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Raiders Travel to Baltimore to Face Ravens



The last time these two teams met, WR Jerry Rice (80) helped the Raiders defeat the Baltimore Ravens 20-12 on December 14, 2003, in Oakland.


The Oakland Raiders travel to Baltimore to face the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium this Sunday in 2006 Regular Season Week 2 action.

TELEVISION: This week's game will be televised on CBS with Gus Johnson handling the play-by-play duties and former NFL performer Steve Tasker serving as analyst. The game will air in the Bay Area on KPIX Channel 5 and in Sacramento on KOVR Channel 13.

RADIO: KSFO 560 AM is the Raiders flagship for the multi-state Raiders Radio Network. Greg Papa and former Raiders player, assistant and head coach Tom Flores will man the booth for the 10th straight year. The pregame and postgame shows feature Raider Legends George Atkinson and David Humm along with KGO's Rich Walcoff.

SPANISH RADIO: Univision radio station KLOK 1170 AM serves as the team's official flagship station for The Oakland Raiders Spanish radio broadcasts. Veteran broadcasters Armando Botello and Ramon Diaz handle announcing duties.

SERIES: This Sunday's game marks the fourth time the two teams have played since they first met in Baltimore in 1996. The Ravens lead the series 2-1.

RAIDERS-CITY OF BALTIMORE PLAYOFF HISTORY: The Raiders and a Baltimore-based NFL-based team have played in three postseason games. The Raiders lost to the Baltimore Ravens, 16-3 in the 2000 season AFC Championship game played on January 14, 2001 at Network Associates Coliseum. The Ravens went on to capture a victory in Super Bowl XXXV. The Raiders defeated the then-Baltimore Colts, 37-31 on December 24, 1977 in overtime in an American Football Conference playoff game. The Colts and The Oakland Raiders met in the AFC Championship on January 3, 1971, the first title contest played following the American Football League-National Football League merger. Baltimore won that game, 27-17 and went on to defeat the Dallas Cowboys, 16-13 in Super Bowl V.

LAST TIME: The Oakland Raiders beat the Baltimore Ravens 20-12 on December 14, 2003, at Network Associates Coliseum.


CONNECTIONS

RAIDERS: Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan's twin brother Rex is the defensive coordinator for the Ravens...CB Duane Starks was a first round draft pick by the Ravens in 1998...Defensive backs coach Chuck Pagano coached Ravens S Ed Reed at University of Miami from 1998-00...Running backs coach Skip Peete worked with Ravens WR Derrick Mason at Michigan State, Peete also coached with Ravens special teams coach Frank Gansz Jr. at University of Pittsburgh from 1988-89...QB Andrew Walter played with Ravens LB/DE Terrell Suggs at Arizona State...CB Nnamdi Asomugha and T Langston Walker played for California with Ravens QB Kyle Boller...DE Tyler Brayton was teammates with Ravens DT Justin Bannan and TE Quinn Sypniewski at Colorado...RB Zack Crockett, SS Derrick Gibson and K Sebastian Janikowski all played at Florida State with Ravens CB Samari Rolle...RB John Paul Foschi went to Georgia Tech with Ravens RB P.J. Daniels and S Dawan Landry...DT Warren Sapp and CB Duane Starks were once teammates at Miami (Fla.) with Ravens LB Ray Lewis...DE Derrick Burgess played for Mississippi at the same time as Ravens OG Keydrick Vincent...CB Fabian Washington and Ravens P Sam Koch and RB Cory Ross played together at Nebraska...WR Ronald Curry played for North Carolina with Ravens OG/C Jason Brown...LB Grant Irons and Ravens DB Gerome Sapp were teammates at Notre Dame...WR Johnnie Morant played for Syracuse with Ravens OT Adam Terry...T Barry Sims and Ravens RB Mike Anderson played together at Utah...WR Jerry Porter and Ravens LB/DE Gary Stills were teammates at West Virginia...DT Anttaj Hawthorne played for Wisconsin at the same time as Ravens LS Matt Katula...RB LaMont Jordan is originally from Suitland, MD and attended University of Maryland...DE Derrick Burgess is from Greenbelt, MD.

RAVENS: Offensive coordinator Jim Fassel was the QB coach for the Raiders in 1995...Special teams coach Frank Gansz Jr. coached special teams for the Raiders from 1998-99...OG Edwin Mulitalo is from Daly City ....DT Justin Bannan grew up in Orangevale ....WR Demetrius Williams is from Concord.

NEXT WEEK: The Oakland Raiders have a bye before hosting the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, October 1 at McAfee Coliseum.
 
Be careful what you wish for

September 13th, 2006

ALAMEDA _ All those fans calling for Robert Gallery’s head on a platter, how do you like the possibility of starting Chad Slaughter at left tackle?

Gallery strained a calf muscle during warmups and did not finish practice, with Slaughter taking his place. The Raiders have not yet placed an official designation regarding Gallery’s injury _ not that it matters much.

Jake Grove was “doubtful'’ all last week _ meaning a 25 percent chance he would play. Grove then started, played the entire game.

Also leaving practice Wednesday with a calf injury was return specialist Chris Carr. If Carr can not play, ReShard Lee would handle kickoff returns and Tyrone Poole, a 34-year-old cornerback, would return punts.

Carr was spotted walking with a pronounced limp to his car well before practice had ended.

Poole is also in line to start at cornerback in place of Nnamdi Asomugha, who missed practice Wednesday with a sprained foot.
 
Raiders working on pass protection

By JOSH DUBOW

ALAMEDA - The Oakland Raiders watched film of Baltimore's season-opening shutout win and saw the dominating performance they've come to expect from the Ravens defense.

They figure that when the Ravens watched the Raiders get shutout themselves, they were probably salivating at the opportunity in this week's matchup.

''I don't think a shutout by them was a surprise,'' center Jake Grove said Wednesday. ''They're a great defense. We have to come to play. I'm sure they'll watch this film and will like what they see. We have to make sure a different team shows up this week.''

The performance in the season-opening 27-0 loss to San Diego on Monday night was one of the worst in recent memory for the Raiders.

In just their second home shutout ever, the Raiders were sacked nine times and had only 67 total yards until a game-ending drive against mostly backups raised the total to 129.

Next up, Ray Lewis and the Ravens, who are coming off a 27-0 victory at Tampa Bay.

''It's always a challenge when you've got two of the highest-rated defenses in the league back-to-back,'' quarterback Aaron Brooks said. ''Our biggest challenge this week is being able to make some plays.

''So I think that's going to be the key. I'm sure that we're going to do better in the pass protection.... If they're going to pressure as much as they do, then we have to be able to take our chances.''

Seven of San Diego's nine sacks came against Brooks, who was replaced in the fourth quarter by Andrew Walter because coach Art Shell was worried about the beating Brooks was taking.

Brooks bruised his knee in the game and underwent an MRI on Tuesday but said he felt much better Wednesday and was probable for Sunday's game.

''He was under duress last week, and our guys are upset about it,'' coach Art Shell said. ''They don't like what happened last week. They'll bounce back. I believe they'll bounce back. They have a lot of pride. They know it was not a good outing for us.''

Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis warned against putting too much stock in the way the Raiders struggled against San Diego.

''You can't deal with them based on what you saw somebody else do with them because it won't be the same the next week,'' he said. ''It's not as if they're playing the same game. Their mentality is going to change. We're going to prepare like it's the Oakland Raiders with all the talent that they have over there. ''

For that to happen, the Raiders will need to do a better job of blocking. They might need to do it without starting left tackle Robert Gallery, who left practice Wednesday with a strained calf muscle. His status for the game is uncertain.

