Recent Forum Topics › Forums › The Rams Huddle › reporters & analysts preview the Raiders game (articles, vids)
- This topic has 7 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 12 months ago by
zn.
-
AuthorPosts
-
November 28, 2014 at 3:16 pm #12630
znModeratorRaiders are making strides
By Joe Lyons
The Oakland Raiders were in the final minute of their first win of the season when second-year linebacker Sio Moore came up with a third-down sack of Kansas City quarterback Alex Smith.
That launched a much-publicized celebration between Moore and rookie linebacker Khalil Mack that went on and on and on.
But the game wasn’t over.
Veteran defensive end Justin Tuck eventually called timeout, a fourth-down pass from the Chiefs fell incomplete and the Raiders were able to snap a 16-game losing streak.
“It was just a weird play,” said Tuck, in his 10th NFL season. “I think they thought it was fourth-down and the game was over at that point, but it wasn’t. It’s a situation where you’ve got to kind of have cool heads for real. Luckily, I realized that it had just became fourth down and we needed a timeout, just to right the wrong there. Obviously, you like the enthusiasm from the young guys, but next time we just want it to be well placed.”
Tony Sparano, the Raiders interim head coach, agreed: “That’s been talked about, and talked about, and talked about. It should be, there’s no question about it, because it’s two young players and something to learn when you talk about situational football and awareness. Those two players, clearly, they understand, I never want to squash their enthusiasm. … I want them to be enthusiastic like that and the atmosphere was electric at that point. I think they got caught up in the moment. It just teaches you that our game is a game where you’ve got to play at such a high level and you’ve got to concentrate in those situations, but yet you’re trying to play with a lot of enthusiasm and passion, so it’s a hard game to juggle.”
For the 1-10 Raiders, who take on the Rams (4-7) in a noon game Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome, that one play, at the end of a 24-20 Thursday night victory over the visiting Chiefs on Nov. 20, provides an interesting glimpse into an Oakland squad that relies as heavily on veterans such as Tuck, ageless defensive back Charles Woodson, defensive tackle Antonio Smith and tackles Donald Penn and Kalif Barnes as it does on gifted youngsters like Moore, Mack, guard Gabe Jackson, cornerback D.J. Hayden and rookie quarterback Derek Carr.
Sparano, who opened this season as the offensive line coach and assistant head coach, took over as head when Dennis Allen was fired following an 0-4 start. Since then, the Raiders have clearly made strides in recent competitive losses to San Diego (31-28 and 13-6), Arizona (24-13), Cleveland (23-13) and Seattle (30-24).
“I’ve seen us get better and better each week,” Sparano said. “I think our guys have played really hard…. I don’t ever question our players’ effort. We’re getting better. We’re getting better fundamentally. …
“It’s never been a tough group to deal with. In fact, (working with this team), it’s probably one of the greatest pleasures I’ve had. These (veteran) guys have been in big games before. … The biggest compliment I can give those players has been the focus that they’ve had because we haven’t won. It’s really easy sometimes as a veteran player to kind of look down the road a little bit, but our guys have never done that, not one day here. They just look at what’s in front of them and then enjoy competing, so that’s a real positive.’’
For a veteran like Tuck, who spent the first nine NFL seasons with the New York Giants, it’s been an adjustment. But, like Sparano, he’s sees progress.
“You definitely want to bring that winning tradition here,” said Tuck, a two-time All-Pro who helped the Giants to Super Bowl championships following the 2007 and 2011 seasons. “It hasn’t worked out that type of way in our first 11 games, but I think we’re learning. We’ve got a lot of young guys in key roles. … I think this season has taught us a lot; hopefully it’s something that we can grow on heading into the future.”
Tuck appreciates Sparano’s “no-nonsense” approach.
“He really treats guys like men and he expects you to act like men,” said Tuck, who’s in the first year of a two-year, $11 million deal. “He’s been a game-changer for this team because obviously, we’ve got a lot of young guys on this team and he’s really challenged all of us to grow up.”
The future of the Oakland offense belongs to Carr, who engineered the first game-winning drive of his career against Kansas City as the Raiders moved 80 yards on 17 plays for the go-ahead score on a TD pass to James Jones with 1:42 to play.
Carr, an early second-round draft pick from Fresno State, set an NFL record for rookies with eight TDs in his first five starts. This season, he’s completing 59.1 percent of his passes for 2,249 yards with 14 touchdowns, nine interceptions and a passer rating of 76.7.
