It's Raider Time (Again)
It seems that every year around this time in the Raider Nation, we start eating our own. The losses begin to pile up, and expectations are cut short as the inevitability of another losing season sinks in. The bickering escalates, and solutions remain evasive.
Simple put, we are perpetually on Raider Time. On Raider Time, everything takes forever, and change is painfully incremental.
Every year, there's an excuse for not hitting a home run on the fronts of head coaching or free agency or the draft. Right now, the excuses are: we need stability at head coach; we didn't have enough money to land top free agents; and we didn't have a lot of draft picks, and anyways the draft is a crapshoot.
Of course, when we were hiring new coaches every two years, loading up on expensive free agents and picking high in the draft every April, things weren't any better. Welcome to Raider Time, where things change while the results remain painfully the same.
You wonder how the Chiefs can get Andy Reid and Alex Smith and go from 2-14 to 9-0 in one year, and how the Broncos can not only land Peyton Manning and John Fox, but load up their receiving corps with guys like Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker, Wes Welker and Julius Thomas. Stuff like that never happens on Raider Time.
I'm not saying that we don't have excuses. We have plenty. And that's the problem. We always have plenty of excuses. There are so many reasons why the Raiders are never quite ready to turn it around.
So here we are, with three wins, six losses and a lot of excuses. Again.
Reggie McKenzie was dealt a real bad hand. It's not surprising that we're still trying to dig out of what was an epic hole. And yet...
I wonder why it looks like we still don't have a plan at quarterback, why the rebuilding didn't begin in earnest until this year, and why we're not getting more out of the draft picks we have selected. I'm wondering why we brought Greg Knapp back and wasted a year on offense when we all knew how it would turn out.
Am I asking for a home run? Maybe I am. Maybe it's about time we hit one, eh?
Terrelle Pryor is emblematic of Raider Time. He shows just enough promise to tantalize. But in an era when the best rookie quarterbacks lead their teams to the playoffs, Pryor is still working out the fundamentals in his third year.
But hey, there's always next season. We'll be loaded with cash. We'll have a high draft pick. Our defense will continue to gel. Dennis Allen will show that he's the man for the job.
We're definitely going somewhere, just very slowly. After all, we're on Raider Time.
Simple put, we are perpetually on Raider Time. On Raider Time, everything takes forever, and change is painfully incremental.
Every year, there's an excuse for not hitting a home run on the fronts of head coaching or free agency or the draft. Right now, the excuses are: we need stability at head coach; we didn't have enough money to land top free agents; and we didn't have a lot of draft picks, and anyways the draft is a crapshoot.
Of course, when we were hiring new coaches every two years, loading up on expensive free agents and picking high in the draft every April, things weren't any better. Welcome to Raider Time, where things change while the results remain painfully the same.
You wonder how the Chiefs can get Andy Reid and Alex Smith and go from 2-14 to 9-0 in one year, and how the Broncos can not only land Peyton Manning and John Fox, but load up their receiving corps with guys like Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker, Wes Welker and Julius Thomas. Stuff like that never happens on Raider Time.
I'm not saying that we don't have excuses. We have plenty. And that's the problem. We always have plenty of excuses. There are so many reasons why the Raiders are never quite ready to turn it around.
So here we are, with three wins, six losses and a lot of excuses. Again.
Reggie McKenzie was dealt a real bad hand. It's not surprising that we're still trying to dig out of what was an epic hole. And yet...
I wonder why it looks like we still don't have a plan at quarterback, why the rebuilding didn't begin in earnest until this year, and why we're not getting more out of the draft picks we have selected. I'm wondering why we brought Greg Knapp back and wasted a year on offense when we all knew how it would turn out.
Am I asking for a home run? Maybe I am. Maybe it's about time we hit one, eh?
Terrelle Pryor is emblematic of Raider Time. He shows just enough promise to tantalize. But in an era when the best rookie quarterbacks lead their teams to the playoffs, Pryor is still working out the fundamentals in his third year.
But hey, there's always next season. We'll be loaded with cash. We'll have a high draft pick. Our defense will continue to gel. Dennis Allen will show that he's the man for the job.
We're definitely going somewhere, just very slowly. After all, we're on Raider Time.
posted by Raider Take at 8:39 AM
52 Comments:
Just read that Todd Christensen has died. I did not know him as a man, but he was a great TE.
RIP
Well, instead of WONDERING why????? Take a look at the reasons WHY. You want a Home Run? Then tell us how that is feasible, if you want great players NOW, tell us how that is feasible. I want, I want, I want...doesn't get it done.
