Football Insider J Torchio joins Tripper to catch up after Cal's Double-OT win over Oregon, as well as to discuss the wild Pac-12, Cal's road to a bowl game, and his preview of the Thursday night ESPN tilt at USC.
By Merlin Edwards III
It is quite astonishing how often old sayings can be applied to everyday life. When someone has the personality that the glass is, in fact, half full, they truly are optimists and see the best in everything and everyone. In this election year it sure would help if a lot of people put the shoe on the other foot to see other perspectives. Well, the Raiders and their fans got a full dose of the saying "when it rains, it pours," after taking a beating against the Kansas City Chiefs.
While it was quite literally pouring down rain on the field, it was raining even harder on the Raiders players. After a great drive to start off the game with a touchdown, the offense looked worse than it has all season. They went no-huddle in their first drive while driving right down the field and scoring with ease. It seemed to be a good sign for the game to come. Boy, were Raiders fans wrong. Once the ball was in the endzone the first time, they were only able to score one more field goal in the first half which completed their scoring for the day. The running game was extremely stagnant and could not be relied on. Carr was forced to throw the ball a ton in the rain which he actually had moderate success with, but the offense goes how Carr goes and he did not have a good game. It was a game where fullback Jamaze Olawale should have been utilized as a ground and pound back and he didn't even get one carry! Teams do just get outplayed sometimes and Andy Reid is now 16-2 coming off of a bye, but there is just no excuse to get beat down like that at home. Raining or not, Andy Reid or not, bad defense or not, that is a game that could have been won if the offense showed up at all.
The Oakland defense was not good either. There is something going on with this scheme that is not working for the personnel that the Raiders have. Ken Norton Jr. is a great motivator, but it may be proving that he is in over his head with scheming against other top notch coordinators. Don't get me wrong, the players are to blame too; not filling the right gaps, not communicating and bad spacing will always end up bad for a defense. At the same clip, there is NO WAY that Kahlil Mack should be lined up against a wide receiver on the outside, which happened twice last Sunday. This defense needs utilize its players correctly. Whether that is going to 4-3 looks or blitzing more, it is something the coaches need to be creative with. There is too much talent to squander it. The entire team needs to use the long road trip (staying in Florida for 2 weeks) to get themselves together and become closer as a family before coming back home to a very tough stretch.
The game against the Jacksonville Jaguars this Sunday is not going to be an easy one. Black Bortles and the weapons he has, is nothing to underestimate. They have small, fast receivers just like all of the teams who have torched the Raiders in the passing game. Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns are both great players who can speed past anybody in our secondary. And that's not even mentioning the young speedster Denard Robinson. In this case, this could actually work well for the Raiders. Against an Alex Smith ran offense in the Chiefs, the key was to shut down the short and intermediate routes. The Raiders couldn't do that at all which is why they got beat down. Against the Jaguars, however, that is exactly what this defense needs to do. They cannot let the Jags throw over the top and get big chunks of yardage. That is their bread and butter and will keep attacking over the top until it works. Keep these small receivers in front and stop them for short gains and it will frustrate that offense. They don't have much of a running game so look for the Raiders to actually be able to hold them back a little on the ground. This can also be a Kahlil Mack breakout game. Bortles loves to sit back in the pocket like a statue and wait for his quick receivers to finish their long developing routes. Mack must take advantage of how long he holds the ball and get him on the ground. If the defense plays like they have recently, though, this will end up being a shootout, which isn't the worst thing for this Raiders offense.
Derek Carr is showing (sans last week) that he can be an elite QB in the NFL and this week, he needs to take another step forward. The defense hasn't been reliable and has consistently given up a ton of yards and points. The Jags defense isn't great though. Michael Crabtree and Amari Cooper should have a field day with this secondary and both should end up with a touchdown. This could be the game where we get a top notch performance from both receivers in the same game for the first time all year. The running game needs to have some production. Even if only to keep the defense guessing. If any of the 4 backs they have can get going, the Raiders could win handily.
This will not be an easy game for the Silver and Black, but they should be able to win in yet another, nail biter of a game at the end. Carr will lead the team at the end of the game for a touchdown to lead the game and the Raiders win a close one.
My Prediction: Raiders 35, Jaguars 32
Wash is packing up his fungo and moving to Atlanta
#Carr2Cooper has been trending hard in Oakland this season. (Photo by Ezra Shaw)
By Merlin Edwards III
It is a common occurrence for fans of bad NFL teams to get complacent and expect their team to continue losing. A little like amateur golfing, when you start a round off with 3 triple bogey's, it gets in your head and you tend not to play well the rest of the day. Then you get frustrated and it's hard not to see the next round going the same way. It takes a couple lessons or tons of practice to get any better or get your confidence back. Well, the Oakland Raiders and their fans have taken lessons with new coaches and practiced enough to feel like they are the best players in the world. After starting 4-1, the Silver and Black are primed and ready to take hold of the AFC West division and make a serious run to (and in) the playoffs.
The Raiders were able to finally pull off a good home win and beat the chargers last Sunday 35-34. It puts the Chargers at 1-4 but they are still an extremely talented team and could pull off a comeback in the division. Remember last year when the Chiefs started 1-5? They ended up winning 10 games in a row to finish the season and even won a playoff game. The Chargers played a good, competitive game and couldn't pull it out at the end. Derek Carr had a mediocre game even though he went 25/40 with 317 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception. Carr really is the QB of the future for the Raiders. He, once again, drove his offense down the field at the end of the game for a go-ahead touchdown that ended up being the game winner. The defense was able to play bend-don't-break football again, and hold the Chargers just enough to let the offense win the game. New addition, Perry Riley was a huge help to the defense at linebacker, leading the team in tackles in his first game with the team. Sean Smith and Karl Joseph continued their rise in play this season by each recording pick and the secondary as a whole played much better. The Chargers really are a good team that the Raiders ended up beating because they were flat out better on Sunday. The Raiders were better on paper and better on the field and this game looks much better when you look at how the Chargers played on Thursday.
Anything can happen in the NFL and on Thursday Night Football, the Chargers beat the reigning Super Bowl Champion Denver Broncos, and moved to 2-4. That puts the Broncos at 4-2 and if the Raiders can win this next game against the Kansas City Chiefs, they can take a lead and hold their own destiny in a division that they haven't won since 2002. There are a couple different things that the Chiefs do well that the Raiders must shut down in order to win this Sunday's game.
Andy Reid in his ENTIRE coaching career is 15-2 when coming off of a bye week. Lucky for the Raiders, that is exactly the case this week. The Chiefs also got trounced in Pittsburgh the week before their bye, so they will be chomping at the bit to get on the field and play a division rival. The Raiders defense up front has to be stout in this game and not let Jamaal Charles use his elusiveness and speed, to get outside and break long runs. He is one of the best running backs in the league, when healthy, and this is the first week he is at full strength in a very long time. He is going to be excited and aggressive and it will take a valiant effort to slow him down. The Raiders also seem to give up a lot of plays up the middle and on short passes, which will not work against Alex Smith and his offense. Their bread and butter is to dink and dunk and lull the defense to sleep before throwing shots over the top for big plays. Smith still is not going to throw the ball all over the yard and throw for 400 yards, but he is the quintessential game manager and will not turn the ball over often while making key throws. The Raiders do match up decently well with this team on defense though, and especially on offense.
