No silver linings in the black clouds over the Oakland Raiders

Thoughts from the Dark Side

October 13, 2008

No silver linings in the black clouds over the Oakland Raiders

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The Oakland Raiders got beaten in both of the key phases of the game soundly. Neither the offense nor the defense could make plays and that resulted in the 34-3 thumping they received from the New Orleans Saints. The Tom Cable era got off to an inglorious start as the Raiders turned in their worst performance since the season opening calamity. The Saints moved the ball on the Raiders' defense all day, and the Raiders offense could not respond.

The Raiders needed this game to set the tone for the remainder of the season. Sadly, the tone they set was discordant. Rather than unifying behind Tom Cable as the Raider Nation had hoped, they looked like they had taken several steps backwards and it was a replay of the 2006 season.

Offensively, the Raiders were out of sync. The strength of the Raiders attack had been their running game, but the Raiders only attempted 22 rushes netting a paltry 85 yards. Justin Fargas ran ten times for 35 yards, and Darren McFadden only ran 8 times for 30 yards. JaMarcus Russell had the longest run from scrimmage with an 11 yard run. Michael Bush tacked on 9 yards on 3 carries.

Russell attempted 35 passes and only completed 13 of them. The receivers contributed to the dismal showing with several drops, but the Saints defenders had more drops. It was a sheer miracle that Russell was only intercepted the one time, as there were three passes that Saints defenders couldn't haul in. Russell was often off target, including an overthrow of a wide open Chaz Schilens in the end zone by about 5 yards. Both Cornell Green and Kwame Harris added to the low-light reel by getting beat for a sack each.

The receiving corps had its best day thus far this season, which is not saying much considering they combined for a total of 7 catches. (That number is more than a third of the number the receivers had combined in the first four games.) Ronald Curry finally began to look like Ronald Curry by hauling in three catches. Ashley Lelie, Javon Walker, and Johnnie Lee Higgins each added a catch. Higgins had the big play for a wide out with his 35 yard catch and run.

In their first drive, the Raiders took advantage of a Higgins punt return and drove the ball deep into Saint territory, but true to form were only able to come away with a field goal. This 24 yard kick would turn out to be the only points the Raiders could muster all day, as the offense would not even return to the Saint red zone.

The bright spot of the day was punter Shane Lechler, who was able to make Reggie Bush a non-factor as a returner by booming his punts nearly to the celing of the SuperDome. Sebastian Janikowski, on the other hand, had his worst game of the season going only 1-3. It is some consolation that both of his misses were from beyond fifty yards, but considering he was kicking indoors he should have been able to make one of the two at least. He missed from 57 and 59.

The Raiders defense was easlily dissected by Drew Brees and the Saints. The Raiders' defense got virtually no pressure, and Brees didn't even have an incomplete pass in his first 17 attempts. When the Raiders finally got a bit of pressure, they forced him into an intentional grounding with a safety blitz by Tyvon Branch.

The Saints only had four non-scoring drives the entire game. Their opening drive, the Raiders forced a three and out. Their second drive ended with a missed field goal. They didn't fail to convert on a drive again until their penultimate drive when they had the game well in hand. Their final "drive" was just a matter of killing the clock. The Saints amassed 440 yards of total offense.

The Raiders looked like a team who didn't even bother to show up. Either they had spent Friday night cruising Bourbon Street or they just mailed it in. Neither one of those are appealing concepts for the Raider Nation to ponder, but the team had no fight in it all game. There was a flickering of hope in the Nation that with the drama finally gone, and Cable in place the Raiders would be able to resemble the team that they appear to be on paper. They didn't come close.

Rather than looking like the team that I predicted would go 10-6, they looked like a team headed for yet another top five draft choice. Before that happens, they will have to find a new coach as Al Davis won't keep Cable around unless he gets some wins. If Sunday's game is any indication at all, this will be yet another long frustrating season for the Raider Nation, and another offseason where the haters will be laughing and pointing.

