Raiders Must Take Advantage of Struggling Jaguars At Home
By Blu Spikes
December 18, 2011; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders defensive end Richard Seymour (92) raises his arm during a break in the action against the Detroit Lions in the fourth quarter at O.co Coliseum. The Lions defeated the Raiders 28-27. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-US PRESSWIRE
Today’s game brings two teams together that are in need of a victory. Today’s game will answer many questions for one team while creating a plethora of question for the other. Today’s game will strengthen your loyalty to your team or weaken your beliefs with doubt and confusion.
The Oakland Raiders have a great opportunity to slide to the win column today by playing solid fundamental football. The Jacksonville Jaguars are reeling as the Raiders have been. The lone staple of the Jags is Maurice-Jones Drew. He not only lead the Jags rushing attack he is the leading receiver on the team.
The Jags are coming off a bye week and have had time to correct mistakes and get players healthy. Their one victory was over theIndianapolis colts who’s defense on that day didn’t show up till late in the third quarter. Expect a heavy dose of Maurice Jones-Drew, and expect Jones-Drew to have a personal escort thru the line of fullback Greg Jones. He is a load to handle and will clear the path.
Raider LB Phillip Wheeler will have his hands full with containing Jones-Drew, who is the best back the Raiders have seen since Reggie Bush. With added pressure from the defensive line, Matt Shaugnessy, Richard Seymoure, and Tyvon Branch, the Blackshirts can force Jones-Drew inside and not let him get into open space. Penetration will give the Jags offensive line fits and disrupt thier scheme.
The Jags are 32nd in Passing offense and 22nd in rushing yards. The offensive attack averages 240 yars per game Blaine Gabbert direct the offense from his QB position. Gabbert has completed 54% of his passes this year connecting on 80 of 146. He has tossed 3 interceptions on the year while being sacked 15 times this season.
Gabbert is not a nimble minks. Penetration by the defensive line will be key. You don’t have to sack him. Disrupt his rhythm, chase him out of the pocket, hit him every play, knock him down, rattle his cage. Get in his head, and get him frustrated. If Gabbert is thinking about getting hit he cant be thinking about completing passes.
The Jags have a trio of players that lead the defense. LB Russell Allen who leads all Jags in tackles with 47. LB Paul Posluszny a excellent tackler is second on the tackle list with 43. Safety Dawan Landry is a contact saftey with 32 tackles.
The Jaguars’ defense gives up an average of 424 yards a game; that’s 4.7 yards per rushing carry. On the passing side of the defense the secondary of the Jags gives up 11.8 per pass.The defense has given up 13 TD’s on the year.
The Raiders are a two to four point favorite in today’s game. With their best game of the season last week, the recall should be easy to the formula that was :40 seconds from a upset victory. With Run DMC poised to have his break out game at home. Look fo him to tote the rock about 40 times so the offensive line can get a grasp of the zone scheme. Eventually the offensive line will start to dominate opponents defensive lines. If not, just line up and knock em off the ball! Down hill running, dominate the pit. It always comes down to the offensive line. The game is won or lost by the behemoths of the pit.
A dose of RB Mike Goodson might be good for what has been ailing us. A different style of runner change of speed and style, try it, you might like it. What could you lose?
Carson Palmer is the man in charge on offense! Palmer with little or no protection has completed 62.6% of his passes he averages 271 per game while connecting for 7.4 yrd per pass. He’s doing this with a make shift line, and depleted stable of receivers.
Talking about the receivers – Brandon Myers 21 receptions, and Denarius Moore 17 receptions continue to carry the load of receptions for the Black and Silver. Meyers has 280 yrd on the year as Moore has 287. They are working on becoming a dangerous duo.
Practice is done, the stadium is prepared for today contest. The players are ready, the coaches are ready, the fans are very ready. The game is not for you to win but not to lose. Oakland the time is now; if not today then when?
It is a rough road that leads to the heights of greatness.
-Seneca