It’s already an unusual set of circumstances for the Raiders and the Broncos as they are working with a short week due to the game being slated for Thursday Night Football.
For Oakland, preparing for the Week 14 game is a challenge for another reason. On Monday night, Raiders Head Coach Dennis Allen lost his father. Allen hasn’t been with the team yet this week, but plans to return to the Raiders facilities on Wednesday.
Defensive Coordinator Jason Tarver spoke with Denver media on Monday.
“He’s even a better person than a coach,” Tarver said of Allen. “He’s such a great man that all of us feel for him. We didn’t get to see all of that great relationship between him and his dad, but it’s a great relationship. Our hearts definitely go out to the whole Allen family.”
Players and coaches on the Broncos side have sent their thoughts and prayers as well.
While Allen hasn’t been present on the practice field to help the team prepare for Thursday night, Tarver and Offensive Coordinator Greg Knapp are using a plan that was created with Allen’s help.
“Most of the schedule and practice and everything – the timing of everything that we’re doing had already been set by Coach Allen,” Tarver said. “Dennis and our staff had researched the Thursday night week in the offseason and set kind of how we wanted to do this. Dennis set it ahead of time, so we’re really using the schedule that Coach Allen put together.”
It’s a difficult situation for coaches and players on the Raiders, but cornerback Michael Huff hopes the team will be motivated to earn a victory for its coach.
“We know we have to go ahead and mourn but still go out there and play well,” Huff said. “I say, get this victory for him.”
Tags: Conference Call, Oakland Raiders, Week 14
i hope Jacob Hester get some touches on Thursday. how come we dont use Andre Caldwell none this year? why did we even bring him in if he was going to ride the bench?
heart goes out to allen. still hoping we shame the faiders
i hope Osweiler can extend plays like Big Ben, throw the ball like Aaron Rodgers, disect a defense like Peyton Manning and make the right decisions like Tom Brady
Dennis Allen:
Please take the time off! To be with family! It’s far more important than a game! God Bless!
FTR
Alex, I see that you’re an amateur scout and all, but Elway knows what he’s doing. Even if he did let his feelings for Os affect his draft. I trust Elway and if Elway thinks he’s going to be able to get him to where he wants him, great. If it doesn’t work out we still have PLENTY of Peyton Manning left and more drafts so I’m not worried.
They said they’ve had Mitch running the ball too. Don’t be shocked if that happens… Why not?
If we win the Super Bowl this year, im sure Peyton Manning is going to look at our 2013 schedule and say “Hell yea im coming back!!”
tlc. right that elway seems to be hitting every nail on the head. but ill have to see it to beleive it with os. i still think we could have had martin instead. until proven otherwise i say that wass bad trading.
i can only hope i am wrong
Hm… Martin might’ve been more NFL ready, but I think Hillman is going to be great. And I’d rather have Wolfe than Martin.
Bronconasty, why wouldn’t Peyton play next year?
please forgive the typos. using my xbox since my comp died
i think we could of had wolfe hillman and martin. just leave os out and trade smarter. i was angry about the draft just cause of all the trade backs that we didnt get much value from.
why do take a prospect qb instead of a stud rb when you are set at qb for years to come?
Alex, you knew, as every Bronco did that Elway was going to draft Os. There no reason to be mad about it. There’s nothing you can do. There will be other running backs next year.
This does have the making of a trap game…
However, this isn’t a typical team we have. They are focused and preparing for a 2 seed. No let downs on Thur… Maybe a low score
*Official Score Prediction*
Den- 27
Oak- 17
Broncos Country Strong 2012!!!!!!!!!
There has to be a Plan B and he’d rather train Os to be the Plan B then wait until Peyton retires with NO Plan B. So, we have plan Brock Osweiler and if Elway doesn’t like it after next season he can draft another QB to train behind Manning.
Sndvl, every game feels like a trap game.
i think elway agrees with me based on how soon after the draft xanders was fired
That’s true TIcat. Lol
well i would discuss it more but it is way too much effort with an xbox controller. lets just say some crow will be served. to whom is times decision
Alex, Elway drafted Os. To think otherwise is silly. Yes, we wanted Martin and had to know Tampa did, but you can’t blame the Os pick on Xanders. Xander’s was fired because of the trading in the draft, but you have got to be kidding me if you think that Xander’s had anything to do with when Elway wanted to draft Os.
good point. still think wasted value. hope im wrong.
