Category: NFL

Oakland Raiders-Tampa Bay Buccaneers preview: Raiders look for Florida sweep in Tampa

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
Sports Radio Service Writer

AP photo: Oakland Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio goes out for a third quarter hand shake with Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) during their visit with the Jacksonville Jaguars last Sunday

TAMPA, FL — With already four wins on the road this season, the Oakland Raiders have a chance to go 5-0 on the road if they can knock off the Buccaneers in Week 8 at Raymond James Stadium Sunday.

Kickoff is set for 1:05 p.m. ET/10:05 a.m. PT.

The 33-16 Week 7 victory over the Jaguars in Jacksonville was a satisfying win for the organization and for head coach Jack Del Rio, who was fired by the Jaguars after nine seasons. Del Rio was booed by Jaguars fans while leading the Silver and Black on to the field.

After missing two games with turf toe, running back Latavius Murray returned to the starting lineup and gave the running game a boost by scoring two touchdowns on the ground. Murray led Oakland with 59 yards on 17 carries.

Quarterback Derek Carr continues to be one of the best passers in the league, after completing 23-of-37 passes for 200 yards and one touchdown to wide receiver Michael Crabtree.

After catching just two passes on four targets for 10 yards in Oakland’s 26-10 loss to the visiting Kansas City Chiefs in Week 6, Crabtree bounced back with eight catches (on 11 targets) for 96 yards. Crabtree hauled in a 2-yard touchdown catch to give Oakland a 20-6 lead shortly before halftime and the rout was on.

Oakland’s defense forced two interceptions and forced a fumble against a Jaguars (2-5) team that like Oakland, came into the 2016 season with high expectations but have turned into one of the more disappointing teams in the league.

Jacksonville finished with 344 yards of total offense, picking up most of those yards when the game was out of reach. It was the least amount of yards that Oakland’s 32nd ranked defense has surrendered this season.

Instead of traveling back to California then turning around to return to Florida, the Raiders (5-2) for the first time since 2001, remained in Florida and trained at the IMG Academy in Bradenton in preparation for Tampa Bay.

Tampa Bay (3-3) is an intriguing opponent for the Silver and Black, who shouldn’t overlook this team heading into next week’s showdown with the Denver Broncos on Sunday Night Football in Oakland.

The Buccaneers traveled to the West Coast and thrashed another bottom-feeder in the San Francisco 49ers 34-17 in Week 7.

Running back Jacquizz Rodgers, who was picked up on waivers from the Chicago Bears, has filled in nicely for oft-injured starter Doug Martin with back-to-back 100-yard rushing games.

After recording his first career 100-yard rushing game in a 17-14 victory over the Carolina Panthers in Week 5, Rodgers ran roughshod over the Niners for a career-high 154 yards on 26 carries. Oakland will need to stop the run early or Rodgers could have another breakout performance.

Tampa Bay found itself down 14-0 early before exploding for 27 unanswered points and piling up 249 yards on the ground. Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston tossed three touchdowns and 269 yards on 21-of-30 passes and an interception.

Even without veteran wide receiver Vincent Jackson, who was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury, Tampa Bay has some play-makers that can pose problems for Oakland’s defense.

Against San Francisco, wide receiver Mike Evans caught eight passes for 96 yards and two touchdowns, while fourth year wide receiver Russell Shepard hauled in five passes for 77 yards including a 19-yard touchdown catch from Winston right before the end of the first half.

Evans is tied with Crabtree for the league lead with six touchdown catches this season.

Backup running back Peyton Barber’s 44-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter iced the game for Tampa Bay. Barber finished with 84 yards on 12 carries.

One match up to watch out for will be between Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper and Buccaneers rookie cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III.

Cooper lit up the former Florida cornerback with 10 catches for 201 yards and three touchdowns in Alabama’s 42-21 victory on Sep. 20, 2014 in Tuscaloosa.

 

 

 

Oakland Raiders podcast with Joe Hawkes Beamon: Bucs coach Kotter says it’s hard to prepare for receivers like Cooper and Crabtree

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AP file photo: Michael Crabtree (15) and Amari Cooper (89) warm up before their game in San Diego Sun Oct 25th at Qualcomm Stadium

The Oakland Raiders after having a successful game last week in Jacksonville spent the rest of the week in Florida in Sarasota working out and getting prepared for this Sunday’s game in Tampa Bay. Also getting prepared are receivers Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree who had success in Jacksonville as Crabtree had eight catches for 96 yards, and a touchdown.

