Raider Take - The Original Oakland Raiders Blog

Routt Gets Whacked

2012-02-15T11:49:00.001-08:00

Well, still haven't fixed the comments problem past the 200+ mark, so it's time to start a new thread to keep the conversation going, even though I'm still without a very thoughtful take.

So I'll keep it short, but the news about Stanford Routt is really the news of the week, as it's a window into the organizational mind, and where things are headed in terms of fiscal roster management.

Indeed, in the recent press conference to announce Dennis Allen as the new head coach of the Raiders, GM Reggie McKenzie stated, "We’ve got some contracts that are kind of out of whack."

So Routt got "whacked."

Obviously, it leaves a hole in our secondary. As much as Routt hasn't lived up to his big-money contract, it's easy to say we don't need someone, but perhaps harder to actually replace them. Cutting him was probably necessary, but finding a replacement who can play better than him is even more vital.

There's more to come, too. ProFootballTalk put it this way: "Other candidates to be released: Aaron Curry ($5.76 million), John Henderson ($4 million), Michael Huff ($8 million), and Tommy Kelly ($6 million). Even players like Kamerion Wimbley could be up for debate. We’ve seen mixed reaction from Raiders fans on the Routt decision, but it’s a great move. It’s a sign that fiscal sanity has returned to the organization."

Buy, hold or sell the Raiders? Buy, buy, buy, baby! We're stepping into some sunshine, and the future looks bright.

A Non-Take Take

2012-02-08T21:47:00.000-08:00

Well, there's no offseason here at Raider Take, and y'all have been filling up the comment section rather rapidly. And since I haven't fixed the problem with viewing comments past the 200 mark, I needed to start another thread, even thought I don't really have a new take. So here we go...may the debate and discourse continue!

2012 Season: A Post-Mortem

2012-02-03T08:17:00.000-08:00

Thanks to GGRaider, who arrived on the scene out of the blue just long enough to share this brilliant piece of satire in the comments section of the previous take. It's funny enough to merit its own showcase here:

It's hard to believe that it's a day before Groundhog's Day, yet, the Raiders 2012 season is all but lost. It is understandable that fans would be tempted to try and reconstruct what has transpired and wonder "what went wrong?" Yes, how could a season filled with so much promise be caput before it has even begun? To perform the inquiry, you have to wind the clock back to the early off-season.

That first week of January which was filled with so much promise. Finally, the Raiders would get a GM with real power, and a coach who could choose his own assistants. Back then, the sky was the limit. Super Bowl? heck, yeah! Reggie McKenzie seemed like the guy with the right pedigree, part the Ron Wolf management tree, a former Raider. But then, it all started to go horribly wrong. In his first presser Reggie used the word "irregardless". This blog understandably blew up. How the heck can a man have an eye for football talent if he makes up words and dangles participles? Reggie could see he was out of his grammatical depth. In order to obfuscate his verbal shortcomings and realizing that they would prevent any proven coach from coming aboard, he reached and chose a coach who had no ties to the silver & black and probably thinks the Ghost to the Post is a blogging term for a guy who kicks the bucket while venting his spleen on this site.

Dennis Allen in his first presser failed the first test of a Raider head coach. Dennis Allen wore a black & white tie to the event, not a black & silver tie. Huejack never would have made such an obvious sartorial blunder. Heck, Big Al never would have let him on the stage.

Just when the season seemed like the season couldn't get any more off course, Allen sealed the team's fate by hiring Greg Knapp as its new offensive coordinator. Fans shrewdly realized that this must mean that the team would be completely re-built to suit ZBS and a west coast offense. What else could it mean? This offensive scheming stuff is complicated!! Ever tried to enrich uranium? Then, you know what I'm talking about. How could or would a guy like Knapp be able to run anything else? even if his team was drafted for a completely different scheme? But it was too late, there was not going back. Fans were left to look ahead to 2013 and hope for better days.

Many players when asked about these moves agreed that there wasn't much hope. Some candidly questioned whether they should keep going through the motions and show up for this Spring's OTAs. Why risk injury? Better to save it for 2013 when the lessons of 2012 could be addressed. To a man, they all agreed with the provferbial words of Al Davis; that the greatness of the Raiders is in its future.

Raiders Offense Taking a Knapp?

2012-01-31T08:59:00.001-08:00

If reports are to be believed, Greg Knapp is our new offensive coordinator. Not sure what to think about that. He got his playcalling duties stripped by Tom Cable, of all people. Then again, he was working with JaMarcus Russell at quarterback at the time.

Go to the comments section below for Knapp's bio on the Texans site, which will no doubt be removed shortly.

Allen's introductory press conference yesterday was impressive. Yes, he said all the right things, the things you would expect him to say, but he said them particularly well.

In their initial pressers, I remember Kiffin looking like a deer in the headlights, Cable sounding strong but a bit unsure, and Jackson coming off as a bit strident.

By comparison, Allen just seemed cool, collected and quite sure of himself. That bodes well, but the players still have to really buy into him if this is going to work.

The Case for Optimism

2012-01-28T08:04:00.000-08:00

The commenting system here is a bit wonky right now, suddenly limiting viewable comments to 200 total per take. The most recent take is up to 197 comments as of this writing, so while I don't really have a fresh take, I'm creating a new post to keep the conversation going.

Many of the comments lately relate to questioning my, and others', optimism regarding the state and direction of the Oakland Raiders as of January 28, 2012.

Personally, I don't get it. NY Raider summed it up pretty succinctly: "In simple terms, the Raiders are now doing what many of us very much wanted Al Davis to do while he was still alive. Now folks are upset by the fact that we're happy to have Mark Davis and Reggie McKenzie provide us with the very process and structure we've been begging for. Bizarre!"

Optimism is opinion, not fact. It's choosing to believe in a good outcome out of many possible outcomes. I am optimistic and believe that we are on the right track. Why do I believe that we are on the right track? Let me reiterate:

-We had a hole at GM that we needed to fill.

-Mark Davis sought the counsel of Ron Wolf and John Madden.

-Benefiting from that counsel, he hired Reggie McKenzie; some say that Al Davis had instructed his son to pursue McKenzie if necessary.

-McKenzie's credentials are unquestioned at this point. He comes from one of the NFL's most successful organizations, and I've heard no one question his resume or abilities.

-McKenzie considered numerous head coaching candidates from far and wide, if reports are to be believed, and ultimately chose Dennis Allen.

-I know very little about Dennis Allen, but I like what I am hearing. Again, look at McKenzie's credentials, then tell me why I shouldn't be confident that he found a strong coach for us.

-Allen breaks the mold of offensive-minded head coaches for the Raiders, and since defense is our main weakness, the timing is perfect. I think that this will be a wake-up call for players who may have been slacking under Bresnehan's watch.

-Now Allen is assembling his staff, as it should be. I'm not going to spend my afternoon on the Internet researching and pretending that I have great insights into who should fill out the staff. I have no reason to believe that the process of Davis-Wolf-Madden selecting McKenzie, and McKenzie selecting Allen, is suddenly going to break down with awful decisions in filling out the coaching staff.

I think these guys know what they're doing. That makes me optimistic. I am more bullish on the Raiders than I've been in many years. Al Davis pulled us out of the abyss, and now his son and his team are going to finish the job and build a long-term winner. That's my take, and I'm sticking to it until further notice to the contrary.

P.S. OTB made a suggestion for Raider Take in the previous comments section: "I think a good ground rule might be, if I may be so bold, to encourage more news and less PowerPasting of poster quotes."

I don't know about PowerPasting. I will say that I've always viewed this place as more of a social experiment than a news site. It's my diary sharing my thoughts on the state of the Raiders, and you all get to scribble on it, and over time it has become more of a collective diary and a vivid reflection of the diversity, colorfulness, intelligence and craziness of the Raider Nation at large.

I could spend 10 minutes every morning regurgitating news that is easily found on dozens of other sites and blogs, but that seems pointless to me. I could spend 30 minutes or an hour per day analyzing the news and developing more thoughtful takes on a more regular basis, but I don't really have the time or inclination to do so.

So, alas, you're sort of stuck with the quirky, intermittent and unapologetic nature of Raider Take as it is, should you decide to stick around. Personally, I enjoy everyone here, including those who argue with me all the time. It keeps me on my toes, and it's sort of a like a neighborhood tavern where we might all have one too many and start throwing chairs, but we'll be back the next day buying each other a beer.

That's not to say that things don't get out of hand sometimes, and all I can do is ask that folks refrain from profanity, personal attacks, etc. But I'm not in the censorship business, so the comments section will benefit, as always, from self-policing when things get out of hand.

So there you have it, can I buy you a pint?

Raiders Hire Dennis Allen!

2012-01-24T16:02:00.000-08:00

UPDATE: Fox Sports is reporting that Dennis Allen is the new head coach of the Oakland Raiders: "Allen becomes the first Raiders head coach with a defensive background since the late Al Davis promoted John Madden from linebackers coach in 1969."

I don't know why, because I know very little about this guy, but I have good feeling about it. I like the fact that we are changing things up. Our defense has been way too soft for too many years. As this postseason showed us, a stout defense is still vital to building a winner. GO RAIDERS and WELCOME COACH ALLEN!

Reading The Raider Tea Leaves

Just when it sounded like Dennis Allen was going to become the Raiders' first defense-oriented head coach since John Madden, the rumor mill took a strange turn, with Pro Football Talk referencing a CSNBayArea report that there's still a "mystery candidate" in the mix.

I have to say, the suspense is killing me. But personally, I love all of the rumors, because I think there's been a grain of truth to most of them. For example, the whole Mike Tice thing started as a rumor, and he essentially confirmed there was something to it by declaring that he was going to stay put in Chicago.

There's a sense of due diligence being conducted. Of course, you could look at this cast of candidates from far and wide and say it looks more like the Raiders are flailing around, but I don't think that's the case. I've got a good feeling about this. How about you?

P.S. Was it just me, or could you suddenly not see all of the comments in the last take after the 200-comment mark?

News You Can't Use

2012-01-12T07:32:00.000-08:00

Well, it's time to dust off News You Can't Use, thanks to this hit piece on Mark Davis.

Titled "Raiders owner Mark Davis is in over his head," this piece is a series of mental leaps designed to arrive at a predetermined conclusion, but it ultimately fails to reach its destination due to numerous dead ends of faulty logic and assumption.

The author begins by quoting anonymous sources who tell stories of Mark Davis being openly belittled by his father Al Davis in front of Raiders staff. The author uses these stories to delve into all sorts of Freudian-style analysis, suggesting that this is the reason why Mark, not McKenzie (despite McKenzie's own words), fired Hue Jackson.

Essentially, the author declares that Mark Davis wants to rid the organization of anyone who saw him belittled by his father, which would be everyone in the organization if the anonymous sources are to be believed: "To project an image of authority, Mark Davis needs to surround himself with employees who didn’t see him routinely disparaged and condescended to by his legendary father."

If this is the case, then why is Hue Jackson the only employee of consequence who has been canned? What about Amy Trask and the rest of the management staff? Surely Ron Wolf and John Madden, Mark's advisors in the GM selection process, would have seen how Al Davis treated his son over the years, right? So why would he "surround" himself with them? Did Mark Davis look at all intimidated or paranoid at the press conference on Tuesday? Could have fooled me.

By using the words "in my opinion," the author is telegraphing that, hey, this is just an opinion piece, just a column, so I can say whatever I want. But, of course, his piece is more than that. If you want to read an example of a traditional opinion column, read Jason Whitlock's work for Fox Sports.

This piece, however, is news masquerading as opinion. The author quotes anonymous sources regarding Mark's relationship with his father, revealing insider anecdotes in the process, and thus he is breaking news. And when reporting the news, it is your obligation to seek the other side of the story. So, did the author call Mark Davis to get his side of the story? No, because nowhere does it say, "Mark Davis declined to comment on this story."

In other words, this is simply drive-by journalism, a takedown instead of a search for the truth.

Along the way, the author compares Mark Davis to Tommy Boy, the bumbling business heir portrayed in the eponymous movie by Chris Farley. It's no coincidence that, in the movie, Farley's haircut resembles Mark Davis's haircut, which has been widely ridiculed across the Internet since Tuesday's press conference.

The author probably thought he struck analogous gold when he came up with his Tommy Boy comparison, but in truth, he sunk to the lowest form of criticism: mocking someone's appearance.

The author also rips Mark Davis for only interviewing one GM candidate. That's one stance that I sort of understand. But at the same time, this wasn't your typical personnel search. It was one guided by two legendary advisors, who helped identify a uniquely qualified candidate employed by one of the NFL's finest organizations. If you're going to only do one interview, this is how you would do it.

Look, I don't know how Mark Davis is going to govern this organization. I'm not thrilled about his non-stance about keeping the Raiders in Oakland. But what I saw on Tuesday was an owner who was confident, competent and humble all at once, one who "knows what he doesn't know." Based on that press conference, he deserves the benefit of the doubt, at least for a few weeks.

Toward the end of his piece, the author also quotes Mark Davis from the press conference, when Mark noted that he “used to talk to my dad on the phone every night...and talk about football and the organization and things of that nature.”

So he was belittled by his father, but also very close to his father. In other words, father-son relationships can be complicated. Hey, who knew? Apparently not the author of this piece.

Boom Go The Raiders!

2012-01-10T12:15:00.000-08:00

Hue Jackson was fired today, and I am neither surprised nor upset by the news, as promised.

Here's what Jackson said about McKenzie: “He’s going to gut this place. He wants to bring in his own guys. No job is safe right now.”

No job is safe? With those four words, our defense just got a lot better, and the standards of professionalism in Alameda just got raised.

Simply put, McKenzie has decided to pave a new Raider Way, and that's fine by me. When you don't post a winning record in nine seasons, a major shakeup is in order, not to mention long overdue.

We've already been down the road of half measures, and that hasn't worked. The tree is being uprooted, and I expect it to produce much tastier fruits in the near future.

This new Raider Way is simply about returning to the original Raider Way, which was all about winning.

And I think we can expect to see a lot more of that over the next few years.

Paving A New Raider Way

2012-01-06T06:51:00.000-08:00

Well, if reports are to be believed, we have a general manager, one who comes from a first-class organization, and who was endorsed by Ron Wolf and John Madden, and who actually played for the Raiders back in the day.

I don't know a lot about Reggie McKenzie as an executive, but his endorsements and pedigree sound promising.

I honestly don't care what happens with Hue Jackson. For some strange reason, I'm completely ambivalent about him. I thought that he started his tenure strong, but I was pretty unimpressed by the end of the season. I suppose that he could still have some upside, that he could still be the guy, but I think that is open for legitimate debate, and I wouldn't be surprised if McKenzie decided he wasn't the guy.

The Raiders defense was a grease fire in 2011. Apparently, Jackson had the power to hand out draft picks like Christmas candy in his pursuit of Carson Palmer, but no authority to demote a woefully ineffective defensive coordinator?

Worse yet, the Raiders set the NFL record for penalties and penalty yardage, which I believe reflects directly on the coach. In the end, Jackson sounded overly exasperated and a bit in over his head, which is no way to hit the ground running in 2012.

The injuries at key positions like quarterback and running back are no excuse for finishing in third place in a weak division. If we were going to accept mediocrity as a result of injury, then there was no reason to mortgage our future drafts for the sake of fielding Carson Palmer. If Michael Bush was such a drop off the cliff, how did he run for nearly 1,000 yards and earn consideration for a franchise tag?

The Palmer deal could really blow up in our face in the long run. Big Ben, Eli Manning, Tom Brady, Alex Smith, Andy Dalton, Matt Ryan, Aaron Rodgers, Joe Flacco and even Tim Tebow...Do you see a trend with the teams who are in the playoffs this year? Hint: each of their quarterbacks was drafted by their own team (okay, Manning was traded on draft day) and groomed from the ground up.

Drew Brees is the exception. There's also the Texans, who ostensibly should be fielding Matt Schaub, and Alex Smith and Tim Tebow are flukey, but there's a clear pattern with the teams that seem to be there time and time again.

I'm not writing off Carson Palmer, he could still become our Drew Brees or Kurt Warner, but it's time for the Raiders to take a holistic, ground-up, visionary approach to building the team, and it starts at quarterback.

In that context, they should be drafting their QB of the future sooner rather than later. This is a QB-driven league. Carson Palmer should not only be our starting quarterback for the next few years, but he should also be a mentor to our next quarterback for the subsequent 10 years.

But here's the rub: we have several other holes to fill, but also a dearth of draft picks.

Statistically, Jason Campbell and Carson Palmer were in a virtual dead heat in 2011. In 2012, Palmer needs to prove that he's a few high draft picks better than the guy we already had. And if McFadden remains injury prone, then we can expect an encore starting performance from Michael Bush. It should be good enough to win a weak division.

But it won't be if the defense doesn't get squared away. Hiring a capable defensive coordinator is the first step, but not the only one. Our defense is loaded with high-priced veterans and lofty draft picks who have no business getting embarrassed like that, even if Mickey Mouse were on the sidelines calling the schemes.

