Rebuilding the Raiders

[BrnwsBucksFanNC]

Here is the offensive roster from the beginning of the year:

POS	NAME	AGE	OVR	POT	EXP	YOC	CAP
QB	Scott	22	81	95	R	3	210k
QB	Woodson	23	78	92	1	2	470k
QB	Russell	24	54	78	2	4	8.6m
RB	Turner	26	86	89	5	3	5.3m
RB	James	22	84	95	R	3	240k
RB	Fargas	28	72	73	6	2	3.7m
RB	Ganther	24	70	75	2	1	300k
FB	O'Neal	25	76	80	R	2	300k
FB	Pryor	23	75	85	2	1	290k
WR	Williams	28	81	85	3	5	1.8m
WR	Bellows	23	82	94	R	3	470k
WR	Freeman	22	76	83	R	1	370k
WR	Hixon	24	73	80	2	1	440k
WR	Weaver	26	76	87	R	1	290k
TE	Miller	22	82	90	2	2	920k
TE	Jennings	23	67	78	R	1	290k
TE	Doleman	21	64	78	1	1	380k
LT	Tucker	27	84	85	2	1	540k
LT	Henderson	23	82	84	2	1	370k
LG	Noll	24	88	88	2	3	4.4m
LG	Long	22	76	82	R	1	290k
C	Mangold	24	92	92	3	1	910k
C	McCamey	23	79	81	R	1	290k
RG	Scott	28	87	87	5	3	5.1m
RG	Sullivan	22	73	80	R	1	290k
RT	Wilson	27	90	91	3	3	3.7m
RT	McQuistan	26	83	83	3	1	530k

[BrnwsBucksFanNC]

Here is the defensive roster:

POS	NAME	AGE	OVR	POT	EXP	YOC	CAP
LE	Bake	23	80	86	1	2	240k
LE	Montgomery	26	80	80	4	1	440k
RE	Richardson	24	85	86	2	2	400k
RE	McDonald	23	76	80	R	1	290k
DT	Kelly	26	84	85	5	6	5.0m
DT	Lopez	22	87	93	R	3	350k
DT	Morton	23	74	80	R	1	290k
DT	Askew	27	68	70	3	1	370k
OLB	Rivers	23	92	95	1	4	6.0m
OLB	Porter	23	77	83	R	1	290k
MLB	Simms	22	85	89	R	4	480k
MLB	Morrison	27	83	83	4	1	480k
MLB	Carpenter	26	82	84	3	2	470k
OLB	Howard	26	89	91	3	1	1.7m
OLB	Rawlinson	23	75	85	R	1	290k
CB	Hall	23	87	87	5	6	7.3m
CB	Gamble	26	85	86	5	4	2.0m
CB	Washington	26	80	81	4	1	2.2m
CB	Beasley	23	78	84	R	1	290k
CB	Routt	26	77	78	4	1	860k
FS	Huff	26	84	91	3	3	2.8m
FS	Bullocks	26	70	71	3	1	370k
SS	Steltz	23	83	87	1	2	380k
SS	Schweigert	28	74	74	5	1	540k
K	Janikowski	31	88	88	9	1	2.0m
P	Brooks	23	80	84	1	1	570k

[BrnwsBucksFanNC]

Week 11: Broncos at Raiders

This game started with a bang as CB Hall intercepted Bronco's QB Cutler's pass and returned it 26 yards for a TD, then 4 plays later SS Steltz did his own pick 63 yard pick 6. So the Raiders had a 14-0 lead without the offense touching the ball.

Broncos QB Jay Cutler was talking to the coaches when the Broncos took the field for the next series and QB Chris Simms was under center, but he continued the QB woes for the Broncos as he was also intercepted by SS Steltz, giving the Raiders the ball on the Broncos 21. After a false start call, Raiders QB jake Scott found WR Hixon racing down the sidelines and hit him for a 26 yard TD pas.

Oakland CB Chris Gamble also got into the act, intercepting QB Simms on the next drive and giving the Raiders the ball on their 48. The Raiders moved down the field but Rookie QB Jake Scott once again tried to force a pass to RB Leron James and it was intercepted for a 102 yard pick 6 by Broncos Rookie CB Barker.

