The Oakland Raiders

Bold Predictions

2007-05-18T17:54:00.000-05:00

I, like many Raider faithful, am very excited about the direction the team has taken since the end of last season. After looking at all of our changes I feel like making a few bold predictions.

1) We will win at least two divisional games this season.

I think Kiffin will appease Al Davis in his first season as head coach by ending our streak of losses against our AFC West opponents.

2) We will not finish last in the AFC West

The AFC West has always been one of the toughest divisions in the league but I believe we will finish ahead of the Chiefs this season.

3) We will be in the Super Bowl in the next 4 years

This is by far my boldest prediction but I say it with confidence. We have an extremely talented defense that should continue to improve with time and a player to build our offense around. I think Russell will be one of the elite guys in the league when he gets some experience under his belt and I am hopeful that Michael Bush becomes the back to finally compete with the other AFC West backs.

Draft Day 2

2007-04-29T11:39:00.000-05:00

The picks are starting to come in quickly. This is a nice change from yesterday.

So far today we have taken RB Michael Bush and CB John Bowie in the 4th round and DE Jay Richardson in the 5th.

Michael Bush could end up being a draft steal. He would have been a first round pick had he not broke his leg this season. He ends up in a perfect situation. He can sit behind Jordan and Rhodes this season and look at breaking into the starting lineup next season. I think Bush could become the one to compete with the other AFC West Running Backs.

John Bowie is a project player. He is a track star that ran a 4.24 40 yard dash. It's hard to say if he'll ever crack into the lineup but we all know how much Al Davis loves speed.

Jay Richardson is tall and strong. He will most likely be a special teams player but only time will tell.

Draft Day 1

2007-04-29T07:21:00.000-05:00

Now that Day 1 of the NFL Draft is in the books we can look back and see what we accomplished. I am very happy with the first three picks in our draft.

The Picks
Russell will hopefully become a fixture at the Quarterback position for the next 10+ years.

Zach Miller is the best TE on our roster right now.

Quentin Moses should end up starting opposite of Derrick Burgess.

Mario Henderson could be a future replacement for Sims but we probably won't see too much of him this year as long as we don't have a bunch of injuries.

Johnie Lee Higgins won't make an immediate impact on our offense but we could see him on special teams although I am still hoping Chris Carr is our return guy.

The Trade
One of the biggest moves for us was acquiring Josh McCown and Mike Williams from the Lions for a 4th round draft pick. McCown will most likely start until Russell is ready to go. That is if Andrew Walter can't get it done but McCown is a better fit for Kiffin's offense.

Mike Williams is a project but I am hopeful he'll turn out ok. I just hope it doesn't end up costing Ronald Curry any playing time.

Will Randy Moss be moved today? I certainly hope so. Maybe we should try to get a 2nd or 3rd in the 08 draft.

With the #1 pick the Raiders Select...........

2007-04-14T10:09:00.000-05:00

With the draft just around the corner there are only two realistic options with the first overall pick. Let's examine each of these options.

Why we should draft Calvin Johnson
1) Quarterbacks take time to develop. Taking Russell would leave us with a guy who wouldn't be ready to start for a couple years. QBs only have about a 50% chance of panning out.

2) Johnson is one of the best WR prospects in 10 years. He has all the tools and a great attitude and work ethic.

3) It would make us much more likely to trade Randy Moss

Why we should draft Jemarcus Russell
1) We need a franchise Quarterback. If Russell pans out, it would leave us with a Quarterback to lead us for years.

2) Russell has amazing talent. He can throw the ball further than almost any QB in the league.

3) New coaching regimes often draft a new Quarterback to give themselves a little more time to get their systems installed.

My Choice
I would be more comfortable drafting Calvin Johnson. Most great quarterbacks have had a great receiver to get them going. I think we'd be better off drafting Johnson this year and going after a Quarterback next season.

NFL Draft

2007-03-30T15:25:00.000-05:00

With the draft rapidly approaching, I decided it was time to pull out the draft value chart to see what the first overall pick is really worth.

Here it is:

	Round 1		Round 2		Round 3		Round 4		Round 5		Round 6		Round 7
1	3,000	33	580	65	265	97	112	129	43	161	27	193	14.2
2	2,600	34	560	66	260	98	108	130	42	162	26.6	194	13.8
3	2,200	35	550	67	255	99	104	131	41	163	26.2	195	13.4
4	1,800	36	540	68	250	100	100	132	40	164	25.8	196	13
5	1,700	37	530	69	245	101	96	133	39.5	165	25.4	197	12.6
6	1,600	38	520	70	240	102	92	134	39	166	25	198	12.2
7	1,500	39	510	71	235	103	88	135	38.5	167	24.6	199	11.8
8	1,400	40	500	72	230	104	86	136	38	168	24.2	200	11.4
9	1,350	41	490	73	225	105	84	137	37.5	169	23.8	201	11
10	1,300	42	480	74	220	106	82	138	37	170	23.4	202	10.6
11	1,250	43	470	75	215	107	80	139	36.5	171	23	203	10.2
12	1,200	44	460	76	210	108	78	140	36	172	22.6	204	9.8
13	1,150	45	450	77	205	109	76	141	35.5	173	22.2	205	9.4
14	1,100	46	440	78	200	110	74	142	35	174	21.8	206	9
15	1,050	47	430	79	195	111	72	143	34.5	175	21.4	207	8.6
16	1,000	48	420	80	190	112	70	144	34	176	21	208	8.2
17	950	49	410	81	185	113	68	145	33.5	177	20.6	209	7.8
18	900	50	400	82	180	114	66	146	33	178	20.2	210	7.4
19	875	51	390	83	175	115	64	147	32.6	179	19.8	211	7
20	850	52	380	84	170	116	62	148	32.2	180	19.4	212	6.6
21	800	53	370	85	165	117	60	149	31.8	181	19	213	6.2
22	780	54	360	86	160	118	58	150	31.4	182	18.6	214	5.8
23	760	55	350	87	155	119	56	151	31	183	18.2	215	5.4
24	740	56	340	88	150	120	54	152	30.6	184	17.8	216	5
25	720	57	330	89	145	121	52	153	30.2	185	17.4	17	4.6
26	700	58	320	90	140	122	50	154	29.8	186	17	218	4.2
27	680	59	310	91	136	123	49	155	29.4	187	16.6	219	3.8
28	660	60	300	92	132	124	48	156	29	188	16.2	220	3.4
29	640	61	292	93	128	125	47	157	28.6	189	15.8	221	3
30	620	62	284	94	124	126	46	158	28.2	190	15.4	222	2.6
31	600	63	276	95	120	127	45	159	27.8	191	15	223	2.3
32	590	64	270	96	116	128	44	160	27.4	192	14.6	224	2

As you can see, the first overall pick has a value of 3000 "points".

If the Detroit Lions wanted the pick, they should give us their second overall pick (2600 points) and their third (260 points) and fourth (108 points) round picks which would add up to 2968 points.

A more likely scenario would be the Cleveland Browns. The Browns should give us their first (2200 points), second (550 points) and third (104 points) round picks which would add up to 2854 points. They would really need to add another later round pick to get the point value higher but they most likely wouldn't be willing to give up so much to move up two spots in the draft.

Moss to the Packers?

2007-03-14T18:40:00.000-05:00

According to http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm, the Packers and Raiders are discussing a potential trade involving the moody Randy Moss and inexperienced Quarteback Aaron Rodgers.

The real question is if we acquire Aaron Rodgers would we still draft a Quarterback? That would leave Andrew Walter as the only QB with any starting experience. It would also open the door for us to draft Calvin Johnson.

A more likley trade would involve Randy Moss for draft picks but Al Davis would likely ask for more than any team would be willing to part with for an expensive 30 year old receiver who plays when he wants to play.

I can't envision us with three unexperienced QBs on our roster so if Rodgers comes to Oakland, we most likely won't be draft a Quarterback. If this rumor is real, the trade would probably take place later so we could try to trade our pick to Cleveland who is interested in Russell.

Busy Friday

2007-03-09T19:15:00.000-06:00

It was a busy Friday for the Raiders. After the smoke has cleared it looks like the Raiders have added five players to the roster.

RB Dominick Rhodes

FB Justin Griffith

TE Fred Wakefield

TE Tony Stewart

WR Alvis Whitted

Raiders Offseason Update

2007-03-07T19:55:00.000-06:00

FA Update:
Signed C Jeremy Newberry (49ers)
Signed LB Charlton Keith
Released CB Tyrone Poole
Did not pick up option on QB Aaron Brooks

Signees:
Jeremy Newberry started his NFL career with the 49ers in 1998 after being drafted in the second round (58th overall). He started in 79 of 80 games from 1999-2003 but has faced injury problems since then and has only appeared in 11 games in the last three seasons. He suffered a torn ACL in the '98 season in mini-camp and didn't play that season. He has a major microfracture surgery on his left new in August of 2006. He appeared in three consecutive pro bowls from 2001-2003. If he can stay healthy, he is a good acquisition but that is a pretty big if looking at the last three seasons.

Charlton Keith spent last season with the Cleveland Browns and did not play in any games. He is listed on NFL.com as a DE and on the Raiders site as a LB so he is most likely a tweener. He was a rookie FA pick up by the Browns last season and looks to be a practice squad guy and could possibly contribute on special teams if he is able to make the final roster but we will most likely see him cut.

Slow start to Free Agency

2007-03-03T14:05:00.000-06:00

The Raiders are known for big offseason moves, so this slow free agency start is a bit suprising to most Raiders fans. The only transaction thus far in Free agency has been cutting CB Tyrone Poole according the official site.

There are still some decent options available but any real value moves will most likley be done through trades. Former 49ers center Newberry is a likely addition and at a relatively low expense. There aren't any other FAs that have seemed to catch out front office's eye yet so keep an eye out for trades.

I still expect Randy Moss to be traded and a veteran QB to be brought in. David Carr or Brad Johnson are both options. The sad thing is the best QB left in Free Agency might be Aaron Brooks. At this point, I wouldn't mind having him back as long as it comes at a lower cost and he isn't named our starter.

Garcia and Raiders at Impasse?

2007-03-03T09:12:00.000-06:00

NOTE: Garcia has officially signed with the Tampa Bay Bucs

New reports are surfacing that are saying Garcia and the Raiders are at an impasse. This comes one day after reports saying a deal was in place. All things considered, this is probably a good thing. Garcia will command a very large contract after leading the Eagles to the playoffs last season and he has struggled in below average offenses. At his age, he isn't worth the kind of money he will get.

With Plummer retiring and Garcia most likley heading to Tampa Bay, our options for a veteran QB are getting thin. We could still look at David Carr. He would come at a lower price and has a few less years on him.

Other News
Former RT Langston Walker has signed a deal with the Buffalo Bills.

Garcia a Raider?

2007-03-02T16:28:00.000-06:00

There are numerous reports all over the internet claiming Jeff Garcia has reached an agreement with the Raiders. Can Garcia help salvage or team or will he be a scape goat next year?

Jeff Garcia has played very well in certain situations and struggled in others. The current situation in Oakland may not be the best and this could go down as a struggle for him. It depends on our offensive system. No one is really sure what it will look like yet other than our coaching staff.

The Latest

2007-02-23T18:23:00.000-06:00

With only one Quarterback, Andrew Walter, returning to our organization, there has been a lot of speculation flying around about the draft and potential trade candidates. There are two potential trades that I could see having some sort of credibility to them.

Trade Scenario 1
Trade Randy Moss to the Jaguars for Leftwich and some sort of draft pick package.

The good thing about this trade is that we get rid of Randy Moss and get compensation for doing so. The bad part is that Leftwich hasn't really done anything the last few years to prove he can lead a team effectively. Overall, I wouldn't say this is a bad trade. Even if Leftwich doesn't start, he would be valuable as a second Quarterback. This trade seems to be a little far-fetched to me. I can't see the Jaguars wanting to part with Leftwich because Garrard isn't a capable starter and there aren't many others available.

Trade Scenario 2
Trade a draft pick (3rd/4th) for Texans QB David Carr

David Carr hasn't done much in a Texans uniform but I don't think there are many players that could have. A third or fourth round pick for him seems like a pretty decent deal. I am one of the few that actually thinks David Carr is a good Quarterback.

My Ultimate Offseason Scenario

1) Trade our 3rd or 4th round draft pick for David Carr.
2) Trade Randy Moss to the Jaguars for Leftwich and draft pick compensation.
3) Swap first round picks with the Browns and acquire an additional pick.
4) Draft either Adrian Peterson or Joe Thomas with the first round pick.
5) Try to sign a veteran Offensive Gaurd during Free Agency.

This would give us three Quarterbacks with starting experience on our roster. We could open up a three way battle in training camp and hopefully be left with a quality quarterback as our starter. The other benefit is that all three of these guys still have quite a few years left in them. Leftwich is extremely unlikely but we can still get a decent guy if we decide to take a QB in the second round. Of course doing so would admit we are giving up on Andrew Walter.

If we were to draft Joe Thomas and sign a veteran gaurd our offensive line would be immediately improved. Gallery could move back to Right Tackle, where he had his best season, and our current Gaurds could battle it out for the remaining starting position. If we went with Adrian Peterson, we should try to retain Barry Sims and have him at Left Tackle.

All five of these things happening are very unlikely but I could see 2 or 3 of them working out.

Raiders Draft Outlook: Running Backs

2007-02-15T20:35:00.000-06:00

The top Running back in the upcoming draft is Adrian Peterson. Peterson has all of the skills to become a great NFL back but his injuries may make some teams shy away. He is the only Running Back in the draft that can realistically be considered with the first overall pick but there are some other decent options if we decide to trade some picks or players around.

Cal's Marshawn Lynch is projected to be a mid first round pick, with a likely landing spot in Green Bay at pick 16. He also has all the skills needed to succeed in the NFL but the only way we would land him is by trading down or somehow acquiring another first round pick. It is unprobable that he will end up wearing the silver and black but you never can tell what Al Davis has up his sleeve.

The other Running Backs with first round potential are Kenny Irons and Michael Bush. One of these two guys could be a likely choice if we are able to trade up into the back half of the first round. Auburn has produced some decent NFL running backs and Irons could be the next. The 2008 draft may have one of the best running back classes in years if some underclassmen declare so we could wait until then to use a first round pick on a running back.

While it may seem unlikely that we will be able to draft a running back in the first round, it could be the only solution to a poor running game. The free agent market will be pretty bare with quality backs and Lamont Jordan hasn't got what it takes to keep up with the other AFC West runners. Another option could be a trade for a talented back like Clinton Portis but talented backs will come at a high price.

Raiders Draft Outlook: Quarterbacks

2007-02-03T08:46:00.000-06:00

With our current draft position, there are a couple of Quarterbacks that could warrant a look. The first and most likely choice is Jemarcus Russell. Russell is the most physically gifted of the Quarterbacks in the upcoming draft and can throw a deep ball that will make Al Davis drool. He is currently the first or second Quarterback selected in most Mock Drafts and his stock will not drop after the combine due his remarkable physical skills. He is a bit raw and may need a little time to develop properly but he could be worth the wait. If he is drafted, there is a good chance he could sit on the bench his first season. If that is the case, look for us to either keep Aaron Brooks on the roster or pick up another veteran Quarterback for the upcoming season.

Another viable option is Brady Quinn. His stock may be dropping slightly after a poor bowl game outing but he may be the most NFL-ready Quarterback in the draft. I have a feeling that Quinn will drop a few picks after the NFL combine and won't be considered with the first overall pick in the draft. The main knock on Quinn is he can't win the big games. The majority of his good stats came against weak opponents and when matched up against quality defenses he struggled. If he is drafted, he should be ready to start right away but he may be the next Rick Mirer.

Troy Smith could also be a decent NFL Quarterback. We know Al Davis likes Heisman Trophy winners but the only way we take him is if we trade down or he falls all the way to the second round. The main knock on Smith is his height but short Quarterbacks can still be successful, just look at Drew Brees. Smith is also a winner and the Raiders franchise could use a winner at Quarterback. Smith would be a decent pick if he does fall to the second round but our front office can't count on the possibility after Brohm and Brennan announced they are returning to school.

Of the three Quarterbacks listed, I think Russell would be the best fit for our organization. He has a cannon but may take a season or two to develop into a franshice type Quarterback. The best solution, in my mind, would be to start Andrew Walter while Russell is being groomed to see what we really have with Walter. If Walter pans out, we would end up in a similar situation as San Diego was in last season with Drew Brees and Philip Rivers but if he doesn't, we would have our next "Quarterback of the future" already on our roster.

Raider's Team Needs

2007-01-28T20:51:00.000-06:00

With the draft and free agency approaching, it's time to take a peak at our needs this offseason.

Quarterback

After horrible seasons by both Andrew Walter and Aaron Brooks, it is time to start looking for a franchise Quarterback. The best option open to us for filling this position is the draft but there will be a few veteran QBs to take a look at like Carr, Leftwich, Plummer, Johnson and Schaub but the draft still remains the best route.

Running Back

Lamont Jordan has done little to prove that he has the talent to be more than a good backup. It may be time to give up on him and look for another option. I don't think the Chargers backup Turner is much of an improvement but we could always try to make a move on a star like Clinton Portis but we would have to part with more than we'd like to. There are also some decent options in the draft but other needs will most likely force us to fill other positions first.

*Wide Receiver

This is marked with an asterisk because it won't be as pressing of a need if we retain either Randy Moss or Jerry Porter which may be possible after the firing of Art Shell. There are no real number one receivers available in Free Agency this year so once again the draft becomes extremely important. Calvin Johnson would be a nice pick if we decide not to draft a Quarterback but that seems unlikely at this point of the offseason. Davis has been good at spotting later round receiver talent so maybe we can find next season's Colston to compliment Curry, Gabriel and Morant.

Offensive Line

The line is in such bad shape that it may not be salvaged in a single offseason. There are some decent Free Agents available but they might come with a high price tag. We already have quite a bit of youth along the line so Free Agency seems like the best way to go at this point. A tackle like Leonard Davis would go a long ways. The Raiders won't give up on the youngsters like Gallery that have underperformed thus far in their careers yet. Maybe a new coach and system will help them.........I think I've heard that one before.

Tight End

We have some unproven talent at Tight End so it won't be an extremely high priority this offseason but it is still a need. I think Anderson has regressed so much that he will give way to Madsen this year. Madsen made some nice plays in the receiving game but needs to improve his blocking skills if he is going to ever be a starter in the league. We also have journeyman Randal Williams on the roster but I'm hoping Madsen will be able to bolster a potentially weakened recieving core.

Outside Linebacker

We are set with Kirk Morrison and Thomas Howard but Sam Williams still scares me a little bit. He has had an injury prone past and it would be nice to be able to bring someone in to compete with him. I am keeping my eye out for Darnell Bing if we don't bring in someone. Bing was converted to linebacker from the safety position last season and looked decent during the preseason games. Maybe this year he will get his oppertunity. It would be nice to have three talented linebackers with four combined years in the league under their belts.

The Coaching Search and the Draft

2007-01-13T23:41:00.000-06:00

The Search for the Next Head Coach

As coaching candidates continue to come and go, the real question become "Who is the right coach for our team?" Here is a short list of coaching candidates that I feel could have a positive impact on our team.

1) Rob Ryan
I know we could use a coach that has a great offensive mind but Rob Ryan is a great candidate due to the support he has from the players on our roster. Ryan has turned our defense into one of the youngest and most talented groups in the league and he would be a coach that shows passion and emotion on the sideline. The only drawback to Ryan as our Head Coach is that it could adversely affect the defense.

2) Steve Sarkisian
The main reason I have Steve Sarkisian on this list is because Al Davis has an outstanding eye for young coaching talent and this is an Al Davis pick all the way. Sarkisian is young and unproven which will allow Davis to pull the strings and select the rest of the coaching staff and well as handle the personel decisions.

3) Denny Green
I think Green loves Al Davis and could be able to quiet Randy Moss down a little bit. Green isn't a bad coach and hasn't had a whole lot of success because of some of the situations he has been put in. He built a great team in Arizona and may be able to accomplish the same feat here.

A Draft of Possibilities

The first choice in the upcoming draft promises to be an interesting one. The choice will obviously be an offensive player but other than that, little will be known until the player selected is standing on the stage holding a silver and black jersey.

We are in need of many positions on our offense and Quarterback would be a likely choice if it wasn't against Al Davis's nature. We could see a Davis pick like WR Calvin Johnson here. He is a freakishly gifted receiver and we all know Al Davis might have a tough time passing him over.

If we do decide to go with a Quarterback the choices are Brady Quinn, Jemarcus Russell and Brian Brohm. I would be happy with Russell or Brohm but I have a feeling that Quinn may be a bust in the making.

Disapointing end to a disapointing season

2007-01-01T23:35:00.000-06:00

Well it's official. We are the worst team in the NFL this season which means it is finally time for us to look to our future. Here is a short list of things to think about this offseason.

Will Art Shell be our head coach in 2007?

Where will Randy Moss and Jerry Porter end up?

Will we honor the contracts of Ronald Curry and Lamont Jordan despite large bonuses in the horizon?

Who will be the first overall draft pick?

