Awesome breakdown of one of the best running teams in the league (2 Viewers)

[LawFitz]

All of the following is the ranting of a very knowledgeable Raider fan known as Professor Eyepatch. He clearly is obsessed with the team and has a lot of time on his hands as evidenced by his significant film study. He has a background in coaching and is a tremendous contributor to a Raider message board I like to frequent. Take what he says with a grain but for those of you looking for a RB you might want to pay attention to what is going on in Oakland this season. If Lamont is out for a while, someone is going to put up some serious stats. Personally, I think Fargas is first in line (note the bolded items below) but if he gets hurt look for either Adim Echimandu or super sleeper Michael Bush, who is said to be looking very healthy and lean in recent days. Dominic Rhodes will be a 3rd down/ COP guy and nothing more IMO after watching him play with the first team this preseason. This is the new Denver, folks.

1. The front 4 beat the stuff outta Green. Hits on QB---Clemons 4, Sapp 3, Kelly 3, Warren 2, Richardson 1.

2. If we don't continue to improve, we'll be nothing. If we do continue, gonna be fun. We have lots more potential. Kif's squad has showed marked betterment every week, almost miraculous in several phases.

3. Coverage vs MI much better. Routt played lots for Fabe, til the latter got hurt and didn't return. Routt did very well vs Chambers, won at least 2 direct challenges. The int, where he pressed MI's very good WR at scrimmage. And a 20 yard out, R sideline, the play where Sapp crashed into Green's legs.

4. We match up extremely well with Green's passing game. Hard to beat tight man coverage with an old arm and shaky base. Even with KC he was always very careful.

5. I saw Hiram Eugene twice on D, both horrible. He's the guy who missed the tk at +5 on RB's 60 yarder, Eugene in at LB on 1st and 15 on MI's 6. Eugene also missed at +2 on 4th and 2, RB went L for +15, two plays before Routt's pick.

6. We now know what/who's behind Stu. Stu played H1 poorly, H2 better. Benching sometimes does wonders.

7. We out-conditioned MI in Phish like weather. I've never seen Morrison have to leave the field. Ricky Brown played a little for both #52 and #53 in H2.

8. Sands played his best game as a Raider, in Q4, when he was needed. Still not real good, beat twice in H1. But, like many guys, under good coaching, getting better.

9. Howard was player of the game at HT. By Q4, Fargas. Final play, maybe Culp. And all 5 OL's. And Griffith. You guys all saw our outstanding new FB.

10. Any run by or throw to Griffith is a trick play. Especially if he's upback in I. But even if he's loneback in shotgun---D's gonna read him as a protector, thus pass. Deception really only works when your A-game's going. Vs MI, we could do anything we wanted.

11. Eugene made 3 plays as our gunner.

12. 58 yard TD drive, Q1, all runs and 1 incomplete pass (bomb to Griffith, bounced off LB's helmet). 70 yard TD drive, Q3, all runs and 1 incomplete pass (Curry's drop of a 5 yarder in the endzone). 79 yard TD march, Q4, all runs and 1 pass, JP's 27 yarder. Vs CL, game turning TD drive, Kif's cool answer to CL's short lived lead, 20-21---13 runs, 2 passes to TE.

13. That's a vet front 7 we dominated---Taylor, Traylor, Holliday, Porter.

14. Some huge DT's our C's have faced---Shaun Rogers, Sam Adams, Ted Washington, 375 pd Traylor.

15. Refs tried to take 2 TD's. Bogus PI on M Wms, overcome by JP's 1st. A blatant bad spot, next series, robbed Fargas of a 1st down on 3rd and 1 on the 2. Kif calmy went for it on 4th---Culp's sneak.

16. M Wms was also blatantly PI'd by CB Lehan on 3rd and 13, Q3, slant, R side, CB's back arm draped. Wms gets no respect, from almost anyone.

17. Warren was held once, around the throat. I also caught Gallery and Newberry each get away with a hold.

18. Jano tied, or is about to tie, Chris Bahr's record---most FG's as a Raider. 2 more TB's vs MI gives him 12, league leader. I'm not defending, just reporting.

