Battle Of The Bay...

Voices of the past call to Shell

David White

Monday, August 21, 2006

Art Shell eased through the underground workings of the Coliseum, making his way toward a Sunday evening exhibition game with the 49ers.

The concrete tunnel met the grass-and-dirt playing field. Shell heard the roars of a sun-kissed crowd, there to welcome the Raiders' Hall of Famer home from Al Davis-imposed exile (fired, 1994).

Suddenly, above the rancor and blaring music, Shell could make out sounds from the distinct past.

"I heard Willie Brown's voice in my ear," Shell said after Oakland beat San Francisco 23-7. "I heard Jim Otto's voice, Danny Birdwell. I heard all those voices out on the field. It's like all the alumni are out there. Gene Upshaw, I heard him. Snake (Ken Stabler). All those things came back.

"I looked out to my left. I saw Cliff Branch's corner, 21 in that corner where he'd catch touchdowns. It was nice to walk back in the stadium on this side and be a part of it again."

Shell hadn't been in the stadium as a Raider since Dec. 13, 1981, when Oakland lost its home finale to Chicago before moving to Los Angeles.

The Raiders came back to Oakland in 1995. Shell rejoined them this year, and already has a team that went 4-12 in 2005 off to a 3-0 start in the exhibition standings.

The last time Oakland was 3-0 in August was 1976. Shell was a starting offensive tackle. The Raiders went on to win Super Bowl XI.

"That right?" Shell said. "That's good."

It's no reason to buy February airfare to South Florida, but this much is bankable: After sloppy victories against Philadelphia and Minnesota, the Raiders were purveyors of a victory so comprehensive, so complete, there was no need to apologize or explain themselves afterward.

The defense preyed on the 49ers with two interceptions. The special teams were splendid with field goals from three kickers.

Those were lessons learned at previous stops in Canton, Ohio, and Minneapolis. This time, the offense was game, an altogether new development.

"We got better tonight," quarterback Aaron Brooks said. "It's just a start, but we made strides."

Brooks showed he can still complete passes. After a 2-for-9 start to the season, he was 10-of-17 for 125 yards with one touchdown and an interception in the first half against the Niners.

He proved, at age 30, he can still run. When pass coverage held up and the pocket shrunk, Brooks took off four times for 31 yards.

Both assets came through in the team's first drive. Brooks completed 4-of-5 passes for 42 yards. On 3rd and 9, he swerved 25 yards to the 49ers 38.

Brooks threw to tight end Courtney Anderson for 9 yards, and Randy Moss for 14. LaMont Jordan had three carries for 16 yards.

The 10-play, 75-yard drive started with an 11-yard pass to Doug Gabriel. It ended with an 8-yard strike to Gabriel, who was nestled inside the goal line underneath two linebackers.

Both times, Gabriel got up and chucked the football for joy. It felt that good to a first-team offense that struggled mightily until now.

"We got a lot better today as a first-team unit," said Anderson, who had a 1-yard touchdown catch erased by penalty.

Brooks succeeded, in large part, because the offensive line showed it could pass block, up to three Mississippis if needed. The starters did not allow a sack and did not commit a false start or hold.

They did it without left guard Barry Sims (elbow) and, briefly, without left tackle Robert Gallery, who got dirt in his eye halfway through the second quarter.

The Raiders ran mostly through the left side in previous games, but ventured right against the Niners. Jordan had 12 carries for 45 yards, and ReShard Lee added 11 rushes for 49 yards.

It's progress, and the Raiders needed some after two exhibition games. Just don't mistake the exhibition-season 49ers with the regular-season Chargers, who visit the Coliseum in Week 1.

"We're not where I want to be," Shell said. "We're not there. But, I thought they performed better as a football team than they did the past two weeks."
 
The Raiders looked very good in all phases of the game yesterday.

The offensive line was pretty solid except, as usual, against stunts and blitzes. Still they gave Brooks enough time to make some completions.

Speaking of Brooks, he looked good enough to remain the starter. That kind of performance on a regular basis will definitely ensure at least a .500 record for the Raiders. But Brooks's backup continues to look better against the 2's than Brooks does against the 1's. Walter slides in the pocket where Brooks escapes. Both are effective now.

The defense really put the clamps on San Fran. Only a SuperBowl winning QB was able to lead the 49ers to a TD against the 3's.

