Season-ending, positivity-inducing game balls go to…

By Os Davis  |   Monday, December 29, 2008  |  Comments( 23 )

Oakland Raiders
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Congratulations first of all to the Oakland Raiders for Sunday's fan-pleasing win over the once-prospective playoff Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Not only does Oakland finish a rarely pretty 2008 campaign on a two-game win streak, but the team now seems next to assured of an experienced head coach for next year in Tom Cable. And, um, that’s a good thing, right?

(Leaving that matter of debate for the future...)

As the Raiders ride off into the sunset with at least a modicum of optimism for 2009 if not exactly on a high, RealFootball365.com awards a few Oaklanders with the Week 17 game balls and perhaps a glimpse into the near future.

Offense. If the pundits and blogosphere had generally known Os Davis’ fantasy team had started both Darren McFadden and Justin Fargas in its Week 17 matchup, Michael Bush’s career day probably would have come as no surprise. Picking on smaller run defenses is something the Raiders should have been doing all season long. Armed with a top-10 rushing attack, this three-headed monster is designed to do exactly what Bush did to the Bucs while McFadden is given the opportunity to line up anywhere potentially confusing – again, McFadden may someday go down as the guy Reggie Bush might have been. Game ball to Oakland’s own Bush, who should be snatching the No. 2 back designation from Fargas in 2009.

Let JaMarcus Russell have one, too; though just 22 of 57 plays called for the pass in another ultraconservative Cable game plan, Russell still managed a sweet 66.6 percent completion rate, accuracy sorely needed to be seen from this stud of a specimen. Russell showed some nice intangible leader qualities, too, on the purposeful 66-yard touchdown-scoring drive in the fourth quarter. Where was this guy all year? And who know Johnnie Lee Higgins – game ball for him, too – was a viable fantasy option on offense?

Defense. Most stunning about the Raider ‘D’ this week? No Nnamdi Asomugha versus a deadly accurate pass offense on the other side resulting in ... a classic bend-but-don’t-break victory. Huge kudos for Kirk Morrison, who contributed a dominating, peak Urlacher-esque performance to foil the best laid plans of Jon Gruden and Jeff Garcia. Though Oakland rarely brought the blitz – quite a changeover in recent weeks from an often agro defense – the Raider stop unit was able to stymie the clever and adaptable Garcia with good coverage over the top. And without Asomugha. (Not to mention DeAngelo Hall, eh?) Game ball for all, but particularly Morrison.

Special teams. Interestingly enough, the Raiders’ strong suit in 2008 produced none too much in Week 17; key addition Justin Miller even muffed one return. As always, however, the feet were golden. Sebastian Janikowski turned in a perfect game, while Shane Lechler essentially won the field-position battle for Oakland single-handedly (footedly?) with his lofty punts, the most successful of which went for 69 yards, while two others landed inside the 20. Lechler’s rewards? The virtual game ball, a Pro Bowl bid, and service as a living reason why Ray Guy needs to be enshrined in Canton’s halls in 2009. Game ball.

So as the Raider Nation closes the book on a turbulent and frustrating season, the Bushes and Morrisons and Lechlers of the world infuse a little positivity into the mix – is that light at the end of the tunnel? It may yet be. One can only hope that Mr. Cable really knows how to drive this thing...
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About Os Davis

Os Davis has taken a twisted route to get to RealFootball365.com in his nearly 17 years in professional writing, working in any number of capacities in the sportswriting, news reporting and film criticism worlds. In print media, Os has served as editor at a few publications, including Albuquerque's ...
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