Know Your Enemy: The Raiders

by Screwfish on Dec 21, 2010 6:36 AM EST

Hi guys, you know how this works by now. I'm Fish from Silver and Black Pride, here to talk football and the Raiders with you leading up to our teams' clash this week.

I gotta say, I'm a bit sad that this is the last time this regular season that I'll be able to have a reasonably civilised one of these (trying to converse with the mouth breathers at Arrowhead Pride can be an irritating and trying experience).

Here's the basic facts:

- Our offense is really firing right now, and it's led by our running game. If you want to beat us in our house, you're gonna have to shut down our two headed monster - good luck with that. Watch out for Marcel Reece (our FB) catching out of the backfield as well.

- Jason Campbell is getting better as a QB every week. While I still worry about him in a situation where he's forced to win a game for us, his chemistry with our WRs is coming along and he's beginning to hit the long balls.

- Our pass D does look better because not many QBs pass against us, true, but we still have a good pass defense. Nnamdi is Nnamdi (I doubt even Peyton has the testicular fortitude to throw at him regularly) and Stanford Routt is improving although he does make occasional bonehead plays.

- Our run D is also pretty good, and (with all due respect) you guys don't really have the running game to test us much in that regard.

Overall I'm hoping that we can get you guys to play smashmouth Raider football - if the game turns into a slug fest, I reckon we will win. If on the other hand it becomes a battle of QBs...I don't know if even JC's mother would back him in that contest.

My prediction? Raiders 27, Colts 21.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors.

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Hello and welcome!

My quick questions:

How is the rest of the secondary compare to Asomghua? We have no real stand-outs besides Wayne (Garcon’s inconsistent, Tamme’s not Dallas Clark and Blair White plays like the rookie he is at times). However, Manning obviously has the ability to get the ball in their hands. How will the Raiders secondary try to neutralize them?

Do the Raiders have a good O-line, and how’s Campbell under pressure?

In running, how does McFadden compare to a guy like Maurice Jones Drew? We just held MJD to under 50 yards, so our D is probably feeling pretty good.

by WaynesWorld on Dec 21, 2010 9:13 AM EST reply actions

Secondary: Obviously Aso is the star, however Stanford Routt is beginning to improve. He still makes a few dumb errors per game though and I’m pretty sure Peyton knows that and plans to pick on him. Tyvon Branch is a good coverage SS and Mike Mitchell’s our big hit guy at that position – watch out for him on the blitz. Our main weak link in the secondary is Michael Huff at FS – the guy simply can’t seem to make tackles when he most needs to and he continually hits too high.

O-Line: Young and improving, but with holes. Robert Gallery is the leader and he gives his all week in, week out at LG. Jared Veldheer’s showing some great signs at LT and we’re all hoping he can be the long-term answer there. Other than them, we just hope that Satele, Carlisle and Langston Walker don’t crumble every week – they’ve done pretty week the last couple of games and it’s shown in the improvement in Jason Campbell’s performance, but when he gets pressured it can get ugly (see Round 6 against the 49ers) and he turns into Rabbit In The Headlights Campbell again. (Quick question from my side – how good is your pass rush? I know what Freeney can do, but not much about the rest of your front 7).

As for McFadden, Jack Del Rio said it best – “the guys who are fast enough to catch him aren’t strong enough to bring him down.” He’s absolutely tearing it up this year and is a big reason why we’ve been way better than our past seven seasons. If you can keep him to under 100 yards it’ll be a good day for your D.

"I hate to recommend drugs, alcohol, violence or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me." - Hunter S. Thompson.

"Ambition? Bah! Ambition is just an excuse for people who don't have the guts to be lazy!" - Theo (The Wog Boy)

by Screwfish on Dec 21, 2010 10:24 AM EST up reply actions

Honestly, i do not trust anything Jack Del Rio says

If he says it, it’s probably not true.

Dallas Clark: Some tight ends catch. Some block. Clark just owns.

by Sir Sci on Dec 21, 2010 4:46 PM EST up reply actions

Trust me

He’s right on this one. You’ll find out on Sunday.

"I hate to recommend drugs, alcohol, violence or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me." - Hunter S. Thompson.

"Ambition? Bah! Ambition is just an excuse for people who don't have the guts to be lazy!" - Theo (The Wog Boy)

by Screwfish on Dec 21, 2010 5:09 PM EST up reply actions

If we can bottle up

Chris Johnson and MJD, I think we can handle DMac. One thing the Colts D has is speed.

by Indyshockwave on Dec 21, 2010 7:53 PM EST up reply actions

True

Just remember – DMC has similar speed to CJ and MJD, but he runs with far more power than either of them.

"I hate to recommend drugs, alcohol, violence or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me." - Hunter S. Thompson.

"Ambition? Bah! Ambition is just an excuse for people who don't have the guts to be lazy!" - Theo (The Wog Boy)

by Screwfish on Dec 21, 2010 8:46 PM EST up reply actions

Welcome~

Question 1: How bad do you wish the Raiders had a competent QB?!

I would hate to have that much talent at the WR position and a beast of a TE in Zach Miller to go to such waste because the QB can’t get them the ball….

Question 2: More on the subject of your beast TE… Seeing he is one hell of a blocker (his block on the edge alone set up McFadden’s 36 yard run on Sunday), and defenses tend to fall asleep on TEs as blockers on several plays — How often do the Raiders use play-action?

I can see him slipping off an engaged block to go for a pass, and no better way to do this than on play-action.

by nickfromnaptown on Dec 21, 2010 9:52 AM EST reply actions

Had you asked me question 1 a few weeks ago, I’d’ve probably answered the soul of my first born. However, Jason Campbell’s begun to turn it around big time recently.
Our receivers are actually an area of concern for us – we got plenty of speed as you all know, but neither Louis Murphy nor Darius Heyward-Bey have what you call consistent hands. (In the case of Heyward-Bey, I’m not sure if he can catch a cold). Our best WR has actually probably been our rookie slot guy, Jacoby Ford.

