AFC West

Sporting News, The, Dec 20, 1999

Last year's success has eluded Raiders defense

After making a remarkable turnaround from the league's 30th-ranked defense in 1997 to No. 5 last season, there was every reason to believe that if the Raiders stayed healthy this year they would again have one of the NFL's best defenses. It was Year 2 of coordinator Willie Shaw's system, and the same cast of characters was in place. That includes third-year tackle Darrell Russell and second-year corner Charles Woodson, two of the league's best players at their positions.

But something is missing from the Oakland defense this year, whether it's a chemistry thing or the fact that some of the players are getting a little long in the tooth (seven starters are 30 or older). The only new starter is strongside rookie linebacker Sam Sword, who replaced the inconsistent K.D. Williams, who replaced the ineffective James Folston. The only key injury has been to safety Eric Turner, but the team's offseason acquisition of veteran Charles Mincy has compensated for Turner's absence.

Even worse than muddling around the middle of the league's defensive rankings, the Raiders have allowed several drives late in games that resulted in game-winning or game-tying scores. Three times they have failed to hold double-digit, second-half leads. "We just keep doing things to shoot ourselves in the foot," Woodson says. "We'd have a lot more wins if we played the way we're supposed to play all the time."

With the Raiders virtually guaranteed to be watching the playoffs from their sofas for the sixth straight year, there will be some considerable tinkering with the defense in the offseason. Expect the Raiders to try to upgrade at safety and linebacker. They will be looking for younger, faster guys who are playmakers instead of merely competent players. They need them. --Dave Williams

Denver

4-8: 5th (Monday game)

Griese has answered most of Shanahan's questions

The biggest questions about QB Brian Griese have concerned his athletic talent Few question his intelligence or poise, but criticism about his arm strength and lack of mobility has dogged him since the Broncos drafted him in 1998. Mike Shanahan has addressed those questions, saying essentially that Griese has more than enough to get the job done. The coach acknowledges that when it comes to winging the ball downfield, Griese can't compete with the likes of John Elway or Brett Favre. But Shanahan thinks Griese's velocity and accuracy mirror those of four-time Super Bowl champion Joe Montana.... Remember rookie CB/KR Chris Watson? He wowed everyone during the preseason and early in the regular season but has disappeared as an impact player. He's still one of the top-ranked kickoff returners in the AFC, but he's averaging only 5.6 yards per punt return. Rather than running straight upfield, he has developed happy feet.

SCOUTING REPORT: OLB Bill Romanowski has a nasty reputation, and he wouldn't have it any other way. Getting inside opponents' heads is all part of his plan. So is his fanatical fitness routine. So is using his helmet as a weapon when tackling, even if it means getting fined. Romanowski set a personal best with 7 1/2 sacks last season but has none this year. That doesn't mean he's slowing down. When John Mobley went out early in '99 with a knee injury, Romanowski had to concentrate more on pass coverage. In his 12th season, he is actually quicker than he was when he joined the Broncos in 1996. He also is incredibly durable, having not missed a game. He owns four Super Bowl rings--two with San Francisco and two with Denver. He's not the biggest, fastest or most athletic linebacker in the NFL, just one of the most effective. Romanowski, 33, says he wants to play until he's 39 or 40. He just might make it.

SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: LT Tony Jones, the team's best pass blocker, is a giant at 6-5, 291. Yet when he moves backward to intercept a pass rusher, he does so with the grace of a ballerina. But there's more to pass-blocking than good feet. He also owns a video library of all his opponents, which he uses before each game, and experiments with different tactics against different foes. For example, he tries to turn Derrick Thomas' speed against him. He tries to direct the Chiefs' pass rusher in a certain direction and let Thomas' own momentum take him out of the play. --Patrick Saunders

GRADING OUT season to date

OFFENSE D

Injuries, fourth-quarter failures, turnovers and pedestrian game plans.

DEFENSE B-

The stats have been good, effort is there, but the big plays have been missing.

SPECIAL TEAMS C-

Elam has been great, but coverage breakdowns have cost two games.

COACHING D

Shanahan blew it by going with Griese. Now he must regain his team's trust.

BRONCOS

PASSING         Att.   Comp.    Pct.    Yds.   Long

Griese           304     175    57.6    2195     88
C. Miller         81      46    56.8     527     42

PASSING           TD   Int.     Rate   Sacks

Griese             9      9     77.7      19
C. Miller          2      1     79.6       7

RUSHING         Att.    Yds.    Avg.      TD

Gary             187     686     3.7       5
Davis             67     211     3.1       2
Loville           25     152     6.1       1

RECEIVING        No.    Yds.    Avg.      TD

R. Smith          53     716    13.5       2
McCaffrey         49     798    16.3       7
Chamberlain       23     346    15.0       1
Sharpe            23     224     9.7       0

SCORING          XPM     XPA     FGM     FGA   Pts.

Elam              21      21      22      27    87

PUNTING          No.    Yds.    Avg.    Blk.

Rouen             62    2893    46.7       0

KO RETURNS       No.    Yds.    Avg.      TD

Watson            38     939    24.7       0

PUNT RETURNS     No.    Yds.    Avg.      TD

Watson            27     154     5.7       0