Originally published on SBReport.net on Aug. 31, 2012

The fourth and final preseason game is widely regarded as the final tryout for players attempting to make the team before teams cut down to the 53-man roster, and that’s just how it played for the Raiders.

Despite losing 21-3 to the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle, head coach Dennis Allen and general manager Reggie McKenzie gained valuable knowledge of second- and third-string players hoping to make the team. 

Star running back Darren McFadden didn’t see the playing field, and rightfully so as the coaches know what they have in him. This allowed Taiwan Jones and Mike Goodson to get more carries. 

Jones still only carried the ball 7 times, and that includes six straight carries to start the game. Jones finished with just 12 yards on his 7 carries, including a long of 15 yards that came on a draw play on 3rd and 12. Jones struggled mightily when the Seahawks defense pursued the sweep heavily and was forced back inside. Jones will need to continue on running upfield instead of dancing around behind the line. 

Starting quarterback only stayed in the game for one series in which he handed the ball off to Jones six straight times before the Seahawks forced a punt from Shane Lechler. 

The second-string offense came out after the first series and didn’t find much success ont he field either. Leinart was held to just 3/11 passing for 14 yards and an interception. Leinart’s interception occurred when he threw the ball high to wide receiver Brandon Carswell who tipped it and it was intercepted by the defender. 

The Raiders starting defense was without defensive tackles Tommy Kelly and Richard Seymour. Desmond Bryant and rookie Christo Bilukidi started in their place and did a solid job. Bilukidi had a solid game and most likely secured a roster position with his play on Thursday night. 

Bilukidi showed the ability to shed blockers and make the tackles, while also showing gap control and stopping runners from cutting back. Bilukidi finished with 4 tackles in his effort to earn the fourth defensive tackle position on the team. 

Newly signed return man Roscoe Parrish had a rough outing during his first game on the team after being signed on Tuesday. Parrish attempted two punt returns and fumbled the first and muffed the second attempt out of bounds after not being able to get his helmet on in time for the punt. It will be interesting to see if the Raiders give Parrish another opportunity by keeping him on the team, or rely on cornerback Bryan McCann who had a decent game returning the ball. 

McCann may also be on the bubble but proved his worth with a kickoff return for 24 yards and one punt return for 18 yards that led to the Raiders only score, an Eddy Carmona field goal in the last minute of the game. McCann also made a nice defensive play to break up a pass late in the game as well. 

The Raiders defense did a solid job to contain quarterback Russell Martin and the Seahawks starting offense, which was without starting running back Marshawn Lynch. Wilson finished just 5/11 for 72 yards. 

Running back Mike Goodson showed more explosiveness than he has this preseason when he was stuck running left but cut it back to the right for a 17-yard gain. Goodson finished with eight carries for 26 yards. 

Rookie linebacker Miles Burris, who has been starting in place of the injured Aaron Curry, had another solid game. Burris continuously made nice open-field tackles on Seahawks players, stopping them in their tracks. Burris finished with four tackles of his own and is expected to start in place of Curry when the regular season begins. 

The Raiders second- and third-string offensive line struggled much of the time, giving quarterback Terrelle Pryor little time while remaining unable to open holes for Goodson. Pryor was forced to scramble much of the time, including a play in which he escaped what looked to be a sack, then scrambled right to hit his wide receiver for the first down on a 3rd and 12 play. Pryor finished 6/9 for 55 yards to go with nine yards rushing on two attempts. 

Second-year cornerback Chimdi Chekwa had a rough game and was picked on in back-to-back slant patterns in the red zone. Chekwa needs to show some development from when he was drafted last year. 

Safety Brandon Underwood may have also been on the bubble heading into the game, but also made a statement with his 4 tackles and seeming to always be around the ball. The same can be said for cornerback Pat Lee who had a nice game as the gunner on special teams, also having a nice pass break-up on a comeback route from Matt Flynn. 

After having a solid game against the Detroit Lions with three passes defended, defensive tackle Jamie Cumbie remained relatively quiet Thursday night, meaning the fourth defensive tackle will likely be Bilukidi’s. 

It will be interesting to see if the Raiders decide to keep Parrish on the roster for his return capabilities or use the spot on a different 6th wide receiver such as McGee. McCann’s game today in the return game may have helped decide the front office’s decision, or he may have made it more difficult. 