If you are demanding great signings, a great QB...tell us how it will be done. Anyone can cry for what they want, the ones with the brains will figure out a plan to get there.
The ones without brains will keep crying because it didn't happen instantly. Where is that magical fairy dust?
Raider 'fans' want a complete turn around in a year and a half....and don't blame the last regime because they aren't here any more...don't blame the over 40 mill in dead money that handicaps this team in a huge way...and blame the new regime for taking the 1st year to figure exactly what they had. Blame them for not getting difference makers with every pick in the draft that blow the league away in their 1st games of their careers.
I want............where does the team find this FRANCHISE QB? Where do they find that franchise RB? Where were they supposed to find the stud O-linemen? If they were there, how were they supposed to pay them? THERE WAS NOTHING THERE, 8-8 was an illusion...no talent, no assets, no cap space,...but now after a year and a half, we have 'fans' screaming WHERE's THE TALENT....it's coming, it will take a while, just a fact of life....crying about it isn't going to make come any faster.
JONES
Alex Smith was attainable, given what we spent on Matt Flynn.
The 2012 season was a wash instead of a rebuild. Greg Knapp was a disaster, and the jury is out on whether or not Dennis Allen was the right choice.
Sheldon Richardson, Star Lotolei and Kiko Alonso were all available in their respective rounds this year.
But my point isn't that there aren't any excuses, that there aren't mitigating circumstances...
Much of this mess was inherited. It's going to take a while. It always does on Raider Time.
RIP to Todd Christensen. Sympathies and prayers to his family. I have great memories of him in the Silver and Black! One of the most underrated TEs in history of this game.
Now to the article. You asked how the Chiefs can go 9-0, when the prior year they went 2-14. But you neglect to mention that they had one of the highest ranked defenses over the past 3 years, that continued to improve each year. In 2012, they were ranked 20th in the league. In 2011, they were ranked #11, and in 2010, they ranked #14.
They have had some stability at RB with Charles, but never had stability QB to balance the running game; and Crennel wasn't much of an offensive guy. Andy Reid and Doug Pederson have tweaked their game plan to their strengths, and the addition of Alex Smith was the stability needed to turn the offense around.
The Broncos have a similar story. In 2010, they were ranked #32 in defense. In 2011, they ranked #20; and in 2012, they ranked #2. They've also had stability offensively with exception to QB (Orton and Tebow), and not real good coaching (McDaniel). D Thomas and Eric Decker were already in Denver when Fox and Manning came; not too mention the offensive line.
All to say, the pieces were there for them to turn it around quickly. These guys inherited teams that were there, but were missing a few good pieces.
This happened in Oakland too. Gruden inherited a team from White that was missing a few good pieces; was able to add those pieces, and look what he did. Did the same thing in Tampa Bay.
The pieces are not there in Oakland for this to turn around quickly. We will have that opportunity this off-season to solidify the offensive line, WRs, RB, and possibly QB; and do some things defensively to get the guy who is going to create pressure.
What happens if you buy a house with a bad foundation? Sure you got the house on the cheap side, but your foundation needs to be rebuilt. McKenzie and Allen inherited a house that had these cheap plastered renovations to make it look expensive; but the foundation and the cheap plaster were crumbling. McKenzie chipped off the cheap plaster, and now has to repair the foundation; which is what I think he has done this season. Now that the foundation is solid, he's gonna make the house nice, not just in looks either, but in quality.
With the way our O-line currently is, and the way our WRs are; do you honestly think that Alex Smith would fair any better than Carson Palmer? I don't. Do you think P Manning would be doing in Oakland what he's doing in Denver? I don't, in fact, I'm willing to say that he wouldn't be in the League if he came to Oakland because he would have ZERO protection and multiple hits.
Another part of this equation, and I truly believe this, is that there is not enough aggressive play calling on the offensive side of the ball. Our defense has become an animal because Tarver and Allen have gotten aggressive. I was starting to wonder about that early in the season, and voiced my concern about it. I don't see the same aggressiveness out of our offense. I think we only have 3 wins because we were not aggressive offensively. In fact, our 3 wins came because our defense was able to shut the other team down, but our offense is pathetic! T Pryor has been the only highlight for our offense.
We are finally where KC was for 2 seasons, a good defense; a pathetic offense. We are where Denver was before Manning came in; a good defense, but a pathetic offense. Offensively we are leaderless, and have been, since Barrett Robbins went AWOL. But there is good news friends; the foundation is being repaired and things are going to swing around.
JUST WIN, DAMN IT!
What did KC give up for Alex Smith? What did Reggie give up for Flynn? NOT COMPARABLE.
