The McQuistan Chronicles
As predicted here at Raider Take, Paul McQuistan continues to make a rapid ascent from “who?” to cult hero. Indeed, his new teammates are taking notice and even joining the nickname fray, as evidenced in the following minicamp excerpt from the Sacramento Bee:Derrick Burgess was asked about a rookie on offense, and like most veterans he wasn't sure about his name. "Seventy-nine ... mullet?" Burgess asked.
"Mullet" is actually tackle Paul McQuistan, the team's third-round pick from Weber State. After two days of practice, he has shown the nasty disposition the Raiders desire.
"He looks like one of those tough guys," Burgess said. McQuistan's surliness was evident in morning pass-blocking drills. McQuistan was physical with defensive end Tyler Brayton, eliciting a shove from Brayton after the whistle.
McQuistan traded nastiness for humility after the morning session. "I don't really put too much stock into that," McQuistan said. "It probably takes away from the game and what I'm trying to do as far as getting better."
Translation: “Next time Brayton shoves me, I’m going to pop him in the mouth.” Suddenly, I’m not feeling so gloomy about our offensive line.
And so begins a periodic Raider Take feature called “The McQuistan Chronicles,” in which we monitor and celebrate the life and times of Mr. McQuistan. We want to embrace Paul “Braveheart - McNasty - Malachai - Red Scare - Mullet” McQuistan and welcome him into the Raider Nation. We want to help him make a smooth transition from this to this, and from this to this. Oakland is a long way from Utah, and not just geographically.
Paul, you just take care of the nasty, and we’ll handle the rest.
posted by Raider Take at 12:44 AM
19 Comments:
Anyone who knows me knows that I have always had a special place in my heart for our big offensive linemen.
Pre-draft, I was relentless in begging for us to draft one.
Who would have thought that I'd get justice in the body of a red-headed Scotsman?
As Judge Judy would say, "Perfect!"
i don't understand why everyone getting so hard over this kid. dude needs to just make the team, EARN some playing time and hope his hard work pays off down the road. geez, the way everyone's talking it sounds like this guy already has the starting job and is the second coming of steve wisnewski! and he hasn't even signed a professional football contract yet.
i'm over the team not drafting leinart. especially now with the possibility of a major distraction in paris hilton. i'm more on the reserved side of the table here. with so many blown drafts by al davis in the recent past, i'm not sold on this one just yet. this is the type of draft that may take 3-4 years to develop so there's just no way to tell right now. I for one refuse to jump on any one players bandwagon until they prove themself FIRST.
same for the other draftees, especially huff. none of them has even signed a contract yet so who knows? maybe this so-called safety savior will hold out. then what?
so let's all take a chill pill and wait this out.
I have been excited since the moment we drafted him and it just continues to build. Perhaps, we can put the "we should've drafted Justice," story to rest. Long Live McNasty!
I hear you Scorpio, but personally I don't want to chill out right now. I want to rise up and embrace newcomers like Paul McQuistan, I want optimism to bloom anew this spring, I want to wash the sour taste of Turner & Collins out of my mouth with the minty fresh concoction of Shell, Huff & Howard, I want to get geeked up about the upcoming season and consider it a success until proven otherwise, I want to be part of a Raider Nation groundswell that helps this team sever ties with the recent past and go boldly forward and achieve the Return to Glory. Amen, brothers.
well that is some boring logic scorpio2562, hope is what the offseason is about, nobody said this kid was going to be great, just that we hope he is and we love hearing about his nasty dispostion. roll with it if he busts he busts, doesnt mean we cant show love.
His nickname is O'Doyle.
There seems to be a really positive and hopeful feeling about the 2006 season.
This is partly due to Shell's firm, steady leadership and also the excitement about our new draft choices.
The fact that McNasty is getting high praise from Shell, Sims, Burgress after just a few days in camp is a very good sign. McNasty has sparked our enthusiasm because he is an interesting, unique character. In a way, McNasty is a living symbol or representation of what Shell is trying to bring back for the entire team. . . a tough nosed player who plays with a nasty streak. Nothing wrong with that.
My Silver & Black glass is half-full (not half-empty) because of guys like McNasty & Huff. Cheers.
