Originally published on SBReport.net on Nov. 14, 2012
The Raiders have joined forces with the USAA to recognize Veterans Day and our nation’s military when the Raiders host the New Orleans Saints on Nov. 18 at O.Co Coliseum. The Raiders and USAA will provide a variety of appreciation-themed events throughout the day as part of the NFL’s “Salute to Service” campaign. The NFL’s “Salute to Service” campaign allows all 32 NFL teams to select a home game in November to honor the military community. In addition to the players wearing helmet decals in honor of five local military branches, the organization will also hand out team-branded wristbands for fans to wear during the national anthem.
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Originally published on SBReport.net on Nov. 14, 2012
With backup middle linebacker Travis Goethel heading to the injured reserve, the Raiders front office added veteran linebacker Omar Gaither to the roster. The 6-foot-1, 235-pound Gaither has played in 77 games, including 40 starts with the Philadelphia Eagles and Carolina Panthers. Overall, Gaither has has played in six combined seasons since entering the NFL as the Eagles’ fifth-round draft pick out of the University of Tennessee. Throughout his six seasons in the NFL, Gaither has accumulated 393 tackles, six sacks, 25 passes defenced, two interceptions and one forced fumble. The announcement of Goethel being put on the injured reserve means that he will have only appeared in 16 games in three seasons after missing all of last year following a year in which he only appeared in eight games. Originally published on SBReport.net on Nov. 11, 2012
The Raiders were once again embarrassed as they were blown out in Baltimore 55-20 by the Ravens on Sunday. With Darren McFadden and Mike Goodson out with high-ankle sprains, the Raiders were unable to get the running game which caused the offense to become one-dimensional. Palmer finished 29-46 for 368 yards, two touchdowns and one interception as fullback Marcel Reece was the Raiders leading rusher with 48 yards on 13 carries. Just a week after getting embarrassed by Doug Martin and the Buccaneers, the Raiders defense was once again embarrassed giving up an NFL-season high 55 points. Though they were able to limit Ravens running back Ray Rice to just 35 yards, it was the secondary that couldn’t stop the Ravens as quarterback Joe Flacco threw for 341 yards, three touchdowns and one interception on 21-33 passing. The quarterback distributed the ball nicely, producing four receivers with greater than 50 yards receiving. Already down 20-3, the Raiders didn’t get their first touchdown until Palmer hit wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey who broke a couple of tackles and scampered 55 yards for a touchdown that cut the deficit to 20-10 with just 1:46 remaining in the second quarter. After not scoring in the first quarter for the first time this season, Heyward-Bey’s touchdown kept the Raiders streak going of scoring in the final two minutes of the first half every game. But the defense once again failed as they allowed the Ravens to come right back and score before the half ended, giving the Ravens a 27-10 lead heading into the second half. The Ravens offense proved to be too much to handle as the Baltimore continued to exploit a hurt Raiders secondary that became more banged up when safety-turned-cornerback Michael Huff injured himself while defending a pass in the end zone. Head coach John Harbaugh even ran up the score some when he attempted a fake field goal that saw punter Sam Koch tuck the ball and run into the end zone to put the Ravens on top 48-17 late in the third quarter. To add insult to injury, the Raiders allowed return man Jacoby Jones to return a kickoff return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to give the Ravens 55 points. Things don’t get easier for the Raiders as they host the the New Orleans Saints next week at O.Co Coliseum. Originally published on SBReport.net on Nov. 10, 2012
Oakland heads to Baltimore to take on the tough task of beating a 6-2 Ravens team on Sunday. After giving up 42 points, 515 total yards and 278 rushing yards to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Raiders defense faces another tough offense that features a dynamic running back with Ray Rice. Rice, whose style is similar to Doug Martin’s, is averaging 4.7 yards per carry and has rushed for 622 yards and six touchdowns. There’s no doubt Rice is expecting a big game after seeing what his college head coach Greg Schiano and Martin did to the Raiders defense. Linebackers will need to maintain their gaps as they attempt to limit Rice from breaking off big gains the way Martin did last week. The missed tackles that occurred last week must be limited as Rice will take advantage of any Raiders misstep. Starting cornerback Ron Bartell returns to the playing field on Sunday and returns to his starting position after the team released defensive back Pat Lee. Bartell suffered a broken shoulder blade against San Diego in the season-opener and hasn’t played since. The return of Bartell should help bolster a pass defense that has struggled for much of the year, giving up 245.3 yards per game. It won’t get any easier this week for the secondary