v. Chargers, Thoughts On Changes, Quarterly Grading - p.1
Posted 10-04-2008 at 07:51 AM by Gridiron PIRATE
With all the turmoil spiraling in Oakland, i had to withhold from blogging for a while. A lot went down that had the media and fans reacting - and it wasn't even on the game.
On the game against the Chargers, simply put, we got beat. Again. For the 10th time in a row.
Initially i was angry and disappointed but i applaud our team for going out and playing hard - even if it was for 3 quarters again. 2 weeks in a row we let a big lead turn into a disappointing L. Only a loser sees merit in moral victories and that's the only positive i can see in this loss. The ultimate verdict that i can come up with is that we are a young team that is learning how to win. I know, absurd, right?
If you look at the core of our team, they can play well - but in spurts. We haven't yet put together a total team effort, hence the 3 losses (hell, even the KC game was a game that went to the wire).
Here are some quick points, positive (+) and negative (-) i wanted to touch upon:
- We need to finish games. 2 straight losses in come-from-behind fashion. Definitely a point that must be stressed by the staff.
+ Bush isn't a starter, but he can get it done when called upon.
- Russell seems like he can't "feel" when the rushers are breathing down his neck.
- We need our offensive tackles to step up. 3rd and long situations are going to kill us if Harris and Green can't keep up with defenders.
- McFadden. I know, he has turf toe. 2 plays come to mind: 1) the look-out block that resulted in a fumble and 2) the here-you-go INT he gave to the Chargers. 2 huge plays that hurt Russell rather than help him, which was why we drafted you in the first place D-Dawg! All good, i know he'll bounce back.
+ Defense can get in it with anyone. I don't care what team it is, we get our heads straight, prepare diligently, we can hang with any offense in the league. Yea we fell through in the end, but once we learn how to finish, both offensively and defensively, this will be a squad to look out for.
+ Gibril Wilson can play.
- Michael Huff... looks like he can't. I've been waiting for the kid to break out but it doesn't look good so far. I will say that the last touchdowns Tomlinson got weren't solely his fault, regardless, he needs to make the play. I wonder if the game has slowed down for him yet or is he still in over his head.
+ Miller can ball. When that TD happened, it was a glimpse of things to come. If he doesn't have to block as much, he can become the next big thing at TE. Hope for many more of those Russell to Miller plays. He did eff up on the sure TD catch slipping though. That was tough to watch.
+ Terdell Sands played an excellent game on Sunday. He was powerful up the middle, all what we've been hoping we would finally be.
+ Play-calling, both offense and defense. We're involving Johnnie Lee Higgins more, the only guy making the most of his opportunities, so that's good. We're opening it up more, so that's good. Ryan still needs help closing out games, but i like the heat he has been bringing. Keep fanning the flames.
- Special teams set up our tombstone that game. They gave Sproles a short field and our D is horrible when we're in that situation. That was big for SD.
- Chaz Schilens missed a wide-open catch. Don't care if Russell overthrew it, make the most of your opportunities.
- Still no Javon Walker
Well, we got a bye week, so hopefully everyone gets healthy, cuz we're gonna need everybody 100% against the Saints. Here's hoping for a great present
---
On the coaching changes, i can't say i agree, but i can't do anything about it. I did want Kiffin to stay for the continuity, mostly because we still have Russell to bring a long. Hopefully keeping Knapp at OC won't hinder his progress at all, and i hope that Knapp takes the cuffs off the guy and lets him play. We've been seeing glimpses of what Russell can do, it's time to unleash him.
I liked how Kiffin tried to change the culture around here, but i guess the big guy decided you had to go, so good luck to you. I guess 5-15 wasn't trying hard enough. I don't really know who to believe, but if you didn't want to stay here, then i don't want you here. I was tired of the "we don't have talent" rants you would have - i mean come on, it's the NFL, you go to war with what you got - but it's not your fault. It's on the big boss.
