Steelers Gameday Thread
Today's theme is "back on track." After some promising performances, we've squandered some opportunities and lost our momentum. Today is a day to get this season back on track, break the bye-week curse, and light the Coliseum up! Go RAIDERS!
posted by Raider Take at 12:44 PM
27 Comments:
It's great to see the Raiders kicking the Steelers ASS AGAIN. Big Ben sure doesn't like playing in Oakland....Raiders look well prepped by the coaching staff coming off the Bye. IMO, the concerns about the coaching are becoming a distant memory...
Pryor was drafted by Mr. Davis, he was developed by this regime. He just needs to stop with coughing it over at critical times...the D saved him on the Pic by holding them to 3 twice.
I like that Allen wants to keep the pedal down...but sometimes you just have to run the clock...the turnovers late are killers...
JONES
Second half was all about non-execution...the coaches didn't dare call anything that the O could fuck up on...because everything else they were fucking up on. Lucky the D is a real D, or else that game is squandered, the O needs more players around Pryor. Pryor still needs more mental toughness, he was rattled and 1st thing he does is think RUN. He has to keep his POISE throughout a game.
McFaden should be gone and Ford, after this year. Putting the ball on the ground, always hurt, playing dumb ball...can't wait for those types of players not to be Raiders anymore.
Love Tarver giving the finger to the Refs on that UNSPORTSMANLIKE call on Jenkins when he ran into the RB on a pass play. Yelling F You and flashing the middle digit...now that is Raider ball, lol.
JONES
You can't play games not to lose. Somebody has to step and call some plays that actually gain yardage in the second half of games.
Dare I say one more call for McFadden up the middle and I was going to root for the Steelers.
At least it's a win!
Did you see the Offense in the 2nd half? A WR screen = FUMBLE on the Raiders 10. A run with McFaden = FUMBLE...pass by Pryor = INTERCEPTION = try and win the game with the Defense.
When you have an O that cannot execute and is turning it over every 2nd drive...Wr's dropping, RB's fumbling, QB sacked and Picked...they did the right thing.
Also, McFaden had chances to make more yards than he did, he is CRAP. I swear he loves the smell of O-linemen's underwear, he sticks his nose right up there ass every time. Look for the "18 inches" and hit the fucking hole. Can't wait till he is gone, he is not good, very limited.
Pryor was very limited today too, he needs to break the "I have to win this game all by myself" routine. I saw too many guys trying to do too much...stay within the gameplan and do not cough it up at critical times.
EXECUTE, hang on to the ball, keep your poise...these were all missing in the 2nd half on the O. That is not coaching, that is a young team with a poor O-line trying to do too much...so the coaches had to cut it off.
Pryor is still a pup, the O-line is in shambles and the RB likes to sniff underwear. AND THEY STILL WON....give the coaches credit on this one, the players were dying to give it away.
JONES
I love our defense. It is amazing the job the front office did in rebuilding this unit into THE most improved D in the NFL bar none. The effort and execution and AGGRESSIVENESS of the D in the 2nd half was the difference.
Just wondering who was the anon weenie who said a few weeks back that Sio Moore wasn't a starter? wasn't an impact rookie?
Dude I love watching us make the first tackle, getting to the QB, having 3 guys tackle the ball and Charles Mother Fucking Woodson all over the place.
Angelic Raider
Got to give Allen and Tarver their due credit for the Defense...they have them buying in and playing hard.
It's a winning formula...the Management team get the players and the coaches coach them well. There will be more upgrades after this year....the future is looking good and the present is better than expected, so far.
Very refreshing for all Raider fans, seeing a different style of Defense after decades of the same style/scheme.
The players look like the really enjoy playing in this Defense under Tarver/Allen...if the O-line can be stabilized and Pryor keeps his cool... .500 isn't a non-possibility.
I absolutely agree the Raiders defense has come miles from the shell of its former self. It’s fun to watch the Raiders play D. But the offense has had like two first downs in the second half of the past two games combined.
Honestly, after two weeks to prepare, and knowing O-line injuries were a significant problem, I expected to see more disguising plays and misdirection on offense; maybe some roll-outs, end-arounds, etc.
Instead, the Raiders mostly try and pound McFadden up the middle of a tough run defense.
I wish the O-Coordinator would call games like Allen and Tarver, and be aggressive no matter what the scoreboard says.
I hate the prevent anything from happening offense we played in the 2nd half. Really, only 1 first down? If I'm Allen, I'm in Olson's face demanding something from them, or I take his play calling abilities away. This has been a problem all season. I'm glad for the win, but we almost found defeat in the jaws of victory.
As far as the WR's, we've needed help in this area for a long time (Brown and Rice). I'm hoping that we can grab Marquis Lee in the draft. I know we are going after O-Line and D-Line in free agency this offseason. Michael Oher is probably on our radar. Veldheer, and Wade Smith (OG, Houston) should be on our list as well.
Jared Allen, Brett Keisel, Henry Melton, and Fili Moala should be our targeted D-Line.
