Hi, My Name Is Daunte...
“Hi, my name is Daunte Culpepper, and I’m looking for work.”
Funny how fate works, eh? At the very moment our presumed quarterback of the future stages a greedy holdout, a guardian angel walks into camp.
After our first preseason game, in which Culpepper fumbled his way through the third slot, I said: “If Culpepper remains healthy, he’s our guy, period.”
After our second preseason game, in which Culpepper showed some moxie in the second slot, I said the same thing.
After this third preseason game, there’s simply no doubt.
Culpepper’s mobility, improvisation, precision throwing and overall command put a big smile on Lane Kiffin’s face tonight—and mine, too.
This is going to get very interesting, very fast. I’m feeling more bullish by the moment.
Out of the woods, baby, and into the Autumn Wind we go.
P.S. That Higgins kid looks pretty sharp, doesn’t he?
posted by Raider Take at 10:19 PM
210 Comments:
A solid game for the Silver & Black. Culpepper looked good and the Raiders dominated time of possesion. A rested defense remained stout still no Steven Jackson and no Frank Gore last week. All is well so far but what can we expect when the real season unfolds sgainst the Lions? 1-0 that's what.
This whole "O" of Kiffin's looks "Sharp"....and he fits the players in and makes them look like "Giants".....
"RB"....Jordan ran well but did you see "Eche" run.....Holy-Moly the kid is agressive....the "FB"s can deliver some punishing blocks to set the "RB"s free....
"WR"....Curry got HOT and that's a prelude to the future.....Portster drew the "DoubleTeam" and sometimes made them pay....they had to play too tight to be able to stop the pass and drew the flag....Williams is going to be a "Load" for the "DB"s....and than there is the "TE"s....I'm loving it already....
"QB"....Culpepper is da Man....this whole team comes alive when he's in the game and it gets flat when he leaves.....this is now "Culpeppers Team"....I can see it and I believe it....
Walter....Fake Hand-Off Role-Out Right....and the boy can actually run.....I did not know that....I say he sticks.....I think he is learning something new here and will become better at it as time permits....he has some great teachers like Culpepper...."JRus" get your ass in here dude you are loosing out on some great learning opertunities.....
"OL"....did you see that "Down Field Blocking"....they loaded up and hit people...."Did anybody get a number off that truck that hit me" Cries the "LB"s-n-"DB"s.....and did not give up a sack until the second quarter after all the talk we heared about the "Lamb"s "DL" bringing the preasue.....
What can you say about that "D"....
PantyRaider....This looks like a "PlayOffTeam" already!!!!!
culpepper is definitely the starter.
i really want mike williams to make this team. he did NOT have a good game with those 2 drops. he did throw a good block on jordan's long run though.
speaking of jordan's run, sometimes this guys running style is confounding. what is up with that spinning towards the end of that run? if he went straight he could have gotten farther in my opinion.
higgins is an exciting player. did you guys catch that cartwheel and summer sault after his kickoff return? he should make this team on style points alone. this cat is fast! whitted, so long buddy.
madsen has some seriously great hands! although miller didn't do much as far as catches, he did have great blocking tonight.
what's with that review on the rams TD play? looked to me that the receiver didn't have control. if he did, only 1 knee touched down.
our offense is really starting to get in sync. can't wait for the real bullets to fly!
NYRaider:
At nfl.com click on the Raiders-Rams game at the top of the page....there is video highlights of the game that you can watch....good stuff bro....
PantyRaider....NiceGame!!!
Shades of pre-season "06"... don't you faida fanatics learn anything from PRE-SEASON? These games are practise, the defense (or lack of) that you are sooooo proud of got seriously burned several times!, Your "o-line" was holding so much they gave an illusion of ability at times!, the ref's aere affraid to make any calls against the faidas around the "black-bung-hole" You all know that, you gansta bad boy thugs intimidate EVERYONE. The propaganda machine is in full swing with "sylvester the brick of shizzle" and "stutterin'jimmyboy the plunk" with "ol' mushmouth atkinson" bringing up the rear with all the "(MR.) davis this and (MR.) davis that baloney, oh and of course the "plunk a dunk" and "tommyboy flowers" should be in the HoF. crap again. The "faida television network" was GREAT with their camera work wandering aimlessly around the 1/3 full mcapee stadium. Now all you faida fanatics are back on the "roberta galleria" and "lamont sanford" bandwagon again! Get ready for the big let down faida fanatics, they'll break your hearts again....Mark my words...The faidas won alot of pre-season games over the last 5 years! Just beleive babies. Keep defending the "nation" Ha ha ha ha ha yuk yuk yuk gur yar yor shiver mi timbers blow me down....
Panty-
Thanks for looking out bro. I’ll definitely check that. Listening to the audio is pretty good, but not the same. When the season starts I will have front row at a local sports venue.
Preseason or not, I continue to be very impressed. Culpepper #1, McCown #2 (well-suited for this offense) and Walter #3. Some players really stepped up, e.g., Madsen, Curry, Culpepper, while others are being cut as we speak, Morant.
Jordan looked good, but you’re right Scorpio; he had plenty of room to continue forward when he went into that spin...?
IMO, our ball-control offense can be a force this year... and keep our D off the field. Because it’s preseason, I imagine that we haven’t even seen some of the planned blocking schemes yet. Can’t wait!
Couple more observations:
-Upon further review of Jordan’s long run, he looked good, but just didn’t look like a RB that finishes plays. It’s like he gave up on the run when he went into a spin. How many times have we seen Zach Crockett take players out and/or carry them on his back when he sniffs the goal? Jordan doesn’t seem to have that instinct. And a fumble at the one doesn’t help.
-SeaBass is pitiful. After being one of, if not the worst kicker in the NFL last year, what can we expect from this guy? Will he ever earn his keep? Kicker is a position the Raiders will need to address as part of our long-term Russell years.
-Did anyone notice on a sack to McCown he had pumped once and was trying to “TUCK” the ball when he was hit and apparently fumbled. HELLO! Does that rule only apply when the other team has the ball?
Is it just me or does this anonymous character sound like a sad jealous shell of a man who spends a lot of time alone in the dard and buys viagra over the internet.
I try to avoid personal attacks on people, but in his case I think we should make an exception. His comments show a level of jealousy and ignorance that borders on a pathology.
In any event I'm pumped for the season to start. On September First college kicks off then on the Ninth the Raiders get it going.
My fall schedule is now in focus, Friday Night High School, Saturday my favorite college team and Sunday Da Raiders.
Football season - is there a better time of the year?
H
Bama7
-Yes, no doubt Culpepper's the guy. If he goes down, we're in trouble. Get Jamarcus in and let him be learning under Culp, pronto.
-Higgens is for real.
-C Johnson was picked on relentlessly on a drive in which the rams were determined to try to make a game of it. They found a weak link and exposed it.
-Note to all the raider conspiracist: the refs had our back last night. Any time you can open an early drive with a long interference call, you have your spark... also had another interference later in the first half that helped. Just saying this because if the roles were reversed many of us would be crying that "they're" doing it to us again.
-They fumbled on a long drive and, like the early interference on Z Miller, it was the kind of play that just showed it was "our" night (but I realize we fumbled on the 1 yard line... Is it just me or is anyone else having to search hard for a good feeling about Jordan?)
-Holt and Steven Jackson didn't play... Jackson was in on one play... the big catch that Bruce made on the first play.
I give us a 'B'. Can't go higher because Holt & Jackson didn't play, plus the Oline didn't run blocked better, and also Jordan FU(*ED-UP a sure TD.
I listened via the internet to the game but will catch the reply on nfl network. It is one thing to fumble on the 1.
My question to those who watched, is Jordan at least running hard? I am still not sold on him.
Panty-
See-wah-dee-cob
One of my dearest friends lives in Petburi, I think 80 miles outside of Bangkok. He would gladly split any cost to watch Raider games with you!
As for faida anonymous. I think RT could delete his entries but why? I think they are pathetically funny. This is the same syndrome that exists here in Chicago. White Sox fans hate the Cubs more than they love their own team. If the Sox won one game all year they would think it a good season as long as the win was against the Cubs.
Off to nfl.com for the highlights.
See you guys at the opener! (still looking for 3 tickets BTW)
I checked the highlights on NFL.com and plan to record the game replay today.
I was unable to catch the game on the internet, so I'm looking forward to seening the replay.
After looking at the box score and dirve chart, I like what I read where it comes to first team against first team. 17 first half pointst that could easily have been 27. Defense only gave up 3 first half points. Plus the way they came back against the niners in the first half.
It's still preseason, but what I like most so far is points. We're doing better in the red zone and scoring touchdowns. Even during the preseason last year the first team was settling for field goals. This year it's touchdowns, and the defense seems to have picked up right where they left off.
September 9th will be interesting. Detroit is actually playing fairly well in the preseason also.
The Chefs appear to be really struggling. Less than 10 points a game. Herm may be in trouble if it continues into the regular season.
If anonymous fader is trying for a battle of wits, he needs a bigger weapon. His BB gun is currently firing blanks. Maybe that's why he needs the Viagra.
H
I didn't get to watch the game, either. Just listened via internet radio. I cannot begin to tell you how exciting this game was to me. After the last few seasons of abso-stinkin'-lutely NOTHING going our way, I'll take some games of promise like we've had this preseason any day of the week.
I have to give props to Cable for giving our Oline the makeover of the ages. After giving up 72 sacks last season, we've given up almost nothing this year. In fact, it seems to me that the only sacks we've given up have been by our backups. How wild is that?
Our D is a monster again this year. I'm still kinda' wondering what our run D is gonna' be like, however. So far I don't think it's really been tested--no Gore, no Jackson. Maybe we'll see next week...
What the box score and perhaps radio don't demonstrate is that Culpepper hit Williams on the hands (wasn't Williams' fault he missed it, coverage was very tight) and he hit Porter on the hands (Porter should have held onto it) for incompletions. That's 0-2 in the box score, but 2-0 in terms of precision and ability.
another thing i noticed from the stands was something on carr's run.....close to the end zone, maybe around the 10 yard line near the sideline he hesitated for just a split second, perhaps to avoid being tackled. if he just kept on running forward its possible he could have scored or at least gained more yards.
higgins will make this team. better to have a multi-dimensional player (kickoffs, punts and receiver) who can do an ozzie smith summersault than a fast scholarship player who can't catch (whitted).
morant is another one i'd like to see stick BUT that dropped pass didn't help his cause.
IMO, jordan is over-rated. i'd like to see him do less fancy stuff ie: dancing, spinning etc., and just stinkin' run.
janikowski - don't like him. never did. no excuses for missing that field goal. every once in a while he'll kick off deep but more often he'll kick short. is this what we drafted him #1 for?
lechler: i'd like to see him do more situational punting instead of just booming the hell out of the ball. maybe he can sacrifice his desire to be the 2nd coming of ray guy and instead pin our opponents inside the 5 rather than risk them taking it back for a score.
Holy crap, the Lions are in trouble! There is no way they beat us week #1. You get the feeling our team is busting at the seams ready to prove themselves in a real game. Martz will try lots of 3 & 4 wide to try and exploit our CB depth but they can't do much else.
Just last month we talked about our biggest issue being lack of leadership on the offensive side. Look at us now. All it took was Daunte. The guy is like a 6'5" spark plug with pro bowl exp.
I gotta' say, this year's draft may turn out to be our best yet. It seems like every one of these guys makes plays. Frampton is always hitting people hard, Jay is a force in the run game, Moses is a mini Burgess, Bowie is quiet, which is good for a CB, Higgins looks like an absolute steal, probably a future starter. Plus Bush, Miller & J-Russ, are you kidding me? We kind of knew Lane could pick 'em, but I honestly didn't expect it to be this good.
Hopefully my Vicodin induced experiment turns out to be accurate because it would mean Crockett makes the team. He started the game, not Griffith. Nice to see Lane has as much confidence in Zack as we do.
Oh, and the haters better stock up on Hatorde while they can because they're going to have to dig deep to find things to talk sh*t about pretty soon, we're back baby!
Psycho
more jordan....
what i mean by fancy is maybe on that fumble at the goal line? he should have just secured the ball. i didn't see the game on TV yet and they didn't show a replay on the big screen but i heard he tried to extend and break the plane.
michael bush: hurry up and get better. we need you bud!
NYRaider:
At nfl.com there are Culpepper highlights of several of his plays....he is getting top billing....
The Raiders are currently listed as the #2 Run "O" and the #7 Overal "O"....what a difference a year makes....
PantyRaider....Culpepperrrrrr!
A few minutes before Jordan fumbled on the goal line he nearly lost the ball doing the same thing extending for a 1st down. Yeah he should not be doing that. Just secure it. But other than that I thought Jordan had another good game.
I've been as hard on him as anyone but I gotta' say he's looked like he fits this system really well and should put up some nice numbers. In Norv's system he seemed to have too much patience and didn't hit the holes fast enough. This system requires more patience and he's doing a good job of letting things develop and finding the holes. If we can turn Jordan into a productive guy his inherent energy and will to win will spread like crazy. He tries so hard to be a leader with words, now it's time to lead with yards, and the rest will follow.
