Jordan Looks To Get Respect...

[Angry Pope]

Jordan looks to regain respect in Raiders opener

JOSH DUBOW

September 4, 2006 4:40 PM

ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) - LaMont Jordan's first season in Oakland brought him career highs in rushing yards, catches and touchdowns.

That might be enough to satisfy some running backs. Yet it's tough for Jordan to be satisfied when he has to match up twice a year with backs like LaDainian Tomlinson and Larry Johnson.

''When you're in the AFC West you have to compete against those running backs,'' Jordan said Monday. ''Last year, it was good. I got 1,000 yards, yada, yada, yada all of that. But it wasn't a good feeling not being respected as a running back. In order for this team to be where we want to be, the running game will get us there and everything else will fall in place.''

The Raiders get a stiff first test, opening the season with San Diego. Along with having one of the league's top backs in Tomlinson, the Chargers also had the stingiest rushing defense last season, allowing only 84.3 yards per game.

San Diego held Jordan to 91 yards rushing in two games, while Tomlinson ran for 226. Tomlinson has 706 yards in his last five meetings with Oakland - all San Diego wins - and Oakland coach Art Shell expects more of the same this week from his old boss in Kansas City, Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer.

''The constant is he is going to try to be physical with his football team and try to run the ball down your throat,'' Shell said. ''That's his personality. He wants to get after you physically and that's our personality too.''

Jordan is hoping for that kind of attitude from the Raiders this season after complaining that he didn't get the ball enough his first year in Oakland. He finished the season with 1,025 yards rushing, 70 catches and 11 touchdowns despite missing the final two weeks with an injury and admitting that he didn't study the team's blocking scheme.



Jordan averaged only 3.8 yards per carry and the offense struggled, ranking 29th in rushing, 23rd in scoring and 28th in time of possession. Shell has promised a return to the power running game this season, which is just what Jordan wants.

''I feel good about the game plan and the runs we have going in,'' Jordan said. ''The running style is really what I was asking for last year. But Art is here now and this style of running really suits me well.''

The Raiders have struggled at that in the preseason, averaging 3.0 yards per carry as they've dealt with injuries and position switches on the offensive line.

Center Jake Grove could miss the opener with an injured shoulder, but left guard Barry Sims is expected to return from an elbow injury and sees subtle signs of improvement.

''It's not where we want it to be from a numbers standpoint,'' Sims said. ''But we have been improving and there have been good things about the games that maybe haven't resulted in big yardage. The yards will come and we'll get it done up front. We'll make it work.''

Establishing the run is especially crucial in the AFC West, which features two of the league's best backs in Tomlinson and Johnson in Kansas City, as well as one the NFL's best overall rushing teams in Denver.

The Raiders haven't had a Pro Bowl back since Bo Jackson was running during Shell's first tenure as the team's coach back in 1990. The lack of a running game is a big reason why they've won only two division games the past three seasons, including an 0-6 record in 2005.

''You look at those teams and those running backs carry their teams,'' Jordan said. ''Those teams pretty much go where their running backs take them. In the AFC West, you have to be able to run the ball.''

 

[Crossbones]

I hope tghe OL can give this guy some help. And for his part, dude needs to run North/south -- stop with the shaking and baking.

 

[RaiderIVlife]

The problem is that this offensive line might not be ready to open up holes with any consistency and then what? Brooks is facing 3rd & 8 all game with Shawn Merriman breathing down his neck?

We'll have to contain LT enough to force Snotty to put the game on Rivers' shoulders. Then our pass rush and speedy secondary must force turnovers. BIG PLAYS. That is our only real chance IMHO.

 

[Crossbones]

The problem is that this offensive line might not be ready to open up holes with any consistency and then what? Brooks is facing 3rd & 8 all game with Shawn Merriman breathing down his neck?

We'll have to contain LT enough to force Snotty to put the game on Rivers' shoulders. Then our pass rush and speedy secondary must force turnovers. BIG PLAYS. That is our only real chance IMHO.

