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"Can Oaklands new Offensive Coordinator re-ignite Raider Air or is it a Mission Impossible?"
Al's new Al
03-01-11 3:30 pm pac
Photo Win Mcnamee / Getty ImagesNew Oakland Off Coord Al Saunders "Your mission, should you decide to accept it."
Just who is Al's new Al and can he re ignite Oaklands long dead passing game?
In 1999, as the St. Louis Rams assistant head coach/wide receivers coach, the team had it's best offense, averaging just over 400 yards per game. St. Louis was first overall in passing ‘O’ and fifth in the rushing department.
A year later, in the same capacity, the Rams again had the NFL’s No. 1 offense, this time with 442.2 total yards per game.
In 2001, Saunders became the offensive coordinator of a Chiefs team that a year prior ranked a solid eighth in the NFL in total yardage. With Saunders in control, KC got even better, finishing fifth overall.
In his second year with the Chiefs, the team’s offense improved yet again, this time ranking fourth in the league in total yardage, despite ranking 25th in plays from scrimmage.
2003 was the same story. An already good Chiefs offense became even better with Saunders calling the shots. Kansas City moved up to second overall in yards per game and first overall in points per game.
From taking an eighth-ranked offense to fifth in 2001 to fourth in 2002 and then to second in ‘03, Saunders claimed the No. 1 spot in 2004. Kansas City’s offense racked up over 30 points and 418 yards per game, tops in the NFL.
2005 was his last season with the Chiefs. But yet again, Saunders took his No. 1 offense from a year ago and kept it first in the league, this time with 387 yards per game.
Last season was Saunders’ last stint as a full-time offensive coordinator, returning once more to the Rams With QB Marc Bulger battling his own mistakes and injuries all season long, St. Louis finished 27th overall in offense, Saunders' worst season as a coordinator in a decade.
So has Al Saunders lost his coaching touch or was last season’s experience with the Rams a fluke? Were the Rams simply that awful and the timing equally awful?In the 1970s, Al Saunders joined the coaching staff at USC and San Diego State , whose SDSU Aztecs were then under the control of HC Don Coryell. Saunders would go with Coryell to NFL when Coryell became the head coach of the Chargers.
From 1983–1985, Saunders was the wide receivers coach with San Diego. He became the assistant head coach for the 1986 season, and was tapped as the Chargers' head coach when Coryell resigned during the middle of the season. Saunders would eventually hold the head coaching position from 1986-1988.
From 1989–1998, Saunders was with Kansas City where he served as the assistant head coach and wide receivers coach under famed Marty Ball creator Marty Shottenhiemer.
Saunders would then join the Rams coaching staff. From 1999-2000 he served as the wide receivers Coach under Dick Vermiel and later as assistant head coach under Mike Martz. During this period, the Rams won Super Bowl XXXIV in 2000.
Saunders would rejoin the Kansas City Chiefs in 2001 as the offensive coordinator when Vermeil came out of retirement. In his second stint with the Chiefs, Saunders built the NFL's top offense, ranked #1 in the NFL from 2002–2005.
On January 19, 2006, he joined the coaching staff of the Redskins as the Associate Head Coach for the offense, which reunited him with fellow Don "Air" Coryell alumnus, Joe Gibbs. At the time, his 3-year, $6 million contract made him the second highest paid assistant coach in the NFL. Players such as recent additions Antwan Randle El and Brandon Lloyd have claimed that the signing of Saunders to the Washington coaching staff was a major pull factor in their decision to sign with the Redskins. In this role, he served the team like he did in Kansas City, as the primary play caller and offensive coordinator.
Saunders' offensive playbook reportedly had approximately 700 pages of various plays. When the Redskins struggled offensively in the 2006 pre-season and during the first two regular season games, the lengthy playbook became the subject of criticism -both humorous and serious- by Washington sports media. However, desiring not to provide scouting information to opponents, the Redskins only used a small number of plays (estimated by Saunders at around 2% of his playbook) during the pre-season. Beginning with the third game of the regular season, Washington's offensive production increased but later fell.