Tampa Bay head coach Dirk Kotter said it’s not easy to prepare for wide receivers like Crabtree and Cooper who says they’re all over the place. Kotter says both Cooper and Crabtree both play at very high level and compared them to former Atlanta Falcons Julio Jones and Roddy White. J Hawkes talks about his pick in the Raiders at Tampa Bay contest for this Sunday.

Joe Hawkes Beamon is a talk show host on Sportstalk and does the Raiders podcast each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

San Francisco 49ers podcast with David Zizmor: Skeptical on 49ers denial of Staley and Smith trade block rumors

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AP photo: San Francisco 49ers left tackle Joe Staley chews on his mouth piece from the 49ers bench during the second half against the Carolina Panthers on Sep 18th at Carolina is the subject of trade rumors with wide receiver Torrey Smith

There is skepticism amongst the San Francisco 49ers’ brass who deny such rumors that their shopping left tackle John Staley and wider receiver Torrey Smith. Here’s the thing with the 49ers in the Jed York and Trent Baalke era they have this habit of leaking information through whoever their designated media person is and kind of denying it when it comes back and the rumors come back that their true because their the ones who leaked it.

Sometimes you can test and see what the public will think once the rumor is out there to see if everybody is going to back it or not. They were leaking information about former head coach Jim Harbaugh for a year before firing him or letting him go.  This is not news, when quarterback Colin Kaepernick got benched last year there was a whisper campaign in the media about how the coaches were unhappy with him. That Kaepernick was the fall guy for everything that was wrong with the offense last year.

Dave talks about it all on the podcast below.

David Zizmor does the 49ers podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: NFL TV ratings down 29% they blame protest of the players

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NFL TV Ratings: Down 29%, they blame protest of players
by Amaury Pi Gonzalez
AP photo: San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick stands on the sidelines during the second half of Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Levis Stadium in Santa Clara
SANTA CLARA–When it comes to sports and television ratings, the National Football League is “Numero Uno” for many years now, among all the main sports. But this year the story has abruptly changed.
Is there discrimination? sure, is there social injustice?  Yes,  are there unpopular wars?  Sure. But people that watch sports in this crazy violent world we are living today do it to escape for a couple of hours of all the stuff that is going on. The NFL is no exception and that is why a recent poll showed a 29% drop in their ratings, 40% blame protests like those started by 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
As a man that is 100X100 FOR Free Speech(otherwise I would have moved back to Cuba, where for the past half over century there is none)I agree with anybody that wants to demonstrate about a certain issue they feel passionate about it. But, we all know that Kaepernick could have called a press conference anytime he wanted, before of after a game, during the season, or in the off-season and explained his point of view regardless blacks and minorities and the abuse they receive by law enforcement. I have absolutely no problem with Mr Quarterback if he wanted to do that.
However, I totally disagree with not standing up for the National Anthem, and I know he has the right and the freedom to do it and thank the millions of people that have fought and defended the right he enjoys. In a country as diverse as ours I believe there are two things that should be respected all the time, the flag and the national anthem. I have never questioned what is in Kaepernick heart. I do not think I am asking for much, it is only common sense to me. Maybe I can appreciate this much more because of my background and where I come from a place that if you go on the streets and burn the flag, your head will probably be broken in pieces.

This is what the Yahoo Sports/Yougov Polls, taken October 12-13 of 2016 shows why 29% of fans are watching less football.  Election: 17%. Lost Interest 28%. Lack of opportunity 31%. Kaepernick protests 40%.

San Francisco 49ers fans are probably watching less of their team anyway, this is the Bay Area after all, we are famous for flying our teams colors(when they win)but today the 49ers flags we used to see in the cars around the bay are few, and a 1 -6 start to a season will fold anybody’s flag.
It will be very interesting to see how the ratings show the rest of this NFL season. The NFL is a very rich league and their blood-line comes from huge audiences who generate huge advertising revenue.
Amaury Pi Gonzalez does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

49ers’ losing streak hits six in dismal, home loss to the Buccaneers, reports surface that Staley could be traded

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kap-sack
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) fumbles the ball as he is hit by Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Jude Adjei-Barimah during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016. The Buccaneers recovered the fumble. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

By Morris Phillips

The 49ers haven’t won since opening night, they’ve given up the most points in the NFL, and every running back in the league is checking their remaining schedule to see if they’ll get a shot at the league’s worst run defense in 26 seasons.