Imagine if Reggie traded another 2, 2nd RD picks for Smith? Imagine Smith playing behind this O-line? Imagine Smith playing like shit and what would the crying be about then? How Reggie made a horrible move?
Palmer said he wanted out LATE, they had to move him and bring in someone else because Pryor was still an unknown. Consider that the Offensive side of the ball was lacking IN ALL AREAS. Do you trade to high 2nd RD's for a QB that MIGHT do something? Now you have setup this MAYBE QB to get killed and then you also lost 2, 2nd RD picks...if Reggie gets fired, I hope the criers don't get hired.
You criers, always crying but never with a REAL answer. Until you can come up with a better plan, STFU. When I bitched about the last regime, at least I provided a better plan than what was being used in Alameda. Now, we just have whiners who complain about this and that BUT have no answer what could be done any different. If you can't present a plan that is better...then STFU.
JONES
Excuses, what about FACTS? Does that have anything to do with your 'reasoning'? Once again, Allen was hired late in the Offseason, he was an unknown HC, starting up an Org that was at rock bottom and so he HAD to hire a KNAPP. Something tells me that in an unstable situation like that, a top OC would not sign...DUHHHHH.
And, something that this regime is not given credit for, they knew Knapp wasn't the guy, so they turfed him the day after the season ended. Just as they did with Flynn...But, that doesn't count for anything, instead, these assholes still point to that and say SEE, THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING. Freakin Raider fans...like a bunch of abused redheaded step children running in circles with no idea what is up or down. It's EMBARRASSING....
Get your shit together, look at the facts and stop with the "where are the stars?" bullshit. Reality will tell you, it ain't in the stars, YET....facts will tell you this isn't a short turn around like KC or Denver...but don't let that get in the way of a good WHIIINE.
JONES
Jones you seem to be the only one ignoring the facts. You seem like a shill for Reggie. He makes an awful signing in Flynn and instead of taking him to task for that you give him credit for cutting him. Your logic is flawed. I guess your expectations are low I am glad your happy with the state of the Raiders. Many are not and that does not make them fools. Sorry dude I know you love the team but its really hard to site anything Reggie or Denis have done that makes me go wow these guys are genius. Signing decent journeyman like Roach, Sims or Porter not exactly earth shattering stuff.
When it comes to analyzing the Raiders and Allen I prefer to take the approach Raider Take did, forgot the excuses and look at the facts.
I am not cool with Denis Allen going 1-11 on the road. I am not cool with Reggie signing Briesel, Flynn and drafting Bergstrom and Hayden.
How good would Star and Mike Mitchell look in Silver and Black about now versus Hayden and Ross.
Bottom line I guess if you are in a generous mood you could make an argument that Reggie and Denis are making slow progress but you would have to have a big glass of cool aid to claim they are knocking the cover off the ball.
RT, as always, that was well presented.
Unlike B Bill, I refuse to grade the Raiders this year simply on wins and losses. As you said, the hole was epic, so climbing out of it should be equally severe.
IMO, the first season was an attempt to salvage what was here. Unfortunately, we had nothing of value. I agree Knapp and Flynn were bad mistakes and really no excuse is reasonable, IMO. But we need to move on and find solutions. I still believe McKenzie and Allen are capable, particularly after a fair transformation of a bad defense into a decent one, with limited resources.
I think Jones estimate of $40M dead money is light. I heard closer to $50M will go off the books next year and open the roster up to possibilities that simply didn't exist in Years 1 and 2 of this regime.
IMO, it's worth the wait, as opposed to firing yet another HC after his second season and starting all over, AGAIN!
If that's Raider Time, then, so be it.
I am still looking for progress this year, and it has little or nothing to do with wins and losses. If Pryor can't cut it, let's tryout McGloin. Let's make sure we know exactly what we're shopping for this off-season. The guesswork needs to end!
Once again, Ano/B Bill/OTB whatever....what could have been done that was different? The new regime haven't had the tools except to barely field a team. They haven't had the tools to WOW YOU. You complain, but have no answers....stop whining.
JONES
What has happened to everyone here are we all cool with not winning games. Guys how the hell do you grade coaches and GMs. Is not the motto just win baby. Or should we be using: just try hard and look half decent.
NY you seem to have reversed course in your outlook and criticisms are your expectations that watered down?
If I may I would like to ask you a simple question. If the Raiders go 0-8 on the road this year which would make Denis Allen 1-15 over his two years do you want him back as head coach? A simple Yes or No will suffice as Raider Take says spare us the long diatribe of excuses as Reggie has his own shills to spread his propaganda.