Again: it's time for the Raiders to take a holistic, ground-up, visionary approach to building the team. It's time to pave a new Raider Way.

That's why Reggie McKenzie is here. And that's why Hue Jackson may be gone, and that's why I wouldn't be terribly surprised or disappointed.

One Postgame Take (R.I.P. 2011 Edition)

2012-01-01T18:53:00.000-08:00

Somewhere, Al Davis is shaking his fist at Hue Jackson, Chuck Bresnehan and the Oakland Raiders. Somewhere, Tom Cable is saying, "Eight and eight? Hey, I got fired for that." Somewhere, Norv Turner and Tim Tebow are smiling.

And that, my friends, is your fitting epitaph to the 2011 season of your Oakland Raiders.

How can I put this nicely? Our defense sucks. It's one of the worst in the NFL. Look at the points scored against the Raiders this season. It will make your jaw drop.

Fire Chuck Bresnehan? Duh. What on Chuck Bresnehan's recent resume made anyone (and the Raiders organization in particular) think that we were going to have a well coached unit during his tenure?

Bresnahan aside, this is on the players. Our defense is loaded with enough high-priced veterans to be able to pull themselves together and avoid the perpetual embarrassment that we saw this season. Something is wrong, something stinks, and it goes beyond Bresnehan.

This was ultimately the season of the OAKLAN Raiders, because there was no D in Oakland (compliments to whoever coined that phrase earlier here, I forgot).

We are now nine seasons deep without a winning record.

Last year, the Raiders won three of their last five games, and two of their last three, including the finale.

This year, the Raiders lost four of their last five. Faced with an opportunity to control their playoff destiny, they instead got manhandled by a teetering Chargers team at home. Along the way, they set the all-time NFL record for penalties and penalty yards, demonstrating an astonishing lack of discipline.

I guess I can find reasons to be optimistic about the 2012 season if I look hard enough. But this maddeningly slow and incremental climb up the apparent Mt. Everest of a winning record is becoming tedious.

In a "show me" season, the Raiders failed to show up in the end, and it cost us a spot in the playoffs. Tim Tebow, not Carson Palmer, is the quarterback from the AFC West who will lead his team into the postseason, and if that doesn't make your blood boil, nothing will.

Chargers Gameday Thread

2012-01-01T12:08:00.000-08:00

Well, here we are, with our first meaningful game in January in nine years. How we got here no longer matters. What matters is where we're going, and we'll know that before the sun goes down this evening.

In 1980, Dan Pastorini went down after five games with a broken leg. Jim Plunkett came off the bench and promptly threw five interceptions. However, he led the Raiders to victories in his next six starts, setting the stage for a wild-card berth and an eventual Super Bowl victory.

Simply put, it's not over until it's over. How you start is not nearly as important as you finish. Today is the day to finish strong and set the stage for another improbable postseason for the Silver and Black. Today is the day to improve upon the record that got Tom Cable fired. Today is a lot of things...

GO RAIDERS!

Chiefs Gameday Thread

2011-12-24T09:22:00.000-08:00

Okay, anyone who saw the 80-yard pass by Caleb Hanie late in the Bears game knew what was going to happen when the Lions were pinned back at their own goal line last Sunday with less than two minutes to go. I knew it, and you knew it, because we've seen it so many times before with this team, across many years and regimes. Even in games they eventually win, the Raiders have made a mystifying art out of the late-game defensive breakdown, with cornerbacks flailing away and safeties in a trance, and even linebackers doing downfield sprints.

Which brings me to the penalty problem, which also seems to be part of the organizational DNA of the Raiders. Blame the zebras? Okay, let's say that 10 percent of the calls are part of the conspiracy margin. So now, instead of committing 10 fouls per game in 2011, let's say we're actually committing nine. Even then we're still the worst in the NFL in that department. Shameful.

The Raiders need to get their act together, starting today. Thank you.

Lions Gameday Thread

2011-12-18T12:59:00.000-08:00

Today we will see if the Raiders' "rejuvenated effort" in practice pays off and keeps us in the playoff hunt. This is the organization's biggest game in nine seasons. Good tidings await. GO RAIDERS!

A Question of Commitment

2011-12-16T08:05:00.000-08:00

The discussion here at Raider Take has taken a turn toward the bitter, which is only natural as the Raiders have suddenly lost momentum and fallen behind the improbable Denver Broncos in the race to the playoffs.

Some of the common sentiments among the regulars here are: (1) quit talking about Tim Tebow; (2) Rolando McClain and our defense are stinking up the joint; and (3) for some reason our team is "running out of gas" and unable to overcome injuries and other assorted excuses.

Well, I'm am going to violate rule #1 above to make a point about #2 and #3.

This is from a story on Yahoo Sports: "While other players went out at night, Tebow loaded films of various offenses in his computer and studied and studied and studied until they were locked in his memory."

Now, compare this 2010 first-round pick to our 2010 first-round pick, Mr. McCLain, who was recently seen halfway across the country at the scene of a shooting. Who knows, maybe McLain is just as dedicated to his craft as Tebow, but if so, it's not showing on the field, nor in his off-the-field exploits.

I know you're all sick of Tim Tebow, but if we're wondering why our team is "running out of gas" and looking a bit lost while the Broncos have mounted an improbable surge, then I think it's an apples to apples comparison.

Both are 2010 first round draft picks. Both are supposed to be leaders of their units. Both play for teams competing for the AFC West crown. The main difference is that McClain was expected to succeed, while Tebow was not.

I don't profess to knowing exactly what is going on in the locker rooms of these respective teams, or what players are doing with each hour of their off time.

But if we're looking for clues as to why one team looks inspired while the other looks tired, then these two young leaders and first-round draft picks are probably a good place to start.

Look, the clock is bound to strike midnight on Tim Tebow at some point, and McClain and the Raiders still have time to redeem themselves. I get that. It's not over until it's over.

But it's still fair to ask why this team's progress is so painfully incremental from one year to the next, and why the team is actually regressing in points scored and points allowed. We can rule out talent. So is it injuries? Coaching? Playcalling? Perhaps.

But there's another potential factor that is hard to pin down, but that also seems increasingly likely: Dedication. Dedication to the art of winning, and doing all that it takes to master that art.

On talent alone, and injuries aside, there is no way the Raiders should be a game behind the Broncos with three to go.

Maybe this team needs something else besides improved health and better playcalling and smarter coaching.

Maybe it just needs to grow up.

One Postgame Take

2011-12-12T06:21:00.000-08:00

The Raiders have now lost four out of their last seven. In those four losses, they have given up 146 points, or an average of 36.5 points. Not once this season have the Raiders held an opponent to less than 23 points.

Forget stats, look at the scores of our games and tell me you can go far in the NFL when handing out points like Christmas candy.

You can look at this game by itself, of course. You can say it's the Packers, and that's what the Packers do, they score a ton of points.

Then again, you could say it's the Raiders, and that's what the Raiders do, they give a ton up.

This is not trending well. We need to win three out of the final three games to give ourselves a slim chance of making the playoffs. The Broncos have a one-game lead with three left, and they own the tiebreaker.

Winning two out of three probably means that we sit home for the ninth straight year, and that we improve upon last year's record by a measly one victory. If that happens, it will be nice to have finally ascended the apparent Mt. Olympus of a winning record. But the progress of the Raiders has become so drawn out, and so incremental, as to be painful. The supposed Team of The Decades is on the verge of taking an entire decade (or more) to reach the playoffs again.

Here was a must-win game, and the Raiders weren't even competitive for the second week in a row. Go ahead and tell me I'm not being optimistic enough. Tell me it will all be okay.

But when the Raiders get outscored 80 to 30 in successive weeks with the playoffs on the line, this is what you get: the return of the Clown Car.

The playoffs, once so promising, remain possible. But the Clown Car needs to be shut down immediately, and the Raiders need to return to playing tough, competitive football now. The margin of error no longer exists.

Packers Gameday Thread

2011-12-11T07:28:00.000-08:00

Conventional wisdom says that we're walking into a buzzsaw today. But maybe it's the Packers who will hit a brick wall?

I wouldn't bet my house on an Oakland victory, but I'm not going to say it's impossible.

The Raiders have looked alternately tough and soft this year, and if this is one of their tougher days, the could prove to be a worthy foe.

Ultimately, we'll see what the Raiders are made of today. GO RAIDERS!

One Postgame Take

2011-12-04T21:27:00.001-08:00

Back, by unpopular demand: The Clown Car. I thought about firing it up after the Chiefs game, was really tempted to do it after the Broncos game, and now there's no stopping it.

I actually didn't see the game, and judging by the comments here, I picked a great time to miss my first Raiders game of the season. I was on the road, tuning in when I could via radio, and each time I dialed the game up, the worse it got.

Because I didn't see it, I don't really have a detailed take, so I will defer to those of you who actually saw it (starting with the understandably exasperated commentary on the game seen in the earlier take).

After the Bears game, I said that it looked like Michael Bush's legs might be tired. Now I'm reading this courtesy of Steve Corkran: "Raiders coach Hue Jackson said earlier this week that he didn’t see any signs of running back Michael Bush wearing down as a result of 84 carries the past three games.On Sunday, Bush looked nothing like the player who amassed 530 yards rushing in place of injured starter Darren McFadden the five games before Sunday. The Dolphins held Bush to 18 yards on 10 carries, with a long of 3 yards."

And what's up with Richard Seymour? This is the second season in a row that he's been ejected from a game, and earlier this year he completely lost his composure against the Patriots. For a young team that's trying to turn the corner on a culture of undisciplined behavior, it's unhelpful when the star veteran on defense is prone to going bonkers.

Meanwhile, it's time to put the Tebow jokes to rest. Not only does Tebow have "scoreboard" on the Raiders this year, he has helped lead the Broncos to an improbable tie for the divisional lead. At this point, the Broncos are nothing less than a viable threat to thwart our playoff aspirations.

The Clown Car is sputtering down the road tonight. Let's just hope the wheels don't fall off.

Five Postgame Takes

2011-12-02T06:55:00.000-08:00

1. So there I was, hanging out on the Coliseum asphalt, cooking meat as the throng grew and the house got packed. The energy was palpable, an energy restored by sustained competence, and now competitiveness, after years of tending to an organizational dumpster fire. What a magnificent scene. There's nothing like the Raider Nation when you add a little hope. That's all it takes. Winning helps, but hope is essential. And hope is back with a vengeance. RAIIIDERRRS! RAIIIDERRRS!

2. It was a strange game, with the red zone struggles and the six field goals. I had to keep reminding myself that the Bears have a good defense, even though we were marching down the field on them. There are worse things than hanging up 25 points on the Bears, even if you have trouble punching it in. Finding a way to win is what it's all about, and that's what the Raiders did.

3. This was my first time watching Carson Palmer in person. He's almost zen-like at the line. Even when he's calling audibles, he exudes calmness and command. No hysterics like Peyton Manning, no wild arm flapping and related theater. The word that comes to mind is POISE. He seems to comprehend each situation with a "been there done that" confidence. His energy isn't red or orange, it's blue. It's a cool energy, but not cold or lethargic like Kerry Collins or JaMarcus Russell. At least that's how it strikes me.

4. Michael Bush had a solid day, but looked like he lacked explosiveness off the line. Was it a consequence of so many carries in the previous weeks? Hard to say. But he was still pretty effective, and his score proved to be crucial.

5. Of course, we had to make it interesting. Who allows Caleb Hanie to chuck an 81-yard bomb on 3rd and 16 from his own 10-yard-line when two more stops ices the game? You know who. Our "Always Interesting" Oakland Raiders.

P.S. Come on, Rolando McClain. We don't know the whole story yet, but we do know that he put himself in a stupid situation. You have to be better than that. That's why you make the big bucks.

Bears Gameday Thread

2011-11-26T12:17:00.000-08:00

I'm pumped up, getting this thread started early. We need to take advantage of breaking opportunities (see Cutler's thumb) and get way out ahead in the AFC West, because we've got some tough opponent on deck. The official march to the playoffs starts NOW!

One Postgame Take

2011-11-21T16:16:00.001-08:00

1. I know it was just the Vikings, but that was an impressive victory in my book. It had all the makings of a letdown game, but the Raiders didn't let us down. They went into a loud hostile environment and took command of the game. Of course, they had to make it unnecessarily close, because that's just what the Raiders do, but when push came to shove, they shut the Vikings down and took command of the divisional lead. Bravo!

2. This Carson Palmer dude, he's all right, eh? Watching him, it's easy to forget that he's been with this team for just four weeks and three games, coming in cold off the couch. I'd say that this bodes very well for the Raiders' playoff fortunes. He didn't have an amazing game, but it was solid enough, and he avoided the big mistakes. Keeping him healthy is so paramount that I can't even think or talk about it, so I won't.

3. Regarding the penalties, I do think that the zebras got some wrong, and that sometimes it smells of vague conspiracy, but it seemed that the worst of them were early in the game, and had little to do with the Vikings scoring so many unanswered points and turning a prospective blowout into a nail biter.

Instead of taking his case to the media, I believe that Hue Jackson should have simply made his case in the locker room. And while he was at it, he could have used the words that BlandaRocked posted in the comments on the previous take: "This has been going on since the 70s. There is absolutely nothing the team, the coaches, the players or the fans can do about it. Al Davis could never do anything about it. It is, quite simply, a fact of life. So how do you instruct a team to deal with this fact of life? You tell them to deal with it. The great Raider teams of the past were well penalized too! You suck it up, and you win right in their faces."

I will say that there is one thing the Raiders can do about it, and that is cut down on the stupid penalties. Even if you remove the questionable calls from the record, it seems to me that we're still a perennial leader in stupid penalties. In other words, control what you can control, and, as BlandaRocked noted, don't get distracted by what you can't control.

4. Michael Bush and Marcel Reese are stepping up, big time. This is what depth looks like, and it's a wonderful thing.

5. Nice to see Kevin Boss with five catches. Overall, Palmer did a great job of distributing the ball, completing passes to seven different players. Now it's time to beat Da Bears and take the divisional bull by the horns.

Vikings Gameday Thread

2011-11-20T09:16:00.001-08:00

Three words: Stop Adrian Peterson.

Two more: GO RAIDERS!

Belated Postgame / Early Pregame Take

2011-11-18T07:01:00.000-08:00

1. Impressive win. A must-win that we won. It almost fully erased the bad taste out of my mouth from the Broncos and Chiefs debacles. A win this Sunday would make me minty fresh all over again.

2. Aaron Curry, great energy coming off that guy. Sometimes a bit too much, as we saw in earlier games. But if he can continue to channel his energy and aggressiveness, then we hit a home run with that pickup.

3. This is why I hate it when Raiders fans make excuses for losses by citing injuries. It just opens the doors for Chargers fans to do the same, citing news stories reporting things like, "By the middle of the third quarter, the Raiders were essentially facing off against the Chargers' second-team offensive line." Which may be true. You know what's also true? THEY LOST. Winners win. The Packers won the Super Bowl last year after losing numerous key players. The Patriots posted a winning record one year after losing the league's best quarterback. And we won against the Chargers after losing one of the league's best running backs. JUST WIN, Baby.

4. Carson Palmer's stock is way up after that game. There were some real "wow" throws (not to mention some "wow" catches--hello Denarius!). If he can stay healthy we've got a great chance of taking this division.

5. I'd like to say that this Sunday is in the bag. It should be. The Vikings are pretty pathetic...But we've been known to play down to the competition, and I'm bothered by the specter of our defense reverting to Swiss Cheese mode in the face of Adrian Peterson. I expect a win...Is that too much to ask?

P.S. Hey, Bazjoz, thanks for the kick in the pants. Maybe if you'd comment more often, I'd write more often. You never know...

Chargers Game Night Thread

2011-11-10T16:52:00.001-08:00

Well, here we are, poised to take the divisional lead after two wretched defeats and falling to .500.

That tells you a lot about how strongly we started...and about how mediocre the AFC West is this year. Every other division in the NFL has a team with at least six wins right now. The AFC North has three teams with six wins. We're fortunate to be in this position with just four wins.

At stake, however, is not only the divisional lead, but also our viability as a winning team. If we fall to 4-5 tonight, we'll have to win five out of our last seven games in order to post our first winning record in eight seasons, and that's with the Bears, Lions and Packers on the docket.

In other words, this is yet another can't-lose game. Talk is cheap, and excuses are weak. It's "prove it" time. GO RAIDERS!

One Postgame Take

2011-11-06T16:26:00.000-08:00

What a joke. That's two disgraceful losses at home in a row to (allegedly) inferior AFC West rivals.

Oh, sure, it looks like we didn't lose divisional ground today (unless the Chargers mount a last-minute comeback), but I'm in no mood for moral victories.

Tim Tebow and the Broncos shoved the ball down our throats today, notching 300 rushing yards. Just like the Bad Old Days, eh? And don't get me started on the penalties.

I thought that this team was ready to take the leap. Now I'm not so sure. The Raiders' mental and physical toughness is suddenly in question. It all has an unsettling yet familiar ring to it.

