Post by TheShadow on Dec 11, 2003 19:21:43 GMT -5
www.oaklandtribune.com
By Bill Soliday, STAFF WRITER
ALAMEDA -- The Oakland Raiders' block eater won't be dining again this year.
Defensive tackle John Parrella became the 11th Raider to go on injured reserve Wednesday. He hasn't played since Week 5 after tearing a groin in Chicago chasing Bears quarterback Kordell Stewart.
Parrella had held out hope he could return, but the final decision probably was a case of discretion being the better part of valor.
"My own doctors told me they couldn't believe how well I was doing," Parrella said. "I was doing great, just not ready to be banged on."
The loss of Parrella has had a bearing on the Raiders' 31st ranking in rush defense, which has made just 18 sacks. He stopped the run and allowed others to make sacks.
His absence has hit his linemates hard.
"It's been a wild year," tackle Rod Coleman said. "Every week somebody different gets knocked off. Every time you lose somebody, you've got to change up again. It's been the same thing all year. You've just got to adjust. It's just wild."
Change describes Coleman to a T. He was the Raiders' sack leader a year ago with 11, a non-starter coming in fresh for a change of pace. With injuries to Parrella and Dana Stubblefield costing the team 14 combined starts at tackle, Coleman is no longer a supersub. He's an every-down player.
Accordingly, Coleman's sack total has dwindled to a mere two. It doesn't take a Rhodes scholar to figure out why.
"He's seen quite a few more reps, and it's taken a bit off his pass rush, in all fairness," coach Bill Callahan said.
"I used to play about 30 plays a game," Coleman said. "It affects you a lot. Last week I had 55 plays, and that's the least I've had."
The drop-off in sacks got him to wondering.
"I am thinking, 'I guess I'm not as good as I thought I was ... or at least as good as I was last year,'" he said. "I went through that. I thought it was just me.
"But sitting back looking at the (number of) plays I am out there and seeing how teams are keying in on me with double teams, chips, all that, it's hard because everybody is aware of me."
Only one defensive line starter on opening day made it to Game 12 -- right end rookie Tyler Brayton.
"It's just too bad," Brayton said of the losses of Parrella, Trace Armstrong, Dana Stubblefield and Tony Bryant (at the start of training camp). "The season going the way it has. I have never seen anything like it before, or heard of it."
For Coleman, it has not only resulted in occasional self-doubt but fear for his future. In the last year of his contract, he will be a free agent in March. After leading all NFL tackles in quarterback sacks a year ago, he had hoped it would lead to a big contract. Instead, he got more work and less glory.
"I am no longer a situation dude," he said. "I am an every-down guy. But teams have seen what I can do in situations. Now they have seen what I can do playing a whole game.
"I'm just going to let things happen. I'm not going to panic about it. All I can control is (what happens) on the field."
Coleman entered the league as a 258-pound linebacker-sized end. The team tried him first at linebacker, but it did not last long.
He was an average end until the team discovered he was effective as a change-of-pace 285-pound tackle -- undersized but quick enough to shed blockers, agile enough to maneuver through the interior line and strong enough to cope with men outweighing him by 50 pounds.
He grew to love it.
But playing inside against the big boys came with a price: injuries. This year he decided to do something about it. He came to training camp having bulked up to 308 pounds with off-season weight training "so I could take the pounding."
But now, playing upwards of 55 plays a game, his body has worn down. His weight has since dipped to the low 290s. He is again an undersized tackle, only now his work load has doubled.
"Some days I'm just too tired (to lift), and I might eat only once a day," Coleman said.
"I'm glad I did get that heavy because if I'd started at 295, I'd be about 280 now."
Coleman says he now must pace himself to get through games.
"You've just got to suck it up and try to get there (for sacks)," he said. "I'm trying to use everything I've got to get to the quarterback. I'm not as fresh as I used to be but I can still get there."
Now I am the guy taking the double team, he said.
EXTRA POINTS: Coach Bill Callahan said RG Mo Collins (knee) might require surgery, and it could take place this week. He was listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against Baltimore. ... The recovery of QB Rick Mirer (ankle) is so complete he was not listed on the injury report. ... To fill Parrella's roster spot, the Raiders elevated WR/KR John Stone from the practice squad. ... Taking Stone's spot on the practice squad was C Blaine Saipaia. ... C Barret Robbins (knee), who missed last week's game, is again listed as doubtful. ... RT Lincoln Kennedy (concussion) was listed as probable but left the facility Wednesday complaining of feeling ill. ... RB Charlie Garner was excused for personal reasons.
