Adam Treu, last year's starter, steps back into the center's role.
Treu will continue to long snap.
Coach Norv Turner was relieved that he had an experienced starter
such as Treu available to fill in. He has now been thrust into the
breach four times in his career, in which he has the longest club tenure
among all Raiders (nine years).
"There's obviously differences (between Grove and Treu)," Turner
said. "Adam brings a lot more experience and I think some of the things
that, at times, have gotten to us (are) calls in terms of protection...
Adam's a lot more comfortable with (them)."
Treu has been the consummate team man during his many ins and outs as
starting center.
"When we moved Jake in there and had the conversations with Adam
about it, he handled the thing extremely well," Turner said. "He knows
in the National Football League that there are going to be opportunities
where you are going to be asked to get back into action. He handles it
extremely well."
While Treu's attributes are based on experience, Grove's are
aggressiveness and a sturdier base of operation, translating into power
for run blocking.
Before Grove was injured, LaMont Jordan rushed 16 times for 80 yards.
During Treu's period, there wasn't much of a drop-off. He gained 46
yards in 10 carries.
NOTES, QUOTES
--When the Raiders' defense finally came through with the big stop,
it may have helped an image that was fostered off last year's sickly
statistical compilation.
Not only did the Raiders hold Dallas -- which had scored four
touchdowns against both San Diego and San Francisco in the first three
weeks -- to one touchdown, they came through in the closing two minutes
when faced with a Dallas challenge inside their 5-yard line.
"That is how I want it," defensive tackle Warren Sapp said. "If we
come down to every game with us on the field and a chance to seal it, I
will take my chances with the 11 guys I line up with. No doubt about
it."
"Every defense I've ever been on wants that challenge. Give us the
lead and let me make it stick. This is big for the whole team. We just
want to keep giving ourselves chances to be in games and then the
offense will win it for you. That's exactly what happened. On that last
drive (leading to a Raider field goal and a six-point lead), that 4:22
(taken off the clock) was big.
"After that, I just lined up the guys and said whatever they give us
here, we've got to make it stick. No matter if they give us two points
out of this drive, it's enough to win."
--Charles Woodson had his first interception of the year at the end
of the first half and the big stop on Dallas' final play of the second.
In between, he fully admits he made some big mistakes.
On a 63-yard touchdown catch and run by Dallas receiver Patrick Crayton, Woodson let Crayton slip by him instead of finishing off the
play.
"I allowed myself to relax," Woodson said. "I thought he was about to
run out of bounds, but he gave me a quick stiff-arm and ran for the
touchdown. I take full responsibility for that play. That's not the way
I play football."
Later in the game, Terry Glenn got behind Woodson for a 57-yard gain
and only Woodson's shoestring tackle from behind prevented Dallas from
scoring and erasing a 19-13 Raider lead.
"I should have been deep," Woodson said. "I'm mad at myself for both
plays."
PLAYER PERSONNEL NOTES
--CB Charles Woodson is not only playing safety on occasion, he also
is being freed up to be isolated on a specific receiver when the
situation calls for it, and that includes tight ends. In the past three
weeks, he has covered K.C. TE Tony Gonzalez, Philadelphia WR Terrell Owens and Dallas WR Terry Glenn. "I'm everywhere," Woodson said. "I
don't have a position right now."
--The use of Woodson in varied spots throughout the course of every
game has led to the rise of rookie first round pick CB Fabian Washington
to near full-time duty. Washington, who had a slow start in training
camp and was passed over in the nickel and dime defense by No. 2 pick
Stanford Routt, has now passed him by.
--Coach Norv Turner said that CB Nnamdi Asomugha played "as well as
he can play" against Dallas. He limited WR Keyshawn Johnson to one
catch.
--With C Adam Treu replacing C Jake Grove, the backup center will be
all-everything lineman Brad Badger until Grove is able to return from
surgery on his knee.
--DE DeLawrence Grant committed two neutral zone infractions in the
Dallas game, one of which came on a third-and-5 and led to a first down.
In the previous game, his personal foul on QB Donovan McNabb extended an
Eagles' drive. He had no tackles.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
REPORT CARD VS. COWBOYS
PASSING OFFENSE: B -- Kerry Collins didn't need a perfect game and
didn't have one by his own admission. He was in charge of game
management, which he performed as ordered (no turnovers). Coach Norv
Turner said this was the offensive line's best game. Randy Moss' 79-yard
reception in the first quarter didn't result in a touchdown, but it got
the Cowboys' attention, and they played so deep the remainder of the
game that it opened up the running attack.
RUSHING OFFENSE: A-minus -- No rusher had gained 100 yards against
Dallas over a 14-game span until LaMont Jordan went for 126 in this
game. For
contrast: LaDainian Tomlinson had just 19-for-72 for San Diego three
weeks ago. The only quibble -- the Raiders didn't run well enough to
exert clock control. Dallas led in time of possession, 30:46 to 29:14.
PASS DEFENSE: B -- Win some, lose some. It was an "A" considering
four sacks and that on 25 passes, the Raiders gave up just 67 yards
through the air. It was nothing close to "A" work on two other pass
plays -- one for 63 yards and a touchdown, one for 57. Very high marks
for DE Derrick Burgess, CB Nnamdi Asomugha and DT Warren Sapp.
RUSH DEFENSE: B -- This is a case where statistics don't tell the
whole story. The Cowboys had 116 yards and averaged 3.6 yards, right
around the NFL average. What was significant was that the Cowboys seemed
determined to run and couldn't. Tommy Kelly, Bobby Hamilton, Ted Washington and Danny Clark played outstanding ball.
SPECIAL TEAMS: A -- Sebastian Janikowski got the game ball for his
4-for-4 field goal effort, and the four kickoffs he kicked into the end
zone that were not returned. Credit PR Chris Carr for field position
leading to a touchdown off a 22-yard return. His average returning
kickoffs was 29.5 yards. Thanks to the kickers, Dallas only had one
return of any kind all day. Shane Lechler dropped a 59-yard punt inside
the 10 and Kirk Morrison downed it on the 1-yard line.
COACHING: A-minus -- Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan made good use of
periodic blitzes and had his forces on top of Drew Bledsoe's rear most
of the game. As long as Dallas was going to play so deep on defense, the
Raiders took advantage and pounded them. When they cheated up, Oakland
threw. All in all, it consisted of an excellent mix in what passes as a
nearly complete game by a Raider team that had wild swings up to then.
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