Draft Night Thread
Well, the bad news is that we don't have a first round pick. The good news is that we won't blow a first round pick on an obvious overreach.
There's some buzz lacking from this year's draft, but it'll still be entertaining. Keep an eye on our AFC West foes, as the Chargers are right in the middle, and the Chiefs have two late first rounders.
Bang it here for your draft night takes.
posted by Raider Take at 5:09 PM
159 Comments:
My mock draft:
1. NY Jets from Jaguars- Adian Hutchinson, de, Michigan U.
2. Detroit- Kayvon Thibodeaux ,de, Oregon U.
3. Houston- Ikem Ekwonu, ot, N.C. State
4. Jacksonville from NYJ- Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
5. NYG- Charles Cross, ot, Miss. State
6. Baltimore from Panthers- Jermaine Johnson, de, FSU
7. Saints from NYG- Garrett Wilson, wr, OSU
8. Atlanta- Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington U.
9. Seattle- Devonte Wyatt, dl, Georgia
10. NYJ- Jameson Williams, wr, Alabama
11. Washington- Drake London, wr, USC
12. Minnesota- Travon Walker, de, Georgia
13. Houston- Derek Stingley Jr., cb, LSU
14. Carolina from Ravens- Kenyon Green, G, Texas A&M
15. Tampa Bay from Eagles- Kyle Hamilton, s, Notre Dame
16. NYG from Saints- Devin Lloyd, LB,Utah
17. LAC- Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa
18. Tennesse from Eagles- Jordan Davis, dt, Georgia
19. New Orleans- Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa
20. Pittsburgh- Malik Willis, qb, Liberty
21. New England- David Ojobe, de-olb, Michigan
22. Green Bay from Raiders- Tyler Smith, ot, Tulsa - Daxton Hill,s, Georgia or Arnold Ebiketie,de, Penn State or Fla cb Kaiir Elam, cb, Florida
23. Arizona- Zion Johnson, ol, Boston College
24. Dallas- George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue
25. Buffalo- Chris Olive , wr, OSU
26. Philly from Titans- Jahan Dotson, wr, Penn St.
27. Philly from Bucs- Logan Hall, Dl, Houston U.
28. Green Bay- Traylon Burks, wr, Arkansas
29. Kansas City from 49ers- Boye Mafe, de, Penn State
30. Kansas City- Christian Watson, wr, N. Dakota State
31. Cincinnati- Andrew Booth, cb, Clemson
32. Detroit from Rams- Daxton Hill, s, Michigan U., or Trey McBride, te, Colorado State
Indeed, trading for Adams definitely trumps missing on overreach first and second round picks which had become MO for past Raiders' regimes. Adams is arguably the best player available in 2022 and gives the Raiders immediate legitimacy at the WR position. They could still use another starting WR but having Adams, Waller and Renfrow is as good as it gets, IMO.
Hopefully, the Zeigler/McDaniels team has the chops to find impact players in middle to late rounds. The concept of "best available player" gets more and more cloudy as the draft progresses but, again, hopefully, that's still the plan.
No option on 3, 1st round picks. Throw in the Ruggs situation.That really stings. If Gruden/Mayock would have hit on those picks, this team would be in contention for a Super Bowl this year. Leatherwood still has a chance to do something, he seems to look to be in better shape and will be better prepared mentally for what he needs to do this year.
My thoughts on the draft so far. I thought the first round was pretty lackluster. Heavy focus on O and D Line, which isn't bad, but overall, the talent seemed to lack the pop that was seen in other drafts. Some of the big names, however, Sauce Gardner, Chris Olave and the story of the first round was seeing a slide down the draft for the Steelers to get their QB in Pickett. Easily could have gone to the Saints, twice, and Dennis Allen continues to show why he is not a HC. Same with the Texans, Falcons, Bears, Lions, and Seahawks. Let's not get started on Malik Willis dropping to the third round to the Titans, a team that didn't really need a QB, unless they are not happy with Tannebaum.
Dylan Parham was a great selection for the Raiders, especially trading down. With the way teams went after the O-Line, there was no choice but to grab him here. I had him in the 5th (easily could have gone in the 4th too), but O-Line and D-line were the apparent focus, so they got the steal of the draft in that position.
There are a lot of great picks still on the board too. A lot of focus now shifting to DB. We have 3 picks in the 5th (with trade from Tennessee), so here are my thoughts on who to watch for the Raiders:
4th Rnd:
Damone Clark (LB, LSU)
5th Rnd (3 picks):
Coby Bryant (CB, Cincy)
Tycen Anderson (S, Toledo)
Spencer Buford (G, UTSA)
7th Rnd:
Otito Ogbonnia (DT, UCLA)
No swings for home runs, steady wins the race. Looks like a decent haul of UDFA's. Still need a solid RT and another DB. Will be interesting to see how the rest of the cap space plays out.
There looks to be a different way in how this draft was conducted compared to Gruden's.
Going to be a heck of a season.
Absolutely loaded in the UDFA's, still a load of talent to be had that was not drafted. This draft was heavily focused on the O-lines and D-lines. Offensively, here are some names to watch in UDFA regardless of where they sign:
QB - Carson Strong, Dustin Crum, and Jack Coan
RB - Abram Smith (Baylor), CJ Verdell (Oregon), Jerrion Ealy (Miss), TJ Pledger (Utah)
OG - Josh Sills (OK St), William Dunkle (San Diego St), Josh Rivas (Kansas)
OT - Bamidele Olaseni (Utah), Dare Rosenthal (Kentucky), Kellen Diesch (AZ St)
WR - Makai Polk (Miss St), Kevin Austin Jr (Notre Dame), Josh Johnson (Tulsa), Reggie Roberson Jr (SMU)
TE - Chase Allen (Iowa St), Jalen Wydermyer (TX A&M), Austin Allen (Nebraska)
Defensively:
DT/NT - Jayden Peevy (TX A&M), Haskel Garrett (Ohio St), Marquan McCall (Kentucky), Dennis Johnson (Grand Valley)
DE/EDGE - Christopher Allen (Bama), Tyree Johnson (TX A&M), Inoke Moala (Indiana St), Ryder Anderson (Indiana)
CB - Joshua Jobe (Bama), Dallis Flowers (Pittsburgh St, Kansas), Sam Webb (Missouri Western), Leonard Johnson (Duke), Shaun Jolly (Appalachian St)
Safety - Nolan Turner (Clemson), Verone McKinley (Oregon), Juanyeh Thomas (GT), Yusut Corker (Kentucky), Tristan McCollum (Sam Houston St), Qwynterrio Cole (Louisville), Smoke Monday (Auburn), D'Anthony Bell (West FL)
LB - JoJo Doman (Nebraska), Zakoby McClain (Auburn), Jake Hansen (Illinois), Jake Hummel (Iowa St), Nephi Sewell (Utah), Ellis Brooks (Penn St), Mike Brown (Miami OH)
UDFA signings:
Bamidele Olaseni (OT, Utah), Zach VanValkenburg (EDGE, Iowa), Sam Webb (MO Western), are signing with the Raiders according to Tom Pelissero. Darien Butler (LB, AZ St) is with the Raiders according to Mike Garafolo.
13 UDFA players signed by the Raiders:
Tre Turner (WR, Virginia Tech)
Sam Webb (CB, MO Western)
Chase Garbers (QB, Cal)
Isaiah Pola-Mao (S, USC)
Bamidele Olaseni (OT, Utah)
Zach VanValkenburg (EDGE/LB, Iowa)
Darien Butler (LB, AZ St)
Justin Hall (WR, Ball St)
Cole Fotheringham (TE, Utah)
Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa (DE, Notre Dame)
Qwynnterrio Cole (DB, Louisville)
Bryce Cosby (S, Ball St)
Lukas Masterson (LB, Wake Forest)
Glad Raiders stayed at no. 3 with the money they're spending on players(Adams) they could use lower salary spending on vets so not spending on higher draft picks this year may not be a bad idea but I did support Al's system to spend on draft picks/ star vets.
They can score but can they play defense?
It looked like a sure playoff move to make these trades and FA signings until KC did their usual Al-like moves and reloaded- They look awesome!
The Raiders once again are as dull and boring in UDFA. They refuse to look at exciting players. The Pats' guys did good but there are fast wrs' and cbs' from college they could be signing.
I see media once again is supporting Raiders' draft picks. Adams' trade helps but media always supports them unless they are just making terrible decisions.
with Morreau, Waller, Renfroe and Adams the offense will look great but if they are copying the Pats' D they are depending on DT/ NGs' to control offenses too much. They refuse to bring speed to the D not too much but some more would help- they didn't do much for the LBs'.
Raidernation will support these guys again just like Gruden/ mayock and Reggie.
My favorite QB's in the draft were Carson Strong (Nevada) and Dustin Crum (Kent St). Both have signed with teams as UDFA's. Strong signed with Philly, and Crum with Kansas City. I hate that Crum signed with KC, but I am going to watch both, and see how they develop, and if they end up starting somewhere. I seriously though Malik Willis or Kenny Pickett would end up in Houston, I could have also seen them signing Crum or Strong. The fact they passed up a QB is curious, it is almost as if the owner does not want the team to succeed. Crazy.
Definitely unspectacular draft, but potentially effective.
Pundits suggested the Raiders kept to their promise to draft best available players. That meant taking two DTs in a row, although, each DT specializes in different ways.
My thought on taking these guys is that it follows a pattern of the Patriots' placing great emphasis on the DT position. Patriots have had some great DTs, currently, Francis, but recently anchored by Vince Wilfork. Again, I believe this is a position of great emphasis for the Patriots, and now for the Raiders, who drafted two and signed 2-3 during free agency.
RB was not a position I expected them to emphasize, let alone draft two. The second pick was an absolute waste, IMO, and certainly didn't meet the threshold of BAP. Raiders did better with UDFAs.
All in all, it looked like a decent and measured draft for the Raiders, which got value from the middle back, then were very aggressive signing UDFAs.
Whoa! Wait a minute! Raider Nate,
I thought the Pats boys couldn't do no wrong? and I thought the OWNER was a genius?
If THEY decided Carr was their QB of the future why are you saying the OWNER seems like he wants the team to lose?
I thought Carr was a good pick he loves the Raiders and Raidernation loves him. But the Raiders had a QB they could've made the starter OR, signed for a playoff run as part time starter. I think Carr is a good QB but Mariota would've given teams big problems.
But you went with the NFL's idea of a QB. The Pats boys want their guy in the future and went with the name guy(Carr) and the franchise QB system instead of take or use the bust top draft pick that started to look good and electrifying.
They have a chance to show us the Pat way of high character over athletics, size and speed because the Raiders lack speed can they win without it?
Remember how the media claimed Al's love for speed helped ruin team? You supported that but funny thing is Andy Reid seems fine with looking for speed and he beats the Raiders with it.
The Pats' way proved you don't need it but Al proved it helps and K.C. proved it too. I like Carr but if Mariota was QB I feel this team would be exciting. Raidernation supports NFL ideas but sometimes a bust can learn to follow a system from staff or maybe or maybe just be a little better or do some things better in camp to help team win.
Anon said, "Whoa! Wait a minute! Raider Nate,
I thought the Pats boys couldn't do no wrong? and I thought the OWNER was a genius?"
Why are you calling me out? I didn't say anything about the Pats, or that Zeigler or McDaniels could do no wrong. You are targeting the wrong guy.
The last time I posted, the Raiders have signed another UDFA, Sincere McCormick (RB, UTSA). Only 3 of these 14 players have received guaranteed monies:
Trea Turner (WR, Virginia)
Darien Butler (LB, AZ St)
Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa (DT/DE, Notre Dame)
Also, UDFA Isaiah Pola-Mao (S, USC) is Troy Polamoau's nephew, didn't know that until recently.
Drafting the RB's they have done, and the RB's they have brought in through FA; one must remember that they did not pick up Josh Jacob's 5th year option. He is a free agent after this season. He has also battled injury every season he has been here. But listening to Clay Baker and Hondo Carpenter on Raider Nation Radio yesterday, they were talking about how Jon Gruden's plays the last 2 years have been extremely predictable, especially running the ball. Hondo said the opposing teams were consistently calling the plays at the line. Gruden was way over his head, and everyone knew it. Part of Josh's injuries could be do this fact. Gruden did more to sabotage the Raiders than help, at every level. The more and more that comes out about him, the more I believe it was Mark Davis who leaked the emails. Mark, as we have seen, is very clever and systematic; more so than what he has let on these last few years.
I am excited for the season, I truly feel the Raiders have a legitimate chance of winning this year. Hired great coaches/front office, hired great players (C. Jones, D. Adams, DC, D Waller, H Renfro, M Crosby, D Perryman), there is only one thing left; JUST WIN, BABY!
Another attack at the Raiders, who is behind it?
A spurned employee lashing out? Another attempt by the league to show the Raiders are not competent? The employee has been with the Raiders for 18 years, he says he filed many complaints with Mark and nothing was done about it. He says he then filed with the league and was promptly fired. No other allegations from any other sources on the matter.
