Kiffin’s first test
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Sunday, January 28th, 2007 at 8:33 pm in Oakland Raiders.
The story making the rounds at the Senior Bowl is that Lane Kiffin’s first attempt at establishing a rapport with Randy Moss didn’t go too well.
Think Shell vs. Porter.
That confrontation, in the office of the head coach some 10 or 11 months ago, was the first crack in the foundation of the Shell regime.
Kiffin, by contrast, supposedly had trouble reaching Moss by phone. When he finally did, as the story goes, Moss told him in a pointed, profane terms he wasn’t interested in talking.
It’s been reported on a pair of ESPN radio interviews, and a source at the Senior Bowl confirms Kiffin vs. Moss was indeed a topic of discussion among coaches, scouts and personnel men in Mobile, Ala.
It’s worth noting that no one has gone on the record with this story as of yet. Like the party game in which a story is whispered in the ear of one and passed down the line until it ends up being something completely different or exaggerated, maybe it’s not as serious as it sounds.
But considering the way Moss acted last season, it certainly sounds possible.
The history of the Raiders new coach is that he addresses situations decisively, choosing a course of action then moving ahead, confident in his convictions. That he can sell an idea and is confident enough (some call it arrogant) to make it work.
I’ve spent the last few days researching and writing a profile on Kiffin, attempting to chart his path from a football savvy youth to, well, an NFL coaching youth. It will run in Monday’s ANG Newspapers.
(That’s at least part of my excuse for not filing blogs the past few days _ although it should be noted that with Kiffin hired, I won’t be filing every day in this forum. Your own thoughts, however, are always welcome).
Family members, as well as friends and colleagues, have the utmost confidence Kiffin is up to handling even the most difficult veteran players.
David Watson, a USC assistant coach who went to high school with Kiffin, said his friend has dealt with all manner of personalities with the Trojans.
John Reaves, a former Florida quarterback who played nine years in the NFL and happens to be Kiffin’s father-in-law, said Kiffin will have no problem taking a problem player “to the woodshed.”
Kiffin has two choices with Moss. He can either keep working to make nice, or tell Al Davis that the highest-salaried player on the team threatens to undermine his program before it starts.
If Moss indeed cursed Kiffin right off the bat, he may be doing the Raiders a favor. It’s better for Moss to create an impossible situation and attempt to force at trade early than for him to show up, pretend to care, then turn off the spigot at his leisure.
It’s possible that to have Moss insubordinate and uncooperative from Day 1 could be the first big break of the Kiffin regime becuase it could spur Davis to get rid of him.
The problem is Davis wants top dollar for top talent, and Moss has been so indifferent his value is at an all-time low.
If Kiffin didn’t yet understand what it meant to be head coach of the Raiders at his press conference, he surely does now.
[You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.]
January 28th, 2007 at 9:02 pm
great story again J Mac, you provide great insight, w/o sounding like a internet whore with speculation dripping every sentence. I check here everyday. A lifelong bay area guy in mky late 30’s and it is just nice to see the oak trib lead the way on how to write and report on a organization such as the raids.
I hope kiffin can assert himself and that article coming tomorrow will certainly be interesting. I hope kiffin can implement a system of faith and success in restoring this franchise where it should rightfully be.
Jon
January 28th, 2007 at 10:26 pm
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January 28th, 2007 at 10:28 pm
I think Randy Moss will not work with this team. He would be perfect for a team such as the 70’s Raiders. A team with very strong leadership in the locker room. Kiffin is not going to win right away. Trade Moss and rebuild.
January 28th, 2007 at 10:40 pm
Get rid of Moss for whatever you can get. He is not worth the trouble. Same goes for Porter if he doesn’t want to get with the program. A young coach like Kiffin doesn’t need attitudes like those 2 have scuttling him before he even starts. The draft is deep for receivers this year and we have Curry, Morant, Gabriel and Ferguson, all players that will give 100% because they all have something to prove.
January 28th, 2007 at 10:40 pm
Thanks for the insight Jerry, your blogs are always the best to read.
Jerry, I’m sure you have heard the rumors of the Texans dangling David Carr for a 3rd roung pick. Do you have any idea if the raiders are considering this move? Maybe an update in the next blog?
As far as Moss goes… Dump the guy. He is a disgrace to wear silver and black. He had a 7.5 million dollar contract last year and his excuse for dropping passes was that he wasn’t “happy.” The guy needs go, big time.
January 28th, 2007 at 10:43 pm
If Moss played for the 70s Raiders and quit like he did last year, he would have been sorry. Tatum, Matuszak, Shell, Upshaw and the other players of that era would have kicked his A double S up between his shoulder blades. The Raiders of the 70s were loaded with characters but they never quit, had each others backs and most of all showed up at game time ready to play.
January 28th, 2007 at 11:32 pm
The Raiders are in a youth movement on both sides of the ball. Time in games and practice wasted on a guy who has had issues his whole career is just taking away practice and playingtime from guys like Morant, Curry and Francis to develop.
Moss for Carr?
Moss for a 3rd rounder to teams who need a WR?
