Oakland Raiders News 12-11-07: The Raiders Welcome Another Original NFL Foe, The Colts

by saint on Dec 12, 2007 9:41 AM PST in News Comment 9 comments

This image is from This Old Piece About A Raider/Colt Game in 1969

I have to believe that this weekend will be Coach Kiffin's defining moment of the season.

A week after getting trounced by the Packers in the second half of Sunday's, "Meltown on Ice", the Raider Head Coach has to get his whole team to forget about the last two quarters that they played and keep positive enough to have confidence that they SHOULD win this week.

The game plan, which includes JaMarcus Russell, needs to be ingrained into the heads of each player and they will need to play at their best, like they played against Denver and Miami, to have a chance to stand down Peyton Manning, Joseph Adai and the Colts.

I do know this, as a fan, I will be rooting my ass off the whole time and if the team has to get it up for this game then they don't belong in this League. The Raiders will be UP for Indy!!!

For a 4-9 team, that could very easily be 6-7 or 7-6, with a young quarterback there is no better test than having a home game against the Defending Super Bowl Champs.

I think it is time to start JaMarcus Russell. Even if he is only guaranteed the first quarter and allowed to progress from there, it will be a start that he will welcome with fervor and get him used to the starting mentality before next season.

These next three games are our chance to get some seasoning on this rookie, and also put the team in the best situation to win by having Daunte come in and finish for him...if he's healthy, and if JaMarcus really doesn't know enough of the playbook and hasn't got enough reps to be effective past a certain point.

Now, let's take a look at the upcoming game against the Indianapolis Colts and see where we stack up against them:

We all know that our strength is our pass defense, minus Schwag, and that our run defense is, well, to use the word suspect would be like saying that Little Boy, was just a bomb.

If there were any GOOD news here, it would be that the Colts only average 3.8 yards a carry. I checked out last year's number as well and they only averaged 4.0 yards a carry so it isn't like they have had a huge drop-off this year.

This is NOT to say that they won't be averaging 4.8 yards a carry when they leave, there is definitely enough evidence of the Raiders not tackling and stopping the run to say that the Colts won't be at 3.8 for long.

In fact, the only teams that are below 3.9 yards a carry that we've already played are Houston(3.6, t27th in the League) and Kansas City(3.2, last in the League).

Combined, these two TERRIBLE running teams produced 478 Rushing Yards in 108 Carries (4.42 Avg).

IN each of those games they allowed a 100 yard rusher. (Larry Johnson (112), Ron Dayne(122), Kolby Smith(150)

So, Joseph Adai, say "Hello" to 100+++ Yards.

I don't see how the Colts will stay under 30 points unless we keep Adai to an average under 4 yards and get AT Least three turnovers.

With that being the case, The Raider Offense, in particular the 29th ranked passing attack (171.4 ypg), will need to go UP TOP JONES on the Colts.

With Johnnie Lee Higgins, Tim Dwight, Jerry Porter, Ronald Curry and Zach Miller to throw to on every other down, JaMarcus Russell, could open up the offense.

I really do think that he gives us the best chance at winning tomorrow.

He is fresh and the line is playing well.

I'm saying it right now Raider Fans, for the first time all season...START JaMARCUS!!!!!!

Do IT Do IT Do IT!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

STAAAAARRRTTTTT JaaaaaaaMMARCUUSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!

There, I feel better now and I hope that Lane heard me, the team is practicing about 5 miles from the office today and IF JaMarcus takes control of the offense in practice, I would have to believe that his hat would be in the ring to start on Sunday.

If he IS "Prime Time", which I think he is, then put him in there in Prime Time!!!!

Here Is The Weather Prediction For Sunday From Yahoo

The forecast also says that it is going to be 57 today and I can tell you that is about 45 degrees in Oakland right now.

Thank Goodness I got a new Raider Jacket From Reebok. Blogging has to have some perks.

Check out this Jacket:I Have It In White.

That's all I have for now.

Go RRAAAIIDDEERRSSS!!!!

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ATA BOY!! Were up and runin......

Reporter: "Whats your prediction for the game Mr. T"
Mr. T: "PAIN!"

OH YES, its that time again, time for the Raiders to Mash on the colts. Just like in '77!! It's time to shock the world. It's time for Kiff and the Raiders to earn some respect from the rest of the league, and a 250% increase in wins on the season, after beating the defending champs, is the way to do that.

I can barely contain myself at the thought of the first 70 yard bomb from J Money. I have it envisioned already.

"He drops back, buys time by scrambling out to the right wing after being flushed from the pocket, and drops a 70 yard cruise missile on Tim Dwight for an 80 yard score. PRICELESS!!"

OK, actually $60+ million, but totally worth it. Ah, who's counting anyway.

