Run defense...a problem or not?

[S&B_BO34]

I think only time will tell what this defense can do. If you believe in the addition by subtraction route well Sapp and Brayton are removed from the D line and now Kelly is back and healthy with Warren, and hopefully a mentally and physically ready to go Sands. Burgess will be out there every play as will Kelly because of their talent and salary level. Gibril Wilson should help as well with Huff sliding to FS, but this is all truly speculation. We can build a case for either side with relative ease, but until they start playing, we won't really know. Here is to hoping that the D line comes together as a unit, maintains gap assignments, and finally perform the way we all know they can.

[Raider Ran]

Until we can stop the run we will not be successful. Bottom Line.

[Gotta Love Al]

I agree. Especially the fact that if our offense plays as it should, with true playmakers, teams will have to pass if they expect to score. Also, last year we would typically hold strong then give up a big play on third down. Hopefully with better play from the safeties, we can avoid those big gains.

[HITMAN]

Until they can prove they can stop the run it is and will continue to be a problem. I don't see why people assume the run defense will suddenly become solid when the last five seasons prove otherwise.

[Raider Ran]

Originally Posted by HITMAN

Until they can prove they can stop the run it is and will continue to be a problem. I don't see why people assume the run defense will suddenly become solid when the last five seasons prove otherwise.

I always see the argument that we will score tons of points on offense so other teams will have to pass against us instead of running. I don't buy this. Our offense is totally unproven with a lot of question marks.

[HITMAN]

Originally Posted by Raider Ran

I always see the argument that we will score tons of points on offense so other teams will have to pass against us instead of running. I don't buy this. Our offense is totally unproven with a lot of question marks.

Exactly, until they prove it on the field, it's just a smoke screen in my opinion, yeah they have some potential talent and some potential question marks, I'll wait until at least the end of September before I begin claiming this off season a success..

[RaiderOfTheSith]

Offseason optomism is on thing, but wholesale overlooking at a fatal defense flaw is another.

We are horrible on run D for years. Moving a SS to FS and getting a tackler in the secondary is not a major upgrade on the run D, for the seconday yes. Wilson will only impact a couple of plays in the box, plus he will be ineffective if our DL allows OLmen to second level.

Neither is Sands and Kelly who have failed on teh DL for years, either because of play or injury. same deck of cards, just reshuffled.

Edwards in place of Clemons is basically a push, and I honestly think Clemons was probably the better of the two, but Edwards got the attention of the Raiders because of the game he played against us - he wasnt that good against other OLs.

The best pick up so far is Hartwell, but that is the LB spot and he too has a history of injury.

[HITMAN]

Offseason optomism is on thing, but wholesale overlooking at a fatal defense flaw is another.

Great quote... some fans seem to be afraid to admit there are flaws on the defense and until they prove otherwise those flaws still exist in my book, we can hope things will improve, but until it manifests itself in games it's still a question mark.

[ABQ Raider]

I think better corner and safety play will help with run support...I said help. It all starts up front but a better tackling Safety and Linebacker will help. The D Line still needs some work but its not an over night, 1 player fix. It can also be a system fix, or adjustment to players strengths.

I think I put my money in a few times on the topic before so, thats all I have to say about that...

[POKE]

Is run defense a problem? LOL! Is this even a question? Have you seen the Raiders play over the last 5 years? Hell yes its a problem.

When bums like Ron Dayne come to Oakland and look like Jim Brown and something name Kobly Smith in his first start has over 150 yards hell yes its a problem.

And I don't care what any rose color glasses wearing person says. If the Raiders don't stop the run they ain't gonna win many more games than the 4 they won last year. People keep saying D-Hall and Aso the no pass zone. But if the Raiders don't stop the run then why should teams pass?

So Hell yes the run defense is a problem until we see other wise in the REGULAR SEASON.

Not mini camp, otas, training camp, or preseason. The regular season when it counts.

[cheapshotartist]

We still have the same front seven we had last season so I see no improvement. We added a SS who may help and a pass rushing DE who won't help the run defense. The fact that Sands and Kelly "got paid" won't make them any better against the run. I think teams are still going to run the ball on us until we can stop them. We will see on Monday night when the season starts.

[Sabers]

Inside, outside, it doesn't matter. Last year's defensive line couldn't penetrate between the tackles and couldn't hold the edge.

Lots of questions this year:

* Is Jay Richardson a year better, or just a year older? If the former, maybe he can make a decent base end, which will greatly help the run D.

* Can the newly acquired Greg Spires do the job if Richardson can't? And if Richardson can, could Spires spell Derrick Burgess on run downs, freeing up Burgess to turn it loose on the pass rush?

* Is Derrick Burgess ready to put his contract beef behind him and play this year? At times, his play seemed indifferent last season, especially against the run.

* Is Tommy Kelly fully healed? His injury last year opened the floodgates for opposing runners.

* Is Gerard Warren ready to stop taking plays off? All-World this Sunday, AWOL the next. Not good.

* What, if anything, does William Joseph bring to the table? A total unknown here.

* Is Terdell Sands conscious? Superstar play worthy of his mega-contract would be nice, but from this guy, even a pulse would be an upgrade over his sorry performance last year.

G.

"Pillaging just for fun"

[d-mac37]

The run D has been awful - not much of an argument there.....but when the offense struggles to score points and sustain drives, we see the result in a tired D not being able to keep the opponents from scoring late in games.

For example:

The combined record of the 9 other teams that scored less points than OAK in 2007 is 44-104. Do I even need to mention 2006?

Unless you have the Ravens D of 2001 - you won't win many games if you can't score points.

IMO, this team has made improvements on both sides of the ball. Whether or not these moves will return the Raiders to contenders remains to be seen, but I expect to see a much more exciting product on the field compared to the last few years....and for that, I am more optimistic this offseason.

Just outscore em baby