Moss to Philly for a cheesteak sandwich, two Tasty Cakes, and a cheerleader to be named later?
I’ll take any of the above.
Send him to Atlanta and watch the fun as he and Vick blame each other for their ineptitude.
Send him to Dallas and watch the NFL Network wet itself at the idea of Moss-Owens all the time.
Our young players need positive leaders not Moss.
January 29th, 2007 at 1:48 am
JoeRaider, Randy Moss wouldn’t last one day on any of the ’70s Raider teams, nor the NFL. Cliff Branch used to toss the ball back to the ref and run, at a full sprint, back to the sideline after scoring a TD, while his teammates celebrated walking back to the sideline. This was per Madden’s orders. Why? Because Madden didn’t want to lose him for the season at the hands of the other team doling due punishment on a player as small as him running his mouth. If Moss were signed to the Raiders in ‘74, he’d be in a wheelchair by ‘75.
January 29th, 2007 at 6:02 am
Great blog Jerry
Message to Lane:
I say get rid of that scumbag , and pronto.
Take what you can get for him , a 3rd or a 4th rounder , anything will do;let
him be somebody else´s pain in the a++.
This guy is the real cancer.
Davidson , would have personally taken care of this guy back in the 70´s.
Lets keep Porter(he´ll be ok), and will be our go to guy this year.
January 29th, 2007 at 6:28 am
On Moss - Dump her, she’s a selfish broad.
January 29th, 2007 at 6:33 am
I agree whole heartedly, Moss for David Carr and use picks for O line, and I can’t wait to see the face Kiff picked up from Gruden.
January 29th, 2007 at 6:34 am
I would love to see Kiffin give moss what for behind the wood shed. A) it will set a tone, B) it will be a clear message toporter to shape up or ship out especially if they do find a club to take moss. Many have alread said that he should be gone, Al please make it so!
BP
January 29th, 2007 at 6:55 am
Moss is a JOKE! He is scared of getting hit, can’t catch, and gets too high to even try hard. Go make juices if that makes you happy. Trade him for whatever you can get for him. He is a cancer and will never win anything. Hey Randy look at Sapp to see how a professional acts. Yeah you were on a terrible team, SAPP had a career year and took steps to the HOF, you cry like a baby and took steps towards Dancing with the Stars. I would LOVE to see him traded, and come back to play in the Black Hole, I don’t think our defense will forget his pathetic performance. Get rid of him!
January 29th, 2007 at 7:14 am
KEEP MAKING IT EASY AND PAINFULLY OBVIOUS TO AL, RANDY!!!!
THIS DECISION IS NOT LANE KIFFEN’S TO MAKE…I THINK THAT HIS DECISION WOULD BE PRETTY EASY ONCE HE STARTS TALKING TO GOOD ‘OL RANDY….AL WILL HAVE TO BE THE ONE WHO NEEDS CONVINCING.
January 29th, 2007 at 7:37 am
I respect you’re guys opinion, but…
Do you remember the Mike Vick fiasco? People jumped to conclustions without knowing
all the facts. Lets just wait and see what Moss or Kiffin say. Until I here it come out
of there mouth, I would hold Judgment, and please don’t call Randy a scumbag or
other names if you know that you will not say it in his face. Just be honest with
you’re selfs people. Second, you can’t just trade Porter and Moss for nothing.
Moss is still a HOF receiver, and Porter he’s still a very good receiver. Shell was
just a horrible coach. Shell tested his manhood, you know what he did. He put
his second best receiver on the freaking practice squad playing linebacker, when
everybody begged his old ass to start playing this dude. Who would want to play
for a guy like that??
January 29th, 2007 at 7:41 am
Madden Raider :
Moss would work for the 70’s Raiders because of what you said. They would kick his ass if he pulled any of his shit. Example: Corey Dillion was a trouble maker on the Bengals but not the Super Bowl Champion Patriots. Same theory applies.
January 29th, 2007 at 7:46 am
Screw Randy Moss, get rid of this dead weight! He is not the player he once was, everyone in the NFL knows he has lost his explosiveness off the line of scrimmage, that was his biggest strength and its gone! Since he doesn’t run good pass routes, that explosion was key to his separation at the line of scrimmage from DB’s. Believe me when I say that the Raiders will be a much better team without the dead weight and cancer! I was never in favor of Randy anyhow, just another Al Davis project gone sour.
peace out!
January 29th, 2007 at 8:08 am
moss was a mistake from day one. Anyone get excited over his arrival? About as excited as brooks or collins im sure. What gets me is that hes not even good! Please look at his catches per attempt…horrid. He also was one of the most targeted receivers in the league (when playing) ahead of chad johnson even. Unexcusable. It pains me that we bent over backwards for this guy, even made him team captian for crist’s sakes! Compare this to Tim Brown. Problem is Davis wants to “attack” and there is a shortage of deep threat receivers with leaping ability…Davis also has little problems with degenerates but if he would consider how disrespectful he has been to the organization….we may yet get him out.
January 29th, 2007 at 8:14 am
GREAT ARTICLE!!! Thanks Jerry.