The Raiders offense lead by Derek Carr, Amari Cooper, and Michael Crabtree is even better than anyone could have imagined this season. They are once again in the top 10 in points per game, total yards per game, pass yards per game, and rush yards per game. The Chiefs are not great in the secondary and with consistent deep balls to the big Raider receivers, one on one matchups in man coverage can and will be won. The Chiefs run defense is very solid and without Latavious Murray, who was ruled out of this game, the Raiders will be going with a committee running back approach. Relying on Deandre Washington and Jalen Richard worked relatively well last week, but the Chargers run defense isn't nearly as good as the Chiefs. Their defense is nasty and the Raiders small running backs need to be elusive and count on the offensive line to be nastier. The Oakland offensive line has been everything as advertised this season and are clearly one of the best 5 groups in the league. Derek Carr has been sacked the least amount of times of any quarterback this season and the Raiders rushing game is ranked 5th in the NFL. They are the key to this game and if they can keep the big fellas for Kansas City at bay, they will win this game in a close one. The defense must continue to improve and showing signs of life and the offense has to pass another test of a good defense. Both things can be done.
My Prediction: Chiefs 21, Raiders 28
Micheal Crabtree's game winning TD in Baltimore. (Photo by Rob Carr)
By Merlin Edwards III
It is an intense and jolly feeling to be a fan of an NFL team that always finds a way to win games. Depending on your team, some people rarely get the chance to indulge in the glory of winning professional football. Oakland Raiders fans seem to finally be feeling a sense of intense joy and optimism for a team that has lacked such emotion since now adults, were small children.
After beating the previously 3-0 Ravens in Baltimore, the Raiders look primed and ready to have a good stretch of wins and set themselves up nicely for the playoffs. It took heart, skill, passion, luck, talent, and all of the above to pull out win #3 on the road. Oakland showed poise both offensively and defensively when it mattered most and it is showing that this young team is truly learning how to win. In 2015, the team was starting to come into its own and play sound, competitive football. This year, however, the Raiders have moved past that and have the "it is time to win now," mentality. The rookies that were inserted into the starting lineup against the Titans, a week ago, are starting off well and are looking like potential leaders of a young defense. Aforementioned rookies, Cory James and Karl Joseph, have been on fire by leading the team in tackles in consecutive weeks. Sean Smith and D.J. Hayden have also been playing much better in the secondary and the Raiders defense is starting to look like it is ready to step up and help win games. They started off awfully, yes, but as I have previously written, defenses in the NFL always start off slower than offenses. With this Oakland group fielding multiple new starters, (even in the past 2 weeks) they were bound to have some growing pains. Granted, nobody expected them to be that historically bad to start the season, but they are evolving every week into a much more serviceable group.
The Silver and Black offense looks like it can flat out beat anybody. The Ravens defense is one of the best in the NFL and the Raiders were still able to put up 28 points on them while finishing drives in the end zone in crucial points of the game. The Raiders are in the top 10 in points per game (7th), total yards per game (3rd), pass yards per game (8th), rush yards per game (5th) and if that doesn't spell elite, I'm not sure what does. They still haven't played a full 4 quarters of football without stalling out and looking stagnant, yet they still have such numbers. The best stat about this offense is that they are 11 of 12 scoring touchdowns when in the red zone. Think about that, the Raiders have scored a touchdown 11 times with 12 attempts inside the 20 yard line...it sounds crazy but the numbers back it up, Carr and the Raiders offense is elite. No matter how good the opponents defense, the Raiders will be able to score points. Fortunately this week, the Raiders have a really good opportunity to keep on rolling, stay elite, and demolish the San Diego Chargers in Oakland.
The Chargers have the makings of a good team on paper, but have not played up to par so far this season. They have been competitive, but have not been able to hold on and gave up 4th quarter leads all 3 times this season. They have had quite a few key injuries already and the Raiders have a good chance to put this team away early.
San Diego's top defensive back, Jason Verrette was lost to a knee injury last week and second best DB Brandon Flowers is out with a concussion. Top string linebackers, safeties, and offensive tackles are also out for the Chargers. The Raiders should be able to beat the Chargers with their full squad, let alone an immensely banged up one. Don't get me wrong, Philip Rivers is nobody to underestimate, and with a healthy team his offense would be great, but the Raiders are still the better team. Division games are always tough though, and even with Oakland on a role, they have to play this game as well or better than they have played all season. They must handle this game with care. Even though the defense has been playing better, Rivers will always be able to put up points because he is just that good. The defense has to keep getting better and if they can't completely shut the Chargers down, they have to carry-over their bend and not break mentality. Look for Kahlil Mack to continue his rise and get Philip Rivers on his back. Once Rivers is dirty and second guessing his makeshift offensive line, he will start to panic and throw intercept-able balls that the Raiders secondary has to take advantage of.
Expectations are getting higher and higher for the Oakland Raiders and if they keep winning, support will be coming from everywhere. They have not been good at home in the recent past and they need to turn that around. Good teams win on the road, of course, but they also win MORE at home. The Raiders have started to learn how to win games, now it is time to start dominating your home field and it starts this week. If Oakland is able to hold the Chargers offense at bay and attack San Diego's banged up defense, they should win this game handily at home.
My Prediction: Chargers 17, Raiders 35
Sec925 Insider J Torchio takes us behind the scenes on the Cal sideline for the final Utah drive, deftly handles a barrage of questions from Josh from the 209, and gives an emotional tribute to former Cal coach Roger Theder.
Arnold Palmer in full swing at the 2015 Master's in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire)
By Travis Rowney | @rowtown23
When he was battling cancer, the famous and beloved basketball coach Jimmy Valvano once said, “If you laugh, you think, and you cry…. That’s one heck of a day.” Sunday September 25th was supposed to be an ordinary Sunday, but in the end, it proved to be much more. Filled with every emotion in the book, it turned into a Jim Valvano type day.
Being a typical sports fanatic, my plans for '9/25 Day' included sitting on a couch, watching football, a little bit a baseball, some FedEx Cup golf, and probably some more football. However, it wasn’t a normal Sunday. Emotions went up and down like a roller coaster. A lot happened on Sunday, September 25th 2016. It might not be remembered by the non-sports fan, but it was significant for me because these events affected the very core of my sports soul. Here is a timeline of that roller coaster on Sunday (times are estimated and in Pacific time zone):
Jose Fernadez pitching in Miami on September 8th. (Photo by Marc Serota)
8:00 A.M.: Jose Fernandez’s death.
Unlike some, I actually set my alarm for Sunday mornings in the fall. I wake up and check last minute fantasy reports before the morning slew of football games begin. After that, I cross my fingers and pray. I also check my phone to see the ESPN morning updates, usually consisting of Premier League soccer. However, what I read on the morning of September 25th left me in shock. Miami Marlins’ pitcher Jose Fernandez died in a boating accident early Sunday morning in Miami. No way this happened; it had to be a hoax. I searched my phone making sure that it was real. And to my shock, it was. As an athlete and avid sports fan, I am in awe of young and up and coming talent. Fernandez was one of them. A product of Cuba, Fernandez was a 24-year-old, destined for greatness. The 2013 Rookie of the year was the ace of the Marlins’ pitching staff. There was no doubt that one day he would be a future Cy Young winner and resurrect a suffering franchise. Off the mound, he was charismatic, joyful, and inspirational. Always interacting with fans, and toying with teammates in the dugout. He was loved by his whole team. As manager Don Mattingly would say in tears, “He was like a little leaguer out there.” The Marlins had to cancel Sunday’s game with the Atlanta Braves. The entire baseball world mourned that day, as did I. He was someone who truly enjoyed the game, always having a big grin on his face. It’s hard to believe he was only 24. Even though I am not a Marlins fan, I was saddened. He was a role model with a bright future ahead of him; maybe even a hall of famer. Hearing this news brought tears to my eyes Sunday morning. The whole sports world mourned that morning.