Many believe that the pairing of Al Saunders offense and the veteran quarterback Mark Brunell was a bad fit. The Al Saunders offense, an Air Coryell offense, requires a quarterback with a very accurate sense of timing and trust with the receiver which could not be replicated in Washington during Brunell's 2006 season.
We'll have to see if that can happen in Oakland if thats the case.
Saunders has worked with Oakland QB before.
In 2007, Jason Campbell dislocated his left knee in a week 14 game versus the Chicago Bears. Veteran back-up Todd Collins, who took over the reigns and was very effective as he led the Redskins to four straight victories and into the playoffs. Collins' success can be attributed to the fact that he had been studying under Saunders' offensive scheme since 2001.
After Joe Gibbs retired as head coach of the Redskins on January 8, 2008 and Jim Zorn was hired as the new offensive coordinator by Redskins' owner Dan Snyder on January 25, Saunders was fired by Snyder on January 26.
On January 30, 2008, Saunders was hired as offensive coordinator for the Rams After Steve Spagnuolo was hired as head coach in January 2009, Saunders was informed he would not be retained for the upcoming season.
In 2009 Saunders was hired as an offensive consultant with the Ravens.
On January 20, 2011, Saunders was hired as the Offensive Coordinator for the Raiders.
Despite being hired as Offensive Coordinator, Saunders will not be the primary play caller, those duties are still going to remain with Hue Jackson, but it is believed that he is going to be a very important piece for Oaklands coaching staff and the success of the Raiders are expected to have this upcoming season. He is expected to give the once-dominant, now ineffective passing game(which ranked 23rd of 32 teams in the NFL this past season with just 198.8 passing yards per game) a major boost. He will also be reunited with QB Jason Campbell, Saunders worked for Washington for 2 years while Campbell was there.
Given the Raiders current roster of still green wide outs and greener wide receivers coach plus unanswered questions on the O line make Saunders approach less than optimal or guaranteed but barring a strike there is still plenty of time and manuvering to be done before opening day.
If Oaklands new commitment to the ground game can spark the air attack Saunders and the Raiders actually could pull off the mission impossible.
Winning their way into the post season.
Raiders vs Seahawks
Mostly Silver
10-31-10-10:31 pm pac
Photo Paul Sakuma /AP
FB Marcel Reece scores
Its been along time coming but for the first time in far to long, these reports are going to be much more Silver than Black...
THE SILVER
The Raiders ended the game with 545 yards of total offense. That’s 1,053 yards in the last two games and a combined score of 92-17. The first time ever going back to back with 500 yards.
EVER.
That includes the record setting Rich Gannon, Gruden era play off run.
Why the explosion?
THE SILVER
Darren McFadden has developed into the kind of threat he was in college, only now he's starting to make those record setting SEC plays at a professional level.
Folks, it is impressive.
McFadden started slow and gained 29 yards on his first 12 carries, then 82 on his last nine carries to finish with 111 yards on 21 attempts, highlighted by an electrifying 49 yard run.
Its been a solid season so far and I'm not blindly sipping the kool aid when I make the comparison between McFadden and O.J. Simpson.
Throw in a little Gale Sayers and you're getting closer to what Mcfadden is running like.
For those of you who've seen the footage of Sayers and Simpson in their prime you know what a colosal statement that is.
In under performing years past Mcfadden has lacked 2 things Sayers and Simpson had. Field vision and patience.
In this season and especially these last two games McFadden has not only shown he's great pass blocker and receiver, but a serious threat as an all around running back.
McFadden's got the vision now to extend those runs and showed the patience to read his blockers and pick his lane.
Its amazing and exciting.
Sends a shiver up your spine.
You can see greatness happening.