The front office also has a tough decision at the linebacker position with Chad Kilgore, Carl Ihenacho and Nathan Stupar. Kilgore and Ihenacho have been pleasant surprises and Ihenacho can serve as a pass rusher on third down, giving him added versatility. Kilgore has shown he is instinctive and can hustle, but may be put on the practice squad as part of a numbers game. The same can be said for Stupar. Stupar has shown he can play special teams, but is often unable to shed blockers which came apparent in the touchdown run by fullback Vai Taua when Stupar got pushed back into the end zone. Stupar did have a sack and fill some gaps nicely to accumulate six tackles. The Raiders have a tough decision when it comes down to these three linebackers. 

The best thing that came out of the night: no injuries to the starting staff. The Raiders appeared to suffer only one injury, to Bilukidi which appeared to just be cramps. 

With wide receiver Denarius Moore expected back, the Raiders will head into the offseason with a relatively healthy team to take on the San Diego Chargers on Monday Night Football on Sept. 10. 

McKenzie and the front office will be busy tomorrow as they attempt to identify the team’s 22 players to cut, while looking at the almost 700 other players that are released by the other 31 teams in the NFL. McKenzie and Allen will be looking to find any players that could be a possible upgrade to their roster. 

Originally published on SBReport.net on Aug. 30, 2012

With the first round of cuts done and the second round of cuts coming on Friday, SBReport.net takes a look at who will make it and who may get cut.

All 32 teams in the NFL are forced to cut their squads down to 53 men on Friday, meaning 22 players are set to be released by general manager Reggie McKenzie and the Raiders.

Quarterbacks – 3

53-man roster: Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, Terrelle Pryor

Cut: none

Former Brown University quarterback Kyle Newhall-Cabellero was released as a result of the first roster cuts, leaving just three quarterbacks on the roster. There is no doubt that Palmer is the starter on this squad with Leinart acting as the backup.

Pryor proved during week three of the preseason that he has explosiveness that may be utilized by offensive coordinator Greg Knapp in certain packages.

Running backs – 3

53-man roster: Darren McFadden, Taiwan Jones, Mike Goodson

Cut: Lonyae Miller

McFadden is obviously the star of this team but needs to stay healthy or the Raiders will be left with a second-year player and a running back that doesn’t have much of a resume. Miller has been used heavily this preseason with injuries to Goodson and Jones, but the team will likely only keep three running backs on the roster heading into the regular season.

Fullbacks – 2

53-man roster: Marcel Reece, Owen Schmitt

Cut: none

With fullback Manase Tonga being released in the first wave, it leaves Reece and Schmitt as the lone fullbacks on the roster. Each fullback brings different skill sets to the team: Reece is explosive and versatile and can be a weapon in the pass game with his experience as a wide receiver at the University of Washington; Schmitt is a prototypical fullback that is a solid blocker and has shown an ability to catch short passes as well. Expect to see both of them on the field this year, depending on the situations.

Wide receivers – 6

53-man roster: Darrius Heyward-Bey, Denarius Moore, Jacoby Ford, Rod Streater, Juron Criner, Roscoe Parrish

Cut: Eddie McGee, Travionte Sessions, Derek Carrier, Brandon Carswell

The injuries to Ford and Moore have hurt the Raiders in the kick-return department thus far in the offseason, prompting McKenzie to sign Parrish to fill that void after he was released by the San Diego Chargers. This signing is likely to push McGee on the wrong side of the cutline.

Criner and Streater have shown they can play ball, both in offseason workouts and preseason games. Criner was a fifth-round draft pick and shown he has good hands. Streater has proven to be a favorite target this preseason, hauling in 18 receptions for 165 yards in limited action during the three first preseason games.

Sessions, Carrier and Carswell have had decent offseasons, but find themselves on the outside on a team with a young, solid wide receiving corps. Heyward-Bey and Criner will hold down one wide receiver position, while Moore, Ford and Streater will hold down the other.

Tight ends – 3

53-man roster: Brandon Myers, Richard Gordon, David Ausberry

Cut: Tory Humphrey, Kyle Efaw

The tight end situation may change in Oakland should McKenzie decide to bring in veteran tight end Chris Cooley, who was released by the Redskins on Monday. But for now, the Raiders have three young tight ends that all bring something different to the game. Myers is the starter, for now, and brings more of an all-around game to the team, while Gordon is the best blocker of the three, and Ausberry, who is a converted wide receiver, has the best pass-catching abilities.

