ERIC GILMORE: TIMES COLUMNIST
So far, so good for Raiders line
Contra Costa Times
Contra Costa Times
Article Launched:08/23/2007 03:03:26 AM PDT
ALAMEDA -- IT ALL SOUNDED so good when new coach Lane Kiffin and offensive line coach Tom Cable outlined their plans to revive the Raiders offensive line after its disaster of '06.
There would be new user-friendly blocking schemes, both in the running and passing games. No longer would Raiders offensive linemen be asked to overpower their opponents man-on-man. Instead, they'd rely on quickness, movement and teamwork.
There would be a new, West Coast style passing game, one filled with short quarterback drops, quick throws, play-action fakes and plenty of rollouts. All designed to keep the quarterback off his back and the chains moving.
There would be a new Denver Broncos style running game, one filled with lateral movement, cut blocks and cutback runs. All designed to keep defenses off-balance and drives alive.
It all sounded so good then. And so far, after two exhibition games, it looks as if Kiffin and Cable knew what they were talking about.
Yes, it's just the preseason. And it's dangerous to make too much out of two exhibition games. So consider yourself warned.
That said, the early returns have been impressive for the Raiders' new-look offensive line.
Playing the entire first half against the Arizona Cardinals and 49ers, the Raiders' first-team offensive line didn't allow a sack.
Not one, despite Raiders quarterbacks throwing 38 first-half passes. This from a team that allowed a league-high 72 sacks last year. The Raiders running game has been solid, too, racking up 253 yards on 66 carries.
All those impressive numbers add up to positive reinforcement for Raiders offensive linemen and more reason for them to believe in what Cable and Kiffin are teaching.
"I think that's huge," said Raiders center Jeremy Newberry, a free-agent pickup from the 49ers. "Especially for the young guys trying to have faith in the system, have faith that the protection system works.
"To go out and see the stuff work in the games, I think it definitely just reinforces their beliefs."
Take it from fellow center Jake Grove, a holdover from last season's nightmare. Things have changed for the better.
"Everybody's got confidence in this system and the coaching staff and in each other, which is great to see around here again," Grove said.
Not surprisingly, Kiffin and Cable are doing their best to keep their offensive linemen humble. That's what coaches do.
"I say it all the time, but we've got a long way to go," Kiffin said. "How good was San Francisco? They had some starters out. ... Can you play the whole game and be that consistent?
"So there are some things to be very excited about as far as what we're doing up front and the quarterbacks staying clean back there and not getting knocked around. But you know, it won't be that easy all the time."
The 49ers' entire first-string defensive line missed last week's game. That certainly won't be the case Friday night when the Raiders face the St. Louis Rams at McAfee Coliseum.
"I think we are growing," Cable said. "I think they bought into what we're trying to do. We haven't necessarily played a really good defensive front yet. St. Louis is a good one, so this will be a good test to kind of see where we're at."
The Raiders are averaging just 3.8 yards rushing per carry, a number Cable and Kiffin want to see increase. But there have been signs that the Raiders are getting the hang of this zone run-blocking scheme and cutback running business.
Last week in the first half against the 49ers, LaMont Jordan ripped off a 32-yard run, cutting back to the right as Raiders offensive linemen moved 49ers defenders to the left. In the first half, Jordan carried eight times for 67 yards and a touchdown.
As for pass protection, Raiders quarterbacks have barely been touched. They've thrown 73 passes but been sacked just three times.
According to offensive tackle Barry Sims, the Raiders have changed some of their pass blocking techniques. But that's not the most important reason for the solid pass protection.
"We're actually running a real offense now. It makes a big difference," Sims said. "We can mix it up. When you're running the ball, it really helps you in your pass protection. We play-action and those types of things. It really takes a lot of pressure off."
As opposed to the "straight, drop-back passing 50 times a game" of last season, he added.
One first-half drive against the 49ers tells you how far the Raiders offensive line has come.
Quarterback Andrew Walter, who was sacked 46 times last season, marched the Raiders 77 yards in 17 plays. He completed 6 of 9 passes and wasn't sacked.
Did Walter ever go 17 straight plays without being sacked last year?
"We still have some work to do to be where we want to be," Newberry said. "We don't want to just be better than last year. We want to be one of the elite groups out here."
Raiders quarterbacks and running backs must like the sound of that.
