Dolphins Gameday Take
The Raiders are in a tight spot today: tough Monday night loss, short week and a 3,000 mile trip to play a team that is, despite not being very good, desperate and therefore dangerous.
I see two keys to winning. We need to harass Tannehill into making mistakes. And we need to wake up our offense. Knapp needs to dial up more dynamism, and Palmer needs to ratchet up the tempo and energy of himself and his crew.
Oh, and I forgot one thing: We need to know how to do the little things, like competently snap the ball.
In the NFL, you need to have contingency plans for obvious possibilities. An obvious possibility in pro football is a player getting hurt, including your primary long snapper. Now consider that as you read this report:
Goethel said he last long-snapped in a game back in high school. That was seven years ago or so. He said his practice time is limited to before full-team practices. When asked how many snaps Goethel gets during practice during a typical week, Lechler said: “Zero.”
In other words, we were unprepared and unpracticed and ultimately unable to execute a key function of the game, and it cost us the game. In prime time, on opening night, at home, under a new regime promising change...It all felt way too familiar in its own unique way.
Anyhow, Miles Burris looked awesome on Monday. A round four pick. If he keeps it up, it will be an amazing story.
That's all I've got right now. It's gametime. Go Raiders!
I see two keys to winning. We need to harass Tannehill into making mistakes. And we need to wake up our offense. Knapp needs to dial up more dynamism, and Palmer needs to ratchet up the tempo and energy of himself and his crew.
Oh, and I forgot one thing: We need to know how to do the little things, like competently snap the ball.
In the NFL, you need to have contingency plans for obvious possibilities. An obvious possibility in pro football is a player getting hurt, including your primary long snapper. Now consider that as you read this report:
Goethel said he last long-snapped in a game back in high school. That was seven years ago or so. He said his practice time is limited to before full-team practices. When asked how many snaps Goethel gets during practice during a typical week, Lechler said: “Zero.”
In other words, we were unprepared and unpracticed and ultimately unable to execute a key function of the game, and it cost us the game. In prime time, on opening night, at home, under a new regime promising change...It all felt way too familiar in its own unique way.
Anyhow, Miles Burris looked awesome on Monday. A round four pick. If he keeps it up, it will be an amazing story.
That's all I've got right now. It's gametime. Go Raiders!
posted by Raider Take at 7:48 AM
41 Comments:
Listening to Allen discuss the long snapper debacle, he emphasized how different a shotgun snap was to a long snap (essentially, one hand on the ball for a shotgun snap vs two hands for a long snap).
Regardless, Parsons seemed like an obvious choice over Goethel based on skill set and reps playing center.
And why would Allen march Goethel out for three botched attempts in a row? That's head banging stuff.
New game, and hopefully a new slate...
Go Raiders!
I am a relative newbie here, maybe three years reading and two years joining in the fun... small request: If today is a total disaster, can we postpone the clown car until after the Denver game? ...just' sayin'! Most of us have been Silver and Black long enough to know that an early lead usually equals a loss, and a fre early defeats equal a mean run for the finish line. Saw Seabiscuit last night, and it's like that in OakTown, you know? If the game goes horrible, i recommend this film to you all... never give up! GO OAK! (...and yes, I fully respect Take's authority to break out the Clown Car when he sees fit). *Take, have you ever posted an article on Clown Car Criteria? Cheers...
I think the coaching staff needs to look at last years film on how to get the running game going. McFadden is getting really frustrated.
JONES
When you get blown out by the worst team in the NFL, does that mean you're now the worst team in the NFL?
That rumbling sound you hear is the Clown Car starting up...
Clown car indeed...blow it up Reggie, the players are not good enough, the 'talent' is poor. You can all call me an idiot for thinking the players were good enough, they aren't, so little talent on this team.
Who on this team is even close to pro bowl talent other than the kickers? = NOBODY, it's going to be a couple of years now, until the roster can be redone.
JONES
The special teams was competent. The offense listless with no cutting edge or tempo. The defense took a few steps back with little to no adjustmensts made to negate the Dolphins short passing attack.
This game was a reality check -- with the reality being that the Raiders have serious work to do in the next few years.
Going into the regular season I was genuinely optimistic about the transition into the new era.
Sad to say it but the Dolphins showed the Raiders what they are trying to become; a team that is phyical on both sides of the ball, can run the ball, stop the run, and execute the west coast offense.
