Monday, September 12, 2011

Whew

I managed to lose my voice watching a game at home, but that was a lot of fun. Seemed like a game dominated by the Raiders but that was agonizingly always within reach for the Broncos. Some observations:

  • Passing game - yeesh, Campbell needs to get the ball down the field to the WRs. Although I must say it was "funny" to see DHB emerge as the go-to guy. He's improving.
  • Pass defense - iffy, but not too bad. It's nice to be picking on the pass defense instead of the run defense (which was terrific) for once.
  • Right tackle - whether it was Barnes or Heyer, seemed like the RT was the guy getting the flag more times than not. Improved by the end, though.
  • Penalties - once again!
  • DMC - this guy is the real deal. How fun is it to watch him get to the corner?
  • D-line - didn't get to the QB as often as I'd like to see, but at times they were dominant, and whether it was Seymour or Kelly or Houston or Shaughnessy, these guys were making the big plays.
  • Lechler - 77 yard punt. Pretty good, but...
  • Sea Bass - record tying 63 yarder. We've been waiting for this day since he was drafted, and it ended up being the difference in an opening night win vs. the Broncos. Beautiful.

Apparently the Raiders had lost their last 8 season openers, the longest streak in football. So yeah, this is a big win. 1-0.

Tebow

This game is driving me crazy. But whatever happens, I want Bronco fans to remember that they were chanting "TEBOW" throughout this last clutch drive that Orton delivered to give the Broncos a chance they barely deserve on this night.

Now let's drive

Ok Raiders, that was a nice gift. Great recognition by Houston to put on some pressure. Now we need a real drive. The Broncos are stacking the box and it should open up some things down field. I like this first play to DHB, let's keep it going...

Ha - couldn't even get it posted before DMC ripped off a beauty. How was that not a TD?

We are starting to pick lucky seats

This is turning into one of those nail biters where each of us is trying to figure out the luckiest seat to watch the game. We're looking for the WRs to get involved. While the play calling has been creative, the WRs haven't gotten involved down the field.

As I type this, DHB picks up a crucial third down with a great catch and run. The West Coast fan base would like to see more of the same...

Unk - we gonna see some Schilens?

Seabass, FTW.

Sloppy 1st half, but the Defense looks good. We're 16-3 on Janikowski's 63 yard Field goal to end the half. Ties the record held by Tom Dempsey and Jason Elam.

Also, I'm the on the East Coast and it's after midnight and I don't even care. I'm pumped.

Also, I've been transcribing the ESPN people.

"When you're a FOOTBALL player in the NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE, you gotta know the proper way to handle the FOOTBALL...He's a FOOTBALL coach in the NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE, andOHBYTHEWAY, when you're playing FOOTBALL in the NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE..."

Mae, Welcome to Raiders Football

One of the reasons I haven't been blogging in a while is that the Professor gave birth to our 2nd Daughter, Mae. And when the Raiders Blocked that punt, she got her first taste of Dad screaming like a jackass. She did not like it. I got her a bottle, and she's happy again.

Now, C'mon offense.

Back to Football

Firing up the grill and setting up the cross-country live blog with Johnny...a few thoughts before the game gets rolling.

First, what I'm nervous about. In a nutshell, it's the players we lost vs. the players we gained. Top receiver (Miller), top defender (Nnamdi), arguably the top lineman (Gallery). With the possible exception of Wisniewski on the line, the Raiders haven't done much to try and replace or upgrade. The other thing that makes me nervous is the play of the defense in preseason. Ouch. It makes me start thinking about Walsh and Shell when I wonder why Bresnahan wasn't in the NFL last year.

But there's plenty to be excited about. Campbell looked sharper than ever in the preseason, and he had few weapons. DMC is back and presumably mean as ever. Ford is back. And it will be fun to see what guys like Denarius Moore and...dare I say it...Chaz Schilens will do in the regular season.

And then there's Seymour. This guy is such a beast that it helps me set aside that nervousness about the defense's play in the preseason. He's one of the few guys - and Nnamdi isn't one of them - who can single-handedly raise the level of the entire defense.

One more to talk about...McClain. If he takes the next step this year we'll be happy Raider fans.