January 29th, 2007 at 8:30 am
Unfortunately, Al always sides with his STAR players over his coaches. Hopefully, Moss will tell Davis, point blank, that he wants to be traded. That’s the only way he’ll be dealt. Too bad Jerry Porter will probably be back (based on the Kiffin press conference). These are the type of cancer players that we need to get rid of.
Thanks for the great work, Jerry!
January 29th, 2007 at 8:40 am
Lord God, Please hear my prayers to trade or release Moss..The 70’s are over…Renegade, malcontents are usually defined and attached to some sort of ugly contract negoitation, criminal activity or a fake “mooning”..Moss doesnt want to play for the Raiders, he has antimated that several times, lets please MOVE ON…Its mind-numbing to continue to see this play itself out…Ill take 10 “Ronald Curry’s”, anyday…Right Jerry?
January 29th, 2007 at 8:49 am
C-Dub.. well i guess you never went to a game in the Black Hole. because i live in So Cali and was at the Raiders Steelers game. there were ALOT of people including myself yelling at him during his warm ups that he is a scum bag and a disgrace to the Silver and Black. if i say something here or anywhere i will say it to his face.. the dude is a cancer.. Kiffen mentioned the words that cowards dreaded to hear.. “HARD WORK” and “PRACTICES WILL BE SO HARD” that he already refused to take Kiffens phone call. but thats a good thing.. now we can get rid of that piece of crap cancer and get people with character and a will to win at all costs.. players who can take lemons and make lemonaide.. not sit a cry and when the going gets tough.. Moss runs away.. the dude disgraced the legendary Silver and Black.. shows something about your character as well….
January 29th, 2007 at 8:59 am
[...] *Jeez…I didn’t think things could possibly get worse in Oakland now that Art Shell was shown the door. Until I read this . Good luck Mr. Kiffin. If you last more than two years, I will wholeheartedly tip my hat to you. [...]
January 29th, 2007 at 9:07 am
Coach Kiffin needs to just get rid of the guy. It’s not worth keeping him. I think if AL DAVIS really wants to, he can put together a package, and hopefully get another first round pick. Remember when AL DAVIS got a 1st Round pick using doug jolly. I think DAVIS has more talent, with moss, that he can package up and get another 1st. As for comparing moss to the players that the Raiders had in the 70’s. PLEASE DONT DO IT. The Raiders of the 70’s were real football players. As for moss, he’s just a prima donna. Think about how much moss has lost since his best days. He cant catch the ball anymore. Plus in the past two season’s I’ve seen moss caught from behind on more than one play. How many times in minny was the guy caught from behind??? What moss is doing right now is a blessing in disguise. AL DAVIS just needs to wait until the time is right and put together a package with moss included. Personally right now, I’m disgusted in moss. I was really high on him when he came to Oakland. I defended him, against the media. I thought he was a good guy. I guess I’ve been wrong before so this shouldnt be as upsetting as it is. AL DAVIS just get rid of the guy now. Put together a package come draft time, and lets use this prima donna to help us get another good pick.
Well this is what I hope happens. GO Oakland Raiders, Go Coach Kiffin, and I hope Coach Kiffin and AL DAVIS put a package together and make moss go!!!!!
January 29th, 2007 at 9:20 am
If it’s true that Moss is already being difficult with Kiffin, dump his butt pronto, even if we only get a mid-round pick. His actions last season alone showed a major lack of pride and heart. Despite being blessed with amazing physical ability, he couldn’t hold Cliff Branch’s jock-strap. Cliff showed up for every game and consistently made big plays when the going was tough. Some previous bloggers were right in that Moss would have been stuffed in a locker upside-down if he tried pulling this crap on one of those 70s or 80s teams. Regardless of the coaching situation last season, a “man” plays for his teammates!
Players like Moss and Owens sadly just don’t get it. They’re proponents of the culture of “ME” and will never realize their full potential. When their careers end in the near future, all they’ll be left with is their money and bling-bling, and a crew of sycophants all too willing to relieve them of such. Players like Jerry Rice and Cliff Branch will always be held in high esteem by those fortunate enough to have seen them play, while the likes of Moss and Owens will soon be mere afterthoughts who evoke nothing but pity or scorn. What wastes of God-given ability!
January 29th, 2007 at 9:21 am
If Randy was playing in the 70’s, he will probaly be the best receiver ever in the world.
Tommy, you’re right, I’ve never been to a Raider game, I live in Atlanta. But there is a
difference between yelling at someone in the STANDS, than in his FACE. Like I said, it’s
just a rumor going on. Moss did not speak publicly, or Coach K. so I don’t know why
everybody is getting so hyped over this? Jerry Porter was in the best shape ever when
he came into camp, and to get put in Art Hell’s doghouse. Everybody complained about
practive, because players said it was dissorganized. But Jerry was the 1 to get diciplined
for it. Come on people, it’s early in the offseason let’s just see how it goes, and if Randy
did the things that was reported to him, then you’re right,let’s trade him.
idea? Randy Moss-Matt Suab, then we can draft Calvin Johnson? think about it.