Scorpio: It's true that's it's all just hype until these draft picks do it on the field, but you have to start somewhere. If you're going to climb a mountain, you have to take a first step. Early on, there is a sense that these players drafted by Al Davis are serious football players, not clowns like Buchanon, Russell, & Co. This group doesn't need to be told to play tough, hard nosed football for 60 minutes, they are smart enough to know it already. Most importantly, these guys seem to love playing football, unlike, say, James Jett, who looked as if he never even saw a football. Hope is in the air in Oakland, and with Art Shell's firm hand leading the way, I beleive there is good reason to be hopeful this time.
I share Ally's fetish for O-linemen...errr, maybe "fetish" isn' the right word - LOL!
Perhaps our fascintation with McQuistan comes from a love of seeing the misfit succeed in silver'n'black (yep, mullet = misfit).
Perhaps we want a tangible player to show us the "return to nastiness" isn't just Art-speak (check, McQ is already brawling in camp - ask Brayton).
Perhaps we are just creating hype to drown the sorrows of the last three miserable seasons...
Whatever the reasons, Art Shell, Gene Upshaw, Jim Otto, Bob Brown, Lincoln Kennedy, and Steve Wisniewski deserve every bit of love they get. Verily, the only time most folks ever notice an O-lineman is when a yellow flag is thrown in their direction.
Here's hoping one day the name "Paul McQuistan" belongs in the same sentence with these others who came before 'em and paved the way to 5 Raider SBs with loosened teeth, broken bones, and gouged helmets!
This is gettin' outta hand, people... and that's the way we like it!
Nay, Stick'em, 'twill not be out of hand until after we have had a jolly good Raider Take McQuistan Haiku Fest.
Then we'll talk about it getting out of hand.... LOL!
AllyOop, that definitely gets my wheels turning...Thanks for the inspiration! Stay tuned...
Stop the madness - y'er killin' me!
Japanese poetry about 300# red mullet wearin' Scotsmen who sumo with a helmet on...
Next you'll tell me Al Davis unwinds by folding origami into the shapes of his favorite CBs...
Willie Brown...
Lester Hayes...
Michael Hu...OMG - he DOES, doesn't he!!!
For the first time in, I don't know like 3 long years, the Raiders have done something right in this year's draft. I am just as excited as all of you as well as I still have a lot of questions about how OC Walsh is going to produce and if DC Rob Ryan's defense can create havoc. It all begins with a mind set like Coach Shell is instilling. And all the players having a common understanding of what is expected!I just want some solid football. A cohesive team plays solid regardless if it has new or old players. Anyways, that's how I feel
Go RADIERS!!!!!
Is there any doubt in anyone's mind that our O-Line will be greatly improved from last year and exert their will on the opponents D?
Is there any doubt in anyone's mind that the collective effort and will to win under Shell will be greatly improved from last year?
The difference in the players' attitudes, dedication, and focus seems to be like night-n-day from last year.
Maybe it is just the eternal optimist in me but since a short week ago it truly feels like the dawn of a new era and return to glory.
Most of the credit for this S&B awakening goes to Shell. His message has really resonated with the players. There is no more guessing about players roles or what is expected of them. There is a clear purpose and well defined goals.
Shell's leadership sytle is truly a breath of fresh air. I love the fact that Shell willingly brought up the goal of the SuperBowl. His view is, why not talk about it when it is the organization's mission statement.
I can feel the ground shake
I see a 6'6, 315 pound animal
POW! Flattened like a pancake
anyone hear anything about Andrew Walter from camp??
#2 Haiku
See McNasty run the field
You better stay out of his way
Or feel his furious wrath
#3 Haiku
See the opposing defense blitz
McNasty kills them with one mighty blow
Die opposing defensive line, die!
McQuistan Fan: You make some great points. We are hopeful that Paul McQuistan adds his own page to our proud tradition.
As far as McQ's nickname, "Wallace" is just way too ordinary and isn't really a true nickname.
For a nickname to work and catch on, it needs to resonate on many different levels. It needs to sound like a nickname and describe a person and/or capture the person's spirit or unique characteristic.
The average fan isn't going to know the history of William Wallace or the significance of Wallace. In other words when you say "Let's go Wallace" it just sounds like a regular name.
My vote would be for McNasty.
Mc = Scotish roots
Nasty = playing style.
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