All Hail The Gritmeister
In addition to God and Country, and those who defend it, I am thankful today for Bruce Gradkowski, a.k.a. The Gritmeister.
The Gritmeister rode the pine, biding his time, never faltering in his practice or preparation, despite the team's increasingly puzzling commitment to starting JaMarcus Russell.
And when Gradkowski's moment came, he nearly engineered a game-winning drive against the Chiefs, only to be undone by DHB launching himself into the ball and bobbling it with his hands of cement.
A week later, The Gritmeister (a.k.a. Dr. Evil, according to Moshbucket), got a second chance to deliver a game-tying drive, and he delivered yet again. This time, we caught the ball. One start, one win. Awesome.
So for now, today, he is our savior. Some are comparing him to Jeff Garcia, others to Gannon and Plunkett: a gritty gamer who seizes his second (or third or fourth) chance and proves everyone wrong.
Never mind that we drafted DHB precisely so that our QB could launch 50-yard bazooka bombs or at least regularly threaten to do so. Our future will be built on the back of The Gritmeister, the second coming of Rich Gannon (and not Donald Hollas).
I'm not totally sold, to be honest. But I am impressed. Gradkowski seems really sharp, and he has already delivered considerable excitement as well as one victory.
So all hail The Gritmeister, may he feast on the Cowboys and make me a true believer.
The Gritmeister rode the pine, biding his time, never faltering in his practice or preparation, despite the team's increasingly puzzling commitment to starting JaMarcus Russell.
And when Gradkowski's moment came, he nearly engineered a game-winning drive against the Chiefs, only to be undone by DHB launching himself into the ball and bobbling it with his hands of cement.
A week later, The Gritmeister (a.k.a. Dr. Evil, according to Moshbucket), got a second chance to deliver a game-tying drive, and he delivered yet again. This time, we caught the ball. One start, one win. Awesome.
So for now, today, he is our savior. Some are comparing him to Jeff Garcia, others to Gannon and Plunkett: a gritty gamer who seizes his second (or third or fourth) chance and proves everyone wrong.
Never mind that we drafted DHB precisely so that our QB could launch 50-yard bazooka bombs or at least regularly threaten to do so. Our future will be built on the back of The Gritmeister, the second coming of Rich Gannon (and not Donald Hollas).
I'm not totally sold, to be honest. But I am impressed. Gradkowski seems really sharp, and he has already delivered considerable excitement as well as one victory.
So all hail The Gritmeister, may he feast on the Cowboys and make me a true believer.
posted by Raider Take at 7:25 AM
286 Comments:
Hail the Gritmeister. May he overcome the handicaps inherent to being a Raider QB.
DHB to start today (50+ snaps) opposite Schilens, who will share time with Murphy.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Somebody hung the moniker of
Bruce Almighty on Gradkowski.
I kinda like that - if he makes us competitive and we actually win more than we loose.
I liked what I saw of Grad while he was starting as a rookie in TB couple of years ago.
One, he was starting for Gruden, who pathologically hates Rookies, especially rookie QB's. Gruden saw something he liked.
He had a lot of moxie, and looked like an overachiever to me. Like Gannon or Garcia, a guy that overcomes his lack of athletic skillset by outworking the other guys.
So, I'm giving the kid a chance - and may actually watch today's game with renewed hope.
The one thing all Raider fans can count on is that the Gritmeister will be well prepared and will battle with every ounce of his body.
I'm thankful that when the Gritmeister hits the field for each new series I actually have a positive feeling that something good will happen as opposed to "Uh oh ... what will go wrong now"
Happy Thanksgiving Nation!
Look for Tyvon Branch to KO Romo on a safety blitz.
Look for Ski to scramble/run for 40+ yards.
Look for Lechler to blast the scoreboard in warmups.
Look for CJ to get a pick 6.
Look for Jerry Jones to look constipated in the 4th Q.
Enjoy filling up on Raider football and a Thanksgiving feast!
Tinfoil: Both Garcia and Gannon were fantastic athletes...some of the best to play their position in fact. They lacked strong arms is all; although, Gannon had a stronger arm than he was given credit for. Anyone who watched him with Minnesota knew he could heave the ball down-field accurately.
I saw Grad play in Tampa Bay. He's no Jeff Garcia or Gannon in their primes. I think the bar is set so low, that we're getting excited by a QB that isn't too good. Seriously folks, this guy is a turnover waiting to happen. Better than JaMarcus? Sure. But it's not hard being better than the worst QB in the NFL.
John C. -
Good point. It is interesting how there seems to be a misconception about the TRUE athletic abilities of the 3G's (Gannon, Garcia, Gradkowski).
None of the 3G's are big guys. None of the 3G's are noted for deep ball arm strength ... but who cares? IMO, the deep ball is one of the most over-rated offensive tools. The vast majority of pass plays are short to intermediate.
All 3 possess some fine athletic qualities;
* Physically fit gym rats
* Quickness, dexterity & nimbleness
* Throwing on the run from different arm angles
* Running abilities
I personally place a higher value on a QB who can avoid the rush, make positive plays when the pocket breaks down, accuracy, and ability to move the chains.
John C - True, Ski isn't a 'Gannon' or 'Garcia' ... yet. However, he has some of the same qualities that will give him a fighter's chance to succeed. Let's not forget, Ski is in only his 4th NFL season. Gannon was parked on the bench his 4th season while Garcia was in Canada. It took Gannon & Garcia time to set their mark.
The real questions are whether or not Ski seizes the oppportunity and whether or not the Raiders organization, from a personnel & coaching standpoint, support him.
Whine about and criticize DHB all you want....JaCarcus is a bust.....Have any of you admitted your mistake and apologized to those you belittled for wanting Calvin Johnson? That pick would have cured 2 major headaches...JaMeatlof and DHB.
Calico,
The thing is, Gannon actually looked very good in Minnesota, but for whatever reason, the team kept going back to Wade Wilson. I was a fan of Gannon long before he joined the Raiders. I just don't see Grad having Gannon's vision or presence in the pocket. I dunno. I watched Grad in TB and he seemed to get flustered too easily. We'll see. He may do, but I don't see him as "the answer." But then again, it's not easy finding a top-level QB.
Re: athleticism. I'm on the same page with you. The truth is that a strong gives a QB the ability to rip a ball through the middle of the field between two defenders, but too often, the big armed guys think they can do that all the time. When it comes to throwing deep, it's more about accuracy: most deep throws don't exceed 40 yards. One of the best and most accurate deep-ball throwers of all time was Joe Montana. He certainly didn't have a strong arm. Today, you have to put Drew Brees up there. He's another guy who doesn't have a rocket arm. But these guys can throw accurately on any pass. That's the most important attribute for a QB to have.
FYI, I was a big proponent of drafting Calvin Johnson. He's an excellent receiver IMO.
So Anon wants fans to apologize for the organization's mistakes. Hah!
I'll apologize when I get an apology from Al Davis, how does that sound?
The fans don't have access to face-to-face interviews, reams of game tape and a team of scouts to analyze it, background checks, interviews with friends and associates, psychological profiles and all the other things that go into making a $30 million investment into a top draft pick.
Give me NFL-level support and an NFL paycheck, and then maybe you'll get an apology from me if I get a pick wrong.
P.S. I don't recall anyone belittling those who wanted Calvin Johnson.
Wow, 130 rushing yards given up in 20 minutes.
Gradkowski, 3 for 12 and 21 yards with thirty seconds left in the half.
Shades of JRuss.
At least DHB is getting his development time.
Cable is killing us with play calling.
1 - When your gashing them with the run, go play-action, don't straight drop back!!!!
2- Quit slamming McFadden up the middle!!! Our center might be improving, but he still is undersized and geting thrown all over the place.
3 - Let Seabass take a stab at the 61 yarder at the end of the half! F-n A man, that's what he's there for! We have a shot at getting it back to 2 scores. There's no way our line can hold up long enough against Dallas' pass rush to throw a hale mary!!!
Get your head out of your ass tom!!!!
-moshbucket
PS: I see Chaz "the chosen one" is dropping balls.
On D, seems the improved line has really exposed our week LB corpse (atleast looks that way to me).
Huff was playing lights out until he missed that arm tackle on the TD run (personally, I would chaulk that one up to the LB's, cause they force us to bring him up so tight).
-moshbucket
Halftime shows should be banned. That's the worst part of big televised games (IMHO). They just try to jam as much money-makeing crap ontop of my beloved game as they can.
And Goddel talks about things tarnishing the image of the sport. Get this garbage off my field.
And that big video board in dallas, I would hate to have that gaudy thing above the game. Maybe it's not so bad there live, when you're in teh stands, but the views I've seen where you can see it and the field at the same time, yuck.
-moshbucket
corprate-mainstream-rock sucks.
It's all the same crap.
Nice little drive there. It's not over yet. Congrats DHB.
game over.
-moshbucket
Well, Chaz, Murph, and DHB each had 2 catches for 20 to 30 yards.
DHB had a TD.
I saw all WR's running routes on both sides of the field, and McFadded getting split wide often. We had success running McFadden to the edge early, then totaly gave up on that for up the middle and off tackle. The right side of the line is GARBAGE. Dr. Evil played well given the sketchy blocking.
McFadden would have had a TD if Dr. Evil hadn't underthrown the ball. I'm hoping his deep ball issues are more of a timing w/ the receivers issue than an arm issue. No telling where Jamarcus would have put the ball, atleast Dr. Evil gave him a chance to make a play, but if he hits him in stride, he's gone.
I might watch it again tomorrow, but less likely since I have a new DirecTV DVR (hd) that replaced my TiVo (sd). The new DVR SUCKS compared to the tivo (except the HD of course). The way it handles the video display when you are forwarding/reversing is garbage, it looks like a choppy security video instead of smooth sped up video. I'm about as disapointed with it as I am with the Raiders, and the sad thing is, I knew both of them would suck.
OK, so we lost, so that means we have a chance to win next week I guess.
go raiders.
-moshbucket
Much of the same old Raiders. Our LBs suck. Williams looks completely lost. He waited for someone else to make a tackle on that long-gainer against him.
Speaking of long gainers, can the Raiders play one game that they don’t give up beaucoup long plays? One of the worst was the wild cat play that went for 60. The D played it like they didn’t even notice that Romo didn't take the snap.
The offense was terrible. Gradkowski was erratic early, but seemed to come together in the second half. He had some missed opportunities, but also had several drop balls.
Another let down after a win. It’s become the Raiders’ M.O.
J-Mac tweeted this about the game.
"Barber's 32 yards run gives Dallas 384 yards on its 10 biggest plays."
Until the Raiders can correct this issue, which seems to happen every game, it won't matter who plays QB or WR.
Side note: where was the flag on the body slam to JLH? That wasn't exactly too close to call.
500 yards given up, five plays of more than 40 yards. Jeepers.
During the game the broadcast crew showed two stats that summed up the Raiders.
1. Gradkowski went someting like 1-9 for completions at one point during the first half.
2. The Raider defense gave up six plays of 25+ yards before halftime. I lost count of the final tally.
Bama7, I'd say you were right. We can't judge how good or bad the players are right now.
The BIG play gashing of our D is pathetic. When there are 10+ big plays given up in 1 game, it is a product of blown assignments and defenders out of position.
The inconsistency of our D and the impotence of our offense is a bad combination for any sustained improvements.
Although the passing attack didn't click/execute, it seemed like there were more realistic opportunities to make plays.
Congrats to DHB for his 1st TD. It is obvious that he has a long ways to go and we will be sticking with him ... hope he keeps working hard on the fundamentals of a pass catcher.
The Cowboys were able to exploit the Raiders man coverages.
It seemed too easy for a WR or TE to get inside on his man, with virtually no help in the middle of the field.
Apparently, Trevor Scott started for Howard. Where did that come from? Stats show he had a good day, but he was sometimes covering Whitten, who had a very good day.
Nothing like playing the Raiders when you're struggling and need to find a rhythm.
Steelers get a day off next Sunday.
Asked how his offense generated so many big plays, Cowboys coach Wade Phillips was to the point.
"A lot of man-to-man," Phillips said. "You play a lot of man-to-man, you've got to be able to cover those guys and they blitz some and we picked it up. You can't cover our guys for a long time man-to-man and you can see that."