January 29th, 2007 at 9:25 am
The story sounds a bit far-fetched. I don’t think Moss was a fan of Art Shell, so it would make more sense for him to try to get along with the new guy. With that being said, it wouldn’t surprise me if Moss acted like an A-hole to Kiffen. When it comes down to it, Moss is a self-centered scum bag.
January 29th, 2007 at 9:26 am
Dangit don’t all of you know never to disturb Moss while he’s puffin’ away?
January 29th, 2007 at 9:40 am
Get rid of MOSS now, one player does not make a team, which
he never was a team player. He was and is a me myself and i
player!!
Radlady
January 29th, 2007 at 9:48 am
C-Dub.. every week Moss was bashing the Raiders on his Radio show. he bashed Shell the team the owner and everything else Raider.. the loser doesnt want to be here and i honestly cant believe your defending him and his actions.. he is never a Raider. he doesnt have teh work ethic or character to be the best he can be,, because when the going gets tough.. Moss cries like a girl.. we need to trade him and bring in a few more Ronald Curry’s we need character players who want to win.. not crybaby sniveling sissys..
And that was the best i could do.. since i would never have the oppertunity to walk up to him face to face.. the next best thing was to yell at him since he was standing 10 feet away from me while he was jaw jacking with Fish… best i could do..
January 29th, 2007 at 9:53 am
send him to KC where he can get obliterated twice a year by our guys. id love to see a blind cross field decleater on the quiter.
January 29th, 2007 at 9:54 am
[...] And speaking of a one-on-one, new Raiders’ coach Lane Kiffin’s first contact with wide receiver Randy Moss “apparently didn’t go so well.”: http://www.ibabuzz.com/raidersblog/2007/01/28/kiffins-first-test/ It just makes me think that Eric Mangini was twice as smart to quickly decide to part with John Abraham and Kevin Mawae shortly after becoming the Jets coach. Not to suggest that either Abraham or Mawae are in Moss’ league in terms of causing distractions but both, to a degree, could be outspoken. [...]
January 29th, 2007 at 10:02 am
Randy is a quitter, I was ELATED when he came because we had Collins and he does have a really good deep ball. Well, I have seen enough of the Randy show, even without all of the ESPN radio show quotes, to know a duck when I see one. What killed me more than the drops were all those balls where he short armed it or turtled it to avoid contact. That was sickening!I don’t think Porter is the same animal, he never got a shot to get back on the field. I would love to see Moss go to Hotlanta with his pal Vick. Puff, puff, pass, drop, now what Randy???
This will be a good indication of what kind of control Kiffin has.
Hey guys our Head Coache’s name is spelled KIFFIN, let’s do him the respect of spelling it right. I haven’t seen anyone misspell Moss, except on purpose. Go RAIDERS!
January 29th, 2007 at 10:03 am
OK, so we have this story going around at the Senior Bowl, which Jerry clearly delineates as such. No official confirmation as of yet from anyone, but it DOES ring true, doesn’t it? And that’s why everyone believes it … me too, I’m afraid. Moss would have had a little difficulty in the 1970s because there was no 5-yd illegal contact rule. Remember that, old timers? They put the rule in because the league decided 16 pts a game could be construed as dull. Air Coryell and all the other passing explosions that we now take for granted weren’t around in the seventies, when 3000 yards for a QB was considered an amazing year. Moss’s 2005 numbers would have been dominant in 1975. I’m not saying Moss wouldn’t have been effective, but the going would have been a little tougher for him. Mel Blount would have been an interesting experience for Wandy.
This is an opportunity for Al to show that he backs his new coach by moving Randy. I wanted Moss to be explosive for us. So did many others. It appears we’re not going to get what we want. As that Pittsburgh fan above pointed out, we’re on a roll with the bad news these days, eh? Hold your nose and cut your losses Al, you’ll be glad you did. Moss is too bitchy and stubborn.
January 29th, 2007 at 10:08 am
Porter and Moss, both need to hit the road. I don’t care if we have the best coach in the country. #1 Moss can’t catch a ball even if he wants to anymore, great so he’s a little taller and can get over the top of someone, but he CANNOT bend without breaking!! And Porter has shown his true colors, he’s all talk as well !! Yea WHATEVER Porter. Both are NOT team players, OVER RATED and OVER PAID!!!
January 29th, 2007 at 10:15 am
I sat through that crap all of last year and in my 40 years as a fan of this organization I have never been as embarassed as I was last year. Randy Moss was the poster child for the entire disaster that was 2006. That being said rumor is that the old man is still in love with his “talent”. I think Randy should be traded, I don’t care what we get for him Hell if this latest Mossism is true just straight cut him for the good of the team. Art Shell should have suspended him when he started popping off at the mouth, but thats history now. Lets trade his sorry A** for an early to mid round pick and get this crap turned around NOW. I say JaMarcus Russell with the first pick the guys a freak, then maybe a running back, Tony Hunt from Penn State would be nice he had a great senior bowl and is a good patient runner. Its time to build for the future we belong with the elite teams not the Lions and the Cardinals.
