Oakland Raiders – 2012 Season Studs

[blazin1]

Through a difficult 2012 season, most players and coaches have had up and down performances in different games. Some have had more ups, some have had more downs, but all have made a difference, positive or negative as to how this year turned out.

So let’s have a look at the top and bottom individual performances of the year over the next two articles...

Studs.

Lamarr Houston DE – After starting the season fairly quietly, Houston finished it playing lights out football. On week 17 he had 13 tackles and 1.5 sacks. His performance against Jacksonville in week seven was also outstanding, and he constantly pressured the quarterback and made a number of plays behind the line. He has showed he is a capable pass rusher, and an outstanding run defender. He is even versatile enough to have been be used in coverage on a number of plays (24), and held his own. Houston’s motor just runs and runs, and this season he took over from Richard Seymour as the leader of the Raiders defensive line. Houston is a real star for the future.

Jared Veldheer LT – Veldheer has become the player the Raiders drafted him to be, and now belongs in the top group of tackles in the league. In two games this season against the Chiefs, he allowed a combined two pressures to one of the league’s best pass rushers in Tamba Hali, and completely shut out Elvis Dumervil in the week 14 meeting against Denver. The lone bad game Veldheer had this year was against Atlanta, where he struggled to defend John Abraham. He is a solid run blocker, but makes his living protecting Palmer’s blind side.

Desmond Bryant DT – The unsung hero of the Raiders defense, his presence in the middle of the line made the loss of Richard Seymour to injury less devastating. Like Lamarr Houston, Bryant finished strong, with a sack in each of last four games. He has shown a real talent in rushing the passer, often creating pressure even through a double team. Bryant has shown that he is a genuine starting tackle in the NFL since coming undrafted out of Harvard, and Oakland needs to sign him to a long term contract to solidify the middle of the defensive line.

Carson Palmer QB – Palmer quite simply was the Raiders offense this season, and became the second Oakland quarterback to pass for over 4000 yards. He came in for some harsh criticism through the season, but ask yourself, what did he have to work with under Greg Knapp’s offense?

Sebastian Janikowski K – Seabass kicked 31 of 34 field goals, and didn't miss from under 50 yards. Two of his three misses were from over 60 yards, and it doesn't get much better than that as a kicker. Janikowski is as good as he ever was.

Stefan Wisniewski C – After a slow start to the season due to surgery on an injured shoulder (he missed the first game and all training camp, and had a rough game against Miami on week 2), young Wiz was solid all year. What stood out on tape was his intelligence and pass blocking. Through 15 games he did not allow a sack, and gave up only three hits and five pressures. In seven games he was perfect in pass protection. Together with Veldheer, he provides the rock on which Oakland will build it’s offensive line.

Marcel Reece FB – Reece is the most talented fullback in professional football. His blocking has vastly improved this year, and his ability to create mismatches in the passing game is unique. Anyone who is fast enough to cover him is simply too small to make the tackle. Reece has also stepped in made a big contribution when Darren McFadden and Mike Goodson went down injured. In week seven against the Saints, he carried 19 times for 103 yards, and also caught four passes for 90 yards. Over the season, he finished second on the team in both rushing (59 carries – 271 yards), and receiving (52 receptions – 496 yards). Clearly underused by former (hurrah…) Offensive Coordinator Greg Knapp.

Mike Goodson RB – After looking just awful in pre-season, Goodson was a keeper, finishing with 233 yards at 6.3 yards per carry. He also caught 16 passes for 195 yards, including a 64 yard catch. In week 15 against the Chiefs, with Darren McFadden injured, he carried 13 times for 89 yards, and was a major factor in the win. In short Goodson did everything that was asked of him, and did it well. In all areas he clearly outperformed McFadden, the Raiders star player.

Philip Wheeler LB – Wheeler came in as a free agent from the Colts, and immediately made an impact. He led the team in tackles (109), adding 3.0 sacks, 14 quarterback hits and 13 hurries. He provided consistent linebacker play, covering well and making form tackles in space. A true three down player who can contribute in every phase of the game. He was clearly the best linebacker on this unit, and deserves to be signed to a long term contract.

Miles Burris LB – A player drafted at the end of the fourth round doesn’t expect to be thrown into the starting line-up straight away, but that is what happened to Burris. He ended the year second on the team in tackles (96), and had 1.5 sacks and an interception. He made some amazing tackles behind the line of scrimmage, although as the season went on began to miss a few tackles too. By week six he had unseated Rolando McClain as the second linebacker in the nickel package, and showed he was a keeper. My memory of him this season was in a goal line stand against the Falcons, taking on and shedding a block from left tackle Sam Baker, and then dropping Michael Turner for no gain. Consistency must be improved next year, but this was a great year from the rookie.

Rod Streater WR. After going undrafted out of Temple, Streater finished the season with 39 receptions for 589 yards and three touchdowns. More than that, as the season went on, he showed he was the best receiver the Raiders had, and became a favorite of Carson Palmer over Denarius Moore or Darrius Heyward Bey.

Tweener – Brandon Myers TE. How many writers have focused only on Myers 79 catches for 806 yards, and not looked at the rest of his game? Those stats were good, and important to the team, but Myers has been a simply shocking run blocker all year. He has been continually overpowered by defenders and one of the reasons that the run game has struggled this year. Neither is he a deep threat. Myers is a reliable short to medium threat in the passing game, that’s all he brings. I can’t put him in either the studs or duds category, but he certainly needs a mention.

I wil be back later in the week with part II of this article listing the 'Dud's for the Raiders this season.

Until then, let me know what you think Raider Nation!

LINK: http://raidernationtimes.com/article.php?id=9536

[DeadRinger]

We'd better get Wheeler and Bryant back next year.