19. Raider coaches upstairs (hence, talking heads and fans) are routinely denied by network TV access to replays that would help determine whether or not to throw a red flag.

20. Donovan Darius forced the Fargas non fumble. Darius made lots of plays near scrimmage, was never used in coverage.

21. We ran on Jason Taylor. Both our T's erased him.

22. Stu lacks the speed to back up the angles he takes, yet any other angle yields TD's. The solution for guys like him---study, watch film, anticipate better.

23. Newberry is very strong, very effective in limited area. He made several 2nd level blocks vs MI, but no way vs, say, CH. Very strong. Smaller range. Locks on. Turns guys. A bunch of great blocks vs Phish, outstanding performance.

24. Gallery---much improved fluidity vs MI. Fewer oafish plays. Needs continued growth. If this guy ever finds his feet, watch out. Excellent game vs MI, many outstanding blocks.

25. Sims---playing like a way-better-than-avg NFL LT. Doing it all, run, pass. Every run, now, except for goal line, or such, is Stretch. Sims is mobile, under control, arms extended. Vs power, vs speed. Definitely a smart vet.

26. OL's are regularly passing guys off to their neighbors to pick up the next D coming free. Working as a unit, extremely efficient. All of em are doing it. Amazing.

27. Carlysle's getting better. I didn't see him lunging or ducking his head. But when he goes against a stud, we'll see. One very athletic play tells---Stretch R, Carlysle's got his guy 1 sec, is losing him, getting twisted. He helicopters his legs to get them back underneath, maintains block, Fargas cuts behind.

28. Guys who were getting zeroes are now getting plusses. Runs that were +5 are now +25. Plusses all over the place. Majority of blocks, most runs. Very impressive, very unusual. OL's are now starting to block with the consistency of TE Miller.

29. For the first time, Fargas actually slowed down a little and looked around. You saw it. Ran 85% speed instead of 110. Found new holes. Adjusted in space. We witnessed, big time, the maturation of a yound RB who possesses 75% of the qualities (speed, quickness, decisiveness, determination) needed to be a great RB. Kind of a Helen-Keller-at-the-water-pump moment for Justin.

30. I'd almost expect, with Fargas, for Kif to change up, switch occasionally from Stretch back to power, or pull OL's to sweep. Cross up D. Fargas' strengths.

31. We're running over D's fully stacked to stop it, all expectant. Q4 domination grows. Trickery, in the long run, gets you nowhere.

32. Dominated, yet only 5 completions. Old Raider football, Lamonica, Flores, Stabler. Cotton Davidson.

33. Jordan's dropped screen, our first 3rd down, woulda gone.

34. Huff's bigger, looks bigger on film. His football muscles are expanding thru play. He's no CB.

35. Our 1 sack---Fargas failed to cut Taylor.

36. At least once, Ryan made the big switch---Fabe was at Nickel, Routt at CB. Changes like that have traditionally taken at least months.

37. MI's 5th and final blitz, JP's 27 yard TD---Renaldo Hill looped around MLB, came up middle free---Fargas, in protection, buried him.

38. Ryan is rotating his struggling guys on D, coaching em up in interrums. Excellent. Stu and Ward (gonna have to get much better fast to stay on the field). Fabe and Routt.

 

[PahtyTom]

Very good post, but.....

Rhodes > Fargas

 

[Linton Trust]

Very good post, but.....Rhodes > Fargas

but rhodes looked horrible in the preseason... and hasn't been on the field in a monthmeanwhile Fargas may have secured his role as the #2 back behind Lamont (who may or may not have a major injury)

 

[switz]

Very good post, but.....Rhodes > Fargas

Not really... when Fargas came out, I was really impressed with him. Rhodes, well, not so much. Fargas problem has been injuries, and as the OP stated, trying to use ONLY his speed. If he rounds out his skills, he's far superior to Rhodes.However, Rhodes was the FA brought in, so some favoritism toward him may be shown.