Tags: AFC, AFC West, Al Davis, Ashlie Lelie, Chaz Schilens, Cornell Green, Darren McFadden, Drew Brees, JaMarcus Russell, Javon Walker, Johnnie Lee Higgins, Justin Fargas, Kwame Harris, Michael Bush, New Orleans Saints, NFC, NFC South, NFL, Oakland Raiders, Raider Nation, Raiders, Reggie Bush, Ronald Curry, Saints, Sebastian Janikowski, Shane Lechler, Tom Cable, Tyvon Branch

Discussion

25 Comments on "No silver linings in the black clouds over the Oakland Raiders"

Posted by No silver linings in the black clouds over the Oakland Raiders - Oakland Raiders Forum, October 13, 2008 4:29 AM

[...] No silver linings in the black clouds over the Oakland Raiders The Oakland Raiders got beaten in both of the key phases of the game soundly. Neither the offense nor the defense could make plays and that resulted in the 34-3 thumping they received from the New Orleans Saints. The Tom Cable era got off to an inglorious start as the Raiders turned in their worst performance since the season opening calamity. The Saints moved the ball on the Raiders� defense all day, and the Raiders offense could not respond. Thoughts from the Dark Side | MVN - an Oakland Raiders independent news, commentary, analysis, and m... [...]

Posted by xobn1050, October 13, 2008 5:08 AM

Before anybody says anything, this isn't Al Davis fault. How can it be that both the defense couldn't stop a QB that completed any pass on the book and the offense couldn't take advantage of a team with injured staters that has pass coverage deficiencies and make their pass defense look great. Finally why did they abandon the run? This was players and coaches fault,period.

Posted by SpokaneOakfan, October 13, 2008 7:08 AM

The Saints were just better, in every phase of the game.

Back to the drawing board.

Posted by Diamond Jim, October 13, 2008 7:18 AM

This team is two years away at best. First, goodbye Al. Hire a good GM, coach and personnel dept. This team needs to be leveled and rebuilt. First and foremost Al must go. Who the hell in their right mind will wan't to coach or play for Davis. The seems are about to completely fall off the team. The best thing about the Kiffin firing was that it brought national attention how bad Davis has become and maybe there will be some change. The game was too bad to even comment on. Somebody close to Al who actually cares about the Raiders must get him the hell out of there.

The passing game just flat out sucks. The recievers get no seperation, Russell overthrows his recievers and just seems to go to his primary reciever. Do we have a passing game coordinator? We are lucky he wasn't picked off at least six times. How about a bootleg in the red zone? How about Russell running once in a while, if nobody is open? How many times do we run on second and ten? I am starting to have some serious doubts about Russell, despite the media protecting and defending him.

Posted by S&B, October 13, 2008 8:23 AM

xobn1050,

This loss is all on Al Davis and his b.s way of managing. Firing Kiffin will prove a mistake. Why? Kiffin understood where this team was. That's why the heavy emphasis on the run and picking spots to throw. That's why! Tom Shell, err Cable, simply listened to Davis and throw deep. What a fresh mound of dog pooh that turned out to be. You have what was a top 3 rushing attack and you elect to throw the ball 35 times. B.S

Add to this the Al Davis/Rob Ryan defense looked as bad as it did against the Broncos. No pressure, D.Hall playing loose coverage and broken tackles. Oh, and once again Nnamdi had all but 1 ball thrown his way. A screen pass that resulted in negative yards.

B.S -- Kiffin had us growing gradually. Competing hard. This garbage yesterday was Art Shell like in its look and results. I hope we don't loose Russell like we wasted Walter!

Sorry, one more thing....how does DMAC only get 8 touches?

Posted by S&B, October 13, 2008 8:25 AM

and I would like to hear from Coach Elkins on this. Specifically the big drop off in competitiveness from our last 3 games to this one.

Also like to seek his opinion on Rob Ryan.

Posted by Matador, October 13, 2008 8:58 AM

It's not the coaching staff. Kiffin and Ryan both suck but we can't keep blaming them. The bottom line is they just don't have the talent. Man for man the saints are better. Maybe 2 of our startes would start on their team. But thats the case for every game. Rich Gannon used the word "potential" when he talked about Russell. This team has all the potential in the world but it never comes out. Russell and D Mac were great college players but this is the NFL. So "potentially they should end up 10-6 but talent wise 4-12 looks more realistic. The Raiders are about 2 years away from being a top team again but the sooner we accept it the easier these loses will be. I know some of you are going to call me a hater again. But i to bleed silver and black i'm just more realistic to the problems we have rite now.

