seabass added two field goals and two extra points, and that was it for the Raiders’ scoring for the day.
If I wanted to write all of the Ravens scoring on the site, I’d need additional room.  The Ravens scored at will, only being stopped once in the first half by a Michael Huff interception.  The Ravens did not punt until the second half.  Oakland’s game plan was to stop Ray Rice.  They did; he scored a touchdown, but it was in the red zone.  Overall, they contained him well.  But, Joe Flacco fired at will to receivers, and absolutely lit up the Raiders secondary.
One of the more questionable moves over the weekend was the cutting of Pat Lee.  I understand it was to make room for Ron Bartell, and Lee was  pretty bad early on, but was he really worse than Philip Adams and Coye Francies?  At this point, it may be better just to fair catch and touchback each punt and kick.  At least Oakland would hang onto the ball.

It doesn’t get any easier for the Raiders.  They have New Orleans at home this Sunday.  A win would keep the playoff hopes (or at least respectable season) on life support.  But New Orleans’ offense is dangerous, and Oakland’s defense is hazardous.

Thursday morning notes & thoughts

First, the news about which nobody likes to hear: injury news.  These great (by that I mean the updates, not the injuries themselves) injury updates are brought to you courtesy of the Cork, Steve Corkran of the Contra Costa Times.  Click the link to read the reports first-hand, as well as other key Raiders news.

Jacoby Ford’s foot injury is the Lisfranc injury.  Don’t expect him back any time soon.

In addition to Ford being hurt, Rolando McClain reportedly has an injured ankle.  It hasn’t been determined if he can go vs. Miami on Sunday.  The linebacker corps played well on Monday night.  While McClain is sorely needed in an already-depleted group, Allen may decide to play it safe with McClain, much as he did with Denarius Moore.

Speaking of Moore, good things are being reported out of Oakland.  Carson Palmer was reportedly happy with the way Moore looked during practice.  This is crucial.  Not only is Moore a solid downfield threat, but he is Palmer’s favorite target.  They have a great chemistry that needs to be utilized to give the offense a spark.

ESPN’s Bill Williamson reports Stefen Wisniewski is back practicing with the first-string offensive line.  The line, which wasn’t considered to be one of Oakland’s bigger issues during the offseason, had issues blocking and protecting the Raiders on Monday night.  Oakland is also reportedly shopping for a long-snapper to fill in for the week, as Jon Condo hasn’t been cleared to practice yet.

Some of my thoughts this week as the Raiders prep to face Miami:

Derek Hagan had instant impact on Monday night.  Palmer targeted him several times, and he finished the night with nearly 50 yards.  Palmer seems to like Hagan as a sure-handed safety valve.  I’d expect to see his name pop up a few times again this week.

Dennis Allen has to know he can’t put that much work on Darren McFadden every week.  The only player I can recall in recent memory who could do that much was former Eagle Brian Westbrook.  Mike Goodson and Taiwan Jones need to step up.

I want to see more of Marcel Reece this week.  The X-Factor is too unique not to showcase.

How about Brandon Myers on Monday night?  Myers quietly had himself a 60+ yard receiving night.  Greg Knapp’s system favors tight ends as receivers.  Myers was solid.

Could Chimdi Chekwa find his way back to the 53-man roster?  With Ron Bartell sidelined, Oakland may need to find another cornerback to supplement the roster.  Chekwa, currently on Oakland’s practice squad, knows the playbook and is likely anxious for the chance.

I heard a rumbling that the saga of Coye Francies isn’t done yet!  He has reportedly been signed to Oakland’s practice squad.  Again, he’s a defensive back who has practiced some with the Raiders.  He knows the playbook and may be picked up if Oakland’s in a pinch.
More thoughts/links coming as the week progresses!

 

Marcel Reece to get contract extension

Pay the man! Marcel Reece will be a Raider for the long haul, receiving a contract extension on Monday. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Good news from Oakland to start the evening.

ProFootballTalk.com reports Marcel Reece will get a contract extension tonight before the game vs. the San Diego Chargers.  The phrase most reporters seem to like to use for Reece is “matchup nightmare,” due to his ability to run, block, and catch.  He is truly a versatile player in a time where fullbacks have been largely forgotten.

Still, a “matchup nightmare” means the offense has to figure out how to creatively use Reece.  Since he’s not a traditional fullback, the plays in which he’s used probably won’t be as traditional.  We didn’t see too much of Reece during the preseason, but if Oakland is looking to extend his contract tonight, hopefully it’s a sign that they didn’t want to give away any plays featuring the “X-Factor”.

I picked Reece as one of my 5 Raiders poised for a breakout this year.  Hopefully he proves me right.  I was nervous Reece was being lost in the shuffle during the preseason, but now I’m excited that Oakland may be aware of the secret weapon that they possess.

2012 Raiders predictions: Some safe, some bold

Lamarr Houston is going to have a big season in 2012. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Heading into the final weekend before Oakland’s first game of the year vs. San Diego, here are some of my predictions for the season:

Overall 2012 record: 9-7

Raiders’ MVP: Darren McFadden – McFadden is the key to the season.  if he’s healthy, the Raiders win.  I’m basing the record of 9-7 off of him being healthy, same as this.

Raiders’ Offensive Player of the Year: Darren McFadden – Same as above.

Raiders’ Defensive Player of the Year: Lamarr Houston – Houston looks great so far, and has shed some weight, making him quicker and more agile.  The defensive line is going to tear things up this year, and I think Houston cements himself as the next “rock” of the defense.

Raiders’ Offensive Rookie of the Year: Rod Streater – The kid has a great chance to be a significant player in Oakland’s offense this year.  Not too bad for a guy every other team passed on in the draft.  Reminds me of two other undrafted Raiders doing ok for themselves, Marcel Reece and Tommy Kelly…

Raiders’ Defensive Rookie of the Year: Jack Crawford – Miles Burris is a tempting choice, but while he may get more playing time, he doesn’t have the veteran presence Crawford is afforded, with Richard Seymour and Kelly showing him the ropes.  He’s still learning the game, but I think he’ll make some plays this year.

Commitment to Excellence Award winner: Tyvon Branch – Branch is the quintessential Raider – He’s a leader.  He’s quick, mean, hits hard, and still flies under fans’ radars.  Previous winners include Rock Cartwright and Justin Fargas, both recognized for their hard work and dedication.  Branch joins them in 2012/2013.

 

First round of cuts: Down to 75

ProFootballTalk is reporting the Raiders have officially completed their first round of roster cuts, reducing the list to 75.  They’ll have about two weeks to get that roster down to 53.  Since this was the first round of cuts, these are the guys that really didn’t require a lot of debate.  There are only a few notable players who were cut:

LB Korey Bosworth (Only notable because of his uncle, Brian Bosworth)

FB Manase Tonga (played in some regular season games last year but became expendable upon the arrival of Owen Schmitt)

I was a little surprised that Tonga was cut already, as he had a decent amount of playing time last year.  Still, he suffered a serious knee injury, and perhaps didn’t recover as much as Oakland had hoped he would.