11-06-11 6:14 pm pac        

 Photo Jose Marcio Sanchez                                                                                      FB/WR Marcel Reece

All those new faces we talked about in our past article came back to haunt Oakland against the Broncos.

Rookie RB Taiwan Jones had 2 carries for 1 yd and back to back Special Teams flags that gave the Broncos a fresh set of downs after a running into the kicker penalty. Denver missed a field goal but Jones never saw the ball again.

With RB Darren McFadden out and Tai banished, the Raiders had no outside threat to test the edge of the defense and 9 Michael Bush runs in the 2nd half, mostly up the gut, were stopped with little damage to the Broncos.

Of course the run game was curtailed once Oakland fell behind and had to pass more.

Bush filled in for McFadden admirably with 19 runs for 96 yds and 2 catches for 33 yds including a catch and run that saw the 6-1, 245 lb RB dive into the end zone for a TD.

WR Louis Murphy was demoted to gunner this week after too much tape in limted action shows him less than productive. We railed against him game time after he allowed an 85 yd punt return TD that killed Oakland and changed the tone of the game but upon further review, Murphy was held. A good, front of the jersey hold thats nearly undetecable but a veteran knows how to fight out of those of not get held in the first place. Plus, he looked out of position.

Back breaker.

WR Denarius Moore had an up and down day but finished with 4 good catches for 61 yds but it was fellow WR Jacoby Ford who led all Raiders with 5 catches for 105 yds and spectacular tight rope tip toe on the end zone sideline to haul in another highlight score.

QB Carson Palmer was 19 of 31 for 332 yds and 3 TDs. He also threw 3 picks. His chemistry simply isn't there with his Wides yet but he found out what we've known all along, Hybrid WR/FB Marcel Reece is the most dangerous FB in the League.

Reece was the recipeint of a Palmer strike in tight coverage that "Big Cel" punched into the end zone, completing a 40 yd play.

Palmer threw picks but this loss was not on him.

Another of the new faces on the field today was MLB Daryl Blackstock who saw copious time filling for injured MLB Rolando McClain.

After fellow LB Aaron Curry drew a personal foul for shoving Tebow out of bounds. It was a stupid play and to that point Curry had been playing a very very good 1st half and taking up the slack for the missing McClain.

After that penalty, Curry was a ghost.

Blackstock was worse. Many wondered why one handed RB Willis McGahee was able to gouge us for huge yards in the 2nd half and Blackstock more often that not was a big part of the reason. He failed to close or fill far too often.

Have no illusions though, Oakland misses DE Matt

Shaughnessy. DE Desmond Bryant has done a good job for the most part but he can't yet set the edge like Shaughnessy and doesn't have his arsenal of pass rush moves.

Shaughnessy's loss is big because he had become a 3 down 6-5, 270 lb edge setting pass rushing DE.

Very rare indeed.

Couple this with McClain's absence and DE Lamarr Houston's disappearance and Oakland got run on and over.

The same might not be true for San Diego if McClain's back, even if they do get RB Ryan Mathews back from injury.

Curry shows great promise. Coupled with McClain they could become special. Oakland missed McClain's presence today, often looking confused and unprepared for snaps.

We hope and expect the Defenses Quaterback back for the Bolts on Thursday.

At least we hope so.

QB Carson Palmer is the bright spot in this debacle and yes he did throw 3 picks but if McFadden can come back and stay healthy, if we can get 300+ yds a game and 3 TDs from our QB, we are going to win games.

New faces and the injuries some of them tried to cover came back to haunt us in the 2nd half and after 2 humiliating losses to Division rivals Oakland must turn around and face another on Thursday night.

We think they'll be ready...

11-04-11 12:07 pm                        

Photo Tony Gonzales                                                                                                     RB Michael Bush           

There will be some new faces on the field this Sunday when the Broncos come to town, WR TJ Houshmandzadeh and Lito Sheppard among them but RB Darren McFadden won't be joining them.