10 plays for 384 yards allowed
Man, that's clown car material if I ever saw it.
We MUST ditch the 90% man coverage crap. so-so DB's can put together excellent zone performances, but can become an issue when you switch to man-man.
With our man-man capablilites, I think we would be VERY effective if we could run a base zone, and switch out of it to man.
And make it a 50/50 mix (or close).
Either way, as long as Al puts 40 times above brains in our secondary, our D is going to be the pourous.
Sure, speedy man-man is great, but then when you try to mix it up a bit, everyone's so used to running man-man all day, your massively increast the risk of busted coverages.
I'm going crazy stuck here on the couch with my leg up, nothing to do by stew over this bucket-of-shit that my team has become.
-moshbucket
f-n BSPN.
Not only haters, but idiots also.
1 - "Raiders, in the Not-Top-Ten? That'll never happen (sarcasm)"
2 - The #1 not-top-ten they showed: The end of the LSU game, where they threw deep, and made the catch with 1 second on the clock.
It's impossible to get a snap off, because the reffs wind the clock and it goes to zero. And they treat it like it's was a bonehead play by Les Miles?
-moshbucket (fueled by hate)
Normally I watch the games alone.
I watched the game with family yesterday. They were amazed as to how calm I was. I would define it more as despondent. My brother in law commented the Raiders need a new D co-ord. I started laughing then told him the bad news, Marshall is the new D co-ord.
Zone coverage provides more turnover opportunity. Players spend more time watching the QB in zone, and can react to the ball better than man-to-man.
That's one reason why the Raiders are always toward the bottom of the league in takeaways.
Takeaways are critical to winning games. It's how we were able to beat the Bengals.
"Just little things like that, we're really beating ourselves," Johnson said. "I still stick to my guns. I don't think there's a team that can actually beat us if we play sound football."
We've heard this kind of nonsense for years now. It's the persistent myth of "we're this close" and "we are loaded with talent."
No, we are not. Let's start there, okay? We're not close, and we're not that talented.
Otherwise we wouldn't be getting blown up every other week while extending the NFL record for consecutive years of 11 or more losses.
I think Mr. Davis would probably agree with Johnson. We're really the best team in the NFL, we just haven't shown it!
We are suffering from delusions of grandeur. Things will not change until we cure this organizational malady.
On target Raider Take. We've heard this line for decades. The fact is this: Al Davis has done a horrible job in the draft over the last two decades. The talent here is thin, but the organization as a whole is even worse.
It's all about team chemistry, right? Oh yeah, Al doesn't believe in chemistry.
I actually think this team has good overall chemistry in terms of players pulling for each other, playing hard, and generally getting along. There is next to no finger pointing, drama, or bad mouthing of a player or unit.
In spite of good chemistry, this team is below average in overall talent, depth and coaching.
The offense and defense are predictable and lacks the dynamic sophistication to adjust to the circumstances of the game.
Most of league can exploit our lack of talent and predictability by gameplanning towards our tendencies.
A perfect example is how the Cowboys knew we would play 90% M2M. The Cowboys WRs ran long crossing patterns across the field to find openings.
The Raiders D's inability to mix in more zone coverage to keep the opponent on their toes is killing us.
As long as Al keeps spinning the coaching carousel, we'll never be able to play "sound" football.
Chemistry is WAY more critical these days, because the game has become so complex.
Look back at the coaching tenures.
If we keep a coach for 5+years, we end up in the SB. (The last one was Chuky's team, not Calahans).
Look at Pittsburge. 6 SB rings, and they've had 3 coaches in like 50 years!
Anyway, just rehashing what we all know.
Bama7, looks like you got what you asked for down on the plains!
-moshbucket
So how many rushing yards and TD's do you guys think we'll bend over and take up the @ss against the Steelers? I worded it that way, because "give up" just doesn't do our 'big play' Defense justice.
I ask becuase I have Mendenhall on my fantasy team. I'm stacked at RB, so I could probably get away without playing him, but he's likely to go for half a hundred in fantasy points!!!!
-moshbucket
You don't need a coaching carousel if you hire qualified head coaches around whom you can build a lasting program.
The last time we had one (Gruden) we let him go.
Even then, Gruden lasted at least twice as long as any of the other past seven coaches we've hired before and after him: Bugel, White, Callahan, Turner, Shell II, Kiffin and, presumably, Cable.
Say those names out loud and say to yourself: we should give him the team and at least four years.
Would you give four years to any of those guys?
I wouldn't, and we didn't, for obvious reasons.
Our three most recent head coaching "searches" have been complete farces.
The Steelers don't conduct farces. That's why they hire good coaches who last.
Hey RT,
Have you noticed that Buffalo has already talked to Bill Cowher and will be talking to Mike Shanahan?
Mosh:
The Steelers rushing attack this year has been subpar ... having said that, they will probably run for 200+ yards to get the rushing attack some work and get in rhythm for future opponents.
RT:
Our coaching carousel is a self-fulfulling prophecy ... it is a carousel because (a) there isn't a GM in place (b) the search itself is half ass (c) the candidates are marginal to begin with (d) the newly hired HC has 1 arm behind his back while dealing with a losing culture and a dysfunctional organization, and less than talented team.
It is a never ending cycle until we change the path we've been on since Gruden left. 2 easy steps that every other organization understands ... Hire a GM and allow the GM to be directly involved with the hiring of a new HC.
Realist, I think it was the other way around, but yes, I did notice that. Our GM search needed to begin right after Kiffin was fired (at the latest; in fact, it needed to begin earlier).
We don't have a cart to put before the horse, because we don't even have a horse.
So here we are, Davis & Cable or bust (and bust it is).
I love how some folks come in here and turn up their noses at the likes of the Dolphins and their turnaround because, well, they might not make the playoffs this year.
Never mind that the Dolphins have won 16 games in a year and little over a half after going 1-15; and notching more wins in that short period than we have in four years.
No, we wouldn't want that, would we? We wouldn't want a stadium full of fans knowing that they could count on competent football on a regular basis, right?
No, we'd rather have 30,000 fans yawning as we tinker with master "plan," seven years in the making.
Because, you know, as Chris Johnson says, if we could just play sound football, no one could beat us.
Yes, and if "ifs and buts" were candy and nuts, then every day would be Christmas.
I just don't know how anyone can defend this nonsense anymore. It's a farce. Anyone who says otherwise is playing mental Twister.
Spot on, CJ. We are on the same page, as you'll see above in my response to RaiderRealist.
I don't know. I keep asking myself what does Al Davis think he is accomplishing by:
1. Not letting the defense blitz, just rush four and keeping the secondary running around in man coverage?
2. Making the QB drop back 5-7 steps only to have the pocket collapse and get himself killed?
3. Not letting the offense run a screen, a hitch, quick slant, shovel pass or bootleg to help jump start the passing game?
4. Drafting, year after year, athletic specimens that should be in a jar of formaldehyde for study instead of complete football players?
5. Fooling himself into believing that every year he's building a Super Bowl team?
Cable is not calling the shots nor is Marshall on defense. What half-decent NFL coach in his right mind would keep the same personnel on the field week after week without making any changes or adjustments during a game in order give the team the best chance of winning? I guess we're lucky that Al lets the o-line zone block,
the QB take snaps out of the shotgun and the defense run a corner blitz. It must have taken an act of Congress, divine intervention, somebody with a clue or a combination of all the above for this to happen.
The Cowboys won because they were the better team, plain and simple. Chris Johnson must be representative of the organization from top to bottom by saying:
"I don't think there's a team that can actually beat us if we play sound football."
R.T. hit it on the dime:
"We've heard this kind of nonsense for years now. It's the persistent myth of 'we're this close' and 'we are loaded with talent.'
No, we are not. Let's start there, okay? We're not close, and we're not that talented.
Otherwise we wouldn't be getting blown up every other week while extending the NFL record for consecutive years of 11 or more losses."
Bottom line we've won one game in Sept, one game in Oct and, more than likely, will only win one game in Nov and Dec. Sad to say that, once again, it'll be par for the course and more disappointment for the Raider Nation.
Looks like the Bills have their coaching search well underway:
http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d81471061&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true
http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d81474bb9&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true
Did anyone see where our MLB was on the Felix Jones rushing TD? All I saw was a big hole of daylight that Jones ran to. I wish we could ask Mike Haluchak(the LB coach) would explain about the LBs gap coverage because this has been a recurring theme.
RT:
The Dolphins will continue to add tough football players to the roster each year that fits their schemes & style of play.
I would expect the Dolphins to be a stable, competitive, playoff caliber team with Parcells as GM.
Dolphin fans have genuine hope and high expectations. A bump in the road for them will be a 7-9 season not 2-14 or 4-12.
If/when Parcells steps down you can bank on 2 things happening;
(1) Parcells will not leave the team holding the bag ... he will be involved in the transistion.
(2) A new GM will be on board well before the season starts.
The cold reality is that we have an unqualified HC who is trying to produce rib eye steak out of scraps and an owner who is doing all of the heavy lifting and wearing too many hats at the age of 80. Does this sound like a recipe for success?
4-12
4-12
5-11
2-14
4-12
5-11
3-8
27 wins, 80 losses over the past 6+ seasons. 107 games in the books at a winning rate of 25%.
"Stay the course ... we are right on the cusp of turning the corner"
Right? Seriously, how does Tom Cable keep a straight face at his PCs? He is one hell of an actor. Give the guy a Oscar.
The recipe for failure is when you refuse to hire a GM; when you hire unqualified head coaches, preceded by hiring his coaching staff for him; when you don’t properly and professionally staff your player scouting department; when you place a premium on speed over football acumen in the draft; when you sign marginal offensive linemen that were rejects on other teams, thinking they will miraculously solve all your protection and blocking problems... not to mention all the other marginal talent that the Raiders have grossly overpaid; when you remain steadfast to antiquated methodologies while others around you adapt.
Everybody on the planet knew that Michael Crabtree is a better WR than DHB, but Al had to have Bey because he’s a fraction of a second faster in the 40. Now there are at least 20 rookie WRs from the ‘09 draft that have proven to be more productive than Bey. Despite his holdout thru 6-7 games with no pre-season, Crabtree already has 22 receptions, which would tie him with the Raiders' top WR from last year.
As pointed out by others here, the Bills are way ahead of the curve in their coaching (and GM) search. They hired an interim coach who will spend the rest of the season auditioning to be HC, and they’ve contacted the Mike Shanahan and Bill Cowher... two top echelon coaches that would never even consider the Raiders.
There must be something in the water in Oakland that keeps the Raiders from making rational and logical decisions.
Al Davis has exactly what he deserves, i.e., a team that can’t score and whose defense gives up an avg of 38+ yards on almost 20% of its plays (10 plays totaling the length of almost 4 football fields)
What a disgrace!
Excerpts from Cable's Q&A on the Dallas game:
Q: Bush no carries in first half?
Cable: Really if you look at how we started the game and you start looking at how those three guys are used, look at how we started the game with the two tailbacks in the game at the same time and using some spread formation, and then a lot of three wide receiver with one back. I think nothing more than we started the game that way.
Q: His fumble vs Cincy had nothing to do with it?
Cable: No.
Would you buy a used car from this man?
Calico,
it's interesting to note that jake grove has been the starting center for the fish this year.
NyRaider said,
"There must be something in the water in Oakland that keeps the Raiders from making rational and logical decisions".
i heard Al Davis likes to go swimming in the Oakland, reservoir.
i think it's him that's in the water.
Not sure I've heard anybody defend how Al's been handling/rotating coaches. I think we're all on the same page there.
Not sure we can pin anything other than this year on Cable (even then, we know the pin should go on the jackass upstairs and not the loyal minion). In Kiffin's year, the o-line and run game was one of the few bright (less glumy?) spots on the team.
I think Al wants Cable to succed and will give him the full year.
Next year, anyones guess. If we win out, Cables in next year for sure. If we lose out, he's a gonner. Anything in between is a crapshoot.
The problem is, the GM and Coach need to have chemistry, which I think Al and Cable do. Since Al must go, Cable must go. In a perfect world, I would like to see Tuna come in, pick a coach, and they both agree that cable should be kept as O-line coach. I think cable would actually accept that.