Contact Eric Gilmore at [email protected].
So far, so good for Raiders line
Contra Costa Times
Contra Costa Times
Article Launched:08/23/2007 03:03:26 AM PDT
ALAMEDA -- IT ALL SOUNDED so good when new coach Lane Kiffin and offensive line coach Tom Cable outlined their plans to revive the Raiders offensive line after its disaster of '06.
There would be new user-friendly blocking schemes, both in the running and passing games. No longer would Raiders offensive linemen be asked to overpower their opponents man-on-man. Instead, they'd rely on quickness, movement and teamwork.
There would be a new, West Coast style passing game, one filled with short quarterback drops, quick throws, play-action fakes and plenty of rollouts. All designed to keep the quarterback off his back and the chains moving.
There would be a new Denver Broncos style running game, one filled with lateral movement, cut blocks and cutback runs. All designed to keep defenses off-balance and drives alive.
It all sounded so good then. And so far, after two exhibition games, it looks as if Kiffin and Cable knew what they were talking about.
Yes, it's just the preseason. And it's dangerous to make too much out of two exhibition games. So consider yourself warned.
That said, the early returns have been impressive for the Raiders' new-look offensive line.
Playing the entire first half against the Arizona Cardinals and 49ers, the Raiders' first-team offensive line didn't allow a sack.
Not one, despite Raiders quarterbacks throwing 38 first-half passes. This from a team that allowed a league-high 72 sacks last year. The Raiders running game has been solid, too, racking up 253 yards on 66 carries.
All those impressive numbers add up to positive reinforcement for Raiders offensive linemen and more reason for them to believe in what Cable and Kiffin are teaching.
"I think that's huge," said Raiders center Jeremy Newberry, a free-agent pickup from the 49ers. "Especially for the young guys trying to have faith in the system, have faith that the protection system works.
"To go out and see the stuff work in the games, I think it definitely just reinforces their beliefs."
Take it from fellow center Jake Grove, a holdover from last season's nightmare. Things have changed for the better.
"Everybody's got confidence in this system and the coaching staff and in each other, which is great to see around here again," Grove said.
Not surprisingly, Kiffin and Cable are doing their best to keep their offensive linemen humble. That's what coaches do.
"I say it all the time, but we've got a long way to go," Kiffin said. "How good was San Francisco? They had some starters out. ... Can you play the whole game and be that consistent?
"So there are some things to be very excited about as far as what we're doing up front and the quarterbacks staying clean back there and not getting knocked around. But you know, it won't be that easy all the time."
The 49ers' entire first-string defensive line missed last week's game. That certainly won't be the case Friday night when the Raiders face the St. Louis Rams at McAfee Coliseum.
"I think we are growing," Cable said. "I think they bought into what we're trying to do. We haven't necessarily played a really good defensive front yet. St. Louis is a good one, so this will be a good test to kind of see where we're at."
The Raiders are averaging just 3.8 yards rushing per carry, a number Cable and Kiffin want to see increase. But there have been signs that the Raiders are getting the hang of this zone run-blocking scheme and cutback running business.
Last week in the first half against the 49ers, LaMont Jordan ripped off a 32-yard run, cutting back to the right as Raiders offensive linemen moved 49ers defenders to the left. In the first half, Jordan carried eight times for 67 yards and a touchdown.
As for pass protection, Raiders quarterbacks have barely been touched. They've thrown 73 passes but been sacked just three times.
According to offensive tackle Barry Sims, the Raiders have changed some of their pass blocking techniques. But that's not the most important reason for the solid pass protection.
"We're actually running a real offense now. It makes a big difference," Sims said. "We can mix it up. When you're running the ball, it really helps you in your pass protection. We play-action and those types of things. It really takes a lot of pressure off."
As opposed to the "straight, drop-back passing 50 times a game" of last season, he added.
One first-half drive against the 49ers tells you how far the Raiders offensive line has come.
Quarterback Andrew Walter, who was sacked 46 times last season, marched the Raiders 77 yards in 17 plays. He completed 6 of 9 passes and wasn't sacked.
Did Walter ever go 17 straight plays without being sacked last year?
"We still have some work to do to be where we want to be," Newberry said. "We don't want to just be better than last year. We want to be one of the elite groups out here."
Raiders quarterbacks and running backs must like the sound of that.
Contact Eric Gilmore at [email protected].