Is this an attempt to oust Mark as owner? It worked with Gruden, they used emails that no one has ever seen, to expel Gruden from ever coaching in the NFL again. No trial, no ability for recourse. All it takes, with Raiders, is a bad press release and it's done. All the karens will be jumping up and down wanting Mark gone because someone said he did something. This is where the world has gone and IMO, this is another attempt by the NFL to oust Mark.
This is also another attempt at ruining the teams chances before the season even starts. Antonio Brown incident ruined that year, Gruden being banished, they still made the playoffs. Now, they are going after Mark.
Thankfully, Mariota is gone. You can follow him with the Falcons and see he does, which I'd guess will be no better than he has historically. The one game he played for the Raiders he threw a critical INT when the Raiders needed a score. It cost them the game.
Not sure how else to say it, but you better get used to hearing a little praise going the Patriot way with Zeigler and McDaniels now with the Raiders. They were instrumental with the Pats. What, the Pats don't deserve it after like eight Super Bowls?
This latest Raiders' scandal has a whiff of me-too, but it's hard to believe Davis was involved. If it's merely a "tough work environment", quit! Or speak directly to Davis about it. This seems fishy.
Arapahoe Sheriff announced that Broncos’ WR Jerry Jeudy is “being held at the Arapahoe Co jail on charges of 2nd degree criminal tampering w/a domestic violence enhancer,
Byran Edwards being traded to Falcons.
I have to wonder if the level of turnover in the Raiders roster is what Mark Davis meant when he said this is not going to be a rebuild.
I get that new GM and coaches want who they want, but the Raiders have almost experienced a Gruden-esk Year 1 level of turnover.
Edwards has shown flashes and is clearly still on the upside of his career (only going to get better). Not sure the issues he's had are entirely his fault.
Not a huge deal. More of an observation.
Carr has Adams, Renfrow and Waller, plus Jacobs and Drake and still ample depth at WR and RB. That's more than most QBs have.
Edwards was not running proper routes, Carr was disappointed more than a few times when he would check on Edwards and he wouldn't be where is was supposed to be. Then, he would come back to the huddle and you could see Carr telling him what he did wrong. It's why Carr wouldn't throw it to him very often. Carr couldn't trust him and I am sure it's a reason why he was traded. Not a big loss and have signed as good or better to take his spot. 2020 draft was a complete crap show. Gruden did some good things, but he also pooped the bed a few times too.
The NY Times is taking another run at the Raiders. The Times are obviously linked to Goodell and he is using them to destroy the Raider legacy.
1st, the Times made a run at Gruden and he was forced to quit. Now, they are taking a run at Mark and they will use the same tactics to oust Mark. The discredit routine is in full swing and it's probably has something to do with Gruden's lawsuit as well.
NFL is bullying the Raiders and probably won't stop until they get what they want. If it happens, there will be a lot of Raider fans who turn their back on the league and will not support it anymore. I'm sure fans from other teams will have to really think if they want to support a league that is so top heavy and controlling all aspects.
The NFL is a joke, their refs are criminal, the CEO is rogue and it is a big corporation that has no soul. Pro sports is nothing more than pro wrestling.
Been reading more about this kid Thayer Munford. If he can advance his progression from college into the pros, he will quickly replace Parker as swing tackle, and maybe even eventually find a home at RT.
Of course, it's early and that's wishful thinking. The sad truth is, Parker has been a huge disappointment. The dude has size and athleticism, but he can't match up against NFL edge players... which is a huge liability in the AFC West. Think for a second, Bosa and Mack on the same team. That's scary.
Even after free agency and the draft, I assume that only Kolton Miller is secure. All four other spots on the line are subject to competition and it's anybody's guess. Easy to assume new management and coaching are not going to play favorites. This will be an open competition.
Let the best players step up.
Senseless violence about an hour away from me yesterday in Uvalde. My heart is broken for that community. Not sure that more laws are going to prevent criminals from committing crimes; but we need to do something different concerning fire arms and school safety.
Growing up in Los Angeles in the 80's and 90's, I saw my fair share of gun and knife violence at school with gangs. This kind of tragedy should not be what our children have to fear, and yet here we are. Deeply disturbed this morning.
Kaepernick working out for Raiders. Is that Mark Davis pushing his earlier stated commitment to offer Kaepernick access to the Raiders, or is this legit Zeigler/McDaniels backup QB search? Much can be said about Kaepernick and how he arguably sabotaged his chances to return to the NFL, but if he can help the Raiders and be a team player, that's all that matters. Alternately, if his agenda is to get back into the spotlight, the Raiders should tell him to pound salt. Being noble, or even philanthropic does not go hand-in-hand with being disruptive. That's the last thing the Raiders need in this inaugural season for new mgt and coaching.
Heartbreaking news in TX. Signs were there. Gunman obviously needed mental health treatment, and he should've never had access to a gun. Both these things are true.
Gruden wins in court, his case is going forward. NFL was really pressuring Mark to fire Gruden. Threats and blackmail, the NFL is thinks they are above the law.
If they sign Kapernick, he can take the knee at the end of the game in victory formation, other than that, I really hope they do not sign him. Could divide the locker room. Is he worth that? Not in my book.
With Kaepernick workout yesterday, 4 teams have contacted the Raiders about his workout. I am glad Gruden is getting a chance to move forward with his case, not because I think he is innocent and didn't deserved to be fired, but because of the process of discovery. How the emails were leaked, where they came from, and how Dan Snyder was involved. I think this may be the end of the Dan Snyder ownership of the Washington Commanders, and rightfully so.
It still boggles my mind how they forced the Raiders to fire Gruden, but didn't do the same to the Jaguars and Urban Meyer after his bizaare and insane behavior as coach on and off the field. Dude needs more help than Gruden.
At OTA's today, the offense were running goal-line drills and lined up in the wrong formation. McDaniels made the entire offense run laps. Seriously, when was the last time that ever happened on the Raiders? WOW!
My final thoughts on Uvalde. I think the most troubling fact of all of this is that the police knew the warning signs and either:
1) Ignored them
2) Laws prevent them from profiling and stopping trouble before it happens.
Neither are a good look. Reports are that after the gunman barricaded himself in the class, the police did nothing for 40 minutes until the Border Patrol arrived. Parents were about to take action into their own hands when Border Patrol arrived.
The gunman bought 2 AK-47's online with ammo, and posted in several social media sites that he was going to shoot up an elementary school. How is this not red-flagged? Officials gathered parents into one location, and started reading off the names of the kids who died; and this is how the parent's found out their child was forever taken from them. This was a systematic failure to act. I'm grief-stricken over this. Tell your family you love them. Start being the change we want to see in society. Time to rise and hold politicians accountable for their inaction to protect their own. Just Win, BABY!
So, the cops stand by and let it happen, what does that tell you? Agendas rule the world.
They comin for our guns and look at what is happening in Australia because they have no way to defend themselves.
Question is, who is going to get their monkey jab? Fool me once, ah, shame on you, ah, fool me twice, ah, we won't be fooled again. GWB.
The Raiders look like a team on its' way
the funny thing is why do so many haters and fans talk about Al's era so much? They think the NFL or Pats' way is the best.
Al's teams were criticized for too many athletes and speed but he had blue collar guys too- you wouldn't know that by media's stories. His size/ speed system was successful but after a slump fans felt it was an old worn out game plan. Yet other teams use it.
Speed/ Raidernation talked about how much better the team would be with the more successful Pats, Steelers' systems of getting good players forget the speed.
And its' true- some teams(49ers, Pats, Mannings' Colts) won without it but wow can it help!!! Reggie got rid of the faster guys and fans/ media supported him.
The Raiders have been run over by average(speed) teams and run past by teams with track star guys. So, they sometimes beat faster teams but mostly got 'run past' by them and have lost to both- so if they were able to use average(speed) system to beat both sometimes, maybe they are getting better but its' hard to tell.
* Why are Raiders signing Colin Kapearnick? Why is it that its' now o.k. to do the most questionable things when Raidernation couldn't stand the thought of DMAC or TP2 being re-signed?
The Pats' guys are nothing like Al was this move doesn't make any sense. We had a running QB(Mariota) who you didn't want and could've signed another(TP2) who you'd NEVER want so why get a guy with a ton of baggage and political views that will make the team look really silly?
If you think this is an Al-like move you ain't looking at the Raiders' situation.
You got your starter and traded for a backup, you got rid of you electrifying player now you go and get a guy with a ton of political issues knowing it could affect the team.
You know the problems between NFL and Raiders yet you think this is some smart move by the Pats guys. This is just giving the NFL/ sports media more reasons to go after team.
The Patriots don't do controversies or rebel much against the NFL. They used to get problem-controversy guys from Raiders(Moss, T. Kelly) but they mostly tried to be good citizens.
Oh stephen, you are the one who keeps bringing up Al.
"At OTA's today, the offense were running goal-line drills and lined up in the wrong formation. McDaniels made the entire offense run laps."
If the entire offense lined up wrong, maybe McDaniels and his coaches should take a lap!
That has me concerned. This isn't high school. These are grown men, and professionals working at their job. You need to treat them with respect. Is that how they do it in NE? Pretty childish, and a quick and easy way to lose your locker room.
Want to show the team you mean business, sit or cut a player for missing an assignment. Then they will take you seriously.
After further review, my thought about Kaepernick is entertaining this drama for another minute seems shortsighted. How does signing Kaepernick so he can audition for his next job help the Raiders? It doesn't. Unless you think Derek Carr gets injured and Kaepernick comes in and wins the SB. In that case, I have a bridge to sell you.
Josh McDaniels seemed like the perfect guy to remedy the Raiders historical lack of QB depth. But here they are, apparently, giving serious thought to bringing in someone who's been out of the game for too long and someone who's known to be a disruptive force.
Bringing in Kaepernick to demonstrate to the rest of the NFL that you're noble is one thing, but signing him would be insanely risky, IMO. At best, it's merely a firestorm of media and Kaepernick is a good citizen and sticks to the playbook. A worse case is Kaepernick returns to his old tricks and the Raiders become the Kaepernick show.
Geez, the ink is still drying on Zeigler and McDaniels' contracts. Why would they even entertain this. If Mark Davis is behind it, that makes him self-destructive.
Is this what Raiders need, a circus side show ? I thought Raiders were all about football now. Serious business, winning the super bowl and all that. And now they work out Bozo the clown.
Everyone knows Kaepernick can't play anymore. He's been out of NFL for like 7 years. He worked out for every team. They saw he couldn't throw the ball. No one signed him.
But here come the Raiders/suckers, ready to prove, once again, they are smarter then everyone else. Look, if Raiders are dumb enough to sign him, to me, I say forget the season.
Raiders haven't signed him, they just gave him a workout. On the Raiders front, it sounds like the workout went well. I don't think Kap wants to play anything but the victim. He wants to start, but no one will give him the opportunity to start. If he comes with the mindset that he will compete and doesn't earn the spot from Carr; he will quit the team faster than AB. Either way, I'm not concerned about Kap.
NY, why would McDaniels and company run laps for these grown men not knowing and doing their jobs? They all have the play book, they all watch the film. You make a mistake as a unit, you pay for it as a unit. This is accountability and discipline the Raiders as an organization has never had. People make mistakes, but lining up in the wrong formation is not a mistake, it's lazy. DC was trying to correct it when Josh stopped practice and made them run. It was a great move on his part.
NY, why would McDaniels and company run laps for these grown men not knowing and doing their jobs?
Simple math.
If one or two players miss an assignment, that's on the player(s). If the entire offense misses, that's on the coaches.
Good coaching can go a long way.
Effective today, the Raiders have $25M in cap space at their disposal for 2022. That opens the door to many possibilities in FA market, but they also need to secure Renfrow and Waller to new contracts. Both players are underpaid.
Ghost Ship
If I could I would get the Raiders to re-sign TP2 because he is what they need(speed). Its' not Kaps talent because he is almost good enough to start for the Raiders.
Its' his political baggage that upsets me. Its' a huge distraction and maybe more to to after MD.
He was blacklisted because of his politics, not his talents. I think is is an average NFL QB and should've been signed by teams needing a decent QB but not in L.V.
You guys seem to support almost anybody Raiders bring in no matter who they are so why hate on Kap? We've gotten huge reaches, injured vets and mediocre free agents yet you say we are a playoff team.
Now, when Al did these things he wouldn't listen to what we thought and usually he was right but the Patriots don't do career remakes they just get their problem, comeback, 3rd chance guys from the Raiders(Moss).
'Bozo' took the 49ers to a SB, something no Raiders' QB has done since Al ran the club.
We haven't had a QB take us to the SB in years. He may be washed up or could be a good QB we shouldn't try and make him a bad QB because he's an ex-49er. The new 49ers' regime didn't want him- then he got political and got fans and other Americans into groups of haters(of him).
They(Raiders) had Mariota could've gotten TP2 but instead bring in a distraction(Kap).
They should've kept Mariota as a back up. If they'd signed Kap they probably talk Raidernation into supporting it, if they signed other QBs' you'd support it.
But if signed TP2 oh, man we going dysfunctional. Oh, this guy can't play.
Mariota might be a comeback player, TP2 had a decent arm and speed. They trade for these Stedmans and sign these Mullens and its' wow! we look good!
Maybe we could use a little speed, the Stedmans-Mullens are good but maybe guys with running talents could help too.
