Week 11 - OAKLAND @ Detroit - Nov 22nd
Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2015 10:30 am
Keys to the Game
Replacing Smith - Smith made our front 7 better. without him we are worst. Their is no question there. But can we the men tasked with stepping into his shoes provide enough to make the Lions nervous? That is the question...
The Raiders will use Benson Mayowa and Ray Ray Armstrong in place of Smith. Mayowa is a 6'3 240lb DE/LB that is clearly a step down from Smith skill and physical presence on the edge but he can around the edge and uses his hands well. Armstrong is more of a 4-3 OLB that is all effort and little know how at this point. We need to mix up our fronts and packages as the Lions will on offense and keep Stafford off balance to give the rush a chance to find their target like they couldn't vs the Steelers.
Lions O vs Oakland D - The Lions have struggled mightily on offense this year due to poor oline play (ranked 31st currently). If they will have any success this game it will come from the quick passing game to Tate, Moore and Riddick, feeding their talented big targets (Ebron, Pettigrew and Megatron) vs our vulnerable middle coverage and using creative play calling break big plays to convert 3rd downs. These are all areas that we have struggled with in the past. Allen returning help over the middle but everyone needs to step up in coverage and gang tackle to prevent another team engaging us in a shoot out.
Balance on O for Success - Ziggy Ansah is the only elite player on defense for the Lions at this point. To prevent him from pinning his ears back we need to establish the threat of the run early. Murray is healthy and Hudson is on the mend as well. The bad news is run blocking specialist TE Smith is doubtful. How we start our 1st and 3rd qtr drives is important because Musgraves play calling definitely has a rhythm to it and when he can call a balanced game then the sky is the limit for him and Carr to create. And when Murray is rolling then odds are Carr is hot as well. We're 4-0 when Murray gets 20 or more carries over the last 2 yrs and 0-4 when he gains less than 50 yrds on the ground this yr.
C. Wood - The gift and the curse - What can you say about this man that hasn't been said already. He is old but timeless, hurt but dependable, a tackling liability but our last line of defense in most cases. We are all breathless when he comes out of nowhere for a leaping interception deep in the secondary but gasp when we see him is the last man to beat and he may have to deliver a hit or wrap up an open field runner to save a TD. When he is on the field we are better but we can't help but wonder if we'd be better off using him sparingly as a deep safety. A walking contradiction. One thing it for sure, Ebron and Pettigrew are ready for this game and we hope C.Wood is as well.
Game Info
Location: Ford Field, Detroit MI
Game time: Sunday, November 21, 10:00 am Pacific (1:00 pm ET)
TV channel: CBS (Do I get the game? - http://506sports.com/)
Online streaming: NFL Game Pass (Live audio, replay after it's over - http://www.raiders.com/media-vault/radio-network.html)
Radio: 98.5 KFOX (Greg Papa, Tom Flores) | Full listings - http://www.raiders.com/media-vault/radio-network.html
Odds: Raiders 3-point favorites
Match-up history: Raiders lead series 6-5 (all time), 2-2 in Detroit, Streak 3 losses, Last win 1996, Last win in Detroit 1990
Announcers: Andrew Catalon, Steve Tasker, Steve Beuerlein
Injury Report
Oakland Raiders
LB Neiron Ball Knee Out
CB DJ Hayden Ankle Probable
C Rodney Hudson Ankle Questionable
S Taylor Mays Ankle Probable
TE Lee Smith Wrist Doubtful
S Charles Woodson Shoulder Probable
Detroit Lions
S Don Carey Back Questionable
WR Calvin Johnson Ankle Probable
DE Jason Jones Not injury related Probable
CB Nevin Lawson Concussion Questionable
DT Gabe Wright Ankle Out
DE Ezekiel Ansah Toe Probable
RB Joique Bell Shoulder Probable
P Sam Martin Back Probable
S Glover Quin Ankle Probable
Inactives
Oakland Raiders
Neiron Ball OLB Inactive
Roy Helu RB Inactive
Gabe Holmes TE Inactive
Matt McCants T Inactive
Dexter McDonald CB Inactive
Lee Smith TE Inactive
Rod Streater WR Inactive
Detroit Lions
Jermelle Cudjo DT Inactive
Isaiah Johnson DB Inactive
T.J. Jones WR Inactive
Corey Robinson OT Inactive
LaAdrian Waddle T Inactive
Gabe Wright DT Inactive
Timothy Wright TE Inactive
Replacing Smith - Smith made our front 7 better. without him we are worst. Their is no question there. But can we the men tasked with stepping into his shoes provide enough to make the Lions nervous? That is the question...