SCAR
If we are talking progress, why are we writing off Hayden already? The NFL is undoubtedly a passing league, so why wouldn't a DB be an investment/choice to make on a team that desperately needed db's at the end of last season? When you talk about Star Lotulelei,does that mean you are unhappy with the Raiders dt's this year? Oh so I guess you are unhappy that the Raiders are actually stopping the run for the 1st time in a decade.
"Signing decent journeyman like Roach, Sims or Porter not exactly earth shattering stuff."
The same way I'm realizing Terrelle may be fools gold is the same way I'm thinking you are a troll. I don't agree with the delivery that Jones uses to convey his comments(he's entitled to it though} but imo, the content of his comments are far more thoughtful, realistic, with a bigger picture than B Bill.
Does Sio Moore not constitute progress? Streater is the 2nd best receiver on this team and he was an undrafted Mckenzie find. While I'm not impressed with Lucas Nix, he was also an undrafted free agent signed by McKenzie. Menelik Watson, already pressed into action as a starting rookie. Does that speak to his talent? or does that speak to the talent level of the roster? Regardless, the same way its too soon to label Hayden, its also too soon to grade Menelik.
Can we please put a proper timeline on the McKenzie era?
The cupboard was BARE when he got here. A choice was made to deal with the Toxic contracts from the past immediately and not kicked down the road. Additionally, those high dollar contracts were for players who obviously weren't earning their paycheck. That was in 2012. There were even more drastic cuts and changes before this season.
Flynn was a backup plan. I'm more inclined to say that Mckenzie failed in keeping Palmer, then he wiffed on Flynn.
No one here is "cool" with the Raiders not winning games, this is an OAKLAND RAIDERS BLOG. Therefore a comparison has to and should be made. Are the Raiders better then they were last year at this point?? Same Record. 39 Less points scored. 64 less points given up. That's the facts. When you look at the intangibles, the rot that inevatably set in as the season rolled on in years past, WILL NOT this year, That's because the coaching staff that some on this blog are bagging on wont allow it. That's because the GM That should have been hired 5 years ago brought in NFL caliber players with high character, and he did it with one hand tied behind his back. Is that enough propaganda for you B Bill?
WE will see who ends up right. I think the Raiders show up in Houston and get a win this Sunday.
The questions that I have rattling around in my brain are ...
If McKenzie can revamp the D by adding 10 of 11 starting defenders on a shoe-string budget, can he do a similar if not better job over-hauling the offensive side of the ball in this next off-season with all the necessary tools?
Is it not fair and reasonable to see what our GM can do in free agency when he actually has the budgetary means to sign talent?
If the Raiders win more than they lose the rest of the year, will Ano turn off the broken record? My guess is NO.
Yeah, losing doesn't matter, just as long as we had fun, right?
When coming to a conclusion to what the Raiders are at this point, you have to look at the "the long diatribe of excuses". When you do, you can come to a logical conclusion...where you fail, Ano, is you refuse to look at the whole picture...you want it NOW, without any thought to why. That is the sign of an unwise person....just sayin.
JONES
Scar...my DELIVERY is caused by years of dealing with CREW members who can never deal in facts....it gets to the point where there is nothing left but to be an asshole to them. They refuse logic, facts, reasoning etc...they must get there dog to tie there shoes.
JONES
their
Jones,
The reality is that when McKenzie no longer has both arms behind his back (which happens in year 3), he will have both arms to take aggressive swings at restoring this proud franchise to greatness.
Make no mistake, I will be watching McKenzie like a starved hawk to see what he does this offseason. There will be ZERO excuses for the upcoming off-season, season.
Reggie's job is to identify talented players who love football who can make a positive impact on making the Raiders a playoff caliber team.
In 2014, anything less than the 1st winning record since 2002 will be deemed a huge disappointment in my eyes.
Jack,
I think they have been using these 2 years as a set up for the 3rd and 4th year. Did anyone expect the Raiders to be big winners this year? From what I recall, they were being laughed at.
They have made the team respectable this year with little or no talent on the Offense...this offseason will be focused more on the Offense, IMO. It won't be a finished product next year, but like you write, it better be a lot better and IMO, it will. Crying about a situation that in reality doesn't have much of a chance...seems kind of girly, to me.
JONES
B Bill - I am under no grand illusion. My position (opinion) has not wavered. I never made a prediction of wins and losses this year, but only expect that progress be made during the course of the season. Meanwhile, I have been critical of some game planning (coaching) but still hold out for better planning and execution as the season progresses.
At your suggestion, many here set a minimum threshold in 2014 for McKenzie, which most say 8-8.
So I guess if 8-8 applies to next year, something less than 8 wins would be acceptable this year... with the caveat that all Raiders fans root to win every game.