Having the various tight end skill sets allows a lot Knapp to get creative with two-TE sets on offense. I expect the Raiders to utilize all three of the tight ends’ skill sets when necessary.

Offensive line – 9

53-man roster: Jared Veldheer, Mike Brisiel, Stefan Wisniewski, Cooper Carlisle, Khalif Barnes, Joseph Barksdale, Kevin Haslam, Tony Bergstrom, Alex Parsons

Cut: Lucas Nix, Nick Howell, Dan Knapp, Colin Miller

Offensive coordinator Greg Knapp mentioned that he was pleased with the play of his offensive line so far, with the exception of center. This means that the starting offensive line will remain the same with Veldheer (LT), Carlisle (LG), Brisiel (RG) and Barnes (RT). Parsons has been the center with Wisniewski out with a calf injury he sustained in the first preseason game.

The Raiders will keep Parsons as insurance for Wiz at the center position, and Barksdale and Haslam have proven to be versatile while playing numerous positions this offseason. Bergstrom was McKenzie’s first draft pick in the third round and brings his own versatility while being an expert in the zone-blocking scheme.

Defensive tackles – 4

53-man roster: Richard Seymour, Tommy Kelly, Christo Bilukidi, Desmond Bryant

Cut: Jamie Cumbie, Dominique Hamilton

Seymour, Kelly and Bryant were all-but solidified as the first three defensive tackles coming into the season. The team thought that big defensive tackle Travis Ivey would help fill the void as a big run-stopping defensive tackle but he was released in the early days of training camp.

Bilukidi was McKenzie’s sixth-round draft pick and has shown he can rush the pass as well as play the run, which was a worry of the coaching staff at the beginning of training camp.

Cumbie and Hamilton have shown glimpses of solid play, but not enough to warrant a spot on the roster over Bilukidi.

Defensive ends – 4

53-man roster: Matt Shaughnessy, Lamarr Houston, Dave Tollefson, Jack Crawford

Cut: Hall Davis

Getting a healthy Shaughnessy will help the Raiders defense, especially when defending the run. Houston will need to get to the quarterback more, but is a solid player and has had a solid offseason and preseason. Tollefson comes over from the New York Giants and will be asked to fill much of the pass-rush void that may have been created when the Raiders parted ways with Kamerion Wimbley. Crawford is a raw football player that has great size and speed but has played little football while he grew up in England. He has shown glimpses of his ability but was sidelined with a foot injury but has since returned to the field. Like Bilukidi, McKenzie likely wouldn’t want to part ways with one of his draft picks in Crawford, leaving Davis on the outside looking in.

Linebackers – 5*

53-man roster: Rolando McClain, Philip Wheeler, Miles Burris, Travis Goethel, Carl Ihenacho, Aaron Curry*

Cut: Chad Kilgore, Kaelin Burnett, Nathan Stupar

The asterisk here is that linebacker Aaron Curry will likely begin the regular season on the Physically Unable to Perform list. Curry has been struggling with knee problems and has not practiced during training camp.

Curry’s absence likely opens up a spot for undrafted free agent Kilgore or Ihenacho, however you look at it. Kilgore has shown great hustle when on the field, while Ihenacho has shown his own pass-rushing abilities after being converted to outside linebacker from the defensive end position he played while playing at San Jose State University. Shall Curry return to the roster, Ihenacho will likely be on the losing side of the transaction.

Kilgore’s hustle has been a pleasant surprise, but McKenzie may choose to place him on the practice squad to allow him to develop more.

Stupar and Burnett have been working primarily with the third-string this offseason and have yet to show the promise that McKenzie hoped he would see.

Cornerbacks - 6

53-man roster: Ron Bartell, Shawntae Spencer, DeMarcus Van Dyke, Chimdi Chekwa, Pat Lee, Bryan McCann

Cut:Coye Francies

Bartell and Spencer have shown they can be relied on as the starting cornerbacks for the Raiders. Van Dyke and Chekwa have shown glimpses of promise but need to become consistent ont he field.

McCann brings kick-return capabilities should Ford go down to injury again, or remain hurt for a lengthy time. Lee has been up and down during camp but is solid for depth at a position where the Raiders need it.

