Raiders Coach Dennis Allen: 'I've Seen This System Of Offense Work'

The Oakland Raiders have struggled on offense in the first two weeks on the NFL season, but first-year head coach Dennis Allen believe that the Raiders will improve and begin to put points on the board.

In a press conference video from CSNBayarea.com, embedded below, Allen is asked why his staff made so many changes to the offense from 2011. Allen's response, which comes at about the 1:55 mark in the video:

Well, I believe it is a matter of time for it to get going. Part of the decision was: I've seen this system of offense work and be very successful. I believe in this as a defensive coach. I've spent a lot of time defending different offenses and I think this is one of the more difficult offenses to have to defend. Obviously, we've got to execute better, because we aren't getting results in the running game that we are looking for.

The Raiders have rushed for just 68 yards through two games, averaging only two yards per attempt. Darren McFadden has done most of the work on the ground, gaining just 54 yards on 25 carries.

Overall, the team has scored just two touchdowns in two games, while being limited to 717 yards of total offense.

For more on the Raiders, check out Silver and Black Pride and stick with SB Nation Bay Area.

Raiders Vs. Dolphins: RB Darren McFadden Doesn't Think Zone Blocking Scheme Is A Problem

With Oakland Raiders running back Darren McFadden, we've been here before. A zone blocking scheme corralling one of the most dynamic backs in the league before he even gets to the second level. Early in McFadden's career, the same scheme was unsuccessful. Two games in and only 54 yards for McFadden is not how the Raiders envisioned his return from injury. But McFadden doesn't see it being a long-term problem.

"I'm very comfortable in this scheme," McFadden told CSN Bay Area. "I just feel like we have to get going. Like I say, you hit one or two runs here, three-yard runs here, and eventually it's going to start popping."

The lack of success in the running game could be due to the Raiders not spending enough time trying to establish the run, abandoning it before giving McFadden a chance to get going. He only had 11 carries on Sunday against the Dolphins compared to 48 passing attempts.

Head coach Dennis Allen still believes in the scheme and McFadden believes that he can be successful within it. Only time will tell how much they'll take of their recent performances on the ground before deciding that a change is needed.

For more Raiders coverage, head on over to Silver and Black Pride.

Raiders Vs. Dolphins Quotes: Defense Embarrassed After Allowing Best Game Of Reggie Bush's Career

The weren't many smiles to be found on the faces of Oakland Raiders defenders Sunday after RB Reggie Bush ran for a career-high 172 yards and two touchdowns in the Miami Dolphins' 35-13 victory.

According to Paul Gutierrez of CSN Bay Area, Bush said the Dolphin's mission all along was to "break their spirit a little bit." And if the words of Raiders DT Tommy Kelly are shared by the rest of the active roster, Miami succeeded:

"It's just embarrassing. I didn't see this coming, the way we practiced all week, I didn't see this coming. The way we started in the first half, I didn't foresee 35 (points) at the end of the game."

Additionally, Kelly also felt that he and his teammates "left [their] game in the locker room," a point that was reinforced by the Dolphins' four touchdowns in the second half.

Overall, the Raiders defense wilted to the tune of 452 total yards allowed, including 263 yards on the ground. Oakland first-year head coach Dennis Allen felt that poor tackling was to blame for the performance but they weren't much better from a coverage standpoint with rookie QB Ryan Tannehill (18-of-30, 200 yards, two total touchdowns) operating an effective attack out of the no huddle.

With the schedule not getting any easier as the Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1) head into town next Sunday, the Raiders (0-2) may already be wondering if they're destined for another top-five draft selection in 2013. But while Kelly was clearly upset, he still believes that this team has more potential than some of the more mediocre Raiders squads of recent history:

"This is different," Kelly said, "because we're a whole lot better than we were when we went 2-14 and 4-12. I think we have a way better team. We're more talented, we have better, younger talented players. But you have to be able to produce on Sunday, and we aren't."

For more Raiders coverage, head on over to Silver and Black Pride.

Raiders Vs. Dolphins Full Recap: Oakland Gets Mandhandled in Miami

The Oakland Raiders were unable to bounce back from their rough showing in week one and were humiliated by the Miami Dolphins in week two. While the Raiders looked bad on Monday Night Football by the San Diego Chargers, at least the score was close as the Raiders only lost by 8 points. Meanwhile, the Fins were the ones being manhandled in their 30-10 loss to the Houston Texans in week one. The tables were turned this week as Miami did the manhandling while the score looked just as bad as the Raiders did.

