Angry Pope
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Raiders defense tries to hold up its end of things
ALAMEDA, Calif.
Derrick Burgess led the NFL with 16 sacks in 2005, but his pass-rushing skills were never needed in the Raiders' season-opening 27-0 loss to San Diego because the Chargers only attempted 11 passes.
It's a trend Oakland's Pro Bowl defensive end fears will continue if the Raiders can't stop the run.
"We just have to stop the run if we don't want that situation to happen," Burgess said Thursday. "Don't let (opponents) get on top, just put them out of business."
It's a game-plan that sounds good in theory but one which Oakland failed to execute against San Diego. Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson rushed for 131 yards and one touchdown, 101 of which came in the first half when the Raiders fell behind 13-0 en route to their first shutout loss at home since 1981.
With Tomlinson having his way with Oakland's defense, San Diego quarterback Phillip Rivers had an easy time of things in his first NFL start. Rivers completed eight of 11 throws for 108 yards and a touchdown.
That lack of balance should even out a bit more this week when the Raiders travel to Baltimore. Though the Ravens have been getting more notoriety for their dominant defense, it's quarterback Steve McNair that really has opponents wary.
"There's a presence about him when he comes into the huddle and he walks out of there and surveys the field," Oakland coach Art Shell said. "One of his strengths is, he is very accurate. He can escape the pocket if he has to. He doesn't want to do it as much as he did in the past, but I think he can get out of there and still make a first down.
"He's the catalyst of that team right now. He's making everybody better," Shell said.
Containing McNair isn't the Raiders' only challenge. Ravens' running back Jamal Lewis had 78 yards on 18 carries in Baltimore's 27-0 win over Tampa Bay and is consistently among the AFC's top backs.
After the slow start against San Diego, Oakland's defense came away from the loss to the Chargers feeling fairly good about things. The Raiders made a few halftime adjustments that seemed to pay off, including bringing in defensive tackle Terrell Sands to anchor the middle of the run defense. It apparently worked because Tomlinson only had 30 yards on 15 carries in the game's final 30 minutes.
That success against the run enabled the Raiders' defense to keep the game close against San Diego. On three consecutive drives in the third quarter, Oakland shut Tomlinson and the Chargers down and gave the Raiders' offense the ball at their own 40, 44 and 35, respectively.
Oakland's offense, however, failed to take advantage of the situation and managed just one first down on the three drives combined.
Things figure to be even rougher for the Raiders when they face the Ravens' defense and linebacker Ray Lewis. Baltimore owned the league's fifth-ranked defense in 2005 and is already ranked No. 2 overall this year after blanking Tampa Bay.
That, in turn, means even more pressure on Oakland's defense to keep clamps on McNair and Co.
"We started off real slow so that's what we have to work on, a faster start and just coming together quicker as a defense," Raiders outside linebacker Sam Williams said. "We were able to make adjustments but it was a little too late. We just have to do what we do. No one on defense is panicking. No one on offense is panicking. It was just one of those things."
NOTES: Left tackle Robert Gallery will be lost at least three weeks with a pulled calf muscle, Shell said. Gallery was injured in practice Wednesday and did not work out Thursday. An MRI test revealed the damage. Chad Slaughter is expected to start in Gallery's place against Baltimore ... Cornerbacks Nnamdi Asomugha (foot) and Chris Carr (calf), and linebacker Sam Williams (ankle) also were held out of practice.
ALAMEDA, Calif.
Derrick Burgess led the NFL with 16 sacks in 2005, but his pass-rushing skills were never needed in the Raiders' season-opening 27-0 loss to San Diego because the Chargers only attempted 11 passes.
It's a trend Oakland's Pro Bowl defensive end fears will continue if the Raiders can't stop the run.
"We just have to stop the run if we don't want that situation to happen," Burgess said Thursday. "Don't let (opponents) get on top, just put them out of business."
It's a game-plan that sounds good in theory but one which Oakland failed to execute against San Diego. Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson rushed for 131 yards and one touchdown, 101 of which came in the first half when the Raiders fell behind 13-0 en route to their first shutout loss at home since 1981.
With Tomlinson having his way with Oakland's defense, San Diego quarterback Phillip Rivers had an easy time of things in his first NFL start. Rivers completed eight of 11 throws for 108 yards and a touchdown.
That lack of balance should even out a bit more this week when the Raiders travel to Baltimore. Though the Ravens have been getting more notoriety for their dominant defense, it's quarterback Steve McNair that really has opponents wary.
"There's a presence about him when he comes into the huddle and he walks out of there and surveys the field," Oakland coach Art Shell said. "One of his strengths is, he is very accurate. He can escape the pocket if he has to. He doesn't want to do it as much as he did in the past, but I think he can get out of there and still make a first down.
"He's the catalyst of that team right now. He's making everybody better," Shell said.
Containing McNair isn't the Raiders' only challenge. Ravens' running back Jamal Lewis had 78 yards on 18 carries in Baltimore's 27-0 win over Tampa Bay and is consistently among the AFC's top backs.
After the slow start against San Diego, Oakland's defense came away from the loss to the Chargers feeling fairly good about things. The Raiders made a few halftime adjustments that seemed to pay off, including bringing in defensive tackle Terrell Sands to anchor the middle of the run defense. It apparently worked because Tomlinson only had 30 yards on 15 carries in the game's final 30 minutes.
That success against the run enabled the Raiders' defense to keep the game close against San Diego. On three consecutive drives in the third quarter, Oakland shut Tomlinson and the Chargers down and gave the Raiders' offense the ball at their own 40, 44 and 35, respectively.
Oakland's offense, however, failed to take advantage of the situation and managed just one first down on the three drives combined.
Things figure to be even rougher for the Raiders when they face the Ravens' defense and linebacker Ray Lewis. Baltimore owned the league's fifth-ranked defense in 2005 and is already ranked No. 2 overall this year after blanking Tampa Bay.
That, in turn, means even more pressure on Oakland's defense to keep clamps on McNair and Co.
"We started off real slow so that's what we have to work on, a faster start and just coming together quicker as a defense," Raiders outside linebacker Sam Williams said. "We were able to make adjustments but it was a little too late. We just have to do what we do. No one on defense is panicking. No one on offense is panicking. It was just one of those things."
NOTES: Left tackle Robert Gallery will be lost at least three weeks with a pulled calf muscle, Shell said. Gallery was injured in practice Wednesday and did not work out Thursday. An MRI test revealed the damage. Chad Slaughter is expected to start in Gallery's place against Baltimore ... Cornerbacks Nnamdi Asomugha (foot) and Chris Carr (calf), and linebacker Sam Williams (ankle) also were held out of practice.