The San Francisco 49ers signed nose tackle 2010 pro bowl 4 Brett Favre Blue jersey
Aubrayo Franklin to a three year, $6 million contract in early March with the expectation that he could be the man in the middle for the defense. The 49ers ranked 19th in rushing defense last season, allowing 121.0 yards per game on the ground. Coach Mike Nolan has ties to Franklin from his days in Baltimore as the Ravens' D-coordinator. And it's evident that Nolan has the utmost confidence that Franklin, a fifth-round pick in 2003, can solidify the middle and help improve the team's rush defense.Last year, Franklin saw playing time as the primary backup to Ravens starting defensive tackle Kelly Gregg. San Francisco defensive end Marques Douglas was a teammate of Franklin's in Baltimore, and the former shared his thoughts on the latter in a Q & A session on the 49ers' official Web site."I think he's finally going to get a chance to step out and prove that he can be a full time starter in this league. He was behind some good people in Baltimore and whenever you're behind good people you have to sit there patiently and know that your time is going to come," said Douglas."Now his time has come. He's going to have to really understand that he's no longer a back up. His role has changed and it's that of a starter. When you're a starter there's a whole different level of expectations right at the front," he continued.Franklin's patience should pay off this season, and his performance will be a critical factor in determining whether the Niners' 3-4 defense will be successful. If Franklin can clog the middle and 2010 pro bowl Vikings 4 Brett Favre jersey
absorb blockers, he will open rushing lanes for the team's explosive blitzing linebackers. The recent addition of D-lineman Sam Rayburn, who was signed to a one-year deal for the minimum salary of $595,000, should provide some depth at nose tackle, too, and he's also expected to back up veteran Bryant Young at left DE. Despite picking up Rayburn, the team has lofty expectations for Franklin, who is determined to take full advantage of his new opportunity.
2010年12月2日星期四
Bob Sanders Profile Week 10
If you saw the play where the ' Bob Sanders hurled his body over his own defensive line to pound shifty running back Laurence Maroney into the turf last weekend in New England, you'll know what I'm talking about.Just when it looked like the Patriots' rookie was about to shoot through a hole for a nice gain, Sanders went vertical Dallas Cowboys jersey
and met him shoulder high, looking more like a human missile or comic book superhero than a mild-mannered guy from northern Pennsylvania. The free safety's return from injury couldn't have come at a more perfect time for Indianapolis this past Sunday night as the team took on its conference nemesis. With two starting tackles out once again (Corey Simon and Montae Reagor) and fellow safety Mike Doss recently going on injured reserve, the Colts were obviously vulnerable going against Tom Brady and the Pats. But 11 tackles and an interception later, Sanders stood out as the spark that lit a fire under the Colts' defense.Stellar play is not new to the third-year pro out of the University of Iowa. Last December he had a career-best 20 tackles (12 solo) versus San Diego. He then became the club's first defensive back to earn Pro Bowl honors since Jerry Logan and Rick Volk in 1971. Sanders finished the season with 118 tackles (71 solo), four passes defended, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one interception.Of course, Sanders' hard-hitting style of play doesn't come without a downside. Of the 41 regular-season games he's been on the Colts' roster, he has been listed as questionable, doubtful or out 22 times on Indy's injury report.Should he stay healthy the rest of 4 Brett Favre White jersey
the 2006 campaign, Bob Sanders will single-handedly raise the Colts' defensive unit from nothing special to above average. He is that good.As much as I dislike clichés, Sanders is a bona fide difference maker on the football field. And the Colts are no doubt happy to have him back.Get more analysis
and met him shoulder high, looking more like a human missile or comic book superhero than a mild-mannered guy from northern Pennsylvania. The free safety's return from injury couldn't have come at a more perfect time for Indianapolis this past Sunday night as the team took on its conference nemesis. With two starting tackles out once again (Corey Simon and Montae Reagor) and fellow safety Mike Doss recently going on injured reserve, the Colts were obviously vulnerable going against Tom Brady and the Pats. But 11 tackles and an interception later, Sanders stood out as the spark that lit a fire under the Colts' defense.Stellar play is not new to the third-year pro out of the University of Iowa. Last December he had a career-best 20 tackles (12 solo) versus San Diego. He then became the club's first defensive back to earn Pro Bowl honors since Jerry Logan and Rick Volk in 1971. Sanders finished the season with 118 tackles (71 solo), four passes defended, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one interception.Of course, Sanders' hard-hitting style of play doesn't come without a downside. Of the 41 regular-season games he's been on the Colts' roster, he has been listed as questionable, doubtful or out 22 times on Indy's injury report.Should he stay healthy the rest of 4 Brett Favre White jersey
