Here comes the blitz

Oakland averages 6.6 net yards per pass against three or four rushers, 5.2 net yards per pass against five and just 2.4 net yards per pass against a big blitz of six or more, according to ESPN. That's why opponents have sent the big blitz against Oakland 14 percent of the time, fourth-most in the NFL. ... For comparison, Jacksonville has 6.9 net yards per pass against three or four, 5.2 net yards per pass against five and 4.6 net yards per pass against six or more. ... Darrius Heyward-Bey has no catches since Oct. 31. "Yeah, it's not an issue," coach Tom Cable said. Certainly I'd like him to get balls, but there hadn't been a lot of opportunity that way. I think the thing that I'm probably most impressed about, is he's doing everything else. He is blocking, maybe our best blocking receiver right now, and has been. He's doing a lot of dirty work. We're asking him to motion down and crack and block defensive ends and cut off safeties and the rub, you know, for Jacoby on the touchdown. I think things like that are showing up more and more, so he's doing his job and the opportunities will come." ... MakeNFLplayoffs.com calculates each team’s chance of making the playoffs by simulating the rest of the NFL season 100 million times and using the NFL tie breaking procedures. The Raiders have a 15.8 percent chance of winning the division and 18.2 percent of making the playoffs. ... Quarterback Jason Campbell and wide receiver Jacoby Ford will sign autographs in exchange for a new, unwrapped toy donation valued at $15 or more at The Raider Image at Southland Mall in Hayward on Monday, December 13 from 6–8 p.m. The event will be first come, first served.

Posted By: Vittorio Tafur (Email, Twitter) | Dec 09 at 07:55 PM

McClain watches but ready to go

Middle linebacker Rolando McClain did not practice again Thursday but coach Tom Cable said "we feel fine" about his chances to play Sunday in Jacksonville. Unlike Wednesday, McClain was not wearing a protective boot on his left foot. ... More good news is that No. 3 cornerback Chris Johnson is back from his groin injury and ready to play after missing two games. He was missed badly in the loss to Miami (two words: Walter McFadden) but last week safety Michael Huff shined, playing a lot of snaps at corner, while rookie Stevie Brown performed ably at free safety. "He's been making plays since he got here," Huff said of Brown. ... Reserve defensive end Jarvis Moss, who played the last two snaps Sunday, was out with a broken hand, while reserve safety Hiram Eugene sat with a ribs injury. ... Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha (ankle) and receiver Chaz Schilens (foot) practiced in limited fashion. "We'll try to get (Schilens) a little more involved (Sunday) ... because he really brings something to our team," Cable said.

Posted By: Vittorio Tafur (Email, Twitter) | Dec 09 at 02:47 PM

Morrison dealt with leaving well

"Captain Kirk" Morrison was a very popular Raider, with teammates and fans alike, as the linebacker led the team in tackles the last few years and was big in the community as well. But Oakland felt too many of his tackles were downfield, and discarded him quickly after drafting Rolando McClain in the first round this year.

The Raiders traded Morrison to Jacksonville to move up from the fifth round to the fourth, a pick they used on rookie revelation Jacoby Ford. Morrison talked to Bay Area reporters at length on a conference call Wednesday morning. Here is an excerpt:

Q: Were you hurt by the Raiders trading you, or was it time?

A: "It was a little bit of both. I would say the transition of what's going on with the defense, especially there's a lot of guys next year that are going to be out of a contract. There's just a lot of things that I had a chance to really look at and say that, 'Hey, if they want to go in a different direction, that's fine.' I look at it now as, both teams, Jacksonville and the Raiders, are having good seasons so far. The Raiders are 6-6, playing some good football. Both teams kind of came out on the good end of the deal.

"Because you grew up there, you want to play as a Raider for your whole entire life but sometimes change is good. And, definitely, for me, it has helped me out tremendously. I'm in a new position now and I'm excited to be down here. It was a little bit of a tough road at first because you have to learn so much from the play-calling to the scheme and all the different stuff that I had to learn along the way. At the same time, it has helped me mature as a football player. I'm just trying to be a leader on this football team. That's what I've been doing, bringing the experience that I had. My years in Oakland weren't the best of years as far as record-wise, and I learned a lot from a lot of players that I played with. Just from bringing my experience from all of that, and guys listening, just moving forward, we have a great opportunity of what we can accomplish the rest of the year."

