Well IM sure by the title of the thread you see where I’m going. Here's why.
Raiders O vs. Bucs D. - I think the Bucs D is overrated. The numbers are great but anyone who has taken statistics knows that the numbers can lie. They have grown fat on the soft underbelly of the NFL playing one of the easiest schedules this year. The Media has taken the stats and chosen the ones that make the matchup the most appealing. Using the Bucs #1 D without preferancing it with the fact they played most of the NFL’s sad sack offenses. The Raiders are the number one offense in their eyes yet didn’t lead the league in scoring and isn’t that the point of offense, it doesn’t mater if you go 99 or 1 yards as long as you put 7 on the board. Thus labeling the matchup Number one defense vs. number one offense, however the Bucs seem to believe their own press clippings.
People keep pointing to the way they slowed down the Rams O the last couple of years. The difference is that The Rams weakness is their line, this is the Raiders strength, while you can rush the Rams with 4 the Raiders line has eaten this up all year save for one game (Miami). The Bucs don’t have Miami’s corners. In order to pressure Gannon the Bucs are going to have to send more than 4, this will open the holes for the Raiders passing attack.
As for the self proclaimed Best D Lineman in the league, Warren the Sapp, he hasn't done anything in the playoffs and I don't se that changing. The Reel players on the D Brooks and Barber are the ones who could cause the Raiders problem with their game breaking ability.
Special teams- a wash, both teams make big plays and give them up as well, too hard to predict.
Raiders D vs. Bucs O, as with all games this starts up front were the Raiders totally outclass the Bucs, The Raiders don't have name players other than the large man named after beer, how can you not root for that, but they make plays. The Bucs O line doesn't have names and they don't make plays.
The linebackers should be able to contain the Bucs TEs and Backs, nobody scary there.
The raiders secondary is hurting, and if the front 4 give Johnson too long he could hurt them by picking on Woodson with double moves, their is a line I never thought I’d write at the beginning of the year, to beat the Raiders pick on C. wood.
Coaching - Gru knows the Raiders like the back of his hand, Except for the fact that only 3 players who started on last years D will start this year. They no longer are a two back team now opting for a one back look. Their playcalling has gone from predictable and conservative, to balls to the wall for 60 minutes. He can help with his intimate knowledge of the raiders O, that is if the Bucs decide to play the matchups instead of Just coming out and doing what they always do on D as they claim they will.
My prediction Raiders 37 (Super bowl 37, Rich Gannon 37 year 37 days old, makes sense) Bucs 20, with one of the scores either by the defense or set up by the D (I’m thinking Rice pressure Brooks or Barber play).
"The loser goes home and the winner stays here to play the winner of Pittsburgh and Tennessee in the AFC Championship Game" Frank Middleton (Raiders Guard) on The Raiders Jets playoff game.
I'm not going into that sort of detail, but GO RAIDERS! This has been such an exciting week, with an actual silver an black super bowl looming for the first time since I was only 12. I can not wait for Sunday. Look for the Raiders to open it up in the 4th quater. Go Raiders!
Originally posted by brickWell IM sure by the title of the thread you see where I’m going. Here's why.
Raiders O vs. Bucs D. - I think the Bucs D is overrated. The numbers are great but anyone who has taken statistics knows that the numbers can lie. They have grown fat on the soft underbelly of the NFL playing one of the easiest schedules this year. The Media has taken the stats and chosen the ones that make the matchup the most appealing.
Ok I'll start here. To say the Bucs defense is not good is the worst statement I've heard in a long time. They allowed the least amount of points this year and lead the league in plus/minus. Those are the two categories that should be looked at. The only soft spot of the D is when they come up against a physical offensive line and a bruising running back. This is usually when they curl up into a little ball and lose games. But this team proved last week that it could compete and defeat the best when they finally stopped Staley and the Philly line. Oakland's offensive line has nothing on Philly. In fact Oakland is a pass first team. That plays right into the Bucs hands. We have the number one pass defense in the league. The stats DON'T lie! 32 interceptions doesn't lie! We made Terrell Owens look like a J.V. highschool player. Those geriatrics Rice and Brown are going to get pushed off their routes and beaten up by Lynch, Barber, Smith, and Kelly. The only guy I'm scared about is Porter. I think he could beat Kelly on the double move. Hopefully they have something planned for this cause I still remember Kelly getting beat deep in the final minutes of the NFC title game against St Louis in 99.
