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Week 6 Game Recap: Oakland Raiders 3, New Orleans Saints 34
What you need to know
| Oakland Raiders |
The Tom Cable era kicked off with high hopes, but the attempt to establish a more potent Raider attack fell terribly flat. Veteran offensive coordinator Greg Knapp, who served in the same capacity in both Atlanta and San Francisco, handled the play calling. Before the game, Cable and Knapp announced that they were going to allow JaMarcus Russell to cut loose and throw the ball more frequently and utilize more downfield routes. It's a great strategy if you have the right personnel.
While Russell showed brief flashes of improvement he is still not very accurate and continues to make poor decisions. He threw one interception but four other potential picks were dropped, two by S Roman Harper. New Orleans defenders seemed to know which plays were coming and often jumped pass routes. Russell completed 13 of 35 for 159 yards, but in his defense, Oakland receivers dropped five passes and seldom came back to the ball to help him out. TE Zach Miller caught three passes for 46 yards, WR Ronald Curry caught three for 32 yards, but that was about it. Ashley Lelie was targeted an incredible 11 times but only caught one pass. His best play of the game came when he committed offensive pass interference to prevent a Saint interception.
Justin Fargas started the game, found little room to run, but looked completely healed from the groin injury. He led the Raiders rushing attack with 35 yards on ten carries. Even though Darrin McFadden also looked healthy, he didn't enter the game until the second quarter. Apparently the bye week helped him recover from his turf to injury. Michael Bush played in the fourth quarter during mop up time, but the rushing attack was an after thought, especially as New Orleans pulled further and further ahead.
Because the offense had such a hard time moving the ball with any consistency the defense was given the impossible task of holding the Saints offense. Oakland only trailed 14--3 at halftime, but the defense tired out in the second half and the rout was on.
| New Orleans Saints |
The Saints put on a clinic and dominated this game from start to finish. The offense amassed a total of 441 yards while the defense had little trouble shutting down the new look Raiders' offense.
Drew Brees, the NFCs offensive player of the month for September, had an almost typical afternoon, hitting his first 16 passes in a row. He finished the game 26 of 30 with three touchdown passes and a QB rating of 144.4. He completed passes to three tight ends, three wide receivers, and three running backs, and the balls kept flying even when the game was out of reach. The last touchdown was scored in the fourth quarter, with Deuce McAllister in the backfield, on a two yard pass to TE Mark Campbell off play action.
McAllister gained 65 yards and did the heavy lifting inside. He seemed completely healed from his latest knee surgery, especially when he ran over people four yards down field. His presence in the backfield really helps this offense. It enables New Orleans to spread out defenses and open up the field. Reggie Bush scored one touchdown on a three yard run and another on a 15 yard pass.
Sean Payton and Tom Cable have known each other for a long time. Payton was on the staff at San Diego State when Cable got his coaching start as a graduate assistant. After the game the two spent several moments chatting at the 50 yard line. Maybe Payton was explaining that he wasn't running up the score, he was just running the offense.
What you ought to know
| QB JaMarcus Russell, Pass: 13 - 35 - 159 - 0 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 1 - 11 - 0 |
The game plan called for Russell to throw the ball early, often, and deep. Unfortunately, he didn't always throw the ball where he was supposed to, and when he did, five of his passes were dropped. Four other passes were dropped by New Orleans defensive backs so maybe he has to learn to throw the ball with more touch. He has the tools. Maybe all he needs is more experience and quality receivers.
Besides improving his accuracy, he needs to work on decision making. When he scrambles away from pressure and the field opens up like the Red Sea and a first down is just a few yards and a hook slide away, he shouldn't instead decide to throw downfield into triple coverage.
| RB Justin Fargas, Rush: 10 - 35 - 0 (1 targets) |
Fargas got the start and while he only averaged 3.5 yards per carry he appeared to be completely healed from the groin injury. He still shared carries with McFadden and this remains a RBBC. The backfield seems crowded and there are rumors that Fargas might be traded soon.
| RB Darren McFadden, Rush: 8 - 30 - 0 (1 targets) |
The bye week apparently helped McFadden recover from the turf toe injury. While his limited appearance in this blowout is difficult to assess, he appears to be healthy once again. In earlier games, when he tried playing with the injury, he often lost his footing and slipped when he tried to cut. While this remains a RBBC it seems only a matter of time before he takes over.