This game was expected to be a battle of the backs as Reggie Bush sought to prove that he too can be a game changing, every down back and Darren McFadden sought to prove that last week's paultry rushing stats were just an illusion. One back came away from the game having been vindicated while the other came away just plain frustrated. Bush finished the game with 172 yards and 2 touchdowns on 26 carries while Run DMC had 22 yards on 11 carries and no touchdowns. Last season, McFadden looked like one of the best running backs in the NFL. This year, he has looked like a non factor.

In the passing game, the Raiders finally discovered the invention of the intermediate route after being prolific in the dink and dunk in week one. Unfortunately for the Raiders, the ever so elusive deep route has still evaded capture by Carson Palmer and the Raiders. Having Denarius Moore back certainly helped, but his return was not long lived as he spent a significant amount of time in the locker room getting an IV for cramps. Palmer also did a good job of spreading the ball around, completing passes with 9 different players. But despite the improvement in the Raiders passing game, it did not make much of a difference on the scoreboard.

On defense, the Raiders looked solid in the first half. After letting Bush dominate them on Miami's first drive of the game, the Raiders shut down the run lanes and kept Miami's offense in check most of the first half. The second half, however, was a lot like what the Raiders fans came to hate about the defense last year. In the second half, the Raiders defense looked helpless and the Dolphins took full advantage as they rode Bush to a blowout win.

The Raiders also have a lot of reason to be concerned about their pass defense. They did a better job of putting pressure on the quarterback this week, but we're not consistent and the secondary made an above average receiver in Brian Hartline, look like an all star. The Raiders used two corners to try and stop the hard working Hartline, but to no avail. With Ron Bartell out for six weeks, the Raiders may be looking at giving up a ton of yards in the pass game this season.

This was not the way the Raiders hoped they would bounce back from their frustrating week one loss to the Chargers. Now, after starting the season 0-2, the Raiders have three scary opponents staring them in the face the next three weeks with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons. There is a serious chance that the Raiders start the year 0-5 if they do not straighten things out and do it right away.

Raiders Vs. Dolphins: Oakland Outplayed Despite Being 'Better On Paper'

The Oakland Raiders were thoroughly dominated on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins. Reggie Bush led Miami to a 35-13 victory that saw the Raiders stretched to their limits in the second half. It was competitive through quarters one and two, but Ryan Tannehill and the Miami offense made the proper adjustments at halftime to take home the win.

Over at SB Nation's blog for the Raiders, Silver And Black Pride, they lay it out there all nice and straightforward-like:

The Raiders were dominated on both sides of the ball in this game. And it was at the hands of a team which on paper, they look to match up well with, and even have a slight advantage. But the game isn't played on paper, it's played on the field. That's where the Raiders deficiencies went from questionable to confirmed.

Oakland did have a lot of hype entering this season, thanks to a totally new coaching staff and a full offseason for Carson Palmer. But it's clear they still have some kinks to work out, and if our Raiders blog is anything to go by, there are some very serious kinks. Miami is starting a rookie quarterback and doesn't have many weapons on offense, while Bush has always been an underachiever.

The fact that they were able to walk all over the Raiders' defense in the second half is discouraging. Oakland was hoping that its defense would be its strong point, but the front seven really let them down, and the secondary just wasn't able to keep up.

For more on the Oakland Raiders, join the discussion over at Silver And Black Pride. You can also check out everything we have to offer at SB Nation's NFL hub.

Raiders Vs. Dolphins Postgame Injury Report: Denarius Moore Plays, Shawntae Spencer Banged Up

The Oakland Raiders started off OK against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, but failed to make the proper halftime adjustments and were absolutely dominated in quarters three and four. They also remained relatively unscathed through the first half of the game, but the injures piled on in the latter half and there are a few to note.

For one, wide receiver Denarius Moore started the game for Oakland despite riding the injury report all week, and ended up leaving the game in the third quarter with cramps. He returned late in the fourth but didn't get many looks. Cornerback Shawntae Spencer may have injured his foot diving to stop a big play (and getting a penalty in the process) and left the game in the fourth quarter.

Kick returner Coye Francies was absolutely blown up by a shoulder-to-helmet hit and left the game in the fourth. He got up and walked off on his own power, but he was still pretty wobbly. There's no information about the severity of those injuries, but it does seem like Oakland is going to make out OK in this one, given that Moore was able to come back during the game. Spencer's injury is mildly worrying of course, given the lack of depth at the CB position for Oakland.

Miami remained relatively unscathed and there is nothing to report on that front.

For more on the Oakland Raiders, join the discussion over at Silver And Black Pride. You can also check out everything we have to offer at SB Nation's NFL hub.