As it stands now, many feel like the dinged up RB is being given extra time to heal up from a "mid foot sprain" and being held in reserve because the Raiders face a short schedule with a match up against the Chargers 4 days after Denver.

If McFadden isn't practicing next week, we'll know that our paranoia was right.

RBs Michael Bush and rookie Taiwan Jones should see the lions share of reps in DMC's place.

Jones is a serious threat every time he touches the ball but we hope they don't ask him to pass protect. 

We'd like to see TE Kevin Boss involved in the passing too but with a new QB in Palmer under Center we'll have to wait and see.

Speaking of Center, we were right that Samson Satele is dinged. He's been wearing a brace on his knee. Given the fact he's undersized and struggles with bigger DTs we've suggested replacing him in short yds and goal line with beefier rookie OL man Steven Wisiniewski.

If they don't, expect more trouble getting short yards. 

Have to admire Satele's warrior mentality as far as playing injured but not when it hurts the team and affects crucial outcomes.

MLB Rolando McClain has been seen running 100 yd sprints in recent days but his lower leg / ankle sprain has kept him out of the last 5 sessions but he could play anyway.

He returned to practice today.

CB Chris Johnson, apparently, has not been placed on IR but isn't expected back for the Denver game and struggled mightily before he was injured.

Rookie DB Chimdi Chekwa looks doubtful too and its hoped 10 yr veteran Sheppard can jump in and spark the secondary.

K Sebastian Janikowski has yet to test his hamstring. He's expected to boot a few on Saturday and if he is unable to go or re-aggravates it, K Dave Rayner is on speed dial and will join the squad at the last minute.

Rayner's participation before being dumped after the KC game consisted of exactly one kick off.

Speaking of Special Teams, WR Louis Murphy has been moved to gunner. This seems like a bad idea because we noted Murphy ducking contact on pass patterns since returning from a bad groin injury this off season that required surgery.

Murphy suffered a chest injury against Seattle last season that we think shook him up and the burgeoning receiver seems to have never recovered from mentally.

Placing him as a gunner could indicate his diminished importance but if he makes some big plays on ST he could work his way back into a crowded WR rotation.

WR TJ Houshmandzadeh and the subsequent dismisal of fellow Wide Out Derek Hagan may have something to do with Murphy's demotion too but writing may be on the wall for the young WR.

The Broncos are rebuilding and struggling with their QB situation, just like Oakland, but the Raiders are expected to handle their Division rival.

Despite this, HC Hue Jackson and the Raiders aren't taking Denver lightly.

They'll be fielding some new faces including Housh, new QB Carson Palmer, Taiwan Jones, LB Aaron Curry, CB Sheppard and Safety Ndukwe Chinedum, but the goal remains the same. Defeat Denver, revive their passing game and save their season.

We'll know alot more how realistic that goal is come Sunday.

11-02-11 3:28 pm pac           

Photo Tony Gonzales                                                                                             WR TJ Houshmandzadeh

WR TJ Houshmandzadeh joined the Raiders on the practice field today for the first time and looked good doing it.

We're not sure if he'll play this Sunday against the Broncs. He may be better prepared to enter the fray against San Diego on the following Thursday but we'll have to see if, like LB Aaron Curry and Qb Carson Palmer, he'll be thrown directly into the fray.

Housh, in all likelihood, has taken the roster spot of fellow WR Derek Hagan though nothing official has been annouced as of the time of this writing, Hagan was not on the field or the facility.

RB Darren McFadden missed his 4th straight practice after a mid foot injury of unknown severity sidelined him after only 2 carries in the loss to KC.

He has been seen walking around sans boot and crutches but the intent may be to hold him out of the Denver match up and save him for SD and the end run of the back half of the season.

FB Marcel Reece should play against Denver after missing 4 games with an undisclosed ankle injury. FB Manase Tonga was thought to be waived when Reece finally returned but, even though Oakland isn't saying so, Tonga will likely stay on because CB Chris Johnson may have been placed on IR.

