Halftime Take: Back to The Future
The good news is that we're ahead. The bad news is that we've scored two offensive touchdowns in 10 quarters of football.
Gotta like our defense. Looks a lot like last year, minimal offense, shutdown defense. The difference is that we're in the lead, thanks to Janikowski and the Atkins diet.
Hang in there, Raiders. You owe us this one.
3rd Quarter Update: Run defense...failing...again. Time for some offense.
End of game summary: You would think that one advantage of having the same old lousy veteran personnel on offense would be that they could at least avoid making rookie mistakes. Guess not.
Gotta like our defense. Looks a lot like last year, minimal offense, shutdown defense. The difference is that we're in the lead, thanks to Janikowski and the Atkins diet.
Hang in there, Raiders. You owe us this one.
3rd Quarter Update: Run defense...failing...again. Time for some offense.
End of game summary: You would think that one advantage of having the same old lousy veteran personnel on offense would be that they could at least avoid making rookie mistakes. Guess not.
posted by Raider Take at 11:25 AM
24 Comments:
"We have got to be the dumbest team in America, in terms of playing the game."
Seeing all these penalties reminded me of that. We're moving backwards.
Our QB & center seem to have never handled a football before in their lives.
And once again we're being over powered by a stronger, more physical team.
Psycho
But our punting is outstanding! 70yds! All we have to do is keep punting and we can win this thing! Right.
Psycho
Lechler is such a good punter because he gets so much practice!
JF
Way to finish another game, Daunte.
Psycho
I'm at a lost for words.
I've got words for ya. Barry Sims is officially worthless. I'm through defending him. I singled him out last week and he continues to suck up the field. At this rate we'll have a high pick and we need to use it on a Tackle, unless one or TWO fall in our lap in FA. Well, at least the Rams are 0-8.
Psycho
End of wk 7 of Shell era: 2-5
End of wk 7 of Kiffin era: 2-5
HELP
Bama7
I don't know see how any of us can find this surprining anymore. Our franchise has just become one of the worst.
14 Penalties...Ughhh this was ugly. The O-Line looked awful. We almost had a hand-off intercepted. Are you kidding me. This line has a ways to go. Cable has made much ptogress, but this line lacks discipline and talent.
Even though i expect more from Culpepper, few QB's could play well behind this line; That said, for a veteran Culpepper is struggling hard, with an awfully vanilla offense.
Defense: Outstanding
Special Teams: Exceptional
Offense: Putrid
Until all 3 units can play at a competent level, in the same game, it will continue to be an uphill battle.
Until this team learns to close out games while in the lead, it will be a very frustrating season.
Fumbles, INTs, and penalites ... the deathbed of an offensive unit.
13 to 9. 12 to 10. 2 very winnable games where the D was rock solid but the O laid an egg. Sound familiar? Ugghh.
Our scoring output in the last 3 games is going in the wrong, futile direction ... 14, 10, 9. By my calculations, I guess we will need to beat the Texans 6 to 3. Yikes!
2 more losses and is there any reason to start the Russell era? Your thoughts ...
Anybody want to defend Daunte? Anyone? Going once...going twice...
Our o-line sure didn't defend him, but that doesn't mean I will.
Culpepper was harassed a lot, yes. But he made so many mistakes a veteran shouldn't - holding the ball too long, mishandling the ball, and he's still not getting away from center smoothly and quickly....that's elemental.
Mike Williams let him down at the end though.
Some are praising our defense, but while they played well most of the game, they let us down by allowing a string of long runs that cost us a touchdown and probably the game. These lapses are becoming common and good defenses don't do that.
now, with Kelly going down, you think the Raiders will reconsider bringing Grady Jackson back? (if he's still unsigned)
We don't have a #3 receiver (some will argue we don't have a #2). Sims looks like his old self. Gallery was good for at least one or two total wiffs. Fargas looks like he's the starter and Jordan is his backup, i.e., Fargas is better running the ball and blocking.
Even with backs and TEs in to block, we got beat by mostly their base front, 4-man pass rush... and not just beat, but beat up.
Another very winnable game down the tubes.
His horrible play aside, I think you touched on what concerns me most. I don't feel like this team believes in Daunte. He's doesn't bring the best out of them, that's for sure. Maybe we should have asked KFC to start, you know, since he was there and all.
I don't believe in him either. He keeps throwing the ball at people's feet. There were so many passes where I thought "jRuss would have hit him".
Move Mike Williams to safety????
I thought I was seeing things, but it looks like Adimchinobe "Joe" Echemandu ran 10 for 62 yds for the Texans. We'll be facing him next week.
To think a team could make the playoffs after a 2-14 season, and 4 coaches in 5 season is totally unrealistic and childish.
It is pretty much a given that this season is a losing cause.
Culpepper had his chance and proved to be no better than McCown in prodcing points, and victories. Times' up.
I think the time has come to start playing for the future developement of the team.... Bench the ineffective veterans, and start playing the younger players to give them some real, regular season experience. I would like to see Kiffin reinstate his "open competition" at every position (as in training camp) and start the players with the most determination, heart, and success that they show during the week in practice. That includes Russell
(though you all know I didn't want him drafted,and think he's a greedy, self centered, cheesebuger gobbling jerk). I know he has a limited knowledge of the playbook but the gameplans could be scaled back to compensate for those limitations. I also think it's time to mix and match again on the O-line and get Henderson some experience. This also might be a chance for Ryan to experiment with a more agressive style of attack defensively. While I do think it's time for a youth movement ...I would put Bush on the IR and not risk further injuries to that leg injury in a losing campaign.