Some of these questions will be answered very shortly but others may linger a bit too long.
I think Art Shell will be our coach in 2007 but we will hire a new offensive coordinator and give him more control over the offense.

Randy Moss wanted to go to Atlanta when he signed with us so that is a possibility but Minnesota is also interested by all early reports. Jerry Porter on the other hand could go just about anywhere. He is unlikely to get a lot of attention due to his large contract and poor production.

The first pick in the upcoming draft is up in the air. I think Brady Quinn will end up dropping down a few picks but there are some other good possibilities out there like Joe Thomas, Calvin Johnson and Adrian Petersen.

Her is my outrageous prediction of the upcoming offseason. T.O will become a Raider. It has all the makings of an Al Davis move and he is more productive than Moss but may have an even worse attitude.

Only 2 Remaining

2006-12-18T22:42:00.000-06:00

Sunday's loss to the Rams was one of our worst losses this season. There were some positives but they are few and far between. Despite our bismal season, we still will end up missing out on the Quinn sweepstakes because the Detroit Lions are just as pitiful and lost their best player for the season.

Despite being shut out there are a couple of offensive performances that I'd like to analyze.

Andrew Walter
Walter came into the game late and made some nice throws. He completed 14 of 20 passes for 131 yards and two interceptions. The two interceptions turned a decent outing into a poor one but he really did show some progress. One of the interceptions was tipped up in the air by his receiver so that one shouldn't be completely on his shoulders but the other was his fault. Despite the interceptions I really feel that Walter showed he can be an effective Quarterback. He made some really nice throws and did complete 70% of his passes. I think he deserves a chance of playing the rest of the season. He should look much better now that Tom Walsh is gone and we might as well see what we have since we most likely won't get Brady Quinn.

Ronald Curry
Ronald Curry passed up Randy Moss as the team's leading receiver despite his limited playing time. Curry has been the one player on the Raider's offense that is fun to watch. I don't understand why he hasn't been elevated to the number 1 receiver spot. He has earned it by his play on the field.

Positives from a Negative Season

2006-12-12T19:46:00.000-06:00

2-11 isn't what most Raiders fans were expecting this season but even with all of the poor play and distractions that have occured this season there are a few positives.

The most obvious is the vast improvement by our defense. I know the defense was torched by the Bengals but overall they have performed amazingly. Nnamdi Asomugha may be on his way to his first Pro Bowl appearence, he currently leads the league in interceptions and has returned one for a touchdown. Thomas Howard has played great for a rookie. He is second on the team in tackles and can play from sideline to sideline. Derrick Burgess and Warren Sapp have both had success getting to the Quarterback this season. Burgess currently has 10 sacks while Sapp has added another 7. Rookie Michael Huff hasn't made many impact plays but has been very solid in run support and has shown that he may become the Strong Safety that Derrick Gibson never was. Even on the offensive side of the ball there may be one positive. Ronald Curry has begun to emerge again and may be on his way to leading the team in recieving yards and receptions despite limited playing time.

This week we will face off with another talented group of receivers and an emerging star Running Back in Stephen Jackson. I expect our defense to rebound and perform well but can our offense finally get some rythm and lead us to a victory?

The long road to redemption

2006-11-30T20:04:00.000-06:00

Last week's loss at San Diego was a tough one. We dominated them throughout the majority of the game and then fell apart in the fourth quarter. Our defense looked good as they have for the majority of the season and our offense continues to improve so there is hope for the future. The "forward pass" call by the officials was a tough call to take. By the rules, it may have been the correct call but if that is the case the rules need to be changed. Here is some food for thought: Is Nnamdi Asomugha actually becoming one of the top corners in the league? I think so.

The promoting of John Shoop to offensive coordinator was a good move. Tom Walsh struggled to adapt to our opponents defensive schemes and didn't call plays based on the abilities of our players. I am hoping that this move will provide a spark and maybe get Randy Moss "happy".

The poor performance of our team thus far has brought to light some questions for the upcoming offseason.

What do we do with Randy Moss?

He hasn't played well this season and he wants out of Oakland . Let's get him out of here. I think he still has some trade value and some team will give us more than he is worth. If we played our cards right we could have a couple of high first round picks in the draft.

What do we do with Jerry Porter?

I feel the same way about him as I do Moss. I think we should get him on the field more because, unlike Moss, he will actually play. If he finished the season strong, we may be able to get a decent player or draft pick for him

Is Lamont Jordan good enough to be our feature back?

The Jury is still out on this one. I realize he had over 1000 yards last season and was good out of the backfield but his yards per carry aren't where they need to be. I think some of this has to fall on the offensive line but I still don't know if he can be the guy. Fargas has looked good as a change of pace back but hasn't done much when given the oppertunity to start.

What do we look at in the draft next year?

That is a pretty tough call. If Moss and Porter both leave, we will need a Wide Receiver but we also have needs along the offensive line. There are usually decent offensive lineman around in the second and third rounds so we may wait on them. We could also use a defensive tackle. If we get two first rounders (Moss Trade) we could go after a Receiver and a Defensive Tackle in the first round, take an offensive lineman in the second and maybe look for a running back in the third. Another need is a good tight end but we have a couple of young players at the position that are starting to play a lot better so we'll have to wait and see how they perform for the remainder of this season.

Another close loss

2006-11-19T18:21:00.000-06:00

Another close game lost in the fourth quarter. There were some encouraging signs but also some huge disapointments.

First off, Aaron Brooks played much better than I expected him to for the majority of the game. His end zone interception was very disapointing but he was able to make it through the game with out taking a sack and his mobility greatly helped a struggling offense.

Lamont Jordan started the game very well but incurred a knee injury that will take him out for the rest of the season. Justin Fargas carried the ball 19 times for 52 yards in his absense but Jordan will be missed.

Moss may have had his worst game of the season but Ronald Curry may be re-emerging. He led the team with 5 catches for 85 yards and caught the pass that nearly set up the win for us.

The secondary played very well but the defense as a whole struggled against Larry Johnson. Johnson carried the ball 31 times for 154 yards and 2 TDs. We all knew he would be a challenge but 154 yards was unexpected.

Best Offensive Performance Yet?

2006-11-12T18:45:00.001-06:00

This loss against the Broncos may have been our offenses best performance of the season. Andrew Walter completed 18 of 33 passes for 214 yards and no interceptions or touchdowns. Another impressive stat is that 9 different receivers caught passes. Walter still held on to the ball too long at times but he seems to be improving and is starting to look like our Quarterback of the future.

The running game was extremely disapointing. Zack Crockett led the way with 7 carries for 40 yards (5.7 ypc) but Jordan and Fargas both struggled to get anything going on the ground although both did have 21 yard receptions.

Shane Lechler may have had the most impressive outing of his career. He had 8 punts for an average of 44.5 yards per punt and pinned the Broncos 3 times.

The Raiders defense was impressive once again. Fabian Washington had 2 interceptions (should have been 3) and Nnamdi Asomugha had one. Warren Sapp had 2 sacks.
The most impressive player on the defense this week had to be rookie Thomas Howard. He was all over the field and led the team with 7 solo tackles and 1 assist. He has speed and skill. Look for him to become a great player.

Best Offensive Performance Yet?

2006-11-12T18:45:00.000-06:00

Where you at Randy Moss?

2006-11-09T21:18:00.000-06:00

Nearly everything has gone wrong this year for the Raider offense but one thing seems to stick out in my mind more than others. Randy Moss is tied for second in an NFL receiver category and it isn't a good thing. He has dropped seven balls this season according to www.sportsline.com. The self-proclaimed best receiver in the league has no legs to stand when critisizing the Raiders offense because he first needs to look at himself.

Another disapointment is Head Coach Art Shell. He definitely has not fixed our offensive line and one has to question his ability to coach. On monday night versus the Seahawks our offense needed a spark. There are two individuals I think could have helped that did see the field when we needed them too. Justin Fargas and Jerry Porter.

Fargas has proved many fans wrong this season and has looked very sharp running the ball. Jerry Porter has whined his way to the bench but if he is dressed what is the point of keeping him on the sidelines? He is sure-handed and can take over the number 1 reciever spot if Moss continues to disapoint.

The one thing that has been good this year is Rob Ryan and the Oakland Defense. They have kept us in most games and even won a couple for us. Nnamdi Asomugha and Derrick Burgess have provided game changing moments while Kirk Morrison handles the brunt of the workload. Even rookie Michael Huff has looked decent in run support. He hasn't had his first interception yet but he looks like he is the real deal.

Three Observations

2006-10-08T20:42:00.000-05:00

Questionable Coaching may have been a factor in our loss to the 49ers.

1) When Justin Fargas starting running well, why did we quit giving him the ball and start giving it to Jordan again? Fargas carried the ball 8 times for 63 yards with a long rush of 19 yards. That's nearly 8 yards per carry.

2) Why was Andrew Walter pulled out of the game? Walter had a couple of bad plays but it was the second start of his career. Late in the game would have been a very good experience for him and I believe Tui is in his last season with the Silver and Black.

3) One real positive I have noticed this season is the improved tackling by Schweigert. It is disapointing when our free safety has to tackle the running back but Schweigert was consistently making good tackles, which he hadn't done the last two seasons.

0-4 isn't a good place to be but we have some young and talented players who seem to be starting to step up which makes our future look a little brighter.

The Cleveland Browns

2006-09-30T08:04:00.000-05:00

Charlie Frye has played much better than many expected thus far this season. He has emerging receiving threats in Kellen Winslow Jr. and Braylon Edwards and could eventually form a very dangerous passing game.

The good thing is Cleveland has had similar problems as us along the offensive line. The Browns have been unable to produce a running game and tend to give up a lot of sacks. If we want to win this game we will need to win the battle with our defensive line. Warren Sapp and Derrick Burgess will need to get consistent pressure on Frye and sack him in key situations. If we plug gaps and put Cleveland into third and long situations we should be able to keep them off of the scoreboard for most of the game.

The Browns defense isn't anything special but they do have a couple of key players on the defensive line. If we want Andrew Walter to be successful, we need to keep Willie McGinest away from him. He is the biggest pass rush threat on the team. Ted Washington will also make it difficult to run the ball up the gut.

AFC West Standings: Week 3

2006-09-24T23:41:00.000-05:00

Here's a look at the current AFC West standings after week 3.

AFC West
Team	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA	Home	Road	AFC	NFC	DIV	Streak
San Diego	2	0	0	1.000	67	7	1-0	1-0	2-0	0-0	1-0	Won 2
Denver	2	1	0	.667	36	31	1-0	1-1	2-0	0-1	1-0	Won 2
Kansas City	0	2	0	.000	16	32	0-1	0-1	0-2	0-0	0-1	Lost 2
Oakland	0	2	0	.000	6	55	0-1	0-1	0-2	0-0	0-1	Lost 2

The only AFC West team to play this week was the Broncos and they were able to beat the Patriots 17-7. Denver's defense allowed it's first touchdown of the season in the fourth quarter. They look to be a pretty solid unit but their offense is still hit or miss. Javon Walker scored a couple of long touchdowns and if he can be limited it would limit their offense.

Team of the Decades

2006-09-21T00:11:00.000-05:00

I know we are sitting at 0-2 right now but we were once known as the team of the decades because we had won a Super Bowl in every decade up until the 1990's. That is a trend that needs to get started again. Let's take a look at how we've done this decade.

2000: 12-4, won the division but lost to the Ravens in the AFC Championship game
2001: 10-6, won the division but lost to the Patriots by way of the infamous "tuck rule"
2002: 11-5, won the division and advanced to the Super Bowl but lost to the Bucs
2003: 4-12
2004: 5-11
2005: 4-12

So that puts our overall record at 46-50 so far in this decade but we have won the AFC West 3 times in the last 6 years. I am confident that our organization will be fixed and we will enjoy more seasons like the first three listed in the near future.

Whats happening in the AFC West?

2006-09-20T00:25:00.000-05:00

The AFC West has been a very difficult division to predict so far this season. There is only one team in the division that has been dominant and that is San Diego. But what does that mean? San Diego has looked like a very good team so far but they've only faced us and the Titans so far and neither team looked very good. Will San Diego and Rivers be able to hold up against teams that are playing much better? We'll have to see how Rivers handles the Ravens defense in week 4.

The Broncos are sitting at .500 but haven't looked anything like a Super Bowl contender yet. They had a loss against the St. Louis Rams who didn't score a single touch down and then they were only able to beat a Trent-Green-less Cheifs by a score of 9-6 in overtime.

The Chiefs offense has completely fallen apart this season leading them to a 0-2 start to the season. Trent Green's injury could put them into a hole they won't be able to climb out of.

We have also started off 0-2. We have some question marks along the offensive line and have played absolutely horribly in our first two games. The good news is that we may have put the toughest two defenses on our schedule behind us and our next two games are against the Browns and the 49ers. If we are going to turn this season around it has to start against Cleveland.

Tuesday Report

2006-09-19T12:35:00.000-05:00

Andrew Walter
Well it seems that Aaron Brooks will miss two weeks with his injury which will put Andrew Walter as the starting Quarterback against Cleveland in week 4. Shell said that Aaron Brooks is still the starter when he recovers from his injury.

Advice for Aaron Brooks: Hurry back if you want to keep your starting job. We have put the teams on our schedule with the best pass rush behind us and we should be able to throw the ball down the field against our next two opponents. Andrew Walter could have a very big day against the Browns. He should have adequate time to throw the ball and Randy Moss should be able to torch Cleveland's secondary.

You'll hear some people saying that Walter didn't look that great and that he threw three interceptions and they won't fear him. This will be their mistake. Two of his interceptions shouldn't have been. The pass to Whitted when he tipped the ball in the air shouldn't be on Walter and the pass to Morant where he didn't see the ball coming and didn't make a play for it shouldn't be on Walter either. The interception by Ray Lewis was a poor read and that one should be on Walter. Walter will get better as he faces more defensive looks, gets more practice with the first team and more comfortable behind the center.

If Walter has a good outing against the Browns, Shell needs to start him against the 49ers. That would give Walter two games against teams without a strong pass rush before heading into Denver. This would give him more confidence and give our entire team more confidence if he can get our offense rolling. I just hope he makes good progress and continues to look like the Quarterback of our future.

Lamont Jordan
What's up with Lamont this year? I know we've faced strong defenses but he needs to read his blocks better and not hesitate so much. He is a power back. He needs to find his hole and hit it hard. He hasn't had gaping holes to run the ball through but he isn't playing as well as we need him to play.

I think Jordan will be much better against the Browns and 49ers because of their defenses and I am hoping this builds his confidence. If we are going to try and salvage this season, we need Jordan to emerge as one of the elite backs in the NFL.

Another Loss

2006-09-18T11:54:00.000-05:00

Sunday's loss to Baltimore was bad but there are some positives to be taken out of the game. Here is a short list just to name a few:

1) We didn't get shut out.
Baltimore has one of the toughest defenses in the league and although we were not able to get the ball in the end zone, we scored 6 points. There were some other drives that went pretty well too before a turnover stopped it short. There are some things to build on now.

2) Janokowski hit a field goal outside of 50 yards.
Last year, Seabass missed all of the field goals he attempted outside of 50 yards and had a pretty rough season overall. Making two field goals may mean that the preseason was no fluke and Jano has fixed whatever was wrong last season.

3) Warren Sapp had two sacks.
Sapp is beginning to look more like the player we envisioned when we signed him as a free agent. His two sacks were against a strong offensive line and a mobile quarterback. Sapp is back.

4) The Defense looked strong.
Generally when a team scored 28 points on you it is hard to say this but our defense looked pretty solid overall. Our turnovers and a couple of special teams breakdowns made the game out of reach. Our defense should continue to improve as the season rolls along.

5) Andrew Walter is the Quarteback of our future.
I know he didn't have a statistically outstanding game, but if he gets more practice time with the first team offense and better protection, he could be a very dangerous Quarterback. A couple of his mistakes weren't really his fault and some of the others he will fix with more playing time and practice.

A week 3 bye is usually considered a bad thing but it should be a very beneficial thing for us this season. An extra week will give Walter more time to prepare and allow us to continue to make adjustments to our offense. Coming off of the bye we will face a couple teams (Cleveland and San Fransisco) that don't have as good of a pass rush as our first two opponents. These would be a couple of great games to get Andrew Walter and the offense in sync before we face Denver in week 6.

Don't panic yet Raider Nation, we could easily be 2-2 heading into Denver.

A look at the AFC West in Week 2

2006-09-17T00:56:00.000-05:00

AFC West Matchups
Kansas City (0-1) @ Denver (0-1)
Jake Plummer played horribly in their season opener against St. Louis last week. Even if Plummer repeats last week's performance, the Cheifs will have a difficult time in this game without Trent Green.

Prediction:
Denver 20
Kansas City 10

Tennessee (0-1) @ San Deigo (1-0)
San Diego's may have looked better than they are last week because of our poor offensive line play but they will be able to beat Kerry Collins again this season. The Titans are in a rebuilding mode but will improve because they have a good crop of young players coming up.

Prediction:
San Diego 27
Tennessee 13

Oakland (0-1) @ Baltimore (1-0)
I may be a bit biased but I believe that Slaughter may end up holding the Left Tackle position for the rest of the season after Gallery's injury and will be able to provide more protection than Gallery did. Slaughter performed very well against Strahan last season. Our offense is loaded with talent if we can get the ball moving. I expect Brooks to take a couple of sacks and throw and interception but it will be nothing like last week. We will win this one and have people second guessing about both us and the Ravens.

Prediction:
Oakland 17
Baltimore 10

My AFC West Game Prediction record : 1-2 (ouch)

Predicted Divisional Standings

TEAM	Wins	Losses
San Diego	2	0
Denver	1	1
Oakland	1	1
Kansas City	0	2

Tom Walsh

2006-09-15T07:54:00.000-05:00

Many fans are pointing fingers at our offensive coordinator, Tom Walsh, for our loss and they may be doing so correctly.

Our offense was only able to generate 96 yards through the air and 87 yards on the ground. 32 of the 87 yards rushing were gained by Quarterbacks. This is unacceptable on an offense with Randy Moss and Lamont Jordan.

We were dominated in the Time of Possession. We held the ball for 24:12 and San Deigo held the ball for 35:48. Time of Possession is a key part of the game. Our defense was tired after chasing LT around the whole first half.

Shane Lechler punted the ball 9 times. I think the best players should always be on the field but that doesn't include our punter.

The real key was poor offensive line play which partly can be attributed to bad play calling. We used 5 and 7 steps drops the majority of the game and Brooks held on to the ball too long when he did get time to throw. There were no adjustments made at half time and the Chargers continued to put our Quarterbacks on the ground. Nine times to be exact.

I am hoping that Walsh sees the errors he made during our first game and adjusts our offense this week against the Ravens. If not, it is likley that him and possibly even Art Shell won't be coaching on this team by the end of the season.

What's in store for us?

2006-09-14T07:43:00.000-05:00

To really begin to analyze this week's matchup with the Ravens let's take a look at the Raven's shutout victory over Tampa Bay . Let's start with a peek at the Raven's offense.

Steve McNair completed 17 out of 27 passes for 181 yards and a touchdown. These stats may not blow anyone away but they are improved over what the Ravens have had to endure with Kyle Boller at the helm and they were done against a very solid Tampa Bay defense. This week our secondary will actually face a real test. If the Ravens throw the ball 25-30 times against us, I expect at least one interception from our secondary.

Jamal Lewis carried the ball 18 times for 78 yards and a touchdown and Mike Anderson added 7 carries for 25 yards. Thats 4.3 and 3.5 yards per carry respectively. This guys are talented but they are not as good as we had to face last week. After watching the tape on us from last week, I would expect the Raves to come out running the ball like San Diego did. 4:49 PM 9/13/2006

The Ravens defense ended up with 3 sacks and 3 interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown. They had a good pass rush which is scary when you look at our offensive line. It is really up to Walsh. He needs to change up the offense for this game and we may need to keep a fullback in blocking or use double TE formations more often. A shorter drop on passing plays would help but would also limit the effectiveness of Randy Moss

Chris Simms completed 17 of 29 passes for 133 yards and threw 3 interceptions. Simms is an inexperienced Quarterback and hasn't really proven himself as a consistent starting quarterback yet. With a secondary consisting of Chris McAllister and Ed Reed, you have to expect they will make a couple plays but Aaron Brooks was very good when he had time to throw last week so I wouldn't expect to see more than 1 interception.

Cadillac Williams carried the ball 8 times for 22 yards. This is the stat that could really hurt us. If Lamont Jordan can't run the ball on this defense the Ravens will dominate the Time of Possession and force our defense to get tired by the fourth quarter.

All said and done, this will be a tough game against a tough team but it is not out of reach. We need to force the Ravens to make mistakes and keep working the gameplan against their defense.

