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R4Life
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From Si.com
Team most likely to surprise
The Oakland Raiders are poised to make a dramatic turnaround under new head coach Lane Kiffin. Their defense was strong last season, but was undermined by a woeful offense that failed to score enough points. Moreover, turnovers by the offense consistently forced the defense to play on a short field.
But Kiffin appears to recognize that his D is capable of winning games single-handedly, so he's running a low risk offense that should keep the Raiders in games. If the defense plays at the same level as last season, the Raiders will win as many as eight or nine games this season.
Team most likely to disappoint
Despite returning 20 of 22 starters from a team that finished with a league best 14-2 record, the San Diego Chargers are the most likely team to fail to live up to expectations. I'm sure this will not go over well with Charger fans, but let me explain my rationale.
The Chargers are adjusting to a new coaching staff while facing a daunting early-season schedule. After opening with league heavyweights (the Bears and Patriots), the Chargers have three consecutive division games before a bye in Week 7. They could enter the break with a sub-.500 record and spend the rest of the season trying to dig out of that hole. I still expect them to make a strong playoff run, but I do not think that they can match last season's phenomenal regular-season run.
Worst offense
The Kansas City Chiefs are the most one-dimensional offense in the league. They have two of the most talented players in the league in Larry Johnson and Tony Gonzalez, but their offense lacks creativity and big play potential. They are a "smash mouth" unit that relies on the relentless power running of Johnson to free up Gonzalez off play action passes.
Veteran quarterback Damon Huard had success directing this conservative offense during his eight-game run as starter last season, but the offensive line is no longer the dominant unit that once blew defenses off the ball. Obviously reeling from the Will Shields' retirement and Damion McIntosh's injury, the offense has struggled moving the ball during the preseason behind the patchwork offensive line. The talented trio of Johnson, Gonzalez and Huard can keep the Chiefs afloat for a little while, but the Chiefs will not improve on offense until their offensive line and supporting cast steps up.
and
AFC Bet On: Oakland Raiders
According to the NFL, the Oakland Raiders play the single toughest schedule in the league this year (tied with the Buffalo Bills), facing opponents with a combined winning percentage of .539.
But is the Raiders schedule really so tough?
Every other team in Oakland’s division finished at 9-7 or better last year, including two losses each to the 14-2 San Diego Chargers. Oakland also faces the Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears, giving them four games in total against some of the best teams in football from 2006, each of which finished at 12-4 or better. It makes perfect sense, according to the league’s formula, to rank Oakland’s schedule as a tough one.
But when you apply this year’s over/under win totals to the picture, things change dramatically. First, Oakland plays a litany of teams lined as the weakest teams in football: Detroit, Cleveland, Miami, Tennessee and Houston.
Secondly, the Raiders play a number of teams that are lined lower than their results from last year. The sharp sports betting marketplace expects all these teams to be at least slightly worse this year: San Diego, Kansas City, Tennessee, Chicago, Green Bay and Indianapolis.
Put those two factors together and you’ll see a wide disparity between the NFL’s numbers and my numbers. I have the Raiders ranked 22nd in terms of schedule difficulty, in sharp contrast to what the league projects.
Art Shell, Tom Walsh and the "Bed and Breakfast" offense are in the rear view mirror, with Lane Kiffin becoming the youngest NFL head coach after a brief stint as USC’s offensive coordinator. Oakland’s 2-14 season last year was largely the fault of an offense that scored only 12 touchdowns all year. This team comes into the season with a chip on their shoulder, and something to prove, starting with Daunte Culpepper at quarterback.
Free-agent pickups Dominic Rhodes at running back and Mike Williams at receiver are expected to have an immediate impact. But the key is the offensive line, a truly woeful unit that allowed an NFL-high 72 sacks last year while paving the way for an anemic, 29th-ranked running game. Offensive line coach Tom Cable has installed new zone blocking schemes in an effort to coax more production out of recent high draft picks like Robert Gallery and Jake Grove. Free-agent acquisitions Jeremy Newberry from the 49ers and Cooper Carlisle from the Broncos should have an immediate impact coaxing this revamped offense back to life
Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan and most of his staff survived the off-season head coaching change, and all eleven starters return on the defensive side of the football – the No. 3 ranked defense in the NFL last year. Ryan, like his father Buddy, is a firm believer in attacking the line of scrimmage. There's no "read and react" here. Oakland’s CB tandem of Nnamdi Asomugha and Fabian Washington is the most underrated duo in the league, and the team's pass rush looks solid with Warren Sapp and Derrick Burgess re-energized under the new administration.
Nobody is expecting miracles from this team, but it firmly appears as if the Raiders have hit rock bottom. The franchise should be able to exceed last year’s awful results. It’s not going to take a complete turnaround or even a return to respectability for us to cash repeatedly with Oakland as live underdogs both at home and on the road in 2007.
Team most likely to surprise
The Oakland Raiders are poised to make a dramatic turnaround under new head coach Lane Kiffin. Their defense was strong last season, but was undermined by a woeful offense that failed to score enough points. Moreover, turnovers by the offense consistently forced the defense to play on a short field.
But Kiffin appears to recognize that his D is capable of winning games single-handedly, so he's running a low risk offense that should keep the Raiders in games. If the defense plays at the same level as last season, the Raiders will win as many as eight or nine games this season.
Team most likely to disappoint
Despite returning 20 of 22 starters from a team that finished with a league best 14-2 record, the San Diego Chargers are the most likely team to fail to live up to expectations. I'm sure this will not go over well with Charger fans, but let me explain my rationale.