Odell Beckham and Josh Norman battle in New York. (Photo by Michael Reaves)
10:00 A.M.: Norman and Beckham.
Rivalry games; anything can happen. No football game was more anticipated than the New York Giants and the Washington Redskins. Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham and Redskins cornerback Josh Norman headlined the game. Another example of supreme young talent, and like Fernandez, the next generation of super stars. These two players are the future of football and I couldn’t wait for this matchup. They have history, and it’s not a pretty one. Last year, while Norman was playing for the Carolina Panthers, things got heated between him and Beckham. They trash talked, jawed with each other, bickered like little kids… and the refs constantly had to break them up after plays. When Norman signed with the Redskins in the offseason, all football fans circled two dates: the two times these NFC rivals would meet up. As the game went on, both players traded good plays and of course, some words. At one point, Norman picked up Beckham during a play and tried to carry him to the sidelines. It actually made me laugh at the rivalry these two have. It turned out to be an exciting game. The Redskins closed out the game with a couple late interceptions of Eli Manning, winning 29-27. Frustrated with the loss, Beckham was seen punching a warmup net on the sideling that then fell on his head. Even a couple tears were shed. Amazing what sports can do. It was a fascinating end to an intense football game. Get used to it football fans, this rivalry is just getting started.
Vin giving thanks. (Photo by Harry How)
1:00: P.M.: Vin Scully, the legendary Los Angeles Dodgers announcer, called his last home game at Chavez Ravine.
He has been calling baseball games longer than most people can remember. And His Voice, oh my, that unmistakable, remarkable voice. Calm, relaxed, but exciting, all at the same time. Some of the greatest games of all time have been told through his words. His warm personality, loyalty, and love he inspired make him truly unique. As an aspiring broadcaster, I rank him as one of the top sports broadcasters of all time. Announcing is hard work, and takes a lot of dedication. Scully has been dedicated for over 40 years. He announced at the beginning of the season that 2016 would be his last year announcing Dodger games. Sunday was his last home game. The Dodgers had honored him all year, and on Sunday, gave him a lasting memory. With Dodgers down 3-2 in the bottom of the 9th, rookie Corey Seager hit a game tying home run. The next inning with the score tied, Charlie Culberson clubbed a walk off home run. The Dodgers had not only won the game, but had clinched the NL West. Now that’s a storybook ending for Vin Scully, a legend in broadcasting. While I am a dedicated San Francisco Giants fan, it was hard to be bitter. It just felt right.
Rory at the FedEx in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo Kevin C. Cox)
4:00 P.M.: Rory McIlroy wins the FedEx Cup.
It had been a quiet year for super star professional golfer McIlroy. The #2 player in the world had trouble finding the winner’s circle. His critics were numerous. “He’s overrated, he’ll never be a legend, he’s a flash in the pan.” He shut them up in a good way. He picked a good time to play his best golf of the year. In the FedEx Cup Playoffs, he came back on the final day and won the BMW Championship, the third leg of the 4 playoff tournaments. On Sunday, at the Tour Championship, in the final leg of the playoffs, McIlroy came from behind again and finished in a three way tie for first. Thanks to an eagle hole out on the 16th hole, he had the chance to win the Tour Championship and the FedEx Cup if he could win the three-man playoff. McIlroy birdied the 4th playoff hole, and won the tournament and the FedEx Cup. I’m not surprised he won. While his results this year were a little subpar, he was always hanging around the top. He has the consistency factor; not an easy thing to have, especially in golf. That’s what separates the good golfers from the very best. It helps to have ice in his veins as well. Two trophies and $11 million in one day. I was happy to see him win and prove why he is one of the best.
7:00 P.M.: The sports world loses a legendary sportsman.
On Sunday night, Arnold Palmer passed away at the age of 87. Growing up as an avid junior golfer, I always used to emulate Mr. Palmer. Even though he was a little before my time, he was always the King. I loved watching old footage of his tournaments. His swing, his personality, his commercials. Everything about him was so captivating. He’s the athlete you wanted be like. Every golfer knows his swing. It’s unlike any other, an aggressive slash, full of emotion and strength. In the 1960s, he burst onto the scene with his fit body, combed hair, and unique swing. What he lacked in talent and grace, he seemed to make up with pure will. The “working man’s” champion. Arnie transformed professional golf, making it cool, popularizing it as a television event. Not only was he transfixing to watch, but sociably, the nicest guy you will ever meet. He would talk with fans and sign autographs for hours. He had great loyalty to the game, and to his “army.” Palmer had the biggest fan base in golf known as “Arnie’s Army.” He was always the person to watch at every tournament. Thousands fans gathered around Palmer. He never had “personal” space, but didn’t want it. He embraced the attention. He had a great career in terms of wins, with 7 major championships, but his impact carried much farther. He was an ambassador of the game, who changed its popularity and perception forever. He was the King for a reason. So many golfers wanted to be like him, including me. Hearing this news sparked tears in my eyes. I wish I could have met him in person just one time. I guarantee I would have had a memorable story.
In 12 hours, I cried, laughed, thought, and cried again. It’s hard to explain the feelings on that Sunday. It was an emotionally draining day. I cried for the role models that lost their lives. I laughed at the behavior of rivals. And I was happy to see great talents make their mark. These are only a few of my memories of that day. And it all happened on the same Sunday. September 25, 2016; “9/25 Day... One heck of a day.”
Section925's Tripper Ortman and Josh Hunsucker were out at the Lafayette Art & Wine Festival this September interviewing a wide array of Bay Area sports personalities on the streets of the East Bay. A's outfielder Mark Canha, Cal hall-of-famer Jon Zuber, Big Game hero J Torchio, former Cal basketball player and coach Jon Wheeler, and De La Salle football head coach Justin Alumbaugh all sat down to tell their stories with Tripper.
Hyperlocal players and coaches from from Acalanes, Miramonte and Campolindo also graced the festival with their presence over the weekend. So pull up a chair and dive into our YouTube channel below. And let us know in the comments who you'd like to see on our podcast next!
After a gritty road win in Tennessee, Oakland now heads to Baltimore to battle the Ravens (photo by Wesley Hitt)
By Merlin Edwards III
When your NFL team starts off the season by going 2-1, depending on the fan base you will either be contempt or ecstatic. The ecstatic feeling comes from fans who aren't used to it, and the contempt feeling is for those fans who have enjoyed high expectations for years. The Oakland Raiders fan base has no excuse to be anything but ecstatic.
Even for those fans who are ever-optimists and think the team has been good enough to make the playoffs for years (and there are some of you out there), everyone must be happy about this start we have in Oakland. Yes, they should have had a better showing and won the very winnable Falcons game. Yes, they could have played a bit better in every other game. And no, they still haven't put a full 60 minutes of great football together. But they haven't gone 2-0 on the road to start the season since 2002 (the last time they made the playoffs). At the very least, something must be said about that accomplishment.