“I’ve seen a lot of young quarterbacks come in and kind of wean their way into the position,’’ Sparano said. “This guy started game one against the New York Jets and never really looked back. He’s a great leader by example. Loves football. He’s mature beyond his years (and) I’ve seen him improve in a lot of areas. Numbers are numbers — I get it — but when you’re looking at a young quarterback get through progressions like he does, it’s impressive. He gets the ball out of his hand fast and he can give a clear picture on the sideline; he can tell you exactly what he’s seeing out there. This kid’s ahead of the curve that way.’’
When asked about his team’s young quarterback, Tuck predicted greatness.
“I love Derek. He’s one of the most positive people I’ve ever seen,’’ the veteran defensive end said. “He never gets out of his element. Regardless of the situation, he’s just a cool, calm and collected dude. I definitely think he’s a future star in this league. I love being around him. His attitude about football is contagious and you need that at quarterback as a leader of your football team.’’
November 29, 2014 at 12:21 pm #12655znModeratorChris Long set to return against Oakland
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/14145/chris-long-set-to-return-against-oakland
EARTH CITY, Mo. — St. Louis Rams defensive end Chris Long believes he has turned the corner in his recovery from the ankle surgery that landed him on the injured reserve list with the designation to return.
In fact, Long believes he is past the point where he should have to wait any longer to get back on the field, noting that had it been up to him he would have played last week against the San Diego Chargers.
C. Long
“I’m at the corner,” Long said. “I wanted to play Sunday. The head man (Jeff Fisher), he knows what he’s doing and he cares about his players. He wants to make sure you are able to help the team and you’re 100 percent. That’s important. We all appreciate his perspective, and I trust him a great deal, so if he thinks I’m ready to roll, I’m ready to roll. If he doesn’t think so, then I’m not.”On Saturday afternoon, the Rams expected to officially activate Long from the injured reserve list, clearing the path for him to play Sunday against the Oakland Raiders. The Rams will have to make a corresponding roster move by 4 p.m. ET to add Long to the active roster.
Long has been out since suffering the injury in the season opener against Minnesota on Sept. 7. The injury was a unique one without much precedent around the league, so Long’s return was predicated on his ability to feel better rather than an arbitrary timetable set forth by others who have had the injury.
The first step in getting back on the field was making sure the ankle was sound structurally. That part has been taken care of. Since then, Long said he has had his ups and downs, but recently has felt good moving around. He began his 21-day practice window a couple of weeks ago and has been getting more involved each day.
This week, Long had been more involved in practice than ever, and it was pretty clear that he was going to get his chance to come back based on his practice workload. Fisher hinted at it on Thursday and again Friday.
Long’s return should bolster a defense that played well over the past month before some struggles against the Chargers last week.
“We’ve missed him,” Fisher said. “We’ve missed his production. We’ve missed the consistent year after year sack production, and his ability to play the run. When he comes back it should help us improve in those areas.”
That Long is returning against the Raiders is only a coincidence, but a welcome one for a family that has longstanding ties to the Oakland organization. Long’s father Howie, of course, was a Hall of Fame defensive lineman for the Raiders. And Long’s brother Howie Jr. now works in the Oakland front office.
“To me, I’m proud of what my dad was able to accomplish there,” Long said. “He speaks highly of that experience. They have got great fans. They’ve got a great history. I enjoyed when I went there and played a couple of years back. They showed me love, their fans, so I’m very respectful of their tradition and what they do.
“It’s exciting because my brother Howie is in football operations there actually. That’s actually more exciting to me than playing my brother (Chicago offensive lineman) Kyle, because I actually have to play my brother Kyle and that’s not very fun. But to be able to see my brother (Howie) and catch up with him is nice, too.”
November 29, 2014 at 12:29 pm #12657
wvParticipantNot sure what to expect from C.Long
after such a long layoff and such
an unusual injury.Sure would be cool if he could play
at his usual level. We’d finally
get to see the real front-four at a time
when when the D is starting to gel. Or somethin.w
vNovember 29, 2014 at 7:23 pm #12671znModeratorRams want to win for Ferguson
By Jim Thomas
With long days of meetings, practice and treatment for aches and injuries — not to mention travel and the games themselves — football is all-consuming for Rams players this time of year.
Even so, how do you ignore the events in Ferguson? Well, the players say you don’t.