the 2006 campaign, Bob Sanders will single-handedly raise the Colts' defensive unit from nothing special to above average. He is that good.As much as I dislike clichés, Sanders is a bona fide difference maker on the football field. And the Colts are no doubt happy to have him back.Get more analysis
Tight ends for tight situations
If there was one play in the fourth quarter of the AFC Championship game that typified the unpredictability of the ' offense, it was a pass Peyton Manning completed on second-and-10 from his own 31-yard line to the New England Patriots' 37.The receiver lobbied for it in the huddle, then lost his defender with a quick Jets 6 Sanchez Jersey
move to the outside -- just as he'd promised. Manning found him on the left sideline, and the Colts knew they probably had at least a tying field goal.What's interesting is, the receiver wasn't Marvin Harrison or Reggie Wayne, the two wideouts everyone mentions in the same breath as Manning. It was Bryan Fletcher, a second-year pro and the third-string tight end.You know about tight ends -- tall, hulking guys who probably played basketball in high school and have the heft to block even defensive linemen when necessary. When they catch the ball, it's usually when the quarterback has exhausted all his other options. They are his life-line, the final read as the alternatives blur through the QB's racing mind like pictures of fruit on a slot machine.Tight ends become important in the red zone, because they are large targets. Generally speaking, they don't go streaking down the sideline.Except in Indianapolis, where starter Dallas Clark and backups Ben Utecht and Fletcher all have more than a 10-yard average per catch. Clark snagged 30 passes for 367 yards in 2006, Utecht had 37 catches for 377 yards and Fletcher's numbers were 18 grabs for 202 yards. By contrast, Desmond Clark of the Chicago Bears had a Monster of the Midway year with 45 catches, 626 yards and six touchdowns, but reserves John Gilmore and Gabe Reid contributed very little to the offense.As defenses pay more attention to Harrison and Wayne, Clark has emerged as Manning's favorite and most effective receiver in the postseason. The 6-foot-3, 254-pound University of Iowa grad caught nine passes in the playoff opener against Kansas City, six of them for first downs. Held to two catches by Baltimore, he made both of them count for over 20 yards, setting up two of Adam Vinatieri's five field goals. And then, in the conference title game, his six catches covered 137 yards.Over the past two years, all tight ends in the NFL have been compared to San Diego's Antonio Gates. But since returning from four weeks of injury downtime, Clark has looked more like Gates than Gates.His right knee injury against Philadelphia on Nov. 26 was first thought to be a torn ACL. But team doctors advised rest rather than season-ending surgery, and the knee came around in time for Clark to retake the field for the last regular-season game.This is a guy you've got to love, a small town boy (Fort Dodge, Iowa) who walked on at the University of Iowa as a linebacker. A couple of days after the Colts' 38-34 victory put them in the Super Bowl, Clark made a call to his old high school -- Twin River Valley -- and talked to the assembled student body over the PA system. He told them he was having the time of his life.What makes Clark different from the league's other marquee tight ends -- Gates and Tony Gonzalez -- is that he is only the No. 3 receiver. But while he has the size and the gumption to block effectively, he's also fast enough to be a slot receiver or even split out as a third wideout.The Bears, we keep hearing, never blitz. So if Clark doesn't have to stay home to keep unexpected flying bodies from colliding with Manning, he'll be free to ply the middle of the field -- where he'll probably be defended by another small-town hero, Chicago 4 Brett Favre White jersey
LB Brian Urlacher.Meanwhile, Fletcher and Utecht are also frequent targets for Manning, who's likely to throw to anyone who's legal. Utecht is more of a possession receiver, but Fletcher -- light for a TE at 230 pounds -- can go deep.He proved that two weeks ago.Original Super Bowl insight