Chad Slaughter is the backup at tackle, but if Gallery can't play, Shell could also shift other players on the line.

The Raiders revamped the offensive line in the offseason, moving Gallery from right tackle to left tackle, Barry Sims from left tackle to left guard, Walker from right guard to right tackle and inserting rookie Paul McQuistan -- a tackle in college -- in at right guard.

Only Grove is playing at the same position he played last year, a problem only worsened by preseason injuries to Grove and Sims which limited the time the new group had to play together.

''Look at all of the good offensive lines in the league all they have all played together a lot,'' Grove said. ''We moved around in the offseason. We had five games under our belt together in the preseason. It has to happen fast. We don't have time to learn and grow anymore.''
 
Ravens not convinced Raiders are vulnerable

September 14, 2006

By Stan Goldberg

OWINGS MILLS -- As far as Baltimore linebacker Bart Scott is concerned, the San Diego Chargers didn't do the Ravens any favors when they crushed Oakland 27-0 on Monday night.

"San Diego actually hurt us," said Scott, whose Ravens host the Raiders on Sunday in Baltimore's home opener. "I'm sure they got a verbal dressing down. They have the deep hurt. They are going to come here with an us-against-the-world philosophy."

Scott, along with his teammates and Baltimore coach Brian Billick, all believe that the Raiders are far better than they showed Monday, when they produced just 129 yards in total offense. Their quarterback was sacked nine times.

"That's a hard thing to go through," Billick said. "They'll respond. They're going to come back and play a helluva game."

And he said the Raiders have the talent to beat a Baltimore team that was very impressive in its 27-0 win at Tampa Bay last Sunday.

"This is an extremely talented Oakland Raiders football team," Billick said. "You have to be respectful of that talent."

The way his players talked Wednesday, they won't have to be reminded of what can happen on Sunday.

"You can't overlook the Raiders because of what happened their last game," running back Jamal Lewis said. "They will correct their mistakes and come out ready to play."

"They're going to do a little heart searching, a little soul searching," Ravens quarterback Steve McNair said. "They are going to look at the films and say we can definitely make changes. As long as we prepare the way they expect us to prepare we should be OK."

There is no doubt the Baltimore fans expect a Ravens victory. The way their team manhandled Tampa Bay last week has them thinking playoffs after just one week.

The players don't want to get involved with that type of talk.

"That's how it is when you win a game, but we can't get too caught up in that hype," Lewis said.

The Raiders are in their first year with new coach Art Shell, a former Oakland Hall of Fame offensive lineman who coached the Raiders to an 54-38 record from 1989 to 1994.

They finished just 4-12 last year, but brought in a new quarterback in Aaron Brooks. Former Maryland star Lamont Jordan is their top running back.

But Oakland's biggest weapon is Randy Moss, one of the top receivers in the league.

"Any time you have to play a game with Randy Moss on the other side, you know you are going to have problems," Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis said.

"They've got a lot of weapons," cornerback Samari Rolle said. "Not every week things go your way."

Asked how he would try and stop Moss, Billick said, "You try to sneak that 12th guy on the field and, hopefully, the officials don't notice. Sometimes that seems like the only way to stop him. This guy's a dynamic talent. That impacts every defensive gameplan that you put in."

NOTES: Billick had high praise for Ray Lewis, who was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week after getting a team-high 10 tackles, including a sack against Tampa Bay. Lewis missed 10 games last season with a hamstring injury and Billick said any talk that the linebacker is over the hill is premature.

"Those that think they have seen diminishing skills ought to talk to Mr. Pittman and Mr. Williams down in Tampa," Billick said. "They'll attest that the skills look pretty good."

Jamal Lewis, who carried the ball 18 times for 78 yards on Sunday despite a hip flexor, said he is feeling fine.

"The hip feels great, it's still not 100 percent, but it's come a long way," he said."
 
"Raiders working on pass protect"...that's good.

How about workling on run blocking too?
 
Raiders at Ravens Game Notes

September 14, 2006

The Oakland Raiders travel to Baltimore to take on the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium this Sunday in 2006 Regular Season Week 2 action. Kickoff is set for 10:00 a.m. Pacific. This Sunday's game marks the fourth time the two teams have played since they first met in Baltimore in 1996. The Ravens lead the series 2-1. The last time these two teams met, The Oakland Raiders beat the Baltimore Ravens 20-12 on December 14, 2003, at Network Associates Coliseum.


SIX TO 400: The Oakland Raiders need six regular-season victories to reach 400 regular-season victories in the history of the franchise.

ONE MORE AND MOSS HAS A 100 RUSHING, RECEIVING: Randy Moss enters 2006 with 99 career TDs-98 receiving and one rushing. Moss currently ranks 3rd among active receivers in career touchdown receptions, seventh in all-time receiving touchdowns, and 19th in career total touchdowns.

TWO TD RECEPTIONS TO 100: With two receiving touchdowns, Randy Moss will reach the 100 plateau in his career. Moss has caught 98 touchdown passes in 127 league games. Only Jerry Rice (120) achieved 100 touchdown receptions in less that 140 league games.

100 CATCHES WOULD: Randy Moss has recorded 100 receptions in a season two times in his eight-year NFL career. Moss can join Marvin Harrison and Jerry Rice (4) as the only players in NFL history with three seasons with 100 receptions.

WARREN-TING ATTENTION: Warren Sapp has 84.5 career sacks, good for fifth among active NFL players. Among defensive tackles, Sapp tops the active list and ranks third on the all-time career list.

CROCKETT ROCKETING UP THE SCORING CHART: FB Zack Crockett is tied with Mark van Eeghen for third on the franchise's all-time rushing touchdown list. Through eight seasons with the Silver and Black, Crockett has now rushed for 35 touchdowns and is averaging a touchdown every 8.8 carries.

BROOKS NEARING 20,000: Quarterback Aaron Brooks has racked up 19,224 yards, leaving him just 776 yards shy of 20,000. Brooks is currently ranks 14th among active quarterbacks in career passing yards.


BACK ON THE BLOCK: The Raiders special teams enter the 2006 season having blocked three kicks in 2005. G Langston Walker knocked away a field goal attempt in the third quarter of the team's home opener against Kansas City. Walker swatted away an Adam Vinatieri extra point attempt in the third quarter of the Raiders' season-opener at New England, and WR Randal Williams blocked a Patriots punt in the fourth quarter. The Raiders blocked three kicks and one punt in 2004.


JANIKOWSKI KICKING UP THE CHART: Sebastian Janikowski is already fourth on the Raiders all-time scoring list six seasons into his career. Janikowski, who has topped the century mark in scoring in four of his six professional seasons, is 26 points behind Jeff Jaeger for third place in team annals. Last season, Janikowski surpassed Hall of Famer Marcus Allen (588 points) and former wide receiver Tim Brown (626) on the team scoring list.

BROOKS IN ELITE COMPANY: In the past five seasons, Raiders quarterback Aaron Brooks (111) is tied with Kansas City's Trent Green for fourth-most touchdown passes, trailing only Peyton Manning (159), Brett Favre (141) and Tom Brady (123). Brooks, who signed as a free agent with the Raiders during the offseason from New Orleans, has thrown touchdown passes in 14 of 17 career September starts.