The Chargers are adjusting to a new coaching staff while facing a daunting early-season schedule. After opening with league heavyweights (the Bears and Patriots), the Chargers have three consecutive division games before a bye in Week 7. They could enter the break with a sub-.500 record and spend the rest of the season trying to dig out of that hole. I still expect them to make a strong playoff run, but I do not think that they can match last season's phenomenal regular-season run.
Worst offense
The Kansas City Chiefs are the most one-dimensional offense in the league. They have two of the most talented players in the league in Larry Johnson and Tony Gonzalez, but their offense lacks creativity and big play potential. They are a "smash mouth" unit that relies on the relentless power running of Johnson to free up Gonzalez off play action passes.
Veteran quarterback Damon Huard had success directing this conservative offense during his eight-game run as starter last season, but the offensive line is no longer the dominant unit that once blew defenses off the ball. Obviously reeling from the Will Shields' retirement and Damion McIntosh's injury, the offense has struggled moving the ball during the preseason behind the patchwork offensive line. The talented trio of Johnson, Gonzalez and Huard can keep the Chiefs afloat for a little while, but the Chiefs will not improve on offense until their offensive line and supporting cast steps up.
and
AFC Bet On: Oakland Raiders
According to the NFL, the Oakland Raiders play the single toughest schedule in the league this year (tied with the Buffalo Bills), facing opponents with a combined winning percentage of .539.
But is the Raiders schedule really so tough?
Every other team in Oakland’s division finished at 9-7 or better last year, including two losses each to the 14-2 San Diego Chargers. Oakland also faces the Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears, giving them four games in total against some of the best teams in football from 2006, each of which finished at 12-4 or better. It makes perfect sense, according to the league’s formula, to rank Oakland’s schedule as a tough one.
But when you apply this year’s over/under win totals to the picture, things change dramatically. First, Oakland plays a litany of teams lined as the weakest teams in football: Detroit, Cleveland, Miami, Tennessee and Houston.
Secondly, the Raiders play a number of teams that are lined lower than their results from last year. The sharp sports betting marketplace expects all these teams to be at least slightly worse this year: San Diego, Kansas City, Tennessee, Chicago, Green Bay and Indianapolis.
Put those two factors together and you’ll see a wide disparity between the NFL’s numbers and my numbers. I have the Raiders ranked 22nd in terms of schedule difficulty, in sharp contrast to what the league projects.
Art Shell, Tom Walsh and the "Bed and Breakfast" offense are in the rear view mirror, with Lane Kiffin becoming the youngest NFL head coach after a brief stint as USC’s offensive coordinator. Oakland’s 2-14 season last year was largely the fault of an offense that scored only 12 touchdowns all year. This team comes into the season with a chip on their shoulder, and something to prove, starting with Daunte Culpepper at quarterback.
Free-agent pickups Dominic Rhodes at running back and Mike Williams at receiver are expected to have an immediate impact. But the key is the offensive line, a truly woeful unit that allowed an NFL-high 72 sacks last year while paving the way for an anemic, 29th-ranked running game. Offensive line coach Tom Cable has installed new zone blocking schemes in an effort to coax more production out of recent high draft picks like Robert Gallery and Jake Grove. Free-agent acquisitions Jeremy Newberry from the 49ers and Cooper Carlisle from the Broncos should have an immediate impact coaxing this revamped offense back to life
Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan and most of his staff survived the off-season head coaching change, and all eleven starters return on the defensive side of the football – the No. 3 ranked defense in the NFL last year. Ryan, like his father Buddy, is a firm believer in attacking the line of scrimmage. There's no "read and react" here. Oakland’s CB tandem of Nnamdi Asomugha and Fabian Washington is the most underrated duo in the league, and the team's pass rush looks solid with Warren Sapp and Derrick Burgess re-energized under the new administration.
Nobody is expecting miracles from this team, but it firmly appears as if the Raiders have hit rock bottom. The franchise should be able to exceed last year’s awful results. It’s not going to take a complete turnaround or even a return to respectability for us to cash repeatedly with Oakland as live underdogs both at home and on the road in 2007.
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R4Life
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From Fox Sports
Coach Lane Kiffin's decision regarding his starting quarterback will impact the productivity of specific position groups given the strengths of the competitors.
If the quarterback is Daunte Culpepper, wide receivers will be more heavily involved as the Oakland offense will call for a higher percentage of dropback throws.
Josh McCown, on the other hand, is at his best on the perimeter and his best plays come on passes to tight ends and running backs -- specifically full backs -- when he is on the move.
PLAYER TO WATCH: TE John Madsen -- A former wide receiver at Utah, Madsen caught 11 passes for 146 yards as an undrafted free agent last season. He has gotten bigger this season, lost none of his skill, and may be Oakland's most sure-handed receiver along with rookie tight end Zach Miller. Madsen has a knack for finding open spaces and making plays.
DRAFT PICKS TO STICK
Rd. 1/1, QB JaMarcus Russell, Louisiana State -- Holdout means it will be a classroom year unless season goes south and he gets a late-season education.
Rd. 2/38, TE Zach Miller, Arizona State -- An instant starter who could be the first Raiders tight end to catch 50 passes since Ethan Horton in 1991.
Rd. 3/65, DE Quentin Moses, Georgia -- Not stout enough for fulltime duty, but pass-rushing skills on third down from right side will complement left end Derrick Burgess.
Rd. 3/91, OT Mario Henderson, Florida State -- Will open season as a reserve, could challenge for starting job at right tackle before the end of the season.
Rd. 3/99, WR Johnnie Lee Higgins, Texas-El Paso -- The hope is he will develop into a game-breaking receiver. Will probably open the season as the lead punt return specialist.
Rd. 4/110, CB John Bowie, Cincinnati -- Might be too raw to help initially as a corner, but depth is thin at the position and he can help right away on special teams.