Francies was just signed this week but will likely be cut after he is used for his return capabilities during Thursday’s preseason game.

Safeties – 5

53-man roster: Tyvon Branch, Michael Huff, Mike Mitcheel, Matt Giordano, Brandon Underwood

Cut: Curtis Taylor

It should not be surprising that the Raiders are set at safety with Branch, Huff, Mitchell and Giordano. Branch and Huff are the starters and rightfully so and the Raiders have recently paid both of them like they are.

Mitchell has played solidly this preseason and shown his love for the Raiders new defensive scheme. Giordano played under head coach Dennis Allen while in New Orleans and continues to prove he’s a solid backup capable of contributing.

Underwood comes from Green Bay with McKenzie and is a cornerback converted to safety, which adds versatility to the defensive backfield.

Specialists – 3

53-man roster: Shane Lechler, Sebastian Janikowski, Jon Condo

Cut: Marquette King, Eddy Carmona

This should be no surprise here as the Raiders will move forward with their Pro Bowl trio.



I should also note that the Raiders, like all teams, are allowed to place eight players on their practice squad. To be eligible for the practice squad, players must meet one of the following requirements:

• Have no accrued seasons (six or more games on active roster)
• Have one accrued season in which player was on active roster for less than eight games.
• If player was on practice squad for two seasons already, the team must have had a minimum of 53 players on its active roster for the duration of the player’s employment term.

What say you Raider Nation? What do you agree with? What do you disagree with? Comment below!

Originally published on SBReport.net on Aug. 29, 2012

The Oakland Raiders announced the addition of Coye Francies on Wednesday, picking up the defensive back on waivers. 

The addition gives the Raiders another kick returner as Francois has returned three kickoffs this season for 66 yards. The Raiders have struggled in the kick-return game and added wide receiver Roscoe Parrish on Tuesday in an attempt to find some explosiveness in kick returns. Wide receivers Jacoby Ford and Denarius Moore usually handle the kickoff and punt returns, respectively, but have been out due to injury for much of the preseason. 

Francies is a Northern California native, growing up and attending high school in Rancho Cordova, Calif. before playing at American River Junior College. From there, Francois attended Oregon State before transferring to San Jose State, where he played football for one year. 

Francies was released by the Seattle Seahawks on Monday, the team the Raiders take on Thursday night in Seattle. 

Francies was originally drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He then appeared in eight games for the Browns from 2009-2010. Francies then went to the United Football League to play for the Las Vegas Locomotives in 2010, hauling in two interceptions and helping the team win the league championship before being signed to the Seahawks' practice squad last December. 

The Raiders announced that they have waived defensive back Conroy Black to make room for Francies. 

The team also moved offensive lineman Zach Hurd (head), fullback Rashawn Jackson (hip), and offensive lineman Ed Wang (shoulder) from the waived/injured to the injured reserve.

Originally published on SBReport.net on Aug. 28, 2012

The Oakland Raiders announced the signing of veteran wide receiver and return specialist Roscoe Parrish on Tuesday. 

Reports surfaced Monday night of the signing on the same day that Parrish was released by the San Diego Chargers.

The seven-year veteran has played for only the Buffalo Bills who drafted him in the second round in 2005 out of the University of Miami. Parrish has appeared in 77 games, accumulating 134 receptions for 1,502 yards and seven touchdowns. Parrish has also returned 135 punts for 1,622 yards, a 12.0 yards-per-return average, along with 29 kickoff returns for 685 yards, a 23.2 yards-per-return average.

The Raiders needed a return man due to the foot injury suffered by wide receiver and kick return man Jacoby Ford in the preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals. Ford was also lined up to get some touches in punt returns, something he has never done for the Raiders. Wide receiver Denarius Moore was the team's punt returner last season but has also been injured this preseason with an injured hamstring. 

Wide receiver DeAundre Muhammad was handling punt return duties for the team but was cut on Monday as a result of the team needing to get down to 75 members on the roster. Running back Taiwan Jones and cornerback Bryan McCann have handled kickoff return duties since Ford's injury but have struggled finding running room on returns. 

The Raiders waived/injured offensive lineman Zach Hurd to make room for Parrish on the active roster.