Why we aren't doomed yet

2006-09-13T00:16:00.000-05:00

I've seen many experts and football fans predicting the Raiders doom now that we were shut out during our first regular season game. I've even seen Raider's fans calling for Walsh and Shell to be fired and declaring Robert Gallery a bust. It is way too early to be making those types of predictions and here are some reasons why:

1) With our new coaching additions and offensive line shuffling we didn't know what to expect
In our first game no one really knew how well our offensive line would perform. This is hopefully the reason why we kept going with a seven step drop on passing plays. There is also the question of why we didn't "adjust" our offense at half time. I am unsure if this has to do with some rust on Walsh or maybe we haven't gotten that far into our playbook yet. Whatever the reason, give us another couple of games before judging Walsh or the offensive line too harshly.

2) Both of our other Divisional oppenents lost
Despite how badly we performed, there is only one team with a win in our division so we didn't get ourselves into an early hole.

Jake Plummer played horribly and St. Louis was able to win the game without scoring a single touchdown. Denver showed absolutely nothing to back up many "experts" picking them to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.

Kansas City, on the other hand, faced off against a solid Bengals team but Larry Johnson didn't look nearly as good as he did last season. The retirement of Roaf may affect this team more than people think.

I know that we were completely dominated by the Chargers, but I think we will look like a much different team in our second matchup. I would expect 8 people in the box for most of the game next time and think that our offensive line should improve as the season rolls on. I still am not sold on Rivers being good after just one game and I think he will still face some struggles this season.

3) We have three rookie starters
Huff, Howard and McQ will all continue to improve as the season goes on. Very few rookies come into their first NFL game and make an immediate impact. I really watch for Huff to turn some heads this year. He played pretty well against the Chargers and I expect him to keep getting better.

4) Aaron Brooks actually looked pretty good when he had time
Thats right, Brooks threw some nice accurate balls when he had time to throw. His stats are very deceiving. We had a number of dropped passes. I will admit that he did hold on to the ball for too long a few times but that will get better as he gets more comfortable with the offense and his receievers.

There are probably a lot more reasons than these listed not to panic but this is a good start. I think we will look better against the Ravens next week.

WANTED: OFFENSIVE LINEMEN

2006-09-12T00:18:00.000-05:00

Offensive Performance
The root of all of our offensive woes was the poor play of the offensive line. The Chargers completely dominated the trenches and were able to force sacks and bad throws. The real question is will this 7 step drop offense work with our current offensive line? We either need to get our guys to block or switch to a shorter drop and shorter passing plays if we want to have success this season. I was glad to see Andrew Walter get some playing time once the game was out of reach but it wasn't very valuable time because he didn't get much time to throw the ball. Aaron Brooks actually looked pretty decent when he had time to throw the ball but once again didn't have much success with our poor offensive line play.

Defensive Performance
Why did we play a nickel formation for the majority of the first half? With a Quarterback with no starts we knew San Diego was going to run with LT and yet we just sat back and let him run all over us. The defense started playing much better against the run in the second half Fabian Washington was beat badly and we didn't converge on the ball like a speedy defense should.

What to expect
Art Shell has his hands full with things to work on. No one performed very well at all. I definitely think we need to switch up to a shorter drop on passing plays or we will get sacked all season long. We face another strong defense next week so we need to get better protection or it could be a similar result.

With all of this negativity, there is still no reason to hit the panic button yet. This was Shell's first game in many years, Aaron Brooks first game with the Raiders, and a shuffled Offensive line's first game together. The positive thing is that there is no way to go but up

Question
Why didn't Art Shell kick the field goal at the end of the game to prevent the second shutout at home in Raider History?

Pregame: San Diego @ Oakland

2006-09-11T08:13:00.000-05:00

The Chargers and Raiders games have always been close games and this shouldn't be any different. The Raiders and Chargers both have new Quarterbacks but the difference is Rivers hasn't started an NFL game.

Keys on Offense
San Diego has one of the toughest defensive front sevens in the NFL. It will be difficult to come out and run the ball on them right away so the real key here is to establish the passing game to loosen up the defense. San Diego's biggest weakness is their secondary so if we can score quickly through the air, it will make it easier to run the ball and could also take LT out of the game if we build an early lead.

Keys on Defense
Force Rivers to win the game with his arm. Antonio Gates is a stud but the Chargers don't have a strong core of receivers. If we put 8 guys in the box to stop LT and get a decent pass rush on, we can force Rivers to make some mistakes and with our speedy defense we may be able to score some defensive points.

Prediction
Raiders 24
Chargers 17

The Wild Wild West

2006-09-10T21:57:00.000-05:00

AFC West Standings

The current AFC West standings after the Sunday games is as follows:

TEAM	WINS	Losses
Denver	0	1
Kansas City	0	1
Oakland	0	0
San Diego	0	0

This presents the Raiders with a huge oppertunity. If we can beat the Chargers on Monday night football, we will hold the sole victory in our division.

The Broncos didn't look too bad on defense but Jake Plummer threw three interceptions but the running game was still strong. Tatum led the way with 15 carries for 103 yards for an average of 6.9 yards per carry and Mike toted the ball 10 times for 58 yards for an average of 5.8 yards per carry and scored the Broncos only touchdown.

The Cheifs were never really able to get anything established offensively and had a horrible scare when Trent Green was drilled while running the ball. Green was carried off the field on a strecher but had no damage to his back or neck. Read the story here.

Moss: The QB Helper

2006-09-08T07:50:00.000-05:00

Out of curiousity, I compiled the stats of all the quarterbacks that started games on Randy Moss teams since he came into the league. Moss may not have produced all these numbers himself but this is what his presence on the field has yeilded.

1998

Player	GS	ATT	COMP	Yards	TDs	INT	Rating
Randall Cunningham	14	425	259	3704	34	10	106.0
Brad Johnson	2	101	65	747	7	5	89.0

1999

Player	GS	ATT	COMP	Yards	TDs	INT	Rating
Jeff George	10	329	191	2816	23	12	94.2
Randall Cunningham	6	200	124	1475	8	9	79.1

2000

Player	GS	ATT	COMP	Yards	TDs	INT	Rating
Daunte Culpepper	16	474	297	3937	33	16	98.0

2001

Player	GS	ATT	COMP	Yards	TDs	INT	Rating
Daunte Culpepper	11	366	235	2612	14	13	83.3
Todd Bouman	3	89	51	795	8	4	98.3
Spergon Wynn	2	98	48	418	1	6	38.6

2002

Player	GS	ATT	COMP	Yards	TDs	INT	Rating
Daunte Culpepper	16	549	333	3853	18	23	75.3

2003

Player	GS	ATT	COMP	Yards	TDs	INT	Rating
Daunte Culpepper	14	454	295	3479	25	11	96.4
Gus Frerotte	2	65	38	690	7	2	118.1

2004

Player	GS	ATT	COMP	Yards	TDs	INT	Rating
Daunte Culpepper	16	548	379	4717	39	11	110.9

2005

Player	GS	ATT	COMP	Yards	TDs	INT	Rating
Kerry Collins	15	565	302	3479	20	12	77.3
Marques Tuiasosopo	1	26	14	124	1	2	47.6

As you can see, in most cases Moss has been great at making Quarterbacks look good. There are a few exceptions of course like in the 2001 season with Wynn and last season with Tuiasosopo (I know he wasn't 100%) but overall Moss is good for Quarterbacks. Let's see what Aaron Brooks can do with him.

Keys to the Game

2006-09-07T07:44:00.000-05:00

The Game
The regular season action kicks off for the Raiders on Monday, Sept 11, against the San Deigo Chargers. This will be a tough test to beginthe new season and will be a very good indicator on how our team will perform this season.

Here are a few keys to the game:

1) Stop the run
L.T. is one of the best Running Backs in the NFL. He has been a large reason for San Diego's turn around. If the Raiders can hold him, it will cause the Chargers to pass the ball with first year starter Philip Rivers and that is what we want.

2) Create Turnovers
We were one of the worst teams in the league at creating turnovers last season and it showed. Shell has been very committed to rectifying this problem and it has showed this preseason. If we can carry this over into the regular season, we will have more success this season.

3) Pressure the Quarterback
Generally, first time starters struggle when pressured. We need a strong pass rush from our front 4 and watch for Ryan to be sending some of our speedy defensive backs on blitzes against Rivers. We need to get to him early and not let him develop into any type of rythm.

4) Protect Aaron Brooks
Our pass protection has looked both good and bad this preseason. If we can give Brooks time to get the ball deep, we will win this game. The Chargers have one of the best run defenses in the league and if we want to soften it up at all, we need to get the ball downfield to Randy Moss.

NFL Network
Did anyone get a chance to catch that two hour season preview they had on NFL Network last night? I really enjoyed it. When they were doing the AFC West both Woodson and Faulk picked Denver as the team to beat but they both said that Oakland would contend this year. They picked San Deigo to bring up the bottom of the division and really didn't say a whole lot about the Cheifs.

Some Raider Info

2006-09-06T11:49:00.000-05:00

Fun Facts

Here are a couple very interesting facts from Gil Brandt of NFL.com:

"For the first season since 1978, the Oakland Raiders will not have a Heisman Trophy winner on their roster."

I didn't even realize that one. I guess the end of the Charles Woodson era ended this rather impressive streak. If we would have drafted Matt Leinert, like some fans wanted, this streak would still continue. I am happy about having Huff on our roster and think ending a streak is a good thing.

"If Randy Moss catches two touchdown passes, he will be the second fastest to100 touchdown receptions in NFL history. Jerry Rice did it in 120 games and Moss has played in 125 games."

It's just too bad that Moss only had 8 touchdowns last season and played injured throughout the year. He also had injury problems during his last season in Minnesota but was still able to grab 13 touchdowns while producing under 800 yards receiving. It would be nice to see Moss go deep for 2 TDs on the Chargers on Monday night and lock up the second quickest spot.

Week 1 Predictions

Here is my analysis and predictions of the AFC West Week 1 Matchups. I have the Raiders and Broncos winning and the Chargers and Cheifs losing.

Overcoming the Chargers would say a lot about our team and our chances this season. Our best chance at doing that would require us to eliminate L.T. from the picture. We need to score quickly and try to build an early lead. That would make the Chargers try to pass the ball to play catch-up. Then we could force some defensive turnovers and put the Chargers into a hole that they won't be able to climb out of.

AFC West Week 1 Matchups

2006-09-06T07:43:00.000-05:00

Cincinnati at Kansas City
Sunday, Sept. 10
1:00 PM EST

Kansas City has a tough week 1 matchup now that we know Carson Palmer is healed and will play. Look for the Bengals to be very dominant in this game because of the potent offense and their defense's knack for creating turnovers

Prediction:
Cincinnati 34
Kansas City 10

Denver at St. Louis
Sunday, Sept. 10
1:00 PM EST

St. Louis has a potential to be a potent offense but Stephen Jackson will face a tough test against Denver's front 7 and Holt will be facing off against Champ Bailey. This could be a close game but the edge has to go to Denver

Prediction:
Denver 24
St. Louis 17

San Diego at Oakland
Monday, Sept. 11
10:15 EST

Both teams have numerous questions but look for Randy Moss to explode against this week secondary. Lamont Jordan may not have a great game because San Diego has a tough front 7 but our defense should be able to generate some turnovers off of some River's mistakes.

Prediction:
Oakland 17
San Diego 14

What does the trade mean?

2006-09-05T00:28:00.000-05:00

Most Raider's players and fans were shocked this weekend when the Oakland Raiders traded starting wide receiver, Doug Gabriel, to the New England Patriots for what is believed to be a fifth round draft pick.

The positives about this trade are
1) It gets Jerry Porter back to a starting role
2) It will give Johnnie Morant an oppertunity to prove himself
3) It means the coaching staff has faith in Ronald Curry health

We were very deep at WR anyways but most speculated that Jerry Porter would be the one traded.

The Preseason is over

2006-09-01T07:33:00.000-05:00

Poor offensive play overshadowed a strong outing by our first string defense and a 72 yard punt return touchdown by Chris Carr in a 7-30 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

The Good
Aaron Brooks didn't do anything wrong in his limited time. He completed 2 of 3 passes for 17 yards.

The Secondary looked very strong, especially Nnamdi Asomugha. If it weren't for a pass interference call, he would have played a nearly perfect game.

Lance Johnstone and Tyler Brayton were both able to get a sack. Brayton looked especially sharp while in.

The biggest play of the game came after Seattle's first possesion ( a three and out) when Chris Carr returned the punt 72 yards for a touchdown.

The Bad
Andrew Walter played very poorly. He got frustrated and was never able to lead the team into the end zone.

Our running game was non-existant. Lamont Jordan carried the ball twice for 0 yards and Justin Fargas was only able to muster up 15 yards on 8 carries.

Hopefully this was just a poor night because play like this against the Chargers won't get us a win.

The Preseason Finale

2006-08-31T09:25:00.000-05:00

As we approach tonight's game versus the Seattle Seahwaks, the one big question is will we go 5-0 in the preseason for the first time in franchise history?

I think we will. I know our starters won't be on the field for more than a drive or two but our backups and our backup's backups have played very well thus far in the preseason. This will be a game that Andrew Walter will get more extensive playing time. We will be able to see if he can lead us to our 5-0 preseason mark. The other interesting thing to see in this game is how much playing time Marques Tuiasosopo and Jeff George will get. Which guy will be our number three QB heading into the regular season?

Our critics will say that the preseason is meaningless and that our record will not be indicative of our regular season play. They may be right but they are most likely wrong. It was important for us to put up a solid preseason this year because we haven't been a winning team for three years. Winning brings a much different attitude to a locker room even if it is in the preseason.

A side note
If you want to watch the game but can't get it on your TV, check out the TVU player. It's available for free at download.com. Just go to the site and search for TVU player and download it. It's a pretty big file and might take some time depending on your internet connection. Once you have it you can check out the channel guide at viidoo.com. Tonight's game will be on the FOX channel.

Jeff George: Raider QB

2006-08-30T07:46:00.000-05:00

I know it was a very suprising and upsetting move to a lot of Raider's fans but you really have to face the facts. Even if Jeff George makes it past the final roster cuts, the liklihood that he will throw a pass this season is nonexistant. George will most likely end up somewhere between third string and fourth string and won't play unless we get decimated by injuries.

Lets take a quick look at some Stats.

Career Passing Numbers

Jeff George	2298 COMP	3967 ATT	27602 YARDS	154 TDs	113 INTs
Aaron Brooks	1563 COMP	2771 ATT	19156 YARDS	120 TDs	84 INTs

George has a career passing rating of 80.4 while Aaron Brooks has a career passing rating of 79.7.

Don't misinterpret what I am saying, I am all for Brooks and want him to start the season but George has had a much better career than people give him credit for and his numbers are slightly better than the numbers of Aaron Brooks.

Third and Fourth string Quarterbacks can be very important to a team, remember Rick Mirer.

Post Game Analysis: Detroit @ Oakland

2006-08-28T07:36:00.000-05:00

Box Score

TEAM	1	2	3	4	Final
Oakland	7	14	0	0	21
Detroit	0	0	3	0	3

The Good
Aaron Brooks and Randy Moss finally developed a rythm. Moss hauled in 3 catches for 102 yards and 2 touchdowns. Brooks also threw no interceptions.

Lamont Jordan finally had a decent game. He averaged 5 yards per carry and scored a touchdown.

Shane Lechler booted 2 punts for an average of 51 yards per punt and got one inside the 20.

Derrick Burgess recorded his first sack of the preseason.

Kirk Morrison was a monster on the field. He led the team with 6 tackles and intercepted one pass. He should have had a second interception but was unable to hold on to the ball.

Tyler Brayton and Lance Johnstone both forced fumbles.

Jerry Porter played and actually caught a pass.

The Bad
The only bad things from this game was that there were a couple of important players that did not play. Andrew Walter and Michael Huff didn't play and both could have used the time.

Raiders Top Performers

Passing	Aaron Brooks	187 yards	2 TDs
Rushing	Justin Fargas	62 yards	0 TDs
Receiving	Randy Moss	102 yards	2 TDs

AFC West Preseason Standings
TEAM	Wins	Losses
Raiders	4	0
Chargers	2	1
Broncos	2	1
Cheifs	1	2

Next Game
@ Seattle
Thursday, August 31
10:00 PM EST

Pregame Analysis: Detroit @ Oakland

2006-08-24T07:51:00.000-05:00

The Offensive Line
The offensive line has struggled in it's first two preseason outings. Then they played very well against the 49ers in the third preseason game. I think that they are learning to play their new positions and are gelling together as a more cohesive unit. Sims may re-enter the starting lineup this week so watch and see how this affects the unit. They should be able to build upon a solid effort against the 49ers and once again provide adequate protection to our Quarterbacks.

The Quarterbacks
All three of our Quarterbacks showed significant improvement against the 49ers. Our first unit should play most of the game so this will be a great oppertunity to see how they play when they get completely into the rythm of the game. Brooks looked solid and should be able to at least repeat his performance.

The Secondary
The secondary should get the oppertunity to make some more plays this weekend. Detroit has a new quarterback and a new offense and some struggling former first round receivers. They recorded their 5th preseason interception against the niners which is the total they had throughout the entire season last year. Nnamdi Asomugha still needs to step up his game and not get beat this week. He is the only starter in the secondary who hasn't played well yet this preseason but he played very solid coverage last regular season so look for him to get it done this week.

Derrick Burgess
Derrick Burgess came out of no where to lead the NFL in sacks last season but hasn't done anything outstanding this preseason. He is no longer a secret and teams will be much more likely to double team him this season. Continue to keep a close eye on him to see how he handles the double team and see if he can enjoy the same success he enjoyed last season.

Game Info
Where: Oakland, California
When: Friday, August 25th at 10:00 PM EST
Notes: The Raiders have played the Lions nine times in regular season play and have a record of 6-3.

Where is the sure thing?

2006-08-23T07:38:00.000-05:00

Aren't We Forgetting Someone?
Where has Zack Crockett gone? In past years, Crockett was considered a short yardage specialist and when called upon, he was almost always a sure thing.

Now, he blocks. In the past three preseason games, Crockett has carried the ball 0 times! I realize that Jordan has had success picking up the needed yardage in short yardage situations but Crockett is as good as they come in those situations. Plus running with Crockett would also save a little wear and tear on Jordan. A fullback is easier to replace than Jordan would be.

I am hoping that this is just part of our "vanilla" preseason offense but it is doubtful because a short yardage run is not anything suprising and there is no reason to try to keep it a secret.

NFL.com's AFC West Preview
NFL.com takes a look at the AFC West in their AFC West Preview. In their preview, they pretty much say the division is wide open because all four teams have questions and problems. Denver needs a running game, Oakland has questions at quarterback and along the offensive line, Kansas City has major offensive line issues and San Diego has an inexperienced quarterback.

The fact that they brought up that I really liked was that no team has won the division more than once since the realignment in 2002. I could see any one of the teams in the AFC West being great but I could also see anyone one of them struggling. Hopefully, we can pull all of our peices together and emerge as a contender.

Training Camp
in his training camp blog, McDonald talks about Ronald Curry and Jerry Porter. He says how Porter is the best option to play the slot and Curry could do it to but we can't expect him to return to form so quickly.

I agree with him. I think we have to expect Porter to play the slot recevier this season and if Curry can stay healthy all year, we can trade Porter next offseason and turn the role over to Curry then. If Curry doesn't stay healthy, we can hope Morant continues his development.

What does the preseason mean?

2006-08-22T07:41:00.000-05:00

Relevance of the Preseason
In 2005, the only undefeated team in the preseason was the Denver Broncos. We know they won the division going 13-3 and made the playoffs.

In 2004, the only undefeated team in the preseason was the Carolina Panthers. They finished 7-9 and barely missed the playoffs in the weak NFC.

In 2003, The Patriots, Titans, Panthers and Cardinals all went undefeated in the preseason. The Patriots won the AFC East and went 14-2 in the regular season. The Titans went 12-4 and made the playoffs through the wild card spot. The Panthers won their division and went 11-5 in the regular season and the Cardinals went 4-12.

So in the last three years, undefeated teams in the preseason have went 61-35 in the regular season and made it to the playoffs 67% of the time. I realize that we still have two preseason games to win before we can call ourselves undefeated but we're off to a great start and have the potential to shock a lot of people this season if it all comes together.

The Wide Receivers
We have one of the most talented Wide Reciever cores in the NFL but how many of them will we have on our active Roster after the 53 man roster cut down? Right now the list looks something like this:

Randy Moss
Doug Gabriel
Alvis Whitted
Ronald Curry
Jerry Porter
Johnie Morant
Carlos Francis
Will Buchanon
Kevin McMahan

Out of those 9 players we will most likely keep about 6 or maybe 7 if we get worried about a player not clearing waivers to make the practice squad.

Randy Moss and Doug Gabriel are listed as starters so they will occupy two spots. Even if someone beats Gabriel out of the number 2 spot he is a lock because he is our backup return man.

Jerry Porter will not be cut due to the cap acceleration towards next season's cap so he will occupy one spot unless we can get him to repay part of his signing bonus and find a team willing to give us what we are asking for him in a trade. He is more talented than Gabriel but will need to shut up and perform if he wants out of Art Shell's dog house.

Alvis Whitted may not be a popular pick among fans but he seems to have the third or fourth receiver spot locked up depending on the status of Jerry Porter and Ronald Curry. He is a speedster and seems to make plays at key moments.