Sure Martin has been good fot TB but that doesnt mean he would be good here. The Draft is in the past. I think Os will develope well.
i dont know why people are counting out Os already. hes still a rookie and hasnt touched the field in the regular season because he sits behind a all time great. give him a break already. this kid will be fine. he makes good decision. he just need to get comfortable with the NFL game speed thats all
I just think that to count him out before he’s even had a chance is crazy. I figure people said the same thing about Aaron Rodgers.
But Brock is mobile and tall and can learn so much from the two HOF QBs we have. I have high expectations.
Uh Xanders did do the main part of the trading but to only “blame” Xanders for the bad trading is foolish. Fox and Elway both agreed to them as well. They had a plan and stuck to it.
Also like RH said. Just because he has been good with Tampa doesnt mean he wouldve been here. Schemes can really affect how a player plays (Of course!)
At the time of the draft we needed DL help. We got that with Wolfe.
At the time of the draft every Denver fan shouldve known we would be taking a QB. When it got closer to the draft it became clear it was going to be Os.
At the time we needed more of a speed back then a 3 down back. We got the speed back with Hillman.
We took what we needed. While we do now need a back more like McGahee and Martin couldve been that guy no one here couldve said 100% that McGahee would go down again. Now that its really obvious we need a back like McGahee I think we will take one this year or trade for/sign one.
Oh and for us couldve had Wolfe and Martin. We couldnt have. We got the pick we took Wolfe with from the trade with Tampa and with all the teams that were wanting Wolfe no way he wouldve lasted till pick 57. Ravens Steelers SD GB Bengals and the Saints were all really interested in Wolfe and the Ravens almost took him the pick before us but Upshaw was still there.
And Xanders was “fired” (I say that because it was a mutual agreement for him to leave) because he wanted more say with what the team does in terms of move making.
I agree, AB. I prefer Wolfe still.
rh – did you not watch the game. on average it takes about 5 guys to tackle the muscle hamster. he is just good.
this year we should get either that DT from notre dame, DT from Georgia or the DT from Alabama
Or get TAVON AUSTIN! lol
Nasty with our earliest pick I agree with all three lol I also wouldnt mind adding the DT from Purdue.
every fan should have excpected a qb pick? ridiculous. i was very happy with tebow and quinn as back ups to manning. osweiller scares the pants off me as a back up.
what is he like? @alaskan
Tebow and Quinn were gone at the time of the draft fyi and yes everyone shouldve. We needed another QB because at the time we had Manning and Hanie. It was very obvious to me that we would take a QB to sit and learn from Manning. Just because your the only Denver fan who didnt realize it doesnt mean its “ridiculous” lol
@alex you just need to put your big boy pants on and wait to see Os will develope. theirs a risk with ever QB even Andrew Luck. he might be looking good this year but next year he might have some growing pains.. look at Cam Newton.. just relax
we traded back twice and didnt get any extra picks. trade back once and take martin im the first round. then take wolfe with the early second pick you traded for. voila
@alex at the end of the day what is our record this year tho? oh ok just relax mann!
btw – im not playing the hindsight game. i have been saying all that since the day after the draft. good picks but bad value
Kawann Short he is 6-3 315. Ive watched a couple games of his. Most notably the Buckeyes game. He was consistently pushing the pocket and giving Braxton Miller a hard day. One play he blowed through a trip team for a TFL. Double and triple teams slow him down sometimes but other times he just plows through. Hardly saw him in a one on one. When I did the play was the outside away from him.
even if we did get Martin he probably wouldnt have the same numbers that he got with Tampa because Manning like to throw the ball more. he only use running backs to keep the defense honest at times
lol.true. couldnt be happier with the season.
if they are good picks, it doesnt matter about the value
Alex we got the early 2nd round pick to take Wolfe by trading with Tampa when they took Martin. Did you not get that? It was one or the other. Id rather take Wolfe.
@alaskan we need more beef than 315lbs lol
everything im saying is just nit picking. i am beyond excited about our team this year.
Hes 5 pounds lighter than Jesse Williams (The DT from Bama) Jenkins at his 355 would be great. But im not going to say no to short because hes only 315. THe kid is very very talented at controlling the LoS and winning the battle in the trenches.
Alex, do you not see that Knowshon ran more than Martin did on Sunday? Honestly. I love Martin, he was in my college division, but we got Wlfe instead of Martin and we needed Wolfe more and WOLFE helps stop the run.
dont get me started on moreno. unlike most here i always had faith in moreno. but did you see how many guys it took to bring martin down?
credit to our entire defense for holding him to 50. it took gang tackles.