Philadelphia -2.5
Philly?s rookies were in camp four days earlier than Oakland?s rookies, while the Philly veterans reported one day earlier than the Oakland veterans. So if you?re going to like a side here, it should probably be the Eagles based on that important intangible. The influential tone of the game figures to be defense. Here?s why. The Raiders are in a first-year regime of Art Shell, but they kept their defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. There are no big transitions being made in Ryan?s system where in 2005, Oakland?s rushing yield was a little less per carry than their opponents? overall average gain per carry. The Eagles ran the football on only 47% of their plays last season. They need to work on what is now a weak running game, against a better-than-rated run D. Ryan Moats and Bruce Perry need to get the most carries, not oft-injured #1 Bryan Westbrook. Donovan McNabb?s legs do not want to see the other side of the line of scrimmage in a game like this. When McNabb comes out, is anyone confident in the ability of Jeff Garcia to move this team with the ?twos?? The Eagles? three QBs behind McNabb ? Garcia, Koy Detmer and Timmy Chang ? should be called the tiny trio. Meanwhile, the Raiders are auditioning quarterbacks against one of the deepest top-to-bottom defenses in the NFL, a unit that looks to improve its sack total from last season with a bolstered DE rotation featuring Jevon Kearse, Jerome McDougle, Trent Cole, Juqua Thomas and possibly rookie LB Chris Gocong, who played end in college and had led the nation with 23.5 sacks as a senior. ?We?ve got some good speed and quickness? so we are going to try to take advantage of that,? Eagles? defensive coordinator Jim Johnson said last week. The Oakland offensive line is being targeted for the most re-tooling. So, Aaron Brooks (first game in new system for an error-prone guy), Andrew Walter, Marques Tuiasosopo??Don?t forget to duck!
Philly?s rookies were in camp four days earlier than Oakland?s rookies, while the Philly veterans reported one day earlier than the Oakland veterans. So if you?re going to like a side here, it should probably be the Eagles based on that important intangible. The influential tone of the game figures to be defense. Here?s why. The Raiders are in a first-year regime of Art Shell, but they kept their defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. There are no big transitions being made in Ryan?s system where in 2005, Oakland?s rushing yield was a little less per carry than their opponents? overall average gain per carry. The Eagles ran the football on only 47% of their plays last season. They need to work on what is now a weak running game, against a better-than-rated run D. Ryan Moats and Bruce Perry need to get the most carries, not oft-injured #1 Bryan Westbrook. Donovan McNabb?s legs do not want to see the other side of the line of scrimmage in a game like this. When McNabb comes out, is anyone confident in the ability of Jeff Garcia to move this team with the ?twos?? The Eagles? three QBs behind McNabb ? Garcia, Koy Detmer and Timmy Chang ? should be called the tiny trio. Meanwhile, the Raiders are auditioning quarterbacks against one of the deepest top-to-bottom defenses in the NFL, a unit that looks to improve its sack total from last season with a bolstered DE rotation featuring Jevon Kearse, Jerome McDougle, Trent Cole, Juqua Thomas and possibly rookie LB Chris Gocong, who played end in college and had led the nation with 23.5 sacks as a senior. ?We?ve got some good speed and quickness? so we are going to try to take advantage of that,? Eagles? defensive coordinator Jim Johnson said last week. The Oakland offensive line is being targeted for the most re-tooling. So, Aaron Brooks (first game in new system for an error-prone guy), Andrew Walter, Marques Tuiasosopo??Don?t forget to duck!
