Tag: NFL

Oakland Raiders podcast with Joe Hawkes Beamon: Martavis Bryant is back once again after being waived for 11 days; Bryant very quick and difficult to cover says Derek Carr

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On the Oakland Raiders podcast with J Hawkes:

#1 Raiders receiver Martavis Bryant is back after being waived by the team 11 days ago. Raiders head coach Jon Gruden and general manager Reggie McKenzie brought Bryant back on Tuesday.

#2 This move was made because Bryant had out-performed the other receivers and the Raiders had waived receiver Keon Hatcher, which was also a surprise move.

#3 Bryant’s return was based on some of the things that took place on offense receiving on Monday night and after weighing what they saw Bryant cut mustard and Gruden and McKenzie was glad that he was not signed by anybody else.

#4 On September 1st, Bryant was under consideration by the NFL to be suspended a third time by the league for substance abuse and he would have been banned for one year or the rest of this season. The league did not decide to discipline Bryant and allowed him to play and the Raiders got him back.

#5 Raiders quarterback Derek Carr said that other teams try to contain Bryant on defense, but have trouble covering him because he’s so quick off the line. Carr and Gruden are anxious to see what he can do in Denver this Sunday.

Joe Hawkes Beamon does the Raiders previews each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco 49ers podcast with Joe Lami: 49ers hope to get first win in home opener on Sunday versus Lions

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On the 49ers podcast with Joe:

#1 With the first loss and first road trip of the year out of the way, the 49ers are looking to turn the page and try to get in the win column versus the Detroit Lions this Sunday at Levi’s Stadium.

#2 Linebacker Brock Coyle will be out this Sunday after suffering a concussion last Sunday in Minnesota, but also a T-4 compression fracture in his back. He certainly will be miss out of the 49ers’ lineup.

#3 Coyle is expected to be out six weeks and linebacker Malcolm Smith is also out and has not practiced Smith is suffering from a hamstring injury he received in the preseason.

#4  In addition to Smith, receiver Marquise Goodwin (quadriceps), guard Joshua Garnett (toe) and safety Adrian Colbert (hamstring) all have been listed as questionable by 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan.

#5 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo threw for three interceptions last Sunday. Was this a matter of a lack of protection from the offensive line or was he just not focused and threw into coverage?

49ers podcasts can be heard with Joe Lami each Friday and with David Zizmor each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland Raiders podcast with Tony Renteria: Rams spoiled Raiders’ home opener; Raiders made some roster moves

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On the Raiders podcast with Tony:

1. A strong defensive first half wasn’t enough for the Raiders, who lost to the LA Rams 33-13 during ESPN’s Monday Night Football to wrap up Week 1.

2. Jared Cook’s 180 receiving yards in Raiders vs. Rams were the most by a tight end in franchise history.

3. The Raiders signed wide receiver Johnny Holton to their practice squad. In a corresponding move, they terminated the contract of defensive back Terrell Sinkfield.

4. Raiders coach Jon Gruden provided an update on the injury of long snapper Andrew DePaola. This isn’t the way the Raiders wanted to start the season, but tight end Lee Smith stepped in as the emergency long snapper.

5. The Raiders signed free agent wide receiver Martavis Bryant and long snapper Trent Sieg. In corresponding moves, they placed long snapper Andrew DePaola on the Reserve/Injured List and have waived wide receiver Keon Hatcher.

Tony does the Raiders podcasts each Thursday for SportsRadioService.com

49ers look to bounce back in home opener vs. Lions

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By Jeremy Harness

The 49ers will get their season on track on Sunday, as they will host the Detroit Lions in their first home game of the year.

However, as was the case most of last season, the team is dealing with a multitude of injuries at key positions, following an opening-week 24-16 defeat at the hands of the Minnesota Vikings, a game that saw Jimmy Garoppolo throw three interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown.