Rd. 5/138, DE Jay Richardson, Ohio State -- Got plenty of time working with the first team in preseason and could end up in defensive line rotation. Had success blocking place kicks in college.
Rd. 6/175, FB Oren O'Neal, Arkansas State -- Has the sort of powerful blocking skills coveted by Tom Rathman and has put them on display on special teams.
UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS
QUARTERBACK: Starter -- Daunte Culpepper or Josh McCown. Backups -- Andrew Walter, JaMarcus Russell.
Culpepper signed July 31 when Russell couldn't come to agreement on a contract, and from Day 1 showed more mobility than during his four-game stint as a Miami starter last season. He is behind in terms of the offense but has the most proven track record. McCown's strength is on rollouts and bootlegs, both expected to be big parts of the Raiders offense under Lane Kiffin. He has not passed as well in the pocket and over the middle. Walter's style as a dropback passer may not ever suit the Raiders under Kiffin. If and when Russell signs, it's doubtful he would be a factor unless the season is shot and the calendar turns to December.
RUNNING BACKS: Starters -- RB LaMont Jordan, FB Zack Crockett. Backups -- RB Dominic Rhodes, RB Justin Fargas, RB Adimchinobe Echemandu, FB Justin Griffith, FB Oren O'Neal.
Early indications are Jordan could be a good fit for the zone-blocking scheme instituted this season. The Raiders gave him a take-it-or-leave it proposition and forced him to take a $1.25 million cut in a roster bonus and want to see something this season. Rhodes, who ran well in training camp after a strong postseason with the Colts, arrives as a second back after a four-game suspension. Kiffin must work out the full back logjam among Crockett, Griffith and O'Neal, with Griffith being the best receiver of the group. Fargas led the Raiders with 659 yards rushing last season but was being outperformed on a daily basis by Echemandu, whose patience running behind zone blocking was one of the top stories of camp.
TIGHT END/H-BACK: Starter -- Zach Miller. Backups -- John Madsen, Tony Stewart.
Miller simply doesn't drop passes and seems to have an innate understanding of how to find open areas. He could be Oakland's best third-down receiver at tight end since Todd Christensen. The only reason his numbers could be somewhat limited is the presence of Madsen, a tight end/wide receiver tweener whose receiving skills bring to mind Ed McCaffrey and Joe Jurevicius. Stewart does not catch the ball as well but he won't need to. His role will be as a blocker.
WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters -- Jerry Porter, Ronald Curry. Backups -- Travis Taylor, Johnnie Lee Higgins, Mike Williams.
Porter, whose feud with Art Shell essentially cost him an entire season of his career, is in the good graces of Kiffin and will be counted on to regain his form of 2004-05, when he caught 140 passes for 1,940 yards in 32 games. Curry was Oakland's top receiver last season with 62 receptions for 727 yards even though he didn't become a starter until the final four games of the season following a remarkable comeback from Achilles' tears in back-to-back seasons. He is Oakland's best third-down receiver. Taylor, a former first-round draft pick, is a solid if unspectacular complementary possession receiver. Higgins is potentially the best game-breaker in terms of run-after-catch and catching the long ball, but as a rookie, may take awhile to develop. Williams, a Detroit castoff, was recruited at USC by Kiffin, who believes he can extract the potential from an impressive physical specimen.
OFFENSIVE LINE: Starters -- LT Barry Sims, LG Robert Gallery, C Jake Grove or Jeremy Newberry, RG Cooper Carlisle, RT Cornell Green. Backups -- T Mario Henderson, T/G Paul McQuistan, G Kevin Boothe, T Chad Slaughter.
Line coach Tom Cable is reprogramming the Oakland line to be similar to the one he had in Atlanta and the ones Denver has used to run roughshod over the AFC West. The emphasis will be zone blocking and cut blocking. The early results have been promising. Gallery, in particular, seems to have taken to the scheme and may end up being a quality guard instead of the left tackle the Raiders selected in the 2004 draft. Grove has the quickness the scheme requires, but he is being pushed by Newberry. He would give the Raiders the most power they've had in the middle of the line since Barret Robbins was healthy. Sims has been a survivor at left tackle, with Carlisle and Green forming a new right side of the line. Green has predominantly been a backup throughout his career and could be pushed. Depth is a question, although second-year players Boothe and McQuistan got a lot of playing time as rookies.
DEFENSIVE LINE: Starters -- LE Derrick Burgess, DT Terdell Sands, DT Warren Sapp, RE Tommy Kelly. Backups -- DE Quentin Moses, DE Jay Richardson, DE Chris Clemons, DT Tyler Brayton, DT Anttaj Hawthorne, DT Gerard Warren.
Ideally, the Raiders like to create pressure with their front four. Burgess, with 27 sacks in 32 games with Oakland, has more than held up his end of the bargain. Sapp had 10 sacks last season and came into camp having lost 49 pounds this season for more quickness at age 33. Sands is Oakland's most immovable force and signed a four-year contract with a $4 million signing bonus for run defense. Kelly can play either end or tackle and will likely give way to Moses in nickel situations for more of a pass rush. Brayton, who hasn't flourished at either outside linebacker or defensive end, was moved inside to try and make use of his quickness there. Hawthorne is strictly a reserve, and the Raiders took a shot on Warren to see if he could return to his form in Denver two years ago.
LINEBACKERS: Starters -- SLB Sam Williams, MLB Kirk Morrison, WLB Thomas Howard. Backups -- LB Robert Thomas, OLB Jon Condo, OLB Isaiah Ekejiuba, MLB Ricky Brown.
The two linebackers who will be on the field most of the time are Morrison and Howard, two active, aggressive tacklers who are excellent pass defenders and must prove they can be stout against the run. Howard, in particular, has star quality because of his sideline-to-sideline play-making ability. Williams has had his moments on running downs but is first off the field in nickel and dime alignments. Thomas is a quality backup in that he can play all three positions well. Ekejiuba and Brown are both special teams players, as is Condo, whose employment is based solely on long-snapping.