As far as his statements about playing bush, Cable said before the season even began that he would use those three back differently each game, depending on the adversary. Personally, I don't like that. I'd much rather do like the Saints are doing with Bell and Thomas, and just rotate Fargas and Bush, and use McFadden sparingly running out of the backfield (concentrating on getting him wide and running routes).
Speaking of Darren, isn't it ironic that the one time Al goes for the supposed football player (Darren) over the top 40 guy (chris johnson), he should have just went with the 40 guy? But nobody thought Chris Johnson was going to be what he is (TN RB, not our CB).
Well, atleast we won't lose today :-)
-moshbucket
Why I can't single out DHB:
player rec/yds/avg/lng/td
Miller 39 568 14.6 86 2
Murphy 19 283 14.9 57 2
Bush 14 83 5.9 17 0
Fargas 14 94 6.7 14 0
McFadden 14 106 7.6 16 0
Darrius 9 124 13.8 24 1
On one hand, Murph has more than twice the receptions, on the other hand, he only has 10 more receptions than Darrius.
Sure, it doesn't show number of plays, and sure, all 3 backs have more receptions, but realistically, the whole passing game is garbage.
I think the sky's the limit for our WRs/RBs, as long as we get ALLOT of O-line help, a real QB (Wouldn't be on Dr. Evil, but I give him a 25% chance), AND a einstein play caller (I want to see him covering his face with a big ass play sheet ala Chucky and Sean Peyton).
I know most of you guys think DHB should just be cut right now, I'm not trying to restart that debate.
If we replace Cable, Al needs to go with a DEFENSIVE COACH!!! Pick up a killer ML, and a plug DT (McLain and Cody from Bama???), and with a real D-coach who isn't handcuffed (i.e., be a man-man team, but not ludicrously overplayed, man-man team), we should be able to handle anyone defensively.
I just did a quick search on Cower, I couldn't remember if he was on the Steelers staff or not when he was hired (looks like he was KC's D-coordinator from '89-91). Anyway, I found this:
"Under Cowher, the Steelers showed an immediate improvement from the disappointing 7-9 season...."
Not saying I would give my left nut, but DAMN I would love to have a dissapointing 7-9 season this year!!!!!
-moshbucket
Wow, listening to pregame, segment on 'hot seats'.
We only owe JRuss 3mil next season, so he is 'cutable'.
-moshbucket
Blast from the past.
Caught that last note about Hoss on the previous thread.
If I recall, were'nt we leading the NFL in offense the first 5 or so games, but Hoss got to banged up because we were dropping him back and going deep so much (seem to remember him complaining about that).
I remember one game against the browns where they encroached 2 plays in a row, and both times Jerry Ball (I think) blasted through and creamed hoss.
Factoid: When Jerry Ball was playing for us, he had the longest TD run for a man over 300lbs. Not sure that still stands today.
-moshbucket
PS: I do have a Hostetler replica jersey in the closet somewhere. it got replaced my my 'better than replica, but not real' STABLER jersey several years later. I can wear that one to Raiders and Bama games :-)
Russell is "cutable" next year regardless of his salary, because next year will be uncapped. Lots of teams will be dumping overpriced dead weight... Russell definitely falls into that category.
Question is, can Davis live with the fact he was wrong about Russell, or does he still have to prove to the world that Russell can play, even if it kills the Raiders and the fans? I'm guessing the latter.
moshbucket-
I remember that game against Cleveland. Hostetler was never the same after that beating he took.
NYRaider-
I'm not ready to give up on Russell yet. I want to see how he handles this offseason. Otherwise its looking for a free agent QB(remember Josh McCown & Daunte Culpepper, or even Aaron Brooks, for that matter.) or rolling the dice on the draft again. I wouldn't bet the farm on Gradkowski either, not after that Dallas game.
NY,
Well, if he were due 10mil+, Al would be much more likely to keep him on the roster hoping he might still pan out.
I forgot next year was uncapped, was thinking 2011, but that's the collective bargaining agreement.
Sad when league issues will be more interesting than our team :-(
-moshbucket
Mosh:
True. The "whole passing game is garbage" ... however this does not excuse DHB's lack of production and drops. The bar has been set so incredibly low for the entire WR group it makes me nauseous. DHB has not come close to reaching this low bar.
The difference between Murphy & DHB (besides production) is Murphy is a more natural pass catcher. Murphy & DHB should have at least 50 receptions combined at this point in the season but only have 20.
"I think the sky's the limit for our WRs/RBs, as long as we get ALLOT of O-line help, a real QB (Wouldn't be on Dr. Evil, but I give him a 25% chance), AND a einstein play caller (I want to see him covering his face with a big ass play sheet ala Chucky and Sean Peyton)."
OLine help, a real QB, and great playcaller ... in other words, an upgrade across the board.
"I know most of you guys think DHB should just be cut right now, I'm not trying to restart that debate."
Too costly to cut DHB with the guaranteed $23M. The sensible thing to do is to reduce his snaps by 50% and build him up.
"If we replace Cable, Al needs to go with a DEFENSIVE COACH!!! Pick up a killer ML, and a plug DT (McLain and Cody from Bama???), and with a real D-coach who isn't handcuffed (i.e., be a man-man team, but not ludicrously overplayed, man-man team), we should be able to handle anyone defensively."
A nice suggestion but can you name the last defensive minded HC Davis has hired? Crickets.
Do you think a DC or HC will ever have the authority to play more zone coverage? Nope.
Since when has a MLB ever been a priority with the Raiders?
Don't hold your breath on Cowher. Pigs will fly before he joins the Raiders.
Morrison, Howard Thomas, and Williams all overshooting their run gaps. The D-Line is creating the lanes for those guys to make the plays, and they follow the D-Lineman into being blocked by an O-Lineman; totally missing the lane.
Our LBs are crap! Yet, no coach in their faces going over photos of the drive, getting them to recognize the lanes their missing. Instead, they sit on the bench laughing it up.
Tom Cable's play calling isn't any better. Just give those duties to Tollner, and do it now! Bruce G looked lost like he did in Tampa. Our receivers aren't good, not even close. Our special teams....well they are "special". Yet again, no coach in sight on the sideline in their face going over photos to improve. I'm disgusted.
Word here in Texas is Jason Garrett is taking a lot of heat by management and upper management in Dallas for the Cowboys' offense falling flat (forget that they gave away TO for nothing); and that he may not be in D-town next season. If he's not, I'd welcome him to Oakland.
Raidernate,
nothing against jason garrett, but i'd like to see the raiders do something different for a change.
how about hiring the best D coordinator available ?
this would sure beat doing same thing over and over again as far as HC hiring(always offense).
have to wonder how many more times al davis can run head first into brick walls ?
The Cowboys had been flat on offense, that is, of course, until they played the Raiders.
Hiring Garrett (preceded by hiring his staff for him), then clinging to Marshall like Al did Ryan, will be a big dose of business as usual.
Assuming Davis once again does not hire a GM, and either keeps Cable as HC or goes about another coaching search that mirrors recent history, the confidence level going into next season will be very low.
It really doesn't matter what other moves Davis makes, hiring and empowering a GM will be by far the most critical for any hope of substantive improvement. We need someone who can objectively evaluate players and coaches and make personnel decisions that Al simply can’t or won’t.
Yeah, we can bring in a MLB, sign another QB, even add one or two serviceable WRs, and maybe we can claw our way back to .500 in a year or two.
I think with a QB and a few Olinemen, we would be at 500.
The critical piece we NEED is the GM/HC combo. IT MUST BE A MATCH, and it MUST BE LONGTERM.
On another note, how about Vince Young today. 27 for 43, 387 yards, 1TD. Could Jamarcus have such a rebirth one day??
Of course the flaming thumbtacks have consistent coaching, and the best center in the league the last decade (IMHO). I mean the center has been the best in the league, Kevin Mawae spent his first 10 w/ the Jets.
-moshbucket
Vince Young actually looked good from the minute he was drafted. His issues were mental. Nonetheless, he still won a lot of games. Russell on the other hand has limited skills other than a strong arm: no pocket presence, no real mobility, and some of the poorest field vision I've seen of any rookie QB drafted in the first round. What rebirth are we speaking of?
Chris Johnson ran a 4.24 and McFadden ran a 4.27. Basically, there was practically no difference in their speed. Al went with the bigger guy because he assumed that bigger means stronger. Yet, I insisted before the draft, and others did as well, that McFadden can't break tackles...IN COLLEGE. So how the hell was he going to break tackles in the NFL? Cue up some some college highlights on Youtube. Count how many tackles you can see McFadden breaking? Chris Johnson? Stronger legs and gasp! Smaller? So what? Al never learns. He scouts athletes based on bubble gum cards.
Ahhh the anguish... Al needs to realize his legacy - put Madden in charge and get Dungy to coach. Voila. Legacy Intact - SB 2 years away before he kicks it.
Wasn't Vince Young Rookie of the Year? There's no comparison.
A better comparison might be Alex Smith, who is clawing his way back. Of course, that means Russell will have to put in the time... a big "if"
When we drafted McFadden we had Bush and Fargas. We could have gone another direction entirely...
CBS football analyst Brian Baldinger isn't giddy over the professional potential of Arkansas running back Darren McFadden.
"I think he's the colossal bust in this draft. He doesn't run with patience. He's a very incomplete back who tries to run you over. If he gets a crease, he can take it to the house. But he doesn't break tackles and he fumbles. I'm not impressed."
-------
Wasn't this obvious to anyone who watched him play in college? He could never break tackles fer chrissakes! The only hole he can find is when the O-line clears out a space the width of two fat linemen.
Raiders in the news as trying to sell 10% of the team.
With Al Davis at the controls and refusing much needed help, how attractive can 10% of the Raiders be?
10% of nothing equals, well, nothing.
Just because things are identical, doesn't mean there's no comparision. How about this, they're both big dudes that Al wanted and ended up on the bench, but thought they should be playing.
Every draft pick is a gamble. Gallery was the CONSENSUS sure-fire LT pick. Thank god he's turning out to be a potential pro-bowl guard (not worth #2pick though).
Bush was unproven at the time we drafted McFadden, he was still recovering from the leg and had no snaps in the NFL.
McFadden ran wild on SEC defenses. No bo-jackson, but he was a deadly multi-purpose weapon.
All draft picks are gambles, few complained about this pick, and most of those complaints were that we had need at other areas, not that McFadden would be a bust.
McFadden isn't done yet. twin-turf-toe and the shoulder his first year, then the knee scope this year. Look for him to be 100% next year. Took Woodson a couple of years to get back to speed after his turftoe issues, now he's back to being a beast in the secondary in Greenbay.
Go figure that backs do better if the o-line can open some holes. Do you really expect a back to do well with no O-line?'c'mon, man!
-moshbucket
Sorry mosh, I watched McFadden extensively in college, and it was pretty clear that he didn't have much field vision. He simply doesn't follow his blockers. More importantly, he's never been a powerful back: he couldn't break tackles in college! Yet all the pundits were saying that he had power. But the real football guys knew. McFadden was ALL hype. I'm not even close to being the only one who thought so. He'll never be more than a 3rd down type of back just like DHB will never be a valuable pro receiver. I see no upside whatsoever. I guarantee you what you see is what you get in this case.
Mosh - I would agree that the Raiders still haven't figured out how to best use MacFadden, but Bush had fully recovered the season prior and the Raiders chose to leave him on PUP so they could keep tip-toes Jordan on their roster and away from the Chiefs and/or Broncos.
As for draft picks being a gamble, yes they are; but let's make educated guesses instead of rolling the dice on speedsters.
Gallery, Huff, even Russell to some degree, were all decent risks for the Raiders to take.
DHB, on the other hand, was hands down a ridiculously bad risk for a Raiders team coming off 6 horrific years, and starting an inexperienced QB.
It doesn't take a great football mind to see that decisions made in Oakland are not based on logic, nor winning football games.
It's beginning to become apparent that the problem with the passing game isn't necessarily the players, but Cable.
When we stick with a running game, the running game is successful, because that's what Cable knows. When we focus on the passing game, as we have all season, it isn't successful because that's what Cable doesn't know.
I still believe that the defense is much improved, and if the offense could consistently control the football it would be enough to win.