The Tennessee Titans are a team that the Raiders should beat, and did beat last Sunday. It wasn't a pretty game, but nobody cares about that as long as there is a check mark in the column labeled "W" and not "L." The defense looked much better, and for a couple of different reasons. Some of those reasons being that the Titans have major flaws that the Raiders were able to exploit, but also the play of new guys helped form a newfound energy, passion, and speed that the defense hadn't shown.
The coaching staff finally gave rookies Karl Joseph and Cory James a shot to make plays, and make plays they did. Karl Joseph led the team in tackles in his first week playing defensive snaps, and Cory James was right behind him. Neither of those players had played more than 10 snaps combined throughout the first two games on defense. Partly because Joseph was still nursing a knee injury, and Ben Heeney was still getting a chance to play. But when the time came for the new guys to show what they could do, they brought the heat. Joseph was all over the field and Cory James seemed like a guy who could fill holes when needed, and was able to stuff running plays at the line.
The defensive line still hasn't been able to break through and get pressure, which is a problem, but the secondary finally had a good showing and was able to keep them from making big plays through the air. Sean Smith finally came to play and even had an interception, but the story of the day was David Amerson. Amerson graded out better than any other NFL player has so far this season per Pro Football Focus. He was thrown at plenty of times, gave up less than 40 yards, and broke up 5 different passes. Without Kahlil Mack and the line getting pressure, the defensive coaching staff could not have asked for a better performance. Even though the defense finally showed up to be a less leaky group, the offense did what they could to give the team a chance to win.
Derek Carr has been able to lead the Raider offense to look like one of the top five in the league, and even with a mediocre performance, they look poised to be world beaters. After scoring 28 or more in the first two weeks, scoring 17 against the Titans wasn't so hot. On a day where the defense played much better, however, Carr and Co. scored enough to win the game and that is all that matters.
The running game still looks great, and are ranked 2nd in the league behind Denver even with 30 less total carries. (Denver has 100+ and the Raiders have 77). The rapport that Carr has with Crabtree and Cooper looks like it will be dominant and even elite for years to come. The Raiders truly do have a state-of-the-art offense and it is showing, even when they don't play their best.
So after escaping Tennessee with a win, they have the chance to start 3-0 on the road, something they haven't done since the 2000 season or the "Tuck Rule" season, as I like to call it. When the Raiders travel to face the 3-0 Baltimore Ravens, they will need to play a full 4 quarters of solid, winning football. Even though the Ravens were 5-11 last year, (with one of those losses in Oakland) this Baltimore team seems to be much further along both defensively and offensively. Last year there were major injuries to both Terrell Suggs and Joe Flacco throughout the season. Both leaders of the defense and offense, respectively, are healthy this season, and are motivating their team to play like it.
With guys like C.J. Mosley and the aforementioned Suggs, this defense is big, fast, and nasty, but they do have holes. The Ravens main focus is stopping the run, and if the Raiders can continue their success on the ground, this will be an easier game than we all can imagine. However, I do not think that will be the case. The Ravens front 7 is stout, and will hold the Raiders ground attack in check (because they are just that good), but the passing game is a vulnerability for them and can be exploited. The best coaches in the league find match ups and attack them, and that is what OC Bill Musgrave must do in order to leave victorious. Musgrave went at Titans DB Parish Cox last week, early and often. It didn't matter who Cox lined up against, whether it was Cooper, Crabtree, or even Seth Roberts in the slot, plays were called to attack him and it worked. The same thing must be done this week against Ravens DB Shareece Wright. Even though they were on the losing end, the Jaguars, last week, were very successful attacking Wright while fielding an inferior QB and Receivers than what Oakland has. It took Baltimore's awesome special teams to block a field goal attempt to keep them in the game and eventually win. If the Raiders are able to exploit the weakness of Wright, as other teams have done in the past, it won't matter if the running game gets going. Derek Carr has to show why he is considered one of the best QB's in the league, play mistake and turnover-free football, and the Raiders will have a real chance to win on Sunday.
The odds are against Oakland, as they have gone 1-16 in their last 17 road trips to the eastern time zone. They will need the offense to play flawlessly and attack favorable match ups. They need the defense to once again show up on the road and play bend-don't-break football. Lastly, the Raiders need their group to keep Devin Hester and the great Baltimore unit from making game changing plays on special teams. In other words, the Silver and Black desperately need to play a complete game, all the way through, in order to win. The Ravens haven't played any team that is nearly as good as the Raiders, and will be tested, but they are no push overs. Whomever comes out with a win will have played a more complete, mistake-free game, and the Raiders have yet to do that. Brace yourselves, because this will be an edge-of-your-seat, hard nosed, slobber-knocker of a game.
My Prediction: Raiders 17, Ravens 21
Steph Curry looked fresh and rested at Warriors' media day in Oakland this week. The season opener vs. the Spurs is October 25th at Oracle. (photo by Ezra Shaw)
So believe it or not, the Dubs are already back. They play their first preseason game in Vancouver against the Raptors on Saturday. The dream lineup of Steph, Klay, KD, Draymond, et al is actually going to happen this year, whether we believe it or not.
Will the Warriors mesh into the greatest basketball team ever assembled? On paper, you can't argue that this is very much a possibility.
Or maybe too many cooks in Steve Kerr's kitchen will cause turmoil? How will Draymond get enough touches now? Can the Splash Brothers make room for yet another superstar shooter? The jury is still out, luckily we have The Ringer to investigate further. See below.
Sec925 Baseball Insider Jon Zuber steps back outdoors to talk MLB Playoffs, post-season awards, Tim Tebow's minor league contract and what it was like to play behind Roger Clemens on the Yankees.
Joe Thornton fires a puck on net during the 2016 Stanley Cup. (photo by Christian Petersen)
By John Honea
Late September means a lot of things for sports in the Bay. The Niners and Raiders are in full swing, either the Giants or the A’s (or both) are typically in the MLB post season, and everyone these days gets amped as a new Warriors season approaches. This year, however, the cold weather sport in the South Bay demands to be respected, as September means hockey season is nearly underway as well. The San Jose Sharks may not have grabbed the Stanley Cup last year, falling short to Pittsburgh in 6 games, but that doesn’t mean their return to the ice this year is any less exciting. In fact, for Sharks fans, this is possibly the most exciting preseason they’ve seen since the franchise’s inaugural season in 1991.
For the first time, the Sharks approach the season as Conference champions and as legitimate Stanley Cup competitors. No longer is the veil of nearly 20 combined years of fruitless playoff runs hanging over the franchise. Granted, the Sharks didn’t bring home the ultimate hardware yet, but they did take the Western Conference for the first time in history and they’ve broken past the glass ceiling that many were beginning to think could never be cracked. The question is now, can they keep it up? Their veteran core is getting long in years, but guys like Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau showed no signs of slowing down last season, and a number of players have been recalled from the junior leagues for this week’s start of training camp as many players are still playing in the World Cup of Hockey.
The Sharks made some bold moves in the offseason, making it clear that their intentions were to eye another run at Lord Stanley's Cup. Looking to bolster the depth of experience on the roster, the Sharks added defenseman David Schlemko, a 29-year-old defenseman from the New Jersey Devils. After Schlemko, the Sharks grabbed Mikkel Boedker from the Colorado Avalanche, a Danish right winger who brings to the table 84 career goals in 8 seasons, which will be a great addition to the Sharks’ already stellar attacking line up.