as they play a confident Joe Flacco and a pair of quick, dominant receivers in Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith. The Raiders secondary will need to keep an eye on Smith and not let his speed beat them deep for a big play. Like the Raiders, the Ravens’ defense is beat up and injured as well after losing Lardarius Webb and Ray Lewis earlier this season. Defensive lineman Haloti Ngata and linebacker Terrell Suggs are battling injuries of their own and are not playing at 100 percent. Running backs Darren McFadden and Mike Goodson suffered high-ankle sprains last week and remain out, forcing the ball to be put in the hands of fullback Marcel Reece and second-year running back Taiwan Jones. Jones impressed in preseason and training camp but has only carried the ball once this year for two yards. Jones hopes the offensive line can provide more of a push than it has all season, allowing the Raiders to rush for just 77.3 yards per game, second worst in the NFL. The Ravens are allowing the fifth most rushing yards per game (139.5), a stat that plays into the Raiders favor. With his first and second string running backs out of the game, there’s no doubt that quarterback Carson Palmer will continue to throw the ball a lot in hopes of exploiting a Ravens secondary that is also struggling. Baltimore’s defense is allowing 246.8 passing yards a game while Palmer is averaging 281.3 yards per game, 6th in the NFL. Wide receivers Denarius Moore and Darrius Heyward-Bey will hope to have a big game should the offensive line hold up and give Palmer enough time. The Raiders offensive line has been less than stellar this year and still face a tough task in the Ravens even if they aren’t 100 percent. Friday’s injury report: RAIDERS: Out: RB Mike Goodson (ankle), RB Darren McFadden (ankle), DT Richard Seymour (knee, hamstring), CB Shawntae Spencer (foot) Questionable: T Khalif Barnes (groin) Probable: DT Desmond Bryant (cardiac), LB Miles Burris (elbow), LB Keenan Clayton (shoulder), CB Coye Francies (thumb), S Matt Giordano (hamstring), TE Richard Gordon (hamstring), K Sebastian Janikowski (left groin), S Michael Mitchell (finger), TE Brandon Myers (shoulder), RB Marcel Reece (hamstring), DE Matt Shaughnessy (shoulder), T Willie Smith (knee), DE Dave Tollefson (shoulder) RAVENS: Out: DE Pernell McPhee (thigh) Questionable: DT Haloti Ngata (shoulder), G Bobbie Williams (ankle), G Marshal Yanda (ankle) Probable:LB Josh Bynes (thigh), S Sean Considine (chest), LS Morgan Cox (shoulder), LB Dannell Ellerbe (finger), WR Jacoby Jones (toe), DT Ma’ake Kemoeatu (knee), T Michael Oher (ankle), S Bernard Pollard (chest), S Ed Reed (shoulder, knee), CB Jimmy Smith (abdomen), LB Terrell Suggs (ankle) Originally published on SBReport.net on Nov. 6, 2012 The Oakland Raiders announced that they have added linebacker Aaron Curry to the active roster on Tuesday. Curry was put on the active/physically unable to perform list on July 30 and then later placed on the reserve/physically unable to perform list on Aug. 31 while having problems with his knees. Curry did not return to practice until Oct. 17. Curry was widely regarded as a top draft pick coming out of Wake Forest University and was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks fourth overall in the 2009 NFL Draft. He also won the 2008 Butkus Award, given out to the nation’s top linebacker. After being drafted by the Seahawks, Curry saw his playing time diminish under Pete Carroll and was traded to the Silver & Black last season. The 6-foot-2, 255-pound linebacker then appeared in 11 games, including nine starts, for the Raiders while accumulating 46 tackles and recovering two forced fumbles. The front office also announced that they have waived linebacker Vic So’oto in order to make room for Curry on the active roster. Originally published on SBReport.net on Nov. 4, 2012 Oakland attempted another late-game comeback but fell short as the Buccaneers were able to hold off the Raiders to secure a 42-32 victory at O.Co Coliseum. After earning comeback victories against the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Pittsburgh Steelers, Carson Palmer and the Raiders offense was unable to produce the same results against Tampa Bay’s defense. Down 28-10 at the end of the third quarter, Palmer was able to find his tight end Brandon Myers for a four-yard touchdown pass that cut the deficit to 28-17. The reception marked Myers’ first career NFL touchdown. But the Buccaneers quickly fired back in a way that became popular throughout the game. Rookie running back and Oakland-born running back Doug Martin rushed up the middle for a 70-yard touchdown run. Martin finished with a career-high 251 yards and four touchdowns on just 25 carries. Martin had touchdown runs of 45 yards, 67 yards, 70 yards and one yard. Raiders defensive end Dave Tollefson attributes the Raiders difficulties stopping the rush to execution. “Sometimes it isn’t scheme or even effort, it’s just a matter of getting something done, getting it finished,” Tollefson said after the game. Even after Martin’s third touchdown of the day Palmer and the offense refused to quit as they countered with a seven-play, 80-yard drive finishing up with another touchdown pass to Myers. Oakland was still