STARTING OUT STARTING: The Raiders will have three rookies from the 2006 class in the starting lineup - first round pick Michael Huff at safety; second round selection Thomas Howard at linebacker and third round pick Paul McQuistan at guard.

YOUTH IS SERVED: Over 60 percent of the players on the Raiders' 2006 roster have five or fewer years of NFL experience. Over 73 percent of the players on the Raiders' 2006 roster have six or fewer years of NFL experience and over 79 percent of the players on the Raiders' 2006 roster have seven or fewer years of NFL experience.

RAIDER ROOKIES: Five Raider 2006 draftees are on the current roster and one is on the tam[s practice squad - first round pick Michael Huff, second round selection Thomas Howard, third rounder Paul McQuistan, fourth round pick Darnell Bing (on injured reserve) and sixth round pick Kevin Boothe. Seventh round selection Chris Morris is on the practice squad. Rookie free agent John Madsen also earned a spot the 53-man roster.

ONES, TWOS, THREES: The Raiders roster consists of 29 players who were drafted in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft - 12 in the first round, eight in the second and nine in the third.

RAIDERS OWN: Of the 12 players on the Raiders roster who were drafted in the first round, seven were selected by the Raiders - safety Michael Huff (2006), cornerback Fabian Washington (2005), tackle Robert Gallery (2004), cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha (2003), safety Derrick Gibson (2001), defensive end Tyler Brayton (2003) and kicker Sebastian Janikowski (2000).

WELCOME TO THE SILVER AND BLACK: Wide receiver Randy Moss (Minnesota, 1998), cornerback Duane Starks (Baltimore, 1998), cornerback Tyrone Poole (Carolina, 1995), defensive tackle Warren Sapp (Tampa Bay, 1995) and linebacker Robert Thomas (St. Louis, 2002) were first round draft picks by other teams.

SUCCESS IN THE SECOND ROUND: Eight players on the Raiders roster were selected in the second round, with seven being taken by the Silver and Black - center Jake Grove (2004), tackle Langston Walker (2002), quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo (2001), wide receiver Jerry Porter (2000), cornerback Stanford Routt (2005), defensive end Lance Johnstone (1996) and linebacker Thomas Howard (2006). Running back LaMont Jordan was a second round pick by the New York Jets in 2001.

THIRD ROUND RICHES: Nine players on the Raiders 2006 roster were taken in the third round, including seven selected by the Silver and Black - center Adam Treu (1997), guard Paul McQuistan (2006), quarterback Andrew Walter (2005), running back Justin Fargas (2003), safety Stuart Schweigert (2004), linebacker Kirk Morrison (2005) and linebacker Sam Williams (2003). Running back Zack Crockett was a third round pick by Indianapolis (1995) while defensive end Derrick Burgess was the Philadelphia Eagles' third round selection in 2001.

TOP ROUND DBS: Four of the Silver and Black's seven first round selections on the 2006 roster are defensive backs - safety Michael Huff (2006), cornerback Fabian Washington (2005), cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha (2003) and safety Derrick Gibson (2001).
 
Ryan: "I Don't Care"

Aaron Wilson

Sep 14, 2006

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Sentimentality, brotherly love and a heartfelt reunion aren’t registering at the moment on Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan’s priority list. Even though his twin brother, Rob Ryan, will be in town Sunday in his capacity as the Oakland Raiders’ defensive coordinator, Rex Ryan said his brother isn’t on his mind.

Certainly, not anywhere near how much receiver Randy Moss consumes his thoughts. “Not for a second,” Ryan said. “As far as I’m concerned, he’s just another guy on the sideline. “It will mean something after the game I’m sure, but for now I don’t care about him. Usually, I want his team to win every game except when they’re playing us.”

Rex Ryan’s famous father, Buddy Ryan, the defensive guru who engineered the legendary 1985 Chicago Bears’ Super Bowl defense, would probably be proud of that answer. "I don't know what runs thicker, paycheck or blood," said Ravens coach Brian Billick jokingly about the impending encounter between the Ryan twins.

In reality, there’s little room for personal feelings in the hard-nosed Ryan’s football world. When asked about the Raiders, who looked disjointed Monday night in a 27-0 loss to the San Diego Chargers where running back LaDainian Tomlinson rambled for 101 yards in the first half alone, Ryan had another sharp reply. “I don’t care, that’s their problem right now,” Ryan said. “We don’t feel sorry for anybody. If they have problems this Sunday, that’s fine with me. They had a bad night and hopefully they’ll struggle against us, too.”

The 43-year-old twins used to coach together under their father as defensive assistants with the Arizona Cardinals. They were on opposite ends of the sidelines in 1987 when Rex Ryan coached Eastern Kentucky to a 40-17 Division I-AA playoff win over Roby Ryan’s Western Kentucky squad.

Rob Ryan’s Oklahoma State team defeated Rex Ryan’s Oklahoma team in 1998, and his team got the best of the Ravens in 2004 when he was coaching the New England Patriots’ linebackers and Rex Ryan was the Ravens’ defensive line coach.

“I think he know it’s a huge challenge for him,” Ryan said. “He’s going to have his guys charged up. I know the type of mentality he brings to every game. I think we’re very very similar in that way.”

TRAINING ROOM: The Ravens filed another extensive injury report, listing 10 players as questionable, including five starters. However, center Mike Flynn (ankle), tight end Todd Heap (back), running back Jamal Lewis (hip), safety Ed Reed (thigh) and kicker Matt Stover (back) are all expected to be available Sunday.

The other questionable listings include: running back P. J. Daniels (thigh), defensive tackle Aubrayo Franklin (thigh), linebacker Gary Stills (hand), tight end Daniel Wilcox (back) and wide receiver Demetrius Williams (knee).

Stills and Williams were added Thursday. If Williams can't go, the Ravens would likely activate fifth receiver Clarence Moore.

Wilcox stressed that he's definitely going to play. "If nothing's broken, I'm playing," he said. "As far as I'm concerned, I'm healthy and ready to go. This is football. You're going to be a little sore." With two tight ends injured, Billick said he could use fullbacks to fill in because of their flexibility. "We've got nice depth where we shouldn't forced too much out of our game plan," he said.

STILL GOING: If middle linebacker Ray Lewis’ game is supposedly declining, then Billick would like to ask Cadillac Williams and Michael Pittman if they believe that's true. Lewis delivered several rough tackles to the Tampa Bay runners and was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week.

“Those who think that they have seen diminishing skills ought to talk to Mr. Pittman and Mr. Williams down in Tampa,” Billick said. “They’ll attest that the skills look pretty good.”

ROUGH TREATMENT: As a former University of Maryland star, Raiders running back Lamont Jordan is familiar with the Ravens' defensive reputation. The Suitland native isn't expecting any special dispensation.

"Once the opening kickoff comes, the Ravens could care less whether or not I am from that area," Jordan said. "I'm a guy who's going to be running the ball and they are coming to knock my head off just like I was a guy who wasn't from the area."

QUICK HITS: Jamal Lewis is four yards shy from becoming the franchise’s all-time leader in all-purpose yardage. With 7,997 yards, he’s four behind wide receiver Jermaine Lewis’ 8,001. For his career, Lewis has gained 4,053 yards with 25 touchdowns at M&T Bank Stadium. ... The Ravens lead the AFC in turnover ratio with a plus-3 margin.

Aaron Wilson covers the Baltimore Ravens for the Carroll County Times in Westminster, Maryland.
 