I'll say that i'm disappointed in the organization. I'll always support this team, but the decisions being made don't seem to be a plan for long term success, which is what i want. Of course i want to win now as well. We are turning it around, so hopefully Tom Cable will make sure we keep going in that direction.
---
Grades, unit by unit:
OL:
Barely getting the job done is not enough. Our tackles are still a major problem area for us and that's not good considering we have an inexperienced, expensive QB still trying to take hold of the offense. I do like our interior though as we've been great running inside. Gallery finally found a home and i can't recall hearing his name for a penalty yet. Grove seems to be working out and Carlisle is still our best lineman and hopefully he gets healthy as we need him. Depth certainly is a problem. Overall grade: C-
RB:
Our strongest unit, now where we're hurting. We hurt without Fargas and McFadden hurt is hurting us as well. This bye couldn't have come at a better time. Both have played well when in and the run game is still performing as expected. Bush looks good in there too, so finding a mix of who to give it to seems like a good problem for the staff to have. Still, we haven't had a consistent rushing threat over the first quarter as the status of the starter is always unknown. Overall grade: C
QB:
Russell has played well considering what he has been playing with. At times he looks like he knows what he has to do and other times he'll scare me because he doesn't know the rusher's right on him. This is our future and it looks like if he is coached right, we have a special talent here. Still, nothing noteworthy give or take a few passes. Overall grade: D
WR/TE:
The sorriest bunch. Walker is nowhere to be found. Ashley Lelie, an in season FA pickup has done little, and Curry has done less. Nobody has really stepped up other than Johnnie Lee Higgins and Miller. This grade would be even less if these 2 weren't performing. Overall grade: D+
Need to finish a few things, i'll be back with the rest, peace!
On the game against the Chargers, simply put, we got beat. Again. For the 10th time in a row.
Initially i was angry and disappointed but i applaud our team for going out and playing hard - even if it was for 3 quarters again. 2 weeks in a row we let a big lead turn into a disappointing L. Only a loser sees merit in moral victories and that's the only positive i can see in this loss. The ultimate verdict that i can come up with is that we are a young team that is learning how to win. I know, absurd, right?If you look at the core of our team, they can play well - but in spurts. We haven't yet put together a total team effort, hence the 3 losses (hell, even the KC game was a game that went to the wire).
Here are some quick points, positive (+) and negative (-) i wanted to touch upon:
- We need to finish games. 2 straight losses in come-from-behind fashion. Definitely a point that must be stressed by the staff.
+ Bush isn't a starter, but he can get it done when called upon.
- Russell seems like he can't "feel" when the rushers are breathing down his neck.
- We need our offensive tackles to step up. 3rd and long situations are going to kill us if Harris and Green can't keep up with defenders.
- McFadden. I know, he has turf toe. 2 plays come to mind: 1) the look-out block that resulted in a fumble and 2) the here-you-go INT he gave to the Chargers. 2 huge plays that hurt Russell rather than help him, which was why we drafted you in the first place D-Dawg! All good, i know he'll bounce back.
+ Defense can get in it with anyone. I don't care what team it is, we get our heads straight, prepare diligently, we can hang with any offense in the league. Yea we fell through in the end, but once we learn how to finish, both offensively and defensively, this will be a squad to look out for.
+ Gibril Wilson can play.
- Michael Huff... looks like he can't. I've been waiting for the kid to break out but it doesn't look good so far. I will say that the last touchdowns Tomlinson got weren't solely his fault, regardless, he needs to make the play. I wonder if the game has slowed down for him yet or is he still in over his head.
+ Miller can ball. When that TD happened, it was a glimpse of things to come. If he doesn't have to block as much, he can become the next big thing at TE. Hope for many more of those Russell to Miller plays. He did eff up on the sure TD catch slipping though. That was tough to watch.
+ Terdell Sands played an excellent game on Sunday. He was powerful up the middle, all what we've been hoping we would finally be.
