Mirror Images: on offense these two clubs mirror one another.  Oakland and Baltimore each rank in the bottom ten in the league in passing and rushing offense.  In week seven, however, each offensive unit did enough to help its team win.

Stellar, as usual: during and since their 2000 Super Bowl run, the Ravens have built their team identity on defense.  This year they’re back in familiar form, ranking second in the league in total defense (allowing only 244 yards per game). 

No Burgess, No Problem:  Week 7 marked the breakout of rising star Trevor Scott, filling in for pass rush specialist Derrick Burgess.  Scott recorded two sacks and is expected to start again this week.  Another rookie, Chaz Schilens, got off to a rocky first start at WR, recording only two catches for 10 yards.  Give him a mulligan for his first time out of the gate, but he’ll have to step it up to help Oakland win in Baltimore and keep his starting job. 

Nearing the season’s midpoint, it was reported Thursday (by the Oakland Tribune) that Darren McFadden has experienced another setback in his lingering turf toe injury and may have trouble getting fully healthy this season.  With Ronald Curry absent in the passing game, a theme is developing in Oakland wherein the Raiders will lean heavily on veterans Justin Fargas and Javon Walker for offensive production.   Sunday’s matchup in Baltimore, in which two young quarterbacks face off, is likely to be decided by which signal caller makes fewer mistakes.

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Since bearing the receiving end of a week three Monday Night shellacking, the Jets have bounced back, scoring 82 points in two wins.  The Raiders will try to get their season back on track at home this week with a much needed conference win.  To compete in this game, Oakland will have to be more effective both passing and defending the pass.

Catch 22:  As much as Coach Cable would like to assume a steady diet of running the ball (after an unsuccessful 35 attempts at New Orleans to the tune of 4 yards per attempt), the Jets’ strength, unfortunately, is run defense.   They rank third in the league at 2.9 yards per attempt; only the Steelers and Ravens are better in the trenches at 2.8 YPA.  Nonetheless, look for the Raiders to establish a presence on the ground with Justin Fargas, who has rushed for 517 yards and three touchdowns in his last five home games.  Fargas showed no signs of a nagging injury week 6, but had only ten touches as the Raiders abandoned the run in the second half.

The Pass, Defense:  In order to give their team a chance to win, Hall, Asomugha, Wilson, and Huff must show some of the grit in the defensive backfield that made Oakland one of the league’s top 2007 units.  The Raiders continue to slip, now ranking 25^th in passing defense.

The Pass, Offense: The Raiders top six receivers are a tight end, two runningbacks, a fullback, and their third and fourth receivers.  Noticeably absent from the list are Oakland’s top two wideouts – Javon Walker and Ronald Curry.  The pair drop balls quite routinely of late.  Cable intimated early this week that the team may be due for a shakeup atop the WR depth chart.  Unless Walker can return to his 2006 (or ’04) self, let’s hope that shakeup comes sooner than later and that rookie Chaz Shilens gets an opportunity to prove himself.  Another due shift would move Curry back to the slot where he’s been most effective in past seasons.

The Key: in last week’s installment, the key was improving third down efficiency which the Raiders did (from 24% to 37%) but not to a high enough degree.  This week, Oakland will have to get more involvement and less drops from its wideouts, especially since the battle on the ground promises to be one of attrition.

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If you don’t get it now, you never will. The problems with the Raiders won’t be resolved with the naming of a new coach. They won’t resolve with high priced free agents or coveted draft picks. They won’t resolve with a new stadium or catchy marketing. And they won’t resolve with spikes, face paint and louder crowds. The only way the Raiders problems will be resolved is for Al Davis to be relieved Continue Reading »

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Strength Versus Strength: The Saints lead the league in passing yards per game (326). They face a Raiders pass defense that is lauded as the team’s strength, but has not lived up to the 2007 unit’s success despite supposed upgrades at cornerback and safety. New Orleans presents as true a test as the Raider DBs will see all season. Brees can put up numbers in bunches with or without his prime targets healthy.

To Pass or Not to Pass? Offensively these two teams couldn’t be more different: Continue Reading »

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