Broncos Gameday Thread

2011-11-06T08:22:00.000-08:00

Well, the Raiders had a bye week, and so did the front page of Raider Take, so thanks to all of you who stoked the coals and kept the comments fire burning. Been a bit slowed by illness here, too.

So we signed Houshmanzadah (I don't care if I spelled that right or not) and McFadden is out. Odd that we finally signed a veteran possession receiver years after we needed one, and at a point where you could argue we don't. But I'm not complaining, because there could still be some Palmer-Housh magic in the house.

Let's face it, McFadden or not, this should be an easy win for the Raiders. Tebow and Company should not be able to mount any sort of serious attack against our defense.

That said, it still may take a while for our offense to sort itself out with Palmer at the helm. So I won't be surprised (but maybe a little disappointed) if it's a close contest. GO RAIDERS!

One Postgame Take

2011-10-24T07:18:00.000-07:00

Before the game, I wondered: Boller or Palmer? After the game, I had my answer: Take your pick.

I guess this is why Palmer didn't start the game. He just wasn't ready. Then again, you have to ask why the guy we did start, our #2 quarterback (!), was equally unready.

A lot is being made of our key injuries as being instrumental in the loss. Sure, they might have been instrumental, but they didn't tell the whole story. Missing Janikowski was largely irrelevant to the storyline of this game. Losing McFadden was bad, but it's not like Bush, Jones and Company are slouches. There's no way your quarterbacks, under any circumstances, should toss six picks, including two pick sixes. Our offensive line looked squishy at times, and the playcalling verged on gimmicky.

Getting shut out by the Chiefs at home is humiliating, under any circumstances. There's no reason this team should be imitating the Art Shell II era.

Part of being a winning NFL organization is managing your depth chart and overcoming adversity. It's safe to say we have work to do on both fronts.

Let's just hope this is a blip on the radar, not a sign of things to come.

Chiefs Gameday Thread

2011-10-23T12:53:00.000-07:00

Boller or Palmer? We shall see. It's never boring around here, that's for sure. And now that the Jets are coming back against the Chargers, we find ourselves in a great position to possibly take the lead in the AFC West. GO RAIDERS!

Carson Palmer: Foolhardy or Fateful?

2011-10-18T19:48:00.000-07:00

Welcome Carson Palmer to the helm of the Raiders offense, hopefully for several plentiful years to come.

I feel like I should be disturbed by this trade. By the questions surrounding Palmer's checkered health history and potentially diminished abilities. By Palmer's age and questionable longevity. By the fact that he put himself on ice rather than report to the Bengals, who've been doing just fine without him. And most of all, by the high cost of making this panic move.

Now, calling it a panic move doesn't mean it's a bad move. But when you wake up on Monday morning and Kyle Boller is your quarterback, let's face it, that's what you do. You panic. Also, the guy on the other end of the negotiating table knows that Kyle Boller is your quarterback, and so you come to that table with minimal leverage, and you end up paying for it.

It probably shouldn't have come to this, but it did. Jason Campbell isn't exactly Iron Man, and a cursory glance at the depth chart would have told you that we were playing with fire. And when Campbell's collarbone got cracked, the flames began to crackle.

So here we are, and while I feel I should be disturbed...For some reason, I'm not. There's something that feels right about this, and I can't put my finger on it, and I could be flat wrong.

But an elite quarterback has been our missing link for so long, and there's a sense that Palmer still might have a bit of elite left in him.

It could be wishful thinking, but there's a sense of fate surrounding this move, too. Think about it. Our only viable starting quarterback goes down for essentially the season, and the best guy available just happens to be someone who enjoys a positive history with our head coach, a head coach who is leading the team to the next level and carrying the Commitment to Excellence torch for the recently departed Al Davis.

Carson Palmer had better be in it to win it. If he's not, then we're screwed. But if he is...watch out. Here come THE RAIDERS!

P.S. It's never boring in the Raider Nation, eh? This season is already epic, and we're only six games into it.

Postgame (Non) Take

2011-10-17T21:15:00.000-07:00

Okay, I didn't see the game. Wish I had, but I was on the road, and haven't yet had the chance to view my recording. But I've read the reports, and what a bittersweet win it was.

On the one hand, it was a fate-driven victory for Al Davis and the Raider Nation, one that put the Raiders squarely in the playoff hunt. On the other hand, Shane Lechler can't be our full-time QB, can he?

We saw this coming, didn't we? Here's what I said just a few months ago:

"Another elephant in the room now that the lockout has been lifted is our lack at depth at the most important position in the game: quarterback. It's Jason Campbell, and then a drop off the cliff. And there are some who would argue that Campbell himself isn't that far from the cliff."

AND: "Replacing Bruce Gradkowski (whom some would argue was our best quarterback in years) with Trent Edward as our backup QB is a step backwards."

AND: "I'm not particularly sold on Vince Young, but I will say that if the Raiders don't do anything about the weak depth chart at QB, it's going to bite us in the ass in 2011. Mark my words. I can see it from a mile away. Can the Raiders?"

Whom would you rather have at QB next Sunday: Gradkowski, Boller, Pryor or...My vote is for Gradkowski. So why is he backing up a rookie in Cincy instead of backing up Jason Campbell in Oakland?

I hope I was wrong about our (lack of) QB depth biting us in the ass. The Raiders are poised to make a significant step to the next level. I guess it's time for Kyle Boller to make it happen.

Consider me cautiously optimistic.

Raiders v. Browns Gamedeay Thread

2011-10-16T09:25:00.001-07:00

Today's game is an opportunity to position the Raiders squarely in the playoff hunt, and to make Mr. Davis and the Raider Nation proud. Go out and JUST WIN, BABY!

Mark Davis: Badass

2011-10-14T21:41:00.000-07:00

You know what I like most of what I've heard from Mark Davis? Nothing.

That is, I like that I've heard nothing from Mark Davis. Well played, Mark Davis. Well played.

This isn't some guy who was born on third base and, at the first chance, is going to strut to the podium like he just hit a triple. Google "said Mark Davis" and you come up empty. The dude lives in the shadows. Sound familiar?

Certainly, his father cast an intimidating shadow. But with every day that goes by without a peep from Mark Davis, it seems that intimidation isn't what has kept him silent for so long. His silence is being revealed as something more noble.

In his own way, Mark Davis is adding a new chapter to the classic Raiders mystique. According to this column by Scott Ostler, Mark Davis is, in many ways, the polar opposite of his father: laid back, easygoing, not quick to hold grudges. And yet here we are, guessing about his next move, and wondering about how involved he is, and trying to figure out what he is thinking...Just like we were with Al Davis.

In this era of nonstop noise and glory seeking, it's downright refreshing to know so little about Mark Davis.

In the best-case scenario, Mark Davis keeps the team in Oakland, understands his strengths and limitations, delegates appropriately, and leads the Raiders in a modernized direction that nevertheless maintains the Raiders' organizational spirit and cultural legacy. It can be done. It can be done.

Of course, when the only thing on your resume as operating owner is a stirring last-minute victory that honors your Hall of Fame father, you're going to look golden.

Technically, Mark Davis hasn't done anything yet to advance the organizational ball downfield, at least as far as we know.

But then again, what do we really know? And that, my friends, is my point. Mark Davis, like his father, but in a different way, is a badass. His competence has yet to be determined, but his silence bodes well.

We've lost Al Davis, but so far, the ownership mystique is alive and well.

A Win for Mr. Davis

2011-10-09T13:40:00.000-07:00

I'm going to make this quick, because you all saw it, and words pale to the raw emotions of this victory...

1. Wow, what a scene with Hue Jackson at the end, kneeling on the turf, weeping in remembrance of his boss and mentor. Dude's a true Raider, through and through. Mr. Davis, you picked a winner.

2. Gotta love the trio of Raiders crashing down on Schaub late in the quarter to force a field goal, and Tommy Kelly busting a vicious face mask hold to drop the hammer on Schaub in the next series.

3. Game ball to the entire team. It wasn't always pretty, but the entire team got the job done, and won a tough game on the road against a formidable foe. The arrow is pointing up.

4. Awesome "Al" shield stickers and patches on the helmets and jackets. A fitting tribute, in true Raider fashion.

5. The team did Mr. Davis, and the Davis family, proud today. Folks, we have a football team that is heading to the next level. It may still take some time, but it's coming. Here come the Raiders. HERE COME THE RAIDERS!!!

Texams Midgame Thread

2011-10-09T11:58:00.001-07:00

This game is within reach. Momentum is shifting. Go Raiders!

A Legend Passes, A Legacy Remains

2011-10-08T07:46:00.000-07:00

Al Davis has passed away, but his legacy burns brightly.

Words otherwise fail me at the moment. So I will simply give thanks.

I give thanks to Al Davis for creating a remarkable team culture around which my family could rally and bond over the years and decades. For helping forge the NFL as we know it today. For assembling some of the most colorful winners in the history of sports. For being the touchstone of the Raider Nation. And for once again putting the Raiders back on the path to excellence.

They say that the Autumn Wind is a Raider. On this October morning, it blows strongly with reverence and remembrance.

UPDATE: GUEST TAKE FROM BLANDAROCKED

To the 2011 Oakland Raiders (players and coaches), October 8, 2011

Gentleman:

Perhaps the greatest NFL name in the history of the sport died today. Modern football is nearly the pure creation of Al Davis’ mind and will. As of today, your names will forever be linked with his. No matter your youth, you are the end of an era, the end of multiple generations. No season in Raider history will be remembered more than this one.

I believe no Raider team since before the team returned from Los Angeles had more Al Davis fingerprints than this one. Since Al Davis was the individual personification of the Oakland Raiders, this season, more than any other will serve to vindicate the legacy that Raider football is winning football.

Al Davis believed in all of you and knew that you were capable of far more than you’ve accomplished. He was so certain of it that he fired Tom Cable for not getting you to the playoffs. It is time to fully commit to Raider football and to believe in Al Davis.

Remember that brilliance is born of opportunity. Opportunity comes from being in the right place at the right time. You find yourself in the right place at the right time when you know, perfect, and complete your assignments. There isn’t a man on the team who is incapable of delivering at least that much, but from that much, more will follow.

Your duty is clear, and the duty of Oakland Raider fans is clear. For you, “just win, Baby!” And no more needs to be said. For us, we’ll stand beside you every step of the way.

BlandaRocked

On The Brink: Patriots Gameday Thread

2011-10-02T12:49:00.001-07:00

Well, here we are...on the brink of a new era.

Indeed, if we win today, I think it would be safe to declare that a new era is finally up on us. To beat a formidable foe for a second straight week to reach 3-1 would signify a radical departure from previous years.

If we lose, and go to .500, then it won't be the end of the world, and the team will still be better than it has been, but you'll have to wonder if the Raiders are truly ready to make the leap to a serious playoff contender.

We shall see very soon. GO RAIDERS!

Five Postgame Takes.

2011-09-25T21:02:00.000-07:00

1. The last time Mark Sanchez came to Oakland, he ate a hot dog. Today, the Raiders served him a knuckle sandwich.

2. Denarius Moore is remarkable. That scoring run (and jump) exhibited immense and innate talent. His football IQ far exceeds his experience. You can't teach that. Fifth round? Wow. Bravo, Raiders.

3. Darren McFadden is outrageous. Tough yet graceful, powerful yet nuanced, and best of all, reliable.

4. Jason Campbell increasingly looks the part. He's getting it done, he's in command of the situation, and he just looks more comfortable so far this year.

5. Damn, at times, the defense just looked nasty. It looked like the "bully" that Jackson is aiming to cultivate. Yet it remains prone to the big play, and to going soft while protecting (ie: losing) a lead. But I'll tell you what. Every Raiders team has looked like it cares while coming out of the tunnel before gametime. But this year's edition looks like it really cares, right down to the last snap. There's some mojo cooking in Oakland, and it could come to a boil next Sunday against the Patriots.

Hold The Mustard - Jets Pregame Take

2011-09-24T09:04:00.001-07:00

The last time the Jets visited Oakland, Mark Sanchez wolfed a hot dog on the sideline...during the game. How he actually worked up an appetite while breezing to a 38-0 victory is beyond me.

So here we are, with the Jets set to land in Oakland once again, and we are now faced with our second must-win game of this young season.

Now, it's possible that the Raiders could beat the Patriots next week. But let's just say that I wouldn't bet the house on it.

In other words, if the Raiders don't beat the Jets, they'll be staring down the very real possibility of a 1-3 record for the first quarter of the season. No bueno.

The only way this is going to work is if the defense erases all memory of last week's debacle in Buffalo. It's doubtful that Campbell and Co. are going to go hog wild against New York like they did last week.

No, this is one for the trenches. No flashbacks of Sanchez hot-dogging it or LT flying overhead for another touchdown in a new uniform. This is the game where the Raiders defense gets to save the season.

Is that an overstatement? Perhaps. But a 1-2 start with two really tough games right afterward is not exactly the yellow brick road to the playoffs. So let's go, Raiders Defense, step it up and serve those loudmouth Jets fans a little crow instead of another hot dog.

Three Postgame Takes

2011-09-18T14:25:00.000-07:00

1. Introducing your 2011 Oakland Raiders...That is, your same old Raiders.

2. Then again, the same old Raiders haven't been this electric on offense in ages. How about Denarius Moore? He's exactly as advertised. In fact, he's so good, DHB's starting scholarship might be at risk.

3. Don't kid yourself. Looking at the score, you might be inclined to view this as a hard-fought shootout. But the truth is, it was an epic meltdown in the classic Raiders fashion of going soft on defense and generally screwing around in a way that painfully evokes memories of Stuart Schweigert, and then finding that surefire way to let the other team score the inevitable winning touchdown in the waning minutes. Allowing two fourth-down conversions on the final drive? You can't make this stuff up.

P.S. Here come the Jets, Patriots and Texans in rapid succession. Hold onto your hats, it's going to be a wild ride.

Five Postgame Takes

2011-09-12T22:47:00.000-07:00

1. What's that sound? A monkey jumping off our back. Opening game victory. Monday night victory. Prime time victory. Hue Jackson victory. RAIII-DERRS!

2. That said, they sure made it unnecessarily uncomfortable. A three point margin? Phew. It was a strange game. I felt like the Raiders dominated, but in the end, it wasn't a very dominant outcome. It seemed, in many ways, like a typical Raiders game of recent years, with the incessant stupid penalties, questionable composure, anemic passing game, and ill-timed defensive and special teams breakdowns...And yet it was also a different brand of football than we've become accustomed to, with a more aggressive and complex defensive approach, confident offensive playcalling at the right times, hard-nosed hitting on both sides of the ball, and, overall, just a better vibe. I think that the running game is setting the tone for this team, and everything else is trying to follow. Of course, there were games like this last year as well, tentative victories full of promise. It's time to deliver on that promise with consistent winning football. The weeks ahead will be very revealing.

3. Chicken or the egg? Campbell or our receivers?

4. Does Denver have the most annoying-looking fans or what?

5. I see a team that is caught in a cultural struggle between the recent past and a promising future. Tonight, they won that struggle. The nitpicker in me says it never should have been this close. But this is no time to nitpick. I called this a must-win game. They won. 'Nuff said. Great start to the season.

P.S. Jano's record-tying 63 yarder was the difference. Bravo!

Must Win, Baby

2011-09-12T06:55:00.000-07:00

Is there such a thing as a "must win" game in the first week of the season? We're about to find out.

The Chargers are poised for a strong playoff run, and while it was hilarious to watch them get burned on special teams right out of the gates yesterday, they won the game.

Meanwhile, the Raiders are preparing to play what should be one of our weaker opponents, a division rival, on a stage (Monday night) that has turned into a mean little clown show for our beloved franchise in recent years.

In other words, we need to make a statement and notch a division victory and get a monkey off of our back and keep pace with the Chargers. All in week one.

A must win.

A side note...A few weeks ago, as I was watching the Raiders get pounded by the Saints in the preseason, I found myself oddly contented. Why? Because the Raiders were competent, and occasionally brilliant, on offense.

After years of incompetence on offense, including some of the worst football I've ever seen, it's so refreshing to be...well, competent.

But the slogan is Commitment to Excellence, not Commitment to Competence. I can't be content with competence. The Raiders are nothing more than a middling NFL team (8-8) until they prove they aren't.

Being a middling team sure beats being a laughingstock, but we can't let that become a place of contentment. We can't be so relieved at not being awful that we adjust our expectations. The bar needs to be raised, now lowered. The Raiders have spent eight long years being mostly awful. A return to excellence is long overdue. No excuses.

Must win, baby.

Saints Pregame Take

2011-08-26T10:39:00.000-07:00

I believe in the following maxim that I heard recently: the NFL preseason may not count, but it matters.

In recent years, the preseason has told us a lot about the Raiders. In 2008 and 2009, it became increasingly evident during the preseason that the Raiders were flailing. In both preseasons, they lost three out of four games. Last year, they won three out of four, and subsequently played their best season in ages.

