Some News after a Win.......

[jatfly]

-- Raiders FS Watch --
Mon Oct 20, 2008 --from FFMastermind.com

The Contra Costa Times reports Oakland Raiders FS Hiram Eugene started at free safety yesterday against the Jets. Raiders FS Michael Huff replaced Eugene in obvious passing situations.


-- Asomugha Thrown at Twice --
Mon Oct 20, 2008 --from FFMastermind.com

The Contra Costa Times reports the New York Jets attempted two passes in the direction of Oakland Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha yesterday. The first one gained no yards. Asomugha was penalized 5 yards for illegal contact on the second one. No team has thrown at Asomugha more than twice all season.


-- Tyvon Branch Replaces Higgins as KR --
Mon Oct 20, 2008 --from FFMastermind.com

The Contra Costa Times reports Oakland Raiders rookie SS/KR Tyvon Branch replaced WR/KR/PR Johnnie Lee Higgins on kick returns. He averaged 15.5 yards on four returns yesterday against the Jets.


-- Michael Bush See Zero Snaps --
Sun Oct 19, 2008 --from FFMastermind.com

InsideBayArea.com reports Oakland Raiders RB Michael Bush did not play in today's overtime win against the Jets.


-- Janikowski Bails Out Cable --
Sun Oct 19, 2008 --from FFMastermind.com

AP reports Raiders PK Sebastian Janikowski bailed out Oakland interim HC Tom Cable in his home debut as Raiders coach. Janikowski's team-record 57-yard field goal with 2:30 left in overtime gave the Raiders a 16-13 victory over QB Brett Favre and the New York Jets on Sunday. The game only went to overtime because Cable called a late timeout that negated PK Jay Feely's missed field goal at the end of regulation. Feely made good on his second attempt, a 52-yarder with 3 seconds left that sent the game to overtime. There the teams traded punts on the first five possessions before Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell hit WR Javon Walker for 16 yards and TE Zach Miller for 27 to move the Raiders (2-4) into field goal range. Janikowski then delivered on the longest field goal in team history, besting the mark he set earlier this year by 1 yard. The Raiders poured off the sideline to mob Janikowski in a much-needed celebration in a season marked by the firing of HC Lane Kiffin and too many blown leads.


-- Michael Huff Playing Extensively --
Sun Oct 19, 2008 --from FFMastermind.com

ESPN's Bill Williamson reports that even though he has been benched in favor of FS Hiram Eugene, Oakland Raiders FS Michael Huff is playing extensively in today's game against the Jets.


-- Schilens to Start Over Curry --
Fri Oct 17, 2008 --from FFMastermind.com

InsideBayArea.com reports Oakland Raiders seventh-round draft pick WR Chaz Schilens will make his starting debut Sunday against the New York Jets at the expense of the Raiders' leading receiver over the past two seasons. Schilens, interim HC Tom Cable said, will start in place of WR Ronald Curry, who caught 117 passes the last two seasons but has been plagued by drops and inconsistency for all but about the first two weeks of training camp. WR Javon Walker will continue to be the starter at split end.

[NIPS]

Chillin' wit Schillens

[hawaiianboy]

I haven't found it in print yet, but apparently Cable had Phil Villapiano give the pre-game talk... That must have been pretty cool...


Cable invokes the past and gets his first win

October 19, 2008 11:18 PM

Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson


OAKLAND -- Tom Cable is assimilating well to Raiders football.

To succeed in Oakland, or to at least to be accepted here, you must embrace the past. You must enter Al Davis' world. Cable has done that and, for the next week, at least, the 1970s are alive.

In town for a team memorial for the late Gene Upshaw, former Oakland greats Ken Stabler and Raymond Chester came to the team's hotel Saturday night to try to fire up the 2008 version, a team that looks nothing like the 1970s Raiders.

At 1-4 and coming off a 34-3 loss in New Orleans to kick off the Cable era, the Raiders were in need of much more than a pep talk from the former stars. It appears to have helped.

And after a 16-13 overtime win over Brett Favre and the New York Jets, it was all about the past for the Raiders.

"The great ones took out time for us, that's a big thing," Oakland defensive tackle Gerard Warren said. "We got some good players on this team, but those are Super Bowl winners. We listened. They got us wanting to win for the organization. It was a good thing. There's a lot of history here."

There's even some revisionist history. Apparently, as far as Cable is concerned, the first six weeks of the NFL season never happened. On about 10 different occasions, the Raiders' interim coach -- the offensive line coach who replaced the fired Lane Kiffin on Sept. 30 -- announced to the world that the Raiders are 1-0.

"We're 1-0 and we're going to enjoy it," Cable said.

For the record the "1-0" Raiders are in third place in the AFC West. And, don't tell Cable, but for some odd reason, the official NFL standings have the Raiders' record at 2-4. Apparently, Cable's message is that his team must take it one game at a time.

You know what? It's exactly what the Raiders, who play at Baltimore next Sunday, need.

They need some love. Cable is there to give it to them. He gave out a couple of game balls after the win. He said he was going to give out a few more Monday.

He praised the play of quarterback JaMarcus Russell, who was largely ineffective until late in overtime. He called receiver Javon Walker "marvelous" after a game in which he caught five passes.