It's time to throw caution to the wind and play spoiler....the defense shoulfd be able to keep the games within reach of victory...and who knows the "on the job training" might prove successful in ruining a few other teams chances of making the Playoffs too.
Now what? That's all I can say to myself, now what?
The O stunk with dc leading the way but is this also Kiffin's fault? He's the play caller. Would some quick slants have slowed down the rush and open up other things? What about a hard count to keep haynswerth from anticipating the snap. Probably an adventure with sims.
Where was Rhodes?
Does it really matter?
What makes this worse is tennisea and the chefs are not that good.
I wrote this post immediately after seeing the game I had recorded. As promised I did not know the score.
Blandarocked and I, as the two senior citizens of this group, may have a disagreement on this one. No excuses. No players to blame. This one is on the offensive play caller and head coach. Here are my reasons.
Fargas was clearly outplaying Jordan. He goes for 15. Next play Jordan is in there and gets two yards. On one of our best pass plays in the fourth quarter Fargas nails the defensive end giving Culpepper the time he needed.
Fargas should be the starter. It appears the blocking scheme is better suited to his running style. It reminds me somewhat of Terrell Davis the Mule running back. Patience and explosive. He gets to full speed in two steps. He doesn’t care how big the opposing player is, he will hit them.
Jordan, I’ve discovered, will lower his shoulder and hit someone if they are smaller than he is. I’ve also discovered he seems to be our between the tackles option. But, he’s too slow getting to the hole.
Coaches should see this. If one player is clearly out performing another, he should be the primary.
If the quarterback is constantly under pressure, where are the slants and screens? Where are the short patterns to the tight end?
And, when you are finally moving the ball late in the game with five minutes to go and you are at midfield, why do you go deep? You finally had a rhythm in a close defensive struggle and you get too cute by half.
For two weeks in a row the game was winnable. For two weeks in a row the defense holds up their end of the bargain. Two weeks in a row I’ve been disappointed with the lack of in game adjustments by the offense.
Kiffin has stated, this team has to learn how to win. Well, who's the teacher?
Am I calling for his head? No. Am I still “IN”? So far, yes. But, as stated before, I’m tired of hearing about this new offense and then seeing the same old boring predictable crap on game day.
Defense did its job, the opposing rushing attack took over three quarters to produce. There were three and outs all over the place. Special teams did theirs, a 50 yarder, a 43 yarder and another one I can’t remember the distance. Offense was a dud.
I’ve said this before, part of coaching is figuring out what best fits your personnel. Right now, Kiffin is not doing that.
The only player I’m going to be critical of on this one is Sims. He has to lead the league in false starts.
H
Did you also see the indeciveness of Culpepper and his failure to recognize obvious defensive formations and check down to another play to exploit those formations? Did you see his slugggish exchanges with Newberry and lack of speed in his drops?
You want to bring up T D and the Mules? How about the Chefs? you question the boring play calling. How about Martyball in KC? Everyone in the stadium knew the next call, but they could execute that play with confidence and success.
But.....I will grant you that Kiffin's decision to go to Jordan after Fargas' obvious successes is puzzling.
I still don't see why all these props are being given out to the D.
They allowed a guy to run for 133 yards. Over 5 yards a carry average.
Young was terrible and he wasn't going to beat you in the air, yet they still allowed White to have a huge game.
Granted, the offense was terrible and should get the bulk of the blame for both of the last two losses, but the D just can't do that little bit more to pick them up and has way too many vanishing acts.
It was a team effort - offense mistaking itself into a hole on each possession and the D collapsing when you need them most (i.e. Raiders clinging to a lead).
Well, at least we have the best punter in the league.....woooohoooo!
X: I give props to the D for the following reasons:
(1) The D held the Flaming Thumbtacks to 3 points in the 1st half ... 3 whopping points!
(2) The D put on a consistent pass rush on VY. VY has 42 yards passing.
(3) The D did an excellent job of containing/spying of VY...no easy task. VY's longest run was what, 7 yards?
(4) The D held the Flaming Thumbtacks to only a FG after the offense coughs up the ball inside your own 20
(5) The D gets the ball back for the offense with 5:00+ minutes to go in the game.
(6) The D holds Tennessee to 1 TD and a mere 13 points
Am I missing something? Tennessee did have a big 2nd half in terms of running the ball. So what? Besides the 1 series where Tennessee scored a TD, they basically got nada.
Anytime you hold another NFL team to 1 TD & 13 total points, your efforts should be applauded. BTW, Tennessee earned 10 points if you take away the 2nd half FG gift delivered by Pepper's fumble.
As I said in my earlier post, the D & Special teams did their part. All we needed was an offense that wouldn't keep shooting itself in the foot (penalties & turnovers).
H: As far as the playcalling, I disagree with you to some degree. You might have noticed that in the 1st half, Kiffin effectively mixed his playcalling & kept Tennesses's D guessing. There were a number of pass plays/play action pass on 1st down. Tennessee respected our pass offenses enough in the 1st half that they were no longer shoving 8+ men in the box. Our rushing attack had a nice rhythm in the late 1st quarter through the 2nd quarter especially with Fargas. I agree that Kiffin needs to go a "hot" back system. If Fargas is "hot" give him a proportional amount more carrries. As far as the 2nd half, was it the playcalling or the penalties/turnovers that killed us? I say the latter.
I realize that everyone is extremely frustrated with the last 3 weeks. The D & ST seem to be on track. It is only the O that is holding us back. I hope Kiffin can continue to make the necessary adjustments to get this offense to start being more productive. 6 of 7 games this year we have had the lead in the 2nd half ... we need to find a way to put our collective foot on the opponents windpipe and close out games.
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