The Raiders got into the Red Zone again, but the drive stalled after a holding call, but kicker Janikowski split the uprights for the 28 yard FG. The Broncos were forced to punt and the Raiders once again drove down the field as QB Scott hit WR Williams in the corner of the end zone for the 23 yard TD Pass.

Broncos QB Jay Cutler was put back in the game and promptly threw his 3rd INT, this one also returned for a 31 yard TD by OLB Howard. The Raiders finished off the half when Janikowski hit a 19 yard FG.

As the teams headed to the locker room it was found that DT Kelly was out of the game with a right arm injury. But the Raiders took a comfortable 41-7 lead into the half.

As the teams took the field for the 2nd half, RG Ben Noll reported a torso injury and was told he would not play the rest of the game.

QB Scott once again threw a beautiful pass into the end zone, to Broncos CB Barkley. Fortunately this time he was very quickly tackled. The Raiders defense held the Broncos and FB Pryor got into the scoring after he bulled through the line for a 4 yard TD run.

The rest of the game was just waiting for the clock to run out. The Broncos scored on a 17 yard pass to WR Brandon Marshall and tried an onside kick, but the Raiders recovered it. Somehow Janikowski cut his hand and was removed from the game. Raiders punter Brooks kicked a 24 yard FG to finish this one out.

Final score Raiders 51, Broncos 14.

The defense was awesome, but the 2 INTs in the end zone by Scott worry me. But a win is a win.

DT Kelly has a tricep strain and will be out 3-4 weeks.
RG Noll is out 2-3 days with a bruised kidney
K Janikowski is out 4 days with a lacerated hand

SS Craig Steltz was awarded the AFC Defensive Player of the Week.

[Mike3207]

Quote: Originally Posted by BrnwsBucksFanNC

Week 11: Broncos at Raiders SS Craig Steltz was awarded the AFC Defensive Player of the Week.

Steltz is just a beast in the game if you play the games out-I had gotten a point in my career where he got 10 INTs each and every year.

[BrnwsBucksFanNC]

I actually play all of the games out, that is one reason it takes me a while to get through the season, I have to have enough time to play a game.

So far he has been hit or miss for me, but when he is on, he is red hot!

[BrnwsBucksFanNC]

&^%$#*&%^%$ I just had this write up finished for the game against the Giants and the bleedin connection timed out!!

So here it is in a nut shell. The Raiders won 24-27. Eli gave me fits...like usual! But Hall earned his paycheck returning 2 kick offs for TDs, both 94 yard returns. Their last TD was a 71 yard strike to Smith in the soft part of the cover 3 as the clock hit 00. They then got the 2 point coversion with no time on the clock. Manning burnt me for 350 yards, but we held on for the win!

So the Raiders are 10-1 as we hit the home stretch!

[BrnwsBucksFanNC]