It wasn't Kap's politics that got him blacklisted so much as his decision to bring his politics to work and make that the focus of his job. What owner wants to pay for that?
Kaepermick sued the NFL for blackballing him and got paid. End of story. He should just go away. IMO, Mark Davis was foolish for allowing the tryout. But that's ok, maybe it was the politically correct thing to do.
Hopefully, it's over and the Raiders can get back to work.
Kap was just getting everyone used to taking a knee, then George Floyd came along and everyone was doing the knee as an act of compliance. I'm sure George Soros is still paying Kap, so it shouldn't be about money.
Maybe Mark tried out Kap to piss off the league? The league is coming after the Raiders pretty hard at the moment. Mark is backing Gruden, Mark is Al Davis' son, I would say that Mark probably has a decent sized target on his back, put there by the Commish. Maybe Mark is shooting back?
Because the Raiders had a workout with a guy, doesn't mean the whole operation stopped. They were working even when Kap was throwing for them.
So every coach that came before McDaniels was mediocre?
I thought ONLY Al's guys were bad coaches.
You've supported every new regime coach being fired. This is what you started supporting:
1. Al didn't know how to find good coaches.
2. well, it's not that the coaches were bad, its' just that Al was dysfunctional and meddling and that messed with their(coaches) jobs.
3. that Reggie would find great front office staff. that Gruden was still a good coach and Mayock would bring in the great players.
4. Coach Allen was a better move than keeping Hue. Del Rio is a fan and from CA and a good DC he will get D going and build a winner. Now, its' time to kick ass!! Al's biggest mistake has been corrected! He's the man and he is a very good coach- Jon Gruden will take us back to glory!
Now, McDaniels is a good coach who will bring the Pats' way and take Raiders back to glory?
McDaniels may be 1 of the best OCs' in the NFL but a HC? Hey, didn't he somehow beat a more talented Raiders' team in the regular season and then the Steelers in the playoffs? Didn't he draft T. Tebow in the 1st round(Tebow did take Broncos to the playoffs)?
Zeigler working with Denver first is good but just how much of the Pats success was Bellichek/ Brady than the draft picks they(Zeigler/ McDaniels) made?
Every time we get a new regime Raidernation supports it. We just can't deal with anything Al could do. He was wrong and 31 other teams were right. We don't question their game plans or look at what they did in those front offices, we just support it because they came from a winning program.
* Wow! maybe the Raiders will win but they seem to try and make their new regimes look like winners before they win. maybe they should look at other teams' systems too like size/ speed(like Al).
I thought
Other than Kap and maybe the drafting of D.J. Hayden you seem to support everything these new regimes have done.
So why not sign Kap? he's winning QB. If these guys had signed anybody else except an ex-Al QB you'd support it. No, I don't think Kap is a good idea. MD may be Al's son but he's not trying to piss off anybody.
Instead, the NFL is trying to change his team and has.
No, I don't think the Kap signing was done to be like Al it may not have been done to help the team.
But you'd support them if they traded for/signed guys(except Kap and an ex-Al guy) you haven't heard of and because of the Pats' success you assume it will work.
We could've used excitement and electrifying QBs' to go with Carr but you supported the NFL idea of the franchise QB.
Dallas, K.C. and S.F. will go with both and they win. Maybe Raidernation should look at what Al did and ask Pats' guys to bring some of his ideas to team.
oh stephen, aren't fans supposed to get excited about their team prior to a new season? The team has been moving forward since the passing of Al, slower than expected for sure, but still moving forward. The team has some really good players on it, it has a coaching staff that looks very promising, the moves from the GM have looked very good and with a direction to be a top team. It's not healthy to live in the past, learn from it and move on.
In reading player takes on the Raiders new offense, and knowing what they've run in the recent past, it's not a stretch to believe the new offense will be more dynamic than anything Gruden Part Deux put on the field.
That said, there's no room for error with the O-line. This was the most critical area of need and received the least attention during this off-season. That translates into incredible uncertainty. We can postulate and speculate all we want, but the simple truth is the O-line grossly underperformed last season... even with a burst toward the end.
Zeigler and McDaniels have a lot riding on much needed improvement by a returning O-line. Even with a sound defense, Raiders will need to outscore their loaded AFCW opponents to make a run for the playoffs.
Reading reports from Levi Edwards, Hondo Carpenter, Maurice Moton, and a few others (not named Josh Dubow) are all reporting good things with the O-Line. Even Alex Leatherwood has been lining up in multiple positions. He recently said that he has watched film with the current staff and sees where and how he can improve his game. I don't think they are done in FA either. Not sure what is out there with regards to the O-Line, but I'm genuinely excited for this season.
With all respect, I think if we've learned anything over the past 20 years, it's that the hype of the off-season is just that, steeped in exaggeration and visions of grandeur. IMO, they are lining up Leatherwood at different positions to see where, or if he can play at a high level in hopes the Raiders have not wasted more draft capital. That might sound harsh but Leatherwood graded among the worst linemen in the league last year. Sure, he could have a Kolton Miller epiphany this year, but that's not likely to happen during training camp, in front a few Raiders beat writers.
Jack Del Rio is a total idiot no wonder the Raiders collapsed in 2017 it now seems logical that something happened in the locker room before the Redskins game that season probably instigated by that redneck Del Rio. Have a good summer guys Sandy
It was logical to deduct when it happened. We all saw it, the o-line was letting Derek get destroyed, it was obvious. It's why politics needs to be separate from sports.
Can you imagine if they went through JDR old emails, guy is a jerk
https://signature.theplayerstribune.com/jamarcus-russell-nfl-football/p/1
Jamarcus Russell can speak until he turns, well, purple, he showed us what he's all about. In the end, he got paid, which is exactly what he told media he wanted upon his being drafted #1.
But I blame the Raiders, who never conducted a pre-draft interview with Russell and passed on Megatron - standout college player and one of the best WRs of all-time - to draft Russell, who was a Jr. and very inexperienced.
Russell represents a low point in Raiders' history. Nothing he says can change that.
That's just sour grapes.
Found it funny that Jamarcus is still trying to justify his behavior at the time. He didn't give 2 craps about football. I think it was The low point in Raider history. It became crystal clear at that point, the Raiders would never be a top team again, until things changed in the Front Office. Starts at the top, if the top is a mess, the team will be a mess.
Agreed. He didn't even address receiving a blank tape by a scout before the draft, and was told to watch it, and they would ask him about it the next day. He started talking to them about the different blitz packages he saw on the tape. It was BLANK! NADA ON IT!!
My biggest beef with that pick was he didn't even start for LSU all the time. The coaches kept flipping back and forth between he and Matt Flynn (who also came to the Raiders after flopping in Seattle). He couldn't win the starting job the three years he was there, but was supposed to go #1 overall to the Raiders because he could throw a football 80 yards. He is right, the only person who wanted him was Al Davis. None of the coaches or scouts wanted him, because they saw someone who didn't give a damn. Reading this article is apparent that he just doesn't get it.
Suh and Raiders are talking. That's interesting. Suh is a real pass rush threat in the middle, while Hankins would remain the Raiders best run defender on the line.
Regime no. 3!
* Reggie('12-'17): Fans still feel he did what he had to do by ruining the team. He got rid of some very good players in questionable ways.
1. He could've had an outstanding group of young pass rushers(Shaughnessy, Bryant, Brodine and Wimbley).
2. He had a top 5 RB M. Bush
3. He had 1 of the most exciting players in the NFL(J. Ford).
4. He had one of the best secondaries in the NFL.
He got rid of most of them. Fans thought it was to bring in better players. they saw their team being rebuilt; sports media hyping mediocrity even when they were embarrassed and beaten badly- fans still supported Reggie.
The Raiders have never been the same defensively with some of the worst defensive units in NFL history since Reggie came.
Offense has been a ride, the Raiders are mediocre but sometime good.
Draft finds:
D. Carr, L. Murray, T. Bergstrom, K. Mack, A. Cooper, K. Joseph, G. Jackson, S. Moore, .
UDFA finds: S. Harris, D. Autry, J. Richard, R. Streater, J. Olawale, S. Roberts.
Free agency finds: C-Wood, D. Penn, J. jones, B. Irvin, J. Nelson, R. Hudson, K. Osemele, M. Crabtree, M. King, K. Burnett,
D. Tollefsen, J. Tuck, T. Pashos, M. McGloin,
coaches:
D. Allen
J. DelRio
Reggie DID find some good players- he drafted D. Carr and K. Mack and had some good players his UDFA record is good finding some very good players. The Raiders didn't have a lot of success in free agency mainly because they refused to spend- this was the NFL way but the Raiders also said they would spend on star free agents when they rebuild the front office and fix the cap. They NEVER really went after them and the team was mostly mediocre except for 1 playoff year.
*Gruden/ Mayock('18-'21): The Raiders had been mediocre for 6 years under Reggie. The promises of a winning team and return to glory got fans ready to go crazy and be pumped up.
Draft finds: M. Crosby, H. Renfroe, K. Miller, J. Jacobs, J. Abram, D. Deablo, I. Johnson, F. Morreau, M. Hurst, T. Mullen, T. Whitehead.
UDFA finds: D. Goode, A.J. Cole,
free agent finds: N. Agholor, D. Carlson, C. Heyward Jr., M. Glennon, M. Mariota, Barber, D. Waller, D. Carrier, D. Philon, D. Harris(kr-Dallas).
trades: D. Perryman
coaches:
R. Biasscia- took over for Gruden and was a very good ST coach.
G. Bradley- DC/
* McDaniel/ Ziegler:
Draft finds: N. Farrell, D. Parham, T. Munford.
Trade finds: D. Adams, C. Jones, R. Yon Sin.
UDFA finds: Mullen,
Free Agent finds:
Well, here we go again- a new regime and fans are pumped! Can they bring the Pat success to L.V.?
* Al / Hue:
Draft finds('10-'11): J. Ford, L. Houston, TP2, J. Veldeer, S. Brown.
UDFA finds: S. Moore/ couldn't start in Oakland but helped Pats in SB. I think Al's DBs' were top 5 unit in '10-'11.
free agent finds: M. Giardano, R. Cartwright.
Trade finds: Q. Groves, K.Wimbley, C. Palmer/ "pick-six" was a pro-bowler for Cardinals. .
Reggie's coaches didn't help TP2 to play QB. This is a team that went 8-8 twice yet, media and fans felt that wasn't good enough to . J. Veldeer was a good OT but that was let go by Reggie. Al's Raiders let FS S. Brown walk but he led NYGs' with 8 picks
This is a very good group of players over 2 drafts and I think they are the best overall of the regimes.
Fans talk about UDFAs' (like D. Autry, A.J. Cole, J. Richard) but Sterling Moore wasn't a stater for Raiders, played for 6 NFL teams(SB for Pats and playoffs for Dallas) yet, fans still believe Al's Raiders didn't have talent in secondary(??).
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Tony Siragusa died at age 55. This guy singlehandedly crushed the Raiders dreams in 2000 when he more or less piledrove Rich Gannon to the turf in the conf champ game (one year before the Tuck Rule Game). In today's NFL, that play would have gotten Goose arrested. A fierce competitor, for sure.
RIP
https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/06/23/teammates-remember-tony-siragusa-as-a-big-time-player-with-a-bigger-personality/
Bless Mr. Siragusa, he was a very good D-lineman and a good player.
He played well for the teams he played for(Colts and Ravens) and was a guy with a manly but cool style.
He later became a game day broadcaster and was a good one.
It wasn't his fault he wasn't flagged for the incident it was your NFL that you now support that did it.
Mr. Siragusa is one of the best DTs' in the NFL he sometimes dominated O-linemen. After leaving the Colts he helped make the Ravens' D one of the best ever.
God Bless Mr. Sirgusa and his family.
Ravens family lost 2 yesterday, Goose, and 26 year old linebacker Jayson Ferguson. Prayers for the Ravens family, and prayers for both Goose and Ferguson's immediate family.
I like the concept of Suh on the Raiders with Chandler Jones and Maxx Crosby. This is definitely a need, as well as CB and O-line moves. However, it seemed in the TV interview with Suh on NFL Network, he is looking for a big payday.
Our DE/EDGE positions are deep. With the addition of Jones to come along with Crosby, the name to watch is Malcolm Koonce. I've been excited about him since we drafted him, but was disappointed with his play time. After Gruden left, when he was on the field, he made things happen. Now to be tutored by Maxx and Chandler, I think he is going to be a stud for a long time.
I am definitely excited for this season, as I am with every season (case in point, go back and look at the McQuistan haiku's). I expect and hope the best for the Raiders every season, and there is nothing wrong with it. At the end of the day, they have to pull together and prove it. I believe this is the Raiders year, I truly believe they are the team to beat, not just in the AFC West, but they are a Super Bowl contender. Only the time of a new season will tell. JUST WIN, BABY!
The Ravens lost two of its' players-
Tony Siragusa, DL,(retired) Colts-Ravens
and
Jayson Ferguson, OLB, 26, drafted in '19, Ravens.
God bless them and their families.