Raiders Vs. Dolphins Final Score: Reggie Bush Carries Miami To 35-13 Victory

Thanks to some big plays from running back Reggie Bush, the Miami Dolphins managed to get a 1-1 start to their season with a 35-13 win over the Oakland Raiders on Sunday. Bush wasn't totally consistent, but had some big runs, most notably in the third quarter when Miami took an outside run to the left and Bush simply beat everyone en route to a 65-yard touchdown.

Oakland couldn't get any traction on offense with quarterback Carson Palmer playing well, but without much help elsewhere. His lone interception came with under three minutes to go in the game, when he was just trying to make something happen. Punter Shane Lechler had to boot it nine times and that should say plenty about the offense. Oakland's defense was unable to get the pressure they needed on rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill and, as a result, the young QB was able to extend plays and find receivers deep when coverage eventually broke down.

Miami started pouring it on in the second half with the big rush from Bush and Tannehill's first career NFL touchdown pass in the fourth. He hit tight end Anthony Fasano over the middle for a short gain, and Fasano smashed his way to a touchdown, jumping through a tackle to land in the end zone. Running back Lamar Miller got his first career rushing touchdown in the game as well, after Bush left (to a standing ovation) in the fourth.

Wide receiver Denarius Moore made the start for the Raiders despite riding the injury report prior to the game, and left late in the third quarter with cramps. He was immediately labeled as "questionable" to return, but returned late in the fourth quarter. Returner Coye Francies was leveled on a kick return in the fourth quarter, taking a shoulder to the helmet and left the game. Cornerback Shawntae Spencer left the game in the fourth with a foot injury.

For more on the Oakland Raiders, join the discussion over at Silver And Black Pride. You can also check out everything we have to offer at SB Nation's NFL hub.

Raiders Vs. Dolphins Score Update: Reggie Bush Leads Miami To 21-10 Lead Heading Into 4th Quarter

The Oakland Raiders managed to enter the second half with a three-point lead over the Miami Dolphins, but that was quickly done away with at the start of the third quarter. Reggie Bush took a 23-yard run for a touchdown to make the game 14-10 in favor of Miami. It's been a back-and-forth game, with neither team able to get much traction on offense.

After another stalled drive, Miami took over again and it was Bush who got the call and the next touchdown. It was a semi-outside run, and Bush simply outran everybody on the Raiders defense. Oakland was out of position in a big way and it looked like a pretty effortless play for Bush. That gave the Dolphins a 21-10 lead late in the third.

For Oakland, Carson Palmer has been playing well, but there's been lacking play from running back Darren McFadden. They've shown time and time again that they're not going to win games unless McFadden can have a good outing. It won't matter how many passing yards Palmer can put up, if McFadden carries for double digits and can't break 50 yards, they're going to have some issues.

Oakland got its best shot of the day when punt returner Phillip Adams shook some serious pressure to return a ball to the Miami 25-yard line. On first down, Palmer's first pass was batted away. They managed to get a first down, but a couple short plays saw them facing a 3rd and 4 at the Miami 10-yard line when the third quarter came to an end.

For more on the Oakland Raiders, join the discussion over at Silver And Black Pride. You can also check out everything we have to offer at SB Nation's NFL hub.

Raiders Vs. Dolphins Halftime Update: Big Plays Help Oakland To First Half Lead

The Oakland Raiders and Miami Dolphins are battled their way through a defensive struggle in the first half on Sunday afternoon and, after 15 minutes of action, the Raiders took a 10-7 lead into the halftime locker room. The Raiders offense has been far from outstanding, but Carson Palmer was able to connect with Mike Goodson for a 64-yard pass and catch touchdown out of the backfield on the biggest play of the first half.

Palmer was far from outstanding in the first half, but a few big plays helped him put up excellent numbers as he completed 13 of his 25 passes for 239 yards and the aforementioned touchdown run. Palmer was also able to lead a nice drive late in the second quarter, but it ended short with a Sebastian Janikowski field goal.

The Dolphins' only score of the first half came when rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill was able to sneak the ball across the goal line for a two-yard touchdown run. Tannehill completed just nine of his 19 pass attempts for a total of 85 yards before halftime.

Stick with this StoryStream for more coverage from the Raiders vs. Dolphins game. For more insight and analysis, check out Raiders blog Silver and Black Pride. For the perspective from Miami, check out The Phinsider.

Raiders Vs. Dolphins Gameday Inactives

Oakland Raiders backup quarterback Terrelle Pryor and wide receiver Juron Criner are among the Raiders' inactive players for their Sunday afternoon meeting on the road against the Miami Dolphins, according to the team's Twitter account.

