Tag: Robert Spillane

Raiders PFF grades: 5 highest rated Week 11 vs. Dolphins

The Raiders lost their sixth straight game on Sunday against the Dolphins. Which players had a good day despite the defeat?

The Raiders lost again on Sunday, this time against the Dolphins. Despite the defeat, many NFL observers were talking about Las Vegas’ rookie sensation, tight end Brock Bowers.

But Bowers’ 13 catches for 126 yards and touchdown weren’t enough to top this week’s list of top-rated players from Pro Football Focus. That honor goes to linebacker Robert Spillane. He recorded 11 total tackles, including five solo stops. They added up to an 81.5 grade from PFF. Bowers has to settle for the No. 2 spot with an 80.7 score.

Offensive tackle Kolton Miller and defensive linemen Charles Snowden and John Jenkins fill out this week’s list.

Bowers didn’t earn the Raiders top grade this week but as this season crosses the midway point, it’s clear that he’s not a future superstar; he’s a superstar right now. New offensive coordinator Scott Turner used Bowers as his primary weapon on Sunday in Miami and will likely continue to do so, so look for Bowers to be on this list most weeks, if not every week for the rest of the campaign.

Busters for Raiders Week 9 loss to Bengals

Those who had the roughest outing in the Raiders big loss in Cincinnati.

Over a ten minute stretch from the end of the second quarter to midway through the third quarter, the Bengals left the Raiders in the dust. What was a 10-10 tie because a 31-10 Bengals lead and they pretty much never looked back. Next thing you knew it, it was a 41-17 game and coaches’ heads were rolling before the night was up.

Busters

LB Divine Deablo

Tight ends have been gouging the Raiders of late. Opponents are realizing that’s one of their weaknesses and they’re exploiting it. Mike Gesicki alone had five catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns.

Often times it was Deablo who they went after for those catches. But that wasn’t the only area Deablo struggled in this one.

The Bengals’ first drive went for a touchdown. At one point, on three consecutive plays, Deablo gave up either the catch or run for 27 yards to put them at the Vegas 33. The second TD drive came in the final three minutes of the first half and it was Deablo who gave up the TD catch from ten yards out.

First drive of the third quarter saw the Bengals drive for another TD. Deablo missed a tackle on a 21-yard run early in the drive, then in first and goal at the seven, he was out of position on a five yard run, and two plays later gave up another touchdown catch.

LB Robert Spillane

Kudos to him for playing through his injury, but he doesn’t look right out there. Just like last week, he’s still making some tackles. They’re just several yards down the field. And he’s having more troubling fighting through blocks and cutting quickly.

The Bengals’ second scoring drive, he gave up the two biggest plays on the drive — an 18-yard catch and a 12-yard catch and run where he missed the tackle. Then the first play of the third quarter, he had Joe Burrow dead to rights on the blitz and missed the tackle to give up an 11-yard scramble instead.

He finished with seven combine tackles, which was his second lowest total of the season and had just one solo tackle.

WR DJ Turner

Even with the Bengals scoring to end the first half and to begin the third quarter, it was still a two-score game. Then Turner lined up in the backfield to take the handoff and fumbled it. The Bengals recovered it at the Vegas 21 and drive for another touchdown. Dagger.

T Thayer Munford

What Troy Hendrickson did to him in this game was sickening. Henderickson finished the game with a single game career -high four sacks. And three of those came from the left side while Munford was in the game.

It may be considered cruel to call Munford out considering he was pressed into left tackle duties after Kolton Miller and Andrus Peat both went down with injuries. But, I am not here to give consideration to such things. He got embarrassed in this one. Enough so that you realize why he is the third string left tackle and not the primary backup. We’re talking about the season opening starting right tackle here too.

HC Antonio Pierce, OC Luke Getsy, DC Patrick Graham

No coach is safe from criticism here. And not just because it was a bad game and we’re spreading around blame liberally. But because they each had their very specific issues.

The offense once again dried up after the opening drive. Just a few days after Getsy took exception to the term “scripted drive”. And probably about the time the Raiders plane landed in Vegas, he was no long employed by them.

Even still, the Raiders were down just one score in the final seconds of the first half and driving. But in third and four from the 48, after Getsy called a doomed screen, they are in prime position to go for it on fourth down. Just 17 seconds left and about five yards away from Daniel Carlson field goal range. Instead Pierce showed no aggressive and a complete lack of faith in his offense and his defense by sending out the punt team. There was nothing to gain from that decision and almost everything to lose.