January 29th, 2007 at 10:23 am
I say GOOD RIDDANCE to Randy Moss!!!! I can’t tell how many games last season where he jsut completely looked like he was giving up on routes, not making a second efforts, and then visibly looked a “whiny baby” on the sidelines; if he doesn’t want to work with Lane, then that is the new coach’s first success so far, dump the loser and hopefully we can get a decent OL pikc out of it…..
January 29th, 2007 at 10:26 am
Randy Moss has always been and always will be a player that desperately clings to being a superstar but wants everyone else on the team to take responsibility to make it happen. He doesn’t go out and make his own plays, he relies on the quaterback to make it happen then take the credit. He was always a player who relied solely on his pure speed to make things happen and now that he has lost a step and come back to Earth he is just an average player with an above average ego that can’t stop whining. I agree he is a cancer and needs to go. I would be fine with a deal to the Texans for Carr but we desperately need to overhall the O-Line because Carr has proven he is average when not given the time to throw. Forever Up the Irons! and GO RAIDERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 29th, 2007 at 10:30 am
im going to watch all you guys eat your words..u guys are easy..if the guy does good..u like him..stop jumping on or off the bandwagon..u guys arent experts either
January 29th, 2007 at 10:33 am
I am not sure if anyone saw Moss interview at the halftime of his sponsored college bowl game. He was asked what the Raiders need. Did they need a new QB? He paused for a long time as if he was searching for the correct/political thing to say not to cause any problems.
He did say that the QB was not the problem and we have good QB’s and he was happy
with the current players.
He just didn’t seem to comfortable answering that ? at that time. I am sure Al told him of
the up coming changes and it would be to his best interest to be easy. True Raider fans
know Al is a players owner see Art and bronco Mike for references.
January 29th, 2007 at 10:35 am
CDUB
Are you 12? Did you really say “say it to his face”
And Ron Mexico is completely guilty - guilty of hitting the bong harder than he does his playbook, guilty of not understanding NFL defenses, guilty of passing along herpes.
January 29th, 2007 at 10:54 am
Dude, get you’re own name. I’m sorry that I’m from the old school that I rather be a
MAN, and don’t call people names over the internet, because basically, I don’t know if
Randy Moss is a idiot or not. I actualy met him a couple of times out here in Atlanta,
He seemed like a cool cat. So do I think he’s a idiot? No. He’s a millionare for a reason,
and he’s still going to go down as 1 of the best receivers ever. He might have made some
dumb decisions, but guess what? We all have made some stupid decisions in our lives. All
I know is that Randy Moss does a alot of things for his community, the smoothie thing is
a good idea, becuz it teaches the kids to eat a little more healthy than they have been.
Maby he was not a good fit in Oakland. I know his first year, he gave his all, and got injured
and still played thru injury. His second year, everybody deserves a pass, including AW,
and AB.. We had a idiot as an coach that makes dumb ass expressions and does
crosswords puzzles on his clipboard during the game. On top of that, we had a guy who
runs a bed-and breakfeast restaurant for the last 10 years, and he decided that he wants\
to get back into being a OC. He wasn’t even good in the Hostetler and T.B days!! All I’m
saying is this. We have a long way to go, and I love Calvin Johnson, and if Moss wants to
go, let him go. But don’t dissrespect the guy who does not want to be a Raider. Honestly,
who does? We were the worst team last year with the 3rd best defense!
January 29th, 2007 at 11:18 am
If this is true about Cany Moss….. Well kick his ass out we dont need no more B.S.
The coach has my full 110% backing him, We all need to back him up because this year will not be as The year of infamy!
January 29th, 2007 at 11:40 am
PFT.COM SAYS ACCORDING TO SFG THEY HAVE HIRED GREG KNAPP AS OC.
KEEP U POSTED
January 29th, 2007 at 11:40 am
whatever, CDUB. You go on thinking
Randy “I play when I want to even If I’m paid millions” Moss
Randy “I smack girls when I want to” Moss
Randy “I yell at team sponsers when I want to” Moss
Randy “I hit traffic cops with my car when I want to” Moss
Randy “I haven’t been relevant in years” Moss
is a cool cat. I think he’s an ahole. And more ppl agree with me than you.
January 29th, 2007 at 11:44 am
Has any one heard from Kiffin how the running game will be improved and how to improve the defense against the run? All this play calling folishness doesn’t mean a thing those two things i mentioned aren’t accomplished.Another thing- last year Al said he did not want any zone blocking schemes and no west coast dink and dunk. Now I hear that the boy wonder wants to hire Greg Knapp. He’a a west coast guy!!! what’s up?
January 29th, 2007 at 11:45 am
fire kiffin
keep moss
keep porter
start tui at QB
cut walter & brooks
move into the new stadium in santa clara with oakland
hire lawrence taylor as defensive coordinator
January 29th, 2007 at 11:46 am
Okay, you’re obviously retarted. So I will stop responding to you.
January 29th, 2007 at 11:54 am
Good hire on Gregg Knapp, Knapp had a good system in the ATL, he just had the worst receiver core in the NFL last year. Those receiver’s couln’t even catch a cold. Horrible to watch.