NY I agree with you and Calico 8-8 or better is a must for next year. But what about this year as it relates to Denis Allen? My question, if they don't win on the road this year do you want Allen back? What are your thoughts. I say if they don't win more than 5 games this year Allen has to go.
Scar I am pleased with the d-line (though I give credit to the lb for stopping the run) I think they are missing an edge rusher and based on Hayden's performance this year or lack thereof I think a young stud D-lineman like Star would have been better. I agree Sio looks like a very good draft pick, but Streater is not a starting caliber NFL wr I have to disagree with you there.
I am not a troll I love the Raiders going on 37 years now, I just am not enamored with Reggie and Allen like the rest of you seem to be. Sorry if you guys don't like my opinion on that but I refuse to wear rose colored glasses on a team that can not win on the road and has looked horrible the last two weeks. I will say it again wins are the only thing points for and against is fools gold
For what it is worth I am completely down on Allen but Reggie I would give one more year that is unless Gruden wanted to come back and wanted Reggie gone. I really think the Raiders need a veteran coach.
Have a great day everyone
SCAR
B Bill, as it pertains to DA I will say this. DA is a very conservative head coach. I was at the Raiders Vs Panthers game last year sitting in row one on the 25 yard line on the Raiders side. The Raiders had the ball on the panthers 1 or 2 yard line.(they had a short field from a turnover) It was 4th down. With a 4-10 record, an injured qb and nothing to play for other than pride I was SHOCKED that he didn't go for it, and choose to kick a field goal. It seemed almost like his conservatism paralyzed him to the game time situation. That was his rookie season.
This year, I still don't yet see him as a great game time situation head coach. This is DA's weakest point. DA does however have strengths as a head coach. The Raiders have been in most games this season and that not only speaks to the players but the coaching staffs organization and game planning skills. DA is growing up. He is showing improvement, from year to year, and why wouldn't the Raiders want to have a coach in his 3rd year of knowledge and experience of the NFL, to go get wins? With that said, 3 losing years is all he gets in my book. With 7 games left in this, his 2nd season, it's way too soon to start calling for a new head coach. Even If the Raiders are in close games every game, but lose every single one of them the rest of the way out, McKenzie will have to scrutinize his coaching staff to see what if any changes should be made, but I don't think, even in this scenario DA gets axed.
This Sunday is such a winnable game...But now Pryor is hurting,,,Should we expect a win against a bad texans team without Arian Foster, and Case Keenum as starting qb? Can a rookie qb. in the form of McGloin lead this Raiders team to a victory, or at least not give the game away?...
SCAR
Allen has had his ups and downs, that's for sure. But firing him "today" after the adversity he's faced is unreasonable, IMO.
The jury is still out whether that will be a prudent move at the end of the season, but I tend to think keeping Allen for a third year makes sense.
Would I rather have a healthy John Fox, Andy Reid or even Bill Cowhler? Of course! However, some of the Raiders best HCs were first-time HCs in the NFL. Allen is a smart guy and he continues to learn on the job.
Thanks for the feedback Scar and NY. A win this week would really be awesome especially given the Texans d-line going against the Raiders piss poor/banged up O-line.
I will be happy to eat my words and give credit to the coaches if they can come up with a game plan to pull this one out especially if Pryor sits.
Lechler hospitalized with flu...
From PFT
"But what if Lechler can’t play? What will the Texans do, given that he’s the only punter on the roster?"
“Go for it, I guess,” Kubiak said.
Kubiak is a shitty coach, how could he go into the season without a backup plan if his Punter couldn't play? Seeing as those who toasted Allen in his 1st game as a HC for not having a backup long snapper ready....just thought I would bring that up.
JONES
RT, all your points are fair ones. But the problem is what happened in reality.
Yes, the donks got Payton, and the chefs got Smith.
But niether team dug a hole by giving up a kings ransom for Carson Palmer. And then signing Palmer to a huge deal.
Look, Raider time, as you call it, is the same time for every bad team.
What are they all looking for ?
A franchise QB. Because nothing turns a team around faster then finding one.
So whether it's an old vet like Peyton, or a young gun like Luck, it's the elusive elixir that can cure all.
So you can have all the linebackers, corners, and 0-linemen you want.
It's the QB that makes it all go.
Especially in this era of throw, throw, throw.
So when the Raiders find a gifted QB, they will win. Simple as that.
Need a QB that can carry the team when the team can't get it done; think Gannon. That's what I thought Pryor could do, albeit, relying more on his legs than arm.
However, for whatever reason, the Raiders offense has become far to predictable and beatable.