down 35-24 and needed a big stop on defense after a failed onside-kick attempt that gave the ball to Tampa Bay on the Raiders 44-yard line. The stop was provided by veteran defensive tackle Richard Seymour as he dove on to a fumbled handoff between quarterback Josh Freeman and backup running back LeGarrette Blount. The fumble recovery gave the Raiders new hope as they took over on their own 35 yard line with 7:43 remaining. Palmer, as he did against Jacksonville and Pittsburgh, led the offense down the field as he orchestrated a 13-play drive that culminated in a 13-yard touchdown pass to fullback Marcel Reece. Reece hauled in eight receptions for 95 yards and one touchdown after only catching 10 balls through the entire first seven games. Rookie wide receiver Juron Criner came down with the important two-point conversion following Reece’s touchdown. Palmer used his lower-body strength to fight off a sack and get the ball to the back of the endzone to Criner, bringing the Buccaneers lead to just a field goal. With just under three minutes remaining, the Raiders defense once again came up big when they were called upon and forced a three-and-out to give the ball back to Palmer with a chance to tie or win the game. After being patient and taking what the defense gave him, Palmer pressed and looked for the deep ball to rookie Rod Streater two plays in a row. The first ball fell incomplete, but the second ball found Tampa Bay Buccaneer Ahmad Black who returned the ball 34 yards to Oakland’s 22-yard line. Palmer appeared to be under pressure and was forced to get the ball off quickly, a result of a porous offensive line that was once again less than stellar. “I think it was a combination of a few things. Carson had to get rid of the ball a littler quicker than he watned to,” Allen commented after the game. “I’m not sure exactly what happened on the route, but we’ll really have to look at the tape, but I do know Carson got rid of the ball a littler quicker than he wanted to.” Oakland’s inability to stop the run comes after they were allowing just 102 yards per game coming into the contest. The Raiders defense were able to contain Martin for the first half, limiting him to just 31 yards, meaning 220 of Martin’s 251 yards came in the second half. Allen attributes the poor rush defense to a combination of problems. “We didn’t tackle well. I thought they did a good job of blocking. I thought the runner did a great job of running,” Allen said. “I think we had an opportunity to make a few plays and missed some tackles, and when you miss tackles on that guy he takes them for big gains. That’s exactly what happened.” Middle linebacker Rolando McClain and cornerback Pat Lee had two big missed tackles on Martin that led to long touchdowns. McClain was able to fill the hole as he was assigned to do but completely whiffed on the tackle as Martin ran right by him for his first touchdown. Martin also escaped a tackle from Lee that led to Martin’s 70-yard touchdown. The Raiders were once again unable to run the ball, especially after the loss of Darren McFadden to an ankle injury in the first half. Though x-rays were negative, McFadden did not return to the field and his status for next week is uncertain. “He’s got an ankle. I’m not sure the extent to it. The x-rays were negative but we’ll have to obviously take a look at it and see where he’s at,” Allen said. The loss of McFadden as well as being behind most of the game forced Palmer to throw the ball 61 times, the second most in Raiders franchise history behind Rich Gannon’s 64 pass attempts in 2002 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Palmer finished 39/61 for 414 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions. “When we’re down two tailbacks at one point and have Marcel [Reece], a fullback, in there playing. They’ve got a good pass rush, a good front four that [does] a lot of movement,” Palmer said of the negative aspects of becoming one-dimensional. “They’re very good players up there and they can kind of pin their ears back and get after you a little bit.” Amongst McFadden, Oakland also lost running back Mike Goodson (ankle), safety Matt Giordano (hamstring), and defensive tackle Desmond Bryant during the game. Bryant was taken to a local hospital prior to the second half as a precautionary measure for an irregular heartbeat. Next week doesn’t get any easier as the Raiders head east to take on Ray Rice and the Baltimore Ravens. Originally published on SBReport.net on Nov. 2, 2012