THE BLACK
Oakland had 11 penalties for 105 yds. Same old Raider football but what more recent fans may not have realized is that the stupid false start, illegal formation, uneccessary roughness, delay of game penalties don't hurt as much when you're putting points on the board.
THE SILVER
Jason Campbell was 15 of 27 for 310 yards and two touchdowns, managing the game well and not generating turn overs. Aided by a monster running game Campbell is flourishing.
His highlight reel this week will include a fourth and 1 30 yard strike to FB Marcel Reece and a 69-yard rocket to Darrius Heyward Bey, who broke out with five catches for 105 yards.
THE BLACK
Bruce Gradkowski's been named the starter as soon as he's "healthy". He was throwing 20 yarders in warm ups but odds are its going to be Campbell under center against Kansas City.
With things going this way, a little QB competition and or "controversy" is a very good thing.
THE SILVER
The Raiders fielded four players with more than 100 yards of combined rushing and receiving RB Darren McFadden (135), WR Darrius Heyward-Bey (135), FB Marcel Reece (122) and RB Michael Bush (106).
Photo Tony Avelar / AP
RB Darren McFadden
THE BLACK
Seattle's D line lost DT Red Bryant halfway through and he was filling in for Brandon Mebane.
On the O line Seattle had Troy Polumbus filling in for 2010 1st round draft pick Russell OKung.
Okung is nursing his 2nd ankle sprain.
Polumbus hadn't played left tackle since his senior year in 2007 and hadn't even been a Seahawk for a week.
With 12:51 in the 4th quarter Polumbus was injured and off the field.
Oakland definitely did not face a Seattle teqam at full strength.
THE SILVER
Seahawk QB Matt Hasselbeck was harassed into a 13-for-32 performance and was sacked eight times.
Richard Seymour and Kamerion Wimbley each had two sacks. Tyvon Branch, Matt Shaughnessy, Tommy Kelly and Lamarr Houston each had one.
THE BLACK
Despite killer, dominant defense the Raiders lost All Pro CB Nnamid Asomugha.
Photo Paul Sakuma / AP CB Nnamdi AsomughaX-rays came back negative but they don't know the extent of the damage.
It looked awkward and bad.
THE SILVER
The constant pressure by Oaklands front 7 helped its DBs play better and they contributed with big plays and another interception.
Theirs alot of Silver to be had from todays victory and it was a good one but looming just on the horizon is a match up with high powered Division rival Kansas City and they will provide a much tougher opponent against the Raiders revival.
Enjoy the win Raider Nation.
Its well deserved and been a long time coming.
Raiders Dinged in Blow
Out Victory10-25-10 1:12 pm pac
Photo Joe Mahoney / AP RB Darren McFaddenOakland put an epic beat down on their hated division rival Denver but suffered some pretty significant losses during the melee.
CB Chris Johnson, C Samson Satele and DE Matt Shaughnessy suffered concusions yesterday.
The severity and their viability for Oaklands match up with Seattle is unknown at this point.
WR Louis Murphy, who collided with FB Marcel Reece on a pass play may have an injured clavicle. Not sure if its a re-injury of the one he sustained earlier this season.
Rookie Jared Veldheer drew 3 false start flags at Left Tackle yesterday but played the position extremely well, especially in the run game.
Veldheer was moved to center in the 2nd half when Satele went down and played well there too.
Veldheer and the O line ripped open huge holes for Darren McFadden and co. who shredded the Broncos D for big yards.
DMC had a better than 10 yds per average with 165 yds on 16 carries and 3 TDs on the ground.
He added another one through the air and finally lived up to his lofty draft status actually looking at this level like the terror of the SEC Oakland drafted to to be.
CB Chris Johnson will be missed if he can't go against the Seahawks but aside from his pick 6 at the start of yesterdays game, he's really under performed this season.
We might have to see how rookie CB Walter McFadden's hamstring is doing this week.
The good news in Oaklands stunning 59-14 victory is they never let up.
