Week 4

The Oakland Raiders fell to the New England Patriots 19-31.  And if you didn't watch the game and only saw the score...you might presume that the Raiders were no match for the Patriots.  But then you would be wrong.

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What was going on was two different types of teams matching up.  Not one run team and one passing team.  Not one defensive philosophy against another.  It was one established team that already knows how to win a big game and one up and coming team that is learning how to win a big game.  And it appears that the up and coming team might be learning quickly.

The highlight of the game for the Raiders was Khalif Barnes.  His pass blocking has gotten better and better every game he has played this year.  To the point where he looked pretty good against the Patriots.  Barnes scored a 94% in assignments and a +5 power score in pass protection.  By far his best performance of the year against the pass rush.

Let's take a look at the rest of those scores...

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	10	20	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100
Percent Scale

 Run Blocking Grades

	Percent	10	20	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100		Power	Pull	2/Level
	Grade												Blocking	Blocks	Blocks
Veldheer	80%												+1	+1	+1
Wisniewski	80%												-1	0	+3
Satele	85%												-1	+1	-2
Carlisle	80%												-3	+3	-1
Barnes	80%												-1	0	+1
Barksdale	98%												0	0	0

Run Blocking Notes:

• If a person only watched the 1st quarter of the Raider/Patriot game then they would probably think the Raiders had gotten blown out.  Oakland's offensive line was getting man handled by the stout New England defensive front 4.  To a point that made you think they were unstoppable.  But the Raider line settled down and started performing.  Signs of a maturing team. 
• Jared Veldeer ended the day with an average run blocking grade.  But at 12:22 in the 1st quarter his misses a 2nd level block and then clips him.
• Khalif Barnes drives his defender way down inside at 11:42 in the 2nd quarter and Darren McFadden makes a quick latter cut to take advantage of it...gets big yards.
• At 7:37 in the 2nd quarter Joseph Barksdale and Khalif Barnes team up and drive a defender way off the ball.  Raiders can flex their muscles also.  But this ends up being a perfect example of how most of the blockers do their jobs and only one missed block makes the play fall apart.  This time it is Kevin Boss that misses his block.
• Joseph Barksdale comes in as a 6th lineman on a few downs.  He teamed up with Barnes (above) then he doubles another defender with Samson Satele in an unbalanced formation and drives the defender at 5:24 in the 3rd quarter.
• This young offensive line is starting to grow.  Their scores are not very high in this game.  But flashes of potential are starting to emerge.  If they can become more of a unit and start weeding out the mistakes then they will be pretty good by the end of the year.

Pass Blocking Grades

	Percent	10	20	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100		Power	Pressures	Sacks	Combo
	Grade												Blocking	Allowed	Allowed	Help
Veldheer	84%												-4	11	0	12
Wisniewski	78%												-6	5	0	19
Satele	96%												-1	1	0	21
Carlisle	87%												-2	3	0	17
Barnes	94%												+5	1	0	7
Barksdale	75%												0	0	0	3

Pass Blocking Notes:

• Before getting to the game notes on pass protection performances I think it is appropriate to compliment Jason Campbell for his performance in the game and the entire year to this point.  Simply put...the guy had pressure coming from him from everywhere in the 1st quarter.  And he still stood in there and completed passes, didn't get sacked, and ran the ball.  And he never looked rattled.  BIG pick up for the Raiders last year.
• Stephen Wisniewski was welcomed to the NFL this week.  He ended the day with a 78% assignment grade in pass blocking and a -6 power score.  That is not good.
• The stars of the show in pass blocking this week were Samson Satele and Khalif Barnes.  Both recorded 90s in assignment grades, with Barnes earning a +5 power score.  Very nice.
• Cooper Carlisle ends the day with an 87% assignment score in pass protection.  He had problems early and allowed pressure at 11:54 in the 1st quarter.
• Sometimes everything breaks down on the offensive line.  At 2:09 in the 1st quarter Samson Satele, Stephen Wisniewski, and Jared Veldeer all got beat on the pass rush.
• If you would like to see how the O-Line has performed in previous games then go, here.

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