So I hope we see Matt McGloin this weekend. I think it would be good for Pryor's maturation to watch a game from the sideline right now.
and obviously Reggie has not idea how to judge QB talent re Flynn. If Pryor is judged not to be the future then hopefully we get Bridgewater or sign someone like Cutler
Excuse me, but it's not like elite QBs are falling out of the ski, and who's to say either of the above will be successful with the Raiders. If being GM is so easy, why aren't more folks in line for that job?
NY seriously does Reggie do anything wrong in your opinion?
I don't really see the problem with holding Reggie's feet to the fire a bit at this point.
You can bet that Mark Davis is looking at the three wins, the slow trigger on the rebuild, the excellent rookie d-linemen and LB picked after Hayden and Watson, the Matt Flynn debacle (don't kid yourself, that was a full-fledged debacle), the quick jettisoning of fourth round QB Tyler Wilson, the seeming lack of interest in Pryor until there was no choice (dude got hardly any work in last year's lost season)...You don't think Mark Davis is looking at some of this stuff and thinking, okay, let's pick it up, let's start hitting some home runs, that's what you were hired to do...
Now, at the same time, Mark Davis is also being realistic. He knows the cupboard was bare, that home runs are easier said than done, that patience is in order, and that excuses are plenty.
I think that all of these sentiments can coexist simultaneously. They certainly do in my mind, and I would bet you that they are in Mark Davis's mind as well.
Why does all of this have to be a fence, with two opposing sides? I think it's more nuanced than that.
Exactly, RT. I was hard on McKenzie for the Matt Flynn debacle, and I was hard on Allen for his choice to bring Knapp, but I am also viewing the situation globally and suggesting that handing out pink slips right now makes no sense to me.
The biggest relief we should all recognize is the process by which McKenzie and Allen (and the entire coaching staff) were hired. Sure, these guys might ultimately fail but the process will start over again, and we won't be stuck in neutral for another 10 years.
Rookie owner
Rookie GM
Rookie HC
All thrown into the worst possible situation...
Were we really supposed to expect them to make no mistakes?!
Good points Raider Take thanks for making a balanced argument.
I would like to ask you if you think getting rid of Hue was the right move?
Yes he was a prick and loved the spotlight but so are most NFL coaches. However, he made that offense really go two years in a row. I mean my god he made DHB look like a starting WR and DMAC play like the star he was in college. One cannot deny he knew how to coach the Offense and call plays with the best of them.
I think Reggie had the strength of personality to manage him. I often feel that put Hue with this type of defense and the team could have competed for a playoff spot.
Raider Take what are your thoughts on that?
Have a good weekend
Thanks, guys.
Regarding Hue, I wasn't sold in the end. The team folded on him at the end, which wasn't a good sign.
Two years later, he's the running backs coach for the Bengals...That says something as well in a league starved for proven head coaching material.
I don't see Bill Belichik, Andy Reid, John Fox and Mike Tomlin getting cute like Hue did. I think Hue ultimately outsmarted himself. I think there was potential there, but it was squandered. A friendly demotion to OC might have been nice!
On a related note...
Nobody's looking to hire Tom Cable as a head coach, either. Asomugha has flamed out elsewhere. Huff is flailing, DHB is still dropping passes at a ridiculous rate in Indy, Zach Miller is ho-hum in Seattle...The list goes on and on.
I don't really miss anybody, except Lechler. Now that's a true star at his position. We've had very few of those lately.
Thanks Raider Take I hear you about Aso its shocking how fast his career went downhill. Its nice to see Mike Mitchell play well in Carolina he seems to have made a lot of impact plays. I always liked his attitude. I guess with Branch he was seen as redundant at best
Mitchell performed very poorly for the Raiders and didn't deserve a roster.
Branch, Woodson, Ross, U. Young --Mike Mitchell was expendable.
Occasionally a player leaves the Raiders organization and outperforms expectations when given a new lease on their career but clearly it is the rare exception.
Of course Reggie's feet are to the fire...I don't know a job in the NFL that doesn't come with your feet to the fire as part of the job. He has to perform, it's a performance based business.
Mark Davis has to stand behind his guy, until proven otherwise. If he is having the doubts that RT says he is...he may as well fire Reggie today. Can't win when the Owner is doubting his GM day in and day out. Can't do it, won't do it...you need to know what it takes for an Org to win. If Mark is having doubts about his # 1 guy...forget it. If that is true, the whole thing is a mess...I don't think Mark is that dumb though.
For as many moves that Reggie has made since he has become the GM of the Oakland Raiders in a year and a half....calling Flynn a HUGE DEBACLE...give me a break. Some moves don't work out, the regime is quick to identify and correct...
