Rebuilding the Raiders (M10): Post-Davis Era

[Jefferson2Lafell]

Raiders trade WR Hines to Browns for Cribbs, Pick

Unhappy WR/Return man Josh Cribbs was traded to the Oakland Raiders today along with a Third-Round pick for First-Round pick Derrick Hines, a reported underachiever by Raider's brass. Cribbs is projected to be the Raiders Kick Returner and reserve receiver.

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Raiders beat Chargers in spectacular fashion, 27-7

Maybe Jamarcus Russell wasn't as big of a bust as first thought. Russell threw for a career-high 360 yards and 3 touchdowns with 2 interceptions in Offensive & Defensive Coordinators, Norv Turner and Ron Rivera's first game against their old team. The Chargers offense looked good on their first two drives until both were ended on interceptions by Raiders Corner Nnamdi Asomugha. Rookie free agent Wide Receiver Xavier Washington caught 3 passes for 68 yards and 2 touchdowns, while the other starting wide receiver, Chaz Schilens caught 3 passes for 109 yards and the other touchdown. The Raiders started 3 rookie offensive lineman in this game, including 2nd Overall pick LT Julian Davis, and they lived up to their promise, allowing no sacks against a vaunted Chargers pass rush. Russell did a good job releasing the ball under pressure to help his line out.

[Jefferson2Lafell]

Free Agent acquisition Dan Carpenter kicks Oakland to 2-0 as time expires

Former Dolphins Kicker Dan Carpenter kicked a 32-yard Field Goal on the last play of the game to beat the Broncos 20-17 and give Oakland a 2-0 record in Coach Mike Heimerdinger's first season with the team. Following a 360 yard, 3 touchdown performance in week 1, Jamarcus Russell struggled mightily against the Broncos, completing 12-31 passes for 158 yards, 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. Russell only took one sack, but both of his interceptions were on hits put on by the constant pressure put on him by Denver. Russell also fumbled on a Quarterback sneak on 3&1 from his own 40 in the second quarter. The game started off with the Broncos driving down field until the Raiders stiffened and only allowed a 42-yard field goal by Adam Vinateri. With the ball back in their hands, Oakland drove down field, but was stopped in the red zone and had to settle for a 39-yard field goal by Carpenter. After trading punts, Oakland stopped the driving Broncos when Thomas Howard intercepted a Kyle Orton Pass on his own 27. The Raiders then faced 3&7, and Russell launched a deep pass that was intercepted by Denver. After a Denver punt and Russell's fumble, the Broncos Peyton Hillis caught an 8-yard scoring pass to put the Broncos on top, 10-3. On the ensuing kick-off however, Rookie Andre Deas took the ball 95-yards to the house. In the end of the third quarter, Orton threw another touchdown to Hillis to put the score at 17-10. Oakland quickly responded by driving down and Russell throwing a 47-yard touchdown(by far his best throw of the day) to Rookie WR Xavier Washington. After trading punts, the Broncos faced a 3&Inches from their own 29 when rookie MLB Wendell Tarver burst up the middle and dropped Knowshon Moreno for a 2-yard loss. The Raiders got the ball at the 50 after a nice Deas return, and drove down to the 15 and let the clock run down to 1 second before calling a time-out and sending Carpenter out for the 32-yarder.

[Jefferson2Lafell]

Cards unhappy Wide-out Anquan Boldin traded to Oakland

Disgruntled Arizona Wide Receiver Anquan Boldin has been traded to the Oakland Raider for 2011 First and Second Round Draft picks and Oakland WR Chaz Schilens. Boldin has been unhappy ever since Larry Fitzgerald got an extension 2 years ago and he did not. There was much talk about Boldin being traded this offseason, then after the draft it was not expected to happen, but Oakland's new owner Eli Johnson made an offer they could not refuse. Boldin has 15 receptions for 199 yards and 1 touchdown through 2 games this year. Schilens has 4 receptions for 104 yards and 1 touchdown after only gathering in 1 catch for -5 yards last week against the Broncos, a game in which he and opposite starting WR Xavier Washington combined for 7 drops. "We are very excited to get a player of Anquan's caliber and wish Chaz the best of luck in any and all future endeavors," said a statement realeased by Oakland today.

[Jefferson2Lafell]

Raiders squeak by Bills

Rhett Bomar came in to relieve Jamarcus Russell, with mixed results.
After Russell completed 3 of 9 passes for 21 yards and 1 interception, Rhett Bomar was put in by Coach Mike Heimerdinger. Said Heimerdinger after the game "We just wanted to give Jamarcus some time to settle down, but Rhett was playing well, so we let him go ahead with it." Bomar completed 15 of 24 passes for 223 yards and 3 touchdowns, but also threw 3 interceptions. Anquan Boldin, acquired this week in a mega-trade, caught 5 passes for 155 yards and a 58-yard touchdown. Bomar also threw touchdowns to Davone Bess and Darrius Heyward-Bey, the only catch this season by the ultra fast 7th overall pick in the 2009 Draft. The Raiders had a comfortable 24-13 lead with 3 minutes left when Buffalo drove down and scored with 0:54 remaining. After a failed 2-point conversion pass, Oakland recovered Buffalo's onside kick and looked to run the clock out. With Buffalo having all 3 timeouts, Oakland wanted to run so they could make the Bills get rid of their remaining time-outs and kneel to end it. But, on the first play of the drive, Darren McFadden fumbled after getting the first down at the 24. Down 24-19, and with 76 yards to go, the Bills went to work. After a couple first downs got them to midfield, the Bills face 49 yards with 0:03 seconds left. Lining up for the Hail Mary, Trent Edwards drops to pass. The clock hits triple zero's as Edwards is still looking down field. Edwards arm snaps back to throw, and Aaron Maybin, who was traded from Buffalo before last season, slams him to the ground for a sack to end the game. After the game, Maybin says "It just felt great to be back there because I just love that stadium, even though I only played one game there before the trade, I just love the fans and the management of the team who gave me a chance in the league and am excited to have put on a show for them." Richard Seymour, who was traded from Oakland to Buffalo in the Maybin trade, recorded 1 tackle during the game, while Maybin had 7 total tackles, including 5 solo, and the sack. Couple that with the fact that Julian Davis, the man who Oakland picked with the draft pick from Buffalo in the Maybin trade, was the one who shut Seymour down, it looks like Oakland really got the better end of this trade.