What have we learned

Ah yes, a recap of the things I saw this weekend. A completely original concept to this blog. I'm sure this is the feature that will set my blog apart from the rest here on the Internet.

1. Les Miles' Michigan resume is complete

LSU went in to Kentucky to face an opponent who should have been completely over matched and came out with a loss. Well if there has ever been a team that has done less with more the last 10 years it has been Michigan. With rumors swirling that Miles is the #1 choice to replace Carr this off season he needed to prove that he could loose to an underdog as the #1 team in the nation. Saturday night he pulled this feat off perfectly. As a Michigan fan I'm looking forward to the Les Miles era, as I won't have to adjust my expectations for Michigan.


2. Oakland still hasn't figured out stopping the run

Ok, so LT runs over everyone when Norvell pulls his head out of his ass and just gives the man the ball. But the Raiders make it easy. You would think that after years of facing the cutback running of the Broncos, the Raiders would have some semblance of Gap responsibility. But time and time again the DL and LB's over pursue leaving Stu to make the tackle (8 of them Sunday).

3. Miller and Sapp are who we thought they were (will that line ever get old, what it already has, well fuck off)

Miller was heaped with praise after the Raiders running attack abused Miami. Without doing a full breakdown on the game, I noticed he had alot more trouble with the two Shawns. While against Taylor and Porter in Miami he was able to wall off the outside LB and open the run lane. He was not able to keep either SD LB out of the hole and the runs were stopped for little or no gain on at least two occasions. He was also no match for either of the 1 on 1 in pass blocking.

Sapp was run right at or cut back toward on multiple occasions. The most blatant being LT's last TD run were Sapp was blown out of the hole by the Guard and LT ran right by him.

Time permitting a full postmortem will come later in the week.

4. Culpepper is who... OK your right that line is getting lame

Fumbles, poor decisions, errant throws, all the talent in the world, but my dog may be smarter (he is a border collie, and they are damn smart, yeah it is a stretch).

5. Purple Jesus is the Rookie of the year...

The Bears run D that shut down LT early in the year was helpless against AD. Sure the Bears are banged up, but that was just awe inspiring. But much like last year with the Texan bashers and Bush, its a little early to start clamoring about how all the teams that passed on Peterson made a huge mistake. As always, give the draft at least 3 years to sort out.

6. The Pats are good, and classless

So we knew both of these things before the game. But going against the best D they have faced to date the Pats proved to be too much in the long run as the Dallas D just ran out of answers in the 2nd half. Classless because once again the Pats score a garbage time TD when kneeling the ball would have been just fine. This will come back to haunt them eventually. Either by a key injury as they drive for another garbage time TD, and/or once the Pats aren't dominating every team will delight in rubbing their noses in it. Personaly, I enjoy watching football played to that level, I just have to turn off the sound to avoid the hyperbolie being spewed by the anouncers.

7. Pats fans are just classless

OK, so this is more Bill Simmons than Pats fans in general. The delight he has taken in chronicling the Pats garbage time success is sickening. If this were any other team he would be whining about how classless the team was. (but once again we already knew this, I just felt like venting). Fortunately the Indians may be giving him what he deserves, not that I watch baseball, but I get daily updates from my manager, who thinks I give a shit.

8. There is no 8. Because you can't end with 8, you have to then add 9 and 10 to properly end the things you learned. Peter King ends with 10 and he has a skunk stripe. I don't want a skunk stripe so I'll be ending with 7. Sevens are cool.

Finally, leave a comment fucko. My cool counter at the bottom of the page is about to turn triple digits and the only comment is from my brother. Since I figure 80 of the hits are from me refreshing the page to see the counter move, there are at least 5 people who have visited this site. This is the Internet which means that you have an opinion, so share it.

The Ying and Yang of the run

The name of this Blog comes from a infrequent series of posting I've done on various Raider forums breaking down 1 or 2 players who play in the box. The Big uglies, fat guys, you know the ones who really win the game.

As the Raiders get ready for their 1st Big game of the year... ok last 3 years. I've gone back to the Miami game tape to check out two players.