If you are worried you won’t make it and the Bengals would drive into field goal range, then you think they can just easily to that anyway, so what’s even the point? Otherwise, you just go down fighting. You don’t give up. Before halftime, the Raiders gave up.

As for Graham and this defense…the Bengals scored on every one of their first five possessions; four of which were touchdowns. And far too many times, there were wide open receivers. Whether it be backs squirting out of the backfield with no one around, tight ends finding huge soft spots in the zone, or running backs finding gaping holes for chunk plays. This defense is a shell of what it looked like when it found inspiration late last season.

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Will Dylan Parham, Robert Spillane play today for Raiders vs Bengals?

Raiders inactives for their Week nine game against the Bengals

The inactives are out ahead of the Raiders Week nine game against the Bengals and two key names are not among them.

Both RG Dylan Parham and LB Robert Spillane are active for today’s game, which means both are expected to start.

Parham has missed the past two weeks with a foot injury. He was replaced at right guard by Jordan Meredith. Parham should step back into his starting role today.

Spillane had injured his knee last Sunday and missed the entire week of practices. Head coach Antonio Pierce said he would be a game time decision. He’s apparently been cleared and should start at his usual middle linebacker spot where he’s missed just one play all season.

Among the inactives is starting center Andre James who was ruled OUT on the team’s final injury report. He will be replaced at center by rookie Jackson Powers-Johnson.

Raiders vs Bengals final injury report: Latest updates, news for Week 9

All the latest updates and news on TEAMA’s injury report ahead of a Week X game vs. TEAMB.

The final injury report for the Raiders and Bengals for their Week 9 matchup is out. With it, the Raiders have one player OUT and three others whose status is Questionable.

Raiders, Bengals injury report

Andre James injury update

James has been ruled OUT with an ankle injury. He will be replaced at center by Jackson Powers-Johnson.

Dylan Parham injury update

Parham is Questionable to miss his third straight game with a foot injury. Jordan Meredith has replaced him at right guard in each of the past two games.

Robert Spillane injury update

Spillane is Questionable with a knee injury with Antonio Pierce saying he will be a game time decision. If he can’t go, Tommy Eichenberg would most likely start at middle linebacker.

Zamir White injury update

White returned to practice Friday after missing Thursday’s practice. He is officially Questionable. Alexander Mattison is expected to get the bulk of the carries regardless, but the team has said they would like to get White going if he’s healthy.

Will Robert Spillane play this week? Injury updates for Raiders LB

Raiders LB Robert Spillane missed all week of practice with a knee injury. Here are the latest updates.

Last Sunday Robert Spillane played through a knee injury he suffered on the team’s first drive. At the time he injured it, it looked pretty serious. Enough so that Spillane needed to be helped off the field, putting no weight on his right knee.

Much to the surprise of his coaches, Spillane came back in for the next drive and played the rest of the way. But that didn’t mean he was necessarily out of the woods.

Robert Spillane injury update

Spillane missed all week of practices and Antonio Pierce said he will be a game time decision, adding “knowing Robert, he’ll play.”

That’s a vote of confidence, but far from a certainly. Because there’s only so much mind over matter a player can have. Many times you can’t just decide an injury doesn’t exist and tough it out.

Raiders LB depth chart

Next man up if Spillane is unable to go is rookie Tommy Eichenberg, who they drafted in the fifth round in part because he reminded them a lot of Spillane.

Raiders vs Bengals injury report: Latest updates, news for Week 9

All the latest updates and news on Raiders injury report ahead of a Week 9 game vs. Bengals

Thursday can be a good litmus test for the week’s injury situations. If only to see which players may have gotten rest days or were being eased into things.

Raiders, Bengals injury report

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Andre James injury update

James missed practice again Thursday as he is dealing with an ankle injury. If he can’t go, he will be replaced by rookie Jackson Powers-Johnson

Dylan Parham injury update

Parham was still limited, but the fact that he’s practicing at all opens up the possibility he could return after missing the past two weeks. He was replaced by Jordan Meredith and that would continue if he is not healthy enough to return this week.

Robert Spillane injury update

Spillane missed another practice as he deals with the knee injury he sustained early in the team’s loss over the Chiefs last Sunday. He played the remainder of the game and head coach Antonio Pierce insisted he won’t miss any time.

Zamir White injury update

White was downgraded to missing practice Thursday, putting his status in doubt for the game.