Raiders seek to rebound against hungry Ravens

Sep. 14, 2006

BALTIMORE -During his spectacular career at the University of Maryland, LaMont Jordan often spent his Sundays resting his battered body and watching the Baltimore Ravens tear into opposing running backs.

Jordan will return home this weekend as a member of the Oakland Raiders. Although he's lived in Maryland his entire life and is perceived a local hero of sorts, Jordan knows he won't receive any preferential treatment from Ray Lewis and the Baltimore defense.

"None of that really matters. Once the opening kickoff comes, the Ravens could care less whether or not I am from that area," Jordan said. "I am a guy who is going to be running the ball and they are coming to knock my head off."

Jordan played at Suitland (Md.) High before becoming the leading rusher in the history of the Maryland football program. The cozy aspect of his trip home will occur well before the Raiders and Ravens clash Sunday afternoon.

"I'll be able to see friends, my mom and grandparents. That's the only good thing," Jordan said.

Jordan's Raiders are seeking to bounce back from a season-opening 27-0 home loss against San Diego. Jordan gained only 20 yards in 10 carries, and Oakland managed only nine first downs and 129 yards in offense.

If there's any carryover in the first quarter against Baltimore, the Raiders could be in serious trouble.

"Being from the area from the time the Ravens came there, there is one thing you know about the Ravens and that is defense," Jordan said. "I like to call them sharks, and if you know anything about sharks, they can smell blood a mile away. If the Ravens sense any type of softness, those guys are going to take advantage of you and they are going to beat you up."

That is precisely what the Ravens did in their 27-0 rout of Tampa Bay last week. Baltimore went up 7-0 on a 14-play drive orchestrated by newcomer Steve McNair, and the defense followed with three interceptions to put away the defending AFC South champions.

Are the Raiders really as bad as they looked against San Diego? Are the Ravens really that good? The answer should become clearer on Sunday.

"If we don't match their speed, match their intensity, it's going to be ugly out there," Jordan said. "I wouldn't say our backs are against the wall, but what I can say, when I looked at our schedule before the season started, I said to myself, 'The second game of the season, it's going to tell us who we are as a football team."'

The Ravens are coming off a 6-10 season, so coach Brian Billick has been preaching this week that one big win doesn't mean they're playoff bound. Still, it was hard to find a lot of flaws in their blowout of the Buccaneers.

McNair threw a touchdown pass and was not intercepted. Jamal Lewis gained 78 yards on 18 carries and capped the impressive opening drive with a touchdown run.

The defense, led by an inspired Ray Lewis, limited Tampa Bay to eight first downs and 142 yards. Lewis earned NFL defensive player of the week honors after making 10 tackles, including seven solos.

Coming off a performance like that, Ray Lewis and the Ravens could be forgiven for expecting to dominate the stagnant Oakland offense. But Baltimore's standout linebacker knows better than to count the Raiders out.

"That's like a boxer watching somebody getting knocked out in the first round, and then they come in and take their opponent lightly and they get knocked out," Ray Lewis said. "We're not going to do that. We know the capability of the Oakland Raiders. Any time you have Randy Moss on the other side of the ball, you're going to have problems. You better be aware where he is."

Moss had four catches for 47 yards last week. That was five fewer touches than Oakland punter Shane Lechler.

Art Shell was hired as Oakland's coach to bring back some swagger with the Raiders, but Oakland stumbled mightily against San Diego.

"There is too much talent here to play like we played. It was mind-boggling to me that we played that way," Shell said.

It sure wasn't like the Raiders of old.

"We need to bring that image back," Jordan said. "What we showed out there last week was nothing Silver and Black. There was nothing Raiders out of it."
 
Asomugha, Williams sit it out

September 15th, 2006

Nnamdi Asomugha (foot sprain) and Sam Williams (ankle) missed practice for the third straight day Friday, making it unlikely the two defensive starters would face the Baltimore Ravens.

Coach Art Shell said that while he doesn’t have a “no practice, no play'’ rule along the lines of Bill Parcells of Joe Gibbs, missing practice for a week means it is likely the player will sit it out.

Tyrone Poole would start for Asomugha, while Robert Thomas or Grant Irons would play in place of Williams.

Down and distance will determine how both spots are handled. On passing downs, when look for Stanford Routt to play corner with Poole sliding inside toward the slot. Routt strugged in the slot early last season and concedes that in his second season he remains much more comfortable outside.

Likewise, Irons, who his built like a defensive end, could figure on running downs with Thomas entering in passing situations. Baltimore quarterback Steve McNair loves to throw to his tight ends, and the Ravens have one great one in Todd Heap and pretty good one in Daniel Wilcox.

Return specialist Chris Carr got in some work Friday, but his availability will be determined at game time, Shell said.
 
Week two and the injuries are already starting to add up -- like we need extra help.
 
Giving Jordan the ball rises on Sunday agenda

Jason Jones


Ten carries for 20 yards and an allowed sack.

Not exactly the way Raiders running back LaMont Jordan wanted to start the season.

More production out of Jordan and that quick hitch to Randy Moss -- the only play that worked against the San Diego Chargers on Monday night -- would go a long way toward fixing the Raiders' offense against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.

It will be a homecoming of sorts for Jordan, who starred at Suitland High School in Forestville, Md., before moving on to the University of Maryland.

But Jordan is a realist.

"Playing in the state I grew up in means nothing to the Ravens once you kick off," Jordan said. "It will be good to play in front of the home crowd, but they'll be rooting for the purple and black. I'll be able to see friends, my mom and grandparents. That's the only good thing. Once the opening kickoff comes, none of that really matters."

Being home will mean even less if Jordan isn't a bigger part of the offense. The Raiders can't afford to abandon the run early and relegate Jordan to running up the middle on third and long against the Ravens.

"LaMont needs more touches than he had," coach Art Shell said. "He will get more. We didn't run the ball enough. Not enough for me, and not enough for him, of course."

Last season, Oakland was 4-2 when Jordan had at least 20 carries. Unfortunately for the Raiders, they won only four games in 2005.

But all is not contingent on Jordan carrying the ball. Offensive coordinator Tom Walsh must get Jordan into the passing game (he had 70 catches last season for 563 yards).

Also, the offensive line must improve. Jordan can't break long runs if his blockers are pushed into the backfield, and he can't catch passes if he is needed to protect Aaron Brooks.

"My line is capable of playing better than we did -- I gave up a sack," Jordan said. "We have a great coaching staff. It's up to us to put on our helmets and put on our pads and go out and play this game the way it's supposed to be played -- hard-nosed and physical for 60 minutes."


Everybody loves Ray

Baltimore coach Brian Billick tried to describe the importance of seven-time Pro Bowl linebacker Ray Lewis, who is healthy after missing 10 games last season with a torn hamstring.

"How important is a healthy Peyton Manning to the Indianapolis Colts? How important is a healthy Tom Brady to the New England Patriots?" Billick asked rhetorically. "When you lose a Ray Lewis, it's a little unrealistic to say, OK, we'll just throw another guy in there, and we'll be fine. It's going to change the personality of your team."

Lewis, 31, said age and injuries have not lessened his on-field impact or performance.

"If you treat your body the way I treat my body ... with reckless abandon, there are certain things that are going to give out that I am going to have to take care of," said Lewis, the Super Bowl XXXV MVP and two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year. "And once you take care of them, you get back to doing what you do, get back to being as good as you once were."
 
Raiders seek to rebound against Ravens

DAVID GINSBURG

Posted: 9/16/2006



BALTIMORE -- During his spectacular career at the University of Maryland, LaMont Jordan often spent his Sundays resting his battered body and watching the Baltimore Ravens tear into opposing running backs.

