So Close...
In a tale of two halves, we nearly wrote the last chapter. I am frustrated by the outcome, but proud of our team. Last year, after a first half like that, we would have folded. This time, we fought. We were one missed tackle away from icing it last week. We were a foot wide of winning it today. We need to hang in there. Our time will come.
P.S. Schweigert can't tackle and Porter needs more guts when going for the glory.
P.S. Schweigert can't tackle and Porter needs more guts when going for the glory.
posted by Raider Take at 4:38 PM
154 Comments:
Kiffin's smile said it all. We're climbing back boys. It WILL be different when they visit us!
The football gods can be so cruel!!
To go from ecstasy to agony in less than 5 minutes.... I feel like I was sucker-punched. I work on Sundays and use internet updates to check on the team. When I saw that they pulled ahead, I felt a pride that was gone the last few years. I raced home only to watch Jano make/miss his 50+ yard attempt. This is going to be a roller-coaster year, but you have to believe that we're in for something other than the moral victories!
i agree pope, but two things really bother me about this game.
first, after the timeout came and seabust's first kick didn't count, i just knew, i mean i knew that seabust was not going to make the kick when it meant something.
second, i knew, yes knew that after seabust missed the kick that our D would allow the donks to drive and win it.
these are things that i shouldn't know about the raiders, and i wish they would prove me wrong very soon.
Freaking jano, cost us again. i hope we cut his sorry act
What a cheap call by Shanarat!!
McCown CAN"T. Porter is open... can't. Janakowski...Can't. Mc
cown is a place holder. Will he ever get any smarter....NO. Will Jano hit a clutch kick...NO
I posted this one on the post two posts back. Too busy looking at the game and my fantasy teams.
That one hurt my fellow fans. Shamahan called that timeout at the most inopportune moment. Here are some points to take away from this game:
1. Don't even think about trusting Janikowski to a field goal over 30 yds. The announcers could have saved that crap about him hitting a 65 yd field goal in warm-ups, THEY DON'T COUNT! I doubt we'll find anybody this season to replace him, but there had better be a SERIOUS competition for kicker next year.
2. For at least one week, lay off of LaMont Jordan. You wanted 100 yds rushing, he delivered 159 yds. Give credit where credit is due. I know he's not our favorite Raider, but he's making an effort, and a good one at that.
3. As much as it hurts right now, hold your head up HIGH. We didn't win, but we didn't quit and you can be for damned sure we earned some respect today, even if the haters won't admit it. I'M STILL IN!
5:25 PM
amen on laying off Lamont. he put us in position to attempt that OT field goal and I'm happy he's playing hard and now the numbers are matching the effort/talk.
Jordan may have had 159, but he should have had 259 if not for those damn white lines tackling him.
Schweigert is becoming one of my most despised Raider in 40 years. I have never seen a safety so clueless and out of position play after play. He could make up for it if he laid some pipe every once in awhile, but he hits like a girl.
And whats up with Buddy Ryan and his conservative play-calling? I think I have seen two blitzes in two weeks... and the prevent defense on third and long IN THE FIRST HALF???? WTF?
McCown/Schweigert makes me wonder what happened to all this talk from Kiffin about the best players will play. How horrible do you have to be to not replace such utter incompetence?
Do not put this one on Jano. If what I saw was correct it goes on the snapper. it was a low snap and Lechler had to rush the setup.
He nailed the first one. He won the game. To me this is a win.
The rule needs to be changed. You should not be able to tell an official ahead of time when you are going to call a time out.
Shanahan called an official to the side and told him when he would be calling a time out so the official would be watching and expecting it. That is a huge advantage to the team calling the time out.
The signal from the side judge actually came AFTER the ball had been snapped.
Is it unfair, right now I say no. But, the timing needs to be reviewed by the league to insure it was handled properly.
The very last thing this team needs is to hear another "whoops" letter from the league concerning Denver. It has happened in the past.
Not an excuse. Just an observation from reviewing the tape of the kicks. There were enough chances to win this one. A little better takling by Schweigert, and a few more passes to the tight ends wouldn't hurt.
My problem with McCowan is he is enamored with the wide receivers. They were taken away and he didn't adjust. I don't care how much more familiar he is with the system. Zach Miller was open more than the three passes he caught. That HAS to change. Jordan did his part 159 yards rushing. The line is improving. Now, let's see it from the quarterback. There were several times he had plenty of time and didn't execute properly. He continued to look down field.
More blitzing on second and long and third and long. Way too many third down conversions. We were one of the best at three and out last year.
You know me, I'm the half full guy. But this one hurt.
H
well, the score may have been close, but the broncos beat us in every facet of the game.
first downs: broncos 26, raiders 11
total yards: broncos 441, raiders 253
penalties: broncos 6, raiders 10
net yards passing: broncos 251, raiders 33
only thing we beat them on was rushing yards.
if not for a fortuitous defensive TD and warren's safety, the broncos would have closed this game out in regulation.
i thought our offensve looked much better vs. the lions, although our defense looked better vs. the broncos.
How about this for an idea...Sit Fargas and put Echemandu in for him. I'm wondering, if McCown on one foot is seen as giving us the best chance of winning, just where does that leave us in terms of Culpepper being ready to go?
I'm not sure who is my goat of the game, the easy target would be SeaBass... yet he's proven he's just not a very good kicker in these type of situations. The distance and it being a game winner, I knew, just knew he was not going to make the second try.
McCown is also easy... one TD, 3 INT, less than 100 yards passing. He doesn't seem to make decisions quick enough. I didn't like what I saw in the two minute drill. I don't really blame him either, just because he has a broken finger and gimpy ankle. Of course he's going to say he feels fine... put me in coach and all that.
So I think my goat is Porter, he has to freaking become a defender and make sure that interception doesn't happen. I don't care what you have to do.. but he was close enough to break up the pass. I guess I should be happy he made the tackle at least.
How frustrating is it that all the Raiders needed was 7-8 yards in regulation for Seabass to win it? But who knows, the outcome probably would have been the same.
Things I'd like to see.
Start Culpepper.
Cut SeaBass and sign Vanderjagt (can he really be worse?)
Demote Porter to WR3.
But at lease I can take solace that the team DID play hard. And we're so close, at some point we'll get over the hump.
I'm in, it's been a bumpy ride so far, but I'm still in.
:-)
mccown had 8 completions to raiders players, and 3 completions to broncos defenders.
also, the raiders clock management at the end of regulation was very very poor. too many conservative running plays and not enough passing plays to give janikowski a better shot (i.e., an easier kick).
That hurt! I knew the 52 yarder that went through was too good to be true. Cheap shot by Shanarat. Gotta like the balls Kiffin showed to go on 4th down (on the TD drive) and the ensuing on-side kick. All the sudden, we’re a second half team?
Hindsight reminds me that starting McCown is a mistake. 8/16, 73 yards (46 yards on one play) and 3 INTs isn’t gonna get it done in any game. We only had 4 players catch passes, and only three receptions by our top two receivers (same number as INTs). At least some (probably most) of the blame has to fall on McCown. And his clock management was not good when we needed it most.
Another nice game for Jordan, but no receptions. D still struggling (441 yards allowed), but did what they had to in the second half until after the Jano miss. You have to wonder if the thin air played a role. We saw a lot more blitzing, but Cutler usually had the time when we rushed our base four. Tough, tough loss. Cleveland scored 51 points. ???
There gonna have that CLE/CIN game on NFL Replay(NFL Network)Tuesday at 8pm EST, followed by the OAK/DEN game. Can you believe that?
Great Game...except for the outcome. I'm a little worried on the defensive side of the ball. The offense couldnt pass today but the O-line looked so much different from last year. I really am looking to a bright future...
H:
When the time out was being called the players on the sideline were already watching the "FG" kick fly toward the up-rights....you can see it in the telecast....it's obvious...they were watching to their right and looking up...not looking toward mid field where the ball would have been kicked....even ShanaRat was checking to his right side at the kick while he was calling the Time-Out.....I can garentee that if the first kick was no good there would never have been anything said about the Donko's calling a Time-out....
This is not the first time that was done to us...I don't remember who the other team was....maybe it was ShotyMire....but I know it happened before the same damn way....
RaiderRealist:
If you watch the re-broadcast please pay attention to where the players and Shannarat were looking and let me know....I know what I saw but I need conformation....or to know I saw wrong....
This is a very bitter loss....
The first "TD" was set up by a Int st our 29....the second "TD" was set up by a pass interferiance call against the "DB" but he was being tackled on the play by the "WR"....the ball was placed inside the 5 yd line.....several times I saw Donko "WR"s pushing off on our "DB"s but it was called only once.....
McCown gave up 2 Int's in the first half and failed to put us in position to score more than 3 points...just like last week....than after he starts to make a comeback he over-throws a wide open "WR" and than on the next play he under-throws him to the inside where it was intersepted....no feaken tallent or consistancy....
The "D" played too loose in coverage again and failed several times to make the tackle in the backfield for a loss and allowed "RB"s to make big yardage...
So that's the "Half-Empty" side of me....
The "Half-Full" side saw my team fight to the last minnute and the "RB" was pounding the ball behind an "OL" that was doing their job....and Jano kicked threw the end-zone on kick-offs and made a long 50+yd FG that was taken away from him....
The "D" got a safty and int so they scored 8 pts....
PantyRaider....Hard to be positive!!!