Exactly two years ago (August 29, 2009), the Raiders played the Saints and produced a jaw-dropping debacle. At the time, folks tried to convince me that it didn't matter. It did matter. The Raiders were unprepared, outpaced and outclassed, words that could easily describe the season that followed.

So here we are again, playing the Saints in the third week of the preseason. I suggest that we all watch very carefully, because there will likely be plenty of tea leaves to read. The game might not count, but it will probably matter.

Pryor Offense: Terrelle Comes to Oakland

2011-08-22T11:11:00.000-07:00

The Raiders just selected Terrelle Pryor in the third round of the supplemental draft. Will he displace Kyle Boller, as some are speculating?

Not sure how I feel about this. I guess there's not a ton of downside if he doesn't work out. That is, unless Campbell gets hurt and we're down to Trent Edwards or bust behind a questionable offensive line.

I think that the hype surrounding Pryor far outweighs his current value, but maybe there's enough upside there to make it work. I'm not huge on the Raiders bringing guys in with known character issues (it rarely works out for us, the team culture doesn't handle it well), but if Pryor can learn to "Yes, sir" his way to a contributing role, then perhaps it'll work out in the long run.

At the very least, it gives us something to focus on this week instead of the whup-a** that the Niners opened up on us, and the unfortunate fan violence that followed.

They say that preseason doesn't mean anything, but it's been a pretty good indicator of the state of the Raiders in recent years, so let's hope we see some swift progress in the next few weeks.

One Postgame Take

2011-08-12T07:38:00.000-07:00

Well, that was...okay, I guess. Nothing spectacular, but nothing particularly disheartening, unless you were looking for a more vivid reassurance that Nnamdi won't be sorely missed.

As Steve Corkran noted in today's postgame analysis, "Simply put, there is no realistic way to replace a player of Asomugha’s considerable talent. It’s going to take heightened play from every defensive player to help offset the loss of Asomugha."

Well, it's obvious we're a work in progress on that front, and we've got about four weeks left to turn that goal into a reality.

With each passing day (pun intended), Denarius Moore is looking like the anti-DHB: an electric, sure-handed playmaker right out of the gates. Let's hope it's not just a mirage. But he took it from the practice field to the playing field last night, and that's a good sign.

Our quarterbacks all looked sharp, but it's not like we were playing against an elite foe for 60 minutes. In other words, it's probably way too early to come to any real conclusions about the state of the Raiders in 2011.

To be honest, if you asked me today, I would tell you that I won't be surprised if the Raiders fail once again to achieve a winning record. On paper, I'm not seeing exactly how we are going to improve over last year, particularly with what looks like a tougher schedule ahead.

At the same time, I also wouldn't be surprised if we contend for the division title. You can't see culture "on paper." And I believe that the Raiders culture may be reaching a turning point under the guiding hand of Hue Jackson.

I've been trying to put my finger on it, but then yesterday, in the comments section of the previous take, Calico Jack took the words out of my mouth (and improved them, which isn't the first time). Here's an excerpt:

I have been following Hue Jackson's interviews, press conferences, and activities throughout the off-season. There are a few things about him that I appreciate, admire, and find refreshing.

(1) Communication skills; he is genuinely a passionate, articulate, positive, enthusiastic communicator.

(2) Energy...His energy and call for up-tempo practices is contagious.

(3) The message itself; zero waffling or uncertainty about what this is all about...WINNING!

(4) Expectations; once again, Hue doesn't pull any punches or ease into the expectation that the Raiders will win the division THIS year, not next year. The bar is clearly set for 2011.

(5) Accountability; he makes no excuses for the team, the lockout, his 1st year as head coach.

Does it sound like I'm not sticking my neck out and making a bold prediction for 2011? Well, then, you got me, because I'm not, at least not yet. Check back with me later. But if you've got one, I'm all ears.

Zach Won't Be Back

2011-08-02T14:37:00.000-07:00

Well, off Zach Miller goes to Seattle, where he will enjoy no shortage of rainy weather, strong coffee and leftover grunge music. As our receptions leader for the past three years, he will be sorely missed.

It seems to me that there are two priorities when a team heads into the free agency season, in this order: (1) do everything to get better; and (2) absent that, don't get worse.

How's that working out for us so far?

There's still time, but losing Asomugha was a big hit. Replacing Bruce Gradkowsi (whom some would argue was our best quarterback in years) with Trent Edward as our backup QB is a step backwards. And now our receptions leader is heading north to be with Tom Cable and Robert Gallery.

The Raiders seem to have been caught flat-footed since the free agency floodgates have opened. Don't we still need a proven veteran wide receiver to shore up the ranks, especially now that DHB is showing his frailty once again? Malcolm Floyd, Steve Smith...Even Braylon?

Anyhow, I'm just calling it like I see it. I'd love to be more positive right now. That said, there's still time.

Also, it's quite possible that these free agency hits to our roster are worse on paper than they will be on the field.

Hue Jackson's competence and energy could help us gain valuable ground. Our team could be turning the corner from teenager to adult, in terms of group maturity and experience. Being loaded with talent hasn't always been a boon to the Raiders. A true "team" can make up for a loss in talent. Hopefully, we'll prove that in 2011.

Now What?

2011-07-25T19:48:00.001-07:00

What's one city you rarely hear about as a likely destination for Nnamdi Asomugha? Oakland.

Now why is that? If he's worth that much to so many other teams, isn't he worth equally as much to a team that is supposedly on the cusp? A team that can't afford regression in the secondary at the very point it hopes to become competent against the run?

Just asking.

Another elephant in the room now that the lockout has been lifted is our lack at depth at the most important position in the game: quarterback. It's Jason Campbell, and then a drop off the cliff. And there are some who would argue that Campbell himself isn't that far from the cliff.

With the Raiders, sometimes it feels like trying to enclose a water balloon in your fist. You squeeze the balloon and part of it bulges out of your grasp. Then you grab the bulge, and out comes another part...

In other words, just as we enter a position of strength on one front, we start to weaken or continue to spin wheels on another front.

So this is what I believe we need to win the division and have a fighting chance in the playoffs. Jason Campbell has to have his best year to date in the NFL, and he needs to stay healthy. The offensive line needs to continue to improve. The defense must to figure out how to stop the run. And we can't afford to regress much in the secondary.

If these things happen, then maybe we'll finally have that proverbial water balloon in our full grasp.

Of course, I'd like to see improvement in our wide receiver corps, etc. But I think I our best shot comes down to those four aforementioned elements: QB, offensive line improvement, not being a joke against the run, and not taking a big step back in our secondary.

That's my take. What's yours?

Free Jeff George

2011-07-14T11:17:00.000-07:00

I have a confession to make: When Jeff George briefly appeared on our sideline during the exhibition season several years ago, I got excited. I wanted to see the dude drop back and fling it one last time for the Silver and Black. But as I recall, he was gone as quickly as he came, and never even took a snap.

I just listened Jason Whitlock's recent podcast interview with the old gunslinger, and now I'm jonesing for George again. Apparently, I'm incurable. I don't know what it is. I can't say I really like the guy...and yet I do. He still seems to have a little trouble accepting responsibility for some of his past missteps, and yet he also seems charming and grounded. And the dude has a cannon!

Okay, so he's 43 years old. But he's a young 43 years old, right? He hasn't been roughed up in years. Tell me he couldn't hold his own against Boller or Frye. Tell me! Even if you did tell me, you know you wouldn't believe it.

If you think George is too old, I have one word for you: Blanda, baby (well, two words). The Raiders have always been colorblind, and age-blind, too. Forget the birth certificate. Can he fling it? Yes he can.

Look, Jeff George has always been a freak of nature. He may not be a spring chicken, but he's not your typical 43-year-old, either. He's like the arm of Yeti bolted on to a human wearing eye-black and a backwards hat. It's nuts that the guy's been on ice for the past five years. Look at all of the stiffs who've taken the field during that period. You're telling me Jeff George couldn't fill their shoes? Au contraire.

Are you worried that he might be a malcontent, a disruptive presence in the locker room? Once upon a time, perhaps. But now? No way. His teammates would just say, "Pipe down, old man." No, this is a more mature Jeff George, a mentor in the making. Mark my words.

Free Jeff George. Bring him back to the NFL. Bring him back to Oakland, as insurance against an injury to Jason Campell.

And should that happen, you will thank me as the pigskin arcs majestically across the baby blue Alameda sky, spinning as tightly as a top, and nesting like a newborn bird into the suddenly feathered hands of Darrius Heyward-Bey. Touchdown, RAIDERS!

P.S. Please help me spread the word. Send this post to your friends. Join me in Tweeting it. Contact the Raiders, write your Congressperson, whatever it takes to free Jeff George.

P.P.S. Check out this video to behold what awaits us when we free Jeff George.

Jason Campbell - Stopgap or Glory Bound?

2011-07-08T11:45:00.000-07:00

I was just reading Lindy's 2011 NFL annual, with particular attention paid to the pages on the Raiders.

Under the Quarterbacks section, it says, "Jackson has made it clear that his quarterback is Jason Campbell..." Lindy's also states that Campbell "appears to be the one to end the counter-productive carousel at quarterback."

I remember buying a t-shirt at the Coliseum about six years ago or so. It said: RETURN TO GLORY. Of course, we're still waiting for the return, and the Raider Nation is getting increasingly anxious and ornery as each non-winning season comes and goes.

So here we are, after climbing to 8-8 last year, poised to rise above .500 for the first time in ages and finally and hopefully pave that Return to Glory.

Now, we all know that the NFL is a quarterback league. Look at the playoff teams, particularly those who have gone deep in the playoffs, in recent years, and you will see that they are heavily weighted with elite quarterbacks. You can win without one, but the odds are not as favorable.

Which brings us to Jason Campbell. He was pretty solid overall last year, particularly by recent Raiders standards. He'll likely never be a truly elite QB, but the question is: Can he be good enough? Can he continue to improve and demonstrate enough performance, leadership and command to stick around for years and lead us back to excellence?

In other words, is he glory bound, or just another QB stopgap in Raiderland? Personally, I'm torn, and I think the chips could fall either way. What's your take?

Time to Fix The Mix?

2011-06-18T09:13:00.000-07:00

In a recent blog post, Jerry McDonald recounts a recent interview with Stanford Routt on Sirius NFL Radio:

Hosts Tim Ryan and Pat Kirwan tried their best to get Stanford Routt to say the Raiders’ reputation as man-to-man defenders was overblown.

“You can’t play press coverage every damn down," they said.

Replied Routt: “Basically, you just hit it on the head. We basically play man every damn down.”

Ryan challenged Routt with a 2009 game against Philadelphia when the Raiders blitzed Donovan McNabb heavily and backed it with more zone than usual.

Routt said “we ran a little bit of zone that game, but predominantly, (man) is what we do. If we play 60 snaps on defense, at least 56 of those are going to be man coverage. Everyone in the league knows what our game plan is.”

This exchange recalls Nnamdi Asomugha's comments in the wake of that aforementioned Eagles game, when the Raiders mixed things up and delivered a surprise beatdown:

Asomugha is a bit of a skeptic when it comes to promises of pressure tactics.He said he lobbies defensive coordinator John Marshall every Monday, only to come away disappointed the following Sunday.“This time, I guess it worked out just because we knew the type of weapons that they had, and he said he was going to do it,” Asomugha said. “Maybe he’ll see that it actually works, and we’ll stick on it. He said that he might get yelled at for it, but he’ll keep it going.”

Now we have yet another new defensive coordinator heading into the (alleged) 2011 season. So the question is, are we going to mix things up more? Or are we going to stick to the familiar plan referenced by Routt? Do we need to mix it up, and if so, why don't we? If we don't need to mix it up more, why do you feel that way?

Inquiring minds want to know.

It's Draft Time (Yawn)!

2011-04-28T18:44:00.000-07:00

With the 17 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the Oakland Raiders select...Richard Seymour.

How Ironic

2011-04-19T14:14:00.000-07:00

Is it just me, or is there some irony in the NFL going all out to promote the unveiling of the 2011 schedule tonight--when they can't even tell us if there's going to be a season or not?

That said, I'm excited to see how the Raiders' schedule stacks up, and who we'll be facing (ostensibly) in Week One. There are some tough opponents on tap, including the Packers, Patriots, Jets and Bears. Should be interesting!

The First Offseason in Ages

2011-04-12T09:25:00.001-07:00

Well, one thing we've learned during this infamously quiet "offseason" is that Viagra is apparently a better performance enhancer than Purple Drank.

Hmmm...What else? How about those Red Sox? I can't believe that the NFL is testing the patience of fans at the very zenith of its popularity.

I know the draft is coming up, and technically there's no reason not to be as excited as always, but there's just not a lot of wind in my football sails right now. I don't feel betrayed as much as disinterested. That's quite a feat by the NFL, considering my passion for the Raiders and for professional football.

The genius of the NFL over the past 10 or so years is that they essentially eliminated the "offseason." The NFL managed to cultivate a 12-month entertainment cycle. Not this year. They've brought back the "offseason," and if they're not careful, it's going to bite them in the ass.

Anyhow, the Raiders announced a new iPhone app, which sounds pretty cool. Michael Huff might want to trade his pirate for a star.

Meanwhile, the bulk of the NFL action right now is taking place in a courtroom. Let's hope they get their priorities straight before they do some real damage to the sport. Maybe they should call Mr. Davis, he knows how to knock heads and get things done.

A Little Less "More, More, More," Please

2011-02-23T08:08:00.000-08:00

I’ve complained in the past about the Raiders being too retrograde in their operations and their marketing, and I still think there’s room for progress.

But right now I believe that the NFL could now use a dose of Raiders-style “retro-ness,” because I fear that the league is rapidly losing its roots, and perhaps undoing the very things that have made it so successful for so long.

Indeed, shortly after charging 4,000 fans $200 each to watch the Super Bowl on a big screen outside of Cowboys Stadium for a tidy profit of $800,000, the NFL is flirting with sticking a fork in the golden goose with an impending lockout.

(Now, I think that the Raiders could use more porta potties and other gameday fan amenities, but charging 4,000 folks $200 to watch a game outside of a stadium just because you can doesn’t mean it’s a good or noble idea).

One sticking point in the negotiations is the 18-game season. After a year in which the NFL tripped all over itself to demonstrate its supposed concern for player safety, it wants to add about 15% more full-speed playing time to the schedule.

We now have games on Monday night, and Sunday night, and Thursday night. Pretty soon, it will four nights, then five.

More is not always better. Quantity does not always equal quality. But that seems to be the NFL’s motto these days: More, more, more.

The league is gorging on the buffet of seemingly endless fan goodwill. Tasty? Sure. Healthy? Not in the long run.

I love how the debate about the two extra games has been framed: “Hey, it’s two more real games, which means we can now stop ripping you off for the equivalent of two meaningless pre-season games!”

It reminds me of the serial killer who left a message for the cops at one of his crime scenes: “Stop me before I kill again!”

Why do we need two more games? Did you really want to see two more Carolina Panthers games last year? Didn’t the season sort of seem long enough? By the time of the Super Bowl, we were 22 weeks deep if you count each team’s bye week and the week between the championships and the Super Bowl. For me, that’s plenty.

A big part of the NFL is anticipation. Anticipating the season, anticipating the next game, anticipating Sunday. Soon, there will be nothing to anticipate. There will be games on every day, and the regular season and playoffs will span nearly six months, or half the year.

Isn’t that baseball’s problem? The seemingly interminable, always-on nature of the season? Ask the MLB how that's working out.

In terms of the players vs. the owners, I don’t have a dog in the hunt. I don’t really understand all of the nuances of the revenue sharing, and who really deserves what.

All I know is that the NFL is starting to look gluttonous. I want the league to succeed, and I don’t mind everyone involved, the players and the owners, getting rich.

But there’s something increasingly soulless about the league. I’m not naïve. I understand that the NFL has always been a product in one way or another, and that the objective is to make money, as it should be.

My take, however, is that the product is being eroded. I think that the league’s success is being taken for granted, and that there’s an assumption it will always be this way, so that if some is good, more must be better. More, more, more.

The irony is that in the relentless pursuit of "more," the NFL might actually end up giving us nothing for 2011 if the lockout persists.

Go figure.

Guest Take: Back to The Future?

2011-01-21T08:58:00.000-08:00

Following is a Guest Take kindly submitted by Raider Nate:

Al Davis is a different cat. In his prime he was viewed by the media as a "Maverick"; and would be comparable today to Mark Cuban. An innovator who thought outside the normal realm of doing business (or the box). He invented, and then reinvented the wheel; and took cast offs, and made them champions. Players loved playing for him, and old coaches that have come through our doors and remained "family" swear by him (Madden, Flores, and Art Shell are the only coaches that come to mind at the moment). So what's changed? How does this relate to what we are seeing in the business of football? What needs to happen to make it work? Keep in mind, the current CBA was authored by Al Davis. Al Davis saved the league 5 years ago, but can they build upon what he did? That is the big question needing to be answered, and I want to give a perspective on what the issue is, and how it relates to the current status of the Raiders, but first let's put this in perspective of history.