+ Play-calling, both offense and defense. We're involving Johnnie Lee Higgins more, the only guy making the most of his opportunities, so that's good. We're opening it up more, so that's good. Ryan still needs help closing out games, but i like the heat he has been bringing. Keep fanning the flames.
- Special teams set up our tombstone that game. They gave Sproles a short field and our D is horrible when we're in that situation. That was big for SD.
- Chaz Schilens missed a wide-open catch. Don't care if Russell overthrew it, make the most of your opportunities.
- Still no Javon Walker
Well, we got a bye week, so hopefully everyone gets healthy, cuz we're gonna need everybody 100% against the Saints. Here's hoping for a great present
---
On the coaching changes, i can't say i agree, but i can't do anything about it. I did want Kiffin to stay for the continuity, mostly because we still have Russell to bring a long. Hopefully keeping Knapp at OC won't hinder his progress at all, and i hope that Knapp takes the cuffs off the guy and lets him play. We've been seeing glimpses of what Russell can do, it's time to unleash him.
I liked how Kiffin tried to change the culture around here, but i guess the big guy decided you had to go, so good luck to you. I guess 5-15 wasn't trying hard enough. I don't really know who to believe, but if you didn't want to stay here, then i don't want you here. I was tired of the "we don't have talent" rants you would have - i mean come on, it's the NFL, you go to war with what you got - but it's not your fault. It's on the big boss.
I'll say that i'm disappointed in the organization. I'll always support this team, but the decisions being made don't seem to be a plan for long term success, which is what i want. Of course i want to win now as well. We are turning it around, so hopefully Tom Cable will make sure we keep going in that direction.
---
Grades, unit by unit:
OL:
Barely getting the job done is not enough. Our tackles are still a major problem area for us and that's not good considering we have an inexperienced, expensive QB still trying to take hold of the offense. I do like our interior though as we've been great running inside. Gallery finally found a home and i can't recall hearing his name for a penalty yet. Grove seems to be working out and Carlisle is still our best lineman and hopefully he gets healthy as we need him. Depth certainly is a problem. Overall grade: C-
RB:
Our strongest unit, now where we're hurting. We hurt without Fargas and McFadden hurt is hurting us as well. This bye couldn't have come at a better time. Both have played well when in and the run game is still performing as expected. Bush looks good in there too, so finding a mix of who to give it to seems like a good problem for the staff to have. Still, we haven't had a consistent rushing threat over the first quarter as the status of the starter is always unknown. Overall grade: C
QB:
Russell has played well considering what he has been playing with. At times he looks like he knows what he has to do and other times he'll scare me because he doesn't know the rusher's right on him. This is our future and it looks like if he is coached right, we have a special talent here. Still, nothing noteworthy give or take a few passes. Overall grade: D
WR/TE:
The sorriest bunch. Walker is nowhere to be found. Ashley Lelie, an in season FA pickup has done little, and Curry has done less. Nobody has really stepped up other than Johnnie Lee Higgins and Miller. This grade would be even less if these 2 weren't performing. Overall grade: D+
Need to finish a few things, i'll be back with the rest, peace!
Total Comments 2
Comments
|
Very good post, agree with most of the points you make. With the grades you make I would like to put Russell at about a C-/C grade. The guy has yet to prove and like you said, the OL needs imporvement, if the OL improves then I feel that Russell can make the plays with the time that he will have to find his reciever.
Very good read  |
 
|
|
|
Great Read, hopfully Cable will let Russell lose as Davis pointed out, but there still is the matter, who will step up and be a real receiver
|
|
|
Total Trackbacks 0
Trackbacks
Recent Blog Entries by Gridiron PIRATE
- Mid Season - 2008, pt. 2 (11-09-2008)
- Mid Season - 2008, pt. 1 (11-07-2008)
- v. Falcons (11-01-2008)
- v. Ravens (10-25-2008)
- v. Jets (10-15-2008)