 

[Despyzer]

This is the new Denver, folks.

You say that like that's a good thing.Honestly, it has always perplexed me how the Broncos were so dang good with their running scheme yet no one seemed to be able to duplicate it. Now that a couple of teams have broken the golden seal maybe more defenses will focus on ways to shut it down.

 

[Bob Ross]

Kind of a Helen-Keller-at-the-water-pump moment for Justin.

 

[Pied Piper]

Pffffft....Miami's defense could get rolled over by a college team. They make any offense look good.

Not a very good measuring stick at all.

 

[LawFitz]

Pffffft....Miami's defense could get rolled over by a college team. They make any offense look good. Not a very good measuring stick at all.

True, but they've been running well against everyone this year including 1st teams during preseason. Like I said, the real measuring stick will be a desperate San Diego in two weeks.But for me, I don't need to see anymore to be convinced. Alex Gibbs was in Denver with Shanahan and later had similar success with the ZBS in Atlanta. His protege in Atlanta was Tom Cable who is now the line coach in Oakland.The Raiders will be a top 5 rushing team this year.

 

[CalBear]

The Raiders will be a top 5 rushing team this year.

They're the #1 rushing team right now, so this is certainly possible, although if they lose Jordan for any length of time I think they take a hit.Here's a factoid for you: Last year, the Raiders scored more than 14 points only 4 times. This year, they've scored 20+ points in every game. It's certainly a much better team than it was.

 

[LawFitz]

The Raiders will be a top 5 rushing team this year.

They're the #1 rushing team right now, so this is certainly possible, although if they lose Jordan for any length of time I think they take a hit.Here's a factoid for you: Last year, the Raiders scored more than 14 points only 4 times. This year, they've scored 20+ points in every game. It's certainly a much better team than it was.

Exactly. They just need the defense to come around and play at last year's level. So far the DLine has been unable to generate pressure and it has really hurt them. Derrick Burgess has been sorely missed but the two week layoff may do wonders for his sore calf. Sapp hasn't done much - he lost almost 50 lbs this offseason and apparently fat Sapp is better than lean Sapp. Sands has been very disappointing but Gerrard Warren has been very good to make up for it. Tommy Kelly and the rookie Richardson have been solid but unspectacular.The LBs have been phenomenal against the pass again, but continue to struggle against the run just as they did last year.The 2ndary has regressed so far. Nnamdi is still a stud but Huff and Fabian Washington look lost out there. Washington was benched last week for Routt who played much better. Schweigert was and is a dud.If Kiffin and Rob Ryan can turn this D around, the Raiders *might* actually contend for a playoff berth. That would be an amazing accomplishment for Kiffin.

 

[rock753]

If what he is saying about this being the Denver scheme at it's best, I wouldn't worrie about Jordan being out. Just think back to folks like Olandis Gary and Mike Anderson.

Man I hate the Raiders.

 

[Garrett]

Pffffft....Miami's defense could get rolled over by a college team. They make any offense look good.

Not a very good measuring stick at all.

If a team is leading the NFL in any of these major categories after four weeks, it is a very good thing. He is not just saying they had a great rushing game this week against Miami, they are leading the entire NFL in rushing after four weeks. For a team that was ridiculed all of last season for their OLine play, that is fairly significant.

 

[LawFitz]

More on the ZBS from the Professor...



It's really easy to see. At the snap all 5 or 6 OL's go running off, either L or R, together, angling a bit downfield.

I watched NE/CN. Neither ran Stretch. Their blockers fire out on the guy in front like Raiders did for 47 years.

But, Stretch.

At the snap, the 6 run laterally, in tandem. Let's say L.

Essentially every Raider run play starts out such.

The FB goes sprinting off L, behind those 6 sizable escorts.

Handoff to Fargas, following FB, even faster.

You're DE, or DT.

Whatcha gonna do?

Go firing forward?

The entire play, 6 OL's, a FB and a fly boy are all intently L.