While many would be content to say that it's not Cable because it's really Al's offense - nonsense. Remember - Al's interest is defense (or is Al's interest wherever the Raiders are currently having trouble?). If it were the same offense that Davis ran in the 60s we would be pounding the center of the defensive line with our FB.
This is not to say that I think Cable is a bad HC. But the fact seems to be that he has no business running an offense. He should be turning it over to a more qualified OC.
A name that has come up recently is Marc Trestman. Why has no one ever offered him a HC position outside of Canada? He's been nothing but successful wherever he's gone. He gave us our most recent Super Bowl appearance. He just won the Gray Cup for Montreal.
I could even see retaining Cable as HC, but bringing in Trestman and giving him full control over the offense.
Blanda, you say the defense is much improved? lol now I have heard it all. Tony Romo and Miles Austin won my fantasy game for me this week, thank God for the Raiders defense being the ones to break them out of their funk. Yeah, the defense is much improved, they gave up almost 500 yards to the Cowboys.
I am starting Rashard Mendenhall this Sunday against that improved Raiders defense, lets see how many fantasy points he gets for me.
Like Kelly says, "stop, stop, boom."
It's the "boom" that's killing us, and there were 10 "booms" in the Cowboys game. That equates to almost 20% of our plays on D which the Cowboys averaged almost 40 yards each. It doesn't get much worse.
Our LBs suck, and/or the way they are utilized sucks. Scott started for Howard to defend the run. On Howard's first play of the game, I think it was Barber that took a screen down the sideline with Howard trailing the play from the middle of the field.
Blanda-
How's this:
http://tfdssports.com/2009-articles/november/raiders-eyeing-two-reigning-football-champions-for-head-job.html
Or maybe Charlie Weis?
JC,
So you see no upside, that must make it so.
"No upside whatsoever".
You must have been doing alot of tailgating before the games you watched.
Hope these stats are lined up right:
year /rec/yds/avg/td rush/yds/avg/td
2007 21 164 7.8 1 325 1,830 5.6 16
2006 11 149 13.5 1 284 1,647 5.8 14
2005 14 52 3.7 0 176 1,113 6.3 11
Career 46 365 7.9 2 785 4,590 5.8 41
in 3 years in the SEC, 4600yds, 5.8yd/carry, 41td on the ground.
Definatly all hype.
Those razorbacks must have been blowing open some BIG F-ing holes if that was all luck.
You can argue he wasn't worth the #4 pick, but "no upside whatsoever"...
C'MON, MAN!
-moshbucket
PS: Sorry all, I got that "c'mon, man!" stuck in my head from watching to much pregame crap.
NY,
The bone was healed (fully recovered), and I'm sure Michael will tell you he was fully recovered. I think it was in his best interest to get put on the PUP so he had a full extra year to rehab it and get everything back into shape. Duely noted that we hung onto "Big Dummy" (Lamont) to keep him away from the enemy and that was part of why we put Mike on PUP.
Also duely noted that DHB was a poor pick given our current situation, and a stretch even if we were in better shape. It's like Al quit playing blackjack, and now just pumps money into the slot machines.
"It doesn't take a great football mind to see that decisions made in Oakland are not based on logic, nor winning football games."
One can disagree with the logic (or lack thereof) being used, but no way Al is not trying to win games. Maybe he didn't draft to win THIS YEAR, but we all know he wants to win games.
-moshbucket
Ano,
Leave a sig, buddy.
I also have mendenhall, AND the Steelers D.
But I am STACKED at RB, and I also have the Saints D. So I haven't decided for sure if I'm going to play them.
This is the reason it took me so long to play fantasy football, it just becomes to much of a conflict of interests on gameday. I usually try to stay away from Raiders ('cause we suck), and try to stay away from players that play us alot.
My first year snuck back into it and made the playoffs late, and took second. This year I'm pushing for the 2nd bye.
helps to be funemployed, and since blowing out my knee, I've made a few extra killer GM moves the last few weeks. To much time on my hands.
-moshbucket
Everybody wants to win. The Knicks want to win. The Clippers want to win. Notre Dame wants to win. Matt Millen wants to win.
But that doesn't mean they aren't prone to absurd patterns of behavior that keep them from winning.
I wrote a controversial take last year where I stated that winning was not the top priority in Oakland.
The top priority, I still believe, is stubbornness.
We want to win...our way. Even if our way (no GM, mediocre head coaches, speed valued over football chops in the draft, same old defensive scheme, etc.) isn't working.
So yes, we want to win. But we refuse to do what it takes to win (ie: changing the pattern of behavior that keeps us from winning).
Which means winning isn't the top priority, at least not yet.
Blanda:
You should ask yourself how Hackett and Tollner are earning a steady paycheck. These 2 men should be deeply involved in the passing game. Hackett is the QB coach with playcalling and HC experience. Tollner is the 'Passing Game Coordinator' ... our passing attack woes are plentiful. It is a combination of many things to include;
* 2 rookie WRs getting the bulk of snaps to date. Both rookies are struggling to be remotely reliable and productive.
* Decent pass protection at times but there were numerous ocassions in the Cowboys game where the interior line (OGs + Center) crumbled and the pocket collapsed. Our OLine is a patchwork, below average line at best.
* Dubious playcalling and very little creativity. Our offensive playcalls are vanilla, predictable, and lack the sophistication of a true professional, dynamic unit. Even some of the more basic yet effective plays such as the play action pass are neglected. Our third down calls are horrendous.
As far as our defense, it is nothing more than a mirage. Sure there are times it looks good. However, there are way too many breakdowns on key plays and far too many BIG plays given up on a regular basis. Even in the Bengals win, the D gave up far too many 3rd and long conversions to be considered a good unit. There is some talent on the defensive side of the ball but there are enough weak links to be exposed on a regular basis. Most teams can EASILY game plan vs. this unit since it is so predictable.
We've got a good kicker and punter and decent coverage units but our return teams sucks.
Review:
Our offense is scoring about 1 TD per game and less than 10 total points per game. Our passing unit is atrocious.
Our defense can't stop the run and gives up huge game altering plays on a consistent basis.
Our special teams are nothing special.
Our coaching staff is subpar in terms of providing a tangible improvement and impact. Whether the coaching staff is hamstrung by a lack of talent or handcuffed by our static philosophies is another matter.
Top to bottom, our team needs an enema. Personally, I would love to see us concentrate on one side of the ball and build an elite unit that dominates and go from there. Right now we are merely treading water.
Winning can only be seen as a priority when a GM is hired to find the best possible, available HC.
Winning is a priority when a true partnership is formed between the owner, GM, and HC.
Anything less is window dressing and moving chairs around.
Blanda.....
Marc Trestman would be definitely an upgrade over our current play callers: Cable and Toller.
There's one slight problem with having Trestman in Oakland. Who's going to be under center to get the job done?
Because Russell, Owski and Frye are not the answers we need.
"It's beginning to become apparent that the problem with the passing game isn't necessarily the players, but Cable"
Really? I say it's the whole damn thing...scheme is very basic, just like the Defense, wonder why? It's a proven fact that the DC's hands are tied, why wouldn't the OC's or the HC's? How anyone can say that Al has no hand in the Offense is purely ridiculous.
Then you have lack of talent, so-so O-line, very weak at WR, RB is Avg, TE is good..QB a mess. Now, how is that going to be successful? And how long has it been since we even had anything close to a top notch Offense? It's all fragmented, probably like most of your computers.
As far as the Defense being MUCH improved...looks like the same Defense from early 90's till present, minus a couple of yrs. Blanda, still trying to slide in Al Davis ass kissing's in his posts.
JONES
Obviously Davis is involved with the offense. It's more than apparent a directive was given to Cable to play DHB, regardless of his production. Like CJ said before, if that's Cable's call alone, he should be fired, immediately.
What Davis has done with this directive is effectively render one key position useless to the offense. Nine catches in 11 games isn't gonna get it done on any team.
If any of you have had a chance to watch other rookie WRs like Harvin or Maclin, you have seen what a good rookie WR can do, and it's far and above anything we've seen from DHB - who's been on the field more than any other rookie.
Examiner.com (Patrick Patterson) reported this:
"The organization messagetoal.com has purchased space on a billboard and it will be appearing along Interstate 880 near High St on Tuesday morning. On this billboard, they will be expressing their frustration with the current state of the Oakland Raiders, and calling on Al Davis to hire a general manager for the football side."
This could have all be avoided if they'd just listened to me over the past few years.
;)
Even Dennis Dixon looked like a more polished pro Qb than Jruss !!!
I doubt the Raiders will issue a statement in response to the billboard, but it probably will bother Davis. It might even prompt him to hold on longer....
What it shows is a loyal fan base that is saying they've had enough. What they don't realize is that Al Davis will decide when they've had enough.
If you go to the messagetoal.com site and click on the 'billboard info' link on the lefthand side, you can see a photo of the billboard.
The billboard is black with silver lettering and 1 lombardi trophy on the left hand side. It says,
Mr. Davis, do the right thing
Please HIRE A GM
------------------------
25,000+ fans from messagetoal.com
Several RT posts ago I urged members here,if not to contribute, to at least sign the petition.
If seven straight double digit loss seasons have not done it, the the billboard probably won't.
I have really stopped openly supporting this team. No gear, no Directv, no road trips. My co-workers and boss even noticed I do not wear my Raiders lanyard ID holder. Adding to this is the fact I have given money to the billboard.
At what point do I tell myself I should give up?
Maybe this should be Raiders Anonymous instead of Raider Take.
"HELLO, MY NAME IS MEMDF AND I AM A RAIDERS FAN..."
It's truly sad to see such a rabid and dedicated longtime Raiders fan like memdf at loose ends.
It speaks volumes about what has transpired here.
This isn't a just losing streak. It's not a bad spell. It's a complete and utter meltdown caused by persistently reckless organizational behavior.
What I like about the billboard is that it's so specific and sensible: Hire a GM.
It's what I've been saying here for a long time, so I can't argue with it.
This message has been conveyed in different ways, but it’s summed up pretty nicely by this Q&A on J-Mac’s Live Chat from Tues.
PorkChop asks: “Are you amazed that this team can't put together a fluke 7-9, 8-8 season or is NFL "parity" an illusion?”
J-Mac responds: “To be honest, yes, I am surprised. To lose 10 or more (or 11 or more) for seven straight seasons is a remarkable achievement. Very hard to do, actually. And yet it's brushed aside by the dwindling believers and upper management as if it doesn't exist.”
RT to your earlier point, here's a quote from an SI article on Al Davis from 1996:
"Says Allen, who signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as a free agent in 1993, 'I always felt we had the best personnel in football, but the best personnel wasn't always on the field. We had to win a certain way or no way. Sometimes we sacrificed winning for a philosophy—or one man's philosophy.'"
Sound familiar?
As far as the billboard is concerned, I say good for them. Of course it won't change Al's behavior but it will tell him in no uncertain terms how most of the Nation feels, and that's worth a lot.
I Petitioned and Donated today to the Billboard and I'll tell ya what.... it felt good! Everyone here should at least check it out on MessagetoAl.com. Funny how when I used to be a season ticket holder for several years I would also buy Raider Stuff but this year nada, zero, and the only time I spent a dime towards the Raiders, was this Billboard this year!
Memdf,
Wear the lanyard.
You still wouldn't be supporting Al, but you would be supporting the team. It's paid for (sunk cost). And good to see a post from you, it's been quite some time.
I'll be wearing my Stabler jersey all weekend, (SEC Championship, and hopefully not a total dismanteling on Sunday).
I don't know about you guys, but Tomlin gives me goosebumps sometimes when he speaks, and he said "We're gonna unleash hell in December, because we have to..", and that starts with us.
Please, nobody respond with the usual "whats the point.... we're dead meat.... no chance in hell... etc." crap. I don't care how big an underdog we are, or what condition the team is in, I'm a strong believer in Any Given Sunday, and I root for my Raiders EVERY weekend, REGARDLESS.
I watched the Celtics win 14? games one year, and win the championship the next. Of course that's much easier to do in basketball (no salary cap, much smaller number of players that need to gel, etc).
Just because Pop's went senile and is driving the farm into the ground, doesn't mean I can't hope and root for something magical to happen on Sunday.