The Raiders are an enigma before the season starts. They could be the team to beat, but they could also sputter in a whirlwind of transition, with new management, new scouting, new coaches, new players, new trainers, new..., well, you name it.
Some folks who post here believe Gruden is a brilliant offensive coach. I'm not sure where that leaves McDaniels in their minds. Personally, I see a significant separation between the two. However, if I can point to one notable distinction between the start of their two regimes, I can offer this.
Both coaches resided over considerable roster turnover in their first year. The distinction, IMO, is that Gruden jettison the Raiders best players and signed marginal replacements, while McDaniels/Zeigler re-signed the Raiders best players and brought in other top talent from around the league.
You can argue McDaniels had a better starting point, and that's probably true, but it doesn't alter or lessen the point.
And that's where the McDaniels regime begins.
I like what I see so far.
Chris Johnson
cornerback
drafted by Packers in '03 from Louisville U.- Oakland Raiders, Green Bay Packers
wore no. #37
Lost family members to violence retired from pro football.
pro bowl level CB
Please pray for Mr. Johnson who was a pro football player and an athlete. He lost family members to violence and went through a very sad and rough time of course. He was playing or a member of a pro football team when the tragedy happened. He had to stop playing and was very sad. He never went back to his team and decided to retire from pro football.
Father Mr. Johnson has been victim of unbelievable violence and wrong doing. Just because he once was a pro football player doesn't mean he should't get the justice a pooer person deserves. His family has been through a lot and he had to be the leader or help lead the family. I ask that he finds church people and new friends that can help him find happiness in this world.
Both triple jabbed. Seeing it more and more, dropping like flies. Safe and effective they said. Can only hide the truth for so long. Truth is, they are not vaccines, MNRA is experimental and overtakes the immune system that God gave you. Been hearing of many in military dying just like the way these 2 did. Young adults being dying of SADS, a new term they have just recently came up with and it is only happening to those who have been jabbed.
The Raiders had just lost a SB to its' HC coach/ assistant GM( '03). Then suddenly, they go into a nine year slump. Well, sometimes that happens- its' nothing new but then it stopped making sense. Good teams sometimes slump after going to playoffs a lot or a SB trip but not nine years.
But there were some strange things you had the media claiming Al was ruining the team with overpaid athletes, that there was dysfunction and unhappy players there and that Gannon and Gruden leaving was reason for the slump('03).
I thought the Raiders had a talented roster and should've been in the playoffs 2-4 times over that nine year slump('03-'11). Media claimed losing to Bucs hurt them so bad they couldn't recover, Al was making bad draft decisons and his system was getting old. And Gruden helped build those playoff teams and Gannon was the leader and Raiders couldn't win without them.
They said he was causing dysfuntion/ problems in the Raiders and that the team was a bad one. All of this one year after playing the SB?
I look at Al's personnel and staff and I see a very good team. I think he had some good drafts with some busts and mediocre picks but I think he made some very good picks. Lets look at some:
J. Ford, M. Bush, M. Shaugnessy, D. Bryant, T. Kelly L. Houston, J. Veldeer, S. Wisnewski, T. Howard , Nnamdi and A. Walter.
UDFAs'/ T. Kelly, D. Tollefson, Rickey Brown, Chris Carr, S. Moore.
busts?/ J. Russell, DHB, R. McClain.
Al seems to had some good draft picks/ UDFAs' and his vets look good too. I think this team had the personnel to win but didn't. Media claimed it was over paying and Al being stuck in the past picking size/ speed over other things. They then started talking about the team's unity and claimed the team didn't have a lot of talent(?) and attacked Al genius. Despite brining in some of the best players in the league(Moss, Palmer,Sapp) and alreay been to a SB('03) they kept losing. Soon, fans started listening to media/ NFL about Al saying he should resign and let a real GM takeover. Well I didn't think the personnel/ coaches were the problem and in fact they might be some of the best in the league despite that I had to admit they were a losing team.
Then, I started noticing some strange things about the media/ NFL/ owners. The things they said about Al/ Raiders, the game and money. I noticed the NFL/ owners were very upset with Al about the CBA and lawsuits against other teams. They also were upset that he was trying to sue the NFL to keep his own profits from personal revenue deals with sponsors, businesses(teams HAVE TO share revenue from personal business deals with other teams)
1. Al supported NFLPA boss Gene Upshaw and the NFL/ owners
2. Al backed the players against the CBA and voted against it
3. Al was slow to get a new stadium(in Oakland)
4. Al refused to invite a company or billionaire as a co-owner to make the team more valuable.
5. Al was paying vets and rookies big salaries and the owners didn't want that because they had to pay higher salaries too.
I thought the Raiders had one of the most talented rosters in the NFL('03-'11) I thought they should've been in the playoffs 2-4 times over that nine year slump('03-'11).
Media claimed the Raiders were stuck in the past and blamed Al for the slump but were also worried about his ideas on the game and money. He was for paying the players and voted against the new CBA and he was suing the league(again). He may've been working with NFLPA boss Gene Upshaw who wanted players to be paid; the owners were very upset with him. You know, its' very strange a team that(in my opinion) talented to suddenly go on a nine year losing streak.
The Raiders did business in a league with 31 other teams, none of which kept their pace in terms of failures. If we learned anything over that span, the Raiders proved that being good on paper doesn't automatically translate to actually being good.
Poor management, poor scouting, poor drafting, poor coaching, poor game planning, poor execution, etc.
Bottom line, the Raiders were a poster child for dysfunction. First, with Al micromanaging the team well past his prime, then leaving his family and the organization without a postmortem plan. Unfortunately, that's become part of his legacy.
All Raiders options have failed. Like it or not, it's now up to the duo from NE.
NY Raider,
J. Condo, S. Lechler, R. Seymore, D. Burgess, J. Veldeer, Nnamdi, W. Sapp, M. Reece- pro bowl
T. Branch- 1 of top SS's in league
C. Palmer- pro bowler with Ariz.
J. Ford- 1 of best KR in league('10-'12)
Chris Clemons, DE- 1 of best pass rushers in league
Sterling Moore, DB- UDFA played on NE and Dall. playoff teams.
T. Kelly- no DT has had more sacks 7 in a season since '11.
Desmond Bryant- 1 of best DL in the league
S. Wisnewski- has 2 SB rings(K.C. and Philly)
C. Johnson- top 10 CB('10-'11)
S. Routt- would be top CB for all 3 regimes
T. Jones- 1 of best STs' in the league
M. Bush- 1 of best RBs' in the league
R. Moss- had big 1st year with Raiders
Chis Carr- 1 of best KR in the league
C-Bass- 1 of best PKs' in the league
* Options have failed?- you never gave Al's roster/ staff a chance after '11.
Al's culture was rejected after '11. So, saying a culture change was needed after '11 is just playing blame game and blaming a system that was being ruined by the NFL/ Reggie.
pace in terms of failuers? Dude, the Raiders were the defending AFC Champions when the slump happened! They were loaded with talent and some of the best assistants in the NFL!
* poor management? - Al was STILL 1 of the best GMs' in the NFL. He had some of the best assistants in the league.
poor drafting?- yea, who would want M. Bush, Nnamdi, J. Fargas or J. Veldeer?
poor scouting?- They signed T. Kelly, R. Brown, C. Carr and S. Moore who played for the Pats in the SB. They signed FAs' D. Burgess, D. Tollefson and Chris Clemons and turned them into good pass rushers.
poor coaching? Well, You might have me there. The Raiders didn't need a HOF HC- just somebody to do a good job with the talent. Yet, they couldn't win! N. Turner went to SD was a good HC, H. Jackson is an outstanding coach that you love to hate on. L. Kiffin ruined himself. He's an outstanding OC and when he gets it together may be an outstanding HC. No, it wasn't Al or his staff that ruined Raiders.
game planning/ execution? over a 9 year period? NY!, Dude, If it was, wouldn't that make you kinda suspicious?
dysfunction? Well, what ever stopped Al when he was on a roll? BTW...were Raiders only dysfunctional team('03-'11). Why is it other teams can overcome their dysfunction but Al couldn't?
good on paper but doesn't automatically translate to actually being good? But NY! the Raiders were AFC Champions when they went into a 9 year slump! so they weren't just talented on paper! You seem to believe that high character and franchise QBs' win but talent loaded teams with size/ speed can win too.
past his prime? yea, he was but he was still a top 10 GM! His rosters proved it the fact that MANY of his coaches were hired as head coaches(Kiffin later on in college, Turner and Jackson in College) shows he knew how to find good coaches.
I think the 9 year slump made some fans side with the media/ NFL/ owners. Not only do you feel Al's Raiders' were stuck in the past- you are kinda hating on Al.
You are accepting a mediocre version of the league. The media/ owners know more about football than Al did. That this franchise QB/ high character system is better, if that's your feelings fine! But the Pats and Steelers aren't the only successful teams. Even the Pats will look for bigger/ faster guys.
O.K. you like the Pats'/ NFL's way- But the Raiders had their own way. After 3 regimes you're still waiting to win again. It seems you're trying to say the NFL way works- just not for the Raiders yet.
Seems you are being scammed by the same people who you knew hated Al. Al was about winning then everything else and he treated his players good. These are same people who were upset with Al about the CBA and lawsuits. No, they wouldn't tamper with the Raiders- they'd just tell Raidernation to wait another year for a new regime- they love us because we will support a rebuilding program for 10 years.
Sorry, I don't get your revisionist history.
Naming individual players doesn't meet a threshold of success. It's a team sport. The goal is to be smarter and better than 31 other teams, which the Raiders failed epically for two decades. There's no silver lining in being the worst team over that span (for 18 years the Raiders had fewest winning seasons in the league = fact!).
As I look at your list, many of those players failed the Raiders. Palmer was a huge mistake. That era came about when an unfettered Hue Jackson wasted precious draft capital in a trade the Bengals were more than happy to accommodate. Moss didn't play football for the Raiders; he collected a check. CB Sterling Moore was a fringe player who NE plucked off the Raiders practice squad (at a specific time which the Raiders were desperate for CB help). Moore never actually played for the Raiders. Michael Bush never realized his potential and spent a big chuck of his career on IR. And so forth.
Reconjuring visions of Norval Turner, Lane Kiffin and Hue Jackson is enough to make any Raiders fan reach for an airsick bag. You're referring to an era which players from other teams relished playing the Raiders and sometimes went as far as suggesting it was like having an extra bye week.
Actually, you made my point. All the players and coaches you mention who were successful with other teams but were not successful with the Raiders help demonstrate the Raiders dysfunction.
"The Raider way," "the NFL way," those are just words with very little meaning to any Raiders fan under age 50. Even if we could define "the Raider Way," it hasn't worked since the early 1980s.
The sad truth is that "the Raider way" is only a myth in 2022.
To borrow another phrase, "The greatness of the Raiders is in its future."
Cheers!
Happy Birthday Al!!!
Al Davis was born on the fourth of July in 1929! He came to Oakland and built some of the best teams in NFL history. One of the true icons in the league, he had some of the strangest, talented, exciting and great players. But he also feuded with, sued and angered other NFL big shots/ media and cities. He was seen as a genius and villain but he helped make the NFL .
Here are some of the things he did:
1. May be responsible for the NFL All-Star game moving from Houston to New Orleans because the NFL and press pressured All-Star game managers to move. Al Davis refused to play game in the South because minority players were being segregated when visiting.
2. He was instrumental in merging the leagues to form the current NFL. Al saw the big picture and made a deal that has allowed the league to have over a dozen more teams; meaning roughly that 600 more great players get to be in the NFL.
3. Al Davis helped bring the modern passing game to the NFL.
4. Al Davis helped develop the "Bump and Run" using basketball defense moves to slow down/ Jam wide receivers (Steelers' Mel Blount may deserve credit for helping this DB move).
5. Won three Super Bowls(XI, XV and XIII) for the Oakland/ L.A. Raiders and helped lead team to five total super bowl games.
6. Al created a demand for speed. When Davis started targeting speed over other attributes it forged an entire industry in Strength/Conditioning. He can also be held responsible for the elaborate combine process to which he valued more than anyone.
7. Al Davis is the only person to have served pro football as a(1) scout(Colts, Chargers), (2) an assistant coach(Chargers), (3) a head coach(Raiders), (4) a GM(Raiders), (5) a league commissioner(AFL) and (6) the principal owner/ chief executive officer of an NFL team(Raiders).
8. When he took over for the Raiders, Davis was one of the first to specifically target black/small colleges(KC owner Lamar Hunt and Steelers' scout Bill Nunn looked for players from HBCU schools too).
9. Al paid for the medical care for ex-players, friends and other NFL coaches and players.
10. Al Davis’s legacy to the NFL is “Raider Nation” and the billions in public subsidies that his defiance of his fellow owners in the 1980's won for all of them collectively.
11. Al Davis was asked by over 9 different HOFers' to (Shell, Upshaw, Casper, Long, Biletnikoff, Lance Alworth, W. Brown, Ron Mix).
12. Drafted 10 future HOFers'(Shell, Upshaw, Allen, Casper, Biletnikoff, T. Brown, Guy, Stabler, Long, C. Woodson).
Al has been gone for awhile but NFL fans won't forget him. He was hired to make Raiders better and changed pro sports.
