Raider Wake up Call and A.S.A.P. Overhaul

I will give Marshall a pass for not blitzing much last week. They faced a mobile QB who has a great dump off weapon. For the most part they did a good job of confining him to the pocket.

Next week would seem like a good time to unleash some blitzes.

I agree on Tyvon. At first, and I even posted as much, I thought it was Routt’s job on the TD. Not so. Safety play needs to improve. Starters may be Branch and Brown next week as Huff and Eugene are hurt. We may know more tomorrow.

Still, my biggest complaint is—I am going to keep saying this until it changes—put Nnam on the #1 and leave him there.

I actually thought Cooper played solid and Campbell wasn’t even active for the game. I expect Carlisle will be starting for a while. I am with you on the Tackle idea though.

Also, Seymour was dominant! He deserves extra mention. He had to leave with a hammy, but until then the guy was a one man wrecking crew. Early reports sound good about his availability on Sunday! Injury news is not looking as good for Gallery.

+ infinity for the cell block crew.

Excellent post about Campbell, Seymour and Branch’s free ride, and the allusion to Routt’s (and others) convenient scapegoating.

….Except that to end your post, you just also proved yourself guilty of the same internalized excuse making with McClain.

McClain was fooled off the snap on both TD runs by committing to the counter side of the play, before recovering just late enough to be completely walled off of the play, by at least 10 yards from being close.

Which he also allowed against the Bears on Matt Forte’s 80 yarder in the preseason.

And frankly you did it with Trevor Scott as well….He was awful yesterday. But I blame that more on Cable for moving him back to DE on the eve of the season….

Young finishes with a QB rating over 140, and 150 yards on the ground for Johnson. The D had better not be pointing fingers, and had better be thinking as a unit. Probably Nnamdi was doing his job, but everybody else could be doing better.

I don’t think we are in panic mode yet. That football team (Titans) came ready to play.
But if we even want to consider winning in January we have to learn how to play as a team. Tom Cable has to improve our glaring weaknesses.

1. Protecting the quarterback

2. Avoid mental mistakes

3.Man-up Tom Cable, and show some fire out there. (including questioning the refs and post-game press conferences.

he’s not the first DC here to not blitz. He went on record saying he hoped he didn’t get in trouble last year after the Eagles game for blitzing so much. Kiffin wanted Ryan to blitz more when Ryan was the DC. Ryan came out and said there’s a system here and that’s the team management wants.

I think Marshall’s fault is not testing how far he can prod management. But I think he does want to be less conservative. So I’ll agree w/ conservative in his way of thinking , but I can’t say for sure his play calling is.

I did not see the game but read all the different articles and posting about it and it all say the same about the game. Typical but we love to give up one big play to a team that we never recover from. I do not agree with the assessment on Jason Campbell however because it always comes down to the offensive line. Without a good offensive line, no QB no matter what their name is will be able to make a pass. Ask Peyton Manning, Troy Aikman and a few others their first year. Tom Brady already had a line established when he came along and was made into a folk hero by the refs for the Fuck…i mean Tuck Rule. Our safeties have been horrible for a long time and Michael Huff must be considered a bust. He hits a player instead of tackling him and always show up late on pass plays. He has no instincts at all. I agree that the defense needs to blitz a helluva lot more because nothing else is working. I hear that Al Davis is the one who wants whatever brand of defense is being ran but if I was the DC I would run my own defense unless Al wants to wheel down to the field or box and coach and get his ass on the field to play. A team has got to have either a good offense, defense or special teams (kick-off and punt returns and coverage only) that works every week. We have all 3 that doesn’t work at all.

I wasn’t able to bring myself to comment on any of these posts until now. I was angry. I was optimistic. I honestly didn’t know what I was. Whether I was lying to myself, or just consoling my feelings for this season, who knows. But, I’ve calmed down. Took a deep breath, and realized it’s only one game .. There are 15 more to go. It was a good team. They were in their house, and were hyped up for the game. I can let that one go. So, here I go. I agree with almost everything you’re saying in this post Sons.

-For the most part, I was truly impressed with the defensive line. It’s hard to believe after all these years, it may be one of our biggest assets on the defense.

-I don’t think Death Ro had a good or a bad game. I think he was average, and made a few rookie mistakes. I believe he is our future though .. He’s going to have a few mistakes a game .. I just hope they stop costing us these big plays. Granted, there are ten other players on defense, but on the big plays he’s been completely blocked out of the equation.

