Chargers vs. Raiders

by DaBolts on Sep 25, 2008 1:40 PM PDT

I thought I would lay out some Charger facts and ask some questions before Sunday's game. Neither LT nor Gates practiced yesterday, both suffering to some degree from sore toes. Thus far Rivers has looked great after knee surgery and is really spreading the ball around, your CBs have a good reputation, but they are going to be kept busy. The running game has not been as good, but several times Darren Sproles has busted long plays when he has gotten the ball in space; he is also dangerous on returns. Both Jackson and Chambers are real threats on the deep balls and Rivers is throwing longer this year. LT is not himself yet, averaging around 2.5 yards per carry, I don't think he is limited to one cut right now. The Bolts picked up a new fullback named Tolbert that has been great at blocking, but also catching passes out of the backfield.

The Chargers defense was awful against both the Panthers and Denver; both Delhomme and Cutler had all day to throw. The defense collapsed on the final drive of both games giving up last minute victories, but played much more aggressively against the Jets. Our ILBs have been weak against the run and our NT, Jamal has bad knees and hasn't been his usual self.

I was wondering a few things about the Raiders.

Did McFadden practice this week, and how bad is his toe?

I see Gerard Warren partially tore his pectoral, is he expected to play and who is his backup?

Has Kwame Harris been up to snuff on the offensive line; I know there were some questions there.

The Raiders are all run; is this because the pass blocking isn't there; or are they are sheltering Russell or both?

DeAngelo Hall was awful against Denver (as was Cromartie for the Bolts); just a bad game or is he a little suspect now?

Thanks, hopefully no injuries on either side after Sunday's game.

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Here is an article for you:

http://www.ibabuzz.com/raidersblog/2008/09/24/fargas-warren-carlisle-likely-out-vs-sd/

But when they start scheming us the way these guys did, and we weren't particularly ready for it, anything can happen."

by saint on Sep 25, 2008 3:06 PM PDT 0 recs

Nice

Thanks man.

"If two hitherto rival football teams, under the influence of brotherly love, decided to co-operate in placing the football first beyond one goal and then beyond the other, no one's happiness would be increased" Bertrand Russell

by DaBolts on Sep 25, 2008 8:36 PM PDT up 0 recs

McFadden is still hurting:

J-Russ hasn’t been throwing the ball because his receivers aren’t getting open and Kiffin is treating him with Kidd gloves.

Hall has been better than his stats show and worse than advertised.

But when they start scheming us the way these guys did, and we weren't particularly ready for it, anything can happen."

by saint on Sep 25, 2008 3:07 PM PDT 0 recs

Do you think

Russell just hasn’t gotten a feel for the receivers yet, or are they just lacking? Lelie seems like an old time bust, and Walker doesn’t seem to have the drive to me. I remember in Russell’s first start against the Chargers he threw an absolute rope for a TD from thirty yards out; it seems like he has the tools.

by DaBolts on Sep 25, 2008 8:47 PM PDT up 0 recs

He has the tools but

part of his problems lie in his inability to make reads at the line of scrimmage thus he can’t call audibles. In time he will be able to read defenses but for now we have to watch him take baby steps.

by Raider76 on Sep 25, 2008 11:53 PM PDT up 0 recs

Makes sense

Rivers was pretty fortunate to spend two years sending in plays and watching Brees on the sideline before having to step up; and he wasn’t called on to throw much his first few games. Turner went to a simplified playbook last year, this year they have completely opened up the playbook.

by DaBolts on Sep 26, 2008 7:28 AM PDT up 0 recs

Raiders running

I think it’s a combination of great running back talent, an o-line thats vastly superior in run blocking than pass blocking, a young quarterback and terrible reciever play.

I still say that Hall’s play is getting blown out of proportion. For one, NO ONE throws at Nmandi, so Hall is seeing a ton of targets. As far as the Eddie Royal debacle goes, I saw Royal “covered” by linebackers or safeties quite a bit, and I thought that Shanahan used him really well getting him into open spaces.

by RaiderPete on Sep 25, 2008 7:01 PM PDT 0 recs

Yeah

Royal picked up the final two pointer that killed us against our safety, Weddle. I don’t think a safety or LB can handle him. Denver has put together quite a passing attack.

by DaBolts on Sep 25, 2008 8:38 PM PDT up 0 recs

They have, Cutler has been really impressive

but I think they’ll slow down a little once defenses realize what you just said, Royal needs a corner on him at all time.

Speaking of Weddle, how has he been playing? He was someone I expected to develop into a pretty nice player. And as far as your defense in general goes, it’s been my opinion that Norv will be the downfall of that team. You guys lost a ton of coaching talent when all of Schottenheimers assistents bolted last year, are your defensive struggles the result of getting farther and farther away from those coaches?

by RaiderPete on Sep 25, 2008 9:08 PM PDT up 0 recs

Weddle has struggled early

There are two schools of thought, one is that he is out of his depth and isn’t really up to the starting job. The other is that he is making progress, but also getting exposed by the lack of pressure on the QB. I tend to believe the latter; for instance in the pass on Royal, Cutler had all day to throw. Against the Jets the Bolts were blitzing more, then the secondary stepped up too, picking off three and it should have been five.