“You keep a close eye on it,” defensive end Chris Long said. “I’d keep a close eye on that situation no matter where it was in America. But it happens to be in our backyard.
“We care a great deal about our community. Care a great deal about this country. You hope something good comes of it because it was a tragedy no matter how you slice it.
“You hope that they’re able to heal in Ferguson. You just pray for them and pray that everybody can protest peacefully and safely, and that everybody comes out of it all right.”
Ferguson isn’t far from the team’s practice facility at Rams Park, maybe 15 minutes. And the team feels a bit of a kinship after playing host to three high school football teams from that area during training camp last summer.
McCluer, McCluer North and McCluer South-Berkeley all needed a place to practice for a week last summer when the schools were shut down, and Rams Park opened its doors for them.
“That was awesome,” defensive end William Hayes said. “I wasn’t able to practice at the time, but that might have been the most energy I’ve ever seen at one practice. To see how excited the kids were to be around us, and just to take their minds off a situation that’d be hard for anybody.”
Hayes wasn’t practicing because he was still rehabbing from multiple offseason surgeries at the time. But the visit from the young high schoolers had a big impact on him.
“It was probably one of the best experiences I’ve ever had in the NFL,” Hayes said.
Long said seeing those high school football players from Ferguson and the surrounding area at Rams Park during training camp, and experiencing their enthusiasm, helped keep things in perspective for him.
“Sometimes during camp, you just kind of get caught up in going to work every day and honing your craft,” Long said. “You forget what you’re doing playing this game.
“I followed along with them a little in their (2014) season on Instagram and Twitter. Hey, if we can have half the enthusiasm and energy every time we take the field, it’d be pretty good.”
So as the Rams watched Ferguson burning Monday night on television, they undoubtedly had flashbacks to that August visit.
The arson and looting came after the announcement that no criminal charges would be filed against Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson in the fatal shooting of teenager Michael Brown.
No Rams players offered opinions on the merit — or lack thereof — of that decision, but simply expressed their sadness about the overall situation.
“It’s hard, man,” right tackle Joe Barksdale said.
After a lengthy pause, he added, “It’s hard. Especially being from the city, from Detroit. We have riot history. And you hate to see a community tear itself apart.”
“Our hearts go out to basically everyone that’s been affected by it,” left guard Rodger Saffold added. “It’s Thanksgiving. It’s a really big time of the year for family and friends and those types of things.”
The Rams have been active in the community since moving to St. Louis in 1995, but there’s little or nothing the players can do in terms of reaching out to Ferguson this time of year. (Although several players did hand out Thanksgiving turkey and fixings to needy families in nearby Jennings on Tuesday, which is an annual event held in conjunction with the Urban League.)
About the best they can do now is provide a diversion for a few hours Sunday when they play Oakland in a noon kickoff at the Edward Jones Dome.
“Yeah, that’s the game plan,” Hayes said. “Hopefully, we’ll be able to put together a good win and give the city something to be proud about for a little bit. Just kind of help people take their minds away from the reality of the situation for a little while.”
“The issues in play (in Ferguson) are a hundred times bigger than sports,” Long added. “And we’re just athletes. If sports can provide a little release and allow people to kind of come together as a community and watch a game and forget about the tough things that are going on, then I hope that can help.”
Coach Jeff Fisher said the Ferguson situation was discussed with the squad on Wednesday morning.
He said the team would like to get involved once again with the Ferguson area once the season is over.
“Hopefully, as soon as things settle down, then we’ll get back involved,” Fisher said. “As we talked (about) as a group, it’s our community.
“They’re neighbors. Everybody cares deeply about what’s going on and hopes things can get settled as soon as possible.”
Every player interviewed Wednesday was all for trying to help Ferguson whenever and however they can.
“One thing I want to say about the (Rams) organization, it’s really big in the community service,” Barksdale said. “Yeah, it’s always great to be able to help people out when you can. In any way you can.”
“Absolutely,” Hayes said. “I feel like it’s our duty to try to (help). … But right now, it’s just not the right time.
“Eventually everything will calm down and everything will go back to normal. You’ve just got to pray on the situation and wish the city the best.”
Although plans have not been finalized, the Rams will have beefed-up security at the dome for Sunday’s game.
November 29, 2014 at 7:26 pm #12672znModeratorKeys to Victory: Raiders
Join D’Marco Farr and Will Witherspoon for the keys to victory against the Oakland Raiders.