The last time the 49ers lost six straight in 2008, Coach Mike Nolan didn’t survive the fifth, and was fired after the team fell to 2-6, after a 2-1 start.  Interim coach Mike Singletary and offensive coordinator Mike Martz were in charge that following week when the 49ers appeared poised to break the skid, only to fail on the game’s last play from the two-yard line where fullback Michael Robinson got the call and was stuffed, instead of Frank Gore, who would go on to become the franchise’s all-time leading rusher.

Like these, those were low times.  But under Singletary, and 28-year old Shaun Hill, the 49ers rallied, winning five of seven to close that season.   In 2008, things got better, and hope was retained heading into 2009.

This time, without Hill and Singletary of all people, things could get worse.

During the 49ers’ loss Sunday to the visiting Buccaneers, the 49ers squandered a 14-0, first quarter lead only to trail at halftime, 17-14, and after three quarters, 27-14.  The Bucs struggled early, unable to run against the 49ers’ defensive front seven, who briefly rallied after being run over by LeSean McCoy and the Bills the previous week.

Tampa Bay didn’t abandon the run down two touchdowns, instead they redoubled their efforts and finished with 513 yards in total offense, including 249 yards on the ground.  The previous week in Buffalo, the 49ers gave up 312 yards on the ground, but this may have been a lesser showing with Jaquizz Rogers (154 yards) and Paul Barber (12 carries, 84 yards) benefitting from numerous, missed tackles.

“We just got to limit the mistakes we’ve been having.  We’ve been doing the same things too consistently, with the turnovers and stuff, the missed tackles, allowing big runs to happen on defense,” safety Eric Reid said.

The 49ers appeared to be in better shape with Jaquiski Tartt and Jimmy Ward returning to bolster the secondary.  But neither started on Sunday, then defensive lineman Arik Armstead, linebacker Aaron Lynch, and corner Rashad Robinson were lost to injury during the game.  Armstead’s injury looked to be the most painful, and most troubling since the 2015 first round pick has dealt with a nagging shoulder issue since training camp, and appeared to reinjure the shoulder against Tampa Bay.

Meanwhile, for Tampa, big, productive receiver Mike Evans was injured on a play early in the game in which he was blocked in the stomach and chest on Gerald Hodges interception that set up the 49ers second touchdown.  But Evans returned, finishing with eight receptions and two touchdowns, while Armstead, Lynch and Robinson did not.

Such is the 49ers’ fortunes these days, so poor they rival the teams porous play.  While the defense has been abnormally poor, it must be noted that injuries have been mounting on that side of the ball starting with lineman Ian Williams in training camp, and starting linebackers Ray Ray Armstrong and NaVorro Bowman after the season began.

Offensively, Colin Kaepernick had another uneven performance, completing less than half of his passes and being sacked four times.  While the veteran quarterback kept plays alive with his fast feet, those plays didn’t amount to much as Kaepernick threw for just 143 yards in a game that the 49ers were in catchup mode for the entire, second half.

In the absence of the injured Carlos Hyde, Kaepernick was the team’s leading rusher, with 84 yards on nine carries.  But Kap’s rushing total wasn’t the recipe to success.

“It comes down to execution, not shooting ourselves in the foot, and making plays,” Kaepernick said.  “On our two, touchdown drives, we had players making plays on the field.  And we have to be able to continually do that throughout the game because defenses are talented, things are going to be close, and we have to be able to make those plays, and ultimately that’s what’s going to be the difference in these games.”

With the 49ers mired in last place in the NFC West, reports surfaced that veteran tackle Joe Staley may be traded during the season.  The team’s remaining schedule looks tough with games at Chicago, and at home against the Jets looking like the only two in which the team could be favored, or have a chance to win.

A rally like the one in 2008 appears unlikely, and the appearance of a franchise quarterback may not happen anytime soon, even if the team draws a top-3 pick as their current record would suggest.

Coach Chip Kelly appears safe if for no reason other than he just got here.  But things must be improve, and the team’s attitude will be close monitored.

“I think anger doesn’t help you,” Kelly said.  “You have to find a solution.  If you continue to get mad, get angry, it’s not going to help you.”

The 49ers will enjoy a bye week before returning to the field at home against the New Orleans Saints and prolific passer Drew Brees on November 6.