My mother in law had her 60th bday so I could not see the game live.
I recorded the game and just got done watching it. As I walked up the stairs from our basement. (It could be the Raider HOF Al has been railing about) my wife said, "Well?"
My response: For the last 40 years I have seen the nfl fuck this team every chance, every way possible. I thought I had seen it all.
Boys, I am tired. I am on the virge of giving up. I can't take this anymore.....
Ugh
Go Raiders
ekgraider
memdf:
I understand the feelings....we all know it's NOT an even playing field....and it's very difficult to trust anything now with the freaken NFL....slap the Patsy's on the wrist and Screw us every chance they get and in every way posible....but how can any of us quit....our blood is Silver and our hearts are Black and our future is in Darkness because they will always pull the plug....
Hang in there Bro....there are maney of us with you....
PantyRaider.....TimeOut-BullShit!!!
We were a foot wide of being tied for first in the AFC West.
The Norv era is, as of tonight, officially underway in San Diego.
The Chiefs are a disaster.
Denver could barely beat the Bills and the Raiders.
All is not lost. Onward!
Guys, I had a flashback to the tuck rule today. I litterally went from dancing in my living room to having to take a drive to get out of my house in less than 3 minutes. The moment that SeaBass hit the upright, I knew that it was going to be #11 in a row. We are playing better, and I believe that they deserved that win, but Kiffin has use his timeouts better in the 2 minute drill. I'm still in!!! I am very curious about Dante though. We got to get those Browns next week.
Pantyraider:
I checked the tape and the kick was already on the way by the time the whistle was blown. Evidently Shanahan told the officials before the kick that he would call a timeout, so they would be looking. You can't tell from the camera angles from the broadcast because the camera would have to capture Shamahan and the kick in the same image to see if he called timeout in time. Like I said, Shamahan called that timeout just in the nick of time and it worked. It hurts just as much watching it again as it did live.
If the faidas were called for all the infractions that they commited that went unpenalized over the past years the faidas woudn't have one Lombardi trophy! You MAROONS talk about conspiricy, the jokes on you, your own beloved "genius" big al (MR.) davis robbed the Mcgaugh family outright! He cheated from the get go and never had a conscience to answer to, so your thief of an owner robbed innocent people of their rightful property and you fanatics thugs and thieves that you are condoned it. Be proud faidas and talk about how the NFL has conspired to cheat you faidas. What a crock an what a laugh. You deseve all the ugliness and anger and pain that can befall an "organisation" built on lies, deceit, and chicanery. Yes be proud faida fanatics.
The bad news:
Cleveland put a 51 spot on the Bengals today.
The good news:
I think we can put a better pass rush(Burgess & Sapp) on the Browns so that Derek Anderson can't get comfortable in the pocket.
I've got a feeling that we'll be testing out just how well our fast LBs theory works. Have Thomas Howard cover Winslow. Put Nnamdi on Braylon Edwards. And don't forget about Jamal Lewis.
Of course, if we can get our passing offense together we can take Lewis out of the game and force the Browns to pass. We could do that IF everything worked out as planned. Heck we've got to lay a smack-down on somebody, why not put it on the Browns?
Smart and legal gamesmanship by ShanaRat ... it is the type of move that we would be applauding if Kiffin did the same.
This loss stings and shows the early signs of a team still figuring out its identity and learning what it will take to win.
I'm proud of this teams togetherness, will to fight back, and ability to make necessary adjustments at half time. 2 straight games of overcoming 14+ deficits and take short lived leads. We need to start faster, execute better in the 1st half, and learn to close out games.
If Culpepper starts we win this one by 10 or 14 points. It's that simple.
Raidermike
I'm not saying it was a cheapshot. I'm not saying it was an illegally called time out.
I'll look at the tape again to verify. But, I'm sure the ball had been snapped, and the kick may have been on it's way when the side judge stepped up and waved the play off. At that point you could tell the kick was dead center.
What would I have done if I were kiffin? Whoever was calling the snap count (they may have been using a silent count, I'm not sure) could try a hard count to draw the mules offside and get five more yards. But, tell the ref to be looking for your timeout signal at one or two seconds on the play clock.
It was immediate. The announcers called "low snap" before it even reached Lechler.
I'm going to play my broken record here. Tight ends move the chains. Three times a game is not enough.
Clock management was absymal. It wasn't the runs it was not using the timeouts after the long run, then throwing one away. We had all three when that last drive started. I believe had the timeouts been used properly we could have gotten in field goal range in regulation then spiking the ball to stop the clock.
H
One clarification. The timeout I would have called at the last second would be on the second kick.
That would have given us a chance to draw them offside.
Side note. The safety was scored by Gerrad Warren. Unfortunately he was called for holding on the winning drive.
Kirk Morrison is playing at a pro bowl level, Asomugha had a decent game except for the interference call and seemed to get better as the game went on. Thomas Howard got the touchdown on the interception.
LaMont Jordan is averaging 5.7 per carry and 9.9 per reception and 159 all purpose yards per game. And, I don't recall him being called for missing the blitz pick up Sunday. So, let's give him a few atta boys this week.
After that performance by McCowan, Kiffin has to consider Culpepper or at least say why he's not.
Let's hope Herm Edwards will be retained as coach in KC until after October 21st.
The glass is back to half full again. Maybe it can go to 3/4 after next Sunday.
H
I hate Ferret Face! I knew when Sea-bass had to rekick he would miss it and that would be the game. I knew how that senerio would play out. I've seen too many Raiders games.
We start too slow. In both games this season the team didn't wake up until the third quarter. By that time they're playing catch up. If we could have any offense in the first half we would be 2-0. The defense looked dreadful in the first half as well. Where's that #1 rated pass defense? Two weeks in a row the opposing QB has picked our secondary apart. More blitzing would help but I'm afraid the Raiders pass D is living down to their critics.
Why is Fargus on this team?
Why is Schweigert on this team?
And can anybody explain why McClown starts over Culpepper? People who aren't even Raiders fans are puzzled over that one!
Good hard effort from Jordon. He's playing his guts out.
If Morrison continues to play this way he'll make the pro bowl. I love this guy.
raiderrealist said:
"The good news:
I think we can put a better pass rush(Burgess & Sapp) on the Browns so that Derek Anderson can't get comfortable in the pocket."
I think we can IF Ryan does away with the 3 man front, and starts playing a 4 man front. We have to get pressure. He hasn't blitzed, and our secondary is getting burned. It's time to throw that defensive scheme out of the playbook. The Raiders are not a 3 man front defense; nor are we built for it.
The sting of this loss is going to be hard to shake. The kick was good, points were on the board, then a more profound “bait and switch” than the Tuck job. We had overcome our road and divisional woes in the same game, only to have it snatched away by a side judge who should probably be investigated for improprieties which will remain unnamed at this time. I agree that it was good coaching by the Rat, but shouldn’t there be a limitation as to what is acceptable in stopping a play.
McCown is a journeyman. Culpepper is a pro bowl caliber QB who needs to be given the ball.
If I'm going to eat crow, I'm eating it all at once.
1) I pretty much guaranteed a victory, 28-24 was my guess. This crow tastes like crap.
2) I've been in McCown's corner in support of my starting QB. I'll admit it's time for Daunte. Kif Kif credit for not panicking early. I was ready to make the switch in the 2nd and never look back. I no longer have the patience to wait for a young guy not named JaMarcus, with Daunte sitting there ready to go.
3) I've been a Stewart S. supporter in light of all the criticism. Now I wish Darius had stayed healthy. Stew is a bum.
4) I questioned Clemons making the team over Moses because I didn't know who he was. He's had two solid games. Sorry for doubting you, guy.
Psycho
i fully expected the broncos to call a timeout before seabass went out there for his first kick. if for no other reason than to try to freeze him. it was completely legitimate. refs should have stopped play before the kick went off.
but in any case, we got spanked, and the score doesn't reflect that. similarly, the broncos squeaked by the bills in week 1, but spanked them in every facet of the game.
good that i can take away after the first 2 weeks: we've shown an ability to claw back after digging ourselves in a hole. we just need to not get ourselves in a hole in the first half on a regular basis.
Dear Kiffin,
Please do not smile after a loss to the Donkos. I don't want to see you get fired.
Dear Rob Ryan,
Blitz! Blitz! BLITZZZ!!! Watching Kitna & Cutler stand around taking their pick of open guys is killing me!
Dear McCown,
Being cool under pressure is one thing. But the total lack of urgency running the 2:00 offense reminded me of last year. You almost made me break my TV again.
Psycho
I'm with you RT [and the other posters] who see a completely different team benefitting from actual competent coaching...the positives--we have a running game[pretty much same personnel as last year on o-line, just how bad was the coaching last year?], there is no quit, no letdown when behind, the LB play is solid, Jay Richardson was working Denver when he was in there, surprise onside was a great call, Huff played a decent [better] game, overall the D got two major stops [FG at end of regulation and Denver's first OT possession [on the road and much better than end-of game-D vs. Lions]...negatives--McCown had nothing on the ball--should have been holding clipboard, what is up with Daunte? He can't get a start when Josh can't throw?..don't understand, especially when we need a fast start--we've basically given ourselves 30 minutes to win a 60 minute game both weeks, Schwiegert and Routt bad again, more pass rush, injury to Burgess. It says here Cleveland won't go for 51 by the Bay [really going out on a limb], Daunte starts, Oak 27, Browns 13
Definately some positives to take from this loss. But to me they're completely overshadowed by the piss poor tackling, piss poor CB depth & safety play (Huff was OK though), lack of consistent pass rush, lack of urgency & surpising clock magement issues, slow recievers not gaining seperation, and to me a lack of living up to the spirit of the rivalry.
