2005 Raiders Requiem
The lights are out, the party never really started. Norv has left the building. The landlord is wearing white and wielding a wicked broom.But before we sweep 2005 under the rug, allow me to indulge my “Top 5 Surprises” (aka: things I never saw coming) as a requiem for a lost season:
1. The Unqualificaton of Norv Turner
In the game of life, Norv Turner is still a winner. There’s a lot to be said for that, but it doesn’t make you a winner in the NFL. I teed off on Turner when I felt that he was disregarding some of the basic values of competition. Now that I’ve calmed down a bit, I’m still outraged. But I don’t think it was intentional on his part. I think he was simply overmatched and, ultimately, unqualified for the job. In the heat of the battle, with the clock ticking and the pressure mounting, he consistently lost sight of the big picture while navigating the details. Threads of logic would unravel into bizarre playcalling and clock mismanagement. Finesse and perspective were squeezed by the grip of panic, and winnable games were lost. The final offensive series of the Giants game, stunning in its rebuke of anything resembling imagination, was emblematic of Norv’s terminal coaching illness.
The pressures and responsibilities of an NFL head coach are extraordinary. Great coaches wield a unique variable combination of experience, intellect, charisma, instinct, authority and versatility. Few are capable of that combination, which is why truly great NFL head coaches are so rare. That said, I don’t think any of us ever expected Norv Turner to be a great coach, just a serviceable one. In the end, however, he was less than that, which was both surprising and saddening. Bill Callahan lost control of the team. Norv Turner lost control of the game.
Now that the dirty work has been done, I can stop throwing stones. There are many among us, myself included, who can imagine finding ourselves overmatched by a particular job. I personally wish Norv the best, and believe that he will return to his comfort zone as an offensive coordinator somewhere. It’s time to extend some sympathy for a guy who no doubt tried his best, who took a public beating, and who lost his job with dignity. But it is also time to welcome his departure, because he was hardly the man for this job.
2. Poetry amid Misery
Could you ask for more poetic symmetry than the first and last drives of the season, opposing bookends of hope and hopelessness? To open the season, on the road against the reigning Super Bowl champions, the new Raiders offense diced up the Patriots with a surgical touchdown drive, one that featured receptions by Jordan, Moss, Porter and Anderson, and we were all licking our chops at what was to come…
Yet to end the season, at home against the Giants, the Raiders offense was unable to score in four plays from one yard out. After barely using Zack Crockett in such situations all year, Coach Turner turned to Zack three straight times up the middle from the same formation (this after Zack was gassed from being the feature back due to LaMont Jordan’s injury). Randy Moss, the star playmaker who had already scored two touchdowns, sat unused on the sideline. Finally, Kerry Collins was sent up the middle—and got stuffed. If you’re looking for pure symbolism, there you have it.
3. The Misuse of Randy Moss.
How does a megawatt football superstar like Randy Moss get lost in the shuffle? It’s like going to the opera and seeing Pavarotti as just another face in the chorus. To see such talent so misused was astonishing. The nagging injury didn’t help, but that doesn’t explain it. If he’s out there, he should be, and can be, a factor at all times. It’s just one more good reason our coach was dismissed on Tuesday.
That said, I’m not sure we should all be tiptoeing around Randy and giving him a pass on team leadership responsibilities. From the Press Democrat: “Randy Moss didn't wait to tie up the loose ends, wish teammates farewell or vocally support his embattled coach. Less than 10 minutes after the clock wound down on the Raiders' 30-21 loss to the Giants, Moss was striding down an Oakland Coliseum hallway and into the parking lot, wearing a sweat suit and protective headphones.” Yes, he was rightfully pissed off about the playcalling at the end of the game, but that’s not the fault of his teammates. Yes, Randy is not alone in this modern world of Barry Bonds, T.O. and other detached superstars. But that doesn’t mean I have to like it. Call me old fashioned.
4. The Caveman's Crew
Why am I so excited about a defense that ranked 27th overall and set an NFL record for fewest interceptions in a non-strike season? Because they exhibited intensity and passion, and ultimately outperformed expectations. This youth movement is definitely pointed in the right direction, with some key veterans leading the way. Rob “Caveman” Ryan deserves to captain this ship in 2006. I hope we find a way to keep him in the midst of the coaching turnover.
5. Mutiny in The Nation
The outcry against Al Davis from Raiders fans reached record decibels this year. Personally, I’m not buying it. I love Al Davis. When he passes away in 20 or 25 years (yes, I’m bullish about Mr. Davis’s life expectancy), I hope that they put a radio in his casket so that he can call shots and knock heads from the otherworld.
