Rupert
The Long Wind
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Week 7 Preview – Raiders v Arizona
October 18, 2003
By Rupert Pollard
The Raiders are coming off, well damn, another disappointing loss, this one a little more frustrating than others. A very close game was undermined by a collection of penalties that conspired to keep the offense from developing a rhythm and kept the defense on just a little longer than they should have been. Arizona played an excellent half of football Monday night but gave up a big lead with critical offensive breakdowns and a special teams blunder. Arizona’s defense never gave up and held Chicago’s offense to three points, but their offense went into a virtual shell as Chicago’s defense took over the game. Let’s take a look at what’s in store for this Sunday’s match up.
Offense
Despite sporting an average rush defense, Arizona looked vulnerable around the edges. If the Raiders are going to keep their above average numbers running the ball, they would do well to work the edges. This will require that Jordan run with some decisiveness outside or that Fargas feels well enough to supplement the Raiders’ rushing attack because nothing I’ve seen from ReShard Lee that leads me to believe he’ll be that effective.
The Raiders have started to look decent in the passing game and in pass protection. Walter still needs to get into an NFL rhythm, but he seems to be learning. Arizona generates a pass rush with just their front four. They didn’t rely on stunts and blitzes against Chicago. Instead, they put their backers into coverage, or dropped them into space to discourage quick routes. Arizona’s physical corners were able to man up against Chicago’s outside receivers leaving their athletic backers to shut down Chicago’s tight end and backs, which they effectively did. All this solid coverage left the safeties to double over the top and cherry pick passes made under duress.
Getting a 20-point lead helped Arizona play to their defense’s strengths. The Raiders have an opportunity to win this game if they can keep the run in the mix, and that will require that they attack the edges of Arizona’s strong front four. The Raiders should be able to establish the run. If they can control the clock, they should be able to take Arizona’s defense out of their comfort zone, and that will open up the pass.
If the Raiders have to play catch-up all game, they’ll wind up looking a lot like Chicago’s offense did, ineffective. If the Raiders have to rely upon the pass to beat Arizona, they’d better have someone a little more dangerous than Alvis Whitted opposite Randy Moss, someone like Ronald Curry. Arizona’s defense wasn’t as effective when they used zones, but forcing them out of man coverage will require a better running game.
Defense
Arizona’s running game is a mess. They use a zone blocking scheme for the most part, but it isn’t nearly as clean as Denver’s. In fact, it often looks ugly, kind of like our zone blocking last season. Chicago used run blitzes to stop Arizona dead in their tracks. The Raiders usually get swallowed up when they run blitz, but this could be the day they figure it out. The Raiders front four will be facing a very large offensive line, but their penetrating ways should prove to be effective against Arizona. The only real problem could be their tackling. Chicago didn’t let Edgerrin James escape that often and were able to bottle him up down the stretch. If the Raiders front four remain disruptive and the back seven wrap up, Arizona will continue to be an ineffective rushing team.
Arizona’s mammoth offensive line really shines in pass protection. Chicago did most of their damage with blitzes instead of with a straight up pass rush. Mixing up their coverages, they were able to confuse Leinart, but Arizona used a lot of receiver screens, and short to intermediate routes, which are Leinart’s specialty. Boldin is a monster; and without Fitzgerald, James is a threat out of the backfield. Again tackling will play a big part in how effective the Raiders defense will be. Arizona’s receivers often turned short passes into big gains off of missed (or broken in Boldin’s case) tackles.
If Arizona tries to be a running team, it could help the Raiders. If however, Arizona sets up the run with the pass, the Raiders could be in for a long afternoon, especially if they don’t tackle well. Leinart cut apart Chicago’s zone coverage since he isn’t limited in his progressions, and he’ll do the same to the Raiders. Chicago did well with their corners shaded inside and short and their backers dogging. This forced Leinart to throw quickly and away from his comfort zone. I’d like to see how effective he is throwing the long bomb with a safety or two roaming deep. But first the Raiders will have to stop the run and swarm the quick passes to Boldin.
Tackling will be critical this week.
Special Teams
Neither Neil Rackers nor Scott Player has a particularly strong leg. Put them in the heavy Oakland air and they’ll be worse off than in the conditioned air of Glendale, AZ. Remarkably, the Cardinals’ punt coverage is worse than the Raiders’, but their punt returns are better too. Arizona’s kick coverage is better than the Raiders’ has been, but their kick returns are essentially the same. The Raiders have a slight edge overall here, and if the game winds up in the hands of the specialists, the Raiders should walk away with the victory.
Bottom Line
Monday night, Arizona took advantage of an inexperienced QB and almost stole a victory. Andrew Walter has made enough rookie mistakes this season to lead anyone to conclude they can force him to do more of the same, but I don’t expect Arizona to force 6 turnovers like they did against Chicago. Oakland’s defense is still a little green, and doesn’t have the sure tacklers that Chicago does, so I expect Arizona to be able to move the ball. Arizona has a below average pass defense, but it didn’t look that way against Rex Grossman. If the Raiders can protect Walter, they should be able to put good numbers up against the Cardinals.
Can the Raiders take advantage of a rookie quarterback? Leinart doesn’t play like one overall, but he’s still prone to rookie mistakes. Regardless, the Raiders will have to tackle on defense to stay in this game. The Raiders are an average running team, and Arizona is an average run defense. Arizona forced Chicago to be one dimensional on offense, where they preyed on Grossman’s inexperience. If they get up early, they’ll do the same to Walter.
History gives me bad vibes. As much as I think Oakland can win this game, I still see them giving up an opening drive and tackling poorly enough throughout the game to have to pass to win. If they can somehow manage to be on the positive side of the turnover battle, they’ll win this game. Something has to go right this season. The Raiders cut down on their mistakes and win 31-27.