You gotta go R (your R, O's L)---you gotta get in front of the play, stay with the play.

You're Ted Washington. Or Grady Jackson.

Grady Jackson's gotta be a lot easier to block AFTER he's moving.

Than it is to try to MOVE him.

Plus, your FB, like all lead blockers---tho he's told which hole to hit, his highly instinctive job is hi ad lib.

Fargas, looking around for the first time in his life, like a suddenly seeing Helen Keller.

Gets to pick his exact, favorite spot, cuts anywhere he wants.

You get just one of those Ted Washington's outta postion...

And poor Ted (37 years old?)---he's gotta do this 30 times today.

And how bout a smaller guy, like Jason Taylor? On the very edge of the play, trying to contain---and here comes Miller, Sims, Gallery, Griffith.

Play off one, run into the next.

Plus, Stretch implies ZBS. That is, guys are no longer manned up with a foe, they're free, to some degree, to choose---again, ad lib.

In action it looks like this---sometimes Carlysle pushes the guy in front of him, sometimes cuts the man behind. I have a growing feel that much of that is improv.

A typical Stretch play will call for Carlysle, or Newberry/Grove, or Gallery, or 2 of them, to fire out to 2nd level.

That is, they ignore DL's (or maybe chip one), then fire out 3 to 5 yards to take on a LB.

2nd level blocking is asking a lot of a big OL. For decades, if a guy tries and whiffs, I've given him a minus. If he makes even decent contact, a zero..

But to get a plus for a 2nd level block you gotta sustain a second.

I saw vs MI at least 10 2nd level blocks where Carlysle, Newberry or Grove not only hit a LB, he controlled his foe, walled, turned, sustained vs LB. 3 seconds, 4. Amazing.

Finally, in protection---there are 2 kinds of pass plays.

Fake Stretch/Roll. Which often requires very little blocking from 4 or so.

And direct drop backs, or play action---that is, traditional pocket protection.

But. ZBS shows here, too.

Raider OL's, with almost stunning consistency, are passing rushers to neighboring OL so as to pick up the next guy coming.

I have seen at least 30 (including preseason) examples of Raider blockers so efficiently teaming.

Remember last year, when any blitzer wide of LT Gallery was guaranteed free access?

Any rusher between, say, LG Sims and C Grove?

Or anyone anywhere near any of our TE's?

Professor Eyepatch

 

[LawFitz]

Very nice breakdown of the matchup vs SD...

1. Little or no Jordan. Therefore, Fargas/Rhodes. Stretch O exclusively. Lots of runs, few passes, especially in H2---Stretch wears you down.

2. Gotta keep it close, therefore.

3. Culp at QB. Fewer rolls than McCown. More shotguns. Lots of 3 step drops. Sometimes, 3 steps and hold the ball (kinda unusual). A few 5 steps. Maybe one 7 step drop. Not a lot of play action. McCown actually ran sprint outs AFTER DEEP PLAY FAKES OUTTA I!!! Twice vs CL, the Curry TD and the Madsen 35 yarder. Deep play fakes, followed by SPRINT. Now, that's wild. Sprint, in addition, with options where to run. Both those big plays vs CL, McCown wanted to sprint R after his DEEP PLAY FAKES OUTTA I. Both times, his way was blocked. The Curry TD, the QB ran back, threw falling away. The big ball to TE, QB ran forward when he couldn't go R. Culp does not run that O. I charted it vs MI---mostly straight drop backs, only 3 roll out passes. Minority of drop backs use play action. Most, like I said were 3 steps. Then, shotgun. The long TD to JP was shotgun. The shorter scorer was 3 step, but QB waited. The first TD run was a sneak. The second was NOT a roll out, it was a drop back pass, QB had forever, ran L, looking to throw, then took off for the flag. The third was a naked bootleg on 4th down.

4. Screens. Kif likes to screen. But then goes 2 or 3 games with few or none. That's cuzza matchups. He feels that certain LB's are harder to beat. If matchups favored, Kif could call 6 screens. Could be FB---again, matchups. I do not know enough about SD's coverage to say more. But I'll bet someone does. If we see a screen early, we're likely to see more. And if not early, probably not many. Fargas has always been a really bad receiver, but he used to run blind, too.