-Campbell is doing the same thing he did at Washington. He’s holding onto the ball way to long. He looks like he doesn’t want to make a mistake. Just throw the damn ball Campbell .. Produce, do something. I’d be a lot less angry if he was trying and throwing interceptions, than being cautious and still throwing INTS! I believe Grad has a spark with this team .. But I still want to give Campbell the benefit of the doubt. I think Titans are much improved this year and will be a contender in the AFC. I am willing to give Campbell more time. If he looks this way against the Rams, then we may call into question whether we need Grad to start.

-When the Raiders gave up that pass to Nate Washington, everyone in my house was calling for Stanford Routt’s head. Normally, I would be the first to jump down his throat and want the same .. But you could tell he didn’t blow his assignment. I knew watching the replay, he was supposed to have a safety back there .. Tyvon’s tweet after the game about ‘personally apologizing,’ to the Raider Nation confirmed my belief it was his fault. Still, one bad game does not mean he sits out.

-Completely agree on the offensive line part. Henderson is horrible. I sat there and watched that one play over and over again .. My dad finally told me to let it go, but I was dumbfounded .. Even though it appeared the Titans defender jumped to quick .. Henderson didn’t even move! There was no whistle, PLAY!! They teach you this when you’re first starting out in football. DO NOT STOP UNTIL THE WHISTLE BLOWS!!! An offensive lineman should know this! It was beaten into my head everyday by my coaches, and I’m sure that it is no different anywhere else!! Henderson stood there. Like a damn statue. We needed SIX offensive linemen? Just replace Henderson and we would have been just as effective. Horrible. Henderson is garbage. No sense of urgency even when the ball came loose. He just stood there and looked at it. I am not sold on Satele. I’d rather keep Veldheer there. He had a few miscues, but it wasn’t all that bad for his first pro game. I’d move Barnes to LT. It’s a tossup about Carlisle. He can play great, or horrible. He wasn’t bad in Tennessee. If Gallery is hurt, I would have Bruce in at LG. If Gallery is seriously injured, I think we need to look at the possibility of replacing him .. We have a good relationship with the Patriots. It’s a VERY long shot, but they may think whatever we add, we won’t get any better. What would they accept for Mankins? I know it’s just a hamstring with Gallery, but what’s next? A reoccurring back issue? He seems to be to injury prone these days. Just a random thought. If that were to happen, we’d have Barnes, Mankins, Veldheer, Campbell/Carlisle, Campbell/Henderson (at least with Henderson at right tackle, Jason will be able to SEE the guy coming at him.)

-The Titans defense was well aware of our screen passes .. They batted down two of them that looked like they were going to be big plays. We need to work on this. Campbell must put the ball in his receivers’ hands. What was with that trick play also? And please don’t involve JLH anymore. Ever. Nick Miller, sure. But JLH, no.

-Would love to see more blitzing. I don’t think it’s going to happen as long as Daddy Al is around though.

-Mr. Davis. You ARE a legend. You ARE a genius. You ARE the most recognized NFL owner .. But your age has caught up with you, and you are recognized for another reason now. Please let your coaches do the coaching .. Please, let someone else do the college scouting. Please give up the reigns. We will adore you even more. It was time to quit awhile ago. Give us fans hope. Let us know you still care. NO ONE is more dedicated to the Raiders than you are, we all know that .. Get rid of your yes man. Please hire Jon Gruden back, or someone like him. Someone who doesn’t appear to be a players’ coach. Someone who has balls. Will get in a players face whenever they make a mistake. Someone who brings energy and passion back into this organization. Someone who can call their own plays. Blitz even as much as Rex Ryan if they wanted too. (Note: Not saying I want all out blitzing on every single play, just an example). You can help this team by giving up your influence in the front office and on the field. Sit back, relax .. And just enjoy the games ..

-Just win, baby.

we mere mortal fans of the game and especially our team know what is truly wrong? Such obvious player personnel issues, lack of play calling and what possible fill ins that are available could at the very least improve the situation. Why is that we as mere fans who shell out hard earned money knew for the most part Ja……..never mind was a bust pretty well after game 2 last year if not sooner. How we all know that bush is better as the every down between the tackles RB. How we all know McNotSoBroken should be better utilized as Bush in New Orleans is. Routt is not great no matter Branch’s complete over commitment on the Washington TD. Kelly is a waste of money and Big John can fill the gap no problem and Kelly can find his way back to the buffet line. Henderson is a bust at LT duh! Knew that one last year along with Walker being less than adequate. Nnamdi should be put on the #1 WR no matter what during every game no matter what side of the field. What the fuck is wrong with this? I feel like I am in a twilight zone episode or it’s ground hog day. can we not make some rationale football reasoning decisions? We all see it and the Emperor has no clothes! 1-3 years of rebuilding after a huge Super Bowl push for a few years and having aging veterans would be accepted and expected………..but really going on 8 years and looking to be more of re-rebuilding? Come on now. We all see the forest despite the trees why can’t our team’s staff and front office stop the kool-aid drinking and smell the coffee brewing, actually burning in the pot because it sat for so long.

