Bay Area Battle of the Tight Ends

by Sons-of-Blanda on Oct 16, 2010 3:00 PM PDT in Previews

The NFL's #2 and #3 ranked Tight Ends, Zach Miller and Vernon Davis, play a crucial game on the same field Sunday. Their performances after 5 games are close:

Oakland's Zach Miller has 28 receptions, 340 yards, 3 TDs, 12.1 yd. average/catch and 68.0 yds/game.

San Francisco's Vernon Davis has 24 receptions, 313 yards, 2 TDs, 13.0 yd average/catch and 62.6 yds/game.

Both Teams expressed the importance of TE play /TE coverage this week; especially since each team is set to blast off on the others QB.

The outcomes of the pass coverage contest between MLBs Rolando McClain and Patrick Willis, and Strong Safeties Tyvon Branch (or Mike Mitchell) and Taylor Mays are critical.

With the heavy blitzing expected by both teams, whichever TE gets open quickly and most often will carry the day ... and a greater share in the victory.

Poll

Who will be more dominant Sunday?

Zach Miller

405 votes

Vernon Davis

82 votes

487 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 35 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

Zach will own this competition. for several reasons:

it is never flash, or tremendous athletic talent that gets it done for our one and only Z. Miller; rather, he just uses great technique to sell his routes one way, getting not only the defender assigned to him thinking one thing, he gets almost every other defender to bite before he commits to turning to the post, to sit, to comeback, or to cut out or in, or in finding a seam in the zone. And he always snatches the ball and uses his big body to shield against defenders where only he can make a great play on the ball. The rare miss he has can result in a deflection that very rarely goes to an opportunistic defender, but this is extremely rare.

he is also an adept pass blocker and run blocker, often selling an amazing play action and getting the defense and its captains to react to a different situation. His presence on this Raider team is immeasurable in those aspects.

Provided we can keep Campbell off his back, and not throwing too many balls before he wants to, Zach will eclipse 100 yards on upwards of five catches, at least two of them in the red zone with at least one for a score. And if it’s an athletic demonstration of wherewithall rarely seen by guys his size and speed like the catch to get his knee and hand down and securing the ball in the end zone in our only touchdown coming on pass, then we’re in for some real treats, as will be the NFL highlight reel come Sunday night.

Nothing taken from Vernon Davis, but I believe if we game plan effectively, keep the run controlled to a minimum, force Alex Smith to win the game, we can neutralize most of their weapons with our defensive backs, and provided we can get at least a little help from Rolando and the lb crew, we will hold Davis to 3 catches or less and keep him out of the end zone.

this, I look forward over any of the other matchups in this game. I look to the suspect run defense vs. Gore with much more trepidation, but believe we can overcome some of the mistakes past, if we continue with the five man fronts, and the lbs demonstrate they have learned to stay home, read, and not overpursue or bite on misdirections and play action.

Nice highlight post, Sons. GO RAIDERS!!!!!

"If your only ambition in life, is to be a better person; well, that's just the best ambition you can have..." Wayne "Rabbit" Bartholomew

by brhynno on Oct 16, 2010 3:50 PM PDT reply actions

I hold some of those same ideas

but the reason Zach will have a better game is WE NEED HIM MORE. Just look at last week and how we absolutely needed him and well every week before that as well. Thank God for him or we would have zilch for a passing game really.

Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.

by TheLyleAlzadoPunch on Oct 16, 2010 4:22 PM PDT up reply actions

His intelligence and competitiveness, is off the charts, that's what I love about the man.

I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault.
-Jack Tatum

by R.I.P. JACK TATUM RAIDER D GOAT on Oct 16, 2010 4:24 PM PDT up reply actions

No doubt about that! We'd truly have no offense without Zach

He is a cornerstone to the production of this team; he just plain makes it go. He makes it possible for the lack of blocking by our line to even have a screen game or passing game at all. His ability to get open, be a sure handed catcher, and get extra YAC like a beast, and do it all in 3 and 5 step drop time or before our qbs can even get into their drops, make up for our young wideouts that don’t consistently catch and therein not cause defenses to even plan for being factors.

Thank God for Zach! That’s the new mantra!

"If your only ambition in life, is to be a better person; well, that's just the best ambition you can have..." Wayne "Rabbit" Bartholomew

by brhynno on Oct 16, 2010 6:46 PM PDT up reply actions

Thank God for Zach!

S-O-B: ITS HOW I ROLL, DEAL WITH IT.

by Sons-of-Blanda on Oct 16, 2010 6:54 PM PDT up reply actions

+1, rec'd

I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault.
-Jack Tatum

by R.I.P. JACK TATUM RAIDER D GOAT on Oct 16, 2010 7:49 PM PDT up reply actions

They have to!

if we continue with the five man fronts, and the lbs demonstrate they have learned to stay home, read, and not overpursue or bite on misdirections and play action.

+ 1

S-O-B: ITS HOW I ROLL, DEAL WITH IT.

by Sons-of-Blanda on Oct 16, 2010 4:48 PM PDT up reply actions

I worry about this matchup, but certainly not because of Zach's skills

The 9ers are third in DVOA rating covering TEs

While the Raiders are 32nd.