Nate, sometimes you come up with some doozies. You don't want Lamarr Houston? Walker? Sims? These guys have been playing outstanding this year. You were calling for Tarver's head in Preseason....are you sure you want Olson gone now?
As far as Olson...what do you call when your O can't catch, can't pass, can't hang on to the ball? Your D is doing the job all day and you have a punter that can boom it....hmmmm, "if I call that, good chance it's a pick, if I call that, good chance the QB/WR are probably going to ,screw up...maybe we'll just run down the clock and let the D hang on to the win"....and of course, McFaden just runs right into the back of an O-lineman....this, IMO, is what we saw yesterday.
The coaches took it out of the O's hand, they couldn't handle it and the coaches weren't going to let them blow it. So they managed it and did a good enough job to pull out a WIN.
JONES
Nice of you to put words in my mouth Jones. Never said I didn't want Houston, Sims, and Walker; so I don't know where you get that from.
I want Sims, Walker, and Houston; but let's face it, these guys need help. Having Jared Allen would really increase pressure on the QB, and free up the other 3; as well as Keisel.
I'm not demanding Olson to be fired, I'm saying Allen needs to get in his head that he needs to be more productive in his coaching; and light a fire under his @$$ to improve. Again, never said that he should be fired.
Allen did this with Tarver, and Tarver has coached better since; and even though crying for him to be replaced earlier this season was how I felt; Tarver has greatly improved coaching the defense.
As for Olson, he didn't adjust or add to his game plan at all on Sunday, and coached not to lose in the second half (the offensive equivalent of prevent-you-from-winning defense). Allen saying that his team lacks the killer instinct with the lead is a direct shot at how Olson has coached the offense. Great! Now do something about it like you did with Tarver.
Raider Nate--It is not possible for you to say that Tarver has improved in coaching. How would you know that unless you had been in the locker room and on the practice field for the last two years? Does it occur to you that maybe the players are finally figuring out how to execute the plays and game plans designed by the coaching staff? Does it occur to anyone that it takes time for new schemes to sink in, for the players to learn how to communicate with each other, for the team leaders to step up into their roles? The same applies to Olson--you don't know what he is or isn't doing, because you aren't in a position to evaluate whether the problem is with the plan or the players. Oh, yeah, and what about the opposition: don't they have anything to say about the outcome? Aren't they scheming and changing and reacting to what we are doing? Isn't Dick LeBeau considered one of the best ever defensive coordinators?
Actually, I have no doubt that the coaches are improving their techniques and their play calling, as they learn what their players do best and respond to best. But I also have no doubt that Allen et al. have had the same basic philosophy, message and approach from the beginning. This is their design. It is why they were chosen. The players are now tasked with executing that design. And they are beginning to do that. It is a thing of many parts, and as one part is mastered, other parts beg for attention. This is a process: by the end of the year the team will be far improved over what we are seeing today. By the end of next season, it will be a thing of beauty and we will not remember these early struggles.
This is a process--relax and enjoy it for what it is. We are not yet an elite team, but we are getting better every game, in some way.
"I wish the O-Coordinator would call games like Allen and Tarver, and be aggressive no matter what the scoreboard says." Yup I agree with you on this one Nate. Prevent anything takes our abilities of winning the game percentage way down!! But I can see Jones point of view, taking away the harm (us!)away from us too!
But overall regardless of the players inconstancy of executing plays without also causing the risk of creating turnover opportunities for the other team. You have to commit to the attack, especially when your offense is not producing enough first downs, to keep the opponents defense honest. Preventing that, can make for a closer game, no matter what the scoreboard says what it may be,(even though we had a quicker jump on points early)surely better keep competing. If not, the other opponent will take control and the liberty, of the game management regardless if we commit the turnovers or they do, as many times as Pittsburgh did.
Last comment is mine--didn't mean to be "Anonymous", but hit the "Publish" button by accident before adding my "Name".
Whoops--another "Anonymous" comment got in before I clarified my "Anonymous" comment.
"Jared Allen, Brett Keisel, Henry Melton, and Fili Moala should be our targeted D-Line.".......
You wrote it, Nate...how could I have taken it that way? Probably because that IS WHAT IT SAYS????? You want the others to be backups? I don't get it, call me stupid....
JONES
I wouldn't be surprised if Allen gave the order to SHUT IT DOWN...it was a disaster waiting to happen, coaches decided to lay it on the Defense to win the game, they did, move on and get better next week.
Imo, if the coaching would have gone a bit more conservative before the Half, instead of going after more points, it would have set up the Offense better for the 2nd Half. Instead, Allen chose to call time out on Pitt's possession and try to run the last minute into some points....BACKFIRED/INTERCEPTION and gave the Steelers big momentum going into the 2nd Half. Even though, the Steelers had missed another FG. Can't do those things with an O that isn't there yet.
The O-line is a HUGE part of the Offense...they got it done with those guys...that's a victory in itself.
JONES
Raiders had plenty of options that kept them in a conservative game plan and didn't involve McFadden getting stuffed at the line of scrimmage on 11 carries for 12 yards (ALL INSIDE THE TACKLES) in the second half... including 4 carries for a loss or no gain.
