News leading up to KC Game

[jatfly]

Bush finally ready to start practicing
The running back has been on the physically-unable-to-perform list

Contra Costa Times
Article Launched: 10/18/2007 03:01:26 AM PDT

ALAMEDA -- Raiders rookie running back Michael Bush is eligible to practice with his teammates for the first time since the start of training camp. Apparently, the Raiders aren't quite ready for Bush.

Bush was placed on the physically-unable-to-perform list at the start of training camp and left there when final roster cuts were made. As a result of the latter move, he was ineligible to practice with his teammates for the first six weeks of the season and participate in any of Oakland's games.
That window closed Sunday after Oakland's game against the San Diego Chargers. The Raiders now have a three-week period in which they can activate Bush to their 53-man roster. If that doesn't happen, he has to be released or placed on injured reserve Nov. 5.
Bush spent Wednesday stretching, running and doing individual drills on a field adjacent to where the full squad practiced. He said he no longer feels the effects of the broken right leg he sustained in college last season.
"I'm still day-to-day, unless someone gets hurt," Bush said. "I knew that going into the season, so this isn't a surprise. It's out of my hands. I can't get down. I could be in a worse situation. If I don't play this year, I just look at it as I saved my body for another year of pounding."
McCown returns Opening-game starting quarterback Josh McCown practiced Wednesday for the first time since he sustained a broken left big toe in the first quarter of Oakland's game against the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 23.

McCown has spent the past two-plus weeks with his left foot in a protective boot. He walked with a limp afterward, but that doesn't mean he won't be available to play Sunday, he said.
McCown's snaps were limited to the scout team, coach Lane Kiffin said. That doesn't bode well for his playing Sunday, though he said he intends to be available if there's a "need."
Dwight works out
Veteran punt and kick returner Tim Dwight worked out Wednesday afternoon as the Raiders search for more production in the return game, particularly on punts. Kiffin moved Chris Carr back into the role of punt returner last Sunday after rookie Johnnie Lee Higgins failed to get untracked in the first four games. Carr called for a fair catch on his three returns. Dwight is a proven kick returner, and he also is an accomplished wide receiver. The Raiders have only four receivers on their 53-man roster.
Injuries abound
Center Jeremy Newberry (undisclosed), right offensive tackle Cornell Green (knee), defensive end Warren Sapp (ankle), defensive tackle Gerard Warren (thigh) and safety Hiram Eugene (neck) did not practice. Kiffin said each has a chance of playing Sunday. Linebacker Sam Williams (shoulder) was limited in practice, Kiffin said.
Extra points
Raiders left guard Robert Gallery was fined $7,500 for his below-the-waist block in the first quarter against the Chargers. He was called for clipping on the play. ... The Raiders worked out defensive back Shaun Williams but did not offer him a contract. Williams played collegiately at UCLA. -- Steve Corkran

 

[Crossbones]

Under Kiffin the Raiders sure have been active with working guys out, making moves on the practice squad and flat out letting players go. It tells me that Kiffin is not at all satisfied with the complete roster and is looking for way to improve in every single aspect of the game. Our special teams have been terrible on kick and punt coverage as well as the return game.

Tell you what, this off season will be one of the most interesting in years in Raiderland. Kiffin obviously has Al's ear and he seems to have a pretty free hand to do what he wants. A change in DC isn't going to surprise me in the slightest.

 

[RaiderIVlife]

I think this is/was/always will be, an evaluation year for Kiffin & Al.

Are we trying to win? Sure.

But their eyes are clearly fixed to the future, much like John Gruden in year 1 & 2. See who fits and see who doesn't. I'd expect to see about a 40% roster turnover this offseason.

BTW, the Raiders will IR Michael Bush. Bank on it. Based on what he said, I think he's preparing himself for that eventuality.

Tim Dwight? I'm in. We are getting ZERO in the return game.

 

[Rupert]

Tell you what, this off season will be one of the most interesting in years in Raiderland. Kiffin obviously has Al's ear and he seems to have a pretty free hand to do what he wants. A change in DC isn't going to surprise me in the slightest.

Al has always given his coaches enough rope to hang themselves. He still meddles in the draft, and it's obvious. But if the coach (or scout) can sell Al, it's going to happen.

In my estimation, Kiffin is working unsigned free agents like the depth of a college roster. He considers all of those guys potential starters, and he's letting everyone on the roster know that he will not hesitate to send you packing if you're not doing the job he wants.

Look at the safeties he brought in, some were strong safety options. You can't say he's satisfied with how the safeties are playing.

All the action sends a message, and that message goes in all directions. Al knows Kiffin isn't happy with the roster. He lets him know what positions he's not happy with. The scouts hear it all season and can focus on the positions Kiffin's trying out. The players get the message too. There's a difference between talk and action. Kiffin is putting his thoughts into action. Where it all ends up remains to be seen, but I like the pro-active approach to the roster.