5. JP/Curry/Wms---how they're used is greatly determined by matchups. Especially, Curry. If he's beating his guy, he'll see lots of passes. JP's different. Even if he's matched up well, Kif may not use him much. The big play guy, now---so much hi execution required to go there. Again, I don't know SD. But, either way, Kif does not want to throw 30 passes.

6. Miller has absolutely not shown the speed off the ball to get more than 6 yards or so downfield on a typical play. An outstanding, consistent blocker, a fluid-looking catcher. But slow, it appears. Madsen? Answering Gates? Again, matchups.

7. Miller, however, matches up marvelously well with Merriman. Both in protection and on runs. Here's a huge upgrade aimed directly at the Bolts. Miller in protection vs Merriman (thanks, Dan).

8. SD blitzers will NOT come free this year, even if they come outside T's. Or even a TE. OL will pass guys off to neighbors to pick them up.

9. Griffith will show up vs SD. That we can count on.

10. How well we run is all determined by Sims, Gallery, Newberry/Grove, Carlysle, Green and Miller. If they win their wars, phsyically, that violent, 60 downs, mano a mano maelstrom, we run. If not, not. Fargas must continue to see his surroundings on the go. If he reverts to barreling blind into brick walls, we're in trouble.

11. Routt, I feel, is closer to there than Huff. Routt and Nam, or Fabe and Nam---we gotta be able to count on that first. Nickel looks like it's Routt, with Fabe off the bench at CB. If so, SD will surely isolate their best WR on Fabe, bomb him, go after him on 3rd down.

12. Stu, who's up-against-it, career wise, as much as any Raider right now, needs to focus on Gates. Jump Gates, Stu. Beat the mama outta him. All day.

13. Huff needs to get his eyes outta the backfield and play football. I fear he's not ready yet. If we man him vs Gates, he'll get suckered by play action. Of course, if we zone, the same'll happen to Huff, but TE could end up vs LB or someone else.

14. Run D, like run O, is mano a mano. SD runs no Stretch, but Power I instead. Still, LT prefers wide. That means, DE's---Burgess, Kelly, Richardson, Sam Wms at stack LB---discipline and physicality, must win the edge. Any time LT gets outside our DE, we're burned.

15. Between T's, it's DT's, LB's and Huff. Vs G's, C and FB. And LT. Gap discipline. Physicality. Who wants it more? Who's playing lower?

16. Morrison is starting to fill vs run a little better. More phsyical. More aware. When he's beat, he looks more aware, at least. He's definitely starting to get it. Muscle in the middle has not been a strong part of his game, to say the least. Kirk: Read run---step forward violently into your gap, push anything and everything back. Read as you go, sure. But, GO!

17. When Sam Wms is stacked on scrimmage outside DE, no one ever runs on him. This formation, however, vs pass---Wms comes. If he doesn't get there, we're asking for it. He absolutely has not got there, has come probably about 8 to 10 times. Remember, Wms is only on the field half the time.

18. Even if run D does its job, or, at least, wins its gaps, it can still be beat by a magic man (like Emmitt Smith in the LA Coliseum in 92, man, we had him surrounded again and again, Long, Townsend...). How much magic does LT have---today?

19. Run yards is not points. If LT has 150 yards, but SD has only 10 points... Very possible. If D is rock when it counts.

20. Rivers will surely screen several to LT. Now, here we should matchup well. But who matches up with Sayers (if he's still Sayers)? Screens to LT---their best vs ours.

21. SD's backup Turner is, right now, not necessarily a drop off.

22. D, right now, is most susceptible to: runs outta pass formation, passes outta power, passes on runs downs, vice versa. When enemies run vs our D expecting run, man, we're pretty tough. Remember Sapp vs Jamal Lewis early. We stuffed Ronnie Brown on 1st and 10. His 60 yarder came on 1st and 15 on the MI 6. We pulled Wms and inserted Eugene. Who missed an easy tackle from the side, RB slowed down big time in traffic, at +5 yards. Most MI's big runs caught us guessing different.