Let's go back to 1919. In this year, something significant happened that changed the face of America's Pasttime, baseball. The Black Sox scandal, where 8 players threw the World Series, to get paid by the bookies and gamblers; what they lost from their owner Charles Comiskey. I find a lot of similarities between Charles Comiskey and Al Davis. Charles Comiskey was known as one "of the most influential figures in the history of the sport, Charles Comiskey's 55-year odyssey through professional baseball ran the gamut from captain of one of the greatest teams of the nineteenth century, league-jumper during the 1890 players' rebellion, chief architect of the American League's emergence in 1901 as a major league, long-time owner of one of the league's most successful franchises, the Chicago White Sox, and a central figure in the 1919 Black Sox scandal. During his long association with the game, Comiskey was, at various points, regarded as a labor radical, a visionary executive, and a domineering patriarch who lavished money on his ballpark and the press while underpaying his best players. Baseball, Comiskey once wrote, 'is the only game that is complicated enough to be always interesting and yet simple enough to be always understood.' Ultimately, the same can be said of the Old Roman himself."

But where he and Al Davis differ is that most players like Al Davis; players did not like Charles Comiskey. As an owner, Comiskey "established a reputation as an owner passionately involved in the day-to-day affairs of his club. Comiskey was never afraid to express his opinions about the game from his private box. Reporters shared numerous stories of Comiskey railing at his team over bonehead plays or games tossed away. Comiskey polished his reputation as a benevolent monarch. Beginning in 1900, he handed out free grandstand tickets to 75,000 schoolboys each season. He constantly professed love for the fans and when it rained at his ball park, the occupants of the bleachers were permitted to enter the higher-priced sheltered sections without extra charge. 'Those bleacherites made this big new plant possible,' announced Comiskey. 'The fellow who can pay only twenty-five cents to see a ball game always will be just as welcome at Comiskey Park as the box seat holder.' He later claimed to have given away a quarter of a million tickets to servicemen, and followed that by donating a reported 10 percent of his 1917 home gate receipts to the Red Cross, an amount totaling about $17,000. Comiskey regularly allowed the city of Chicago to use his park for special events, often free of charge. The owner's benevolence also extended to the press, whom he regularly feted with roasts and free drinks."

Cominskey is a key figure in sports that developed paying player contracts based on incentives. Example, if you win xx number of games, you will receive a $$ bonus. But he was also known to cheat the players out of their incentives. "he squeezed every dime he could out of his players. Long before the 1919 scandal erupted, Comiskey's team was already known as the "Black Sox" for their dirty uniforms, a result of Comiskey's efforts to cut down on laundry bills. While most league players received four dollars a day on the road to cover hotels and meals, the Sox got only three. Most importantly, Comiskey underpaid many of his best players, including three men who later turned against him--star pitcher Eddie Cicotte, Jackson, and third baseman Buck Weaver."

"Eddie Cicotte had been promised a $10,000 bonus if he could win 30 games in a season. When Cicotte closed in on the 30-game goal (at 29 wins), Comiskey had him benched to keep him from reaching the mark. In one incident, he promised his players a bonus for winning the 1919 pennant - the "bonus" turned out to be a case of flat champagne."

Comiskey's dealing with the players' and their bonus incentives contracts, is really similar to what we are seeing in football. Nnamdi's contract was voided based on incentives of sacks, interceptions, fumbles, fumble recoveries, etc. My question is, how many times did he blitz? How many opportunities did he have to force a fumble, recover a fumble (which is based on others on our defense causing a turnover), were injuries considered on improving the number of games he plays? The only incentive that has been answered to me is the interception incentive. According to STATS LLC, Asomugha was targeted on just 33 pass attempts this season. He allowed 13 completions for 205 yards and no touchdowns, burnishing his reputation as a shutdown cornerback. To me that is enough to get at least 1 interception. Deals like this are happening League wide, and there seems to be a sense of disgruntledness among the Players Union, that these contract incentives need to meet certain criteria to allow them to succeed. For instance, Nnamdi's situation. If he had incentives to increase his salary based on improvements like # of sacks, then it should be written in the contract how many times they will use him in a season to meet that #. I mean, blitzing him one time, to try and achieve one sack, is not helping him improve that stat to help him reach his incentive. The argument is currently, if you cannot guarantee this in a contract on incentives, then we want more guaranteed monies. The players point to cases like Nnamdi, as well as Albert Haynesworth as examples. Albert's contract was incentive driven, and he lost a chance to gain those incentives by the Redskins switching to a 3-4 defense. The owner's argue back, Albert is a professional, he should be able to succeed regardless of the scheme. But that is not true. Physically, Albert Haynesworth does not have the "speed" to run in a 3-4 defense. He is a big guy that is to plug running gaps, and gain sacks off the speed of the players around him; which worked tremendously well for him in Tennessee running in a 4-3 based defense. (BTW, can you imagine him and Seymour on the same team, drool, drool).

So going back to the Al/Charles Comiskey similarities. Players did not like playing for Comiskey, and there's a similar hatred with Al and coaches. Why? Because Al doesn't really give his coaches a chance to succeed. A head coach is not allowed to bring in his own assistants/staff. Al does interfere with the coaches during the game. Al does not pay coaches market money to get the "job done". His only requirement is that they win, but he doesn't build a foundation for them to succeed at winning; unless all the planets, moon, and stars are aligned (which has only happened 3 times in history, 1977, 1980, and 1984). He canned Madden because he only won 1 Super Bowl. He canned Flores because he couldn't make things work with Marc Wilson. He fired Art Shell, because Art Shell couldn't beat Buffalo in the snow despite Al Davis not taking the proper equipment to beat Buffalo. He traded Gruden because Gruden didn't want to stay after his contract was up. He fired Cable because Cable didn't make the playoffs, despite showing drastic changes to the product on the field. 8-8 is nothing to be proud of (unless you have 7 seasons of 11+ losses), and especially with news of Cable being fined $120,000 through the course of the season, for unknown reasons. I guess the relationship between Cable and Davis wasn't all warm and fluffy that it appeared to be (which is a credit to Cable for not taking it to the media). Sometimes I wonder if Al does this to his coaches to see if they are "going to betray him" in the media. But now we see that Davis feels that the Raiders' success this year was due to the success of Hue Jackson, not Cable; I guess we will see.

Is it all Al's fault? No, but he is not helping his case either. What are my expectations for 2011? I'm not sure we build on 8-8; especially if we lose Nnamdi, Zach Miller, Seymour, Gallery, and Bush. I think those are key Free Agents that we need to get back. I also don't like the sounds of Lechler being shown the door either. I think these are steps backward, not forward. After 1919, the next time the White Sox were contenders for anything significant was 5 years after Comiskey died in 1936. I feel the Raiders are heading down the same road.

Another New Era in Oakland

2011-01-18T06:53:00.001-08:00

We know that Hue Jackson is a better offensive coordinator than Tom Cable. But is he a better head coach? We're about to find out.

Jackson's order is tall. If he fails to win as many games in his first full season (which may or may not be this year) than Cable did in 2010, then he will come under serious fire. Even if he matches Cable's win total, he'll still feel some heat.

So what Jackson needs to do is nothing less than something the Raiders haven't done in eight consecutive seasons: notch a winning record over a 16-game season.

If you think that's an unfair take, then tell it to Al Davis, who fired Cable for not winning enough in 2010. Mr. Davis got rid of Cable because he felt that the Raiders underperformed their potential, and he won't lower the bar anytime soon.

While most fans were celebrating the Raiders' best season since 2002, Davis was fuming. Cable was the most successful Raiders head coach since Jon Gruden, in terms of tenure at the position and seasonal win totals. It was enough to get him canned.

Honeymoon periods are very short in Oakland. Jackson needs to hit the ground running, as Mr. Davis's axe is never dull.

Tom Cable Cut Loose?

2011-01-04T19:02:00.001-08:00

UPDATE: It's official. Cable is fired.

The rumors about Tom Cable's alleged imminent firing have reached the next level with a report this evening that he has been cut loose by Al Davis.

This story has not been officially confirmed, so I don't know if it's true. If it's not, then shame must be heaped upon the perpetrators. But the language of the report sounds certain, and therefore the news that Tom Cable is no longer the coach of the Oakland Raider bears following, and hopefully we'll have official denial or verification soon.

If Cable has been cut loose, then I am at a loss for words. He fielded a Raiders team this year that was by far the strongest Oakland outfit in eight years. I wasn't a big believer in Cable at the outset, and I'm still not convinced that he is an elite coach. But I have become convinced that he has successfully navigated the organizational waters, elevated the character and performance of the team, and positioned the Oakland Raiders for bigger things to come in 2011.

Looking at it another way, if he's not worthy of coaching the Raiders in 2011, then he certainly wasn't worthy of coaching the Raiders in 2010. He was rewarded for barely a baby step in 2009, but fired after a near quantum leap in 2010?

Say it ain't so.

Chiefs Gameday Thread

2011-01-02T09:23:00.000-08:00

Well, this is it, this is where we either fall short of what I considered the bare minimum in the win column for 2010 (eight wins), or we end the season on a high note and reach the .500 mark for the first time in way too long. GO RAIDERS!

One Postgame Take

2010-12-27T15:48:00.000-08:00

I still can't decide if I'm disappointed or encouraged by our 2010 season. I imagine that our final game against the Chiefs will give me some clarity.

But whether it's one or the other, it beats the way the last several seasons have left me feeling, which is numb and bored. The return of competent, competitive football to Oakland is something to be celebrated.

But while I might crack a beer, I'm not ready to pop champagne corks. There was a moment in Sunday's telecast where they cut to Al Davis, who seemed to be sitting apart from his other suite mates, clad in an oversized Raiders jacket. He was muttering to himself, and while I'm no lip reader, it sure didn't look like PG-rated language to me.

If he's pissed, then I sympathize. Do you think he enjoys being three wins short of the Chiefs, who were 2-14 just two seasons ago? I've been called impatient. Well, I guess I have good company.

It's hard for me to be angry with Jason Campbell for an offense that is simply too inconsistent through the air. It's not like he's throwing to an all-star cast. Also, he has performed precisely as he has performed in the past. Pretty good, but nothing too great. To paraphrase Denny Green, "He is who we thought he is."

Meanwhile, McFadden gets 11 carries on Sunday, compared to 42 throws by Campbell. Our coaching staff seems to have schizophrenia when it comes to our "identity."

Here are some quotes from a few weeks ago, after beating the Chargers:

Cable: "Getting back to our identity. Getting back to what we do best, and that's play hard on defense, battle them in the kicking game and run the football.

Reece: "The game plan was just be us," fullback Marcel Reece said after the Raiders ran for 251 yards and allowed only 21 yards rushing. "Just be us. We're a physical, resilient, bloody-nose team. We're back and we're here to stay."

Gallery: "We had to get back to who we are, and that's physical and smash-mouth. We're not going to win games throwing the ball 40 times."

Is that what you saw on Sunday? Neither did I.

Meanwhile, on defense, the same old problem has reared its ugly head: not stopping the run. We are currently ranked 29th in the NFL in rushing yards allowed.

At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if the Raiders are 10-6 next season, or 6-10. There are enough bright spots to be bullish, yet enough nagging issues to be bearish.

One thing for sure, this isn't the same old Raiders of recent years, and that alone puts a smile on my face.

Colts Gameday Thread

2010-12-26T12:08:00.001-08:00

Well, I was hoping for one last "do or die" game this season, but as of this writing, it looks like the Chiefs are going to reach the 10-win mark today.

Regardless, we have an opportunity here, and that is to end the season on a high note, with two consecutive wins and our first winning record in, well, way too long.

Eight wins was my bare minimum expectation at the start of the year. It will certainly be a relief to reach that mark, but a winning record would really set the tone for 2011. GO RAIDERS!

P.S. Sorry I've been a bit absent, it's just been one of those weeks.

Broncos Gameday Thread

2010-12-19T12:57:00.001-08:00

Time to give Mr. Tebow a big welcome to Oakland. GO RAIDERS!
Get the scoop on putter fitting.

One Postgame Take

2010-12-13T21:09:00.001-08:00

In a season of Jekyll & Hyde performances, this one was neither. Rather, it was a hybrid of our best and worst performances of 2010.

First off, let's just take a moment to applaud our offense. We are averaging 24 points per game so far this season. Last year, it was 12 points per game.

Here's the mathematical analysis: Hue Jackson - Tom Cable as OC + Jason Campbell - JaMarcus Russell + A Healthy, Purposeful DMac = Twice The Offensive Output.

Anyhow, right after the game ended, I was the first to ask: Why put Boller in the shotgun on third-and-three and then fourth-and-three and have him pass the ball on both downs at a crucial juncture in the game? So I'm not surprised to see that there's a bit of a controversy surrounding that decision, with reports that Cable was miffed at Jackson for the playcalling. Well, why shouldn't he be miffed?

Equally perplexing was the last play of the game, when Campbell threw the ball to Ford at the 22-yard line in the final seconds. WHAT IS THE POINT? Three weeks ago, the Jaguars won a game on a Hail Mary pass on this very same turf, showing yet again why you never give up, and why you alway put yourself in a position to win. Yet we're throwing the ball 20 yards short of the end zone with no time left? WHAT IS THE POINT? Why even take a snap if you're going to do that? Shouldn't the receivers be, I don't know, in the END ZONE with no time left? Why do I feel like I'm the only one OUTRAGED by this utter lack of competitive awareness? You fight tooth-and-nail for 59 minutes, then toss the ball for 16 yards when you need 39? As the kids are fond of texting these days: WTF? Indeed, WTF!!!!???

You can say all you want about how this game was lost on defense and special teams. I suppose it was. But we had ample opportunity to win this game, and we didn't. It was a classic case of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, and in the process we probably lost a winnable division race by the slimmist of margins. I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

Jaguars Gameday Thread

2010-12-12T08:41:00.000-08:00

Well, every week I keep saying it: we're in do-or-die territory today.

The fact that I keep saying it is a testament to the grit of this team and its ability to somehow stay in contention despite its Jekyll-and-Hyde personality.

The Jags are due for a letdown, and it's the Raiders duty to deliver it today. GO RAIDERS!

Chargers Gameday Thread

2010-12-05T12:16:00.000-08:00

I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that today's game is the most meaningful game the Raiders have played in more than seven years. For once, finally, we're still in contention for the divisional title in December.

We'll learn a lot about the Raiders today. This is a do-or-die game for the 2010 season. If we win, our chances to contend remain alive. If we lose, it's hard to see us gaining two or more games on the Chargers and Chiefs over the ensuing four weeks.

At the beginning of the season, many of us said that we were in "prove it" mode. Today is the day to prove it. GO RAIDERS!

One Postgame Take

2010-11-29T19:36:00.001-08:00

After a shaky start to the season, the Raiders took off like a comet. The team's newfound trajectory looked like it could take us all the way to the AFC West title.

Now, two games later, the comet has crashed to earth. And unless we can win four out of the next five games, our divisional title hopes will likely be dashed, because it looks nine wins will be the minimum to contend.

Meanwhile, three wins over the next five games are necessary to reach the .500 mark. I would suppose that Tom Cable's tenure hangs in the balance of that eight-win mark. But who really knows?

The offense is the obvious culprit for our recent woes. But buried in the smoking rubble is that our defense has allowed 902 offensive yards over the past two games. We have allowed 180+ net yards rushing in each of the past two games.

On the other side of the ball, how does Darren McFadden get just two yards on eight carries? I don't know which is more absurd: the .25 yards rushing average, or the fact that he only got eight carries. His stats weren't much better the previous week.

I doubt that McFadden's abilities suddenly evaporated. Other teams aren't respecting our passing game, and our offensive line doesn't seem stout enough to do anything about it. Hence, the running game has been shut down.

According to Cable, "This isn't anything new for us. You're going to see eight- and nine-man boxes. That's what happens when you're a good running team. Our system has been built to handle that."

Alas, "systems" don't play the games. It seems to me that we have nagging deficiencies at quarterback, wide receiver and offensive line. Combine that with a defense that seems to be regressing, and we suddenly find ourselves wondering what's up with this team.

In other words, are the Raiders still climbing out of the hole—or are they climbing back in?

I still expect eight wins this season. Anything less would be unacceptable. I'm sure that Mr. Davis would agree with that. In other words, it's time for a turnaround.

Dolphins Gameday Thread

2010-11-28T13:07:00.001-08:00

What can I say? Our contention for the AFC West title increasingly hangs in the balance with each passing week. It's up to Gradkowski and Company to make something happen, and to put last week's debacle behind us. Go RAIDERS!

Steelers Gameday Thread

2010-11-21T08:11:00.000-08:00

Here we are, on the cusp of something special. If the Raiders pull this off, if they beat the Steelers on the road at this juncture, it will be epic. It will be a national story. And it will take the narrative of the season to the next level, and to a place we haven't been in ages. Go RAIDERS!