Q: Do you see you guys as being mirror images of the Raiders and this game is pretty straight forward?

A: "Yeah, let’s just get out on the street, let's go out on East 14th and get it done. For us, we just got to go out there and play our game, play the Jaguar football the way that we've been doing over the last couple of weeks. It's going to be a grind. Both teams really like to run the football, both teams are going to be physical. It's December football. I know how excited we are here for the opportunity that we have. I can only imagine what's going on in that locker room down in Oakland . Guys are playing inspired football this late in the season. You haven't seen that over there, I know I didn't. We didn't have that opportunity in the five years that I was there to be playing December with so much at stake and with so much on the line. It's going to make for a nice atmosphere on Sunday afternoon."

Posted By: Vittorio Tafur (Email, Twitter) | Dec 08 at 12:34 PM

Win or go home

With four games left, including Sunday's at Jacksonville, running back Michael Bush said, "It's a playoff mentality: Win or go home." ... The 6-6 Raiders need to make up one game on the 8-4 Chiefs in the next three weeks to set up a season-ending game for the AFC West title. Because even if Oakland goes to Kansas City on Jan. 2 one game behind, the Raiders would win the tie-breaker if they sweep the Chiefs. Oakland has a road game at Jacksonville plus home games against Denver and Indianapolis, while Kansas City has road games at San Diego and St. Louis followed by a home game against Tennessee. ... The NFL office concurred that linebacker Rolando McClain's hit Sunday was a legal tackle. ... Receiver Chaz Schilens played eight snaps without any apparent setbacks, coach Tom Cable said. It was his first game this season after foot problems, knee surgery and more foot problems. "We had certain things we wanted to use him on and we'll try to grow that as we go here," Cable said. ... Jason Campbell took one sack on 17 dropbacks and completed eight of his first nine attempts for a total of 71 yards.

Posted By: Vittorio Tafur (Email, Twitter) | Dec 07 at 05:27 AM

Extra motivation

The Raiders have six wins for the first time since 2002, the year they went the Super Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium, the site of Sunday's convincing 28-13 win over the Chargers.

Nnamdi Asomugha said the players had a good week of practice, but a similar experience Sunday morning had everyone talking on the bus ride into the stadium.

"We had the TV on and no one's picking us of course," he said. "San Diego's hot and they never lose in December. So then we made a point after seeing all that stuff -- EVERYONE choosing the Chargers -- that we have to show them something."

The defense had great success putting pressure on Philip Rivers, and Asomugha said it was a mindset born in practice.

"We didn't blitz them," he said. "It was a confidence thing, that we didn't have to. All week long, that's what we were preaching -- confidence, confidence, confidence."

Cable praises Campbell : "I think you also really have to take your hat off to Jason Campbell: managing the game and he came up with a couple of good throws," Tom Cable said.

"I thought this was the best he's done. We always talk to him about it, but today there was a calmness about him. I've felt for about three days now that he was really confident."

Could that be because Campbell wasn't looking over his shoulder for Bruce Gradkowski coming in?

"I don't know all that," Cable said. "It is what it is. He just went out there as our starter and did a hell of a job."

Posted By: Vittorio Tafur (Email, Twitter) | Dec 06 at 01:10 AM

Schilens active

Raiders receiver Chaz Schilens is active for today's game, and will make his season debut after being sidelined with foot and knee problems. He's practiced three times this week and once last week, and may have decided to rush back for a game that the 5-6 team's playoff chances hinge on.

He declined interview requests at practice this week. Coach Tom Cable was asked Thursday if Schilens was at full speed. "Yeah, when, the limited amount of work he's working, he's at full speed," Cable said.

Who knows how much Schilens will play, but Oakland could use him. While Jacoby Ford has emerged as a deep threat, Louis Murphy has struggled since his return from a bruised lung and Darrius Heyward-Bey has disappeared (0 catches last month).

While the protecive Cable said Heyward-Bey was tight and sore from a hamstring injury last week, Murphy said he is fully healthy now.

Q: After missing two games, what's the hardest about coming back?

Murphy: Game tempo.

Q: Timing?

Murphy: Yep. Game tempo, getting back to game speed and timing down. That's the roughest part. I've never missed a game before and you know, you thinking that, 'Oh we gonna' come back and you gonna' do the same thing,' but when you come back, you've been out for three or four weeks and you've got to get up to game speed. That's the toughest thing to get back.

