What must the analysts and experts be thinking about the Raiders today? Many of the "experts" pointed to the loss of Asomugha, the porous preseason defense and the loss of Robert Gallery as reasons why the Raiders would fail this season.
I wonder what they would have thought if they actually looked at what was taking place in Oakland.
Throughout the preseason the Raiders never played at full strength on defense. Key players missed time for one reason or another and the Raiders used this time to test their second and third string players. They wanted to see who could compete at the highest level.
The loss of Asomugha is a tough one but Stanford Routt and Chris Johnson showed they can handle the task at hand. They now have the opportunity they both desired so badly and it's up to them to show they belong. Huff played in the slot as the nickel corner and also played well. The Raiders' coaches and players said it would be a team effort on defense right?
During his first preseason Demarcus Van Dyke was thrown into the water to sink or swim. People might say that he was horrible. Those people would be wrong. The rookie corner was indoctrinated into the NFL in a way most corners never are. He faced one of the best receivers and one of the best quarterbacks in the game. Quite often he was in perfect position but didn't locate the ball to defend the pass.
Do you think it prepared him for when his number was called on Monday night?
Don't let Orton's numbers fool you, the Raiders secondary played well. Once they had a lead they went into a little-too-soft zone coverage for the most part and were allowing Orton completions. I doubt they will make is so easy the next time they want to run the clock down.
The Raiders line was supposed to be horrific after losing it's best player. To that I just smile. Robert Gallery was a monumental failure as a left tackle who converted to an above average guard. That loss was supposed to break the offensive line?
The coaches put the right guys in a position to be successful and with better offensive line coaching then they received from Cable during his tenure they are playing better than last year.
That new offensive line didn't get the message that they weren't supposed to be good as they bowled over the Broncos on their way to 190 yards rushing on the night. The vaunted tandem of pass-rushers the Broncos had, Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller were shut out of the sack column and the Broncos team finished with a lone sack on Campbell.
Monday night the Raiders did take the first step in building a bully, just like our new head coach Hue Jackson told you they would. The defense played much better than in the preseason just like he said.
The defense was nearly dominant. They had constant pressure on Orton and overwhelmed the Broncos offensive line. This resulted in five sacks and multiple holding penalties against the battered offensive line. The Raiders rotated in talented players that kept the pressure at maximum.
The Raiders didn't just do well disrupting the passing attack. The Broncos looked to establish the run but quickly found that to be a difficult task. The Raider defenders swarmed to the ball carrier whether it was Knowshon Moreno or Willis McGahee and held the Broncos to 38 yards and a 2.9 YPC average. So much for that soft defensive line.
The Raiders mixed their coverages and blitzes to confuse and fluster Kyle Orton and the Broncos. They intercepted Orton once and forced three fumbles, two of which they recovered. Another step to being a bully is winning the battle of turnovers and they did that too.
So with play like that and the ability to absorb 15 penalties for 130 yards and still win a Monday night road game in Mile High to open the season, the Raiders officially put the league on notice.
You can say what you want about these Raiders but you better be prepared when they come rolling into your stadium. They are not going to lie down for anyone and they will punch you right in the mouth on offense and defense.
The Raiders are getting back to their gritty, grimy, hard knock bullying ways and this writer loves the smell of the Autumn Wind blowing.
Javier Lopez Alex Hinshaw Ramon Ramirez Sergio Romo Ron Artest Shannon Brown
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