Cont.
Coach Lane Kiffin's decision regarding his starting quarterback will impact the productivity of specific position groups given the strengths of the competitors.
If the quarterback is Daunte Culpepper, wide receivers will be more heavily involved as the Oakland offense will call for a higher percentage of dropback throws.
Josh McCown, on the other hand, is at his best on the perimeter and his best plays come on passes to tight ends and running backs -- specifically full backs -- when he is on the move.
PLAYER TO WATCH: TE John Madsen -- A former wide receiver at Utah, Madsen caught 11 passes for 146 yards as an undrafted free agent last season. He has gotten bigger this season, lost none of his skill, and may be Oakland's most sure-handed receiver along with rookie tight end Zach Miller. Madsen has a knack for finding open spaces and making plays.
DRAFT PICKS TO STICK
Rd. 1/1, QB JaMarcus Russell, Louisiana State -- Holdout means it will be a classroom year unless season goes south and he gets a late-season education.
Rd. 2/38, TE Zach Miller, Arizona State -- An instant starter who could be the first Raiders tight end to catch 50 passes since Ethan Horton in 1991.
Rd. 3/65, DE Quentin Moses, Georgia -- Not stout enough for fulltime duty, but pass-rushing skills on third down from right side will complement left end Derrick Burgess.
Rd. 3/91, OT Mario Henderson, Florida State -- Will open season as a reserve, could challenge for starting job at right tackle before the end of the season.
Rd. 3/99, WR Johnnie Lee Higgins, Texas-El Paso -- The hope is he will develop into a game-breaking receiver. Will probably open the season as the lead punt return specialist.
Rd. 4/110, CB John Bowie, Cincinnati -- Might be too raw to help initially as a corner, but depth is thin at the position and he can help right away on special teams.
Rd. 5/138, DE Jay Richardson, Ohio State -- Got plenty of time working with the first team in preseason and could end up in defensive line rotation. Had success blocking place kicks in college.
Rd. 6/175, FB Oren O'Neal, Arkansas State -- Has the sort of powerful blocking skills coveted by Tom Rathman and has put them on display on special teams.
UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS
QUARTERBACK: Starter -- Daunte Culpepper or Josh McCown. Backups -- Andrew Walter, JaMarcus Russell.
Culpepper signed July 31 when Russell couldn't come to agreement on a contract, and from Day 1 showed more mobility than during his four-game stint as a Miami starter last season. He is behind in terms of the offense but has the most proven track record. McCown's strength is on rollouts and bootlegs, both expected to be big parts of the Raiders offense under Lane Kiffin. He has not passed as well in the pocket and over the middle. Walter's style as a dropback passer may not ever suit the Raiders under Kiffin. If and when Russell signs, it's doubtful he would be a factor unless the season is shot and the calendar turns to December.
RUNNING BACKS: Starters -- RB LaMont Jordan, FB Zack Crockett. Backups -- RB Dominic Rhodes, RB Justin Fargas, RB Adimchinobe Echemandu, FB Justin Griffith, FB Oren O'Neal.
Early indications are Jordan could be a good fit for the zone-blocking scheme instituted this season. The Raiders gave him a take-it-or-leave it proposition and forced him to take a $1.25 million cut in a roster bonus and want to see something this season. Rhodes, who ran well in training camp after a strong postseason with the Colts, arrives as a second back after a four-game suspension. Kiffin must work out the full back logjam among Crockett, Griffith and O'Neal, with Griffith being the best receiver of the group. Fargas led the Raiders with 659 yards rushing last season but was being outperformed on a daily basis by Echemandu, whose patience running behind zone blocking was one of the top stories of camp.
TIGHT END/H-BACK: Starter -- Zach Miller. Backups -- John Madsen, Tony Stewart.
Miller simply doesn't drop passes and seems to have an innate understanding of how to find open areas. He could be Oakland's best third-down receiver at tight end since Todd Christensen. The only reason his numbers could be somewhat limited is the presence of Madsen, a tight end/wide receiver tweener whose receiving skills bring to mind Ed McCaffrey and Joe Jurevicius. Stewart does not catch the ball as well but he won't need to. His role will be as a blocker.
WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters -- Jerry Porter, Ronald Curry. Backups -- Travis Taylor, Johnnie Lee Higgins, Mike Williams.
Porter, whose feud with Art Shell essentially cost him an entire season of his career, is in the good graces of Kiffin and will be counted on to regain his form of 2004-05, when he caught 140 passes for 1,940 yards in 32 games. Curry was Oakland's top receiver last season with 62 receptions for 727 yards even though he didn't become a starter until the final four games of the season following a remarkable comeback from Achilles' tears in back-to-back seasons. He is Oakland's best third-down receiver. Taylor, a former first-round draft pick, is a solid if unspectacular complementary possession receiver. Higgins is potentially the best game-breaker in terms of run-after-catch and catching the long ball, but as a rookie, may take awhile to develop. Williams, a Detroit castoff, was recruited at USC by Kiffin, who believes he can extract the potential from an impressive physical specimen.
OFFENSIVE LINE: Starters -- LT Barry Sims, LG Robert Gallery, C Jake Grove or Jeremy Newberry, RG Cooper Carlisle, RT Cornell Green. Backups -- T Mario Henderson, T/G Paul McQuistan, G Kevin Boothe, T Chad Slaughter.