23. SD will surely try trick plays.

Professor Eyepatch

 

[Blue-Kun]

I like this Eyepatch chap and would like to subscribe to his newsletter. Thanks for the read.

 

[LawFitz]

I like this Eyepatch chap and would like to subscribe to his newsletter. Thanks for the read.

Eyepatch is the man and this is where you can find him if you want to ask him questions...

http://forums.mercurynews.com/n/mb/listsf....+7%3A23%3A18+PM

He posts under the name "speedkills21".

 

[Sigmund Bloom]

love these thanks for posting them.

 

[LawFitz]

The latest courtesy of the professor...

1. Congrats, Nation, to the vast, more quiet, majority who showed the prescience and pugnacity not to QUIT on the team or Kif or Al or the players.

2. Any who might have suggested or impllied perhaps that it's impossible to win with McCown, well, I guess you overgeneralized. Still, it ain't easy, I'll admit.

3. We physically kicked butt, outhustled, outhit, physically dominated, all 3 phases.

4. Kinda the same thing, kinda different---we're learning how to win.

5. Wanting it is key, we're discovering.

6. When's the last time you saw such a solid performance, up and down the roster, not that it's more than it was, but compared to what we've seen the last 60 games?

7. McCown winds up when he throws like a girl, really.

8. McCown's wheels were hugely over touted. On that last bootleg, 4th and 8, :30 to go, the beat-to-hell QB's tired legs buckled, he went down on his own. In his defense, he took a lot of gruesome hits. Broke a finger (this time) last week, apparently the bone was sticking out. The guy's tough. Under unbelievable pressure, before a hostile home crowd which definitely did not approve his presence, the multi-injured QB played a heck of a game.

9. And bottom line---he won.

10. By any fair, unbiased, non-agenda-driven reckoning, McCown was Raider MVP in this, perhaps, tide turning victory (much more so it feels to all of us than the break-out triumph in KC last week).

11. We gotta get #12 outta there.

12. Russell---WOW!!! Already moves better than the noodle armed starter! Doesn't look that HUGE, but he is what he is, EXCELLENT!!! His first play, fake stretch L, reverse roll R---which worked!!! Zzz-zip, a laser, deep out, R sideline, feet full go, rockets past Baily like no CB there!!! First 3rd and long, a screen to Fargas, well thrown, well set up, +13 on 3rd and 8---GREAT CALL!!!

13. My point---YES!!! It sure does, affirmatively, look like this giant gunner can RUN stretch!!! The Prof is EGG-SIGHTED!!!

14. With Russell at point guard, perhaps we got a better look at Kif's playbook the way HC envisions it---more passes, deeper, more attack.

15. No doubt---with that stud at QB, all kindsa plays that would be horrible calls with McCown at QB would be real tempting with the #1 #1.

16. Looks like the kid's gonna be REAL hard to bring down!

17. First 3 runs, opening drive, ended in Dwight's TD, all L---Fargas, +17, +3, no gain. 4th run, draw outta shotgun on 3rd and 3, Fargas +6---great call. 5th run, R, +6. Next, L +6 and L +5. We ran better L than R.

18. First opening possession TD this year.

19. Little Dwight beat Bly for a TD! On 3rd and long! Great throw! Keep it real about Dwight.

20. ST's Coverage!!! Again!!! 5th straight week!!! Consistent??? Amazing. 4 KO's---the first tackled on the 17 by Ek and Higgins; the 2nd on the 14 by Higgins, Alston, Eugene and Ricky Brown; the 3rd on the 25 by Alston, Sam Wms and Chris Johnson; finally, a TB. One punt, 63 yards, 11 return, to the 27, tackled by Stu.