Originally published on SBReport.net on Aug. 26, 2012

The Raiders starting offense finally got into the end zone as the Raiders defeated the Detroit Lions 31-20 on Saturday night at O.Co Coliseum. 

The Raiders were able to stack up 513 yards of total offense, while holding the Lions potent offense to just 281 yards. 

Star running back Darren McFadden was able to put the Raiders starting offense in the endzone when he rushed up the middle and reached the ball over the goal line in the second quarter to give the Raiders a 7-3 lead. 

Oakland looked to be on its way to scoring a touchdown on its opening drive but faltered late. McFadden once again showed Raiders fans his explosiveness on a nice 13-yard gain on the left end to start the drive. McFadden has continued to show his explosiveness throughout preseason games.

Starting quarterback Carson Palmer continued to show his trust in undrafted free agent rookie wide receiver Rod Streater, who started the game in place of the injured Denarius Moore. Streater hauled in another five receptions for 56 yards during the contest, giving him 18 receptions for 165 yards in just three preseason games. Streater finished his senior year at Temple with 19 receptions for 401 yards for the whole season. 

"He's a player. He didn't come in like he's an undrafted rookie [and] he doesn't play like he's a rookie,” Allen said of his undrafted rookie. “He's special, he's special, and that's pretty obvious. He just wants to get better but there's nothing scared about the way he plays or about the way he prepares. He's not intimidated by going with the ones and getting a start out of a senior year where he caught 15 or 19 balls, whatever it is. Just a ton of upside and I can't wait to keep working with him."

Oakland was well on its way to its first touchdown when McFadden rushed for another seven yards to give the Raiders a 3rd and three at the Detroit 14 yard line, but a false start penalty by guard Mike Brisiel forced a 3rd and 8. The screen to McFadden came up a yard short and the Raiders were forced to settle for a 30-yard field goal attempt, which Sebastian Janikowski missed wide left. 

McFadden’s one-yard touchdown rush in the second quarter came on a 4th and goal play from the one-yard line after the team failed to get the ball in the end zone four plays in a row, including a play where tight end Brandon Myers drew a pass interference penalty on the defense in the end zone. 

The referees originally ruled McFadden’s run resulted in a turnover on downs before head coach Dennis Allen called a challenge which showed that McFadden did indeed reach the ball across the goal line.

Palmer had a decent day but still finished the day with two interceptions on the stat page. Palmer’s first interception was a result of a bad decision to force a throw on a screen play but found a defenders arms instead. Palmer’s second interception occurred on a nicely thrown ball that should have been hauled in by wide receiver Eddie McGee but was jarred loose when McGee was hit by a defender and another defender hauled in the tip drill. Palmer finished the day 17/26 for 181 yards and two interceptions. 

Coach Allen is not disappointed with the play of his quarterback thus far. 

“I think when you look at what we did offensively, he’s been able to move the ball but we’ve got to finish as a team,” Allen said following the game. “One questionable decision on the screen play but other than that, I saw some good things out of Carson today.”

The Raiders starting defense continued to play well and as a cohesive unit, holding the Lions offense to just seven total rushing yards in the first half on seven attempts. 

The defense also only allowed two field goals in terms of scoring, one coming after the defense held when the special teams allowed ex-Raider Justin Miller to bring the ball back to the Oakland 21-yard line. Oakland’s defense forced a field goal after the Lions were unable to come up with a first down. 

The defense got put in a tough position on Palmer’s first interception that gave the Lions a short field starting at the Raiders eight-yard line. Defensive coordinator Jason Tarver’s defense allowed them to get it down to the one-yard line, but forced a turnover on downs when linebacker Phillip Wheeler’s coverage cost Lions quarterback Shaun Hill’s pass to be thrown behind star wide receiver Calvin Johnson.

“I was pleased with the way the defense came up in a couple of adverse situations and were able to stop them and really got put on some short fields.”

The defense was able to keep Johnson out of the game as he was limited to just one reception for seven yards, a staunch improvement over the nine receptions for 214 yards and two touchdowns in the two teams regular-season contest last December. 

“He’s an explosive player and it really only takes one shot for him so you better be on your toes the whole game long as long as he’s in there,” Allen said of “Megatron”. “I thought our guys understood what the game plan was going in and we were able to take Calvin away. That limits some of their explosiveness on offense.”

