Five Postgame Takes
1. The alleged "worst team in the NFL" (according to numerous preseason pundits) doesn't look half bad right now, eh?
2. Again, I just love how our defense is playing. They are agile and unpredictable and swarming to the ball. They went a bit soft there in the second half, but toughened back up at the end. This isn't the same 'ol Raiders defense.
3. Geez, the Matt Flynn trade sure turned into a debacle, but I applaud the Raiders for admitting the mistake and moving on. Let's not get too worked up about it. It's better than starting DHB based on his draft position instead of performance, than talking Javon Walker out of retiring for the privilege of grossly overpaying him, than trading a first rounder and more for Carson Palmer, than paying JaMarcus Russell $25 million, than...I could keep going. But in the annals of Raider reaches and mistakes, this one isn't that big of a deal. Reggie McKenzie blew it, but he knows it, and it's over.
4. We have a problem that no one wants to talk about, and that is our lack of depth at quarterback. Pryor is doing a bang-up job, but he could easily get banged up running around like that. He's already had one concussion. If he goes down, we're in no man's land.
5. Woulda, coulda, shoulda...We are what our record says we are. But I can't help but thinking about that missed late opportunity to beat the Colts, and that 14-0 lead over the Redskins. Damn.
2. Again, I just love how our defense is playing. They are agile and unpredictable and swarming to the ball. They went a bit soft there in the second half, but toughened back up at the end. This isn't the same 'ol Raiders defense.
3. Geez, the Matt Flynn trade sure turned into a debacle, but I applaud the Raiders for admitting the mistake and moving on. Let's not get too worked up about it. It's better than starting DHB based on his draft position instead of performance, than talking Javon Walker out of retiring for the privilege of grossly overpaying him, than trading a first rounder and more for Carson Palmer, than paying JaMarcus Russell $25 million, than...I could keep going. But in the annals of Raider reaches and mistakes, this one isn't that big of a deal. Reggie McKenzie blew it, but he knows it, and it's over.
4. We have a problem that no one wants to talk about, and that is our lack of depth at quarterback. Pryor is doing a bang-up job, but he could easily get banged up running around like that. He's already had one concussion. If he goes down, we're in no man's land.
5. Woulda, coulda, shoulda...We are what our record says we are. But I can't help but thinking about that missed late opportunity to beat the Colts, and that 14-0 lead over the Redskins. Damn.
posted by Raider Take at 6:38 AM
28 Comments:
For the worst team in the NFL, the Raiders could easily be 4-1 right now.
Yup, the Flynn trade was a mistake, at the time, it was considered a decent move.
Allen, in the PC after the Indians game, looked totally disgusted when a reporter asked him about Flynn. I get the feeling Allen didn't like Flynn a whole lot.
The team is in good hands, now it is just a matter of time. NFL Network dummies aren't giggling anymore.
JONES
I like this teams ability to cut bait. Sounds like Flynn became petulant after his demotion. No need to keep around bad character.
My hunch is they offered Freeman a back-up position which is why he went with Vikings. Either that or the threat of Freeman pushed Pryor even more. Either way Pryor is the man now and it appears the Raiders are actively searching for a viable back-up.
I am most concerned about the O line. I realize the main group is not out there due to injuries but it still is a bit of a question mark. If that concern can be overcome once Veldheer gets healthy and Watson gets back on the field the only other major shortcoming would be an edge rusher.
TE, RB, CB, run stuffing LB....Lamarr Houston is doing very well as the edge rusher...Sio Moore will progress as another edge rusher...more pressing needs than the edge, IMO.
JONES
Any thoughts on Tebow for backup QB?
IMO, we have more depth at QB than folks think. Matt McGloin was a bit raw in preseason but showed his strong arm and good accuracy. I'm guessing he and Wilson have both progressed since then. If the Raiders are rebuilding, let's stay young at the QB position. We may draft and/or sign someone next year if McGloin or Wilson don't continue to progress the way RM/DA want.