The 49ers got a little thinner at the linebacker position this week, as they placed Brock Coyle on the injured reserve/eligible to return list. According to head coach Kyle Shanahan, he had not only a concussion in the team’s opening week loss to Minnesota, but he also suffered a T-4 compression fracture in his back.

Coyle will be out at least six weeks, and at that point, he is expected to be able to resume football activities. Beyond that, his timetable for return is uncertain.

Meanwhile, fellow linebacker Malcolm Smith did not practice Wednesday due to a hamstring injury he suffered during the preseason. Among the others who did not practice were receiver Marquise Goodwin (quadriceps), guard Joshua Garnett (toe) and safety Adrian Colbert (hamstring).

All of them are listed as questionable to play Sunday against the Lions, whose injury report is not nearly as long as that of the 49ers. Guard T.J Lang (back) and tackle Andrew Donnal (knee) were both held out of practice on Wednesday.

Just like the 49ers, the Lions are still licking their wounds after a tough loss in Week 1. However, the Lions were more decisively beaten at home Monday night against the New York Jets. Just like Garoppolo, Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford had his bouts with interceptions. The veteran threw four to the other team, including one that was returned for a touchdown in a 48-17 rout.

Raiders travel to Denver looking to bounce back after home loss

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By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
SRS Contributor

OAKLAND — After a very poor showing at home against the Los Angeles Rams, the Raiders travel to Denver to take on the Broncos in an AFC West matchup Sunday at 1:25 p.m. PT. The two teams will meet each other later this year on ESPN’s Monday Night Football on Christmas Eve in Oakland.

Last season, the two teams split their two-game series winning on their home turf.

The Raiders (0-1) fell flat on their faces to the Rams 33-13 in front of a sold out Raider Nation crowd of 53,857 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on ESPN’s Monday Night Football to closeout Week 1. Oakland held a 13-10 lead at halftime in head coach Jon Gruden’s return to the sidelines after a nine-year hiatus, before the wheels fell off for the Silver and Black in the second half as the Rams scored 23 unanswered points to claim the victory.

In the battle of franchise quarterbacks, Rams signal-caller Jared Goff clearly outplayed Derek Carr in front of a nationally televised audience. Both quarterbacks played a handful of snaps in the preseason and there was bound to be some rust in the first game.

For Goff, he completed 18 of 33 passes for 233 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions picking up right where he left off engineering the NFL’s top scoring offense from a season ago. The Rams averaged 29.9 points per game last year.

Oakland’s defense couldn’t generate a consistent pass rush against Goff, only sacking him once in the game by Bruce Irvin.

Neither could they stop last year’s NFL Offensive Player of the Year Todd Gurley. The Rams running back looked in midseason form, carrying the ball 20 times for 108 yards. Gurley also hauled in three passes for 39 yards and a touchdown.

After a hot start to the game where he completed 20 of 24 passes for 199 yards, Carr played pedestrian finishing 29 of 40 for 303 yards and three interceptions. Carr did have good chemistry with tight end Jared Cook, who caught a game-high nine balls or a league-high 180 yards.

Seven of Cook’s catches went for first downs, which tied for the most in Week 1.

Cook’s 45-yard catch-and-run down the middle of the field in the first quarter on the Raiders’ opening drive did set up Oakland’s first touchdown of the season, a 10-yard powerful run by running back Marshawn Lynch that gave the Raiders a 7-0 lead, but those were the only real highlights for the Raiders offensively as Oakland settled for two Mike Nugent field goals.

Wide receiver Amari Cooper, who Gruden said would be a “focal point” to the offense this season, was missing in action as he caught just one pass for nine yards.

Cooper looked out of place on opening night, matched up with cornerback and Oakland native Marcus Peters for most of the night. If you go back and look at the game film, Cooper appeared open down the field on occasions but for some strange reason, Carr couldn’t get him the ball.

Peters would take Carr’s third interception 50 yards for a touchdown that punctuated a night to forget for Carr.