move to the outside -- just as he'd promised. Manning found him on the left sideline, and the Colts knew they probably had at least a tying field goal.What's interesting is, the receiver wasn't Marvin Harrison or Reggie Wayne, the two wideouts everyone mentions in the same breath as Manning. It was Bryan Fletcher, a second-year pro and the third-string tight end.You know about tight ends -- tall, hulking guys who probably played basketball in high school and have the heft to block even defensive linemen when necessary. When they catch the ball, it's usually when the quarterback has exhausted all his other options. They are his life-line, the final read as the alternatives blur through the QB's racing mind like pictures of fruit on a slot machine.Tight ends become important in the red zone, because they are large targets. Generally speaking, they don't go streaking down the sideline.Except in Indianapolis, where starter Dallas Clark and backups Ben Utecht and Fletcher all have more than a 10-yard average per catch. Clark snagged 30 passes for 367 yards in 2006, Utecht had 37 catches for 377 yards and Fletcher's numbers were 18 grabs for 202 yards. By contrast, Desmond Clark of the Chicago Bears had a Monster of the Midway year with 45 catches, 626 yards and six touchdowns, but reserves John Gilmore and Gabe Reid contributed very little to the offense.As defenses pay more attention to Harrison and Wayne, Clark has emerged as Manning's favorite and most effective receiver in the postseason. The 6-foot-3, 254-pound University of Iowa grad caught nine passes in the playoff opener against Kansas City, six of them for first downs. Held to two catches by Baltimore, he made both of them count for over 20 yards, setting up two of Adam Vinatieri's five field goals. And then, in the conference title game, his six catches covered 137 yards.Over the past two years, all tight ends in the NFL have been compared to San Diego's Antonio Gates. But since returning from four weeks of injury downtime, Clark has looked more like Gates than Gates.His right knee injury against Philadelphia on Nov. 26 was first thought to be a torn ACL. But team doctors advised rest rather than season-ending surgery, and the knee came around in time for Clark to retake the field for the last regular-season game.This is a guy you've got to love, a small town boy (Fort Dodge, Iowa) who walked on at the University of Iowa as a linebacker. A couple of days after the Colts' 38-34 victory put them in the Super Bowl, Clark made a call to his old high school -- Twin River Valley -- and talked to the assembled student body over the PA system. He told them he was having the time of his life.What makes Clark different from the league's other marquee tight ends -- Gates and Tony Gonzalez -- is that he is only the No. 3 receiver. But while he has the size and the gumption to block effectively, he's also fast enough to be a slot receiver or even split out as a third wideout.The Bears, we keep hearing, never blitz. So if Clark doesn't have to stay home to keep unexpected flying bodies from colliding with Manning, he'll be free to ply the middle of the field -- where he'll probably be defended by another small-town hero, Chicago 4 Brett Favre White jersey
LB Brian Urlacher.Meanwhile, Fletcher and Utecht are also frequent targets for Manning, who's likely to throw to anyone who's legal. Utecht is more of a possession receiver, but Fletcher -- light for a TE at 230 pounds -- can go deep.He proved that two weeks ago.Original Super Bowl insight
2010年12月1日星期三
camp toss-up: Strongside linebacker"
There’s one good thing about summer when it comes to the NFL: You can turn almost any negative into a positive.At this time last year, the and Lane Kiffin, then their rookie head coach, were dealing with what, at that time, seemed to be an encouraging little road bump. They had too many players -- which meant too many camp battles -- for nearly every position.Even at this time in 2007, Kiffin still hadn’t figured out who’d be his starting quarterback for the year -- and who’d be the backup, for that matter. He headed into preseason having to deal with the flux of having three QBs -- Josh McCown, Daunte Culpepper and Andrew Walter -- all battling for one spot.It all seemed hopeful back then. There were so many capable players on one roster, which encouraged a 10 Santonio Holmes White jersey
competitive atmosphere and forced Kiffin to choose the one who emerged as the best player.Or … there just wasn’t one player good enough.After another 4-12 season, we’ve all found out that was the reason why there were so many camp battles. Looking back, having to choose among McCown, Culpepper and Walter is no fantasy camp.Luckily, just two days after the Raiders’ first official 2008 depth chart was released, that won’t be a problem this year. A quick glance reveals only two positions up for grabs heading into preseason: Center (which I discussed last week) and strongside linebacker, which I’ll examine now.Currently, there are three applicants up for the final linebacker spot alongside standouts Kirk Morrison and Thomas Howard. The three are Sam Williams, Robert Thomas and Ricky Brown; Williams and Thomas have starting experience with