Psycho
Psycho:
I trump what Jordan has done with "Eche"....he is the same hight and just 5#'s lighter but he has tremendously more heart and "Punch" to his game and I think he should start....I don't trust Jordan because he takes plays off in the past and I think he will again....but now he is being pushed and pushed hard by "Eche"....stumble boy and you loose your playing time....so for now Jordan is playing his heart out trying to keep his job....But one thing I will say for the boy...."ThankYou"....He took a cut in pay to stay with the team as I recently found out....so that's speaking a little louder to me....
memdf:
I think you are refering to Petchabury which was the old capital of Thailand....so he is about 80km north by north-west and I am about 180 km east by south-east on the gulf of Thailand....but it may be posible that if we both have the same access code that we could save a downloaded game from the internet...my understanding is that we have until Wensday night at 12:00pm each week to view the games for that week....I will be staying in Bangkok for 1 week when I get there so maybe we can hook up....here is my e-mail...and you can also send it to your friend in Thailand....
cutthroatthunder@yahoo.com
PantyRaider....GOOOOORaiderrrrrrss!!!
Panty - I hope Ech evolves to the point where he is the #1 guy, I really like him too. Psycho
One more point....OakTown #7 "O"
"SD" is the #12 rated "O"
Denver is the #27 rated "O"
"KC" is the #32 rated "O"
OakTown is now the #17 Run "D"
"SD" is #8
"KC" is #30
Denver is #32
So this maps out where we have improved in our own divission...last year we were the worst "O" with the worst Run "D" in the NFL....now we are second in our division....and still improving...
PantyRaider....LookinUp!!!!
Ummm... I wouldn't put too much credence in any pre-season stats. Pretty meaningless IMO, especially since we are prolly the only NFL team that is giving their starting RB like 20 carries a game... what is Kiffin trying to prove here? If he goes down, we have whom left? The guy with all the letters in his name and Fargas the first four games?
I don't get this.
And didn't Jani also kick a 50 yarder? He's not a great kicker but far from the worst IMO.
Nice to see the Raiders dominate in TOP against the starters(although I am guessing the Rams weren't taking this game as seriously as the Raiders were). TOP is a HUGE issue this season... we simply cannot be anywhere close to last in the NFL again if we are to see any progress at all in the win column.
gary:
I totally disagree....the stats tell a story that is in direct contrast to last season....we are looking for improvement so that is the stats that I concentrat on....
Where were we weak...
"O"...."ToP" 106/180min in 3 games....Rushing 112 for 425yds -w- 3.8yd per play -n- 142yds per game....3rd Down Conversions we are now 21/48....%Pass Compleation we are now 54/96 for 56% @ 6.6 yds per play -w- 4TD's to 1Int and 9 fumbles -w- 3 lost -n- 86 QB Rating....Yds Per Game is 338yds...yds per play is 4.7 and these stats are for all 3 "QB" and also our 2nd-n-3rd team players....If we omly look at the first team it would be much better....
Rushing "D"...67 for 324yds -n- 4.8 per play....108 yds per game...Last year we were the worst Run "D" and we still need improvemnet but if the "O" can score it takes away the running game and makes them throw the ball to keep up with the score.....and if you look at only the 1st team the stats are much better....
Add to that the fact that 2 teams in our divission are compleatly flat and banged up and that translates into alot of potential....and potential is all that we are looking at this point in the season....
PantyRaider....PotentiallyGreat!!!!
Pantyraider... I respectfully disagree. Pre-season is like watching a magic show... you are never clear of what you see... especially in regards to statistics.
I agree there appears outwardly to be a lot of fixes to our problems from last year, but I think we prolly have a long way to go. That said... I love your enthusiasm!
Speaking of preseason stats... we have three of the top 10 RB's in attempts.
http://tinyurl.com/2pjzpt
Weird.
Gary:
I like the way they sped the ball around....I hope that continues....it will keep them all in the game and keep them all fresh....and than at some point we can add MBush to the mix....
I think it's good to do that with the "WR"s also....and hopefully if we have a good lead in the second half or 4th quarter we will get some quality time for our back-up "QB"s....
The "D" has done that all along so why not the "O"....
PantyRaider....LoveGamePlanning!!!
Gary is realistic about what you faida fanatics are seeing during pre season, he at least understands that on any given day a team can post excellent stats and can still be a lousy team. If you want to consider that much of the pre season success of ANY team is largely due to the play of personnel who will not be on any team once the regular season starts! Isn't that an amazing concept! If you hard core faida fanatics haven't noticed, your "a" team hasn't done shizzle against any competent opposing "a" teams. Go "nation" yeah "culpumper" is the faida qb of the future, for about a couple of weeks til he realy shows his "stuff".Sorr 0-16 kepp the faith babies, hang in there "prancysmeller" you are the heart of the faidas.
How many fumbles does Culpepper need to do before you realize he is NOT our guy. Let me help you out: This guy doesn't have it. RUN AWAY. He's not Plunkett!
gary:
I don't get this.
And didn't Jani also kick a 50 yarder? He's not a great kicker but far from the worst IMO
thats true gar. But the word we are looking for from a first round draft pick (#17 overall) is consistency. another one: automatic. janikowsi has never been either one. names that come to mind from the recent past and present are:
Morten Andersen
Gary Anderson
Vinatieri
Akers
Rackers
Elam
i don't recall any of these kickers with the high draft status of jano but they all have been very consistent and reliable in high pressure situations over the years.
you always hear our announcers making excuses for jano when he kicks off the dirt. i think that's crap. he's a 1st round draft pick. he should be consistent from anywhere on the field whether it be placekicking or kickoffs. its an adventure when he takes the field. and we all know he's had legal probs in the past but you just never know when this guy will explode. we never know which jano will show up! how much is he making al? and wasn't shaun alexander available in that draft? i cringe every time this guy sets up a kick!
so "He's not a great kicker but far from the worst" doesn't cut it for me!
Bama7
Random thoughts:
-Agree on Jano... what a long, strange mediocre trip he's been. If ever there should have been a skill clauses in a 1st round pick, he and Brayton are it. Nothing special at all from these two to warrant round 1 picks.
-I'd like to see us cut Porter to make room for Russell. Is that possible? Higgens, Taylor and Curry are all capable of moving the chains and putting up numbers.
-Mike Williams. he's big, strong and capabale of out-muscling guys for the ball, but Kiffen seems more than just a little disappointed in him. He may end up on the practice squad.
-lastly, I saw several clips of the game (Finally) and Jordan about made me sick with his weak prancing aroung and hesitant dancing. Even at the end of his long run he suddenly held up and looked like he was bracing to be hit when no one was around. he should have been head down, plwoing toward the end zone. It was extrememly weak looking. I don't know if I can stomach another year of this guy.
Gary-
I disagree about Jano. Forget that he was a 1st round pick (that’s not his fault, it’s the Raiders’), he is a below-average kicker. His 72% field goal percentage in 2006 was among the worst in the NFL, where average kickers hit 80% to 85%, and good kickers hit over 85%. It’s true, we had more attempts over 50 yards (7) than just about any team, but not so much to skew the stats. Take a look at www.nfl.com.
Meanwhile, one of his most lauded attributes turns out to be his weakest. He has among the lowest ratio of touchbacks, with 7 TB's out of 50 kickoffs (14%).
Anyone notice that Kiffin has gone on a lot of 4th downs? Something I hope he carries into the regular season, but also something that should keep Jano off the field for long FG attempts.
PS- Jano's short kickoffs contributed to the Raiders' NFL-worst KO return yardage which averaged a whopping 28 yards per.
If scholarships are to be eliminated, it might be time to explore other options at K.
One can sit here and criticize Jani all they want (and I agree where we drafted him should be irrelevant) but the relevant part is WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO TO REPLACE HIM!!! I don't think there are too many pro bowl kickers that we can pick up off the scrap heap, so he is what he is.
As far as the touch back argument, I think that has to do with coaching... we've always had moronic ST's coaches (or HC's) that think its better for him to kick it high and try and pin the other team behind the 20 than simply have him kick it through the end zone. I've always bitched about this.
Perhaps this is the first year we have a coach that thinks its better to have the other team start at the 20 every time instead of gambling that we won't give up a long run-back, and his TB percentage will rise considerably? I'll wait and see.
>>>>
PS- Jano's short kickoffs contributed to the Raiders' NFL-worst KO return yardage which averaged a whopping 28 yards per.
>>>>
Did you watch the games last year? I'd blame that on our ST players all going to the ball instead of staying in their lanes (it was like watching a 6th grade basketball game where everyone swarms around the ball) and horrible tackling.
Our ST's were a nightmare last year... and I can't pin that all on Jani.
>>>
His 72% field goal percentage in 2006 was among the worst in the NFL, where average kickers hit 80% to 85%, and good kickers hit over 85%. It’s true, we had more attempts over 50 yards (7) than just about any team, but not so much to skew the stats.
>>>>
Huh? He only attempted 25 FG's... missing 7... how can you say this?
And his career TB percentage is 24.2%... Vinitiari's is 21.8.
Elam's is 21.2
Akers... 22%
Cmon guys... pulease.
...further on Jani... his career FG percentage is 77%... Vinitiari's is 82.5.
Considering Jani has almost certainly attempted more long FG's over his career than Vin, is he REALLY that bad? I think the problem here is that we expected so much from him when he was drafted that high. He's been an above average kicker when we expected a perennial pro-bowler (and he coulda made it in 03 and 04.. 88% and 89%)
Gary-
I guess I wasn’t aware that Jano had been instructed to kick high (and short) on kickoffs. I find that a little hard to believe but, if true, than last year’s coaching was even worse than the big fat zero I imagined.
I’m not saying we need to cut him today. However, we should keep our eyes open for his replacement, maybe even next year's draft.
Wrt coaching, everyday Kiffin and staff go to work only magnifies the ineptitude of last year’s coaching, across the board.
Bama7
If I didn't think he'd end up in Denver, I'd say cut Jordan.
I'm also afraid that Trotter will end up in Denver as DJ Williams is not doing well at MLB. We need Trotter to go anywhere but the afc west.
Lastly, if we don't get Russell signed and he goes back into the draft, the Chiefs will be all out after him. I told y'all Croyle sucked. After watching him for 4 years here in bama, I knew they'd made a mistake thinking he'd be their starter. QB will be a very hot commodity next year in the first round... Minnesota, Atlanta, KC, Miami just to name a few. I think if Russell is not signed, he'll go as high as the second pick in next year's draft. That's the market talking, Al. Go on and roll the dice and let him slip away, Al... you senile old fu*&. If Russell ends up in KC, Al will be on his knees praying he doesn't end up being another Peyton, or God forbid, Elway.
Y'all quit wasting time on Jano. He's nothing more than a VERY average NFL kicker. And, yes, one of the main reasons he was brought in was because teams were supposed to be starting from their own 20 every time he kicked off because it'd be an automatic touchback. Hardly ever happens. It makes you wonder if he actually ever scouted him.
Everyone needs to chill about Jano. Primarily there's no one better on the open market at the moment. On Friday he had three touchbacks utilizing a line drive kickoff technique that used his strength. Maybe it was the special teams coaching.
Watching the replay I did see Jordan on one of his runs lower his head and take on the tackler along with a few of his spin moves on the other runs. Hopefully he has learned his lesson about protecting the ball on the goal line.
Fargas did some decent running also. He'll probably make the cut with Bush on the PUP for a bit.
Fabian Washington needs to learn how to take on a RB and tackle. When you get hurdled, it can be embarassing.
H
"K"s....they are what they are right...
When I looked at the list of good "K"s I saw only 6 names and I think some of those guys are no longer in the NFL....but as I remember there are "32" teams in the NFL....so that makes at least 25 teams without a good "K"....but we have the "PolishCannon" and I personally like the guy....and some consistancy on the "O" and the rest of the "ST" might just make him look a little better.....
For instance is his "FG" attempts are within 30yds 70-80% of the time....within 40yds 15-25% of the time....and beyond 40yds only 5-10% of his kicks....now how do you suppose he would look.....but he has "NO" control of where he kicks from now does he....
Next we need to take a serious look at the circomstances of his missed "FG"s...what was the weather...condition of the field...and for crying out loud what was the attitude of the "Freakin" team he was playing for....as I remember the entire "O" was in "LayDown" mode last year and so were the "ST"s....the only squad that was worth a "Crap" was the "D" and "Jano" did not play for the "D" did he....
So please....can't ya show a little "RaiderLuv" for the boy....ya'll seem to be able to show some commitment to Jordan and the "OL" and of all the malcontents out there you show "Luv" for Portster....
Lets just wait and see how he performs this season before we start to "SellemOut"....or should we discard Culpepper too becouse he Fumbled some snaps....after all if something should be Atomatic it should be the snap...Right....but I doubt any True Raider Fan wants to let Culpepper go.....
