Post by TheShadow on Dec 13, 2003 10:23:44 GMT -5
www.pressdemo.com
Baltimore's Lewis a big test for struggling defense
December 13, 2003
By PHIL BARBER
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
ALAMEDA -- When you're ranked 31st in the league in rushing defense, what you need to end the season are a few breathers on the schedule -- maybe a plodding second-stringer or an opponent that eschews the run for a gimmicky passing attack.
What the Raiders are getting: Consecutive doses of Jamal Lewis, Ahman Green and LaDainian Tomlinson, three of the NFL's best running backs. Lewis currently leads the league with 1,622 rushing yards, Green is second at 1,463 and Tomlinson sixth at 1,260. Add receiving numbers to come up with total yards from scrimmage, and the rankings are shuffled but no less daunting. Green is second with 1,818, Tomlinson third with 1,816 and Lewis fifth with 1,793.
All this for a Raiders' team that already has yielded huge games to Tomlinson, Denver's Clinton Portis and Cleveland's William Green, among others.
"There are points in time during the course of our play (when) we get blocked and don't get off blocks," Oakland coach Bill Callahan said. "We do have good gap control and the right assignments, but it comes down to making plays -- that being separating from a blocker, shedding, and getting disengaged and finding a way to the football."
If the defense fails to execute Sunday, the results could be incendiary. Lewis set an NFL record against the Browns in Week 2, churning out an improbable 295 yards.
"They're gonna hammer the ball," Callahan said. "It's to their credit. I don't think you can stop it completely. But it's important to control the run."
Lewis, who has never rushed for fewer than 1,327 yards in a healthy season (he missed 2001 entirely with a knee injury), has risen to another level this year. "Jamal has MVP characteristics," Callahan said. "He's physical in the way he finishes runs. It's impressive -- he can run people over."
"He's got everything: size, speed, desire," said Raiders' safety Anthony Dorsett. "He runs with a lot of attitude. He's got great vision and balance."
And he has some of the best blockers in the game. Led by superlative left tackle Jonathan Ogden, the Ravens' offensive line is massive and capable.
"Their technique and fundamentals are very sound," Callahan said. "That's where you start. Those guys are big, thick, square. They come off the ball well, and they finish their blocks. It's a very simple format."
Stopping the Ravens has proved to be far more complicated. With an unproven quarterback behind center -- rookie Kyle Boller began the season as the starter but strained his quadriceps muscle and was replaced by Anthony Wright -- you would expect opposing defenses to bring in an extra lineman or linebacker and stack the line, daring Baltimore to run.
They've done just that, with little positive result.
"It's all we see," Ravens coach Brian Billick said via conference call. "We haven't seen two-deep (coverage) forever. We're beginning to just now see a little more multiple coverage, because we're just now beginning to do some things on the outside. But if we were to not stick with our running game because there were eight in the box (behind the line of scrimmage), we wouldn't run it three times a game."
"They've got that old mentality: 'It's nine-on-seven,' just like you're going through a running drill in practice," said John Parrella, Oakland's injured defensive tackle. "But you never believe what another team says. You have to be prepared for anything. You can crowd 10 into the box, and then the next thing you know, they're throwing deep."
And as Billick pointed out, cramming the box with run-stuffers is a gamble even if the offense does decide to hand off.
"You do leave yourself vulnerable," he said, "because with Jamal's speed, if he gets one step behind those eight guys, there's only the 11th guy in front of him, because the two other guys are on the outside -- and that's when he cranks off those big ones."
In other words, moving around the Xs on the chalkboard isn't the key to stopping Lewis on Sunday.
"He's a running back like all these others," Dorsett said. "He can be tackled. It just takes for us to play some better football."
Lewis is officially listed as questionable for the game because of a wrist injury. But don't expect that to be the Raiders' saving grace. Speaking to Bay Area reporters by phone, the back said he is feeling better than ever after recently getting over a lingering sore shoulder.
"Everybody talks about wearing down, but I think that's just talk to make conversation or to bring something up," Lewis said. "I train for a season like this. ... I train for the beating, I train for the wear and tear. I just keep going."
EXTRA POINT
Callahan confirmed Friday that Lincoln Kennedy, who suffered a concussion against the Steelers last week, will start at right tackle. Meanwhile, RB Charlie Garner remains out "for personal reasons," and his availability for Sunday is in question.
