Westside's Treasure Map
Nothing Done to Stop the Run
Big ups and propers to the Oakland Raiders on an active off-season so far, much has been done and we love the Raiders for it. With all due respect, however, I’m wondering if this organization still knows how to rescue a roster? I mean I have no choice but to grade our efforts to stop the run so far--and here is my letter grades: W T F?
Listen and mark my words. If we don't get busy and soon, just repeat after me that old familiar phrase that we all know only too well. 'And what is that, West Side', you ask? It is this in the words of Greg Papa, 'LaDainian Tomlinson to the 40, to the 30, to the 20, to the 10 ............... touchdown'; for the third, even fourth fricken’ time today in yet another 200-yard game against the Oakland Raiders.
This is not acceptable, but unless we address the following needs in our front seven box, expect it.
Our Front Seven Defensive Box Needs:
A) Defensive End: We still need depth at Defensive End. Behind Derrick Burgess, Jay Richardson and newly inked Kalimba Edwards, there is no one. If Burgess or Edwards get injured again as last year, what then? Count Tommy Kelly as he gets some reps at times here, but I’m not counting him at D-End, and what of his durability too?
B) Strong Side Linebacker: Sam Williams and Robert Thomas at Strong Side Linebacker? Come on now, you have to go back to Bill Romanowski to find a Raider 'Sam' Backer worth mentioning and, before him, Winston Moss of the ‘94 season. Williams and Thomas had a total of only 88 tackles between the two of them, and this is being generous by counting assisted tackles in this tally here too. This position has been the most ignored and overlooked position of the team since the Raiders’ return to Oakland. It is neither justifiable nor explainable to even think or act in a manner that any position in the box is not key to stopping the run--especially on the strong side. Robert Thomas is a decent journeyman, but that is it, nothing more. Sam Williams is still on scholarship with the Oakland Raiders, and, with his history of health issues, he would be on no other team’s roster in this league, period. It is this type of approach to football that makes it so good to be a Chargers fan when they play us, damn it.
C) We do have good smaller linebackers who are great athletes, yes, but they are not the kind of run-stopping, blocker-shedding, hole-pluggers who will make us forget Bill Romanowki or Matt Millen. The Raiders had Danny Clark in town of late and he was an animal with us. What is going on with that I must ask?
D) As a result of the aforementioned makeup of our Linebackers, we do need some meat-eating, two-gaping, space-eaters at Defensive Tackle to allow Howard and Morrison to roam free. But where are they? The oft injury-prone reclamation projects William Joseph and Terdell Sands? Come on now Raiders! We are going to stop Denver and San Diego with that?! Sure, Tommy Kelly and Gerard Warren are on the roster, too, but neither are a two-gaper. (Think Sam Adams or Ted Washington for our needs here.) Our D.T.’s look good on paper, but these cats have made everyone’s halfbacks look All Pro. This group needs to redeem itself, or they can all walk the plank as far as I am concerned.
Our ability to stop the run has not been addressed as far as the front seven are concerned. I challenge the Raiders to silence my pen by getting busy with these needs. We have come too far not to address these very obvious and transparent weak links. Rob Ryan's defense was very poor at tackling in general and the worst in the league at trying to stop the run. We have won 19 games in the last five years with a 32% winning percentage? Yes I am happy we have Receivers and a rebuilt secondary, but winning football games starts with the running game and in stopping the run. Unless we plan on playing Gibril Wilson at Linebacker too we have to get busy. This is exactly what will happen if we don't, because we will constantly be in a 4-4 Cover 1 in an attempt to stop the run with this current front seven.
One more time the needs breakdown is like this:
1) One proven-two-gaping, space-eating D.T. (Or a couple for competition in camp.)
2) One proven Strong Side Linebacker. (Or a couple for competition in camp.)
3)One more proven Defensive End. (Or a couple for competition in camp.)
4) On Offensive, a Left Tackle, (off topic here, granted, but a glaring need nevertheless.) You know and I know that all of these positions need more competition in camp if we are to be at all competitive next season.
If we don't address these positions with more acquisitions and competition in camp, you can expect our beloved team to be struck with Charger Lightning Bolts; stuck with K.C. Cheats Arrows and have Bronco horseshoe tattoos all up our back side on defense versus the run. All this will happen if Davis does not get Rob Ryan some help here and this will be so for the sixth fricken' year in a row. Rob Ryan can not turn water into wine with this defense; neither will all of us drink the cool aide into believing enough has been done here on defense. No one wants to watch the cut ups of this team trying to stop the run again last year. If that is what it takes to face the reality of the help which is needed here, then everyone in the coaching staff, football operations branch and Mr. Al Davis need to watch them again if there is any wonder about the help which is needed in our front seven box.
On a positive note much has been done, but so far nothing has been done to stop the run and this is a critical error. Let's take care of business, Oakland Raiders, and give those fans on the fence a reason to buy some tickets in these tough times now and ahead.
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