He didn't win toward his last NFL years but the Raiders' but he won a lot. He played against some of the best teams in the past and the Raiders' built a history and culture and fans/ NFL fans remember.
The new Raiders are trying to build their own winning history and culture but we will always remember Al and his Raiders and how he built a winner and played some of the best teams in history, kept fans/ NFL fans/ media excited, feuded and sued but worked with enemies in league and was not so bad and changed pro sports.
Happy Birthday Al!
Just Win Baby!
Go L.V. Raiders!
Happy 4th of July!!
Impressive compilation.
Happy Birthday to Al Davis...
...and to the USA!
Mark Davis does it again, following in his father's footsteps of greatness by naming Sandra Douglass Morgan as the first black female president of an NFL team in the history of the NFL.
Just Won, BABY!
That's great but is she the most qualified for the job? I could really celebrate that. She could be purple, as long as she's got the best qualifications.
I would rather hear the Raiders just hired the best candidate for the job. Maybe that's also true.
Looks like Mark Davis is killing two birds with one stone here. Douglass Morgan appears to be highly qualified. The fact that she's a black woman may be coincidental, as it should be. However, how much of this is PR? Raiders have a terrible PR issue in their front office, with claims of misconduct... which the Raiders say they have investigated internally and are making changes. Hiring a black woman to lead the org seems to check that box.
Meanwhile, the NFL wants its own investigation into claims of misconduct in the Raiders org. Enter SDM. Who better to put in charge of the org than a well-respected minority attorney from LV.
Seems smart and effective.
It's possible Mark Davis is on a roll. He had the balls to look beyond an impressive and inspiring end-of-season performance by his interim HC and boldly hire a new GM/HC team that can possibly take the Raiders to the next level.
NY. The definition of gaslighting
So the Raiders are run by a woman, oh boy. Go woke, ya go broke. She better be able to handle the job and do it well, that is all that matters. But women leading men in pro sports, call me old fashion, not big on it.
Gaslighting. Lol. Gaslighting what, exactly? I have more questions than answers.
If you have an opinion, please share it.
She is more than qualified, just like Amy Trask was. It is a great hire by Mark Davis, and a great response to the claims of misconduct and misogyny within the organization. This whole "Gruden" thing has made Mark Davis angry. Angry from being taken advantage of by people within his own organization, and from the League. MD gunning and taking names. Just Win, BABY!
Has Amy even had a job, since leaving the Raiders?
If she was so qualified, then, why isn't she working? If she was so qualified, wouldn't other teams or even the Raiders hire her?
Hire someone on qualifications, not gender or color or sexual orientation. The spokesperson for the White House was hired because she is black, an immigrant and is part of the alphabet community. Obviously, it is not qualified for the job and it is a total disgrace, much like it's employer, once again, get woke, go broke.
She is working with Ice Cube as Commissioner in his basketball league the Big 3. She is also an analyst on a show on NFL Network. She is also a full-time attorney at law in California, and does some work with Cal State Berkeley. She has done quite a bit since leaving the Raiders, and is well deserving of being a finalist for the Hall of Fame this next year, along with Lester Hayes. You should get out more, and actually learn something. Your ignorance is showing.
She isn't working in the NFL, wonder why? If she was all that, teams would be falling over each other to sign her? There are lots of people who are lawyers but do not deserve a moment in the NFL.
Talking NFL here and why she isn't being hired. She obviously wants to be a part of it still, but no calls? NFL, is what we are talking about, stay on track. We can debate the NFL, that is what this site is about, not some job at Bezerkly.
She doesn't have an "NFL" job because there was only one team she wanted to work for, her words. She is very much still a part of Raider Nation, but has been asked to stay afar. You should read her book, "You Negotiate Like a Girl" and follow her on twitter, if you have one. She is a great person. So is the new President, Sandra Douglass Morgan.
Heat Wave is very bad for seniors
you can help them and others by:
donating either money or water to a local food bank.
or getting on a bike with a bag or bike trailer and carrying water around towns
don't forget the homeless
you can buy a case(or more) and take it to a food bank.
you can call the food bank and SOME charities to see if they are GOING OUT and giving water to the elderly and homeless
you can check web, ask the news papers/ city offices or call information to see if volunteers, charities or food banks have volunteers GOING OUT to give water to seniors and the homeless.
Headline:
Raiders HC Josh McDaniels Showed Derek Carr Film of Steph Curry to Prepare for Season
I've always said Derek Carr's play-action is substandard in the NFL. His fakes are terrible. That's a huge part of the game for guys like Mahomes, Herbert, Brady and others. So why can't Carr do it? Or more importantly, why is he only now being shown how?
Basketball is so high-paced it makes football look like it's standing still. Curry is a master at fakes and deception. Carr can learn a lot from McDaniels (and Curry) in this area.
This is good news for all Raiders fans.
GM is savvy, coaches are cerebral, roster has some superstar players on both sides of the ball, there is good depth at many positions, and the team is hungry after making playoffs last year.
Summary: The 2022 Raiders could be the best of the modern era Raiders, as we know them, and the days of teams wanting to play the Raiders are over.
Seniors are being made to leave their homes because of unemployment and raised rent and medical bills. Baby Boomers are being left out on the street and are called the new homeless.
A group wants to help find jobs for senior homeless and homeless/ poor unemployed seniors
dreams for change
Dreams for Change PO Box 16327 San Diego, CA 92176. Phone (619) 497-0236.
Surprised there's no chatter here just one day removed from the Raiders first game of 2022.
Still scratching my head the Raiders have not done more to improve the O-line. Leatherwood apparently has struggled in camp and, although Cotton Jr. is emerging, there is very little talent on the roster to compare him to. This guy was a recent bust who the Raiders dumped in 2020. Now he's potentially a starter? Simpson and Parker are usual suspects. Neither has been reliable. As a unit, the O-line was among the most penalized and had given up among the most pressures.
Perhaps new staff is coaching these guys up. When push comes to shove, the Raiders will need running lanes and pass blocking to compete in the NFCW.
On defense, the Raiders did not build a roster for 3-4 alignment that PG likes to run. They lack any depth a LB. Perryman is on an island by himself, until proven otherwise.
Abram looks to be getting more coverage responsibilities, which is what got him in trouble two years ago.
Rock Ya-Sin looks solid but with Mullen down, the Raiders may regret losing both Heyward and Facyson at CB.
It's all conjecture until the ball is snapped. And that starts tomorrow night!
Las Vegas, Baby!
NEWS FLASH: Raiders valued at $6.5 billion. What? Frig! And that's legit because it was apparently a value established as part of a minority stake offer.
If Josh McDaniels is the next Sean Payton or Sean McVay, I imagine that number could go higher.
Hall of Fame day for the late Cliff Branch! Man, I wish I could be there in person. He was one of the nicest men I have ever met. I've been on vacation with my family. We went to Los Angeles, and went to a Dodger game at Chavez Ravine. I have not been there since 1996, and this was my family's first trip there. The last time I was there was with my dad, who passed in 2017; and it was pretty emotional pulling up. Then learned when I got home about Vin Scully, another legendary man, and one of the nicest men of his time.
All that said, going to be emotional watching the enshrinement of Cliff. Like the Snake, it is a shame that he did not get to experience this while he was alive. As for the game, I don't think we will see anything with regards to the starters, this will show us the talent of the depth we have. I am looking to see if Malcolm Koonce is going to play tonight, if so, that will be exciting to watch. I am also looking at the O-Line too, NY. However, I have always been a huge fan of Lester Cotton. He is a power blocker, and didn't excel under Gruden/Cable who are zone guys. I think he is going to be nastier than what people think. What I love about McDaniels and crew, they are building a system to the strength of the players, not to the strength of a system. JUST WIN, BABY!
Good point, Nate. I believe they are building on strength, not scheme. No better evidence than on defense, where the Raiders will be forced to play less 3-4 than PG might want due to personnel, or lack thereof.
I've been watching pressers and been very impressed with the coaching staff. McDaniels is cerebral and articulate. He's young but far more polished than Dennis Allen or Lane Kiffin. I was a fan of Kiffin but Davis wanted full control and Kiffin had his own ideas and pedigree to back it up.
Looking forward to seeing whoever takes the field for the Raiders tonight.
Cheers!
The team looks well coached at this point.
Depth looks good.
Leatherwood and Cotton will be the right side of the O-line.
White looked impressive but did drop an important pass, he will have to improve as a rb out of the backfield.
DB's were tackling very well, Jags couldn't do much until garbage time.
Overall, just 1st game, but they look like they are ready to be one of the big boy teams in the NFL.
If the Raiders do really well this year, have to wonder how much credit Gruden will receive for it.
"If the Raiders do really well this year, have to wonder how much credit Gruden will receive for it."
The so-called "vanilla offense" we saw last night in a pre-season game seemed more diverse and sophisticated than any offense Gruden fielded during his 2nd term with the Raiders. If they were just scratching the surface last night, that's something to get excited about.
Otherwise, giving credit to Gruden for leaving a roster that had a few good players on it seems overstated. Gruden also whiffed badly in the draft. With all the time and effort expended, Gruden's exit roster should have been better, IMO.
Maxx Crosby is clearly a prize on the inherited roster, but even Gruden didn't know what he had. If he did, he wouldn't have waited until the 4th round to draft him. When Crosby broke his hand (or arm?) in a preseason game his rookie year then asked to have it set in a cast so he could go back in and play, that was a defining moment that nobody could have anticipated.
As for the O-line, Gruden and his coaching staff never had the chops to orchestrate the protection packages and calls we saw last night. McDaniels already is showing that his staff can make players better than Gruden's staff ever could.
I hope the same is true for Patrick Graham. However, Raiders clearly lack depth on both their lines and at LB. That could be a problem.
One observation, I've never missed Henry Ruggs more than when Johnson dropped a perfectly thrown deep pass in front of the end zone last night.
Jags are the worst team in football for two straight years, and the Jags without Trevor Lawrence at QB are even worse. So it's difficult to truly gage the Raiders performance. Notwithstanding, it seemed to be a promising start for McDaniels and crew.
P.S. it was savvy of McD to stop play with a TO and allow his booth staff time to review the red flag option on that sideline catch initially called out-of-bounds, then reversed on McDaniels challenge. Gruden habitually got challenges wrong and would often call them unnecessarily... as if to prove a point.
Good times ahead!
Didn't know my comment would open up a Gruden bashing. The point was meant to point to the fact that Gruden built a lot of the team. A little early to tell who was/is better at the x's and o's.
Everyone knows about the poor top draft picks, but it was Gruden who put most of this team together and they bonded well under Gruden, creating very good chemistry.
Don't blame Gruden because all the other teams passed on Crosby. What is important, is that the Raiders got him.
Certainly not bashing Gruden for the sake of it. You asked the question and apparently don't like the answer. Watching that game seemed pretty obvious the McD offense will be far more dynamic. Protections, screens, shovel passes, spread formations, etc., all elements that Gruden was weak and/or seldom used.
Chris Collinsworth and NBC did a great job showing and explaining the intricacies of the Raiders new pass protections. It was very encouraging.
Gruden did the Raiders (all of us) a favor by allowing the Raiders to get out of his lifetime appointment as Raiders HC. One pre-preseason game in the books and we can already see improvements.
Cheers!
It was the 1st pre season game against the worst team in the league. And you can already see that Josh is out coaching Gruden?
Signing Gruden to 10 years wasn't the best contract, that is for sure, but Gruden did some good things and he did a lot to set this team up for what looks like, could be, a serious playoff team.
Gruden has his faults, but he set this team back on course and I am thankful for that.
You can keep bashing, it seems it's all you can do. Surprised you aren't bashing Brandon Parker and how completely useless he is, one of your favorite bashing targets.
Same ole, same ole, different year.
Preseason means nothing. The only conclusion we can draw from last night's game is the Raider offensive line is horrendous. Leatherwood and Parker are suspect career backups. Cotton looks decent in the Run game but a liability in pass protection. And this was all against the Jaguars backup players worst team in football. They need to get Daryl Williams and quickly. Such as well. Bash Gruden all you want but so far the current regime seems to be making the same mistake as Gruden did last year as it relates to the offensive line they have not addressed it.
Sandy
Anon,
Sounds like you're the one "bashing" but at the expense of the new regime. NBC showed us the improvements to the line play in a way that even I could understand. And they also said the Jags had much of their first team D on the field in the first quarter... when Jacobs was running wild on them.
Does anyone really think it should be a well-oiled machined by now? Please give it a little time, at least one preseason. They will continue to make adjustments and field the 5 best linemen.
No, I'm not a huge fan of Parker or Leatherwood, but I defer to the coaches' ability to coach these guys up. In the short time they've been in camp, Chris Collingsworth believes they've made improvement.
The perpetual need to praise Gruden is a mystery to me. He left the Raiders after 3+ years with a losing record. After losing to the Chargers and the lowly Bears, the Raiders looked like they were on course for another disappointing season. This was amplified by loss to the Giants and blowouts to KC and Cincy. Personally, I mostly credit Rich Bisaccia for the tremendous job he did pulling the Raiders together at the end.