Even though they were ahead 21-0 before most fans had taken their seats at Mile High the Raiders went full throttle the whole game.
Nice to see.
The Raider played a complete game beginning to end and poor on the coal to bring hoem an epic, record setting and historic victory.
Now fans will wait to see if they've turned a corner and can capitalize by making ti 2 in row by defeating the Seahawks this coming week end.
Return of the House of
Thrills10-12-10 12:01 pm pac
Photo Tony Avelar / APRB Rock CartwrightOakland pulled off an excellent win over division rival San Diego in old school Raider fashion. Tons of penalties, high drama and a last minute finish that electrified the home town crowd.
Heres the break down of an epic showdown.
THE SILVER
Oaklands special teams came alive and provided the first 12 points of the game.
RB Rock Cartwright's punt block electrified the crowd and scored 2. Reserve TE Brandon Myers block was recovered by S Hiram Eugene for a TD and J.Kow was back to being deadly accurate.
He was 2 for 2 including a 50 yarder in the first quarter and negated the Chargers return men with touch back after touch back.
WR/PR Nick Miller finally got the nod and ripped a sweet 46 yd punt return that might've gone the distance if JLH hadn't bumbled into his path.
THE BLACK
The Raiders still have no clear kick returner.
Rookie WR Jacboy Ford has the speed but fumbled twice on five attempts.
THE SILVER
QB Jason Campbell came off the bench and after a few hiccups led the Raiders on back to back scoring drives including the longest Raider scoring drive since 1997.
THE BLACK
Bruce "Almighty" may be more dinged than they are letting on. If you read here regularly you'd know we predicted Campbell's return since Gradkowski may have the heart of a lion but the body of Glass Joe. The poor guy can't stay healthy.
His shoulder injury seems more serious than they are letting on but he'll will himself into the line up if theres any possible way even if its detrimental to the team.
THE SILVER
Michael Bush is back. His broken thumb did not seem to be an issue.
Bush ran for 104 yds on 26 carries and scored a goal line TD. He also caught 3 for 31 including a sweet 16 yarder.
Not many people realize how much he and Darren McFadden have improved as pass protectors.
THE BLACK
McFadden's hammy may not be ready. Even if it is, Cable may decide to rest him against the 0-5 49ers based on Bush's performance.
THE SILVER
Khalif Barnes played well at LG filling in for back up Daniel Loper. Loper has had a sore knee for a few weeks now, but Cable says his absence was caused by an ankle tweak. He should be back this Sunday and if not, theres a chance the original starter Robert Gallery might make it back into the fray.
Not a large chance, but a chance.
Center Samson Satele seems to have taken his benching to heart and is finally playing better football.
Oaklands left tackle rotation isn't as glaringly awful as it has been and thanks in part to judicious play calling rookie Jared Veldheer is performing much better.
He still lacks experience and savvy but once he locks onto a guy, its over.
THE BLACK
Oaklands still allowing too much pressure on its QBs and needs to be more consistent in the run game. The good news is the Raiders diversification policy of making linemen learn more than one position is paying off.
The bad news is they've needed to use it.
Raider linemen will need to stay healthy if Oakland wants to win.
THE SILVER
TE Zach Miller is a legitimate stud.
Miller made 11 catches the week before so the Chargers worked all week on a plan to stop him and were unable to.
He finished with 6 grabs and a TD and is figuring more prominently in the Raiders O.
THE BLACK
Oaklands wides were nearly shut out.
Part of it was an inability to create seperation in man coverage, part of it was Jason Campbell's unwillingness to pull the trigger. Either way the Raiders need to find a way to get the ball down field and get their wides involved.
THE SILVER
The Raiders recovered 2 fumble to break even in the turn over ratio department.
THE BLACK
Oakland lucked out more than once against SD. Campbell, Ford and Miller all coughed up the ball.
THE SILVER
The Raider D line held the Chargers to 91 yds on the ground.