Long-snapper Nick Guess, offensive tackle Joseph Barksdale, defensive end Jack Crawford, offensive lineman Lucas Nix and guard Tony Bergstrom join Pryor and Criner on the inactive list for the game, which is set to kick off at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

Among the Dolphins' inactives for Miami's home game are Dolphins quarterback Pat Devlin, running back Daniel Thomas and tackle Will Yeatman.

Dolphins tackle Ray Feinga, defensive tackle Tony McDaniel, tight end Michael Egnew and wide receiver Anthony Armstrong will also not see action in Sunday's meeting between two 0-1 teams.

The meeting between the Dolphins and Raiders features two quarterbacks under scrutiny, including Raiders quarterback Carson Palmer and Dolphins rookie starter Ryan Tannehill, both looking to bounce their teams back from opening-week losses.

For more Raiders coverage, check out Silver and Black Pride.

Raiders Vs. Dolphins: Preview, Game Time, TV Schedule, Odds And More

The Oakland Raiders travel to Miami on Sunday for their Week 2 match-up with the Dolphins in Sun Life Stadium. The Raiders are looking to bounce back from a season-opening Monday night loss to the Chargers and even their record at 1-1.

The Dolphins are also trying to get their first win of the season, after starting their schedule with a 30-10 loss to the Houston Texans.

Miami is starting a rookie quarterback in Ryan Tannehill. The 6'4, 222-pound former Texas A&M Aggie struggled in his first outing, throwing three interceptions and no touchdowns while posting a quarterback rating of 39.0.

The Raiders got a solid performance out of their starting quarterback in Week 1, as Carson Palmer completed nearly 70 percent of his passed for 297 yards a touchdown in the loss to the Chargers.

Game Time, TV Channel: 10 a.m. PT, CBS

Point Spread: Oakland favored by 1.

For more on the Oakland Raiders, join the discussion over at Silver And Black Pride. You can also check out everything we have to offer at SB Nation's NFL hub.

Raiders Move Jacoby Ford, Ron Bartell To IR

Injuries have forced the Oakland Raiders to make some changes to the roster prior to their Week 2 matchup with the Miami Dolphins. Oakland sent wide receiver Jacoby Ford on season-ending injured reserve, and they placed cornerback Ron Bartell on the NFL's new injured reserve list that allows him to return later in the season.

In addition to those moves, the Raiders promoted cornerback Coye Francies and long-snapper Nick Guess from the practice squad.

Ford, who injured his foot in a preseason game, underwent surgery Tuesday. Bartell was injured in the season opener against San Diego and will miss significant time with a fractured shoulder blade. Under the new IR rules, he is eligible to return to practice Oct. 27 and could play as soon as Nov. 11, when the Raiders travel to face the Baltimore Ravens.

Raiders starting long snapper Jon Condo is still out with a concussion, and backup Travis Goethel proved he wasn't up to the task with the two ground balls he snapped in Week 1. Guess is unproven, but the team likely figures he can't be worse than Goethel.

Stick with this StoryStream for more coverage from the Raiders vs. Dolphins game. For more insight and analysis, check out Raiders blog Silver and Black Pride. For the perspective from Miami, check out The Phinsider.

NFL Schedule 2012: Week 2 TV Coverage Maps For Bay Area

With the excitement of the NFL's opening week in the rearview mirror, Week 2 won't be a letdown for fans with a number of high-profile match-ups. Both the 49ers and Raiders are in action on Sunday and there will be plenty of other action on CBS, FOX and NBC throughout the day. Here is a look at what games will be televised in the Bay Area.

CBS Early Game: CBS viewers in the Bay Area will get to see the Raiders try to bounce back on the road against the Miami Dolphins at 10 a.m. Calling that game, from Miami, will be Kevin Harlan and Solomon Wilcots.

CBS Late Game: For CBS' late game, the Bay Area will see Mark Sanchez, Tim Tebow and the New York Jets take on Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburg Steelers. Kickoff in Pittsburg is scheduled for 1:25 p.m. PT with Jim Nantz and Phil Simms on the call. Viewers more inland, watching in the Sacramento or Fresno areas, will see the Tennessee Titans at the San Diego Chargers with Ian Eagle and Dan Fouts doing commentary.

FOX Late Game: Starting at 1:05 p.m. PT the Seattle Seahawks will host the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas won convincingly in Week 1, while the Seahawks narrowly lost to the Arizona Cardinals. Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston and Tony Siragusa will have the call on that game.

NBC Sunday Night Football: Sunday Night Football pits the 49ers and Lions against each other on NBC at 5:20 p.m. both teams are 1-0 after San Francisco dominated the Packers last week, while the Lions eked out a win over the Rams. The announcers will be Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth as usual for SNF.