Regardless, as Raiders fans we might sometimes differ in our opinions, but we are united in our dedication. The journey to a new head coach will be interesting and invigorating, wherever it leads. Onward, upward and just win, baby!
posted by Raider Take at 1:22 AM
18 Comments:
You could tell from listening to Al Davis' announcement that he wasn't happy to fire Norv.
Norv was always positive about his players and the situation, even though we all knew the Raiders were not "competitive" as he used to say every week like Mel Tillis. Norv did not win and winning the Super Bowl is the entire burrito grande in Oakland.
I like Norv. He reminds me of my high school football coach. We won the state championship under Coach Brown. The problem is that approach does not work in the NFL.
By all accounts, Norv can play tic-tac-toe with anyone. His Xs and Os impressed Al Davis during his interview, and rightly so. The problem is players are not pieces of chalk.
Norv diagrammed a play and KFC couldn't make the read or hit his check down receiver in the hands under pressure. Neither KFC or Norv is graceful under pressure.
Al Davis fired Norv because the team showed no Poise. Norv tried his best, but it just wasn't good enough. At least Norv tried.
As you say, he just wasn't up to the responsibilities. I wouldn't be either, that's why my phone didn't ring on Black Monday with an offer from NFL teams.
Before anyone bashes Turner, please remember, your phone isn't going to ring with Al Davis on the line either...
Well said, especially the "terminal coaching illness" part. You can attribute most if not all of the firings this week to an epidemic outbreak of TCI. Maybe Al should grab one of his contemporaries from the "Depends Bowl" last night--although if you watched it you no doubt saw Bowden repeatedly asking his assistant "What did we do?". Talk about losing a foot off your fastball....I want to see Ryan stay also--he definetly has the passion Al asked for and the door seems open, depending on who comes in.
Article by Monty Poole/Oakland Trib
http://www.insidebayarea.com/sports/
ci_3370271
Article by Gwen Knapp re: Davis
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/
article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/
2006/01/04/SPGS7GH4151.DTL
Article by Ann Killion re: Davis
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/
cctimes/sports/13543923.htm
Article by Neil Hayes/CC Times re: Davis and the same old tired tune.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/
cctimes/sports/columnists/neil_hayes/
13543702.htm
I SUPPOSE THAT THOSE OF YOU OUT THERE WHO HAVE THAT "US AGAINST THE WORLD" MENTALITY WHEN WHEN IT COMES TO THE LOCAL MEDIA ARE GONNA HAVE A FIELD DAY READING THE ABOVE ARTICLES. THESE ARE SOME OF THE MOST RESPECTED WRITERS IN THE BAY AREA. THEY ARE JUST TELLING THE SAD TRUTH. WHEN ARE YOU AL DAVIS LOVERS GONNA REALIZE THAT UNTIL THE GRIM REAPER VISITS THIS MAN, WE WILL NEVER WIN ANOTHER CHAMPIONSHIP? I AM TIRED OF THIS CRAP. TIRED OF SPENDING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS EVERY YEAR AND FOR WHAT?
IF ANY OF YOU LISTENED TO DAVIS' CONFERENCE CALL, HE HINTED THAT COLLINS MIGHT BE BACK. MOST OF THE TALKING HEADS ON KNBR SAID THE SAME THING. AM I AS A SEASON TICKET HOLDER OR EVEN A POTENTIAL SEASON TICKET PURCHASER GOING TO GAMES KNOWING THAT A "NICE GUY", A PLAYER'S COACH IS ON THE SIDELINE AND KERRY COLLINS IS BACK AS OUR QB? HELL F-ING NO. I MIGHT EVEN GO SO FAR AS TO ENCOURAGE ANYONE AND EVERYONE TO BOYCOTT THE ENTIRE SEASON NEXT YEAR. YES - A BOYCOTT. THAT'LL SHOW THAT SENILE OLD FART WHO IS REALLY BOSS - THE PAYING FANS. OH YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT. HE DOESN'T GIVE A FAT RATS ASS ABOUT YOU AND ME AS FANS ANYWAY HUH? YEAH, THAT'S WHY HE'LL MOVE HIS TIRED ACT BACK TO LA IN 2010.
