LB Bowman adds ability, leadership to Raiders

Oct 17, 2017 - 12:02 AM ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Help is on the way, although it's not clear exactly how much help NaVorro Bowman is going to be to an Oakland Raiders team on a four-game losing streak and in last place in the AFC West.

As the Raiders began preparations to host the Kansas City Chiefs Thursday night, they announced the signing of Bowman, who was released at his request by the winless San Francisco 49ers.

Bowman's time figured to be restricted as the season went on with the 49ers, particularly with rookie Reuben Foster returning from an ankle injury.

With the Raiders, Bowman figures to step right in at middle linebacker -- possibly as soon as Thursday night.

"We'll see how the week goes," Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio said. "See how he picks things up. See where we are with other guys, the whole deal. How it all fits together."

The Raiders opened the season with Marquel Lee, a fifth-round pick out of Wake Forest, as the starting middle linebacker. Lee has come off the field in nickel situations, however, with weak-side starter Cory James and lately undrafted rookie free agent Nicholas Morrow getting work.

Lee is out with an ankle injury and James played just seven snaps Sunday. Morrow, an undrafted free agent who played at Division III Greenville last year, played 62 of 65 snaps as a 220-pound middle linebacker who is more suited to outside duty.

"He was in on a lot of plays and did a really good job to do something that was much bigger than he anticipated when he joined us in training camp," Del Rio said.

Bowman figures to help as both a player and a leader to the younger players. Xavier Woodson-Luster, another undrafted free agent, also played extensively against the Chargers.

"He's a veteran guy. He's played a lot of good ball over the years," Del Rio said. "We're excited to have him. We're a little green at the linebacker position, so to add somebody with the experience he's had is a nice addition for us. We'll get him up to speed and see how quickly we can get him on the field."

Del Rio said he hadn't extensively studied Bowman this year because he was preparing for the Chargers, but was impressed to meet him at an event last year that honored the coaches of Bay Area athletes.

"Very impressive young man to me, kind of a man's man," Del Rio said. "He's been a tough player, part of a really good defense for his entire career. I had a chance to talk with him a little bit today and talk about the veteran leadership that it would be nice to have and so he's here."

--Wide receiver Cordarelle Patterson hasn't become much of a factor in the passing game, but he had his second breakaway run for a touchdown, racing 47 yards on a jet sweep to temporarily give the Raiders a lead in the second half against the Chargers.

Patterson earlier had a 43-yard scoring run on an inside handoff out of the shotgun in a 45-20 win over the New York Jets.

"I'm a playmaker, man," Patterson said. "That's something I do. Every time I get the ball in my hands I feel I'm going to score. No matter whenever I touch the ball, that's the mentality I have. I was just born with it."

--Veteran long snapper Jon Condo wasn't ducking responsibility for the missed extra point that ended up being the difference in the loss to San Diego.

Condo's snap sailed high to holder Marquette King, who got the ball down. The timing of the play was thrown off, and Giorgio Tavecchio pushed the ball wide left.

"I had a bad snap," Condo said. "Marquette did a good job getting it down and Giorgio did the best that he could getting it through. The team practices all week to go out there and do their job. I had an opportunity to go out there and do my job and I didn't come through."

--Cornerback Dexter McDonald, a seventh-round pick in 2015, had his third straight game getting extensive work as a nickel back. This time, with David Amerson back from a concussion, McDonald replaced Sean Smith, who was active but did not play.

"I didn't know how much I was going to play, I just had to be ready," McDonald said.

In the second half, after Tyrell Williams got past McDonald on a crossing route, the cornerback stripped the ball from behind, with Amerson making the recovery on the fumble.

"The guy got ahead of me, I just had to finish the play," McDonald said. "That's what I tried to do and fortunately I got the fumble out of there."

NOTES: G Gabe Jackson was back in the starting lineup after missing a game with a foot injury and blocked well but had two holding penalties. ... LB Shilique Calhoun, promoted from the practice squad, had a holding penalty on special teams but contributed a couple pressures in 10 snaps on defense. ... LB Xavier Woodson-Luster had 42 snaps -- his most extensive action of the season -- with injuries hurting the linebacking corps. ... LB Bruce Irvin had his second sack of the season. ... T Vadal Alexander had seven snaps as an extra lineman in run situations, the most extensive use of that alignment for the Raiders this season.



REPORT CARD VS. CHARGERS

--PASSING OFFENSE: D - A 23-yard scoring pass to Michael Crabtree was pretty much the highlight. Otherwise, it was a lot of short stuff from Derek Carr (21 of 30, 170 yards, two interceptions) in his return after missing a game with a fractured transverse process in his back. Amari Cooper was reacquainted with the offense, catching five passes, for a paltry 28 yards.

--RUSHING OFFENSE: C - It looked as if the Raiders could do some serious damage against the Chargers' No. 32-ranked rush defense when Marshawn Lynch had 37 yards in the first quarter. He finished with 63. Change-of-pace backs Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington got nowhere. Cordarrelle Patterson's 43-yard run on a jet sweep was the highlight.

--PASS DEFENSE: C - Was actually pretty good until the final drive, cornerback TJ Carrie in particular. The Raiders were rallying up, making tackles to get off the field and preventing the big play. Then Hunter Henry got loose for gains of 43 and 23 yards on the Chargers' game-winning field-goal drive. Covering backs out of the backfield continues to be a problem. The Raiders are the only team in the NFL without an interception.

--RUSH DEFENSE: B - Made things difficult for Melvin Gordon all day (83 yards on 25 carries), but gave up some crucial gains as the Chargers were driving for the game-winning field goal. However, defending the run for the most part was one of the best things the Raiders did all day.

--SPECIAL TEAMS: C-plus - Marquette King did a terrific job swinging field position with his punting, with a 56.5 gross average and pinning the Chargers inside the 20 four times. There was a huge mistake that changes the entire grade, however. Long snapper Jon Condo sent one too high to King on a Giorgio Tavecchio extra-point attempt, and it affected timing to the point where Tavecchio pushed it left. It accounted for the one-point difference in the final score.

--COACHING: C - The Raiders can't seem to determine what they want to be when they grow up, particularly on offense. Are they a smash-mouth team? They were pretty much dink and dunk against the Chargers, but QB Derek Carr says his back has nothing to do with it. They ran well then got away from it. Nice call on the jet sweep to Patterson. A late hook and lateral was run too close to the sideline and failed to get a first down. Defensively, the plan was solid, but the late execution is on the players.