November 29, 2009 the Raiders host rival San Diego (6-5).
The game starts slowly as we trade punts, then Rivers and LT do their thing as the Chargers move with ease and Rivers hits Gates for the 13 yard score, Raiders 0, Chargers 7.
We finally get a drive going as I start to use shotgun pass formation because my line is not giving Scott much time. He finds Williams breaking across the middle for a 23 yard TD pass, bringing the score even, Raiders 7, Chargers 7.
But once again Rivers moves them with ease down the field and hits McMichael for the 7 yard TD. Raiders 7, Chargers 14.
My offense sputters to nothing as once again we cant get anything going and they get the ball at the 28. Rivers takes off around the left side and breaks a nice run, but DT Morton, playing for the injured Kelly knocks the ball lose and SS Steltz is there to fall on it. We try to give it back as we face a 3^rd and 17, but Scott hits TE Miller and makes the Chargers pay when he finds WR Hixon wide open in the back of the end zone, Raiders 14, Chargers 14.
So we go into the half all tied up at 14. I am trying to figure out what is going on with the team. My pass rush is gone, LT is running with ease through the middle and my offensive line is now playing like a swinging gate. I realize that having DT Kelly injured has hurt the d-line so I have made it a priority to get them some help with the draft.
We take the opening drive and with the help of a 32 yard pass to TE Miller and a 10 yard run from James I get into scoring position and Scott takes advantage of it, finding Hixon once again for the 20 yard TD. Raiders 21, Chargers 14
Rivers and LT start moving them again and I am trying anything to stop them. I finally force their drive to sputter to a stop as they face a 4^th and inches at my 30. They line up and hit the FG..but wait...once again there is a penalty...Roughing the Kicker!?!?!? WHAT???? so now they have it 1^st and 10 on my 15. My defense lets them move it but they finally hold once again forcing them to settle for a 20 yard FG. So I keep my lead, Raiders 21, Chargers 17.
I move the ball down the field pretty easily until I get to the Red Zone, then I hit a wall. A sack, followed by James doing one of the famous “I am going to run backwards” routines and an impossible 3^rd down that I luckily get some of the yards back to set up a make-able 37 yard FG. But Mr “I want a Fatter contract so I am walking out” shanks it to the left so the Chargers get the ball, but my defense shows up and we force them to punt to us.
I start moving the ball and chewing up the clock, James finally shows what he is capable of as he breaks a run up the middle for 31 yards. But then the Charger defense stiffens and I am facing a 4^th and Goal on the 1. James just went out because he was tired, there is 2:49 left in the game so I pause it to think about it. If Janikowski shanks another one, they will get the ball at the 20 with about 2 minutes and all of their time-outs. If I try for it and don’t make it, they will be inside of the 5 and will have to go the distance to win. On top of that I am given a Defining Moment, so I go for it. Since I have been running up the middle quite a bit I decide to send Turner around the left side. He takes the hand off and Jumps, gets hit in mid-air and falls on the goal line Touchdown!! It worked...wait...WHAT??? Turn Over on Downs??? I watch the replay and he does a beautiful helicopter impression but I cant tell if he scores or not. So Rivers has the ball at his 1, and all of his time outs. They start to move with ease but OMG LT fumbles!! I might pull this out yet...NOPE...challenged and overturned so the Chargers still have the ball. My Defense finally wakes up and the Chargers are facing a 4^th and 10 on my 38 with 1:06. So what happens, Rivers hits Gates for a 32 yard completion, the next play, He finds Chambers in the end zone for the score. So now I have 46 seconds all of my time outs and I am behind by 3 points, Raiders 21, Chargers 24.
Scott then orchestrates a beautiful drive. Shotgun formation, WR Bellows for 26 yards. Time out. WR Williams, across the middle for 22 yards. Time out. Then he finds TE Zach Miller at the 5 yard line, he catches the ball and carries 2 defenders with him...TOUCHDOWN!! 20 seconds left in the game and I pray Janakowski does his thing. He splits the uprights and the Raiders take the lead, 28-24.
Rivers tries to put together a miracle, but SS Steltz ends those dreams as he intercepts the long pass at the end of the game.
Oh Man!! I play these guys in 2 weeks again!
QB Scott named Offensive Player of the Week for his 17-21, 301 yard, 4 TD effort.

[BrnwsBucksFanNC]

Just a couple of observations before I play the Steelers, who are shockingly 2-10...

My defensive front has been stiffled the last 2 games. I have not gotten any pressure up the middle. There were a couple of times that the defending QB had 6+ seconds before he threw the ball. So obviously I need to get some help for DT Lopez. Tommy Kelly has been doing okay, but with him being out there is a definite dropoff to my 3rd DT.

My offensive line has also started to show cracks, giving up 4 sacks the last game. So I need to take a look at them as well in the off season. I also need to figure out how to stop teams on 3rd and long...I am giving up way too many of those conversions.

I think I am going to try to keep WR Hixon, he has a knack for getting open.

But overall I am very pleased with the way this season is going.

On another note...if you think my descriptions of the games are too long let me know and I will shorten them some.

Finally...this team the last few games has reminded me of the Browns in the late 70s-early 80s when they were known as the Cardiac Kids...my heart cant take too many games like the last few.