Line coach Tom Cable is reprogramming the Oakland line to be similar to the one he had in Atlanta and the ones Denver has used to run roughshod over the AFC West. The emphasis will be zone blocking and cut blocking. The early results have been promising. Gallery, in particular, seems to have taken to the scheme and may end up being a quality guard instead of the left tackle the Raiders selected in the 2004 draft. Grove has the quickness the scheme requires, but he is being pushed by Newberry. He would give the Raiders the most power they've had in the middle of the line since Barret Robbins was healthy. Sims has been a survivor at left tackle, with Carlisle and Green forming a new right side of the line. Green has predominantly been a backup throughout his career and could be pushed. Depth is a question, although second-year players Boothe and McQuistan got a lot of playing time as rookies.
DEFENSIVE LINE: Starters -- LE Derrick Burgess, DT Terdell Sands, DT Warren Sapp, RE Tommy Kelly. Backups -- DE Quentin Moses, DE Jay Richardson, DE Chris Clemons, DT Tyler Brayton, DT Anttaj Hawthorne, DT Gerard Warren.
Ideally, the Raiders like to create pressure with their front four. Burgess, with 27 sacks in 32 games with Oakland, has more than held up his end of the bargain. Sapp had 10 sacks last season and came into camp having lost 49 pounds this season for more quickness at age 33. Sands is Oakland's most immovable force and signed a four-year contract with a $4 million signing bonus for run defense. Kelly can play either end or tackle and will likely give way to Moses in nickel situations for more of a pass rush. Brayton, who hasn't flourished at either outside linebacker or defensive end, was moved inside to try and make use of his quickness there. Hawthorne is strictly a reserve, and the Raiders took a shot on Warren to see if he could return to his form in Denver two years ago.
LINEBACKERS: Starters -- SLB Sam Williams, MLB Kirk Morrison, WLB Thomas Howard. Backups -- LB Robert Thomas, OLB Jon Condo, OLB Isaiah Ekejiuba, MLB Ricky Brown.
The two linebackers who will be on the field most of the time are Morrison and Howard, two active, aggressive tacklers who are excellent pass defenders and must prove they can be stout against the run. Howard, in particular, has star quality because of his sideline-to-sideline play-making ability. Williams has had his moments on running downs but is first off the field in nickel and dime alignments. Thomas is a quality backup in that he can play all three positions well. Ekejiuba and Brown are both special teams players, as is Condo, whose employment is based solely on long-snapping.
Cont.
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cont.
DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters -- RCB Nnamdi Asomugha, LCB Fabian Washington, SS Michael Huff, SS Stuart Schweigert. Backups -- S Donovin Darius, CB Chris Carr, CB Stanford Routt, S B.J. Ward, CB John Bowie, CB Chris Johnson.
Asomugha suddenly became one of the NFL's top corners in 2006, intercepting eight passes and shutting down virtually everything on his side. He worked his hands for three years and finally began coming down with opportunities that had eluded him. Washington is Oakland's fastest corner and is ahead of where Asomugha was after two seasons. The two form one of the NFL's better cornerback tandems. Huff is being counted on to take a big step up this season. He had a solid, steady rookie season as the No. 7 pick in the draft but was not an immediate playmaker. Schweigert misses the occasional open-field tackle but operates as the glue of the secondary in terms of assignments and leadership. Darius, if he can remain healthy, allows Oakland to go to a bigger version of the nickel it calls the "Wolverine" that is stout against the run. In the conventional nickel, Routt will compete with Carr as the slot corner. Routt is bigger and faster, but Carr might be the better football player. Ward assumes the backup safety/special teams enforcer role of the departed Jarrod Cooper. Johnson's speed and experience should let him see the field on occasional downs, while Bowie's main attributes are speed, raw skill and the fact that Oakland used a fourth-round draft pick acquired in the Randy Moss deal to get him.
SPECIAL TEAMS: PK Sebastian Janikowski, P Shane Lechler, LS Jon Condo, KOR Chris Carr or Johnnie Lee Higgins, PR Chris Carr or Johnnie Lee Higgins.
Janikowski, whose leg strength was a legend at Florida State, has instead developed into a fairly reliable kicker from 39 yards and in (98-for-108, 90.6 percent) and is an unremarkable 62.4 percent (58-for-93) from 40 yards and beyond. The endless stream of touchbacks he was supposed to create have never materialized. Lechler, if given good coverage, is one of the NFL's top punters. He too often outkicks his coverage and punts into the end zone -- a career-high 19 touchbacks last season -- but he could be a valuable field-position weapon given a capable supporting cast. Condo has been steady and reliable through camp and he'll have to be, because the man he replaced, Adam Treu, was taken for granted. Carr has struggled on punt returns and is a dangerous kickoff returner. Higgins will challenge for both return jobs.
DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters -- RCB Nnamdi Asomugha, LCB Fabian Washington, SS Michael Huff, SS Stuart Schweigert. Backups -- S Donovin Darius, CB Chris Carr, CB Stanford Routt, S B.J. Ward, CB John Bowie, CB Chris Johnson.
Asomugha suddenly became one of the NFL's top corners in 2006, intercepting eight passes and shutting down virtually everything on his side. He worked his hands for three years and finally began coming down with opportunities that had eluded him. Washington is Oakland's fastest corner and is ahead of where Asomugha was after two seasons. The two form one of the NFL's better cornerback tandems. Huff is being counted on to take a big step up this season. He had a solid, steady rookie season as the No. 7 pick in the draft but was not an immediate playmaker. Schweigert misses the occasional open-field tackle but operates as the glue of the secondary in terms of assignments and leadership. Darius, if he can remain healthy, allows Oakland to go to a bigger version of the nickel it calls the "Wolverine" that is stout against the run. In the conventional nickel, Routt will compete with Carr as the slot corner. Routt is bigger and faster, but Carr might be the better football player. Ward assumes the backup safety/special teams enforcer role of the departed Jarrod Cooper. Johnson's speed and experience should let him see the field on occasional downs, while Bowie's main attributes are speed, raw skill and the fact that Oakland used a fourth-round draft pick acquired in the Randy Moss deal to get him.