Thats the rumor we reported late last night, bolstered by the fact CJ is nowhere to be found today and Tonga is helmeted and on the field.

Johnson's career has been plagued by injury and his latest, a hamstring, just doesn't seem to be healing.His performance before the injury was less than optimal.

10 yr veteran CB Lito Sheppard was added to the mix but no cuts needed to be made since he took the roster slot of temporary fill in Kicker Dave Rayner who was released soon after the KC game.

Rayner was brought on board to fill for Sebastian Janikowski who tweaked a hammy and was unable to go against the Chiefs. He's been seen walking around practice and the fact Rayner was released means Oakland thinks J.Kow will be ready come Sunday.

Speaking of dicey hammys, rookie CB Chimdi Chekwa's is still bothering him.

He and MLB Rolando McClain missed another practice and may miss the Denver game as well.

McClain's a gamer and if theres any way, he'll play bu the lower leg injuries he's been dealing with may mean he'll be rested and reserved like DMC.

Its believed the Raiders should handle the struggling Broncos and that QB Carson Palmer will look better than he did when rushed into service with 10 plays and a prayer against KC.

The organization and HC Hue Jackson have defended the move saying the game reps Carson got were invaluable.

We hope so but the end result was a mess and nearly a disaster.

We think the Denver result will look much different.

10-31-11 1:30 pm pac Happy Halloween!~

                                                                                           CB Lito Sheppard

The Raiders returned to the practice field today despite the Holiday and they have work to do if they are to set the ship right and salvage the season.

Their skunking 28-0 to the Chiefs was a blow but not a major set back.

We covered why and why it shouldn't happen again and Oakland will do everything in its power to get RB Darren McFadden back on the field and QB Carson Palmer up to speed with his WRs.

Despite the rumors, TJ Houshmenzadeh was not among the 6 WRs healthy and available for todays practice.

Of course the Palmer / Zadeh connections led people to believe Oakland would add the veteran WR to fill the slot vacated by fill in  Kicker Dave Rayner who was released last week.

K Sebastian Janikowski's hammy looks to be dicey still and the Raiders aren't going to push it. He strolled around the practice field but nothing more strenuous.

Rayner's roster spot was filled by CB Lito Sheppard whom the Raiders have looked at and worked out several times this season.

Veteran CB Chris Johnson hoped to be back in time for Denver on Nov. 6th, and he might, but he was a spectator along with QB Jason Campbell on the sidelines today.

Campbell was without a sling on his broken collar bone.

Even when CJ was healthy he struggled mightily.

Though others disagree, CB DeMarcus Van Dyke has struggled as well and tends to shy away from contact.

Fellow rookie Chimdi Chekwa may be another reason Sheppard has been added. Chekwa played well in limited exposure but like Johnson has been hobbled by a hammy.

He stood on the sidelines as well this afternoon.

Its hoped he can return for the Denver game. We'll keep you posted.

MLB Rolando McClain suffered lower leg injuries that finally sidelined him against KC and it looked early like he might not participate at all but he was seen running later in practice.

TE Kevin Boss suffered a mild concussion but was back on the field and with his helmet on.

Veteran team leader Richard Seymour was back at DT and participating in drills.

We ranted after the KC game that C Samson Satele is no good when he is dinged and though it was downplayed, Satele showed up with a knee brace today and spent the first part of practice on a warm up bike before donning his helmet.

We'll see if Oakland takes our advice and takes the undersized and injured 300 lb Satele out in short yds and goal line and replaces him with 315lb rookie LG Stephen Wisniewski.

Running behind him will be RB Michael Bush and more likely rookie Taiwan Jones than Darren McFadden.

McFadden was not at practice. Even if he were ready and available for the Broncos it may be worth resting him against Denver due to the 4 day turn-around against the more powerful San Diego Chargers on the following Thursday.

10-24-11 9:09 am pac

Photo Paul Sakuma / AP                                                                                                 Palmer and Jackson

Oakland lost stars on both sides of the ball in yesterdays drubbing at the hands of the Chiefs.

