Fundementals,fundementals....fundementals

[Maxfly]

Tarver excited about the defense’s improvement





The offensive coordinator Greg Knapp tried to explain some of the problems the Raiders are having scoring this season and on 3rd down last week, defensive coordinator Jason Tarver was fired up about his defense, He even talked directly to Raiders fans through the media at times on Thursday.

“I’ve been excited about the way that we’ve been playing,” Tarver said. “We’ve been using our hands and shedding, a lot of things that I’ve talked to you guys about and talked to the Nation about the last few weeks. We need to continue to do that. We’ve got one more opportunity to do that against a division rival. So using our hands, getting off of blocks, shedding tackles, those are the things that we’re starting to do at a better level.

“We’re excited for this opportunity to play in front of a lot of our great Raider Nation fans down in Southern California.”

After getting torched most of the season, the Raiders defense has allowed only 17 points and 390 yards of total offense to Kansas City and Carolina the last two weeks. Oakland held two pretty good running teams to a combined 122 yards rushing and also had six sacks and two interceptions.

Tarver said there will definitely be a carryover effect to next season.

“Oh yeah, there will be great carryover,” he said. “Most of it is the attention to detail – how the guys are growing together, playing together and learning how to make the calls work, regardless of what the offense does, and the way in which we play. That’s what we’re excited about is the way in which we play – shedding blocks, using our hands, swarming the football – that’s what great defenses do.

“Are we there yet? No, but we’re getting better at turning bad things into good and then you turn good into great, but you have to go to good first and then you turn it into great.”

Overall, the Raiders are 21st in total defense (364 yards) in a year in which both their starting cornerbacks got hurt, defensive tackle Richard Seymour missed seven games (will be eight Sunday) with a hamstring injury and middle linebacker Rolando McClain was banished to the scout team.

“When I talk to the guys, when we talk, it’s finish the down unblocked,” said Tarver, who, in his first year with coach Dennis Allen and the Raiders, makes the calls on defense. “Sometimes the guy is going to get on you because they’re big, most of them or they’re little and fast because that’s how you live in the NFL, but finish the down unblocked, use your hands, get off of blocks, the basics are defensive football.

“Then when you take that, combined with using your rules of the calls, that’s when you start to play better defense. Again, that’s what I’m proud of them for. We’ve got one more opportunity this year and we need to do that.”

[fishedz]

This is why you keep Tarver. Don't get me wrong, weve given up a ton of points, but we are much improved. Add to the fact our secondary has been trashed all year, the DTiva's playing like crap, and McClain's debacle, their ranking is surprising. For all the bad games, they have really good ones and NO offense to keep them off the field... Just wait till we get some play makers and smarter players....

[Maxfly]

This is why you keep Tarver. Don't get me wrong, weve given up a ton of points, but we are much improved. Add to the fact our secondary has been trashed all year, the DTiva's playing like crap, and McClain's debacle, their ranking is surprising. For all the bad games, they have really good ones and NO offense to keep them off the field... Just wait till we get some play makers and smarter players....

I believe in players becoming students of their positions and that can only happen when you have a coach that teaches first and coaches second. In order to do something you have to know why and Tarver seems to be implimenting that train of thought,I think the most telling statement he made was "finish the down unblocked" keep working ,carrying this into next season will be huge and the players will benefit when they see the results first hand.

[fishedz]

Teaching is the most important aspect... Our carousel as of late lacks discipline and development. Even if DA is not a great coach, the discipline he brings with Tarver will help this organization get on the right track and we rebuild the pirate ship.

[Snake Plissken]

Continuity wins.

[NavajoRaiderfan]

Our coaching sucks.

Enough with the excuses.

[fishedz]

Our players suck.

Enough with the excuses.

***fixed***

[bigjunior559]

Lol ^this^

[Maxfly]

Our coaching sucks.

Enough with the excuses.

Excuses....No!.....facts....Yes!

[midwestlaker75]

Continuity, Preparation, Repitition and Hard Work will always produce an eventual winner.

One thing we must remember: Championships are not bought, They are built. This is just a step in the building process. Just like when you are building something you must evaluate your materials and adjust accordingly.

[Raiderwood]

How many times did we say in pre-season.. if we have a too 20 defense with our offense were going to the playoffs... unfortunately we have no offense but the D is definitely improving with a bunch of no names.. thats all coaching.. keep tarver, lose knapp abd upgrade our talent

[carolinaraider]

Is this guy joking...are we getting punked? What is this dude seeing that we've missed on Sundays? He's horrible, him and Allen are supposed to be defensive specialist, yet what I saw the entire season was a team that couldn't beat the Browns, Dolphins, and Tampa!!! The Browns for crying out loud...with Weeden, a rookie QB at the helm! WTF are you smoking dude, we suck more than I even care to get into detail with.

Please Mark, fire everyone and just start fresh with seasoned coaches that will get this ship back on track. These guys are learning on the job and losing players and fans as they, " lose along."

I hear the continuity, but these guys are not the ones that we need sticking around ala Norv Turner with San Diego and getting us nowhere.

I have seen no improvement the entire year...tell me Allen supporters, what area of this team improved enough to keep these jokers? And using the Chiefs and Panthers as stats is a joke by the way.

Jesus, just get some real coaches that have actually coached in the NFl and know what the hell they're doing.

[Maxfly]

Is this guy joking...are we getting punked? What is this dude seeing that we've missed on Sundays? He's horrible, him and Allen are supposed to be defensive specialist, yet what I saw the entire season was a team that couldn't beat the Browns, Dolphins, and Tampa!!! The Browns for crying out loud...with Weeden, a rookie QB at the helm! WTF are you smoking dude, we suck more than I even care to get into detail with.

Please Mark, fire everyone and just start fresh with seasoned coaches that will get this ship back on track. These guys are learning on the job and losing players and fans as they, " lose along."

I hear the continuity, but these guys are not the ones that we need sticking around ala Norv Turner with San Diego and getting us nowhere.

I have seen no improvement the entire year...tell me Allen supporters, what area of this team improved enough to keep these jokers? And using the Chiefs and Panthers as stats is a joke by the way.

Jesus, just get some real coaches that have actually coached in the NFl and know what the hell they're doing.

You've made up your mind ......don't want to confuse with facts!

[NavajoRaiderfan]

Using hands....shedding blocks. Why didn't that occur to the team nine months ago?

What playoff caliber coach is coaching that stuff in week 17?

[Snake Plissken]

Using hands....shedding blocks. Why didn't that occur to the team nine months ago?

What playoff caliber coach is coaching that stuff in week 17?

What are you talking about, those kinds of fundementals have been absent for decades on Raider gamedays.