Key(s) to victory:

Keep Stu off the field!
Stop the run.
Protect The Franchise with motion offense and the run game.
KEEP STU OFF THE FIELD!!!

In Kiff we trust!! Go Raiders!! I'm STILL In!!
OakFoSho

by OakFoSho on Dec 12, 2007 10:24 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

I was checking on ESPN

yesterday where they ranked the teams, in the next 3 weeks we play the #2, #5 and #8th ranked teams, what a way to finish the season. I do have a good feeling about beating San Diego, not so good against Indy and Jacksonville. I don't know what is wrong with the run defense but for sure we haven't solved it all year, not likely to do so in the next 3 games. I note a lot of teams run left on us where Thomas Howard plays, not to suggest anything but perhaps he is not good against he run. I agree about keeping Stu out of the lineup although Eugene was terrible last week.

by chinabob on Dec 12, 2007 11:03 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

None of our Linebackers can consistently

shed blockers well enough to stop the run at this point, whether or not they can learn, or if it is a learnable skill, remains to be seen. With our top ten pick, I wonder if Dorsey, or Long will be available. It would be cool to have Howie's boy become a star where his dad was.
Yahoo has us taking Jake Long OT, as our pick in the Mock they did. If we win 2 of the next 3 games, we may be in the area where Sedrick Ellis won't be a stretch.

by theblackpearl on Dec 12, 2007 2:06 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I hope Dorsey is there for us

I can't imagine the Raiders winning more than one game (San Diego) which puts them at 5 wins, and picking 8-10 so Dorsey is probably a stretch at that position. I assume the Raiders will go defense in this draft, linemen, linebackers. The Raiders can live with the offensive line as it is, Henderson and Grove should contribute next year and maybe there is another Cooper Carlisle out there in the free agent market. I would think Higgins will get more reps next year as a flanker with strong armed Russell throwing. Hopefully this team will be able to score more than one TD a game from the offense.

by chinabob on Dec 12, 2007 8:37 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

You fellas need to FOCUS.....

I know that Cable has done a great job with the O-Line this season, and he is probably the MVP of the offense if not the team. However, a great OT is still the greatest need for this team. The only possible exception is DT Glen Dorsey, however he is rated to go #1 overall, and I doubt that the Raiders will even sniff a chance to get him. DT is the second greatest need for this team However, after Dorsey the value just won't be there in the first half of the first round. It could be argued that Jake Long will still be there when we pick between 5-10 however, most see him going much earlier. Still, he would not be the run stopper in the middle that we need, and the Raiders are just fine at DE. If the Raiders were capable of moving up for Long, then they would certainly be capable of moving up for OT Chris Long, which would make much more sense as he directly relates to the teams biggest need. I believe that the Raiders priority, depending on the talent available at the time of their picks, should be OT, then DT, the WR.

In Kiff We Trust! Go Raiders!! I'm STILL In!
OakFoSho

by OakFoSho on Dec 13, 2007 4:05 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm going OT then Safety

After getting a big bull to protect JaMarcus on his pathway to infinity, I believe we need another young stud safety to protect the backfield.

The AFC West is a runnning back division. After the first line of defense, all we have is our backfield to stop LT, LJ or the Denver flavor of the month. I still feel Huff can be made a presence in the backfield if he has a counterpart lining up on the other side of him that can hit hard, hit fast and hit often.

Just think of how many games we would have run if not for the big run gone unstopped after the line.

OT then Safety.

With the young JaMarcus and the prospect of a young, healthy and hungry Bush to our offense, I firmly believe we are one or two players away from doing something great.

Raider Nation -- I'm always in.

Black Battle Axe

by oaklandSMASH on Dec 13, 2007 11:18 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I can live with that also

I certainly agree we need a hitter in the secondary, Fabian gets as far away as possible from ever making a tackle, Nhambi is good, but not a big tackler, he goes low and gets guys off their feet. Huff is OK, but has missed a lot of tackles this year, a real hitter in the secondary would be really nice. I still opt for an outside backer with toughness.

by chinabob on Dec 13, 2007 4:42 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

The run is stopped up front....

I disagree. Our run defense starts, first and foremost, up front. The Safety should be the last consideration when discussing the run, which is our most glaring problem on defense. We need a pair of good run clogging DTs to allow our LBS to utilize their greatest weapon: Their speed.

Kirk is very much in the Young Ray Lewis mold, and Ray had Gussa to clog the O-Line and allow him to run free. The law offices of Morrison and Howard have no such force.

I still believe that DT has to be our second priority after OT.

In Kiff We Trust!! Go Raiders!! I'm STILL In!!
OakFoSho

by OakFoSho on Dec 14, 2007 1:52 AM PST reply actions 0 recs