I don't usually bash Kif but I felt like he didn't take the rivalry seriously enough. The play overall was flat, expecially early when it was supposed to be at it's peak. In an interview before the game Kif basically said he would treat it as any other game, saying: "We're not going to try any harder against the Broncos than normal, what are we going to do, play less hard against the Browns next week?" I understand the point. But I think you play the Donks TWICE AS HARD! Of coarse it's physically impossible, but it's the ATTITUDE! Then this crap about asking Shanahan for advice and being friendly. And smiling after Jano missed the winning FG. I'm worried for Kif, he better watch out for the big man upstairs.
Oh yeah, Dear Broncos WR #15,
You're a dirty, cheating bastard. Not an excuse, it didn't cost us the game, just sayin' is all.
Psycho
Are the dolts really that pathetic or are the cheaters that good?
I guess it's time for lane turner to send the dolts to the ground so they can start a rebuilding process again, talk about poethic justice!
Stu looks like a little whimp playing with big boys!
As much as I detest grudden I do have to say that although I hate the fact that we lost this last 2 games I had the same feeling as when gruden took over the team it's that feeling of something good is just right around the corner.
Personally that smile by Kiffin was telling me that he feels in control of what is going on, that smile signifies security and in a was the cockiness that comes with nowing that you are better than your peers.
raiderdecoachell
Raiderdecoachell,
I totally agree. That was a smile that said to me, "Enjoy it Shanahan. You won't beat me again."
It may not be true, but I felt like he let us in on a little secret.
A couple of takes.
Cutler. Dever has finally found its QB. Actually, if we were going to draft a QB last year, Cutler was my favorite. But I'm not sorry we didn't pick him up. He would have been good for the system Shell was trying to put in place, but he's a bad fit for what we're doing now.
This is the part of the rebuild process that is the most painful. We went through this before in '98 and '99. We're putting up a team with fight and an excellent system. But we still lack a few pieces of the puzzle so games go down to the wire, and we come up a few points short. But get used to it. That's the way it's going to be this year, and maybe next.
The difference between this time and last time is that Gruden was inclined to fill holes with experience - older stars with remaining talent who still had something left in the tank. The problem is that when these people retire, or their tanks run dry, they leave a hole which needs to be plugged. Kiffin, on the other hand, is a master of finding young talent. He will fill holes with talented youth. Kiffin runs the kind of rebuild that will last for over a decade.
My advice. Stay in and remain patient.
Also,
Jano. I'll be the first to admit that I'm a huge supporter and I've been disappointed at times. I wasn't yesterday. It was a 52 yard attempt. Elam missed three last week from much, much closer. Last time I checked, field position is the offense's responsibility, not his.
The same goes for The Butcher. If everyone else hadn't missed their tackle we wouldn't be hoping that Stu could get their to contain. Next week count how many tackles he's NOT in on. Could he hit harder? Yes. That said, he's always hitting. More than we can say for some.
We lost as a team yesterday.
Don't even get me started on the "2nd String" obsession that is breeding around here.
I'm in.
Go Raiders!
BR, Preach it!
After reading a couple of takes about Kiffin's smile. First off, I think that smile was Kiffin laughing at himself because he first thought that the second attempt went through.
Sencond. The reason that Shanarat did what he did was because he knew he could get inside Jano's head. And that is always Jano's problem. It's not that he lacks the talent, it's that he's a neurotic head case. Shanarat was just using all the tools in the drawer. That Shanarat had to use all of the tools speaks to the improvement of the Raiders.
The defense is starting exactly like last year. They play loose all the way through the first half (almost a game of rope-a-dope), and then they tighten up and come at you in the second half. This is not a good strategy for emotional games where the opponent is going to come out hard and fast.
We're beating up on 3 guys - McCown, Seabass, & Schweigert. I don't think we knock Jano this game - kickoffs through the end zone, hitting the first 52 yarder - heck, Elam missed from 40-something yards out, and it is true that the snap was noted as being the cause for the miss.
I agree Schweigert is not a big hitter or playmaker, but he's at least making tackles. The bigger problem is that HE has to make the tackle - when your safety is constantly making tackles that is not a good thing.
McCown is where I have a problem. Kif talked about not having turnovers, and McCown has made consistent mistakes over the last couple of games - not just the turnovers, but missed receivers, poor throws, mismanaging the clock. He's done some good things, but not enough to stay the unquestioned starter. So far he seems to be a QB who may or may not lose the game for you, but he's not going to be the guy who wins it for you. That first deep pass to Porter - no way Culpepper misses that. Plus, by putting DP into the game you move the safeties and corners back a few steps, which helps the receivers and the running game. I think that's one change that has to be made.
In addition to the pressue everyone wants to see, we need someone who can shut down that slot receiver. We've faced two good 3rd receiver options the last couple of weeks, but that's no excuse. We're constantly giving up first downs and touchdowns to that spot, and that needs to change quick.
Last I year I kept saying we'll get better, give them time, but it quickly became apparent that it wasn't going to happen. I'm saying the same thing this year, but now I can actually see the light . . .
If only Jani had kicked it 6 inches higher... it would prolly have had to be judged good by sailing over the goal posts.. well check that. I made a funny. The refs would have called it no good.
This team is more frustrating to watch than any of the last three years teams because all those teams had so many problems it seemed helpless. We now have the running game we have wished for for so long, our o-line is playing pretty well. The defense is CAPABLE of playing well... we have pretty much the same players as last year.
What we have now can be fixed easily... a QB that can stretch the field, a defense to remember how to tackle, and a DC that isn't scared to throw a BLITZ in every once in awhile to keep the offense honest.
Maybe next week...
BR - I think you're probably right about the smile. Kif was already jumping around in celebration so it makes sense. I just hope Al doesn't have any qualms about how Kif handled his first big rivalry game. There were some things that made me cringe, hoping Al didn't see.
Regarding the D starting slow. Not only is this true for the beginning of games, but the beginning of the season. Burgess is a big part of it IMO. Last year he was quiet for weeks and finally came around. At that point our D transformed right in front of our eyes into a dominating group. Burgess is the key. These QB's have had way too much time. Once he gets going, our D will get going.
Psycho
Well, what I saw was Schweigert missing tackles, a lot of them, including one at the end of Denver's last drive. Then there was the time he got backward driven down the sideline by the running back because he didn't go low. He just seems to lack fundamentals and instinct.
I think what the Raiders need right now, more than anything else, is for one of the next teams they play to say something about them that's really offensive.
In this game, just like against the Lions, the Raiders started the first half emotionless. They were doing nothing but trying to complete their assignments, and they simply couldn't deal with the strong emotional play coming from the donkeys. After the first half, just like last time, getting pushed around upset them. They got mad and dug in, fought back, and took the lead. Against the Lions, they couldn't finish it. Against the donkeys, they almost did.
So, come on, Browns. Talk it up. Say something to realy put the stink on next weekend's kickoff. Awaken the sleeping giant.
Come to think of it, I heard Kellen Winslow say something about how fat Sapp's mom is. Spread the word!
Psycho
More rant on the lack of blitzing...
Maybe the thing that pisses me off the most is in all the 40 years of
watching Raider football, through all the great teams and the horrible
teams... there was always ONE CONSTANT. A defense that sets the tempo.
A defense that blitzes until they stop the blitz. A defense that can't stand a QB having time to check down its receivers.
Can you imagine Howie Long being part of a defense not allowed to blitz? The Mad Stork? Ben Davidson???
They'd be like mad bulls not allowed out of the gate...
With SOB (son of Buddy) he has ended all of this.
This shit has got to end.
RT:
While I agree that Schweigert isn't the best of tacklers, he's a good hitter, but often fails to wrap a player up in an open field tackle.
That said, in fairness, in the play that you mention, I think Schweigert was aware that he'd already run the ball carrier out of bounds, which is why he didn't drop down to stop further progress.
While the play was happening, I was probably yelling at Schweigert just like you. But when the refs brought the ball back to where the play went out of bounds, I understood and gave Schweigert a pass.
I hear you, but still...WWTD?
Ie: What would Tatum do?
Not what Schweigert did, that's for sure.
I also heard the story about Kiffin inviting Shanarat for advice. Al would never criticize that. I'm sure is Al is very pleasant around his enemies. "Keep you friends close, and your enemies closer."
Shanarat's response, "Don't be seen talking to me," was an arogant and egotistical response, and Kiffin's reported laugh at that statement, I'm sure, was in response to that arogance.
RT-
Tatum would JTBU, i.e., "Jack the bitch up", pun intended
Hopefully the Browns wore themselves out yesterday. 1,000+ total yards in a game is a lot of running & hitting!
They were sure pissing me off by making me miss half the first quarter of the Raiders game only to see INT #2 and a lightning delay. SOB's have to pay!
Pscyho
This team is closer than even we are giving credit for. In my humble opinion that is.
We have two linebackers that can cover and play the run. With their speed they need to be turned loose on the blitz several times a game. Too many times we only used a three or four man rush and Cutler had all day. Then when coverage was there he made the checkdowns as opposed to McCowan who did not.