People keep pointing to the way they slowed down the Rams O the last couple of years. The difference is that The Rams weakness is their line, this is the Raiders strength, while you can rush the Rams with 4 the Raiders line has eaten this up all year save for one game (Miami). The Bucs don’t have Miami’s corners. In order to pressure Gannon the Bucs are going to have to send more than 4, this will open the holes for the Raiders passing attack.
As for the self proclaimed Best D Lineman in the league, Warren the Sapp, he hasn't done anything in the playoffs and I don't se that changing. The Reel players on the D Brooks and Barber are the ones who could cause the Raiders problem with their game breaking ability.
I think the Rams offense from 99-01 is a lot better than this Raiders O. St Louis had Warner, FAULK, Hakeem, Holt, and Bruce. The Raiders passing offense is of equal caliber, but as Dean would say Charlie is not Marshall. I also think you're giving the Raider o-line waaaaaaay to much credit. They are not the Philly line. They are not going to be able to double team Sapp AND stop Rice from coming around the corner. It took miracles for McNabb to dance around the Bucs line last week without getting sacked ten times. Gannon is not half the athlete McNabb is. If he can't get out of the pocket he is toast. I don't necessarily think the Bucs will have to blitz to get to Gannon. But that doesn't mean they wont. Ronde will come around the corner a few times, and Brooks and Lynch are sure to run a couple blitzes up the middle. One thing to note is that Barber's interception return last week was set up by a fake blitz. McNabb thought he was coming and since he'd already knocked the ball out once he was concious of Ronde coming at him again. Well Ronde dropped out that time and picked up the interception that sealed the game.
Special teams- a wash, both teams make big plays and give them up as well, too hard to predict.
Here's some wishfull thinking for a Bucs fan. There was a big article in the fish wrap today about Aaron Stecker saying he was going to bring back the first kickoff for a touchdown. Seeing as that's never happened in Bucs history it certainly would be a great time to do it.
Raiders D vs. Bucs O, as with all games this starts up front were the Raiders totally outclass the Bucs, The Raiders don't have name players other than the large man named after beer, how can you not root for that, but they make plays. The Bucs O line doesn't have names and they don't make plays.
Have you seen the Bucs offense the last eight games? They are scoring an average of 27 pts a game. Combine that with only allowing 11pts and thats pretty hard to beat. The main reason they've been scoring so much is the improved play of the o-line. The team of Coleman and Walker on the right side have really been gelling together. If they give Brad Johnson time, he will carve up the Raiders secondary. I have to once again compare the Raiders secondary to Philly. One is 3/4 pro bowlers, the other is an old guy, a young guy with knee problems, and two average players. If the Bucs can play ball control against Oakland like they to Philly we will score points and keep our defense rested.
Another plus from the good line play is that we've rushed for 100yds in four of the past five games. If we rush for 100 on Sunday then we will control the clock and win the game.
The linebackers should be able to contain the Bucs TEs and Backs, nobody scary there.
Do the Names Dilger, Dudley, Jurevicious, Alstott, and Pittman mean anything to you? All of these guys will be matched up against the linebackers at some time and all of them are excellent recievers. I hope the Raiders are discounting them as much as you because they'll be in for a rude surprise tommarow.
The raiders secondary is hurting, and if the front 4 give Johnson too long he could hurt them by picking on Woodson with double moves, their is a line I never thought I’d write at the beginning of the year, to beat the Raiders pick on C. wood.
I agree.
Coaching - Gru knows the Raiders like the back of his hand, Except for the fact that only 3 players who started on last years D will start this year. They no longer are a two back team now opting for a one back look. Their playcalling has gone from predictable and conservative, to balls to the wall for 60 minutes. He can help with his intimate knowledge of the raiders O, that is if the Bucs decide to play the matchups instead of Just coming out and doing what they always do on D as they claim they will.
This Bucs defense matches up very favorably with the Raider's offense. I hope the Raiders continue their throwing ways because that will just give the Bucs secondary more chances to pad their interception stat.
My prediction Raiders 37 (Super bowl 37, Rich Gannon 37 year 37 days old, makes sense) Bucs 20, with one of the scores either by the defense or set up by the D (I’m thinking Rice pressure Brooks or Barber play).
I am not making any predicion score wise on the game. But I do think Tampa will win in convincing fashion due to the favorable matchups on our D vs. their O and our hot offense.
"Veterans Stadium is a shithole of a place. My mother can't even come because it's such a shithole. But the demolition crew is on its way. We're going to close it down" -Warren Sapp
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