But there is the real issue. It was the 49ers. A team that had traded their #1 RB away before the game. It's a team in the midst of rebuilding. Not that they're without talent, they have plenty of developing talent. But they are a team that I expect to remain cellar dwellers this season. If they have a decent season, it will be because the talent starts to emerge in the 2nd half of the season.

Right now, we should have blown them out, and we did. That's a far cry from last year when we lost to teams we should have easily beaten, and struggled with teams we were better than, and just got flat handled by teams in our class or better. We're living up to our potential. It's nice to see.
 
Rupert, did the game seem to go by fast for you lol it was only 2 1/2 hours. the game was pretty much over by 730 lol i was at game too had lots fun:D
 
Yeah, it was a quick game. Low # of penalties, both teams wanting to run the ball, few plays out of bounds. Yeah, that led to a quick game.
 
Why Tom Walsh must approximate Bill Walsh

It's hard to explain how the Raiders' offense could improve in every facet after stinking up the field twice this preseason - even factoring in the home crowd and the level of competition.

Did Aaron Brooks and LaMont Jordan and Robert Gallery and Langston Walker all get better at the same time? Doubtful.

If there was one main underlying factor, I think it was Tom Walsh's play calling against the 49ers. San Francisco seemed surprised to see the Raiders pass so frequently on their first few series. The Niners generated little rush, and that can make any NFL offense look like the Indianapolis Colts (well, almost).

The more I think about it, the more I believe Walsh's offensive scheme and game-day noodling will be the key to the Raiders' season. The defense and special teams look pretty solid. LaMont Jordan could easily be a 1,400-yard back. The receiving corps is deep and quarterback Aaron Brooks, while inconsistent, could have a lot of fun distributing the ball.

The big question mark is the offensive line. Is it strong enough to push defenders off the line of scrimmage? Can Gallery and Walker keep speed rushers from getting around the edge? I don't believe they can do it without help from Walsh. A steady diet of "downhill running" is fine if you have Art Shell and Gene Upshaw and Jim Otto elbow-to-elbow-to-elbow. The 2006 Raiders don't; they'll need some innovative - or least unpredictable - play calling to keep the pressure off. Stay tuned.

Other notes from the 23-7 victory against the 49ers:

The Raiders obviously have been focusing on the tight end during the preseason, but Courtney Anderson's achievements have not been handed to him on a platter. This guy has really developed as a receiver. He would have had his second touchdown pass of the preseason if it weren't for a highly questionable pass interference call. I have to remind myself Anderson was a seventh-round draft choice - the 245th overall selection - in the 2004 draft.
The quietest Raider so far during the preseason? I nominate Derrick Burgess. The Pro Bowl defensive end has three tackles in three games, and hasn't done anything remotely spectacular. This has to be considered good news for the Raiders. Burgess is a relentless worker, and we saw his speed around the corner last year. At some point he will begin to make disruptive plays; perhaps by then, the Raiders will have found some other contributors.

Sebastian Janikowski is 7-of-7 on field-goal attempts this preseason. Almost as encouraging, did you see his first two kickoffs on Sunday? He blasted them eight yards deep and five yards deep; both were downed for touchbacks.

Phil Barber
 
Huff doubtful

August 21st, 2006

Art Shell told reporters by conference call Monday night that starting strong safety Michael Huff us unlikely to play against the Detroit Lions Friday with a sprained ankle.

“Hopefully, he’ll be ready for next week (against Seattle),'’ Shell said. “If not, then by the opening game. We are going to be careful with that.'’

Shell said he didn’t know if Huff would get an MRI to take a closer look.

In the previous blog entry, I questioned why Shell would want to go for a 23-yard field goal attempt in a pre-season game rather than take a shot at the end zone.

Someone else had the same question Monday night.

`I was practicing what I wanted to practice which was to kick the field goal,'’ Shell said. “It was a game situation for me. that’s what I would hve done during the regular season. I’m trying to get myself prepared, too.'’

But what if you were down five or six points and needed a touchdown? Why not simulate that instead when everyone knows Sebastian Janikowski can probably kick a 23-yard field goal?

“Tell you what, when Mr. Davis hires you, you can do that,'’ Shell said.

Fair enough. No more rants about coaching strategy in pre-season games.

Until it happens again next year.