Posted by Raider Scott, October 13, 2008 9:38 AM

Xobn - I am not sure how you managed to steer Al Davis clear of this mess?? Who is the guy responsible for our defense? That same guy has been producing a porous defense consistently for years. If you have a poor performing D-coordinator is there anyone other than AL who is responsible for letting him coach the D? I don’t disagree with the fact that we may have some guys who are truly not starters but start for our team. When you are a bottom feeder, you attract high paying under performers. We can easily prove that by the moves we have made in the offseason for the last handful of years.

Rob and Patrick - I always appreciate your articles but please let’s refrain from the one’s that predict victories for our team. Clearly we are in a rebuilding mode. Some might say we are in a meltdown mode but that is arguable. We have so many young guys that I think it is too soon to tell. The one thing we did learn is that Kiff knew the limitations of JRuss and our passing attack. When you move us away from the run, we show tendencies of getting blown out. When you make us run the ball a lot, we can at least remain close and competitive. Cleary heavy passing teams can ball control against us and we are susceptible. I think our coach learned a valuable lesson from this game…focus on what we do well. Forcing our offense to do what it is worst at will not produce results or more like the results are not so good. Coach Elkins always said Kiff didn’t understand the offense but after watching this game, I think it may be clear the Kiff understood what he had and tried to play the hand as best he could.

Posted by Coach Elkins, October 13, 2008 10:38 AM

Raider Scott

Hold your water buddy. I never said Kiffin didn't understand Offense. In fact, I have credited the man as having been an average Offensive Coordinator. I said he wasn't a viable Head Coach, which I still believe. He had no leadership skills.

As far as how he handled his QB, he did an average job as well.

How the team performed yesterday does little to support any claims that Kiffin was good for the Offense or the QB. Doesn't really matter now though does it?, cause the man is outta the building and will not be asked to come back.

Russell will take more away from a big loss against a team like the Saints than he did losing against a team like the Bills.

Yesterdays game was not lost on the field. The Raiders didn't even show up. Defensively, they played sluggish, easlily the worst effort of the season, including the Denver game.

Brees did whatever he wanted. The Saints used the short passing game and many different play action schemes to keep any sort of pressure off Brees. That combined with the attitude that the Raiders didn't feel they could get to him put the Saints in many scoring opportunities. .

Let's face it. The Saints played well. They hadn't played well in the games they had lost this season, turning the ball over, had many penalties, and only lost those particular games by a few points. The Saints are a good team, well coached, with many weapons on Offense.

In order for our team to play well against a team like the Saints we too must score points, and Russell just misfired yesterday a few too many times. Running the ball 40 times, as you are implying Kiffin would have done, might have resulted in a closer score, but we still would have lost the game. Why not attempt to win?

It still comes down to leadership. Can Coach Cable get our men to believe in themselves? That's what the Raiders need. The need to believe they can win these games. They need to believe in themselves and one another.

I'll tell you one thing. If we sit back on our assess with the same mindset this week, the mindset that "we don't want to Blitz Farve because he'll beat us" attitude, the guess what, he's going to do exactly that!

I do feel this next game will be close.....that being said, I'll save my prediction for later this week.

#10

Posted by Your Niner Reality Check, October 13, 2008 10:54 AM

A Moment of Silence

*taps playing in the background*

If anyone has anything they would like to say about their dearly departed Raiders, please come up to the podium.

No one?

Nothing???

Oh wait...Kushman? Sure, come on up.

Kushman: "Great article, Rob/Patrick/BillyJoeBob. Stop picking on us, haters. I need someone to hold my hand."

Umer: "Stand tall, Raider fans. There is no crying in football."

Spokane: "Whatever anyone says, I'm in. If you change your mind, so do I. Lead me, and I'll follow."

Anyone else? Sure, Ditzle, bring up your purse, and let's hear what you have to say.

Ditzle: "I'm really upset that you guys laughed at someone else's jokes, and not mine. And I'm still really upset that someone said "good point" to a poster, when I made the same comment a month ago. That's not fair...*sniff*. ..I feel like throwing such a hissy."

Ok, thanks to everyone for coming...oh...wait Elkins? Sure, stand up before you speak. Oh, you are standing? My bad...proceed.

