Angry Pope
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Inside Slant
Posted 9/14/2006
Oakland Raiders quarterback Aaron Brooks was trying to put the best face on his team's opening night disaster.
"We've got a new game plan, we're playing a new team," Brooks said. "We're looking forward to playing Baltimore."
A new game plan?
One would hope.
The Raiders made some head-scratching decisions in both choice of personnel and in their play-calling in a 27-0 loss to the San Diego Chargers, a game which had the sellout crowd booing before the end of the first quarter.
The offense, in particular, was a disaster. The Raiders gained just 129 yards, their lowest total since the start of the 2003 season and fourth time under 200 yards in that span.
The Raiders had to rally to even get into triple figures. With the score 27-0, backup quarterback Andrew Walter drove the Raiders 62 yards in 10 plays before the clock ticked to zero with Randal Williams stepping out of bounds at the 3-yard line.
Their "throwback" offense to the glory days of the Raiders in the 1970s was thrown back in their face.
The plan all along has been to soften up defenses with power running, then attack with deep pass plays.
The problem is, the Raiders seemed ill-equipped or unprepared to deal with the consequences if the Chargers — the league's best rushing defense last season — stopped Oakland from running.
With LaMont Jordan (20 yards, 10 carries) failing to make any headway, the Raiders were helpless. Brooks was sacked seven times before he was spared any further abuse. Walter was sacked twice.
The Raiders continued with their plan of five- and seven-step drops even as it became apparent their offensive line was unable to protect the passer.
None of their eight completions went to a running back.
And here come the Ravens, who posted a 27-0 shutout win of their own on the road in Tampa Bay.
Shell alluded to some changes, but was typically non-specific.
"You've got to be able to mix up the protections and mix up the route running," Shell said. "You can't sit there and hold the ball all day because they'll get to you. You're going to throw deep, you've got to take your shots and you've got to plan your shots. If you're going to use a three-step drop, it's a change-of-pace type thing."
Shell maintained that only two of the sacks came on plays with seven-step drops, and that Brooks was getting heavy pressure with five steps.
However, even when Brooks seemed to get something going with a pair of quick passes to Moss on three-step drops — taking advantage of San Diego's deep-dropping secondary — the Raiders didn't keep working the openings.
Nor did they try screen plays, draws or traditional methods of turning a team's defensive pressure against itself.
Shell admitted they didn't make any adjustments in the game plan, and instead calling out his team for its lack of intensity.
"Strategy wasn't changed," Shell said. "I challenged them at halftime because I thought it was embarrassing, the way we played. We had all those fans out there rooting for us and we didn't play good football."
With the Ravens promising to bring pressure, might the Raiders alter their strategy to keep their quarterback upright and effective?
"I don't know," Brooks said. "I guess we'll have to wait on that one. That's all the coach's call. We're going to work on what we have up to this point and see how it goes."
SERIES HISTORY: Fourth meeting. Ravens lead series 2-1. Raiders won last meeting 20-12 on Dec. 14, 2003. Ravens beat Raiders in AFC Championship Game, 16-3, on Jan. 14, 2001.
NOTES, QUOTES
—Wide receiver Randy Moss received a taunting penalty following a 20-yard reception that helped derail one of Oakland's only decent sequences of the game. It came for a casual flip of the ball to San Diego kicker Nate Kaeding after going out of bounds.
Coming as it did after San Diego defenders were pawing at the turf and dirt like snorting bulls following sacks, the call seemed extreme. Shell said he didn't like the call, but understood why it was made.
"When Randy tossed the ball to the player, if that player had kept the ball in his hands or dropped it probably nothing would have happened," Shell said. "But he flipped it back at Randy, therefore, from the official's standpoint, Randy started something. The guy retaliated. It could evolve into something more than tossing the ball, and that's why the flag was thrown. It's something Randy and our players have to learn from."
—Baltimore coach Brian Billick, asked if the Raiders he'll face Sunday are anything like the team he last saw in Dec. of 2003, said Art Shell's team is nothing like the one Baltimore lost to 20-12 in Oakland.
