Coach Cable Video, Article: Post-practice news, Article: Big concerns: AFC West

[Artois]

Post-practice news, notes - Inside the Oakland Raiders - A look inside the world of the highly classified Oakland Raiders from the writers of Bay Area News Group


Post-practice news, notes

By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Monday, September 6th, 2010 at 4:05 pm in Oakland Raiders.

"News and notes from Raiders practice Monday and the post-practice press briefing from coach Tom Cable:

– More details may or may not be forth coming Wednesday, but Cable gave this brief synopsis of the participation of running back Michael Bush:

“He did some individual work, caught the ball, ran some routs, carried it a little bit,” Cable said. “Limited.”

– Rolando McClain wasn’t the only member of the Raiders to begin fixating on Chris Johnson, the Tennessee Titans running back who gained 2,006 yards last season and will be aimed straight at the Raiders’ oft-criticized run defense.

At a recent practice, defensive coordinator John Marshall was heard invoking Johnson’s name when the defense was slow to seal the perimeter. It’s been ongoing since the schedule was released.

“They’ve been talking about Chris Johnson and Steven Jackson all summer because they’re the top two rushers coming back from last year,” defensive tackle Tommy Kelly said. “Coach Marshall, coach (Mike) Waufle and coach (Lionel) Washington, they’ve been keying on it, talking about it a lot.”

Kelly thinks defending Johnson rests with winning at the line of scrimmaging and getting defenders to the ball.

“Penetration. Make him stop his feet and to get as many guys around him (as possible). All the film we’ve been watching, it has been one or two guys, and they still haven’t brought him down. He still broke some tackles. So, we’re going to try to get as many guys as we can around him and just try to slow him down.

“A great player like that, you can’t really just always shut him down because they use him in the passing game. So, it’s going to be real hard to take him out of the game. We just want to limit him.”

Kelly sounds fine with loading up to stop Johnson and rolling the dice on Titans quarterback Vince Young.

“I’d probably take my chances. Chris Johnson, he did everything, 2,000 yards,” Kelly said. “I’d rather put eight or nine in the box and try to slow him down and put the game in Vince’s hands, even though Vince is an excellent athlete and a good quarterback. I would rather take my chances with Vince than Chris Johnson, that’s just a fact.”

Cable wasn’t willing to take it that far, but conceded keeping Johnson under control is Job 1.

“He’s probably the best there is in this league,” Cable said. “He’s got a tremendous group blocking for him, and good tight ends, the quarterback is a threat, also, so you can’t put all your focus on one guy, and he’s got good players around him. ”

– Punter Shane Lechler has been around long enough to know previous training camps and preseasons have provided false optimism, but is of the opinion there is legitimate reason to be more enthused this season.

“We have said a lot of stuff in the past just because everybody says that,” Lechler said. “I don’t know if you’d say we didn’t mean it back then but you can back it up a little right now. We’ve got a real legit chance this year.”

– Following the Chicago game, Cable said he wanted to see McClain “pull the trigger” as far as making plays on defense. He is satisfied with the progress since then.

“It’s happening and it’s been fun to see,” Cable said. “I think he understands now what’s needed of him and what we’re asking him to do. I look forward to seeing him play on Sunday.”

Regarding McClain’s veteran-like demeanor, Cable said, “He’s not one to dwell on things. He’s going to move forward and not let the last one beat you. He’s well schooled that way. There’s no reason for him or anybody else to be uptight or nervous. We have a good football team. It’s just a matter of going out and playing our way and our purpose.

“It’s not beating ourselves. Go play the opponent. Line up and play them with everything we’ve got and eliminate negative football. That’s what we’ve learned and we’ve figured out that that’s what we are.”

– Stanford Routt was happy to have won the job as the starting left cornerback over Chris Johnson (the Raiders’ Chris Johnson) but repeated his preseason thoughts that he really has no idea what Cable is talking about with regard to a new attitude.

“I think my mind is maybe a little more clear, not so much BS going on mentally,” Routt said. “But I really can’t put a finger on what you’re asking. Everything stayed the same. I’m still the same guy. I still study the same. I eat the same foods. I’m the same.”

– Any thoughts the Raiders had of bringing in Tony Richardson (if they had any at all) were erased when the fullback re-signed with the Jets a day after being released.

– Defensive end Alex Daniels, defensive end Jay Richardson and cornerback Joey Thomas were cleared injured/waivers and were moved to injured reserve. They may at some point receive injury settlements and move on.

– The Raiders take Tuesday (the mandatory day off for teams that play Sunday) off before resuming practice Wednesday.”