PantyRaider....JustSupportinBaby!!!!
Help please:
I need to know the name of a song for a pice I am writing for release durring the week of the "Donko"s game....
"Visions of the Dark Side" a Prelude to War.....
The song was played by Santa Anna at the Alimo and it means "No Prisoners" or something like that...they were saying there would be no survivors....
If you know the Spanish name of the song please let me know...
PantyRaider....ThankYou!!!!
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H said...
Everyone needs to chill about Jano. Primarily there's no one better on the open market at the moment. On Friday he had three touchbacks utilizing a line drive kickoff technique that used his strength. Maybe it was the special teams coaching.
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A friend of mine in the Raider NG that used to be a kicker in college thought he for sure was being instructed to kick high instead of just booming it out of the endzone. I think he pretty much always has been... and it once almost lead me to commit suicide by jumping over the rails at Arrowhead the night we had him kick to Hall at the ten yard line with a lead and maybe one minute left (the year Hall was tearing up the league in kick returns.)
The ST's coaches for the Raiders have been pitiful for ever... even including the SB year.
It's one of my main hopes for this year... a ST's coach that isn't obviously insane.
Jano did a good job of keeping it away from Dante Hall on Friday. Hopefully that is a sign of times-a-changing as far as ST coaching goes.
I look forward to a boring, injury free game Thursday. Go 4th stringers & guys who will be cut, YEAH!!!
Psycho
Overall I was very happy with what I saw. Pressure on the QB, swarming to the ball, great play calling (the reverse was beautiful). However, I would like to see more imaginative play calling on the goaline from the offense. Damn, Culpepper throws a pretty ball!
Rollouts, bootlegs and the runningback throwing a pass is what we need at the goal line.
Dante! Dante! Dante!
You keep this up and I am going to drop a Franklin on a Las Vegas line!
Walter! See you in Houston or Chicago!
Rollouts, bootlegs and the runningback throwing a pass is what we need at the goal line.
Dante! Dante! Dante!
You keep this up and I am going to drop a Franklin on a Las Vegas line!
Walter! See you in Houston or Chicago!
raiderdecoachella
Didn't see Jano's missed field goal. 9 in 10 shot that it was off the dirt infield. Dirt infields are to Jano what a crusifix is to Dracula.
holy roller said:
"However, I would like to see more imaginative play calling on the goaline from the offense."
I long for the days when our goal line playcalling was boring...
I love to see running backs pound the ball into the endzone from short yardage. If you can run then, you can run anytime. If you can run anytime, you can do whatever you want.
After seeing the replay I now have a few of observations/questions.
Culpepper’s passes from the pocket and on the move were extremely accurate. Even on the pass interference calls, the receivers had their hands on the ball.
Are our receivers that good that they have to be interfered with to keep them from catching a pass, or are the Rams DBs that bad? It was a bit spooky seeing the Refs throw that many flags on one of our opponents. Having said that, we don’t need to count on interference calls to move the ball come the ninth.
The first team seemed to respond well to Culpepper. I don’t think there will be a problem with on field leadership if he is named the starter. Currently though I don’t rule out McCowan starting, but my feeling is it will be Culpepper.
Kiffin was working the guys in stripes with a smile on his face and a look in his eye that said, “I’m watching you.” Art Shell (I really love the guy and wish he could have done it), stood there and took what ever the officials handed out during the game.
All the coaches and players seem to be smiling and having a good time. You can be a hard ass and have fun.
I’ll look again but I don’t recall a holding penalty or a false start with the offensive line.
The way Curry picked up the blitz and broke off his route was a thing of beauty. And, how about Miller taking out the DB to cut Curry loose over the middle.
I think once we settle on the starting center the exchange will settle down. Grove and Neweberry seemed to be alternating almost every series.
Jano had three touchbacks and was kicking off using more of a line drive technique. Two of them weren’t even close. They were well back in the end zone. One of the touchbacks came after a five yard penalty on the kicking team. The ball hit and skipped over Hall’s head and out of the end zone.
Overall, a solid B performance. An “A” for the officiating crew (just kidding). I still like that sly smile on Kiffin’s face. The type that makes you think he knows something you don’t.
Sorry about being so long winded.
H
"KC"....are they even alive....a quick look at their stats for the perseason and I think the Raiders have to be "Drulling" to get at them....week #7....as reported on ESPN Radio the prediction is to finish 5-11....and it looks like they may even be worse....
"Donko"s....NO "D"....they are making "Quinn" look like a ProBowler....and every other "QB" who plays....21st against the Pass.....31st against the Rush....and according to ESPN Radio will finish the same as last year....8-8....but I think it will be worst....
Raiders:
2nd Place looks like a real posibility and last year "KC" made the "PlayOff"s at 9-7 in 2nd place in the AFCW.....
PantyRaider....LookinAhead!!!!
bama7
H- I too saw the blitz pick-up Culpepper to Curry. This is exactly what we need to be able to do or else defenses will continually blitz us. That's what Culpepper can do that Walter can't. Wish Porter would at somepoint in his career do the same thing.
The JRuss front is depressing. Pete Carroll said back in April that JRuss was exactly what Kiffen wanted for his offense. Anyone else think now that Russell was sold to Al by Kiffen, but Al never completely bought into it? After the 2-14 debacle Al probably let Kiffen pick the 1st round only to have his ego resurface now that we seem to be getting on track. He denies Kiffen the pick by simply not signing him.
Bama7:
Your "ConspiracyThories" against MrDavis are ridiculas...and I thougt I was bad last year trying to find the source of the "Conspiracy"s against ArtShell....and it turned out to be Art himself shootin himself in his own damn foot....
NO owner could be as bad as you try to paint MrDavis....in fact I will challenge you to find one as good as he has been overall....of all the current owners in the NFL which one has been consistantly "Right" about his Draft Picks....Free Agent Sighnings...Coaches....and had his team in the Play Offs in every decade sense he became owner....I don't believe you can show me even "One" who can compair to MrDavis's 40 years as an owner....I believe he took over the team in 1966....
So...I you can't find an owner to take MrDavis's place than "Please"
get off the "HateTrip"....it's the most ridiculas thing I have ever heard....and WARNNING...I will check up on his track record and show him to be less than......
PantyRaider.....Foolishness!!!!
panty, i wouldn't put it past davis to scheme like that. if that was the case, he shouldn't have even given kiffin authority in the draft. if that is the case, why did he mess with such a high pick?
and IF that is the case, then whey didn't davis in his infinite wisdom just overide shell and get leinart instead of huff a couple of years ago? we wouldn't be in this mess now would we?
you and the other al davis apologists need to get your nose outta his crack and look at things in a realistic point of view.
that is - the raiders are where they are because of davis!
this whole russell thing is a complete farce so far! is it any wonder why this whole situation and our team is the butt of jokes across the league?
BOY that brady quinn is looking pretty good ain't he? he's gonna be a what? a starter? damn! should've gotten him shouldn't we?
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scorpio said...
BOY that brady quinn is looking pretty good ain't he? he's gonna be a what? a starter? damn! should've gotten him shouldn't we?
>>>>
Holy crap... it's not even the regular season yet. Lets at least wait until game 4 to start pointing fingers at how horrible Al is, and what a mess this franchise is... k?
JFC you Al-haters wear me out.
>>>>
and IF that is the case, then whey didn't davis in his infinite wisdom just overide shell and get leinart instead of huff a couple of years ago? we wouldn't be in this mess now would we?
>>>>
And and and and.... if Al had picked Tom Brady in even ONE of those rounds when he had the chance... give it a rest Scorpio.
20/20 hindsite is all anyone sees from Al-haters. Annoying as hell.
It kills me that JRuss not being signed yet is always Al's fault when we don't even really know what the issues are. But it must all be Al's fault because the Raiders have never, ever gotten the #1 pick in camp on time... oh, wait a minute...
Well, it's just that Al is cheap because he's only offered the amount of cash that Russell is asking for... oh, wait a minute... both sides say they're together on the amount, just not the terms.
But then, if we've always criticized other owners for being too frivolous when signing draft picks and free agents, why can't we demand that Al be exactly the same way? Oh, wait a minute...
Anyway, JRuss was a star at LSU last year so he deserves to be the "face of the Raider franchise," and probably to take over ownership duties as well.
Personally, I think Al's done a fine job getting players in camp over the years. But the Al haters know someone who's always been much better, they just aren't willing to tell us who that is. It's a secret.
Bama7
newsflash: Al has sucked for the last 25 years, His apex of sucking was jano in the first. Let's see y'all defend him on that. Kidding, please don't tell me why it was a good move you just make yourself look like a sycophant.
And it should also be noted that Shell's agent disputed much of what Davis has since blamed on him.
I'm sorry but Al is the reason we're all getting laughed it. Watched his press conferene from earlier in camp and it was classic Al... he said that Walsh decided to retire after we beat them... but stayed on the rest of that year. Yet according to Al it was after the Raider game and told first to King Al. Al wants so badly to be great again. He could have it if he just stayed out of the way.
Bama:
First of all, I didn't think Jano was a good move. I thought we should have stayed with Nedney.
I don't mind laying blame where blame is due. But at least I give credit where it's deserved. Fact is, almost everyone who was there said that Al was almost completely univolved last year after he hired Shell. But I guess if you insist on rewriting history, I can't stop you. Also, I think if you go back to Kawakami's article (now there's an Al Davis lover if I ever saw one) where he talked about Shell's agent, it wasn't Shell's agent where he got the information. It was a friend of Shell's agent whom Kawakami had "no reason to doubt." My, that's solid.
You guys crack me up. You come up with the most convoluted conspiracy theories as to how Al either makes every effort to screw the Raiders, or how he's simply incompetant, and how anybody who defends him his a sychophant. Now you guys have Al trying his best to bring down the Raiders because "he's jealous" of Kiffin.
And of course Al is very concerned that folks say nice things about him. Yeppers, that's always been Al's number one concern. You can just tell.
"HolyCrapBatmen".....
But "NONE" of you can answer the damn question...."Who is so much better"......
And now because ya'll hid from the challenge I am adding another qualification to the challenge....
What current owner has done as much as MrDavis for the NFL....Not just for his own team but for the entire NFL....and now he is making a stand again for the NFL's bargaining power against the "Agent"s....NOT against the "Player"s or the "Rookey"s....
Can't get a "Grip" can ya "HateTriper"s....JustBitchBabies!!!!
PantyRaider....PokenFun!!!!
PS:
I just love a good fight to kick off the season..."RightOn"....and fighten with da "HateTripper"s is just what I needed to get "FiredUp".....but I kinda expected the fight to take place somewhere else and NOT amongst "RaiderFan"s....But Oh! Well!....If no one else will fight with us I guess I will just......
PantyRaider....Fist-y-Cups!!!!!
PS: Hay "HateTripper"s....Got an answer yet?????/__
"Jano" was drafted in "2000"....and as I remember that was right in the heart of Gruden's years....and "GrudDumb" said he hates to have to argue with Al to get his picks "BUT" if he makes a good case he will get his way.....So that brings me to a Question...."HateTripper"s....
Who picked "Jano"....
PantyRaider.....HateTrippers...Got-a-Answer Yet.....I'm Waiten!!!!!
bama7
I don't have to like Al to like the Raiders. He did a good job up until about Marc Wilson and it's been downhill ever since. That doesn't make me a hater. I'm a raider fan that wants the senile old coot to get out of the way. And Panty, allow me to speak my mind... I tolerated your rants about us trying to get Larry JOhnson... I mean why didn't you save the space typing it and just dial up Mr Rourke or tatoo. I mean c'mon, that wasn't gonna happen brother.
And Blanda, you seem like a very intelligent guy, you don't honestly feel that the game has escaped Al?
Not in the slightest. I think he goes through periods, because of advancing years, where is more or less involved than at other times. But every coach, going back to Madden, has said exactly the same things about Davis, and it's all very consistent. But folks seem to choose to accept the opinions of the Kawakami's of the world rather than the one's who've actually been there. Nothin' I can do about that.
bama7
I'll tell you who picked Jano, Panty. Al did. See what an idiot he is? Took him in front of Shawn Alexander. Don't think Gruden didn't get tired of battling the old man. That's why he left. You can almost feel it with Kiffen too. He sounds exhausted with the Jruss topic. He surely has Carroll and Monte Kiffen in his ear saying "just keep standing up to the old coot."
Kiffen will restore order... Al your turds are almost gone... Brayton, Whitted, and anyone else that doesn't belong on the roster. Hopefully, and regrettably, the only thing Al is controlling right now is the Jruss negotiations.
Panty, who do you think it was that was making the call last year in pre-season to bring back Jeff George? Even Art had enough sense to say, "Uh, Al, uh, no man... that's about the dumbest thing we could do."
I'd just like to add that in regard to Kiffin, Davis called his shot. He said after firing Shell that he was going to go out and find the guy that would turn it around. The media laughed at him when he hired Kiffin saying that Kiffin could never survive as the head coach in the NFL at such tender years. Who's laughing now?