Cottrell replaced Wade Phillips as the defensive coach and has been much less aggressive in blitzing. It seemed to work better last year, but the loss of Merriman and deterioration of our NTs knees (Jamal Williams) have really had an effect. They also go with a soft zone a lot, last week against the Jets they were much better at creative blitzing and went man to man much more and looked sharper. Also we are missing one of our ILBs, Stephen Cooper, on suspension for drugs; he is very aggressive, but he also was our on field general. He would recognize offense formations and making adjustments. Lastly Norv played the starters very little in the preseason and they have looked pretty rusty. That may end up being a fans list of excuses, but the hope here is that this unit greatly improves as the year moves along.

by DaBolts on Sep 26, 2008 7:46 AM PDT up 0 recs

A soft zone with Antonio Cromartie seems silly

by RaiderPete on Sep 26, 2008 9:25 AM PDT up 0 recs

Yeah it does

He has the speed to stay with anyone, even to make a mistake and recover usually; and Jammer is great on the other side. It almost killed me when Cottrell went to prevent against Delhomme in the Panthers game. I despise the prevent.

by DaBolts on Sep 26, 2008 2:03 PM PDT up 0 recs

On Weddle

Thought you might like this article.

Oakland looked sharp, they came to play yesterday until they faded in the last quarter (not unlike the Bolts against the Panthers & Broncos). I also just wanted to thank you guys; I expected some shots coming in here as a Charger fan.

by DaBolts on Sep 29, 2008 9:12 AM PDT up 0 recs

I'm sort of sad

to see Mario going back on the bench. He was great. I wish we can put him in as a RT.

Wack To Mack With The General and The Back. (J-Mac and D-Mac)

by Rayder K on Sep 25, 2008 7:12 PM PDT 0 recs

Agreed on Mario

I have been a HUGE basher on old Mario but he has done a great job in his 2 weeks, or i should say wasnt mentioned(which is great).

Put Kwame at RT since Mario is the “future” on the line and Cornell Green is an aged vet.

by Bud Light on Sep 25, 2008 7:16 PM PDT 0 recs

I actually thoght JaMarcus was going to get killed

with Mario at tackle. I still remember in preseason when his man beat him and buried Walter. Walter got up and his nose was bloodied. Mario has definately made strides since then.

by Raider76 on Sep 25, 2008 11:56 PM PDT up 0 recs

What happened to Jacob Hestor?

He was a gamer in college. I thought he would be solid for you guys.

by Raider76 on Sep 25, 2008 11:59 PM PDT 0 recs

He showed flashes in preseason

but also looked average at times. Darren Sproles has really been opening eyes by making big plays. Right now LT is limited, but will come in for short yardage and TD situations, then as much as he can stand but Sproles is clearly the relief back for him. Hester has hardly seen the field and has just one rush for three yards through the first three games. I expect we will see more of what he can do if the Chargers can ever build a big lead and want to chew clock, but right now he is still a question mark.

by DaBolts on Sep 26, 2008 7:52 AM PDT up 0 recs

LDT

Are we watching the end of the line for LaDainian? He’ll be 30 by the start of next year and has been starting to accumulate injuries. A lot of tread has been worn off those tires, while he’s never broken 375 carries (he came very close his second year) he’s broken 400 touches several times and last year had his lowest total at 375. His slow starts of late have been explained away by the fact that he doesnt play in the preseason, but that was never a problem before.

If we are watching LDTs final productive years, does it really matter that much to the Chargers? Is the addition of Chambers and the emergence of Jackson and Rivers, combined with a strong o-line and continuity at that spot, enough to offset the loss of a superstar?

by RaiderPete on Sep 26, 2008 3:28 PM PDT 0 recs

Ha, you ask the question

and provide a great answer. One thing Norv has done is provide an offense that is less dependent on Tomlinson. LT has had a very slow start, but the offense has been putting up points like the Air Coryell days. Sadly the defense has been giving up yards like the Air Coryell days too. Rivers is throwing the deep ball much better and really spreading around the catches. All of our backs can catch out of the backfield, this is really a far more dynamic offense than under Schottenheimer. I think LT has a lot of tread yet; but if you look Turner and Sproles have been very productive behind a good offensive line. Tomlinson’s contract runs through 2011; I think he will be productive through then. It may be that his very best years are behind him, but the offense has some incredible targets now and a QB that can deliver. The depth at WR is very good now, I think both Naanee and Buster Davis could turn out to be great receivers in time; and this year we picked up a great UFA fullback named Tolbert who blocks well and has great hands. The Charger defense has many more concerns than the offense in my opinion.

by DaBolts on Sep 26, 2008 8:32 PM PDT up 0 recs