Running back Taiwan Jones returned to the field for the first time since last season, as he’s been hampered by a hamstring injury for much of training camp. Jones looked every bit explosive as he did before the injury. Jones finished with 50 yards on ten carries. 

“He did some nice things. He was explosive. He’s obviously really fast,” Allen said of Jones. “He had a real nice run where even though they got penetration, he cut back and was able to get around the defense. That’s one of the things he gives you is he does have some real speed and so his ability to get on the edges is good for us.”

Quarterback Terrelle Pryor showed his play-making ability when he spelled Palmer when he started the second half. 

After fumbling a snap, Pryor found a seam when he scrambled right and ended up scampering down the right side for an explosive 59-yard run, eventually being brought down by the last cornerback between him and the end zone.

Pryor was able to find the end zone just two plays after when he scrambled again for a 17-yard touchdown run that put the Raiders up 17-13. 

But Pryor didn’t only do it with his feet, hooking up with rookie wide receiver Juron Criner for a 39-yard touchdown pass and a 76-yard touchdown pass. Criner made a great leap to catch the ball over a defender on the 39-yard pass when the ball was underthrown, but Pryor put the ball on the money on the other touchdown connection while rolling out to his right. Criner made a nice fingertip catch and evaded the defender as he scampered the rest of the way untouchded for his second touchdown of the night. 

Pryor finished the night 3-5 for 137 yards with five rushes for 90 yards. Criner finished with his best game of the preseason with two receptions for two touchdowns and 115 yards. 

Although Pryor had a stronger outing, he knows there is always room for improvement.

“You’re never good enough. I’ve said in an interview about three months ago that I wanted to get 100 percent better every day and that’s all that I strive for,” Pryor said following the game. “Coach [Al] Saunders comes up to me every day and asks me ‘are you going to get 1 percent better, let’s make it 2 percent something like that. That’s all that I’m pushing for: to get better. I talk to you guys about footwork and I want to get 1 percent better with that. When [the times comes one day] I’m going to be 100 percent ready.”

Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford left the game early with an injury to his non-throwing hand, while kicker Sebastian Janikowski did the same with a groin injury when attempting to tackle Miller on his kickoff return. 

Linebacker Korey Bosworth spoke with SBReport.net following practice on Tuesday. 

Bosworth discussed defensive coordinator Jason Tarver, training camp with the Oakland Raiders camp, as well as the infamous play in which rookie running back Bo Jackson ran through his uncle, Brian Bosworth, on Monday Night Football in 1987. 

Originally published on SBReport.net on Aug. 21, 2012

The Oakland Raiders brought in veteran defensive lineman Andre Carter to their practice facility in Napa, Calif. for a workout on Tuesday. 

The team currently has 87 players on their roster and is allowed to have 90 on their roster until they cut down to 75 players on Aug. 27. 

"We are going to shake all the bushes and see what falls out. If we feel like we have something that can help us, we're going to do it," head coach Dennis Allen said following practice while Carter worked out for general manager Reggie McKenzie and others. 

Carter, 33 years old, played 14 games and recorded 10 sacks for the New England Patriots last season before suffering a torn quadricep in December. 

Carter was drafted out of the University of California, Berkeley by the San Francisco 49er's and has played 11 seasons in the NFL, including the Washington Redskins (2006-2010) and the New England Patriots (2011) after the 49er's (2001-2005). 

The addition of Carter would give the Raiders even more depth to an already strong defensive line. 

Originally published on SBReport.net on Aug. 18, 2012

The Oakland Raiders remain winless in the preseason after they fell to the Arizona Cardinals 31-27 on Friday night in Glendale, AZ.

The loss provided Raider Nation with a mixture of emotions as the team provided solid insight into their 2012 squad after a quick turnaround with just three days of practice.

Raiders fans should be pleased in the defensive squad that has shown up in the first two preseason games. After disturbing quarterback Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys’ starting offense, the Raiders defense held Cardinals starting quarterback Kevin Kolb to just 22 passing yards on 3/6 passing. Those three pass completions came on Arizona’s opening drive in which resulted in a touchdown. 

Oakland’s defense caused fits for Kolb and the offense on their next drive, sacking him three times and earning a safety when defensive tackle Tommy Kelly sacked Kolb in the end zone. The Raiders defense remained strong throughout the half, only allowing 54 total yards to the Cardinals in the first half. 