The Cell Block.

Love it.

I don’t think anyone is giving Branch a pass on his poor performance on Sunday. We all recognized that he got out of position on plays that led to Titans TDs. Even Tyvon acknowledged that he struggled in his “Talkin’ With Tyvon” segment today.

However, calling for Branch’s demotion after Sunday is tantamount to becoming Chicken Little. Few of us on this blog went through this offseason particularly concerned with Tyvon’s role on the team or his play from the previous year. I mean, the guy had the most tackles of any defensive back last year.

Calling for reform on the offensive line is one thing – that unit has constantly struggled for the past 2-3 years without significant changes to the lineup. Calling for Branch’s head after one bad game is an overreaction.

Barnes was brought in to compete at LT but could not beat out Henderson in camp. No use putting him there. Though Barnes is not a good RT either so for now, I would leave Lard Duff Langston at RT. I would even be in favor of the recently re-signed Pears to play RT simply because we are SOL and need options. I’d also like to see Veldheer get a shot at LT. I don’t get the sense he’s very fluid at center.

Coach Laying Cable says the OL can be “fixed” but I am hoping he rotates personnel since what we have in place now is clearly not working.

I disagree with you on Branch. First of all, he was not just praised last season because he made so many tackles. Branch also got the Ed Block Courage Award (nominated by Al to be the Raiders representative) because he played injured and played well when injured (fact of life in the NFL but he also returned kicks with a cast on – or was that two seasons ago?). We all know he led the team in tackles because the front line and LB run D was awful. Still, the Strong Safety has to make those plays and he did for the most part.

As for the busted coverage against Titans’ Nate Washington, that is on Routt, unless Branch was playing free safety (i don’t think he was). I don’t claim to be an expert in coverage schemes but here is the problem: the Raiders play man to man coverage. Everyone knows what to prepare for when playing the Raiders D and everyone knows how to beat that coverage scheme. A strong safety does not have deep coverage responsibilities except in cover 2 formations and the raiders just don’t play cover 2 so there is no justification for blaming Branch for deep coverage bust. Let’s not use the “he could have jammed him at the line of scrimmage and prevented him from getting down field” excuse. The single deep safety is free and that is either Huff or Eugene. They tried Mitchell there but he is terrible at coverage (and so is Branch but FS is not his position). Stevie Brown makes all his plays as a FS.

Routt is CB. The CB covers deep man regardless of whatever else is going on. Routt just does not read plays well. He is fine when he gets on his man but if the receivers confuse him he misses his assignments. That’s what happened. it’s a shame too because Routt has impressive physical skills and he’s not a dumb guy at all. He just misses more plays than he makes. A good player does not need 6 years to fully develop himself at a position. late bloomer my ass.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d81a743ae/Young-launches-56-yard-TD-bomb

Routt is 26. Washington blasts right past him. Routt is not even looking ready.

Am I seeing this correctly? Other opions are welcome.

I don’t think Branch should have lined up at all against Washington unless they were playing 3 receivers. The receivers that line up outside are the CBs man. IF they are playing Branch at free safety then there is a problem. That’s the wrong position for him.

The PI is bad but it’s no secret Branch is poor in coverage. Routt still has dozens more PIs to his credit though. He looked very lax on this play and Washington has some good speed.

Quiznos. mmmm…mmm toasty

Then suggest to me who could Play Strong Safety RIGHT NOW. Mitchell? He’s WORSE in Coverage than Branch is, as in he overpursues, and probably would have bit hard on that playaction.

Once again, Brown, is a ROOKIE.

Yes, Tyvon played Horrible. However, right now, he is the BEST that we have, and is a starting caliber safety in the NFL.

Think about this: If we sat players the way that you wanted to, we would probably lose more games than we have…reason being, besides the Offensive Line, At Safety, while we all want the big hit, we need SMART PLAY.