While I agree Schweigert is not the answer at safety Huff appears to be coming around. He had several good plays in run support.
The primary piece of the puzzle is quarterback. What I keep scratching my head over is this. The guy who started has a cracked bone in his trowing hand, a sprained right (as in plant) foot, and you keep a former pro bowl quarterback on the bench.
Believe me I wholehartedly support Kiffin, but I think he owes the fans an explaination.
Anyone know what time and day the weekly press conference is? I'd love to set my VCR to record it. They usually carry them on ESPN News.
Jano hit two field goals had one taken back and every kickoff was a touchback. He now has more touchbacks than returns.
McCowan had a much better game against Detroit. However, my complaint in that game is the same as this one. He locks in on the wide receivers.
If Kiffin wants to cut down on turnovers he might want to try Culpepper. McCowan has funbled and thrown interceptions in both games.
Side note: Without Cable coaching their line the Falcons gave up seven sacks on Sunday and is on pace for 104 for the year. And, Jordan, by himself, has 48 more yards rushing than the entire Falcon team FOR THE SEASON.
And no one believed Cable when he said we had more talent on our line than the Falsons.
Silver linings are there, we just have to get all the clouds working in sync.
H
I said it last week, we are relying too much on coverage from a secondary that has no depth. It's time to start blitzing!
As far as our safeties, yeah, it would be nice if our first line of defense didn't allow players into our backfield, but that doesn't justify Stu missing tackles. I believe Huff is more of a finesse player and is better suited at FS. We waived what probably should have been our starting strong safety in Darius.
Jerry Mac made a good point about Jano. He’s 10 for 26 on attempts of 50 yards or more. Yeah they’re tough field goals, but Isn’t that why we drafted him? And H, touchbacks are automatic in Denver because of the thin air.
NYRaider,
Last year he wasn't hitting touchbacks in Denver and he had more than one in week one if memory serves. I'm not trying to defend the guy, just put things in perspective.
Now we know, every time he lines up the opposing coach will be calling timeouts.
H
You can't really blame Janikowski for this one. As anonymous mentioned earlier, the Raiders were outplayed in nearly every aspect of the game. If anything, you have to commend Shanahan's last second time-out call. Good coaches will use every possible rule and tool to their advantage. As much as it kills me to say it, Shanahan did just that. If the situation was reversed, we'd be calling Kiffin a genius.
Aside from a few big plays (Howard TD, Warren safety, Morrison INT), the defense was fairly porous. As many of you have already stated, Schweigert's play was horrible. I'm still wondering why Darius was let go.
If you want a scapegoat for this game, you don't need to look any farther than McCown. I think the most aggravating thing about McCown isn't just his poor play, it's been his uncanny ability thus far to play just good enough to keep himself from being benched...usually rescuing himself at the last minute. Against the Lions last week, he had a poor/mediocre 1st half until he had a good stretch in the 3rd quarter. Yesterday, it was his 3rd quarter TD pass to Porter that saved his skin. Later, he also missed another opportunity to hit a wide-open Porter that probably would have resulted in a TD. You have to wonder if that 1st TD to Porter bought him more playing time...I'm sure if the overthrown pass came first he would have been benched. Frankly, I'm still surprised he was even on the field in the 3rd quarter. I expected Culpepper to be the QB after halftime.
Hopefully we'll see Culpepper start next week against the Browns. McCown is simply not a playmaker.
Oh, and RT, I think you need to start incorporating a Mint-o-meter into your takes to gauge your weekly "freshness". LOL
Tough game to watch...but I'm still in.
Anything less than a win is disappointing to me, however I do have to agree with some previous posts in regards to remaining positive about the progress of our team.
I too have the same feeling in my gut that we are on the verge of turning things around...like back in 98-99 when Gruden took over.
In regards to the smile on Kiff's face after the game, I took it the same way as "thefreakingpope @8:30 and raiderdecoachella @ 8:11"
"I totally agree. That was a smile that said to me, "Enjoy it Shanahan. You won't beat me again."
As for Porter not fighting for the ball on the interception, I believe he felt the ball would drop in and possibly through the defenders hands. It was not so severely under thrown that he had time to reposition his body for a pass defense. I blame McCown for under and over throwing his receivers on several occasions
One last thing....start Culpepper.
I'm "Always In"
azraider63
Even on the long Porter TD the ball was horribly underthrown. Porter had to stop almost. We got lucky on the defender biting so hard that he couldn't catch up.
I'm now firmly in the "Start Daunte" corner. We need wins, screw this.
Psycho
"Culpepper, if he continues to be unburdened by the demands of actually playing, could wind up being the most beloved Raider since Jim Otto."
One more thing regarding the timeout that Shanarat called.
S.O.P. Standard Operating Procedure
He is NO genius for calling the timeout just before the kick as some mediots/fans have spewed from their pie holes.
Any and every coach in the world would have and has called a timeout to ice the kicker. Big deal.
I do believe though that the NFL should look further into how late a team can call a timeout. I think the head official should be able to reserve the right to ward off a late signal from another official if the ball has been snapped and the play is under way.
I have always had a problem with these late timeouts...not just this past Raider game....really...seriously
azraider63
McCown Fans get the fuk out of Oakland if i see any at the game this coming sunday BOTTLES will be flying at your head. That bitch missed Porter WIDE OPEN, we would have won the game , he was wide fukin open no way in hell PEP misses that throw.. one question to my Raider Brothers , are we trying to lose on purpose? wat the hell is the 10 yr old coach thinking. All you braid deads that keep saying this is a hybrid west coast offense get a fukin life , you dont think PEP could make those 2 yrd throws. Like Moss said last year "theres something fishy around here" it doesnt make sense to me why were playing a loser backup QB, that dink passed for 70 yrds and we almost one that game , if PEP was in there we would have won by 2 TD's..
CUT SEABAS HE SUCKS
azraider63 nails it.
Not a brilliant call. Typical. However, the refs don't usually allow the coach to wait until the instant before the snap. This could create a liability issue for the NFL if someone were to suffer a career ending injury on a play that the referee was well aware would be meaningless. There's a reason refs make every effort to stop play when there is an illegal procedure call. You don't risk injury over nothing.
But, in view of the fact that this is a Raider/Bronco game, the favoritism was in force. If Kiffin had tried to do the same thing, enabling the snap to occur prior to the whistle, Kiffin would have been told he called the TO too late. Not Shanarat, though. I notice also that Denver was getting the usual premium extra half yard on spots as well.
Doobie,
I'm not looking for scapegoats. Enough of that to go around. I just want the guy in there that gives us the best chance to win.
If he doesn't know all the plays yet, big deal. Use the ones he does know. With only 50-60 plays a game you can't use the whole playbook anyway.
My point is we've played 4 good quarters thus far. Unfortunately, in both cases it was the second half. Combine out second halves with a little faster start and we win both games.
H
My biggest problem with this timeout thing is the coach telling the official "By the way, I'm gonna call a timeout right before they snap the ball". Could you imagine an NBA coach telling a ref that he wants a timeout when the clock gets to 45 secs left in the game? The ref would tell him to f-- off! Once a coach says he wants a t.o.- that's it right there, you got a timeout. None of this BS that I want a t.o. so be ready. To me there is a real integrety problem with caoaches and officials making little deals on the sidelines. in the middle of a game.
Raider mike
I agree Raider Mike. I don't know exactly what the rule says, but it ought to say that it's the responsibility of the coach to call the timeout sufficiently to stop the next play. If the snap occurs before the ref has a chance to convert the coach's signal to a whistle, stopping the play, it's too late.
There is no question that Shanarat wanted Jano to put up a meaningless attempt, making him have to do it twice.
Still, every coach in the NFL now knows that it's pretty easy to get inside Jano's head, and they are all going to try it. We need to get some psychological counselling to Jano or this will go on all season.
Raider Mike,
I agree with you on the timeout thing, but unfortunatly it's a part of the game.
The interaction of coach and referee is vastly different between football and basketball so I do not believe the comparison is fair.
This kind of communication happens all the time during a game between coaches/players and officials.
Notice that when a team has worked its way into field goal range at the end of the game, the player will turn around and signal to the ref for a timeout after watching the clock run down. Both player and referee are well aware the timeout is coming based on pre communication (i.e. 3 seconds left.)
I have no problem with a coach informing a referee that he will be calling a timeout before the kick.
The problem I have is by the time the "Rat" let the ref know, the ref was then IMO almost too late in signaling the TO before the snap of the ball.
As I stated in my other post, I believe the head umpire/referee should have the ability to determine whether he should accept the timeout based on a reasonable amount of time before the snap.
I do think yesterday's "genius" move by the "Rat" was way too close.
Respectfully
azraider63
Bama7
Don't defend Schweigert's mediocre play... he's just not very good. Can we please get Darius off waivers and insert him at SS and move Huff to FS? Did someone grab Darius yet?
A hobbling Darius at 70% is better than Schweigert at 100%.
We were lucky to even be in this game considering our QB put up 75 yards of passing offense and several INT's. Kiffen's young, and is sticking to his guns with McCown. McCown is his Donald Hollis. At some point Kiffen's going realize what the Arizona and Detroit coaching staff's already know. McCown is not an NFL starter, ragrdless of system. He's a back-up. We can't expect to send a back-up into mile high and expect a good game. Sheeesh... 75 yards of passing offense? Did I really read the average per pass to be something like 1.75 yards gained? C'mon, it's amazing we were in the game at all with that kind of offensive handicap. Got to give Culp a shot at home against the Browns.