Why... It's just like you're there, Bama7. Never knew you had all these inside sources.
Seems to me I remember Kiffin saying something to the effect of "I'm confident that our negotiators are doing everything in their power to protect this franchise." Just maybe Kiffin is getting tired of being asked the questions, not with what's going on.
Bama7:
I said "HateTripper"s.....NOT "Hater"s.....Your on a "HateTrip" for MrDavis.....not a "RaiderHater" as I understand it....
MarkWilson was a great college "QB"....I was at USU when he was at U-o-U and we played against him....we were undefeated until that game where he tore us up just as they did everybody else....NO-Body was talken bad about the Raiders taking him in the draft that year....but he rearly played as well as a Raider as he did in college....which is an un-known for any team....
The reason he lasted so long with the team is another matter....he married Al's niece....he is family....and I am sure most of us could understand why he did not get in a big hurry to cut his family....
Wilson was drafted in "80"...so you want to judge Al's ability....MattMillan "LB" was taken in the 2nd....Malcolm Barnwell, WR in the 7th.....
"81"...2. Howie Long, DT....
"82"...1. Marcus Allen, RB,....
"83"...1. Don Mosebar, T...2. Bill Pickel, DT...4. Greg Townsend, DE....5. Dokie Williams, WR...10. Mervyn Fernandez, WR...
"84"...2. Sean Jones, DT...
"85"...1. Jessie Hester, WR...10a. Reggie McKenzie, LB.....
So that's right....Al has not done anything right sense he drafted MarkWilson....but than....why did all these guys play so well...
Should I go on....there are 20 more years to look at Bro....
PantyRaider....NO-Bogas-Statments!!!
PS....I got 2 of my wishes by posting the request here so somebody listened....and as I remember I was getting alot of "Smack" for wanting Culpepper....
Al Davis is an enigma, however, I believe the man has some gas left in the tank. There have been many puzzling moves over the years, not the least of which was binging back Art Shell and allowing him to hire Tom “I’d like my eggs scrambled” Walsh.
With respect to money, I see Al as being frugal with coaches, but not so much with players. In the modern era of FA, seems as though we are always one of the busiest teams during the off-season. And, it’s easy to see in hindsight that some bad moves have occurred, but he also allowed this colossal coaching and scholarship transformation that’s taking place right now.
If I was a bettin’ man, I’d have to say most of the blame that Russell isn’t signed lies in the Russell camp. I believe Al knew what it would cost to pick #1 and has made a fair offer ($60 million over 6 years with $30 mil guaranteed sounds more than fair - especially now that he is almost certain to get red-shirted the entire 2007 season). Now, Russell needs to mind his upbringing and find it in his heart to accept Al’s generous offer.
Bama7:
If you want to pick on somebody pick on the team that brought back VinnyTestaverdy this year....or no...you just want to keep your "HateTrip" going...I thought the GeffGeorge thing was funny but as I remember it ArtShell said he wanted to bring him in and take a look....and a look is all he ever got....but I would have to say that in retrospect he could have done alot better than "Air"Brooks...."BrainDead"....and in case you can't remember that far back....GeorgeBlanda played "QB-K" until he was "46" for this team....so how old was George last year....and he has never been injured....Geeeeezzz!!!....You are stretchen for everything....
pantyRaider....RecordedHistory!!!!
Who da man who is better....you have compleatly failed to come up with a single owner who is as good or better....come on....just "NUT-UP" and show some "Goooonads"....who is better....I's still waitin.....
PantyRaider....ToughQuestion!!!!!
Hallo Daunte....Now tell me "HateTripper"....who the hell signed Culpepper....and the other free agents this year....Huh! Huh! Huh!....I's still waitin....
PantyRaider....Won't-Let-Go!!!!!
Jeffrey Scott George (born December 8, 1967 in Indianapolis, Indiana....so that made him "38" last year....Right????
PantyRaider.....StillWaitin!!!!
Bama7
me: "Malcolm Barnwell? Jesse Hester? Dokie Freakin Williams? Mervyn Fernandez? Your honor, the prosecution rests."
judge: "Mr Panty, you're excused."
me: "your honor, might I add some more non-Canton bound folks to Mr Panty's list... a few more Al "projects" that I as a Raider fan was forced to watch "develop" over an excrciating amount of time:
James Folston
Travian Smith
Eddie "I'm strong as hell & would knock the crap out of you if I ever was around the play" Anderson
Lionel "toast" Washington
James "why'd you draft me" Aska
John clay
Bob Buczkowski
Alvis Whitted
James Jett
Ricky "hands of stone" Dudley
Rusty Hilger
Teyo "the donkeys will soon cut me "Johnson
Jay Shroeder
Derrick "wish passing wasn't allowed" Gibson
Delawrence Grant
Matt "I'm ashamed to say he played for my favorite college" StEnchcomb
Nick "made of glass" Bell
Billy Joe Hobert
(judge throws up before demanding a recess.)
blanda - it IS always al's fault. if you were looking for someone, that someone would be ME. if it were ME, we would have been a model franchise (that didn't move to LA btw) for other teams to follow. if it were ME, this team would stay out of the courts. if it were ME, i wouldn't file a frivolous lawsuit against the tampa bay bucs for copying my pirate logo. if it were ME, we'd draft wisely and not get a hard on everytime a big name free agent becomes available. ME, ME, ME. super owner/GM/scout/coach.
but ME? oh don't mind ME. i'm just a freakin paying customer is all. and i don't mind forking out over 1200 of my hard earned part-time money. but thats not because of al. i renew because i love the raiders. i know you can't separate al from raiders but i'd like to see much less al and more wins as opposed to more al and much less wins.
yeah and bama - who knows how much of that other stuff al said in that press conference was true about his relationship with walsh. thing is.... since walsh is gone, al can't prove any of it now can he? all you could hear coming out of his mouth was some constant blabbering about who's dead and gone and some half truths!
with regards to:
The media laughed at him when he hired Kiffin saying that Kiffin could never survive as the head coach in the NFL at such tender years. Who's laughing now?
the season hasn't even started. he haven't even coached his 1st pro game and he's already survived? only time and W's (and LOTS of them) will tell the success of one young lane kiffin. you can't say that he's successful yet. even if he IS successful and its time for a serious payday, i hope ole uncie al steps up to the plate to pay this cat. let's not have another gruden situation on our hands.
lets get this damn season started already!! just like the team getting sick of training camp; we're sniping at each other!
thats a hell of a dud list bama!
so.... walter's out of the race. they should trade him not to at least get something - ANYTHING for him.
Bama: Newsflash: If Al Davis had sucked for the past 25 years, then how did we get to the AFC Championship game with Shell as coach.
How about those three straight division championships, two AFC championship games and that little thing called the Super Bowl. All after Jano was drafted.
There are a lot of owners who wished they sucked that much.
H
bspn ticker has McCown starting vs seahags and Doug Gabriel cut.
Bama-
Your list could not be complete without Charles Philyaw. Nick Bell, Gawd what a waste!
I find if amazing. Here we are, the season hasn't even started and all the negative waves. I think some of you are ready to throw in the towel. Hell, at least wait until September 10th.
That "dud list" can be found on virtually every team, and it's probably shorter than most teams. I prefer to look at the positives. There's a lot more energy on the team this year. More emotion and a lot more smiling.
Let's just see where we are at the bye week. If Culpepper's knee holds up I see 3-1 a distinct possibility with two weeks to game plan for SD.
If I'm wrong then I'm wrong. But I'm not going to kick the owner who took me to five Super Bowls and a ton of playoff games, division championships and conference championship games.
True, it's all in the past, but that past gives me hope for the future.
H
Judge PantyRaider Here:
You replied incorectly my boy....my questions and statments were in response to your statment that Al has sucked ever sense he drafted MarkWilson....nothing was said about "Hall-o-Fame" players and my reply was in regards to player who were good draft choices based upon how they performed for the team....so now go back to the drawing board and compleat the teat by answering the question.....and now as a result of your attempt to avoid giving an answer I am adding another qualification to the requirments...
What presant owner has as maney "Hall-o-Famers" who played for him as an owner....
So now "Name That owner"....if you can....or forever let it be known that you have faild miserably to demonstrate that MrDavis is a "Bad" owner in relationship to the other "31" owners in the Freakin NFL....
PantyRaider.....PositivelySupportin!!!!
memdf: This is all that is listed at raiders.com....
Transactions
Date Pos. Player Description
08/26/2007 OT Albert Toeaina Waived
08/26/2007 S Colin Branch Released
08/26/2007 DT Jared Clauss Waived
08/26/2007 WR Lauren Williams Waived
08/26/2007 CB Levonne Rowan Waived
08/26/2007 WR Rich Parson Waived
08/26/2007 OT Torrin Tucker Waived
"HateTripper"s.....
I am still waiting for your answer....your about to become convicted of a "HateCrime".....
Scorpio:
Sorry but you fail to qualify....the challenge is to name a current owner who has a tract record as good as or better than MrDavis and last I checked you were not an owner....and corect me if I am wrong but you were against trading for or signing Culpepper were you not....if so you already have (1) strike against you...not to mention were you supportive of hireing CoachKiffin....there again that would be a "Strike"....another name that comes up is DonavanDarious....did you support his signing....how about MikeWilliams....now you might already be "OUT"....
To Qualify: The Current Owner must have been better than MrDavis over the lifetime of his ownership in:
Draft Choices...signing draft choices...Free Agency...signing bargain prised free agents....Hiring Coaches....playoffs in every decade of ownership.....Playoff victories in every decade of ownership....Supper Bowls.....has a list of "Hall-o-Famers".....is a "Hall-o-Famer" himself.....and has done as much for the freakin NFL as MrDavis has done.....
The more the "HateTripper"s avoid answering the freakin question the more nassasary qualifications will be added to the list which is already inposible to answer.....
PantyRaider.....WinnerTakesAll!!!!!
PS....I just love being proved "RIGHT"....Ha! Ha! I'm a "Winner"...."HateTripper"s Loosers......
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I'll tell you who picked Jano, Panty. Al did. See what an idiot he is? Took him in front of Shawn Alexander.
>>>>
See... there we go again... the 20/20 hindsite game.
Instead, why don't we look at it more realistically, shall we?
The year we drafted Jani, we were ranked THIRD in the NFL in rushing, so why would we draft a RB (And the following year we were ranked FIRST).
We had two primary needs... kicker and WR. At the time, Nedney only attempted 7 kicks for us, so we didn't know what he had... his first good year was the year AFTER he left the Raiders.
The first WR picked the year we picked up Jani was Sylvester Morris for the Chiefs... would you rather we took him than Porter?
How about WR Jay Soward at 29?
How about Dennis Northcutt at 32???
Todd Pinkston at 36? These were all our choices at WR before we took Porter.
So if Al had picked any of these instead of Jani in the first round, would you be HAPPIER NOW? Because Al woulda simply picked Jani in the second round (Chicago was also hot after him)... and we woulda had Jani and one of the the other mutts instead of Jani and Porter. Granted Porter aint a pro-bowler, but he's not horrible or a bust either. At least both of them are still on the team, which is more than most people can say about their first two picks back then.
Things like this kinda bugs me about you Al-haters... there's no actual thinking involved, just emotion. The reason you picked Shawn Alexander is because he was the only non-bust between him and Porter.
"QB"s....sad news for Walter....
"Raiders Coach Lane Kiffin said Monday he has narrowed the quarterback competition to two - and the odd-man out is Andrew Walter."
According to the Oakland Tribune
PantyRaider....WrongAboutWalter!!!!
Kiffin has the Raiders pointed in the right direction. I'm very excited about the Kiffin era. I plan to enjoy not only the rebuilding phase in 2007 but a return to glory in future years. Getting caught up in assigning blame & credit for past failures & success is an exercise in futility. Enjoy the ride. Take a page out of Kiffin's book ... carpe diem.
Correction (I'm kinda anal about things like this)... Northcutt isn't a "bust", he has similar stats to Porter (although he wasn't relegated to the bench for one year).
Similar yards, twelve less TD's. Prolly a 2nd or 3rd WR for Cleveland... not familiar with him.
If any of you "genius'" remember, I the GREAT KARNAK told you that "j-rust" would hold out to be traded to another team! Look's like I am right again, I told you last season early in the season that "artie boy shell-lacked-shocked" would be a one year no-hit wonder! I told you that the faidas wouldn't win more than 2 games....I rest my case, YOU faida fanatic who say I know nothing about football have to admit that I have been consistently right! Maybe I know more than you think. Don't forget my ominous prediction of the move of the faidas to Columbus Ohio. Just imagine babies. What "nation".....0-16.
CalicoJack:
You are exactly right....however....I was just too tempted by the constant "AlDavis" bashing to state a challenge that I knew cound not posibly be won...it was posted in response to this:
"The JRuss front is depressing. Pete Carroll said back in April that JRuss was exactly what Kiffen wanted for his offense. Anyone else think now that Russell was sold to Al by Kiffen, but Al never completely bought into it? After the 2-14 debacle Al probably let Kiffen pick the 1st round only to have his ego resurface now that we seem to be getting on track. He denies Kiffen the pick by simply not signing him."