THE BLACK
Oaklands secondary was shredded for 431 yds and 2 TDs.
THE SILVER
Oaklands offense, defense and special teams all played well.
They may have sputtered here and there but all contributed to the win and all put points on the board.
THE BLACK
Some of them were ticky tack and some of them well deserved but Oakland needs to cut way back on the penalties this week if they want to win.
In a nod to the old school silver and black Oakland won despite themselves.
Flagged 14 times the Raiders were hit with 12 all tolled.
THE SILVER
Oakland and its rabid fan base can bask for a week in the glory of a long over due win against a hated division rival.
Long time Raider fans know that this win was typical of the back and forth high tension, high drama win the Silver and Black was famous for back in the day and it was great to see Oakland pull off a great victory despite itself with great play and better team work.
It truly was a "Return of the House of Thrills".
Enjoy the week Raider Nation!
Raiders vs Cardinals
Edition
Photo Paul Conners / APRB Darren McFadden
The Silver
Darren McFadden...again.
Thats a very good thing. DMC had another 100 yd game posting 115 yds and a TD on 25 carries including a 33 yard sprint that was a thing of beauty.
DMC is showing he's a very good running back not only toting the rock, but as a well rounded football player.
On Oaklands first series McFadden was charged with blocking for the vulnerable Bruce Gradkowski and leveled 6-3, 230 lb Pro Bowl Safety Adrian Wilson who was blitzing on a dead sprint from 12 yds away.
Not only leveled, I mean destroyed.
McFadden's gotten much better at pass protection.
The Black
McFadden's been it in the running game.
Despite Michael Bush's broken thumb, we haven't seen much of anyone else running the ball even though Oakland kept both Rock Cartwright and Michael Bennett as running back depth.
The Silver
LG Daniel Loper was good again this week.
The Black
LG Cooper Carlisle wasn't.
He wasn't horrible, he just wasn't good.
The Silver
Center Samson Satele played pretty well.
The Black
None of our alleged Tackles did.
Jared Veldheer is outclassed at left tackle. He gets beaten everytime.
Stop it already!
The rotation between him and Mario Henderson serves neither of them nor the team.
One wonders why former Jaguars left tackle Khalif Barnes isn't getting a shot but he does on rare occasions on running plays.
He's also been seen performing badly at right tackle filling in for Langston Walker.
Last week end he should've been flagged for a blatant hold that would've killed a scoring drive.
Walker, Barnes, pick your poison at RT.
Neither can pass block.
Barnes has also been serving as an extra TE in special over load packages...with out much success.
Too many times, he's a decoy and Oakland runs the other way.
Which leads us to...
The Silver
Oakland decided to air the ball out more which was a smart decision considering DMC, after 145 yd performance against the Rams, was likely the focus of the Cards.
Good call by O coordinator Hue Jackson.
The Black
Oaklands O line can't pass block and Jackson seems to be trying to trick other teams more often than running them over.
The Raiders need to get back to smash mouth, straight ahead football.
The O line rotation scheme we told you about in pre season seemed like a brilliant piece of strategy, but our O line guys aren't executing it and seem confused too often by it.
Photo Matt York / AP
QB Bruce Gradkowski
The Silver
Bruce Gradkowski gets it done.
The Black
He sacrifices his body to do it.
Where other QBs would demure in the face of a ferocious pass rsuh Gradkowski hangs in and waits that extra fraction of a second to accurately deliver the ball.
Thats all well and good, but the 6-1, 220 lb QB's willingness to take the bump means he's going to get hurt.
Gradkowski's toughness and focus makes the O line better by buying that crucial fraction of a second receivers need to get open, but he pays for their incompetence in pain and those kind of payments can only be made for so long.
The Silver
Darrius Heyward Bey looked decent again. Thats twice in a row and thats a relief. He still needs to figure out how to negate CBs little tricks like tugging his jersey to slow him down, but he's vastly improved over last year and not afraid to work.