Offensive players like Tomas Hertl, Joel Ward, and Logan Couture are all still in San Jose, which can only mean good things for the Sharks. Couture brings his leadership back to the ice as a captain, and even though he is coming off of one his his lowest scoring seasons in his NHL career, he is still young for a veteran player and is poised for a comeback year. Tomas Hertl has officially stepped away from his rookie years and become a seasoned player, bringing the Sharks 21 regular season goals in 2015-2016 and 6 playoff goals.
Franchise player and the less-than-pretty face of the Sharks, Brent Burns, returns to lead the defensive side of the ice for the Sharks, and will offer up all the same talent he has since 2011 which includes an average of 17 goals per season and 7 goals in last year’s post-season run.
In in the net, Martin Jones returns from last year and leads the way for the starting spot at goaltender, but prospects like Troy Grosenick and Aaron Dell look promising as productive back ups, both coming up from the Barracudas for training camp. It will be a young goalie crew for San Jose, but Jones has the playoff experience nonetheless, and they have gotten away with young back ups with success in years past.
Lastly, but importantly, Peter DeBoer comes back for his second season as head coach with the Sharks. Leading a team to 46-30-6 and to the Stanley Cup Finals is not bad at all for a coach in his first season with a team. But if we’ve learned anything in the Bay, it’s the excitement of what can be done by a coach in his second season, so 2016-2017 will be a true test for DeBoer behind the wheel.
With a returning lineup of experienced, franchise players, along with new prospects and solid trade acquisitions in the building, it is certainly possible that the Sharks could be looking at their second run at the Stanley Cup in 2016-2017. In any case, the Sharks are certainly hungry. With training camp upon us, the time has come to see what the teal and black can do in San Jose, and if they have the legs to make another run all the way to the end.
Mic'd up in #SharksCamp, featuring David Schlemko. #SJSharks pic.twitter.com/3S2w456XQk
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) September 28, 2016
Sports Illustrated's Tom Verducci writes about the 1986 San Jose Bees, an eclectic independent league baseball team. (Photo by Jose Luis Villegas)
(Photo by Denis Poroy)
By JJ Walton
We are nearing the end of baseball's regular season and the San Francisco Giants' fans are no strangers to the current tumultuous climate. The Giants have been inconsistent, and that's putting it lightly. Nearing the end of the season the thought and inner-chant of the word "torture" is ever present.
This method of finishing the season has been a tradition since the 2010 regular season. While the tension was there, September 2010 was magnificent for the Giants pitching staff. They went 18 of 26 games without allowing more than 3 runs per game and boasting a collective ERA of 1.78, the lowest since 1969.
The Giants entered the last 3 games needing just one win against their division nemesis, the Padres. After losing the first 2 games, they clinched their spot in the NLDS winning in game 162 of the 2010 season. Beyond that, the magic really started to kick in, and as we all know, had one of the most memorable and unpredictable World Series Championship victories in recent history.
It looks like we are going to need some of that magic again here in 2016. Our pitching, especially the bullpen, has been lack-luster. The stand-in closer, Sergio Casilla holds the record so far this season with 9 blown saves.
The Giants have notoriously utilized a strong starting rotation to get the job done. While that might not be what they currently have going into the wild card and subsequent World Series run, there is hope for San Francisco. Right fielder Hunter Pence has been on fire as of late. Shortstop Brandon Crawford also had an incredible August. Per usual, catcher, and former MVP, Buster Posey has the highest batting average on the team at just under .300. The Giants are going to lean on their streaky batting to get them through to the big show. The challenge at this point will be timing. Can they start the fire and get the bats going to compensate for an dicey bullpen? No one can say for sure. All we can count on at this point is that it will likely be torturous.
By Nate Rosenbloom | @hibernature
In front of a packed house at Zellerbach Auditorium, Steve Kerr sat down to chat with outgoing UC Berkeley Chancellor Nicholas Dirks in the first installment of the "Berkeley Talks" series this school year. The two spoke for an hour in a wide-ranging conversation that was frequently interrupted by vigorous rounds of applause from the audience. Kerr was in fine form, showing off his well-known wit, intelligence and humor, mixed in with some more serious and profound moments.
While there was plenty of talk about basketball, the most poignant portion of the evening came when Dirks asked Kerr to elaborate on his comments from earlier that day on Kaepernick and the current situation facing the country. Kerr spoke at length about his belief in the value of non-violent protest and the value in actions such as Kaepernick's in sparking a conversation. Kerr made a point of clarifying that he understands both sides of the debate and could understand both why people see Kaep's actions as disrespectful to the flag and, on the other side, why others do not believe the flag represents them (as Kaep has said). He went on to say that when the Warriors begin practice next Tuesday (9/27), the team will have a conversation about the National Anthem and discuss what actions, if any, each player wants to take when the season starts.
Kerr said he will allow players to do what they feel is right, but that it's important to have the conversation because the actions of one player affect the players next to him. He added that he is proud to be a part of the NBA and feels that the league has done well to take on a leadership position on important issues faced by society.
On the lighter side, Kerr had the crowd laughing on several occasions sharing stories from his playing days with legendary coaches Phil Jackson and Greg Popovich as well as from the last two seasons leading the Golden State Warriors.
On Jackson, Kerr described him as a unique kind of person and shared that once after the team lost two consecutive games Jackson walked through the locker room burning incense to "get rid of the bad spirits."
On Popovich, Kerr described him as the "complete opposite person from Jackson" in terms of personality, but that the two shared almost identical world views. Kerr recounted a practice during the run up to the 2000 presidential election in which Pop split the team up into Republicans vs Democrats. Following practice, the team watched the Presidential debate together. Kerr said he learned from both Popovich and Jackson the importance of keeping things in perspective and realizing that there is a lot going on the world outside of basketball.
Kerr also shared about his family and childhood and connection to UC Berkeley. He was born in Beirut and spent much of his childhood between Cairo and Beirut. Kerr's father, Malcolm, was a professor and scholar in Middle East Politics. Malcolm Kerr was serving as President of the American University in Beirut in 1984 when he was assassinated outside his office. Steve shared how proud he is of his family for persevering through that dark time and going on to achieve great things in life (Kerr's three siblings all hold PH.Ds and are active in academia).
Steve now has a family of his own and shared an anecdote about how his daughter, Maddie, selected UC Berkeley. It was a story that all Cal fans and alumni will appreciate. The family visited both Stanford and Cal over the course of a weekend. When asked which she preferred, Maddie chose Cal. Her reason? "Its real and grimy," she explained.
By the end of the night, it was clear that Steve Kerr and his entire family love Cal, Berkeley, and the entire Bay Area. Kerr also proved he is an incredibly articulate and engaging personality that I hope stays in the Bay Area for a long time to come.
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson)
By John Honea
It’s no secret that the Oakland Raiders organization does not want to remain the Oakland Raiders organization. Talks have been going on for years now about the idea of relocation. The move back down to LA almost became a reality last year, and considerations have been taken for places like San Diego, San Antonio, and even St. Louis, as it just vacated its stadium last year. The most recent and possibly most interesting development in the Raiders possible move, however, is to Sin City. Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Southern Nevada Tourism Infrastructure Committee laid out a plan which they presented to the Oakland Raiders organization for a $1.9 billion stadium. This sounds great to the owners of the franchise, but there’s one catch: Nevada residents are expected, through taxes, to pay for $750 million of that stadium.
