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Raider O-Line


FishFreak
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Gents,

 

What's the deal with the Raiders O-Line? They seem to have big name talent but play very average. I'm assuming Shell will get the most out of this group and there will be a much stronger commitment to the run game. Jordan could be a beast if he got more carries consistently especially with his receiving totals. Who has the scoop on the Raiders?

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The Raiders line have been big underacheivers the last couple years. Many point to the coaching (or lack of - Turner, Calihan), some say the line was overrated from the start

 

I definitely believe the new coaching with HOF offensive lineman Slater and Shell will make sure the Offensive Line becomes the focal point of the offense. I will not be surprised if this weakness becomes the strongest group on the offensive side of the ball due to the young talent (Gallery, Grove) and the new offensive line coaching scheme which will emphasis a more physical type play than last year.

 

Last year's offensive line coach emphasized zone blocking...a technique Gallery, Simms and Grove never got used to. This year the emphasis will be based more on overpowering your opponent versus out-finessing them.

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The Raiders line have been big underacheivers the last couple years. Many point to the coaching (or lack of - Turner, Calihan), some say the line was overrated from the start

 

I definitely believe the new coaching with HOF offensive lineman Slater and Shell will make sure the Offensive Line becomes the focal point of the offense. I will not be surprised if this weakness becomes the strongest group on the offensive side of the ball due to the young talent (Gallery, Grove) and the new offensive line coaching scheme which will emphasis a more physical type play than last year.

 

Last year's offensive line coach emphasized zone blocking...a technique Gallery, Simms and Grove never got used to. This year the emphasis will be based more on overpowering your opponent versus out-finessing them.

 

 

Now I like the sound of that about the Raiders.

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The Raiders line have been big underacheivers the last couple years. Many point to the coaching (or lack of - Turner, Calihan), some say the line was overrated from the start

 

I definitely believe the new coaching with HOF offensive lineman Slater and Shell will make sure the Offensive Line becomes the focal point of the offense. I will not be surprised if this weakness becomes the strongest group on the offensive side of the ball due to the young talent (Gallery, Grove) and the new offensive line coaching scheme which will emphasis a more physical type play than last year.

 

Last year's offensive line coach emphasized zone blocking...a technique Gallery, Simms and Grove never got used to. This year the emphasis will be based more on overpowering your opponent versus out-finessing them.

 

Lots of great info, SB. Slater was such a great move, I have high hopes for this crew.

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Lots of great info, SB. Slater was such a great move, I have high hopes for this crew.

 

:D Great Post SB.

 

All I've read is nothing but good news about Shell and what he is contributing to the struggling O-Line. He came in with a no nonsense attitude, and is making it clear that the O-line needs to man up. The line has been a huge reason the Raiders have led in penalties the last few years, and thats something Shell won't tollerate.

 

From what I've heard, his focus point for the offensive line is all about "punishing the defensive line." He wants the O-Line to get out of the mindset that they're defending the quarterback, and focus more on punishing the defensive line.

 

He's also moved Gallery back to LT where he belongs, and that alone will have a dramatic effect on how this line plays together.

Expect this line to look every bit its potential, and a lot of old school smash-mouth football.

 

As a die hard Raider fan, I'm excited.

Edited by kpholmes
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we don't get any Raider posts here on the new coaching staff or anything....this is refreshing considering the top 'fantasy' talent available on this team....

 

plus the defense got worse on the loss of Woodson....

 

I don't care if Jordan gets more rushing yds....I would just love to see him keep the average of 5 receptions a game and let the yards fall where they may....

 

but Brooks has never been known for a QB who throws to his back......

 

but if Jordan is in his ear enough about it....and he takes great price in his pass catching ability and boasts about it whenever he can.....then Brooks should use him to keep the defense honest instead of just chucking it to Porter and RMoss...

 

just me :D

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I'm old enough to remember Shell's first stint (and Tom Flores before him) I even still have a few games from Shell's first few years when Marcus Allen and Bo Jackson shared the same backfield on VHS tape.

 

From what I remember, and from what some the stats reveal from that era, the Raiders did dump the ball off to the RB a little bit but they used a primary TE a lot more than they have had in the past 3 years. Dont expect reception numbers for Jordan like he received last year but I do expect a TE on the Raider squad to finally emerge as a viable fantasy producer (whether its Courtney Anderson, Randall Willams or a late free agent pickup...i dont know)

 

I expect Jordan's receiving yards to dip but his rushing yards to increase, because Shell's teams were always no-frills establish the run to control the clock type teams. His teams never had powerhouse offenses, but they emphasized a ball-control conservative approach with the occasional 20-30 yard strike down the field to keep the defense honest. Although the strategy appears similar to Turner's, Shell's teams utilized the TE a lot more and always controled the line of scrimmage (on offense and defense) because that is where he believed all games are won or lost.

