We ranked 31st against the run last year and have done nothing this offseason to change or fix it. I say have Jay Richardson play on first and second down since Scott can’t stop the run, and get a better DT to play with Kelly. A trade for Shaun Rogers would be amazing but I don’t see Cleveland letting him go. Stopping the run is a must if we want to do good in our division.

I’ll wait to actually panic when this happens in an actual regular season game. Which even then I expect it to. The linebackers don’t fill gaps and the DT’s can’t get any push whatsoever. If it wasn’t for the fact that Morrison and Howard are incredible in the passing game, I’d honestly say the entire front-seven needs redone. I didn’t expect anything form the run D this year, but next year I will.

The big thing, this offseason was clearly devoted to helping the pass offense get up to snuff. You’ll see next year’s offseason to focus on the run D. But this year, Davis is more concerned with a more consistent O-Line and better wide receiver play.

Guess what I’m saying is, don’t get peeved at Al Davis for his lack of attempt towards improvement of the run D. I think he has a long-term success plan in place and if the pass offense can get to about 21st or so, this plan will be on track. Don’t expect our pass ranking to be any more than that, because this is still a running team.

If the run D gets to 26th, I’ll be satisfied for the personnel we have.

but if they aren’t going to make the play themselves they at least need to keep the opposing OL away from our linebackers so that they can make a play. We do criticize our LB corp. for our problems with the run, but more often than not they have to deal with some enormous offensive guard who broke past the defensive line. Hopefully practices like the one yesterday will get the defensive line to listen to Marshall and Board and really buy in to what they are saying, otherwise it could be another long season.

The preseason game against Dallas is a tough barometer of where the run defense is at. Along with the Panthers and Giants, the Cowboys have one of the bigger offensive lines in the NFL – they are going to push just about everyone around. Plus, it was the first time for the DL to put into action the techniques Marshall and Board are trying to implement. It’s not early, but it’s also not too late to tighten up the problems before it matters for real.

Unfortunately, we can all panic as much as we want, but there aren’t going to be any personnel changes on the DL this year (barring injury). This is probably Sands’ last season, and Warren has 2 years left on his contract. Come next offseason, we’ll all be screaming for the Raiders to draft OL and DL once again.

Our offense was pathetic against the 49ers in today’s practice.

The Raiders passing offense was embarrassed by the 49ers defense Wednesday, and they stood taller in admitting it afterward then they did on the field in taking it.

Raiders coach Tom Cable assumed responsibility, saying his command for JaMarcus Russell to "turn it loose" caused some poor decisions which resulted in 49ers interceptions _ three of which were recorded by San Francisco cornerback Nate Clement.

Ann Killion of Comcast SportsNet Bay Area writes about the joint practice being held by the Raiders and the 49ers.

"I predict there will be a few fights," said cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha.

Quarterback JaMarcus Russell agrees.

"It’s going to be hot, guys are going to be bothered," he said. "You just try not to let it get out of hand."

The Bay Area’s Hatfields and McCoys will practice together on Tuesday and Wednesday, in preparation for their weekend exhibition game. It’s a local Football-palooza, with everyone jamming on the same stage.

If i were a Raider fan i wouldn’t trip so much about a preseason game vs the 49ers. Like i said, “preseason”. Yes, your friends that go for the Niners or other teams will say a couple jokes but that’s when you can turn to them during the second half of the regular season and laugh at them “if your team has a better record than theirs” =). I’m a Niner fan from Niners Nation and I have nothing against the Raiders. Heck I want you guys to win your division. I dislike Matt Cassle, Mc Daniels, and i could care less about San Diego lol. I say kick some butt bay area. But for those who still feel the Raiders have to win their preseason game against the Niners more than anything else just remember that in 2006 the Raiders won 4 out of 5 preseason games and went to having a record of 2-14 with one of those games being a loss to the 49ers and 3 other games scoring 0 pionts, while the Colts had only won 1 out of 4 preseason games that year and went to win the Super Bowl.

ps: Kory Sheets is a rookie running back from Purdue with mad skillzzzz… as seen in this video =)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gMwSSLrzSg

i just want to say i have faith in our def yea it would be gd 2 have that one solid dt that can get it done and make the other dline men better i just hope we can stop the run and cont. it i been a raider fan since i was 12 and i never gave up on them and never had anything bad 2 say yea we havent been the same after that super bowl lost to tampa but im a true die hard bleed silver and black fan and 2 u ppl that say u are tru raider fans but then doubt them when they losin u need 2 find another team cause a true raider fan will stick with they team even if they go 0-16 u suppose 2 support them antways we go be solid this yr im givin us 9 wins this year when we face the chargers if we can stop lt and make him wrk hard 2 get yrds and jus make him tired we got plus if we cont. 2 put heavy pressure on rivers make him throw off balance and we have 2 come out playin that old raider football smashmouth runnin stuff the ball dwn san diego throats then get a gd passin gm goin we will win miller,russell.heyward,mcfadden,bush and the o-line needs 2 start off smashmouth and cont. and we need 2 complete all 3rd dwns so are d can stay fresh GO RAIDERS