Also ready for echimandu to play in front of Fargas. What's up with Fargas just getting carries every season when he's worthless?
And Simms, is simply not the answer at LT. We should use this rebuilding year as a time to see Henderson & McQuistan at LT before off season. Let's find out if they have the ability to protect Russel's blind side. What do we have to lose?
They probably don't have much of a choice in starting Pepper this week. McCown would get boo'd off the field in the 1st quarter and Kif can't risk losing the fans.
Personally I still wouldn't boo, but you know it will happen.
The longer Daunte sits the more popular he becomes. His gift & his curse. Eventually the expectations of Daunte will become so high that he could not possibly live up to them. Better to throw him in now and show us his mortality with a pick or two, yet still play better than McCown and score some points.
Make no mistake people, Daunte is not perfect. But I have no doubt he would've hit Porter deep, made better decisions, managed the clock better, and showed better leadership on Sunday. I'm In!
Psycho
I agree with Raider Mike- time-out should be effective when it’s called, not based on some arrangement with the official on the sideline. Now, if a player has to follow an official around on the field while the clock runs down to three seconds left before they call T.O., so be it. I don't know, maybe that's what happened more or less.
Blanda- based on what I’ve read, even Raider players heard the whistle, and I believe it was before the snap. The stadium noise was the reason it wasn’t widely heard. Otherwise, somebody would (should) be screaming bloody murder. And, I agree there is an injury concern here that should prompt review and modification of the T.O. rule. What a surprise, another rule-change courtesy of Raiders’ misery.
PS Fins already picked up Darius.
A little more on specifics.
It appears to me that the primary strategy of Kiffin's offense is to diddle the opposition with the short game, opening up cut back lanes for both runners and short receivers, in order to set up the big strike. If the big strike is not successful, it will still have the impact of making the defense play honest football.
This is the basis for Kiffin to chose McCown over Pep. There is no question that Pep is a much bigger threat on the deep strike, but McCown's knowledge, and his ability to manuever into the "big strike" position should not be ignored. In other words, while Pep can deliver on the big strike, he may not have the necessary tools to manuever into position for it. Right now, we'd be best served if it were possible to allow McCown to get us in position, then change QBs and let Pep tee off. However, that kind of has the tendency to telegraph the big strike.
I think we're going to have to trust Kif on this one, and let him determine when Pep's time comes. I think Pep's time will come when he demonstrates in practice that he can move the ball relentlessly five yards at a time.
Also, there is a huge improvement that no one has mentioned.
Every time we play the donkeys, and this has been true since Bugel was HC, they like to stack the box with 8 defenders so that it looks like they're to start a jail break. The they will either come, or drop off into coverage. In the past, we've had little idea of how to deal with this. They've used it to successfully bottle up our running game, and to make us hurry our passes.
We are now successfully running against that disguise. Being able to run against it is the key to getting it out of our games agaisnt the donkeys once and for all. I think this was the one main factor in Shanarat's success against us. He was going to keep using it forever until we defeated it. This tactic is no longer the sharper tool in Shanarat's shed, and it may mean that this game marks the end of Shanarat's dominance over us.
I think Daunte can be just as effective as McCown in a short passing offense. There will always be possitive & negatives between the two, but one possitive is Daunte can zip the ball a whole lot faster on the routes that require it. Especially the out routes and hooks. More velocity = less INT's & incompletions. The mobility is there, the brains are there, the accuracy is there.
Psycho
Check out the Denver view of their victory:
http://multimedia.rockymountainnews.com/forums/index.cfm?frmid=62&tpcid=7016
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/sports_columnists/article/0,1299,DRMN_83_5699975,00.html
Panty-
Thanks.
I was at the first gruden game vs chefs in kc. That team lost by 14 or 16 points. What I saw from that first gruden team and yesterday's effort was "no quit."
I have always had blinders on when it comes to this team. I am realizing now that we need better players in a whole bunch of places. I won't repeat what has already been pointed out. I will say that Kiffin is really on the right track. With the necessary player changes really good things are coming. Did you love the onside kick!
I loved the onside kick (especially because it worked), as well as going for it on 4th and 1 at midfield while trailing. Ballsy. Gruden would have punted. Dude loved to punt.
Yeah, but Psycho, all I'm saying is that we don't know that Pep has shown that in practice.
The reason Gruden chose Hallis over George in his first season wasn't just because George got hurt. It was because Hallis started out doing everything that Gruden told him to do. When Hollis got away from that, he got benched.
That's a similarity I see between Kif and Gru. They both want their QB to do exactly, and only, what they tell them to do. However, I think this is a permanent Gruden shortcoming, and one that Kif will grow out of.
Kiffin is used to using players who's maximum experience for the level they were playing at was three years (sometimes four). Kiffin will learn over time, I think, that when you have players with five to 15 years of experience playing in this league that it accounts for a certain advantage in making quick decisions and what to do against specific players.
And this is a slight disadvantage with a younger coach. Right now, Kiffin must establish his authority first. He'll lighten up and listen to the experience of his players later (and I think before the season is over).
Gotcha - Psycho
Let's start BJ Ward at safety and bench sorry ass Schweigert. Fabian Washington is also not the answer over the long term. Satnford Routt is another scrub that should be cut.As I wrote last year on this blog. The last time the Raiders had a decent white guy playing safety was during the 80's good ol #26 Vann Mcelroy.Sweigert should study the 1983 Raider season and see how a Raiders safety is suppose to play like.
Go Raiders!!!
There was something else that was sweet, and I wonder if anyone else noticed it. Once when Denver stacked the box with 8 defenders, Kiffin ate it alive with the old Raider "Bob Tray O" classic off tackle play from the 1960s. The only difference is that he ran it to the right where traditionally it is run to the left.
I could hear Art Shell groan when Kiff was successful on that play.
McCown's primary “attribute” (to not commit turnovers) is the very one that has been exploited by the Lions and the Donkeys. McCown seems to telegraph his passes, like the flare pass last week that was intercepted by the Lions DE.
J Mac pointed out that Kiffin must lack faith in our passing game (specifically McCown), because why would we have run so much in obvious passing situations?
I don’t like the notion that we might be “diddling” for an entire half to set up the big play. Wouldn’t it make more sense to stretch the field early? That might create more opportunities underneath for our ball-control offense. Otherwise, are we going to wait until the second half to score every game? Although, it is encouraging to think we can actually make halftime adjustments, we need to be more aggressive in the first half.
It's not often I disagree with Blandarocked, but Stuey a good hitter? I would actually have time for him if he were a good hitter. He was a good tackler last year, and suddenly forgot that (along with just about everyone else besides Asumghwa.) The worst thing is, think of any player in the NFL that has developed into a good hitter... I can't think of one. You either have it or you don't. Stuey will never have it, nor will he ever have it in anticipating pass plays... he's always been a step late, and he always will be a step late.
I'd rather see Huff get a chance at FS and someone from the practice squad at SS.
nyraider:
Whatever you do in the first half, you can't do the same thing week after week. Kiff and company are breaking out the surprises little by little (such as the on-side kick), but their first and formost focus this season is going to be learning the systems, straight up.
Every so often you have to come out on the very first offensive play and heave the ball to the endzone. And this will happen with us as soon as we get the butterflies out.
But if you look around here at the comments, what seems to be expected is a solid team with everything in order. Were it not for the very enjoyable preseason we've just been through, we would all be looking for "bright spots" instead of "holes." That, in and of itself, speaks to great improvement.
It will come, my brother, it will come.
Regarding the onside kick. Great call by the way. I wonder if that was something Kif & his staff noticed from watching tape.
Madden pointed out the fact that the Donko responsible for watching it in that front corner turned and ran way too early without watching the kick. If he did it once, it's likely a habitual thing that maybe they noticed as a weakness.
I guess we better coach up our guy in that front corner of kick return duty in case someone is looking for a little payback.
Psycho
Madden? I meant Rich noticed it...
That's another thing that has way improved. I can go back to the 70s before I remember the Raiders successfully running end around plays or reverses. Yesterday we even had an end around fake designed for Curry to pass it.
We haven't run these types of plays since somewhere before Shell I, and we were never successful running them in the 80s.
Blanda-
There are many bright spots for sure. 2-0 or 0-2, I'm so far “in” that you couldn't pry me out with the jaws of life. I really believe Kiffin is the best acquisition we made this year, and he will prove that to all of us.
My biggest rub is that I simply can’t understand Kiff’s fascination with McCown right now. I have to believe that Kiffin’s pass play calling is more explosive than McCown has shown, and I find it hard to believe that McCown is “taking everything teams are giving him,” as stated after the first game. That’s where having a savvy veteran QB stand on the sideline with a clipboard has me scratching my head. Besides, any QB decisions we make now are relatively short-term until Russell takes over. And wouldn’t the transition from Culpepper to Russell make more sense for the team as a whole, given their similarities across the board.
Also, Kiffin had a perfect opportunity to test drive Culpepper this weekend, no questions asked. McCown was injured (not 100%), and Kiff could have saved everyone's ego from damage. If he didn't like what he saw in Culpepper, McCown's back in next week.