REP for that take! Excellent.

And that is exactly what I am worried about. Pressure on Brooks will not be a good thing for our Raiders IMO. And from what I saw from SD in the preseason that is one thing they can do ---- bring heat on the QB.

 

[Angry Pope]

Shell believes in his Raiders' roster

Steve Corkran

September 4, 2006 8:02 PM


It took almost seven months, five exhibition games, two minicamps, one training camp, numerous offseason workouts and countless hours watching videotape and meeting with assistant coaches.

Finally, coach Art Shell has the pieces in place, the players in defined roles, and the systems up to speed. There isn't any more guesswork or waiting to see how things play out because of injuries, trades or other unforeseen factors.

''We have good players now,'' Raiders managing general partner Al Davis said, and that was in the midst of the process. ''We have a lot of great players now. We really do. And we'll see if we can make them perform.''

Shell now has the 53 players he intends to open the season with, barring any more last-second trades or injuries.

''I like this team,'' Shell said. ''I said that before; I like our players.''



He had better because there isn't much he can do about it now. The Raiders open the regular season Monday night against the San Diego Chargers.

It's obvious that Shell wasn't real thrilled by many of the players from last year's 4-12 team. This year's team features 22 players who weren't on the opening-day roster in 2005.

Of those 22, eight are new starters. Quarterback Aaron Brooks and right guard Paul McQuistan are the only new faces on offense, though left tackle Robert Gallery, left guard Barry Sims and right tackle Langston Walker are at new positions.

Defensively, strong safety Michael Huff, outside linebacker Thomas Howard and defensive tackle Tommy Kelly are first-time starters. Second-year cornerback Fabian Washington is in his first season as a full-time starter. Defensive end Tyler Brayton converted from outside linebacker. Outside linebacker Sam Williams is back from a season-ending knee injury.

Several other starters are in their second or third seasons. That doesn't mean anything to Shell, he said, as long as they can make the Raiders better.

''I want the best football players out there,'' Shell said. ''If it's a rookie that's going to play, look, in this league you can play with young guys, if the guy has the talent. They're going to make some mistakes, but you can live with them if they make them aggressively.''

Five of Oakland's 53 players are rookies. Several others are on an opening-day roster for the first time after failed attempts elsewhere or with the Raiders last season.

Players such as defensive tackle Anttaj Hawthorne, cornerback Hiram Eugene and tight end James Adkisson spent time on Oakland's practice squad last season in an attempt to show that they belong on the 53-man roster.

''Our job as coaches is to try to find a way to develop our players,'' Shell said. ''And that's what I'm about. I'm going to figure out, 'How can I get that guy to be a player?''''

Shell said the makeup of his team is an ''ongoing process,'' one that doesn't stop just because the season starts. He said he and the Raiders personnel department are evaluating players released by other teams within the past week to see if any of them can provide an upgrade in a particular area.

For, without the proper players, the offensive and defensive systems aren't enough to bridge the talent gap, he said.

''It's not the system,'' Shell said. ''Systems are good, but players win games. You got to have football players to win. You can come up with any kind of system you want, and great players will make any system work.

''So you got to develop players. You got to develop your young players, you got to make your old players better. And you've got to have an attitude about how you're going to win, and you're going to go out and win.''

It's all up to the players now, these 53 players.

 

[Crossbones]

Well we're gonna see when the real bullets start flying. This all sounds good right now but it has to translate on the field.

One week from today. Can't wait.

San Diego must go down -- hard.

 

[Angry Pope]

Raiders must run to have any fun
Jordan ready to restate his case in Division of Monster Backs

By Bill Soliday

ALAMEDA — LaMont Jordan knows there's pressure out there lying in wait.
The Oakland Raiders want to run the ball. They have to in order for Art Shell's offense to click. Jordan is the runner who must keep things lubricated in Oakland.

