Five Postgame Takes
1. There's nothing like pulling into the Coliseum parking lot at 9 a.m., cracking a beer, cooking some meat and socializing with the Raider Nation wildlife. It's such a great neighborhood, and you can't beat the ambiance. The Raiders might disappoint, but the tailgate never does.
2. The numbers lie. That was largely a clown show on defense. On that one touchdown, when their guy did a simple juke and left two of our guys gyrating in the dust, I swear I saw the ghost of Stuart Schweigart. Our third-down containment was a joke. Any time we got near Fitzpatrick, he spun and rolled out of danger with the same turn move over and over (hey, how about anticipating that after you've seen it three times?). And that last drive had such an air of inevitability, it was hard to watch. By the last snap, I could see the easy touchdown from a mile away. I was Nostradamus. We all were.
3. Matt McGloin is 6"1', and looks it out there. For the average dude, that's a nice height. But for an NFL quarterback? Well, Russell Wilson is two inches shorter than that, so it can be done. But if I recall correctly, four of McGloin's passes were squarely blocked. It got old quick. He's going to have to find a workaround.
4. I wish they would pull back on the $35 parking fee. For someone working a minimum wage job, that's most of a day's work after taxes. It's robbery. If you want all of those seats filled, you need to think about that. If I recall correctly, parking was $20 not that long ago. Another annoyance is the intensified "security theater," limiting all bags to clear plastic and creating an airport-like choke point at the point of entry. It makes life harder, and I don't believe it's making us safer.
5. The fan experience was awesome as always. This organization needs to field a product to match. It's been a long wait, and we're still waiting. Patience is being preached, and at this point, it's a sermon we'll have to accept.
2. The numbers lie. That was largely a clown show on defense. On that one touchdown, when their guy did a simple juke and left two of our guys gyrating in the dust, I swear I saw the ghost of Stuart Schweigart. Our third-down containment was a joke. Any time we got near Fitzpatrick, he spun and rolled out of danger with the same turn move over and over (hey, how about anticipating that after you've seen it three times?). And that last drive had such an air of inevitability, it was hard to watch. By the last snap, I could see the easy touchdown from a mile away. I was Nostradamus. We all were.
3. Matt McGloin is 6"1', and looks it out there. For the average dude, that's a nice height. But for an NFL quarterback? Well, Russell Wilson is two inches shorter than that, so it can be done. But if I recall correctly, four of McGloin's passes were squarely blocked. It got old quick. He's going to have to find a workaround.
4. I wish they would pull back on the $35 parking fee. For someone working a minimum wage job, that's most of a day's work after taxes. It's robbery. If you want all of those seats filled, you need to think about that. If I recall correctly, parking was $20 not that long ago. Another annoyance is the intensified "security theater," limiting all bags to clear plastic and creating an airport-like choke point at the point of entry. It makes life harder, and I don't believe it's making us safer.
5. The fan experience was awesome as always. This organization needs to field a product to match. It's been a long wait, and we're still waiting. Patience is being preached, and at this point, it's a sermon we'll have to accept.
posted by Raider Take at 5:15 PM
10 Comments:
The extra money for parking,
is paying for the extra security,
that slow up the lines.
Thanks NFL.
carrying over from the other thread ...
Between 2003 to 2011 (before DA/RM), the Raiders had zero winning records, zero playoff appearances, and the average record was 5-11. (45-99)
Going into 2012, the Raiders had no early round picks, few picks at all, and a salary cap disaster.
The way I see it is that 2003-2011 was a complete failure. There was a coaching carousel, countless bad free agent signings and early round picks, reckless use of cap dollars, and no earnest rebuilding for success.
The context of the past history and recent history seems lost on you, BBB. We spun our wheel from 2003-2011 going nowhere fast.
When all the facts came out about the horrendously bad shape the organization was in when DA/RM came aboard (lack of talent on the existing roster, dead money, the payroll #s, bad contracts on the books, draft picks given away), it was very clear to me that this was a highly unusual set of circumstances for a new HC & GM to inherit, clean up, and put the Raiders on the right path. To put it BLUNTLY and FACTUALLY, DA/RM's hands were tied behind their backs due the negligence year after year from 2003-2011.
It was also very clear to me that under the given circumstances, the team was going to struggle mightily in years 1 and 2.
My takeaway from year 2 is that the group of men DA/RM put together on a shoe string budget work hard, play hard on Sundays and compete. In only 2 of 11 games have the Raiders failed to compete (Den, Philly).
The glass is half-full for me especially with the position we will be in 2014 to acquire talent and upgrade the overall depth level.
Sure the ultimate measure is wins. That’s easy to say, and you’d think it would be easy to understand.
But if you base every season on that measure you end up with a revolving door at HC and other key positions, which is largely the reason AL failed so miserably over the past decade.
Plus, it's not like franchise QBs were falling out of the sky. The Raiders have started three different QBs this year (behind a makeshift line), and none had NFL experience to speak of. But unlike DA/RM's predecessors, starts (not just at QB) were based on merit, then production. No more riding the hopes of an entire franchise on a guy that sits on the bench dreaming of purple elixirs.
One thing for sure, to hold RM/DA's feet to the fire and demand wins under the recent and present circumstances is extremely shortsighted.
As Calico Jack pointed out, I guess what some folks are missing is that DA/RM didn't create the problem.
It's not like these guys are responsible for obamacare.
P.S. Nice pics, RT. Your game summary was spot on, IMO, and seemed magnified on TV. It got to the point which we knew the Titans could convert any 3rd and long, and they did. To Fitzpatrick's credit, he was on target all day.
All I can hope is what I've been saying; this season is filled with trial and error. I still believe in the process and the two primary people behind it.
Aside from wins, net points is the most telling stat in the game. There's only 1 year since the superbowl that the Raiders have had better net points than this year (and this year isn't good . . . -5 per game). That was the 2010 8-8 team. The 2011 8-8 team was right about the same as this year.
If we get the same kind of improvement next year as we got this year, we'll be back to a middle of the NFL team. That's a pretty rare spot for us these last 25 years. I see 2015 as the year we contend. That's a long road to slog.
PS
Nice pics Take. I wish I could bring my son out to the Coliseum. Living in TX makes it difficult to get out that way.
Tickets to the game tomorrow in Dallas is absurd. The new Jerry World (as we call it here), parking is about $40; and tickets are astronomical. It would take $300 for me and my son to go, not counting food ($60 bones for the 2 of us, including soft drinks, no beer). I will watch it on TV, and hopefully will be able to rib my wife's family about it. Otherwise, it's going to be a long Thanksgiving. Speaking of which, I hope everyone has a terrific Thanksgiving with family. A time to count our blessings minimizes the importance of football for me. I'm thankful for my family, job, freedom, health, and friends.
JUST WIN, BABY!
Thanks, guys, glad you like the pics!
I hear you, Nate. Jerry World seems to be the future of the NFL game experience. The Niners' new place in Silicon Valley will likely be very corporate and costly as well. I know that some stadiums don't even allow on-site tailgating. I can't imagine that not being a part of the experience and investment.
Aren't they are talking about eliminating tailgating from the Superbowl? Ouch!
They are turning the country into a NO FUN ZONE. Same as the TSA, they make the airport such a horrible experience, people will no longer travel by air. Same with entertainment events, 'security' is ruining the experience and FUN. It truly is...a bunch of bullshit.
JONES
I usually root for the underdog on Thanksgiving. Today will be no different.
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
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