In the end, the Raiders won 6 walk-off games last year, including 3 OT wins. Clearly, Derek Carr was at his best. But those type wins are often one series removed from a loss. Raiders had a lot a work to do, and I commend Mark Davis for seeing that and making a bold move to hire a new regime.
They've made a lot of changes. However, if I were to guess why the O-line did not get more attention in the off-season, I would have to guess "continuity." But that doesn't mean they will all stick. Lots of preseason left to go.
Don't worry, be happy!
McD explains the O-line and how they approach coaching off the game film. Hard not to like what he says and how articulate he is.
https://www.raiders.com/video/coach-mcdaniels-recaps-hof-game-i-think-there-s-a-lot-of-positives-nfl-2022
Well, NY, you seem to think they are a much better oiled machine now, than with Gruden, yes, I told you it is one preseason game against the worst team in the league.
Praising Gruden? All I wrote was wondering if Gruden will get any credit for putting most of this team together.
Mr. Grump telling me to be happy.....come on man.
My central point was that the offense already looks more dynamic in terms of formations and plays. That's not a reach. Gruden ran the most vanilla offense I can remember. And when he tried too hard it often backfired. I was at the Jets game a couple years ago when Gruden tried to fool the Jets with pre-snap motion and different formations but they were all the same plays. The Jets D blew up every play.
IMO, McDaniels is a far better technician. If you don't already see that, you will.
But it's more than that. The Raiders have rid themselves of guys like Tom Cable and Greg Olsen. They are both decent coaches with a lot of experience, but we've been there, done that. It was time to move on.
Again, you may not like my answer, but you asked the question.
I'll wait for real games to start before making that determination.
Again, all I asked was will Gruden get some credit if this team that he mostly built, does well this season.
I didn't ask what you felt of Gruden, but rant on if you have to.
6.5 million dollars?
Hey, then if that's the case then I want to see at least 1 star FA on the D units!
Hey, what about cheaper prices for season ticket holders? You have the most richest team in Raiders' history but they are still being cheap.
That helps the pockets of the owners and investors but what about the fans and employees?
The 9 year rebuild('12-present) just needed money?
Al never cared much about the value of a team he just wanted to win.
poor coaching, poor management, bad decisions and all you really need is just money to change all of that?
So the reason Al started losing was he didn't bring in a corporation/ billionaire as partners?
So, money is going to make drafting players and picking free agents easier?
So, that's what the 'replace Al' shouting from media/ fans was about? Just become a wealthier team and you'll win?
So, the reason Reggie and Gruden couldn't win was because the team wasn't wealthy enough?
What about PARITY? I thought you didn't have to spend a lot to win just be above average-good with game manager-outstanding coaching. Cheaper players will win but you don't really pay them a lot like those expensive star players.
In a PARITY league did Al's dysfunction keep team from winning even though its' easier to win?
Al spent the last nine years trying to win and the players LOOKED good. But he couldn't win anymore. Other teams started winning with mediocre-good talent that sometimes went to the playoffs. Is because Al kept looking for outstanding talent when he should've been getting cheaper/ high character guys and hiring game manager-big time coaches; would that've made Raiders winners?
So, if PARITY systems gives mediocre-average teams a better change to make the playoffs was Al's guys that bad not to do it once in 9 years?
Dear Stephen,
I think just about everyone has let that stuff go? Is that the only contribution you can make?
Try harder, come on man.
Again, all I asked was will Gruden get some credit if this team that he mostly built, does well this season.
No. You're baiting the conversation then dismissing any discussion, at least the responses which you don't like.
So here's the $64M question, give Gruden credit for what, exactly?
"Team that Gruden built?" Gruden's first act as Raiders new HC was to make sure the Raiders best player never saw the field. That's where my list starts. I know you don't want to hear the rest...
Unfortunately, just like with Art Shell, the Raiders would have been much better off with only one stint. Sequels are never as good.
You were all for hiring Gruden, now you have changed your tune to all bashing.
You should know all about baiting, hey gas lighter?
You want to rage against Gruden, very obvious.
Still whining about Mack.....let it go, it's obvious that it wasn't a bad move. Josh Jacobs was a good pick.
Like I said, rant on, obviously you still have scares that haven't healed. If it makes you feel better.
I have many opinions about the Raiders. To say each one is ranting is lame. My posts are just my opinion and/or observation, and I try not to post as anything more than that. I certainly don't get angry if you don't share my opinion. It's actually more interesting if you don't.
I like Jacobs but, unfortunately, neither he nor Mack were capable of winning payoff games for the Raiders. Funny, while you're patting Gruden on the back for drafting Jacobs as part of the Mack trade, Ziegler and McDaniels turned down his 5th year option and have brought in other competent RBs. Again, I like Jacobs but it already looks like the Raiders might be moving in another direction by next year... maybe sooner. IMO, I'd re-sign Jacobs. But RBs are a dime a dozen in college and NFL. McD is about to show us that with the collection he's assembled.
I just want the Raiders to make the best decisions for the team. That's not always clear, and where the conversation can get muddled.
I can list 100 reasons why I think Gruden had to go and I can list 100 reasons why I think McDaniels will succeed, but none of that is anything more than my opinion.
IMO, I do not believe the McDaniels regime is in any way an extension of the Gruden regime. Giving Gruden credit for a few good players McDamiels retained is your prerogative but, for me, all the bad personnel decisions Gruden made outweighed the good and contributed toward slowing the Raiders progress. Some of that is still revealing itself now with the offensive line and lack of depth at LB, for example. Raiders should be better at both these position groups. Renfrow was the only good WR McD inherited, and key players in the secondary were on one-year deals. Replacing Heyward and Facyson were big hurdles to overcome.
Zeigler and McDaniels could not revamp the entire roster in one season. Yet here we are, in what would be Gruden's 5th Year of his contract, with a real chance to make some noise. Again, if you want to give Gruden credit, ok, but five years is a long friggin' wait (longer than most HC contacts). If the Raiders do go over the hump, I'll probably be more inclined to thank the folks in charge now, IMHO.
If you'd like to challenge that opinion, maybe you wouldn't mind citing Gruden's case.
P.S. The most impactful player on the Raiders roster is Derek Carr, a McKenzie pick.
I don't have to cite any case, Gruden raised the bar for the franchise and hopefully that bar will be raised higher by the new regime.
All this because I wrote, wondering if Gruden will get much credit for the team if it does well this year. Plain and simple, you want to turn it into this, a debate of bashing.
Gruden does deserve credit, he had to get rid of Reggie's mediocre line up and bring in his own which makes up most of the roster today. He brought in Waller, Miller, Renfro, Jacobs, Crosby, Perryman, Mullin, the 2 safeties, Diablo, Hankins, etc.
If Gruden would of hit on half of the 1st rd picks he had, this team would be loaded with talent. If Gruden would of had some decent WR's to work with, the O would have been more explosive. Gruden wasn't far off, it showed last year that it was a playoff team.
Gruden brought the franchise to a higher level and set it up for what it is today. Sure he had his faults, he is a Raider, no matter what you write.
Gruden and the Raiders were singled out by the commish, the league still has a boner for the Raiders. Time will tell if they did the Raiders a favor.
Those are conflating topics. I agree Gruden was singled out and hosed by the league. I think that's pretty obvious. Also, I agree that Gruden is a beloved Raider. That exists regardless of his coaching.
And I'm not saying Gruden didn't contribute players. What I'm suggesting is that he underperformed in his second stint as Raiders HC. Actually, he underperformed pretty egregiously and giving him credit may be a bridge too far for me.
Ziegler is a different GM and McDaniels is a different HC than Mayock and Gruden, respectively. For example, trading high draft picks for Adams is something the old regime would never have done. Let's see if that pays off.
The fate of Josh McDaniels appears to be up in the air. Let's see how that works out.
Kolton Miller was a home run. Waller, Crosby, Perryman, all home runs. But the Yankees can hit 300 home runs in a season and still lose the pennant. It takes a lot more, and that's why Zielger and McDaniels are here, and it's not Mayock, Bisaccia, Olsen and Bradley leading the team.
Mark Davis grew a pair of Las Vegas-size balls and made a huge bet on the Raiders and their success. I'm all in. Are you?
Enjoy the ride.
PFF prediction for Raiders' O-line.
Two things are true. Gruden and the Raiders had among the best O-lines in the NFL prior to Gruden's decision to dismantle it, trading or releasing Brown, Hudson and Jackson.
The second truth is Ziegler and McDaniels haven't made any notable changes. It's pretty much status quo from Gruden. Plenty of time still to change that, if needed.
Here's the article (below). The one thing that jumps out, Alex Leatherwood led the league last year in giving up pressures.
https://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/raiders_prediction_las_vegas_will_have_a_bottom_tier_o_line_per_pff/s1_16460_37754119
It's hard to truly gauge the talent of the team in a preseason game. With that said, the O-line played decent. Depth of O-line struggled a bit, and that is what preseason is really for; to gauge your depth chart.
With that said, PFF ranked Dylan Parham as the highest on the O-Line with a 76.8 grade. He allowed 1 pressure, no sacks, in 23 pass-bock snaps. Leatherwood was a 72.7 grade, 19 pass snaps 0 sacks, 1 pressure. Brandon Parker had a 71.6 grade, 17 pass snaps, 1 sack, 1 pressure.
I didn't get to watch the entire game, but what I saw Parham was by far superior. He is going to do well. Lester Cotton played above average, and overall I am hopeful for the O-Line. I didn't get to see anything late in the game, but I do want to see how Thayer Munford Jr, Jackson Barton, Jermaine Eluemunor, and Parker looked. It looked like Parker stunk it up in his time. Zamir White looks special; again pre-season game, but he looks to have a good vision of the blocking and field.
Defensively, Koonce, Deablo, Vickers (a fan favorite) all stood out to me. Again, pre-season.
Brandon Parker was just placed on IR. Leatherwood back at work at RT. Time to find a RT.
Truth is, didn't that O-line finish around 28th in the league their last year together? Brown and Hudson both wanted out, much like your favorite player, Mack.
I would say the new regime made a very notable change at WR.
Again, I wonder how much credit Gruden will get if this team does well this year, que rant.
Many said Miller was a mistake after his mediocre 1st year, maybe give them more than a year before you call them a bust?
Parker played left T and was having trouble with the #1 pick overall. LT is not his normal spot and some of the dysfunction blamed on him could be attributed to the RB missing their assignment and the QB moving into defenders. He got pushed around a few times, but his rating after the game was not that bad. Leatherwood graded out well too. Cotton looked very good at times. Parham is going to be a good piece by the looks of it. It's a very young O-line, going to need some time to grow.
Parker was drafted as a LT, and he's been the Raiders swing tackle for years, so he's not out of position. However, it's a new system, so there has to be some deference to the process. His status will become clearer in the next 2-3 weeks.
There has to be a point in Parker's career which he will be expected to actually get better. So far, the bar on his play has been really low.
Jags Travon Walker is a rookie. He's no savvy vet. All he needed was his college instincts to beat Parker. Arden Key spent 3-4 years with the Raiders as a pass rush specialist and managed maybe 1-2 sacks over that span. He ran right by Parker on a few plays.
Hopefully, this will be Parker's last chance. Raiders can do better. There are still free agents available, and I imagine Ziegler will go that route if needed. Time will tell.
According to official depth chart on Raiders website, Parker is listed as RT as backup to Leatherwood.
Parker isn't going to get much better, this is what he is. A 3rd rd pick, that is a back up, that is what he is. It's not Parker's fault, it's what he is.
There will be cuts in the next few weeks and hopefully someone can be signed. Hopefully Leatherwood becomes that guy that steps up. Miller was a lot better his 2nd year and Leatherwood has made progress from last year, so far.
Parker has been taking his reps at RT, has played there mostly since being drafted. Ask Donald Penn how easy it is to go from one side to the other, ask Leatherwood, when most of your reps are on the other side, it takes time to get used to playing the opposite side.
But again, Parker is what he is, coaching him up or hoping he will improve won't get him much farther than right now. He is a backup and that is what should be expected of him.
That's funny. You think Parker is out of position at LT, but Tom Cable once called Parker the best swing tackle in the NFL. Also, Parker played LT in college. Saying Parker is out of position at LT directly contradicts his role on the Raiders for the past several years.
I'm not aware the Penn ever played RT, in college or pros, before being moved over.
IMO, Raiders QBs are at serious risk anytime Parker is in the game. How can such a big and reportedly athletic dude be so bad at containing other big dudes? He is a human turnstile.
More bashing.....
Parker hasn't had much work at LT, he has been playing mostly RT, so an adjustment period would probably be needed. He played LT in college was a long time ago in football years.
Tom Cable was also responsible for the Leatherwood pick.
Just because some is big and has some coordination, doesn't make him a football player. A lot more to it than that.
A swing tackle plays both sides. Hence the swing!
Parker has had a 4-year adjustment period. Turns out, he's not proven he can play either tackle position.
Raiders have a window of opportunity to make some real noise in 2022. It's hardly bashing to suggest they will need to do better on the O-line than they did last year, posting at the bottom of the league.
My suggestion is, stop making excuses. It's time to dial it up. If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen. Raiders are a loaded gun and expectations have to be high. Players who don't perform at a high level should walk the plank. That used to be the Raider-way.