_ Jerry McDonald
 
Huff likely will sit out Friday

By Jason Jones
Published 12:01 am PDT Tuesday, August 22, 2006


Michael Huff intercepted 49ers quarterback Alex Smith's pass and nearly ran down the Raiders' sideline for a touchdown Sunday, but later limped off the field.

The Raiders' first-round pick left the game with 9:55 left in the second quarter with a mildly sprained left ankle.


Coach Art Shell said in a teleconference Monday that Huff was doubtful for Friday's game against Detroit in Oakland.
"Hopefully he'll be ready by next week," Shell said. "If not then, by the opening game, of course. We're going to be careful with that."

Huff supplanted Derrick Gibson as the starter at strong safety by the Raiders' first preseason game. Gibson will replace Huff in the starting lineup.

Shell said Huff getting an interception in the preseason would only build the rookie's confidence.

"To come in the league, no matter what time of year it is, if it's preseason, even if it's in the practice session in training camp," Shell said. "Anytime they can get an interception, that's a confidence-booster for a young guy."

Backup gains -- Second-year quarterback Andrew Walter looked poised against the 49ers and didn't throw an interception for the first time in three preseason appearances.

Walter completed 8 of 10 passes for 99 yards.

"I thought he came in and had good presence in the pocket, good command of the huddle," Shell said. "He threw the ball with touch, he threw the ball with accuracy, and I thought in the pocket he moved to avoid the pressure here and there and still was able to get the ball down the field."

Shell was pleased with the overall play of starter Aaron Brooks, Walter and Marques Tuiasosopo (2 of 3, 24 yards) after saying better play was needed from the quarterbacks after two preseason games.

Penalty update -- The Raiders had three accepted penalties for 40 yards, both preseason lows, and weren't called for any false starts or offsides penalties.

Rookie guard Paul McQuistan was called for a personal foul for pushing down a defender away from the play. Shell said that's a no-no in today's NFL.

"That's not a smart play," Shell said.

Packing it up -- The Raiders will break training camp in Napa on Wednesday and practice Thursday morning in Alameda.
 
Dilfer's enthusiasm flagged

By MATT MAIOCCO
AND PHIL BARBER


OAKLAND - The only spark the 49ers showed Sunday night came from their 34-year-old backup quarterback.

And the price of the exuberance was two penalties for 30 yards.

Dilfer was twice called for unsportsmanlike penalties for taunting during the 49ers' lackluster 23-7 loss to the Raiders at the Coliseum.

"It's unusual that a quarterback gets those penalties," 49ers coach Mike Nolan said. "I know what he was trying to do. Trent was trying to generate some enthusiasm. He felt it was flat, too. He was on the sideline saying, 'Come on, we got to get it going.'"

Dilfer's first penalty came after he subjected himself to a big hit from Raiders rookie safety Darnell Bing at the end of a 5-yard run. Dilfer got up and head-butted Bing.

Then, after Dilfer led the 49ers to their only points of the game on a 6-yard scoring pass to running back Michael Robinson, Dilfer ran to the Raiders sideline to apparently taunt his former teammate and good friend, Warren Sapp.

"Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah - it wasn't nothing like that," Sapp said. "Dilfer and myself had a lot of good times together. He was coming over (for) just a little stab. He was joking around. (Referee) Ed (Hochuli) doesn't understand the game sometimes. It was a good joke we were sharing.

"I told him the apocalypse is definitely upon us when Trent Dilfer gets two personal fouls."

WHAT PUSH-OFF?

Tight end Courtney Anderson thought he had his second touchdown of the exhibition season, but an official called him for offensive pass interference on a one-yard score in the second quarter. It came on an option route. Anderson first attempted to break outside to the corner, but met resistance from 49ers outside linebacker Manny Lawson. So he separated and came back to the middle.

"I think it was bogus," Anderson said. "When I came off the ball, he kind of grabbed me, jammed me up. ... I tried to go out and he didn't let me go out, so I hooked back in. I might have brushed off, I can't tell. But I know he had me."

GAIN, AND PAIN

Raiders safety Michael Huff delighted the crowd with a second-quarter interception. The rookie almost brought it to the end zone, too, going 44 yards before 49ers quarterback Alex Smith tripped him up at the San Francisco 15-yard line.

On the Niners' next possession, though, Huff hurt his left ankle and left the game. He did not return. Coach Art Shell said Huff suffered a "mild sprain."