Whether or not this team responds to a poor start and improves from week to week will be a herculean task for the leaders.
Yup!!...Just as I thought...The 1st signs of trouble and you can't wait to bash my team!!!...You were told expect this until after the Bye!!!
Now run that damn "Clown Car" up your asses!!!
You don't even have Al to blame all your crap on...So who's the culprit now??
Marc who hired a "GM" like you demanded???
Reggie who hired his "HC" and gave him full authority like you demanded???
CHAMPS????.....LoL!!...Eat Them Words!!!
Ya!!...Be careful what you wish for...You were warned!!!
PantyRaider...Back On Your "Trail-o-Tears" -in- "The Valley-o-Doom-n-Gloom"!!!!//_
I've been saying for years: the Raiders are a team of lackluster personnel, which comes from a decade's worth of poor drafts, trades and player development. It's going to take a while to rebuild this team. Let's stop pretending we're a playoff caliber team and play some young guys, and commit to a real rebuilding plan based on a solid football philosophy. Plug'n'play isn't working.
I am VERY confident in the leadership partnership of M.Davis/R.McKenzie/D. Allen.
An 0-2 start doesn't change anything for me. All it tells me is that the Raiders have to roll up their sleeves and get busy with the tough work and decisions ahead.
I also find it amusing that some idiots are saying "told you so" and throwing in the towell after 2 weeks. Seems hypocritical when the previous 9 seasons we were told to be patient, blah, blah.
IMO, the biggest problem is offensive playcalling. At this point it's fair to question if Knapp is a competent playcaller. It looked too vanilla, and ZBS doesn't work. McFadden was a monster by this time last year, with mostly the same personnel up front (upgrade at center).
Raiders coaches talked all week about using more mis-direction against an aggressive Miami D. Turns out, the decoy was actually just the talk of using mis-direction.
I still believe the defense can be stout, and is probably better-coached than the offense... although it lacked adjustments in the second half today. Most are going to blame the Miami heat for the second half breakdown.
I've lost that love and minty fresh feeling. This was deplorable display of offense, once again, by the Raiders.
Our vanilla offense did not give our defense the rest it needs late in the game. Knapp again has showed us why we were last in the league in scoring under his first go round. Time to cut him loose.
I know, I know, it's only week 2; but if we're going to turn this around, we need to cut him loose as soon as possible.
nyraider you're on the right track. I don't think its a coincidence that McFadden had his best production under last year's offensive scheme. Is Al Saunders still on staff? Otherwise who could we bring in with that offensive scheme(cause we sure can't bring back HJ)?
Frustrated
I hate to say it, but McFadden is soft. Get him in some open space and the kid has some magic. But he can't read blocks very well, goes down easy and doesn't like to get hit. Simply put, the guy is not an every-down back and we should stop relying on him as such. No offensive coaching change is going to change his destiny.
And BTW, no "told-you-so" here. I just think it's time to stop pretending this is a playoff caliber team. It isn't.
There are no excuses, heat or whatever, seems the team wasn't ready on the 1st drive, quick 7. DC made adjustments after that, then was outcoached in the 2nd half. Some Defensive players gave up in 2nd half, I find that repulsive.
I have to agree with Avantgrape's comment, I'm sure the management has recognized this already.
JONES
Oh, I definitely haven't soured on the coaching staff and management just yet. Patience is key. We have a lot of personnel issues to work through in the next couple of seasons. It's time to cut some of our losses: hopefully management will react more quickly than Al has in the past. But make no mistake: we need playmakers, and we don't have a lot of them. Coaching doesn't create playmakers; playmakers are born.
Last year it seemed like Palmer was making more calls at the line. This year he doesn't seem to do that nearly as much... and probably doesn't have as much freedom to do so.
I'm not prepared to put this on McFadden by calling him soft. He led the NFL through six games last year. You can't do that if you're soft.
There isn't any room for McFadden, teams are taking him away and the Raiders don't have the weapons to make them pay for it. I wouldn't say McFadden is soft either, he needs some help out there and he isn't getting it.
Palmer needs to be able to use his smarts, he is making plays and reads, again, he needs weapons.
Way too early to sour on coaching and GM, but the lack of talent is obvious. I saw the DC not making proper adjustments at halftime, he needs to learn how to counter another teams halftime adjustments.