Oakland Raiders-Jacksonville Jaguars game wrap: Murray returns in win

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By Jeremy Kahn

AP photo: Oakland Raiders running back Latavius Murray (28) takes a dive right into the end zone while he’s grabbed from behind by the Jacksonville Jaguars free safety Tashaun Gipson (39) just getting over the line for a fourth quarter touchdown in Jacksonville on Sunday

What a nice game for Latavius Murray to return to the playing field after missing the two previous games due to turf toe.

Murray scored two touchdowns, as the Oakland Raiders defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 33-16 at EverBank Field.

The running back out of Central Florida gained 59 yards on 18 carries, helping the Raiders to their fourth straight win on the road this season and are 5-2 for the first time since the 2001 season.

Michael Crabtree caught right passes for 96 yards and a touchdown, while Sebastian Janikowski kicked four field goals.

Carr went 23-for-37 for 200 yards and the touchdown pass to Crabtree, as Carr was not sacked nor did he throw an interception.

Crabtree was the leading receiver with those eight catches, while both Amari Cooper and Seth Roberts each caught four passes.

Janikowski got the Raiders on the board in the first quarter, as he kicked a 36-yard field goal and then extended the lead to 6-0, when he kicked a 32-yard field goal.

After Jason Myers cut the Raiders in half, Murray scored the first of his two touchdowns and after another Myers field goal, Crabtree caught a two-yard touchdown pass from Carr.

Myers and Janikowski exchanged field goals in the third quarter, and then Janikowski extended the Raiders lead up to 26-9.

Following a Jaguars touchdown cut the Raiders lead down to 26-16 with 4:12 remaining in the game, and then disaster nearly struck.

After a low snap on a punt, Marquette King picked up the ball and scampered 27 yards for a big first down.

Murray then clinched the game, as he scored his second touchdown of the game, when he ran it in from nine yards out.

San Francisco 49ers podcast with Joe Lami: Game against Bucs is a winnable game for 49ers (home field at Levis)

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AP file photo: San Francisco running back Carlos Hyde looking to get some yards carries against the Buffalo Bills last Sunday at Orchard Park NY is suffering shoulder injury

This game going into Sunday with the San Francisco 49ers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers should be interesting the defense for the 49ers had struggled and it struggled in the second half of last Sunday’s game in Buffalo. It makes you want to think that a high tempo offense is wearing out the defense in the second half and everything just falls apart. The 49ers have played in a lot of close first halves this year and they’ve kept it really close.

Its that second half that the offense really begins to struggle and the second half adjustments are made on the 49ers and all of a sudden they get down really big. The 49ers do have Tampa Bay coming into Levis this Sunday and they have been struggling with their record at 2-3 and it seems like Carlos Hyde has been like the only player on the 49ers offense that’s been able to do anything so far this season.

Joe Lami does the 49ers podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

San Francisco 49ers preview: Second-Half Will Decide 49ers Game

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By: Joe Lami

AP file photo: San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick gets set to launch one against the Buffalo Bills will get his second call to start this Sunday at Levis Stadium against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

SANTA CLARA, Calif.–On Friday, ESPN released it’s annual rank of the 122 professional sports franchises in North America. Ranked 122nd, the San Francisco 49ers. Who would have thought that the franchise would ever fall so low?

This is rock bottom for the once great 49ers. This season, it’s been all struggles for 1-5 team. On Sunday, they hope that newly named quarterback Colin Kaepernick can have consistency at the position to lead to some success. During practice, his reps have tripled with the first team, which can lead to more success with finding some chemistry with his receivers.

The first half hasn’t been the issue for San Francisco. They have been able to keep it close in most of their games. It’s been the second half where things have really fallen apart for the red and gold. The key indicator of this could be the defense is just gassed by the second half, due to Chip Kelly’s high-tempo offense.

If this continues to happen, it may be time for Kelly to abandon his patented system and go to one that actually works for one of the weakest rosters in the NFL.

In town is the 2-3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are coming off a big win over the Carolina Panthers 17-14. Bucs QB, Jameis Winston has mediocre numbers at best this season throwing nine touchdowns and eight interceptions. The 49ers secondary may have a chance to shut down the sophomore.

Sunday provides another great chance for the 49ers to get out of the cellar, but if they continue to play poor in the second half, it will be another long day for fans in Santa Clara.