For more on the San Francisco 49ers, join the discussion over at Niners Nation. For more on the Oakland Raiders, join the discussion over at Silver And Black Pride. You can also check out everything we have to offer at SB Nation's NFL hub.

Denarius Moore Injury: Raiders WR To Be Limited If He Plays Sunday

Denarius Moore has moved up to probable for Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins, the Oakland Raiders are planning on limiting his snaps.

CSN Bay Area reports that the Raiders plan on easing Moore into the game since the wide receiver has been out with his injury since Aug. 4. He only started to practice late last week and was a last minute scratch from Week 1's 22-14 loss against the San Diego Chargers.

"We don't want to play him the full game," offensive coordinator Greg Knapp told reporters this week. "You can't do that. You got to manage him because he's been out so long. But you try to pick your situations where it's more likely for him to be involved and give him a chance to win in critical situations, third downs, red zone, certain first and second downs also."

Moore is just ready to get out on the gridiron for the first time this season. Moore broke out last year as a rookie with 33 receptions for 618 yards and five touchdowns in 13 games.

"I'm itching," Moore said, "like I got the chicken pox."

Moore and Carson Palmer built a quick connection last year, and with fellow receiver Jacoby Ford out following foot injury, Moore will be a quick boon to the Raiders receiving corps.

"Definitely there's a comfort zone with Carson and him...getting him back would definitely be helpful for us, especially when third downs come up and you get a lot of man-coverage. He's a very good route runner and creates separation," Knapp said.

For more on the Oakland Raiders, join the discussion over at Silver And Black Pride. You can also check out everything we have to offer at SB Nation's NFL hub.

Raiders Vs. Dolphins: How Big of an Impact can Denarius Moore Make to Oakland's Offense?

The Oakland Raiders were without two of their top three wide receivers in week one, and it showed. Darren McFadden caught almost three times as many passes as the next best for the Raiders with 13. That is because the San Diego Chargers did a good job of shutting down deeper routes, leaving Carson Palmer with primarily short yardage options like McFadden. But that is not surprising considering the fact that due to injuries, the Raiders were forced to start an undrafted free agent rookie at wide receiver. That's not a dig at Rod Streater, who has played very well in the pre season and minus the fumble, had a solid game in his NFL debut, but he is still not a starting caliber wide receiver and did not play at the level of a Jacoby Ford or Denarius Moore.

With Ford out for a long time, and potentially the season, that raises an obvious question, how big of an impact can Denarius Moore actually have on a Raiders offense that looked just plain bad without him. The only way to tell for sure is by seeing what happens on Sunday, but speculation is always a fun option.

Theoretically, Moore will have an impact on the Raiders offense even if he does not catch a single ball. Last week, the Chargers were able to focus on the only real big threat in the passing game with Darrius Heyward-Bey, who was held to three catches. Plus, defenses have to respect his speed and big play capabilities. Moore is the kind of player who demands the attention of a defense and a defensive coordinator because they need to be aware of where he is on every play. Adding another threat alone will force defenses to deal with more and allow other receivers to get free more often.

Raiders Vs. Dolphins Injury Report: Denarius Moore Upgraded To Probable

Denarius Moore has been upgraded to probable on Friday's official injury report as the Oakland Raiders head to Miami to take on the Dolphins on Sunday.

Moore emerged last year as a dependable option at wide receiver, with 33 receptions for 618 yards and five touchdowns in 13 games last season. But a strained hamstring has hampered him since June.

If he is able to play it would be a big gain for Carson Palmer, who is out one of his other receiving options as Jacoby Ford had surgery on his foot on Wednesday. The rest of the Oakland Raiders injury report is as follows:

Out:
CB Ron Bartell (shoulder blade)

Questionable:
LS Jon Condo (concussion), WR Juron Criner (right ankle), RB Taiwan Jones (ribs), LB Rolando McClain (ankle), C Alex Parsons (shoulder)

Probable:
TE David Ausberry (shoulder), PK Sebastian Janikowski (left groin), S Mike Mitchell (ribs), TE Brandon Myers (shoulder), DT Richard Seymour (knee)

The Miami Dolphins are in a little better shape than the Raiders are. Defensive tackle Tony McDaniel (knee) and running back Daniel Thomas (concussion) are out. Linebacker Jonathan Freeny (thumb) and defensive end Randy Starks (groin) both went through full practices on Friday and are considered probable. Wide receiver Anthony Armstrong (hamstring) did not participate in Thursday's practice but the Dolphins have not updated his injury status.

For more on the Oakland Raiders, join the discussion over at Silver And Black Pride. You can also check out everything we have to offer at SB Nation's NFL hub.