And up to now the Raiders haven't exactly been running wild. They're averaging a subpar 3.0 yards a carry.

"That is not going to cut it," Jordan said. "You can't do that and win ballgames."

The Raiders' AFC West division is the best division in the NFL running the ball, with the No.2, 4 and 9 rushing teams awaiting them. It starts Monday with the opening chore of containing LaDainian Tomlinson and the San Diego Chargers (the No.9 rushing team).

"I think some people probably feel San Diego is going to come blow us out," Jordan said. "Which is fine if people feel that way. Based onfrom Sports 1


what we did last year, I can understand that. But we're a new Raiders team with a new attitude.

"I can't wait for Monday night.

But don't forget what's coming up — Denver (No. 2) and whichever running back happens to be the Broncos' flavor of the week and Kansas City (No. 4), with Larry Johnson.

What makes it even more of a challenge is that those teams that run also do quite a job of stopping other teams from running. San Diego was the hardest team to run on last year, Denver was No.2 in the league and Kansas City was No.7.

Conversely, the Raiders were 29th rushing and 25th at stopping the run.

"This is really going to let us know where we are," Jordan said.

Jordan is still hacked off about last year and is looking for some respect in the Division of the Monster Backs.

"Yeah, it was good I got 1,000 yards and yadda, yadda, yadda," he said. "All that ... but it wasn't a good feeling being not even respected as a running back."

Take Kansas City's Johnson. Jordan was floored when he heard Johnson was going by the nickname "LJ."

"First time I heard LJ, I thought somebody was referring to me," Jordan said. "Then I realized who the real LJ is. I've got to compete with that."

Jordan is trying not to be too perplexed about that.

"I'll just stick to Boogie," Jordan said of his current nickname.

Neither Jordan nor his blockers will cop to the team being fully ready to take its place among the rushing elite — not with that 3.0 yard average.

"The progress is moving forward," right guard Paul McQuistan said. "But we are definitely not where we want to be. Come Monday night, it has to be cranked up and we have to show everybody we are able to run the ball. It's a huge part of the game and it goes to the O-line."

"We have been improving and there have been good things about the games that maybe not necessarily resulted in big yardage," left guard Barry Sims said. "The yards will come. We will get it done up front. We will make it work."

For the past two games, Jordan's line has been playing without Sims (elbow) and center Jake Grove (shoulder). Both practiced Monday. Although Grove's work was limited, he did participate in scout drills and some with the first unit.

Sims has clearance to play and said the only way he'd miss it is "if I get hit by a car or something."

Jordan can't wait to get it rolling. He's lighter this year and says that has made him feel like a new man. Furthermore, he believes he will be much improved because he has spent considerable time studying blocking schemes and how opposing linebackers take on certain blocks.

But what excites him most is Shell's offense.

"Last year (the weight) was up and I thought we were going to have a power running game," he said. "That didn't work out too well. I feel fast, motivated, confident and feel good about the game plan, about the runs we have going in.

"The running style is really what I was asking for last year. Now Art is here and this style of running (power game, tackle to tackle) suits me well.

"It's important to get off to a good start in the AFC West because every team is so daggone good. So this is a great opportunity for us ... a great test. I can't wait for Monday night."



EXTRA POINTS: The Raiders named six players who comprise their practice squad — WR Will Buchanon, C Chris Morris, TE Derek Miller, WR Burl Toler, LB Ricky Brown and DE Bryant McNeal.... Perhaps a tip to who will start at WR opposite Randy Moss is that Ronald Curry started practicing with the first unit Monday. However, Shell said it was "still a work in progress" and said "someone" would line up there Monday night.... TE O.J. Santiago, placed on injured reserve, said he was waiting for a second opinion on what the club is calling a heel injury before deciding what to do next.

 

[Angry Pope]

RAIDERS AT A GLANCE COACH: Art Shell (f ...
COACH: Art Shell (first season as Oakland Raiders coach; 56-41 overall career record -- including postseason -- during stint as Los Angeles Raiders coach from 1989-94).