Oakland could find it difficult to get back on track against Denver (1-0), who prevailed over the visiting Seattle Seahawks 27-24 last Sunday at Broncos Stadium at Mile High.

Broncos starting quarterback Case Keenum completed 25 of 39 passes for 329 yards, with three touchdowns and three interceptions in his first game with the team.

Keenum enjoyed a career-year last season in Minnesota, throwing for 3,547 yards with 22 touchdowns to just seven interceptions while leading the Vikings to a 13-3 regular season record, an NFC North title, and appearance in the NFC Championship Game before signing a two-year, $36 million (with $25 million guaranteed) with Denver in the offseason.

Wide receiver Emmauel Sanders led the Broncos with 10 catches for 135 yards and a touchdown (fellow wide out Demaryius Thomas chipped in with six catches for 63 yards and a touchdown), while Denver’s ground game anchored by rookie running backs Royce Freeman and Phillip Lindsay (15 carries for 71 each), found holes to run through in Seattle’s defense. Lindsay also caught a 29-yard touchdown pass from Keenum.

Denver’s defense had a huge day against Seattle forcing three turnovers and sacking Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson six times, three by linebacker Von Miller, who finished with six tackles (one assisted).

Miller also forced two fumbles, one of which where he ripped the ball away from running back Chris Carson for a Broncos takeaway.

Linebacker Todd Davis led Denver with eight tackles.

Following Sunday’s game, both teams head east as the Broncos travel to Baltimore to face the Ravens, while Oakland invades Miami for a matchup with the Dolphins.

Headline Sports with London Marq: Raiders might quit Oakland due to city’s lawsuit; 49ers just ran up against very good team in loss; Chair umpires call for boycott of Serena matches

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On the Headline Sports with London:

#1 The City of Oakland plan to sue the Oakland Raiders for financial impact loss to the city. The Raiders have said if the city continues with the suit, the team will pull up stakes and find a temporary site to play until their new stadium is ready.

#2 There was a lot of expectation on the Raiders on Monday night and a lot of hype on the return of head coach Jon Gruden and the trade of star Khalil Mack going into the regular season, but Oakland took a convincing 33-13 loss to the LA Rams on Monday night.

#3 How badly was the loss to the Minnesota Vikings for the San Francisco 49ers 24-16? Did Jimmy Garoppolo show promise despite the loss?

#4 Tennis chair umpires are calling for a boycott for future matches with Serena Williams. Tennis officials are upset due to the lack of support for chair umpire Carlos Ramos that umpires said Williams labeled Ramos a sexist, a thief, and owing Williams an apology for violation calls. But tennis chair umpires point to her unsportsmanship-like conduct in her U.S. Open match.

#5 Wild card races have the Oakland A’s and the New York Yankees most likely heading to a one-game playoff at the end of the regular season. The A’s have won five straight, but looking ahead-how do you see this one-game match up possibly in New York between the A’s and Yankees?

London Marq does the Sports Headlines each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco 49ers podcast with David Zizmor: How much of a let down will this loss be for Garoppolo going into Week 2?

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On the 49ers podcast with David:

#1 The perfect record of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo at seven straight NFL wins and five straight 49ers wins came to an end on Sunday with a 24-16. Talk about the pressure to win for Garoppolo and to keep that win streak going.

#2 Garoppolo was 15-33 for 261 yards, but three interceptions. What was the break down in Garoppolo’s game and how the interceptions play a role in being a monkey wrench in the 49ers’ offensive game?

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

Rams down Raiders 33-13 in season opener

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By Jeremy Kahn

OAKLAND — With a chance to show the whole nation that they were much improved, the Oakland Raiders took a big step back in their season opener.

Jared Goff found Cooper Kupp for an eight-yard touchdown pass as time expired in the third quarter, as the Los Angeles Rams came from a 13-10 halftime deficit to defeat the Raiders 33-13 before a crowd of 53,857 at the Coliseum on Monday night.

