Post by TheShadow on Dec 8, 2003 19:24:35 GMT -5
www.oaklandtribune.com
By Mitch Pritchard, CORRESPONDENT
PITTSBURGH -- In the first half of Sunday's 27-7 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Oakland Raiders offense did exactly what it had planned to do.
Led by Tyrone Wheatley's 54 yards, the Raiders rushed for 102 yards. Wheatley gave the Raiders an early 7-0 lead when he capped a six-play, 63-yard drive with a 22-yard touchdown run.
The hole was so wide he may have been able to backpedal into the end zone.
All of this came against a Steelers defense that was only allowing 64 rushing yards a game.
So what did this impressive show of muscle net the Raiders at halftime? How about a 17-7 deficit.
Quarterback Rick Mirer completed just three of 11 passes in the first half, and the Raiders only converted one of seven third downs in the first half to waste the nice rushing effort.
The third down that hurt the most came in the Raiders' first possession of the second quarter. Facing a third-and-5 from midfield, the Steelers' Kimo von Oelhoffen chased down Mirer for a sack. He landed hard on Mirer's leg, and the quarterback struggled with a twisted ankle the rest of the game.
The Raiders were so far behind in the second half that they only ran the ball seven times. Wheatley, who was picking up big chunks of yardage on almost every down in the first half, gained only 11 in the second half.
Charlie Garner had 48 yards on seven carries in the first half, but finished with only 57 yards on nine carries.
"We came out wanting to pound the ball against them, but as soon we had to come out throwing we were in trouble," said guard Frank Middleton.
An obviously frustrated Wheatley didn't have much to say after the game.
"We really don't think about how many yards we have when we are out there," he said. "We just try to keep to the game plan. That was a pretty good chunk of yardage we had at halftime."
Wheatley carried five times on the touchdown drive. The Raiders took the ball over on their own 37 after Jeff Reed missed a 47-yard field goal. Wheatley ran for 9, then Garner went for 6 and 13 to get the ball over midfield.
Four running plays later Wheatley went off right tackle through a huge hole for the score.
That put the Steelers on their heels. The Raiders' next two possessions started much the same way. After a Steelers field goal, Wheatley ran for 6 yards on first down.
Garner busted up the middle for 9 to the Raiders 45. Mirer was sacked on third down, however, injuring his ankle. The next possession Wheatley started with a gain of 6 again. Mirer, however, overthrew Alvis Whitted deep and a third-down pass fell incomplete.
The Steelers scored a touchdown to make it 10-7 on the next possession and a Mirer interception led to yet another Steelers touchdown. The 10-point Steelers lead took the Raiders running game away.
"Anytime you can come out and run the ball the way we did, that takes tremendous effort," said receiver Tim Brown, when asked if the 3-10 Raiders are still playing hard. "You look at what Pittsburgh is doing this year. They aren't giving up that many yards rushing. Guys came out and played well."
Just not well enough to get the win.
By Mitch Pritchard, CORRESPONDENT
PITTSBURGH -- In the first half of Sunday's 27-7 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Oakland Raiders offense did exactly what it had planned to do.
Led by Tyrone Wheatley's 54 yards, the Raiders rushed for 102 yards. Wheatley gave the Raiders an early 7-0 lead when he capped a six-play, 63-yard drive with a 22-yard touchdown run.
The hole was so wide he may have been able to backpedal into the end zone.
All of this came against a Steelers defense that was only allowing 64 rushing yards a game.
So what did this impressive show of muscle net the Raiders at halftime? How about a 17-7 deficit.
Quarterback Rick Mirer completed just three of 11 passes in the first half, and the Raiders only converted one of seven third downs in the first half to waste the nice rushing effort.
The third down that hurt the most came in the Raiders' first possession of the second quarter. Facing a third-and-5 from midfield, the Steelers' Kimo von Oelhoffen chased down Mirer for a sack. He landed hard on Mirer's leg, and the quarterback struggled with a twisted ankle the rest of the game.
The Raiders were so far behind in the second half that they only ran the ball seven times. Wheatley, who was picking up big chunks of yardage on almost every down in the first half, gained only 11 in the second half.
Charlie Garner had 48 yards on seven carries in the first half, but finished with only 57 yards on nine carries.
"We came out wanting to pound the ball against them, but as soon we had to come out throwing we were in trouble," said guard Frank Middleton.
An obviously frustrated Wheatley didn't have much to say after the game.
"We really don't think about how many yards we have when we are out there," he said. "We just try to keep to the game plan. That was a pretty good chunk of yardage we had at halftime."
Wheatley carried five times on the touchdown drive. The Raiders took the ball over on their own 37 after Jeff Reed missed a 47-yard field goal. Wheatley ran for 9, then Garner went for 6 and 13 to get the ball over midfield.
Four running plays later Wheatley went off right tackle through a huge hole for the score.
That put the Steelers on their heels. The Raiders' next two possessions started much the same way. After a Steelers field goal, Wheatley ran for 6 yards on first down.
Garner busted up the middle for 9 to the Raiders 45. Mirer was sacked on third down, however, injuring his ankle. The next possession Wheatley started with a gain of 6 again. Mirer, however, overthrew Alvis Whitted deep and a third-down pass fell incomplete.
The Steelers scored a touchdown to make it 10-7 on the next possession and a Mirer interception led to yet another Steelers touchdown. The 10-point Steelers lead took the Raiders running game away.
"Anytime you can come out and run the ball the way we did, that takes tremendous effort," said receiver Tim Brown, when asked if the 3-10 Raiders are still playing hard. "You look at what Pittsburgh is doing this year. They aren't giving up that many yards rushing. Guys came out and played well."
Just not well enough to get the win.