21. Our bootlegs worked better than theirs!!! Lots better!!! Again and again!!! Burgess, after 2 tuff games vs sweep and cutback, was outstanding---DN got nothing, rushing or rolling out, to their R. Richardson was up and down. Attacked about 7 times, he won like 3, lost about 4, plus the sack (caused by coverage). But 2 of those lapses by rookie #98 were both the reverse rolls L, both the deep balls to Stokely, both of which burned Huff---the first a bomb for 59, the next a comeback for 22. That 2nd pass, Huff was characteristically right there---but NO PLAY ON BALL/MAN! Just kinda watching. Playing hoops, apparently, strong forward. BLOW HIM UP, 24!!! Richardson and Huff were both burned bad on those 2 big plays. The bomb to Stokely was the first long ball Huff has given up as a pro.

22. Once Selvin Young got hurt, DN's O was pretty limited.

23. Henry played like he was stoned.

24. Unless he was throwing to Stokely, usually off of reverse roll, Cutler was pretty off.

25. Pass coverage was awesome---but for Huff.

26. Eugene started for Stu, #30 saw time, but not much.

27. OUR DE's outplayed DN's!!!

28. We out-Shanahaned the owed-money-to ex Raider, all ways.

29. Thomas forced the first fumble, recovered by Brayton. #53 got the second, botched handoff, unforced.

30. Ho's int, Ryan rushed 3, Burg, Warren and big #98. Sapp dropped. Coverage, you saw, was all over it. Fabe's pick, Ho and Thomas blitzed, badly, made 6, Sapp penetrated, past QB tho, certainly Cutler noticed, however---a timing throw.

31. In H1, D was there, almost every play. What went wrong was---missed tackles. But guys were overwhelmingly in the right place. Can't blame Ryan this time.

32. Fabe mis-tackled Marshall twice in H1, embarrassing. But before we get hysterical, that big WR's a load, great blocker, in addition. Burg and Marshall had some kinda thing going on all game. Fabe's pick---it was Marshall he robbed.

33. The bomb, Q2, to that huge TE, Sheffler, which Huff "broke up." Again, right there, no play.

34. Routt and Fabe switched off a lot at L CB, not by series, just random plays, probably keeping Shanahan guessing. Both young CB's played very well.

35. Where's Javon Walker? Nam. Ho's int was intended for DN's star WR, who's healthy, they say.

36. DN scored on 3 straight possessions, late Q3, into Q4. Two drives to FG's, and a short march to Henry's TD after McCown's fumble of Newberry's 3rd bad snap. Close as DN got, 24-20.

37. Another Newberry whif made Russell fumble, outta shotgun, on 3rd down. Preceded the 75 yard FG attempt. Another misfire in shotgun made us all wonder if this guy is capable of, well, hiking the ball.

38. Please, Coach, no more FG's from the Loose Cannon, where, if he misses, the opponents start inside our 20.

 

[LawFitz]

A lil bit more for any other professor junkies around here. I couldn't agree more. Kiff is the man...



1. Kif going for it on 4th down, attempting 75 yard FG's---he's on to something, but the NFL isn't, quite, yet, Arena Ball. LT passing Sweetness in All Time TD's---puhleez.

2. D showed much improved discipline, now we gotta make those takles. Cutler ran an option in Q3, had no chance, Richardson strung it out, Nam blew up the pitch man (!!!), and Eugene forced and tackled Henry for a loss. Discipline!

3. JP's 1st TD at home since 04. #84 possesses rare, awesome physical ability, no mystery, believe what your eyes are looking at. If only he wanted to play here. JP holds hi trade value, I feel. So does Fabe.

4. Fargas---we've all shared in the witnessing---our hard charging, high effort HB develop this year, it's been a pleasure, no? From his Helen Keller at the water pump moment in MI, when he first opened those squeezed tight eyes and looked around. To his more recent finding of a greater power, allowing him to survive tackles, stay on those hard-churning hooves. Vs DN, I saw another trait in THE SECOND BEST RUNNER IN THE AFC WEST. Patience. Waiting for blocks. Attababy, #25!!! Making a real bid for Raider of the Year.