As anyone can imagine, residents were not pleased with this. In a city which has never seen professional football in its backyard, it’s hard to convince people there that they need to fork out extra taxes for this to be worth it. Las Vegas residents even rejected an initial proposal that only asked for $500 million to be paid through taxes. If $500 million won’t fly for the people, $750 certainly will not be much more popular of an option. The people of Las Vegas, however, have basically been left out of discussions, as the committee has skirted local regulations which require public participation in these sort of talks.
The claim is that the stadium, along with the franchise, will bring in $530 million annually to the city’s economy, although the standard revenue generated by having a football team in a city is in the $350 million range, far below the committee’s promise.
Vegas isn’t just any other city, however. As it pulls in more domestic tourists each weekend than any other town in the United States, filling the seats will not be a problem. Even if it were to take a long time for the Raiders to get a footing in Vegas as a local team, away fans would still likely show up more than they would anywhere else.
Sports can be successful in Vegas, even though they’ve never existed there. The NHL recently jumped onboard the Vegas train, putting their next franchise in Vegas, which sold out of tickets for its inaugural season before they even had a name for the team. Granted hockey arenas are a fraction of the size of a 65,000 seat football stadium (which the Vegas stadium would be) it shows that residents are ready for a sports team.
Raider fans don’t have to fret just yet, however, as enticing as these offers may seem. One voice has emerged on the side of keeping the Raiders in Oakland, and that is NFL Commissioner Rodger Goodell.
If there’s anyone the community in Oakland wants to have speaking for them, it’s Goodell, who has voiced his own opinions against the move to Vegas, stating that he believes it to be in an organization’s best interest to work things out in their current city. He spoke at a conference in Minnesota recently, using the Minnesota Vikings as an example as they struggled the last few years with stadium issues, even playing games at the nearby University of Minnesota before settling into a brand new stadium. Goodell seems to be a man who appreciates a team’s loyal fanbase, stating “You never want to see a community lose their franchise once, much less twice.”
There’s an important word in there: community. If there is one thing to be considered it’s the Raiders community. The Raiders are a Californian team. They always have been. Putting them in Nevada will take away a huge part of their identity. Sure, fans will pour into Vegas as people pour into Vegas any other weekend, but it will be a long time before a team like the Raiders can truly rebrand themselves as a “Vegas” team or… get ready for it… a “Nevada” team.
With a man like Goodell on Oakland’s side of things, fans can breath a sigh of relief, although the proposed deal will still be negotiated regardless. Even if the Vegas deal falls through and the Raiders remain the Oakland Raiders, fans and those in the Raiders' community will always have to wonder where the organization is looking next. One can’t help but wonder if Mark Davis will ever give up his quest for Raiders imperialism, and just make their house into a home.
(Photo by Jason O. Watson)
By H. Jacob Sandigo
Much heat has fallen on Colin Kaepernick as of late, in reaction to his refusal to stand for the national anthem. The gesture has sent many people into an outrage, condemning Kap as un-American, anti-police, anti-veteran, and anti-white. He's even received death threats for his choice to kneel, which is the most ‘un-American’ thing us as people could do. He does have the right to protest after all.
Coming from a family with military background, I too crucified Kap at first, but after watching an extended post-game interview of his, I eventually ate my words. Foolishly, I allowed the media to persuade my view and believed Kap was being disrespectful, and insulting those who served in the military. But after looking into the matter further I began to understand his message. Kap’s reasoning for not standing is that this country is based off "land of the free home of the brave" and that all "are created equal," and right now people of color are not treated with those same ideals.
I understand his reasoning. If the flag is a symbol of our land and if it's not being fully symbolic to its nature, then why should we have to stand for it? He also brought awareness to the police brutality that continues to plague our nation, with people of color appearing to be the agenda, targeted and given the death sentence. Never given the chance of due process, while people who have shot up schools or churches are handcuffed without much struggle and given their day in court.
Kap covered all areas, stating that not all police are bad, but that there needs to be more education and training for the people who are supposed to be be serving and protecting our communities. The choice to grow an Afro was a nice touch as well. In the '60s and '70s the "black is beautiful" movement, a byproduct of the Civil Rights movement, was focused around black beauty and aesthetic, seeing the return of more ‘natural’ hair. The Afro is symbolic of Black Pride and by growing one Kap not only is embracing his culture, but also taking a stance on his beliefs.
Kap also clearly stated that he wasn't trying to offend or disrespect veterans, and that he's had friends and family who have served. Many veterans have spoken up to express their distaste of Kap's actions, making protest videos and telling him to leave the country if he's so unhappy. I get the outrage, the flag is a sensitive subject, but this event has also brought to light some negative aspects of the flag and the anthem, that most might not have been aware of.
When both were created, black people weren't even considered fully human by law, and there is the controversial verse about slavery that was taken out as well. I didn't see Kap's kneeling as a F-you to vets, but rather just a way to bring attention to a cause. He used his platform, football, as a way to speak his message in a way that would allow thousands of people to hear him. Who is anyone to judge another and say they are against vets, when our society continues to ignore all the vets who are homeless or mentally ill living on the streets.
What do we as a collective do for vets? Why is that a majority of our vets are struggling just to get by? From what I've observed from personal experiences, the health care and benefits are subpar, I know this isn't the case for every vet but it's what I've witnessed first hand. My grandfather served in the Army for a majority of his life, now that he's retired he can’t do what must retirees enjoy, such as travel around the world, or spend the day doing leisurely activities.
He still struggles to pay his mortgage off, and has to deal with financial setbacks, living a very simple life. Vets should be set once they are done with service, they put their lives on the line and protect our nation, without them I wouldn't be able to write this article. Not all were opposed to Kap's protest, some vets took to twitter to show support, saying how they fought for this country to preserve freedom and equality for all, not just some.
Overall, I applaud Kap. He is speaking up for people of color and bringing awareness to a cause that needs action and is provoking thoughts and conversations between people, allowing everyone to see different perspectives and ways of life.
People are letting the media influence their opinion of Kap as being some punk or thug who has no respect for this country or vets, when that couldn't be further for the truth. Some tabloids have ran with the story that he is blaming white people for all our problems or that he hates white people, making him out to be hypocritical considering he comes from a white family, gets paid by white people, and has white fans.
I extensively watched that post game video clip numerous times, I never once even heard him say the word 'white,' instead he said "people" need to change, which I took as meaning all people, every race, gender, can grow and make changes to improve all our qualities of life.
This is why other writers, actors, musicians, and politicians need to use their outlets, to speak up for us, and bring further awareness to generate change in society. To reach an end goal, we must all stand together as a Nation, learn to understand one and another, experience each other's cultures, and remember that we are all connected, we are all human beings who inhabit this earth. As one we can be stronger than any adversity that will come our way.
Bay Area, let's stop being wishy-washy fans, and give Kap a break, he did get us to the playoffs (for the first time since the early 2000s) and a led us to a Super Bowl, (for the first time since 1995).