The Raiders will use Benson Mayowa and Ray Ray Armstrong in place of Smith. Mayowa is a 6'3 240lb DE/LB that is clearly a step down from Smith skill and physical presence on the edge but he can around the edge and uses his hands well. Armstrong is more of a 4-3 OLB that is all effort and little know how at this point. We need to mix up our fronts and packages as the Lions will on offense and keep Stafford off balance to give the rush a chance to find their target like they couldn't vs the Steelers.
Lions O vs Oakland D - The Lions have struggled mightily on offense this year due to poor oline play (ranked 31st currently). If they will have any success this game it will come from the quick passing game to Tate, Moore and Riddick, feeding their talented big targets (Ebron, Pettigrew and Megatron) vs our vulnerable middle coverage and using creative play calling break big plays to convert 3rd downs. These are all areas that we have struggled with in the past. Allen returning help over the middle but everyone needs to step up in coverage and gang tackle to prevent another team engaging us in a shoot out.
Balance on O for Success - Ziggy Ansah is the only elite player on defense for the Lions at this point. To prevent him from pinning his ears back we need to establish the threat of the run early. Murray is healthy and Hudson is on the mend as well. The bad news is run blocking specialist TE Smith is doubtful. How we start our 1st and 3rd qtr drives is important because Musgraves play calling definitely has a rhythm to it and when he can call a balanced game then the sky is the limit for him and Carr to create. And when Murray is rolling then odds are Carr is hot as well. We're 4-0 when Murray gets 20 or more carries over the last 2 yrs and 0-4 when he gains less than 50 yrds on the ground this yr.
C. Wood - The gift and the curse - What can you say about this man that hasn't been said already. He is old but timeless, hurt but dependable, a tackling liability but our last line of defense in most cases. We are all breathless when he comes out of nowhere for a leaping interception deep in the secondary but gasp when we see him is the last man to beat and he may have to deliver a hit or wrap up an open field runner to save a TD. When he is on the field we are better but we can't help but wonder if we'd be better off using him sparingly as a deep safety. A walking contradiction. One thing it for sure, Ebron and Pettigrew are ready for this game and we hope C.Wood is as well.
Game Info
Location: Ford Field, Detroit MI
Game time: Sunday, November 21, 10:00 am Pacific (1:00 pm ET)
TV channel: CBS (Do I get the game? - http://506sports.com/)
Online streaming: NFL Game Pass (Live audio, replay after it's over - http://www.raiders.com/media-vault/radio-network.html)
Radio: 98.5 KFOX (Greg Papa, Tom Flores) | Full listings - http://www.raiders.com/media-vault/radio-network.html
Odds: Raiders 3-point favorites
Match-up history: Raiders lead series 6-5 (all time), 2-2 in Detroit, Streak 3 losses, Last win 1996, Last win in Detroit 1990
Announcers: Andrew Catalon, Steve Tasker, Steve Beuerlein
Injury Report
Oakland Raiders
LB Neiron Ball Knee Out
CB DJ Hayden Ankle Probable
C Rodney Hudson Ankle Questionable
S Taylor Mays Ankle Probable
TE Lee Smith Wrist Doubtful
S Charles Woodson Shoulder Probable
Detroit Lions
S Don Carey Back Questionable
WR Calvin Johnson Ankle Probable
DE Jason Jones Not injury related Probable
CB Nevin Lawson Concussion Questionable
DT Gabe Wright Ankle Out
DE Ezekiel Ansah Toe Probable
RB Joique Bell Shoulder Probable
P Sam Martin Back Probable
S Glover Quin Ankle Probable
Inactives
Oakland Raiders
Neiron Ball OLB Inactive
Roy Helu RB Inactive
Gabe Holmes TE Inactive
Matt McCants T Inactive
Dexter McDonald CB Inactive
Lee Smith TE Inactive
Rod Streater WR Inactive
Detroit Lions
Jermelle Cudjo DT Inactive
Isaiah Johnson DB Inactive
T.J. Jones WR Inactive
Corey Robinson OT Inactive
LaAdrian Waddle T Inactive
Gabe Wright DT Inactive
Timothy Wright TE Inactive
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