Speaking of Curry, He will get a roster spot based on the skills he flashed prior to his injury in the 2004 season. He has the potential to beat Doug Gabriel out of the second receiver slot if he can stay healthy and play at the level he was playing at in '04. So that pretty much leaves us with one or possibly two spots.

Who will it be? The most obvious choice is preseason standout Johnnie Morant. He has more upside than any of the others and has shown flashes of being a great receiver. But will the other 3 clear waivers and make it to the practice squad? Buchanon and McMahon would both most likely make it but Carlos Francis is a likley candidate to be claimed by another team. He has great speed and can also be used as a returner. His main problem has been injuries. It is doubtful that he will make the 53 man roster so he may end up on another team.

Post Game Analysis: Raiders vs 49ers

2006-08-21T07:53:00.000-05:00

Box Score

TEAM	1	2	3	4	Final
Oakland	7	3	7	6	23
San Fransisco	0	0	0	7	7

The Good
This was not the same offense we've seen the last two preseason games. All three quarterbacks played well. Brooks finally played like a starting Quarterback completing 10 of 17 passses for 125 yards and a touchdown and busting off a 25 yard run. He also threw one interception in the end zone. Andrew Walter completed 8 of 10 passes for 99 yards and led the team to a touchdown on the first drive of the second half.

Michael Huff intercepted an Alex Smith pass and returned it 44 yards before being tackled by Smith. Huff has played very well this preseason.

The Offensive Line played well. Brooks had plenty of time to throw the ball on most plays and they made very few mistakes. Hopefully they can continue to improve.

Janokowski made a 24 yard field goal to make his 7 for 7 this preseason. He showed the power of his leg on his kickoffs as well pinning two back for touchbacks.

Shane Lechler punted twice for and average of 46.5 yards per punt. He pinned one inside the 20 and had a long punt of 56 yards.

The Bad
Brooks used 2 of our 3 timeouts in the first quarter. It's not important right now in the preseason but those timeouts could be very valuable in a tight game.

Brooks also threw a few bad passes. I hope he gets those out of his system in the preseason but he is definitely improving.

Lamont Jordan only averaged 3.75 yards per carry. He carried the ball 12 times for 45 yards.

Raiders Top Performers

Passing	Aaron Brooks	125 yards	1 TD
Rushing	ReShard Lee	49 yards	0 TDs
Receiving	Randal Williams	53 yards	0 TDs

Next Game
vs. Detroit
Friday, August 25
10:00 PM EST

The Rest of the West
The Giants crushed the Cheifs 17-0 on Thursday night. Trent Green didn't throw too bad but Larry Johnson was only able to gain 8 yards on 4 carries. The Cheifs defense also allowed Eli Manning to complete 11 of 14 passes for 80 yards and a TD. Tiki Barber also gained 22 yards on 5 carries for an average of 4.4 yards per carry. If the Cheifs play this way in the regular season, they may be competing for the bottom of the AFC West.

The Chargers were defeated by the Chicago Bears 3-24. Rivers completed 9 of 14 passes but also threw and interception. San Diego's first team defense gave up a touchdown to Brian Griese threw the air.

The Broncos crushed the Titans 35-10. Jay Cutler and Jake Plummer both played very well and Mike Bell averaged 7.3 yards per carry and scored two touchdowns.

AFC West Preseason Standings
TEAM	Wins	Losses
Raiders	3	0
Chargers	1	1
Broncos	1	1
Cheifs	0	2

Pregame Analysis: San Fransisco @ Oakland

2006-08-18T07:39:00.000-05:00

The Offensive Line
The offensive line has struggled in it's first two preseason outings. They need to show some signs of improvement this week or something needs to be done prior to the beginning of regular season play. The most likely solution would be scrapping the silent count until next year but hopefully they'll get it down so we can use it to our advantage. San Fransisco doesn't have as good of a pass rush as the Eagles or Vikings so maybe this game will help them get into a rythm and hopefully give them a little more time to work with the silent count. If they can get it mastered it should give them a good jump on the defenders.

The Defensive Line
The defensive line hasn't looked quite as bad as our offensive line but they haven't been dominate yet. The 49ers have questions along their offensive line so hopefully we can dominate them in the trenches and give our players something positive to build on. There is a pretty good chance that the starters will play most of the first half so that could make a big difference and lead to them getting more accustomed to the speed and tempo of the game.

Penalties
In our first preseason game against the Eagles, we did fairly well with penalties and eliminating mental mistakes. In our second game, we imploded. There were far to many stupid penalties against the Vikings. Penalties of aggression are acceptable but when you're making stupid mistakes, you are burying yourself. It will be interesting to see how Shell responds and if the players listen.

The Quarterbacks
Aaron Brooks has completed 2 of 9 passes for 28 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT.
Andrew Walter has completed 13 of 29 passes for 194 yards, 1 TD, and 2 INTs.
Marques Tuiasosopo has completed 8 of 20 passes for 99 yards, 0 TDs, and 1 INT.

None of these guys is performing well thus far in the preseason. Walter has shown improvement from the first game to the second game but won't unseat Brooks unless he has a completely dominant performance. The poor numbers by all three of our QBs is partially due to poor offensive line play but they need to make better decisions regardless of the pass protection. With Walter playing better, Brooks may be feeling some pressure and may have to elevate his game against the 49ers. It will be interesting to see how he repsonds.

The Secondary
The secondary should get the oppertunity to make some plays this weekend. There is no way that Alex Smith can have two decent games in a row so look for Fabian Washington and Nnamdi Asomugha to make some noise. It will be interesting to see if Ryan decides to match Huff up with the 49ers rookie Vernon Davis. It would be a good test of Huff's skills and it's always fun to watch rookies go at it. If Huff doesn't gaurd Davis, rookie OLB Howard will most likely get a shot.

Game Info
Where: Oakland, California
When: Sunday, August 20th at 8:00 PM EST
Notes: The Raiders have played the 49ers ten times in regular season play and have a record of 6-4.

Running Back Suggestion

2006-08-17T07:35:00.000-05:00

Training Camp News
In his latest blog entry, McDonald suggests trading Jerry Porter for TJ Duckett. This wouldn't be a horrible idea because we could definitely use the depth at running back but this trade seems to lean heavily in Atlanta's favor. We would lose a starting Wide Receiver for a backup Running Back, I think we'd need some draft picks in the package too.

Backup Running Back Watch
As mentioned above a lot of people have been saying we should trade Jerry Porter for a backup Running Back and a draft pick. Instead of giving up a player, why not sign Amos Zereoue? We know he isn't good enough to be a starter in the league but he might be a better backup than Justin Fargas and Rod Smart and he is a Free Agent so it wouldn't cost us anything to get him. It just depends on how he feels about the Raiders organization after being cut.

The Rest of the West
Denver Broncos
The Broncos lost their preseason opener against the Detroit Lions 13-20. The story of the game for the Broncos was Jay Cutler. He completed 16 out of 22 passes for 192 yards and a touchdown. This is a very good start for a rookie but he most likely won't get much playing time this season. His strong performance is actually kind of a blessing in disguise for Raider's fans. This could add to any quarterback controversy and cause Denver some problems if Plummer struggles at all. Watch Denver's running game this preseason because this may be the first time in many years that they don't have one.

Kansas City Cheifs
The Cheifs lost their preseason opener against the Texans. The Cheifs offense didn't do anything special and their defense allowed the Texans to score in the opening quarter. Larry Johnson did average a little over 4 yards per carry but he may end up missing his retired tackles and traded fullback.

San Diego Chargers
San Diego was able to defeat Green Bay in their preseason opener 17-3. Phillip Rivers looked pretty sharp as he completed 15 out of 21 passes for 169 yards and a touchdown. There is nothing to worry about yet because this is only the preseason and he played against the Packers but hopefully he shows some signs of struggling before the Monday night regular season opener.

Raiders Offensive Woes

2006-08-16T07:33:00.000-05:00

Moss in the Media
Many different sources are reporting that Randy Moss was uspet after being taken out of yesterday's game without having the chance to make any plays. Reports say he threw his helmet and voiced his displeasure to coach Shell. A lot of people are veiwing this as a bad thing. I am happy to see that some of our players are concerned about winning and making plays, even in the preseason. I also think the media is blowing it out of context like they generally do with anything Moss related but having a player get fired up shows his passion for the game and for winning.

The Offensive Line
The struggles of our offense thus far in the preseason are largely due to the inability of our offensive line to pass protect. I have felt all offseason that our offensive line was going to be a great strength of this year's team but they haven't done anything to earn that trust yet. I am still optimistic that they will work out the problems yet this preseason but what options are available to us if they don't?
Here is a list of some of the Offensive Tackles that don't have a team:

Player	Experience
Ethan Brooks	9 years
Orlando Brown	11 years
Marc Colombo	5 years
Todd Fordham	10 years
Makoa Freitas	3 years
Adam Haayer	5 years
Brad Hopkins	14 years
Tony Pashos	4 years
Victor Riley	9 years
Jacob Rogers	2 years
Matt Willig	15 years

The best options from the list above are Orlando Brown and Brad Hopkins. Orlando Brown was cut from the Ravens after having problems dealing with eye injuries for the past few years. He was a pretty decent Tackle before his injury problems and might be decent option as a temporary quick fix for our offensive line if our current tackles don't improve before the regular season rolls around. Brad Hopkins is a pretty quality guy that retired this offseason. He played his entire career with one team so a return isn't likely. Jacob Rogers may not be a bad person too take a look at. He was drafted by the Cowboys in the second round of the 2004 draft. He hasn't lived up to his potential yet but maybe a change of scenery would help him out.

Of course there are other options. Lincoln Kennedy was looking to make a return to the NFL. He hasn't cut it for the teams that he tried out for but bringing him in may not be a bad idea. He would put some more pressure on our starters during the preseason even if he didn't make the cut. There is also the possibility of a trade. Jerry Porter wants out and if we have a more pressing need at another position, it may not be a bad idea to trade him.

Let's hope our current starters pick it up so we don't have to look at these other options. If we did end up bringing someone in they would most likley struggle with the silent count in the beginning as well. I think our current guys will improve as they master the silent count, if they don't I think Shell will scrap the silent count until next year.

Post Game Analysis: Raiders @ Vikings

2006-08-15T07:47:00.000-05:00

Box Score

TEAM	1	2	3	4	Final
Oakland	6	7	0	3	16
Minnesota	7	3	3	0	13

The Good
Andrew Walter played a much better game than last week. He still made a few mistakes but his performance was improved and he threw our only touchdown pass. The biggest difference was his calmness.

Jano went three for three on field goals for the second week in a row. He made field goals from 27,28 and 55 yards out. This looks like a completely different kicker than last season. Hopefully his success can carry over to the regular season.

Our starting secondary played pretty well. If it weren't for the penalties, we probably would have kept them from scoring a touchdown. Fabian Washington seems to be the biggest difference maker in our secondary so far. He has been taking chances and making plays which is a huge difference from last season.

Shane Lechler once again punted wonderfully. He punted five times for an average of 53.4 yards with a long punt of 69 yards.

Chris Carr nearly returned a kickoff for a touchdown. He ran it 60 yards and made a couple tacklers miss. If he continues to run like this, it will only be a matter of time before he finds the end zone.

The Bad
Our offensive line once again looked horrible. Gallery and Walker both struggled at the tackle positions. This led to Aaron Brooks not having time to complete passes down the field.

Penalties turned from a strength last week to a weakness this week. The worst part about it is that they were mainly mental mistake penalties. Both our offensive and defensive lines are guilty.

Raiders Top Performers

Passing	Andrew Walter	148 yards	1 TD
Rushing	ReShard Lee	34 yards	0 TDs
Receiving	Johnnie Morant	108 yards	1 TD

Next Game
vs. San Fransisco
Sunday, August 20
8:00 PM EST

Things to Watch for Against the Vikings

2006-08-11T07:44:00.000-05:00

The Offensive Line
The starting offensive line struggled greatly against the Philidelphia Eagles in last week's Hall of Fame Game. The Vikings defensive line isn't quite as good as Philidelphia's but they should provide a challenge. Art Shell will work them hard so look to see some improvement this game.

The Quarterbacks
All three of our Quarterbacks struggled last week. Aaron Brooks only threw three passes last game and never had any time to get synched up with his receivers. He probably won't play much more this game so don't expect a huge improvement. Andrew Walter should continue to improve as he grows more comfortable in the pocket so look for him to play a little bit better. Tuiasosopo struggled because he was trying to force to many throws. If he can regain some composure and play a little smarter, he will have more success.

Grant Irons
Irons was one of the better players last week. If he continues to be a force on defense, look for him to crack into the starting rotation.

Penalties
Last week was a relatively good game for us with penalties. Watch to see if we can repeat this and limit our mental mistakes.

Game Info
Where: Minneapolis, Minnesota
When: Monday, August 14th at 8:00 PM EST
Notes: It will be broadcasted live on ESPN. The Raiders have played the Vikings ten times in regular season play and have a record of 8-2.

Raiders Training Camp News

2006-08-10T07:43:00.000-05:00

Training Camp
In the SFGate's Raiders blog, they talked a little bit about camp happenings. In the beginning, Morrison hit LaMont Jordan pretty good. Maybe this is a signal that our team is ready to be a little bit more physical in the next game.

Also, it seems that Warren Sapp and Derrick Burgess had a discussion on what type of fish was better. Sapp likes grouper and Burgess prefers Catfish. If I had to make a choice, I'd say walleye.

Carrie Underwood
Last night my wife drug me along to a Carrie Underwood concert. To be completely honest, it was actually pretty good. In the middle she sung a couple of Guns-n-Roses songs and sung them very well. I expected an American Idol winner to have a good voice but she definitely was better than I expected.

Wednesday Raiders News

2006-08-09T07:53:00.000-05:00

Training Camp News
In his lasted Training Camp Post, McDonald says that Porter won't sink the team. He said that Porter may not even have the number 2 spot if healthy and wanting to play for the Raiders. This is more realistic. Porter isn't TO and doesn't single-handedly win games like TO can.

Asomugha made an interception on a pass thrown by Tuiasosopo. It is nice to hear that our defensive backs are taking chances and making plays on the ball in practice. Hopefully this can carry into the regular season games. Ryan said that you can't throw on Asomugha.

Shell Wants More Pushing and Shoving
In this article, the reporter say Art Shell wants our team to be more physical. Shell felt that both our offense and defense weren't attacking and using force in the opener. If Shell can get some of these guys to listen to him and develop better in-game habits, we should see some solid improvement by the end of the preseason.

Shell was also impressed with our special teams. I would have to agree. Jano and Lechler both had great games and our coverage units also performed very well. Our returners didn't do anything great but hopefully they will improve with time.

Tuesday Training Tidbits

2006-08-08T07:43:00.000-05:00

Raiders Training Camp News
In Jerry McDonald's most recent Training Camp Blog Entry, he talks about Shell not liking what he saw in Sunday's game. Shell will most likely work the starters hard this week to try and get them where he wants them to be. I would not be suprised if the starters perform much better against Minnesota on Monday.

In McDonald's report on the game he notes that the Eagles did have a few more days of practice and that may have accounted for why the Eagles first team looked a little bit sharper. Thomas Howard had a lot of problems covering Westbrook. What McDonald didn't note is that if it continues, Danny Clark could make his way back into the starting rotation and Morrison could get kicked outside.

Al Davis Interview
Did anyone catch Al Davis's "interview" with Adam Schefter? It was a pretty funny interview. The NFL network people were making a pretty big deal about it because they had never interviewed Davis but when they started the interview, Al spotted Jerry Jones and had a conversation with him instead all while Schefter stood there holding a microphone. It was a classic Al Davis moment. Schefter trying to squeeze questions in while Davis and Jones chatted. Check it out if you can find it but it's not listed on NFL.com.

Comments on the Game's Commentators
Did any one else feel any tension between John Madden and Chris Collinsworth after Collinsworth predicted the Raiders to be at the bottom of the AFC West again this season. Madden seemed to be a bit agitated and said something about how Collinsworth was only partially right about TO and seemed to argue with Collinsworth more throughout the halftime commentary about almost everything Collinsworth said. Way to stand up against the Haters Coach Madden!

Also I noticed a couple of mistakes by Al Michaels during the game. At one point he called Aaron Brooks Kerry Collins by mistake and he also called Marques Tuiasosopo by his father's name. Good thing there is a preseason for the commentators too.

Post Game Analysis: The Hall of Fame Game

2006-08-07T07:53:00.000-05:00

Box Score

TEAM	1	2	3	4	Final
Oakland	0	7	3	6	16
Philadelphia	7	3	0	0	10

The Good
Sebastion Janikowski made 3 of 3 field goals from 24, 50, and 51 yards out. This is a very nice start for a kicker who struggled last season. Maybe Shell has fixed this offseason issue already.

Fabian Washington intercepted a Jeff Garcia Pass that resulted in our offense scoring a touchdown. Turnovers were a problem last season so hopefully this trend will continue. On a bad note, it was a poorly thrown ball but Washington did react nicely to it.

Grant Irons may be making a push for more playing time. He looked great most of the game. He consistently provided pressure and did get a sack.

Will Buchanon also looked pretty sharp. He caught 4 passes for 50 yards and played very well. He will be trying to crack into a very talented receiving group though.

The Bad
Our offensive line looked pretty bad. Gallery was beat for a sack and they didn't open up running lanes for Lamont Jordan. The majority of the yardage on our sole touchdown was made by Fabian Washington who intercepted the ball. None of our 3 quarterbacks did anything great. Walter had a decent shuttle pass to Justin Fargas that picked up some nice yardage but seemed to overthrow receivers for most of the game.

Our defense looked soft. McNabb and Westbrook marched the ball down the field for an easy touchdown on their first possesion.

Raiders Top Preseason Performers

Passing	Marques Tuiasosopo	63 yards
Rushing	Lamont Jordan	27 yards
Receiving	Will Buchanon	50 yards

Next Game
@ Minnesota
Monday, August 14
8:00 PM EST (on ESPN)

The Hall of Fame Game

2006-08-04T07:42:00.000-05:00

Things To Watch in the Hall of Fame Game

With the Hall of Fame game coming up this Sunday, I think it's time to check out some of the more interesting things to watch for.

The Offensive Line
We'll finally get to see how much our offensive line has improved this offseason. The Eagles have Darren Howard and Javon Kearse at the ends and drafted rookie Brodrick Bunkley to beef up the middle of their defensive line. These guys will be a great test for us. Watch the right side very carefully. If we have any problems, it could be Langston Walker getting beat like he has been in camp.

The Linebackers
Our Linebackers should get a good test from mobile Quarter Donovan McNabb and talented running back Brian Westbrook. Westbrook will dangerous in the short yardage passing game and should give our speedy linebackers a good challenge.

Aaron Brooks
This one is pretty obvious. Everyone will be watching to see if Brooks can develop his timing with Randy Moss and the rest of our talented wide receivers. It will also be interesting to see how Porter plays and whether he is still our number 2 receiver.

Backup Running Backs
Justin Fargas could be a very important aspect of our running game this season so he needs to continue to run hard but eliminate his mistakes. Some of the latest reports out of training camp say he has struggled holding on to the ball so hopefully this is a mistake he can correct before the regular season starts. If he struggles, we may make a move to bring someone else in.

Penalties
Art Shell has been trying very hard to eliminate "mental mistake" penalties. Penalties of aggresiveness may occur but hopefully Shell will have helped our team to eliminate the penalties like false starts and offsides. Keep on eye on the types of penalties that are occuring.

Tyler Brayton versus Bobby Hamilton
This is one of our less publicized camp battles. Brayton is a better pass rusher but Hamilton is great against the run. If Brayton can improve against the run will end up as the starter going into the regular season. Watch how Brayton plays the run, especially on outside running plays. If he struggles Hamilton will regain the starting job.

The Young Secondary
The Eagles have a Pro Bowl Quarterback in Donovan McNabb but lack any real receiving threats. Our secondary should be able to cover the receivers without any problems but if they screw up, McNabb could make them pay. This will be a good first game for them to show us what we have. Hopefully, our starters can get a couple of interceptions off of a quality passer like McNabb.

Hall of Fame Game Info
Where: Canton, Ohio
When: Sunday, August 6th at 8:00 PM EST
Notes: It will be broadcasted live on NBC. The Raiders have participated in the Hall of Fame game twice and have a record of 2-0. The first appearance was in 1979 when the Raiders played the Dallas Cowboys and won 20-13. The most recent appearance was in 1993 when the Raiders beat the Green Bay Packers 19-3.

Thursday's Raiders News

2006-08-03T07:44:00.000-05:00

Training Camp
In his Training Camp Blog, Jerry McDonald talks about Michael Bennett. He said that we may end up wishing we had went after him because he ended up with one of our division rivals. I am not worried about Michael Bennett nearly as much as I'm worried about Larry Johnson. Bennett will be a decent back but I will breathe easier when he takes Johnson's place in certain situations. In the San Fransisco Gate's Training Camp Blog they say that Amy Trask had said ticket sales are going much better than last year but she wouldn't give any details yet. The Raiders had a pretty poor practice yesterday. Receivers were dropping balls and linemen were missing blocking assignments. Hopefully we can get this stuff worked out before the Hall of Fame game this Sunday.