A Love Letter to DMac

2010-11-11T08:06:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the NFL Network, I was able to watch the abbreviated broadcast of Sunday's victory.

While at the game, I saw Darren McFadden running over the Chiefs, but sometimes from a distance.

Only on the television, with the multiple angles and close-up shots, was I truly able to behold the magnificence of his performance.

This isn't about statistics. His stats were solid on Sunday, but nothing spectacular. This is about attitude and ferocity, which he suddenly has in spades.

Perhaps his most impressive play was one that was overlooked by the broadcasters, and it was a play on which he was the defender. Before the end of the half, Campbell missed on a throw to Higgins, and the ball was intercepted by Jon McGraw, who started ripping off yards in our direction.

Then, suddenly, McFadden came flying across the field and literally ran squarely through and over a blocker and blasted McGraw out of bounds. It was a thing of beauty.

So to Darren McFadden and all of the other Raiders who were blasting the Chiefs on Sunday with tough, physical play, I send this love letter. Thank you for restoring the toughness to the Silver and Black. Keep up the great work.

One Postgame Take - Above .500 Edition

2010-11-08T19:41:00.000-08:00

Well, that was one hell of a Sunday. Inching through gridlock at 9 a.m, eating half-cooked meat in the mud, then filing into the Coliseum amid the revived chant: RAIII-DERRS! RAIII-DERRS.

The old Raider Nation mojo was back, big time. That was evident. Would the Raiders respond?

Not initially. The rain returned as the Raiders failed to score in the first half. But then the clouds parted ever so slightly, and so did the Chiefs as Jacoby Ford torched them to start the second half. Blast off. You know the rest of the story.

Now, Raider Take regulars know that I'm not fond of so-called moral victories. For example, when we laid that egg in Arizona, I didn't want to hear, well, if only Janikowski makes that kick, blah, blah, blah. The fact is he didn't, we sucked, and we didn't win, and if "ifs and buts" were candy and nuts, then every day would be Christmas.

But it cuts both ways. I'm not into immoral losses, either (to coin a phrase). Did the Raiders offense look ugly for a lot of the day? Yes. Was some of the playcalling questionable? Sure. Were there too many penalties (not counting the phantom ones called by that miserable crew of zebras)? Yeah. Were too many passes dropped? Absolutely. Should Cable has saved one of those challenges? Of course. Did we make it too close? Certainly.

But you know what? We won. Period.

Not only that, we won a game that we otherwise always lose. You know, that game--the close contest that always ends in tears, with some asinine prevent scheme, or a missed kick, or ill-timed penalty, or a ball dropped, or a turnover, all amid a hail of whining about the officials.

This time, the defense avoided the breakdown, and brought the beatdown. This time, one of our receivers (hello, Mr. Ford) literally ripped a victory out of the hands of the opponent. Once again, McFadden delivered in the end.

And Jason Campbell, even while looking like a cure for insomnia at times, just keeps delivering victories. I'll tell you what, it sure was nice to see a true professional running that two-minute offense. He looked totally comfortable and in command of the clock and the situation. I've waited years to see competence in such situations. Thank you, Jason.

This ultimately looked and tasted like a cultural shift. It felt like a mature performance. The team has become something, something we haven't seen for ages: a winner.

Chiefs Game Thread - AFC West Showdown

2010-11-06T10:12:00.000-07:00

Okay, time to hit the reset button and start talking about Sunday's game against the Chiefs, a classic AFC West clash with divisional title implications.

I think that defense is going to be the story of this game. The Chiefs have an explosive running attack, and Asomugha is out, putting added pressure on our secondary. There is therefore the real potential of being menaced by the big run and the long ball. It's going to be a real test, and we're going to have to bring our "A Game" to pass it.

I'd like to think that our offense will post a third straight performance of 500+ yards, but that's probably unrealistic. I think that this is going to be more of a brawl than a shootout. As it should be when the Raiders play the Chiefs in Oakland, in November, with rain in the forecast. This is going to be fun. First place, here we come!

Belated Postgame Take

2010-11-01T17:36:00.000-07:00

Well, let me start with Randy Moss. In the words of Nancy Reagan, "Just say no." As in, hell no. Thank you. Yes, I've been agitating for veteran help at wide receiver, but I draw the line with this joker and his poisonous act.

Anyhow, Halloween festivities got in the way of my usual postgame timeline, and I really won't be able to say much more than has already been said by those who kept the lights on for me.

In the past, I've said that our defense resembled Cirque du Soleil: clowns flying around, hitting nothing. Well, the clown show is apparently over. It has been replaced by the UFO known as the Good Ship Raider, whose Men in Black are flying around, hitting everything.

I look at Jason Campbell, and I can't say I'm blown away. And yet he's obviously doing something right. It's strange. He still makes me yawn, but he has presided over the biggest two-game offensive Raiders explosion since the AFL merger, if I'm not mistaken. That would be two consecutive performances of more than 500 yards. Yes, a lot of those yards have come from the run game, but the dude has the stats to prove that he's been a big part of it.

And then there's DHB. In a game where Zach Miller wasn't a big factor, and with Murphy out, DHB stepped it up and delivered his best game yet. And how abut Marcel Reese? Crikey.

Honestly, I think most NFL observers are happy to see the Raiders doing well. That's what I'm hearing on the radio and elsewhere. Yes, they all enjoyed kicking us while we were down, but we were down for so long that it had to become boring. The emergence of a strong Raiders franchise is newsworthy, particularly when it's accompanied by meltdowns in Denver and San Diego. But the Chargers still concern me, as they've shown that they can overcome slow starts in the recent years.

But for the first time in a long time, the Raiders are ready to play a game that really matters, a game that could ultimately decide our divisional destiny. Three weeks ago, we were mourning The Debacle Across The Bay. Now, more than 1,000 offensive yards and 92 points later, we are barreling down the road to first place in the AFC West.

Losing this game wouldn't be lethal, but it would be a big setback. But winning it would be huge. It's high time for the Raiders to do something huge, and I expect that they will. Here come THE RAIDERS!

P.S. Even the national media are taking notice. Heck, Peter King over at Sports Irritating ranks us 13th in the league as of this morning. It will be interesting to keep an eye on the NFL spread for the upcoming Chiefs game. Right now, Vegas has the Chiefs on top, but I expect the Raiders to prove that the house doesn't always win.

Seahawks Gameday Thread

2010-10-31T12:22:00.000-07:00

Well, here we are again, in what I consider another must-win game...This season seems to be full of them, as the AFC West title is still within reach. Also, it's yet another opportunity to climb what has become our personal Mt. Everest: the .500 mark. Which is sort of laughable if you think about it, but also quite real and therefore meaningful. If we're truly turning a corner, we'll see it today. GO RAIDERS!

Broncos Annihilation Haiku

2010-10-27T12:56:00.000-07:00

It came from outer
space; Denver slack jawed amid
the smoking rubble.

P.S. Check out this link to see Broncos fans in full freak-out mode after being trounced by the Raiders. It's priceless.

BOOM! The Good Ship Raider Has Landed

2010-10-24T17:21:00.000-07:00

To borrow a popular word from John Madden: BOOM!

I told you this team has multiple personalities.

If you say you saw this coming, you're full of it (that is, ***it).

From nine points and a passer rating of 10 against a winless team last week to 59 points and an all-time Raiders scoring record the next? BOOM!

The Broncos probably thought they were going to get the meek Dr. Jekyll. And they suddenly got Mr. Hyde. BOOM!

How do you analyze a can of whup-ass? You can't, so I won't. It was creative, dynamic, joyous and unrelenting. I'll leave it at that. Well, maybe I won't...

It's one thing to score 59 points in the NFL, let alone against a divisional rival on the road. Yet it's quite another to do it like a flying saucer coming from outer space, literally out of nowhere as thousands of slack-jawed spectators wonder what just hit them. The Raiders did this? Yes, the Raiders did.

That's right, a UFO landed in Colorado today, the Good Ship Raider, and there are crop circles all over that field. The city of Denver is dazed and confused, smoke coming out of its ears, blinded by Darren McFadden's warp speed and our defense's intergalactic dominance.

Make no mistake, this was a crushing performance, a release of pent-up energy that was seemingly light years in the making.

By the way, congratulations, Mr. Davis. Well played.

What next? I dare to dream: BOOM!

P.S. Share your comments below on this Oakland Raiders blog.

Broncos Pregame Take

2010-10-24T11:45:00.000-07:00

If JaMarcus Russell can win in Denver, so can Jason Campbell. Time to right the ship!

One Postgame Take

2010-10-17T20:07:00.001-07:00

Today, the Raiders became the goose that laid the golden turd.

Coming off a strong win, with the elusive .500 mark finally within our grasp, and with a magnificent opportunity to gain ground in our division, against a pathetic 0-5 team that seems confused half of the time, we stunk up Candlestick with an offensive (in ever sense of the word) so-called performance that invoked the Ghost of JaMarcus Russell.

Halloween must be nigh, eh?

What is there to analyze about this game, beyond the fact that we stunk? Well, for starters, how do you forget to target Zach Miller for a large chunk of the game, when he's really the only person on the field (with McFadden out) who has proven to be a consistent producer? How?

The defense did okay, but got killed on a couple of big plays that sealed the deal. Sound familiar?

It's clear to me that we have a serious long-term quarterback problem on our hands. Jason "Plunkett" Campbell seems nothing more than lackluster, which is essentially consistent with his career before arriving in Oakland. Gradkowski is a firecracker, but he's frequently injured, and not likely to become the next Drew Brees anytime soon. I don't buy him as a big-time NFL starter.

So where does that leave us on the path to becoming a serious contender over the next few years? Who is going to lead this offense in the years to come and take us to the promised land?

Right now, we can't even find someone to lead us into the Candlestick end zone on a dreary afternoon against one of the NFL's weakest teams. We lost to the 49ers. How sad.

Niners Pregame Take

2010-10-17T12:52:00.000-07:00

Well, here we go. We get a two-for-one when we win today. We finally reach the .500 mark, and we send the Niners to 0-6. Plus, the Chargers just lost, and the Chiefs look like they're going down. All things considered, losing has never been more unacceptable. This is the ultimate statement game. Go Raiders!

Belated Postgame Take

2010-10-11T22:11:00.000-07:00

Well, well, well...Welcome back to Oakland, Norv.

I actually didn't see most of the game. I was traveling, but was able to tune into the final 12 minutes. It was kind of cool, in a way. I didn't know what had happened to the point. I didn't know why Jason Campbell was throwing the ball. Nothing to that point had colored my view. I felt like true spectator.

As such, I was thrilled to discover a real, honest-to-goodness football game in progress. Normally, I would have sensed how it would end. You know, the familiar flirtation with winning until the final minutes, when we'd either commit some stupid turnover or employ a soft prevent defense as a gift to the last-second victor.

But I didn't sense that this time. It wasn't my normal viewing experience, and there was something abnormal about what I was seeing as well: determination, resilience, aggression. Instead of being fated to lose, we seemed fated to win.

We were, as Tom Cable promised, finally manning up.

Oh, sure, there were some soft moments. But they were rendered irrelevant by the hard ones. Seeing Jason Campbell direct a potent offense with the game on the line was thrilling. Watching Philip Rivers so thoroughly harrassed in the final minutes was a joy to behold. Confirming that the San Diego curse had finally been snapped was priceless.

I still don't quite know what to think of this team. So far this season, the Raiders have demonstrated multiple personalities. But I am encouraged and excited by what transpired on Sunday.

So I hope that, in retrospect, it's not just a fleeting tease (it wouldn't be the first time), but rather the flashpoint of something meaningful and lasting. Consider me bullish on the latter.

Pregame Take: Man Up Edition

2010-10-09T08:25:00.000-07:00

Here's what Tom Cable said yesterday:

"I think the accountability has gotten where it needs to be now,’’ Cable said. “It’s not a matter of how we did this or what we called, or whatever this or that is. It’s on all of us and we recognize that, and I think we take responsibility for it now.

"That’s really, really huge for us, for this football team, because it’s the first time in the four years I’ve been here where guys man up and say, hey, that’s on me. So that’s a good thing. The next step is you can’t let it happen."

I'm not sure if I find this statement encouraging or disturbing. On the one hand, it sounds like the team has decided to "man up." On the other hand, it has taken numerous drubbings under Cable's watch to reach this point of alleged accountability.

Too bad this point wasn't reached four games ago, when it would have been much more beneficial for our diminishing chances of winning the division. But I'm going to take Cable's word on this. The expectation is that we are finally going to see a positive shift in the character of the Raiders, one in which resilience and the will to win are the defining assets.

On that note, after losing 13 straight games to the Chargers, it is, indeed, time to man up. Go Raiders!

One Postgame Take

2010-10-03T16:06:00.001-07:00

The bad news is that we lost, we're now 1-3, and we're on pace to win four games this year, which would break our own recently extended NFL record for consecutive seasons with 11 or more losses.

The good news is that we continue to lead the NFL in talent, potential, silver linings and moral victories.

Once again, we delivered too little, too late. By the end of the third quarter, our receiving corps had one catch total for two yards against the NFL's 32nd ranked passing defense.. They woke up in the fourth quarter, but not soon enough. Yet even with invisible receivers, we marched the ball downfield and scored points with our refreshingly dynamic trio of Miller, McFadden and Gradkowski.

With Andre Johnson sidelined, we missed a golden opportunity. The mission was simple: stop the run, and we a great chance to win. Well, 250 rushing yards later, it's safe to say that the mission was far from accomplished.

Our team just can't figure out how to win. It's always something. We seem so close at times, yet so often come up empty. Here, we finally have a functioning offense, and our supposedly improved defense reverts back to old form.

So are we as close as it sometimes seems, or is it just a cruel mirage?

Texans Gameday Thread

2010-10-03T13:13:00.000-07:00

Andre Johnson is inactive, this is a golden opportunity, time to seize it! Go Raiders!

One Postgame Take

2010-09-26T17:20:00.000-07:00

"Inept and disorganized."

Those were the words that Tom Flores used to describe our red zone performance during the postgame show. That about sums it up.

Examples include the delay of game on second and goal at the one yard line, resulting in a field goal; and holding on first down at the 13 yard line, resulting in a missed field goal.

But the mistakes were hardly confined to the red zone. We got caught flat footed to start the game, and were down by seven points after six seconds. At one point, we had players from the punting unit and field goal unit on the field at the same time. We committed eleven penalties for 123 yards. Janikowski was off target. Blah, blah, blah.

The upside is that we moved the ball on offense and didn't get run over on defense. We punched in a couple of solid touchdowns. But we kept short circuiting at the wrong time, and it ultimately cost us the game. Why is this team still plagued, after all these years, with disorganization and lack of discipline? It's mystifying. Are we just cursed?

I think I see signs of improvement, but they're just too subtle. We've been supposedly improving for several years now, yet the results are frighteningly similar. We need to beat the Texans next week, otherwise we'll be in very familiar territory: 1-3, and right on course for another 4 to 5 win season.

Are we really improving? Are we close to snapping out of this seven-year daze? Or has another coaching regime hit the wall? I'm interested in your take.

Raiders v. Cardinals Gameday Thread

2010-09-26T12:11:00.000-07:00

Looks like the Chiefs are headed toward their third win to open the season. Meanwhile, the Chargers remain the team to beat in the division. In other words, we can't afford to stumble against a beatable team like the Cardinals. Time for Gradkowski to work his magic and for our defense to prove that it can mount a consistent attack from one week to the next.

Exclusive "Badasses" Author Interview

2010-09-24T18:05:00.000-07:00

Okay, Raider Nation, we have a doozy here: an exclusive interview with Peter Richmond, author of the awesome new book Badasses: The Legend of Snake, Foo, Dr. Death, and John Madden's Oakland Raiders.

Trust me, don't think twice, just go out and buy the book. It belongs on the bookshelf of every Raiders fan. Please forward this take to every Raiders fan you know, we need to reward Mr. Richmond for adding a remarkable new chapter to the lore of the Oakland Raiders.

Without further ado...

What prompted you to write this book?

My last book was The Glory Game, with Frank Gifford, about the 1958 NFL championship between the Colts and the Giants. It was totally cool to immerse myself in the days before football grew into such a corporate, high-money machine, with so many rules protecting the players. Back then, these guys played for the love of the game and the love of their teammates – definitely not money, because there wasn’t any. So when I was done with that one, I asked myself: What was the last team to play for all the right reasons? That played with wild abandon? That played for each other, and a coach who was one of the guys? It’s a no-brainer: Ken Stabler’s Oakland Raiders, whom I used to watch back east in college on the Sunday late games. I became a total Raider addict, from Davis on down, because they were so damned fun to watch. Then, as I began to cover the game in the 80s, and America’s Team emerged, and the money began to breed a whole new kind of athlete -- I realized that the ‘70s Raiders were special. And so I went back to rediscover that pure, elemental joy.

What surprised you most about what you discovered when researching the book?