 

On a side note, Shell's teams always had very aggressive turnover producing defenses that often overshadowed the offense. Whether his hire will translate into a more aggressive defense is not known, but I am pretty sure the offensive and defensive lines will improve because Shell would not have it any other way.

Edited by Return Of S&B
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Well, from what you're saying SB the only thing we will improve this year is the running game. As an LJ2 owner I'm all about that. But that certainly doesn't equate to wins. The most frustrating thing I saw last season, was the improper use of a weapon like Randy Moss.

They have 'route running rec's' they could use. Let Moss go out there and make some plays for your team. He did in the NE, PHI games... You can't expect a guy like Moss to do those things. He needs to have some freedom downfield to make that big play.

I'm really excited to see what Shell can bring to the table for this team, but there's a LOT OF WORK to be done.

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In short yes, I do believe the running game will improve (imensely I may add) but an improved running game does effect other facets of the game (like less turnovers, a rested defense, more control over the game clock) and more importantly more wins.

 

Shell's teams may have been conservative back in the day but he produced results (playoffs 3 out of 5 years) and a better winning percentage than Gruden had when he coached the Raiders.

 

Although most dont believe it, I fully expect the defense to improve as well because while the Raiders pound the rock all day, the defense will be on the sideline better rested than they were under Turner and Calihan's regimes.

 

As for Moss, I believe he'll get his TDs, and his yards per catch will be a large as ever (probably 20+), but his total number of receptions will likely be moderate for a number 1 receiver (70-80) because Shell doesnt believe in individuals, he believes in teams.

Edited by Return Of S&B
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Speaking of Moss, here is an interesting quote from him taken from his interview with Sirius Radio/Fox Sports writer Adam Shein.

 

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5763878

 

"I just think that the chemistry that we have right now with coach Art Shell bringing his team on and really trying to lead us in the right direction. I was actually happy to go to my first mini-camp to see how Coach Art Shell was because a few guys called me and complained, 'He keeps us in meetings too long,' 'He does this,' 'This is no more.' Actually, I was kind of anxious because I know what direction that we as a team and an organization need to move in and I was kind of skeptical about 'Is that the right fit?' I mean, I'm getting all these complaints so now I gotta go see it for myself. Coach Art Shell reminds me a lot of coach Dennis Green, who I had back in the day, as a far as his philosophy, a little bit of his approach to the game. And that's something guys need to get a tight grasp on and hang on to coach Art Shell's coattails and hopefully he can lead us to the promised land. That's the perception I got from going to my first mini-camp. A lot of guys didn't give him credit because they were not used to the hard work and going out there and getting it even in the off-season. So that's where a lot of complaints were coming from. Art Shell is a coach who is old school and he's going to work his players and expect something to show up on game day," Moss said.

 

 

 

This clearly shows the difference in approach that Shell has versus his two predecessors (Turner, Calihan). He's all about hard work, accountability, and physical dominance...things the Raiders have been clearly lacking the past 3 years.

Edited by Return Of S&B
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I completely agree with you that we needed someone to come in and kick some butt! My only problem is this, and it's something that isn't Shell's fault, but AL Davis'.

 

A guy like Art Shell doesn't believe in individuals, he believes in the team. Which is all well and good! But than why are we paying Randy Moss $6-7 mil per season, to catch 70-80 balls, and snag 8 TD's? What other player or team has that? You have a guy with a natural ability, all I want to see is that it gets used. You don't need to depend on Moss the way they did in Minny, cause we do have Jordan, Porter and Brooks now. But you have to show some trust in your franchise WR and let him make some plays. Throw the deep ball 2-3 times per game, let him make that big play and respect the passing game just as much as the run.

 

I love the fact that Shell was brought out of retirement... It's the first real HC!!! we've had since Gruden left.

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Throw the deep ball 2-3 times per game, let him make that big play and respect the passing game just as much as the run.

 

I completely agree with you on this, and in some games when they fall behind they will have no choice but to open the playbook and pass it more, and hopefully Moss will have his big games then...but I'm afraid if the Raiders have a lead or if its a close game they will be conservative and run the ball and dump off to a Tightend a lot more than they have in the past 3 years.

 

Not saying it's right or wrong, just giving a picture of how it was in the early 90s when Shell was the coach.

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I think with an improved running game, one with teh dump off threat to jordan and scambling by Brooks, the passing game will be much less reliant on a banged up Moss and will open up Porter and company.

 

I am pretty excited to see this season start, the last two were depressing cuz I hated Turner so much and never had faith in him at all. Art gives the team an identity now, and growth potential for the next few years.

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