Oakland Raiders defensive line needs to continue improvement

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October 9, 2008

Oakland Raiders defensive line needs to continue improvement

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The Oakland Raiders' woes against the run for the past few years were the stuff of legend around the league and a cause for consternation among the Raider Nation. It seemed that the most mediocre back could come into Oakland and look like the reincarnation of Walter Payton. This season, it has been a different story. The Raiders are a much improved team against the run. They held LaDainian Tomlinson to seven yards in the first half, before he exploded during the Raiders' late meltdown. They held both Marshawn Lynch and Larry Johnson, a long time Raider killer, to under a hundred yards each. There is still work that needs to be done along the defensive line, but they are on their way up.

DEFENSIVE ENDS:

Defensive end was a position of concern over the offseason, with the Raiders at one point only having three on the roster. The Raiders defensive ends have combined for six of the Raiders 12 sacks. Kalimba Edwards leads the way with three, with Derrick Burgess adding two and Jay Richardson with the other.

The Raiders have one of the better pass rushes in the game right now as they rank ninth in the league with sacks, despite having played one less game than the bulk of the other teams. That is even more remarkable considering the Raides couldn't manage a single sack on Jay Cutler in the opening game.

DEFENSIVE TACKLES:

Terdell Sands looked like Godzilla taking on Tokyo in the Chargers game garnering two sacks among his five tackles against San Diego. In both of his sacks, he just destroyed the San Diego line and went through them on his way to decapitate Rivers. If he can bring that heat on a consistant basis, the Raiders' will be a feared team.

Gerard Warren has added two sacks as part of 11 tackles and been a disruptor from the inside. When he has been out and replaced by Fred Wakefield the defense has not been able to get nearly the pressure. The Raiders need Warren to be healthy so he can continue to bring the heat from the inside.

Tommy Kelly, who received a much criticized lucrative contract extension has not yet garnered a sack, but is second among defensive linemen in tackles with 12. Kelly has been strong at the point of attack and a key factor in the improvement of the defensive line.

If the Raiders want to turn things around, they need even more from the defensive line. The Raiders need them to keep getting penetration late in the game. They seem to be a bit gassed by the time the fourth quarter rolls around, and it shows. One key factor is the lack of a fourth full time defensive tackle. Fred Wakefield is great to have as a jack of all trades who can fill in for a play or two, but he is not a guy who should be on the field at defensive tackle when the team needs a crucial stop.

Tags: NFL, Oakland Raiders, Raiders

Discussion

11 Comments on "Oakland Raiders defensive line needs to continue improvement"

Posted by Diamond Jim, October 9, 2008 6:54 AM

I couldn't agree with you more on Wakefield. There are 53 players on the team. What good is a jack of all trades and a master of none. I do not agree with keeping a player who who can play more than one position but is a liability when he is in the game. 53 players is a HUGE roster. Give me a real DT. This is a bad personnel move. Other than OL were you can get away with keeping 8 or 9 players, you should have a back-up for every position. We have historically done this. I think it was Ryan's first year when we kept only four LB's and were forced to play a 4-2-5. That was just a discrace. We probably had too many DB's on the active roster. Out of 53 players, we should have four DT's. It's just common sense.

Posted by SpokaneOakfan, October 9, 2008 7:27 AM

Rod Coleman!!!!! He's out there, just waiting to get picked up. Why not bring in an ex Raider to shore up the line.

I say keep Wakefield, get rid of one of our extra TEs.

Posted by Sean, October 9, 2008 9:16 AM

Rod Coleman was an undersized DT but he didnt play that way, get rid of one of our DB's and pick up a DT like today!!!!!

Posted by Mildog, October 9, 2008 10:13 AM

Why don't we sign Coleman, move Wakefield to DB and cut D Hall?

Posted by Diamond Jim, October 9, 2008 11:12 AM

Mildog - you mean (15 yard cushion) Hall. I'll go with that.

Posted by Coach Elkins, October 9, 2008 1:13 PM

Keep Wakefield, anyone who thinks otherwise doesn't know what their talking about.....

The guy is underpaid!

Posted by mikeinny, October 9, 2008 4:39 PM

a simple adjustment for years now is needed after FIRING ROBRYAN AND HIS CRONIES!!! move burgess & williams to wde , kelly & sands to wdt, warren needs to be plAyed in only 35 snaps per game & those need to be split @ bot tackle spots , not just 55 snaps @ sdt/nt o.k.! , and then start richardson @ sde ( i guess , i really am still mad that this guy is on the team !!btw) then rotate kelly-sands - richardson-@ both wdt, sde , also rotate warren @ wdt / sdt for 35 snaps game .

WE NEED 1-2 BIG WIDE BODY DEF TACKLES NOW!!!!

we are beyond thin along the line !!!!

also the pass rushing rotation needs to change !!

using burgess up & down as a blitzr @olbr as well as a down end! rotate in edwards , scott , howard w/ burgess on pass downs!! so the front 4 on dimes will look like edwards & howard @wde,

scott & burgess @wdt,

richardson & kelly @ sdt ,

burgess & scott @ sde

this alignemnt hopefully will get alot of playing time , cause that would mean that they are up in 4th qtr for good!!!! and will lead to to's by the offesne !!! it seems our pass rush disapears in the 4th qtr , we got only so far !! and we had leads uin the last 3 games ! in the 4th qtr !! and we only got 1 sack !!!!!!!! they need to got the " FRESH LEG MENTALITY " NOW !!! like all the other winning teams do !!!

this is why we are 1-3 and not 3-1 !!!!!

