Five Postgame Takes
1. Man, that was an ugly-looking football game.
2. Last year, at quarterback, we started our third-stringer and a guy who's no longer playing in the NFL; this year, we are starting our presumed quarterback of the future; last year, we had no money to spend; this year, we had $60 million; last year, we were coming off of a draft with #1 and #2 picks who barely contributed; this year, our first two picks are two of our strongest players; last year, we picked up Charles Woodson as a defensive leader; this year, we added Woodley and Tuck, two other guys with Super Bowl rings, to further set a leadership tone; and yet...we're demonstrably worse on the field?
3. Sometimes, it just seems like the Raiders are cursed. That fumble from McFadden just had to fly right into the defender's arms, just like the Denarius Moore bounce at the end of the game in New England.
4. I like the fact that Sparano demonstrates some emotion, it's a nice break from the deadpan Dennis Allen. I don't think we'll go 0-16, but...
5. If we find ourselves at 0-10 or something like that, I wouldn't be surprised to see some in-season changes at the executive level. I have no sources, I have no insider info, just a gut feeling.
Update: I forgot to add a haiku, back by popular demand:
It's a kick, no it's
a pick; at least we still have
a chance to win...whoops!
2. Last year, at quarterback, we started our third-stringer and a guy who's no longer playing in the NFL; this year, we are starting our presumed quarterback of the future; last year, we had no money to spend; this year, we had $60 million; last year, we were coming off of a draft with #1 and #2 picks who barely contributed; this year, our first two picks are two of our strongest players; last year, we picked up Charles Woodson as a defensive leader; this year, we added Woodley and Tuck, two other guys with Super Bowl rings, to further set a leadership tone; and yet...we're demonstrably worse on the field?
3. Sometimes, it just seems like the Raiders are cursed. That fumble from McFadden just had to fly right into the defender's arms, just like the Denarius Moore bounce at the end of the game in New England.
4. I like the fact that Sparano demonstrates some emotion, it's a nice break from the deadpan Dennis Allen. I don't think we'll go 0-16, but...
5. If we find ourselves at 0-10 or something like that, I wouldn't be surprised to see some in-season changes at the executive level. I have no sources, I have no insider info, just a gut feeling.
Update: I forgot to add a haiku, back by popular demand:
It's a kick, no it's
a pick; at least we still have
a chance to win...whoops!
posted by Raider Take at 6:59 AM
15 Comments:
The 2014 Raiders is a clown car stuck on the rails of an incoming train. That was a really hard game to watch. My wife is a Browns fan but even she was sighing on my behalf.
Is it talent? Coaching? Simply because we have no capable WRs or RBs? I'm almost at the point where I don't care.
LGR
...how bout that Carson Palmer! Dang. Like I've said, optimistically realistically for 2 years now, 2016. Be patient.
Yesterday was a little bit of both. You cannot coach players to make catches consistently, or not fumble the ball. Those are mental errors by the players.
The coaching errors were the play calls offensively. Again, how do our running backs not have 25+ carries against the worst rush defense in the league? Even McFadden had 12 carries for 59 yards, which is a 4.91 yards/per carry. With the game as close as it was at the beginning of the 3rd Quarter, we didn't stick to the running game. McFadden's fumble was an cutback to the outside run, and that was the first outside run of the drive. The Raiders have success running to the outside, but it is not utilized often.
The opening drive, we should have put 3 points on the board, I will never understand the fake FG attempt, especially with Wiz doing the snapping instead of Condo (the dead giveaway that it was a fake for the Browns).
The McFadden fumble sealed the games against us. We needed to score to fully gain the momentum shift. Inexcusable.
On a side note, the Seahags are looking to rid of Lynch. I wanted him the year he went to Seattle.
Part of it is the o-line not blocking, and not picking up assignments on protection. I believe Sparano replaced Watson after he failed to make key blocks and Barnes came in and whiffed just as bad, double teaming on the inside and letting a rusher by on the outside (his guy!).
Perhaps Carr called that protection and it wasn't Barnes fault but it was horrible and cost us.
This team is bad beyond repair for 2014.
Don't discount the possibility of going 0-16. At this point, it's very likely.
Even the B&B team had its moments.
SCAR
The Browns are soooo bad. There was only 1 problem. The Raiders are that much worse. The Browns were literally trying to give the Raiders this game, and The Raiders said, "nope we don't want to win, we are losers."
2 pick sixes by the Raiders defense,,,,dropped.
The Browns matched us with boneheaded penalties,(NFL officials you STILL suck) couldn't really generate any offense and were vulnerable on defense. All the recipes for a loss...Right? Uh, no, The Raiders lost again.