Punting game: Special teams play was the difference the last time these teams played, and punter Shane Lechler is not happy with his team's recent play on punt coverage:

"It's just getting frustrating right now with our punt team. I don't think we're approaching a game like we have in the past. I think we're playing as another play in the game where in the past we've played it as, 'Let's make a difference.' I think we're just playing as another play in the game and it's getting frustrating.

"The last three games have been a pretty big letdown for our punt team. That's on me. I'll take the blame for it. I've been around this thing long enough. Maybe I need to give them a little more hang time, a little more something. It's kind of hard to argue with the fact that it's a whole new punt team from last year. You lose Ike to Detroit . Trevor's hurt. Out for the year. You get Tyvon here and there, sparingly at gunner. You just don't get, it's a whole new group, which I thought coming into the year was better than we had before. We're going to have to figure it out."

Posted By: Vittorio Tafur (Email, Twitter) | Dec 05 at 12:35 PM

Another rookie gets time

Travis Goethel, back from a back injury, is starting to take Quentin Groves' playing time at outside linebacker. The sixth-round pick from Arizona State is splitting snaps 50-50 with Groves, and becomes the latest rookie to assert himself this season.

Defensive coordinator John Marshall said Goethel is playing well:

"He's improving every game since we've had him out there. He's improved in practice. As you know, he hasn't had much time out there. So, the thing that I care about most is that he just keeps improving. He hasn't done anything to hurt us. He's real smart, doesn't make mistakes. So, it's just a matter of him continuing to grow in the NFL."

Meanwhile, Marshall said that defensive end Matt Shaughnessy is playing a ton of snaps with Trevor Scott injured. And that's ok, as Marshall hasn't seen a need to rotate in Groves, Bruce Davis or Jarvis Moss yet.

"Shaughnessy is playing extremely well right now and he's being a real dominant player and we'd like to have him on the field. He's young and he likes having all the snaps. And he does a great job with 'em."

And Marshall isn't too worried about rookie Walter McFadden, victimized often in the loss to the Dolphins. We said yesterday that the cornerback has bounced back well, and Marshall agreed.

"Yeah. Oh, yeah. We talk to him about it but if you talk to him about it too much, then it becomes a big deal in his mind. Hey, there's nothing you can do about it. You study the film, you see what you did wrong, you come out here today and correct it. This isn't rocket science, that's for sure."

Posted By: Vittorio Tafur (Email, Twitter) | Dec 05 at 07:35 AM

Rookie McFadden bounces back

Was impressed with how rookie Walter McFadden has handled getting toasted several times last week against the Dolphins. Here is the interview:

Holding up after rough game vs. Miami?

"I'm holding up pretty well. It's a learning process for me. Good to get out of the way early and than get it out later. You gotta have a short memory out there. I did a lot more good plays than bad plays. I took a chance and that's the life of being a DB, you gotta take a gamble on that play I took. It's just a learning process and just speaking to Nam and all the other guys, they all said they had plays like that, tried to jump and they missed it, and they learned. Now this is the NFL, you got to run to the receiver first and then look. I went to a spot where I thought the ball would be at. It's a whole learning process, and I learned it, and I'm over it and I’m ready to get back out there and do it again."

Try guard against being too tentative?

"Naw. It's just, you can't go out there and be scared. You got to go out there and keep playing and just make more plays, be more productive. It's just a lot of things I did that was good, wasn't seen, but it's not really about that, it's a team effort, and I just got to keep working hard."

Chalk it up as a welcome-to-the-nfl-moment?

"Yeah, that was basically my welcome, but I enjoyed I just want to get back out there and prove myself."

Slow start with hamstring, disappointing when not playing vs. brother against Pitt, then the chance vs. Miami , did you almost put much into it? Too fired up?

"Yeah, I'm not going to lie, I was very excited. I really wanted to get out there and show the Raider Nation what I can really do. But I kind of jumped out too far ahead, but there are no excuses for me, I'll be ready when the time comes."

I'm sorry ... You said you enjoyed last week?

"I didn't enjoy it, but you know I enjoyed being back on the field, being out there with my teammates and just having fun. It's just a big learning experience for me, so it's something that I just want to correct and get over it, pass over it, get ready for the next week."