RB Darren McFadden and MLB Rolando McClain were both sporting protective boots with McFadden on  crutches at todays practice.

The League leading rusher lasted all of two plays against KC before heading into the locker room. He returned to the sideline but never saw the field again.

McClain is wearing a protective boot on his left foot and thats the one he injured two games ago. No word on whether its an exacerbation of the existing injury or a fresh wound but at least its to the same leg.

Warrior that he is, McClain bounced in and out of the game as pain allowed even though he was injured/re-injured early on.

LB Daryl Blackstock filled for him admirably but it wasn't the Defense hobbling Oakland yesterday.

TE Kevin Boss has been plagued with injuries since joining Oakland as a fill in for departed Pro Bowl TE Zach Miller but Miller has been riding pine the majority of the time he's been under performing in Seatlle so at least its a wash.

Boss suffered a concussion yesterday but will have time to heal up and pass protocols.

All three players could be back for the Raiders redemptive match up with Division rival Denver.

Oakland will use the down time to heal up and grow chemistry between its WRs and new QB Carson Palmer who himself was nearly injured when a KC defender dove at his knees, taking him down awkwardly on only his second play as a Raider.

Palmer seems no worse for wear and he and several of Oaklands receivers have vowed to hang around the Raiders practice facility during Oaklands four off days (Thursday thru Sunday) running routes, catches passes, getting down timing and working on OC Al Saunders vast play book.

Look for our coming article on what happened agaisnt KC and why.

10-21-11 1:07 am pac      

Photo Ben Margot / AP                                                                                               QBs Boller and Palmer

Oakland will need to continue its disciplined play against Kansas Citys 6th ranked run game.

Back up / fill in RB Jackie Battle had a solid outing against the hapless Colts and is well rested after the  bye week.

Of course the best way to negate Battle and the vaunted KC run game is dominate with your own.

RB Darren McFadden leads the League in rushijng  and has a history of big games against the Chiefs. It would be smart of Oakland to control the clock against their 28th ranked run D.

If they can't and Boller has to go air (sorry Chiefs fans, new Raider QB  Carson Palmer IS too rusty. Come Sunday, he will be holding a clip board) WR Jacoby Ford has a few highlight reel games against Kansas City and we'd be happy to see TE Kevin Boss get involved in the red zone passing game ie. TDs please.

No offense to KC fans and Oakland better not sleep on them, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Raiders rest DMC a little more and hand the ball to his cohort Michael Bush who has also posted some impressive games against KC.

On defense, Oakland wasn't really tested by Cleveland because contractually minded RB Peyton Hillis left the game early with a hammy issue and the Browns had to abandon the run with Oakland up 24-7 in the 2nd half.

This should not be a problem for Oakland if they keep playing the same disciplined, fundamentally sound run defense they have been the last few games although we have a feeling MLB Rolando McClain may sit and rest his wounded ankle. He's missed all of this weeks practices but being the warrior he is, he may suit up despite the pain.

Resting him might be the better part of valor.

Its a long season and the Silver and Black will need him.

WLB Aaron Curry will play his 2nd game as a Raider and we expect an even better game than his 3 tackle performane last week end.

DT turned DE Desmond Bryant will be one to watch in place of recently IR'ed DE Matt Shaughnessy.

Bryant had a big game last season at Arrowhead but he'll need to set the edge better than he did against Cleveland.

Oakland has been blitzing like mad compared to before Mr. Davis' passing. They'll need to apply pressure to QB Matt Cassel because when he has a bad game, KC has a bad game.

Oaklands banged up Secondary will bewithout CB Chris Johnson and likely rookie CB Chimdi Chekwa who's hamstring is still acting up.

That means more DeMarcus Van Dyke who looks weak and ineffectual against the run.

If yo;re going to tackle like DeAngel Hall, you'd better make some game changing plays in favor of your team.