Come on....what kind of a man would sabatauge his own team and the coach that he hired to bring them back to glory...and just trough away the 31 drft choice....that would to sabatauge himself....there is NO owner in the NFL who would do something like that....well maybe "JerryLones".....he fires a coach when he in the "SB".....or the "SadFranchiseWinners" who fired coaches twice when they were in the playoffs....or AlaxSpanos who fired his coach with a 13-3 record.....
PantyRaider....AlDavisLives!!!!
Gary,
To follow up on the reasons we picked Jano so high:
I remember the year before we drafted him (1999) we lost 5 games by a field goal or less.
It was a need position that we couldn't pass up because KC was in the hunt for a kicker as well.
He was also considered to be the best kicker to come out of college in quite some time.
That's not to say I condone picking him in the first round, but it seemed like a good idea at the time.
I have to say, I get a little shutter up my spine every time he attempts a FG. But that being said, it made sense at the time.
On another subject,
H, @ 7:47
I couldn't agree with you more regarding other teams that have drafted VERY poorly. There are actually some teams that have had good drafts, but no Championships or Super Bowl appearances to show for it. Last time I checked, The Raiders were one of the last AFC West teams to win a playoff game, let alone 3 straight AFC West titles. I guess we drafted poorly those years too. (lol)
BTW, enough will people complaining about us not drafting Shawn Alexander. He is a very good RB, however even his abilities couldn't help the Seagulls win a SB. I know there are alot of other factors, but one man doesn't make a team.
Man, I can't wait for the season to start!!!
azraider63
Jackass (er, Anon) @ 9:53pm
You really can't be serious about the Raiders going 0-16. If so, you are as stupid as you sound.
Put your money where your mouth is...oops, I think your mouth is already getting busy somewhere in the Castro district.
Blow on!
azraider63
calico, i remember listening to an interview a few years ago on knbr. i forget who the interviewer was but the interviewee was bruce allen. the topic switched to jon gruden's status. bruce insisted that gruden was not a lame duck coach and that they were working on an extension to his current contract. well, those were famous last words because we all know what happened next. gruden was traded. you see here folks, this bright young coach was starting to become the face of the franchise but we all know al would NEVER let that happen.
i agree with you all that kiffin seems to have the team pointed in the right direction. but he needs time to develop. and so what if down the road, say 2 or 3 years from now he takes the team to the playoffs and possibly a superbowl, and possibly even win a superbowl? ahh, the new face is not al's but lane kiffin!!!!!
we also know how cheap al is with his coach's salaries. will he go back to the USC pool and take yet another chance on a boy wonder until his ego can no longer take being second fiddle? or will he do the right thing in rewarding this coach with a contract extension?
panty, i don't think i was against picking up culpepper. i WAS against russell as the first pick. if you recall, i wanted walter to get his fair shake. he did and lost. not ike he ever had a chance anyway but at least he was given a chance. i wanted to pick a vet QB and get johnson as our pick. i said if we to get a QB just to satisfy you guys' QB fix, to get brady quinn because he was more ready than the other QB's in this draft. anyway, that's one strike taken away. kiffin, i was never against that. minus another strike. the darius signing? nope. didn't want him. too injury prone and too one dimensional. and wasn't he hurt for the game last friday?
guys, i will go on record as saying that the GREAT Bill Walsh has accomplished MORE in the NFL than al davis. oh sure he's had his moment in the sun, but in the short time since Bill Walsh started coaching, he has accomplished more.and this is froma 49er hater!
on raiders.com transactions:
Isaiah Kacyvenski Released/Injury settlement
i'm like HUH? wasn't this guy put on IR? does anyone know if players can get released while on IR? i ask because this guy is supposed to be a special teams demon.
can anyone shed any light on this?
azraider63 and calicojack,
I'm with both of you. Let's get the season started and see what happens.
We can argue about who we drafted and when from now to next spring, but there's not a damn thing that can be done about it now. So let's move on.
I think we listen too much to the talking heads and other media types and none of them will ever give Al Davis credit for anything good that happens to the Raiders. When the Raiders are down they say Al Davis meddles too much and won't let the coach make any decision. When we went to the Super Bowl it was a team built by Gruden. Please, make up your minds.
Shane Lechler was drafted the same year as Jano. I guess that was a stupid move also.
H
Bama7
Panty- just to set the record staright I have been saying all along that I too like Culpepper. Always have, his fumbling notwithstanding. And yes Al was once great, no disputing that. He's just lost it. Completely.
Gary: I wanted Shawn Alexander because like most of you out west know how good (up close) the USC and PAC 10 guys are (and I believe USC is the best team in the country) I had the great fortune of watching Shawn Alexander in college. He was mighty. If a guy like that falls in your lap like he did... you take him. Period. And as for Jano, stop with the "he was hot" argument... jano was not a first day draft pick. No othe rclub would have taken him on the first day. You never take a kicker in the first three rounds, unless it's Gus the Mule and he can kick the damn thing backwards from his goal line through the other upright. Jano has trouble enough with anything 40 yards out. A fourth rounder, tops. Al took him in rd 1 and looks like a buffoon for it.
I love the Raiders. I am sick of losing and believe Kiffen, IF LEFT ALONE, will install an offense that will be tough to beat. I think Russell would help him in the long haul tremendously. I'm mad because the Russell ordeal makes no sense. If you believe Russell is the man, then draft him. If you draft him, then sign him. If you have buyers remorse now, then get your ass up from the poker table, and let someone else start playing the hands. No one wins with what's going on now.
This blog board is great, even two fans that have words in the past can come together and cover each otehr's back. Thanks Scorpio.
Scorp-players can be waived from IR after reaching an injury settlement, in other words the team and their agents negotiate a fair buyout of the contract based on the severity of the injury. It is typically done with players who either may be out a long while or who are not key players [starters/stars]
{{I am sick of losing and believe Kiffen, IF LEFT ALONE, will install an offense that will be tough to beat.}} Bama7
Someone write this down. If Kiffin flops (I doubt it) his name will no doubt be lumped into some list of players & coaches who didn't pan out for us to be used as evidence that Al has completely lost it. As if to say Kif doesn't have potential and Al was a complete moron for chosing him. There is a loophole in this comment just in case Kif turns out great; "IF LEFT ALONE", which for an Al hater is vital to incorporate anytime there is a positive outlook on any one of Al's decisions.
Psycho
Bama7
yeah, psycho, and fans like you will be able to do just the reverse in Al's favor. touche I suppose. Kiffen can't get past Al to get Russell, but he can damn sure put Al's boy walter on the bench. More touche.
Scorpio!
Only one problem with Mr. Walsh, he was not a team owner!
raiderdecoachella
Can't we all just get along????????
Bama
Thanks for validating my point. Al is now the reason Russell is not in camp, according to you. As if Al would actually want to waste a #1 overall pick. And Walter being benched has nothing to do with Kif wanting to stick it Al's guy, I'll never understand your reasoning. Kif is about winning games, not butting heads with the man upstairs.
For the record I don't support everything Al does. I only give credit where credit is due. It just so happens that IMO Al deserves a whole lot more credit than anyone else around here, and it sickens me to watch his legacy being pissed on by his own fans. And yes, you are his fan, because Al IS the Raiders.
Psycho
thanks lk.
h - lechler wasn't a stupid move. it was a good move in the right round. jano was a good move too. the problem there was it was in the wrong damn round! 1st round money should always bring in 1st round results. anything less and that player is a bust! he has been 50/50 at best. THAT my friend is a BUST!
psycho - there's always loopholes in everything we say al davis wise. you see, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. this is america. just because 2 or 3 (i know there's more out there hiding in the closet) other fans disagree with you doesn't make us haters.
we al davis (NOT raider) haters or should i say "disagreers" understand that we and our long time disappointment with davis come here to raider take as bait in a shark tank full of al davis jock strap holders. but thats cool because this is also a place where we can also share anything and everything about the raiders.
besides, it shouldn't matter what i think about al davis. if you or any other al davis supporter met me, would you want to kick my ass JUST because of that? i hope not. because we as paying customers are entitled to our own opinion. i will ALWAYS emphasize that.
so if you have your nose in davis' crack or whether you despise the guy, we're all still fans in the raider nation.
coachella, i wasn't looking at it from an owners standpoint but rather as a football man overall and in general, the man's accomplishments in the game far outweigh those of al davis'.
today's quote from david white of the chron:
If Culpepper doesn't get the starting job, don't be surprised if he's cut or dealt in a hurry. He gets $3.2 million if he's on the opening-day roster.
ok now wait a minute here.....
i really don't think culpepper will get traded or released. in fact, i think we all agree (what a concept eh?) that culpepper is here to stay (at least for a year anyway) and start. besides, assuming russell signs, as someone mentioned either a writer/columnist of one of you, who will mentor russell? mccown, a journeyman QB or walter, with all the trials and tribulations he went through last year?
nope. culpepper and his 3.2 mil salary stays russell or no russell.
speaking of russell signing, perhaps the team should negotiate a wasted year's salary ('07), perhaps the league minimum and escalate it from there. how can he justify receiving a full year's salary for nothing? let's face it, '07 is gone as far as a russell sighting on the field.
Scorpio
Wow, I got the "This is America" speach. Speaking of stating opinions, that's all I'm doing, guy. I'm not trying to group Al haters with normal haters, don't get me wrong, I understand the difference. And don't waste so much of your time telling me a bunch of crap that I already understand.
Actually I have good reason to back Al at times like this. I was once an Al hater. About 11 years ago we went 4-12 and I was in high school. I needed someone to blame and I fell into the mode of thinking that Al was pretty much senile and needed to die for my team to win again. Some older fans tried to set me straight. But I was stubborn, and only through learning and reasoning did I understand how wrong I was eventually. So when I back Al I'm only returning the favor that wiser fans than I once tried to show me. Holding Al's jock strap? No, I'm not. He's not perfect. But he also is not fully responsible for every little thing that doesn't go perfect, as some of you seem to think. Every team has a laundry list of players (and other)that didn't pan out, as H pointed out. Is every owner then senile and needs to retire?
Psycho
Thanks for the backup psycho.
Now, if folks are going to lay all the blame on Mr. Davis for all the Raiders' woes of late, then you will have to give him full credit for 2000, 2001 and 2002 plus the two 8-8 seasons prior to that run.
There are only seven teams in the entire NFL that have three or more SB titles. The Raiders are one of those and only three have more than three wins.
Hell, he's got more knowledge about football and evaluating players than all of us combined.
The fact is most drafted players are a crap shoot and most don't make it or become hangers on.
Scorpio, we wouldn't kick you ass. We would buy you a beer and show you the error of your ways. After all, we are family. Besides, at my advance age I can't even kick my own ass anymore.
H
scorpio said...
"coachella, i wasn't looking at it from an owners standpoint but rather as a football man overall and in general, the man's accomplishments in the game far outweigh those of al davis'."
Aside from designing a nice offense, and winning with it, what did Walsh do that was so amazing?
PS
I would also like to see Al get at least partial 'fan credit' for whatever glory Kiffin leads us to. Nobody else in the NFL even had Kif on their radar screen. Look at this guy, he's almost too good to be true! The way some people describe Al you'd think he was drooling all over his desk during the interview process thinking Kif was his high school buddy in 1943, and Al just got lucky that the guy in his office turned out to be a pretty good football coach. Do you think Kif was the only guy who wanted Culpepper? Do you think Ryan has put together such a dominating D without Al's input? It just so happens we're running Al's basic long time philosophy of man-man, physical corner play with the front 4 as the primary rushers. Oh but Moss, Seabass in the 1st, Marc Wilson, Travian freakin Smith (who, I forgot already?), Al is obviously gone. And forget about the fact that Russell's agents are idiots, Al only allowed Kif to draft Russell so he could refuse to pay him fairly and let him enter the 2008 draft and we'll go with Walter, Al's boy. Then Kif rips off his shirt to reveal a red/blue "K", ready to save the day by getting Culpepper all on his own, putting Al's boy on the bench. You bet.
Psycho
Can't read 'em all but a couple of points:
Sorpio, 1 knee = 2 feet. Pretty much 1 anything = 2 feet.
Whoever dissed Jano, What about the touch backs? We had a penalty on the kickoff and they backed us up and he still got a TB out of it :-)
-BamaRaider
As far as JRuss goes, let the greedy bastard sit out and reenter the draft next year and see what kind of 'guaranteed money' he gets.
People say 'it sets us way back', how is that? I see it as ASSLOADS of cap room and available cash.
-BamaRaider
PS: Anyone know if JRuss is on the roster on Madden '08?
"He was mighty"
You said it Bama7. But he was a deceptive runner. No flash, just got it done. I think that's why he didn't go earlier.
I think Al picked Jano because we lost so many games the year before beause of the kicking game.