GO RAIDERS!!!!!
-moshbucket
This is classic:
Asomugha's harshest criticism was of the Raiders' use of strict man coverage with minimal blitzing, though they've done more this year than before.
How's this for a 537-word answer to the question, 'What would you like to see done different on defense?'
"Simple sometimes can be good," Asomugha said. "I don't know if simple is the right word. Simple can be good if you're doing it right. If you're the Bucs from earlier this decade and they're a Cover 2 team, with some zone blitzing but it was still Cover 2. That was pretty simple for them but they were able to do it well. I think it's just a matter of doing what we do, if that's what we're going into each game saying we're going to do regardless of whether a team will game plan against it, which they've been doing and which they always do. It's just doing it well. A lot of times it's the player that's going to be putting himself in the best position to make the play just because how our defense is. You have to be better than the guy in front of you. It's not just the corners, it's the d-line, it's the linebackers. Because in that type of defense one missed gap and the ball is shot up for a run for a significant gain. It kind of speaks more to us being good at what we're doing if that's what we're going to do. A guy like me, of course I say it all the time, I say it every week to coaches and they laugh and I'll continue to do it until I leave the league. I'm a guy who likes to play the mental game with the offense. Whether you're blitzing, whether you're dropping back, whether you're in zone. I was talking to you about Charles and he was saying how different it is for him to be somewhere where they do so many different things. That's what I like, but if you're not going to get it you have to make do with whatever system you're in. You have to succeed in that system. Maybe we don't what to be as multiple as other guys, maybe we don't have to be. We have to prove that we're good enough to win and play well doing the simple things that we're doing. We're not proving that right now. It's not like we proved it last year or we proved it the year before. This is several years now where we haven't been able to get over the hump of winning more than four or five games a year. Maybe you go back and you think about what we're doing and think about ways to fix it. Sean Payton said, I was telling my coach earlier, Sean Payton said before the game against the Patriots. He was asked 'Why is your defense so great?' 'What we did during the offseason is we studied the top defenses and we pulled from each of those defenses and it allows us to be multiple and it allows us to do the things that are working in the league today, the things that have been working the past few years.' The game changes, the game is never going to be the same as it was 10 years ago or five years ago with the rule changes and things like that. You have to be able to adapt. But it is what it is."
Asomugha has been making this point for years, to no avail. Maybe his next move will be to take out a billboard.
P.S. Good find, Mad Stork!
What I find interesting...
The Bucs had a simple system in the Cover-2. They were great until Gruden and Allen failed to restock the necessary players to master the Cover-2 in all situations.
Nnamdi doesn't seem to have any trouble working in a 4-3 man coverage system. If he can get it, why can't anybody else.
The system isn't antiquated. As Nnamdi says, the current trend is to switch up systems within games - to borrow a bit from each. Others use our same system, but as one of several.
There is nothing wrong with a simple plan, but it requires excellent play from position to position. It requires acquiring players who are skilled in the design of the system and coaches with enough knowledge of the system to plan an entire game around it, including how to react when the other team is latching on to the system. The Raiders need a 4-3 man coverage guru. Why can't they find one?
And that seems to me to be where the organization is floundering. Al no longer has the capacity to watch over his coaching staff on the field, nor has he the capacity to find individual players to fit his one scheme.
Over recent years, since the move back, Al has allowed his coaches to run their own offensive schemes, but seems to maintain a tight grip on the defense. And he's losing that grip.
Something will have to come to a head sooner or later.
Billboard?
This is still America (last I checked) where we practice capitalism. This is Al's team to build up or destroy (his choice) in spite of the efforts from some folks to turn it into a communistic enterprise.
The only thing that Al will respond to is empty seats. With an added three year commitment one would assume that he isn't planning on three years of empty seats. The only question is, if the losing continues and the empty seats increase, what will be Al's response? Will he simply attempt to move, or will he try something new?
The great thing about America is that although Al Davis can refuse to hire a GM and can do whatever he wants with his organization (including running it into the ground), an enterprising young man still has the opportunity to exercise his right to free speech and erect a billboard asking Al Davis to hire a GM.
Is this a great nation or what!
Since when is free speech communism?
If I start a web site called Windows Vista Stinks, asking for donations to put up a billboard in Washington outside Microsoft headquarters stating "Fix Your Bugs," that's anti-capitalistic?
I'm not necessarily talking about the billboard here. I'm referring to stuff like league take-overs, etc.
Personally, I think the billboard is a waste of money. Al knows what the complaints are and what the press is saying. He's always been aware of that. Certainly Al is less concerned by a billboard that can only be viewed while driving 880 than by newspaper articles reaching out across the entire nation.
But folks are entitled, also, to waste their money any way they want.
I wasn't referring so much to the billboard as I was to folks' desire to have the NFL take over the team, etc.
But Al is certainly aware of the things being said about him. He always has been. He'd certainly be less concerned about a billboard that can only be seen driving by on 880 than newspaper articles going out across the entire country.
But, as this is America, folks are entitled to waste their money any way they want. Seems to me like a bad bet in a bad economy.
That was weird. I wrote a response, entered it, and it disappeared. So I rewrote it, entered it again, and they both popped up.
There is an old saying. Never pick a fight with someone who buys their ink by the barrel (referring to newspapers). Al has had no trouble ignoring the folks who buy their ink by the barrel. He's not going to worry too much about a group that buys a billboard for a month.
If he's not worried about bad PR and more than 20,000 fans formally expressing their disappointment, then he shouldn't be worried about empty seats, because they go hand in hand.
And maybe he's not worried about empty seats. Maybe the "communism" of the NFL (everybody shares equally in the lucrative TV package, no matter how poorly or smartly you run your organization) is sufficient to to keep him happy on the revenue front.
"This is still America (last I checked) where we practice capitalism. This is Al's team to build up or destroy (his choice) in spite of the efforts from some folks to turn it into a communistic enterprise."
Blanda, you are so freakin backwards...Al is your God, admit it.
JONES
Why Sean Peyton is a better coach than the Raiders can ever hope for...
"What we did during the offseason is we studied the top defenses and we pulled from each..."
"...it allows us to do the things that are working in the league today...."
"The game changes, the game is never going to be the same as it was 10 years ago or five years ago with the rule changes and things like that. You have to be able to adapt."
This thinking seems so obvious, yet so unthinkable for the Raiders.
Blanda said,
"But, as this is America, folks are entitled to waste their money any way they want".
you mean like giving Jruss $60 mil, jevon walker $11 mil, DhB $12, mcfadden millions, etc...
is this the kind of waste you mean Blanda ?
no one has wasted money like al davis.
and now he wants to sell 10% of team to raise another 80 mil to throw at more bad football players.
Blanda, how many losing seasons is it going to take for you to admit that al doesn't have his fastball anymore ??
Mosh - I hate to burst your “any given Sunday” bubble, but there’s no reason to believe the Steelers’ rushing attack won’t shred the Raiders’ and their 161.1 yards per game 31st ranked rushing defense.
It’s practically the law.
"Adapt, improvise, and overcome"
This simple phrase says everything about what ails the Raiders franchise.
If Davis isn't worried about losing 75% of the games, empty seats, bad PR, his legacy, the morale of the players, staff, and fans, one has to wonder what he truly cares about.
Mosh:
I also believe in the notion of "On any given Sunday".
However, 1 or 2 big upsets does not make a season. Over the course of the past 7 seasons, we have been good for 1 or 2 of these "On any given Sunday" type games.
Perfect example ... in the 2006 season we shocked the world by beating the SB Champion Steelers. How gratifying was that win in a 2-14 season?
The reason that these big upsets are not satisfying and are nothing more than hollow victories is that they are meaningless games.
Until the team becomes playoff caliber, the games in Nov. & Dec. for the Raiders are nothing more than souped up "exhibition" games since it has no bearing on getting into the playoffs.
looks like ben rothlisberger is coming out of a coma just to play against simple raiders defense.
can't blame him. even half awake, he'll probably light us up.
al davis has penned a new book. "offense & defense for dummies".
they are very easy to understand, and they are written in crayon.
Al Davis' "Raiders for Dummies" book has been out for years. I was wondering when it would come out on overhead projector transparencies with bonus shadow puppets.
Question:
If the Raider players on defense can't handle "simple," what makes folks certain they'd do much better with "complicated?"
For about 20% of the defensive snaps against Dallas, Raider players left their assignments resulting in a rout by Dallas over Oakland. Further, those 10 plays led to about 80% of the yards gained by Dallas. So when players stay in their assignments, they have remarkable success.
The idea that the Raiders had simply all of the best defensive players in football for 30 some odd years is just stupid on its face.
The question I'd ask is why can't these players stay with the game plan and their assignments - especially when it's apparently so simplistic?
That's easy to answer.
"Simple" cuts both ways. It's a simple defense, which makes it easy (or simple) for the opposing team to exploit it, even if you had great players.
They have no reason to really fear the blitz, an intense pass rush or complex schemes. So they just pick us apart.
That's not to say that our defense would be great shakes if we tried a different approach. But when you're perennially around 30th in total defense, wouldn't you eventually try something different?
That's what Nnamdi's saying, it makes too much sense.
Nnamdi has every reason to complain. The defense hasn't developed beyond the base that he's mastered over seven years. Why does he seem to be the only person on the defense to have mastered it? I'd be frustrated too.
While this may be a team filled with brotherly love, there seems to be absolutely no accountability. When a blown assignment leads to a 70 yard TD play, why don't I see anybody calling out the player who missed the assignment. Why don't I see a player going to another player on the sideline and say, "I'm tired of covering your f-ing ass, so learn your GD assignment!?" What I see and hear is, "Don't worry about it, we'll get 'em next time."
From the fans we get, "Don't worry, we'll blame Al." Now, we might reasonably lay the blame for having so many unaccountable players - that's another issue. But every team has a base philosophy and expands from that once mastered. We can't seem to field a team that can even master the base.
Well, when your head coaching searches are farces (as at least the last three have been) and you choose unqualified people for the position, you end up with weak leadership in the locker room. Simple as that.
No leadership, no accountability, no results.
Say it out loud: Tom Cable, offensive line coach with three years of NFL experience one moment, head coach AND offensive coordinator the next.
It just sounds absurd, doesn't it? And that's what we've got: absurdity.
Okay, then explain Bill Callahan, Norv Turner, Art Shell and Lane Kiffin. Why did none of them demand accountability either? Bill Callahan - no problem with accountability his first year, why in his second? Norv Turner seems to be getting some accountability in SD. Art Shell certainly had no problem with accountability during his first stint. Lane Kiffin - well, he was just an ass.
“If the Raider players on defense can't handle “simple," what makes folks certain they'd do much better with "complicated?"
So we shouldn’t expect the Raiders to play at the same level as virtually every other team in the NFL?
I have a better question; what is it about the Raiders that they always need to "get back to the basics?"
And, how can we be only a few blown assignments away from getting it right for, what, seven consecutive years now?
Conversely, what is it that makes the Steelers a perennial powerhouse on defense? They have no problem stopping the run; and they’re ranked #1 again this year, with like 75 yards per game.
Kiffin was an ass, but he had help.
Blanda, I'll let you connect the dots as to why accountability is a persistent issue with the Raiders no matter who is coaching or playing.
Hint: It's not a curse or voodoo or UFOs or the ghost of Pete Rozelle.
I believe Al Davis has mastered the art of sleeping, while appearing awake.
it's the only explaination !!
while the rest of us are watching the raiders, stumble, fumble, and bumble, around the field, Al is in his box dreaming.
he dreams about Jruss dropping back(8 steps of course), and heaving a 70 yard bomb toward DhBad.
the streaking DhBad, in Al's dream, makes a spectacular, diving, one handed, TD catch.
Al glances at the scoreboard. he see's Raiders 46, Denver 10.
Al pumps his fist. all is well in Raiderland. just don't wake him from his happy dream.
nyraider, that's exactly what I'm asking. Why is it we're not asking of these players what every other team would ask of them?
It's also interesting that the majority of players we release wind up buried on some one's bench or being out of football all together. There seem to be a few who catch on, but they certainly don't become NFL stars. The only exception to that seems to be Woodson. Collins had a good year with Tenn but he's back on the bench again.
