Week #1

Sometimes it is sloppy, sometimes pretty, sometimes ugly, sometimes it is so frustrating that if you see one more lineman get a false start you are going to break something.  But in the end...it's a win, baby.

The Oakland Raiders came home with a win over the Denver Broncos on Monday night with smiles on their faces and a list of things they need to improve on.  That long trip home is always much more fun after a win.

The offensive lineman had a few mistakes, some missed blocks, and a couple of bad grades.  But the encouraging part is, that this line is still trying to gel, and getting better as the season goes along, is a forgone conclusion.

Against the Broncos, Wisniewski graded out at 73% in run blocking and 85% in pass blocking.   On some run plays, he looked good... on others, he needed some help.  But that is to be expected from a rookie.  It is a little early to be evaluating rookies, but at this point, Stephen Wisniewski is a win for the Raiders 2011 draft class.

Let's look at those offensive line grades...

If you like this article check out more film breakdown at Pro Football Spotlight

	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	2/Level	Pull
	Grade												Blocking	Blocking	Blocks
Veldheer	86%												+1	0	0
Wisniewski	73%												-3	-1	+4
Satele	76%												+1	+1	0
Carlisle	80%												0	+1	0
Barnes	80%												-2	+4	+2
Heyer	95%												+1	0	0

Run Blocking Notes:

• The first notes I made in this 2011 season about the Oakland Raiders was..."Khalif Barnes goes in motion!!!!!!!?"  What is that all about....but then I saw him athletically move across the line of scrimmage and lay a block.
• Note #2.  Stephen Wisniewski gets a false start at 9:08 in the 1st quarter.  Then Stephon Heyer got an off-sides penalty at 1:52...and then at 1:36.  The Raiders just keep shooting themselves in the foot.  Khalif Barnes doesn't want to be left out...he gets a false start.  Some penalties are tolerable...false starts are not.
• At 15:00 in the 2nd quarter, Wisniewski comes off the ball and starts to go to the 2nd level for a linebacker and the defensive lineman has a hold of his jersey.  And not in a subtle way, either.  A couple of plays later they finally start to call all the defensive holding that is going on by the Broncos.  Like the one at 1:50 in the 2nd by #98 of Denver.
  
• Samson Satele starts the game off poorly by missing the first 4 out of 5 second level blocks.  He ends with making 3 straight.
• The Raiders like to flip their offensive tackles, Jared Veldeer and Khalif Barnes (or Stephon Heyer).
•   At 10:25 in the 3rd, Samson Satele locks up with a defender on the LOS and twists him right into the ground.
• Stephen Wisniewski gets a big holding call at 8:22 in the 3rd quarter.  Another drive killer.
• At 13:33 in the 4th quarter, Kalif Barnes and a tight end (see tight ends post on Pro Football Spotlight) get great 2nd level blocks as Wisniewski had a great reach block to spring McFadden for the score.
• And at the end of the game, Wisniewski has a great second level block to to get a first down to seal the victory.

Pass Blocking Grades

	Percent	10	20	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100		Power	Pressures	Sacks	Combo
	Grade												Blocking	Allowed	Allowed	Help
Veldheer	85%												-4	1	0	4
Wisniewski	85%												-5	2	0	7
Satele	90%												-2	2	0	12
Carlisle	93%												-2	2	0	10
Barnes	83%												+1	0	0	0
Heyer	78%												-4	1	1	3

Pass Blocking Notes:

• At 11:55 in the 2nd quarter, Cooper Carlisle and Samson Satele attempt to combo block a defender in pass protection.  The defender splits them and pressures the quarterback.  You can't let one defender beat two blockers...
• The entire left side of the line gets beat on the pass rush at 1:32 in the 2nd quarter.
  
• The percentages were close between Khalif Barnes and Stephon Heyer at right tackle, in the passing game.  But after watching every play of the Broncos game...I'd much rather have Barnes protecting the quarterback.  Heyer ended up keeping the defenders off the QB, for the most part, but struggled the entire time. 
• Many times, the Raiders went with max protection when passing the ball.

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