-BamaRaider
Bama - JRuss is on the Raiders Madden 08 roster, and he's pretty good; 99 TPower 84 Acc
It's missing Darius and Culpepper, and the O wasn't given much love, but no biggy.
Psycho
Some tough cuts today, some are household names around here:
Jonnie Morant
Kevin Huntley
Doug Gabriel
Jeff Otis
At first I was kind of shocked at Huntley, but I guess we did just draft two DEs who have been playing well. I kind of wanted it to be Brayton instead though. Kif said Gabriel "just doesn't fit", and there was simply no room for Huntley. Now lets cross our fingers Zack makes it past Saturday and they take their chances on O'Neal clearing waivers on his way to the practice squad.
Psycho
Bama7
Kiffen cutting scholarships left and right... Morant, Gabriel, Courtney Anderson, Adam Treau... next up Whitted, Fargus & Brayton.
And the times they are a changin...
Scorpio:
You are compleatly incorect about one issue....the contract was on the table before the season ended but Gruden never picked it up....he did not sign it....and than he was intertaining other job offers while he still had a year left on his old contract....so MrDavis removed the contract from off the table and only after that was Gruden traded....he also was interviewing for the NortraDame job...And that information came from JimOtto who was the head of the steering commity of the Raiders Booster Clubs and met with us in Oakland at the club there....It was NOT from the "Mediot"s....
And no strikes is OK with me but another corection....Walsh was never an owner so he will not qualify for comparisons and AlDavis is the one who brought him into the NFL and gave him his first job....coaching with the Raiders....so some of what he did was from AlDavis....and it was also AlDavis who recomended him for the job to EddieDeBartalo....so give some of that credit to Al for his insite and ability to reconise tallent....
To All "HateTripper"s (AlDavisHaters)....You compleatly failed the challenge.....you were compleatly unable to hold up one single current owner out of 31 posible names who has done as good or a better job than MrDavis....therefore let the record show that you hate without fondation....because you would not trade our owner for one of the other 31...."RIGHT"!!!!!
I just love being a "Winner".....
Lets hope we resign Huntly if he clears the wire....also Morant to the practice squad...
PantyRaider....Is-it FootBall-Season-Yet!!!!
Bama7
Okay Panty... what about Jerry JOnes? I think he has 3 rings, pal. I'm a Raider fan but I'm missing your point here.
Bama7
Good news, Rod Smith of the donkeys to the pup list.
Bama7
Psycho, I like O'Neal. I think Fargus is gone.
panty,
if you were an up and coming young coach with a continually meddling owner wouldn't you look for other jobs too?
in one regard, maybe al DID learn to lay off as he appears to have with kiffin - so far that is. the season hasn't started yet so the jury's still out on their long term relationship.
but my point with gruden is that in the end, he knew he was outta there because of his personality clash with al.
big al (MR.) davis is the best man to ever coach or own a football tem, he is resposabol for the gateness of Bill Walsh, he made the NFL wat it is buy sinol handedly joyning the afl with the nfl, al (MR.) davis has created such grate players as billy joe hobart, todd the geezer marinobitch, jeffey eorge, jimmy boy plunklet, tommy flowers flores, marky marc wilson, ricky the dud dudly, davy ho humm, ol' mushmouth atkinson, leiall the steer-oid alzado, teyoyo johansen, feelyouall (that big worthless defensive lineman), freddie b-litnocough (the legend in his own mind), bobo jackson, etc, etc. al (MR.) davis discovered the cuire for cancer and has given millions of $ to starving kids all over the world. He has helped countless old ladies across the street (straight into a faida image store) wether thay wanted to or not. I could go on and on and on and on but you faida fanatics know that big al (MR.) davis is the savior of mankind so I'll just say Keep dreamin' faida fanatic babies. Keep defending the "nation" MAROONS, you ALL suffer from big al(MR.) davis legend syndrome, you're just too stupid to know it. Yes 0-16, faidas lose and move next year! (written in the glorius stile of "stankypantysmeller"
The whole Gruden thing was surreal. Al resisted giving Gruden the credit he deserved, intrinsically or otherwise, so Gruden, through his agent, proclaimed his lame duck status. Al then traded him for a boatload of money and draft picks... which made absolute sense at the time. However, the draft picks were wasted on Phillip “prime time bust” Buchanon and Tyler “somebody draw me a map to the QB” Brayton. Then, Gruden proceeded to beat us in the SB. As far as the money, I can only assume it’s invested in Municipal bonds established to help pay litigation settlements to the Raiders.... Kidding!
Forget the cuts just made, Kiff has 20 more to make by next weekend. I found it interesting that Kiffin said some players have “made it easy on him” to make cuts, after earlier challenging players to make it impossible for him to cut them. Dude is all business and plans on keeping the best players on the roster, no matter... What an amazing concept.
Ok guys, we need to move on. This is getting boring. Let's all agree to reconvene at the bye week to continue this discussion. We'll need something to talk about that week.
In the interim let's just cheer our boys on and see what happens.
Besides, Al Davis isn't going anywhere, so all the complaining is accomplishing exactly nothing.
I, for one, watched him move from coach, to GM, to owner, to commissioner and back to owner.
So, as you can see I'm getting old and we old guys need to stick together. Heck, I'm so old I remember Tom Flores being traded to Buffalo.
H
H
Bama 7:
Jerry "Plastic Face" Jones has been a dismal failure the last 10+ years. Here are the pertinent comparison numbers:
In the last 10 years, the Cowgirls are 0-4 in the playoffs ... the Raiders 4-3.
In the last 10 years, the Cowgirls have won 1 divisional title (1998) ... the Raiders 3 divisional titles.
The last time the Cowgirls won a stinkin playoff game was 1996...a wild card game vs. the Vikes.
More SeaBass banter: IMO, Al swung for the fences was this unconventional 1st round pick and whiffed big time. He is a risk taker. Is anyone complaining that he took Ray Guy in the 1st round? The point being that sometimes Al make BIG mistakes and sometimes he hits a grand slam.
>>>
Is anyone complaining that he took Ray Guy in the 1st round? The point being that sometimes Al make BIG mistakes and sometimes he hits a grand slam.
>>>>
Perfect.
That's all that really needs to be said.
It's prolly why we all are Raider fans (reluctantly, even the Al-haters) no matter what Al does its always interesting. Maybe thats why so many of us are arguing about him after winning a handfull of games the last few seasons.
He swings for the fences... sometimes he misses. Over the last almost 40 years I've been a raider fan... he's hit home runs more than not.
That's why I assert that most of the Al-haters are less than 35 years old. I'd bet 2-1 that 90% of them are.
calico, yes you're right. he does take risks. BUT in my opinion, these draft choices and free agent signings are treasure. this stuff piles up. if you keep making bad decisions the team may not suffer at the present but down the road when it really counts - i'm talking about your draft picks developing and free agents filling in the missing pieces, this is when an owner or GM shows what he's really worth. making a winner while keeping a keen eye on the future. those awesome draft picks and cash we got from tampa were supposed to be taking positive effect right about now. but unfortunately they were all wasted. what a sad shame!
ok that's it for me. i'm done for now.
Swing for the fences; hit or miss, feast or famine... I’m ok with that philosophy. The one rub I have about Al is his drafting MO, i.e., that he goes for physical specimens (raw speed) instead of football moxie; and, because of that, there have been way too many “project players” to suit my taste. Even Kiff has said, “there’s track speed and there’s football speed.” That’s two concepts that Al never really separated. (Without Kiffin, there's no way we would have drafted Zach Miller.)
H- this is the “bye” week. The game against Seattle couldn’t be much less meaningful. It’s all about keeping the players healthy and Darwinistically selecting from the bottom pool for the practice squad. And I don’t believe that you’re so old you forgot you signed your name, then signed again... you’re playing with us.
My guess, Kiffin and Co are already gearing up for Detroit and the Mike Martz artifical turf show. That Detroit is a turf team (and will have played mostly on articifical turf during the preseason), I’d like to think we have a significant advantage playing them on home grass in the opener. Apparently, the odds-makers don’t see it that way. Oh well.
Here is a little positive thought from Vic C. and NFL.com (near the bottom) regarding our QB situation. All this non-hating in the media is starting to scare me a little. They might be saving it up for just the right moment.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story
?id=09000d5d801e78c8&template
=with-video&confirm=true
Psycho
Here is an interesting stat that I read on Jerry McDonald's blog the other day. Outside of Michael Bush on the PUP, every one of our active players on the roster are healthy enough to practice. And we know Bush is pretty healthy, they're just being cautious. Whatever they're feeding these guys I hope they keep serving it up! It's no wonder Kif chose to keep the trainer on board.
RT - Give thanks to whoever fixed the annoying issue of the text in this box not wrapping in the right place (can't see what you type).
Psycho
Bama7
gary-You're 2:1 odds, at least on this board don't look so good as I am 41. You don't have to be young to dislike Al, just smart enough to realize when someone, despite their past success, has begun to not perform their job adequately. It happens all the time in the work place.
I was ready to move on from the topic as others suggested, but you Al fanatics say move on then throw another barb at all of us who think Al has no clue anymore.
NY Raider said it and I echo it... Al's biggest problems are drafting work-out specimens, and tracj stars that aren't productive and then he keeps these "projects" around far too long. far too long.
And as for Ray Guy, he too would have been available in a later round... even then, so it changes nothing on my opinions as to Jano and his lack of qualifications of first round status.
Here's a challenge to all the Al fanatics since you all are so fond of challenging everyone else:
Will the Al fanatics admit that if our defense plays pretty well this season and the offense is able to be at least marginally productive... that IF QB ends up being the reason we don't make the playoffs... will you admit that Al f'd up in on not getting Russell into camp and ready? I mean, the entire nation of scouts was pretty much in agreement he was one of THE best QB prospects to come out since Elway. Basically the challenge is that if the offense and defense look to be good schemes, but the QB proves to be the problem either through injury or poor play, will you admit that your genius Al screwed up by not getting Russell into camp. After the debacle of the last few seasons Al has finally turned the X's & O's over to competent people. His only job now is to get players signed and on the field and we now have a 1st pick that has held out much longer than any of the recent 1st round draft choices. Up for the challenge?
bama7
Your challenge is flawed. Russell was never going to be the reason we make the playoffs in '07. It has been widely assumed (probably by Al and Kiffin even) that he would not be fully ready this year, even if he were in camp on time. This is the reason we went out and got McCown, a guy who can start the season off and maybe finish it. With the idea that Russell could come in late during games and possibly start some games after mid season or so just to get his feet wet. Even if Russell were in camp on time I wouldn't sign up to any challenge associating 'Russell' with 'playoffs'.
Psycho
Anyone, other than me, still hoping Josh gets the job? I'm willing to admit that Daunte's last year in MN and his time in Miami may have tarnished my take, but I still prefer McCowen. I'll support whatever decision Kiff makes, but deep down I like the boy from Texas.
Bama7:
Regarding you're challenge. I'd agree with you if we never acquired Culpepper and we spent the whole preseason with Walter and McCown. McCown was only acquired to be a stopgap until Russell was ready. When Al understood that Russell might be awhile, he went out and got Culpepper.
The basic flaw in the Al-hater philosophy is the idea that he is responsible for everthing bad happening, but someone else is responsible for every good thing that happens. Well, that and the fact that the arguement that Davis is sabotaging the Russell signing is just plain stupid.
As someone else said, the hindsight arguments are legion. We were all in on Calahan. It wasn't until his second season he turned out to be nuts. We were all on board for Turner, until he proved to have no leadership qualities as the head guy, but nobody is saying that SD has the worst owner in NFL history. We were devided on Shell, but so, apparently, was Al. Going back further, to Bugel, the players themselves talked Davis into naming him head coach. And it was the players who turned on him. The same is true of Calahan. And both of Davis' worst mistakes (Bugel and Shell II) Al recognized it immediately and fired them both after one season.
You can't rave about Kiffin without giving Al credit because nobody else would have given Kiffin this shot - for any reason. Are you quietly hoping for Kiff's failure so it won't mess up your "Al's a joke" philosophy?
I don't recall anyone ever talking playoffs though, including Al & Kiffin. 'The Challenge' reminded me of the famous Jim Mora interview; "Playoffs! Playoffs?!"
When you go 2-14 you just gotta' take it one day at a time. Once you win a few you can begin to even think about playoffs. Show of hands, when we drafted Russell who thought he would lead us to the playoffs THIS year?
I for one thought we would sign him no problem and he would get some decent time but not start the season, and we'd be extremely happy with 8-8.
Funny how things change. I'm now thinking more like 9-7 with a thought lingering in the back of my mind of "possible playoffs" (not saying it yet), all without Russell even in the picture. A polished Culpepper gives us a better chance than a rookie Russell in '07 definately, no matter how we got to this point in time, and if Russell made it to camp or not.
Psycho
Good points there, blanda. -Psycho
nyraider,
I might have socks older than most of you guys. I actually have a picture of me and Kenny Stabler when we both had brown hair.