The Oakland Raiders will be looking to earn their third-straight victory as they host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday at O.Co Coliseum. Like their previous two opponents, Tampa Bay is coming off a week with extra rest and time to prepare for the Raiders. Oakland’s two previous opponents were coming off of bye weeks, yet the Buccaneers are coming off of a week in which they played a Thursday night game against the Vikings. The Buccaneers have been playing solid ball, winning two of their last three games to bring them to a 3-4 record. Oakland’s secondary will have its handful trying to slow down Tampa Bay quarterback Josh Freeman and the wide receiving corps that features former Charger Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams. Jackson, who played seven years in San Diego, knows the Raiders well and presents a 6-foot-five, 230-pound frame that is tough for anyone to cover. Michael Huff and company need to limit the big plays from Jackson and attempt to keep everything underneath. Freeman has excelled in the past three weeks after getting a slow start. Freeman has averaged 336.7 yards per game while throwing for nine touchdowns and just one interception in the three previous games. Richard Seymour and the defensive line will need to get into the backfield and disrupt the timing of any play in order to help slow down a Buccaneers offense that is finding its rhythm. Oakland’s defense is coming off of a three-sack game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Rookie running back Doug Martin has been everything the Buccaneers could have hoped for when they drafted him with the 31st overall selection in April’s NFL Draft. The Oakland native is the NFL’s 11th leading rusher with 543 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Head coach Greg Schiano, who had Ray Rice in Rutgers, has enjoyed Martin’s ability to catch the ball out of the backfield while he has hauled in 16 receptions for 224 yards. The Raiders rush defense has been solid for much of this year unlike recent years. The Raiders defense is currently ranked 11th in the NFL while allowing 102.1 yards per game on the ground to their opponent. Raiders star running back Darren McFadden was able to get the rushing attack going with 114 yards on the ground but will face a tougher opponent this week. The Buccaneers are allowing a measly 85.1 rushing yards per game, sixth in the NFL. Offensive coordinator Greg Knapp will look to include more power blocking once again in an attempt to jump-start the Raiders rushing attack. Should the rushing attack struggle, Carson Palmer and the Raiders wide receivers face a favorable matchup going up against a Buccaneers secondary that has surrendered the second most passing yards in the NFL at 309.6. After trading cornerback Aqib Talib to the New England Patriots this week, Tampa Bay will have to rely on young cornerbacks such as Leonard Johnson, Brandon McDonald and Myron Lewis. Should Palmer want to test this secondary, expect Palmer to line up with multiple wide receiver sets that give Denarius Moore and the wide receivers a chance to make a big play. Moore has shown he can be trusted by Palmer this season with the exception to a dropped touchdown pass last week. Though Moore made up for it later and has hauled in a touchdown pass from Palmer in three straight games. It will be important for Palmer to get Darrius Heyward-Bey and the other wide receivers involved to keep the defense honest. The Raiders would bring their record to 8-8 and either be tied for the divisional lead or remain one game back halfway through the season. Both the teams last met on Dec. 28, 2008 when the Raiders beat former head coach Jon Gruden and the Buccaneers 31-24 before Gruden was fired in the offseason, though Tampa Bay did blow out the Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII by a score of 48-21. The only player on the Buccaneers from that Super Bowl season is Ronde Barber, who is now playing at safety instead of cornerback. As for the Raiders, the only two players on the 2002 Super Bowl team that remain on the team is the kicking duo of Shane Lechler and Sebastian Janikowski, though Zack Crockett is now with the team as a scout. Injury Report: Oakland Raiders: Out: T Khalif Barnes (groin), CB Shawntae Spencer (foot) Doubtful: LB Keenan Clayton (shoulder) Questionable: RB Taiwan Jones (knee), LB Rolando McClain (toe) Probable: DT Desmond Bryant (elbow), LB Travis Goethel (back), RB Mike Goodson (toe), K Sebastian Janikowski (left groin), RB Darren McFadden (shoulder), S Michael Mitchell (finger), DT Richard Seymour (knee), DE Matt Shaughnessy (shoulder), T Willie Smith (ankle), DE Dave Tollefson (shoulder), T Jared Veldheer (elbow), C Stefen Wisniewski (ankle) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Probable: DE Michael Bennett (ankle), CB Brandon McDonald (ankle), T Donald Penn (wrist), CB Eric Wright (achilles) Originally published on SBReport.net on Nov. 1, 2012 Oakland Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski has been named the AFC’s Special Teams Player of the Month for his stellar play during October. Janikowski, who is playing in his 13th season out of Florida State, has won the award four times, including three of the last six honors. The kicker was 10-11 on field goal attempts with his only miss coming when he attempted a 64-yard field goal against the Jacksonville Jaguars at the end of regulation that would have also set an NFL record. Janikowski later hit a field goal in overtime that gave the Raiders the win. He also made a game-winning field goal against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 23. Janikowski also was able to pin the opposing team on their own 20-yards line by recording 13 touchbacks on 19 kickoffs in October, good enough for 68.4 percent. The Pro Bowl kicker has also been can’t-miss from 40 yards or less, hitting 43 in a row since he missed from 32-yards out against Arizona on Sept. 26, 2010. |
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