WEEK 5 - Denver @ OAKLAND - Oct 11th
Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2015 6:52 pm
Time to bounce back after that brutal loss last week. This is the first time I could bring myself to dive into the Silver and Black without feeling sick to my stomach. We have a big chance this week to establish a ourselves vs the division bully for the last few years, Da Donkeys.
Keys to the Game for Oakland (per Levi Damien, Bill Williamson and myself)
Peyton vs CWood - This rivalry goes back a LONG way. Like, before either suited up in an NFL uniform. Woodson won the Heisman trophy over Manning. Then Manning was taken number one overall in the 1998 draft, with Woodson going fourth overall to the Raiders. After 18 years in the NFL, they (and Matt 'freaking' Hasselbeck) are the last remaining players in the NFL from that draft class. The one thing that has eluded Woodson is intercepting Manning. Woodson will get another shot at after 8 previous times facing Manning in an NFL game. You never this could be the final time these two future Hall of Famers will face off. He simply has to pick him off at least once just to check it off his bucket list.
Aldon Smith and Mack vs Ryan Harris and Mike Schofield - Mack came on vs the Browns and Aldon had a good game vs the Bears. Now it's time to for them to put it together. The two backup tackles for Denver will have their hands full with our young pass rushers. What that forshadows is a Manning using the quick passing games from the shotgun to beat us either to the outside or ovr the middle to...
Emmanuel Sanders vs the middle of our defense - We will be in zone most of the game over the middle due to the wizardary of Manning to find mismatches. That means we can expect Sanders to have a big day dodging Lofton, Woodson, Smith and whoever else is roaming the middle zone. Limiting those plays to minimal YAC especially on 3rd down will be big this game. Manning will use our the backs and TEs to clear out the middle and then drag Sanders across the formation with crossing routes and slants. Get your running shoes on fellas and make those open field tackles.
Our big 3 vs the Denver's D - Carr, Murray and Cooper have performed much better than predicted and the Donkeys have been playing well on Defense. We need to commit to the run to slow this pass rush and get Cooper confidenice early to set the tone. This game may very well come down to the other guys on O for us tho...Who will make a block, a third down catch or break tackle on 3rd down to give up a lift in what is sure to be a tough grind it out game. Reece, Crabtree, Helu, Roberts, Rivera, Walford and Holmes should all be used to keep the defense guessing.
Oline needs a solid performance - We know what Ware and Miller are gonna bring and the interior of Wolfe Williams and Jackson don't allow a lot on the ground. Hudson Penn and co. need to get push and communicate to keep Carr and Murray clean to give us a shot.
Game note - Taylor Mays was cut after injuring his foot in the Bears game and not practicing the first two days of the week. Tevin McDonald was signed from the Practice Squad. If Carrie's bump up from OUT to QUES was a bluff to make Denver think then McDonald could very well be active for his first game. Quite a draw in Manning for the rookie UDFA.
Keys to the Game for Oakland (per Levi Damien, Bill Williamson and myself)
Peyton vs CWood - This rivalry goes back a LONG way. Like, before either suited up in an NFL uniform. Woodson won the Heisman trophy over Manning. Then Manning was taken number one overall in the 1998 draft, with Woodson going fourth overall to the Raiders. After 18 years in the NFL, they (and Matt 'freaking' Hasselbeck) are the last remaining players in the NFL from that draft class. The one thing that has eluded Woodson is intercepting Manning. Woodson will get another shot at after 8 previous times facing Manning in an NFL game. You never this could be the final time these two future Hall of Famers will face off. He simply has to pick him off at least once just to check it off his bucket list.
Aldon Smith and Mack vs Ryan Harris and Mike Schofield - Mack came on vs the Browns and Aldon had a good game vs the Bears. Now it's time to for them to put it together. The two backup tackles for Denver will have their hands full with our young pass rushers. What that forshadows is a Manning using the quick passing games from the shotgun to beat us either to the outside or ovr the middle to...
Emmanuel Sanders vs the middle of our defense - We will be in zone most of the game over the middle due to the wizardary of Manning to find mismatches. That means we can expect Sanders to have a big day dodging Lofton, Woodson, Smith and whoever else is roaming the middle zone. Limiting those plays to minimal YAC especially on 3rd down will be big this game. Manning will use our the backs and TEs to clear out the middle and then drag Sanders across the formation with crossing routes and slants. Get your running shoes on fellas and make those open field tackles.
Our big 3 vs the Denver's D - Carr, Murray and Cooper have performed much better than predicted and the Donkeys have been playing well on Defense. We need to commit to the run to slow this pass rush and get Cooper confidenice early to set the tone. This game may very well come down to the other guys on O for us tho...Who will make a block, a third down catch or break tackle on 3rd down to give up a lift in what is sure to be a tough grind it out game. Reece, Crabtree, Helu, Roberts, Rivera, Walford and Holmes should all be used to keep the defense guessing.
Oline needs a solid performance - We know what Ware and Miller are gonna bring and the interior of Wolfe Williams and Jackson don't allow a lot on the ground. Hudson Penn and co. need to get push and communicate to keep Carr and Murray clean to give us a shot.
Game note - Taylor Mays was cut after injuring his foot in the Bears game and not practicing the first two days of the week. Tevin McDonald was signed from the Practice Squad. If Carrie's bump up from OUT to QUES was a bluff to make Denver think then McDonald could very well be active for his first game. Quite a draw in Manning for the rookie UDFA.
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