On top of that, linebacker Rolando McClain had another solid game. McClain has had a solid offseason and shown more comfort in defensive coordinator Jason Tarver’s defense. McClain has filled the gaps with confidence and appears to be acting instinctually and looks like the linebacker that the Raiders thought they were getting in 2009. 

Running back Darren McFadden continued to show that he is one of the best if he can remain healthy. McFadden carried the ball nine times for 34 yards on the night, giving him 11 carries for 54 yards total in the preseason so far. McFadden has also proven to be a reliable target as a receiver as he would have had a touchdown reception if quarterback Carson Palmer put the ball on the money. 

Palmer struggled, completing 13 out of 24 passes for 107 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. Palmer now has two interceptions in two preseason games, a number that concerns Raider fans. 

Palmer’s struggle can be associated with the tough day that the offensive line had. Palmer was hurried throughout the game. Although he was only sacked once, the offensive line struggled without center Stefan Wisniewski in the game. Wisniewski left the first preseason game with a calf injury and Alex Parsons replaced him at the center position this week. 

Undrafted rookie wide receiver Rod Streater continues to show off his skills on the field, catching another seven receptions for 43 yards. Streater now has 13 receptions for 109 yards in just two preseason games. While his alma mater Temple doesn’t throw the ball much, Streater hauled in just 19 receptions all last year. Streater continues to show that he can be relied on and quarterbacks appear confident when throwing to him. Streater runs crisp routes and his sure hands allow him to complete the play. 

Wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey had a pass clank off his hands in the end zone that would have been a touchdown. Heyward-Bey finished the game with just one reception for 14 yards. Heyward-Bey needs to haul in those catches as the season continues.

One of the biggest negatives that came out of the game was the injuries to players. Kick returner and wide receiver Jacoby Ford left the game with a foot sprain and was seen on crutches after the game. It appears that Ford may miss some time. 

Backup quarterback Matt Leinart also left the game with an injury to his non-throwing hand, getting two stitches on his finger after the game. Before he left, Leinart looked comfortable running offensive coordinator Greg Knapp’s offense, finishing 5-8 for 66 yards. 

Running back Mike Goodson returned to the field after leaving practice last week in an ambulance. Goodson struggled throughout the night, carrying the ball six times for only five yards and fumbling the ball twice. Goodson struggled with ball security while with the Carolina Panthers. 

The Raiders need to correct their turnover problem before the regular season kicks off. 

Oakland returns back home to host the Detroit Lions on Saturday for their third preseason game of the season. 

Originally published on SBReport.net on Aug. 16, 2012

Members of the Oakland Raiders are scheduled to spend one of their off days by visiting the residents of the Veterans Home of California, Yountville. 

The Raiders are scheduled to meet with the Home's residents on Monday, Aug. 20 in the Main Dining Room, from 4:00-5:00 p.m. 

“We welcome the Oakland Raiders once more to our beautiful Veterans Home,” said Robin Umberg, CalVet Undersecretary for Veterans Homes.  “The time our veterans spend visiting with members of the Silver and Black is truly memorable for them, plus it gives them stories they can share with loved ones.”

The Veterans Home of California, Yountville was founded in 1884 and is the largest veterans' home in the United States and currently is the home of approximately 1,100 aged or disabled veterans World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Desert Storm, and Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Home offers its residents numerous recreational, social and therapeutic activities, along with living accommodations for independent living.

Originally published on SBReport.net on Aug. 16, 2012

The Oakland Raider have announced the signing of linebacker Korey Bosworth on Thursday. 

Bosworth, 6-foot-1 and 230 pounds, is officially a first-year player but was initially signed by the Denver Broncos as an non-drafted free agent in 2010. Bosworth then spent parts of the last three training camps with the Detroit Lions in 2010, 2011, and 2012. 

Bosworth attended UCLA for four years and played in all 51 games, including 25 starts over his final two seasons with the team. He comes from a family of NFL players as his brother, Kyle, is currently a linebacker for the Jacksonville Jaguars and his uncle, Brian Bosworth, is a former Seattle Seahawks linebacker.  

The addition gives the Raiders needed depth at the linebacker position. Bosworth is expected to make the trip to Arizona to take on the Cardinals on Friday evening.