 

[BigTron]

Al has always given his coaches enough rope to hang themselves. He still meddles in the draft, and it's obvious. But if the coach (or scout) can sell Al, it's going to happen.

In my estimation, Kiffin is working unsigned free agents like the depth of a college roster. He considers all of those guys potential starters, and he's letting everyone on the roster know that he will not hesitate to send you packing if you're not doing the job he wants.

Look at the safeties he brought in, some were strong safety options. You can't say he's satisfied with how the safeties are playing.

All the action sends a message, and that message goes in all directions. Al knows Kiffin isn't happy with the roster. He lets him know what positions he's not happy with. The scouts hear it all season and can focus on the positions Kiffin's trying out. The players get the message too. There's a difference between talk and action. Kiffin is putting his thoughts into action. Where it all ends up remains to be seen, but I like the pro-active approach to the roster.

You cant get blood from a stone. I think the players understand they cant relax and feel comfortable in their spots, but i dont think its a work issue, its a talent issue. I think Stu wants to be a beast, he just isnt.

 

[GRaider]

A change in DC isn't going to surprise me in the slightest.

It wouldn't surprise me either. I wonder who would come in and work with one of the youngest HCs in the league? I would love to get Singletary as DC. I actually wanted him as HC. I doubt he would do it though with Al's penchant for dabbling in defensive schemes. I'll have to do some research. Wonder if Kif would want to go with the Tampa Two?

 

[Rupert]

You cant get blood from a stone. I think the players understand they cant relax and feel comfortable in their spots, but i dont think its a work issue, its a talent issue. I think Stu wants to be a beast, he just isnt.

Well, in a sense it is a work issue. If you can't do the work the coach wants for whatever reason (talent, work ethic, attitude, whatever) the coach will look elsewhere, at any time, without remorse.

He says there aren't any scholarships, but how fast would he pull the trigger on guys like Morrison, Howard, Asomugha, or Burgess? Those guys have proven they do the work, they can go through a rough patch and get a break. It's about proving yourself worthy of the break. Kiffin is saying it's a game day issue. Practice might put you in position, but game day is where you earn your grade. If you consistently grade poorly, he's going to look for someone else.

 

[Rupert]

It wouldn't surprise me either. I wonder who would come in and work with one of the youngest HCs in the league? I would love to get Singletary as DC. I actually wanted him as HC. I doubt he would do it though with Al's penchant for dabbling in defensive schemes. I'll have to do some research. Wonder if Kif would want to go with the Tampa Two?

Some rumor somewhere has Don Martindale (our linebackers coach) being considered as DC material.

The truth is that even Tampa doesn't use "the two" that often anymore.

 

[Langlier]

I could see (and semi support) a change in DC. A tampa 2 scheme wouldn't surprise me in the least. I've got the perfect RE to compliment Burgess for a year while we develop some young guys... Jason Taylor. THE JIHAD STARTS HERE BOYS!

 

[GRaider]

I could see (and semi support) a change in DC. A tampa 2 scheme wouldn't surprise me in the least. I've got the perfect RE to compliment Burgess for a year while we develop some young guys... Jason Taylor. THE JIHAD STARTS HERE BOYS!

LOL. Nothing against JT but I doubt he would come play for us. He hates the Raiders.

 

[GRaider]

Some rumor somewhere has Don Martindale (our linebackers coach) being considered as DC material.

The truth is that even Tampa doesn't use "the two" that often anymore.

Interesting. I have to admit that I haven't watched Tampa play this year. What are they running? Straight 43 and bump & run with a safety over the top?

 

[R4Life]

Through 5 games last year our D wasn't much better...

 

[R4Life]

Game is a sellout
Posted by Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer on Thursday at 1:58 pm

A team spokesman announced following practice that Sunday's game against the Chiefs was declared a sellout and will be televised locally.

A limited number of tickets remain which were returned by the Chiefs.


Practice update
Posted by Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer on Thursday at 12:02 pm

Right tackle Cornell Green (knee) and center Jeremy Newberry (hamstring, knees) were in uniform and going through warmups and individual drills Thursday after missing practice Wednesday.

Still out are defensive tackles Warren Sapp (ankle) and Gerard Warren (thigh). Safety Hiram Eugene (neck) is not practicing.

No sign of Tim Dwight, the veteran wide receiver and return specialist who was brought in for a tryout Tuesday.

Linebacker Kirk Morrison is not listed as injured, but is playing with a cast on his right hand. The injury isn't serious enough to prevent him from catching passes from quarterbacks along with linebabcker Thomas Howard during drills.

 

[Rupert]

Interesting. I have to admit that I haven't watched Tampa play this year. What are they running? Straight 43 and bump & run with a safety over the top?