Post-practice news, notes - Inside the Oakland Raiders - A look inside the world of the highly classified Oakland Raiders from the writers of Bay Area News Group




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Big concerns: AFC West - NFL - Yahoo! Sports

Big concerns: AFC West

"Denver Broncos
The offensive line bears watching Sunday at Jacksonville. All-Pro LT Ryan Clady was back for a couple series in the preseason finale but has been out all offseason and showed some rust. RT Ryan Harris turned an ankle in that game and might be hobbled a bit. No matter whether Zane Beadles, or more likely, Stanley Daniels, starts at left guard, that player will be flanked by rookie C J.D. Walton, meaning two players will be taking their first regular-season snaps. Denver struggled to run effectively in preseason, in part because of the lack of line cohesiveness and because of injuries at running back. This group must congeal quickly to prevent putting all the pressure on QB Kyle Orton—and keeping the heat off him, too. — Lee Rasizer

Kansas City Chiefs
The first-team offense showed a disturbing inability to throw downfield in preseason games. QB Matt Cassel's only pass of 20-plus yards was a 30-yarder on which WR Dwayne Bowe did most of the work after making the catch. Cassel appears to lack confidence on downfield passes, perhaps the results of taking too many sacks the past two seasons.

Pass protection hasn't been consistent when Cassel has tried to look deep. The Chiefs could have problems vs. the league's better pass rushers. The Chiefs do have the receivers to make the downfield passing game work. Even at 32, WR Chris Chambers has the knack for beating cornerbacks off the line and getting open deep. WR/RB Dexter McCluster and WR Jeremy Horne have the speed to present problems, and even TE Tony Moeaki has shown the ability to beat coverage downfield. — Adam Teicher

Oakland Raiders
Defensive coordinator John Marshall has been harping on the need to stop Titans RB Chris Johnson throughout camp, reminding defenders that if they make some of the errors they did in practice and exhibition games it will lead to big runs by Johnson on Sunday. To that end, Marshall is spending an inordinate amount of time making sure his players grasp the importance of maintaining discipline, executing assignments and flocking to the ball.

The Raiders' defense was among the worst last season in terms of average yards per game and average yards per carry, and the unit allowed the league's most rushing touchdowns. They brought in run-stopping DT John Henderson, moved Richard Seymour from end to tackle, drafted MLB Rolando McClain and traded for OLBs Kamerion Wimbley and Quentin Groves, all with the intent upon shoring up the run defense. Facing Johnson and the Rams' Steven Jackson the first two games figures to prove whether the Raiders have the right personnel. — Steve Corkran

San Diego Chargers
For all the talk of missing stars on offense, the defense is much more of a concern. The defense's inability to stop the run the past few years is troublesome, for sure, and does not allow them to be in favorable positions often enough. But there are questions, in particular, about the pass rush. OLB Shawne Merriman could miss the opener or be limited after not practicing since mid-August (just two days after he reported to camp) and OLB Larry English has yet to prove himself as a playmaker. Merriman is progressing, the secondary seems to have improved and coordinator Ron Rivera has concocted different ways to attack the quarterback. But the Chargers must reignite their outside pressure or continue to struggle to get off the field. — Kevin Acee"


Big concerns: AFC West - NFL - Yahoo! Sports

[Artois]

Stanford Routt was happy to have won the job as the starting left cornerback over Chris Johnson (the Raiders’ Chris Johnson) but repeated his preseason thoughts that he really has no idea what Cable is talking about with regard to a new attitude.

“I think my mind is maybe a little more clear, not so much BS going on mentally,” Routt said. “But I really can’t put a finger on what you’re asking. Everything stayed the same. I’m still the same guy. I still study the same. I eat the same foods. I’m the same.”,


I don’t like the attitude, Route wasn’t worth a dime let alone a nickel coverage in the past, so I really hope something is different.

[MH_RAIDERS]

Stanford Routt was happy to have won the job as the starting left cornerback over Chris Johnson (the Raiders’ Chris Johnson) but repeated his preseason thoughts that he really has no idea what Cable is talking about with regard to a new attitude.

“I think my mind is maybe a little more clear, not so much BS going on mentally,” Routt said. “But I really can’t put a finger on what you’re asking. Everything stayed the same. I’m still the same guy. I still study the same. I eat the same foods. I’m the same.”,


I don’t like the attitude, Route wasn’t worth a dime let alone a nickel coverage in the past, so I really hope something is different.

And this is why I don't like this guy. He thinks he is already a great player and he dosent need any more work. He has only won the job because CJ struggled coming back from injury. Routt did ok against scrubs. Like I said before, I just wish he would have gone against better receivers like Wayne and Jennings so that you guys could see how awful he is and he isn't any better this year. At this point, I would be much more comfortable with either of the two rookies. Especially, Ware who improved so much in just 4 games. I saw more plays from him in Seattle game than I have watching Routt for 4 years.

[regret]

All these people up on their high horse criticizing a guy when it's likely they'd receive the "OH WHY DONT YOU SUCK ANYMORE?" questions with even less grace than Routt does.

[dragonsieu]

Stanford Routt was happy to have won the job as the starting left cornerback over Chris Johnson (the Raiders’ Chris Johnson) but repeated his preseason thoughts that he really has no idea what Cable is talking about with regard to a new attitude.

“I think my mind is maybe a little more clear, not so much BS going on mentally,” Routt said. “But I really can’t put a finger on what you’re asking. Everything stayed the same. I’m still the same guy. I still study the same. I eat the same foods. I’m the same.”,


I don’t like the attitude, Route wasn’t worth a dime let alone a nickel coverage in the past, so I really hope something is different.

Same thought that went through my mind as far as his comment on change. Exactly what bs is he talking about.