Jordan will return home this weekend as a member of the Oakland Raiders. Although he's lived in Maryland his entire life and is perceived a local hero of sorts, Jordan knows he won't receive any preferential treatment from Ray Lewis and the Baltimore defense.

"None of that really matters. Once the opening kickoff comes, the Ravens could care less whether or not I am from that area," Jordan said. "I am a guy who is going to be running the ball and they are coming to knock my head off."

Jordan played at Suitland (Md.) High before becoming the leading rusher in the history of the Maryland football program. The cozy aspect of his trip home will occur well before the Raiders and Ravens clash Sunday afternoon.

"I'll be able to see friends, my mom and grandparents. That's the only good thing," Jordan said.

Jordan's Raiders are seeking to bounce back from a season-opening 27-0 home loss against San Diego. Jordan gained only 20 yards in 10 carries, and Oakland managed only nine first downs and 129 yards in offense.

If there's any carryover in the first quarter against Baltimore, the Raiders could be in serious trouble.

"Being from the area from the time the Ravens came there, there is one thing you know about the Ravens and that is defense," Jordan said. "I like to call them sharks, and if you know anything about sharks, they can smell blood a mile away. If the Ravens sense any type of softness, those guys are going to take advantage of you and they are going to beat you up."

That is precisely what the Ravens did in their 27-0 rout of Tampa Bay last week. Baltimore went up 7-0 on a 14-play drive orchestrated by newcomer Steve McNair, and the defense followed with three interceptions to put away the defending AFC South champions.

Are the Raiders really as bad as they looked against San Diego? Are the Ravens really that good? The answer should become clearer on Sunday.

"If we don't match their speed, match their intensity, it's going to be ugly out there," Jordan said. "I wouldn't say our backs are against the wall, but what I can say, when I looked at our schedule before the season started, I said to myself, 'The second game of the season, it's going to tell us who we are as a football team.'"

The Ravens are coming off a 6-10 season, so coach Brian Billick has been preaching this week that one big win doesn't mean they're playoff bound. Still, it was hard to find a lot of flaws in their blowout of the Buccaneers.

McNair threw a touchdown pass and was not intercepted. Jamal Lewis gained 78 yards on 18 carries and capped the impressive opening drive with a touchdown run.

The defense, led by an inspired Ray Lewis, limited Tampa Bay to eight first downs and 142 yards. Lewis earned NFL defensive player of the week honors after making 10 tackles, including seven solos.

Coming off a performance like that, Ray Lewis and the Ravens could be forgiven for expecting to dominate the stagnant Oakland offense. But Baltimore's standout linebacker knows better than to count the Raiders out.

"That's like a boxer watching somebody getting knocked out in the first round, and then they come in and take their opponent lightly and they get knocked out," Ray Lewis said. "We're not going to do that. We know the capability of the Oakland Raiders. Any time you have Randy Moss on the other side of the ball, you're going to have problems. You better be aware where he is."

Moss had four catches for 47 yards last week. That was five fewer touches than Oakland punter Shane Lechler.

Art Shell was hired as Oakland's coach to bring back some swagger with the Raiders, but Oakland stumbled mightily against San Diego.

"There is too much talent here to play like we played. It was mind-boggling to me that we played that way," Shell said.

It sure wasn't like the Raiders of old.

"We need to bring that image back," Jordan said. "What we showed out there last week was nothing Silver and Black. There was nothing Raiders out of it."
 
Raiders don't think SD hangover will linger

By Bill Soliday

BALTIMORE — Even under ordinary circumstances, going to Baltimore to play the Ravens is the sort of thing you wouldn't wish on a sworn enemy.

But the setting for the Oakland Raiders today is terrifying. The Ravens come off a 27-0 road shutout of Tampa Bay. The Raiders crawled away from a 27-0 loss to San Diego at home. Now the Ravens are making their home debut.

There's more. A short week. A cross-country flight. As many as three starters may miss the game due to injury.

There's more. The Raiders have never won at Baltimore — unless the home standing outfit had horseshoes on its helmets.

Baltimore is favored by upwards of two touchdowns. Right about now, the Raiders could use a good luck horseshoe themselves.

Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis barely seems to notice that the table is set for a feast. He says no Ravens started licking their chops one quarter into Monday's game in Oakland. "I just believe whoever you deal with, you deal with them," Lewis said. "You can't deal with them based on what you saw somebody else do with them because it won't be the same the next week.

"It's not as if they're playing the same game. Their mentality is going to change. We're going to prepare like it's the Oakland Raiders with all the talent that they have over there. On any given Sunday they can explode."

Raiders linebacker Kirk Morrison tends to agree.

"Monday night was not who we were," he said. "It's history. We can't get it back no matter how much we want to. Everyone is like 'The Raiders are down ... they are a terrible team.' But we know the confidence we have in ourselves.

"I think this thing is kind of festering inside of us. We don't want to have that feeling we had last week. We were embarrassed. We know we're better than that."

Morrison compared it to a bad poker hand — dismissing a bad deal and looking forward to a new one.

"I think that is how it is now," he said. "We have all the odds against us. But we feel if we have a great game — offense, defense, special teams — the sky is the limit. If we protect the quarterback, make some stops on defense, who knows what could happen? This is a crazy game."

Quarterback Aaron Brooks, sacked seven times Monday, said if there was one thing he learned from the San Diego debacle it was to "score points to win. That's always a challenge when you've got two of the highest-rated defenses in the league back-to-back."

"My opinion of the Raiders hasn't changed," Ravens coach Brian Billick said. "That's an extremely talented team across the board. Our players recognize that. All you have to do is look at the film.

"That's a team that in the preseason was 4-1. Now the preseason only says so much. But you're still seeing them doing the athletic things you need to do to be successful ... and they do it across the board. We're going to be very cognizant of that."

"I don't believe it will linger," Raiders coach Art Shell said of a possible San Diego hangover. "I won't allow it to linger. Our guys have more pride than that. So it happened. We understand it happened. We looked at it and saw exactly why it happened. Then we've got to address it.

"We've still got 15 games left. There's a lot to be done. We are one game out of first place so we've got something to strive for. We know our work is cut out for us but it's the NFL and you can compete every week."

Indeed, the Raiders got a break last week when Denver and Kansas City both lost as well, creating a three-way tie for second/last in the AFC West. The Broncos and Chiefs meet in Denver today while San Diego is home to Tennessee.

The Raiders will be without starting left tackle Robert Gallery, sidelined by a partially torn calf muscle. He will be replaced by 6-8, 345-pound Chad Slaughter.

The playing status of cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha and strongside linebacker Sam Williams will be reviewed during warmups. Asomugha has a sprained foot, Williams a sprained ankle. Their replacements, respectively, are Tyrone Poole and the tandem of Robert Thomas and Grant Irons.

EXTRA POINTS: Another game-time decision will be made on kick returner Chris Carr (calf). ... The Raiders' two losses to the Ravens in Baltimore were 19-14 in the 1996 opener and 13-10 in 1998. ... The only other time the Raiders and Ravens have met in the regular season was 2003 in Oakland. The Raiders won 20-12. ... Baltimore dumped the Raiders 16-3 in the AFC Championship Game in Oakland in 2000. ... No Ravens are expected to miss the game due to injury.
 