He only posted 3 grabs for 49 yards but made a clutch catch on 4th and 10 to extend the drive that set up Janikowski's kick with :04 seconds left to win.
Louis Murphy looks like a legitimate threat at wide out too. He turned in a 119 yards on 5 catches including a scene stealing 70 yard catch and run
The Silver
Oaklands run defense has improved big time.
Beanie Wells hasn't proven himslef the caliber of Stephen Jackson or Twitchy Chris Johnson, but he is a quality running back and Oakland held him to 75 yds and the entire team to less than 120.
Some of that had to do with the Raiders offense being able to move th abll and stay on the field, but alot of it was simply solid play by Oaklands front 4 that included King Richard Seymour.
Silver and Bleak
09-12-10 1:15 pm pac
Photo Wade Payne / AP
"Why Gawd? WHY?!!!"
This is going to take a little while for obvious reasons. I'll need to sift for the "silver".
So we may update it soon after review.
THE SILVER
Darren McFadden obviously. Despite an unspeakably bad offensive line...wait this is supposed to be silver...
DMC gained 150 yds total offense and looked like a 1st round running back.
THE BLACK
DMC was the only consistent weapon. TE Zach Miller caught 4 for 43 including a pretty 27 yarder and WR Louis Murphy contributed 4 more for 28, but had several drops.
THE SILVER
The Raiders face the Rams next.
THE BLACK
Most would think facing the Rams would be a plus, but if Oakland gets demolished by St. Louis too, the season could be in jeopardy.
THE SILVER
There are signs of life from the offense. Campbell settled in and got the ball moving with the help of DMC.
THE BLACK
It was mid way through the 4th quarter and the Titans were coasting a little.
THE SILVER
The game is over.
THE BLACK
The plane ride home.
- 08-29-10 1:48 pm pac
The Silver:
Bruce Gradkowski coming off the bench to reclaim his "Almighty" status has to be seen as a plus and frankly a relief.
The Black:
The fact Bruce Gradowski had to come off the bench to reclaim his "Almighty" status. QB Jason Campbell's stinger could be nothing or it could linger.
The Silver:
Lineman Jared Veldheer looked good becoming the first 6-8 center ever to start in the NFL.
The Black:
Pretty much the rest of the O line. Mario Henderson nearly got Campbell decafinated. Cooper Carlisle is waaay past his prime. Bruce Campbell has his moments but is a long term project. RT Langston Walker has back problems. Khalif Barnes hasn't done anything to shine. Eric Pears and Chris Morris should be arrested for fraud for impersonating linemen.
The Silver:
WR Darrius Heyward Bey wasn't awful.
The Black:
Too many drops.
The Silver:
WR Louis Murphy's 74 yd touchdown.
The Black:
Too many drops.
Photo Tony Gonzales K Sebastian Janikowski good from 57 yds
The Silver:
Sebastian Janikowski is a gawd among kickers. He really is elite.
The Black:
The rest of Oaklands special teams are not.
The Silver:
Marcel Reece is stepping up at the murky FB position. Not only is making big plays in the passing game, he's gettting better at run blocking.
The Black:
RB Michael Bush's broken thumb. He saw a specialist today. They're not saying it, but seriously, an NFL running back is going to have a hard time catching the ball let alone retaining it while smashing through the line.
No idea on how bad it is but a broken thumb can take 6-12 weeks...
The Silver:
RBs Rock Cartwright and Michael Bennett both may be retained. Bennett's proven he's a better pure RB, yet the Rock is so versatile
The Black: Neither is Michael Bush.
Finally, The Silver:
This team messes up. It draws stupid penalties and shoots itself in the foot. It gets disheartened BUT unlike past squads this team recovers and continues to battle and compete.
THAT alone should bring a swell of pride to the heart of todays Raider Nation.
Every cloud has a Silver lining.
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