5. Those quick screens to WR's, half of which are deflected by DE's, whom Barry Sims just cannot seem to occupy their hands down---those smoke screens are dangerously close to laterals.

6. Miller---Standing Ovation! Outstanding game. GETTING DEEP!!! Last 2 weeks. This, he could not do, preseason, first half of 07. The apsect still lacking. No, this kid is COMING ON!!! Blocked his butt off, those huge lanes for Fargas---did you see!!! Tuff, off-his-feet grabs of hi balls, low digs, in traffic, in clutch, in the endzone!!! Catches with his hands, plucks, no body action. Attababy, Zack!!! This kid is a KEEPER!!!

7. Finest overall OL performance this year. Coach Cable!!! Just when I'd about given up, I said they were gone unless they dropped observers jaws. I gaped. You? The protection. EVERY pass. Gorgeous. Sims!!! Gallery!!! Run game, L side!!! Did you see Sims?!!! Whooo Hooo!!! Attababy, 65!!! We's all so proud of you!

9. McQuistan!!!

9. All the WR's false starting this year---Curry.

10. ONeal missed the block on 4th and one, DN 25, Russell's 2nd and final drive.

11. 62 different men have played for both the Broncs and Raiders.

12. The Cement Horseshoe got LOUD!!!

13. Shanahan's most penalized team.

14. DE Clemons---coming on the last month, really cracking QB's.

15. Carr and Dwight showed a little zip on KOR and PR for a change.

16. Eugene STATEMENT HIT that huge TE, L sideline, Q3.

17. Both QB's, but especially McCown, got beat up.

18. The play before Jano's 44 yard FG, which made, 27-20, Fargas dropped a poorly thrown, low, screen on the 25---the play woulda gone.

19. After Henry's TD got DN as close as they'd get Kif, like last week in KC, answered hyper aggressive. 3 immediate downfield passes, Miller +26, Miller +19, and a duck, after a scramble, to Curry, tripled in the N endzone. The 4th and final pass on that drive was the badly thrown screen Fargas couldn't handle that woulda scored.

20. Screens!!! You saw!!! You loved it!!! The timing!!! The execution!!! Fargas +13 on 3rd and 8, from Russell. Griffith for 12 on 3rd and 11 (a very well thrown ball by McCown, a huge play, coming 5 snaps before Fargas's clinching TD). Plus a 5 yarder to #25, and 3 dumps to Griffith, +6, +6 and -1.

21. Fabe's pick---PLAY ON THE BALL, baby!!!

22. Kif---Wishbone!!! Wishbone!!! 3rd and one, DN 25, 4:00 to go. DN had no clue. We can power either way. Chose to go L, behind Griffith, Jordan unstoppable outta Triple Setbacks, gained 6. Nullified by a totally bogus hold vs Gallery, who made a fantastic block. Kif overcame the penalty with the long screen to Griffith.

23. 2 huge penalties went our way, the roughing Lechler on the first possession, allowed Dwight's TD. And the holding call vs CB Foxworth on 3rd and 8---Fargas went on to score the winner.

24. The screens. The naked bootlegs. The 4th down hyper agression. The forever FG's. Wishbone. Yeah, Al's obviously Coaching this team.

25. Heck, Strech in the first place---all Al. Obviously.

26. Fargas's 30 yard sprint, Q3---biggest run lane this year. #25 was literally untouched til angled OB. Literally no one within 2 yards of him til the end. Out front, text book blocking, surely you saw---Miller, Griffith (BOOM!), Sims.

27. Fargas' game winner, 5 yards, over the RIGHT side!!! Again, UNTOUCHED!!! Picture perfect out front---Mq, Miller, ONeal!

28. Fargas---33 carries!!! 4 of his last 5 starts have topped 100.

29. 34:07 time of possession.

30. The Raiders are getting better. GREAT JOB, KIF! And STAFF! STICK TO YOUR PLAN, KID!

 

[Despyzer]

Looks like the professor didn't have much to say for a couple of months.