Ravens can make or break Raiders
Oakland is wary of the outcome, which could set the tone for rest of season

Steve Corkran

BALTIMORE - The NFL released its schedule a little more than five months ago. Raiders running back LaMont Jordan scanned his team's schedule. His eyes stopped at the second game, the one today against the Baltimore Ravens.

This game, Jordan said, is the litmus test for the Raiders. Take to the road, beat the Ravens in their home opener, then there's no telling what the Raiders can do this season.

"I said to myself, 'The second game of the season, it's going to tell us who we are as a football team,'" Jordan said. "Because they have an improved offense and one of the best defenses in the NFL. If we can go out there and play physical against this defense, score points against this defense, then we should be able to beat anybody."

Forget about the Raiders' 27-0 loss to the San Diego Chargers on Monday night in their regular-season opener, Jordan said. Strange things tend to happen in the first game of the season.

The Raiders now know what their team looks like, what their players are capable of doing in a full game. Today is the time to put it all together, get that first victory and use it as a springboard for the remainder of the season.

At the same time, Jordan said, it isn't going to be easy. The Ravens are fresh from a shutout victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, on the road. Middle linebacker Ray Lewis and free safety Ed Reed are healthy once again. The Ravens also are at home and more rested than the Raiders.

"It's their home opener and, me being from that area, I know what Ravens football is on opening day," Jordan said. "That defense, those fans, they're going to come out fired up. If we don't match their speed, match their intensity, it's going to be ugly out there. It's going to be real ugly out there."

Raiders safety Jarrod Cooper said the shock over his team's abysmal performance against the Chargers has lessened somewhat. However, it might be a season-long companion if the Raiders don't find a way to beat the Ravens.

"This (Ravens) team is on fire right now," Cooper said, "and they're going to come for the throat. So, (this) afternoon, people had better man up, or it's going to be a long season in the Oakland Raiders locker room, I'll tell you that."

Raiders coach Art Shell was the starting left offensive tackle on a Raiders team that got shut out in three straight games in 1981 but rebounded to win five of its final 10 games.

He said there isn't any magic formula for overcoming a bad game or a poor stretch. It's just a matter of each player and coach making sure that they are giving maximum effort.

"Each person has got to look within themselves," Shell said. "And I'm not talking just the players; the coaches, too. We've got to see, 'What are we doing?' As coaches, 'What are we doing, that we can help our guys? What do we need to do to help our guys?' And the players have to look at themselves and say, 'Am I doing all that I can do to get better, which will also make our team better?'"

It's at times such as now that teams either grow tighter or fracture, Shell said. It's his job to make sure that the former takes place.

"You can't splinter," Shell said. "If you don't splinter, then you got a chance to grow from that and you'll become a better football team, that year and the following year, with the same people you have in place."

Ravens coach Brian Billick said he has been through his share of tough times. None more so than the year his team went five straight games without scoring an offensive touchdown in 2000. Somehow, he kept his players focused, and they went on to win the Super Bowl.

It can be almost as difficult keeping in check a team that is playing well, he added.

"You have the same problem, not overreacting positively or negatively to one or another to one game," Billick said. "And the guys are aware of that. They hear it nonstop, on the sports radio, on the television, in the newspapers. So they're very, very much aware of it intellectually.

"Emotionally, it's different, and that's where you have to monitor them to make sure that they're keeping their emotions and their passions focused on the task at hand. And you hold each other accountable."
 
Raiders (0-1) vs. Ravens (1-0)

• TIME: 10 a.m.

• TV/RADIO: Chs. 5, 13; 560-AM

• STORY LINE: Things don't get any easier for the Raiders. Today brings a game against a Ravens team that did to the host Tampa Bay Buccaneers what the San Diego Chargers did to the host Raiders. The Ravens dominated the Buccaneers in time of possession, yards gained and points scored. The big difference in today's game is the Ravens are at home and the Raiders are on the road. That doesn't bode well for a Raiders team that played Monday night and is making its longest road trip of the season. The Ravens are a defensive-oriented team that figures to stack the line of scrimmage in hopes of containing Raiders running back LaMont Jordan, first, and then sending waves of rushers against quarterback Aaron Brooks on obvious passing downs. Middle linebacker Ray Lewis and free safety Ed Reed spearhead a defensive attack that makes life miserable for opposing offenses. It will be incumbent upon the Raiders to execute a game plan that takes pressure off Brooks by employing draw plays, screen passes and quick slants as an answer to the Ravens' aggressiveness. Offensively, the Ravens are past the Kyle Boller experiment and in the infancy of the Steve McNair era at quarterback. McNair poses a dual threat to the Raiders in that he completes a high percentage of his passes and is adept at turning a broken play into a positive one by running with the ball. Running back Jamal Lewis is a workhorse-type back who tends to wear down defenses and pile up yards in an unspectacular fashion.

RAIDERS THREE KEYS TO VICTORY

• 1. The Raiders need to know where Ravens middle linebacker Ray Lewis is at all times, and run plays that aren't in the vicinity of Lewis. Lewis is the main cog in the Ravens defense and the kind of player who can disrupt an offensive scheme through his playmaking and vicious hits.

• 2. The Raiders offensive line has to do a much better job run blocking and pass protecting than it did in the opener against the San Diego Chargers. If there isn't a marked improvement, running back LaMont Jordan, quarterback Aaron Brooks and the Raiders can expect another long day.

• 3. Raiders coach Art Shell needs to find a way to push the right buttons with his troops. For, if they get worked by the Ravens the way they did against the Chargers, it's going to make for an uncomfortable bye week and the deficiencies will be magnified.

FEELING THE HEAT

• AARON BROOKS. The Raiders quarterback got yanked from the first game because coach Shell feared for Brooks' safety. He needs to do whatever it takes to make plays against a Ravens defense that figures to blitz him at every turn. That means, scrambling at the first sign of a breakdown, dumping off the ball to running back LaMont Jordan and throwing quick slants.

• CHRIS MCALISTER. The Ravens cornerback figures to be matched up against Raiders wide receiver Randy Moss as often as possible. Getting the ball to Moss is a top priority for a Raiders offense that likely will need to keep in a receiver or two to help block for Brooks and not have many options on a given play.
 
Raiders at Ravens walkthrough


Ed Reed is questionable

Sep 17, 2006

This is the fourth meeting between the Oakland Raiders and Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens lead series 2-1. Raiders won the last meeting 20-12 on Dec. 14, 2003. The Ravens also beat Raiders in AFC Championship Game, 16-3, on Jan. 14, 2001.

KICKOFF: Sunday, 1:00 ET
GAMEDATE: 09/17/06
SURFACE: Sportexe Momentum
TV: CBS, Gus Johnson, Steve Tasker
2006 RANKINGS: Raiders: offense 32nd (21st rush, 32nd pass); defense 16th (31st rush, 4th pass). Ravens: offense 20th (14th rush, 20th pass); defense 2nd (1st rush, 5th pass)

KEYS TO THE GAME:

Coming off a nine-sack game against San Diego and with LT Robert Gallery's status uncertain, look for the Raiders to limit their five and seven-step drops and incorporate more short and medium-range passes. Baltimore will see if it can pressure Raiders QB Aaron Brooks with just the front four, then sit back and choke off the vertical passing game.

Oakland's best weapon against the pass rush is RB LaMont Jordan. Look for him to get on track early and put the Raiders in manageable third-down situations.

Baltimore will rely heavily on RB Jamal Lewis in its own attempt to control the clock. If the Ravens can build a lead, they know the Raiders' run defense can be worn down after watching San Diego rack up 194 rushing yards Monday.