Now, if he doesn't start Culpepper against the Browns and McCown throws one incompletion, the whole coliseum will erupt.
nyraider:
I think you're right, I just don't think that Kiff has had the chance to learn about the intangibles of an NFL QB. The thinking in College ball is different, because of the lack of experience on both sides of the ball. I just don't think that Kiff yet understands that Culpepper might make his job easier (because of Pep's winning experience). As I said earlier, I don't think Gruden has learned that yet. But I think Kiff will get it as soon as he sees it.
Kiffen is a rookey in the NFL and will have a learning curve but this is what he should have done when that "Time-Out" was called after the kick was good....
Throw the Red Flag and challenge whether it was taken on time....all it could haqve done is cost us a time out but it would have given Jano time to get ready for a re-kick and time for the team to reconsider what it was doing....the gamble of that long kick is that if you miss the Donko's are in good field position and have planty of time with a short field....
Also when the Donko's were driving down the field a time-out should have been taken to try to get the "D" playing together....I did not understand why none of this was being done.....and I don't understand now except Kiffen is a Rookey "HC" and will learn with time....
I still believe the Time-Out was a cheap shot and called too late and I will always believe the Raiders won that damn game....just the same as that Tuck-Rule game....we freaken won and it was taken away by the Zebra's and Raider Fans are not the only ones saying it....
PantyRaider....Tryin to Look Forward!!!
Panty:
No red flags in overtime. Reviews have to be called from the officiating booth.
BlandaRocked:
ThankYou...I did not know that...but I could just imagine madden on the side lines shoutin down the scull of some Zebra while all that is going on and making them review the timing of the called Time-Out.....
PantyRaider....Make Some Noise!!!!
In his press conference, Kiffin stated McCown remains the starter. Apparently, Kiff thinks he can coach McCown into being the QB he simply isn't.
Kiffin acknowledged that McCown shouldn't have missed a wide open Jerry Porter, and that he underthrew Porter on another attempt that Bly intercepted.
Somebody remind Kiffin that accuracy isn't something you can teach.
5 interceptions, 5 fumbles in 2 games. Another record in the making.
The fans are getting impatient with Kid Kiffin and his experiment at QB.
Culpepper outplayed McCown in pre-season, where's the logic....?
At least wait till the 3rd quarter to play McCown. He doesn't get started until then and ends up getting our defense worn out in the mean time.
Do we need to go 0-4 before Dante sees the field?
0-4....if that happens when our next 2 games are against Cleveland and Miami I will be at a loss for words or reason.....it will be without excuse.....we should win big and the only way we do that is to have Culpepper in the game....
Culpepper is the highest paid "QB" on the roster for this season and the most qualified....I can see NO excuse not to play him....."JRus"s money is small this year.....
MrDavis.....Please...It's time to stick your nose in the game....press Culpepper into action....Oh" of course....I forgot....everything bad is Al's fault.....so corection....Please Al let Kiffen play Culpepper....now that should make all the "HateTripper"s happy....
No one understands the hold up on getting him into the game....and the fans in OakTown will be heared this week for sure....loud and to the point....I can already hear the chants.....
PantyRaider.....Culpepperrrrrr!!!!
McCown vs. Culpepper
The advantages that McCown supposedly held over Culpepper were the following:
(1) McCown is more mobile and a better fit for Kiffin's offense
Counter Point:
Culepper is above average in mobility and is more versatile in terms of short, medium, deep passing abilities PLUS more comfortable & competent both in the pocket and on the move.
(2) McCown was known as a good "game manager"; clock management + minimizing turnovers.
Counter Point:
2 games later, McCown has 5 INTs + 1 lost fumble (4 other fumbles not lost). That is six costly turnovers and counting. The clock management skills by McCown in the 2:00 minute drill in the 4th Q vs. Denver were atrocious.
(3) McCown has/had a better handle on the entire playbook.
Culpepper was signed July 31st. He played in 4 exhibition games and sat 2 regular season games. He has 8 years of NFL starting experience plus a deep knowledge of the game. If you ask me, Culpepper knowing 70% of our playbook is better than McCown knowing 100% of the playbook. Why? Because of McCown's weak arm, he is only able to execute the short to medium passes and primarily while on the move. He is very limited in his accuracy with completing/attempting deep passes and is clearly uncomfortable passing from the pocket.
Where does it go from here? Is there something we are missing? For the life of me, I don't understand why Culpepper isn't the starter vs. Cleveland.
On the bright side of things, I love the togetherness & fighting spirit of this team. I would love to see this team be rewarded with a win on Sunday vs. the Brownies.
CalicoJack:
You said it like I wanted to say it....clear and to the point....
At times McCown looked Clueless against the Donko's and was afraid to test their "DB"s....he threw late just like aginst the Lyons....
Culpepper was standing on the sidelines with a look of discust on his face....I could see he wanted to be in the game....he knew he could have pulled it out....it was all over his face....by the time he get's a shot he is going to be agressive and NO one will remember McCown.....
The only thing that playing Culpepper will do is make it difficult to start "JRus" later in the season....so if that is the plan than culpepper is just being shit upon....and so are the fans...
PantyRaider.....Play Culpepper Now!!!
>>>
Culpepper knowing 70% of our playbook is better than McCown knowing 100% of the playbook. Why? Because of McCown's weak arm, he is only able to execute the short to medium passes and primarily while on the move. He is very limited in his accuracy with completing/attempting deep passes and is clearly uncomfortable passing from the pocket.
>>>>
We mighta been fine if we played Shanni in week one and he didn't get a chance to figure out that McCown only wants to pass short in this offense. I think he purposely let McCown have the deep passes knowing he wouldn't look for them until it was too late... it almost backfired. If McCown woulda made that 2nd pass to Porter the game was over. But it worked, and I would expect more of the same next week. That is why we need someone with more confidence in the deep pass. It's not like McCown has Gannons accuracy to dink and dunk us down the field all day or something.
Bama7
I echo other sentiments here in saying that Schweigert should be benched for Ward. Let Ward play the SS and Huff FS, his natural spot. Schweigert is not a hitter. Are you kidding me? When has he laid someone out? He's a liability back there. What good is preseason if a guy like Ward, who was the biggest hitter in camp, is playing behind a guy that has does nothing special (Schweigert)? What was the point?
And McCown? 75 yards of passing offense... 5 INT's so far in the year? Not even 2 yards a reception against a division rival? There's tough calls to make at QB, then there's our situation. McCown's not a starter in the NFL. Easy call.
Does Dante have some big pay-out kick in if he plays or starts in a game? I just don't get it. McCown has shown nothing, and that goes all the way back to camp & preseason games.
Bama7
Oh freakin' awful!! fu&^%$!!!http://www.ibabuzz.com/raidersblog/2007/09/17/kiffin-backs-mccown/
I just don't get it. Even if the Browns revert to form and McCown has a decent game against them, McCown will be awful in AFC west games.
BlandaRocked,
I hate to disagree with you bud, but:
Firstly, if McCowan is better suited to "set up" the deep ball, when he throws it he needs to complete it to his teammates, not the opposition. Also, when the wide outs are covered, go the tight end and keep the chain moving. I'll stop repeating myself but this has been a complaint of my for years, and we actually have a tight end now.
Rich Gannon was the color analyst for the game and he “likes” McCowan, but he harped on the check downs, especially when you have time.
Secondly, one of Kiffin’s requirements is turnovers, as in don’t. Five interceptions in two games isn’t satisfying that particular requirement.
Lastly (for this post anyway), in preseason Culpepper did complete the short routes and he and Curry seemed to be reading each other’s minds on occasion. Plus, he does have the arm for the deep ones when required.
If Kiffin is trying to trick the opposition into thinking they won’t throw the deep route, it ain’t working. Porter had to slow down for his touchdown. Culpepper would have led him better.
Now, my theory. As with Curry last year, there may still be some concern for Culpepper’s knees and they are giving him a little more time with the trainers before putting him in for a full game. Remember, he played too soon last year and wound up on injured reserve. Further, I didn’t see any signs of sulking on his part on the sidelines.
That being said, if Culpepper gives us the best chance to win, brace him up and go. I’m sure he wouldn’t complain.
H
What happened to "selecting the players that give us the best chance to win and constantly evaluating those players?" I guess that's a matter of opinion.
Playing a QB has to be about more than executing a game plan. Sometimes it takes moxie and improvisation to be an effective QB... something McCown simply doesn’t possess.
I’m sorry, but McCown is just a mutation of Andrew Walter with better coaching. A little quicker on his feet than Walter, but not as good a pocket passer as Walter.
News flash: McCown only threw for 27 yards Sunday when you eliminate the 46-yard pass to Porter which was severely under thrown. Come on! Please don’t tell me Denver’s defense is that good. Somebody call Tanya Harding.
If Kiffin plays McCown and he falters the least bit, the Coliseum with explode. Conversely, if he plays Culpepper and Pep plays poorly, he will have silenced the crowd and his boss, who we all know wants to see Culpepper behind center.
Somebody needs to give Kiffin a quick lesson in the politics of football and being a Raiders coach.
I'm so sick of hearing that someone can "manage the game". To me that means you're trying not to lose. If you're going to be competitive in this league you've got to be aggressive. You've got to take what's yours. Hell, isn't that what the Raider philosophy is?
Coach Kiffin:
"Our passing game was basically embarrassing," Kiffin said Monday. "That falls on all of us, from up front to the receivers to the backs to the quarterback to the coaches, all of us. It's obviously something we need to improve on."