Raiders vs Bengals injury report: Latest updates, news for Week 9

All the latest updates and news on Raiders injury report ahead of a Week 9 game vs. Bengals

The first Week nine injury report for the Raiders and Bengals is out.

Raiders, Bengals injury report

Andre James injury update

James missed Wednesday’s practice with an ankle injury. The starting center injured his ankle late in Sunday’s game against the Chiefs and didn’t return. He was replaced at center by Jackson Powers-Johnson.

Robert Spillane injury update

Spillane missed Wednesday’s practice with a knee injury. He injure it on the Chiefs’ first drive last Sunday, but missed just one snap. Antonio Pierce said he doesn’t anticipate Spillane will miss any games as a result.

Dylan Parham injury update

Parham returned to practice Wednesday for the first time since injuring his foot three weeks ago. While he was away, Jordan Meredith replaced him at right guard. He was limited in practice.

Harrison Bryant injury update

Bryant returned to practice for the first time since injuring his elbow two weeks ago against the Rams. He was Questionable last week despite not practicing all week, so his return Wednesday would seem to open up the possibility that he plays this week.

Raiders were stunned Robert Spillane returned from injury ‘we all thought he was done’

Early in the team’s loss to the Chiefs, Robert Spillane was helped off the field in what looked like a serious injury. Apparently not for him.

With the Chiefs at the goal line on their first drive, looking to score, the Raiders got what looked at the time like the worst news. Middle linebacker Robert Spillane was down on the field in pain. Then he required assistance from two trainers to help him off the field, putting no weight on his right ankle.

Spillane immediately went into the media tent, missing the ensuing play in which the Chiefs punched it in for the score. And with the prospect of the Raiders losing their leading tackler and QB of the defense, those kinds of plays figured to be even more frequent.

“I went to him right after he got out of the tent and asked him — I thought what we all thought, that he was done,” said Antonio Pierce. “he said ‘No, I’m fine. I’ll go out there.’ It was just, I think, one of those things that scared him.

That goal line snap would end up being the only snap he missed in the game and he went on to put up 12 tackles, again leading the team. And Pierce said there’s no plans to rest him for any games.

“He’s a linebacker,” Pierce added. “He’s got a lot going on. This is a contract year for him, he’s a warrior, he loves ball, he loves being a leader, he’s a captain. . . Between him and Maxx [Crosby], you can’t pull those two guys off the field. You want more players like that.”

Spillane is currently fourth in the league with 79 tackles this season. Sunday was the sixth time this season he has put up double digit sacks.

And that snap he missed was the first and only snap he’s missed all season.

Busters for Raiders Week 8 loss to Chiefs

The Raiders had their chances to make this game more competitive, but could never capitalize.

The Chiefs ran away with this game just before the half and never looked back. A 10-7 Raiders lead turned into a 17-10 deficit in just two minutes time. The Raiders had their chances to come back, but couldn’t get out of their own way or were just outmatched.

Busters

OC Luke Getsy

So many wasted opportunities in this game. Let’s start near the end of the second quarter. The Raiders had just fallen down 14-10 with under two minutes left. They had the chance to at very least be the last to have the ball. But instead they went three-and-out. First play was an end around the Chiefs sniffed out for no gain. Then a two-yard run. Then a blitz by the Chiefs that wasn’t picked up, forcing Minshew to throw it away. The Chiefs only needed to use one of their timeouts to get the ball back with a minute left. They used that time to drive for a second score in the final two minutes of the first half. That’s how to suck the air out of the building.

The first possession of the third quarter, the Raiders AGAIN went three-and-out. And it happened in much the same fashion as the previous one – run for minimal gain, short catch for no gain, and free runner on a blitz leading to an incompletion.

Next possession, the Raiders got a gift. First the defense stopped the Chiefs for a three-and-out with just one yard picked up. The punt was fielded near midfield by DJ Turner and returned to the KC 43. A late hit out of bounds tacked on another 15 yards, starting the Raiders out in field goal range at the 28. And despite getting some help from a KC holding penalty, and driving all the way to first and goal at the four, they still couldn’t punch it in. First play inside the five, Getsy had Tre Turner blocking a defensive end, leading to a four-yard loss on the run. Then on third and goal from the seven, he had John Samuel Shenker and Ameer Abdullah trying to block George Karlaftis, who brushed past both of them to get the sack.

