Posted on 08/12/2007 5:23:55 PM PDT by GOP_Raider
This is what I saw Saturday night at the Coliseum in the first half when the first-line players were on the field. New Raiders quarterback Josh McCown was fast and resourceful and, after he got over being nervous, he was an accurate passer. And he was fun to watch.
Andrew Walter, last season's human sacrifice, came after McCown and completed a bunch of passes. He was on the money with his throws, and on one third down he hit tight end Zack Miller over the middle for 14 yards before the Arizona Cardinals figured out what to do. On that pass Walter looked like Rich Gannon, not that I'm saying he's as good.
I saw wide receiver Jerry Porter make impressive catches and after that he ran well, and I had to wonder -- I've wondered a long time -- why the Raiders warehoused and humiliated him last season. I saw running back Dominic Rhodes run with speed and spirit, and it's too bad he's suspended the first four games of the regular season. I saw reserve running back Justin Fargas run hard and fast, and I noticed he's learned how to be a back. He used to run forward as fast as he could like a 100-yard-dash guy, and now he can vary speeds and move left and right and adjust to the context.
I saw the offensive line perform well. It did not give up a sack. Please linger over that thought. Offensive linemen, in a sense, are the most important players on the team. If they can't protect -- and last year they were inexcusably bad, criminally bad -- nothing on offense can work. Nothing.
(Excerpt) Read more at pressdemocrat.com ...
You gentlemen want to take a crack at this?
I didn’t catch it yesterday and I don’t get NFL Network.
I’m hopeful. Heck, they were so bad on offense last year, they only have one way to go and that is up. Hopefully we’ll be primadonna-free this season which will only improve the atmosphere.
Nuff said!
Also stuck without NFL Network, but the point about the line was interesting. Live in Big 10 Country and really thought Gallery was the real deal. Any idea what went so wrong with him?
Oakland finishind 8-8 would be a triumph this season.
Gallery has been shuffled around on the line since we drafted him. He’s been mediocre at best at the left tackle position as well as the right tackle spot. IIRC, he also played a bit at guard his rookie season. I still am holding out that he will have a serviceable career as an o-lineman I just don’t think it’ll be anywhere near the hype that surrounded him.
Now ifn they would only sign Jamarcus...
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