SHELL HEARING VOICES

Art Shell visited the Coliseum three times as an opponent when he was an assistant with Kansas City (1995-96) and Atlanta (2000). But it had been 25 years since he last stepped on this field as a member of the Raiders. The experience was not lost on the Raiders' coach.

"I walked out and I heard Willie Brown's voice in my ear," Shell said. "I heard Jim Otto's voice. I heard Dan Birdwell. You hear all these voices out there on the field. It's like the alumni is out there. Upshaw, I heard his voice, Snake. ... So it was really nice to walk back in on this side, and be a part of it again."

EXTRA POINTS

The only injury the 49ers reported afterward was LB Brandon Moore, who sustained a slight knee strain, a team spokesman said.

Raiders LB Ricky Brown left with a slight concussion, and LT Robert Gallery missed a few plays after getting poked in the left eye. "Just a little blurry," Gallery said. "Didn't want to do something stupid when I was using one eye."
 
Oakland's offense comes alive vs. 49ers

By PHIL BARBER


OAKLAND - Either the Raiders got a lot better in six days, or they finally found an opponent weak enough to dominate. Truth be told, it was probably a little of both.

Oakland ran for 156 yards, held a time-of-possession advantage of 41:41 to 18:19 and kept the 49ers off the board until 3:35 remained in the game en route to a 23-7 victory against Sunday evening at the Coliseum.

The margin could have been wider, too. The Raiders lost a touchdown when tight end Courtney Anderson was flagged for pass interference after making a catch in the end zone, and Aaron Brooks' pass to Randal Williams on the next play was intercepted.

The Raiders' win put the team at 3-0 in the exhibition season for the first time since 1976. That was a Super Bowl championship year. No one is making any direct comparisons to that campaign, but at least Art Shell - the left tackle in '76, now the coach - saw marked improvement against San Francisco.

The Raiders' starters were outplayed in earlier games against Philadelphia and Minnesota, only to watch the substitutes salvage victories. This time, the Raiders' first-team offense finally got clicking, and the defense thwarted second-year quarterback Smith with two interceptions.

The mismatch was immediate. After forcing the 49ers to go three-and-out, the Raiders moved 75 yards in 10 plays for a touchdown, Brooks hitting Doug Gabriel on an eight-yard pass to the middle of the field.

"Our first two games, we went three-and-out like the first three series," Anderson said. "It felt good to be on the field for more than three plays at a time. We got the ball moving, got the offense moving and scored some touchdowns."

Brooks, almost a non-factor before Sunday, finally found a groove against a 49ers defense that rarely pressured him. He completed 10-of-17 passes for 125 yards and the touchdown. Brooks also threw a pick he didn't deserve (it was batted by Williams), while another pass that should have been intercepted went through the hands of 49ers safety Mike Adams.

And Brooks finally used his much-lauded mobility to his advantage, taking off for a 25-yard run to salvage a third-and-9 play and keep a touchdown drive alive.

Though left guard Barry Sims sat out with an elbow injury, the Oakland offensive line was much improved. Gallery and right tackle Langston Walker had little of the difficulties that had plagued them against the Eagles and Vikings. The line also paved the way for LaMont Jordan's 45 yards on 12 carries.

"They were better," Shell said of his linemen. "They worked all this past week, trying to get better. And we tried to do some things with how we were calling the game to make things a little bit better for them. ... I thought the play calling was excellent by (offensive coordinator) Tom Walsh, and the guys responded to what we had called."

Walsh's calls were pretty conservative in the first two exhibition games, largely limited to inside runs for the first offense. Against the 49ers, Brooks passed on 10 of the Raiders' first 16 plays.

And as if to underscore the disparity between the rivals, at least on this night, second-team QB Andrew Walter looked even more efficient than Brooks, hitting 8-of-10 passes for 99 yards, and leading the Raiders to 10 points in two long possessions that ate up most of the third quarter.

Third-string quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo led the Raiders to a field goal to complete the scoring.

The result was a huge relief to the fans who flocked to the Coliseum after suffering through two herky-jerky away games on TV. Still, some of the Raiders cautioned that it's a little too early to fire up the bandwagon.

"You really can't get all gung ho about one game," running back LaMont Jordan said. "In this league, the team that does the right thing on a consistent basis, those are the teams that typically win. So what we have to do is build from this game."
 
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