"Josh has got to get better, that's no secret, or he won't be our starting quarterback for long, especially at this pace,"
"It's not a very hard completion to make," Kiffin said of the missed pass to Porter. "He throws off his back foot and overthrows Jerry or the game's over at that point. Those are the plays that, if you're going to be really good on offense and if you're going to be really good at quarterback, you have to make those plays."
*****************
Well, it sounds like McCown is not far from the bench anyway. If he struggles early Sunday I think you have to sub in Daunte and watch the place explode with energy (and hopefully points). OK I said I wouldn't boo McCown, but I guess I would at least join the "Daunte" chants if McCown looks like crap, errrr, Donald Hollas.
Psycho
Bama7
The thing I saw from Culpepper in preseason that I think should give him the nod, was his ability to pick up an agressive defensive alignment and audible into a quick slant pass.
I'm watching the town folks gather over at the saloon. Looks like there's a neck-tie party a brewin'. The crowd goes quiet as "Calico Jack" steps into the room. Calico will put reason in all this nonsense, and steps up on a chair to stand on one of the poker tables.
"Hang 'im!" says Calico. "Hang 'im high!"
"I got the rope!" says Bama.
"Let's get over to Marshall Take's jail house 'n take 'im!" yells Ole H.
Men reach for their weapons and head out of the saloon's swinging doors labeled Gallery-Sims.
"Where ya all headed?" shouts Psycho, arriving late.
"We're gonna hang 'im," yells Panty from the middle of the pack.
"Schweigert?"
"No. McCown!"
The crowd gathers in front of the jail house on Main Street, and Marshall Take steps onto the porch.
"Whatcha all want?" askes Take.
"There's been enough justice," calls NYRaider. "It's time for a lynchin'!"
"Four games!" Take lowers both barrells of his shotgun in the direction of the crowd. "Judge Kiffin says the trial's not over yet. We need four games."
(To be continued...)
"Look, I don't like it any better'n you do," says Take. "But them's my orders."
"What's Mayor Davis got to say?" asks a voice from the crowd.
"He says the authority belongs to Kiffin," answers Take.
"McCown's jes been able to 'scape justice cause a tricky lawyers like Blandarocked," yells Heartland.
"Trial's not over," repeats the Marshall. "When the trials over, then we'll hang 'im, and not before."
(to be continued...)
LMAO!
Pope
According to the warrant, McCown has six turnovers in two games, missed a wide open Porter that would have clinched the Broncos game, and got outplayed in the preseason by Culpepper...It's not looking good. Schweigert's already swinging from that oak tree over there. Who needs a judge when you've got a jury?
Can I be the town drunk?
Psycho
All we need is raidergreg from nation podcast to film it and send it to production!
Great! funny and to the point! you shold be into writing westerns blanda!
raiderdecoachella
Hey Psycho,
I'll flip ya for town drunk.
Let's play "What If".
What if McCowan struggles early and Kiffin finally pulls him. Culpepper comes in and the offense takes flight.
Comes January and we are say 9-7 but out of the playoffs. As good as that sounds, there would be a hollow feeling that we left two on the table and could have been in the playoffs.
We would have to spend the entire off season wondering what might have been.
My point is this. I know a coach is supposed to take the fans out of his decision making process. However, if you're not winning with your starter, you certainly can't do worse with your backup. And, at least we would know.
Should McCowan struggle early and not be pulled and the Raiders lose again. Kiffin will alienate one hell of a lot of fans. He would also alienate some of his players and put in jeopardy future sell outs the remainder of the season.
Just playing what if.
H
Blandarocked steps on to the porch along side the Marshall.
"What y'all plannin'?" asks the lawyer, feeling for the shoulder holster under his three piece suit.
Psycho, with three weeks growth of beard and dirty clothes, takes a long pull from his near empty jug.
"Time for a little tree top justice," says Bama.
The Marshall turns to Blandarocked.
"I agree with these here folks," says Take. "Judge Kiffin looks like he's willin' to let things go on jes a little too long."
"Justice takes as long as it takes," says the lawyer, "otherwise it's not justice."
"I have a mind to let this crowd have 'im, jes like I did Schweigert this morning. He's hangin' from that old oak jes outside a town."
Psycho pulls the jug from his lips mid gulp, wasting cheap whiskey all over himself.
"Schweigert?" he says. "I missed Schweigert's lynchin'!?"
"You were passed out," says Holy Roller.
(to be continued...)
BlandaRocked,
Who's the big dude at the end of the street wearing the Silver Stetson with the black band.
He's got a mean look in his eye.
H
Every time I mention ya'lls love of Daunte to my friends from MN and FL they literally laugh out loud.
Every time I begin to comment, I stop, thinking that maybe it’s all a joke. Maybe we’re just “pretending” to think Daunte can do the job.
Don’t get your hopes too high. I don’t want to be right, but a one legged one armed McCown beats out Daunte.
What does that tell you?
Hey, who's that swinging on the tree next to Schweigert? Wait...it's Faida Boy. Hung himself, they say. Suffered from a bad case of low self esteem and mommy issues. He was last seen running naked through the streets, babbling something about "Kiffy..." and looking over his shoulder at PantyRaider, who had Colt .45 trained on his ass. Guess he just couldn't live with himself any longer.
The crowd falls silent. I big man dressed all in black rides down the street on a silver horse. He looks straight ahead.
"Why that there looks like Cole Pepper," says H, "he's the fastest gun in these here parts."
The crowd parts as the silver horse approaches the jailhouse porch.
The man on the horse looks down at Marshall Take and Blandarocked.
"Is it true?" asks Take. "You Cole Pepper?"
"Yep," answers the man. "Mayor Davis hired me. I'm lookin' for a man by the name of McCown."
(to be continued...)
Gun shots are heard behind the barn down the street.
"Whatcha got goin' on out behind that barn?" asks Pepper.
"That's the guy Mayor Davis hired before you," says Take. "He showed up late and is out behind the barn practicin' his quick draw. That's why Davis musta hired you."
(to be continued...)
H
There is plenty of room in this town for 2 town drunks I suppose. Although missing Stew's lynchin' might be enough to inspire a man to sober up, so you might get your title.
Psycho
"Mayor Davis asked me ta take out a man by the name a McCown," says Pepper, "an that's what ah intend to do."
Blandarocked steps up in front of Marshall Take.
"Judge Kiffin says it's not your time," warns Blandarocked.
"My time is... my time." says Pepper.
Blandrocked feels again for his shoulder holster, and for the daringer tucked inside the sweatband of his boller hat.
"Man here in town," says Blandarocked, "by the name of T.J. Pope, says you ain't as good as advertised."
(to be continued...)
Yep Psycho, and they would tell us we'd been a drinkin' so heavy that last year was an haluci.. hallicu.., holicin..., a dream.
But that would only be for keepin' us from a fallin' off the wagen agin.
H
Pope,
They said the same things 'bout a young indian fella name a Jimmy Plunkett. Came from some place up north called San Fransissy.
H
"You wanna try me?" asks Pepper.
"Not me," says Blandarocked, stepping aside.
"I had some trouble down Florida way, in a place called Fishville, with Pope's family," Pepper reflects. "I figure to settle that trouble down there in two weeks. But first things first."
(to be continued...)
LMFAO
I have had six people come into my office and ask what the hell I am laughing so hard about.
BR...very creative. Keep it up.
azraider63
Bama7
Blanda you gave yourself too minor of a role in your little play. Here's an edit:
(scene: A man named Mr Blanda who is representing a corrupt local politician, senator Al Davis, walks in to saloon where Bama7, H, and Calico Jack are playing cards with a hog-tied Schweigert at their feet -- McCown is already outside saloon bleeding as bama shot him for the good of raiderville and also didn't want to waste hemp on him)
Mr Blanda: Calico, Bama, H... don't y'all remember the reverend's sermon Sunday on liquor and gambling? And what have you done to these poor men, Schweigert and McCown?
Bama: Sir, these men have been found guilty of impersonating an NFL safety and an NFL quarterback.
Mr. Blanda: Now hold on just a damn minute. These men were handpicked by the great Al Davis. If Senator Al gives 'em a job then they can hang out and start in Raiderville for as long as they like. Production is of no concern here. You know that.
Calico: too late mcCown's already been shot.
Schweigert: Wait! I was really good at Purdue... call Mr Davis, please help me...
Bama: Shut-up... you're days of getting burned and missing tackles are over.
Blanda: You shot McCown??
Bama7: why, yes. Three days too late it seems.
Blanda: You idiot! How in the world will Mr davis, I mean, Raiderville, ever justify the Moss trade! darnit, Moss is kicking ass and McCown woulda come around... eventually... we're sure of it.
Bama: just like that awful hombre Senor Jano?
H: and the equally terrible J Fargas?
Mr Blanda: Right... just like jano, and Fargas and Travian Smith... and Collins... and whitted. Wait, they run off Whitted, didn't they? Dumb move. Did y'all ever see Whitted run the 220 hurdles? Man, he's fast.
Bama: save it Mr. Blanda. And on your way out of town tell, Barry Simms we're, uh, looking for him.
Hey, I writes 'em as I sees 'em.
"Well shoot!" says Arizona. "Seems to me we kin save ourselves a hangin', and jes let these two, McCown 'n' Pepper, have at it."