November 29, 2014 at 9:43 pm #12682znModeratorW2W4: St. Louis Rams
By Nick Wagoner | ESPN.com
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams%5B/quote%5D
EARTH CITY, Mo. — The St. Louis Rams and the San Diego Chargers kick off Week 13 on Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET on CBS regional coverage.
Here are three things to watch from the Rams’ perspective:
1. Pressuring Carr: The Raiders have actually protected rookie quarterback Derek Carr pretty well in his first season, at least when it comes to sacks allowed. Oakland has given up just 12 sacks this season which is the fewest in the league entering Sunday’s game. Much of that has to do with Carr’s ability to get the ball out quickly. But that doesn’t mean he’s done it efficiently. In fact, Carr’s QBR against the blitz is a paltry 16.6 with a 50.8 completion percentage. Four of his nine interceptions have come when blitzed. Not that anyone has to tell Rams defensive coordinator Gregg Williams to dial up the pressure. Nobody in the league is blitzing more than the Rams, who have brought extra pass-rushers on 46.3 percent of their opponent’s drop backs. Getting after Carr might not yield many sacks but it can lead to plenty of other good things for the Rams defense.
2. Turnover turnaround: It’s true of every team and every game in the league but the correlation between winning the turnover battle and winning games has been unmistakable for the Rams this season. In their seven losses, the Rams have either broken even or lost the turnover battle, which is no coincidence considering that they’ve had seven giveaways turn into immediate touchdowns for the defense. In their four victories, the Rams have not had a negative turnover differential. That’s good news as they prepare to meet the Raiders, who are a league-worst minus-13 in turnover margin with 21 giveaways and only eight takeaways. Rams quarterback Shaun Hill had three costly giveaways in San Diego last week but if he resolves that issue this week, the Rams will be well positioned to win.
3. Happy returns: One common denominator when the Rams win this season has been strong special teams play. Whether it was the trickery of the Seattle game or the solid coverage work in the Denver game, that’s an area that’s been worth watching in the many close games the Rams have played. This week, they could find themselves with a chance to take advantage of some of Oakland’s struggles covering kicks and punts. The Raiders are 31st in the league in kickoff coverage, allowing an average of 32 yards per return. They are slightly better on punt returns where they have the 10th worst average allowed at 10.27 yards per attempt. That could mean some prime opportunities for the Rams to get a game-changing play (so long as they don’t get a penalty).
November 29, 2014 at 11:10 pm #12685znModerator
Rams-Raiders: Matchup breakdownBy Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/14098/rams-raiders-matchup-breakdown
EARTH CITY, Mo. — A look at three individual matchups to keep an eye on when the St. Louis Rams and Oakland Raiders meet at 1 p.m. ET Sunday.
Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald versus Raiders center Stefen Wisniewski
No matter who has been put in front of Donald this season, he has won his one-on-one matchups more often than not. Teams have begun throwing additional blockers at Donald more than they were earlier in the season which means he’s seeing more double teams from the guards and center. Wisniewski is one of the more underrated centers in the league, a solid if unspectacular type who is better in the run game than in pass protection.
That might be a bad sign for Raiders quarterback Derek Carr this week because of Donald’s ability to quickly penetrate the backfield. According to Pro Football Focus, Wisniewski has allowed one sack, three quarterback hits and eight quarterback hurries. He’s also picked up four penalties along the way. The Rams coaches’ evaluations have Donald down for five sacks, 15 tackles for loss, 18 quarterback pressures and nine quarterback hits this season.
Oakland has allowed the fewest sacks in the league but sacks aren’t everything and if the Raiders can’t contain Donald, it’s going to be a long day for Carr and the offense.
Rams right tackle Joe Barksdale versus Raiders defensive end Justin Tuck
It’s easy to look at the Raiders’ record and dismiss them as a bad team but they’ve actually been pretty solid defensively this season. Amidst the many older veterans the Raiders brought in last offseason, Tuck has played better than most. He has a pair of sacks, seven quarterback hits and 10 quarterback hits to go with his 20 tackles. No, he’s not the same Tuck that he was when he was a dominant player for the Giants but he can still create some chaos.
Of course, Barksdale is the player opposite Tuck who will be asked to slow him down. After a solid 2013, Barksdale has been a bit more up and down this time around. He’s struggled against elite pass-rushers like Kansas City’s Justin Houston but also been solid in games earlier in the season like Dallas and Tampa Bay. After a down cycle, Barksdale has been better the past two weeks but will have another tough challenge in Tuck this week.