HE TALKED ABOUT PASSION, HE TALKED ABOUT WINNING. YET, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE GRUDEN YEARS WE DIDN'T F-ING WIN. HIS F-ING EGO IS COSTING YOU AND ME THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND YEARS OF GRIEF OF ALL THIS GD LOSING! SAD TO SAY THAT IT'LL CONTINUE BECAUSE DAVIS WANTS A NICE YOUNG COACH TO MOLD. SOON AS THIS YOUNG COACH GETS TOO BIG FOR HIS BRITCHES, GOODBYE! OFF HE GOES TO ANOTHER TEAM TO WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP FOR SOMEONE ELSE.
AND WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT THE COACH! HOW MUCH MORE IF COLLINS STAYS AND DAVIS MAKES A BAD PICK IN THE DRAFT? WHEN IS THIS NONSENSE GOING TO STOP? YOU KNOW, THE ANSWER IS - IT WON'T STOP. WE WILL GO ON LOSING GAMES AND SOON ENOUGH, WE'LL LOSE OUR TEAM TO LA OR BUMPHUCK, EGYPT ONCE AGAIN.
ON KNBR GARY RADNICH MENTIONED THAT THERE MIGHT BE ONLY 30,000 FANS IF THAT AT EACH GAME NEXT YEAR. HELL, THAT'S IF ANYONE BUYS TICKETS TO WATCH THIS SHITTY TEAM PLAY. YES, I MEANT THAT. WE ARE A SHITTY TEAM. AND AS LONG AS DAVIS AND HIS SHITTY WAYS, AND HIS SHITTY SLOGANS CONTINUE ON, SO WILL THE LOSING. OH AND IF ANY WRITER FROM ANY OF THE BAY AREA RAGS GET DOWN ON DAVIS, THEY'RE SHITTY TOO. AMAZING.
YES WE ARE AT THE SAME LEVEL AS THE CINCINATTI BENGALS - OH YEAH, THEY'RE NOT SHITTY ANYMORE ARE THEY? YES EVEN THE BENGALS ARE BETTER THAN US, WAY BETTER. THE F-ING PATRIOTS - LOOK AT THE HATED F-ING PATRIOTS AND WHAT THEY'VE ACCOMPLISHED BECAUSE THEY CHOSE A COACH, LEFT HIM ALONE AND NOW WHAT DO THEY HAVE? 3 CHAMPIONSHIPS OUT OF THE LAST 4 YEARS IS ALL. WHAT DO WE HAVE? 3 CONSECUTIVE LOSING YEARS AND MORE SHITTY YEARS TO COME!
YES FOLKS, AND IT'S ALL ON AL. OUR FAVORITE LOSER. HEY I GOTTA GO AND PICK UP THE WIFE FROM WORK. MORE VENOM TOWARDS AL DAVIS FROM ME IN THE MONTHS AND YEARS TO COME.
PEACE!
I'm with Scorpio on this one. Al may strike gold again and duplicate the Gruden hiring but he'll follow it up with running him out of town. If Al wants success, open up the wallet and cede control. Otherwise at best we'll get another three or four year run.
It was Al's call to let Gruden then Callahan go and hire Norv Turner of all people. I mean come on, the great Al Davis had Norv freakin' Turner as his head coach and Kerry Collins as his starting QB!!! I thought the Niners were dumb for hiring Erickson but this was just as bad. If that isn't a sign the old man's lost it maybe believing the city of Oakland could effectively market an NFL team back in 1995 was.
If it is true that Al Davis strongly hinted that Kerry Collins will be back next yr., then this great Head Coach search may be over before it begins. What coach of any value is going to take a job where the owner has already picked his starting Qb, and a lousy Qb at that. Worse yet, it appears as if Collins is falling into a special catagory of bad football players Al Davis has fallen in love with. We all remember the great James Jett, Larry Brown, Ricky Dudley, & Anthony Dorsett. Just a few of the names over the last 20 yrs that have made many a Raiders fan hang his head. If Al Davis likes these guys personally, that's fine. He should invite them over the house for a cup of coffee, but don't litter the field with this garbage, and expect Raiders fan to buy into it with a straight face. I pray this is not true. Let the new head coach with "passion, & hope", pick his own Qb. If that's the case, Kerry Collins won't stand a chance, and thank God for that, because I Am Sick Of LOSING !!!!!1
Here's my take on Al Davis, which I originally posted back in mid-December. I don't think I can recapture the vitriol i expressed at that time, so I'm just going to copy and paste. Sorry for recycling old material.
-----
I'm sorry guys, I just can't drink the Al Davis Kool-Aid.