Lord loves a workin' man; don't trust whitey; see a doctor and get rid of it.

by Rich Langford on Oct 16, 2010 3:53 PM PDT reply actions

I agree Noon, although, I think Zach can have a few big plays, their Safeties have a penchant for

falling asleep once in a while. Ironic about our secondary, I realize this, it’s because that fact I believe the coaching staff has preached not to fall asleep while Davis and Gore are both on the field.

I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault.
-Jack Tatum

by R.I.P. JACK TATUM RAIDER D GOAT on Oct 16, 2010 3:57 PM PDT up reply actions

Taylor Mays is the starting SS for the whiners

Zach should be ready. I just hope the other 52 Oakland Raiders show up with their A games as well.

"I didn't fail the test, I just found 100 ways to do it wrong"
- Benjamin Franklin

by TAW on Oct 16, 2010 5:32 PM PDT up reply actions

I am looking for Reece to take advantage of these safeties and get both feet in.

Lord loves a workin' man; don't trust whitey; see a doctor and get rid of it.

by Rich Langford on Oct 16, 2010 5:34 PM PDT up reply actions

Yes yes yes

He is the secret weapon outta the backfield for sure, we need to exploit his capabilities.

Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.

by TheLyleAlzadoPunch on Oct 16, 2010 5:34 PM PDT up reply actions

For sure, I want to see him go out wide a couple of times on Sunday

He is either going to have a mismatch or create one for the WR lined up inside of him. Whatever they do, they need to find a way to get Mays out of position and exploit it. That really shouldn’t be that hard.

Lord loves a workin' man; don't trust whitey; see a doctor and get rid of it.

by Rich Langford on Oct 16, 2010 5:52 PM PDT up reply actions

He’s not very secret anymore if you talk about him. Now I must get back to the Bat cave with this information.

by mikeinsp on Oct 16, 2010 11:28 PM PDT up reply actions

I think

if you look before last weeks numbers it was a lot better because that fuck Gates killed us.

Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.

by TheLyleAlzadoPunch on Oct 16, 2010 4:11 PM PDT up reply actions

They've been pretty consitent

and the thing with DVOA is it basically rates production allowed vs that players average. Dressen from Houston went way over average against our boys.

Lord loves a workin' man; don't trust whitey; see a doctor and get rid of it.

by Rich Langford on Oct 16, 2010 5:35 PM PDT up reply actions

Its true

Our LB coverage against TE sucks ass in general. Watching Wimbley trying to cover Gates was depressing.

Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.

by TheLyleAlzadoPunch on Oct 16, 2010 5:43 PM PDT up reply actions

Yup and that combined with the safeties being about 5 steps slow on the backside help

and it’s prozac martinis for us.

Lord loves a workin' man; don't trust whitey; see a doctor and get rid of it.

by Rich Langford on Oct 16, 2010 5:50 PM PDT up reply actions

I would rather stop Gore first I just don't think

Alex can beat us if we pressure him. We have to get consistent pressure from our front 4 and when we blitz it needs to get there fast. Mitchell did good but we need to help him up front

by Micheal Y on Oct 16, 2010 5:56 PM PDT up reply actions

U have no idea

I swear I went totally gray from last weeks game. I dunno if I can watch it this week I may find excuses to do stuff around the house instead just to stay healthy.

Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.

by TheLyleAlzadoPunch on Oct 16, 2010 5:57 PM PDT up reply actions

Gates numbers inflate any defensive statistic, the wrong way. He's incredible. Natural athlete.

I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault.
-Jack Tatum

by R.I.P. JACK TATUM RAIDER D GOAT on Oct 16, 2010 4:25 PM PDT reply actions

I really don't think

either Davis or Miller will have a big part in this game. The for us is stopping Gore and the run game. We can’t afford to give up those 70 yards runs that we seem to give to everyone. We have to protect JC because they are going to come after us. Miller will shine only if we get our running game rolling.

by Micheal Y on Oct 16, 2010 5:41 PM PDT reply actions

I'd like to see at least five screen passes

this should help slow down the blitz and open things up for Miller.

I am kinda worried about Gallery running down field though. I am not sure his hammy is ready for that.

Lord loves a workin' man; don't trust whitey; see a doctor and get rid of it.

by Rich Langford on Oct 16, 2010 5:54 PM PDT up reply actions

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! HAAAAAAAAAAAA! Gallery……….. OMG……….ok let me catch my breath….Ok Gallery running and doing something to earn the $7 mill very funny. U do stand up as a hobby right?

Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.

by TheLyleAlzadoPunch on Oct 16, 2010 5:58 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah

I am worried about this game because we could go 3-3 and play the broncos next week and go 4-3 or we could lose then lose the season next week when we play the Broncos 2-4.

by Micheal Y on Oct 16, 2010 5:59 PM PDT up reply actions

Focus on this week. If it's any consolation, Denver really has a worst rush defense than us,

they really do. And I will go to the wall against any fucking Bronco fan, who wants to take the statement on. At the end of the year, they’ll be much worse than us.
Firing Mike Nolan was the dumbest move they made, despite what happened to them, w/out Nolan they don’t have the firestart they did.

I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault.
-Jack Tatum

by R.I.P. JACK TATUM RAIDER D GOAT on Oct 16, 2010 7:54 PM PDT up reply actions