January 29th, 2007 at 12:05 pm
Moss is out. no chance he stays with the raiders, he is a cancer. Do you think Moss cares if he wins a super bowl? His stock should show how bad he has become. We can’t even get a 1st rounder for him, maybe not even a 2nd rounder. I would trade him for anything, cut him even. I would not pay that guy one more cent. He hasn’t earned anything. Bellichek probably wouldnt even take moss for free, and he took dillon.
January 29th, 2007 at 12:05 pm
Yeah, receiver was the problem with the passing game in Atlanta. Do you have a hidden compartment on you laptop?
January 29th, 2007 at 12:11 pm
Yes I actualy do ^
jk,
If you watch some Atlanta games, Rodney White, and Michael Jenkins was probaly the worst receivers in football. OMG they dropped so many passes. Also, Warrick Dunn put up his best numbers in his career under G.K
January 29th, 2007 at 12:16 pm
Seems like the coaching staff is starting to fill out…I wonder who will be handling the QBs.
January 29th, 2007 at 12:20 pm
808 Raidah,
Kiffin did a good job handling Carson Palmer, Matt Leinert, and Josh Booty.. He was the qb coach when Norm Chow was around. Keep in mind in the 2 years when he was the OC, USC had a better season statistics wise than Norm Chow. So honestly, I would like to see AW get another shot with a better teacher, and a better O-line. How can we judge this guy, when last year, he had Art Shell and his B&B buddy?
January 29th, 2007 at 12:41 pm
OK,
let’s see how this plays out let’s not jump to conclusions… if this is true then yes of course trade him for a pick.. but like the article states this is just a rumor people!!!
Peace
January 29th, 2007 at 12:47 pm
David White, of the San Francisco Chronicle, reports the Oakland Raiders have hired Greg Knapp as the team’s offensive coordinator, according to a league source.
January 29th, 2007 at 12:48 pm
Trade Moss for a peanut butter and jelly sandwhich as long as the PB is crunchy and made my by JIFF. None of that wannabe stuff. That’s Moss’s worth to me. Actually, if all you have is 2 slices of bread and jelly, I’ll take it. I’ll buy the PB myself.
January 29th, 2007 at 1:09 pm
Knapp is a terrible hire. Look how he used Ron Mexico - you take an RB with a canon for an arm and a pea for a brain and expect him to run the West Coast offense? A good OC would have ran something more suited to Mexico’s skills.
January 29th, 2007 at 1:19 pm
terrible hire?
They had 1 of the best rushing offense in the past 3 years have they? Is that where we lacked? For real, stop using my name. Act like a grown up.
January 29th, 2007 at 1:23 pm
greg knapp is horrible, if he was so good san francisco and atlanta would have kept him, he had the greatest atheltic QB in vick, and couldnt use him properly to win games, he worked beside a legendary offensive line coach in alex gibbs and he still couldnt do anything useful, knapp doesnt have a good rapport with players, they are always screaming at him, calling him out, or ignoring him, the guy looks like one of those idiot high school math teachers.
I wouldnt mind trading moss and porter, i wanna see al davis clean house, clean out all the negative garbage/whining players, bring in young, hungry, lower paid players like patriots, the raiders should hire some of the patriots’ scouts and model their drafting philosophy after new england. the raiders need young guys in here and no more overpriced veterans that think they are wannabe rappers like phillip buchanon.
January 29th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
^If we do that, we would not be the Raiders no more. We would be the New England Patriots. I want us to create a new identity. Not the Patriots. I would not mind trading Moss or Porter, if they want to leave. But it got to be the right trade. We can’t afford to just flat out release people right now, because we are so bad. We gotta get something back.
January 29th, 2007 at 1:33 pm
I’d dangle Moss and Porter on the trade market (Green Bay seems like a good spot for Moss)…I’d dump ‘em really (2nd Rd Picks).
The Raiders need youth. Neither of those receivers is hungary at all…and a former-superstar w/o the hunger is not worth much…
I’d love to see the team stockpile 3-5 round picks for the obvious O-Line restructuring that needs to happen.
PS: Draft a running back in the 2nd round…
January 29th, 2007 at 1:33 pm
to win in todays salary cap era, you have to be like new england, you cant be like al davis and sign assistant coaches to quick 1-2 year contracts, you cant hire your assistant and not allow the head coach to select his “OWN” staff, you cant al davis is a meddling/controlling owner who does too much, he wants to get the groceries and cook the meal, al davis is a senile, psychotic, crazy old man, and he is washed up.
January 29th, 2007 at 1:37 pm
^ But that’s the Raider way.. I mean, I want to win. But I would like to win 1 more time before Al moves on to after life. I would just like for Al to stick it in the NFL’s face 1 more time.. Al wants to win, he’s never going to change. He’s to old to change to be honest. So I guess we have to deal with it.
January 29th, 2007 at 1:41 pm
The Moss situation will be probably be the first TRUE indication whether Kiffin has any meaningful decision-making power. Many of us know that The Godfather, aka Don Davis, hasa always been enamored over his stars, and his insistence on getting top value on his high profile trades is the true stumbling block. Al can either force Kiffin to play Moss, keep him to rot on the bench (i.e., Porter, Allen), or swallow his pride and cut Moss loose for whatever they can get for him.