I'd love to hear any feedback or opinions on this article, if there's any topics you believe I should cover ask me a question on twitter, H. Jacob Sandigo @NotDrizzyDrake . My weekly podcast Migo_Talks on soundcloud is focused on hip hop and the Bay Area so don't forget to tune into that as well. Thank you.
Peace, and positivity.
(Photo by Travis Rowney)
By Travis Rowney | @rowtown23
When September rolls around, the typical American sports fan looks forward to one thing…football. Despite recent controversy regarding concussions, it remains this country’s most popular game. We look forward every weekend (or even Monday and Thursday!) to our favorite couch or armchair and watch the battles unfold. If we are ambitious enough, we even suffer through traffic and outrageous prices at concession stands to attend a game in person.
It’s an American invention, but football is rapidly expanding, and becoming popular around the world. The last couple of years, the NFL has played games all over the world, including England, Germany, Ireland, and Mexico. This reporter recently had the unique experience of attending a football game in Sydney, Australia, that city’s first encounter with the “Gridiron.”
One fact about Australians we should get out of the way: They are sports crazy! In fact, they have four types of “football.” Their national sport of course is rugby. But there are two variations of rugby in Australia: Rugby Union, and Rugby League. Very different games according to the Aussies. Then there’s Australian Rules Football, a game that looks terribly exciting, but nobody seems to understand, not even the Australians. And of course, soccer, which, like most other countries, is often called football. According to one native, “We love it, but we’re terrible at it…”
So what about real football, like American football? As I said earlier, the game is expanding, as the world shrinks. In late August, the University of California Golden Bears took on the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors in the inaugural College Football Sydney Cup. This is the first time that Sydney has hosted any type of American Football Game. Was it a success? Well, you can ask the 61,000 people in attendance. While it wasn’t quite the NFL, Aussies were looking forward to this event with enthusiasm, promoting it as the “The College Football Championship Kickoff.”
(Photo by Travis Rowney)
The game took place at ANZ stadium in Sydney, the same stadium used for the 2000 Summer Olympics. It is now used for all professional rugby, soccer, Aussie football and cricket teams based in Sydney. The stadium has a capacity of 84,000. You can get there by Sydney’s excellent train system, using special “supporter” routes, or by car. There was a huge pregame party next to the stadium at an outdoor bar and patio. This is where all of the tailgating happened. Aussies typically don’t tailgate, at least not for their sports. However, it seemed that everyone was having a great time socializing and enjoying cold beer.
While there were a small sample of Cal and Hawaii fans making the trip, the vast majority of the crowd was Australian. For them, it must have been “American Day” as you could see virtually every NFL team jersey represented, and a fair sampling of the NBA as well. Of course, the most popular jersey was the Jarryd Hayne 49ers jersey. Hayne is an Australian rugby icon who played one year with San Francisco. The promoters tried bringing the atmosphere of an American football game to the concession stands as well, selling “American style” food. One of the most popular items were hot dogs that were two feet long! (Funny, I’ve never seen anything like those dogs at any football or baseball game in the states!).
The best description of the game atmosphere would be “festive,” contrasting with the rapid obsession of fans at a game here. Most of the people didn’t understand the subtle rules or strategies of the game…there was a strange silence in the stadium on important 3rd and 4th down plays. As my small section of Cal fans were on our feet for the first crucial 4th and 1, Aussies seemed to look at us in wonder, “Relax…. here’s your beer mate. Cheers!” So very different from the most recent Cal game I attended against Texas last Saturday (you could hardly hear yourself think in those crucial 3rd downs late in the game…). But they did understand touchdowns (a “try” in rugby) and loved the Cal cannon after each Bear score. It was fun for us experienced “footballers” talking to the friendly Aussies; explaining the rules and penalties and comparing sports backgrounds. Now the “wave”, they understood. Rarely does a full stadium do a wave in unison back in the states. The Aussies have mastered it. Is it possible the Australians are one of the few peoples in the world that actually like us?
Of course, not all is wonderful about playing so far from home. It’s a long, long, flight; 14 ½ hours from San Francisco to be exact. Leaving late Saturday night, the Cal team arrived in Sydney early Monday morning. What happened to Sunday? The “red-eyes” after the flight were evident, although the Cal coaching staff did all kinds of tricks to get the players acclimated, including exercises on the plane, and a practice on Monday right after arriving. Then there is the logistics of transporting the entire team (Cal took everyone, not the normal travel roster), staff and equipment. Not to mention that every single player on both teams had to get passports and visas. As Cal head Coach Sunny Dykes said, “That was awful.” While the arrangements were not easy, both teams managed to get there in one piece. However, nobody arrived to California and Hawaiian sunshine. Our summer in the states is actually winter in Australia. However, the football gods blessed us, and game day weather could not have been more perfect. High 60s, blue skies, hardly a cloud.
So football in Australia was quite a success. The big city of Sydney was a fantastic venue for the start of football season. It begs the question whether an NFL game should be played in Australia. This reporter emphatically thinks so. The Aussies would go crazy, and Sydney seems to have the fans and infrastructure. Supposedly, they are bidding for the 2017 Pro Bowl, but a regular season game would be fun too. After witnessing the success of college football in Australia, imagine what the NFL can do. Hopefully, it will happen sooner than later. Good on ya, mate!
The Raiders edged the Saints by a point in a Week 1 triumph. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman)
By Merlin Edwards III
If someone were to tell you last year that the Raiders played the Saints in a shootout with over 60 combined points, on the road, would you dare say they came away with the win? How about if you saw the stat line that Drew Brees was over 60% passing with 400 yards, 4 touchdowns and 0 interceptions? Or even that the Raiders would attempt to go for a 2-point conversion to win the game rather than try to tie and go into OT. None of those scenarios have worked out well for the Raiders in a very long time. The last time they were able to overcome those types of tight situations and come out with a win was the 2002-03 season when they made it to the Super Bowl. The fact is, we haven't seen this level of play in ages here in Oakland. So buckle up, Raiders fans. You have a fun, exciting, and contending team to watch and their coming home on Sunday.
There was concern about the defense going into Week 1, mainly for the linebackers and the secondary, and the Saints were able to exploit some of those weaknesses immensely. Ben Heeney proved that he cannot handle the play calling and leadership role needed at the middle linebacker position. Thus leading the Raiders coaching staff to revoke that right and give it to Malcolm Smith. Sean Smith, one of the top pickups on the free agent market, got benched for DJ Hayden after getting gashed for multiple big gains.
Drew Brees did his Breesy thing and spread the Raiders out with 5 wide receiver sets and empty backfields. The secondary got torched and the linebackers didn't help in coverage whatsoever. Teams obviously can't run the ball without anyone in the backfield, and the fact that the linebackers still didn't go out and help in the flats or the middle of the field in zone coverage is beyond me. They won't be able to get bailed out by the offense against every team, especially ones with elite defenses (like the teams in the AFC West) so that should not be counted on.
Sean Smith is not a bad player and he will be better, so there is not much to panic on with him, in my opinion. He is a 6'2" defensive back that loves to play up on the line and bump guys. When he is matched up with receivers like the Saints have, who are all smaller, speedy guys, it does not bode well for him. The vast majority of teams have big, strong receivers who are their number one options on offense. With a team like Atlanta, who the Raiders play on Sunday, look for Sean Smith to have a much better game.