Hats off to the O-line, which is makeshift at best. This position group and its coaching has shown their tremendous resolve. Clearly, they benefit from Pryor's athleticism, but this is about the best patchwork line I can remember. Second and third team line replacements can actually make you forget names like Robert Gallery and Samson Satele.
Good news. Somebody must doing something right in the front office.
3 areas of noticeable improvement for our D;
1) Run D (12th in the league)
2) Tackling -- more swarming to the ball
3) Minimal big plays due to miscommunication/assignment breakdowns. I attribute this partly to the veteran leadership of Woodson.
"When I heard about it, I'm like, 'Geez, I haven't played terribly,' " Pryor said Sunday night. "The two losses I played in were to Indianapolis and Denver, two of the top teams in the league. I was thinking, 'Maybe they don't like me.' "
Pryor chuckled after the last comment, but was any consideration given to what the Freeman discussions might do to the young quarterback?
"No, no, no," McKenzie said Sunday night outside the locker room. "That's my job to make us the strongest 53-man roster possible, at every position, from one to three (on the depth chart). I'm sure Terrelle would feel pretty good about what he's doing, but he has to go through that type of maturity too. It was more for the team, not about him, at all. Like I was telling my coaches, I'm going to try to strengthen this team. I'm trying to get the best 53, and you put them together, let them practice and if you like them, keep them. If you don't."
McKenzie basically shrugged.
"It's really that simple," he said.
Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nfl/news/20131007/raiders-flynn-cut-pryor-mckenzie/#ixzz2hCYERPJD
CJ - on offense... going into last week, the Raiders were like 1-2 in the league for number of plays over 20 yards. Last year I believe they were at or near the bottom of the league.
IMO, the minimal big plays is more due to the scheme...the old scheme was susceptible to the big play. The new scheme is to limit big plays and force the other team to earn their yards. No more of the big running plays over and over.
I would like to see the Defense better at stopping 3rd downs. The other team is in a lot of 3rd down situations but stopping them consistently is a problem. I think it will get better as the year progresses.
JONES
This Pryor kid is very likable. I'm rooting for him.
When Pryor started the last game of 2012 he showed the team something it hadn't seen since Gannon. Leadership. While the game wasn't a great display of his throwing arm, he did have a strong sense of what he was, and wasn't capable of - avoiding turnovers.
We haven't seen ANY Raider player, in recent years, commit himself to the hard work in which Pryor immersed himself. I haven't seen that kind of single minded focus from anyone, ever, unless it's the kind of commitment that JONES makes to insulting people.
T. Pryor is the anti-JaMarcus Russell.
JONES is the anti Balanda.
JONES
http://nbcbayarea.csnbayarea.com/raiders/reports-raiders-frontrunner-sign-freeman
"The Raiders are a frontrunner to sign quarterback Josh Freeman, according to reports. Freeman was released Thursday following a public rift with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and is looking for a team where he could start posthaste.
"The Raiders have reportedly given him that option. NFL.com reports that Freeman has talked to 10 teams and that the Raiders are the lead dog."
What's the matter, children? CSN and NBC aren't good enough sources for you?
Note the wording above. "Posthaste" means right away. Followed by, "The Raiders have reportedly given him that option."
JONES, I understand that you can't color inside the lines, but the rest of you ought to be able to find things on the internet in 2013.
Oh, so now the 'mediots' are all knowing? Like they have never spread a rumor, like yourself, before? Just like that Yahoo article claiming that Allen and McKenzie had to be told by Mark Davis to play Pryor over Flynn...
If you are going to believe the hacks...then you are no better.... A REAL Raider fan doesn't listen to that shit, let alone spread it around like it's gospel. Balanda = goof.
JONES
Allen and McKenzie stress COMPETITION, why would they tell Freeman that he would be the starter? Why did he sign in Minny if the Raiders were the 'top dog'? Just more Raider hating and balanda promotes it...Sactown had it right...he is a troll.
May balanda and his buddy hang on the beach in the VW van and wonder what their life could have been if they only had a brain.