" THE ROBRYAN " & ROBRYAN ONLY !!! sure kiffin was a bad guy and need to to go !!! but not BEFORE RYAN !!!!! al screwed up here !!!! on this one !!!! he shoulds canned ryan after denver debacle ! then kept lamo on alert !!! YOU ARE NEXT !! and i know we come back with wins vs bills & chargers !!!!!

but now 4 years in a row i am 1-3 or worse & yelling & pointing out same things on defesne ! in 08 that i did in 05 same stuff! and it aint getting better !!!!! with this ryan fraud still there !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by Coach Elkins, October 9, 2008 8:02 PM

The Raiders Defense is playing much better this season. Rob Ryan is much improved in his game-planning and calling of the game. I understand the personnel is improved, but if you pay attention, you will notice a different front on every play. In the past, we sat in a 4 man front essentially every play.

The defensive line has been a great strength early on this year, a fact which has proved me wrong. I felt our weakness was the DLine, and they have performed well. Hopefully we can stay healthy upfront.

I attribute the 4th quarter collapses to the old Head Coach, who called the Offense, and did so hoping to hold onto leads created by his defense.

The Raiders need to score points in the 4th quarter, regardless if they are up on the scoreboard or not. Coach Kiffin had no killer instinct, and Mr. Davis knew it. Mr. Davis see's a team on the verge of contending for the Super Bowl in upcoming season's and doesn't want opportunities wasted on a man who had no chance of winning the big game.

Mr. Davis took responsibility for his mistake, and the Raiders will be better for it.

Posted by KUSHMAN, October 9, 2008 9:47 PM

unfortunete for BIG GAY AL... he's gotten rid of yet another coach midseason.. something that asomugha and burgess are very used to.. you really think they're going to stay on this team? the 2 most gifted playrs ontheteamwho's fault is that coach? whether or not kiffin was any good as a coach.. AD stomped on the spirits of the team by getting rid of the man that inspired rookies like UHH RUSSELL? (who still gets advice from him on the phone BTW)

if you really agreed with anything al said in his 45min clownshow press conference.. you really are the biggest brown noser ever. i do agree that kiffin's offense didn't keep ryan's D off the field long enough to catch a breath.. and i do agree that the raiders D is looking pretty damn good,i think AD has scaredoff the truely talented players on the team, even including the current coaching staff(namely greg knapp) into lasting another season with him, in fear of not even paid THE CONTRACT THEY SIGNED. well shit, maybe Al can pay off huge to more washed up players like javon and COMPLETELY turn off morrison and howard from thinking they might get a shiny new contract like they deserve when the time of re-signing comes around.. Al can't franchise tag everyone can he? oh and of course blame who ever the head coach is going to be for wanting guys like hall and javon ... haha HEY AL YOU'RE THE ONE WHO PAID THEM RIDICULOUS MONEY.. .HOW IS IT KIFFIN'S FAULT THAT YOUR JUDGEMENT SUCKS BALLS? was it kiffin or you that convinced javon to keep his 11 million dollar signing bonus when he wanted to retire... i don't think it was lane because he was the one coming down on him for not being all there at practice...

whatever the case may be, i hope al somewhat knows what he's doing in turning this team into winners... because i'm sick of the bullshit..but it really just seems to lean toward Al leading his franchise and the loyal fans deeper and deeper into the gaping blackhole... digging us further away every year from even an AFC champship... but hey maybe if he digs far enough he can reach his crypt... maybe we can lock him in and throw away the key..

#10

Posted by Umer Waris, October 9, 2008 11:58 PM

Hey Rob & Pat,

Check out this article by ESPN!

For once some optimism from the Worldwide Leader of Raider Haters.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3634080

#11

Posted by Umer Waris, October 10, 2008 12:13 AM

Coach Elkins,

The defense was batered, beaten and bruised by the fourth quarter and yes, it was up to the offense to bail them .... only in the San Diego game that is.

The one in Buffalo was entiely Ryan's fault. He kept n playing 'Prevent' and Edwards was zipping balls for 10-15 yards with Hall giving a 5-10 yard cushion of his own to whoever he was supposedly 'covering'.

In both the San Diego and Buffalo games., Hall has played pathetically. He cant cover guys when you really need it the most.

The proof of that comes from his tackle numbers. He is fourth best on the team in tackles as he always fails to stay on his reciever and QBs arent afraid to throw it his way giving him a guy to tackle most of the time.

Now, is that due to Hall's bad play or is it Ryan's fault for calling such horrendous plays?

From my point of view, I think D-Hall has the talent but Ryan isnt utilizing it with his distastrous plays.

Too bad for us especially when you payed the guy a huge hell of a contract and what the freaken hell did u get out of it... a 1-3 record.

From my my view, AL Davis knew this team had alot of talent and he goes out and makes it rain to bring some veteran leadership this team really needs in Walker & Hall. Unfortunately, that has worked out the way it should have.