NFL, Team News / Analysis, Player News / Analysis, Scores, Oakland Raiders, Philip Rivers, Darren McFadden, Rolando McClain, Carson Palmer, Tommy Kelly , Jon Condo, Travis Goethel
The Raiders also faced significant injuries to their offense. Denarius Moore, Carson Palmer's favorite target, was out with a hamstring injury. Slot receiver Jacoby Ford wasn't even present for the game with a foot injury. This crippled the Raiders' ability to get the ball downfield, and allowed the Chargers to completely stack the box, holding running back Darren McFadden to 32 rushing yards. This was also part of the reason that the Raiders moved the ball well, but couldn't show it on the scoreboard.In addition, the absence of Moore and Ford resulted in undrafted rookie out of Temple Rod Streater getting the start. Streater ended a promising opening drive for the Raiders with a fumble while trying to fight for extra yards.
Other self inflicted blows to the Raiders included a botched exchange between Marcel Reece and Taiwan Jones on a double reverse, and a five yard penalty that backed the Raiders up while in the red zone with 16 seconds left in the first half (they would then settle for a field goal).
Well, here's the couple of positives that can be taken for the Raiders. First and foremost, Darren McFadden isn't hurt yet! After a heavy workload of being the first, second, and third option for the offense, the Raiders get to use their brittle running back for another game.
Second, Rolando McClain is a monster. Maybe the defensive minded Dennis Allen brought out the inner beast in him, but he was making some great plays and clogging lanes for a defense that gave up only 21 team rushing yards (excluding an 11 yard Eddie Royal end-around).
That leads me to my next point - the defense was as good as it looked in years. Granted, the Chargers came into this season with serious question marks on their offensive line, but the Raider D still played great. Aside from the 9 points that they gave up due to the punt team handing the ball to the Chargers in field goal range, the defense gave up 13 points. The touchdown drive was in part the result of two awful third down penalties, which will hopefully go away as Coach Allen gets more time with the unit. It was certainly a promising showing from the Raider defense.
Staying on the subject of defense, rookie Miles Burris looked fantastic filling in for the injured Aaron Curry. A fourth round pick in last year's draft, Burris burst onto the scene, leading the Raiders in tackles with seven. He's definitely got a spot in the linebacker rotation, even once Curry comes back.
The Raiders face off against the Dolphins in Miami next week, and they'll look to their revitalized defense to torture rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill on their way to their first win of the season.
9/13/12 | cehjr3h | 337 respect
This year Raider's don't have any enthusiasmn, low intensity, lack the necessary motivation to win...... All because this is the demeanor of Carson Palmer, if they don't play Matt lineart or TP, it's going to be a long sub par season.......