It was also very encouraging to see DJ Hayden be able to step up and not get beat up and down the field like Smith did in the first half. The front seven looked good without Kahlil Mack having an impact at all and that, I believe, was the most promising part of the defense. The Raiders got after Drew Brees and hit him a ton, leading to a bad throws throughout the game that turned out to be all too important. Mack got double teamed all day and that most definitely limited him, but he has always shown the ability to adapt and figure out how teams are game planning against him. Also, with Bruce Irvin looking so good, those double teams will eventually be forced to slow down and Mack will breakout once again. Even though the front seven got a lot of pressure, the secondary looked bad and the reason why they won the game was because the offense looked so good.
After getting a strip sack on the first series of the game, the Raiders stalled within the 40 yard line and had to settle for a field goal. They did not look good in that first series, but after that, they started to get rolling and eventually did enough to win the game. Derek Carr looks like he is budding into a superstar. From some of the perfect throws he made, to the heart he showed by diving over a defender for a first down, the Raiders officially have their QB of the future. It sure doesn't hurt to have a plethora of weapons around you.
Crabtree showed his true potential as a possession receiver by making crucial catches on 3rd downs to move the chains. Amari Cooper looked like he will be a true superstar, top threat receiver in the league, and his rapport with Derek Carr has clearly gotten better. Latavious Murray looked pretty good at times but with the other young backs they have in Jalen Richard and Deandre Washington, it doesn't seem like the Raiders will need to rely on Murray as much. Murray lead the league in workload, charting over 70% of the teams rushing yards in 2015. Even though he was a 1000 yard rusher, that is far too much to ask from him. With the change up in size and power, Richard and Washington are perfect additions to keep defenses guessing. The Running backs did look good, but the Raiders offensive line was a big reason why everyone shined in the second half.
With the new addition of Osemele and the talent they already had, the Silver and Black were able to overcome 2 injuries and STILL look like the best offensive line in the league. There were holes open left and right for the backs and Carr seemingly had hours to throw the ball. Pancake blocks were a plenty and this group looked like they were all ready for the pro bowl. The Saints don't have a terrible front 7 and the Raiders made them look like they were back in high school. It is always said that all success in the NFL is initiated by good results in the trenches and the Raiders showed that to be true. They will look to continue that dominance in the upcoming home opener against the Falcons, and wow...the Oakland coliseum will be rocking in a way that Oakland fans haven't seen in a very long time.
Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons will be hungry for a win after losing in week 1 but it looks like this Oakland team will have enough to stop them and maybe even win convincingly. Julio Jones is one of the top 5 receivers in the league and Sean Smith cannot have another dud of a game. Maybe having him shadow the #2 receiver and letting Amerson deal with Jones willhelp shut everyone else down because teams can almost always count on Jones to have a good game. The running back by committee idea that the Falcons have adopted may bode well for the Raiders because if Davaonte Freeman gets rolling, he can be a force. Tevin Coleman isn't a bad player but Freeman showed us last year that he can be a superstar. The key to the Raiders on defense this week is to not let the short and medium crossing routes hurt them too much, make sure the running game doesn't get going, and get Ryan on his back consistently.
The Offense got rolling in the opener and they continue to do so this week. There is not many key things that they must do because they have so much talent that they can match up against any defense in the league. Look for the Offensive Line to dominate on Sunday by keeping Derek Carr upright and to open up holes on a regular basis for the talented Running Backs. The Raiders haven't shown the amount of poise and heart they did last Sunday in a very long time. This young team will continue to grow with each other and learn how to win all types of games. The Raiders will be ready to rock in their home opener and will beat the Falcons soundly.
My prediction: Falcons 24, Raiders 35
(Photo by Ezra Shaw)
By Merlin Edwards III
All of the hype of the NFL season will soon be past speculation. All of the assumptions and what-ifs will finally come to a close, on Sunday, when the Oakland Raiders play their first regular season game against the New Orleans Saints at the Superdome. Finally, full-tilt football is here.
Starting even before the draft, the Oakland Raiders have been a hot topic throughout the preseason. The talking heads have either picked them for the playoffs, or something close to it. There is optimism surrounding this team everywhere you look, and for good reason. They believe they have found the quarterback of the future, as well as one of the best pass rushers (or overall defenders) in the league. Having those two positions as your best players on either side of the football will always bode well for you in the NFL.
The secondary has been bolstered with the the additions of Reggie Nelson, Sean Smith, and first round pick, Karl Joseph, but having a good team on paper doesn't win football games either. With all of the new additions this defense needs to get very comfortable with each other, very quickly
There is something to be said for a defense that is great because they are talented, but also have played together with continuity of personnel for a number of years. The Raiders defense is far from the same as last year. Maybe, seeing as they were in the bottom 5 of the league in total defense, having a bunch of brand new players is a good thing. However, anytime the ENTIRE defense, sans a few players, needs to be changed in order to get better, there will naturally be growing pains. It is said in the NFL that offenses are farther along than defenses at the beginning of the season. Defenses typically don't start to dominate until a couple weeks in. If that statement is true, then the Raiders have a lot to prove this week against the Saints.
Drew Brees may be getting older but the elite quarterbacks around the league seem to just get wiser with age. He just signed a brand new contract, making him the fifth highest paid QB in the league and he is going to play like it on Sunday. This will be a true test for a Raiders defense that is relatively untested.
Coby Fleener is a new addition that is going to give the Raiders fits. Relying on Ben Heeney to cover the tight end is not going to work. It didn't work last year, and it doesn't look like he's any better at it this year. Brees loves to throw the seam route to his tight ends after spreading the defense out with multiple wide receiver sets. If the Raiders do not find a way to slow down Fleener, it will undoubtably be a long day for the defense.
Sean Smith and David Amerson are both sizable corners and will match up well with the smaller receivers they have in New Orleans. The front seven should have a pretty good day too seeing as it is the only position group with continuity and that is without mentioning the introduction of Bruce Irvin. All of the match ups seem good on paper except for linebacker position, so all fans can do is hope that Ben Heeney can step up and cover somebody. If he can't, the Raiders will have to rely on their talented offense against the Saints mediocre defense to overcome the uphill battle of winning a shootout against Drew Brees.
The Raiders offense brought back almost all of its starters except for upgrading at the right guard position and they look like they may be ready to rock. They have a clear advantage against the New Orleans defense. This is a defense that was in the bottom five in every category that mattered last season, and they didn't do much to help themselves in the offseason.
They have suspect starting corners that Amari and Crabtree should have a field day with. The linebackers are the best part of their defense, but the O-Line should be able to assert its dominance and help Latavius Murray to get to the second level all day. Murray has his limitations with elusiveness and pad level but this is a defense that the offensive line should be able to handle. If the holes are big enough, Latavius will find them and hit them with the speed we all know he has.
Sunday's game has the potential to jump start a Raiders offense and defense for the whole season. Even though many of the experts are picking the Raiders to go to the playoffs, I am still a little skeptical. There are still many question marks that need to be figured out in order for the team to win double digit games. But this weekend is when it starts, and this team gets to prove it to everyone that they are ready for the bright lights.
Getting into a shootout type of game with Brees is never a good idea, but it would be a good start to prove that the offense is ready. Getting tested early on the road and passing that test can be a huge boost for a young team. This is the defense to do it against, and this is the type of offense The Raiders guys hope to show they can stop.
My prediction: Raiders 28-Saints 21