Oakland, while Brown has only seen time on special teams in the NFL. That doesn’t mean, however, that Brown is out of the race. In fact, he may be leading it.? Sam Williams: The 28-year-old Williams has the most starting experience with the Raiders of the three linebackers, filling a No. 1 role in 20 games with the silver and black over the last five seasons. Unfortunately, the former third-round pick hasn’t used that starting time very effectively, never emerging as the type of dynamic player the Raiders had hoped he'd be when drafting him out of Fresno State.Williams’ best season came back in 2006, when the 260-pounder started 12 games and recorded 44 tackles (38 solo) and a sack. Last season, his production saw a major drop-off, with just four starts and 16 tackles to show for the year. In the end, Williams will likely to a back seat to both Thomas and Brown. The Clayton, Calif., native has become the player who's always there, but he's never quite good enough in Oakland. Unfortunately for him, nothing has changed that this year.? Robert Thomas: The most experienced of the three, Thomas has started in 49 games with three different teams since entering the NFL in 2002. The 28-year-old started 10 games with Oakland last season and posted his most productive season in the league since 2003 with the St. Louis Rams. The 6-feet, 235-pounder registered 62 tackles (51 solo) as the team’s primary starter, proving to be a reliable option at outside linebacker.Thomas, though, doesn’t quite fit in with the Raiders' linebacking corps. Though dependable, he doesn’t possess the explosiveness and playmaking ability that both Morrison and Howard have, making him appear as the odd man out. As the season rolls along, Thomas will undoubtedly see his share of time on the field. To start, though, his name may sit No. 2 on the depth chart.? Ricky Brown: The young wild card of the three, Brown is the type of player coach’s and fans can get excited about. The 24-year-old hasn’t played strongside linebacker since his days at Boston College three years ago, but the former undrafted free agent has been taking the bulk of reps this camp with the first-team defense. A native of Cincinnati, Brown has spent his first two years with Oakland almost exclusively on special teams, playing in 19 games (with one start in Week 16 last year) and registering 21 total tackles.Brown came out of the same draft as Howard in ‘06, and, surprisingly, he isn’t far off in the measurables department. Howard (6-3, 240) ran the 40-yard dash in 4.42 seconds; Brown (6-2, 235) ran it in 4.48. 10 Santonio Holmes black jersey
Howard ran the 20-yard shuttle in 4.29 seconds; Brown topped that, recording a 3.96-second shuttle. In addition, they also differed by just one one-hundredth of a second in the three-cone drill.With the ‘08 preseason just one day away, don’t expect Brown’s undersized résumé to prevent him from beating out the aged veterans. This deep into camp, it’s a testament to his work ethic that he’s even leading this tight race. Expect Brown to hang on, and join the two explosive linebackers he’s watched from the sidelines since becoming a Raider two short years ago.Anthony Carroll can be contacted at Training Camp: An entirely new kind of fantasy game! (21)
competitive atmosphere and forced Kiffin to choose the one who emerged as the best player.Or … there just wasn’t one player good enough.After another 4-12 season, we’ve all found out that was the reason why there were so many camp battles. Looking back, having to choose among McCown, Culpepper and Walter is no fantasy camp.Luckily, just two days after the Raiders’ first official 2008 depth chart was released, that won’t be a problem this year. A quick glance reveals only two positions up for grabs heading into preseason: Center (which I discussed last week) and strongside linebacker, which I’ll examine now.Currently, there are three applicants up for the final linebacker spot alongside standouts Kirk Morrison and Thomas Howard. The three are Sam Williams, Robert Thomas and Ricky Brown; Williams and Thomas have starting experience with Oakland, while Brown has only seen time on special teams in the NFL. That doesn’t mean, however, that Brown is out of the race. In fact, he may be leading it.? Sam Williams: The 28-year-old Williams has the most starting experience with the Raiders of the three linebackers, filling a No. 1 role in 20 games with the silver and black over the last five seasons. Unfortunately, the former third-round pick hasn’t used that starting time very effectively, never emerging as the type of dynamic player the Raiders had hoped he'd be when drafting him out of Fresno State.Williams’ best season came back in 2006, when the 260-pounder started 12 games and recorded 44 tackles (38 solo) and a sack. Last season, his production saw a major drop-off, with just four starts and 16 tackles to show for the year. In the end, Williams will likely to a back seat to both Thomas