Elkins: "I'm glad Kiffin is gone. Al was sooo right. He's my hero. Thank God for Cable. If not for him, we would have lost 50-3, maybe 50-0. Al? If you need a water boy, and a suckup, call me, Babe. I'm your bitch."

Ok,..and that wraps it up.... oh...damn...uh...ok, a few words from Pat T, as only he can state them.

Pat T: "wen duh radiers start to kic azz u hatrs wll b sory"

I've just been notified that Patrick, and Rob, aka Eggo, would like to step up and offer their usual replies when challenged.

Rob: " "

Patrick: " "

Thanks guys. Consistency is your mainstay.

No flowers in memory of the Raiders, please...just...a moment of silence.

Thank you All.

My condolences to what was once a proud organization.

Don't feel bad...after all...it could be worse...you could be in last place, and going down.

Oh wait...uh...scratch that.

#11

Posted by Your Niner Reality Check, October 13, 2008 11:09 AM

Elkins the Lemming: "Hold your water buddy. I never said Kiffin didn’t understand Offense. In fact, I have credited the man as having been an average Offensive Coordinator. I said he wasn’t a viable Head Coach, which I still believe. He had no leadership skills."

Mike: Saying the same thing with NOTHING to back it up still makes you an idiot. See, Cable himself, AFTER Kiffin was gone, called him a very good leader, who worked his ass off.

Aso stated the same. Russell stated the same. MOST OF THE TEAM stated the same.

What Kiffin wasn't, which you ARE, is a pussy.

======================================

Elkins the Idiot: How the team performed yesterday does little to support any claims that Kiffin was good for the Offense or the QB. Doesn’t really matter now though does it?, cause the man is outta the building and will not be asked to come back.

Mike: Except it torches the hell out of your weak "He was a bad HC. He wasn't a leader." whine.

------

Elkins the UnEmployed:

Yesterdays game was not lost on the field. The Raiders didn’t even show up. Defensively, they played sluggish, easlily the worst effort of the season, including the Denver game.

Mike: In other words, no leadership?

Got cha.

====================================

Brees did whatever he wanted. The Saints used the short passing game and many different play action schemes to keep any sort of pressure off Brees. That combined with the attitude that the Raiders didn’t feel they could get to him put the Saints in many scoring opportunities. .

Mike: In other words, as Kiffin pointed out, and others easily noticed, THE DEFENSE TOTALLY SUCKED, IN GAME PLAN, AND EXECUTION??

Yeah, we know. Everyone knows.

Wow..seems some fools were running the 'Kiff was holding back the defense" takes. So much for that.

---

Mike: Arguably your dumbest comment ever? lol..how can you post this stupid shit, with a straight face?

Elkins: "uh...well..uh...gosh...sure Kiff would have done a better job, but we still would have lost. So..hey...let's just try to win, RIGHT??"

wrong, moron...you scored 3 points, DUMBASS. Your idiot analogy works when it's down to ONE PLAY that was or wasn't called, that could have gone either way, NOT A HORRIBLE OUTING BY THE QB, who, coincidentally, had another 6 or so for 17 performance early in the year that let the HEAD COACH KNOW THIS OPTION ISN'T VIABLE AT THIS POINT.

No, it's not that you're basically clueless when it comes to football, any football, it's the fact you make stupid comments like this TO TRY AND BAIL YOUR SORRY BITCHSLAPPED ASS OUT.

Just man up, just once, and say 'I was wrong. I was full of shit. I don't have a clue." instead of making sorry excuses that set me up to humiliate you.

Oh..what the hell, lol..I'm having fun humiliating you...so, by all means, continue.

#12

Posted by Rob Calonge, October 13, 2008 11:49 AM

Michelle, a.k.a. Mike a.k.a Voice of Reason a.k.a. Your Niner Reality Check a.k.a....Geeze! You settle on a name about as good as your head coach settles on quarterbacks and offensive coordinators!

I went and got a 'real' Niner reality check and guess what, the 49ers are 2-4. I bet the Raider Nation wishes the Raiders were that good....NOT!

The sad fact is that the Raiders aren't good because they have an owner living in the past and on his laurels.

The 49ers just aren't good because their owner still couldn't tell you the difference between a first down and a touchdown.

Don't worry Michelle, at least you'll always have the Cardinals, Rams, and Seahawks. Maybe after one of those games, the Niners will be more than half a game better than the 1-4 Raiders...maybe.