Here's the thing. I don't dislike Al. The Raiders ARE Al. Al IS the Raiders. Unlike other owners, you know his commitment is to winning and not necessarily to the bottom line. In fact, the slogan is branded on everything silver and black.
The problem is that, much like many other people who are convinced that their way is right, he cannot see his own shortcomings. Unfortunately for Al, while the game hasn't passed him by, it's certainly changed. Unlike the seventies, teams are much more disciplined and better coached. He can't just place the most physically intimidating specimens on the field any more and expect the opponent to soil their pants when they line up opposite them. Other teams have used their lack of discipline against them and have learned that if they wait long enough, the Raiders can beat themselves in a game. The Raiders had a 19 year drought between Super Bowls and one of the main reasons they went in 2002 was the discipline that Gruden had instilled in them from the previous years. And the following year they fell apart. The Raiders were thatclose to another Super Bowl trophy and personality conflicts between Al and Gruden the prior year ultimately doomed the Raiders.
The best organizations and management can see their own faults and can take steps to improve them. If a company doesn't feel they're as successful as they can be, boards of directors can fire their CEOs. CEOs can make changes to their infrastructure to move in a different direction.
But Al Davis cannot fire himself. He is the main person providing vision to this team. So, for better or for worse, the ship goes in the direction he steers it.
But, as Raiders fans, we know this. We accept it. We know that Al isn't going to hire a GM to do his duties. It's not his style and you know that a part of Al would die if he ever did do that.
But just because I accept it, doesn't mean I agree with the direction he's taking the team. I can't just sit back and say, "well, it's the Raider Way" and convince myself that his way is the best.
So what I hope for is that some day Al will understand that "Commitment to Excellence" can also mean acceptance of his own failures and the courage to allow others to run the team with minimal interference. I don't mean hiring a GM, I mean simply hiring the best coaching personnel possible and then letting those people do their jobs. If they fail, let them fail by their own methods. If the players complain, don't let them subvert mangement and redirect them to the coach instead.
That's all I ask.
Well, that and another championship before I die.
Wow, my (and Al's) ass is sore from that little run of spanking!
Scorpio, while I don't agree, you make good points. I'd rather listen to you than the local media, because you're funnier (although the all caps typing is a bit hard on my eyes).
Raider00 brings out the Rickey Dudley and Larry Brown smack! Brutal!
Doobie, that's a very reasonable take, and I think we all agree with the goal of getting a coach who can exert more authority and discipline, because that's all that's worked (ie: Gruden) for the Raiders in the span of five coaches over the past 10 years.
No matter who is coaching, or, quarterbacking next yr, the most important thing is to fix the offensive line. No one can run, or pass behind that swiss cheese.
Monty Poole's column was at least funny. Whatever anyone's opinion of Al, the others were boring, mail-it-in takes with no new insights or comments. Whatever.
I disagree that teams today have more discipline and are better coached [I agree we need more discipline and a better coach]. Today, the coaching is poor. You have maybe 5-6 good coaches, some mediocre coaches or jury-still-out guys and a bunch of stiffs. In the 70's there was Madden, Noll, Landry, Allen, Stram, Weeb, Shula, Coryell, Brown, etc. I know I'm missing some guys but that's nine right there in a league that was 2/3 the size. It's like pitching in baseball, expansion has created more jobs than there is legit talent..
lk, I agree that coaching talent is more watered down, but I disagree on your other points. I think coaching and disciplining today's players is a lot different than doing it in the 70's.
As I've said before, in the past Al's been apt to try to procure the most physically talented people and get them to win ball games. That worked in the seventies, but it takes much more than that today.
First of all, today's physical conditioning (probably with some chemical assistance) is much different in the 70's. Back then, people didn't take care of their bodies the way they do today. Because of this, it's more difficult to find a person today who's at a significant physical advantage to another. Therefore, a lot of other intangibles have to taken into consideration when evaluating players, such as their ability to learn and adapt, their leadership abilities, their desire, their character, their toughness, etc. And then they need discipline on the field to get them to stand out above the rest.
Second, technology has come a long way since the 70's. The ability to review game tape has reached a much higher level. There are more tools available to scout talent and other teams. If you don't get yourself a leg up in this department, you might find yourself at a disadvantage to another coach.
Third, the increased media exposure leaves coaches with a lot of high salaried players with big egos. They need to perform a lot of magic to get them all to play nice together. Plus, with the salary cap, it places more stress on the coach to develop that top draft pick and get him in the starting lineup so that his huge salary can be justified. Back in the 70's you had three years or more to develop a starting QB...not anymore.
