The Dark Knight Falls
By Charles Ybarra
Sunday, February 8th, 2009 at 1:35 am in Oakland Raiders.
Mr. Davis sure knows how to put on a good show, eh?
Whatup Nation, it’s time for more comments, chatter and jabber from the Hall of Famer- Dark Lord of Sith! (aka Darth Raider)
I actually hope this reaches all of your eyes this week. It appears Insidebayarea.com might be dropping me from their Bloggers list in the near future. If the ax does indeed fall, I want to tell you all now I had a hell of a time commenting on the weekly state of the Oakland Raiders. It has been an honor, my fans and friends.
So the question of the week still lingers on ALL of our curious minds…
is re-hiring Coach Tom Cable a blessing or a curse?
At the present time, of course it’s a blessing!
The main problem I have seen from the Raiders in the past few years is that the players never get a chance to get familiar with their current system!
Another year with a different Coach would mean more new philosophy’s/new techniques implemented that would take another year for others to get used to.. and I’m not sure that would sit well with the Players..yet again!
I’m more concerned about the Offensive play callers.
Sure, Cable did well in a few games, but is it truly enough?
The Sith in me says f%^& no. The fact of the matter is the guy only posted a 4-8 record. Sure, he didn’t call plays until later in the season, but I honestly needed more big plays made/more 1st downs completed from last year to be fully confident for the up and coming 2009 season.
The lighter and brighter side of me says to shut the hell up. He’s proven enough and deserves the job that Al has given him. He even put Chucky out of a job! Plus, he now has new help from Football lifer, Ted Tollner, the new Passing game Coodinator. Ted had a couple of good seasons with the Niners years back and has been waiting for a better oppurtunity to prove his worth. I hope both men takes advantage of their current promotion.
I’m not sure I can take..
another…
long..
year.
How about on the other side of the ball, Nation? I think Al did the right thing in hiring our new Defensive Coordinator. Check out the bio…
John Marshall, who most recently served in the same capacity with the Seattle Seahawks, enters his 30th season as an NFL assistant coach.
Since beginning his coaching career in 1967, Marshall has helped coach two Super Bowl champions and one national champion at the collegiate level. Since entering the NFL ranks in 1980, Marshall has assumed the defensive coordinator role five times, in Atlanta (1983-85), San Francisco (1997-98), Carolina (1999-01), Seattle (2006-08), and now with the Raiders.
Marshall began his tenure with the Seahawks as linebackers coach from 2003-05 before moving to defensive coordinator. He helped tutor a defense that ranked second in the NFL in sacks from 2005-07 with 136. In 2007, Marshall’s defense led the NFL in touchdown passes allowed (15) and ranked fourth in the NFL with 20 interceptions. His defensive unit boasted four Pro Bowlers and two AP First Team All-Pros. Two players earned Pro Bowl selections under Marshall’s tutelage in 2006, and one player earned a Pro Bowl spot in 2005.
Marshall was elevated to the defensive coordinator position prior to the 2005 season. His defense led the NFL with 50 sacks, allowed only one 100-yard rusher, finished second in the NFL in red zone defense (40.4%) and rushing touchdowns allowed (5) en route to a berth in Super Bowl XL.
So it appears the Raiders might not want let go of the Franchise tag on our best player. Hell, can you truly blame them?
“Everyone knows I’ll probably get the franchise tag again” Nnamdi Asomugha said. “Everyone knows my situation and wonders if I’m ever not going to be franchised..
Every day, me and Shane (Lechler) talk about it. We are wondering what is going to happen. It is probably going to be me, but you never know. We are both very interested.”
Right #21, you’re not the only ones..
Nam also recently told the media that many AFC players ask him what it’s like to play for the Raiders.
He simply laughed and tried to put a good spin on it.
“I think the perception out there around the league is that it is a little worse than it actually is,” Asomugha said. I’ve never really thought it is that dysfunctional there.”
Hey,as long as the L’s remain to add up?? The media will continue to add more fuel to the fire. Just win baby, indeed..
So, everyone ready for the joint Niner/Raider stadium?
Yeah, I thought not.
I don’t care if both sides agree upon listening to more ideas on what the NFL has to offer.
The fact remains that the the money can be better spent on our bay area communities, jobs and education…especially during the recession and our current economic crisis..
RIGHT??
RIGHT!!!
Plus, we need more Football historical sites/ Landmarks such as Green Bay.
There’s just something special knowing you’re standing near the same field where Madden used to Coach and where Stabler, Brown, Upshaw, etc. used to play….
keep my 2nd home in the big O, sirs..for life!!!!…my 2 cents.
Darth Raider reporting, Inside the Bay bay
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February 8th, 2009 at 2:01 am
I thought Batman was sure footed?