The Rams need to get the running game going and it’s on Barksdale and his line mates to make it happen.
Rams punt returner Tavon Austin versus Raiders punter Marquette King
Oakland’s special teams have had their share of ups and downs but King has been one of the consistent bright spots. He’s punted more than anyone in the league but his 41.66 net average ranks eighth in the league. The Raiders, though, haven’t been the best at covering those punts despite the solid net average. They’re allowing an average punt return of 10.27 this season, which ranks 23rd in the NFL.
The Rams, meanwhile, have been on the verge of getting Austin a touchdown in recent weeks as only a pair of questionable penalties have brought long returns back. Austin has looked more comfortable and decisive over the past few weeks and if he gets an opportunity, he could make the type of play that could change the game and leave former teammate Ray Ray Armstrong disappointed on the other side in the process.
November 30, 2014 at 2:48 am #12693znModerator7 things to watch: Rams vs. Raiders
By Jim Thomas
For eight consecutive games, the Rams have faced a quarterback who had either been named to a Pro Bowl, or played in the Super Bowl — or both — over the past two seasons. On Sunday, that streak ends when they play rookie QB Derek Carr. A second-round pick out of Fresno State, Carr has been the starter since opening day and has played more than any other rookie QB in the league, completing 59.1 percent of his 406 passes for 2,249 yards, 14 TDs, nine interceptions and a passer rating of 76.7. “They’ve found their quarterback,” Rams coach Jeff Fisher said. “He’s got legs to escape, a quick release and he’s very accurate.” Only seven QBs in the NFL have thrown more passes than Carr, yet he has been sacked a modest 12 times. But after facing Philip Rivers and Peyton Manning the past two weeks, this is a QB the Rams need to handle.
ALONG CAME JONES
Who knows where the Raiders’ passing game would be without veteran WR James Jones, the former Packer who signed last offseason as a free agent. As it is they’re near the bottom of the pile, ranking 26th in passing offense. Jones leads the team in catches (54) and yards (545). “He’s been a settling influence in that rather young group of guys that he’s with,” Rams defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said. “He’s a big body. Extremely talented receiver.”
THE OTHER GUYS
Last year’s receiving leader, Rod Streater, remains out with a foot fracture suffered in Week 3. That leaves the Raiders with largely a bunch of no-names at WR, although third-year man Andre Holmes has decent numbers with 32 catches for 474 yards and four TDs to go with good size (6-4, 210). Second-year TE Mychal Rivera has been productive, ranking second to Jones in receptions (38). The only other Raider with more than 19 catches is RB Darren McFadden.
TIGHTEN IT UP
The Rams played it conservatively against San Diego, using a lot of off-coverage. With Rams corners consistently playing 7-8 yards off the line of scrimmage, Rivers carved them up with underneath stuff and bubble screens. Rivers had been in the midst of one of the worst four-game slumps of his career; the Rams’ approach helped him get in rhythm. Hopefully that’s not the strategy against Carr, who ranks 32nd in yards per attempt (5.54).
BACKFIELD WOES
Despite the presence of veterans McFadden and Maurice Jones-Drew, the Raiders rank last in the NFL in rushing offense. Latavius Murray provided an unanticipated spark last week against KC with 112 yards and two TDs on just four carries, but he’s been ruled out Sunday with a concussion. As Fisher points out, the rushing numbers are misleading because the Raiders have a league-low 19.5 carries per game — seven carries a game lower than the league average.
HOLD THAT LINE
The Raiders are near the bottom of the league in running defense (25th), but again the numbers are a bit misleading. Yes, the Raiders are yielding 126.7 rushing yards a game, but they’re allowing only 3.8 yards per carry, which is pretty decent. The high overall total in rushing yards allowed is due in part to the fact that teams have rushed 363 times against Oakland’s defense; only Tennessee (365) has faced more running plays on defense this season.
SPECIAL CHANCES
The Raiders gave up 169 yards in returns in their 24-20 victory over Kansas City on Nov. 20, including a 28-yard punt return and kickoff returns of 46 and 58 yards for the Chiefs. Benny Cunningham is hanging in among NFL kickoff return leaders, ranking fifth with a 28.9-yard average. And Tavon Austin has been cranking it up on punt returns lately, nearly returning one for a touchdown last week. So there could be some opportunities here for the Rams.
-
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