SPECIAL TEAMS: PK Sebastian Janikowski, P Shane Lechler, LS Jon Condo, KOR Chris Carr or Johnnie Lee Higgins, PR Chris Carr or Johnnie Lee Higgins.
Janikowski, whose leg strength was a legend at Florida State, has instead developed into a fairly reliable kicker from 39 yards and in (98-for-108, 90.6 percent) and is an unremarkable 62.4 percent (58-for-93) from 40 yards and beyond. The endless stream of touchbacks he was supposed to create have never materialized. Lechler, if given good coverage, is one of the NFL's top punters. He too often outkicks his coverage and punts into the end zone -- a career-high 19 touchbacks last season -- but he could be a valuable field-position weapon given a capable supporting cast. Condo has been steady and reliable through camp and he'll have to be, because the man he replaced, Adam Treu, was taken for granted. Carr has struggled on punt returns and is a dangerous kickoff returner. Higgins will challenge for both return jobs.
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Hard Work Pays Off for Morrison
September 7, 2007
By Cory Sterling
Growing up, almost every sports fan can admit that their dream was to suit up and play for their favorite team. For most of us, the realization of this dream proved impossible and our roles shifted to that of a proud supporter, always cheering for the team, going to games and wearing the jerseys in the stands.
Then there is Kirk Morrison.. Growing up in Oakland, Calif., a huge Raiders fan, Kirk always dreamed of playing professional sports with the honor of representing his hometown. In his third season at starting LB for the Raiders defense, Morrison has defied the odds and fulfilled his childhood dream, one that he shared with millions of other children but managed to actualize.
The different variables that needed to synchronize in order for Morrison’s dream to come true were copious, yet centered around several themes that led to success. By listening and learning to great coaches, consistently maintaining a realistic perspective, always applying the maximum effort and learning to trust and rely on a strong supporting cast, Kirk Morrison. was able to make his dream come true. This is his story.
Kirk entered Bishop O’Dowd High School in Oakland looking forward to playing football and meeting important educational requirements. “In high school it (football) was fun to me and I just loved playing it. I wanted to be a professional football player but the reality never really entered my mind, but you definitely dream about being one. You just play the game because you love it,” said Kirk.
Playing for the Bishop O’Dowd Dragons meant constant interaction with a very special person, who played an influential role in the development and maturity of Morrison as both a player and person. Coach Paul Perenon, who was the recipient of the 1999 High School Football Coach of the Year Award, held the important role of coaching Morrison during his days at Bishop O’Dowd.
Perenon remembers Morrison as a, “Raw, excitable talent,” who made it obvious that “early on he was a football player.” Perenon continued to note that Kirk was a great player who was “really into football and had an idea of what it took” to work hard and develop a smart and successful football ethic. Ultimately, Perenon recalls Morrison to be “the most normal, teenage kid as I’ve been around,” which offers insight to Kirk’s level-headed approach to success.
To Kirk, Perenon will always be, “The coach I always had. He instilled in me hard work and discipline. I feel like he just set a great foundation for me to go through my whole career.” During the recruitment process, Kirk and Perenon kept a short-term goal approach, which has proven to be successful. Morrison recalls his coach sitting him down and telling him, “Hey you have the ability to go out there and play college football, which is a step up from high school and not a lot of people get that opportunity. He put it in my head that if I worked hard, I can be good at it.”
The importance of holding such a perspective has certainly paid dividends for Morrison. Instead of becoming emotionally attached to his dream, he kept focus on completing the task at hand with hard work and advancing to the next level. This compartmentalized mentality, instilled by Coach Perenon serves as the blue-print for Morrison’s success. The unique bond between the two flourishes to this day, as they continue to keep in touch on a monthly basis.
After being named Defensive Player of the Year for the Mountain West Conference two years in a row and receiving a plethora of accolades and awards while at San Diego State University, the reality of playing professional football finally set in for Morrison. Predicted to be chosen in the 2005 NFL Draft, Morrison was hoping to be selected by any team and never put any serious thoughts about being a Raider. “You think about it to the extent that ‘hey, what if that did happen’ but you never think it could come true. Growing up and in college, I just wanted to get to the next level, but it didn’t matter what team,” recalls Morrison.
With the 14th pick in the third round, The Oakland Raiders selected Kirk Morrison.. The vision, sought after so long and seemingly impossible had become a reality. Looking back on that special day, Morrison proudly recalls, “It was a long day but at the end it turned out great for me. I remember being numb for a while, just speechless. A dream of mine I thought would never come true did.”
Once making that initial roster in 2005, Morrison has started a rapid climb up the defensive team ladder to his current position as starting middle linebacker and anchor of the defense. This result is rooted in the same formula Morrison has been using from day one - a serious work ethic. He attributes his success to, “Hard work. I just put myself in the right position to make plays. Our coaching staff has helped me along the way, but I work my butt off. Being here all the time, doing everything right has helped me a lot. Really, it’s been just working my butt off.”
There are various factors that breed positive results, especially in football. Aside from ensuring that he is always working his hardest, Morrison has come to realize the importance of camaraderie and trusting his fellow teammates. Holding down the third best defense in the league last season takes more than one or two players to achieve; it takes an entire defensive unit.
A proud member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity while attending SDSU, Morrison sees a lot of similarities between a fraternal brotherhood and his defensive unit. “We’re all in it together or we have nothing. You know you have to sacrifice and always learn things about your brotherhood: it’s all or none. If one person is a weak link, then the whole defensive squad is going to be bad. You have to be together, that’s what we preach on defense, everybody being on the same page and together forming a brotherhood. When you have the brotherhood, everybody’s going to fight for each other and do what it takes to win a football game.”