By Bill Soliday, STAFF WRITER
ALAMEDA -- The Oakland Raiders' block eater won't be dining again this year.
Defensive tackle John Parrella became the 11th Raider to go on injured reserve Wednesday. He hasn't played since Week 5 after tearing a groin in Chicago chasing Bears quarterback Kordell Stewart.
Parrella had held out hope he could return, but the final decision probably was a case of discretion being the better part of valor.
"My own doctors told me they couldn't believe how well I was doing," Parrella said. "I was doing great, just not ready to be banged on."
The loss of Parrella has had a bearing on the Raiders' 31st ranking in rush defense, which has made just 18 sacks. He stopped the run and allowed others to make sacks.
His absence has hit his linemates hard.
"It's been a wild year," tackle Rod Coleman said. "Every week somebody different gets knocked off. Every time you lose somebody, you've got to change up again. It's been the same thing all year. You've just got to adjust. It's just wild."
Change describes Coleman to a T. He was the Raiders' sack leader a year ago with 11, a non-starter coming in fresh for a change of pace. With injuries to Parrella and Dana Stubblefield costing the team 14 combined starts at tackle, Coleman is no longer a supersub. He's an every-down player.
Accordingly, Coleman's sack total has dwindled to a mere two. It doesn't take a Rhodes scholar to figure out why.
"He's seen quite a few more reps, and it's taken a bit off his pass rush, in all fairness," coach Bill Callahan said.
"I used to play about 30 plays a game," Coleman said. "It affects you a lot. Last week I had 55 plays, and that's the least I've had."
The drop-off in sacks got him to wondering.
"I am thinking, 'I guess I'm not as good as I thought I was ... or at least as good as I was last year,'" he said. "I went through that. I thought it was just me.
"But sitting back looking at the (number of) plays I am out there and seeing how teams are keying in on me with double teams, chips, all that, it's hard because everybody is aware of me."
Only one defensive line starter on opening day made it to Game 12 -- right end rookie Tyler Brayton.
"It's just too bad," Brayton said of the losses of Parrella, Trace Armstrong, Dana Stubblefield and Tony Bryant (at the start of training camp). "The season going the way it has. I have never seen anything like it before, or heard of it."
For Coleman, it has not only resulted in occasional self-doubt but fear for his future. In the last year of his contract, he will be a free agent in March. After leading all NFL tackles in quarterback sacks a year ago, he had hoped it would lead to a big contract. Instead, he got more work and less glory.
"I am no longer a situation dude," he said. "I am an every-down guy. But teams have seen what I can do in situations. Now they have seen what I can do playing a whole game.
"I'm just going to let things happen. I'm not going to panic about it. All I can control is (what happens) on the field."
Coleman entered the league as a 258-pound linebacker-sized end. The team tried him first at linebacker, but it did not last long.
He was an average end until the team discovered he was effective as a change-of-pace 285-pound tackle -- undersized but quick enough to shed blockers, agile enough to maneuver through the interior line and strong enough to cope with men outweighing him by 50 pounds.
He grew to love it.
But playing inside against the big boys came with a price: injuries. This year he decided to do something about it. He came to training camp having bulked up to 308 pounds with off-season weight training "so I could take the pounding."
But now, playing upwards of 55 plays a game, his body has worn down. His weight has since dipped to the low 290s. He is again an undersized tackle, only now his work load has doubled.
"Some days I'm just too tired (to lift), and I might eat only once a day," Coleman said.
"I'm glad I did get that heavy because if I'd started at 295, I'd be about 280 now."
Coleman says he now must pace himself to get through games.
"You've just got to suck it up and try to get there (for sacks)," he said. "I'm trying to use everything I've got to get to the quarterback. I'm not as fresh as I used to be but I can still get there."
Now I am the guy taking the double team, he said.
EXTRA POINTS: Coach Bill Callahan said RG Mo Collins (knee) might require surgery, and it could take place this week. He was listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against Baltimore. ... The recovery of QB Rick Mirer (ankle) is so complete he was not listed on the injury report. ... To fill Parrella's roster spot, the Raiders elevated WR/KR John Stone from the practice squad. ... Taking Stone's spot on the practice squad was C Blaine Saipaia. ... C Barret Robbins (knee), who missed last week's game, is again listed as doubtful. ... RT Lincoln Kennedy (concussion) was listed as probable but left the facility Wednesday complaining of feeling ill. ... RB Charlie Garner was excused for personal reasons.