Civizilation » In late January, Flannery prese

ALAMEDA, Calif. - When general manager Reggie McKenzie set out in the off-season to rebuild the Oakland Raiders, he wanted to put together a team that could push around opponents in the trenches and run the ball consistently.That was the same message Tony Sparano delivered when he took over as interim coach four games into the season. Yet the Raiders start the second half of the season on pace to run the ball fewer times than any team in more than 80 years and for fewer yards than any team in nearly 70 years.Along with searching for their first win of the season, the Raiders (0-8) also are trying to re-establish their identity. Oakland is last in the NFL in rushing with 65.5 yards per game, the fewest for any team since the 1946 Detroit Lions averaged 42.5 yards. The Raiders have only run the ball 18.9 times per game, the fewest on records that go back to 1932.Im just not used to that, the number of attempts being what they are right now, Sparano said. We put ourselves there. Youre down on the road, in that kind of situation, and we put ourselves in that position a little bit on several occasions. Normally, Im more used to being in the 30 range, somewhere around there, and I think that produces better numbers.Right now the numbers are quite poor. The Raiders have topped 100 yards rushing just twice all season, gaining 101 in a blowout loss to Houston in Week 2 with help from a 41-yard keeper by quarterback Derek Carr and 114 against San Diego in the first game under Sparano.But the running game has reverted the past three weeks with the team averaging 56.3 yards per game and 2.9 yards per carry in losses to Arizona, Cleveland and Seattle.Sparano said the lack of opportunities has hurt the production. He said the team had 17 run plays in the game plan against Seattle but only ran the ball 16 times as the offensive line was beat repeatedly at the point of attack.The Raiders had hoped for stronger run blocking after adding big guards in rookie Gabe Jackson and free agent Austin Howard but that hasnt materialized yet.We just have to figure it out, Howard said. We have the guys up front to run the ball. We have the coaches to put us in the places to have success in the run game. We just have to go out on the field and do it. Its on us as players to go out and get it done.Despite the lack of production on the ground, the Raiders have stuck with Darren McFadden and Maurice Jones-Drew as their primary ball carriers. McFadden has 358 yards and is averaging 3.7 yards per carry while Jones-Drew has been held to 54 yards on 26 carries as he has been slowed by a hand injury.Latavius Murray has carried the ball just four times all season and fullback Marcel Reece also has only four runs. Reece has had good success the few times he has played tailback, rushing for 123 yards last year against the Jets and averaging 114 yards from scrimmage in four starts in 2012.Thats something that you could see happen because hes a big back who carries the ball a little differently than the other runners that we have, Sparano said. In his opportunity last year thats something he did a good job of. Were just trying to get to a point where we can get enough carries to go around period here. Bringing one more guys into the mix at this point while it may be great and might be a spark is a thought.NOTES: CBs Carlos Rogers (knee), TJ Carrie (ankle) and Chimdi Chekwa (hamstring) did not practice. ... G Gabe Jackson also was held out after leaving Sundays game with an injured left knee. ... WR Vincent Brown (hamstring) and CB Keith McGill (groin) were back at practice.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Wholesale Authentic Air Jordans . 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He capped the week by making 32 saves and stopping 2-of-4 shootout attempts in a 2-1 win over the Minnesota Wild on Saturday.SAN FRANCISCO - Tim Flannery is ready to leave the baseball grind and play a little more music.On the day Pablo Sandoval finalized his contract with the Boston Red Sox, Flannery announced he is retiring from the San Francisco Giants, who lost their third base coach in addition to their third baseman.The grueling grind, the schedule, the demands have taken a toll, and I feel it is the time to step off the highway and heal. This baseball life is a blessing, but collateral damage comes with it, Flannery wrote.Flannery wrote on his bands Facebook page, Tim Flannery and Lunatic Fringe, that he spoke with general manager Brian Sabean and manager Bruce Bochy on Tuesday and they shared some tears together.Flannery was an animated coach who danced along the baseline and emphatically twirled his arm to send runnersWith a heavy heart I want to say something. I left everything nine years ago to chase a dream, Flannery said. I left my home, my family, to follow my leader, and friend Bruce Bochy, to fight another battle, to try and bring a world championship to San Francisco.Flannery notes, I have no dreams of managing.Flannery, 57, had been on Bochys coaching staff dating to their San Diego days and they moved to San Francisco together in 2007.It is with a heavy heart that we bid farewell to Tim, the Giants said in a statement. We are grateful for his many contributions to the Giants organization over the last eight seasons. Hes been a loyal and vital leader of the San Franciisco Giants, but more importantly, he has been a friend and mentor to many of us who share his passion for the Giants and the community, with his special dedication to Bryan Stow.dddddddddddd We wish Tim nothing but the best on his future endeavours and hope to see him out at AT&T Park again soon.As a player over parts of 11 seasons with the Padres during which he and Bochy were teammates, Flannery was a career .255 hitter with nine homers and 209 RBIs in 972 games.In late January, Flannery presented the family of Bryan Stow with $96,000 to help with the care of the Giants fan as the father of two continues to deal with traumatic injuries and brain damage. Flannery and his band held four sold-out Northern California concerts last off-season benefiting Stow. All dollars from purchases of Flannerys 11th album, Outside Lands, released in November 2013, go directly to Stow.Flannery joined Phil Lesh and Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead to sing The Star-Spangled Banner before Game 3 of the NL Championship Series last month at AT&T Park.He said he will continue to commit himself to causes he believes in and to build awareness.History will show I was part of the greatest baseball teams in Giant history, I also was part of the greatest baseball teams in San Diego Padres history, Flannery said. I feel like the game has honoured a humble servant of it, I have been blessed so much from this sacred game. I just now feel it is the time to send myself home safely. ' ' '