So, Take, your theory is that Davis somehow pumps the accountability out of players. I wonder how he does that? Interesting theory though.
Blanda - you're not going to like my answer to that question. I'll give you a hint, it's two words and starts with an "A".
Raider00 - "DhBad" lol. Hey, it's not his fault he was drafted 2 or 3 rounds too early.
"If the Raider players on defense can't handle "simple," what makes folks certain they'd do much better with "complicated?" "
The KING of absurdity strikes again. Ahhh, the league isn't simple, but our Defensive scheme is....hmmm, using a High School Defense to stop NFL Offensive schemes ain't going to work Blunda. Sean Peyton, Peyton Manning...what do you think they say when they are preparing for the Raiders? Something like this?.." Those Raider players sure are dumb, they can't even play a High School Defense"...
Is this what you are saying King of Absurdity? NO, NO....what they are saying is.." how can this be an NFL team? How does management think they can win with such a basic Defense?
As Aso said, the Defense is so simple, the other teams just exploit it. Just like Steve Young said on the first Monday night game this year. He laughed at the Raider Defense of scheme as do all the Raiders' opponents. But this is just to complicated for Blunda, he's like the Raiders...we try to dumb it down for him and he still can't get it right....what a DISGRACE.
JONES
..."that's exactly what I'm asking. Why is it we're not asking of these players what every other team would ask of them?
It's also interesting that the majority of players we release wind up buried on some one's bench or being out of football all together. There seem to be a few who catch on, but they certainly don't become NFL stars. The only exception to that seems to be Woodson. Collins had a good year with Tenn but he's back on the bench again. " ...
Why aren't we asking what other teams ask of them??? THINK BLUNDA, who is asking the players to do what? US, the fans? I'll w r i t e r e a l s l o w .....it's your God who asks the players to play in a High School Defense, not US. If it were up to us, we wouldn't be playing in basic schemes that other teams laugh at.
As far as players leaving and stinking on other teams...who is picking the players that play in OAKLAND?????? figure it out for crying out loud... who changes you Blunda? Do you wear a diaper? Who is dumber, the Raiders' management, or, Blunda?? That's a toss up.
JONES
"If the Raider players on defense can't handle "simple," what makes folks certain they'd do much better with "complicated?"
I personally think a better question is 'Why is it that the bar is set so incredibly low for our players?'
Quite frankly, it is a moot point anyway since the only way we would incorporate a more modern defense is if Davis gave the DC the full authority to implement it.
The talent levels across the league are relatively equal. Yes, some teams have more gifted players than others but that isn't the larger point. I personally think that the differences are;
Leadership, coaching, scouting, accountability, vision, adaptablility, and the level of sophistication in the gameplanning and schemes of the offense and defense.
The Raiders are playing checkers while other teams are playing chess.
The Raiders are showing up to the game with a squirt gun while their opponent is putting in a clip for an AK47.
Another point about the 'Simple D':
I don't think it is possible to ever "master" the simple D. Why? Because the opponent can easily gameplan, playcall, and scheme to find the weakness in a static D.
A perfect example is pass coverage. If the Raiders are playing strictly M2M and getting a meek pass rush, there are passing routes that the opponent can call that will expose this tendency. A CB can only stay with a WR for so long. The long drag routes and crossing patterns from 1 side of the field to the other are available for HUGE gains over the course of a 60 minute game.
How do you combat these big explosive plays? Mix in zone coverage at least 25%+ of the snaps ... use some zone blitzes.
Our D is too simple and predictable to have sustainable success.
Some really great points being made about the raiders, "simple D".
a few more thoughts.
teams that play us twice a year in our division have a big advantage over us.
since our simple D never changes, teams don't really have to prep for us that much, 2nd time around. so it's like a week off for them.
perhaps this is why we lose most every division game.
also, since D is so simple, Raiders probably do not place such a premium on drafting intelligent players.
could be reason we see so many of same mistakes made over and over. plus the same assignments missed again, and again.
What's really sad is that kids being drafted by the Raiders are coming from more sophisticated and dynamic college programs, on both offense and defense.
Not that it wasn't out there already, but Dallas perfected the blueprint for exploiting the Raiders simple man coverage. When they sent a WR in a crossing pattern, he was usually several steps ahead of his defender, and there was rarely any help in the middle.
But it's more than being simple, the Raiders lack discipline.
For example, they actually lead the league in tackles for a loss, yet also lead the league in big plays (over 20 yds) given up. These stats have a strong correlation, as aggressive play sometimes results in over-pursuit and abandoning your gap responsibility.
This feast or famine thing just isn’t working... but it’s all they have because (A) they want to win and (B) nobody will (or is allowed to) install a modern defense.
NY,
You and your bubbles (or maybe it's you and other peoples bubbles).
Of course they're probably going to shred us on the ground, that's why I'm playing mendenhall on my fantasy team. But I'll still be rooting for him to get shut down.
You're so tainted with hate and disgust right now, you can't even watch a football game for what it is, 60 minutes between two teams that day on that field.
CJ,
Just like NY, the current situation has you so disgusted you can't watch a game for what it is, a single game. Yea, this season is lost. Sure, looks like not much hope for the future.
If we beat the Steelers in Pittsuburg, it will not be an empty victory, it will be a victory over the defending SB champs, who will arguably be more jacked up this weekend thany they have been all season. I will be able to give my big brother a hard time, instead of having to listen to him. And I will be in a pretty damn good mood (depending on how the SEC championship game goes will determine how immportant the outcome will be for my psyche).
And ask the MF'ers on the field if the game is meaningless. If we beat the Stealers this weekend, thier chances of getting the wildcard goes WAY down. Ask Chucky if that game we knocked them out of the playoffs was meaningless.
We're not going to the playoffs, and it probably wouldn't effect us longterm, but do you think if we could pull out 7-9 this year, that would be meaningless? Not loosing 11 games again would be meaningless?
Some of the drivel you guys throw back at me, now that's meaningless.
(not all, but definately some).
-moshbucket
The past has gone. The future will come. The most important part is the present. It is a gift, that's why the call it 'present'.
-moshbucket
PS: I stole that quote.
PPS: Just think of all the thousands, millions?, of Raider fans who would get a little repreave on Monday at work if we could pull out a win at 3-rivers.
Is that meaningless? NOT being the WORST team in the NFL, is that meaningless? Think of the confidence we are trying to build in our young players. Is that meaningless?
On the lighter side, I got to speak to Leigh Torrence (lee) at therapy yesterday.
He's a backup/specialteamer DB for the saints who dislocated his shoulder/tore up labrum against the Rams the other weekend.
He had surgery the day before, and was in much more pain than I was, although they did have him hooked up to the "magic delada machine" (push button drip into the IV, with a timer so you can only hit it every so often and don't put yourself to sleep permenantly).
College ball at Stanford. He was on the table next to me, so I overheard alot of Lennny (our PT guy) and him talking. I meant to ask him his thoughts on Harbough, but it was really more of "we said a few things to each other" than a real conversation. Mostly , I just try to give the post-op people I meet in there a little moral support in thier moment of post-op pain. In his case I kept telling him that labrum injury is will heal good and you'll easly get back to 100%.
I'm assuming that the Raiders have doc's out west they send thier injuries to, if we have any major injuries while I"m still rehabing, I'll start bringing my raiders hat and silver paint pen with me :-)
-moshbucket
Meaningless? potentially knocking the team that stole a SB appearance from us in the past out of the playoffs, is tht meaningless? Keeping them from having a chance at a SEVENTH trophy, is that meaningless?????
The most important thing is always the next game and how you play in that game. That's the ONLY way to approach it, and that's the ONLY way to become a winner.
Give me the sports page, you guys keep watching the obituaries, and let us know when you start caring about football instead of just the stats.
And in future years, when (if?) we pull out of this funk, and make it back to/near the top again, I hope you hershy-squirt yourselves every time you say "I supported them all through the dark years".
-moshbucket
Supporting is not excusing and enabling.
I notice that a lot of the excusing and enabling has finally stopped.
It could only last so long, although it lasted longer than it should have.
The Raiders aren't losing fans or supporters. They are losing the faith of their fans and supporters. For obvious reasons.
Every year now, I say it's high time for SUBSTANTIVE change. But we don't get it, and things don't change.
In those future years, when we pull out of our funk, it will be due to substantive change. And I will take pride in having SUPPORTED that concept.
Oh Yeah!!!!!! Moshbucket is RIGHT!!!!!! How can people not be up for this game, everything else is in the past, it doesn't mean anything. Setting records for futility doesn't mean a damn thing now!!!!! Nope, today is a new day and you know the Raiders are going to come out and......play like they always do on 10:00 am games in a hostile stadium with a pissed off Pittsburgh team with a top QB coming back to get his team into the playoffs....hmm yeah and the Defensive scheme that we use..oh yeah, umm, well the Offense will ummm....oh yeah, but hey our punter can really kick it.
Mosh, get yo head out of yo bucket...what are you thinkin? Can you tell me, if the Raiders play like say vs the Giants this year, that you will still be laying this stinky egg on here. MAYBE the Raiders pull off a MIRACLE, odds say, Raiders get whupped. So excuse those who have their head's out of their bucket's and see it for what it really is. But, go back to your wet dream moshy and good luck when you get the big let down. You can always wake up on Monday and say " It's a new day".
JONES
all i know is, the giants & jets beat us by combined score of 82-7.
and niether of those teams might even make the playoffs.
i do not have much hope for raiders chances in pittburgh.
Jones,
I am right. Sunday there will be a football game at 3 rivers. I'm going to watch it, and enjoy it (or not) for what it is. A f-ing game!!!!
I'm just trying to bring a little levity to the situation. You act like your father is on his deathbed and I'm trying to tell you he'll be fine in the morning.
I refuse to just piss and moan and not enjoy football until my team is on top again. It's a f-ing game, and I enjoy watching it.
I've said a million times I"m not trying to justify the situation, or blow smoke up your ass that "oh, it'll all be alright". With 32 teams, we may never get to the top again. The way Al's running it now, looks slim to none.
But it's still a GAME and some people enjoy it for what it is.
And I never said setting records for futility didn't mean anything, I said exactly the opposite. I said these games do mean somthing because they can keep us for setting the futility records even higher (or lower?).
If you were the f-ing coach, you would just mail them a towel and not even bother showing up I guess.
Go stew in your misery. I've got some great football to watch on Saturday in HD, and some hopefully not TO poorly executed grainy internet feed football to watch on Sunday. But either way, I'm watchin' football, and you're wallowing in Al's turd and your own misery.
Have a great weekend!
Go Raiders!!!!
-moshbucket
As bad as they've been, and for however worse they may still get, I'm watching Sunday.
Enjoy the game, Mosh.
Mosh, paint a picture of my misery, go ahead, if it makes you feel better about your life...k sir eee sir rah. If you enjoy sloppy football, with tons of penalties and miscues...if you enjoy watching that k sir ee sir rah. Most NORMAL people don't enjoy watching it, obviously you have nothing else to look forward to...oh well...k sir ee sir rah.
If I was the coach? Wow, the possibilities...one problem though, I don't think I would last long, me and the owner would have major issues... you know how well that goes over hey moshy?
JONES
Mosh:
Just so we're clear ... I love the Raiders AND I love watching football. Each game is a unique entertainment experience.
My point about the possibility of an upset victory is that if you look at it from a big picture perspective, it is meaningless.
Of course I will be happy if the Raiders upset the Steelers. However, I don't relish the role of the so called spoiler. I also don't think that 1 or 2 upset wins in a 16 game season is anything to take pride in.
Sorry but my standards and expectations are considerably higher than winning 25% of our games for the past 7 seasons.
Just like RT, I'm looking for solid, tangible, substantive change to how the organization is run.
To show you how far I believe this organization has slipped, here's some food for thought ... which occurence would shock you more in 2010;
The Raiders going 1-15 or
the Raiders going 9-7?
CJ,
Chrystal. Never meant to imply that you did not.
I understand the big picture, but there's not a damn thing I can do about it. Oh yea, I can sign a petition.
Never said I relish the role of spoiler, because it pretty much means your out of it. You play the whole year with one goal, the ring, and we're out of the hunt near mid season AGAIN.