FAST FACTS: Raiders: Will travel an NFL-high 30,702 air miles this season. Ravens: K Matt Stover needs one field goal to tie his career high of converting 23 consecutive attempts. ... LB Ray Lewis has averaged 12.6 tackles in 10 home openers.

PERSONNEL NEWS:

Raiders:

--LT Robert Gallery was listed as questionable on the injury report, but coach Art Shell said Gallery would miss two to three weeks with a partially torn calf muscle. Chad Slaughter will start at left tackle.

--PR Chris Carr did not practice with a calf injury and is listed as questionable. Carr said he thinks he is about 90 percent and expects to play. Shell said the decision would go to up to kickoff.

--CB Nnamdi Asomugha did not practice with a foot sprain and is listed as questionable. Tyrone Poole backs up Asomugha. --CB Stanford Routt, who had two tackles as a gunner on the kickoff and punt teams in the opener, will play cornerback in the nickel if Asomugha can't play, with Poole moving into the slot.

--LB Sam Williams was listed as probable with an ankle injury, but he missed practice for the second straight day and Shell seemed to indicate he might not play. He said either Robert Thomas or Grant Irons would start if Williams can't play.

--QB Andrew Walter saw the first game action of his NFL career against San Diego, completing 2 of 5 passes for 28 yards.

Ravens:

--LB Gary Stills injured his hand early in practice and is listed as questionable. He returned to practice and is expected to play.

--WR Demetrius Williams was added to the injury report Thursday with a knee injury. If he can't play, the Ravens' third receiver would be Devard Darling.

--RB Jamal Lewis has posted his highest yards per carry average (4.8) in September than any other month of the season.

--TE Daniel Wilcox missed the first part of practice with a back injury. He said he expects to play Sunday.

--FS Ed Reed is still questionable with a thigh injury and was limited in practice. He wore a sleeve on his right leg but still expects to start
 
Shutout recalls harder times
After 2-1 start, Raiders held scoreless three consecutive times in 1981

PHIL BARBER

ALAMEDA - The Raiders' 27-0 opening-week loss to San Diego was mystifying, humiliating, even hard to watch at times. But it doesn't claim the title for most inept offensive display by an Oakland team. In fact, it doesn't even come close.

The Raiders were defending NFL champions in 1981, having impressively dispatched Dick Vermeil's Eagles, 27-10, in Super Bowl XV. They were also lame ducks in Oakland, having stated their intention to move to Los Angeles. The team started sluggishly in going 2-1 in '81, but nothing could have prepared fans for what followed: three consecutive games without an offensive point.

First, the Raiders traveled to Detroit and were ambushed, 16-0. Lions halfback Billy Sims ran for 133 yards, while Oakland generated just 131 total yards. It was the Raiders' first scoreless game since 1966.

"They play dinosaur football - 3 and 4 yards a try - so we knew we had to be ready for them to come at us," Detroit defensive tackle Doug English explained.

OK, that's a temporary setback. But the following week, Denver rolled into town and smacked down its division rival , 17-0, putting the Raiders in an unfamiliar spot - fourth place in the AFC West.

"I've got to play better," lamented quarterback Jim Plunkett, the Super Bowl MVP just eight months earlier. "My job is to get us into the end zone, and I'm not doing it."

The natives were getting restless, and the grumbles turned into an angry roar after the Raiders were whipped, 27-0, at Kansas City. The offense plodded again that day, with only 79 rushing yards and 230 total. And Oakland, one of the league's dominant squads during the previous decade, became the first NFL team since the 1943 Brooklyn Dodgers to suffer three consecutive shutouts.

The bloodthirsty Raiders had become national laughingstocks. In his nationally syndicated "Bottom 10," writer Steve Harvey began referring to the team as O-O-Oakland. Owner Al Davis and coach Tom Flores had seen enough. Plunkett and guard Gene Upshaw, a future Hall of Famer, were benched.

The streak abruptly ended the next week, as the Raiders eked out an 18-16 victory against Tampa Bay. It took a safety and two blocked kicks to secure the win, but it was a start.

The team's current coach, Art Shell, knows all about the three-game skid. He played right next to Upshaw on the line, and he felt the heat along with his teammates. Shell knows what it took to right the ship then, and he knows what it will take now.

"Each person's got to look within themselves," he said this week. "And I'm not talking just the players, (but) the coaches, too. . .. Guys got to come together, they got to work extra hard in practice to get better. The thing you can't do, you can't splinter.

"If you don't splinter, then you got a chance to grow from that and you'll become a better football team."

Indeed, Oakland rebounded to go 5-5 in the final 10 games of 1981 - far from acceptable for a defending champion but perhaps inspiration for this year's team. Shell said he never doubted the Raiders' ability to start scoring, or winning.

"I'm a very optimistic person," he said. "I'm always believing that things are going to turn, things are going to get better. And things got better in the following year, even though it was a strike year."

Indeed, the Raiders finished 8-1 in the truncated 1982 season, tying Washington for the best record in the NFL. So if the '06 Raiders are looking for inspiration, Shell provides it. All they need is optimism, effort, cohesiveness - and perhaps the second coming of Marcus Allen.

EXTRA POINTS

T Robert Gallery (calf) is officially out of the Ravens game. LB Sam Williams (ankle) was downgraded from probable to questionable. Those two, plus CB Nnamdi Asomugha (foot) and DE Kevin Huntley (foot), missed practice Friday.has no problem.
 
Starks hopes to play against former team

David White

Sunday, September 17, 2006

Raiders cornerback Duane Starks is going back to where he started. Excuse him if the jumps for joy are still on hold.

"I've got to be on the field for it to be something special," Starks said, while wondering if he'd play today when his new team, the Raiders, visits the Ravens, with whom his nine-year career began.

In the 2000 season, Starks led the Ravens with six interceptions in 15 starts as they went on to win Super Bowl XXXV.

This season, he's a backup cornerback who was cut after training camp, re-signed three days later, then put on the inactive list for the season opener at San Diego.

His status hasn't been decided for today's game. With cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha missing practice all week with a sprained foot, Starks has a better chance of suiting up.

"I'm just playing it by ear," said Starks, who was drafted by the Ravens in 1998. "Whatever they have for me to do, I'm willing to do it."

Sack history: Backup center Adam Treu had season-opening flashbacks when the Raiders gave up nine sacks to the Chargers in Monday's 27-0 loss.

In the 1998 opener, the host Chiefs bagged 10 sacks against the Raiders, all on Jeff George, with Treu watching it all from the sideline as a second-year backup.

"I remember my buddy (tackle) Pat Harlow not having a good night," Treu said. "And how loud it was."

Coyote sighting: The Raiders placed a fake coyote on its practice field in Alameda, and not to scare the team into working hard.

"The geese come out here," Raiders coach Art Shell said. "They're out there messing up the field and guys don't want to practice out there in that stuff.

It worked.

"I haven't seen a goose all day. I saw some flying over and they kept on going."

Briefly: The Raiders have not been shut out in consecutive games since 1981, when they were shut out three straight games. ... Oakland has beaten Baltimore two straight times: 16-3 in the 2001 AFC Championship Game and 20-12 in 2003.
 
Rotten eggs to evolve into free lobster?
Basket of rotten eggs to evolve into free lobster?

WEEK 2 and through?

That seems to be the theme around the Bay Area, where the Raiders laid an egg Monday — and a dinosaur egg at that.

I'll be the first to concede I am slow to grab the nearest weapon and start pulverizing some beaten-to-a-pulp mass of inert protoplasm, but let's look at this objectively.