Haters at Fox Sports
In this Fox Sports article, the writer ranks the linebackers of all 32 NFL teams. He has the Raiders ranked at number 26th. I do realize that the linebacker position has been a weakness for us in the past but with the addition of Thomas Howard and the emergence of Kirk Morrison, our linebackers are quickly becoming a strength on our defense. I don't think we deserve a top ten ranking yet but 26th is a little low.

Now lets take a look at how Fox Sports ranked our defensive line. It's even worse. They ranked us at 27. They bashed Burgess, said Brayton shouldn't even be a starter, and made fun of Warren Sapp's weight. I don't know how this guy can even take himself seriously. He acts like Burgess's sack total and Sapp's leadership mean nothing. At the very least, we deserve a ranking in the teens.

Fox Sports also ranked our Offensive Line a few days ago. Here they ranked us at 23. The only thing he really said was that Gallery has been a disappointment. They pretty much ignore the potential that this line has with proper instruction. This will be a vastly improved unit this year. I understand the reason for a low ranking after a subpar year but 23 is a slap in the face.

More Raiders News and Analysis

2006-08-02T07:58:00.000-05:00

Training Camp
In his latest Training Camp Blog Entry, Jerry McDonald talks a little more about the Porter situation. He said Porter is free to seek out a deal but must pay back $4 million in bonus money and the Raiders need to get proper compensation. It seems unlikley that Porter would be willing to give up $4 million dollars just to play for another team this season. I am willing to wager that Porter will play this season for the Raiders. McDonald also notes that Marques Tuiasosopo may be outplaying Andrew Walter. This really doesn't bother me because Walter will be better as he gains more experience. We'll have to see how he performs on August 6th against the Eagles.

The SFGate also has a Raiders Training Camp Blog. They pretty much talk about the health of Al Davis in their latest entry but his health isn't a concern to me right now. I think Davis will be around for awhile yet and he has plans in place for when he does go.

The Cheifs
The Cheifs have lost Willie Roaf, Dick Vermeil, Al Saunders, John Welbourn, Tony Richardson and possibly Priest Holmes this offseason. Their major additions were Herman Edwards, Kyle Turley, Quentin Griffin, and Dee Brown. The Cheifs decline may come sooner than expected.

Lincoln Kennedy
Kennedy flew to Texas to try out for the Cowboys. At 35 and being out of the game for 2 years, he might have a tough time landing a starting job. The last season he played was the 2003 season, which was the start of our decline.

The Raiders Offense is Taking Off

2006-08-01T07:54:00.000-05:00

Training Camp
In the latest Training Camp blog post, Jerry McDonald has an article called Physical, but not physical enough. He praised Shell for running the "Pit" drill but then critisized him for only doing it once. I understand why he says this but I think just because we aren't running the drill again, doesn't mean that other aspects of our practices aren't physical enough. There were a couple of things that really stood out in my mind in yesterday's practice. The first being Jano connecting on 6 out of 7 field goals and the other being the offense going 5 for 8 in goal line situations. It looks like our offense is finally taking off.

Hall of Fame Game
The Hall of Fame Game is approaching. It will take place on August 6th in Canton, Ohio. Kickoff is at 8:00 PM EST and the game will be aired on NBC. It's time to finally see how much our Raiders have improved.

Light at the End of the Tunnel

2006-07-31T07:30:00.000-05:00

The tunnel I'm referring to is training camp and the light at the end is the potential that our beloved Raider's team has this year. Everyone is hopeful this time of the year but, contrary to common belief, Raiders fans across the world should be more optimistic than most. We are one of the most talented teams in the league that didn't make the playoffs last year. Let's take a peek at some of the key offseason moves and changes that give us reason to hope for a bright season.

1) Hiring Art Shell as our new Head Coach
This is probably the biggest move we made this offseason. Shell has had a tremendous impact on the attitude of the team and has worked the players harder than they've been worked since the days of Jon Gruden. Art Shell also gives us more hope for our offensive line. As a Hall of Fame left tackle, he knows what it takes to create a dominant line and he has us well on our way to achieving that goal.

2) Cutting Kerry Collins
Getting rid of Collins was probably more important of a move than the signing of Aaron Brooks. Collins played well at times but he lost games because of poor decision making. Aaron Brooks also has questionable decision making skills but he is in a better situation because he won't have Norv Turner making poor play calling decisions on the sideline. His mobility will also help him to buy time while our young offensive line is gelling.

3) Three Possible Rookie Starters
For now, it is looking like we might have three rookies starting this season. Michael Huff should be no suprise but second round pick Thomas Howard and third round pick Paul McQuistan are also getting the opertunity to earn a starting spot. The overall youth of our team is something to be excited about. They will have some growing pains but it gives us hope that once these young players have gotten to know each other and the system, they will become a dominant force in the league for years.

There are also a couple of other potential bright spots for our team that aren't mentioned above. One that excited me the most is the possible emergence of Justin Fargas. The backup running back position has a lot of fans worried. Lamont Jordan took the brunt of our running attack on his shoulders last season and many are worried what will happen if he sustains an injury. If Fargas can become the runner he was at USC, we should have nothing to worry about. Our coaching staff is pretty high on his potential and if they aren't worried, why should we be? Let's give Huggy Bear Jr. one more chance to suceed and prove himself to us.

I know everyone is worried about the Jerry Porter situation but there is no reason to be. Porter has lost 20 lbs this offseason and seems ready to take that step that we've been waiting for him to take for the last three years. He will play and Art will let him play because he has too much talent to not be on the field. If he still feels the same way next season, we can trade him then with less of a cap hit and for more value.

The Offense is Starting Slow in Training Camp

2006-07-28T00:16:00.000-05:00

Training Camp
In the latest post by Jerry McDonald in the Raider's Training Camp Blog, Jerry reports that a group of NFL officials came to camp today to work with the team. This is great news because working with the officials should help reduce our penalties and improveour reputation with the officials. Maybe that will cut down on some of the lame penalties that lose games for us. One a bad note, it seems our offense hasn't looked that great yet this training camp. Hopefully they can continue to improve and be firing on all cylindars when the season rolls around. He also noted that Michael Huff has been improving and making more plays. Hopefully that trend continues and Huff become the player we need him to become.

The Donkeys
Accroding to this ESPN Report, the Broncos are interested in trading for Chicago's Thomas Jones. I doubt the Bears can consider this deal too seriously unless the get some amazing compensation. Cedric Benson is still too much of an unknown to give up a proven runner like Jones. I hope this deal doesn't happen because it would give the Broncos the best back they've had since Clinton Portis and that wouldn't be good for the Raiders.

Pro Football Weekly
This report has several interesting tidbits of information. The writer, Todd Wright, feels that Ty Law will see a reduction in interceptions and will give up more big plays due to Kansas City's poor pass rush. Don't misunderstand, Law is a good player but this may be one of the worst defenses fronts on a team he has played on.

Training Camp Tidbits

2006-07-27T00:09:00.000-05:00

Jerry Porter
In a recent entry in Jerry McDonald's Training Camp blog, he takes a look at trading Jerry Porter. His article shows that we would actually reduce his salary cap figure against this year's cap value but his salary acceleration of $6.45 million would be count against the 2007 cap. Even when taking that into effect, it is a bad idea to trade Porter this year. The smart move would be to make him suit up for the silver and black one more season and hope he plays well enough to increase his trade value. If he does, we could get a first round draft pick for him and not have so much dead money on next year's salary cap. I don't want to see a player with such a poor attitude in a Raider's uniform but it would be better for the team if we could put up with him for one more season. For us to unload him now and cause headaches next offseason, would require a great deal of compensation.

Camp Notebook
On the Official Site of the Raiders, they have a Camp Notebook. It has some good quotes from players but doesn't really go into any details of the camp happenings.

Carl Poston
According to this ESPN report, The NFL Players Association has suspended agent Carl Poston indefinitely. Most readers probably recognize the Postons as representing Charles Woodson. He was suspended over LaVar Arrington's past contract with the Redskins. It's nice to see that these agents are being held accountable and even though Woodson isn't on our roster, there is one more team wrecking agent out of the game.

Training Camp Continues

2006-07-26T07:49:00.000-05:00

Today will mark the second day of two-a-day practices. As you can see in the photo, John Madden was present at camp. For more training camp photos check out the official raiders website.

The Raiders Training Camp blog has two articles posted yesterday. The first one is entitled The Shell Era is Underway and talks about some training camp observations. One thing I noticed was Shell is making the lineman run laps for jumping offsides. It's about time we had a coach that holds the players accountable for their mistakes. The other article posted yesterday is entitled All Present and Accounted For and talks about some more observations and notes. One noted here was that Porter isn't happy with the organization but plans on contributing what he could for the final two years of his contract. Another thing to note is that Fabian Washington intercepted a pass that bounced off of Randy Moss. Hopefully our defense can continue to force turnovers when the regular season rolls around.

The Defensive Youth Movement

2006-07-25T07:37:00.000-05:00

I decided to take a look at the youth movement our defense has been taking after hearing the recent news that Danny Clark is not expected to be our starting MLB this upcoming season. Anything prior to training camp is pure speculation but lets take a guess at whom our starters will be and then look at the average age of our starting defense.

The Defensive Line
DE- Derrick Burgess (5 years)
DE- Tyler Brayton (3 years)
NOTE: I am forecasting him as the starter with Johnstone most likely subbing in during passing situations
DT- Warren Sapp (11 years)
DT- Tommy Kelly (2 years)

Total years experience on the defensive line: 21
Average years experience on the defensive line: 5.25

Warren Sapp has 11 of the 21 years of experience on our defensive line. He is a perfect veteran for our younger lineman and ends to get some pointers from. Sapp isn't the player he used to be but he is still the most productive defensive tackle on our roster. This is our oldest area on our defense and at an average of just over 5 years of experience per player it is younger than a lot of other NFL teams. If Johnstone does end up being an every down end, it would increase this number quite a bit with his 10 years of experience.

The Linebackers
OLB- Sam Williams (3 years)
NOTE: 3 years but only 10 games.....
OLB- Thomas Howard (0 years)
MLB- Kirk Morrison (1 year)

Total years experience in the linebacking core: 4
Average years experience in the linebacking core: 1.34

This is a very young unit if it ends up being this way following training camp. If Clark does emerge back into the roster, his 6 years of experience would increase this number a little bit. Most likley it would be because Sam Williams get injured which would change our total years of experience in this group to 7 and the average to 2.34 which is still pretty young. This position has went from a weakness to a potential strength in a very short time. If we keep this unit together it should be solid for years to come.

The Defensive Backs
CB- Nnamdi Asomugha (3 years)
CB- Fabian Washington (1 year)
FS- Stuart Schweigert (2 years)
SS- Michael Huff (0 years)

Total years experience in the defensive backfield: 6
Average years experience in the defensive backfield: 1.5

The defensive backfield continues to grow more youthful. We now have 3 recent first round picks listed here. Asomugha and Washington have played solidly at the corners and should only continue to improve. Schweigert has played brilliantely and also made big mistakes. His consistency should improve with more experience. The biggest hole in our secondary should be filled by Rookie Michael Huff. Huff should be able to become the playmaker we need and his new 5 year deal will keep him here for a little while.

Total Years Experience: 31
Average Years Experience: 2.82

The bottom line is we have a young talented defense that should only continue to improve as they play together. If we can keep these guys together, we could have a dominant defense in a couple years. The only aged position is defensive tackle and that will most likley be addressed in the 2007 NFL Draft.

Interesting Fact: 2005 NFL Sack Leader, Derrick Burgess was the first to arrive at training camp yesterday.

The Midwest Raider Fan

2006-07-24T07:40:00.000-05:00

As you may have gathered from previous articles, I am from the midwest. More specifically, the great state of South Dakota. Living here in a city that is over 1800 miles from Oakland, you'd be suprised how many Raider's fans there are. I went to lunch the other day and ate at Taco Bell, the guy who took my order asked if I was ready for the NFL season to begin and then added that he couldn't wait to see how the Raiders were going to do. Stories like this just reinforce the argument I made in The Raider "Nation".

Raider Cheif Executive Amy Trask even has ties to the great state of South Dakota. The following paragraph is taken from this article:

What energizes her is the fans. "Simply put, we have the best (absolutely, positively, without a doubt the best) fans in all of sports," she says. And on any given Sunday, when the Raiders are on the road, Trask and her husband, Rob, make the tail-gate circuit. They walk the stadium parking lot meeting fans. "The
Raider Nation is vast," she says proudly, adding there's a fan base from South Dakota that travels all the way to Denver to see Oakland play. Then there's the island contingency. "We have an enormous following in Hawaii. All over the islands, you find Raider gear and Raider fans," she says. Trask laughs that the team's websites--Raiders.com and Raidersenespanol.com get hits from every continent on earth except, possibly, Antarctica.

Dakota fans hold a special place in Trask's heart. Her husband, Rob, is from what she calls "The great state of South Dakota." "I'll tell you, for a state with a population of well under a million, there are a lot of impressive people who come from there," she says.

I'll admit that I haven't been to Denver to see a game but I have travelled to Kansas City. It is a lot of fun watching the Raiders play in Arrowhead. The games are always close and the fans in KC aren't too bad. In the morning prior to the game, the local radio shows are filled with calls of people bashing the Raiders. It is a great experience and I would definitely reccomend it to any Raider fans in the midwest.

Another connection between the Raiders and South Dakota is Lyle Alzado. He attended Yankton College in Yankton, South Dakota. He played his rookie season with Denver and then returned to Yankton College to get his college degree. He was known for his steroid use but had a very productive NFL career and earned himself a Super Bowl ring with the Raiders.

I know this post seems more like I'm bragging up my home state but it does show how far the Raider Nation truly extends.

Training Camp Opens Monday!

2006-07-22T10:18:00.000-05:00

Monday the players will begin to report to training camp with practices beginning the following day. I thought this would be a good time to look at a transcipt from a recent Art Shell interview. There were a couple of things said in the transcipt that were pretty suprising.

Suprises
The biggest suprise for me in this article was Morrison being moved back to middle linebacker and Clark out of the starting lineup. Shell mentioned Howard and Williams at the outside linebacker positions. This of course is prior to training camp and could change very easily but could end up being a move in the right direction. Clark is a very talented player but Morrison should be even better. If Williams ends up on IR again look for it to change back to Clark in the middle and Morrison to pop back outside.

Another suprise was that Michael Huff wasn't "penciled" into the starting lineup yet. Shell said that nobody is a starter yet and he was waiting to come out of camp with a starter. After saying he was going to start Howard I don't see any reason for him not to name Huff as a starter unless Huff isn't performing well enough. I certainly hope this isn't the case because I don't want to see Gibson back on the field.

Good News
During the interview Shell mentioned that McQuistan was working at the right gaurd spot. This has been speculated for some time but it is great to finally hear it from Coach Shell. McQuistan will continue the youth movement that our offensive line has been taken lately.

Shell also mentioned that he doesn't have any problems with Jerry Porter. He said players and coaches don't always see eye-to-eye but they sit down and work out their differences and move forward. This was one of the most encouraging things in the interview. I was worried that Porter and Shell would have problems but it seems to have worked itself out. Breathe easier Raider Nation.

Also for complete Camp coverage check out this blog.

Promise in the Horizon

2006-07-21T07:28:00.000-05:00

Moss is going Deep
In this article by ESPN's John Clayton, Moss thinks that the mobility of Aaron Brooks will buy him time to get open and catch more deep balls. I definitely feel the same way and have been suprised that Moss's fantasy ranking has been so low. Most fantasy football sites have Moss as the 6th or 7th receiver off the board because of a couple of normal seasons but Aaron Brooks should be able to bring out the Randy Moss we all know and love.

NFL.com's Raiders Primer
I was reading the Raider's Primer on NFL.com and noticed what they said about Randy Moss under the heading "Will Art Shell make a difference?" They said Art Shell will have to "deal" with Randy Moss. Moss is not T.O., he was a solid player and didn't do any complaining last season and he has said all the right things this offseason. Moss respects Shell and has been very supportive of him as our Head Coach. Comments like those are completely unfounded. For someone to actually write that, means they have paid no attention to Randy Moss since his arrival in Oakland and don't do any research before writing articles.

Breakout Defenders
In SI writer Dan Pompei's article entitled Breakout Defenders, he names Tommy Kelly as a breakout defender at the defensive tackle position. He mentions the organizations confidence in Kelly as a major reason for allowing Ted Washington to go and says Kelly was not drafted because of a failed drug test at the combine but has had no drug problems as a pro. As Raiders fans, we've all seen the potential Kelly has flashed in the past but maybe it's his time to become a devastating force on the defensive line and put to rest our fears at the tackle position.

This article also got me wondering what other players that haven't acheived much yet could end up being "Breakout Defenders." I would say Morrison but one could argue that he broke out last season. I think an under the radar player other than Kelly that could emerge is Sam Williams. The main reason he hasn't yet is because of injuries. If he can stay healthy, he may become the player we've been missing since Eric Barton departed via Free Agency.

Responding to the Experts

2006-07-20T07:35:00.000-05:00

Vic Carucci
NFL.com writer Vic Carucci wrote two articles this week that I decided to comment on. The first one, A look ahead to the AFC West, is an early divisional breakdown. I like the fact that Carucci recognized that Art Shell will have an effect on team's attitude. Many writers have been forgetting that coaching is more than X's and O's. He also said our only two problems were Aaron Brooks and our Linebacker position. I understand(but don't agree) where he is coming from with Brooks but the weakside linebacker position will be fine. Sam Williams is good when healthy but if injured we will see what another rookie can do. A similar thing happened last year and Kirk Morrison turned out to be pretty good. He didn't mention the defensive line as a weakness which was suprising. We have solid defensive ends but are lacking at the tackle position.

Vic's only real argument on why the Raiders won't be in the hunt is Aaron Brooks. Brooks may be mistake prone but when you have talented wide recievers the ball doesn't have to be thrown perfectly. Brooks will adjust well to being a Raider but if he doesn't, Andrew Walter will step in. Here is some food for thought: If Brooks was still on the Saints, would the experts still be so hard on him?

Carucci's second article, Carucci's Tuesday Huddle, ranks the 10 new Head Coaches. He has Art Shell at number 6. It's not horrible but Shell should be ranked a little higher. He has Herman Edwards at number 1 which is a little suprising. Edwards inherited a great running back but the team is aging and the rebuilding process will begin shortly. The only new coach ranked ahead of Art Shell that makes any sense at all is Sean Payton in New Orleans. He has a talented team and should be able to turn the team around with the additions of Drew Brees and Reggie Bush. Art Shell has already made major strides and has the player's support. The player's believe in him and he has already tackled the offensive line issues. Even if the line doesn't hold, Brooks is mobile enough to buy time for Randy Moss to get open deep.

To be honest, I usually don't like Carucci's articles but he didn't do as bad this time as he normally does. The fact that he didn't mention our defensive line as a weakness and has been so hard Aaron Brooks makes me question whether or not he did much research on the Raiders before writing the articles but at least he did mention some good things about Shell.

A Little Something Extra
The Raiders official site has a pretty cool page called Fantastic Finishes; Classic Comebacks. It has some classic games and their nicknames and is a great place for younger or new fans to learn more about our storied franchise.

Interesting Raider Tidbits

2006-07-19T07:44:00.000-05:00

Salary Facts
I recently found this site that has salary information on it. These are a few of the interesting facts that I observed.

Jerry Porter's 2005 cap hit was $2,694,746 while Randy Moss's cap hit was $2,437,130.

Charles Woodson had the highest cap hit in 2005 with $ 10,537,000 but Robert Gallery was second on the team with a cap hit of $ 5,464,496 but his base salary was only $325,000. Woodson was number 12 amongst all NFL players last season. Good Luck Green Bay!

Derrick Burgess had a cap hit of $1,455,000 or $90,937.50 per sack(16) which is pretty cheap when compared to Simeon Rice's cost of $764,348.57 per sack(14).

You can go back to 2000 so check it out and see what the players really make.

Mis-informed Media
I also found this comic on sportsline.com. This just goes to show that the media's perception of our franchise is still way off. Our current roster has less legal problems than almost all of the other teams in the NFL. Henry is where he belongs, Palmer is the one that doesn't fit in on Cinci's roster and there was no reason to bring Moss and Davis into that sketch. If I had any artisitic ability at all, I could make much better comics but I don't so you won't see any comics on this site anytime soon.

Fun Fact
Towards the end of this article, it mentions that Ronald Curry and Aaron Brooks are from the same town. It's pretty amazing when you consider it's not that big of a town. It's also interesting to note that Curry was a Quarterback as well.

Quote of the Week #2
"I'm a firm believer that all sports will eventually be global. Someday, we may have a quarterback from China named Yao Fling."
-Paul Tagliabue

Positional Battles to Watch

2006-07-18T07:42:00.000-05:00

With Training camp and the Preseason just around the corner, let's take a look at some positional battles that could have huge impacts on our upcoming season.