Thanks for stopping by...uh...you whatchamaycallyou. :-)

#13

Posted by SpokaneOakfan, October 13, 2008 1:56 PM

Hey Mike- funny how the Alex Smith scoring all of the points is that TE in Tampa! How far back did that monumental f-up really set back the West Bay squad? 15 years? 20? Please keep coming back and talking smack after your "boys" get worked week after week by the NFC JV division. Too funny.

I think I told you two weeks ago that you're going into the bye 2-6. I'll stick to that. Go Giants- there's no such thing as running it up on these chumps.

#14

Posted by Raider Scott, October 13, 2008 3:15 PM

Coach Elkin - You and I disagree about a run-centric offense vs. more passing. You think more passing means we are playing to win. I disagree. I also believe we are more prone to blowouts when we emphasize passing over the run. I think the games where we have been competitive we have run heavy. I know you are more likely to win games when you are close than when you are blown out. I will not get in to the psychological effects of close game losses versus getting humiliated. If we continue to force the passing game, I can almost guarantee less victories than if we use the run to set up the pass.

#15

Posted by The Fifth Horseman, October 13, 2008 3:22 PM

Another great day in Raiderland. Hey Patrick says that the Haters will be laughing and pointing all offseason. I hate to break it to you Patrick, but the Raider Haters have been laughing and pointing for 6 years now. Al Davis has given us so much to be thankful for. Thank God the man has his health, because I can't wait to see what he does with the Raiders for the next 10 to 15 years. Ralph Wilson turns 90 this year, so I know that Al has it in him to make it to the age of 90. Go Al, Go!!!! hahahahahahahahahahahahaha

#16

Posted by LDizzle, October 13, 2008 3:58 PM

Elkins is changing his "hardline" stance now. He used to preach how incompetant Kiffin was in every comment he made and now he is being proven wrong so he is claiming not to have taken such a stance. This is backpeddling at it's finest. It is as if Elkins was at an anti-Kiffin rally and one of his supporters stood up and called Kiffin an "Arab". Then we all sit back and enjoy watching Elkins squirm. Although it is unfortunate that the Raiders have to be humiliated to prove it. Damn it Elkins I wish you were right, but it looks as if you were dead wrong until further notice.

#17

Posted by Coach Elkins, October 13, 2008 4:17 PM

Raider Scott-

I do not think more passing means we are playing to win. There you go with putting words in my mouth again...that's okay, I know what you thought I meant to say....I like this type of interaction nonetheless....at least we both want the same outcome.....

There are many ways to look at it.

Lets use the Jets as an example, since we have them this week.....Also, using this example, I think might help to show the difference between average and good NFL football coaches. Most are qualified to put together a gameplan for the weeks upcoming games, but the good coaches can make adjustments on gameday, access variables and make minor changes which affect the outcome of the game. Sadly, in Oakland, I have seen very little adjustments to include the Raider staff in this latter group.

First, you have your general gameplan, which is decided upon by the coaching staff to develop a week of preparation and practice to get ready for a particular opponent. This is the whole, in a perfect world stuff, how we'ld like to attack the Jets. Once we decide how we want to attack them, based on our strengths and their weaknesses, we can begin to develop our scheme and plan of attack. All of these factors are affected by many different variables. Injuries, home field advantage, bye week, which players are playing well, etc.

The Jets have the ability to open their Offense up, but based on the Raiders Defensive personnel and the lack of the Raider Offense to put up big points,

there isn't a real big need for the Jets to take chances.

In my personal assessment of both the Raiders and the Jets, both coaching staffs want to play the game close. Neither want to force their will on the opponent. Each team wants to establish the run game, and pass when they have to. If either team gets a lead, they are apt to sit on it and run the ball once again.

I see this game being very close, possibly decided by a field goal at the end of the game.

My major point in the Saints game was, the staff should have known what the Saints would attempt to employ to move the ball. They would attack the short flat, or more directly, the linebackers. They would run just enough to keep the Raiders honest, and use play action and the 3 step drop to perfection. The Defensive Line didn't get their hands up, and the secondary didn't tackle especially well. All in all, we just had NO PLAN. In order to have a plan, we must know their plan. We obviously did not. We should have known though.....