If the Raiders play as they did against San Diego, they won't beat anybody — and that includes such defenseless slobs as Cleveland, Houston and, dare we say it, the 49ers. There are those who suggest, given today's assignment in Baltimore, the Raiders might not even score a touchdown until October. It's a bit of a cheap shot since the Raiders are on a bye Sept.24 and don't play again until Cleveland visits on Oct.1.

But just as it is impossible to play like royalty every single week, it's not possible to play your worst game every week. And the Raiders played their worst on Monday.

The Raiders will win some games this year. Maybe not the eight I forecast when I got tricked into wagering a lobster dinner on it, but then again, anything is possible.

"If you've played for any period of time, (you know) there are going to be days when you don't play your best," guard Barry Sims was telling me this week. "You think you are ready for a game, then you go out and are embarrassed. Nobody knows exactly why it happens, but it happens."

He went on to say the test of a team is whether it can bounce back.

"If you are throwing in the towel after the first game, then maybe you aren't meant to play at this level," Sims said.

Would anybody like to suggest Randy Moss, LaMont Jordan, Derrick Burgess and Warren Sapp aren't meant to play at the NFL level?

I'd also like to flash back to some Raiders history. In 1976, the Raiders were beaten in Week 4 by the New England Patriots 48-17. Their first three games had been won by the scant margin of seven points — two by three, one by one.

Things didn't look good. But ... hello? The Raiders didn't lose another game that year. They went 13-1 in the


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regular season, then won three straight and the Super Bowl. Not saying that's in store for the 2006 Raiders, but it's an object lesson.

Then, in 1981, the Raiders lost three straight games to drop to 2-4. They didn't just lose. They were shut out in all three — 16-0 at Detroit, 17-0 against Denver and 27-0 at Kansas City.

Three games, 60 to nothing. Guess who was on that team and took a good chunk of the heat? None other than Art Shell, who, along with guard Gene Upshaw and coach Tom Flores, got roasted.

Shell had mostly forgotten that revolting bit of history but knew what was done then and has to be done now: self-examination, self-determination and plenty of hard work.

"The thing you can't do is you can't splinter," he said. "Then you have a chance to grow and become a better football team ... with the same people you have in place."

Shell said there was never any doubt in his mind the team would come out of that 1981 slump of slumps.

"Again, I'm a very optimistic person," he said. "I always believe things are going to turn, are going to get better. And things got better."

In '81, over the next eight weeks, the Raiders weren't held under double figures and averaged 24 points a game. They finished 7-9. Furthermore, as Shell was quick to point out, a year later (the strike year) the Raiders had the best record (8-1) and were the second highest scoring team in the NFL.

Of course, there is an asterisk to this story. The quarterback in 1981 was Marc Wilson, in for the injured Jim Plunkett. The next year, Plunkett was back, and Marcus Allen was a rookie.

Well, not every story can boast a perfect ending. But I'm thinking 7-9 until I'm told otherwise. Either way, I get to eat lobster.
 
Raiders (0-1) at Baltimore (1-0): The game plan
Game Day with the Raiders' Langston Walker

Jason Jones


A cross-country flight gives Langston Walker a chance to expand his mind.

"I bring a book for the plane ride," Walker said. "Something that's educational, something that will expand my mind."

Such talk causes running back Justin Fargas to ask Walker, "Are you serious?"



Walker is very serious about reading. The last book he finished before leaving for Baltimore was "Freakonomics," an alternative look at economics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner. The 6-foot-8, 345-pound tackle earned a bachelor's degree from Cal in economics in 2004.

Walker said he has no unusual game-day rituals. He gets to the stadium early enough to tape his pads, study the game plan and listen to his I-pod.

Later it's back to the plane for another chance to expand his mind.


THE PARTICULARS

Time: 10 a.m.

The line: Ravens by 12.

TV: 1?1? Gus Johnson (play-by-play), Steve Tasker (color).

Radio: KHTK 1140, KSFO 560. Greg Papa (play-by-play), Tom Flores (color)

Why watch: This could be a Raiders revival with a victory. But a repeat of last week's effort - particularly on offense - could have Raiders fans tuning out.

Rewind: The Raiders defeated Baltimore 20-12 on Dec. 14, 2003, in Oakland. Zack Crockett gave the Raiders a 7-0 lead on one-yard run set up by a Phillip Buchanon interception return. Raiders (0-1) at Baltimore (1-0)


RAIDERS UPDATE

SCOUTING REPORT

The offensive line will look to improve on an abysmal showing in Week One. Chad Slaughter starts for injured left tackle Robert Gallery (calf).

The Raiders have not suffered consecutive shutouts since 1981.

Jerry Porter won't be far from his native Washington, D.C., but he might be inactive again. DE Derrick Burgess (Greenland, Md.), DE Kevin Huntley (Washington, D.C.) and RB LaMont Jordan (Suitland, Md.) are also from the area.

STATS

PASSING

Player Att. Comp. Yards TDs Int.

Aaron Brooks 14 6 68 0 0

Andrew Walter 5 2 28 0 0

RUSHING

Player Att. Yards TDs Avg.

Justin Fargas 5 35 0 7.0

Aaron Brooks 3 27 0 9.0

RECEIVING

Player Rec. Yards TDs Avg.

Randy Moss 4 47 0 11.8

Ronald Curry 1 21 0 21.0

INJURIES

LT Robert Gallery (calf) out; LB Sam Williams (ankle) questionable; CB Chris Carr (calf) questionable; CB Nnamdi Asomugha (foot) questionable; DE Kevin Huntley (foot) questionable; TE James Adkisson (knee) probable; TE John Madsen (ankle) probable; QB Aaron Brooks (knee) probable.


RAVENS UPDATE

SCOUTING REPORT

• Quarterback Steve McNair will play his first regular-season home game for Baltimore. He has boosted the morale of a unit that struggled under Kyle Boller.

• All-Pro linebacker Ray Lewis is healthy, as is All-Pro safety Ed Reed. Both are former NFL Defensive Players of the Year (Lewis twice). Both were slowed by injuries in 2005.

• The Ravens' 27-0 win in Week One at Tampa Bay ended an 11-game road losing streak.

STATS

PASSING

Player Att. Comp. Yards TDs Int.

Steve McNair 27 17 181 1 0

RUSHING

Player Att. Yards TDs Avg.

Jamal Lewis 18 78 1 4.3

Mike Anderson 7 25 0 3.6

RECEIVING Player Rec. Yards TDs Avg.

Daniel Wilcox 3 52 1 17.3

Derrick Mason 4 50 0 12.5

INJURIES

RB P.J. Daniels (thigh) probable; C Mike Flynn (ankle) probable; DT Aubrayo Franklin (thigh) probable; TE Todd Heap (back) probable; RB Jamal Lewis (hip) probable; S Ed Reed (thigh) probable; K Matt Stover (back) probable; TE Daniel Wilcox (back) probable; LB/DE Gary Stills (hand) probable; WR Demetrius Williams (knee) probable.


MATCHUP TO WATCH

RAIDERS LT CHAD SLAUGHTER VS. RAVENS DE/OLB TERRELL SUGGS

Suggs will line up in a three-point stance or stand up as a linebacker depending on the scheme. Regardless, he is a threat to take down the quarterback. If Slaughter can't handle Suggs one-on-one, it will free up the Ravens' blitzing linebackers to take shots at Raiders quarterback Aaron Brooks.
 
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