How incredibly smart they were. I’ve interviewed thousands of athletes. I didn’t expect that most of the guys I talked to were not only smarter than most football players, but smarter than most people. Not just Davis and Madden, of course. But Hendricks wanted to talk about ancient civilization. Gerald Irons found out he was cut when he was taking a masters class in macroeconomics. Duane Benson was a state senator. George Atkinson and I talked more about zen philosophy and the nature of the universe than we did about football. Kelvin Korver owns three navigational patents. Bob Moore is a cerebral lawyer. George Buehler is a madman genius. Villapiano, when he isn’t using the word “fuckin’,” could be the best motivational speaker on the planet (come to think of it, he should use the word..) And that’s just off the top of my head. No wonder they won: Madden didn’t have to drill them endlessly; they picked it all up the first time around.

How much of the early Raiders culture was by design, and how much of it was just serendipity or alchemy?

Great question. The serendipity came first: the name Raiders; being a last-second addition to the league, playing in the shadows of Tony Bennett’s fantasy-town for an underdog city. The pieces were in place. Then, when Davis came in, the sinister/rebellious culture became more by design, reflecting his personality: us against them. Win with players other people discarded. Win any way you can, at any cost – and other than that, there are no rules. The partying was not only a reflection of the players – loose, oblivious to meaningless (NFL) authority – but the collective vibe of the team: have fun all the time, especially on Sunday. When other teams were tight, the Raiders were having fun. And when they realized that the collective image of being Badasses helped them win games, they fed off it.

Can you tell us something about a Raiders legend that we might not know?

That Jack Tatum would have been a farmer if he hadn’t been a football player. That George Atkinson collects Egyptology. That it was Willie Brown’s bed that Bob Brown fired his pistol into. That Ken Stabler is the most modest, self-deprecating star I’ve ever talked to. That John Madden’s ego-less office doesn’t have a single thing in it that celebrates his triumphs. That Al Davis is still as sharp as a tack. That Freddy Biletnikoff doesn’t leave any Stickum on your hand when you shake his. Dave Dalby was the nicest guy on the team, by universal acclaim. Ted Hendricks is no longer the wild and crazy guy who would lie on the floor of the Notre Dame bus, spit to the top of the bus, and catch it in his mouth on the way down. On the other hand, Villapino is as wild and crazy as he was in 1976. No, crazier.

Thank you, Peter! Let's show our appreciation and share our own memories in the comments section.

One Postgame (Victory) Take

2010-09-19T17:16:00.000-07:00

The word of the game was ENERGY. As in, we finally showed some on offense, courtesy of Bruce Gradkowski.

If we even pretend that we have a quarterback controversy on our hands, we're crazy. There is no controversy. Gradkowski is our starter. He is our spark. He is our ENERGY.

I really lost patience with Jason Campbell before halftime when he threw the ball away in open space, with ten yards between him and the nearest defender. I presume that's when Tom Cable lost patience with him as well.

We've been suffering a power outage at quarterback for years. Collins, Brooks, McCown, Walter, Russell...and now, I fear, Campbell. Shufflers, all of them. Questionable command. Little pep. Lack of ENERGY.

The Coliseum lit up like a Roman candle when Gradkowski entered the game, and so did his teammates. Murphy grew wings. McFadden meted out punishment. The defense stepped up its mojo. Even DHB was feeling his oats.

Now, before I get too excited, I should acknowledge that, at the end of the day, we simply turned in a two-point nail biter against a truly dreadful team that has now lost 27 of its last 28 games.

Frankly, I'm tired of baby steps. We need to lose the diapers for good. But this wasn't a moral victory. It was a victory, and I'll take it.

Both of our quarterbacks completed half of their passes. Both threw interceptions. However, Gradkowsi threw for twice as many yards and a touchdown.

At the end of the day, the stats don't include the phrase "Roman candle." The stats don't chant "BRUUUUCE" as the Nation did today. The stats don't reveal ENERGY.

But our eyes saw it, and our ears heard it, and the scoreboard confirmed it. Controversy over.

Rams Pregame Thread

2010-09-18T13:49:00.000-07:00

The Rams are fielding a rookie quarterback and have lost 26 of their last 27 games. This is our home opener. Team pride is on the line. And the season may be on the line as well.

So, in other words, we'll be 1-1 by late Sunday afternoon. Time to turn the tide.

One Postgame Take

2010-09-12T14:52:00.000-07:00

The exorcism of JaMarcus Russell was supposed to herald a new era on offense. Alas, the new era is on indefinite hold after today's bumbling performance against the Titans.

The numbers just don't reveal how inept our offense looked at times today, particularly in the first half. The pressure on Campbell was hellacious. Does that let our receivers off the hook for their collective invisibility? Thankfully, McFadden and Miller acted as a relief valve that allowed us to occasionally move the ball downfield. Unfortunately, many of our strides were made long after the game was decided, at a point when the Titans looked disinterested.

The overall upside is that McFadden looked sharp, Miller did his part and Campbell used his legs several times to avoid added trouble. I get the feeling this won't be the last time he has to run for his life.

Before this game, I said that offensive line and wide receiver were two big areas of concern. Well, I remain concerned.

If you think about it, what is our offense, in terms of personnel? It's basically the same as last year, minus Justin Fargas, with a little more inexperience along the line, and a different quarterback who may or may not have an edge on Gradkowski in the ability department. Calibrate your expectations accordingly.

As for our defense, well, it was deja vu all over again as well. Yes, I know that Chris Johnson is a beast. But this was a time to make a statement against the league's best, and we didn't. Not only did we give up more than 200 total rushing yards again, we got gashed by the all-too-familiar big run, a 76-yarder by Johnson for a touchdown.

That wasn't a run defense today. It was a rerun defense.

I also question the call to kick a field goal on 4th and 1 while down 24-3 right before the end of the half. I guess you have to get points where you can get them at that juncture. Still, it just struck me as unecessarily timid.

Anyhow, here we are at 0-1. The crystal ball just got cloudier, and the climb to .500 just got a little harder. Our record should be 1-1 after next week's game against the lowly Rams. But "should" has become a perilous word in the Nation.

Kickoff 2010: Let The Good Times Roll

2010-09-11T20:22:00.000-07:00

The 2010 regular season is upon us, and I'm excited to see Raiders turn the corner and return to being a force in the AFC West and beyond.

I am cautiously optimistic and naturally impatient after so many false starts that have resulted in 11 or more losses every season since today's kindergarteners were in the womb.

The Raiders did a nice job of positioning themselves for improvement in 2010. They maintained continuity at the top of the coaching ranks, while adding to the offensive equation with the appointment of Hue Jackson as offensive coordinator. They dispatched JaMarcus Russell and replaced him with Jason Campbell, resulting in a huge swing in the character department at the most important position. They drafted with purpose and reinforced the linebacking corps in an concerted effort to (finally) stop the run. For a second straight year, they resisted the temptation to bring in (or trade for) high-risk, low-character players.

In other words, we are witnessing some much-needed stability taking root and, hopefully, bearing fruit.

That said, areas of concern remain. For me, the main areas of concern are offensive line, the deep side of the defense opposite Nnamdi, and the wide receiving corps (I might include run defense, but I've got to think--or hope--that serious strides have been made on that front).

Stanford Routt, entering his sixth season, won the starting CB role over Chris Johnson. To say that the jury's out on Routt would be an understatment. As for the offensive line, well, let's just say that I'm glad we have some real depth at quarterback with Gradkowski, because Campell is already nursing some wounds.

The topic of wide receiver has been a hot one here at Raiders Take. I can't, for the life of me, understand the resistance toward acquiring a pair of sure veteran hands to shore up the ranks.
With Schilens ailing, our head coach actually mentioned Yamon Figurs (three career catches in four years) as a viable #3 receiver. Nick Miller? Jacoby Ford? Johnnie Lee Higgins? Step right up, ye unproven masses.

In that context, why wouldn't we want to see guy like Greg Camarillo or T.J. Houshmanzadah brought on board? I just don't understand the organizational complacency with regard to adding cost-effective depth to any position, let alone a position that has been a weak spot for several years running.

Remember, a dropped ball by DHB cost us a game last year. Drops were a problem in the recent preseason as well. Now, it's not inconceivable that eight or nine wins could win the division this year (eight was enough in 2008, right?). Connect the dots, and it's easy to see how our divisional fate could literally rest in the hands of our receiving corps.

Yes, the Raiders have taught me well when it comes to borrowing trouble. But right now, the slate is clean. The scent of football is in the autumn air. The trees are shaking and quivering and quaking. A new season is upon us, and hopefully a new era, too. I have my doubts, but I am putting them to rest. It's up to the Raiders not to re-awaken them.

Bring on the Titans, and (finally) let the good times roll.

Pre-Game Quick Hits

2010-08-28T14:14:00.000-07:00

1. I loved this article in the San Francisco Chronicle today, revealing the fraternal relationship between Michael Bush and Darren McFadden. Here's my favorite part of the story:

They have managed to enjoy each other's TV shows - Animal Planet programming for McFadden, "Entourage" and "Family Feud" for Bush - except for the time Bush looked up and McFadden was watching "Tom and Jerry."

"I was like, 'What are you doing?' " Bush said. "But mostly it's Animal Planet. And I can watch that. You actually learn some stuff. Like, we were watching how a squirrel fights a snake."

This is another indication that the "likeability" factor of the Raiders players has gone way up over the past year or two. The housecleaning could (and should) have been swifter, but there's no denying that the character of our team is rebounding. It wasn't long ago that we were getting arrogant guff from guys who couldn't even find a solid job after leaving the Raiders (Porter, Jordan, Walter, Schweigert, etc.), on top of some truly unlikeable chaps (Moss, Walker, Hall, etc.).

Now it's finally starting to feel like a team. Keep it up, guys.

2. I read this story about the Cowboys' two training camps, and thought about the sad contrast with the Raiders' own training camp.

A quote from the story:

In an unusual routine crafted by Jones, the Cowboys have split their training camp — again. After opening with 14 days in San Antonio that drew 200,989 to practices, they packed their training camp into nine 48-foot semi-trucks and moved it halfway across the country...For a franchise that has won two playoff games in 14 seasons but leads the league in aggressive marketing, it's a chance to tap into the mega-sized Los Angeles market vacated by the NFL since 1995. More than 100,000 are expected to watch practices during two weeks at fields installed adjacent to a golf course in this town about an hour's drive northwest of Los Angeles.

In other words, the Cowboys are literally going the extra mile to connect with their fans. Meanwhile, the Raiders' camp remains under lock and key. What are they protecting, the secret formula to posting 11 or more losses for seven straight seasons?

I know, I know: It's how they've always done it. But why not loosen things up a bit? Why not let fans in for a weekend? Why not embrace camp as an opportunity to bring people in to your world, not shut them out? Because that's how they've always done it?

I believe that anyone who makes that excuse on behalf of the Raiders is mistaken. The Raiders haven't always been regressive or stagnant in their operations. In fact, they used to be the most progressive and innovative team in the NFL.

3. I'm looking for two main things tonight. First, I want to see our receivers step up to the challenge and give Jason Campbell a chance to light it up. I'm bullish on our defense, but it's going to be a long year if we can't move the ball downfield.

Some people are dismissing our thinness at receiver, saying that Miller and McFadden provide ample throwing targets. These are often the same people who said that DHB was a solid pick because he would stretch the field and force opponents to respect the mid-to-long range ball. So I suppose that Miller and McFadden are going to stretch the field and keep opponents from stacking the box? Without credible threats at receiver, I think it's going to be a long slog. So we need our receivers to step up and become threats.

I also want to see our defense really build upon its early momentum. Tonight is a huge opportunity to gain mojo and confidence and self-belief. I'm looking for Wimbley to prove that last week wasn't a fluke. I'm looking for a halt to the big plays. And I'm looking for more evidence that the days of the vanilla defense are over. Make that defense taste like chocolate mint, baby, and serve it up to Alex Smith, Frank Gore and the rest of them.

Raiders v. Bears Preseason In-Game Take

2010-08-21T18:49:00.000-07:00

Second quarter, four minutes until halftime. Going okay, I guess. Trying to read the tea leaves here, but the picture is unclear.

Some nice movement on offense, nothing spectacular, with the all-too-familiar 90-yard run gash given up by the defense. DHB is too tired to play (yawn).

Not going to put too much stock into preseason performances. And if the Raiders were a stock, I'd give them a "hold" rating right now. Not selling, but not buying, either. Come on, Raiders! Bring the change!

Official 2010 Preseason Launch Thread

2010-08-12T16:45:00.001-07:00

One hour until kickoff. Two words: Go Raiders!!!

Where Are We on The Return to Glory?

2010-08-04T19:46:00.000-07:00

Raider Take regular NY Raider just posted the following multiple choice quiz in the comments section, and I felt that it merited the spotlight:

A) The Raiders have failed to address critical needs and may continue to follow the same path of record-breaking failure until...

B) Some issues have been addressed, be it through the draft or maintaining continuity in coaching or other, that may lead to improvement; but real change is yet to happen by way of a key executive hire or some combination of things. You're cautiously optimistic, with an asterisk.

C) You are confident that this year will turn the tide. In this category you probably lean toward the notion that current management is capable and should continue their present path.

D) No question the team is clearly heading in the right direction, and will prove they have followed a well-calculated path.

E) You are a blind faith fan. The Raiders can do no wrong and they will go to the Super Bowl and win. You don't care what the odds against that happening... call Vegas, Baby!

This seems like a fair way to categorize the varying perspectives of the Raider Nation.

Personally, I'm with Calico Jack in being in category B, unable to fully embrace category C because I believe that the need for added executive football support is real and overdue, and that to not address that need is counterproductive to the long-term prospects of the Oakland Raiders.

This is just my belief, as unpopular as it may be in some quarters. It's not like John Madden and Al Davis himself haven't acknowledged this need for added executive football support, so I'm in pretty good company, right?

Now, I could probably be persuaded by a strong showing this season that this need isn't urgent as I thought it was, say, last year and before that. In other words, I might accept that Mr. Davis's foot-dragging in addressing the executive void isn't as detrimental as I suspected.

So how do I define a "strong showing?" Nine wins or more. That would really wake me up and slap me upside the head and show me that the current administration is capable of correcting a culture of losing.

I'm anxious and hopeful that this will happen. The offensive line worries me, but I expect us to be more stout on defense, and I expect Campbell, Bush and a more seasoned receiving corps to deliver the most complete offensive output we've seen in a long time.

On the flip side, I think that anything less than eight wins will be a debacle. The AFC West is weaker than ever. It should be open season on the Tebows and Chiefs. Additionally, we get to play the weak NFC West this year: Pete-hawks, Lambs, Whiners, and the Cardinals without Warner and Boldin. Also, the addition by the subtraction of JaMarcus Russell should be worth approximately two victories unto itself.

So if after so many losing seasons, when Cable should be hitting his stride and we should be feasting on relatively weak competition, we can't improve upon our record by three measly wins and reach the .500 mark...Well, I just might go back to advocating the nuclear option. You know, tear down the walls right down to the studs. But why borrow trouble?

Right now, it's camp time, baby. The smell of wine and football is in the air in Napa. Hope springs eternal. I can hear it already: Touchdown, Raiiiii-derrrs!

Remembering The Legend

2010-07-27T14:22:00.001-07:00

Here at Raider Take, we coined the phrase "WWTD," for "What Would Tatum Do?"

It's a question that we've had to ask with regretful frequency in recent years, having been subjected to watching guys like Stuart Schweigert do their best Cirque du Soleil impersonations.

You know, clowns flying around, hitting nothing.

We know what Tatum would have done. He would have hit something. He never played the clown.

And today, alas, we must say goodbye to the man and the legend. Jack Tatum has passed away at the young age of 61.

It's odd to think of him being just 61 in 2010. Part of it is because in the 1970s, seemingly every football player, and especially the Raiders, looked hard and grizzled and manly in the "mountain man" sense of the word (at least in the eyes of us kids).

It's been 34 years since Tatum's epic helmet-separating hit in the Super Bowl in Pasadena, and 38 years since his hit that created the Immaculate Deception. He was in his 20s then, but he and his teammates looked like they'd already been pillaging the earth for decades.

At the beginning of Raiders games at the Coliseum, they always play these video vignettes of current players giving lip service to it being "our house," or something like that. Yes, it's our house, half empty, with clowns flying around, giving up 275 yards rushing.

I propose a change. No more current players in the vignettes. Only Raiders legends. All asking the same question: WWTD?

Blame Russell, not Raiders

2010-07-07T15:49:00.000-07:00

Well, JaMarcus Russell has truly circled the drain.

After essentially thieving the Raiders of $40 million by taking the money while failing to bring commensurate effort to the field, he has ridden off into the purple sunset, where his millions will come in handy for paying the bail on his arrest for illegal possession of a prescription narcotic.

He's like the second coming of Todd Marinovich. Sigh.

Now the media are piling on, using Russell's latest stumble as an opportunity to wag their finger at the Raiders, as if the Raiders themselves had swapped the sideline Gatorade for Purple Drank.

Sorry, nice try, but this is no one's fault but Russell's.