I think it's all relevant. It's certainly not a knock to coaches from other eras, but the bar has been steadily raised for coaches over the years, as have the number of distractions they've had to deal with. Just ask Joe Gibbs who's had to go through a lot of growing pains to reacclimate himself to the game.
Doobie-
You make the point well that coaching is more important to winning today than in the 70's. I agree with this completely. You can't out-athlete people, you have to have a better scheme, committed athletes, etc. It also means coaches have more of an influence on losing than in the 70's and I think we agree that the number of coaches performing at a high level today is lacking. Also agree that the stress level is higher due to web, cable, other media etc.
RT-from the crystal ball--looking like not only will Pat Hill be available but so might David Carr [VY comes out, Texans do not pay Carr March roster bonus, release him, draft VY]. I loved Carr at FSU but what little I've seen of him in NFL hasn't been as good, but I think that's more Texans scheme holding him back. Mobile, big-armed QB might look good in the colors; certainly compared to Collins....might move Hill up the list since Carr already knows offense...
I think Carr might be a good fit for the Raiders. He's a got a big arm and he had an impressive outing against the Raiders in 2004, something which Big Al probably noticed. I think the porous offensive line has really hampered his development in Houston and if Al gets the opportunity he might make a play for him. If anything, the fact that Carr hasn't been injured despite getting pounded into the turf so many times speaks a lot about his toughness.
I really think (hope) that the Raiders' o-line's performance this year was just an anomaly this year and will be much better in 2006, otherwise it's going to be a rough go for anyone taking the snaps.
I think the o-line play will turn out to be an anolmaly, if we have a QB that can make a decent pre-snap read. Look at the pro bowl rosters for o-linemen--the vast majority come from teams with QB's who can audible and get to the right play--Pgh, KC, Indy, Cincy, Was, Sea, etc. Not a coincidence. What concerns me about the Raiders line is the T situation--Sims was bad last year, but they kept Gallery on the right side this year anyway. Does that mean the coaches were satisfied with Sims [bad news], or Gallery is not as good as Sims [worse news]. I hope it's something to do with the coaches and or line depth--I think Gallery is strong.
The ability to make pre-snap reads, audible out of bad plays, pocket awareness, and mobility all factor into the successful execution of the offense.
Would it make sense to move Gallery to LT, slide Sims to LG, and have Langston Walker at RT? Should the Raiders target D'Bricakshaw Ferguson (OT Virginia)and try to move up a few spots to nab him? He graded out as a 98/100 by the ESPN experts. Or would it be wise to move down in the draft for extra picks and take an OG like Max Jean-Gilles (Georgia)? I don't see great value in selecting an LB like Demeco Ryan (Alabama) with the 6 or 7th pick. The Raiders can find a playmaking LB in the 2nd or 3rd round like they did with Kirk Morrison.
Hello Fellow Raider fans,
The Raider Take is awesome. As far as spreading the word in the next 5 years, of course the best thing to help us out is to win games. I say that if Mr In-Vince-able declares for the draft we start a misssion. A mission to let Mr. Davis know that we as fans need Vince Young! For those who have watched this young man play you will agree with me that he is a winner. He has that Joe Montana calmness about him. He has that Michael Jordan drive to win and make it happen. That's what we need at QB. We need someone who knows how to win. Kerry has great skills but he just does not know how to win. Plunkett knew how to win, "The Snake" knew how to win, Gannon knew how to win, Vince Young know's how to win. I say we do what we have to do to get him. Trade up, trade big whatever we need to do. Every position on the feild is important but as our very own Raiders proved this year, you can have all the talent in the world but if you don't have a QB that knows how to win you don't win. Lets start massive emails, ,letters ETC to Mr Davis to hear our plea. I have a feeling, a strong feeling that Vince Young could be the man who gets us our next superbowl ring! What better way to market and expand the RaiderNation then to win!
God Bless
Dan
Vince Young will never make it to the 6th overall pick to allow the Raiders to grab him. Since the last time the Raiders have taken a QB in the 1st round has been Marinovich and the last time they've been able to successfully develop a star QB internally was Stabler, I'm not optimistic that Al will trade up to take him...although the fact that he appears to be a "physically dominant specimen" might make him think otherwise.
Oh, and about Marcus Vick...
"poor sportsmanship and his off the feild (sic) antics"
If that doesn't sum up his Raider potential, I don't know what does.
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