What happened to getting Marcel Reese involved? Coaches talk about it every week but nothing happens.
Tarver should be the HC. How about some sweeps out of the I for McFadden
I would be much more encouraged if T. Pryor was the star running back, instead of QB.
Needless to say, TP has to improve his throwing.
Raiders did win it, but how many games can be won with no points in 2nd half ?
The D is the standout of this team, but ya still need points to win.
SCAR
Great write up Sactown Raider.
Big picture viewpoint...
McKenzie, Allen, etc, whoever is evaluating talent have to be given credit in relation to the free agent acquisitions this past off-season. The defense is LEGIT, and its full of new players. Before Branch got hurt, he was flying all over the field, so even this year, there is potential to upgrade..
To me, and I could be wrong, it seems like McKenzie with a limited hand focused on the defense this past off-season. If this is the case, I cant wait to see what happens next off-season, when McKenzie has the ability to focus on revamping the offense.
In regards to the WIN over the Steelers, DA is a head coach coming from the defensive side,,,Hmmm, Maybe the head coach's philosophy midway thru the 3rd quarter up by 18 was to limit the mistakes of his own offense(who lets be honest, and admit are still prone to costly mistakes) and force their offense to make plays against his own defense who were making plays!
We would ALL be questioning the play calling if the Raiders lost. I think it's only fair we should give DA credit for analyzing the best way to say,,,,JUST WIN BABY!
Big Plays by Sio Moore, Houston, Tracy Porter! Big hits by Brandion Ross! Just a solid effort once again by the defense..And I have to give credit to Rothlisburger, who by sheer force of will avoids about 4 more sacks..
Pryor is STILL committing the mistake that can derail his career! He has so many intangibles that lend to greatness, and yet, and yet. His mechanics(which can be corrected), and the mistakes...This is the big boy league. There are 32 starting qb's on sunday. Today, every single one of those starters got the 5th degree from some defensive coordinator looking for ways to pierce the qb and derail the offense.
Credit to Denarius Moore and Rod Streater, who when called on came thru, but the rest of the wide receivers played like d2 college players, and not like wide receivers on an NFL franchise. The tight ends also played shaky.
It was a tale of two halves for McFadden.
On to another raucus home crowd this Sunday against Philadelphia. Lets throttle the Eagles and get to .500!!
SCAR
Amazing win and the d looks totally legit. I can not remember the last time I felt confident in a second half relying on a Raider D. They are an elite edge rusher and maybe a real thumper at mlb away from being in the upper echelon in the league.
On offense a little disheartening. We can talk sugar coat the fact they played scared in the second half. In those situations as bad as the talent is at wr and te and as raw as Pryor is as a passer you still got to put the onus on the coaches. How about a screen pass to Reece circle routes for McFadden.
Anyway it may sound crazy but 3-4 feels good. I think the true test is back to back on the road against houston and giants. If they can split I would say they are heading in the right direction as a franchise. If they win both I say HOLY SHIT
near the mid-point of the season with 10 new defensive starters ... #12 in the NFL in Defensive scoring. QB pressure, run D, coverage, all vastly improved from last season.
"To me, and I could be wrong, it seems like McKenzie with a limited hand focused on the defense this past off-season"
Agreed. When you completely overhaul an entire defense on a shoe string budget and turn it into an ever-improving unit, you deserve credit. Bravo Reggie!
Bottom line: the Raiders' offense is still in its infancy. TP2 has made much progress, but much, much more improvement remains to be made. The offensive line has been a chaotic shambles due to injuries and other factors. This impacts on everything the offense tries to do: running and passing. The WRs and the TEs are shaky talent and experience wise. I think DMAC has been more banged up than anyone was letting on. Some of his problems reflect the offensive line situation--how much this impacts his production, I am not in a position to evaluate. Getting used to a new offensive coordinator and vice-a versa has some effect as well. Excellent points by SCAR regarding the possible thought process of DA regarding the 3Q conservative play calling. As for calls for screens and other plays: you can only call those plays if you have the linemen, qb and the running back capable of executing them. Obviously, the coaching staff doesn't feel comfortable adding those type of plays to the mix...yet.
Also, major emphasis on Calico Jack's and SCAR's comments regarding the defensive overhaul this year and the potential offensive overhaul next year. I am very excited this year by the improvements we have all noticed, and I am even more pumped about the prospects for next year and beyond. We will be better than 'good', imho.
I tip my hat to the offensive line for doing a serviceable job in spite of all the injuries. Correct me if I'm wrong but the only guy penciled in to start who has played every game is Barnes who was switched from RT to LT.
DA hiring Sparano was a MAJOR coup. 3rd and 2nd string guys have stepped in and allowed the team to be competitive in 6 of 7 games. Sparano has coached up guys like Mix, Mady, and McCants.
That's right, Calico Jack--Sparano has been a genius, as much as Tarver! And Bobby April has turned special teams into an asset, instead of a liability. I really like this coaching staff and think it will get better as they work together and as the overall talent level rises. Anyone who says DA does not know what he is doing, is--well--just not paying attention, imo.
Postgame takes are up.
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