I do believe that the Raiders are to blame for drafting a low-effort, questionable-character guy like Russell. I don't believe that he turned into a loser overnight. Look at the successful quarterbacks in the NFL, the McNabbs, Mannings, Breeses, Bradys, etc. Look at the up-and-comers like Flacco and Ryan. They are all as sharp as a tack. They ooze not only talent, but leadership smarts.

Do you really think that Russell ever came across as "sharp as a tack" during the extensive interviews and background checks that you hope the Raiders would have conducted before making a $40 million investment in him?

I doubt it. Which should have been fair warning about his future prospects as an elite NFL quarterback.

So the mistake was made, and thankfully we bit the bullet and cut him loose.

But the rest is on Russell, despite the media nagging that the Raiders are somehow to blame for his illicit preferences in cough syrup. If he'd come to work, he might have worked out in the end. But he didn't, and that's on Russell, not the Raiders.

Oh, sure, it would have been helpful if the Raiders hadn't experienced coaching turmoil and related dysfunction during Russell's first years with the team. But that's tough nuts. Adversity almost always goes with being a top pick and the millions that come with it, because the team with the high pick is typically mired in losing. That's how they got the high pick in the first place, right?

Bruce Gradkowski came to the Raiders with three years and 19 games under his belt. At that time, Russell had two years and 19 games under his belt. Virtual equals in experience.

Yet there was Gradkowski, busting his ass and making it rain. Whose fault was his success? The Raiders? The same Raiders who are to blame for Russell's failures?

The Raiders failed in picking Russell. But Russell's own failure belongs to Russell himself.

Warriors not Whiners

2010-06-02T07:45:00.000-07:00

Rumors are swirling about a possible deal for the disgruntled Albert Haynesworth. Jerry McDonald today makes the case against Haynesworth, and I have to agree. McDonald lists Randy Moss and DeAngelo Hall as bad seeds who have burned the Raiders. I would include Javon Walker on that list.

It seems that any time we go out on a limb and get a high-profile player with known character issues, it blows up in our face. There's something about the Raiders environment that seems to aggravate and amplify character issues.

It's not that before or after these clowns join or leave the Raiders that they suddenly become saints. Hall is still mouthy and overrated, and the Patriots are finally starting to get a taste of the real Randy Moss. But in Oakland, we're lucky to get two or three performances out of these types before they leave town with hundred-dollar bills falling out of their pockets.

At the same time, the team will benefit from proven veteran talent at several key positions. I wasn't a fan of the Richard Seymour trade from the standpoint of value, but at least the guy shows up on Sunday and provides a strong veteran presence.

When it comes to future high-profile pickups, let's stick with warriors, not whiners. It can be a fine line. Was Anquan Boldin a whiner in Arizona? Maybe. But the dude is a warrior on the field, and I think that the Ravens made a smart moving in acquiring him. Randy Moss doesn't play as hard as Boldin when he's happy, let alone disgruntled.

So I wouldn't write a guy off just because he's having issues with his current team. What I'm looking for is character. Commitment. Guts. Determination.

Does that sound like Haynesworth to you? Me either.

Analysis Through Rose-Colored Glasses

2010-05-23T19:13:00.000-07:00

Following is a Guest Take by H, a familiar voice at Raider Take:

The current make up of Raider Fans across the nation and the world seems to be divided into three main camps. Those who, after seven years of frustration, are saying “Oh yeah, prove it, not going to fool me again.” Others are crossing their fingers and holding their breaths waiting for the other fumble to hit the turf. Then there are the infernal optimist seeing each season as a new opportunity for our return to the top if the dog pile that is the NFL.

This may finally be the year of those infernal optimists, or at least the start of the climb from the abyss.

Even though the current coach has produced only 9 wins in 28 games, there seems to be a different feeling in the air surrounding the off season, draft, mini-camp and the first OTA. Even many of the nay-saying experts were very complementary of our draft. Well, except Mel “Don’t Touch My Hair” Kiper. He didn’t see the value in drafting Rolando McClain at number 8. We even received kudos from known Raider Hater Tom Jackson and ex Raider coach John Gruden. The Raiders even drafted the player everyone was predicting. One Bruce Campbell, except he came in the fourth round and not the first.

Since Tom Cable assumed head coaching duties during the bye week of 2008 the team has gone through a major makeover. Gone are malcontents and locker room miscreants. This began with the release of highly paid, but frequently burned cornerback DeAngelo Hall, continued through a quiet offseason in 2009 with no major signings of highly paid free agent veterans on the downside of their careers. The culmination of this purging came with the release of Jamarcus Russell. He may yet be a serviceable NFL quarterback, but in his current state he is too high maintenance for a young team.

In the 2009 draft, first rounder Darrius Heward-Bey has yet to pay any dividends, but middle round selection Louis Murphy may be one of the steals of the draft. Good hands, runs good routes and is a tenacious blocker downfield who doesn’t give up on a play. Just ask Zach Miller. Brandon Meyers appears to finally provide the depth needed at tight end and is a solid blocker freeing up Miller for more involvement in the passing game to help move the chains and provide rest for the much maligned defense.

The biggest splash on offense thus far came in the draft day trade for Jason Campbell. With all the talk that the Raiders should jump in with both feet in the McNabb sweepstakes, in the end the Raiders may wind up getting the best of the deal. In November McNabb will be 34. In December Campbell will be 29. Campbell comes less expensive than either McNabb or Russell.

Further, much was said about Russell having multiple OC’s, multiple play callers and a turnstile offensive line. In four years as a starter in Washington Campbell had different OC’s, play callers and a turnstile offensive line virtually every year, yet his stats improved in every category every year.

Hue Jackson has been brought in to run the offense. He likes the two headed running attack approach and has had success developing quarterbacks and receivers. Do not be surprised to find out he was pushing for Campbell. If you read a paper or watch a TV in Baltimore, you get all the Redskin news also.

There is an old adage in football that says if you want your team to win, build it with winners (or something like that). You get players who know how to win. This was the approach used in this year’s draft on the defensive side of the ball. The Raiders first two picks were Alabama’s defensive captain and Texas’ best defensive lineman. The two teams that played for the national championship.

Prior to that, at the beginning of last season Richard Seymour was brought in to stabilize the defensive line and provide veteran leadership to the defense overall. He still has more than enough in the tank for a couple more Pro-Bowls.

The defensive backfield is rounding out nicely with Nnamdi and Branch. Huff seems to have found his position. Johnson, while a bit inconsistent, is an upgrade over Hall. Walter McFadden is a little light to help against the run, but he is a solid tackler with decent cover skills and should be the regular nickel back by mid season supplanting Stanford Routt in that spot.

In looking at these positives you have a team with talent and potential, sprinkled with All Americans from winning programs. Add some veteran leadership (Seymour and Campbell). Stir in a stable coaching staff with the addition of the OC previously mentioned and a DL line coach who has coached two lines in the Super Bowl. Mix well and you have a recipe for optimism.

The Pièce de résistance could be the age of this team. The average age of projected starters is roughly 25 years on both sides of the ball.

When taken as a whole there seems to be some planning and thought to the process of the last two seasons. And while we have had only 9 wins since that fateful bye week, three of the five wins last season came against two playoff teams and the defending Super Bowl champion. The other two came against division rivals. A must if we are to climb back. While our newest quarterback beat us, we beat the one that is replacing him in Washington.

With all these positives many are still entrenched in arguing who did what and when and who is responsible for the decent into hell and who is, or should be, making the decisions to get us out of that hell. Continuing to beat dead dogs as Cable would say. He wants to move forward, but the media seems anchored to Russell more than he is.

It’s been said, “It’s amazing what you can accomplish if you don’t care who gets the credit.” Perhaps that is the guiding principle Tom Cable and Al Davis are working under. Alameda seems content to ignore rumors and just plug ahead these days. If this is so, and it translates to the field and the win column, we may be in for a pleasant ride the next several years.

So, with rose glasses firmly in place and a glass 73.1% full of a rich porter, I look forward to September and a return to the top of the dog pile.

Thank you, H!

News You Can't Use

2010-04-23T08:41:00.001-07:00

Well, it's been a long time since the last News You Can't Use, but the following headline on the San Francisco Chronicle web site inspired me to get back on the proverbial horse:

49ers FILL NEEDS, RAIDERS DON'T.

Say what? The NFL team with the worst run defense known to mankind selects the top middle linebacker in the draft and...it doesn't fill a need?

(Here's a link to the article, the headline is a bit different than the one on the home page, replacing "need" with "hole," which is the same thing)

While even the national sports media are begrudgingly acknowledging that the Raiders made a smart choice by selecting Rolando McClain, our friend at the Chronicle stomps his feet, covers his eyes and tries to play Jedi mind tricks.

Quick, call 911...or at least an editor. Someone is having a mental breakdown on Mission Street.

To prop up his position, the author invokes the Great God of the NFL Draft, Mel Kiper (the same Mel Kiper who compared JaMarcus Russell to John Elway a few years ago): "Kiper doesn't like the pick of McClain, noting that the Raiders' biggest needs are at offensive line and quarterback."

Stopping the run isn't one of the Raiders' biggest needs? You say that with a straight face? Really?

The Raider Haters have won the Hater Lottery over the past several years, as the team has bent over backwards to give them legitimate material for bashing and criticizing.

And yet, they just can't help themselves. They still have to make stuff up and play Twister with the facts. Ah, true colors are just so hard to hide.

P.S. For Raiders fans who love golf, check out Golf Gear Planet for the hottest new golf gear.

Raider Take War Room Now Open

2010-04-21T10:12:00.000-07:00

Please, no running with scissors during the draft. Please, no "projects," wide receivers or defensive backs in the first round. Please do something to stop the run. That's not too much to ask, is it?

On another note, the Steelers are apparently shopping Big Ben for a first-round pick. If I'm Al Davis, I would pick up the phone and call Pittsburgh, if only to window shop and kick the tires.

Has Big Ben behaved like a reprehensible jackass? Of course. Has he finally learned his lesson, and is he ready to turn his act around? Maybe. Is he one of the top five quarterbacks in the league, a rare talent and a proven winner, and the kind of guy you can build an offense around for many years to come? Absolutely.

I'm not sure I'd pull the trigger on Big Ben, but I'd definitely think about it, even with a six-game suspension on the near horizon. The unanswered questions bother me, but his proven talent is extremely tempting.

Now, some folks are going to freak out because I was firmly against the Seymour trade for a first-round draft pick in 2011. Well, if you look at an apple and see an orange, then go ahead and freak out.

I didn't think Seymour would have an appreciable impact on our defense, and I was right. It struck me as a panic move to compensate for the serial neglect of our defensive line. It's not that I dislike Seymour or think he's useless, but in terms of overall value, I thought it was a questionable trade.

Roethlisberger, meanwhile, is three years younger than Seymour, and he plays a position that can be played at an elite level well into one's 30s, and that can single handedly make or break a team.

Go look at the division winners last year. In all but one instance (Big Ben's division, coincidentally), the team with the best quarterback in the division won the division.

Is that a trend that we are going to buck with Russell or Gradkowski? Not likely. Just saying.

Meanwhile, I might as well revive the Stick 'Em Pick 'Em challenge once again, in honor of our friend Stick 'Em accurately picking the first seven selections of the 2006 draft, right up through Michael Huff.

Can anyone here top that and pick the first eight selections of 2010? I know I sure can't, so I won't even try.

And be sure to come back tomorrow evening, I'll be pouring virtual beer and handing out free scissors to celebrate the first round of the draft.

P.S. Update: With the selection of Rolando McLain, if I'm doing NFL betting, I'm picking the Raiders to finally climb into contention in the AFC West in the next few years.

Who Needs A General Manager?

2010-03-23T09:31:00.000-07:00

Do the Raiders need a new GM, in practice if not in title? Call it a football "czar" or "personnel guy" or whatever.

Whatever you want to call it, do we need it?

Well, that depends on whom you talk to. Around here at Raider Take, my persistent agitation for executive assistance has caused quite an outcry. Which is puzzling, because the desperate need for added executive assistance is rather self evident, is it not? Even John Madden admitted as much.

Can you give me one priority that trumps our need for added executive help? Crickets, baby. Crickets.

So are you for or against the executive status quo in Alameda?

It's a simple question that some refuse to answer. Yes, they agree that a GM is needed...until you say that a GM is needed. Then it's: How dare you suggest such a thing!? We're fine!

Into this bizarre state of cognitive dissonance walks Scott McCloughan, the now former GM of the 49ers, who was dismissed for undisclosed personal reasons unrelated to performance.

McCloughan has family ties to the Raiders, and the Raiders (allegedly) need executive help, so it's not hard to connect the rumor dots with regard to his potential candidacy as a Raiders executive.

Personally, I'm all for it. At this point, I'll take any legitimate candidate with a pulse over the snail-like pace of our current executive search, which was supposedly launched many moons ago.

I'd prefer a search that is proactive rather than reactive. Waiting for someone like McCloughan to get axed from his job for personal reasons doesn't exactly scream "master plan in effect," but again, beggars can't be choosers.

So are you for McCloughan joining the Raiders? Or do you prefer the executive status quo?

The Spin Starts Here

2010-01-29T20:36:00.000-08:00

As of today, Nnamdi Asomugha, arguably the Raiders' most important player, does not know who our head coach is for 2010.

Quote: “I think he’s (Cable) back, they’re probably still going over stuff, but if he is the guy, me, just like the the other players, you would like to hear that.”

If Cable is the guy. Just like the other players, Asomugha would like to hear that.

Paging John Herrera.

You'll recall that Asomugha last year inked a three-year deal worth $45.3 million with $28.5 million in guarantees. He's not exactly Eric Frampton on the proverbial totem pole. Yet he doesn't know who his head coach is for 2010, but he would like to know.

Hey, you and me both, Nnamdi.

For weeks, I've been listening to all sorts of insufferable justifications as to why the Raiders will not throw their official support behind Tom Cable as their head coach for 2010 if, indeed, he is their head coach for 2010.

Well, apparently Nnamdi Asomugha hasn't been reading some of the comments here at Raider Take, otherwise it would all be quite clear to him.

Just so we're clear on this: Cable is our guy, so there's no need to say he's our guy, except for the fact that everyone, including our most important players, are wondering if he's our guy, which, as with the fans and media, is really none of their business, right?

Got it.

A Raider Take Apology

2010-01-23T14:29:00.000-08:00

I have an apology to make.

I am sorry for taking a largely dim view of an operational approach that has resulted in the extension of the worst stretch of consecutive seasons in the history of the National Football League.

Despite all the sunshine the Raiders have brought us lately with seven consecutive seasons of 11 or more losses, I have been responsible for spreading gloom.

My predictions of continued failure in the absence of tangible change have been accurate yet nevertheless erroneous.

If only I had been wrong, I would have been right.

As penance, I am going to jump off the Oakland bandwagon and move to Detroit, where I will establish a Matt Millen fan club. I will urge Lions fans to stop criticizing the team and to, in fact, re-hire Matt Millen as GM.

Lions fans will feel shame when I point them to this blog, where in my former life, I, like them, dared to agitate for tangible change. They will see how, every January, a dedicated band of self-proclaimed optimists returned here to demonstrate that results are immaterial to analysis, and that substantive change in the face of failure is an unrealistic, unreasonable and, in fact, outrageous expectation.

Lions fans reached a breaking point. They demonstrated for change. They agitated for a new GM. In doing so, they revealed that they are not true fans, but bandwagon fans.

I will show them the shining light of Raider Take, where you can come each January, like the swallows of Capistrano, with the same shameless sales pitch in the wake of yet another failed season, shouting down those who would dare to recommend a new GM or express disappointment.

I will share my story: "If only I had been wrong, I would have been right."

Lions will then see the error of their ways, Matt Millen will return a conquering hero, as performance will no longer be a criterion for the GM job.

Negative words will no longer be uttered by Lions fans, and Raiders fans, inspired by their example, will embrace a new motto: Commitment to Sunshine and Lollipops.

And that is my plan to save the Raider Nation from its misguided disappointment in an organization that that has produced three winning seasons out of the last 15.

Hooray!

Free Ricky's!

2010-01-02T19:47:00.000-08:00

Word is now out that the Oakland Raiders asked Ricky's Sports Theatre & Grill to remove photos from its web site depicting Raiders employees partying with ESPN commentator Jon Gruden in December.

I have two words for that: Free Ricky's!

So many bogey men, so little time. Rich Gannon. Boo! Jon Gruden. Boo! The zebras. Boo! Ricky's. Boo! Who has time to look for a GM with all these bogey men out there?

Never mind that Ricky's has done more to nourish the Raider Nation more than any other place besides the Coliseum asphalt. Never mind that the Gruden party was a harmless and increasingly rare feel-good celebration of the Oakland Raiders.

You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch.

We have reached the point of truly surreal absurdity, have we not? Can we afford to waste one atom of energy on such things, mired as we are in a record-setting streak of losing seasons?

Apparently, we can. Which would explain a lot.

Free Ricky's. Free the Nation.