WHAT'S NEW: Shell is back for a second go-round as Raiders coach. Aaron Brooks has replaced Kerry Collins at quarterback. Robert Gallery has been switched from right offensive tackle to left offensive tackle as part of a major overhaul of the offensive line. First-round draft pick Michael Huff is the starter at strong safety, and fellow rookie Thomas Howard, a second-rounder, mans one of the outside linebacker spots.

KEY DEPARTURES: Collins, G, Doug Gabriel, WR, Ron Stone, DT Ted Washington, DT Ed Jasper, C, Danny Clark, MLB, Charles Woodson, DB Renaldo Hill, DE Bobby Hamilton.

GOOD NEWS: There's nowhere to go but up after three straight miserable seasons. The Raiders' first four games are against teams that missed the playoffs last season. Star wide receiver Randy Moss has a quarterback who looks his way and a coach who favors deep throws. Shell isn't likely to lose control of his team if things aren't going well. The Raiders play the defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers in Oakland.

BAD NEWS: The Raiders play the teams that played in the Super Bowl last season in back-to-back games. The Raiders didn't win any divisional games last season, and all three of their AFC West foes appear just as strong this season. Disgruntled receiver Jerry Porter is at odds with Shell and poses a long-term threat to team unity unless the two parties mend the rift or Porter gets his wish and is traded.

FANTASY WATCH: Running back LaMont Jordan rushed for 1,025 yards and caught 70 passes last season. He figures to surpass those totals in Shell's offense. Wide receiver Randy Moss is healthy once again and primed for a return to his longtime status as the game's top receiver. Shell has said that the deep pass will be back in the Raiders' repertoire. Kicker Sebastian Janikowski has shown already that he is over last season's debacle. His ability to make field goals beyond 50 yards sets him apart from most kickers.

THE SKINNY: The Raiders are 13-35 the past three seasons. They won only two divisional games during that time. Most of the offense returns, with a promise by Shell to run the ball more and take more shots downfield in the passing game. The defense has more speed overall and a potential playmaker in rookie strong safety Michael Huff. Still, this is a team that needs to learn how to win on a consistent basis before it can be considered a playoff-caliber team. Consider this season a success if the Raiders finish at or near .500, identify their quarterback for the future and lay the foundation for 2007 and beyond.

 

[Angry Pope]

Jordan isn't putting on happy face
Raiders running back reverts back to his Jets days by playing nasty

By Steve Corkran

ALAMEDA - Raiders running back LaMont Jordan is an angry guy these days. No, he isn't at odds with coach Art Shell a la wide receiver Jerry Porter. This isn't an issue over playing time, workload or salary.

It's about Jordan channeling the person he was before he joined the Raiders last season. No more Mr. Nice Guy. It's time for people to see the real Jordan.

"I've been a little bit too nice," Jordan said. "My agent told me and a couple of my boys told me that when I was in New York, I ran a lot angrier. In New York, I was an angry person. So, I have to get back to being that angry guy that I was."

Jordan said last season he spent too much time dancing around in the backfield, waiting for his blockers to execute their assignments, hoping for a sizable hole to run through.

He did so because that's the way then-coach Norv Turner's offense was designed. He did so to the tune of 1,025 yards but at an average of only 3.8 yards per carry. The angry Jordan averaged 4.9 yards as a New York Jet from 2001-04.

So it was that Jordan sought out the help of boxer Sugar Ray Leonard's brother, Roger, during the offseason.

"That helped me out so much," Jordan said.

Roger Leonard focused on building Jordan's stamina and endurance through workouts that improved his cardiovascular capacity. He also worked on sharpening Jordan's focus.

Shell said he noticed a difference in Jordan right away, in Oakland's first exhibition game, Aug. 6.