"You're talking about a totally different makeup of the team and style, the personalities of the players, the coaches," Billick said. "It might as well be a totally different city and a totally different football team, from that perspective."
Billick is right. Only one Raider — defensive end Tyler Brayton — is scheduled to start at the same position as the 2003 Raiders.
Baltimore, meanwhile, has nine starters from that team — nose tackle Kelly Gregg, linebacker Ray Lewis, cornerback Chris McAlister and safety Ed Reed on defense, and linebacker Jonathan Ogden, guard Edwin Mulitalo, center Mike Flynn, tight end Todd Heap and running back Jamal Lewis.
—Safety and special teams captain Jarrod Cooper can't even bring himself to buy a half-gallon of milk in the wake of Oakland's destruction at the hands of the Chargers.
"We've been here for six months, in the offseason, doing all this stuff, working out, running, talking all this, 'Hey, we're gonna do this.' And then we go out on Monday night and get our ass whupped. I hope every single person in this locker room is mad. I hope these coaches are mad. I can't go to the grocery store. I'm embarrassed."
—Rookie strong safety Michael Huff, given the considerable responsibility of guarding San Diego tight end Antonio Gates in the opener, was beaten just once for a 22-yard completion.
Gates' second reception came on a 4-yard touchdown reception against Derrick Gibson in a goal line defense.
At the time of the draft, the Raiders touted Huff as an all-around player who could perform several functions, even rush the passer. In the opener, Huff said if he played in 55 plays, his responsibility was Gates 55 times.
"We play a lot of man, and I knew we'd be on him," Huff said. "He's a great player. They drafted me high to make plays and cover the best players, and that's what I want to do."
—Corey Hulsey prepared all week to be the starting center, figured in the back of his mind he could end up being a backup guard but instead wound up as one of Oakland seven inactive players.
Hulsey had leapfrogged veteran Adam Treu to be the starting center after Jake Grove suffered a shoulder injury Aug. 22. Grove was listed as doubtful the week leading up to the opener even as he was spending some time practicing with the first team.
When Grove drew the start, Shell sprung a surprise on Hulsey. He wasn't going to dress for the game.
cont'd...
Posted 9/14/2006
Oakland Raiders quarterback Aaron Brooks was trying to put the best face on his team's opening night disaster.
"We've got a new game plan, we're playing a new team," Brooks said. "We're looking forward to playing Baltimore."
A new game plan?
One would hope.
The Raiders made some head-scratching decisions in both choice of personnel and in their play-calling in a 27-0 loss to the San Diego Chargers, a game which had the sellout crowd booing before the end of the first quarter.
The offense, in particular, was a disaster. The Raiders gained just 129 yards, their lowest total since the start of the 2003 season and fourth time under 200 yards in that span.
The Raiders had to rally to even get into triple figures. With the score 27-0, backup quarterback Andrew Walter drove the Raiders 62 yards in 10 plays before the clock ticked to zero with Randal Williams stepping out of bounds at the 3-yard line.
Their "throwback" offense to the glory days of the Raiders in the 1970s was thrown back in their face.
The plan all along has been to soften up defenses with power running, then attack with deep pass plays.
The problem is, the Raiders seemed ill-equipped or unprepared to deal with the consequences if the Chargers — the league's best rushing defense last season — stopped Oakland from running.
With LaMont Jordan (20 yards, 10 carries) failing to make any headway, the Raiders were helpless. Brooks was sacked seven times before he was spared any further abuse. Walter was sacked twice.
The Raiders continued with their plan of five- and seven-step drops even as it became apparent their offensive line was unable to protect the passer.
None of their eight completions went to a running back.
And here come the Ravens, who posted a 27-0 shutout win of their own on the road in Tampa Bay.
Shell alluded to some changes, but was typically non-specific.
"You've got to be able to mix up the protections and mix up the route running," Shell said. "You can't sit there and hold the ball all day because they'll get to you. You're going to throw deep, you've got to take your shots and you've got to plan your shots. If you're going to use a three-step drop, it's a change-of-pace type thing."
Shell maintained that only two of the sacks came on plays with seven-step drops, and that Brooks was getting heavy pressure with five steps.