Ok, admission here. With approx. 7 minutes to go in the 4th quarter and the Raiders down 16-6, I stopped watching. Yup. First, I don't feel like watching a football game should give me an ulcer, and secondly, I just KNEW that there was more chances of pigs flying then the Raiders being able to come back, much less score meaningfull points.
The Play calling on offense was SOOOOOO predictable with the running plays. I can recall one fake handoff reverse(that got 8 yards)The rest of your runs were road grade runs, no creativity at all.
Remarkably, this Offensive line has given Carr good protection on passing plays, and correct me if I'm wrong, the only untouched rush to the qb was when Khaleef Barnes replaced an injured Melanik Watson for a series. pass protection also broke down when McFadden was unable to pick up a blitz, so if this offensive line could muscle up on the run plays, or maybe more creativity from the play calling on runs? I have to honestly grade out the OLine as at least an average possibly above average unit.
Is Carr the ultimate answer?? Time will tell, but the Raiders believe and have tagged him as the franchise. The QB ship has sailed, So a number 1 WR is a must either in the draft or by overpaying in the free agent market. Or maybe Gurley from Georgia as a running back could and would give the Raiders an added dimension. And yes, at this point, I could see Gurley going number 1. He is that good. Maybe a TE that can catch a football even with defenders drapped on him? At least one of these and really 2 of these must be addressed in the offseason.
So finally back to Reggie,,Those Draft picks are really starting to pan out, but his free agent moves, and trades are really what is sinking/has sunk his ship.
0-7. No way around it, the Raiders are the NFL's Bitch.
SCAR
How can an offense attempt 54 passes. Complete 34 of them.
And manage only 2 FG's, and a garbage time TD ?
A curse RT ? No, not a curse.
Where once upon a time, the Raiders exuded winning.
The Raiders now exude losing. It's as simple as that. And the beat,(beatings), goes on.
In addition to losing to the team that lost to the 0-6 Jaguars last week, we also have the dubious distinction of providing the Jets with their only win of the season to date. Yeah, it's pretty bad.
I don't think we need to draft a WR in the first round, because there are not a lot of standout WRs in this class. We need to spend $$ in Free Agency for a proven #1. Go after Jeremy Maclin, Torrey Smith, Mario Manningham, Demaryius Thomas, Reggie Wayne, Dez Bryant, Jermaine Gresham (I know, he's a TE, but still better than any WR we've got). The point is, we have a lot of young WRs, but not a veteran #1 to help them become better. We can grab Josh Harper in later rounds, he is familiar with Carr. :)
One could argue drafting Gurley, I wouldn't mind. The guy has some serious personal issues he needs to take care of though. I think we have to look at Free Agency for RB at Kendall Hunter, I also heard Seattle is looking to rid of Marshawn Lynch.
I think the Raiders should trade out of the #1 spot, pick up some more picks, and with our first selection grab Malcolm Brown (DT, Texas), or Benardrick McKinney (ILB, Miss State). These guys may not get a lot of press coverage, but they are both solid players. I think we can get solid D-Line and DB guys in free agency, but not a ILB. So the real question for the draft is, who do we want? Gurley or McKinney? I like both.
In other news, Roger Saffold injured his shoulder that the Raiders questioned. I thought it was a good move when it happened, and am more convinced now.
Who was the last vet RB signed by the Raiders that played at a high level? IMO, RB is one position where it makes sense to draft.
Isn't Reggie Wayne near retirement after like 20 years in the league.
J-Mac "Six times Cleveland runners were dropped for losses, twice each by Khalil Mack and Sio Moore. Grade: A-minus."
These two guys are among very few keeprs on D. Carrie and probably Justin Ellis are couple more. Beyond that, eh!
I watched the last 5 minutes of the Cardinal game rather than the putrid crap the Raiders put on the field.
Watson is almost as big a bust as Hayden
Sandy
NY
"Who was the last vet RB signed by the Raiders that played at a high level?" Charlie Garner and Tyrone Wheatly
Nate, those guys are ancient history. Actually, it was Jennings but he couldn't get out of town fast enough.
Why would Lynch leave a SB contending team to joing the Raiders? Money! Don't expect a SB contending effort.
Nate 75
RB is one of the lower priorities on the Raiders. Not to mention they are not going to spend big bucks for a 30 yr old rb. McFadden has not been terrible especially at his low salary. I would rank in order of priority, DL, CB/DB, WR, TE.
As far as attracting decent FA until they bring a real coach and real leadership and ax Reggie you can forget about it.
Sandy
New take is up, and it's a book review!
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