Oakland will roll the bones with Kyle Boller at QB and even if they drop this one, God forbid, they will have a bye week to get new Franchise QB Carson Palmer all ready for the Broncos.

That by no stretch means they should sleep on KC. In fact, they should make a statement with them.

UPDATE: All World Kicker Sebastian Janikowski was injured perhaps during the Cleveland game. Apparently it was hoped the injury wasn't substantial but his left hamstring siezed up on him and he was added to the official injury report on Thursday.
Oakland is scrambling for a replacement.

The Raiders tried out three kickers at the close of practice. They were believed by be Rhys Lloyd, Ricky Schmitt and Dave Rayner.

 Janikowski was moving stiffly during the early portion of practice, loading footballs into a JUGS gun to give return specialists a workout. He was officially listed as questionable with a left hamstring strain.

 "It's a huge part of our football team if he can't go," Jackson said. "I'm not going to make any excuses. If he can't go, he can't go. We'll get somebody that can. That's the way it goes. We'll be fine."

His innury doesn't seem major, likely won;t require surgery and we have a bye week after the Chiefs but until he returns expect Oaklands Special Teams coverage units (who may be without Ace Rock Cartwright (calf) to be tested alot more in his absence.

Oh, and alot fewer 50 yd + field goal attempts.

J.Kow is by far the Raiders leading scorer and under appreciated by many who either don't know or were too young remember Oaklands masssive struggles and dissapointing losses in close games due to the Raiders lack of consistent kicking.

UPDATE: Some NFL sources claim MLB Rolando McClain will start Sunday even after missing all of this weeks practices. This is unusual but not beyond the realm of possibility.
We still think he should sit this week and the nextduring the bye to heal up but we'll see...


   

10-18-11 1:35  am pac            

Photo Jamie Squires / Getty Images                                                        QB Matt Cassel "Mother!"

After the Kansas City Chiefs disastrous 0-2 start, HC Todd Haley dialed up a friend who fashions customized "cornhole" bean-bag games, seen at tailgate parties around the league. It features a pair of wooden boards, each with a hole carved into it. They're separated by about 30 feet and players attempt to sink the bean bag into the hole from across the way.

 It might sound like a children's game, but this was a team that needed to find someway to come together.

Apparently all Kansas City need to do was take some time bonding and cornholing each other.

In week 3 KC nearly surprised the sleeping Chargers and then went on to win two in a row against the Vikings and Colts, leading some to speculate the wins may have saved HC Tood Haley's job.

If two wins over the the worst teams in the League brings Haley down off the bubble KC's brass is easy to impress.

Now, after a bye week Kansas City will face a tougher test in the Oakland Raiders.

Sans starting QB Jason Campbell, it looks like the odds are not in favor of Oakland  making a trade for another before todays 4 pm trade deadline. Could be harder without MR. Davis in the building but the staff on hand are more than capable and have seen these kinds of deals before.

If they can get something done they will. That is, if they want to.

QB Kyle Boller will likely be Oaklands starter come Sunday when the Chiefs come to town.

In his favor, Oakland currently has the best hands in its history residing on the roster. A deep core of WRs, Kevin Boss at TE converted WR to FB Marcel Reece and three RBs who can catch as good as if not better than most of their Wide Receiver team mates.

All he has to do is use proper mechanics and accurately deliver th ball to them. 

The Raiders defense has been stout in its last two outings against good rushing teams mainly, because Oakland has slowed down, gotten disciplined and required each man to stay home and as DT Tommy Kelly put it: "Do his job."

Simple no?

The Raiders clearly have the personnel to stop Kansas City's 6th ranked rushing attack including last minute addition WLB Aaron Curry who looked good and contributed 3 tackles in last week ends win over the Browns after attending exactly one practice as a Raider. Like TK said, its just a matter of playing like a Pro and again, "doing your job."

The Raiders O line has been doing its job and RB Darren McFadden leads the League in rushing with 610 yds on 111 rushes including 4 TDs.

In order to keep Boller from being exposed Oakland will try to use their 2nd ranked rushing attack against KCs 28th ranked run D.

