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Oakland Raiders Strategy and Personnel

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Updated Dec 11, 2009 2:21 AM ET
     
 
If left guard Robert Gallery and center Samson Satele are both out, necessitating the move of Chris Morris to center and career tackle Langston Walker to left guard, it's all the more reason for Cable to run the ball hard and often with Justin Fargas, Darren McFadden and Michael Bush at a team that has at times been susceptible to the run. If Satele plays and Morris is at left guard, Cable be a little more daring in his play-calling and be more confident of protecting Gradkowski.



PLAYER NOTES

--LG Robert Gallery will have surgery for a back injury coach Tom Cable said is not considered career threatening and will miss the last four games of the season.

--WR Darrius Heyward-Bey (foot) missed practice for the second straight day and is questionable to face Washington. He probably would have to practice Friday to play.

--DE Greg Ellis missed practice with a sore knee and is questionable, although he wouldn't necessarily have to practice Friday to be able to play.

--OL Roy Schuening is expected to be promoted from the practice squad when Gallery is put on injured reserve.

--C Samson Satele was limited in practice after missing three quarters of the Pittsburgh game with a calf injury, but is expected to start at center against Washington.

--C-G Chris Morris, who earned a game ball for his play against Pittsburgh subbing for starting C Samson Satele, will replace Robert Gallery as the starter at left guard.

GAME PLAN: Don't be fooled by the passing fireworks from Gradkowski against the Steelers. Cable was equally gratified by getting 109 yards on 28 rushes against the league's No. 1 defense, and will look to pound the ball with more attempts and more yardage against the Redskins, ranked 24th in rush defense and victimized by lightweight teams such as St. Louis (104 yards to Steven Jackson) and Detroit (101 yards to Kevin Smith) as well as Atlanta's Michael Turner (166 yards). Justin Fargas will get the ball early and often and, ideally, Gradkowski won't throw 30 times against a team with dangerous pass rushers in Andre Carter and Brian Orakpo.

Defensively, the Raiders continue to battle their big-play demons, with 10 more plays of 20 yards or more keeping Pittsburgh moving last week. Most dangerous is wide receiver Santana Moss, with young receivers Malcolm Kelly and Devin Thomas coming on of late.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH: Raiders WR Johnnie Lee Higgins vs. Redskins RCB DeAngelo Hall. With Darrius Heyward-Bey out of action last week with a foot strain, Higgins, the Raiders leading wideout a year ago, re-emerged with four catches and 63 yards. Unlike Heyward-Bey, whose routes are primarily deep, Higgins' strengths lie with underneath throws and bubble screens, plays that allow him room to run after the catch. That dovetails nicely with Hall, who the Raiders know from experience plays extremely soft, guarding against the deep strike, and on some days allows a procession of first downs to be made directly in front of him. If Hall can't go because of back and knee issues, the same goes for Justin Tryon, his backup.

INJURY IMPACT: No chance of anyone in the organization admitting it, but with Heyward-Bey out with a foot injury last week, the Raiders had their most productive game since the last game of the 2005 season from their wide receivers. It's possible Heyward-Bey won't play again this week, giving Johnnie Lee Higgins additional snaps. Offensive line injuries will play a role in Cable's play calling, particularly if Walker is playing inside at left guard.
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