October 18, 2003
By Rupert Pollard
The Raiders are coming off, well damn, another disappointing loss, this one a little more frustrating than others. A very close game was undermined by a collection of penalties that conspired to keep the offense from developing a rhythm and kept the defense on just a little longer than they should have been. Arizona played an excellent half of football Monday night but gave up a big lead with critical offensive breakdowns and a special teams blunder. Arizona’s defense never gave up and held Chicago’s offense to three points, but their offense went into a virtual shell as Chicago’s defense took over the game. Let’s take a look at what’s in store for this Sunday’s match up.
Offense
Despite sporting an average rush defense, Arizona looked vulnerable around the edges. If the Raiders are going to keep their above average numbers running the ball, they would do well to work the edges. This will require that Jordan run with some decisiveness outside or that Fargas feels well enough to supplement the Raiders’ rushing attack because nothing I’ve seen from ReShard Lee that leads me to believe he’ll be that effective.
The Raiders have started to look decent in the passing game and in pass protection. Walter still needs to get into an NFL rhythm, but he seems to be learning. Arizona generates a pass rush with just their front four. They didn’t rely on stunts and blitzes against Chicago. Instead, they put their backers into coverage, or dropped them into space to discourage quick routes. Arizona’s physical corners were able to man up against Chicago’s outside receivers leaving their athletic backers to shut down Chicago’s tight end and backs, which they effectively did. All this solid coverage left the safeties to double over the top and cherry pick passes made under duress.
Getting a 20-point lead helped Arizona play to their defense’s strengths. The Raiders have an opportunity to win this game if they can keep the run in the mix, and that will require that they attack the edges of Arizona’s strong front four. The Raiders should be able to establish the run. If they can control the clock, they should be able to take Arizona’s defense out of their comfort zone, and that will open up the pass.
If the Raiders have to play catch-up all game, they’ll wind up looking a lot like Chicago’s offense did, ineffective. If the Raiders have to rely upon the pass to beat Arizona, they’d better have someone a little more dangerous than Alvis Whitted opposite Randy Moss, someone like Ronald Curry. Arizona’s defense wasn’t as effective when they used zones, but forcing them out of man coverage will require a better running game.
Defense
Arizona’s running game is a mess. They use a zone blocking scheme for the most part, but it isn’t nearly as clean as Denver’s. In fact, it often looks ugly, kind of like our zone blocking last season. Chicago used run blitzes to stop Arizona dead in their tracks. The Raiders usually get swallowed up when they run blitz, but this could be the day they figure it out. The Raiders front four will be facing a very large offensive line, but their penetrating ways should prove to be effective against Arizona. The only real problem could be their tackling. Chicago didn’t let Edgerrin James escape that often and were able to bottle him up down the stretch. If the Raiders front four remain disruptive and the back seven wrap up, Arizona will continue to be an ineffective rushing team.
Arizona’s mammoth offensive line really shines in pass protection. Chicago did most of their damage with blitzes instead of with a straight up pass rush. Mixing up their coverages, they were able to confuse Leinart, but Arizona used a lot of receiver screens, and short to intermediate routes, which are Leinart’s specialty. Boldin is a monster; and without Fitzgerald, James is a threat out of the backfield. Again tackling will play a big part in how effective the Raiders defense will be. Arizona’s receivers often turned short passes into big gains off of missed (or broken in Boldin’s case) tackles.
If Arizona tries to be a running team, it could help the Raiders. If however, Arizona sets up the run with the pass, the Raiders could be in for a long afternoon, especially if they don’t tackle well. Leinart cut apart Chicago’s zone coverage since he isn’t limited in his progressions, and he’ll do the same to the Raiders. Chicago did well with their corners shaded inside and short and their backers dogging. This forced Leinart to throw quickly and away from his comfort zone. I’d like to see how effective he is throwing the long bomb with a safety or two roaming deep. But first the Raiders will have to stop the run and swarm the quick passes to Boldin.
Tackling will be critical this week.
Special Teams
Neither Neil Rackers nor Scott Player has a particularly strong leg. Put them in the heavy Oakland air and they’ll be worse off than in the conditioned air of Glendale, AZ. Remarkably, the Cardinals’ punt coverage is worse than the Raiders’, but their punt returns are better too. Arizona’s kick coverage is better than the Raiders’ has been, but their kick returns are essentially the same. The Raiders have a slight edge overall here, and if the game winds up in the hands of the specialists, the Raiders should walk away with the victory.
Bottom Line
Monday night, Arizona took advantage of an inexperienced QB and almost stole a victory. Andrew Walter has made enough rookie mistakes this season to lead anyone to conclude they can force him to do more of the same, but I don’t expect Arizona to force 6 turnovers like they did against Chicago. Oakland’s defense is still a little green, and doesn’t have the sure tacklers that Chicago does, so I expect Arizona to be able to move the ball. Arizona has a below average pass defense, but it didn’t look that way against Rex Grossman. If the Raiders can protect Walter, they should be able to put good numbers up against the Cardinals.
Can the Raiders take advantage of a rookie quarterback? Leinart doesn’t play like one overall, but he’s still prone to rookie mistakes. Regardless, the Raiders will have to tackle on defense to stay in this game. The Raiders are an average running team, and Arizona is an average run defense. Arizona forced Chicago to be one dimensional on offense, where they preyed on Grossman’s inexperience. If they get up early, they’ll do the same to Walter.
History gives me bad vibes. As much as I think Oakland can win this game, I still see them giving up an opening drive and tackling poorly enough throughout the game to have to pass to win. If they can somehow manage to be on the positive side of the turnover battle, they’ll win this game. Something has to go right this season. The Raiders cut down on their mistakes and win 31-27.
Ouch.