Oakland Raiders podcast with Joe Hawkes Beamon: Davis said Oakland was in the drivers seat to keep the team but they didn’t accomplish anything

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AP photo: Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis addresses the media Wednesday at the NFL Fall Meetings in Houston

On the Raiders podcast with Joe:

Defense has been the chanted word heard from local teams fans such in places like Stanford, Cal, or at the 49ers. For the Oakland Raiders Joe will take a look at what was missing on the Raiders defense last Sunday at the Oakland Coliseum against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Joe takes a look at the most impressive part about the Kansas City Chiefs offense and why the Raiders defense just couldn’t contain them.

The Raiders lost last Sunday but they certainly put a lot of stock in wide receiver Amari Cooper who caught nine passes in the first half of the game.

Will the Raiders be up to the task in being able to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday in Florida.

Raiders owner Mark Davis makes the case to move to Vegas, the city of Oakland has no money to finance a new stadium and Davis said he put Oakland in the drivers seat but Oakland has no plans to finance a new stadium and so Davis says there is no choice but to move the team to Vegas.

Joe Hawkes Beamon takes a look at the Raiders-Jaguars match up for this Sunday at http://www.sportsraadioservice.com

Oakland Raiders-Jacksonville Jaguars preview: Raiders hit the road for Jacksonville

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
Sports Radio Service Writer

AP file photo: Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr looks for some help out there in last Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs

OAKLAND, Calif — Looking to get back to winning football, the Raiders begin a two-game trip through the Sunshine State with a stop in Jacksonville Sunday to take on the Jaguars at EverBank Field in Week 7 action.

It’s the Raiders second game against the AFC South this season. Oakland derailed the Tennessee Titans 17-10 in Nashville in Week 3.

Kickoff is set for 10:00 a.m. PT in Oakland, 1:00 p.m. ET.

Oakland (4-2) were tripped up by Kansas City 26-10 last Sunday in a rainy, muddy game at the Oakland Coliseum that dropped the Raiders to 1-2 at home on the season. It was the first time this season that these two AFC West rivals faced each other.

Quarterback Derek Carr threw for 225 yards on 22-of-34 passing with one touchdown and one interception for Oakland, who were held scoreless in the second half.

Carr has thrown for 1,608 yards, 12 touchdowns, and just three interceptions in six games for Oakland this year.

Wide receiver Amari Cooper finished with a career-high 10 catches for 129 yards.

Cooper led all Raiders wide receivers with 14 targets, while fellow wide receiver Andre Holmes hauled in his second touchdown catch of the season on the Raiders’ opening drive of the game.

Oakland’s running game was powered by rookie DeAndre Washington, who led the Raiders with 49 yards rushing. The Raiders played without starter Latavius Murray, who missed his second straight game with a toe injury.

On defense, the Raiders allowed 406 total yards to the Chiefs Sunday. Oakland’s defense ranks 32nd in the NFL, allowing 444.8 yards per game after giving up 500+ yards in the team’s first two games of the season.

Rookie safety Karl Joseph led Oakland with 11 tackles (seven solo) and defensive end Khalil Mack registered his second sack of the season, sacking Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith in the first quarter that forced a punt.

Jacksonville (2-3) scored 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to take down the Chicago Bears 17-16 at Soldier Field last week.

Quarterback Blake Bortles, who was drafted in the same class as Carr in 2014 out of Central Florida, completed 20-of-33 passes for 271 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

Bortles, who threw a career-high 4,428 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 18 interceptions in 2015, has thrown for 1,321 yards, eight touchdowns, and seven interceptions this season.

Oakland’s much maligned secondary could have their hands full with Jacksonville’s wide receivers, most notably Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns.

After exploding in 2015 with 90 catches for 1,400 yards and 14 touchdowns (all team-highs), Robinson is second on Jacksonville with 287 receiving yards and leads the team with three touchdowns on 24 catches.

Hurns, who is first on the team with 300 receiving yards, has just one touchdown through five games for Jacksonville after hauling in 64 catches for 1,031 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2015.

Jacksonville has a very aggressive defense led by linebackers Paul Posluszny and Telvin Smith. The duo have combined for 86 tackles this season, which are second in the league behind Buffalo linebacker duo of Zach Brown and Preston Brown’s (no relation) 121 tackles.

Defensive end Yannick Ngakoue leads all rookies with four sacks this season and will be a test for Oakland’s stout offensive line.

Following Sunday’s game, the Raiders will stay in Florida in preparation for their Week 8 meeting at Tampa against the Buccaneers, before returning home for their big showdown with the Denver Broncos on Sunday Night Football in Week 9 before their bye week.