H
Scorpio:
That sounds like an attempt to Slant the story....the fact is he was under contract for one more year....but he was intertaining at least 2 other jobs before the season was over....and if you look back at that season he basicly "laidDown" at the end of the season.....and if you read the comments from the players they also said so and were angrey with the way he abandonded them....as that is how the players viewed it....the reason he bacame unwanted by AlDavis is because he failed to sign the contract that was nagotiated and he was looking for another job while still under cantract and he had lost the respect of the team....so Al sold him to the highist bidder..."TB"...
Bama7...You have failed the challenge and it's totally pointless to through out a name like that in desperation now....but just for the record....JerryJones.....
DraftPicks....good under JimmyJohnson but what has he done sense.....
FreeAgents....where are his accomplishments...."TO"....
PlayOffs every decade.....(not as in rotten)....where's his victories....even under the "Tuna" he has failed because he is the "Mediler"....
Where's his "Hall-o-Fame".....
What has he done for the NFL....NOTHING....
Coaches....did you look at the list of coaches he hired....
What a tottaly waisted attempt to try to compair an owner to MrDavis....You named a "Scrub"....
The Challange was officially over upon my last post and as you were informed...."You Failed"....
PantyRaider....LongLiveAlDavis!!!!!
Bama7
Panty: maybe Jones is better than Davis becuase it took him FAR less time to get the same number of rings as Al? Huh? I'm willing to let it die if you will.
And I don't thin Al is maliciously sabotoging the Russell negotiations... I just feel he doesn't know what he's doing and is botching it. JMac's column a few days ago said the same thing.
As for what Russell's chances were this season, I think he's a hell of a talent that would have been running an offense that he would have thrived in. I think he might have made a difference this year.
Regarding Al, I have had my ups and downs with him. Among the drafting philosophy he has (which has killed us more times than helped us); another problem I have with him is he's always taken the players' word over the coach.
Blanda mentioned that it was the players who approached Al about hiring Bugel and Callahan, and then turned on them both. They also turned on Norv after Gannon went down; and they were never on board with Shell-the second coming and going.
The players are the reason that Mike White was fired, and they supported him after Shell was let go the first time.
My point is, it seems that Al has never really put a balance between what the players say, and what the coach says. I think that has come to bite him in recent years, and why he had trouble finding replacements.
I like Al, overall. I think he's done a lot of good for the NFL and the Raiders. He's an innovative, outside the box thinker and owner. He is always looking to improve things not only for his team, but the whole League. Yes,he rattles a few cages; even if it hurts his team a little. That is where we are at in the Russell contract. He is looking to improve things for the League, by fighting a difficult battle on performance guarantees for a first pick; and he's rattling a few cages. But in the long run, he knows the League will be better for it.
I am one who wanted JRuss. I am also one who believed that JRuss would not lead us to the "Promised Land" this year.
Here's to Al rattling the cages to set the League straight, again. He should have been Commissioner, but he loved the Raiders too much.
Bama7:
I totally accept your challeng but not with only one "QB"s name on the table....I accept it with the "QB"s or "QB" as a whole....if it turns out that of all the "QB"s that MrDavis has brought into our organization this year, that we fail as a team because of the play of the "QB"s....Than I will say AlDavis F&$Ked up....but even then....that will only (1) "F"-up compaired to the millions made by others....But I totally accept your challenge and I will keep you posted throughout the year on the progress....just so you don't forget how foolish you appear.....
Adjustments....sense I saw your post before I finalised this post...."JJ" got there on the striength of "JJ"....not at all on his own....and I don't think anyone will debate that....look what he has done without "JJ" to tell him who to draft....after all it was "JJ" who built that team Not "JJ"....
NO...I am not willing to abandon the challeng you stated....I am going with it just as lond as you continue to post as a "HateTripper"....I will not sit quietly while you continue to "Bash" MrDavis without merrit....
By the way.....10-21-1950.....so I an "57" this year...Raider sense "62"......class of "69"....discharged "71"....Died......?...Still Kickin.....
PantyRaider....Lives!!!!!
Bama7
Panty, it was a spirited debate but I'm going to bow out of it. We're like the south and north going zax.
I just been screwing with you knuckleheads, anyway! Trying to fill Heartland's shoes. It was a tall order but I still managed to piss off half the board. Sheesh... Al could feed some of you a turd sandwich and you'd ask for seconds.
I do like what raider nate 75 added about Al being to close to the players. Maybe that's why he keeps bad players around so long. He gets too close to them. I mean heck, it took us years to lose Freddie B off the coaching staff.
bama:
Al could feed some of you a turd sandwich and you'd ask for seconds.
that was freakin awesome, funny but TRUE.
Yeah I think Nate kind of nailed a few things there. Al has his faults. Too loyal perhaps being his biggest fault? Can't really bash him too much for that. But you gotta' love the guy (or love to hate). Overall I think we can all agree that we're looking to be in good shape for the time being, with Al still at the wheel of the pirate ship.
Psycho
Bama7:
What is that....you are going to stop but not without just one more "Stab" at MrDavis's heart....as for me as one of the "knuckleheads" let it be known that I hope someday to live as long as that man has....but hopefully at that late date in my life I won't have some young punks taking punches at me for every mistake I have made in my "78" years....while they compleatly ignore the things I have acconplished and the travils I have undertaken and the children of the world who I am helping....but granted....I have already made some pretty stupid mistakes...and without a doubt....so have "YOU"....
PantyRaider....ReallisticHistory!!!
Pope-
I believe it's possible (however, unlikely) that McCown gets the nod against Detroit. However, any extended starting time would make it hard to justify Culpepper's salary. Is it possible, and I'm not being a hater, that Al puts pressure on Kif to play Pep because of the $ involved? Just a thought.
The other side of the coin is that McCown has played well in preseason and he would be going against a team that showed him the door... a little extra motivation perhaps.
Chicago Bears
@ New England
@ Green Bay
Kansas City Chiefs
@ Denver
Oakland Raiders
Bye....
Da "Boltzzzz" better be ready....Norv baby could have a loosing season already with that schedual to start the season....
at Houston Texans
at Chicago Bears
Minnesota Vikings
at San Diego Chargers
Jacksonville Jaguars
Cincinnati Bengals
at Oakland Raiders
Bye
Da "Squawzzzz" are going to squat and lay an egg this season....
@ Buffalo
Oakland
Jacksonville
@ Indy
SanDiego
Bye
Pittsburg
Da "Donkozzzzz" are crapping out early....NO "D" in Denver....
Meanwhile the Raiders have such a nice schedual this season to start....the NFL Schedual gods must have been on the "DarkSide" this off season....
PantyRaider....GooooooRaiders!!!!
NYRaider:
I was thinking about something similar to that but with McCown starting and Culpepper coming in for the second half....CoachKiff said he likes to have the other team guessing about who to game plan for....and I don't think he is only thinking about the Lions...if he were to start the "QB"s that way it will give the "Donko"s fits....they will not know how to game plan that week and it may be disruptive to an already un-stable "D"....
And like you I like the idea of McCown going agaist his old team to start as long as the old team does not have an advantage because they know how to game plan against him.....but with the un-anounced change at halftime whatever adjustments the lions try to make durring the half will have to be scraped and now with a tired and unprepaid "D" they will struggle against the very mobil Culpepper...
PantyRaider....GamePlans!!!!
NYRaider:
My understanding of Culpepper's contract is that he doesn't make all that much unless he plays. Most of his contract is based on incentives.
But you're right. Kiffin has made some comments to indicate that McCown is still definately in the hunt. But he also said that he might keep the starter a secret until game time against the Lions so they wouldn't know who to prepare for. There's really not much upside to that, however, since he's ruled Walter out of the mix. The Lions know McCown already because he played for them, and Culpepper because he played against them in their division. Walter was the only one they didn't know.
BlandaRocked:
True...Very True....but I am thinking that Kiffen is looking ahead a little to Denver...and that is where he could gain an advantage....beat the Lyons but don't show much to the "Donko"s so they are unable to prepair....and make them worry about the "ChangeUp"....
PantyRaider....Guess-a-Masions!!!!
Only bad coaches look ahead. The best coaches only look at the game right in front of them. Looking past the Lions to the donkeys could cost us by losing to the Lions.
In his brief stint as head coach of the Raiders, Shanarat did that all of the time. I suspect that's one reason they haven't won anything since Elway left.
from profootballtalk:
"Todd Marinovich, the one-time first-round pick of the Raiders, reportedly has been arrested on charges that he had a gram of methamphetamine, a syringe, and a spoon in his guitar case.
Marinovich, who is 38 years old, was skateboarding near the Newport Pier in Orange County, California -- making him the oldest known person to ride a skateboard. When police approached him (since skateboarding is not permitted in that area), Marinovich ran away."
Tragic. He had incredible touch on his passes. Just think. Right now he could be doing his farewell tour for the Raiders, retiring as a multimillionaire, and preparing for a broadcasting career.
or a skateboarder....
bama7
I remember we were talking about marinovich in comparison to Russell a few days ago and you USC fans might can answer this... wasn't Marinovich really good his freshman year only to be not as good the rest of his usc career and also had drug rumors and other things during his usc career? if so he is no comparison to Russell "draft risk" wise because Russell's college numbers got better each year and he had no problems with the law.
Bama7
Can't find Todd's stats, wikipedia only states, "Marinovich's college career took a bad turn after he led his team to the Rose Bowl as a freshman"
Hold on! Is profootballtalk giving us old news. Looking at Marinovich in Wikipedia, under the heading "legal troubles" there is this...
"In August 2004, Marinovich was stopped for skateboarding in a prohibited area, on the courthouse steps outside one of the courts where he had pleaded guilty of sexual assault. He was arrested after he was found to be carrying an amount of methamphetamine and three syringes. He pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to 90 days in jail and three years probation."
Or is Marinovich simply re-living "past glories?"
BlandaRocked:
History repetes again...."ToddFever" has no cure....
NYRaider:
We should have signed him last year instead of "Air"Brooks if he can still "Run"....that would have been the "Gratest ComeBack" in NFL history....what a human interest story that would have been....he could not have done any worse and ArtShell knew him so why didn't we get it done....what a waisted deal....AlDavis really screwed up by not pulling the triger on that one....the great JerryJones could have got it done....why not Al....
PantyRaider.....LostOpertunities!!!
This is a "Betting" forcast:
"Oakland Raiders vs. Denver Broncos – Sept. 16th – Expected line (Oakland +5.5)
**After the Raiders beat the Lions and the Broncos beat Buffalo (barely!) on the road, expect the Broncos to be fired up for this game. Rivalry games are always tough for both teams but the Broncos have had the Raider’s number the past few years. Hence, the 5.5 points. Don’t be fooled, though, as the Broncos have a young quarterback at the helm and that Raider’s defense is very, very good."
Are we starting to get some respect early this season....
"the Oakland Raiders are a better team this year. However, don’t expect lines makers, or most bettors for that matter, to realize this until October."
PantyRaider....Futures-For-Sale!!!!
Bama, Scorpio!
I don't care if I am fed a turd sandwish or a turd taco for that matter from Mr. Davis as long as it's without onions!
To anonimous with the stupid comment!
You still didn't tell us who would be a better owner that Mr. Davis!
raiderdecoachella
Bama7
If you base the ownership on rings I suppose we'd start with those that have 5 and work down. I don't think any teams have 6 rings do they?
raiderdecoachella ,
You gotta have the onions man. Raw for the sandwich, grilled for the taco.
Until they show me different on the field, I'm pumped, I'm ready, I'm in.
H
i was hoping my turd sandwich would be heavy on the mustard, with sliced dill pickles and cheese.
nothin' like a brown-trout sandwich.
Dude, I'm so hungry right now.
Here is a nice list of about 40 possible cuts with quick notes by Jerry McDonald. Nice way to brush up before the game so you remember who to watch. Go 4th stringers!!!
http://www.ibabuzz.com/raidersblog
/2007/08/29/the-fourth-game-bubble/
Psycho
Think Russell will get the NFL Ticket to watch Raider games on TV, 'cause it doesn't look like he's gonna see them from the field?
The was an interesting article today comparing Kiffin and Gruden.
To me, the comparison is rather simple. Both are young, knowledgable, and passionate. Both were brought into NFL coaching by their father's and were allowed to observe the inside workings of NFL coaching staffs. Both studied similar offensive philosophies and were bright enough to add their own wrinkles.
But the two major differences I think are key. Kiffin is the better judge of talent. While Gruden went to older players with established reputations, his draft choices were basically bad - even though folks here would prefer to blame those choices on Davis. Kiffin looks first to the younger generations of players, and watches them compete in camp. He's brought in players he knew from his college years, and players he competed against. The majority of Kiffin's first draft look like they will develop into quality mainstays on the team.
Kiffin, at least right now, is the more honest of the two. Having been a quality college coach, on a quality college team, he understands how to motivate without bringing money into the picture. He also is not afraid of issuing a little public criticism to players, he's unafraid of telling them exactly where they are fitting in to the big picture, while cautioning them of their weaknesses. He's very consistant.