JONES
Jones
You cannot go one blog without calling people mean and nasty names. Have you ever stopped to think why you are the only one of all the commentators who does that.
Any reasonably intelligent point you have to make gets lost in your mean spirited insults.
Raider Take why do you let this Jones guy run roughshod over your blog? I am just a Raider fan who wants to come here to read, enjoy and perhaps have some vigorous debate. This kind of childish behavior takes away from all the good posts you work hard on and your readers insightful comments.
Blanda, we saw the reports. That's what opened the discussion.
There's certainly reason to believe the Raiders did speak with Freeman. And why wouldn't they? They knew Flynn was out the door.
The media report he was offered the starting job seems like a fabrication because it doesn’t jive with what we’re seeing consistently from the Raiders.... competition!!
BlandaRocked and Jones, please read the last post (by me) on previous blog, "Chargers Gamenight Thread". Given the total commitment by both DA and Reggie to Pryor as the starter, these reports about Freeman being a starter (which never were linked to DA, just 'the Raiders') were just empty rumors. Makes no sense otherwise in light of all the evidence. Does that mean that Reggie will not go after top talent for backups or potential future starters? No. As we keep hearing over and over ad nauseam from DA and Reggie, it's all about competition at every spot and the best man will start. Think about the when the 49ers had future Hall of Famer Joe Montana starting and in his prime. Did that stop Walsh from picking up Steve Young? Were Montana's feelings hurt? Maybe, but it's just part of the business of constantly improving, never being complacent, because the league is too competitive.
I think it's time to move on to the next subject, the upcoming Chiefs game. @BlandaRocked--totally agree with your comments about T. Pryor and how he has worked his butt off to show amazing improvement.
BTW, the Raiders are 31st in penalty yardage through five games, 24th in total penalties. How has Allen accomplished this when so many head coaches before have failed to make even a dent? Maybe because he has total control over who plays and who doesn't and he has the total attention of the team, and very smart, dedicated and hardworking players? Just a thought.
How do you figure 31st in penalty yardage is progress? There are 32 teams in the league.
An especially stern road test for TP2 facing the #1 NFL D. KC is giving up only 11 points per game. Hostile crowds, tough Ds, new wrinkles to learn in the playbook ... all good and a big part of TP's growth.
As far as the media goes, I take everything that I read where there isn't an identified source being quoted with a grain of salt.
I've seen tons of instances where the media takes liberties with conclusions.
Fact A - The Raiders were interested in Freeman
Fact B - Freeman was looking for a team where he can start posthaste
Bogus Fact of A + B = C ... since the Raiders were interested in Freeman and Freeman is looking to start, it must mean the Raiders said he would be the starter.
I'm 10000000000000% sure that Reggie or DA would never promise a player to be a starter.
Promising a chance to compete to be a starter and being penned in as the starter are 2 totally different things.
31st--they are ranked just above the team at the 32nd position. In other words, next to last. There are 30 teams that have more penalty yards than the Raiders at this point in the season. To see for yourself, go to nfl.com, 'team stats' are search the menus till you find penalties and penalty yards. Similarly, there are 23 teams that have more penalties than the Raiders, and 8 that have fewer. In years past (prior to last year), the Raiders have been 1st in one or both categories or in the top five, for years and years and years. That, in my opinion, qualifies as progress. You don't agree, then?
in other words ..
the Raiders are ranked 2nd in penalty yardage through five games, 9th in total penalties.
DEFINITELY solid progress.
It says;
The coaching staff is holding players accountable and putting an emphasis on limiting unnecessary mistakes.
The players are listening and more focused on executing.
“They throw a lot at you. A ton of different looks. A lot of pressure,..' [Alex] Smith said."
When was the last time anyone said that about the Raiders defense?
Got it sac town now I understand impressive
Gameday thread is up.
Anonymous said...
Any thoughts on Tebow for backup QB?
Are you kidding me. You must be a ignorant religious freak, because unless you are blinded by faith, you can clearly see what all 32 teams see when tebow tries to play QB.
tebow is not a NFL QB.
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