However, even when Brooks seemed to get something going with a pair of quick passes to Moss on three-step drops — taking advantage of San Diego's deep-dropping secondary — the Raiders didn't keep working the openings.
Nor did they try screen plays, draws or traditional methods of turning a team's defensive pressure against itself.
Shell admitted they didn't make any adjustments in the game plan, and instead calling out his team for its lack of intensity.
"Strategy wasn't changed," Shell said. "I challenged them at halftime because I thought it was embarrassing, the way we played. We had all those fans out there rooting for us and we didn't play good football."
With the Ravens promising to bring pressure, might the Raiders alter their strategy to keep their quarterback upright and effective?
"I don't know," Brooks said. "I guess we'll have to wait on that one. That's all the coach's call. We're going to work on what we have up to this point and see how it goes."
SERIES HISTORY: Fourth meeting. Ravens lead series 2-1. Raiders won last meeting 20-12 on Dec. 14, 2003. Ravens beat Raiders in AFC Championship Game, 16-3, on Jan. 14, 2001.
NOTES, QUOTES
—Wide receiver Randy Moss received a taunting penalty following a 20-yard reception that helped derail one of Oakland's only decent sequences of the game. It came for a casual flip of the ball to San Diego kicker Nate Kaeding after going out of bounds.
Coming as it did after San Diego defenders were pawing at the turf and dirt like snorting bulls following sacks, the call seemed extreme. Shell said he didn't like the call, but understood why it was made.
"When Randy tossed the ball to the player, if that player had kept the ball in his hands or dropped it probably nothing would have happened," Shell said. "But he flipped it back at Randy, therefore, from the official's standpoint, Randy started something. The guy retaliated. It could evolve into something more than tossing the ball, and that's why the flag was thrown. It's something Randy and our players have to learn from."
—Baltimore coach Brian Billick, asked if the Raiders he'll face Sunday are anything like the team he last saw in Dec. of 2003, said Art Shell's team is nothing like the one Baltimore lost to 20-12 in Oakland.
"You're talking about a totally different makeup of the team and style, the personalities of the players, the coaches," Billick said. "It might as well be a totally different city and a totally different football team, from that perspective."
Billick is right. Only one Raider — defensive end Tyler Brayton — is scheduled to start at the same position as the 2003 Raiders.
Baltimore, meanwhile, has nine starters from that team — nose tackle Kelly Gregg, linebacker Ray Lewis, cornerback Chris McAlister and safety Ed Reed on defense, and linebacker Jonathan Ogden, guard Edwin Mulitalo, center Mike Flynn, tight end Todd Heap and running back Jamal Lewis.
—Safety and special teams captain Jarrod Cooper can't even bring himself to buy a half-gallon of milk in the wake of Oakland's destruction at the hands of the Chargers.
"We've been here for six months, in the offseason, doing all this stuff, working out, running, talking all this, 'Hey, we're gonna do this.' And then we go out on Monday night and get our ass whupped. I hope every single person in this locker room is mad. I hope these coaches are mad. I can't go to the grocery store. I'm embarrassed."
—Rookie strong safety Michael Huff, given the considerable responsibility of guarding San Diego tight end Antonio Gates in the opener, was beaten just once for a 22-yard completion.
Gates' second reception came on a 4-yard touchdown reception against Derrick Gibson in a goal line defense.
At the time of the draft, the Raiders touted Huff as an all-around player who could perform several functions, even rush the passer. In the opener, Huff said if he played in 55 plays, his responsibility was Gates 55 times.
"We play a lot of man, and I knew we'd be on him," Huff said. "He's a great player. They drafted me high to make plays and cover the best players, and that's what I want to do."
—Corey Hulsey prepared all week to be the starting center, figured in the back of his mind he could end up being a backup guard but instead wound up as one of Oakland seven inactive players.
Hulsey had leapfrogged veteran Adam Treu to be the starting center after Jake Grove suffered a shoulder injury Aug. 22. Grove was listed as doubtful the week leading up to the opener even as he was spending some time practicing with the first team.
When Grove drew the start, Shell sprung a surprise on Hulsey. He wasn't going to dress for the game.
cont'd...