and Brown. The Clayton, Calif., native has become the player who's always there, but he's never quite good enough in Oakland. Unfortunately for him, nothing has changed that this year.? Robert Thomas: The most experienced of the three, Thomas has started in 49 games with three different teams since entering the NFL in 2002. The 28-year-old started 10 games with Oakland last season and posted his most productive season in the league since 2003 with the St. Louis Rams. The 6-feet, 235-pounder registered 62 tackles (51 solo) as the team’s primary starter, proving to be a reliable option at outside linebacker.Thomas, though, doesn’t quite fit in with the Raiders' linebacking corps. Though dependable, he doesn’t possess the explosiveness and playmaking ability that both Morrison and Howard have, making him appear as the odd man out. As the season rolls along, Thomas will undoubtedly see his share of time on the field. To start, though, his name may sit No. 2 on the depth chart.? Ricky Brown: The young wild card of the three, Brown is the type of player coach’s and fans can get excited about. The 24-year-old hasn’t played strongside linebacker since his days at Boston College three years ago, but the former undrafted free agent has been taking the bulk of reps this camp with the first-team defense. A native of Cincinnati, Brown has spent his first two years with Oakland almost exclusively on special teams, playing in 19 games (with one start in Week 16 last year) and registering 21 total tackles.Brown came out of the same draft as Howard in ‘06, and, surprisingly, he isn’t far off in the measurables department. Howard (6-3, 240) ran the 40-yard dash in 4.42 seconds; Brown (6-2, 235) ran it in 4.48. 10 Santonio Holmes black jersey
Howard ran the 20-yard shuttle in 4.29 seconds; Brown topped that, recording a 3.96-second shuttle. In addition, they also differed by just one one-hundredth of a second in the three-cone drill.With the ‘08 preseason just one day away, don’t expect Brown’s undersized résumé to prevent him from beating out the aged veterans. This deep into camp, it’s a testament to his work ethic that he’s even leading this tight race. Expect Brown to hang on, and join the two explosive linebackers he’s watched from the sidelines since becoming a Raider two short years ago.Anthony Carroll can be contacted at Training Camp: An entirely new kind of fantasy game! (21)
Five fresh faces show up big, lead Raiders to win
It was a weekend of new faces and second-year standouts for the .The silver and black debuted its new roster on Friday in an 18-6 home win over the San Francisco 49ers to jump-start its preseason. A handful of first-time Raiders and second-year returnees propelled Oakland to the winner's circle.It 36 Bettis Black Jersey
was an easy-to-watch effort for at least half of the Bay Area, with Oakland dominating San Francisco in nearly every statistical category. The Raider offense outran the 49ers’ by 78 yards, the ‘D’ forced four turnovers, and the special teams put a touchdown on the scoreboard.Nearly all of those accomplishments came as a result of a play made by a fresh face -- either a first-year Raider or second-year player. Here are five of those players who led Oakland to victory Friday and showed they’re ready for the 2008 season.? Johnnie Lee HigginsHiggins didn’t get credit for all he did Friday. Even so, he still had a huge day. The sophomore wideout from UTEP had a 39-yard punt return negated by an illegal block to the back midway through the first quarter. The illegal block by fullback Oren O’Neal came after Higgins was already two steps past the defender; nevertheless, the long return was called back. A quarter later, though, the 24-year-old took back an Andy Lee punt 53 yards for a score, putting Oakland on the board for the first time of the ‘08 preseason.? Darren McFaddenMcFadden’s NFL debut came with a lot of cheers and no disappointment. The first-round running back was allotted 12 carries by head coach Lane Kiffin, and he averaged 4.0 yards per attempt. McFadden showed off his explosiveness early on, running off the edge and past a pack of 49er defenders on a third-and-1 situation to pick up 6 yards and a first down. On the Arkansas rookie’s first drive, pickups of 4, 3, 5, 6 and another 6 yards were made. There were plenty of positives to take away from the 20-year-old’s NFL debut. ? Louis RankinOakland is probably the hardest roster to make if you’re an undrafted free agent running back. Yet Rankin did all he could Friday to make sure his coaches think twice before making any sudden decisions. The former Washington Huskies ball carrier led the team in rushing with 91 yards on just eight attempts, thanks largely in part to a 72-yard scamper on the second play of the fourth quarter. Last year with Washington, the Stockton, Calif., native rushed for 1,294 yards on 233 carries, good for 5.6 yards per try. He gained 11.4 yards per rush on Friday.? Michael