He admitted he nearly screwed up when he iced Jets kicker Jay Feely, giving Feely a second chance to send the game to overtime with a 52-yard field goal.

Cable, an intriguing combination of big and cuddly and intimidating and forceful, also panned himself a few times. He's a players' coach. And perhaps more important, he's a Raiders historian.

Here are a few more observations from Sunday's game:

Brett Favre seemed old: You kept waiting for Favre to make a big play and win the game. It never happened. He had his moments, but Favre was not special. Not even close. He was horribly stagnant in overtime as he completed one of four passes during three uneventful drives. He threw two bad interceptions, including one at the Oakland goal line. Favre, 39, completed 21-of-38 for 197 yards. He rarely threw deep.

"I don't think that was ever the plan," said Oakland cornerback DeAngelo Hall, who intercepted Favre once. "They dinked and dunked."

After the game, Favre was down. He said the game was one of the toughest he ever had to endure. I remember his last game as a Green Bay Packer, in the NFC title game against the Giants in which his final pass was an interception, as tougher.

But apparently Favre's memory is a lot shorter than the Raiders'.

Javon Walker is still an NFL player: Walker had by far his best game as a Raider. He caught five passes for 75 yards. He had a touchdown catch, the Raiders' only touchdown of the game, and he caught a key pass on the game-winning drive. Until Sunday, Walker was ineffective in Oakland and known more for his $55 million contract he signed in the offseason and being robbed and beaten in Las Vegas than for catching balls. Sunday, he was a factor. Walker said his dramatic production spike was a direct by product of him getting thrown the ball.

"That's what's going to happen when I get thrown the ball," Walker said. "It's going to continue to happen."

Walker has had some tough luck on and off the field and the team should be pleased with his production Sunday. But he needs to show he can continue to be a productive receiver for the Raiders before fans can believe he has turned the corner.

Janikowski has a big leg: On the Raiders' game-winning drive, Cable asked kicker Sebastian Janikowski, who missed a 40-yarder earlier in the game, how far could he kick a field goal in the situation. Janikowski said about a 57-yarder. So when the opportunity arose, Janikowski got his chance. And he nailed it, easily.

Cable's reason for allowing Janikowski to try it with 2:35 to go in overtime? Simple, said the players' coach.

"You have to believe in your players," Cable said.

Of the past and the present.

[Byron2112]

Winning feels good. This is the best I've felt about the Raiders since all the shitty Al/Kiffin rumors started.

With Cable being such an unknown it opens that tiny sliver of fantasy that this may be the start of something good and real... I'm going to enjoy that while I can.

[BigTron]

We have been very competitive in 4/6 games this year. We could easily be 4-2 and on top of the division had things played out slightly different. With a young QB learning the ropes and a extremely young roster we are actually making good progress IMO. Especially considering the areas we are weak at are DE, DT, LT, RT and WR, which are all very important. The Ravens are a very good team with a beat up secondary and a QB also learning the ropes. They arent all that much different from us. Except they have a nasty front 7 who doesnt allow anyone to run.

Flacco 2 TD's & 7 INT's 68 QB rating
JaMarcus 5 TD's & 2 INT's 76 QB rating

[007]

Call me corny, but I like the "1-0" mantra.

Granted, I dont know how much grown men sit around and think about it in a locker room, but the fact of the matter is, you cant worry about what happened with Kiffin, Al Davis, Gannon, Sapp or any media jerk off...You can only lineup against the team in front of you and try your best to beat them.

I think we can hang with many of the middle tier teams, including Baltimore and NYJ, and possibly spoil a few playoff dreams along the way.

[jatfly]

Yeah here is something I didn't see until today....


The Raiders have re-signed LB Robert Thomas and placed TE Ben Troupe on injured reserve.


Why did we sign Troupe again??

[YodasBeast]

I think we were trying to get a good blocking/recieving TE to compliment Miller.

[Raider X]

I haven't found it in print yet, but apparently Cable had Phil Villapiano give the pre-game talk... That must have been pretty cool...



I would have liked to have heard this as well.

I'm sure G. Wilson was getting fired-up.

[massraider]

Call me corny, but I like the "1-0" mantra.

Granted, I dont know how much grown men sit around and think about it in a locker room, but the fact of the matter is, you cant worry about what happened with Kiffin, Al Davis, Gannon, Sapp or any media jerk off...You can only lineup against the team in front of you and try your best to beat them.

I think we can hang with many of the middle tier teams, including Baltimore and NYJ, and possibly spoil a few playoff dreams along the way.

After giving games away, nice to steal one.

Really liked seeing Javon Walker arrive in Oakland.

[Rupert]

After giving games away, nice to steal one.

Really liked seeing Javon Walker arrive in Oakland.

Hope that Walker sticks around for a while.

[Madturk]

McFadden limited with sore toe
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Thursday, October 23rd, 2008 at 2:56 pm in Oakland Raiders.

News, notes and analysis Thursday following the practice media window and post-practice press availability:

– Darren McFadden’s right turf toe is acting up again.

McFadden was limited in practice Thursday and was walking gingerly out to practice both days this week.