Gruden started out with a similar brand of honesty, but as he gained confidence, be became more inclined to play games with his players, the public, and the management.
Blanda-
I like your contrast and comparison. However, we know that it is Kiff's age complex that causes him to first look at the younger generation of players, as reported by Nancy "my bra strap is too tight" Gay.
As far as your comment that "He also is not afraid of issuing a little public criticism to players" that is not necessarily a good thing. Although, I give him credit for also placing blame on his own shoulders. For example, he criticized the O-line last game, but in their defense said he had done a poor job of game-planning.
That may become his greatest attribute, game-planning around the talents of his players (instead of the Shell-Walsh method of forcing the players into their game plan - well, so-called game plan).
Is it Nancy "my bra strap is too tight" Gay, or is it Nancy "I AM NOT" Gay?
When do you suppose Sapp is going to be cut?
Hopefully never. -Psycho
Psycho:
Some of those cuts I don't want to see happen....unless there is someone better on the "Wire" that we can pick up from another team...
Also there is the fact that the "Donko"s are going to be looking for "DL"..."OL"...and "RB" help....they have several injuries to deal with....if a quality player becomes available I would like to see the Raiders jump on it to keep them away from the "Donko"s....that's the other side of "AgressivePlay"....
There are some compititions remaining worth watching so tonights game has some value but not much....but if we loose expect the "HateTripper"s-n-"Hater"s to come out with alot of "Crap"....Last min. attack.....
PantyRaider....PlayWell-n-StayHealthy!!!!!
Panty:
What NYRaider was talking about was Nancy Gay's insightful comment that Kiffin was so worried about his childlike authority that he was going to cut everybody his age or older. She wondered, in her column, how long it would be before the inevitable cut of Sapp.
Personnally, I saw that article as a reflection of her tastes. Invoking the really awful movie from the 1960's, Wild In The Streets. In that movie, young teens are given the right to vote and a 15-year-old president is immediately elected. The president then starts ordering everyone over the age of 30 into concentration camps.
That's her level, folks. Of course that gives her a top spot in local sports journalism.
I was wondering where the "cut Sapp" comment came from. Should've known it was from Nancy "I have sand in my vagina, and I'm" Gay.
Panty - The good thing about J. McDonald's list is we only have to cut about half of the players mentioned. Agreed on kicking the Donks while they're down. Whatever we can do to "help".
Psycho
BlandaRocked:
I missed something....I was refering to the comments from Psycho on this web site....not to what NYRaider wrote....
I stay away from the "Guy" thing anyway....
PantyRaider...RealMenWearBlack!!!!
Psycho:
"Nancy "I have sand in my vagina, and I'm" Gay."
That type of "Beotch" could really rub a man raw....
PantyRaider....StayinAway!!!
Panty:
Psycho was responding to my response to NYRaider's comment.
somebody needs to sit down and write that beotch a poison pen letter... that bra-less wonder.
I'm drafting in my fantasy league tonight, so I might miss the beginning of the game... and worse, 3rd year in a row the power went out at my house on draft night (those are lottery odds folks). So, I'm at my office... remember it's 3 hours later here on the east coast. I'll check in with you guys every now and again.
BlandaRocked:
OK....now I am out of my "VoidSpace"...."AirHead"....never did know what was going on around me.....
PantyRaider...Du..Du..Duh!!!
nyraider:
Seems like you ought to take a few minutes to go out and buy a lotto ticket. I want 10% for the suggestion.
Blanda-
10%? Hummmm. Hell, if I win the lottery, I'd have to throw Russell some of it because apparently $60m isn't enough for him.
"JRus"
I did not believe it before but now it's very apparent that he will not be signed prior to the end of the PreSeason....It's over tonight and NO action in site....now the question is will he sign prior the the start of the regular season for the Raiders....
10 days and counting....is this a "PokerFaceStandOff" or what....standing on the edge to see who will cave in first....
Do ya'll think he is actually willing to scrap the entire season....and walk away without a paycheck for the entire year...
PantyRaider....Puzzeled!!!!
Book it:
Jonny Lee Higgins on PR
Chris Fast Carr on KR
Higgins has great football speed as opposed to Francis/Whitted track speed.
I was a bit puzzled by the Higgins draft choice at the time but he will be a ST weapons and a eventually a WR weapon.
McCown held scoreless tonight, and without a TD pass in the preseason. He can move the ball and looks good at times, but we need scores.
Culpepper is the man. Look at those throws.
That Bucky Brooks guy at Sports Illustrated seems intent, once again, on breaking SI's Raider Hating rulebook. Here's what he says:
TEAM MOST LIKELY TO SURPRISE
The Oakland Raiders are poised to make a dramatic turnaround under new head coach Lane Kiffin. Their defense was strong last season, but was undermined by a woeful offense that failed to score enough points. Moreover, turnovers by the offense consistently forced the defense to play on a short field.
But Kiffin appears to recognize that his D is capable of winning games single-handedly, so he's running a low risk offense that should keep the Raiders in games. If the defense plays at the same level as last season, the Raiders will win as many as eight or nine games this season.
Now that the faidas have dominated through the pre-season and shown their superiority I will let you know what to expect in the opener. No sell out, listen to the game on the faidio, no "j-rust", he's too smart to get himself stuck in a ghetto like chokeland (proud murder capital of the U.S.A.) the Detroit LIONS WILL KICK THE FAIDAS ASSES! This will prove to you faida fanatics that your lowlife thug gansta "team" DID OWN LAST PLACE in the entire NFL. (and will continue to be the bottom feeder of the NFL). "blane kiffy" will last one year and the "Genius" big al (MR.) davis will see that it was ANOTHER mistake to hire a BOY to try to do a man's job. The faidas will changfe their uniform colors to rainbow to match a VERY large contingency of faida fanatics from the castro in safroncisco. (and throughout the "nation") Just beleive babies. keep defending the "nation", welcome to "our house" Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha, I bet the smaer gay who thought up the "autumn wind is a pirate" bull is the same gay who thought up the "our house" baloney. Yuk yuk yuk yuky....
Bama7
Culpepper won the job hands down. No doubt about it.
The Brooks article was great and true. We may be a new team, just getting started, but if you look around the league there's not many teams that are that scary. Not many at all. I'd be surprised if we can't hang with most anyone. It'll be interesting to see how Kiffen handles the 3-4 defenses.
I'm just getting a chance to see the highlights on nfl.com. Higgins TD return was the play-of-the-game for both teams. Culpepper is clearly the starter if we want to score, but he could have put an "!" on his status with a late-game TD drive instead of the INT.
You really can't take much from this game because neither team is doing anything they'd be doing in the regular season. Limited play-calling, zero blitzing, etc. Wallace is clearly one of the best backups in the NFL, but he doesn't get those opportunities against our 1st team D. And, for that same reason, I would have expected our top two QB's to have both played better.
The safety was a big dissappointment, but our backup DBs had a couple INTs... Starks and Bowie, both on the bubble but making it count.
This article seems to touch the personal side of Russell's holdout. Let's hope grandma's "giant baby" signs in time for him to be on the sidelines for Game 1.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/printedition/la-sp-russell31aug31,1,7440449.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-sports&ctrack=2&cset=true
RT - All this positive publicity of late has me putting on my 'Conspiracy Hat' (It has a picture of Walt Coleman on it with a knife in his eye). Ya' know how a bad team turning into a good team in a single off season can catch opponents of guard. Maybe some of these mediots are building us up just to be sure nobody overlooks us, giving us less opportunities to win games.
Psycho
The thing about Culpepper that really jumped out at me over the last few games is his accuracy. Especially deep. It's Marino-like.
I like Carr as much as the next guy but I'm glad Higgins is our PR. Carr is outstanding on KR in the open field, but he always scared the crap out of me in PR. You never knew when he was going to drop it. He is pretty bad at judging where the punt comes down and he was often out of position. Higgins on the other hand looks almost like Tim Brown's love child. OK I'm taking off my Conspiracy Hat, this is getting out of hand. I don't want to get Timmy divorced.
Psycho
Gotta be Culpepper...puts ball in the EZ. Anybody see any reason at all to go with McCown? ...[crickets]
I guess that I am the only one that sees it like this, gruden suckes man! what is he doing for the bucks? nothing! he ran that team to the groung, before he got there that team was a supebowl caliber team, look at their former coach now he won the whole thing with the colts and that team looks better now than they did last year, again to me gruden sucks and the best decision that Mr. Davis did was to let go of his ass, I will bet anybody that they will have a worst record than us this year!
WERE IN THE WORLD IS HEARTLAND?!
?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
raiderdecoachella
I realized that the game was pointless to watch when Frederickson attempted the first field goal. I got the distict impression that Kiffin hoped to lose this game, or simply have slip into quiet obscurity.
The other day Panty suggested that Kiffin might look past the Lions to set up the donkeys. I have feeling what we saw last night was looking ahead, Kiffin style.
You don't look past any regular season game. But who cares if you look past a preseason game? We saw what the Raiders were capable of last week against St. Louis. The was the only preseason game the game planned for. That was the single game that was a dress rehearsal for the season. But by ending the preseason on a very mediocure note the donkeys might not see the new Raiders coming. They'll beat the Lions next week, but so what. Nobody would be surprised by that because, well, it's the Lions. And then the team that played St. Louis last weekend will show up to play the donkeys, who are suffering with injury problems.
Don't know if that's the case, but I like the idea.
for you mcquistan fans, from jmac:
– On the play where running back Dominic Rhodes was tackled in the end zone for a safety, Paul McQuistan, playing left guard at the time, was shoved a good three yards backward.
so much for the savior of the o-line!
from jmac again:
– Not exactly sure why Sebastian Janikowski got the kid gloves treatment throughout training camp and the preseason, particulary when competition was a constant theme.
perhaps if theres ONE player still on scholarship its janikowski. al DOES NOT want to appear FAIL with this one. too late.
OH - i said i'd stop with the al venom didn't i? :o)
Anyone else think that Herm Edwards' days are numbered? KC is on it's way down; Donkeys are injured; and SD has the Norv factor. We need to take advantage and kick some butt.
Detroit is the first order of business, and it's not to be taken lightly. Martz knows a thing or two about offense and Kitna can be dangerous. We have little depth at CB and may get forced into zone coverages in their 3-4 receiver sets... like every down.
nyraider:
I think Johnson worked his way off the team. But I'm not too worried about being shallow at CB because we seem to be damn deep with cover safeties. Don't forget we're employing a "big nickle" package using an extra safety instead of a #3 CB. However, injuries should still be a concern.
In regards to JMacs comments about Jano, I think that one's fairly simple. If you look for them, you can always find inconsistancies, but often, when examined, you find the reasons why. Jano didn't get kid glove treatment. Given cap considerations they simply decided to overlook Jano for the moment.
Competition? With who? Frederickson? Don't make me laugh. Even with as many problems as Jano has had, on his worst day, after a week long binge with only an hour of sleep, Jano could roll out of bed and beat out Frederickson.
But, okay Scorpio, you won me over. It's obvious that Al would much rather lose than ever admit a mistake. That's why Art Shell is really still the head coach. Kiffin is just the public face to make us Kool-Aid drinkers think that Al is trying to make the team better. It's so obvious, why didn't I ever realize that before. And I now realize that Nancy Gay is the queen of bay area sports writers.
Bama7
NY Raider, my thoughts exactly about our afc west foes showing vulnerability. We have a chance to be competitive.
I like culpepper but if he goes down we're screwed. We should have a 6'6 260 pound back-up from LSU with a month of camp and preseason under his belt, but we don't. Russell's as good as VInce Young.
Thanks, Al. I suppose it'll look good on your legacy, Al took on rookie contracts... at the expense of his own team.
I could see the strategy with an Akex Smith or a Mario Williams. I don't see the strategy with Russell. It was too nice a fit with a new coach and scheme geered to work toward Russell's awesome talent.
Watched Bohm and couldn't believe how much time he had to throw. He'll end up being another Walter.
blanda you smarty, nothing i or bama would say could ever change your mind about al bud. but as i mentioned, we know that this is a blog for al davis lovers. in fact, take should change the name of his blog to the al davis worship room. where his many minions can praise and glorify their god who can absolutely do no wrong. and no matter what people say about their god, his followers will always defend his domain. with his evil yes girl amy by his side and his other lieutenant otto and all the other so-called raider greats like mervyn fernandez yeah! who for some reason keep hanging around al for free handouts.
this is a waste of time. i gotta go do something - like work that is more productive than this crap. see you during the season guys.
Ah, common, Scorpio. I'm agreeing with you. Ya, know, I heard Al was responsible for 9/11 as well.
Raider history would be far more colorful if it weren't for Al. It would probably be more like the Dolts history. Yeah, that's what we want. To be just like the Dolts! And it's time we got rid of those nasty Silver and Black uniforms too! Yellow and Brown, I think. And we should change the name to the Seniors. Ole!
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