February 8th, 2009 at 6:42 am
I think as Raider fans we have to start looking forward and not backwards. The hiring of Tom Cable is not a bad thing. The guy wants this job and as he said “This is his team, growing up” I know it might seem corny but he don’t like what he has seen the last 6 years any more than you do. When you look at Lane Kiffin I see a rat that only wanted to take this job to get the next job. Tom Cable wants this job wants to coach this team wants the Raiders to win. We might be on the cusp of a dynasty and let me point out a few things. We have a QB that is young and talented, we have some of the best backs in the league and could dominate, and remember you don’t win without running the ball. We have young talent that can develop and get better. Tom Cable knows this, with any organization stability is the key. If he goes 8-8 next year or even 7-9, I will know we are on the right track. The Raiders could be in a new stadium in a couple of years with a team that’s got all the parts in place for a long run. Mr. Davis is taking a beating these days and deservedly so due to or record. The fact is some of the reporting in the media is over blown and over the top. The NFL is a hard place to win look at all organizations they go through what we have. Mr. Davis is down but don’t count this guy out just yet, if he wins another super bowl then all will be well in Raider Nation.
February 8th, 2009 at 7:38 am
We all want to see our team go forward. But drastic changes are needed. To our new coach, Thank you for recognizing the fans the way you did in the press conference. We needed that. At least I did. To Al, get out of the way, shut up, and let the man coach.
February 8th, 2009 at 9:08 am
I used to rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning I sleep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own
I used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemy’s eyes
Listen as the crowd would sing
“Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!”
One minute I held the key
Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand
I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can’t explain
Once you go there was never
Never an honest word
And that was when I ruled the world
It was the wicked and wild wind
Blew down the doors to let me in
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
People couldn’t believe what I’d become
Revolutionaries wait
For my head on a silver plate
Just a puppet on a lonely string
Oh who would ever want to be king?
I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can’t explain
I know Saint Peter won’t call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world
I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can’t explain
I know Saint Peter won’t call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world
Al Davis
February 8th, 2009 at 9:58 am
Hi. The problem, in my opinion, with the Raiders is not what D- and O- co-ordinators Davis picks, or even the coaches and players for that matter. The problem is that Davis wants to win NOW and has no patience anymore to build a team–or organization–from the ground up. He just brings in new people every year, then fires them when they don’t show results IMMEDIATELY. He still acts like he is the boy wonder of American-style football, but the organization may be the worst in professional sports, which guarantees mediocrity at best, and for years to come.
February 8th, 2009 at 10:06 am
“has no patience anymore” you said it RaiderD
February 8th, 2009 at 11:14 am
This suck
February 8th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
# R8rnergy Says:
February 8th, 2009 at 7:38 am
We all want to see our team go forward. But drastic changes are needed. To our new coach, Thank you for recognizing the fans the way you did in the press conference. We needed that. At least I did. To Al, get out of the way, shut up, and let the man coach.
^^^
I agree….it was good to hear Cable address the fans and nation like he did. Glad someone in that room did for cryin out loud…
February 8th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
Charles in charge…look ol buddy,..I used to be in 126,…please dont hate on me because
February 8th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Charles in charge…look ol buddy,..I used to be in 126,…please dont hate on me because I went to 131….you know me,..Im the blonde surfer in his black Stabler jersey….cant wait to hook up ahain,…raidernation!
February 9th, 2009 at 6:39 am
I like Cable — I like his demeanor, I like his straight-forward”ness”, and his “let’s take this team to the next level” attitude. We need more of that and less crying and whining about every dang thing. I think he’s a “player’s coach” that will be able to motivate and direct these players to work together and WIN.
I’m (always have been and always will be) IN!
February 9th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Hope you can keep the blog…. Raider Nation needs Darth Raider!
February 9th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Darth,
Do you have a picture of yourself I could use for one of my clients in the Bay Area and how much would you charge? The photo needs to be Hi-res. thanks Jim
February 9th, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Sure, email me at charlesybarra@yahoo.com..I’ll see what I can do.
February 10th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
I hope you are able to keep the blog. Where can people read your blog if not?
February 10th, 2009 at 11:51 pm
Hmm..if i get jacked, i’ll probably set up something on myspace. i’d like to set up my own site, but guess what? there already IS a dathraider.com!
ugh.
February 12th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Until Al is gone nothing will change…..Cable is his puppet with a record of 4-8. How is this good?
February 13th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
http://www.oaklandsith.com and http://www.oaklandsithlord.com are still available.
George Lucas be damned.
February 13th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Its good because the players trust and respect him. coaches dont win football games, the men who bleed in between the white lines win or lose.
April 15th, 2009 at 6:42 am
I can tell that this is not the first time at all that you write about the topic. Why have you chosen it again?
August 12th, 2009 at 11:38 am
I have been a Raider Fan for a Long Time Oakland Raiders,I am tired of having our team lose the players need to do a gut and heart Check ply for the Fans we pay good money to see a Good team we must get a good product in the field,I am tired of others Fans giving me shit, I a a True Raider Fan win or lose but I am Tired of losing