Even if McFadden is completely healed and becomes the feature back, however, he could still be limited by the Raiders game plan. Kiffin was fired, at least in part, because of his commitment to running the ball.
| RB Michael Bush, Rush: 3 - 9 - 0, Rec: 1 - 4 - 0 (1 targets) |
With Justin Fargas back in the lineup Bush was relegated to backup duty. He saw action late the game but his role will remain minimal unless and until the backfield situation changes.
| RB Justin Griffith, Rec: 1 - 8 - 0 (1 targets) |
Even though the big blocking back caught one pass in the third quarter he should not be on your fantasy roster.
| WR Ronald Curry, Rec: 3 - 32 - 0 (6 targets) |
Curry is a reliable possession receiver, but shouldn't appear on your fantasy roster even as bye week replacement.
| WR Ashley Lelie, Rec: 1 - 11 - 0 (11 targets) |
When the Raiders announced that they were going to throw more deep passes apparently Lelie was the intended downfield target. Unfortunately, he has never been known for precise routes or great hands. His best play of the game occurred when he committed offensive pass interference to prevent a New Orleans interception.
| WR Javon Walker, Rec: 1 - 7 - 0 (3 targets) |
Walker was targeted once in each of the first three quarters.
| WR Johnnie Lee Higgins, Rec: 1 - 35 - 0 (2 targets) |
Higgins certainly made the most of his opportunities, turning one short pass into a 35 yard gain which set up a FG attempt. He also returned a punt 39 yards to the Saints' 35 which set up Oakland's only points of the game.
| WR Chaz Schilens, Rec: 1 - 9 - 0 (4 targets) |
With the game out of reach in the fourth quarter Schilens, a 6'4" rookie from San Diego State, got into the game and caught one pass for nine yards.
| TE Zach Miller, Rec: 3 - 46 - 0 (5 targets) |
The lone bright spot for the Oakland offense, Miller caught three passes for a team high 46 yards.
| TE Tony Stewart, Rec: 1 - 7 - 0 (1 targets) |
The veteran Stewart passed a personal milestone by hauling in a seven yard pass in the fourth quarter. It was the first pass he ever caught for Oakland, even though he has been with the team for over a year.
| TE Ben Troupe |
Inactive for this game.
| PK Sebastian Janikowski 1 - 3 FG, 0 - 0 XP, 3 points |
Janikowski missed field goals from 57 and 59 yards, but nailed a 24 yarder.
| OAK Rush Defense |
The Raiders surrendered 122 yards on the ground to a team committed to the forward pass.
| OAK Pass Defense |
Oakland was unable to generate anything resembling a pass rush on Drew Brees which allowed him to sit back and pick them apart. He completed his first 16 passes in a row and hit a total of nine different receivers.
| QB Drew Brees, Pass: 26 - 30 - 320 - 3 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 1 - 7 - 0 |
Brees performed laser surgery on the Raiders defense. At the end of the first half he had completed 17 of 19 passes for 196 yards and a QB rating of 109.7. Then he got hot. Brees finished the game completing 26 of 30 passes, good for three touchdowns and a QB rating of 144.4. Using multiple formations and interchangeable personnel, Brees methodically guided the Saints offense up and down the field all afternoon. In all honesty, there were times when it looked more like a scrimmage.
| RB Reggie Bush, Rush: 14 - 27 - 1, Rec: 3 - 40 - 1 (5 targets) |
Bush continues to be a big play player in this offense and is used as both a runner and a receiver. While he only gained 27 yards on 14 carries, he scored the first New Orleans touchdown on a three yard run in the second quarter. He was more effective as a receiver, as Sean Payton used multiple formations to get advantageous match ups with safeties and linebackers. Bush caught three passes for 40 yards including a 15 yard TD pass and run in the third quarter, but was benched in the fourth quarter with the game out reach.
| RB Deuce McAllister, Rush: 13 - 65 - 0, Rec: 2 - 7 - 0 (2 targets) |
McAllister led all rushers on the day, picking up 65 yards on just 13 carries and catching both passes thrown his way for an additional seven yards. He has only scored one touchdown this season and was again held out of the end zone but TDs should soon be coming.
