Raiders blame miscommunication for leaky run D

The Oakland Raiders invested big bucks to bolster their leaky run defense during the offseason, giving hefty contracts to defensive tackle Tommy Kelly and run-support safety Gibril Wilson .

[TexasRaider]

We never had this problem with Willie Shaw or Chuck Bresnahan. I still have a hard time understanding Willie Shaw getting fired after turning a #30 ranked defense into a #1 ranked defense. I do think he (like Al Davis) was a pretty big A-hole and wanted to do things his way or no way (that may be why nobody picked him up). The way I see it, if his way works, let him run it his way. Bresnahan kept us a top 10 defense, but Rob Ryan has been here almost as long as both of them were here and has only had 1 good defensive season when we were ranked #3 overall in 2006, but even then our run defense was pretty weak. I almost don't blame (Lane) Kiffin for wanting to fire Ryan, but I think Monte Kiffin wanted to coach with his son just as much as Lane wanted to coach with his dad.

[mike moran]

I think our D has a few different problems that lead to the general "below average" label despite the talent we have. One is the Defensive end postion. Another problem is our D Coordinator. Chris Johnson is an OK CB and if Tyvon Branch didnt get injured, then he might have had a shot at the No. 2 CB spot.

Even Tom Cable said that this year's draft is extremely strong in Offensive Lineman and LB's, which is 2 of our bigger needs. So at least things are working against us.

[RaiderFaith]

PERFECT! Cause we wouldn't want things to work in our favor....where is the fun in that?

mike moran wrote:

I think our D has a few different problems that lead to the general "below average" label despite the talent we have. One is the Defensive end postion. Another problem is our D Coordinator. Chris Johnson is an OK CB and if Tyvon Branch didnt get injured, then he might have had a shot at the No. 2 CB spot.
Even Tom Cable said that this year's draft is extremely strong in Offensive Lineman and LB's, which is 2 of our bigger needs. So at least things are working against us.

[TexasRaider]

mike moran wrote:

I think our D has a few different problems that lead to the general "below average" label despite the talent we have. One is the Defensive end postion. Another problem is our D Coordinator. Chris Johnson is an OK CB and if Tyvon Branch didnt get injured, then he might have had a shot at the No. 2 CB spot.
Even Tom Cable said that this year's draft is extremely strong in Offensive Lineman and LB's, which is 2 of our bigger needs. So at least things are working against us.

Branch is a safety and I think he was better than Huff and Eugene. Baker has been doing well. Plus Wilson is able to play both safety positions, so if Branch is able to support in stopping the run, we could move Wilson to FS.

If this upcoming draft is strong in OL and LB, then I hope we take advantage of it. I like Morrison and Howard, but we need a third one. Gallery and Grove are all right on the OL but we need some tackles and Carlisle is getting up there, but is still playing all right.