Things looked for the Raiders on their initial drive of the game, as Marshawn Lynch barraged his way into the end zone from 10-yards out to give the Raiders an early 7-0 lead.

Todd Gurley tied up the game with under 5:00 remaining in the quarter, as he took a Goff pass and scored from 19 yards out.

Newcomer Mike Nugent gave the Raiders a 10-7 lead, as he kicked a 24-yard field goal on the Raiders first series of the second quarter.

Greg Zuerlein tied up the game with a 20-yard field goal just one series after he missed a 46-yard field goal from where Jed Lowrie usually patrols second base for the Oakland A’s.

Nugent sent the Raiders into the locker room with a hard fought 13-10 lead, as he nailed a 48-yard field goal with just 10 seconds remaining in the first half.

Goff took the Rams down the field, but the Raiders’ defense was able to hold the Rams to a field goal, as Zuerlein kicked a 28-yard field goal on the first series of the third quarter for the Rams.

That third quarter was atrocious for the Raiders, as they gained just 17 yards in the quarter, while the Rams gained 147 yards.

It was the Goff touchdown pass to Kupp in the final seconds of the quarter that gave the Rams the lead for good.

Zuerlein got the Rams their next six points, as he kicked a 55-yard field goal and then a 20-yard field goal that pushed the lead up to 13 with just 3:15 remaining in the game.

Former McClymonds High School star Marcus Peters put the final touches on the game, as he returned a Derek Carr pass 50 yards to the end zone to give the Rams their final margin of victory.

Carr ended up going 29-for-40 for 303 yards passing and three interceptions, including the pick six to Peters that put the game away for the Rams.

Following the Lynch touchdown that got the Raiders on the board, he carried the ball just 10 more times for 31 yards to lead the Raiders rushing game.

With the Rams secondary of Peters and Aqib Talib held the Raiders wide receivers in check, as Amari Cooper caught just one pass for nine yards and Jordy Nelson caught three passes for 23 yards. With the duo of Cooper and Nelson being locked down by the Rams secondary, Carr was able to get the ball to Jared Cook, who caught nine passes for 180 yards, including a 45-yard pass from Carr on the Raiders third play of the game.

Bay Area native Goff, who played his college ball at CAL, went 18-for-33 for 233 yards and two touchdowns.

Gurley showed the entire country why he was named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year, as he carried the ball 20 times for 108 yards, and he also caught three passes for 39 yards and a touchdown.

The Raiders other achilles heel was penalties, as they committed 11 penalties for 155 yards, all but one of the penalties took place in the first half, where the Raiders were penalized 10 times for 145 yards.

NOTES: With the loss, all of the NFL’s new head coaches went a combined 0-7 in the first weekend of the season.

Two of the 10 Raiders penalties in the first half went for a combined 87 yards, as Rashaan Melvin was called for a 37-yard pass interference penalty and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was flagged for a 50-yard pass interference penalty. That was more penalty yard in any game during Jon Gruden’s four years with the Raiders from 1998-2001 and the most in the first half since at least Gruden’s third season of 2000, when the Raiders made it all the way to the AFC Championship Game, where they lost to the Baltimore Ravens 16-3.

Andrew DePaola was forced to leave the game in the first quarter, as he injured his knee and did not return to the game. Tight End Lee Smith came on to become the long snapper, and the Raiders kicked two field goals.

UP NEXT: The Raiders head out on the road for a two-game road trip that begins on Sunday against the Denver Broncos at Broncos Stadium at Mile High, and then the Raiders head to Miami to face the Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium on September 23. Their next home game will be on September 30 against the Cleveland Browns.

49ers Lose to Vikings 24-16; Fail Season Opening Test

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By: Joe Lami

Jimmy Garoppolo is no longer undefeated as a starter in the NFL, as the Minnesota Vikings outlasted the Niners 24-16.