Denarius Moore Injury Update: Oakland Wide Receiver Listed As Probable With Hamstring Injury

The Oakland Raiders have officially assigned a probable tag to wide receiver Denarius Moore (hamstring) for Sunday's matchup against the Miami Dolphins, according to Adam Schefter.

If he plays, this will be Moore's season debut after missing Week 1 and almost all of August's activities with a nagging hamstring strain. Even if he's held to limited snaps, the Raiders have to consider his presence an upgrade over Derek Hagan and undrafted rookie Rod Streater.

Moore's return could also mean the revival of the deep ball, an area in which Oakland was sorely lacking in Monday Night's 22-14 loss to the San Diego Chargers. Without Moore's vertical ability on the field, quarterback Carson Palmer zeroed in on Darren McFadden for dump-off plays, targeting the running back a whopping 18 times.

Moore had an 18.7-yard average on his 33 receptions during last year's rookie campaign. He also chipped in six total touchdowns (five receiving, one rushing) while proving to be arguably the most explosive playmaker on the team.

For more information on Raiders football and additional injury updates, head on over to Silver and Black Pride.

Raiders Vs. Dolphins: Is Week Two a Must Win Already for Oakland?

The Oakland Raiders enter their week two matchup against the Miami Dolphins with an 0-1 record. That alone is not normally cause for a lot of concern, but the Raiders are coming off of a loss in which the offense looked average at best. Darren McFadden, who last season looked like one of the best running backs in the NFL, ran the ball 15 times for a total of 32 yards, averaging a measly 2.1 yards per carry. He did have 13 receptions for 86 yards, but that was mostly due to the fact that Carson Palmer was consistently unable to find receivers open on deeper routes and constantly went to his dump off pass.

The defense did look like a much better team than last season, but they suffered a pretty big loss with the news that Ron Bartell will miss at least 4-6 weeks with a broken shoulder blade. But its not the pass game that the Raiders will be worried about. The Dolphins are working with a rookie quarterback that is not named Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III and a decidedly average receiving corps. But Reggie Bush has found new life in Miami. After a career with the New Orleans Saints in which he only saw success in the pass game, Bush is now a threat in the run game as well. The Raiders run defense looked good in week one, but against a below average run attack due to Ryan Mathews missing the game with an injury.

The Raiders would like to believe they are a team of the caliber that would beat the Miami Dolphins, and yet, there is certainly cause for concern that the Raiders might not be able to walk away from south beach with a win. And if the Raiders look as hopeless as they did at times in their Monday Night Football matchup with the San Diego Chargers, there will certainly be cause for concern about the remainder of the season. On top of that, since 1990, only 12 or 13 percent of teams that started the season 0-2 made the playoffs. (No, I do not know which percentage it is and apparently not even ESPN knows, as two of their writers each claim ESPN stats says a different number,) While that does not mean the Raiders have a 12 or 13 percent chance of making the playoffs if they lose this weekend, but it does mean the playoff picture won't be looking too good either.

Raiders Vs. Dolphins Injury Report: Rolando McClain Returns To Practice

After missing practice on Wednesday, Raiders linebacker Rolando McClain was one of several players who returned on Thursday.

McClain, who is dealing with a shoulder injury, was listed as a limited participant in Thursday's practice. Taiwan Jones also returned to practice after sitting out Wednesday, while Denarius Moore once again practiced on a limited basis. Jacoby Ford remains out with a foot injury, while cornerback Ron Bartell and long snapper Jon Condo also missed practice on Thursday.

Oakland's complete Thursday injury report can be found below. via CSN Bay Area:

Did Not Participate In Practice -- CB Ron Bartell (shoulder), LS Jon Condo (concussion), WR Jacoby Ford (foot)

Limited Participation in Practice -- WR Juron Criner (ankle), RB Taiwan Jones (ribs), LB Rolando McClain (ankle), WR Denarius Moore (hamstring), C Alex Parsons (shoulder), DT Richard Seymour (knee)

Full Participation in Practice -- TE David Ausberry (shoulder), S Michael Mitchell (ribs), TE Brandon Myers (shoulder)

The Dolphins' injury report can be found via SB Nation Tampa Bay.

For more on the Raiders, visit Silver and Black Pride, or for more comprehensive NFL coverage, head on over to SB Nation's NFL hub.

Raiders Vs. Dolphins Preview: Oakland Must Overcome Intangibles to Defeat Inferior Dolphins Team

On paper, the Oakland Raiders should be able to dispose of the Miami Dolphins with a fair amount of ease. The Raiders defensive front seven is one of the strongest groups on the team. Meanwhile, the Dolphins have a rookie quarterback and a group of below average receivers. On the other side of the ball, the defense was a bright spot for the Fins last year, but was embarassed as the Houston Texans put up 30 points against them in week one. The struggles of Miami's defense should mean that the Raiders offense that struggled in week one will have an opportunity to get the ball rolling. But while the Raiders have a better roster than the Dolphins and are expected to be a much better team, there is a reason the game is played.