We've been listening to excuses for 20 years.
McDaniels is working his ass off to make this right. I have no doubt he will measure Parker's abilities squarely on the merits.
I'm all in.
Vegas, Baby!
As it turns out, the Raiders currently have the 2nd most cap space in the NFL for 2022. They may need to use that to sign a vet RT, which there are some available.
Not sure what purpose it serves to leave so much cap dollars on the table. This is crunch time!
Yeah, I know all about it, thx though. I have been beating the need for a RT drum all off season.
There is no other way to say it, Parker is what he is. Blaming him because he can't reach the level needed, is ridiculous. Blaming the coaches for not getting it out of him, is ridiculous. Parker is still around because he has filled a need.
Like someone wrote before, the reality, the reality of the situation, is that it's a young O-line and historically, young O-lines need time to gel, not talking a few practices, talking at least a year or 2. A year or 2 before they can gel and play well as a unit. It's not a video game where you throw a bunch of players together and they play their best. These guys are human beings and that has to be taken into account, if, if you want to deal in reality.
If, if you have so much faith in the mgmt/coaches, then why are you worried? Like you say, they know what they are looking at, right?
Your characterizations of my posts are consistently off target. I'm not sure I understand how I'm blaming Parker.
Much of the process falls on the GM and HC, both of whom have so far elected to stick with an inherited O-line. That's a surprise given what we saw last year. Add to that, the Raiders have ample cap space to sign a free agent.
Parker is an enigma. He's big and athletic but he lacks the skills (and perhaps strength) to play OT effectively. Getting schooled by a rookie Edge/LB and, of all people, Arden Key is not something you expect from a vet OT.
We shall see.
Parker is not an enigma, he is what he is and has been since they drafted him.
Again, the O-line was playing at a decent level by the end of the season as the gelling started to happen. Once again, it takes a young O-line time to gel.
I see the Donkies have a new owner, watched the press conference last night and personally, was laughing at the new 'leadership'. It starts from the top and with them at the top of the Donkies, it looks good for the Raiders.
I see a poster on here sign off as enjoy the ride, I see that is a Donkey term, Russell Wilson is using it all the time.
"...he is what he is and has been since they drafted him."
Not for nothing but that statement seems to contradict the statement that the line needs time to gel. If Parker has already hit his ceiling, Raiders should cut him immediately.
If you're only speaking philosophically, well, that's just weird. That's like saying, "wherever you go, there you are."
FYI, I'm the one who wrote, "enjoy the ride." Maybe you can go back and read the context in which I said that.
It's time to set the bar higher than before.
Be a pirate!
Who said Parker will be starting? Parker is a backup, he had to fill in last year as a starter. Leatherwood should be the starting RT, if he can't do it, then they will have to find another one.
Oh, so you are the Donkey, I get it.
O.K. you don't want me to keep writing about Al and his era O.K., you are pumped about the Pats' guys but you are having arguments about Gruden.
The Raiders are on their 3rd regime after media/ Raidernation claimed Reggie/ Gruden would bring winning ways to Oak/ L.V. so what do we call this new regime?:
1. The New England Way?
2. Vegas Invaders?
3. The Inflation Nation(season tickets, food inside the stadium, beer)?
Al loved speed especially at WR and CB. Media/ fans claimed Al ruined Raiders with too much but Tyrek Hill/ KC showed the new Raiders need a lot of it but media/ NFL claims well coached teams(Pats) can win without it. So what do we say about the new Raiders'?:
1. KC should be at the bottom of the division. Big, fast teams use out dated, ancient and overrated systems.
2. We'll prepare(for teams with a lot of speed) like Bellichick's defense.
3. Tyrek who? Who needs SPEED when you have game managers, a fixed salary cap, a billion dollars and the Pats' Way?
Al liked 4 man lines and always had pass rushers, some of the best in the NFL over the 9 year slump('03-'11). the new Raiders have had some outstanding players but not as 1 line now, they may have 2 of the best in the NFL what do we call their defensive line?:
1. The Silver Rush?
2. Crosby and Jones line services?
3. Jail Break pass rush?
Raidernation should it get new events at/ around the "Death Star"? The fans used to have events(Black Hole, Tailgating) in L.A./ Oak. but NFL rules and the Las Vegas canceled or ruined them. So if what should the new stadium events be?:
1. The Foxborro Hole?
2. Pirate Smugglers(beer, food from stores in the parking lot before/ during games)?
3. Priced Out Fans' Club?
* Laughing at the Broncos?!: Ummmm.....the Donkeys have been to a super bowl I think twice since '12- we've been to none!
They(Denver) have a good QB and defense- we have a good QB. They have a wealthy ownership and that's what the NFL is all about now.
It was Al's way to put winning above money and the NFL/ owners hated it. You started buying into the NFL's ideas; the Broncos ownership is exactly what the NFL wants-, they're not laughing.
We need to worry about our OL and whether Carr and Adams can light it up this year. We need to know if out pass rush can get to the QB. We need to know if some of our DBs have the speed to keep up with faster WRs' as well as being good-very good DBs'.
If we want to laugh at something laugh at how the NFL now says the Raiders are good and other positive things instead of at least five years ago when they were in Oakland.
Maybe this will finally quell the "genius of Jon Gruden" talk. Here's a quote directly from Daren Waller regarding the failures of Gruden's red-zone offense.
“There was a lot of times in the last couple years where I felt like there wasn’t a clear defined attack in the red zone or like a plan for me specifically. I was kind of like “what the f— am I doing?’ sometimes,” Waller said on the Bussin’ with the Boys podcast. “But now I kind of feel like that’s something that’s in place with Josh [McDaniels]… for me there’s no reason why my big a– shouldn’t be dominating in the red zone at all times.”
That's a stunning revelation coming from the 2nd most important player on the Raiders offense.
Remind me again, what exactly are we giving Jon Gruden credit for?
"genius of Gruden", who wrote that?
Gruden built the roster.
Donkies defense is not good, look at the PFF ratings for last year. It's over rated by dummies who don't know any better.
Sandy has been telling us that Gruden is a genius of the offense for years. But he's not alone. Many fans believe that. Waller's words cements in stone that it's not true.
Denver isn't the only team to beat. Chargers and Chiefs are both better than the Raiders on paper (ON PAPER!), largely due to offensive lines, defenses, and QB.
If the Raiders are to be successful, they will probably need to win shootouts with these teams.
Here's the latest headline.
“Urgency Grows Every Day” For Raiders to Sign a Veteran Right Tackle.
The writing has been on the wall since last year. If there is anything the new regime has been remiss, it's this exact issue. Raiders don't have a legit RT on their roster.
I rewatched parts of the HOF game. Parker got schooled early and often, and Leatherwood didn't look much better. He whiffed several times but Raider QBs got rid of the ball quickly.
Look for them to sign somebody, soon.
Oh really? funny, Rice, Keyshawn or Brown NEVER said those things about Gruden.
Neither did any of his QBs'(TB or Oak.) but now we hear Gruden wasn't as good as we thought! Why is that?!
He kicked our asses in the SB, ESPN claimed he was 1 of the best QB coaches ever and he even had a show for QBs'.
He worked with Al and that would make ANY young coach much better.
What did you give Reggie credit for?:
1. firing every Al employee over a 3 year period.
2. drafting average players and signing good UDFA players but not keeping them(S. Harris).
3. not re-signing/ releasing some of the best players in the NFL(M. Bush, DMAC, J. Ford, T. Kelly, S. Routt).
What do you give McDaniels/ Ziegler credit for?:
1. for making big promises about winning?
2. for signing a lot of ex-Patriots with the claim they may bring some swagger to Raiders?
3. for having a huge RB unit without a real star player?
seems nobody no matter how good or experienced could help the Raiders get out of this slump.
Megatron, N. Turner, R. Moss, K. Collins, W. Sapp, Gruden II, Del Rio, Reggie, C. Palmer, D. Hall(Falcons), J. Garcia, A. Brooks, J. Walker, A. Cooper, K. Mack, R. Incognito.
No matter who comes the Raiders keep losing! But now, oh boy the 1 team fans should be suspicious of lets' their guys come to L.V. and its' playoff time!
Hmmmmmm........I wonder why the NFL is so excited about the next few years and why they suddenly support the Raiders?
Is this about the Raiders being accepted and supported by the NFL or is it about that L.V. money?!
Suddenly, a team that can't win with some of the best coaches and players in the NFL can't win for 9(Al years) and only twice in the new regimes. The Pats guys haven't done anything(trading for Adams) that Al and Gruden II didn't do(R. Moss and A. Brown) they've done o.k. in FA but its' more like crowding units(CB and RB) instead of finding 1 or 2 star players their draft was o.k but nothing the other regimes didn't do.
Gruden was a success even when these guys were winning in Foxborro now he's like Al he doesn't know what he's doing anymore.
I think its' o.k. to be supportive of the Pats' guys but this claim they are better than the other regimes is jumping to far!
I think the league just wants to make that L.V. money and they are pushing this team to win.
You're right, Gruden had Al during his first stint and they were successful together. Perhaps Gruden did not have the chops to coach by himself. He more or less proved that in Tampa after his first season and the beat down of his own Raiders team (led by the dumbest HC in football). Plus, Gruden was out of coaching for too long. He was destined to fail.
Go to Raiders.com and watch some player pressers and you'll hear the same theme over and over about how detail-oriented Josh McDaniels is, and not just on offense, it's on special teams and defense too. Players are learning nuances that coaches never taught them before or were unable to clearly articulate.
As I mentioned before, Chris Collingsworth showed us the protection schemes of the O-line and explained how they had improved. Andre James talked about double teams and making running lanes (which obviously worked). We all saw the barrage of screen passes and how well set up and successful they were.
The Raiders players are being coached. It's actually refreshing. Sure, it doesn't mean squat until the games begin, but we should all be happy because it all starts with good coaching.
FINALLY!
We're going to notice a lot of changes under McDaniels by the time the season starts, but perhaps one of the biggest differences between 2022 Raiders and recent years, the Raiders have incredible depth at RB. Gruden wanted to run the ball but never carried depth at the position. Remember, Gruden carried 4 QBs on the 53-man roster to open his first season back with the Raiders.
Every RB the Raiders have fielded so far in two preseason games looks just as badass as the others. And we haven't even seen Bolden yet, a McDaniels' favorite.
Jacobs is still the man but, damn, the Raiders are deep at RB.
Play-action just got supercharged.
The o line sucks its garbage. We had our starters minus Kolton going against their second string and we gave up a ton of pressure. I can't believe the new regime did not address this in the off season. Just terrible. Regards Sandy
If the season starts tomorrow I assume it would be Jermaine Eleumenor starting at RT. Sandy
For all the transaction activity and changes this regime has made, they are exposed to potential failure for neglect on the O-line. Both interior lines plus RT are suspect. IMO, Raiders will need to look closely at waiver wire as cuts are made.
How about just sign Daryl Williams he has nto missed a start in three years and has done a decent to above average job for the Bills.
Sandy
Williams makes sense to me. He's been out there for a while. A stopgap savvy vet.
This is fascinating, and why Gus Bradley had to go.
...only the 2005 and 2008 Colts blitzed less often than the Raiders did in 2021. Raiders relied on 4-man rush 87% of the time.
That's largely why the Raiders were among the worst red zone defenses in the NFL.
My understanding is that read and react defense requires great players and great execution. Raiders just didn't have that luxury, perhaps still don't.
NY,
Yes Bradley is a strict adherent to Cover 3 and rarely uses more than a 4 man rush. However, this was the right move last year given how putrid the secondary was at times. IF the corners are not improved don't expect different from Graham who ranked 27th last year with the Giants in terms of blitz rate.
Sandy
Yeah, that's a bit of a concern about Graham too. But it all starts with pressure, IMO. Pressure dictates how DBs cover. Hoping to see more aggressive press coverage in 2022.
NY, You got that right a potent pass rush can make a corner look good but a good corner can not help make a DE look great.
Sandy
Raiders traded Safety Tyree Gillespie for a conditional 7th round pick. Gillespie was a 4th round selection by the Raiders.
I get it, this stuff happens all the time in the NFL, but to me this is just another disappointment in the draft by the Raiders who have had more than their share of draft failures.
Better to get something than nothing. The move opened a spot for DE Jenkins to sign.
My two biggest concerns coming into the season are RT and DT positions. We have great EDGE guys (C Jones, M Crosby, and M Koonce) but no push up the middle. I am still waiting for Philon to be re-signed as he was a beast before getting hurt. Suh wants too much $$, and has gotten lazy; but DT that can get push is going to disrupt passing games, that is the key.
Yes, the pressure changes how DB's play and cover. Get after it, and JUST WIN, BABY!
Raiders NEED faster DB!!!!
speed at WR
speed at RB
speed at DT
speed at LB
We NEED SPEED!
Nate, is Philon still out there. He's a Raider hero from the end of last season. Someone get that message to Ziegler.
My concern is everyone on the O-line not named Miller. The middle of the D line has some talent but Raiders will need to dial up some blitzes to make the line more effective. Me and Sandy have that much figured out.