"Yeah, but where?" says Nate.
"I got an idea," says Take. "Why don't we have both men walk into that place down the street," he says pointing. "The man that comes out will be the man that Russell runs out a town when he finishes practicing."
"Huh?" asks Calico?
"I get it," says Raider00. "Once they go in there, it's kill or be killed. The man who lives is the man for Russell to run out a town."
"But that there's a dog pound!" yells Calico angrily. "And them inside is all dawgs!"
"I can live with that," says Blandarocked, and he nods for Take to produce McCown. "Whoever lives, lives until Russell is finished practicin'. Can't think a anything fairer than that."
(story continued after week 3)
BlandaRocked,
Afor ol' Cole Pepper goes in there ya might wanna tell him 'bout the Legen of Jimmy Plunkett. That a way he knows whats spected of him here in Raiderville.
H
I hope the story ends with Psycho, the co-town drunk, blasting away with a 12 Ga. at the pathetic homeless indian tribe from the Kansas area who wandered too far westward, talking smack about how we live 'round these here parts and trying to steal the local whiskey by having the african zebras (from the zoo) run a muck in downtown Raiderville as a distraction. Bastards.
We're going to get that whiskey back real soon.
Psycho
Damn. I wish I could have figured out a way to include the Raider theme music underneath while you all were reading it.
Oh, well. Technology will catch up.
BR, you just might have saved the day! With all of the discussion around Sunday's game we could have lost sight of one thing. All of us, every last one of us, love this team.
I'm still in.
Amen Pope, (pun intended)
BlandaRocked,
You have a warped sense of humor and an overactive imagination. My kinda guy.
H
Psycho,
I say we upgrade the technology. Huey with a 7.62 mini-gun in each door. You in the left door, me in the right.
Send the Chefs packing right back to cattle town.
H
I should take this opportunity to reitterate something once proposed by Panty. We should all meet up sometime at the local saloon. Maybe get liquored up for a lynchin'.
Since I adopted the name "Holy Roller", I guess I should be the preacher in this here town. "Let us pray. Oh lord (Al Davis), you are a vengeful God. Please smite all of our enemies, including but not limited to Shanarat, Refs, Chefs fans and the most unholiest of all sects, the mediots. And while you're at, smite Shitenhiemer for past sins against your most blessed people, the Raider Nation. Deliver us, oh lord, unto the promise land of the super bowl so that once again we may stand upon the threshold of your glory and be able to once again tell the world to 'Kiss our ass'. Amen.
Amen, Padre.
Classic, top to bottom. Amen to Holy Roller.
Hey, BlandaRocked, please shoot me an email.
Seems like the HOT parking lot for a little tail gatin' is the easiest way to hook up. Does anyone go to the annual 50% Raider fan Vs. 50% Dolt fan slug fest in San Diego?
Wow!...What a great "Shootem-Up" story....sorry I checked in so late....this needs to be coppied all together at the end and made into one posted story line....great job...BR...
That squril "FaidaBoy" was a "Bobin-n-a-Weavan" but I finally got a shot off in his pittiful little ass....so he commited suidide because he couldn't take the pain....and he was too shy and In-Bare-Assed to get medical help and expose his tiny little "P-P"....TallyWacker" Shy....
I hear "Col Pepper" is fast on the triger...."Mc Clown" has no chance to survive....
PantyRaider....Waiten for the End!!!!
You know out of all this misery the last 2 weeks (and the last 4 years) comes one positive thing:
We are on the way up. The Donks are on the way down. The Chefs are already dead. And we all know what Norv is gonna do to the Bolts. So buck up my brothers. Our time is comming. An when it arrives I hope we show no mercy. I want the Raiders to be the most saddistic SOB's ever. No prisoners.
RaiderMike
I was out all day and am just now catching up... funny stuff! I can envision Russell Crow playing nyraider in Blanda’s short film, which is sure to be a hit.
What’s really funny is that script leaves no mystery to the first-time Raider Take visitor as to where we all stand on the QB situation.
I’m in y’all. But wait! Which Raider villain be it ya think’ll walk outta da dawg pound victorious? Cause’ if it be McCown, I say we finish the lynchin’
Wow, i feel like i had a part in a great movie.
thanks, blandarocked !!
BR....
The Raider fight song could be used in place of Taps as "Mc Clown" is lying dead on the ground and the "AutumnWind" blows over his carcus...after being shot down by "Cole Pepper"....
If he takes one more hit like he took Sunday when he was running down field we won't have to worry about him....head on into a runaway mule...I have to admit when I saw it I was hopping he dosen't get up....but he jumped back up like he didn't feel anything....maybe that empty head can't get a concusion...just void space in a vacume....
If he had any sense he would have slid down feet first and drawn the penalty for late hit and added 15 yds to his run....but in my opinion there should have been a flag anyway for the Helmit-to-Helmit hit...that was obvious....but no call...
Jarit Waren could be the "Mule Skiner" in the play sense he came from DonkeyLand....and I like the hit he put on J-Colt for the safety.....but we need an X-Squaw to play "TonTo"....the Red-Skin who rides with the enimy...."What Up Kimasabi"....
"Jamar Rustler" could become "Cole Pepper"s young side kick and be the "Long Range Assassin" like Marlon Brando in "Misouri Breakes"....there was a name for that type of hit-man in the movie but I don't remember what it was....something like "Revenewer Man"..."Regulator"....that way we don't have to have them kill each other....together they just shoot down who ever stands in the way....
But your the writter so I'm just maken with the ideas....keep it up....very intertaining....it's a gona be great whena all put togetha.....
PantyRaider....Shootem-Up-Reader!!!!
Sorry I was so slow on the trigger BR ... I have to say with all sincerity that your High Noon in Raiderville Western tale was ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT! A round of drinks are comin' your way, partner.
Please do us all a huge favor and take your tale and the additional scene edits added by the crew and put it in your blog. I would love to see this as a complete blog entry.
As I told you about a year ago, I don't always agree with all of your points of view but I appreciate your perspective which more times than not is interesting and thought provoking. When your mind is flowin' and you are on a roll, save it for your blog.
BlandaRocked, Take, Panty, et al,
If you guys get together to get all likered up for a lynchin', the commute is about 2000 miles for me. But, let me know ahead of time and I will send a special greeting along.
This has pulled us from the doldrums of Sunday's narrow escape by the mule boys.
If we as total fanatics can pull ourselves up like this through teamwork, then the coliseum should be rocking Sunday. Show 'em we're still behind 'em.
I've moved my glass to 3/4 full.
H
RT:
and to BR, CalicoJack, Psycho, Raider00, H, RaiderWay, and all the rest of the gang here at RT's site.....
I have a thought....Oh!..That hurts my head....
We are on a ground breaking path....just as up home in Seattle where the Wave was invented....here at RT we have invented a new way to have an exchange between fans of the NFL and all other sports....
My Thought.....
Continue the "Story Writting" as something we post on other teams blog sites prior to each weeks game and challenge the opponets to compeat with us in a Literary Battlefield.....
So this week we have the "DogPound" coming to the "Great Black Hole" in the "Temple-o-Doom" where they will be swallowed alive....and next week we have our "Pirate Ship" sailing into Porpous infested waters while dropping Depth Charges and flaoting up Canned Tuna....or something symilar to that....
We can write the story together as posters and include ourselves and some of the players we chouse as carectures of the story....we can portray ourselves as the personality that we want....like Psycho being the drunk in the saloon or the Drunken Sailor on board ship....or the Drunken Zombi who cracks a Whiskey bottle over the Doggies Head in the "Temple-o-Doom"....
RT can post it as the Adminestrator with a challenge to the other site to engage in battle with us....besides being fun and original it will change some of the images put out about Raider Fans being Illiterate....mostly because of people like me who can't spell....but here we have the writters and we can inflict punishment on the others....and it won't be seen as just Bashing...it will be conflict with an attitude...
So what say Yee....Do we go into battle as a Nation....with pen in hand....or Key-Board on lap...
This is something that will catch on big time I think....and it will break up the borring day of all those fans stuck in their cubicals all the long live day....soon there will be Jets attacking Patsy's and CowGirls slapping Giants in the same way but it will alway be our original idea...."Loards of Story Telling"....
PantyRaider....BattleHardend!!!
Cutthroat,
If we did that, we'd all have to take turns being the drunk. Psycho can't have all the fun.
I do want to make one historical note. While history rarely repeats itself with exact preciseness, here’s something to ponder.
In the 1980 draft we took Mark Wilson in the first round (15) as our quarterback of the future. We open the season with Dan Pastorini (picked up via trade) as the starter and a strong armed castoff free agent as the back up.
That’s all I’ve got to say. You all know “The Rest of the Story”.
H
What a crock of shizzle, now you faida fanatics are so diswrought you have resorted to a fantasy "cowboy faida" time continuum that removes you from the painful reality of what the faidas have truely been all along...a failure of unimaginable porportions, a TIME WARP LOSER unequalled in time! Get some lives faida aluminum covered cardboard spike wearing fruitcakes! the reality 0-16, the year 2007, the hope, 1-16, the outlook.....BLEAK silver and very BLEAK! Just wake up babies, it's just a bad dream. Defend the "notion".
Somebody sounds a little touchy.
At least he got "continuum" right. Mommy will be proud.
Well Marshall Take, ya know when ya git caught a cheatin' ya lose sense a humor.
H
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