The Raiders will have to take one of the longest road trips in all of the NFL, traveling from Oakland to Miami, and will have to do it on a short week after playing their opener on Monday night. On top of that, the fact that the game comes early in the season means the Raiders will also have to deal with weather conditions they are not used to. Miami will be hot and muggy when the Raiders take the field for the 1pm ET kick off against Miami. In recent years, the Raiders have not faired well when they had to travel accross country, and even worse when they were playing in unfavorable weather conditions.

Luckily for the Raiders, they will likely have speedster wide receiver, Denarius Moore, back for the game this week. He was close to being ready to go in week one and the coaching staff believes he will be able to go in week two. While he is only one player, he will make a big difference for the offense. Last week, the Raiders were unable to effectively stretch the field without their two deep threats in Moore and Jacoby Ford. While Darrius Heyward-Bey has good top end speed, he does not have the burst off of the line that the other two do, and has trouble creating separation on traditional deep routes. This is why he has become more of a possession receiver with big play potential after the catch.

Unfortunately for the Raiders, they will also be dealing with the loss of players. Long snapper Jon Condo may miss this week if he is unable to pass the concussion test. Wide out Jacoby Ford could be lost for the season after he had to have surgery on his foot and cornerback Ron Bartell will be out 4-6 weeks with a broken bone in his shoulder. None of these are devastating losses, but they are certainly a concern for a team with serious depth issues.

NFL Picks, Week 2: Raiders Vs. Dolphins

So in Week 1, I went with the Oakland Raiders to best the San Diego Chargers. Despite the fact that I'm a fan of the San Francisco 49ers, I felt like the Silver And Black could pull it off, especially with Darren McFadden. As it turns out, he ... didn't have the best game. Oakland kept it close though, and their hopes for an AFC West crown are more likely to be hampered by the Denver Broncos than the Chargers at this point.

Next up, they've got the Dolphins. Miami spent their Week 1 getting absolutely abused by the Houston Texans, which surprised nobody. The Texans have made that transition to elite team, while Miami is still ... not very good. Ryan Tannehill is the quarterback and he doesn't inspire much confidence at all.

In short, I'll be sticking with the Raiders. I think Miami's defense isn't quite good enough to stop McFadden and Carson Palmer, and I think the weak Raiders secondary will enjoy some much-needed, confidence-boosting success against a very lackluster Miami offense. The Raiders could and should win this game by a couple of touchdowns to really get that confidence boost they'll need with a highly competitive AFC West on their hands.

For more on the Raiders, visit Silver and Black Pride, or for more comprehensive NFL coverage, head on over to SB Nation's NFL hub.

Raiders Vs. Dolphins Injury Report: Denarius Moore Limited in Wednesday's Practice

The Oakland Raiders will rely heavily on Denarius Moore if he's able to suit up for Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins, but his status for Week 2 is still up in the air after he was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice.

Via Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle, it appears that his fellow wideout Jacoby Ford will miss significant time after undergoing surgery to repair a Lisfranc injury on Wednesday. That makes Moore even more important to a struggling Oakland offense.

Moore was close to returning for the Monday night contest against the San Diego Chargers, but head coach Dennis Allen held him out as a precaution due to it being so early in the season.

Running back Taiwan Jones was also absent from the field on Wednesday after sustaining a rib injury on Monday vs. the Chargers. LB Rolando McClain and CB Ron Bartell missed practice due to shoulder and ankle injuries.

The now-infamous long snapper position appears to be in more trouble as Jon Condo, the starting long snapper, was missing on Wednesday with a concussion.

Of note for the Dolphins, backup running back Daniel Thomas did not practice at Miami's Wednesday session.

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Jon Condo Injury: Raiders Sign Longsnapper Nick Guess, Add Two Others

The Oakland Raiders signed longsnapper Nick Guess and two other players to their practice squad on Wednesday, according to Steve Corkran of the Contra Costa Times. Defensive lineman Brandon Bair and cornerback Coye Francies were also added to the team.

To make room for the three moves, Oakland released receiver Brandon Carswell, defensive lineman Vaughn Meatoga and linebacker Nathan Stupar.

The most important transaction was the one at longsnapper. Pro Bowler Jon Condo was knocked out of Monday night's loss to the San Diego Chargers with a concussion, and a return date isn't known as the team awaits Condo to be medically cleared for play, according to the Los Angeles Times. On Monday, linebacker Travis Goethel took over at longsnapper after Condo's injury and botched two snaps to punter Shane Lechler. Another snap resulted in a blocked punt by the Chargers' defense.