Or at least they should.

If Oaklands D stops KCs ground game that would leave Oaklands pieced together secondary to contend with QB Matt Cassel who was 21 of 29 for 257 yds and 4 TDs as the Chiefs stormed back with 21 unanswered points to beat the winless Colts.

CB Stanford Routt has struggled against KC's big WR Dwayne Bowe who currently ahs 23 catches for 420 yds and 4 TDs.

Oaklands pre-Davis blitzing could help or cost the Raiders. Natural pressure with their front four has been impressive especially considering DE Matt Shaughnessy is out and being replaced by a combination of DT Desmond Bryant and Raider resurrection project Jarvis Moss.

Last time these two teams met Oakland destroyed a play off bound Kansas City team fading down the stretch.

The Raiders not only won 31-10 at Arrowhead, they beat on KC to the point it affected them in the play offs and they were one and done.

Oakland will seek to do continue it dominance over KC this Sunday when they come to visit the Black Hole and they'll likley look to do it the old fashioned way, but beating their Division rival to a pulp.

10-12-11 11:11 am pac               

Photo Matt Sullivan / Getty Images 

FB Marcel Reece-ankle DE Matt Shaughnessy,-shoulder TE Richard Gordon,-hand S Matt Giordano-concussion and MLB Rolando McClain-ankle were not at practice today. CBs Chimdi Chekwa-hammy and Chris Johnson- groin strain were, there but limited.

With back up MLB Ricky Brown out for the season on IR reserve Special Teams LB Darryl Blackstock would likely get the nod.

Browns RB Peyton Hillis will look to redeem himself in Oakland after rumors his strep throat illness may not have been the only thing keeping the star RB out of Clevelands last game.
Hillis and his agent are sparring with the Browns in this, the last year of Hillis' contract.

Solid young CB Joe Haden sprained his knee against the Titans in week 3. An MRI revealed the damage and its unknown wether the productive defender will be able to play against Oakland.

We're guessing not.

DE Marcus Bernard received two tickets for the motorcycle crash Monday that broke his hand and will see him replaced for this week ends contest.

WR/KR Joshua Cribbs is feeling better nursing a knee sprain of his own but is likely to play despite the promotion of rookie Tarheel WR Greg Little.

Little is big at 6-2, 220 and will be playing the X this week end.

Little has talent but is immature. He was banished from his Senior year at Carolina by the NCAA for taking illegal contributions like travel and jewelry from agents.

Center Alex Mack felt sick all through week 4's match up with Miami but played all the way through only to find out he needed an emergency appendectomy which he received last week during Clevelands week 5 bye.

DE Marcus Bernard received two tickets after wrecking his motorcycle on monday and breaking his hand. He is out indefinitely.

LB/DE Kam Wimbley will play against the team that drafted him in the 1sat round and then ditched him to Oakland where he has enjoyed a resurrgence and a fat pay raise.

We hope he enjoys wreaking a terrible vengeance on Cleveland and QB Colt McCoy.

The Browns new HC Pat Shurmur no doubt used the week off to study up on Oakland. The QB guru, offensive minded Shurmur has 12 years Legue experience but theres no disguising the fact he is a rookie HC with exactly 4 games experience under his belt.

This is not a cake walk for Oakand who have a tradition of big let downs after big games and playing down to the competition.

If they come out focused and with their ears pinned back, they should win at home in front a huge crowd there to celebrate the life of and mourn the passing of Al Davis.

No better way to do that than with a win.

10-12-11 6:16 am pac

Tennyson wrote: "The old order changeth, yielding place to new".

Oakland has always been a hyper-secret organization and just how sick our fallen Leader was remained a mystery until the end to many fans.

Many of us felt like Mr. Davis would live forever.

And in some ways, he will.

Mr. Davis' advancing years and failing health my have shocked some but wasn't a surprise to those inhabiting the inner most circle. A carefully lain plan is in place to keep things running in Oakland and while it may not be entirely optimal it is one worked out no doubt under the scrutiny of one of the greatest football minds in history.

