Good game for our Raiders. We got to see our defense start out the year against a nice offense, we got to see our offense start out on a high note against a not so hot defense, and we got to see some of our rookies, and new additions shine, along with some Raiders veterans that didn't shine so much last year.
I'll start out with rookies.
Johnnie Lee Higgins, WR
I like this guy alot. He is a young, fast, and very athletic WR out of UTEP, who wasn't regarded as much of a player before the draft. Picking him up made a nice addition to WR, a position we haven't had much luck with recently. Higgins brought in 2 passes for 59 yards, one being a 50 yard bomb from Culpepper. Higgins also returned a kick for 21 yards and a punt for 11.
Now for our new additions.
Dominic Rhodes, RB
Rhodes, though suspended for 4 games, could be a big factor in our offense this season. He rushed for a touchdown and 21 yards on 8 carries. Even though that isn't really high, he did perform well. Rhodes also caught a pass for 10 yards.
Daunte Culpepper, QB
Cuplepper had the most yards last nigh, but also the most fumbles, incompletions, and wild throws. He can do better, everyone can have a bad game. He entered to a standing ovation and then fumbled the snap for a turnover. The next drive he fumbled again, but retained posession. After that, his nerves settled and he did okay.
Josh McCown, QB
McCown threw well against the Cardinals, even with haveing the least amount of attempts of our 3 QBs. He threw for 42 yards on 5 completions with 9 attempts. He was impressive, but the best was one that wasn't to be expected.
Mike Willaims, WR
Williams washed out with the Lions, and came to us in a trade, as did McCown. He caught a touchdown vs. the Cardinals, which bodes well for his career, preseason or not. He also recieved another ball, totaling for 2 receptions for 17 yards.
Now for our returning veterans.
Andrew Walter, QB
Walter, as you know, did terrible last season. 3 TD's and 13 INT's isn't the perfered ration, but what can you do? Against the Cardinals, though, Walter threw for the best completion %, the only passing TD, and 50 yards on 11 attempts with 8 completions.
Adimchinobe Echemandu, RB
I actually spelled his anme correctly without looking. I'm just going to call him Obe, though. Obe rushed for 75 yards in the game, on only 17 attempts. He did play last year, but wasn't what you would call a bright spot. He was unexpectedly good in training camp, and did very well against the Cardinals. Hopefully he can do this all next year, or at least until we get Michael Bush into the fire.
That was all the bright spots last night. A game in which our defense didn't have to score all the points for us, a game in which I hope our offense can preform like this coming year. I hope to see improvement in Obe and Walter, but that remains to be seen.
Until next time,
Just Win Baby!
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Comments (11) Add A Comment
They had 4 preseason wins last year, how did that season turn out? Dude, its just preseason
J-rod5
Petaluma, CA
Total Comments (760)
The colts lost all pre-season games last year, then won the SB. It just doesn't matter.
DC#44
Total Comments (1274)
I didn't say it mattered, I'm just writing about how it was.
terminator*
St. Louis, MO
Total Comments (280)
The difference between this game and all of last years preseason games was that the 1st team offense looked competitive, if not good.
Last years preseason we'd get down early and then our 3rd stringers would bring us back. I have to say, the game could have gone alot worse, but I was not overly impressed.
McCown was wild, threw high on almost every pass, and on the 1st play of the game opted to try to squeeze a ball in to Porter on the sidelines for about 20 yards (he threw the ball out of bounds,) instead of hitting Miller who as wide open right in front of him about 6 yards deep, it would have been an easy 8-12 yard gain.
On our first scoring drive, we got lucky with penalties, one false start was overturned because of a unnesissary(sp?) roughness penalty, a fumble got overturned by a penalty, and we got another shot on 3rd down after an incomplete pass from a penalty...so they still have a lot of work.
The protection was alot better than last year though, and the cut blocking looks like its going to open up those huge cutback lanes were used to seeing from Denver, we should be able to run the ball pretty effectively this season. I was not very impressed with Rhdoes though. He ran alright but didnt show me as much as I would have hoped, Obe looked 10x's better (granted he was runing against 2nd & 3rd stringers instead of the 1st string d, but he still showed alot more.)
Walter actually looked pretty damn good, but I think he was going against the 2nd string by the time he came in.
Culpepper looks like the knees are still bothering him, but that he might be close to making it back...he had a couple of nice bootlegs (of course against 3rd stringers though.)
Higgins looks like he's going to be pretty good, he dropped one easy pass though...a couple of guys did.
Miller made a great catch on the only ball that went his way. He blew one block that would have opened a huge hole early on though.
All in all we have a long way to go but the 1st string looked a hell of alot better than it did even in the preseason last year.
Oh and Seabass kicked a touchback on his first kick. The second kick was short but Im not sure Seabass kicked it, hopefully not. Ive expected more consitant touchbacks from him his entire career, hopefully having lost the weight (he looks alot skinnier) will help.
OaklandWarrior
Oakland , CA
Total Comments (31)
Have enough tags for your article? lol
dbackdiehard17
Pompano Beach , FL
Total Comments (17)
I know we won 4 preseason games last season but we also looked like **** in those games. McCown didn't impress me at all. At least he didn't throw a pick. Walter looked solid and poised throwing the ball with accuracy despite having pressure in his face. He hit Mike Williams on a 3rd and 17 for a first down with a guy smashing him just as he released the ball.
Does anyone think Echemandu will push Fargas down the depth chart or possibly off the team?
bIGROCKHOGG
Stockton , CA
Total Comments (1014)
yeah, about the tags, I just copy and paste them form my previous blogs, and on the first one I wrote them out. So when I lclick the topic, "NFL", it adds the same tags over and over gain.
Alot of views though...
terminator*
St. Louis, MO
Total Comments (280)
I think Obe could be a huge suprise this season.
terminator*
St. Louis, MO
Total Comments (280)
I think Obe will be a big surprise as well, I see Fargus getting cut...I wasn't impressed with McCown as well, hopefully one of the other QB's raises his game and pushes him down the depth chart. -S&B-
Silver&Black_24
Gander, NL
Total Comments (11)
Like i said b4,Echemandu has been and will continue to do well.He may just push Fargus down the depth chart.The QB's are going to have to continue to improve and study hard in the film room,otherwise we will be back to where we where last year.I think Kiffin has instilled a new additude and the team is buying into it.There's a new sheriff in town and his name is kiffin.BTW...I'm from Ohio and am heading to Oaktown the 24th to 1 pick up my new limo and 2 see my Oakland Radas beat St Louis Rams****This will be my first visit to the stadium since i started being a fan back in 75!I've seen games at cincy,indy,and the hall of fame game last year(and they won all of them),but this time i'm freakin STOKED!!!!!!!! GO RAIDERS!!!!!!!See ya there Raider Nation!
Rada4life
Total Comments (461)
Echemandu sure surprised me. We added Rhodes, Jordan returns, Michael Bush is said to be a steal of the draft, Fargas will get a run for his money but I never heard anybody mention Adimchinobe Echemandu until after the game. That is what you call competition
TexasRaider
Midlothian , TX
Total Comments (268)
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