Injuries, missed opportunities, bad timing, and turnovers from the 49ers assisted Kirk Cousins in his Viking’s debut. Minnesota’s new quarterback went 20-of-35 for 244 yards and two touchdowns.

He found success with Minnesota’s most dangerous targets, Adam Thielen and Dalvin Cook with each of them bringing down six catches. Thielen finished the day with 201 yards receiving, while Cook had 55 yards catching out of the backfield

Stefon Diggs and Kyle Rudolph each caught a touchdown. ‘

The 49ers are prepared to go into scramble mode thanks to injuries with several key pieces going down, including Marquise Goodwin, Joshua Garnett, and Mike Person.

Person and Garnett both went down with foot injuries, while Garnett’s appeared to be extremely serious needing a cart to assist him off the field from a non-contact play.

Goodwin attempted to return from his quad injury for the entirety of the game, as he was seen jogging and warming up on the sideline numerous times. Fortunately, the injury to Garcon seems to be the least severe of the three.

The Niners also missed opportunities the entire game. Pierre Garcon and George Kittle both had critical drops that would’ve led to touchdowns. Garcon was in the end zone, while Kittle’s was on a deep ball down the left sideline.

The drop ended up costing the Niners immediately, as Garoppolo threw his first of three interceptions. Rookie, Mike Hughes will remember his first interception for a long time, making a great play on the ball and jumping a Kenrick Bourne route for a pick 6 extending Minnesota’s lead to 17-3.

Earlier in the game, the Niners put together an eight-minute drive but once again the red zone offense completely shut down, eventually fumbling the ball on the one and giving the Vikings all of the momentum.

Despite everything that went wrong for the 49ers, they still hung in there until the very end. That is until Garoppolo started throwing interceptions, marking the first time in his career he’s thrown three in the same game. It just also happens to be his first loss as a starter.

San Francisco did have a few bright spots in all of the darkness. Tight end, George Kittle had five catches for 90 yards, though he’ll be remembered in this one for the wide-open drop.

Deforest Buckner appears to be an absolute beast in the pass rush. He was able to get to Cousin’s 2.5 times for sacks while recording 3 tackles for loss and seven total tackles.

Third round draft pick, Fred Warner not only was named a starter, but the linebacker was incredible. Having one of the best games out of any rookie, Warner started hot for the 49ers. In the first 20 minutes of the game, he recorded seven tackles and a forced fumble that Richard Sherman eventually fell on. He finished with 12 combined tackles, a tackle for loss, a pass deflection, and a forced fumble.

Sunday was a great measuring stick for the 49ers. Going up against one of the best defenses in the league and a team that made it to the conference championship game last year proves what this team is all about.

Kyle Shanahan was not kidding when he said that this team can go out and have a legit chance to win any game they play this season. We’ll see if they can finally strike gold at Levi’s next Sunday against the Lions at 1:05 pm PDT.

Oakland Raiders podcast with Joe Hawkes Beamon: Raiders on primetime show on Monday Night, but will it be all about Mack?

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On the Oakland Raiders podcast with Joe:

#1 Regular season kicks off on primetime TV in Oakland. The Los Angeles Rams pay a visit to the Oakland Raiders the prelude to this game. Is the anticipation of the deal to send Khalil Mack to Chicago and much discussion expected on national TV?

#2 You try and watch the opener on Monday Night Football, but not only Mack dominates the telecast, but also the discussion. How it might turn on how the Raiders made a mistake on dealing Mack and how the Raiders very well might not make postseason without their superstar player?

#3 Mack amassed 40.5 sacks, but the Raiders still finished 24th in the league in defense. Will the Raiders sink further now without Mack?

#4 What about the fans? Raider Nation isn’t taking this well at all. Has the Raiders’ front office been hit with emails, comments and messages since the deal went down?

#5 Can this team focus and can they get their best player out of their head on Monday Night Football?

Joe Hawkes Beamon writes a weekly preview on Raiders football each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com