Post by TheShadow on Dec 12, 2003 22:40:50 GMT -5
www.sportsline.com
Inside slant
One name can make a big difference in the NFL, as the Raiders will attest as
they prepare to face the Baltimore Ravens and their star Lewises --
linebacker Ray Lewis and running back Jamal Lewis.
The Raiders have no Lewises, though they do have an impact player who is
less recognized but has a no less significant role for his team: defensive
tackle John Parrella.
Unfortunately, there is only one of him. Make that none. Wednesday, Oakland
placed him on injured reserve. With him goes some hope that he might recover
from a torn groin and help the team's rush defense and its pass rush.
Out since Week 6, Parrella was the team's block-eater. Chewing up and
digesting double team blocks, his presence allowed teammates stun the run
and rush the passer.
Without him, the team has fallen to No. 31 in the league in rushing defense
and No. 28 in percentage of plays sacking the quarterback.
A year ago, the Raiders ranked No. 4 in rushing defense and tackle Rod
Coleman, a reserve, to lead the NFL in sacks by an interior lineman with 11.
When Parrella and then Dana Stubblefield went down with injuries, the team
lost 14 starts at tackle and Coleman's workload doubled.
"I used to play about 30 plays a game," Coleman said. Last week I had 55
plays and that's the least I've had. It affects you a lot."
Coleman currently has two of the team's meager total of 18 sacks this year.
The drop-off in sacks caused Coleman to begin doubting himself.
"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."
The hyper-intense Parrella has watched from the sideline for two months,
unable to help.
"They're playing their butts off," Parrella said of the fill-ins. "I just
want to be there trying to help them. Watching might be the worst thing. I
did everything I could (to get back)."
The team began to doubt it was going to happen several weeks ago and dropped
hints that Parrella should accept being placed on injured reserve. Parrella
resisted until he heard from doctors.
"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."
Not that Parrella was being counted on this week, but the timing from an
emotional standpoint couldn't be worse.
The Raiders, reeling at 3-10, finish the season against NFL rushing leader
Jamal Lewis Sunday, then Green Bay's NFC-leading back Ahman Green and finish
against San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson.
"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."
SERIES HISTORY
In three games since the Cleveland Browns moved to Baltimore and became
known as the Ravens, Oakland has yet to win. The teams have met twice in
regular season, in 1996 and 1998, both times in Baltimore. The Raiders lost
both times, 19-14 and 13-10. The teams met in Oakland in the 2000 AFC
championship game won by the Ravens, 16-3.
Inside slant
One name can make a big difference in the NFL, as the Raiders will attest as
they prepare to face the Baltimore Ravens and their star Lewises --
linebacker Ray Lewis and running back Jamal Lewis.
The Raiders have no Lewises, though they do have an impact player who is
less recognized but has a no less significant role for his team: defensive
tackle John Parrella.
Unfortunately, there is only one of him. Make that none. Wednesday, Oakland
placed him on injured reserve. With him goes some hope that he might recover
from a torn groin and help the team's rush defense and its pass rush.
Out since Week 6, Parrella was the team's block-eater. Chewing up and
digesting double team blocks, his presence allowed teammates stun the run
and rush the passer.
Without him, the team has fallen to No. 31 in the league in rushing defense
and No. 28 in percentage of plays sacking the quarterback.
A year ago, the Raiders ranked No. 4 in rushing defense and tackle Rod
Coleman, a reserve, to lead the NFL in sacks by an interior lineman with 11.
When Parrella and then Dana Stubblefield went down with injuries, the team
lost 14 starts at tackle and Coleman's workload doubled.
"I used to play about 30 plays a game," Coleman said. Last week I had 55
plays and that's the least I've had. It affects you a lot."
Coleman currently has two of the team's meager total of 18 sacks this year.
The drop-off in sacks caused Coleman to begin doubting himself.
"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."
The hyper-intense Parrella has watched from the sideline for two months,
unable to help.
"They're playing their butts off," Parrella said of the fill-ins. "I just
want to be there trying to help them. Watching might be the worst thing. I
did everything I could (to get back)."
The team began to doubt it was going to happen several weeks ago and dropped
hints that Parrella should accept being placed on injured reserve. Parrella
resisted until he heard from doctors.
"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."
Not that Parrella was being counted on this week, but the timing from an
emotional standpoint couldn't be worse.
The Raiders, reeling at 3-10, finish the season against NFL rushing leader
Jamal Lewis Sunday, then Green Bay's NFC-leading back Ahman Green and finish
against San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson.
"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."
SERIES HISTORY
In three games since the Cleveland Browns moved to Baltimore and became
known as the Ravens, Oakland has yet to win. The teams have met twice in
regular season, in 1996 and 1998, both times in Baltimore. The Raiders lost
both times, 19-14 and 13-10. The teams met in Oakland in the 2000 AFC
championship game won by the Ravens, 16-3.