I think some fans don't understand the size of the project that was given to this new regime. After finding out there were little to no assets on the team after the 1st year evaluation...redoing the F.O....using someone else's scouts...totally redoes the Defense, even though that is hardly mentioned. They were hoping for a good running game. The O-line is beaten up and McFaden was another total disappointment. Talent isn't there, a base has been built for the next couple years though and more to come....reasoning, it ain't illegal yet......
JONES
About Hue....Hue did something that pissed Mark Davis off...I think he manipulated Mark into making the BEST TRADE EVER and Mark didn't like the way Hue spoke after the season was done...the way Hue said HE was going to make changes...I don't think that went over well. Making Hue out to be an Offensive genius is a little over the top, IMO.
JONES
At 3-6, Dennis Allen seems pretty laid back in his press conferences. His body language, IMO, suggests he knows he has another year to build his program. There's not the sense of urgency that you would expect from a guy whose job is at stake.
I would guess we'll see a different DA this time next year if our record is the same.
Guys while Reggie has done well retooling the D for the short term (he has yet to acquire any long term pieces for the D except Sio)
He has failed at the two most important tasks a GM is responsible for. Finding a QB and a Coach. This can not be denied. Raider Take is correct Flynn was a debacle both financially and talent wise.
If you Allen supporters want to say it is too early to judge Denis go ahead but no one can honestly say he is doing an awesome job. 1 road win
Allen is doing a good job, IMO...I don't think anyone is saying he is doing an awesome job. Has he done some things wrong, sure, but he is a 1st time HC coming into a situation never before in history.
He fell head into a total lack of commitment from the core players who were used to running the team.
He is growing as a HC and next year he will be ready to be a solid HC.
Reggie is building for tomorrow, if the wins come today, it's a bonus. Impossible to build a winner under the circumstances...just the way it is, get over it and stop whining.
1st year was spent seeing what they had...it wasn't much. This year was about getting players they want and implementing what the team will be about going forward. Crying about not finding a QB...WHERE IS THAT QB? Magical fairy dust again?
In what way was Flynn a DEBACLE? Had to take a chance on someone and Reggie redid his contract just in case it didn't work out so there wouldn't be dead money on the cap next year. But once again, the ignorant can't understand so they mock it and ride it like it's the I GOT YA moment.
Couldn't be further from the TRUTH. A 5th RD pick and some money for a QB, isn't a debacle, it was a swing and a miss that was corrected.
JONES
The Matt Flynn experiment is still a bit of a mystery. Clearly, Flynn's 480 yard 5-TD game (or whatever his stats were) for GB was a mirage. But McKenzie bought into Flynn as if he was a proven vet, then dropped him like a hot potato early in the season... but not before he upped Flynn’s guaranteed money to his full salary. Perhaps somehow that helped the Raiders cap circumstance. I don’t know the inner workings of the deal.
Regardless, this has been McKenzie’s biggest “miss” so far in his young GM career.
He’s far from being ready to join Matt Millen’s GM Hall of Shame.
Not sure who starts at QB this week but I kind of hope it's McGloin. Raiders need a big time QB and they need to see what they have on the roster before they go shopping this offseason.
Ok. I didn't realize, it's official; Pryor is out and MCGloin is starting. Buckle your seat belts!
I don't suppose Mark Davis is too thrilled by the fact that an injury to Terrelle Pryor has resulted in having to start an undrafted rookie at QB after spending $6 million on Flynn and a 4th round pick on Wilson.
This is where we stand at the most important position in the NFL two years into Reggie's regime?
Who's McGloin's backup?
Who do you want at QB, RT? Who is/was there? Instead of asking WHY....come up with a better scenario...what else was there? Stop provoking and answer the question.
Why do you totally ignore the fact that they thought Palmer was going to return as QB?...LATE, Palmer says he wanted out....Now what do they do? Took a flyer on Flynn, didn't work out, moved on. Maybe you guys should try that too...move on, it's tired and so lame.
Like I wrote, how many moves has Reggie had to make since he was hired a year and a half ago? And Flynn is what you hang your hat on? RIDICULOUS. If Mark Davis is doing what you are doing, RT...the team is SCREWED. 4th and 5th picks aren't that big of deal, RT, they are hit and miss.
How many NFL teams have a super duper backup? Now you are going to cry about how bad the backup is to the backup? Wow, is this the kiddie hour?
JONES
A better scenario...
Don't wait for Palmer to dictate the future. Cut bait and make a decision to move on from Palmer before the end of last season. Move on, don't hang on.
