Just in-Oakland Raiders run defense still horrible
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I wrote yesterday that all the Oakland Raiders needed to do was stay in their run lanes, play disciplined defense but this just in, the Oakland Raiders run defense is still horrible. The Oakland Raiders received a 38-13 beat down from the Tennessee Titans and RB Chris Johnson. It doesn’t get much easier this week as the Oakland Raiders will face Steven Jackson of the St. Louis Rams.
The Oakland Raiders saw a heavy dose of Tennessee Titans RB Chris Johnson with him toting the rock 27 times for 142 yards and 2 scores. Johnson also added one of his signature long runs, scoring from 76 yards out putting the Titans up 24-3 and they never looked back.Johnson ran around, over and through the Tennessee Titans.
The good news for the Raiders, and there was precious little of that yesterday, was RB Darren McFadden had a good game, collecting 150 total yards and a score. The Oakland Raiders offense appears to be a work in progress. QB Jason Campbell attempted 37 passes, completing only 22 for 180 yards. His favorite target was RB McFadden, targeting him 9 times and completing 6 of his passes. Campbell only completed 8 passes to wide receivers, with Raiders backs and tight ends being Campbell’s favorite targets.
Oakland Raiders face Mission Impossible?
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The Oakland Raiders are set to kick off the NFL regular season today as they square off against the Tennessee Titans. This year there is a new sense of optimism in the Bay area. The Oakland Raiders acquired a legitimate starter quarterback when they traded for Jason Campbell. They had what many consider, a successful draft. They upgraded their defense as well.
Last season the Oakland Raiders were horrible defensively against the run. Today they face the NFL’s leading rusher from last season, Tennessee Titans RB Chris Johnson in what some are calling, Mission Impossible. Yes, when you face Chris Johnson, you just hope to contain the big plays, he is threat to go the distance everytime he touches the ball.
But this isn’t last years defense. The Oakland Raiders drafted LB Rolando McClain as their middle linebacker. He will be the cornerstone of the Raiders defense for years to come. He looked exceptional in preseason. The Raiders acquired LB Kamerion Wimbley from the Cleveland Browns. Wimbley had 6.5 sacks last season. At WLB, the Raiders return Trevor Scott, who had 7 sacks last season. In a switch to make the defensive line more disruptive, the Raiders moved Richard Seymour from defensive end to defensive tackle.
Chris Johnson will get his yards. He’s a very patient runner with an incredible burst when he finds a hole. The key to slowing him down will be defensive discipline in the run gaps. If players stay home, the Raiders can take away that cutback move where Johnson usually breaks his big games.
I think the NFL will see the new look Raiders today as the team will prove to their fans that the preseason expectations weren’t an illusion. Raiders 27- Titans 24.
Raiders Seymour says Russell didn’t put in the work
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Oakland Raiders DL Richard Seymour has been moved from defensive end to defensive tackle. He stopped in to visit with the Three Hour Lunch program on WGFX in Nashville to talk some football. Richard Seymour spoke about the Oakland Raiders 4-3 defense and JaMarcus Russell’s career with the Oakland Raiders. You can hear the entire interview right here.
Seymour likes the addition of Jason Campbell to the Oakland Raiders offense. “It’s really been good. Last year, teams were just trying to run the clock out-some guys in the second quarter going into halftime. Offensively, I think we definitely made some strides and I think Jason’s been a leader for us and we are going to need that.
On playing in a 4-3 defense instead of the 3-4 defense, Seymour says he takes pride in playing both styles of defense. He said that he wants to be known as a defender who doesn’t have to come off the field in certain situations.
But perhaps his most telling words were those regarding former Oakland Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell and his lack of work ethic. (as transcribed by sportsradiointerviews.com)
“I think it’s very unfortunate. I think obviously if he could change a few things, I think he would. I think it’s definitely been an unfortunate situation as talented a guy as he is. Talent only gets you so far in this league. I think he understands that now and he’s willing to put in the work to turn things around. I know personally, just from being around him, he’s a really good guy… I think he’s always been that talented guy that maybe didn’t have to work as hard in high school or in college because he was always better than everybody. At the quarterback position, being around guys like Tom Brady and Peyton Manning and seeing those guys put in the work, and even Jason Campbell now, it’s a level that the quarter back has to be a coach on the field. He was still developing into that player, into that guy. But, that didn’t happen fast enough for the organization.”
Raider’s Michael Bush could play Sunday
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The Oakland Raider could have the other half of their running back tandem back this Sunday as Oakland Raiders head coach Tom Cable suggested at his press conference yesterday that Michael Bush might play. The Oakland Raiders travel to the Tennessee Titans this Sunday for the season opener. Michael Bush was seen at the Raiders practice yesterday and he participated in several drills. Tom Cable told reporters that there is a “real chance” that Michael Bush will play.
Earlier on in the week, it was believed that Darren McFadden would take over the majority of the running back duties as Michael Bush recovers from thumb surgery. Bush had surgery on August 31st on his left thumb to repair a fracture. I think this might simply be a coaching ploy to give the Tennessee Titans something to think about as they game plan for Sundays game. With the Raiders having McFadden along with veteran RB’s Michael Bennett and Rock Cartwright on the roster, there is no reason to rush Bush back into the lineup and further aggravate his injury. You would want his thumb to heal properly so he is available to the Raiders later on in the regular season.
Oakland Raiders were on Houshmandzadeh’s radar
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It seems that the Oakland Raiders were on free agent WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh’s radar after all. It wasn’t a lack of effort from the Oakland Raiders, but rather a decision by Houshmandzadeh himself that landed the receiver with the Baltimore Ravens. Houshmandzadeh signed a one year contract yesterday with the Baltimore Ravens and will be paid 855,000 (veteran minimum) with the Seattle Seahawks picking up the remainder of his 7 million dollar salary.
Well, at least the Oakland Raiders were in the mix, I would have been upset if the Raiders hadn’t tried to land the veteran receiver. As I wrote this weekend, the Raiders definitely could have used his services this season but they will now have to move forward with the players who are on the roster. It was a nice thought while it lasted, so now it’s time to move forward and focus on the Tennessee Titans.