Remember, though he may have been old, Mr. Davis was instrumental in building this League. He loved the Raiders like no other. It only stands to reason he would leave them pepared for his eventual, ineveitable absence.

The torch has been passed to Amy Trask, Mark Davis and Hue Jackson among others and things will likely carry on the Al Davis way at least for now. We'll see if those H/W/S players come off the board the way Al used to do when the draft comes this April...

Mr Davis' loss is immesurable, incalculable and will be felt for generations but the Nation he grew, the League he helped build will go on without him.

But it will never, ever be the same.

MOVING FORWARD

Tennyson also wrote: "Theirs not to reason why, / Theirs but to do and die"

Yesterday Oakland trolled the FA market for a suitable LB addition. MLB Rolando McClain tweaked his ankle pretty hard early on against Houston but manned up and had one of the best games of his young career but depth and attrition have taken their toll as we head into week 6 against Cleveland at home.

With back up MLB Ricky Brown on IR with a concussion issue and McClain possibly hobbled, we'll at least need depth for practice and even Special Teams.

Our secondary situation seems to be slowly getting better. Not sure if CJ is going to be game ready and when he has been this season he has struggled mightily.

Might be better served by some of Oaklands youth like Chimdi Chekwa (if healthy, He's been injured too with a hammy) or DeMarcus Van Dyke (who had several flags but played aggressively). Odds are one of them will see more time since Safety Matt Giordano is out with a concussion suffered against the Texans.

The Raiders did get SS Mike Mitchell back from pre season knee surgery, but he's been brought along slowly and hasn't made a serious impact yet.

Oaklands hybrid experiment continues even with the injuries and questions of depth as FS Michael Huff slides down into the slot now and again to play CB.

We like the idea in theory as it keeps him closer to the line to re-act against the run, but with depth concerns at the 3rd level we think he's better utilized at Free Safety where he can read and roam.

Along the D line Lamarr Houston had his best game of the season batting 3 passes and snagging an interception.

Though they are stocked at RB, after watching Houston's return after the pick makes us think Oakland should give the former Running Back a few hand offs...

The 6-3, 305 pounder is exceedingly quick and powerful and would be extremely difficult to stop.

Odds are we won't see Houston busting out of the back field or in short yarrdage situations any time soon since his fellow DE Matt Shaughnessy appears to be out of commission.

No official word on any of these issues but Shaughnessy's shoulder(?) injury is serious enough to think he will miss at least the next few games if not the season.

DE Jarvis Moss has been playing well but he is best as a situational pass rusher and not an edge setting run stuffer. Same for back up veteran Trevor Scott.

Shaughnessy's loss for the year would be a blow but the Raiders still have time to ad a vet before the waiver wire closes if they choose to do so.

They have been looking.

Overall, the Raiders D has played well. Well enough to win 3 out of 5 games anyway.

What Mr, Davis understood was that yards surrendered between the 20s mean little but detractors either didn't understand this or didn't care and used it as a excuse to bash, but when teams like the Patriots end up last in the League in defense, its Belichick's "Bend don't break" defensive genius on display.

When Al used it as a core philosophy, it was a sign of how terrible his idea of how to run a Defense was.

Some say Al was a spiteful man and he was to those who crossed him. If you never did he was by all accounts a friend without equal.

While it may have bothered him that lesser men felt the need to lie, inveigle and obfuscate in trying to diminish Davis' greatness, he felt, so be it.

A man can be judged by the quality of his enemies and Mr. Davis had some very fine ones indeed.

And a few lesser ones.

Like the ones in the media who will, even in and in some cases, especially, in his absence try to paint him a bad light and to them, he may have been a mean, spiteful man but deep down inside alot of the people Davis disliked?  

They probably deserved it.

Immune now from the slings and arrows we hope once those who resented or envied him are long gone too Al Davis' remarkable legacy can be seen for what it truly was.