Then play Pryor more at the end of that lost season to get a better gauge of what he's capable of...Then, if you still feel like you need a high-priced free agent to start ahead of Pryor, go after a guy like Alex Smith instead of Matt Flynn. Smith was a guy who'd actually come into his own as an NFL starter.
Maybe Smith becomes the rock-solid starter he's become in KC. If not, Pryor wins the job outright, and Smith is the backup instead of being already waived like Flynn.
Well, in Palmer, there was a 1st RD pick and a 2nd RD pick invested in him...Palmer was the MVP of the team that year, he was the best asset they had. So in 20/20 hindsight, which you are using, RT....and who was there to replace Palmer?
Smith, again, we have gone over these points and just like other crew members, you refuse to even acknowledge the points already made in that discussion....who is running this site? Is it all just a mirage?
2 2nd RD picks for Smith, Imagine Smith behind this O-line and little in WR or RB help....you would be crying about what a bad move it was, blah blah blah and you know it. Also, Reggie would have had to commit long term to Smith, where as Flynn, NOT.
Imagine paying that price if Pryor had beaten out Smith for the job...oh the crying, hey RT?
That isn't a better scenario, RT, if it didn't work out, you just dug a huge hole...Flynn = not at all. Anything else?
JONES
From what I've read and heard about McCloin, I think he's going to surprise many Raider fans -- in a good way.
One option: the Raiders could have kept Palmer, who was under contract and coming off a career year (not my first choice but an option nonetheless).
Did the Raiders actually save money by trading Palmer? Between the +/-$6M we guaranteed Flynn and any dead money created by Palmer leaving, how much did we really save? Or did we?
The main reason Palmer wanted to leave is because the Raiders wanted (demanded) to cut his pay.
Regardless, there were stop-gap QB options in free agency who had far more experience than Flynn. I posted this list here before.
Because the Raiders didn't have a QB-of-the-future at their disposal doesn't mean they didn't have options. it's moot because any QB would have been killed behind the Raiders O-line.
Jones the point Raider Take is making is obvious. Reggie has totally whiffed on the QB position ad that is his most important task. Flynn plays one game and is gone, Wilson completely waste of a draft pick. Those are the qbs Reggie acquired====WHIFF.
BTW the list of Reggie whiffs is long you guys just don't want to recognize it. In case you are forgetting he extended Seymour at ridiculous money last year.
His most glaring failure though is his drafting something that you can not use the previous regime's mistakes or salary cap to blame.
I know many will say you can not judge the draft this soon while hey I look at other team's last two drafts and they are better so guess what I am judging.
Reggie has drafted 6 guys in rounds 1-4 in his two drafts. Only one you can say has what looks like a secure future in the NFL that is Sio Moore. The rest lets review Burris is out, Wilson cut and then the practice squad, Bergstrom out and could not get on the field last year, Watson a project for now and Hayden looks like burnt toast.
For a team that is desperately in need of starters going 1/6 is friggin piss poor. In fact if you look at the entire 2013 draft it seems like a lot of crap.
The Raiders are very far from having a real NFL roster and it wont be built by the time 2014 season starts. Where is the young talent signed for the long haul? Guess what with the exception of Sio Moore and a handful of Al's picks there is none. So there you have it Reggie has acquired one above average young player who is signed up for the long haul.
Spin that however you want but its true
McKenzie is far from alone in the QB whiff dept.
Jason Campbell turns out to be the cream of the crop here.
Kerry Collins 7-21 .250
Marques Tuiasosopo 0-2 .000
Aaron Brooks 0-8 .000
Andrew Walter 2-7 .222
Josh McCown 2-7 .222
Daunte Culpepper 2-4 .333
JaMarcus Russell 7-18 .280
Bruce Gradkowski 3-5 .375
Charlie Frye 1-2 .333
Jason Campbell 11-7 .611
Kyle Boller 0-1 .000
Carson Palmer 8-16 .333
Terrelle Pryor 3-6 .333
Matt Flynn 0-1 .000
Campbell had a few solid games for the Raiders, and he's played well since. Go figure!
Gameday thread is up.
The point about getting a franchise QB...magical fairy dust.
There wasn't one, like I pointed out, imagine any QB behind this O-line. Pryor can run out of trouble, already had a concussion and a knee injury...imagine a QB that can't move = Flynn or anyone else.
When you have no assets to trade for a franchise QB, you have to draft one...there were mediocre QB's in the draft = wasn't the year to draft, Wilson was for depth. Once again, you cry for this and that but refuse to understand the circumstances. You can keep beating your magical fairy dust drum, I won't be listening.
JONES
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