Offensively, McFadden continues to be used improperly. Absolutely no screen game which would help with the pass rush. The Raiders need to use more ace back sets. They run out of the I formation about 75% of the time, which makes them extrememly predictible....Too much Offensive stuff to pick on, I'll save this stuff for future rants....

Just my take fella's

Go Raiders!

#18

Posted by Coach Elkins, October 13, 2008 4:18 PM

Dizzle-

Dream On buddy....

If you only knew!

#19

Posted by Coach Elkins, October 13, 2008 4:31 PM

When I said the Raiders run out of the I formation 75% of the time, what I'm saying is that when they do in fact line up in I or Offset I, they run the ball.

It doesn't mean they line up in I 75% of the time....

just clearing that up for those who are here to find someone to make you feel better.....we all know who you are....

#20

Posted by Coach Elkins, October 13, 2008 4:58 PM

Dizzle-

Explain for me where I have been "proven" wrong?

If I have been wrong "I" have been the first to admit it.

The fact of the matter is for the past 5 months I have been proven right. I have been proven right concerning the future of Coach Kiffin, and I have also been proven correct concerning the outcome of the Raider games.

Some of you "hate" on me because you cannot understand how I could know these things. You are further irritated when I ignore you. Those of you who feel this way should feel lucky this isn't a face to face interaction....because if it was in person it would be much much worse.

You know it's funny.....I don't have to say anything negative to any of you and you still feel defeated, and best of all, everyone knows it!

#21

Posted by Coach Elkins, October 13, 2008 5:02 PM

Oh and Patrick-

Your Silver Lining is RIGHT HERE buddy!

#22

Posted by Silver & Black Attack, October 13, 2008 7:35 PM

It appears that the team isn't going to excel until Al Davis stops micro managing the team. Lane Kiffin was the best coach it could possibly get considering the reputation the Al Davis has. After he fired Kiffin no one in their right mind is going to coach for the Raiders. John Gruden knew what was right by getting the H#*!? out of Dodge. I'm still a die hard Raider fan, but Al keeps making it more and more painful and challenging to be loyal. How can a coach manage the team effectively while Al has his own private meetings with the Defensive and Offensive Coordinators behind his coaches back? What happen to how decent running game last Sunday. We know that we can't force Russell to win the game as he's still learning how to be a winning quarterback. Here's to next week. Surprise us and win a game especially at home!

#23

Posted by LDizzle, October 13, 2008 10:45 PM

Elkins, someone like yourself who feels some kind of accomplishment from being right in a blog comment box has not accomplished anything of note in the real world. Carry on.

#24

Posted by Coach Elkins, October 13, 2008 11:31 PM

Dizzle,

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't you write for this Blog?

Not trying to put down this website, I think Rob and Patrick do a great job. I enjoy the many interesting characters that frequent this site. I even enjoy what you write here from time to time.

Don't hate on me buddy, you're better than that! As far as what I've done with my life, that's my business!

#25

Posted by Raider Scott, October 14, 2008 9:28 AM

Coach Elk - thanks for clearing it up in your response. I may have just misread that you were saying passing more means we have more desire to win. I think we all understand that the Saints are a really good passing team, they matched up well against us and we looked lost, ill prepared or both. I don't disagree with everything you say. I see some valid points. I have never drawn up a game plan for a game so I am certainly no expert, but I believe I know where our strengths are and I think our weaknesses are glaring. I am at the point where I throw my arms up in the air. Is it the coaching (or lack of it), is it the bad draft choices, bad off season acquisitions, poor game planning, bad play calling, pi$$ poor execution and bad/no halftime adjustments. Sometimes it seems like it is all of the above working simultaneously. All of this leads back to Al and the decisions he has made. Where you and I will always differ is about Kiff. I don’t see any relief in site. Our organization is really putting a lot of hope in to this coaching staff and that scares me. I hope our guys don’t pack it in this early in the season. I still think the most important thing is to establish our running game and give JRuss as much time behind center as possible and deal with his inexperience now. What you may be saying is that we need to run but use the RB’s in a different manner (play to their strengths). I think we all agree on that. On the defensive side I can’t figure it out. Sometimes we look so dominant and then we crumble in the end. Other times we just get blown out of the place. 2 blowouts in 5 games is baffling and inexcusable.