I'm way to aware of the big picture, it hurts man.
I never said 25% W's was good enough. I said I'm looking at one game at a time. Hell, I can even look at it like Chucky used to, one 4game mini-season to go. Yea, I know that sounds stupid.
Never said I was proud of a few upsets a year.
But dammit, I'll be proud of our team if we can beat Pittsburg in Pittsburg on Sunday.
Hell, I'll be proud if we make it a good game.
I'll be DISGUSTED if we just mail it in. But I'm just looking at the little picture. One game.
I don't understand why you guys won't let me look at the big picture and the little picture at the same time. I can't look at a game in it's singularity without being re-preached to my several people about the shit-hole Al has turned us into. I know that, we all know that. But there are 53 dudes that are going to take the field on Sunday, and I guarantee this game is not meaningless to them.
-moshbucket
Jonsey,
You painted it yourself.
Make me "feel better about my life?". Sorry buddy, you, nor your paintings, nor my image of you have any impact on that. I feel just fine about my life. Not the best, but by no means the worst. In the big picture, rather copacetic.
Obviously I "have nothing else to look forward to?" Sure I do. I look forward to you rehashing all this crap when I say I enjoyed the Steelers game.
I hate sloppy football, but I don't have the crystal ball that you do, so I'm really not sure what's going to happen on Sunday. But, I'm sure you'll tell me in your next post.
We're probably going to get our ass handed to us, but I don't know that for sure. I do want to see Trevor try to handle that LB spot. I don't want to see Satele get his ass blown off the ball over and over again, but I'm sure I'll see that to. And I want to see if the passing game under Bruce improves from last week (will probably be a long day with the all the heat they'll bring).
But how dare I talk about a single game when the season is lost and the franchise in disarray.
If you were coach? What does that have to do with anything? Are you implying that I don't realize Al is constantly stepping on his own dick and is crippling the franchize? Or that I think all is well in Oaktown?
And for the record, I would agree with your implication that I am not normal. Never really have been by most accounts. Have a normal weekend.
-moshbucket
All,
sorry I ramble on so much.
It's not normal.
-moshbucket
Mosh, gotta love your takes, now that's what I call reasonable optimism. No spoon bending, just straight shooting.
According to Hines Ward, the Steelers are treating Sunday’s game “like the playoffs.”
Last time Gradkowski started in Pitt, he passed for a whopping 31 yards. Steelers will bring pressure, and they are #1 against the run.
Interesting article by Steve Corkran about how Davis will keep and nurture Russell (redouble his efforts, the article said).
http://tinyurl.com/ycux7a6
Problem is, Russell doesn’t want to be a good QB, or he’d be doubling his efforts as well.
According to the article, “Davis will attempt to trade for a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback so that the Raiders have a better chance of making the playoffs next season.”
Ok, what about the substandard WRs, porous offensive line, uninspired playcalling, and a defense that lives in the dark ages? What’s Davis planning on doing with those?
Even worse, lost in this discussion was what Davis plans on doing with the vacant GM position. Apparently, the billboard didn't work.
Folks, buckle up and prepare for a big dose of “business as usual” next season. There’s no end in sight.
Turns out JRuss' salary is actully almost 10mil next year (not the 3mil I though, he just costs 3mil against the cap, and do we even have a cap nex year anyway?)
I think those numbers increase the likelyhood that Al cuts JR free (especially if he can find another QB to his likeing). But I still think there's a greater chance that he keeps him than he cuts him.
Hopefully he'll restructure that WAY down when asked. Sure he's nowhere near NFL ready right now, but I still would like to see him in the future with a decent line and a couple of years watching a real QB.
Not sure why you would expect an article about JR to include info on GM, D, and all the other problems. That discussion would take several days and bouts of writers cramp to complete!
-moshbucket
One silver lining when your team SUCKS, is that on-sale stuff is usually available in more sizes.
I just order a few pairs of Raiders Crocs (Raiders... Croc... how ironic) for $9 each, and the still have all sizes available.
They also have some other teams (NFL, CFB and baseball). The link on slickdeals will show all ones on sale. They're usually $30+.
Not affiliated with crocs, or this website I'm about to give you guys. slickdeals dot net has a link to crocs and a code for another dollar off (8.99). free shiping available also.
Anything not from Raider Image goes to the collective NFL pool of money I think, so hopefully I'm not enabling Al to much :-)
FYI, if you don't already own a pair of these and are going to order, you need to get about 1 size larger. I wear 11-1/2 to 12 depending on the shoe, and wear an XXL 12-13 croc.
GO RAIDERS!!!
ROLL TIDE!!!!!
-moshbucket
Mosh -
"I think those (high salary) numbers increase the likelyhood that Al cuts JR free...."
You still don't understand our fearless leader, do you?
The man made a public statement that Russell would be great.
This is the same man that waited months to establish "cause" before he fired a coach that he wouldn't even talk to.
Decisions like these have nothing to do with the good of the team. It's all about the man.
Tell me moshy...did you "enjoy" that game vs the Giants? 90% chance that it happens vs the Steelers. When I watched that Giants gm...it wasn't enjoyable, it wasn't even worth watching. When the Steelers are pounding the ball and the Raiders Qb is getting no help....nahhh, that isn't enjoyable, watching the Raiders get embarrassed is not enjoyable. This game has all comings of an embarrasssment. ENJOY.
JONES
DHB hurt his foot and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game.
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.
Sorry, that may be rude of me, but I’m sick of watching the kid drop routine passes.
The “unspecified” nature of the injury may be nothing more than an excuse to get him off the field while saving face for playing him in over 500 snaps with only 9 catches.
That pace would project him to have 0.82 receptions for the Steelers' game. Hardly worth the effort.
One problem, though. Since our WRs aren't good enough to switch sides, who will replace DHB?
Mosh:
Both the small and big pictures look rather grim. I loved to be pleasantly suprised by the outcome of a singular game.
The sad thing these days is that a TOTAL blowout is no longer suprising.
I see no one took my 'quiz'. I will answer it myself ... I would be infinitely more suprised by a 9-7 record than 1-15 in 2010.
For the record, I am an optimist at heart. However, the recent 7 year track record of mismanagement, a simplistic D, bad QB play, poor drafting, and incompetent, half-ass HC/GM searches forces me to get a grip on our reality.
Significant change is the only solution and means to get off this path of ineptitude.
P.S. No, I won't be getting any Raider crocs.
Correction to a previous post of mine:
Gradkowski threw for 18 yards in his last start against the Steelers, not 31. He was 5 of 16 passing. 31 was the Steelers’ score in their shutout of the Browns in that game.
I’d say Gradkowski has a good chance to beat those numbers; but by how much?
Pretty good half so far, all things considered!
competetive football, a little conservative, but competetive none the less. against a pretty good steeler team.
frkyraider
I am enjoying the game.
Except for the fact that Gallery just went out with a back injury, Satelle is out with ???injury, and we only dressed 2 backup linemen.
So, the question is, if another lineman goes down, who gets to play ???
-moshbucket
PS: Hell no I didn't enjoy the giants game. You probably wouldn't bang a supermodel becuase you are scared she doesn't give good head.
NY,
I didn't mean to imply that there was very much of a chance Al would cut him, was thinking more of 10% chance going to about 15% or something like that.
But I agree it's very unlikely.
-moshbucket.
PS: Tyvon limping off the field in pain. ugh.
Instead of DHB, now we get Schilens to drop balls. It's a curse.
-JC
i can hear it now....."what wrong with the steelers? they suck now?"
frkyraider
And then another huge play to lose the lead.
Nail biter.
back we come.
frkyraider
Holy cow! Incredible!
"I haven't had this much fun in... I don't know when!"
-Plunkett, after Murphy's TD to take the lead.
My vid feed crapped out on the first down catch at mid field.
Mike Toriko (or is it gumbal), neither can hold Papa's JOCK STRAP as a play by play man.
-moshbucket
Damn, I wish I would have not watched that because I knew we were going to get killed!!!!
-moshbucket
"A magnificent football game today..."
-papa
"This stadium is in shock..Total shock..."
-plunkett
Congrats Raider Nation!
Moshbucket, you get the game ball for having the faith and positive outlook when the prospects of beating Pittsburg on the road were none too bright. Maybe we've started a trend. The last time the Steelers were defending champs we beat them in Oakland. Now we beat them in Pittsburg. Sweet!
For those who didn't get to watch or listen to the game, just thought I would post the scoring summary for the 4th qtr. We trailed at half 6-10, not scoring in the 3rd, then this happened:
8:21 OAK TD Bruce Gradkowski passed to Chaz Schilens to the left for 17 yard gain (Sebastian Janikowski made PAT) 13 - 10
7:13 PIT TD Rashard Mendenhall rushed to the left for 3 yard gain (Jeff Reed made PAT) 13 - 17
5:28 OAK TD Bruce Gradkowski passed to Louis Murphy to the left for 75 yard gain (Sebastian Janikowski made PAT) 20 - 17
1:56 PIT TD Ben Roethlisberger passed to Hines Ward to the right for 11 yard gain (Jeff Reed made PAT) 20 - 24
0:09 OAK TD Bruce Gradkowski passed to Louis Murphy to the left for 11 yard gain (Sebastian Janikowski made PAT) 27 - 24
We had 1 more first down than them, and we won TOP 32min-28min.
I thought that penalties would be the death of us, but we settled down, and pulled it out.
-moshbucket
Take, save the clown car gas for another day!!!!!
All Hail The Gritmeister!
Gradkowski showed us a little Gannon side arm, as well as continued to display a diverse skill set that Russell will never have.
That game was fun to watch.
Noteworthy, DHB's spot finaly had some production today, i.e., with DHB on the sideline.
Go figure; when the Raiders bench $80+ million salaries in two first rounders and replace them with a $600k QB and a backup WR, they suddenly look competitive.
Higgins essentially halved DHB's total production in receptions/yards in one game.
Gradkowski was unbelievable today.
Great win!
Does anyone on this board honestly think it is an accident or coincidence that the Raiders passing attack finally got on track with DHB out? Nope.
DHB sits. Higgins, Schilens, and Murphy are the 3 primary WRs. All 3 for the most part, got open, caught the ball, got YAC, and made critical plays.
Murph: 4 receptions, 128 yards, 2 TDs
Higgins: 4 receptions, 63 yards
Schilens: 3 receptions, 45 yards, 1 TD
Mlller: 4 receptions, 43 yards
Ski: 20-33, 308 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs
Higgins & Murphy did more in 1 game while splitting snaps than DHB had done in 10 games as a starter.
Careful NYRaider,
The player you love to hate was on the bench last week too. How competitive did they look against the Cowboys?
What do ya know? Way to go RAIIders..Didn't get to see it, what a suprise, Moshy, you got it right, I eat crow this week...never saw this coming. Grad could be the new cardiac kid. To go into Pitt, on a morning game and beat them when they knew PIT had to win = WOW. Put this down as a great win for the franchise.
JONES
Raider Realist:
If you were referring to DHB in your last post, you are wrong. He played virtually every snap last week vs. the Cowboys.
No Calico, I'm referring to Russell.
Damn, dropped the "h."
Owski's 75yd TD throw to Murphy should be evidence enough that you don't need athletes who can throw 60+ yds on one knee and sign him to a 32 million dollar guarantee to get the job done. You just need a $600,000k QB, leadership, accountability, effort, drive and someone who can run a pro style offense.
Wonder what Russell was thinking while he watched Owski play?
Wonder what Al was thinking?
If Owski can pull out more wins coming up, look for him to be resigned in the off season. If we can beat Washington and the Browns I will be satisfied. Still a lot of work to be done and we are far from out of the wood works on this one. But at least there’s fight and quite honestly that’s what we fans want to see along with WINS in the W column. 6-10 here we come.
RaiderRealist -
I see your point; however, the total collapse of our D aside, having DHB on the field in the Cowboys game limited Gradkowski’s options. As RT said, Higgins in one game halved DHB’s season production.
Today, the defense stood up and DHB was on the sideline. The result, one of the most impressive wins by any team this year, which I mostly credit to Russell's replacement.
Just think what we could do with a replacement GM. Unfortunately, this game will do little to further convince Davis of critical need that exists... probably just the opposite.
Got it, Raider Realist.