Quarterback
Aaron Brooks has the edge in this battle with his experience and his contract. It's only a two year deal so look for Andrew Walter to get some playing time during the season. The greatest asset Brooks brings to the Raiders is his mobility. He should be able to create more time and give the Offensive Line a little support.

Right Gaurd
The offensive line is forming into a solid looking unit with the only question mark at Right Gaurd. Brad Badger and Rookie Paul McQ will be the front runners to start at this position. I am hoping that McQ plays well enough to earn the position. That would make our offensive line starters one of the youngest groups in the league. If we can keep this unit together for awhile, they will be dominate.

Wide Receiver
Our top two Recievers are pretty much set in stone (as long as Porter behaves) but after that, it's anyone's guess. Ronald Curry is the most consistent if he can stay healthy but Doug Gabriel has also made some big plays although without any real consistency. Morant and Whitted are also possibilities for the third slot but not as quite as likely as the other two. However it plays out, we will have one of the most talented bunches of receivers in the league.

Tight End
Courtney Anderson is the leader of the pack but didn't do as much as expected last season. It isn't all his fault when he had to put up with Kerry Collins running the offense but he needs to be more consistent this season if he wants to keep the starting job. If he struggles this season, he will be replaced quickly. I would like to see James Adkisson get some reps. He is a Wide Reciever turned tight end and had some success in Europe in the past.

Well that pretty much somes up the major offensive positional battles. Now let's take a look at our defense.

Defensive Tackle
Warren Sapp is the only Defensive Tackle with a big name on our roster but due to his age, he doesn't play as many downs as he used too. The possible players to start along side Sapp are Donnell Washington, Anttaj Hawthorne, Tommy Kelly, Rashad Moore and Terdell Sands. The most likely is probably Tommy Kelly but Antajj Hawthorne has a tremendous upside but may wear out after playing in Europe this offseason.

Outside Linebacker
Once a major weakness, our linebackers are quickly becoming a strength. Danny Clark will ancor the middle with Kirk Morrison line up on one side but the other side is still undetermined. The possible starters are Robert Thomas, Sam Williams, Darnell Bing and Thomas Howard. The most likely to start is Sam Williams but he has had injury problems in the past. If Williams is injured look for Thomas Howard to see some playing time. Bing is also a very interesting prospect but it may take him a couple seasons to get completely confortable in his new position.

Well that pretty much sums up the major position battles. I've looked at 6 positions out of 22 and thats all I found that could have major battles occuring. There are always suprise players that spring up but I don't see many other changes unless we catch the injury bug.

The Season Approaches

2006-07-17T07:30:00.000-05:00

Fall is approaching very quickly. Training camp is just around the corner. Soon we we will be able to answer the haters on the field.

There are still some questions hanging in the air.

Who will be our starting QB?
Although it hasn't been made official, Aaron Brooks will be our starter going into the season but if he struggles at all, look for Andrew Walter to get some playing time in this season.

Has Shell/Walsh been out of the NFL too long?
I think Art Shell is exactly what the Raiders needed. He brings a Raider's attitude back to a team that hasn't had it for years. I'm still not sold on Walsh but I hope he does a good job and doesn't have to go back to running a bed and breakfast anytime soon.

What about the Health of Al Davis?
The team reports that Davis is fine but really he is getting old. I don't see him kicking the bucket anytime soon but his age is definitely starting to limit his activities.

The Autumn wind is near.....

Happy 4th

2006-07-03T08:04:00.000-05:00

Well, tommorrow is the 4th of July so I'd like to wish everyone in the Raider Nation a happy and safe 4th as they celebrate the anniversary of our Independence. Without our liberation from England, there would be no Raiders and no NFL. We'd probably all be watching soccer and drinking our tea. So as you celebrate this holiday, think about all the great things that our freedom has led to and have a good time with your family and friends.

AFC West Divisional History

2006-06-30T07:45:00.000-05:00

Lately, I've been hearing a lot of our divisional rivals mocking us and having no respect for our historic franchise. It is time to take a look at the AFC West and show where our pride and confidence come from.

All-Time Records (including AFL & NFL Playoffs)

Raiders
419-305-11

Broncos
379-335-10

Cheifs
374-326-12

Chargers
336-364-11

It looks like our divisional rivals have a bit of catching up to do here. The Broncos are the closest but are still 40 wins away from catching us in this department.

Divisional Champions

Raiders - Have won the AFC West 14 times and the AFL West 3 times.
Broncos - Have won the AFC West 10 times and never won the AFL West.
Chargers - Have won the AFC West 6 times and AFL West 5 times.
Cheifs - Have won the AFC West 5 times and AFL West twice.

Once again the Broncos are the closet to us but still need to win it four more times to catch up to us. It is interesting to note that the Cheifs have a much better all-time record than the Chargers but have actually won the division less times. They must enjoy finishing second.

Hall of Famers

These numbers only reflect the number of players that actually retired with the team. I decided to go that route so players like Marcus Allen didn't count for two teams.

The Raiders lead the way with 13.
The Cheifs came in a not-so-close second with 7.
The Chargers are nipping at the Cheifs heels with 6.
The Broncos sit at the bottom with a pathetic 1.

We lead the way once again. We have had more memorable players that made more meaningful contributions to the game than our rivals. The Broncos only have one in John Elway. The Cheifs should only have 6 but some difficult situations led to Allen choosing to retire as a Cheif. There are some players upcoming that will change these numbers, most notably Tim Brown who is second or third all-time in nearly every receiving catagory and one of the best Raiders linemen of recent time, Steve Wisnewski.

Super Bowls

Finally, we're to the most important stat of all of them, Super Bowls. This is one that most fans will know about their own teams at the very least.

Raiders
3-2

Broncos
2-4

Cheifs
1-1

Chargers
0-1

Denver may have appeared in more Super Bowls than us but they have won less and have a worse Super Bowl winning percentage. The Cheifs are long removed from a Super Bowl victory and the Chargers have never tasted the sweetness of winning an NFL championship.

Wrap Up

I do realize that we've struggled the last three seasons and finished last in the division in two of those. I also can already hear what a certain Cheifs fan and other haters will be saying. They will say that was all in the past and all that the Raider Nation talks about is the past. They easily forget that we won the AFC West from 2000-2002 and they we are the only AFC West team to appear in a Super Bowl during this millenium.

Raiders Player's Nicknames

2006-06-29T07:28:00.000-05:00

Throughout the years, talented Raiders have been given many different nicknames. Today, I will look at some of these old nicknames and then look at some of our current players and ask for suggestions for new nicknames for them.

Old Nicknames
First let's look at some of the nicknames earned by Raider players.

"The Ghost"
"The Mad Stork"
"The Snake"
"The Assassin"
"The Rocket"
"The Mad Bomber"

Can you name these players? Post your answers in the comments section. These are pretty easy so I am sure they will get answered pretty quickly. There are many more but those above are a pretty good start.

New Nicknames
Now we'll take a look at some of our current players and some nicknames they have or some that may be just beginning.

Some of these aren't really set in stone yet but let's take a look.

Fabian Washington
"Fabulous"

McQ
"Braveheart McNasty"

Jano
"Seabass"

Warren Sapp
"QB Killa"

These are only a few but what are some others that are popular or maybe you have your own nicknames for some of our players. Post them below and let's get them known. Let's see if we can come up with some names for guys like Schweigert or Huff.

THE DISCRETE HATER

2006-06-28T07:29:00.000-05:00

There are many forms of Raider Hating. Most people flat out blast the Raiders but there are those who are much more discrete. Let's take a look at some examples of what I'm talking about.

Example 1
Willie Gault wore a Raider's uniform longer than he wore a bears uniform and yet there is no mention of the Raiders in this article. Gault's best NFL season statistically was one in which he donned the Silver and Black.

Example 2
OLB Kirk Morrison led the Raiders and all rookies in tackles last season and no one outside of the Raider Nation knows his name. Only 17 NFL players posted more tackles than Morrison and none of them were rookies. His name will not be unknown for long.

Example 3
The Raiders are always perceived as a group of thugs but have done nothing to deserve the rap in recent years. Let's look at some NFL players with legal problems this offseason:
1 - The Vikings love boat crew.
2 - Half of the Bengals.
3 - The Steeler rookie WR Holmes.
4 - Redskin Safety Taylor.
There are more but the Raiders have a team that is committed to excellence and haven't been in the media for legal issues for some time. This is just an old rap perpetuated by haters.

These are just a few recent examples of the discrete hater but look a little deeper and you will find more. There are plenty of loud front-line haters that hide these little guys doing their dirty work behind the scenes. For some more good stuff on Raider Hating, check out Raider Hater Journalism 101 or Listen Up, Raiders Haters for some more good examples and opinions about the Haters.

Quote of the Week #1
"Plummer is the Billy Graham of the NFL. He can make 70,000 people say 'Jesus' in unison."
-Randy Cross

The Raider Look

2006-06-27T07:29:00.000-05:00

A few days ago, Raider Take did a take on the Species of The Raider Nation. It got me thinking about how I became a Raider's fan and how large and diverse the Raider Nation really is. When I was a kid, I started liking the Raiders because of their attitude and I thought their colors were "cool." Now, many teams are trying to capitalize on the Raider's image. Many teams have changed their Jersey's and made them look a little bit more like Raider's jersies due to the success of the Raider's merchandise sales.

Here are a few that I've noticed.

The Atlanta Falcons
They now have an alternate jersey that is primarily black. This is a pretty sharp looking jersey and has a nice design.

The Carolina Panthers
The Panthers also have a primarily black jersey. This one isn't too bad but I don't personally care for it. I think it's the logos on the sleeves that I don't like.

The Cincinnati Bengals
Their black jersey may be my least favorite jersey of that color. It just looks bad.

The Detroit Lions
The Lions black jersey isn't too bad. It's pretty simple which I actually prefer.

The Kansas City Cheifs
I had no idea the Cheif's had a black jersey and for a good reason, it's hideous.

A lot of teams are adding black alternate uniforms and it is primarily due to the sales success of the Raiders. How many times does a team that finished in the bottom of the league finish in the top for merchandise sales? Not very often. The Raiders did black first and they do it best. More teams will add black alternate uniforms but the thing that makes the Raiders the best is simplicity.

Last Season and Hope for the Future

2006-06-26T07:58:00.000-05:00

Last season was a tough season for all Raiders fans. There wasn't even a few wins at the end to give us hope for the upcoming season but there were a number of losses that could have easily been wins.

Week 2
In week 2, we played Kansas City and lost 17-23. We tied the game in the third quarter with a 64 yard Randy Moss TD but were unable to score again as Kansas City kicked two field goals and won the game. On the final drive of the game, we had the ball at the 10 yard line and on fourth down, Collins tossed the ball up to Jerry Porter and it was knocked away by the defender.

Week 3
In week 3, we lost to the Eagles 20-23. The Eagles made a 23 yard field goal to win the game with 9 seconds left on the clock. Akers kicked it in with an injured hamstring.

Week 9
In week 9, we lost to the Cheifs 23-27. Larry Johnson scored a TD with 5 seconds left on the game clock from the Raider's 1 yard line.

Week 15
In week 15, we lost to the Browns 7-9. This game was decided by a controversial fumble by Charlie Frye which led to Cleveland's last field goal.

These were the games decided by a touchdown or less but there were a number of other games that should have been won as well. Norv Turner had a large part to do with a lot of these losses. Poor play-calling and a stuggling QB added a few more. If the four games listed above would have went our way, we would have ended the season with a respectable 8 wins.

Other games that were lost by a larger margin, could have been attributed to players giving up and not beleiving in the QB or the system. With that said, our hope for the future is brighter and with the improvements we made, a 10 win season isn't out of the question.

Oakland Raider Potential Pro Bowlers

2006-06-23T07:26:00.000-05:00

Today I decided to take a look at our Roster and see what players have potential to make the Pro Bowl. It is early and things like injuries can stop these guys from being honored but this is more of a look at potential and possibilities.

Should be in
These are the guys that have the potential and are expected to play like Pro Bowlers. Injuries are their main hurdle for missing the Pro Bowl.

Randy Moss

Derrick Burgess

Shane Lechler

Robert Gallery

Sebastian Janikowski

Could be in
These are some players that are not expected to be Pro Bowlers but could easily have seasons good enough to get them there.

Warren Sapp

Aaron Brooks

Lamont Jordan

Michael Huff

I realize that their are other players with potential on the roster that could also make it that aren't mentioned above. These guys haven't done anything Pro Bowl worthy yet but you never know who will step up. These guys are guys like Stuart Scheigert, Jake Grove, Jerry Porter, Ronald Curry, Doug Gabriel and Nnamdi Asomugha.

It would be satisfying if we could at least send 4 or 5 guys to Hawaii at the end of this season and we definitely have the potential to do that.

What is the "Raider Way"?

2006-06-22T07:26:00.000-05:00

This offseason we've seen numerous reports about instilling attitude and the Raider way back into the Oakland Raiders football team. Fans to young to remember or recent converts may not know what the Raider Way is. It's a concept that isn't very easy to put into words but let's take a look back to see what we have to look forward to.

The first step is to look at some of the quotes made by Raiders and about the Raiders. One of my favorites can be found at the bottom of of the site.

"You don't adjust. You just dominate"
-Al Davis

"Everyday I walked on to the field I was the best center."
-Jim Otto

"Everybody says the Raiders cheat...OK, we cheat. So, what are you going to do about it?"
- John Madden

"When you play for the Raiders you play to win and you play tough. It's not something the coaches teach or talk about. It's just there, like in the air. It's an attitude--you are going to hit people and smash them if you are a Raider."
- Phil Villapiano

"I'm gonna take off Joe Theisman's head."
- Lyle Alzado

"I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault."
- Jack Tatum

"If something is said about the Raiders, I'm ready to go to war."
- Jim Otto

As you can tell by these quotes, these teams oozed confidence and nastiness but also loyalty. This is what has been missing from the Raiders, that is what Art Shell is trying to restore. Art Shell has done a number of things this offseason to prove he's not just all talk. He is getting this young team to play Raider football.

Shell set the standard for Gallery in their first meeting. "I told him he's too good a football player not to be mentioned for the Pro Bowl, and that we've got to get him there," Shell said. "He's accepted that challenge. And I'll tell you, his potential is way out there. He can be as good as he wants to be. I think he wants to be good. I really do."

"We don't talk about timing here. We don't talk about so many seconds to get the ball out," Shell said. "We want to block. We're going to work to block until the quarterback gets rid of the ball, until the whistle blows. It's not 1.5 seconds or 2.2 seconds or whatever it is. You block, block, block."

Shell did not sound overly concerned about place kicker Sebastian Janikowski, who managed to stay out of trouble last season but missed a third of his 30 field goal attempts. "It's more mental than anything else," Shell said. "He's had the same guy holding for him all these years, so that hasn't changed. He'll be fine. I told him I expect him to be in the Pro Bowl this year. He has that kind of talent." During Oakland's first mini-camp, Shell put pressure on Janikowski by making his teammates run laps every time he missed a kick.

A number of analysts and haters have said we "settled" for Art Shell. I don't believe that and feel Shell will truly restore this franshise by changing the attitudes of our players, by restoring the "Raider Way."

The Raider "Nation"

2006-06-21T07:30:00.000-05:00

Why is it called the Raider Nation? This is an interesting question that has a simple answer. It is called the Raider Nation because the Raiders have fans all over the world. They are one of the few teams in the NFL whose fans aren't limited to one specific region. Personally, I am from the midwest and around here people are primarily Vikings, Packers, Cheifs and Broncos fans but just about any where you go, you will see or meet at least one Raiders fan. It is this way every where across the country and even internationally now.

Lately, a lot of other teams have stolen the "nation" term from the Raiders. The most common recent occurrence is the Steelers Nation. When I first read the linked article, I thought they mistook the Steelers for the Raiders. Once the Steeler's lose their Championship hype, they won't have the regional bandwagon fans and will lose a large part of the Steeler "region".

The theft of the term isn't limited to defending champions. Our own hated divisional rivals, the Denver Broncos, have a website called The Bronco Nation. This is probably even more pathetic than the Steelers stealing the term. The Broncos are far from being a nation. If you leave Colorado and the surrounding region, you'll have a hard time finding Broncos fans. The Brokeback Broncos will never be a nation, they weren't even after winning their Super Bowls.

The only other teams with a nation-wide fan base are probably the Cowboys and the Patriots. The Patriots is most likely due to their recent success and will fade away but the Cowboys are one of the only other teams in the NFL that could probably use the term and get away with it. Yet, when you do a google search for "The Cowboy Nation," nothing comes up pertaining to Dallas stealing the term. It's because they don't steal the term and have their own ways of marketing to a nation-wide fan base.

As Raider fans, it may disgust us to see all these "pretender nations" but maybe we should view it as an honor. The pretenders can't think up their own catch phrases so they steal one from the phrase master himself, Al Davis. I guess that is the way the world works.

If you want to look, what other NFL teams can you find stealing the "Nation"?

My Fantasy Football Team

2006-06-20T07:29:00.000-05:00

I recently started a team in a Yahoo Public League for fun. It won't be my serious team in a league with my friends but I thought I'd make a riskier team. The team was autodrafted based on my pre-draft ranking so it didn't turn out great but here are the players I ended up with after adding and releasing a few players.

QB
Trent Green, KC
Mark Brunell, WAS
Aaron Brooks, OAK

RB
Stephen Jackson, STL
Warrick Dunn, ATL
Laurence Maroney, NE
Cedrick Benson, CHI

WR
Randy Moss, OAK
Hines Ward, PIT
Roy Williams, DET
Eric Moulds, HOU

TE
Randy McMichael, MIA
LJ Smith, PHI

K
Seabass, OAK

DEF
Pittsburg

My QB situation is pretty difficult. I picked Aaron Brooks after the draft (he went undrafted) and was planning on getting rid one of the other two but can't decide which one. Trent Green has been pretty solid every season but Brunell should be pretty good too with all the additions that the Redskins have made at WR. I am thinking of trying to trade Brunell just because he hasn't been as consistent over his career.

At RB, I may not have any of the "elite" guys but I am pretty happy with my players. I think Stephen Jackson is going to have a break out year and be one of the top 5 RBs in the league this season. Warrick Dunn is looking pretty good if the Duckett trade rumors have any substance and Cedrick Benson is looking to be the starter in Chicago. I will probably drop Maroney just because I usually don't put much faith in rookies.

WR is probably my best position. Moss is the best WR in the league and Hines Ward should be even more of a factor in Pittsburg's offense with the Steelers looking the throw the ball more (The Big Ben accident concerns me a little bit though). Roy Williams is Detroit's number one man and should have a better year with a new QB in Motor City. Moulds is a pretty solid backup. He will be the No 2 guy in Houston but should fill in during bye weeks. I will be looking to add another WR with Brunell and Maroney as trade bait.

I am solid at TE with McMichael. He should benefit with Culpepper this season. LJ Smith has had some success with the Eagles and should be a solid backup.

A lot of people are probably scared of Jano right now but if he can find some consistency he should have a good season within Oakland's high powered offense.

The Steelers defense is a solid fill. They have a lot of playmakers and should be just as good as they've been in recent years.

As you can tell, I am putting more faith in the Raiders this season. I have quite a few Oakland players which may hurt in week 3 but I think the Raiders will suprise a lot of teams this season and the players I have should be a large part of that.

Oakland Raiders Fantasy Football Analysis

2006-06-19T07:39:00.000-05:00

Today I am going to tackle the ever-popular topic of Fantasy Football and how it pertains to the Oakland Raiders. I will look at some of the players and their fantasy potential for the 2006 NFL Season.

Early Rounds

Lamont Jordan
Jordan tallied 1025 yards rushing on 272 carries and added 9 TDs in 14 games last season. He added another 563 yards and 2 TDs through the air. He is the sole feature back on the Raiders and that alone makes him valuable. The team has put emphasis on the offensive line this offseason and that should improve Jordan's numbers.

Randy Moss
Moss had 1005 yards receiving and 8 TDs in his first season as a Raider. This is quite an accomplishment considering Moss played with nagging injuries and the wonderfully horrible Kerry Collins last season. Now that Moss is healthy and a new QB is in town, he should enjoy being one of the top receivers in the league again this season. It's hard to call an early round pick a steal, but Moss may have fallen more than he should have after the last two seasons and will out perform most of the WRs picked before him this year.

Mid Rounds

Jerry Porter
Porter once again failed to break the 1000 yard mark last season with only 942 yards and 5 TDs. Will this finally be the year that Porter lives up to his potential? He will benefit from a healthy Randy Moss and new QB but is still a risk.

Late Round Gems

Aaron Brooks
No body is high on Aaron Brooks. This might be a good thing for your fantasy team. Draft him in a late round as a back up and he may end up starting pretty quickly. The re-vamped O-line as well as lethal WRs, Moss and Porter, should lead Brooks to one of his best seasons as a pro. Don't forget he has a chip on his shoulder and something to prove.