McAllister has knocked most of the rust off following another off season knee surgery as the Saints were been willing to ease him back into combat. When healthy, he is a genuine difference maker and it's difficult to over rate his presence in the New Orleans backfield. He runs so hard that he literally wears down defensive linemen and linebackers by the fourth quarter. He forces teams to account for him which opens up the field for everyone else.
| RB Mike Karney, Rush: 1 - 2 - 0, Rec: 3 - 3 - 0 (3 targets) |
Primarily a devastating blocking back, Karney got more involved than usual. He carried once for two yards, but he showed he has good hands, too. He caught three passes in all, including a key first down on a third down catch.
| RB Pierre Thomas, Rush: 3 - 18 - 0 |
Before McAllister returned to the lineup, Thomas posted some good numbers. He gained valuable experience but didn't get into this game until the outcome had already been determined. He picked up 18 yards on three carries in the fourth quarter.
| RB Aaron Stecker, Rush: 1 - 3 - 0, Rec: 1 - 8 - 1 (1 targets) |
The backup running back and special teams player entered the game late to replace Reggie Bush. He caught a short screen at the seven yard line and followed a few nice blocks into the end zone.
| WR Lance Moore, Rec: 7 - 97 - 0 (9 targets) |
Moore has proven to be more than just a replacement, and caught seven passes for 97 yards. Brees is not afraid to go to him even in tight coverage. He has very good hands and knows how to get open. It will be interesting to see how New Orleans uses Moore when Colston returns.
| WR Devery Henderson, Rec: 2 - 68 - 0 (2 targets) |
Henderson managed to maintain his 30+ yard per catch average in this game, picking up 68 yards on two grabs. While he is not a reliable possession receiver, he is a legitimate home run hitter.
| WR Marques Colston |
The cast has been removed from his hand and he was able to participate in practice during the week, but Colston was inactive for this game. He should be ready for week seven.
| WR David Patten |
Inactive and recovering from strained groin injury. No prognosis on when he may return.
| TE Mark Campbell, Rec: 3 - 37 - 1 (3 targets) |
The veteran tight end caught the Saints' last touchdown of the afternoon in the fourth quarter. He was shaken up earlier in the game and had to be helped to the sidelines, but returned and was rewarded. His TD came from the two yard line off play action as he was able to drift out into the corner of the end zone.
| TE Billy Miller, Rec: 3 - 53 - 0 (4 targets) |
Miller has shown to have pretty good hands and is doing an okay job filling in for Shockey.
| TE Sean Ryan, Rec: 2 - 7 - 0 (2 targets) |
Ryan saw action when Campbell was sidelined but was unable to hang onto either pass.
| TE Jeremy Shockey |
He remains inactive but his return may not be that far off, possibly next game.
| PK Taylor Mehlhaff 2 - 3 FG, 4 - 4 XP, 10 points |
The Saints' sixth round draft choice from Wisconsin was resigned this week after Martin Gramatica was placed on IR. He missed his first field goal attempt and shanked a kickoff out of bounds, but then he settle down. He hit the next two FG attempts, one from 33 yards and another from 44 and converted all four extra points.
| NO Rush Defense |
The Raiders only gained 85 yards on the ground and were only able to generate 226 total yards. LB Jonathan Vilma led the team with seven tackles and four assists.
| NO Pass Defense |
Russell only completed 13 of 35. The Saints were able to pressure him although the only sacked him twice, both by Bobby McCray. Jason David recorded the only interception but four other potential picks were dropped.