Corners are a mess, has there ever, in the NFL, been a 100% turnover at the corner position in one off season? It showed today, Lee is not an answer. Oh well, it's only football, right?
JONES
Not sure what the coaches saw that got Lee removed from the game. Hanson did no better in the same coverage. Actually, Lee seems better at press coverage, which would have worked with safety help over the top.
Another thing, the Raiders have yet to force a turnover this year, and have only managed two sacks in two games.
I expected at least a couple jailbreak pass rushes against a rookie QB, but no such luck.
Mike Mitchell had another bad whiff in the secondary to allow a TD. Mitchell was a huge reach as a 2nd round pick, and it shows every time he's on the field.
Seymour was a non-factor, and McClain only managed 2 tackles against a run-happy Miami offense which had 43 running plays.
Early results suggest there's a chance that this "AL-legacy" roster needs a complete overhaul.
Ok, if Allen is the shit, how come he can't tell his left CB he is playing too soft and they are doing the EXACT SAME sideline pass play after play after play after play after play?
THE EXACT SAME PASS PLAY we were absolutely clueless... I was calling from the couch. "He's ten yards off of him.. they are going to throw the comeback route to the white guy on top."
And there isn't SOMEONE on the entire frigging coaching staff that can tell the moron catching punts to let the ball go if its inside the ten? This is high school football here.
Please... give me Hue Jackson back. These guys are completely over their heads. The talent is not the problem.. we have a green horn coaching staff with the worst OC in the history of the NFL.
McFadden had 222 yards rushing after two games with Hue calling the plays.
He may need 8 games to get that much with Knapp calling the plays. He's obviously frustrated.
Ahh yes, the Al-haters all blaming Al and his draft picks for the coaching staff getting out-coached by another green horn coaching staff in all three phases of the game.
What a surprise!
This team took an 8-8 team two years running that will be lucky to win 2 games WITH THE SAME PLAYERS and you all blame the talent.
Wonderful.
Gary - I'm on the coaching as much as you. We all saw the same problems. But I also saw ridiculous execution by the players. They have yet to prove they belong on a good team.
We're two games into a complete overhaul of the organization and coaching staff. Apparently, this is going to take some time.
If talent is SUDDENLY the problem, how come we were a top ten offense with McF last year?
What else has changed? Palmer, which is an UPGRADE. THE REST OF THE OFFENSE IS THE SAME!!
And you can say what you will about Al, but the LAST person on this planet that would be our OC right now is Knapp if Al was still alive. And if any of you think he is the answer to anything, I suggest you get used to being patient.
We weren't that far off last year and we blew up the coaching staff. NOW I am supposed to be patient?
Sorry... I want Hue back with a one year contract. That's what I wanted. Instead we have Knapp and a coach that can't stop the same sideline pass twenty times in a row.
Yup, the coaching is not doing it, at this point. They are not adjusting well, heading into the 2nd halves. The psyche of the team is very fragile right now. The core players are coming off the meltdown of last season. They had high hopes for this season too and they are going to be wondering what the hell is going on all the way home on the plane tonight.
It is probably like the beaten dog syndrome, after a while you just curl up and take it. Today, we saw the fight of this team and there wasn't much there. The fight may have been beaten out of this bunch, then they see the coaches not getting it done = quitting.
But again, like 'Grape' wrote, this dog probably didn't have the fight that is needed to begin with. Who are the playmakers? Who is stepping up on the players end to lead this team?
It is lacking in talent and desire, throw in the coaching that needs to catch up and today we see the results. How much are we as fans supposed to endure? It's been a horrible 10 years and it could be horrible for a while longer, it's freakin sad. Oh well, here's to waiting....smokem if you gottem.
JONES
Talk about fuckin' up my Sunday... watch the team get spanked by Miami and their rookie QB, rookie coach etc... then I got to bury that disgust and frustration and play cheery dad... first hour was really tough.
I'm so sick of hoping and getting the same result. Losing wouldn't be so bad if your team played their ass off and you were seeing improvements.... but they didn't and we're not.
I'm still not seeing the 'upgrade' from Palmer. I think Campbell took more shots downfield, and there's been a coupla sacks where I know Campbell would have gotten away. Even when we move the ball there doesn't seem to be a groove or a flow to their play.When Gannon and co hit the field we expected them to score, we were in every game (except when we played the guy who wrote our playbook)... now I'm just hoping they don't go 3 n out.