Lets start on the Offense

THE YING

Zach Miller with the ball... not what we are talking about, but a nice picture

Why has KW2 (a Fuckin Soldier) been able to laugh off Joey Porter's insults this week. He has seen the film of the Raiders game. If this game was any indication of what Porter has left in the tank the only guarantee he should be making is that this is his last year in the NFL.

I've read in a couple places these last two weeks that Miller has been the key to the Raiders resurgent run game. I had laughed these reports off due to two factors:
1 - the sources
2 - Millers preseason play

I admit that I hadn't broken down a game yet this year, so I shouldn't have been so quick to dismiss these reports, but now that I have broken down 1 game, I can say that he had at least one very good game of run blocking, but the reports that he is the key are a bit of an exaggeration.

The Raiders ran the ball at will against the Dolphins, and Miller was a valuable part of the run game. Out of the 49 run plays the Raiders ran, Miller missed his block on only 5 plays (my DVR cut out at the 2 minute warning, so that stat may be slightly off) Of those plays, his man made the play on only 1. When he was left 1 on 1 backside with the DE.

So based on that Miller was dominant in the run game right... not so fast. On the majority of the run plays the Raiders ran away from Miller. He was left walling off the backside backer. While this is incredibly important in the zone/cut system that Cable has installed this year, Millers job was made easier as he was blocking Joey Porter on allot of these plays.

Early in the game this was a great match up, Miller was earning his Money as he clawed and scrapped (and held) Porter. But by the 2nd half Porter was content to watch the play and keep backside contain.

That said, Miller did have a couple key blocks against Jason Taylor, one which opened the hole on Fargas' first long run, and another that walled off the LB on Fargas' 2nd big gain.

The most impressive thing I saw while watching Miller was that he never quit on a play. When he missed a block, he immediately looked to the next level for someone else to block. There is no quit in this kid. He is the type of player the Raiders need to turn this team around. (short pause as I take a shot so that I can write my next line) He reminded me of how the NE tight ends play, they never stop on a play, they may not be the best or the biggest names, but they are always working... FuCk the patriots.

So why won't I give him a dominant grade, this was the Dolphins, I think all of their LBs are old enough to have married Anna Nicole at one time.

Anna Nicole and Jason Taylor in happier times

It will be interesting to see how Miller performs against the faster, more athletic LB's that SD has in this weeks game. But the potential is there for something special.

THE YANG

QB Killa don't play no run

Oh Warren Sapp, what has happened to you. Did the 52 pounds you lost this offseason contain your heart and desire? You were never great against the run. The key was always to run right at you, but you were still a pain in the ass. Now you are getting handled 1 on 1 by such luminaries as Chris Liwienski and Vernon Carey.

I gave Warren a win on only 4 plays the entire game. First a little humble pie, I incorrectly blamed Sapp for not fighting through the pressure and instead spinning his way out of the hole on Browns long run from the shadow of his endzone (that was Brayton). But I have an excuse (I know like an asshole) Brayton's non-play looked like so many of Sapps all day.

Sapp was constantly knocked off the line of scrimmage 2 or more yards. When he wasn't he took himself out of the play by not fighting through the pressure and trying to use the speed he hasn't had in years to make the play.

BUT BRICK he's the QB KILLA

Sapp was the QB killa, and it looked like that had come back last year. But it was incredibly evident that if Sapp's initial move did not gain penetration he gave up on the play. The 3 (yes 3) times that his initial move worked he was a factor. Once leading to T. Kelly's sack, once getting held but applying pressure and once where he hit Green low. (The low hit earning Sapp a fine and Green some negative Karma points for his Soccer player impression).

Dida and Green, separated at Birth?picture

So I'm left with two options for my assessment of Sapp based on the Miami game. Either Miami's Oline is much better than advertised, or Sapp's performance last year was an aberration and the Terry McDanial sydrome of growing old overnight has struck.

The play of both Miller and Sapp will be key to the San Diego game tomorrow.

Can Miller repeat against much stiffer competition, I like his chances.

Did the week off allow Sapp to find his legs so that he can be a factor like last year when 8 of his 10 sacks came after the bye week (week 3). If not hope you started LT in you fantasy league.