On top of working in an amalgamated unit, Morrison also preaches the importance of knowing his teammates as people and friends, not just guys wearing the same jersey as him on the field. “When you’re out of a football setting, that’s when you have a chance to really know a person. We definitely know each other off the field and that makes it easier on the field because I know this guy, I trust him.” It is with such a mentality that Morrison leads the defense, stressing the benefits of establishing personal relationships that will undoubtedly lead to efficiency on the football field.
Just days away from the opening kickoff of the 2007 regular season, Kirk Morrison. anxiously awaits his chance to go out and proudly win for the team he grew up admiring. However, in the eyes of many, Morrison has already succeeded by making his childhood dream a reality, something very few people are able to achieve.
Morrison’s experiences should serve as an inspiration to us all more than anything else. It is the story of an individual who had a dream and managed every controllable variable in his favor to increase his chances of making it happen. He listened and followed the words of a good coach at a young age, always kept his goals realistic and in perspective, never stopped working hard and realized the importance of approaching a team game from a personal level. His tale is a model to follow for both people who have a dream they haven’t yet fulfilled and for those who have still not recognized their own goals and ambitions. Morrison is living proof that any goal is achievable if you work hard enough and smart enough for it.
September 7, 2007
By Cory Sterling
Growing up, almost every sports fan can admit that their dream was to suit up and play for their favorite team. For most of us, the realization of this dream proved impossible and our roles shifted to that of a proud supporter, always cheering for the team, going to games and wearing the jerseys in the stands.
Then there is Kirk Morrison.. Growing up in Oakland, Calif., a huge Raiders fan, Kirk always dreamed of playing professional sports with the honor of representing his hometown. In his third season at starting LB for the Raiders defense, Morrison has defied the odds and fulfilled his childhood dream, one that he shared with millions of other children but managed to actualize.
The different variables that needed to synchronize in order for Morrison’s dream to come true were copious, yet centered around several themes that led to success. By listening and learning to great coaches, consistently maintaining a realistic perspective, always applying the maximum effort and learning to trust and rely on a strong supporting cast, Kirk Morrison. was able to make his dream come true. This is his story.
Kirk entered Bishop O’Dowd High School in Oakland looking forward to playing football and meeting important educational requirements. “In high school it (football) was fun to me and I just loved playing it. I wanted to be a professional football player but the reality never really entered my mind, but you definitely dream about being one. You just play the game because you love it,” said Kirk.
Playing for the Bishop O’Dowd Dragons meant constant interaction with a very special person, who played an influential role in the development and maturity of Morrison as both a player and person. Coach Paul Perenon, who was the recipient of the 1999 High School Football Coach of the Year Award, held the important role of coaching Morrison during his days at Bishop O’Dowd.
Perenon remembers Morrison as a, “Raw, excitable talent,” who made it obvious that “early on he was a football player.” Perenon continued to note that Kirk was a great player who was “really into football and had an idea of what it took” to work hard and develop a smart and successful football ethic. Ultimately, Perenon recalls Morrison to be “the most normal, teenage kid as I’ve been around,” which offers insight to Kirk’s level-headed approach to success.
To Kirk, Perenon will always be, “The coach I always had. He instilled in me hard work and discipline. I feel like he just set a great foundation for me to go through my whole career.” During the recruitment process, Kirk and Perenon kept a short-term goal approach, which has proven to be successful. Morrison recalls his coach sitting him down and telling him, “Hey you have the ability to go out there and play college football, which is a step up from high school and not a lot of people get that opportunity. He put it in my head that if I worked hard, I can be good at it.”
The importance of holding such a perspective has certainly paid dividends for Morrison. Instead of becoming emotionally attached to his dream, he kept focus on completing the task at hand with hard work and advancing to the next level. This compartmentalized mentality, instilled by Coach Perenon serves as the blue-print for Morrison’s success. The unique bond between the two flourishes to this day, as they continue to keep in touch on a monthly basis.
After being named Defensive Player of the Year for the Mountain West Conference two years in a row and receiving a plethora of accolades and awards while at San Diego State University, the reality of playing professional football finally set in for Morrison. Predicted to be chosen in the 2005 NFL Draft, Morrison was hoping to be selected by any team and never put any serious thoughts about being a Raider. “You think about it to the extent that ‘hey, what if that did happen’ but you never think it could come true. Growing up and in college, I just wanted to get to the next level, but it didn’t matter what team,” recalls Morrison.
With the 14th pick in the third round, The Oakland Raiders selected Kirk Morrison.. The vision, sought after so long and seemingly impossible had become a reality. Looking back on that special day, Morrison proudly recalls, “It was a long day but at the end it turned out great for me. I remember being numb for a while, just speechless. A dream of mine I thought would never come true did.”
Once making that initial roster in 2005, Morrison has started a rapid climb up the defensive team ladder to his current position as starting middle linebacker and anchor of the defense. This result is rooted in the same formula Morrison has been using from day one - a serious work ethic. He attributes his success to, “Hard work. I just put myself in the right position to make plays. Our coaching staff has helped me along the way, but I work my butt off. Being here all the time, doing everything right has helped me a lot. Really, it’s been just working my butt off.”
There are various factors that breed positive results, especially in football. Aside from ensuring that he is always working his hardest, Morrison has come to realize the importance of camaraderie and trusting his fellow teammates. Holding down the third best defense in the league last season takes more than one or two players to achieve; it takes an entire defensive unit.