If we were in Kiffin’s position, and we all had TRUE decision-making power regarding personnel, then I’m pretty sure we would all be doing the same thing. Whether or not the rumor from PFT.com is true is moot; we would have told that prima donna in no uncertain terms that his wishes to leave would be accomodated. As to his alleged cursing and use of profanity–well, I think most of us would be able to respond in kind…
January 29th, 2007 at 1:43 pm
From SFgate.com…
“(01-29) 09:56 PST — The Oakland Raiders hired Greg Knapp as their offensive coordinator late Sunday, according to a league source.
Knapp, a Sacramento State graduate, returns to the Bay Area after spending the past three seasons running the Atlanta Falcons offense.
He was with the 49ers from 1995-2003, starting as an offensive quality control coach and moving up to offensive coordinator his final three seasons.
Knapp will work under new Raiders coach Lane Kiffin, a former USC offensive coordinator who announced at his hiring that we would call his own plays. Knapp will assist Kiffin with daily plans and activities.
More importantly, Knapp’s veteran presence is expected to help Kiffin, a 31-year-old with one year of NFL experience, with the transition to his first head coaching job.”
*****
After last year, this is an improvement…now to get an O-line coach…
January 29th, 2007 at 1:45 pm
Look at this, imagine if Tom Walsh was T.O’s oc coach? and Art Shell was his head coach??
lol
January 29th, 2007 at 1:52 pm
808Raidah–regarding the last post on drafting WRs…hmmm…WRs don’t have as much of an impact on a game compared to a QB or RB, or even a DT or DE (debatable on the last two, I know, but a case can still be made for them). I understand your take on Calvin Johnson, but I still think that we have a decent corps of WRs, even without Porter / Moss. QB? We’re clearly not as solid–not even close. RB? We need improvement there as well, although not as severe as QB. We could go after Joe Thomas, but after the Gallery pick, I don’t think we’ll do that. Besides, we all know O-linemen can be had in lower rounds. I’d like to think our O-line woes were a result of poor coaching and schemes, not just poor execution.
Besides, since we all know Don Davis will continue to exert his influence, do you really think the Don will be able to pass on JeMarcus Russell? If he does, then that WILL BE one of the signs that Al is serious about sharing the decision making process…
January 29th, 2007 at 2:02 pm
” TEN GRAND? ” ” WHAT’S TEN GRAND TO ME?…..IN 1975? ”
The role of ” Madden Raider ” will today be played by: ” Big Lou “. Please open your
Al Davis-hating textbooks to page one….
I THINK WE WILL GET A GOOD PICK FOR MOSS…MAYBE A FIRST ROUNDER. WHY?
BECAUSE TEAMS ARE DESPERATE FOR TALENT, THAT’S WHY.
Some fool like Daniel Snyder or the meatheads in Jacksonville will fork over the pick for
Moss; because other teams will want him too.
January 29th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
Bashing Knapp now? First of all Mora Jr. wanted to run a west coast offense and when Vick couldn’t read the plays because of the orange Dorito leavings on his playbook Knapp adjusted and tried to fit his style with options and runs. He can hardly be blamed when Vick misses wide open guys or WR’s drop passes. His runnng game was excellent even with Vick posing no threat to throw the ball. His two HB rotation is a good fit since we don’t have a every-down, all season RB.
As for the zone blocking comment by Al, obviously he is letting Kiffin run with it, just like Turner did in 2005. Al was defending Shell and Walsh when he made those comments so take them with a grain of salt. The media hypes up Al’s love for the deep ball but he didn’t stop Gruden or Callahan from west coasting it as long as they were getting results.
Amazing how many Raider fans pick up the Raider haters ideas about Al and run with them.
January 29th, 2007 at 2:36 pm
Your team has NO talent on offense. Do you not remember the sideline arguments between Greg Knapp and Terrell Owens? How do you think he will get along with Moss? Any better? Doubt it……And I am sick and tired of the excuse makers for Micheal Vick. Micheal Jenkins never dropped passes at Ohio State…nor did Roddey White at Georgia…..why all of a sudden do they drop them for Vick in the NFL? Because Vick doesn’t know how to throw a football. He zips everything 100 miles an hour while the receivers are just coming out of they break in full stride and either has it low or high. Vick is a running back, not a quaterback.
January 29th, 2007 at 2:38 pm
Al Davis should smart up (do you believe in miracles?)
And see how this scumbag of a player called Moss
Is disrespecting not only his head coach Kiffin
Also the raiders
Also him, the godfather himself!
He should give direct power to Kiffin to cut players like that…
Kiffin does not need that type of hardship in trying to gain respect from the rest of the team…
But heyyyy, Al Davis says, Moss is a great raider athlete who just got lost last year…
NOTTTT
He is a clown
Mike Ditka would have taken this freak to the woodshed in a minute.