Many NFL D coordinators like to rush 3-4 players and keep everyone else in coverage. Former DC Bradley and new DC Graham meet this profile.
The irony is that we consistently hear coaches harping on pressuring the QB, with the favorite expression "effect the QB."
Q: If the most important thing in pass defense is to pressure the QB, why don't they call plays to pressure the QB?
I would bet money, the teams with the best defenses probably have the highest blitz rates.
If Patrick Graham coordinates his defense to the Raiders strengths, he will need to blitz. The Raiders have good cover DBs but they will likely lack pressure from the middle of their D line.
During the Vikings game, there were a few calls which only 3 players stayed in to rush the QB with everyone else in zone coverage. Those plays favored the Vikings, whose backup QBs had no problem exploiting.
2nd teamers or not, that's potentially a problem against AFCW QBs.
Good news for Raiders fans is that McDaniels will push the buttons if the defense is ineffective. His expertise and participation in meetings appear to be much more rounded than past HCs. Nothing worse in recent memory than Gruden allowing the defense to rot under the direction of Paul Guenther. After Guenther left, players were quick to point out Guenther's lack of direction and ineffective coaching.
The Giants tried to retain Graham despite their HC change, so that's a good sign.
NY,
Please see the link below I think this can answer many of your questions on blitzing and its effects.
https://www.footballoutsiders.com/stat-analysis/2022/las-vegas-raiders-pin-hopes-chandler-jones
I believe in Graham and think he will upgrade the defense I am not down on Bradley I think he did the best he could and brought in a number of players last year that helped.
Philon, blew out his knee in the last game of the season. He was starting to look awesome. He did come into Raider camp for a try out along with visiting a few other teams but is yet to be signed. Given the injury and when it happened it is hard to see him being ready for the start of the season. Furthermore I do not think he meet the profile of what Graham ooks for in terms of a DT. He is too light. Its too bas I would like to see him back. Barring that if they can get Suh for under 5 million on a one year deal, I think it would be worth it
Sandy
Not sure Graham has a specific profile with the Raiders just yet, particularly, since the Raiders are loaded more for 4-3 than 3-4 which Graham had become known to employ.
Raiders definitely need a pass rush from the middle. Vickers is no bigger than Philon and he's part of Graham's middle defense. None of the big guys the Raiders drafted and signed (and there are many) have much on paper in terms of pass rush. Butler is already gone.
Suh would be interesting. Philon popped up out of nowhere as a monster against run and pass before his injury. If healthy, he could really help the Raiders, IMO.
Don't forget the people of the Ukraine
and if you need to cool off get the info about
cooling centers for the seniors and find out
if charities like food banks or volunteer groups are passing out bottled water.
Alex Leatherwood appeared to have gotten benched during a preseason game. He was horrible, again!
Raiders zone defense is bad. Dolphins had several easy passes in the first half. DBs backpedaling looks too familiar.
Hankins was solid in his first action.
I'm afraid 2nd half will be all Dolphins. Raiders offense looks lost.
NY, it's still pre-season, so I am not worried about what Graham and company are or are not calling. I'd rather them not show their hand full out at this point. The one thing we can count on, is the Raiders will be running a more hybrid of 3-4 base and Nickel; which means there will be more blitzing than we have seen since the 70's and 80's.
RT is going to be a problem unless the Raiders address it before the season. You would think they would want someone now to get him in and get to know the playbook. But patience is the key here too. One more preseason game, then the season starts. I'm excited and nervous the closer we get, and yet, I feel this season is going to be exciting at every level. We will see. JUST WIN, BABY!
Raiders don't really have the personnel to run a 3-4. Who are the LBs in that package?
If you saw the Dolphins game, you saw the Dolphins QB3 dicing up the Raiders soft zone coverage. And watching Vickers in coverage was painful. He's an interior lineman. Shit like that makes me scratch my head. Doesn't matter if it's preseason, it's never smart to practice or prepare badly. I understand some players in that game won't make the cuts, but the Raiders will also count on many of those guys for depth and rotation.
RT has reached a critical point. Leatherwood and Parker (when healthy) are human turnstiles. Munford appears to be the Raiders only hope, and he's incredibly inexperienced to put out there against Joey Bosa in Game 1.
The Raiders have $22M in cap space. They have all the $ resources they need to sign Suh and a RT to one-year deals... if nothing more than reliable stopgaps.
If offensive line becomes the Raiders undoing in a 2022 playoff run, that would be incredibly bad for Ziegler and McDaniels, especially, with $22M in their pocket.
Look how lucky the Raiders got signing Donald Penn after the Safford deal blew up their face. Let's get lucky again!
Raiders cut Drake. I agree with this move. I have to say, this is the best RB group I can remember the Raiders having in a long time...
... all the more reason the Raiders need to field a strong O-line.
The Dana White story about brokering a deal to bring Brady and Gronkowski to the Raiders has really grown legs. Looks like Mark Davis was on board and Gruden stopped it.
I'm a big fan of Derek Carr but can't help but wonder if Brady and Gronk could have been game changers for the Raiders. Brady is arguably the best QB to ever play.
Look what they did for Tampa. And look what Denver was able to do with Manning.
Unfortunately, this is causing a bit of a sideshow... and I doubt Mark Davis is on board with that.
Raiders don't really have the personnel to run a 3-4. Who are the LBs in that package? It's a hybrid of 3-4 and Nickel. No extra LB's; DBs EDGE and some LB used, but mostly DB's.
As far as Brady and Gronk deal, not sure how that plays out, and if the Raiders fair any better than they did. The only way that would have worked is if Brady had a say in how the offense was ran; I bet that is why Gruden nixed the deal; that is his baby and it is his way or the highway. Well, he got both, his way and was shown the highway. That is why it works so well in Tampa.
You are right, now the Raiders have more money after cutting Drake. They need a vet RT and some help on the D-line. Not sure Suh is the dude though, but not sure who else would be. Raiders blew up the Patriots in joint practice today, on both sides of the ball. There is also talks about a trade with the Patriots for OT Isaiah Wynn.
Not sure about the "hybrid." I guess I'll wait for the book to come out. Nickel is a staple defense for most teams.
Suh hasn't missed a game in years and continues to play at a high level. Raiders need to generate pass rush from the middle of their D-line. Hankins is mostly a run defender, but a damn good one. Suh would be a significant addition to the Raiders rotation.
Mark Davis went from a white pants suit to a gold one. Forbes had posted NFL team valuations earlier this year which the Raiders jumped way up to $5.1B. What they didn't post at that time was the Raiders year over year net income went from break even last year to about $116.5M this year, or about 2.3% annual rate against the inflated valuation. And the Raiders currently have the highest secondary ticket prices, implying there is immediate room for income growth. I assume if McDaniels can get the Raiders deep into the playoffs, Davis can expect another sharp increase next year.
Isn't Davis's WNBA team in the playoffs? Aces!
Both Ferrell and Leatherwood are on the bubble in the next week or so. That's crazy, as both are recent 1st round draft picks. But both players were consensus reach draft picks which the Raiders had no business drafting.
IMO, the Raiders should not cut either one, but it's possible both will be cut. That would be a stunning rebuke of Gruden and Mayock.
New York what's wrong, was it a slow news day for you? You had to jump back on the Gruden hate train. As usual your post is subjective at best and negative and Ill informed as always. Sure Gruden missed on Farrell Damon Arnett and perhaps Leatherwood. But when you assess a team's Drafting and player acquisition you need to look at the entire picture and not just cherry pick a couple of pics. Take a look at the 2019 draft and look at the first round bunch of guys already out of the NFL at most teams hit on 50% of their draft picks. In 2019 Gruden found four pro bowlers two of which look like Superstars in the draft and a fifth starter. No other team was even close to that kind of success. Look at last year, yes Leatherwood is looking like a potential bust but let's see in the meantime Nate Hobbs is a future pro bowler, Moerhig is a quality starter Diablo's a starter Koonce looks like he has potential. Gruden built a playoff roster in 3 years. You are rebuked. Sandy
That's a bit self-righteous, don't you think? Stating my posts are subjective and ill-informed but offering no basis for your own posts. That's rich. "Most teams hit on 50% of their draft picks." You didn't pull that stat out of your ass, right.
Ferrell and Leatherwood are in the news, and both are on the bubble. It's not some random Gruden hate speak.
Maybe you should get over your Gruden man-crush.
Gruden grossly underperformed during his 2nd stint with the Raiders. Sorry to disappoint you but that's a little more than my opinion.
Wrong again bitter one. No basis look at the stats I gave you on 2019. You are the one that just spouts your negative opions with no factual back up or context.
Restoring the Raiders to the playoffs in three years after completely overhauling the roster is not underperforming.
Yes, the Raiders would be a superbowl contender if Gruden had hit on 2-3 more 1st rounders that can not be denied. But painting Gruden's time as a failure is just plain wrong when they did make the playoffs.
Sandy
Sandy,
That's your opinion, and that's fine. Please don't spout it as fact.
Your math is a bit fuzzy. Gruden coached the Raiders for 4 years (4 drafts and 4 off-seasons). I would argue they would have never made the playoffs without Rich Bisaccia but, hey, whatever.
Let me put this in simpler terms for you. Gruden failed at the most critical draft picks, rounds 1-3. Not just failed but reached for players that should never have been drafted so high.
Moreover, if the measure of drafting in the NFL is 50% success rate, as you suggest, and Gruden was able to accomplish 50% (which I don't agree he did), then that's the bar for any average HC/GM tandem.
Again, in simple terms for you to understand, there is no added value for being average. Value is added when you bring something more than someone else can bring.
That's what Davis paid $10M a year for, but clearly, that wasn't the case.
Anyone in the NFL can fail up over four years. Raiders have proven that many times.
NY, you refuse to give credit where credit is due. In three years Gruden acquired Crosby, Moreau, Renfrow, Jacobs, Mullen, Andre James, Waller, Deablo, Hobbs, Ruggs (was looking like a star before crash), Koonce, Moehrig, Kolton, Perryman. You would be hard pressed to find more than a handful of teams that did better over the same span.
Not saying Arnett was a disaster or Ferrel was taken to high or that LEatherwood might be a bust or that Abrham is only average.
But he constructed a playoff roster that is very young, and raised Carr to another level this can not be denied
Sandy
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Many of the players you mention have proven nothing. Every team has good players on its roster. It's the NFL!
With the exception of Crosby, Waller and Renfrow, the entire "Gruden roster" is replaceable. In one fell swoop, Zeigler and McDaniels showed us how easy it is to load a team with quality RBs and they didn't need a 1st round pick to do it. I'm a fan of Jacobs but suddenly even he looks expendable (and another 1st round pick wasted). Drake never lived up to the hype. His release, while necessary, cost the Raiders thx to Gruden.
Players like Waller are now saying publicly that the Raiders did not have a red zone plan under Gruden. That's remarkable and speaks loudly to the fact that Gruden's offensive playcalling was not good, sometimes downright bad.
WRT Carr, McDaniels is showing him tape of Brady running play-action, looking off defenders, etc., which Gruden clearly did not emphasize (the film doesn't lie).
Gruden allowed the Raiders defense to flail under the direction of Guenther before hiring Bradley, who presided over the last ranked red zone defense in the NFL. These are the events and results that you inexplicably defend.
The Raiders were not good under Gruden's direction. It took the inspirational direction of Rich Bissacia to push the Raiders into the playoffs. Bisaccia was a legit candidate to take over the Raiders, but Mark Davis smartly took us to the next level.
There is nothing Jon Gruden did for the Raiders that more competent management & coaching could not have done better.
Again, being average (or below average in Gruden's case) is not value added.
Gruden is a lifetime Raider and I respect him for that. It made me sick when Al traded him to Tampa. But it's time to move on.
The incremental improvements under Gruden that you are fawning over would be considered sub-standard for most NFL head coaches.
The Raiders are finally being coached up. Embrace that, and understand it takes more than a few good players to make a good team.
Vegas, Baby!
You lost me when you wrote the nonsense that there were only three good players on the team last year. I guess Hobbs, Miller, Carlson, Cole, Perryman, Moreau, Heyward, Moerhig were all just journeyman LOL.
You are insufferable
Sandy
Nice comeback.
I can make a list of high-quality players for every NFL team. Again, it's the NFL!
Face it, your position of giving Gruden credit before the Raiders even take a snap is indefensible.
During last night's game we learned more about Gruden's offense. Commentators (Rich Gannon and Matt Millen) said that McDaniels is trying to employ more screens in the Raiders new offense but it's a play that the Raiders seldom used under Gruden and they need a lot of work to get the timing and delivery right.
Once again, the evidence points to the disjointed, incomplete and substandard coaching under Gruden. After a decade absence, it's pretty obvious he lost a few steps and arguably came back way over his head.
McDaniels is coaching circles around Gruden and the Raiders are a better team because of it.
McDaniels hasn't even coached a real game yet, declaring him as miles ahead of Gruden at this point, is just more agitation from this sites agitator. Obviously this 'NY' gets a bone and chews it to death trying to goad others into a circle of absurdity. Throwing out the fishing line, trying to catch an argument.
Again, if this roster does well this year, I wonder how much credit Gruden will receive?
If the team does well this year, who should get the credit for building the roster?
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