They run standard 2-deep and some man as well as "the two". I don't think Indy uses "the two" exclusively either. If you think of it as a 3-deep scheme with the MLB dropping to the middle 3rd there are ways to take advantage of an MLB that isn't as fast or mobile as a safety.

The idea of "the two" is to get the WR(s) to run shallower crossing/post routes because of the 2-deep look. The MLB keeps drifting into those deep crossing lanes when the QB is looking to throw the ball. The end result is often a sack or a pick. But if you know "the two" is coming you have your WR's run skinny post routes (more vertical than horizontal) and you cross the TE deep middle and a RB underneath and "the two" has all the same gaps as a 3-deep. It works best when the offense (especially the QB) isn't expecting it. If the 2-deep defenders stay pinched longer to read the WR routes and they communicate the skinny route to the MLB, the QB and WR read the MLB drop and turn a skinny post into a drag to counter the countermeasure.

The "Tampa Two" is a coverage gimmick designed to make the QB hesitate when he should be releasing, or throw a pick if he doesn't read the MLB dropping into his passing lane. Like any other coverage, you've got to read it and react to it. If a team uses it exclusively, they'll get burned doing it.

 

[hawaiianboy]

I didn't see it mentioned, but we also worked out Shaun Williams at safety in addition to Tim Dwight...

Al has always given his coaches enough rope to hang themselves. He still meddles in the draft, and it's obvious. But if the coach (or scout) can sell Al, it's going to happen.

In my estimation, Kiffin is working unsigned free agents like the depth of a college roster. He considers all of those guys potential starters, and he's letting everyone on the roster know that he will not hesitate to send you packing if you're not doing the job he wants.

Look at the safeties he brought in, some were strong safety options. You can't say he's satisfied with how the safeties are playing.

All the action sends a message, and that message goes in all directions. Al knows Kiffin isn't happy with the roster. He lets him know what positions he's not happy with. The scouts hear it all season and can focus on the positions Kiffin's trying out. The players get the message too. There's a difference between talk and action. Kiffin is putting his thoughts into action. Where it all ends up remains to be seen, but I like the pro-active approach to the roster.

That's one of the reasons I'm glad we went 'outside' the organization with this hire... Kiffin doesn't have any emotional attachments yet and can be more objective evaluating the current talent IMO... I expect we'll see some big changes to the roster this offseason, including some that may sting a little...

Some rumor somewhere has Don Martindale (our linebackers coach) being considered as DC material.

The truth is that even Tampa doesn't use "the two" that often anymore.

Martindale would surprise me a bit since he is so close to Ryan... I don't mind playing more cover two, but I'm not a big Tampa 2 guy... Too much zone with the corners and you get ass beat unless you have a front 4 that can consistently get in the backfield... I'm actually hoping that the Bolts keep Ted Cotrell another year because I would love to cherry pick Ron Rivera if we go away from Ryan... I loved how aggressive his playcalling was last year with the Bears...

It wouldn't surprise me either. I wonder who would come in and work with one of the youngest HCs in the league? I would love to get Singletary as DC. I actually wanted him as HC.

Right there with you about Samurai Mike... I wanted him as HC after we canned Norv... Unfortunately, he's got that 'Asst head coach' tag on him in Frisco... Very, very interesting man: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYsu_GDqL5w

 

[R4Life]

The Tampa 2 requires better safeties than we have and worse corners. We do not have the roster for it.

 

[R4Life]

Starting therapy again with the wife, festival rained out, ulcer acting up and I ain't got much this week.

The Thursday file
Posted by Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer on Thursday at 4:26 pm

News, notes and observations from Thursday:

– Three players missed pracitce _ DT Gerard Warren (thigh), DT Warren Sapp (ankle) and S Hiram Eugene (neck).

Sapp and Eugene are expected to play Sunday against Kansas City. Warren will be a game time decision.

– LB Sam Williams continues to avoid contact, and although Kiffin hasn't said it, the guess here is Robert Thomas will start at strongside linebacker.

– Thomas Howard became the first linebacker since Atlanta's Al Richardson in 1980 to intercept passes in four consecutive games. He is halfway to Stan White's total of eight in 1975, the most interceptions for a linebacker in a season since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970.

Howard, whose father played for the Chiefs and who has a brother who lives in Kansas City, has been a popular interview subject this week. When asked what most impressed him about Howard, Kiffin said, "His ability to still be young and come in and not act like a young guy. We talked about (Howard and linebacker Kirk Morrison) this offseason.

"Those are the type of people you need to build your team around. If you look at great teams, they have people like that, that continue to get better, that continue to compete in the offseason. In my opinion, yo have to have more of those guys and the more you get and the less you get who aren' t like that, that's when you become a real good team."