Can't even talk about the 'D', only to say glad we solved our run problem, and one word UNBELIEVABLE!... which begs the question, why, only in Oakland can everything completely change YET remain the same?
Gary, last year was a debacle at the end of the year, you expect the new GM to keep the HC who had lost the team? I see the same team, that lost badly in the end last year, playing the same this year. To say they were close is only because the rest of the West sucked last year too. Like 'Grape' wrote, the players are who he thought they were. I think the core of the team is 'unreachable' at being a good team, they can't do it, no heart, no leadership, not enough talent.
JONES
FYI, when I say "soft," I mean that McFadden injures easily. That said, he is also easily tripped up at the line of scrimmage and prefers to run out of bounds rather than take a hit, which also fits the definition. His quickness and his vertical speed are his greatest assets. I just don't see him ever making it through an entire season as a full-time back. As a team, we should prepare for that. Relying on McFadden to make the offense work consistently week to week isn't a very good recipe for success. Not that we have much more offensive talent to work with this season.
Talent "suddenly" the problem??? Good grief man, this has been a topic of issue in Raider Nation ever since Gruden/Allen left its ranks. I don't care how good a coach you are: no one is going to turn Heyward-Bey into an exceptional route runner. He just doesn't have 'it.'
I was really on board with Hue. And I think he was a very skilled offensive coach. But there wasn't enough substance to back up his ever-growing ego, and the Carson Palmer trade was pretty much a joke - not worth what was paid out. No one makes that trade but us, and having a big cannon for an arm doesn't make one a great field general. Let's make it clear anyway: our receivers have always been a bigger problem than the QB position. Small, speedy receivers who can't run routes or catch the ball are going to make for an offense that is easy for NFL defenses to prepare for.
Nothing good to say after this one. Lost to a horrible team with a rookie QB that doesn't even know the NFL conferences and divisions.
It appears CBs are a major weakness. Can you imagine them going up against a good WR duo? They were torched by the vaunted Hartline-Bess duo.
After having a good game last week, McClain was nowhere - something like 2 tackles with all those running plays.
And special teams just don't seem to be coached well. There have been at least three punts caught inside the 10 the last two games.
Depressing.
AvantGrape said...
Talent "suddenly" the problem??? Good grief man, this has been a topic of issue in Raider Nation ever since Gruden/Allen left its ranks. I don't care how good a coach you are: no one is going to turn Heyward-Bey into an exceptional route runner. He just doesn't have 'it.'
>>>>>
Ok Genius, explain for all of us why we were such a great offensive team last year with McFadden healthy, and we are such a horrifyingly inept offense WITH NEARLY ALL THE SAME PLAYERS! You kinda forgot to do that! Campbell only had DHB and Moore last year... Our O-line is nearly the same.
McFadden had 22 stinking yards rushing today.
Is it all because Palmer is so horrible? If so.. come out and say it.
Today's game was a clear indication of who we are as a team. To be humiliated they way we were by the Fins was utterly sad. I really do believe Mark Davis, Reggie Mckenzie and Coach Allen have a clear vision. However, like most of you, I would agree that it will take more time than I thought.
The ZB system is really not geared for the type of personnel we have on this football team. When you have a core of players on any team you either plan towards their strengths or you have them conform to your schemes. The later is not a correct approach for the type of talent, that is on this team. When D.A. hired Knapp to run this Offense many of us cringed with disbelief. The pre-season showed us how this ZB/WC system was to work and in the 1st 2 regular season games we now know this scheme will cause us not to be very competitive on the Offensive side of the ball.
Carson Palmer is not the type of QB who can run this offense. Thats a fact! His OC when he was with the Bengals was Bob Bratkowski ( Who now is with the Jags), was known for his for creative play calling. However, it was very complicated and he was known for not making very good adjustments during games. Palmer declined into mediocrity as time went on. Palm is just not the kind of QB he once was. This system which by all accounts is here to stay, unless Big Reg says no more, cannot play to the strengths of Palmers intellect. I personally think Palm's head is longer in football.
Hate to say this but at least Hue did one thing correctly. He molded his schemes to fit his players and their talents. They at times last year moved the ball effectively. But Reggie didn't have the correct number of draft picks to build this team. At his presser when he was introduced, he did say he will build this team through the draft. This team lacks the correct/talented personnel. It will take Big Reg sometime to bring in the kind of skilled players we need to win.