And yeah, Zach Miller is a beast – he needs to make the Pro Bowl this year.

Regarding question 2, we use play action less than I wish we did but Campbell’s pretty good at the fakes. There was one against the Chargers a couple of weeks ago that led to a Louis Murphy TD that was a dead-set thing of beauty.

"I hate to recommend drugs, alcohol, violence or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me." - Hunter S. Thompson.

"Ambition? Bah! Ambition is just an excuse for people who don't have the guts to be lazy!" - Theo (The Wog Boy)

by Screwfish on Dec 21, 2010 10:33 AM EST up reply actions

Had you asked me question 1 a few weeks ago, I’d’ve probably answered the soul of my first born. However, Jason Campbell’s begun to turn it around big time recently.

First off, you better hope your first born can’t read or goes blind! As for Campbell, he has yet to show me he’s turned anything around, as he’s never proved anything yet. I’ve always believed in him someday figuring things out and utilizing his complete package (physically and mentally) but he seems to be content with managing games instead of learning to take control of them.

but neither Louis Murphy nor Darius Heyward-Bey have what you call consistent hands

I’d have to see tape more closely to figure this out for myself. I just figured the inconsistency at QB has contributed to the lack of consistency from that speedy duo. There was talk about Heyward-Bey’s hands when he got drafted, though, wasn’t there? I still love their upside :)

Much appreciate the solid response — cheers and good luck to the Silver and Black this week~

by nickfromnaptown on Dec 21, 2010 10:58 AM EST up reply actions

I agree that JC doesn’t always use his talents fully (a guy with his arm and accuracy when he’s in form really should be an elite QB) but with our running game he doesn’t really have to do much other than manage the game.

"I hate to recommend drugs, alcohol, violence or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me." - Hunter S. Thompson.

"Ambition? Bah! Ambition is just an excuse for people who don't have the guts to be lazy!" - Theo (The Wog Boy)

by Screwfish on Dec 21, 2010 5:12 PM EST up reply actions

And thankfully I have no children.

"I hate to recommend drugs, alcohol, violence or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me." - Hunter S. Thompson.

"Ambition? Bah! Ambition is just an excuse for people who don't have the guts to be lazy!" - Theo (The Wog Boy)

by Screwfish on Dec 21, 2010 6:45 PM EST up reply actions

--------thankfully-------

awful choice of words.
You dont have idea how wrong you are…

by UFrazzel on Dec 21, 2010 9:01 PM EST up reply actions

Trust me

When I say “thankfully”, I mean it as much for any potential children of mine as I do for myself. I just turned 21 last week – while I have nothing against kids, that’s a long way away yet.

"I hate to recommend drugs, alcohol, violence or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me." - Hunter S. Thompson.

"Ambition? Bah! Ambition is just an excuse for people who don't have the guts to be lazy!" - Theo (The Wog Boy)

by Screwfish on Dec 21, 2010 9:31 PM EST up reply actions

JC will always take the safe high percentage throw, and occasionally mix in a hospital ball, or throw one up for grabs.

question 1: How good is your screen pass defense? Thats our bread and butter no doubt about it.

I want to be the modern day version of Super Mario Brothers!!! Dont care for *shrooms*, but would love to *get large* and *spit fire*...unless im constantly told "thanks, but your girl is in another castle". That would rate a 8.9 on the ole *Suck-ometer*!!!

by Kobe Won Kenobi on Dec 21, 2010 9:19 PM EST up reply actions

Isn't very good if caught off guard, DB's are usually already 10 yards off the line of scrimmage....

If play recognition is sharp, the overall speed of the Colts’ defense will bottle up the screens in a blink of an eye.

by nickfromnaptown on Dec 21, 2010 10:33 PM EST up reply actions

You know why we are gonna stop DMac??

Cause he has SCREWED me over for the past two years in fantasy football. I had faith in him until this year, when he finally decided to be good. Well ya know what? There is SOME decency in this world, and karma is going to bite him in the ass!!

How’s that logic?

by icedude on Dec 21, 2010 9:19 PM EST reply actions

I work with underprivileged Aboriginal kids from inner Sydney.

I’d’ve thought that job would have given me some good karma to put towards my teams – I’ve never seen a title in my lifetime for a team I go for in any sport.

"I hate to recommend drugs, alcohol, violence or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me." - Hunter S. Thompson.

"Ambition? Bah! Ambition is just an excuse for people who don't have the guts to be lazy!" - Theo (The Wog Boy)

by Screwfish on Dec 21, 2010 9:33 PM EST up reply actions

Well to be fair, I was just kidding.

But that’s great that you do that! It’s always great to give a helping hand to the needy, and it’s so much more important than any football game.

That being said, I still hope you guys lose Sunday haha :P

by icedude on Dec 22, 2010 4:43 PM EST up reply actions

LOL

Well it wasnt a matter of if, but when he was going to go Beast Mode (on) off!

by Kobe Won Kenobi on Dec 21, 2010 9:22 PM EST reply actions

Colts...

I don’t know if anyone is aware by Addai was a full participant in practice today. Having him on Sunday would really provide Peyton the extra time he needs with Addai in the backfield to block when passing. Although, White isn’t Collie, given extra time Peyton could make the reads to get the ball in his hands, Tamme’s hands or Garcon’s hands. In addition, Addai is great in passing situations out of the backfield.

by untouchable84 on Dec 22, 2010 10:32 PM EST reply actions