"I got great teammates and they all been through it and they all put theirselves in the same position and said they did it as well, and they learned, and the only thing you can do is move on."

Which veteran corner approached you first?

"Nnamdi. He said he had plays like that his first two years with Charles. He jumped a couple routes and he got picked on a lot and it was just a learning experience and the same thing with me. Just got to keep learning, keep learning, keep learning, and that's my thing, I'm going to do now. Just keep learning and every time you get a chance just make the best of it, don't make the same mistakes over and over."

Mean a lot to you for Nnamdi to tell you that?

"Of course it kind of cheered my day up, you know. But it was great to have him on my team and just learn from a pro cornerback, not just Nnamdi, but Stanford Routt, Chris Johnson, just to have Willie Brown in the room and coach Washnington, and Kevin Ross, these type of guys they have all these years in the secondary in the room and knows what it feels like to be a winner, and also knows what it feels like, you know, that you didn't have your best game. It's a short memory at DB. So it's something that, like today is Friday I forgot about that on Monday, so I'm not really excited about this now because it's over. It is what it is, it happens, just move on to the next week and let's play."

Posted By: Vittorio Tafur (Email, Twitter) | Dec 04 at 06:19 PM

McClain has ... arthritis?

Earlier this season, we wrote a story where a former scout said rookie middle linebacker Rolando McClain was "a slow-twitch guy with long strides, and he doesn't get off blocks."

It would be easy here to make an old man joke, but we won't. The 21-year-old McClain might miss Sunday's game because he has arthritis, coach Tom Cable said Friday.

McClain, limping and favoring his left foot, has missed the last two days of practice. He has no previous history of arthritis, Cable said, and was fine coming out of last week's to Miami. The Raiders don't know what to expect, and his availability Sunday and beyond is a mystery.

"He was better last night, but worse this morning, so it will be day-to-day and we'll probably have to wait until Sunday morning," Cable said.

Ricky Brown would step in if McClain couldn't go, and he has done alright when called upon this season.

While McClain has not been an impact player this season, the No. 8 pick has never lost his confidence and to his credit, never backed down from a challenge.

"He's a guy that if there is something that the coaches might be hesitant on calling or a certain play because it puts him in a tough spot, he always tells them, 'No, I can take care of it,' " cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha said.

McClain, in case you forgot, doesn't talk to reporters unless the last home game was a sellout. It's something the coaching staff signed off on, so we can't tell you his thoughts on the new ailment unless you start buying tickets for the Broncos game on the 19th.

Cornerback Chris Johnson (groin) is out for Sunday's game, while Asomugha (ankle), Tyvon Branch (shoulder), Richard Seymour (knee) and Zach Miller (foot, leg) all appear to be go's against the Chargers.

Posted By: Vittorio Tafur (Email, Twitter) | Dec 03 at 04:59 PM

Chargers scared of Ford

The last time the Chargers played the Raiders, on Oct. 10, Jacoby Ford hadn't emerged as Oakland's big-play receiver yet. But with more than 300 all-purpose yards in two of the Raiders' last three games, the rookie definitely has San Diego coach Norv Turner's attention.

"It really changes (our preparation)," Turner said. "The thing that separates teams and games in this league is the ability to make plays. If you can't make big plays, you are going to struggle to score enough points through a long-term period to win. He certainly is a big-play guy in the kicking game and as a receiver, and they're doing a great job of taking shots with him and putting him in a position to get single coverage, and it is obviously something that has our players' attention."

In that early-season loss to Oakland, San Diego had two punts blocked that led to 10 Raiders points. That was definitely the difference in the 35-27 loss, and the Chargers have worked hard to erase special-teams issues.

"It's a week-to-week thing and I feel a lot better about our kicking game over the last four weeks," Turner said. "We've won four straight games and each week I think we've gotten better in the kicking better but every week in this league you're tested. Our coverage teams area lot better. We've made a lot of changes from a personnel standpoint. I think we have more stability. We've gone through a lot of injuries and we're playing a lot of new people on our punt protection. I think we have a lot more stability. We've certainly been tested. Every team has a new style, a new punt rush and a new way of trying to pressure us but we've held up a lot better over the two or three weeks."

Posted By: Vittorio Tafur (Email, Twitter) | Dec 03 at 11:03 AM