I'm not saying Ski is our savior.
However, I do think with Ski's ability to improvise and adapt to a stiff pass rush, make secondary reads, and deliver an accurate pass to (and this is equally important) to a competent WR corps, the Raiders field a FAR more competitive team.
Ski is 2-1. 1 good game (Cincy), 1 rough outing (Cowboys), and 1 outstanding game (Steelers).
How many times would Russell have been completely swallowed up by the Steelers pass rush? 5 times? 10 times?
Ski played better in this 1 game than Russell has in 20 starts.
I personally think that Ski has a GREAT opportunity to earn a chance to be our starter in 2010.
I know 1 game doesn't make a season or career and that it is very reckless and dangerous to project or speculate but ...
Ski did in fact remind me of Gannon today. His varying arm angles, knack for avoiding sacks, ability to run, throw while on the move, etc. was eerily similar to Gannon.
I also believe that without a shadow of doubt, Murphy deserves MORE playing time. It should be:
Schilens - starter
Murphy - starter
JLH - slot WR, sub
DHB - some 3 WRs sets, sub
Gradkowski became the first Raiders quarterback to throw three touchdowns in a fourth quarter since Ken Stabler during a 42-35 win over New Orleans on Dec. 3, 1979, when Oakland trailed 35-1
Gradkowski is the Raiders' first 300-yard passer this year, and I'm pretty sure he produced the Raiders' first 100-yard receiver.
from J-Mac:
"Bruce Gradkowski 10 of 16 for 188 yards and three TDs, 142.7 rating, in fourth quarter."
Russell has two TDs all season.
NYRaider & Calico:
Agreed, Gradkowski has definitely made a difference. Its been a long time since a Raider QB has thrown for 300+ yards in a game. WRs stepping up making plays, especially Murphy. All I'm saying is let us not be too hasty to kick guys to the curb.
Nnamdi, Gallery & Huff are guys who at one point fans howled for them to get cut. Now Nnamdi's a Pro Bowler, Gallery is a solid LG, and Huff has stepped up to the point where next year we hopefully won't be taking a DB in the first four rounds. That's why I say this offseason will be extremely important because we'll see if sitting on the bench actually gets through to Russell. If he spends his offseason studying the playbook and getting in shape we'll know. As good as Gradkowski is playing right now I would still let it be an open competition for the starting job. Remember, now that Dr. Evil is getting starts, teams are getting film on him. His tendencies, his tells as to what the play he's running, everything. But by all means he is the answer at QB for right now and should be starting for the rest of the season.
As for DHB, he should be in on situational downs only and not have started nearly as many games as he did this year with his level of play. Maybe the Raiders will finally live by the mantra of having the best players start. We shall see.
WTF? If Al had played Gradkowski from game one and benched DHB from the beginning we would be going to the SB!
Ok, just pointing out absurdity by being obsurd.
You all are in for a rude awakening if you think Grad is capable of that level of play consistently. He's had good games at Tampa Bay when he started for them. He also had atrocious games. Sure, he'll always be better than JaMarcus (who looks far worse than Ryan Leaf), but that's not saying much. AS far as him being our starter next season, that shouldn't be a big challenge. There's not a lot of good QB's who will want to play for us.
“If (Russell) spends his offseason studying the playbook and getting in shape we'll know.”
------------
He won’t even spend the extra time now, on the heels of being benched, so there’s no reason to believe he’ll spend his off-season working out and studying to improve his craft.
It takes a special individual to be a starting QB in the NFL; there are only 32 spots. Russell has proven to be lazy (by NFL QB standards) and uninspired. He’s the anti-Gradkowski.
As for teams game-planning against Gradkowski, it’s a relief to finally have a QB that qualifies for such scrutiny. Up ‘til this point, teams were treating us like an extra bye week.
Fact is, Gradkowski showed quite an arsenal of weapons today.
Truth is, whether J-Russ works hard or not, his skills are pretty limited for an NFL QB. His instincts are slow; his pocket presence is beyond poor, his ability to scan the entire field and make an accurate decision isn't there, and his accuracy is not even as good as most third string QB's in the NFL. If you have some base skills in these areas, they can indeed be improved on. By J-Russ doesn't; there's nothing really there to build upon. People keep looking at his size and arm strength as if those are QB skills: they are not. J-Russ is a bust. Al will try to get him in there one more time, but in the end, J-Russ is not good enough to be an NFL starter. IF he worked really, really hard, maybe he can end up as a back-up somewhere; but I doubt it.
Raider Realist:
I would argue that it is more difficult to get an accurate read or tendency on Ski than most QBs.
If you watched today's game, most of his best plays were improvised, 2nd and 3rd reads when the pocket broke down.
This type of QB can give defenses fits by using his legs to run or buy time. CBs need to stay on their WR longer. DLine gets gassed running around trying to get the QB. Broken plays end up being backbreaking big plays.
No one knows Ski's future. His career path could be an up and down, journeyman back up who bounces from team to team or an effective starting QB in the mold of Garcia or Gannon.
What we do know is that Ski has the work ethic, drive, mobility, and overall skill set to improve IF given the right circumstances.
BTW, I haven't seen anyone comment on Murphy today. Obviously, he looked great going up up for balls and making plays. But what I also noticed was how crisp his routes looked. It's probably the best route-running I've seen from a Raider WR all season. IMO, he's looking like our go-to guy.
I see Grad utilizing him more and more in the next few games. Schilens dropped a couple of passes that should have been caught and he looked a little slow out of his breaks. I think he was a bit over-hyped in camp. Outside of the fact that Higgins didn't follow through on a couple of routes, he was looking sharp today. He plays dumb at tines, but he does make plays. Cable needs to consider this more when he draws up plays: get the ball to WR's who can make something happen after the catch. Moreover, get the ball to guys that are running disciplined routes and getting open.
H-Bey probably won't make it out of next season's training camp unless Al insists he stays on the roster. His hands are simply too small, and despite his advertised speed, I haven't seen it in pads. The guy can barely get open/
Schilens is coming off a broken foot. That can affect how well he's able to cut.
Again the better (crappy) team finds a way to lose to the faidas and you MAROONS are all on the "gradcrapski" band wagon, it doesn't make a difference to you doofus' that the Steelers played their worst game in years but a faida win is a super bowl to you IDJEETS so I guess when the faidas lose next week you'll all be back to square one as to why "gradcrapski" isn't worth a shizzle! Just open your eyes babies. Go "nation". 4-12 is the reality.
You have got to be kidding me. I come home after going all over the county Christmas shopping, only to find out IT'S A 1:00 GAME NOT A 4:00 GAME AND I MISSED IT.
Does anybody know where Mr. Peabody keeps his Wayback Machine?
I do hope the NFL Network is replaying this one. I was so sure of the start time I didn't even set it to record. Figured I'd just start the recording when I tuned it in.
Good news all around though. As of about a week and a half ago I appear to be in semi-full remission from whatever that crap is that was dragging me down for over two months. And, on or about April 17th my first grandchild will be born. It's a boy according to the doctor.
If someone sees where they are having a replay, please let me know.
H
Check out this link to read some quotes from the players about Gradkowski.
http://tinyurl.com/ycx9qms
Between watching him and reading these quotes, there's definitely some flashes of Rich Gannon.
H - you missed a great game.
Good read NYRaider. Yeah, I've been kicking myslef since I got home yesterday.
The stars finally align, Alabama wins the SEC, Georgia Tech wins the ACC (Son-in-law of H is a Tech grad and he and Daughter of H were at the game). And, the Raiders beat the defending Super Bowl champions in Stableresque fashion. A perfect football weekend there for the taking and I screw up the Sunday part.
But, I'll still take the win and feel good about it for the players and everyone here. No whining.
Quick note to Moshbucket:
1. Ribs from Dreamland - 41.50
2. SEC Championship shirt - 21.95
3. Watching Alabama bring tears to Tebow's eye's - Priceless.
By the way, when I watch Alabama I drink my beer from by Super Bowl XV commerative stein.
There are three defensive players available for the Raiders to take a long look at in the first round. on the DL, Suh from Nebraska, Cody from Alabama (both seniors). LB - McClain from Alabama. Only downside is he's a true junior, but he is allowed to change the defensive allignment if he sees something when the offense lines up.
H
H,
Great to hear from you!!! I had already planned my next post to be "Where are you H and PR????"
Though we desperately could use McLain in the middle, i sure hope he stays his senior year. But if he does leave, I sure hope we snatch him up.
-moshbucket
H,
Great to hear from you!!! I had already planned my next post to be "Where are you H and PR????"
Though we desperately could use McLain in the middle, i sure hope he stays his senior year. But if he does leave, I sure hope we snatch him up.
-moshbucket
About a week ago I said about what I wanted in a play caller:
"I want to see him covering his face with a big ass play sheet ala Chucky and Sean Peyton"
I'll be damned if Cable didn't have his play sheet this week!! Was that new, or did i just never notice it games before???
I also liked Dr. Evil's comment:
"He gets after it," Gradkowski said of Cable. "He is going to be more aggressive than not. "...
Maybe Cable does have what it takes to be a play caller in the NFL? Jury's stiill out on that one. But I do like the play sheet, even if the font is probably larger that Chuky's was.
-moshbucket
PS: The obvious concern is, when things look good, Al is probably thinking "I still go it!!!", and tightens up his grip! Conversely, maybe he's thinking, "Wow, I just need to let up on my grip, and look what they can do".
Moshbucket,
I've been spending a lot of time catching up on a ton of stuff I couldn't do when I was down from my mystery crap. The doctors still don't know. But, I'm pretty much back to normal, or abnormal depending upon your point of view.
From a defensive standpoint I would take any of those three with my first pick.
Cody can play 3 down or 4 down, and he's big enough to plug two gaps by himself. Suh may be better than Haynesworth coming out of college. If McClain comes out he will be taken ahead of Spikes from Florida.
H
Pride and poise!
Those questions I was asking at the end of last week, to which certain Cretans responded with insults (I'm looking at you JONES), had to do with this. Gradkowski answered my questions for me. From JMac:
"Langston Walker, who said he hadn’t lined up at guard since the night in 2003 when Brett Favre lit up the Raiders on Monday NIght football, said his first time on the field with Gradkowski was impressive.
'Bruce is fiery,' Walker said. 'He’s yelling at us, screaming at us, running around like a banshee, but it’s all controlled. That’s how he gets it done. You saw the result.'”
Moshbucket -
Maybe Cable didn't need a play sheet with Russell at QB, since Russell had all the plays he knew scribbled on the back of his hand in 18 carrot gold crayon.
Kidding aside, there's no question the playbook has opened up a bit.
Gary says:
"WTF? If Al had played Gradkowski from game one and benched DHB from the beginning we would be going to the SB!
Ok, just pointing out absurdity by being obsurd."
-----------
As usoal, Gory is moking no sonse.
bama7
H- if mcclain comes out... no question... he is the best player (nfl wise) in the draft. he is an absolute stud.
H, it's great to see you back, and I'm thrilled that your health problems seem to be getting resolved!
I'm taking a bit of pride today in spotting Gradkowski's potential when we signed him, and backing up Cable's move to play him.
Also great is that he eclipsed THE game that you and I recognized as one of Stabler's greatest achievements - throwing three TDs against NO in 1979. I'd argue it was a greater game. Stabler needed all three for a single come from behind effort, while Gradkowski had to come from behind all three times with the clock running out on him.
Also of note regarding Gradkowski. He has still not played one entire season as a starter. I think he has around 11 total starts (but maybe as many as 14 - not going to spend the time looking it up). And yet he has led the winning 4th quarter drive for a TD four times now in his career. Many NFL QBs never get to that mark over their entire career, let alone a single season of games. It's a deal that requires both skill and leadership, which is what makes Amazons out of people like Stabler and Montana.
We have a Raider QB now. This team belongs to Gradkowski. It is his until someone takes it away from him, and I don't think Russell can do that.
There will be those who will say that the Raiders will eventually reinstate Russell because of the investment. That doesn't square with the Raiders' history. Look at the Plunkett/Pastorini history and/or the Stabler/Lamonica history. For Russell to get his job back, he his going to have to unseat Gradkowski. Then - either way we win.
Post a Comment
<< Home