A proud member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity while attending SDSU, Morrison sees a lot of similarities between a fraternal brotherhood and his defensive unit. “We’re all in it together or we have nothing. You know you have to sacrifice and always learn things about your brotherhood: it’s all or none. If one person is a weak link, then the whole defensive squad is going to be bad. You have to be together, that’s what we preach on defense, everybody being on the same page and together forming a brotherhood. When you have the brotherhood, everybody’s going to fight for each other and do what it takes to win a football game.”
On top of working in an amalgamated unit, Morrison also preaches the importance of knowing his teammates as people and friends, not just guys wearing the same jersey as him on the field. “When you’re out of a football setting, that’s when you have a chance to really know a person. We definitely know each other off the field and that makes it easier on the field because I know this guy, I trust him.” It is with such a mentality that Morrison leads the defense, stressing the benefits of establishing personal relationships that will undoubtedly lead to efficiency on the football field.
Just days away from the opening kickoff of the 2007 regular season, Kirk Morrison. anxiously awaits his chance to go out and proudly win for the team he grew up admiring. However, in the eyes of many, Morrison has already succeeded by making his childhood dream a reality, something very few people are able to achieve.
Morrison’s experiences should serve as an inspiration to us all more than anything else. It is the story of an individual who had a dream and managed every controllable variable in his favor to increase his chances of making it happen. He listened and followed the words of a good coach at a young age, always kept his goals realistic and in perspective, never stopped working hard and realized the importance of approaching a team game from a personal level. His tale is a model to follow for both people who have a dream they haven’t yet fulfilled and for those who have still not recognized their own goals and ambitions. Morrison is living proof that any goal is achievable if you work hard enough and smart enough for it.
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Raiders grant area boy’s wish
BY PATRICK JOHNSON
Appeal Tribune
September 26
PORTLAND — Earlier this month Jacob Swartout was on top of the world.
Hanging out with the players from the Oakland Raiders in their Alameda, Calif., practice facility, getting VIP treatment during their first home game and meeting members of The Raiderettes — the Oakland Raiders’ cheerleading squad — it was a very good four-days for the Silverton 17-year-old.
“It was pretty cool,” Swartout said as he settled back into his bed. “It was a fun trip.”
But Friday it was all Swartout could do to get back to his room at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital after several hours of dialysis.
Swartout is used to his stays at the children’s hospital, having been diagnosed with Cystinosis when he was younger.
Cystinosis is a recessive disease that affects growth, the sense of taste, energy levels and attention span, among other things.
“It is not a kidney disease, but it affects the kidneys more than anything else,” Robert said.
The disease is characterized by elevated levels of intracellular cystine due to a defect in the lysosomal cystine transporter and can lead to multiple organ failures.
There are about 400 people in the United States who suffer from the disease. There are fewer than a dozen children in the Northwest.
“If both parents have the recessive gene, you have a one-in-four chance that your kids will have it,” Robert Swartout said. “Both of our boys have it; both Jacob and Luke.”
Both boys have needed kidney transplants, which helps with the disease. In Luke’s case, Jacob’s 16-year-old brother, his scoutmaster, turned out to be a perfect match and donated one of his kidney, but Jacob has had a harder road.
“Luke has been doing really well,” Robert Swartout said. “There were some slight rejection issues, but otherwise things are fine. Jacob had a transplant last October, but he got a bad kidney.”
Robert Swartout said the deceased donor gave two kidneys, and the other patient, with a different disease, already has had the kidney taken out.
“We got the better of the two,” he said. “We had to take it out and put Jacob back on the list.”
But before he went back up to Doernbecher, he got a special treat — to meet the Raiders, thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oregon.
Raider Nation
“His case worker at the hospital is a big Oakland Raider fan and contacted the Make-A-Wish people a year and a half ago,” Robert Swartout said. “The lady who is (at) Make a Wish is also a big Raider fan — so I think they really pushed to make this happen. We knew for sometime he was going to go. He even got to pick which game.”
Jacob picked the first game of the season — against the Detroit Lions.
“The Lions didn’t play good; the Raiders should have won that game,” Jacob Swartout said. “It was still cool to go, though.”
Jacob Swartout is an expert at the statistics and likes running back LaMont Jordan and safety Michael Huff. He also likes defensive touchdowns.
“I am hoping they do better than last year,” he said Friday. “I think they will get five or six wins this year.”
He got the VIP treatment staying at the Grand Hyatt and visiting a Raiders practice. He was presented Warren Sapp and Michael Huff jerseys and spent 50 minutes watching practice.
After practice the entire team came over to meet with him and gave him signed footballs and took pictures. Many of the players gave Jacob the jerseys right off their back.
But the most special moment, according to Robert Swartout, was when running back LaMont Jordan gave Jacob a tour of the practice facility, gave him a pair of signed shoes and even played pool with the 17-year-old.
In total, Jacob, Luke and Robert Swartout got to spend four days in the San Francisco Bay Area, where they sat at the 50-yard line during the home opener and visited Alcatraz.
“Overall it was a really fun trip, and I am glad he got to go before this latest surgery,” Robert Swartout said.
Waiting continues
Jacob Swartout had his old kidneys put back in, which means he basically has no kidneys, his father said. Dialysis at either Legacy Emmanuel Hospital or, since he had a special IV, with a special machine at home will be a daily occurrence for Jacob. He now will wait on the list for the next available kidney — something that could cure him for up to 15 years, his father said.
One of the ways Jacob Swartout spends his time is playing Xbox 360, but someone stole his Xbox before he left. So while he was meeting the Raiders, he couldn’t play as them in Madden 2008 — something that made him pretty upset. That’s why on the way home from the hospital last weekend, the family stopped and picked him up another Xbox 360 and a copy of Madden 2008.
“I think that will lift his spirits,” Robert Swartout said Monday. “He is going to be just fine.”