Ronald Curry or Doug Gabriel
One of these two should have a productive season. Curry was on his way to a 1000 yard season in 2004 until he injured his achilles tendon. He rushed back from the injury and re-injured it in 2005. Curry won't be rushing back this time or his NFL career may be over. Gabriel has slowly evolved into a good receiver. He has improved every season and would most likley be a number two receiver on almost any other team in the NFL. Gabriel had 554 yards receiving and 3 TDs last season and will be looking to improve this season. Right now, the safer pick is Gabriel, but Curry might turn some heads again this season.

Courtney Anderson
Anderson may not have had eye-opening numbers yet but OC Walsh historically likes throwing the ball to the TE and Anderson will be the beneficiary. Anderson is no Antonio Gates but should put up solid numbers and may be a nice back-up on your fantasy roster.

The Raiders have a number of solid fantasy football pick ups and some of them will fly under the radar due to the way the team has played the last few seasons. Some of these late round pick ups will have others in your league jealous by mid-season.

5 Things I Think about the upcoming NFL Season

2006-06-16T07:34:00.000-05:00

This upcoming season has all NFL fans excited (as does every season) because everyone is undefeated. Every fan is raving about their teams offseason moves and thinks that this might be the year. Here are 5 thoughts I have about the 2006 NFL season as a whole.

Number 1
Everyone knows my thoughts about the Defensive Rookie of the year but the offensive rookie of the year is a bit more challenging. The second overall pick Reggie Bush is a popular choice but he may be out done statistically because he is sharing the load with Duece McAllister. Young, Cutler, and Leinert are all going into the season as backups and Rookie receivers are generally (not always) unproductive. One guy to really watch is the Colts RB Addai. If he gets the carries over Rhodes, he could have a very productive season with the opposing defenses focusing on Manning and the passing game.

Number 2
Payton Marino, I mean Manning, may never win a Super Bowl. He is one of the best Quarterbacks to ever put on the pads, but his window of oppertunity may be closing. James's departure to the Cardinals will be a mild sting but isn't the reason that Manning's window is closing. Marvin Harrison is entering his 11th NFL season and will turn 33 during the season. That may not be extremely old but he will start to decline and the Colts will be hard-pressed to find a receiver with as much talent. The huge contracts the Colts have invested in their key positions puts a strain on adding big talent and unless they find some young (and cheap) gems, Manning will be the next Marino.

Number 3
Seattle is cursed this season and everyone is still predicting them to go deep into the playoffs this season. Shaun Alexander will get injured or just have a poor season because of the Madden curse and the Seahawks also have to deal with the Super Bowl hangover curse as well. Here's the curse in action:

2005
The Eagles went 6-10 following their Super Bowl loss.

2004
The Panthers went 7-9 which isn't too bad but not what they were expected to do after a Super Bowl appearance.

2003
The Raiders went 4-12 after being the dominant force in the AFC West for 4 years.

Seattle is doomed and they don't even realize it. Will they be the team to finally break one of these curses? Maybe, but I doubt it.

Number 4
The Steelers may also have a difficult time this season. I'm not sold on RB Willie Parker and Staley hasn't had a healthy season since he was an Eagle. This team may need to throw the ball more to find success in 2006. Which brings me to the QB position, Big Ben's accident will have an affect on this team. Even if he is back in time for pre-season, he is going to have to miss a lot of offseason practice time. This will affect his game whether any one admits it or not. Randel El was another loss for them this season too. His loss will make the Steelers remove a few plays from their playbook and utlimately hurt the passing game. The Steelers are still a great team, but not Super Bowl great.

Number 5
The AFC West playoff representative will win the Super Bowl. I beleive that whover emerges victorious from the brutal AFC West will have a great chance at being the Super Bowl Champions. In my AFC West Analysis I predict the division ending up like this:

Denver
11-5

Oakland
10-6

Kansas City
9-7

San Diego
5-11

If the Denver wins the division, it means the Walker and Plummer connection is working out and they got a running game. If the Raiders win the division, it means they found a QB and Moss is back on track. If the Cheifs win the division, it means LJ is nearly unstoppable and their old team stayed healthy, if the Chargers win the division, it means Rivers played well. It's a lot of if's but at least one of them will happen and that team will be a very strong playoff team.

Oakland Raiders Penalty Stastistics

2006-06-15T07:36:00.000-05:00

The Raiders have always been known as one of the most penalized teams in the NFL. Today I will examine and analyze the penalty situation.

A quick stop at the NFL Record and Fact book shows some nice history of Raiders penalties.

Here are some Raiders records for penalties:

Most seasons leading the league

Chicago Bears	16
Oakland Raiders	14

Most Consecutive Seasons Leading League

Chicago Bears	4
Oakland Raiders	4

Most Penalties in a Season

K.C. Cheifs	158
L.A. Raiders	156
Oakland Raiders	156

Most Yards Penalized in a Season

K.C. Cheifs	1304
Oakland Raiders	1274
Oakland Raiders	1266

Wow, those are probably not good records to have but not all of them have been earned fairly. The Raiders are a team that gets penalties called on them because of their history. Some teams, like the Patriots, have gotten the opposite treatment. Do a little research and tell me how many offensive and defensive hold calls were called on the Patriots during their three recent Super Bowl runs. I did some digging but couldn't come up with any concrete numbers. I do recall, however, some analyst saying that either in 2002 or 2004 the Patriots had zero offensive or defensive holding calls against them during the regular season. The stats I could find the number of penalties the Patriots had are

2002	108
2003	111
2004	101
2005	110

Let's take a look at the Raiders totals over the same time frame.

2002	129
2003	134
2004	134
2005	147

Don't forget that we had a Super Bowl appearance in that time frame as well. I'm not spouting conpiracy theories yet but it should not be possible for us to continually be penalized. The team changes constantly, we're not even close to the same team we were in 2002 but somehow, our completely different players in a completely different system will be one of the most penalized teams in the league again.

Let's hope Art Shell's discipline can eliminate the stupid mistake penalties like offsides or false starts so we can push the number of penalties down to a reasonable level. Here is the penalties by season during Shell's last run as our Head Coach.

1989	132
1990	97
1991	117
1992	113
1993	148
1994	156

It really wasn't looking too bad until you get to the 1993 and 1994 seasons. But if you look at Shell's first full season as Head Coach (1990) we only committed 97 penalties. If Shell can come in and do that with our team this season, it could make a huge difference.

Oakland Raiders Draft Mistakes

2006-06-14T07:38:00.000-05:00

Today, I decided to look at some past drafts and see how many disasters there has been. Our most recent drafts aren't listed because it generally takes three years to really analyze the impact of a draft. Let's take a look back all the way to 1995, excluding 2004-2006.

2003
The first round of the 2003 NFL draft saw us take Nnamdi Asomugha and Tyler Brayton. Asomugha has developled into a solid starting cornerback but Brayton has been playing out of position for most of his short NFL career. It is still too early to call him a bust though, so after moving back to his defensive end position, we'll have a better understanding of his talent and better be able to gauge if he is worthy of his first round pick.

2002
In 2002, Phillip Buchanon was selected with the 17th overall pick. Buchanon flashed potential but was beat in coverage too often. He was shipped off to the Texans where he continues his spotty play. Buchanon was definitely a player who didn't live up to his draft status. Napoleon Harris was also selected in the first round in 2002. He was the 23rd overall pick. Harris played solidly but he also never lived up to his first round draft status. He is currently a Minnesota Viking. The shining gem of this draft was WR Ronald Curry in the 7th round.

2001
The 2001 draft saw us take SS Derrick Gibson with the 28th overall pick. Gibson is one of the more notable busts the Raiders have had in recent years. He is still with the team but Michael Huff will be taking his starting role this season.

2000
The 2000 draft saw us take K Sebastion Janiskowski with our first pick, WR Jerry Porter with the second and P Shane Lechler in the fifth round. Lechler and Porter have had decent careers thus far but Janikowski has been inconsistent. He has a powerful leg but his accuracy comes and goes. He isn't a bust, but needs to improve. Porter has played solidly but still hasn't acheived his potential.

1999
In the 1999 draft, OG Matt Stinchcomb was selected with the 18th overall pick. He never played like a first rounder and is a bust. He is no longer a Raider.

1998
The 1998 draft was a solid draft with players like Charles Woodson, Mo Collins and Jon Ritchie. None of these players are with the team but they were at least somewhat productive when they were. Ritchie recently retired after playing a couple season in Philadelphia.

1997
Darrell Russell was the 2nd overall pick in the '97 draft. He had a couple good seasons but his career and life were cut short with off field issues. Our third round pick, Adam Treu, has played solidly in backup situations and filled in as a starter when needed.

1996
Ricky Dudley was out 1996 first round flop. But DE Lance Johnstone, who is making his return to the silver and black, was a solid number two selection. Also, NT La'Roi Glover, 5th round, has had a solid NFL career with other teams.

1995
In 1995, we drafted the speedster Napoleon Kaufman in the first round. Kaufman was an electrifying runner. Our second round choice, Barret Robbins, played great for a number of season but is known for his Super Bowl disappearance and his off the field troubles.

Looking Back
We've had some pretty big flops. The overall success of our drafts seems to come in rounds other than the first. Let's hope Michael Huff can put an end to our first round troubles with a solid season this year. The other recent first rounders Robert Gallery and Fabian Washington have shown some promise and shouldn't end up on a flop list someday.

Oakland Raiders Not Quite Hall of Famers

2006-06-13T07:32:00.000-05:00

In a recent article titled What about these guys?, Sports Illustrated writer, Peter King wrote about players who are not in the Hall of Fame that should be. I noticed that not a single Raider made his list.

Let's take a look at former Raiders who are not in the Hall of Fame that should be.

Should Be In

Ray Guy
The NFL named Guy the punter on its all-time team because he was a key to the Raider's Super Bowl winning teams of 1976, 1980, and 1983. In 14 seasons , he punted 1,049 times for 44,493 yards and averaged 42.4 yards. Guy played in 207 consecutive games, had 210 punts inside the 20, had 619 consecutive punts before having one blocked, and in the 1981 season, he had five punts over 60 yards. Guy is the standard bearer for how all punters are evaluated yet he is not in the Hall of Fame.

Current Raiders Punter, Shane Lechler has the highest punting average in NFL history

Cliff Branch
Branch caught 501 passes for 8685 yards and 67 TDs in his 14 year career. More importantly, he was with the Raiders for their three Super Bowl wins and caught 14 passes for 176 yards and 3 TDs in his championship appearances. Branch was named to four Pro Bowls and in 1974 he lead the NFL in receiving yards and receiving TDs.

Ken Stabler
"The Snake" completed 2270 of 3793 passes for 27,938 yards and 194 TDs in his NFL career. He was the AP NFL MVP in 1974 and led the Raiders to their first Super Bowl win in 1977. He is known for his late game comebacks like "The Ghost to the Post" in the 1977 AFC Playoffs.

Jim Plunkett
This Heisman trophy winner completed 1943 of 3701 passes for 25,882 yards and 164 TDs in his NFL career. In 1980 he was voted the NFL's comeback player of the year and led the Raiders to win Super Bowl XV. He threw for 261 yards and 3 TDs and was named the Super Bowl MVP. Plunkett also played in "Black Sunday," which was the Raiders 38-9 defeat of the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl XVII.

Jack Tatum
The "Assasin" was one of the NFL's most viscious hitters. He is responsible for some of the most famous hits in the NFL. In Super Bowl XI, Tatum blasted Vikings receiver Sammy White knocking his helmet off but Tatum's most famous hit took place during a preseason game against the Patriots. Tatum hit receiver Darryl Stingley and damaged his spinal cord, causing him to be paralyzed from the chest down. Tatum was also named to three Pro Bowls and finished his NFL career with 37 interceptions.

Another player, who is not yet eligble, but should be a first ballot hall of famer is "Mr. Raider" himself, Tim Brown. Brown was another Heisman Trophy winner. In his NFL Career, Brown caught 1094 passes for 14,934 yards and 100 TDs and was named to 9 Pro Bowls. He also holds the franchise mark for punt returns. The only other receivers that compare to him is the legendary Jerry Rice and former Viking Chris Carter. Brown was unable to win a Super Bowl ring but played in the Super Bowl XVIII loss to Tampa Bay.

Not in but deserve Recognition

Greg Townsend
Townsend played 13 NFL seasons and finished with 109.5 sacks which puts him at 15th all time. He was the 1983 Rookie of the Year and was selected to two Pro Bowls.

Terry McDaniel
McDaniel intercepted 35 passes and returned 6 for TDs in his 11 NFL seasons.

Steve Wisniewski
Wisniewski was an Offensive Gaurd for the Raiders who played 12 NFL seasons and was named to the Pro Bowl 7 times. He is on the NFL's 1990s All-Decade Team.

Rich Gannon
In his 18 year career, Gannon completed 2533 of 4206 passes for 28,743 yards and 180 TDs while only throwing 104 INTs. He was the NFL MVP in 2002 and led the Raiders to the Super Bowl. Gannon has set some NFL single season records like Most passes completed(418) and most 300 yard passing games (10).

You're all HOFers in my book
These players may not have Hall of Fame credentials yet, but they are all a major part of the history of the greatest franchise in the NFL and they are all honored members of a team that doesn't need hall of fame honors to realize how great their careers really were.

EXTRA
I read on the HOF website that any fan can nominate a player by simply writing in to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, so I looked up the address.

Pro Football Hall of Fame
2121 George Halas Dr NW
Canton, OH 44708-2699

If you want to see some of these players get what they deserve, write in and nominate the yourselves. The more that write in, the more seriously they have to take the nomination.

Oakland Raiders QB Andrew Walter

2006-06-12T07:33:00.000-05:00

A lot of people are either singing Walter's praises or calling him the next Kerry Collins this offseason. He hasn't gotten any oppertunities to play any regular season games yet, but lets look at what he has accomplished.

College Career
In 2002, Walter completed 274 out of 483 passes for 3877 yards and 28 touchdowns while throwing 15 interceptions. He lead Arizona State to an 8-6 record.

In 2003, Walter completed 221 out of 421 passes for 3044 yards and 24 touchdowns while throwing 10 interceptions. He lead Arizona State to a 5-7 record.

In 2004, Walter completed 224 out of 426 passes for 3150 yards and 30 touchdowns while throwing only 9 interceptions. He lead Arizona State to a 9-3 record.

All things considered, Walter had a very productive college career. He only had one losing season and Arizona State finished with a 22-16 record. He didn't have the supporting cast that a lot of the more heralded quarterbacks did but was just as productive.

NFL 2005 Preseason
In his rookie preseason, Walter completed 26 out of 44 passes for 352 yards and 1 touchdown while throwing 2 interceptions.

This isn't very impressive, but it is important to note that while the numbers may not look outstanding, Walter played better than is shown. He made good reads and showed confidence in his arm. He also played with backups and against backups so it's hard to translate these numbers into regular season play. The preseason is all about learning. Experience and time will improve him.

Just for a comparison:
In the 2003 Preseason, Carson Palmer completed 37 out of 54 passes for 451 yards and 4 touchdowns while throwing 4 interceptions.

His Future?
His college and preseason numbers may not be earth-shattering but they are solid. Walter has much support throughout the organization, from the front office to some of the players. Depending on Walter's preseason play, he may get a shot this season if Brooks falters.

If not this season, he will eventually. Aaron Brooks may not be around next season without restructuring his contract and career backup Marques Tuiasosopo will be a free agent. Depending on the coaching staff's confidence in Walter after this season, he could be our starting quarterback in 2007. He is the future of the Raiders and though he is unproven, he has a ton of potential.

Some Random Oakland Raiders Thoughts

2006-06-10T01:23:00.000-05:00

Since it is a Saturday, I decided not to dwelve into any deep thought topics, but instead will write a few things and show some fun links I've found.

Division Rivals
Let's start on the topic of division rivals. The AFC West has some of the best rivalries in all of sports and it makes being a fan of an AFC West team that much more fun. You could argue all day about who is our best rivalry and still not be able to pick one. This is an interesting site I found about How to annoy rival football fans. Most of these probably already take place in AFC West rivalries, but it is funny to see them listed on the web so I thought I'd point it out.

Raider Haters
Another topic I've been thinking about is haters. There are probably more Raiders haters than Raider fans. This could have a lot to do with our rivalries, but we have more than any other team in the league. Just do a Google Search on "Raider Hater" and you'd be suprised how many sites there are out there that just slam the Raiders and do nothing else. Even analysts and journalists have the raider hating bug, Calico Jack has a really good post called Raider Hater Journalism 101.

Al Davis
I will conclude the post on the topic of Al Davis. Al is now 76 years old and many people are questioning his health. Al's mother, Rose, lived to be 103 years old. If Al inherited any of his mother's longevity, we could be seeing him around for another 27 years. Whatever happens, Al Davis is and always will be the Raiders.

Raider Rookie Michael Huff for ROY

2006-06-09T07:36:00.000-05:00

Does Rookie Safety Michael Huff stand a shot at defensive Rookie of the year honors? Maybe. Let's take a look at some of the past winners.

2005 - Shawne Merriman, LB San Diego
Merriman had 43 tackles and 10 sacks. He was a first round pick and was picked 12th overall.

2004 - Jonathan Vilma, LB NY Jets
Vilma racked up 77 tackles, 2 sacks and 3 interceptions. He was a first round pick and was also picked 12th overall.

2003 - Terrell Suggs, LB Baltimore
Suggs had 19 tackles, 12 sacks and 1 interception. Suggs was a first round pick and was picked 10th overall.

2002 - Julius Peppers, DE Carolina
Peppers had 28 tackles, 12 sacks and 1 interception. He was a first rounder and was the 2nd overall pick.

2001 - Kendrell Bell, LB Pittsburg
Bell had 70 tackles and 9 sacks. He was picked in the second round and was the 39th overall pick.

2000 - Brian Urlacher, LB Chicago
Urlacher had 98 tackles, 8 sacks and 2 interceptions. Urlacher was a first round pick and was picked 9th overall.

1999 - Jevon Kearse, DE Tennessee
Kearse had 48 tackles and 14.5 sacks. Jevon was another first round pick who was selected 16th overall.

1998 - Charles Woodson, CB Oakland
Woodson had 59 tackles and 5 interceptions. C. Wood was a first round pick and was the 4 selection overall.

C. Wood was the last defensive back to win the defensive rookie of the year award. This award seems to heavily favor LBs and DEs.

Since 1967, here is how many times each position has won the honor.
LB - 19
DE- 8
DT- 5
CB- 5
S- 2

Based on history, it seems unlikely that Huff will earn the award but it has been done twice by safeties and Huff is a rare talent. The trend also shows that first round picks are more likely to win the award. The only exception since 1998 was Bell and he was a high second round pick.

Maybe our second round pick, LB Thomas Howard, will have a shot? He was drafted 38th overall which is a spot ahead of where Pittsburg took Bell in 2001.

Other than Bell, the latest a Defensive ROY has been selected overall is 16th. Let's look at the defenders chosen in this year's top 16 picks.

1 Mario Williams, DE Houston
5 A.J. Hawk, LB Green Bay
7 Michael Huff, SS Oakland
8 Donte Whitner, SS Buffalo
9 Ernie Sims, LB Detroit
12 Haloti Ngata, DT Baltimore
13 Kamerion Wimbley, DE Cleveland
14 Brodrick Bunkley, DT Philadelphia
15 Tye Hill, CB St. Louis
16 Jason Allen, CB Miami

Wow, that's a big group. Historically speaking, the defensive ROY will come from this bunch of players.

Mario Williams is a great talent but how many sacks will he get when his team is always behind and the opponents are running the ball to drain the game clock? Don't get me wrong, he is talented but for him to get the award, his team will need to force the opponents into passing situations which would take a big year for David Carr.

Hawk is talented and could be a huge factor in the blitzing schemes. If he can get some sacks, he would have a good chance at the defensive ROY award. A.J. Hawk should have a pretty good shot at the award but I'm still not sold on Donte Whitner. He was a stretch and probably shouldn't be in this group.

Ernie Sims is another guy that has a good shot and Detroit could use a guy like him to step up.
Ngata is another potential candidate. He plays on a stacked defense and will get some of the Raven's defensive attitude. His only problem will be that he is a run stuffer and sacks are what help defensive linemen win this award.

The same situation will apply for Wimbley as did for Mario Williams. Cleveland does have some offensive talent if they can stay healthy.

Bunkley...no, I don't think so. I have a gut feeling that his guy might be a first round flop but only time will tell.

As for our CBs at 15 and 16, sorry, you're not as good as Charles Woodson was and it takes extreme talent to win the award as a defensive back.

So the initial question still remains. Will Huff earn Defensive ROY honors? I think he still can even with the historical evidence and the defensive strength of this year's draft. He can at least match Woodson's rookie numbers and is a high enough pick to have enough hype to win the award. Let's hope he lives up to the number 24 he has chosen to wear.

Oakland Raiders 2006 Schedule Analysis

2006-06-08T07:34:00.000-05:00

As promised, today I will show you how the Raiders are going to win 10 games this offseason. Let's look at the schedule game by game and see what will happen. Any analysis this early is unlikely to hold true but predictions are what the offseason is all about.