BushIt was a long-awaited debut for the 245-pound second-year running back, but it was a good one. Bush’s first NFL carry went for a hard-earned 7 yards and his second went for 6. On the day, the ex-Louisville standout fell short of matching fellow RBs Justin Fargas and McFadden’s numbers on the ground, gaining 27 yards; however, he did win in the TD and pass-catching categories. The 24-year-old received a pair of throws for 29 yards, including a 23-yard screen that set up his 5-yard touchdown carry on the opening drive of the third quarter.? Gibril WilsonWilson wasn’t all over the stat sheet: He had just three tackles on the day. However, he was all over the field. The 26-year-old, who signed with Oakland during the offseason for his ability to swarm to the football, did just that Friday. The fifth-year safety was in on nearly every play he was on the field for (two drives) and was very quick to respond in pass coverage. On the team’s defensive debut, the ex-Giant was in on two of the three tackles made on2010 pro bowl Vikings 4 Brett Favre jersey
the drive. On the team’s second defensive stand, Wilson made the drive-ending tackle on running back DeShaun Foster for a loss of 4 yards. Only one exhibition game into the ‘08 season, it looks as if Oakland made a very sound free agent investment.Anthony Carroll can be contacted at Training Camp: An entirely new kind of fantasy game! (36)
was an easy-to-watch effort for at least half of the Bay Area, with Oakland dominating San Francisco in nearly every statistical category. The Raider offense outran the 49ers’ by 78 yards, the ‘D’ forced four turnovers, and the special teams put a touchdown on the scoreboard.Nearly all of those accomplishments came as a result of a play made by a fresh face -- either a first-year Raider or second-year player. Here are five of those players who led Oakland to victory Friday and showed they’re ready for the 2008 season.? Johnnie Lee HigginsHiggins didn’t get credit for all he did Friday. Even so, he still had a huge day. The sophomore wideout from UTEP had a 39-yard punt return negated by an illegal block to the back midway through the first quarter. The illegal block by fullback Oren O’Neal came after Higgins was already two steps past the defender; nevertheless, the long return was called back. A quarter later, though, the 24-year-old took back an Andy Lee punt 53 yards for a score, putting Oakland on the board for the first time of the ‘08 preseason.? Darren McFaddenMcFadden’s NFL debut came with a lot of cheers and no disappointment. The first-round running back was allotted 12 carries by head coach Lane Kiffin, and he averaged 4.0 yards per attempt. McFadden showed off his explosiveness early on, running off the edge and past a pack of 49er defenders on a third-and-1 situation to pick up 6 yards and a first down. On the Arkansas rookie’s first drive, pickups of 4, 3, 5, 6 and another 6 yards were made. There were plenty of positives to take away from the 20-year-old’s NFL debut. ? Louis RankinOakland is probably the hardest roster to make if you’re an undrafted free agent running back. Yet Rankin did all he could Friday to make sure his coaches think twice before making any sudden decisions. The former Washington Huskies ball carrier led the team in rushing with 91 yards on just eight attempts, thanks largely in part to a 72-yard scamper on the second play of the fourth quarter. Last year with Washington, the Stockton, Calif., native rushed for 1,294 yards on 233 carries, good for 5.6 yards per try. He gained 11.4 yards per rush on Friday.? Michael BushIt was a long-awaited debut for the 245-pound second-year running back, but it was a good one. Bush’s first NFL carry went for a hard-earned 7 yards and his second went for 6. On the day, the ex-Louisville standout fell short of matching fellow RBs Justin Fargas and McFadden’s numbers on the ground, gaining 27 yards; however, he did win in the TD and pass-catching categories. The 24-year-old received a pair of throws for 29 yards, including a 23-yard screen that set up his 5-yard touchdown carry on the opening drive of the third quarter.? Gibril WilsonWilson wasn’t all over the stat sheet: He had just three tackles on the day. However, he was all over the field. The 26-year-old, who signed with Oakland during the offseason for his ability to swarm to the football, did just that Friday. The fifth-year safety was in on nearly every play he was on the field for (two drives) and was very quick to respond in pass coverage. On the team’s defensive debut, the ex-Giant was in on two of the three tackles made on2010 pro bowl Vikings 4 Brett Favre jersey
the drive. On the team’s second defensive stand, Wilson made the drive-ending tackle on running back DeShaun Foster for a loss of 4 yards. Only one exhibition game into the ‘08 season, it looks as if Oakland made a very sound free agent investment.Anthony Carroll can be contacted at Training Camp: An entirely new kind of fantasy game! (36)