Coach Tom Cable and McFadden insist it’s no big deal, but considering how the condition can linger and that the only thing that can cure it is prolonged rest, you wonder if he’ll ever be 100 percent this year.

“Just a little (soreness) in my toe,” McFadden said. “I got back on the field and I’m good.”

– Gerard Warren made it to the field but was limited in practice, indicating progress and a good chance he’ll face the Ravens. Derrick Burgess did not practice and was leaving the facility well before practice had ended.

Cable said if Burgess could practice today, he could be a game-day decision on Sunday. Don’t count on it.

LB Jon Alston did not practice with a foot sprain and is not likely to play.

– There is rain in the forecast this weekend in Baltimore. Playing for the first time with turf toe on artificial turf in Buffalo (there was no rain but there was a slick dew), McFadden slipped several times and kept changing cleats.

The Raiders will have a walkthrough Saturday at M&T Bank Stadium.

“I hope it rains cats and dogs, we’re expecting it to rain on Sunday,” Cable said. “We have already talked about it. If you’re worried about that stuff, A) you’re not very good and, B), you’re worried about the wrong thing. We have already addressed that.”

– Both Johnnie Lee Higgins and Tyvon Branch were practicing with the kick return team Wednesday and Higgins could be back in that role after Branch had just a 15.5 average with along of 20 yards on four returns against the Jets.

Higgins is averaging 25.2 yards on 21 kickoff returns with along of 69 yards.

– Cable re-instituted the practice of giving individual game balls _ Kiffin gave them to the entire team during rare wins _ in part because of his own experience.

“I just remember my first game in Atlanta as a line coach in 2006, getting a game ball and I thought that was the coolest thing,” Cable said. “I’d never had one before so I thought hey, if it felt like that to me, it’s going to feel that way for the players too so that’s the reason for that.”

In the 2006 season opener, the Falcons rushed for 252 yards on 47 carries and the offensive line committed no penalties and allowed no sacks in a 20-6 win over the Carolina Panthers.

– The Raiders nearly had a perfect game according to the posted criteria each week which grades special teams performance.

They earned helmets on a hallway board under the categories of 100 percent punt protection, 100 percent kick protection, had a better net kickoff average, a better net putning average, set up a score, gave the offense the ball inside the 50, always had the opponent starting outside the 50 and had a game-breaking play.

The only empty category was for going “penalty free.” Two of Oakland’s 14 penalties were on special teams _ one on Lechler for delay of game, and an offsides call negated a 23-yard punt return by Higgins.

Revisiting the fake

– Chances are punt team gunners Hiram Eugene and Tyvon Branch may have a little less company against the Ravens this week courtesy of the Raiders’ fake punt which resulted in a key 22-yard run by Alston.

The play is worth reviewing because it was so rare. It was the first time since the Raiders returned in 1995 the ball was snapped to someone other than the punter.

The Raiders inadvertantly ran a fake last season when personal protector Stuart Schweigert called it off, a message which wasn’t received by Shane Lechler. Lechler was dumped for a four-yard loss.

The Raiders had been practicing the fake for two weeks and were looking for the right time to spring it. Cable instructed Brian Scheinder to call for it earlier in the game, but the Jets stacked eight men in the box and Alston called it off.

Later, with the Raiders at their own 27, Cable called it again. This time, the Jets were setting up for a return and had only six men in the box. Six in the box is the look the Raiders were seeking. Alston burst through a hole and ran 22 yards, his first carry since high school.

“That’s going to force teams to play us honest, which means one of our gunners is going to be singled, either Tyvon Branch or Hiram Eugene,” linebacker Isaiah Ekejiuba said. “That’s going to give us better field position. It’s going to loosen things up for us.”

Said Lechler: “First fake we’ve run since I’ve been here and I’ve been here nine years. You watch other teams try them and think, `Why can’t we do that?’ ”

The Raiders last fake punt came in 1996, was recounted by veteran Jeff Gossett to Raiders.com in a “What happened to . . . ” feature. In fact, Gossett talked about it in response to the question, “Is there a moment or play that stands out in your career?”

“Of course. The last game I ever played, at Seattle, Coach called a fake punt. It was 4th and 12. I got 11 yards and seven broken ribs. I punted a few more times in the game but that was it. I still feel those ribs once in awhile,” Gossett said.

Growing up Ryan

– A few Rex Ryan nuggets about growing up in the Ryan family, outtakes courtesy of the Ravens media relations department:

– “My twin brother and my older brother, every year we would play a game. The only rule as that there had to be cheap shots. If you never hit anybody and you had the opportunity, then you were done. I think I got knocked into a moving car one time.”

– I’ll call his wife and get her on the phone and pretend I’m rob, and he does the same to mine occasionally. We do sound exactly alike, and ifyou don’t have caller ID, there’s no way they can tell the difference.”

– “There’s a rumor he took my ACT test, but that’s only a rumor. But we did switch classes occasionally. I’m just kidding. He was better at math than I was. Im sure I was better in every other subject than he was.”


Looks like Burgess is reverting back to his injury days in Philly. I can't see us shelling out big bucks for him this offseason.