Janikowski kicks Raiders chances against Cardinals
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Oakland Raiders K Sebastian Janikowski missed three field goals against the Arizona Cardinals and the last one was the most costly. After making 19 consecutive field goals from 30-39 yards, Janikowski missed one from 32 yards out that would have given the Oakland Raiders the win over the Arizona Cardinals.
This is a tough loss for the Raiders. Oakland ran more plays than Arizona (70-54) and out gained the Cardinals in total yardage, 364-227.
The move to replace Jason Campbell with Bruce Gradkowski at quarterback was really a non event as Gradkowski completed just 50% of his passes and finished the game with a mediocre 72.5 passer rating. Darren McFadden continued to produce well on the field, logging 105 yards and a score on 25 carries. Despite the return of Michael Bush from his thumb injury, McFadden still continues to receive the bulk of the work.
This definitely was a tough loss. The Raiders are now two games behind the Kansas City Chiefs, who remain unbeaten and now have to travel to Houston to face the Houston Texans. A win yesterday would have given the Raiders their first 2-1 start since the 2004 season.
Oakland Raiders should roll against Arizona Cardinals
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The Oakland Raiders should roll this Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals. Arizona is currently not a very good team. They won their season opener against the St. Louis Rams, but were in a position to lose late in the game. Last week, the Cardinals were destroyed by the Atlanta Falcons.
The Raiders come into this game on the back of RB Darren McFadden who is currently number two in the NFL in rushing yards and the Cardinals have the 31st ranked run defense along with the 21st ranked pass defense. Cardinals quarterback Derek Anderson has only thrown 1 touchdown this season. Last week he threw two interceptions and finished the game against the Falcons with a 42.5 passer rating. Facor in the Oakland Raiders pass defense, and well, you get the idea. The Cardinals have taken several steps backwards with the retirement of Kurt Warner at the quarterback position.
The Raiders named Bruce Gradkowski the starting quarterback and it’s time to see if he can move the Raiders as a starter as he seems to be able to do when he is coming off the bench. I’m picking the Raiders to defeat the Cardinals easily this week. The Cardinals simply don’t have any continuity right now. Too many offensive players have not spent much time on the field together so far this season. Larry Fitzgerald missed all preseason and has no timing with Derek Anderson. WR Early Doucet is not due back until mid October. Beanie Wells has been two games. The Cardinals have problems, and I fully expect the raiders to exploit those problems on Sunday.
Darren McFadden headed towards a Pro-Bowl season?
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For the past two seasons, the Oakland Raiders former first round pick RB Darren McFadden has failed to deliver on the field, but is he headed towards a Pro Bowl season in 2010? Darren McFadden is currently second in the NFL in rushing, only behind Houston Texans RB Arian Foster on the strength of his 231 yard week one performance. McFadden has always possessed the unique combination of size and speed but has never been able to make that combination work on the field, until this year.
Darren McFadden currently has 240 yards rushing and a 5.0 yard per carry average in just two games. In his rookie season he gained 499 yards and last year he posted 357 yards while struggling to stay on the field both years. At his current pace, McFadden is projected to rush for 1920 yards.Raiders fans have to admit that this is the best McFadden has ever looked in the backfield and he was a guest on KHTK in Sacramento and spoke about this year and how he feels running the ball this season. You can listen to the entire interview right here.
McFadden told the host that “I feel lie it is the best I’ve felt in a long time, you know being healthy and not having to worry about injuries or anything. It’s just great to go out there and let loose and play some football”.
McFadden added that there really is no rivalry between him and RB Michael Bush saying that they are best friends on and off the field.
A healthy Darren McFadden can only mean great things for the Oakland Raiders this season and perhaps at the end of this season, he will justify why the Oakland Raiders selected him in the first round three seasons ago.
Oakland Raiders name Bruce Gradkowski the starter this week
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According to NFL Network’s Jason LaCanfora on Twitter, the Oakland Raiders have named QB Bruce Gradkowski the starter this week as the Oakland Raiders take on the Arizona Cardinals. I don’t know if I agree with this move at this time, but Bruce Gradkowski certainly does bring a spark to the Raiders offense. I still think that Jason Campbell is a solid starting quarterback, but if you look at his resume, he’s gone through coaches and offensive coordinators right and left while he was in Washington with the Redskins.
Statistically, Jason Campbell had a better year in 2009 than Donovan McNabb had, but he has yet to experience any stability in the coaching ranks of those around him. Bruce Gradkowski has been in Oakland now for two seasons, he knows the coaching staff and the players. He has some unexplainable spark when he is the starting quarterback or enters the game late for the Raiders offense. The offensive players respond to him and he gets the offense rolling.
I don’t know if I would have pulled the plug so quickly on Campbell, but just as the Philadelphia Eagles did in Philly, you go with the hot hand and quite frankly, Gradkowski has been the better player in his limited time under center.
Will the Oakland Raiders contain Steven Jackson?
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The Oakland Raiders head into this Sunday with their home opener and another top running back coming to town, can the Oakland Raiders contain St. Louis Rams RB Steven Jackson this week? The Rams show up with rookie Sam Bradford under center and a lot of question marks at the receiver positions, but after last Sunday’s gutting by the Tennessee Titans, you have to ask questions about the Raiders defense.
Is this going to be a repeat f last year, when teams simply ran roughshod over the Raiders? I didn’t think so heading into the season, especially with the drafting of Rolando McClain and the acquisition of Kamerion Wimbley. It might not be fair to throw the defense under the bus just yet, the Raiders weren’t exactly sizzling on offense last week, and they did face the most dynamic rusher in the NFL currently. However, the Raiders will be facing Steven Jackson this week in Oakland, and if this team is going to take the step forward that I think and predicted they would this season, they are going to have to get a handle on the run game.
I predicted the Raiders to go 8-8 this season with the caveat that if they had a couple breaks, they might compete for the division title. This week is going to be key for the Raiders defense to see if they can contain Jackson or if he runs wild. If he runs wild, it’ll be more of the same.