LaDainian Tomlinson
If the can find a way to control San Diego running back LaDainian Tomlinson on Sunday, they can head into week seven with a chance to break even-something far easier said than done. Through four games this season Oakland has yet to allow a single rusher to pass the century-mark. However, Sunday's 2010 pro bowl Vikings 4 Brett Favre jersey
game at Network Associates Coliseum will surely be the greatest test that Oakland will have to face all season.While Tomlinson is the key factor in the game for the Chargers, Oakland must rely on their defensive line to provide them with another strong game in both pass-rush and run-defense. The Raiders first priority must be to control the San Diego offensive line, especially on rushing plays. If the mammoth duo of Warren Sapp and Ted Washington can provide a strong push on the interior of the line it will cause Tomlinson to rely purely on individual athleticism to gain yardage-a talent that he definitely possesses. On passing plays, look for ends Bobby Hamilton, Derrick Burgess, and Tommy Kelly to collapse the pocket around Drew Brees and knock down balls at the line of scrimmage.Offensively, the will be facing the 7th-ranked rush defense and 26th-ranked pass defense in the NFL. This does not mean that Oakland should turn away from their running game by any means. In the Raiders' only win of the season, first-year starter LaMont Jordan rumbled for 126 yards and a touchdown. Another solid outing for Jordan will allow fantasy stud Kerry Collins to open up the passing attack led by wideouts Randy Moss and Jerry Porter. Also look for tight end Courtney Anderson to exploit the weak San Diego secondary by running free down the middle of the field.On the sidelines, Coach Norv Tuner must find a way to penetrate San Diego's 3-4 defensive scheme that has stifled several rushers already this season. San Diego head coach Marty Schottenheimer holds a dominating 23-7 all-time record against Oakland-he is 3-0 in his career against Norv Turner. Oakland already has four pre-game advantages over San Diego. For one, they are heading into Sunday's game with an extra week of rest and preparation. Secondly, San Diego has had a day of training taken away from them due to last week's Monday Night battle with Pittsburgh. Thirdly, Oakland is hot coming off 6 Sanchez Green Jersey
a win, while San Diego lost their last outing. And last-but surely not least-Oakland is playing with the home crowd behind them.With each of these underlying factors in mind, Sunday could prove to be a tremendous opportunity for the to turn their season around and cause a bit of commotion in the AFC West.
game at Network Associates Coliseum will surely be the greatest test that Oakland will have to face all season.While Tomlinson is the key factor in the game for the Chargers, Oakland must rely on their defensive line to provide them with another strong game in both pass-rush and run-defense. The Raiders first priority must be to control the San Diego offensive line, especially on rushing plays. If the mammoth duo of Warren Sapp and Ted Washington can provide a strong push on the interior of the line it will cause Tomlinson to rely purely on individual athleticism to gain yardage-a talent that he definitely possesses. On passing plays, look for ends Bobby Hamilton, Derrick Burgess, and Tommy Kelly to collapse the pocket around Drew Brees and knock down balls at the line of scrimmage.Offensively, the will be facing the 7th-ranked rush defense and 26th-ranked pass defense in the NFL. This does not mean that Oakland should turn away from their running game by any means. In the Raiders' only win of the season, first-year starter LaMont Jordan rumbled for 126 yards and a touchdown. Another solid outing for Jordan will allow fantasy stud Kerry Collins to open up the passing attack led by wideouts Randy Moss and Jerry Porter. Also look for tight end Courtney Anderson to exploit the weak San Diego secondary by running free down the middle of the field.On the sidelines, Coach Norv Tuner must find a way to penetrate San Diego's 3-4 defensive scheme that has stifled several rushers already this season. San Diego head coach Marty Schottenheimer holds a dominating 23-7 all-time record against Oakland-he is 3-0 in his career against Norv Turner. Oakland already has four pre-game advantages over San Diego. For one, they are heading into Sunday's game with an extra week of rest and preparation. Secondly, San Diego has had a day of training taken away from them due to last week's Monday Night battle with Pittsburgh. Thirdly, Oakland is hot coming off 6 Sanchez Green Jersey
a win, while San Diego lost their last outing. And last-but surely not least-Oakland is playing with the home crowd behind them.With each of these underlying factors in mind, Sunday could prove to be a tremendous opportunity for the to turn their season around and cause a bit of commotion in the AFC West.