Next possession the offense got an even bigger gift. An interception put them right back in first and goal inside the five. A second chance to get right what they got wrong the previous trip. They had the ball at the three, ran it three straight times and were still at the three. Minshew then ran right into a sack for the turnover on downs. 

Understand what happened here. They had been abysmal at running the ball all day, with their backs averaging less than a yard per carry. So, they, of course, ran it three straight times and were held out of the end zone. This time last week, they were having some success running it against the Rams. And in this same situation, they abandoned the run, opting to pass it three straight times and were likewise kept from getting in the end zone. It’s like the only question when it comes to what play(s) to run is what will they least expect. Even though the reason they may not expect it is because it’s just a very bad idea that doesn’t play to your own strengths.

The only times the Raiders were able to score a TD in this game were the opening scripted drive and after they were down by two scores late. Any positive offensive numbers have to take those facts into consideration. That’s not winning football.

LB Robert Spillane

This was tough. On paper, Spillane had a great game. He led the team with 12 combined tackles (six solo) with one for a loss. But just three of those 12 tackles were inside four yards and didn’t result in a first down or touchdown.

He gave up a 13-yard catch on the first third down of the game to open up the Chiefs first touchdown drive. Their second touchdown drive, he again gave up the first down catch on their first third down. Then on third and goal from the five, he gave up the touchdown catch to Travis Kelce over the middle.

The Chiefs got the ball back with just under a minute left until the half. And Spillane gave up a wide open catch to Kelce along the way to them adding a field goal to go up 17-10. He later gave up chunk runs on each the Chiefs’ last two scoring drives.

T DJ Glaze

He gave up run stuff on the opening drive and a sack along with another run stuff that threatened to upend the Raiders’ second scoring drive. Then on their third scoring drive, he was tossed to give up a run stuff for a loss, and was flagged for illegal formation on third and goal. The Chiefs got a sack on the play, but no matter what, the Raiders weren’t scoring on the play because of the Glaze penalty.

CB Jakorian Bennett

Bennett also gave a 20-yard catch and a third down conversion. He just did it on three straight catch to lead out the Chiefs second touchdown drive. He then gave up a 16-yard that put the Chiefs in Raiders territory at the 40 in the final seconds of the second quarter, setting them up for their third score and the second in the final two minutes of the first half.

RB Alexander Mattison

Mattison finished with just 15 yards on 14 carries. Several times it seemed he left yards on the field. And a couple times perhaps even a touchdown. The big one was on third and goal from the one, where it appeared as if, had he run it straight up the gut, he would have just had LB Nick Bolton to go through to cross the goal line. But he went out right instead and was met by half the Chiefs’ defense where he was stopped for a loss.

DT John Jenkins

Credit to Jenkins for getting the tipped ball that led to the Raiders’ only takeaway. But other than that, it was that a great outing for the veteran defensive tackle. He was once again getting pushed all over the field.

He was run through on the first touchdown, then was blocked on an 11-yard shovel pass on the second TD drive. Then gave up two runs on the Chiefs’ final TD drive, including the one that put them in field goal range, and the third down conversion.

DC Patrick Graham

I lost count of how many times a Chiefs receiver was able to find a wide open soft spot in the zone or a running back came out of the backfield completely uncovered for big yards off the dump pass. Both happened multiple times on the back-to-back scoring drives to end the first half. It’s just inexcusable to so many times be wondering how a guy gets so wide open and just who was assigned to him. And coming away thinking maybe no one was and the Chiefs exploited that to the fullest.

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Robert Spillane injury vs Chiefs: Latest news on Raiders LB

Raiders LB Robert Spillane suffered a right leg injury in the team’s Week 8 matchup with the Chiefs. Here are the latest updates.

Near the end of the Chiefs’ opening drive in Las Vegas, Raiders LB Robert Spillane made the tackle on a run up the middle and writhed on the turf in pain. Trainers were needed to help him off the field as he was unable to put any weight on his right leg.

Spillane is seventh in the league in tackles, having put up double digit tackles in five of the Raiders’ seven games this season.

Spillane returned the next drive and appears to be ok, missing just one snap.

This suggests there is at very least no serious damage. Which is great news for the Raiders as Spillane is a key piece to the Raiders’ defense.

UPDATE: He finished the game with a team-leading 12 tackles and Antonio Pierce said on Wednesday that there are no plans to rest him for any games.

We will keep you updated if the injury lingers or is aggravated. But for now, disaster appears to be averted.

UPDATE: Spillane missed the entire week of practices and is considered a game time decision vs the Bengals in Week 9.