– Daunte Culpepper said timing has been of the essence this week with regard to the passing game.

"(We need to) get our timing down, me with the receivers, me with the receivers, me with the backs _ I did a little bit of extra work with them this week," Culpepper said. "Whenever they drop their hips, just get the ball out to them on time. That's really can help us be more successful in the passing game."

– A big key will be to have some success on early downs whether running or passing to avoid the down-and-distance nightmares which plauged the Raiders throughout the Chargers loss.

" It's town when on third down you're in a hole," Culpepper said. "More important, we've go tto do it on first and second down to be successful. We've got to do a better job utting ourselves in third-and-short and third-and-medium. Those are much more attainable."

– The biggest reason Culpepper doesn't want to be in a hole against Kansas City is having to deal with Jared Allen, the right end who destroyed Cincinnati last week with 2.5 sacks, three pressures and a forced fumble from Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer.

"He's a great player," Culpepper said. "He has, as we like to say, a motor. He keeps oing and going and going and we definitely have to be aware of him. Offensive linemen, tight ends, backs chipping on the way out, they ahve to be aware of him."

Last Dec. 23, Allen had a sack, a strip and forced two fumbles against the Raiders. Barry Sims best chance against Allen is wearing him out physically on running plays, and getting help from a chipping Justin Griffith on passing plays.

– Allen comes up for free agency next season, and Chiefs G.M. Carl Peterson is on record as saying he will franchise him if necessary despite a history of alcohol related offenses. He missed the first two games of the season on suspension for a DUI. Peterson said Allen is a "changed man" and has turned his life around.

– They aren't quite LaDainian Tomlinson numbers, but Larry Johnson has had his share of success against the Raiders with 138 carries for 634 yards and nine touchdowns in five games _ all Chiefs wins.

In two games last season, when the Raiders were more stout defensive than they have been through five games, Johnson carried 62 times for 289 yards and three touchdowns.

Johnson has the game-winning touchdown with under two minutes remaining in two of the last three Chiefs-Raiders games, including his no-time-out dive from the 1 on Nov. 6, 2005.

– Johnson has endured some criticism from the local media this year, including a scathing column from Jason Whitlock of the Kansas City Star, who took Johnson to task for selfishness and berating his teammates in recent games.

and...

More special teams changes?

ALAMEDA – Running back Dominic Rhodes might get his hands on the football in a new role.

Rhodes worked as a kick returner during practice this morning. Of course, that doesn’t mean that he’ll do that on Sunday, but such a move would make sense.

The Raiders have only three healthy safeties (Stuart Schweigert, Michael Huff and Jarrod Cooper) meaning cornerback Chris Carr could take on a bigger role at safety in addition to returning punts and kickoffs.

Rhodes handling kickoffs would be one less thing for Carr to worry about on special teams.

Rhodes hasn’t returned a kickoff since 2005. But after watching most of the game in San Diego, Rhodes might welcome the notion of returning kicks just to get himself involved.

***
Half of the Raiders’ starting defensive line (Warren Sapp, Gerard Warren) weren’t practicing. Warren (quadriceps) did run laps around the practice field.

Sapp (ankle) wasn’t dressed to practice. Starting offensive linemen Cornell Green (knee) and Jeremy Newberry (ankle) returned to practice.

--Jason Jones

 

[Limee]

I did a little bit of extra work with them this week," Culpepper said.

Who knows, it might prove more useful than getting pissed up in Vegas.

 

[Crow]

Heh. No shit. It's just crazy enough to work.

 

[GRaider]

They run standard 2-deep and some man as well as "the two". I don't think Indy uses "the two" exclusively either. If you think of it as a 3-deep scheme with the MLB dropping to the middle 3rd there are ways to take advantage of an MLB that isn't as fast or mobile as a safety.

The idea of "the two" is to get the WR(s) to run shallower crossing/post routes because of the 2-deep look. The MLB keeps drifting into those deep crossing lanes when the QB is looking to throw the ball. The end result is often a sack or a pick. But if you know "the two" is coming you have your WR's run skinny post routes (more vertical than horizontal) and you cross the TE deep middle and a RB underneath and "the two" has all the same gaps as a 3-deep. It works best when the offense (especially the QB) isn't expecting it. If the 2-deep defenders stay pinched longer to read the WR routes and they communicate the skinny route to the MLB, the QB and WR read the MLB drop and turn a skinny post into a drag to counter the countermeasure.

The "Tampa Two" is a coverage gimmick designed to make the QB hesitate when he should be releasing, or throw a pick if he doesn't read the MLB dropping into his passing lane. Like any other coverage, you've got to read it and react to it. If a team uses it exclusively, they'll get burned doing it.

That is the best explaination of a Tampa Two defense I have ever heard. Thanks.