LaMont Jordan Randy Moss
Last week's loss to Philadelphia was apparently a momentous wake-up call for several - most notably running back LaMont Jordan and kicker Sebastian Janikowski. A week after tallying only 19 yards on 16 carries, LaMont Jordan put his head down 26 times for a 126-yard effort in Oakland's home win to 2010 pro bowl Vikings 4 Brett Favre jersey
Dallas 19-13. Sebastian Janikowski, who let six points slip away from him last week, had a perfect game in Oakland to add 13 points onto LaMont Jordan's six.Despite 13 penalties for 85 yards, Oakland was able to hold the lead for the entire game. The young secondary held Cowboy quarterback Drew Bledsoe to just 11 completions for 212 yards on 26 attempts. Ranked third in NFL passer rating coming into Sunday's game, Bledsoe's yardage total and completion percentage was his worst of the 2005 season thus far. On the other side of the field, Kerry Collins threw another pickless game with 13 completions for 218 yards. Marshall standout Randy Moss reached the 100-yard mark for the third time in just four games this season with 123 yards.Perhaps more important than the 100-yard games by both Randy Moss and LaMont Jordan was the exceptional performance of the Raiders defensive line. In spite of facing 22 carries by running back Julius Jones, Oakland's line held him to only 76 yards-an average of just 3.5 yards per carry. Additionally, Oakland consistently collapsed the pocket around statue Drew Bledsoe, causing him to force several bad throws. Off-season acquisition Derrick Burgess reached the quarterback twice, while veteran Warren Sapp also had success on the line with a sack of his own. Along with eight tackles on the game, strong safety Derrick Gibson also reached Bledsoe for a sack on a vital third down blitz.Only with less than five minutes left in the fourth quarter was Dallas within reach of their first lead of the game. Set up by a 57-yard pass to Terry Glenn with 4:14 left in the game, Dallas was facing a first and ten from the Oakland 11-yard line with just over two minutes left. On first down, Julius Jones ran off the left tackle for eight yards to the Oakland three-yard line-the closest Dallas would get to capturing their first lead. Tommy Kelly stuffed Julius Jones two yards behind the line of scrimmage on second down, 6 Sanchez White Jersey
followed by two Bledsoe incompletions on third and fourth down.At the expense of the Dallas Cowboys, the 1-3 can now head into their bye week with their heads up and their hopes high. Oakland's next opponent is the San Diego Chargers on October 16th.
Dallas 19-13. Sebastian Janikowski, who let six points slip away from him last week, had a perfect game in Oakland to add 13 points onto LaMont Jordan's six.Despite 13 penalties for 85 yards, Oakland was able to hold the lead for the entire game. The young secondary held Cowboy quarterback Drew Bledsoe to just 11 completions for 212 yards on 26 attempts. Ranked third in NFL passer rating coming into Sunday's game, Bledsoe's yardage total and completion percentage was his worst of the 2005 season thus far. On the other side of the field, Kerry Collins threw another pickless game with 13 completions for 218 yards. Marshall standout Randy Moss reached the 100-yard mark for the third time in just four games this season with 123 yards.Perhaps more important than the 100-yard games by both Randy Moss and LaMont Jordan was the exceptional performance of the Raiders defensive line. In spite of facing 22 carries by running back Julius Jones, Oakland's line held him to only 76 yards-an average of just 3.5 yards per carry. Additionally, Oakland consistently collapsed the pocket around statue Drew Bledsoe, causing him to force several bad throws. Off-season acquisition Derrick Burgess reached the quarterback twice, while veteran Warren Sapp also had success on the line with a sack of his own. Along with eight tackles on the game, strong safety Derrick Gibson also reached Bledsoe for a sack on a vital third down blitz.Only with less than five minutes left in the fourth quarter was Dallas within reach of their first lead of the game. Set up by a 57-yard pass to Terry Glenn with 4:14 left in the game, Dallas was facing a first and ten from the Oakland 11-yard line with just over two minutes left. On first down, Julius Jones ran off the left tackle for eight yards to the Oakland three-yard line-the closest Dallas would get to capturing their first lead. Tommy Kelly stuffed Julius Jones two yards behind the line of scrimmage on second down, 6 Sanchez White Jersey
followed by two Bledsoe incompletions on third and fourth down.At the expense of the Dallas Cowboys, the 1-3 can now head into their bye week with their heads up and their hopes high. Oakland's next opponent is the San Diego Chargers on October 16th.
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