"Maybe a time or two, he probably could have avoided somebody," Shell said, "but he wanted to send a message of, 'Hey, I'm here, and it's going to be a long day. I'm going to run hard all day. So if you're going to tackle me, you're going to pay the price.'"

Jordan, 5-foot-10 and 230 pounds, is a mild-mannered sort, by nature. Yet, he turns into a different person on the football field.

Perhaps that helps explain his fascination with the lead character from the movie "Scarface." More times than not, Jordan wears a Scarface T-shirt as a way of paying homage to someone who resembles his alter ego.

"Scarface is an angry guy, too, when he needs to," Jordan said.

Angry is one of the milder terms that one might use to describe Al Pacino's character, Tony Montana. The more severe adjectives don't apply to Jordan, he said.

"I won't go psycho," Jordan said. "I won't go crazy but, hopefully, I will go crazy on the football field with the football."

That's what Shell is counting on, he said. Turner's offense has been scrapped. In its place is one that plays to the strengths of a running back like Jordan who likes to hit the line of scrimmage full bore, blast his way through any defenders and take it from there.

"LaMont is ready to have a breakout year," Shell said.

Jordan, 27, said he has heard about Shell's penchant for leaning on a back. To that end, his offseason workouts prepared him for what's to come.

"From my understanding, with Art running the ball (a lot), if there's one thing that I'm going to need, I'm going to have to be strong in that cardio division," Jordan said.

Oh, and Jordan also spent time learning the blocking schemes, something he glossed over last season, he said. He said he did the same thing before his junior season at the University of Maryland.

"I went out and rushed for, like, 1,600 yards, I had a bunch of touchdowns," he said. "It made a big, big difference. Instead of being out there guessing, you kind of knew, 'OK, this guy's going to be here, I can hit it with a lot more confidence instead of guessing, tippy-toeing.' So, the fact that I'm actually going to learn the blocking schemes this year, that's going to help me out tremendously."

 

[Chris_77]

I hope tghe OL can give this guy some help. And for his part, dude needs to run North/south -- stop with the shaking and baking.

I gotta admit that I'm a little disapointed after hearing how hard Jordan worked this offseason to drop weight and improve his quickness. He still seems like the same old Jordan to me. He'll be steady and productive if the line does their job but I don't see him creating much for himself.

 

[Crossbones]

I gotta admit that I'm a little disapointed after hearing how hard Jordan worked this offseason to drop weight and improve his quickness. He still seems like the same old Jordan to me. He'll be steady and productive if the line does their job but I don't see him creating much for himself.

I have to agree here too. Frankly I'm a little disappointed in Jordan. He looks too heavy to me and did last year too. I give him some slack because our OL has been garbage but let's face it he doesn't, at this point, look like a premiere back in this league. Maybe that will change but it has to start with the OL.

 

[Angry Pope]

For me, I like what Jordan is doing this season. He has admitted to being a nice guy and trying to maintain his intensity at all times throughout the season on each play. I see him running hard so far, blocking well, and has a good knowledge of our blocking schemes so I see improvement this season.

 

[Chris_77]

Jordan's not a bad RB by any stretch. I'd just like to see more playmaking ability out of him. Right now he seems like a "tweener" type RB that isn't particuarly fast or poweful and whose sucess depends soley on the play of the line. If that makes any sense...

 

[Crossbones]

Yeah I don;'t think Jordan is a bad back. In fact I think he's pretty good. I'm just saying I think he needed/needs to trim up and have every advantage he can have when and if this OL ever gets it together. Right now he has the worst of all worlds.

But after saying all that, let's never confuse Jordan with Tomilson or Larry Johnson. He's just not.

 

[Chris_77]

But after saying all that, let's never confuse Jordan with Tomilson or Larry Johnson. He's just not.

Larry Johnson?

I'd be happy with Rudi Johnson.

 

[Crossbones]

Larry Johnson?

I'd be happy with Rudi Johnson.

I'd be estactic with Rudi Johnson AND the Benglas entire OL.