Baltimore's Lewis a big test for struggling defense
December 13, 2003
By PHIL BARBER
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
ALAMEDA -- When you're ranked 31st in the league in rushing defense, what you need to end the season are a few breathers on the schedule -- maybe a plodding second-stringer or an opponent that eschews the run for a gimmicky passing attack.
What the Raiders are getting: Consecutive doses of Jamal Lewis, Ahman Green and LaDainian Tomlinson, three of the NFL's best running backs. Lewis currently leads the league with 1,622 rushing yards, Green is second at 1,463 and Tomlinson sixth at 1,260. Add receiving numbers to come up with total yards from scrimmage, and the rankings are shuffled but no less daunting. Green is second with 1,818, Tomlinson third with 1,816 and Lewis fifth with 1,793.
All this for a Raiders' team that already has yielded huge games to Tomlinson, Denver's Clinton Portis and Cleveland's William Green, among others.
"There are points in time during the course of our play (when) we get blocked and don't get off blocks," Oakland coach Bill Callahan said. "We do have good gap control and the right assignments, but it comes down to making plays -- that being separating from a blocker, shedding, and getting disengaged and finding a way to the football."
If the defense fails to execute Sunday, the results could be incendiary. Lewis set an NFL record against the Browns in Week 2, churning out an improbable 295 yards.
"They're gonna hammer the ball," Callahan said. "It's to their credit. I don't think you can stop it completely. But it's important to control the run."
Lewis, who has never rushed for fewer than 1,327 yards in a healthy season (he missed 2001 entirely with a knee injury), has risen to another level this year. "Jamal has MVP characteristics," Callahan said. "He's physical in the way he finishes runs. It's impressive -- he can run people over."
"He's got everything: size, speed, desire," said Raiders' safety Anthony Dorsett. "He runs with a lot of attitude. He's got great vision and balance."
And he has some of the best blockers in the game. Led by superlative left tackle Jonathan Ogden, the Ravens' offensive line is massive and capable.
"Their technique and fundamentals are very sound," Callahan said. "That's where you start. Those guys are big, thick, square. They come off the ball well, and they finish their blocks. It's a very simple format."
Stopping the Ravens has proved to be far more complicated. With an unproven quarterback behind center -- rookie Kyle Boller began the season as the starter but strained his quadriceps muscle and was replaced by Anthony Wright -- you would expect opposing defenses to bring in an extra lineman or linebacker and stack the line, daring Baltimore to run.
They've done just that, with little positive result.
"It's all we see," Ravens coach Brian Billick said via conference call. "We haven't seen two-deep (coverage) forever. We're beginning to just now see a little more multiple coverage, because we're just now beginning to do some things on the outside. But if we were to not stick with our running game because there were eight in the box (behind the line of scrimmage), we wouldn't run it three times a game."
"They've got that old mentality: 'It's nine-on-seven,' just like you're going through a running drill in practice," said John Parrella, Oakland's injured defensive tackle. "But you never believe what another team says. You have to be prepared for anything. You can crowd 10 into the box, and then the next thing you know, they're throwing deep."
And as Billick pointed out, cramming the box with run-stuffers is a gamble even if the offense does decide to hand off.
"You do leave yourself vulnerable," he said, "because with Jamal's speed, if he gets one step behind those eight guys, there's only the 11th guy in front of him, because the two other guys are on the outside -- and that's when he cranks off those big ones."
In other words, moving around the Xs on the chalkboard isn't the key to stopping Lewis on Sunday.
"He's a running back like all these others," Dorsett said. "He can be tackled. It just takes for us to play some better football."
Lewis is officially listed as questionable for the game because of a wrist injury. But don't expect that to be the Raiders' saving grace. Speaking to Bay Area reporters by phone, the back said he is feeling better than ever after recently getting over a lingering sore shoulder.
"Everybody talks about wearing down, but I think that's just talk to make conversation or to bring something up," Lewis said. "I train for a season like this. ... I train for the beating, I train for the wear and tear. I just keep going."
EXTRA POINT
Callahan confirmed Friday that Lincoln Kennedy, who suffered a concussion against the Steelers last week, will start at right tackle. Meanwhile, RB Charlie Garner remains out "for personal reasons," and his availability for Sunday is in question.