Corkran reports that the team will wait a bit on Condo's status to determine if Guess will sign with their main roster. Guess, out of Tennessee, was most recently with San Diego, where he was released during the team's roster cuts.

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Raiders Vs. Dolphins Key Matchup: Fierce Raiders Run Defense Seeks to Shut Down Reggie Bush

On Monday night, not a lot went well for the Oakland Raiders. However, the one thing that did go extremely well, one that bodes excellently for their future success was the run defense. The Chargers gained only 32 yards on the ground and the Raiders played disciplined, smart football in that aspect. Defenders swarmed to the ball without overpursuing, stuffed the gaps and sniffed out the play each time the Chargers attempted to run the ball. Richard Seymour, Miles Burris and the oft-maligned Rolando McClain were particularly impressive.

For the Dolphins, it is imperative that they get Reggie Bush going to take pressure off their rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill. He was awful against Houston in Week 1, throwing three interceptions. Houston was up by several scores early in the game and Miami was forced to abandon the run, giving Bush only 14 carries for 69 yards. That will not do if they want to be competitive. Bush needs at least twenty carries a game, and probably needs to be their top pass target as well since the Dolphins have zero above average receivers.

It's pretty clear that Miami is a bad team. The Raiders, however, always have trouble when traveling to the East Coast and this game is in Miami. The Dolphins and Raiders both want to show that they are better than they appeared in Week 1. Whichever team gains the upper hand in the battle of rushing vs. rush defense will have a clear advantage in the game overall,

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Raiders Vs. Dolphins Betting Lines

After opening as three point underdogs, the lines have swapped in favor of the Oakland Raiders for Sunday's game and they are now favored to beat the Miami Dolphins by 1.5 points.

The swap in the odds happened despite a 22-14 loss on Monday Night Football that was only close because of a Rod Streater touchdown reception from Carson Palmer with less than a minute remaining in the game to cut the lead to eight points. However, despite the loss, the Dolphins were even less impressive in their 30-10 beat down at the hands of the Houston Texans.

The Texans scored 24 points on the Dolphins in the second quarter alone as they took advantage of three Ryan Tannehill interceptions and a Daniel Thomas fumble en route to a resounding victory. The Dolphins initially earned the favor of the odds in the opening lines, likely due to the fact that they will be the home team for a game in which the Raiders will have to travel a very long way.

Bovada lists the Raiders with the largest line in their favorite at 3, while 5Dimes has Oakland favored to win by 1.5 points. Both Sportsbook and TopBet fall in the middle with the Raiders favored to win by 2.5 points.

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Ron Bartell Injury: Raiders CB Has Broken Shoulder Blade

Just one quarter into his regular season debut as a member of the Oakland Raiders, Ron Bartell broke his left shoulder blade on Monday night against the San Diego Chargers and will be out of the lineup for a while, according to ESPN's Bill Williamson.

However, considering the injury is one that will not require surgery, despite how painful a broken shoulder blade may sound, the Raiders are hopeful for a return in as early as four weeks. With a Week 5 bye, a four-week recovery would set Bartell up for a return in Week 6 against the Atlanta Falcons.

Cornerback Pat Lee filled in for Bartell following the injury on Monday night and will presumably be the starter in Bartell's place in the immediate future. After a seven-year career with the Rams, Bartell joined the Raiders during the 2012 offseason on a one-year deal worth $3 million.

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Denarius Moore Injury: Raiders Hopeful Receiver Can Play Week 2

Oakland Raiders coach Dennis Allen said on Tuesday that he's hopeful receiver Denarius Moore will be ready to play against the Miami Dolphins in Week 2, according to reporter Steve Corkran. Moore sat out Monday night's 22-14 loss to the San Diego Chargers to help his recovery from a hamstring strain, but the second-year wideout has been practicing with the team.

The news of Moore's return is good news for a Raiders team that could use a deep threat. The longest pass completed on Monday was a 26-yard reception by tight end Brandon Myers.

And with the injury situation in Oakland's receiving group, any healthy bodies will be well received. Against San Diego, Oakland went with heavy doses of rookie Rod Streater and veteran Derek Hagan, who only signed on Thursday.

Further hurting the depth chart was Jacoby Ford undergoing surgery on his left foot, something Allen also announced on Tuesday. Ford will be out for a "significant" amount of time, Allen said.

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Raiders Vs. Dolphins Preview: Can Oakland Stop their Struggles Against Miami

The Raiders look to bounce back from week one loss against a Dolphins team that seams to have the Raiders number.