WEEK 1
OAK vs. SD Sept. 11

The Raiders will open against San Diego at home on a Monday night. I picked the Raiders to win this game. Rivers will struggle in his NFL debut and the Raiders always play better in Prime Time. I would really like to see Michael Huff pick off a Rivers pass and take it the distance but we'll see.
WIN 1-0

WEEK 2
OAK @ BAL Sept. 17

Even with Steve McNair, the Ravens still don't have any offensive weapons. Lewis is done and Mike Anderson is a product of Denver's system. Aaron Brooks will most likely throw an INT or two against this talented defense but the Raiders will still pull out the victory in the end.
WIN 2-0

WEEK 3

The evil week three bye. Good thing we have a young team.

WEEK 4
OAK vs. CLE Oct. 1

Cleveland is a team that has a lot of talent for the future, but this still won't be their year. Give Edwards, Winslow, and Frye another couple years and they will form a strong offensive nucleus but the Raiders will take them in this game.
WIN 3-0

WEEK 5
OAK @ SF Oct. 8

The battle of the bays, it probably won't be as hyped as it has been in the past because both teams have struggled in recent years, but the locals will enjoy it. SF is improving but the Raiders will dominate them. Look for Burgess and Johnstone to get some pressure on the rookie and watch Michael Huff match up with fellow rookie Vernon Davis.
WIN 4-0

WEEK 6
OAK @ DEN Oct. 15

Playing in Denver against the defending divisional champs is always tough. This will be a classic AFC West game but the Raiders won't be able to pull it out in the end.
LOSE 4-1

WEEK 7
OAK VS. ARI Oct. 22

Arizona is one of the most improved teams in the league after a tremendous offseason, but Edge isn't quite as good as his Indy numbers make him appear and Warner is sliding downhill fast. If Leinert is in by this point of the season, he will have the usual rookie struggles.
WIN 5-1

WEEK 8
OAK VS. PIT Oct. 29

The defending Super Bowl champs are coming to town. We should be able to compete and keep the game within reach but the champs will win it in the end.
LOSE 5-2

WEEK 9
OAK @ SEA Nov. 5

Thats right, we play the two Super Bowl teams back-to-back. This game could really go either way, especially of Seatle has the infamous Super Bowl hangover but I have to give them the benefit of the doubt and say that they will edge the Raiders this week.
LOSE 5-3

WEEK 10
OAK vs. DEN Nov. 12

Uh-oh, we've lost two straight and the analysts are shouting "THE RAIDERS ARE DONE!!!." We'll just have to use the same spring board we used in our most recent Super Bowl run, that's right....The Donkeys. Our team will really click and the Donkey's won't know what hit them.
WIN 6-3

WEEK 11
OAK @ KC Nov. 19

KC will suprise us and LJ (Johnson not Jordan) will run wild in front of the Arrowhead crowd. This will be a typical Raiders-Cheifs matchup and the game will be lost in the last 20 seconds.
LOSE 6-4

WEEK 12
OAK @ SD Nov. 26

After such a dissapointing season thus far, the Chargers will be looking to this game. Marty will plan for this game weeks in advance and LT will have a big game. Rivers will still make mistakes, but LT will win the game for SD.
LOSE 6-5

WEEK 13
OAK vs. HOU Dec. 3

The good news after losing two straight divisional games is that we won't be facing Reggie Bush. Burgess will have a multiple sack game and the Texans will lose big in this game.
WIN 7-5

WEEK 14
OAK @ CIN Dec. 10

After facing an easy opponent, the Raiders will have to face one of the most talented QBs in the league and he will be in fine form this time of the year. The Bengals will win.
LOSE 7-6

WEEK 15
OAK vs. STL Dec. 17

Stephen Jackson scares me, but the Raiders will win this game. Art Shell will come down hard on the team, not wanting to fall to .500 and the team will respond by beating a talented Rams team.
WIN 8-6

WEEK 16
OAK vs. KC Dec. 23

This time the Cheifs come into Oakland and get destroyed. The aging Cheifs will be tiring by this point in the season and the youthful Raiders will run circles around them.
WIN 9-6

WEEK 17
OAK @ NYJ Dec. 31

The Jets are another team on the downward spiral. The Raiders will beat this team but the backups may appear in the second half if the Raiders build a big enough lead.
WIN 10-6

After ending the season at 10-6, people will finally realize that the Raiders Super Bowl hangover is gone. Will 10-6 get us into the playoffs? Maybe. Maybe not. Even if it doesn't, there are enough positives from having a winning season that the playoffs won't matter quite as much to the fans.

Check back tommorrow as I analyze Raider Rookie Michael Huff's chances at the illustrious defensive rookie of the year honors.

Oakland Raiders - AFC West Divisional Analysis

2006-06-07T07:35:00.000-05:00

Today let's take a deeper look at the AFC West and see how our opponents have faired this offseason so we might garner a better understanding of our 2006 potential.

Denver Broncos
Denver's most notable player acquired this offseason was probably WR Javon Walker from the Packers. Walker is one of the better receivers in the league and fills a hole for Denver. Rod Smith has slowly been on the decline the last couple seasons and won't be productive for much longer. Denver will once again be able to run the ball, they always can. I think I could run behind the dirtiest line in the league too.

Denver had a pretty solid draft. The biggest pick was Cutler but DE Elvis Dumervil may end up being being a solid player. Cutler won't get ant playing time this season so this draft may not have an immediate impact.

The Broncos lost a few players this season as well. Trevor Pryce was lost and DE Kenard Lang was signed. Lang isn't as good as Pryce but should fill the position.

The Broncos are also aging at some key positions as well. John Lynch has finally showed some signs of his age and won't be as good this season. Jake Plummer will most likely be the success or the failure of this team. If he can put together another good season, the team will be successful; If he reverts to being a mistake-prone headcase, the team will falter.

Denver is still the team to beat in the AFC West but their reign at the top may start slipping from them as early as next season.

Kansas City Cheifs
Larry Johnson has the potential to be the top runner in the NFL this season. He is one of the top running backs in the NFL. The Cheifs haven't made any huge free agency moves this season but may be looking at veteran CB Ty Law. The Cheifs are getting to be an old team. They are going to have to do a complete makeover in the next few seasons.

With their first pick in the draft the Cheifs selected DE Tambi Hali. Hali should be a solid addition as should second round pick S Bernard Pollard. The may have drafted Trent Green's successor in the third round by picking up QB Brodie Croyle.

The Cheifs have made some defensive additions and should have a slightly improved defense this season. Their problem lies on offense. Yes they have had one of the top offenses in the league the last few years, but they are getting old. The O-line may start to succumb to injuries because thats what happens to older players (it happened in Oakland). Johnson will fill Holmes's spot but the rest of the offense is on the decline.

The Cheifs are on the downward spiral but Herman Edwards probably got a better team than he'd have in NY.

San Diego Chargers
What do you do after searching for years for a Pro Bowl QB and then finally finding one in Drew Brees? You let him go?!?! If the Charger's would have kept Drew Brees, they would have been a trendy pick to win the AFC West but it now looks like they might be heading back to the AFC West Cellar with Philip Rivers at the helm. Rookie QBs generally struggle. Yes, even rookie QBs with LT and Antonio Gates.

LT turns 27 this month, which means he probably has 3 or 4 productive years left in him. It's too bad they will be used trying to groom a rookie QB. They are still weak at the Wide Receiver position as well and Gates may be Phil's only real target.

To make matter worse in SD, they are now looking to trade one of their defensive leaders in LB Edwards. This may go down as one of the Chargers worst offseasons,.....and they have had some bad ones.

The Chargers still have a young team and aren't completely doomed but they have made their share of mistakes this offseason. They will struggle this season but should rebound eventually...

Divisional Prediction
With all that said and done, here is my divisional prediction. This will probably be far off but it's still fun to speculate. I think Art Shell's Impact will be felt.

Denver 11-5
Oakland 10-6
Kansas City 9-7
San Diego 5-11

Can the Raiders really win 10 games? Sure, I'll show you how by breaking down their schedule tommorrow. Stay tuned.......

Oakland Raider Hall of Famers

2006-06-06T07:34:00.000-05:00

The Raiders are one of the NFL's most storied franchises. Let's take a look at some of the elite players that helped make the Raider's franchise one of the greatest in history.

1979 Ron Mix

Ron Mix was an Offensive Tackle that played for the Raiders in 1971. He spent most of his career with the Chargers. He was nicknamed "The Intellectual Assassin."

1980 Jim Otto

Otto played Center for the Raiders from 1960 - 1974. He played in 12 all-star contests in his 15 years and was name all-league for 12 years as well. He was the anchor in of the most talented offensive lines in NFL history.

1981 George Blanda

Blanda was a Quarterback and Kicker in the NFL for 26 seasons. He played for the Raiders from 1967-1975. Blanda holds many NFL longevity records.

1984 Willie Brown

Willie Brown was one of the best Cornerbacks to ever suit up for the Raiders. He played in Oakland from 1967-1978. Brown holds the franchise mark for interceptions in his career. One of the most memorable plays of his career was the 75 interception return for a touchdown in Superbowl XI.

1987 Gene Upshaw

Upshaw played Offensive Gaurd for the Raiders from 1967-1981. In his career, he played in three Super Bowls and seven Pro Bowls. Upshaw now works as the Executive Director of the NFL Player's union.

1988 Fred Biletnikoff

Biletnikoff played Wide Receiver for the Raiders from 1965-1978 and held most team receiver records until Tim Brown came along. He was the MVP of Superbowl XI, was a four time Pro Bowler and played in two all-star contests.

1989 Art Shell

Shell played Offensive Tackle for the Raiders from 1968-1982. He was a first or second team All-Pro from 1973-1978 and also played in eight Pro Bowl games. He was the Head Coach of the Raiders from 1989 - 1994 and was recently hired to coach the Raiders again.

1990 Ted Hendricks

Hendricks played linebacker for the Raiders from 1975-1983. Hendricks played in eight Pro Bowls and also appeared in four Super Bowls, three with the Raiders and one with the Colts.

1992 Al Davis

Davis is one of a kind. He served pro football as a player personnel assistant, an assistant coach, a head coach, a general manager, league commissioner, and the principal owner and CEO of the Raiders. It was in 1963 that Davis became the Head Coach and GM of the Raiders and won AFL Coach of the Year honors. He was named the AFL Commissioner in 1966 and announced the AFL-NFL merger during his commissioner reign. After which, Davis returned to the Raiders to become a managing general partner. He still continues to own and operate the NFL' s most storied franchise.

1997 Mike Haynes

Haynes played cornerback for the Raiders from 1983-1989. Haynes was an All-Pro choice five times and ended his career with 46 interceptions, 18 of which came in Los Angeles.

1999 Eric Dickerson

Dickerson isn't known as a Raider but he did have 729 rushing yards in his solo season as a Raider. He played his last full season in Oakland .

2000 Howie Long

Howie played defensive end for the Raiders from 1981-1993. Long was named all-pro five times and helped the Raiders capture a championship in Super Bowl XVIII. He also played in eight Pro Bowl games. Long ended his career with 84 sacks.

2000 Ronnie Lott

Lott only played two seasons in the Silver and Black (1991 and 1992). In his first season in Oakland, he had eight interceptions. Lott is one of the best Defensive backs in NFL history.

2002 Dave Casper

Casper played Tight End for the Raiders from 1974-1984. Capser played in four Pro Bowl contests. Casper's most famous moment is probably the "Ghost to the Post." It was the 1977 AFC playoff game between the Raiders and Colts. Casper's 10 yard TD ended the double-overtime game. He also was the scoring part of the "Holy Roller."

2003 Marcus Allen

Allen ran for the Raiders from 1982-1992. During his career, he ran for 12,243 yards added an additional 5411 yards receiving. Allen also found the end zone 145 times. He earned MVP honors in Superbowl XVIII after running for 191 yards and two TDs. Allen was the League MVP in 1985 after rushing for 1759 yards and catching 67 passes for 555 yards.

2003 James Lofton

Lofton only played two seasons for the Raiders (1987 and 1988) and had 69 catches for 1429 yards over those seasons. He ended his career with 14,004 yards which was the best at the time of his retirement. He is currently an assistant coach in San Diego.

2004 Bob Brown

Brown played Offensive Tackle for the Raiders from 1971-1973. He played with fellow HOFers Ron Mix, Art Shell, Gene Upshaw, and Jim Otto. That was one scary Offensive Line.

2006 John Madden

John Madden was the Head Coach of the Raiders from 1969-1978. His regular season record was 103-32-7 and he had a post season record of 9-7. He was AFL coach of the year in 1969. During his Head Coaching reign, the Raiders never had a losing record.

These are the Raiders that are currently in the NFL Hall of Fame. There are some players that aren't that should be like Jim Plunkett and Ken Stabler and there are some Raiders who will be in soon. Tim Brown should be a first ballot Hall of Famer. Also, current Punter Shane Lechler is on the fast track to the Hall of Fame if he can continue to punt like he has in his career. The Raiders currently boast a pretty young team, so maybe we'll see these young guys emerge into the players mentioned above.

Some Oakland Raider Records

2006-06-05T07:57:00.000-05:00

Today I decided to look up some all-time NFL records and see how many of them are associated with the Raiders organization. It was a lot of fun looking at some of these and I added a few of my own comments in for your veiwing pleasure. Most of the records I found came from the NFL Record and Fact Book.

This first one is one that a lot of people probably know.

Who played the most seasons in the NFL? The answer is George Blanda. He played for an amazing 26 seasons. He spent 1967 - 1975 in the Silver and Black. Blanda is also third all time in scoring behind Gary Anderson and Morten Andersen and attempted and made the most PATs in NFL history.

Did You Know? Sebastion Janikowski is tied with 5 other players with the most field goals in one quarter with 4.

Who scored the most touchdowns in their career?
Most fans probably know this one falls to Jerry Rice with 208 TDs but some may not know in third place is Marcus Allen with 145. Rice did most of this in a 49ers uniform but he did have one probowl year in Oakland. Allen on the other hand had his best years in Oakland but has issues with the organization and retired as a Cheif.

Passes Completed?
Rich Gannon holds the record for the most passes completed in a Season with 418 and doesn't even fall in the top three for most passes attempted in a season. 2002 was Gannon's MVP season and the last Oakland Raiders Superbowl run. Gannon also is third behind Donovan McNabb (24) and Joe Montana (22) for the most consecutive passes completed with 21 and holds the record for the most 300 yard passing games in a season with 10.

Wide Recievers!!!
Jerry Rice holds the record for the most pass receptions in his career with 1549 and Tim Brown is third on the list with 1094. Rice also hold the record with most consecutive games with a pass reception with 274 and Tim Brown is third once again with 179. Another of Rice's many records is the most yards gained in a career. He gain 22,895 yards and Tim Brown follows him in a not so close second with 14,934 yards. The touchdown mark, set by Rice, is 197 and Tim Brown is thrid with 100.

The Punter
Current Raider, Shane Lechler, holds the record for the Highest Punting average in the NFL with 45.9 yards per punt. Lechler is still young and will hopefully continue to add to his record.

Did you know? The mark for the most safeties in a career is held by Ted Hendricks with 4.

There are some other records that the Raiders hold as a team, like penalties, that we'll just overlook for now. If you'd like to see more of these records just check out the NFL Record and Fact Book.

Oakland Raiders Special Teams Analysis

2006-06-03T08:17:00.000-05:00

We've worked our way through the loaded offense and youthful defense, now the special teams need a little attention. We'll take a look at some key players and positions in our special teams lineup.

Let's start out with the easiest one, our punter. Shane Lechler is entering his 7th NFL season and has an absolutely amazing punting average. In fact, it's the best punting average in NFL History. His career average is 45.9 yds. Out of his 442 career punts, he has kicked 170 of them inside the 20 and only 70 for touchbacks. His career long is 70 yards. If he can keep this level of performace, he will be a Hall of Famen punter.

Our kicker, Janikowski, has one of the strongest legs in the NFL. His career kicking average is 78.4%, which really isn't as high as we'd like. Last season, he made a career low 66.7% of his kicks. Seabass will need to improve so the Raiders can count on him in critical situations. Art Shell should help him. Shell has made the team run when Jano misses his kicks. He needs to show improvement this year or he may not get another chance in Oakland.

Last season, our kick and punt returner was an undrafted rookie named Chris Carr. Carr had some nice returns and several that were almost great. Carr has a lot of special teams potential but he needs to improve fast, Rod "He Hate Me" Smart was a Free Agent acquisition this offseason. If Smart is unable to beat Carr out, he will most likely be a camp cut. On kickoff returns, Carr had a 24 yard average and returned 2 for over 40 yards but was unable to find the end zone. On punt returns, Carr had a 5.5 yard average and returned 3 for over 20 yards but once again was unable to find the end zone. WR Carlos Francis may have an oppertunity to return kickoffs as well. In 2004, he had an unimpressive average of 18.5 yards but with his speed he could have an oppertunity again.

Some other special team performers to watch for are Jarrod Cooper, Stanford Routt, and rookie Darnell Bing. Bing could be an outstanding special teamer with his speed and size. Bing played safety for USC but is being converted to a Linebacker in the NFL. He won't play defense this season unless some key players are injured but will most likely make the team to play on special teams.

Overall our special teams looks to be a pretty sound unit. I expect both kickers to have good seasons and although we don't have an X-factor returning kicks and punts, we should get decent field position.

Oakland Raiders Defensive Positional Analysis

2006-06-02T07:42:00.000-05:00

Well we went through the offense by position yesterday, so today lets take a look at our defense. The biggest additions on defense this season were made through the Draft. The Raiders already possess a young defense and by improving it through the draft, they are striving to ensure the defense will be a talented unit for years to come.

CB
The starting corners are pretty much set with Asomugha and Washington. Asomugha is entering his fourth season and still hasn't intercepted a pass. Critics are usually quick to point this out but they are overlooking the fact that he has been very solid in coverage and prior to last season, the pass rush was non-existent. Asomugha will continue to improve and with additional help in the secondary (Huff) and a little extra pressure (Johntstone), Asomugha should continue to improve and have a quality season. I've heard many critics and "experts" say that Fabian Washington struggled in his rookie outing. I really didn't see that. I saw him get beat on occasion but I also saw him play very well. He should continue to improve this season and I fully expect him to develop into a quality coverage corner.

FS
Schweigert is entering his third season and has shown good coverage skills. He still hasn't become the ball-hawk he was at Purdue but he has been pretty solid in coverage. His troubles have come in the tackling department. I'm sure working on his tackling is a priority this offseason. If he can improve his tackling he will be a quality starting Free Safety.

SS
It is finally time for the Gibson experiment to be over. Rookie Michael Huff will shore up a position that has been a need for quite some time. In an pre-Draft interview, Huff said when he talked to the Raiders, they were planning to use him the way the Steelers use Pro-Bowler Troy Polamalu. Huff will be all over the field and if used correctly, he has a shot at defensive Rookie of the Year. He is also wearing No. 24 which is a pretty big number to live up to in the Raider organization.

Just a side note: If you are keeping track the Raiders starting secondary has 6 years of combined experience. The future for this unit could be bright.

MLB
Danny Clark has filled the middle linebacker spot amazingly since arriving in Oakland two seasons ago. He had 129 tackles in 2004 and 113 last season but his biggest contibution is the leadership he displays to this young defense. At 29 years old, he is one of the oldest players on the defense.

OLB
Sophomore Kirk Morrison led the team in tackles last season with 116. Not bad for a rookie. He stepped up and filled a huge hole last year and he should continue to improve this season. He is also an Oakland native so his career for the Raiders should be a long one. At the other outside linebacker position, there is more of a question mark. Sam Williams is healthy again and has played great but he is very injury prone. If he stays healthy this season, the other OLB position will be his. If not, there will be a battle with rookies Thomas Howard and Darnell Bing along with Free Agent acquisition Robert Thomas.

DE
Last season Derrick Burgess came in from Philly and gave a the Raiders a remarkable pass rush. He led the NFL with 16 sacks and earned a plane ticket to Hawaii. With Lance Johnstone returning to the Silver and Black, the pass rush should be dominant. Johnstone played for the Raiders from 1996 through 2000. He sacked opposing Quarterbacks 7.5 times last season and will most likely only play passing downs for the Raiders this year. Former first round pick, Fourth year player, Tyler Brayton will be returning to the defensive end position. He is good against the run and hopefully he will come back strong this year. He will be needed to contain the dangerous running backs of the AFC West.

DT
The only player with credentials on the Defensive Line is Warren Sapp. He struggled two seasons ago in the 3-4 scheme but was enjoying a nice come back last season after returning to the 4-3 before getting injured. Sapp had 5 sacks in 10 games last year. If he can stay healthy this season he should be able to provide problems for opposing interior offensive linemen. Who will be at the other starting DT position is still up for grabs. Tommy Kelly and Terdell Sands are the most likely candidates but there are some hoping that the young and troubled Anttaj Hawthorne can step up and be the player he was in college.

That pretty much sums up the Raiders defense. They are a young unit but are also a unit with a lot of talent. This defense could step up and suprise some opponents this season. I am excited to see how the secondary plays this season. They could end up being very good. The weakest spot is the DTs. Other than Warren Sapp there isn't any proven players. There is a chance a Free Agent could be picked up to fill the void but look for this position to be filled in next year's Draft.