Rupert
The Long Wind
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Week 14 Preview – Raiders @ Cincinnati
December 6, 2003
By Rupert Pollard
The Raiders venture into Bengal territory after suffering yet another loss. Replacing Tom Walsh with John Shoop produced a net result of squat. Despite several drives with a high play count, the Raiders were still unable to improve their offensive scoring. Blame part of it on an injured Janikowski missing 3 field goals, blame another part on turnovers, but either way the fans are still frustrated. Cincinnati comes back from a long week off after a Thursday night victory against Baltimore. I fumbled the schedule and didn’t get to watch this game, so I’m flying blind when I could have had a comparison against a common opponent.
Offense
The Raiders offense is weak running the ball, and Cincinnati is average defending it. And while the Raiders sport the league’s second worst passing defense (Atlanta has once again slipped below us), Cincy’s pass defense ranks dead last in the league. If there was any week for the Raiders to establish a passing offense, this is it! John Shoop’s short-passing offense should be able to flourish. The Bengals are about average in the league for sacks, so we might be able to protect Brooks long enough for him to find someone, anyone, in the passing game.
Only one team gives up more yards on defense than Cincinnati, and that should definitely help out our struggling offense. So please God, send a little luck our way. I don’t want to see a repeat of the San Francisco debacle. Hopefully, we got the turnover bug out of our system last week, and we’ll get something to talk about on offense. There’s no need to pump up the league’s second worst defense. This is Chuck Bresnahan, the gambler, the guy who blitzed us out of several games when he was our DC. Of course that tendency could prove problematic for our line. But based upon the Bengals’ average points against ranking, they employ more of a bend-don’t-break style of defense, so the yards ranking isn’t necessarily indicative of how effective they can be. Scoring could prove as difficult this week as last week.
Defensive ends Justin Smith and Robert Geathers lead the Cincinnati sack parade with 7 and 8.5 respectively, so I expect it to be a long day for our tackles. Safety Kevin Kaesviharn leads the defense with 6 interceptions, so even though I wouldn’t expect to see too many post patterns from Shoop, this should continue to discourage him from trying it.
Defense
Cincinnati’s offense is the eighth ranked in the league, sort of like the Raiders defense is the third ranked in the league. Both teams struggle with the run; Cincy on offense, the Raiders on defense. Both teams excel in the passing game; the Raiders are number one against it, the Bengals number four with it. This matchup is strength against strength and weakness against weakness.
The Raider defense keeps improving from week to week. While the Raiders are just about average at notching sacks, the Bengals are a little above average at giving them up. The Raiders pass defense will be tested this week unless Cincy can get Rudi Johnson established, which they don’t shy away from, to the tune of 19 carries per game. Regardless of their running success, Cincinnati has a dangerous pair of receivers in Ocho Cinco and T.J. (Alphabet) Houshmandzadeh with touchdown threat Chris Henry in the wings. The Raiders secondary will be put to the test this week, no question. But if the Raiders fall behind early, and the Bengals can unhinge the running game, it could be a quick afternoon with a result very similar to last week.
Special Teams
As good as the Raiders kickers have been this season, it seems like the lack of success has begun to rub off on them, and the coverage teams are following suit. The only bright spot is the Raiders’ kick return. Cincinnati is average in their return game, but pretty solid in their coverage. Graham is a decent kicker and Larson is a solid punter, so I tip the scales just a little toward the Bengals.
Final Gun
Once again the Raiders will get the benefit of facing a weak defense. If the Raiders are going to right the ship, start any kind of momentum, and develop some pride for next season, even though it’s well past time to start, this week is a good week to work on it. The defense will be facing a tougher offense than they faced last week, but that’s just another gauntlet thrown before them which I expect them to face with their typical energy and enthusiasm.
When the smoke clears, and before steam fogs up the locker room, I expect Cincinnati to walk away with the victory 24 – 17.
December 6, 2003
By Rupert Pollard
The Raiders venture into Bengal territory after suffering yet another loss. Replacing Tom Walsh with John Shoop produced a net result of squat. Despite several drives with a high play count, the Raiders were still unable to improve their offensive scoring. Blame part of it on an injured Janikowski missing 3 field goals, blame another part on turnovers, but either way the fans are still frustrated. Cincinnati comes back from a long week off after a Thursday night victory against Baltimore. I fumbled the schedule and didn’t get to watch this game, so I’m flying blind when I could have had a comparison against a common opponent.
Offense
The Raiders offense is weak running the ball, and Cincinnati is average defending it. And while the Raiders sport the league’s second worst passing defense (Atlanta has once again slipped below us), Cincy’s pass defense ranks dead last in the league. If there was any week for the Raiders to establish a passing offense, this is it! John Shoop’s short-passing offense should be able to flourish. The Bengals are about average in the league for sacks, so we might be able to protect Brooks long enough for him to find someone, anyone, in the passing game.
Only one team gives up more yards on defense than Cincinnati, and that should definitely help out our struggling offense. So please God, send a little luck our way. I don’t want to see a repeat of the San Francisco debacle. Hopefully, we got the turnover bug out of our system last week, and we’ll get something to talk about on offense. There’s no need to pump up the league’s second worst defense. This is Chuck Bresnahan, the gambler, the guy who blitzed us out of several games when he was our DC. Of course that tendency could prove problematic for our line. But based upon the Bengals’ average points against ranking, they employ more of a bend-don’t-break style of defense, so the yards ranking isn’t necessarily indicative of how effective they can be. Scoring could prove as difficult this week as last week.
Defensive ends Justin Smith and Robert Geathers lead the Cincinnati sack parade with 7 and 8.5 respectively, so I expect it to be a long day for our tackles. Safety Kevin Kaesviharn leads the defense with 6 interceptions, so even though I wouldn’t expect to see too many post patterns from Shoop, this should continue to discourage him from trying it.
Defense
Cincinnati’s offense is the eighth ranked in the league, sort of like the Raiders defense is the third ranked in the league. Both teams struggle with the run; Cincy on offense, the Raiders on defense. Both teams excel in the passing game; the Raiders are number one against it, the Bengals number four with it. This matchup is strength against strength and weakness against weakness.
The Raider defense keeps improving from week to week. While the Raiders are just about average at notching sacks, the Bengals are a little above average at giving them up. The Raiders pass defense will be tested this week unless Cincy can get Rudi Johnson established, which they don’t shy away from, to the tune of 19 carries per game. Regardless of their running success, Cincinnati has a dangerous pair of receivers in Ocho Cinco and T.J. (Alphabet) Houshmandzadeh with touchdown threat Chris Henry in the wings. The Raiders secondary will be put to the test this week, no question. But if the Raiders fall behind early, and the Bengals can unhinge the running game, it could be a quick afternoon with a result very similar to last week.
Special Teams
As good as the Raiders kickers have been this season, it seems like the lack of success has begun to rub off on them, and the coverage teams are following suit. The only bright spot is the Raiders’ kick return. Cincinnati is average in their return game, but pretty solid in their coverage. Graham is a decent kicker and Larson is a solid punter, so I tip the scales just a little toward the Bengals.
Final Gun
Once again the Raiders will get the benefit of facing a weak defense. If the Raiders are going to right the ship, start any kind of momentum, and develop some pride for next season, even though it’s well past time to start, this week is a good week to work on it. The defense will be facing a tougher offense than they faced last week, but that’s just another gauntlet thrown before them which I expect them to face with their typical energy and enthusiasm.
When the smoke clears, and before steam fogs up the locker room, I expect Cincinnati to walk away with the victory 24 – 17.