Drew Brees and the Saints Dominate Oakland

“Obviously we have some work to do.”--Raider Head Coach Hue Jackson

By Barbara Mason 8/21/11
Raiderdrive.com/Bay Area Sports Drive

Sunday evening the Oakland Raiders took on the former Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints in Oakland.  This was the third pre-season game for both teams as they draw closer to the start of the 2011 season. 

This all-important third pre-season game will help determine who stays and who goes; who will be turning in their play books and who will be preparing for the season opener in Denver.  One more game remains as players fight for those cherished spots on that final roster. 

In the games’ opening drive, quarterback Drew Brees does what he does best and that is effortlessly move his team downfield for a 7-0 lead early in the opening quarter.  The Raiders answered thanks in part to the solid running of #29 RB Michael Bush and the arm of quarterback #8 Jason Campbell.  It was #6 WR Derick Hagan who found the end zone to tie up the game at 7.  The Saints second drive resulted in their second touchdown of the day taking back the lead 14-7.  This score would close out the first quarter. 

The Saints were able to stop Oakland in the opening minutes of the second quarter going back on offense.  The Raiders kept the Saints out of the end zone forcing a field goal for a New Orleans lead 17-7 mid-way through the quarter.  As the second quarter began to wind down, Sebastian Janikowski kicked a 57 yard field goal closing the gap 17-10 in favor of the Saints.  In the final minutes of the second quarter Oakland once again held the Saints.  This gave the Raiders a little under two minutes with 2 timeouts left and a chance to tie up the game.  When it looked as if Oakland was about to square up this game, the Saints picked off a Campbell pass in the end zone.  The Saints took that 17-10 lead into the locker room at the half.

Oakland would tie up the game in the third quarter when #36 Taiwan Jones rushed for 22 yards and the touchdown.  The Raiders would later take a 20-17 lead, their first in the game, off a 39 yard Janikoswski kick.  That lead was short-lived as the Saints marched downfield to take back the lead when quarterback Chase Daniels found #84 Troy Humphrey for three yards and their third touchdown of the game and a 24-20 lead.   The Saints were not finished, scoring one more time in the third quarter when #20 Joique Bell rushed up the center for one yard and the score.   A successful two-point conversion extended that lead to 32-20.

A fumble recovery by New Orleans’ #93 Junior Galette early in the fourth quarter threatened to put this game away in favor of the Saints.  That recovery set up a Daniels pass to #87 Adrian Arrington for a 39 yard strike and a 40-20 lead which would be the final.

With 514 total yards the Saints clearly dominated this game as Oakland struggled on defense.  “Obviously we have some work to do,” said Head Coach Hue Jackson after the game.  “We’ll do the work and get it done,” he said.  On the other hand, he was happy with the offense as Jason Campbell had ample time to throw and Michael Bush was more than effective on the run.  Wide receiver Derek Hagan had a solid game with 6 catches for 121 yards.

DT Richard Seymour, RB Darren McFadden and WR Jacoby Ford all sat out with injury.

The Raiders will take on the Seattle Seahawks Friday night Sept 2 in Seattle for their final pre-season game.

Enhanced Security Improves Game Day Experience

“There are two events on game day.--Jeffrey Miller Head of NFL Security

By Barbara Mason 8/28/11
Raiderdrive.com/Bay Area Sports Drive

The NFL takes game security very seriously and in the aftermath of last week’s events at the Raider 49er game jumped into action immediately putting together a plan that will effectively put a stop to any future altercations.  As Head of NFL Security Jeffrey Miller explained during half-time at the Oakland-Saints game, “there are two events on game day.”  The first of those two events are of course the tailgate parties in the parking lot and the second being the game itself.

The 49ers took immediate action putting a stop to all tail-gate celebrating once the game begins in the hopes of as Miller put it, “sweeping the parking lot.”  It is still not known if the perpetrators in last week’s shootings were even at the game at all or just trouble-makers perusing the parking lot.  Miller explained that in the past three years security has made vast improvements in Raider home game fan safety greatly elevating the “game day” experience for everyone.  San Francisco is just now putting into effect policies that have been in Oakland for years now with a great deal of success.

It is the hopes of the NFL that improved security will bring back those fans who have decided to just stay at home to watch the game and either sell or give away their tickets.   This family fun event has been greatly affected by this rash of violence, and team owners, local police, private security and the NFL are working to right this wrong that has hurt the game and their fans.  “I think what happened last week (in reference to the 49er Raider game) is not a reflection on real football fans or folks that follow either of the teams.  I think they were people that were engaged in criminal activity and they are thugs,” said Miller.  While not saying that Oakland provided the model of what is now in place in San Francisco he did say that a lot was learned in Oakland from working with the fans and creating the policies that are now in place.

The NFL does receive security reports from every game across the nation grading each team at the end of the season.  This enhanced security should go far in renewing the confidence once held by fans who bring their families to games.  That confidence was understandably shattered in light of the altercations at Candlestick.   The policies now in place will hopefully bring back the heart and spirit, and the reliance and belief in fan safety on game day.