Our Defense was no where to be found. Our line couldn't win in the trenches and cause havoc. Our secondary leaves little to the imagination of days of yester-year. We will be slaughtered all season long. I just feel we don't have enough skilled players and we lack depth at each position. It's going to be tough to watch our beloved team this season.
Small, speedy receivers who can't run routes or catch the ball are going to make for an offense that is easy for NFL defenses to prepare for.
>>>>>
Whose our small speedy receivers?
Fords out for the year, Bubba.
Carson Palmer is not the type of QB who can run this offense. Thats a fact!
>>>>>
Why do you say that? He made some poor throws, but for the most part did ok.
The best CP looked as a Raider was when he was running the no-huddle and calling the plays at the line. Hue got rig of it too for some reason, but no way is the incredible-moron Knapp smart enough to implement it... or give up control to CP.
I was watching for 8 in the box today and every time we play actioned out of it I knew we were going to get a first down. The times he handed off was for NOTHING.
Why not run the exact same offense with no-huddle and let Palmer audible out of the 8 in the box plays?? And where the hell are the naked bootlegs that are REQUIRED to make the ZBS stretch plays work???
Knapp doesn't know what he is doing.
THAT'S A FACT for you. Not that CP can't run this offense.
If anything McFadden can't run this offense. The only thing JC got right is that McF has never been that great at seeing holes. That's why Hue got him into open spaces and nothing else...
One thing about it, if this offense sets records in ineptness (which I fully expect) there is one person that is going to be one HOT commodity as a OC next season. Hue Jackson. And the team that hires him will probably get McFadden soon after.
CP has thrown for 670 yards in two games so far.. and he is the problem.
Riiiiiiiight......
Gary,
I believe there is more then a simple talent issue at play here.
The bigger issue is, who on earth can motivate this so called, talent ?
What miracle worker can get the slackers to hustle, and play hard and smart, for 60 minutes on game day ?
So far, the Raiders have yet to find this person. Although, I admit, Hue Jacksom seems to have come the closest, until McFad, and the QB went down.
It seems to me that the players are up to their old tricks.
They will lay down, play poorly, and quit.
Then wait for the HC to be fired at seasons end.
Hopefully, things have changed in Oakland.
Hopefully, at seasons end, it will be Reggie, & DA still standing, and the lazy, dumbass, lackluster players shown the door.
And you know as this season continues to go down. Most of these players will retreat to the trainers room.
That is what these players do best.
This comment has been removed by the author.
Gary-
Maybe you saw something's from Palmer that I do not. That's fair. But I watched the exact game you did today. This ZB is new for Palmer and they are surely some growing pains. However, watching Plamer going through his reads, set up, foot work and throwing motion which he worked on during the off season; I just don't see the progress. Over or under throwing your receivers is correctable I believe, but at what cost?
Now the slant route that Marcel ran up the left on a 14 yd gain was thrown behind him. Thankful Marcel is a great receiver out of the back field to make those catches. Tell me how often has Palm thrown those types of passes? From my vantage point, a few too many times.
But like you said,
"CP has thrown for 670 yards in two games so far.. and he is the problem.
Riiiiiiiight...... "
Guess that's good enough. Pittsburgh is next.
Postgame take is up. Clown car is rolling...
SCAR
Rough viewing, I stopped watching with 8 minutes left in the 4th quarter to mow the lawn,,,, I didnt want to throw anything thru the television..,
A few observations from the couch,,,
McFadden is not a good pass catcher.
I have to agree with many commenters that McFadden is not good at finding holes(required for a zbs right?)
Everybody knew that Tannyhill was going to throw the out to the wr,,so why didnt we scheme to take the play away?
Did we bring the heat on the qb? Early in the game the Raiders defense did put Miami into a lot of third and longs,,, and so...did we bring the heat?
"It's like deja vu all over again"
Didn't Miami run all over us last year too? Considering that in the first half the run defense shut down Miami, is it a matter of heart? Did the heat and humidity wilt the defense?
Two games is stiiilll too early to make season long judgements, but the picture is firming up,,,After two games, Tarver C-...Knapp, D....
Special Teams D-
This is Dennis Allens show. How is he reacting? What sort of adjustments is he making?? I dont see the fire to WIN in his expressions like with Gruden, that doesnt mean he doesnt have the will to win,,,,but I just aint seeing his Will to win on the field yet either...
SCAR
Post a Comment
<< Home