January 29th, 2007 at 3:00 pm
Outstanding article on Kiffin in today’s paper, Jerry. I really appreciate all of the groundwork you did on Kiffin’s background. Maybe this will calm all of the “Kiffin haters” down…
My favorite excerpt…
“The technical side of the sport shouldn’t be a problem. Kiffin immediately sold Davis on his prowess at X’s and O’s. Chris Kiffin said that when his brother and father talk football, they often do it without pen, paper or chalk.
“They can both see all 22 guys on the field at the same time in their minds and talk about a certain play, and Lane will immediately know what he’s talking about,” Chris Kiffin said.
Jon Gruden became an additional resource when he arrived in Tampa Bay in 2002.
“He sat in on quarterback meetings and kept picking things up from coach Gruden,” Monte Kiffin said. “He took it back to Southern California, and now he’s going to take it to the Raiders.”
Gruden said Kiffin took plays and concepts back to USC and “they ran them better than we did.”
Reaves, Kiffin’s father-in-law, played with the Cincinnati Bengals when Bill Walsh was offensive coordinator under Paul Brown, and played for Steve Spurrier in the USFL. He was an assistant under Spurrier at the University of Florida from 1990-92.
“I’ve seen great coaches draw up an offense,” Reaves said. “I realize I’m prejudiced, but Lane is really, really good. I don’t think he’ll have any trouble at all in that area.”
*****
This ALONE is enough to sell me on Kiffin. Last year was a total collapse of THE ENTIRE SYSTEM, and it was exposed to what it was FIFTEEN YEARS AGO…amazing that Shell and Walsh actually thought that it would work in 2006…
If anyone still has any concerns over Kiffin, seriously–do you actually think he would do worse than 2-14?
January 29th, 2007 at 3:04 pm
when montgomery burns, sorry, al davis was introducing coach kiffin some of the words he chose continue to ring in my ears…”i’m not going anywhere”. maybe he’ll start taking long naps to asuage whatever malady has befallen him in recent years, and coaches kiffin and knapp can hire a good offensive line coach who knows how to teach the position consistent with their chosen offensive scheme. the next important chore is to excise the tumor that is randy moss, and we’ll have the makings of a team again heading into the draft.
January 29th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
Greg Knapp as OC!!! What does this latest decision by Kiffin mean, in your estimation??
He was known for his West Coast offensive philosophy….is this the same type of system Kiffin Kiffin is going to install….or is he going to make Knapp adopt to his offensive philosophy, seeing as how Kiffin will be calling the plays??
January 29th, 2007 at 3:22 pm
Knapp had the #1 Rushing offense this year and the backs all averaged over 4 yards a carry. Even with bluntman Vick and his 52% competion percentage Atlanta had a decent offense. Kiffin at USC ran an offense not unlike the west coast offense. He borrowed a lot of concepts from Gruden. Any offense heavy on short
passing and running is called a WC offense nowadays. If Cable comes with Knapp as Kiffin asked the O-line and running game will be much better shape than last year’s 70’s scheme.
If the team goes with Walter, Quinn or another young QB, having a dominate run game
and a solid D will be the fastests ways to see quick improvement.
Garcia would be one of a few free agent vets who would fit the Kiffin-Knapp mold.
As for Knapp butting heads with TO - you’ve got be kidding me. TO can’t get along with
anybody - even his own publicist whom he paid to like him. That Knapp stood up to TO bodes well for deaing with Moss.
January 29th, 2007 at 3:25 pm
Knapp is not responsible for Atlanta’s successes on offense
It was Alex Gibbs running the show behind the scenes as OL consultant…
We need a good OL coach.
Simple as that.
That hire has become as important as the HC was…
January 29th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
All these complaints about Moss are ridiculous.
He is still the most feared player in the league.
The offensive line is the problem.
They want the man to run down field and take at least two defenders with him
every play and when he turns around the QB is either sacked, run already, fumbled, or there is a penalty.
I am a Viking fan and I hated that they traded him.
All because he would not kiss up to the media.
He never did, not even when he went to the Heisman Trophy presentation and they asked him not to wear his corn rows or sunglasses.
I am so sick and tired of hearing about the “I play when I want to play” comment.
If you knew the whole story then you would know that he was asked by a long time write for the Star Tribune (Hartman) about who gets him motivated to play, was it Carter, was it Green, and he said that he played when he wanted to play.
Obviously he meant that he motivated himself.
But noooo, the media ran with the one comment and blasted him for it so when he was asked about it again he said yes that was what he said.
Please the man was on pace with Jerry Rice as far as touchdowns, receptions, and yards through his first seven years and not with a Hall of Fame QB either.
Rice had Montana and Young throwing to him
Look who Moss had … Johnson, Cunningham, George, Culpepper, hell even Frerotte came in for two games and threw him five TDs.
Please he is the most dangerous receiver ever and the sorry a double s Raiders cannot get him the ball more than a few passes a game (and then you complain if he doesn’t catch it).
The Raiders wasted two years of his career.
Imagine Detroit not giving Barry Sanders the ball.
The Vikings use to run reverses with him or throw him quick short passes early in the game so he could get hit and be into the game.
You try running basically 40 to 50 all out sprints per game dragging two defenders with you and then not even getting a sniff for entire series.
You fans are idiots if you want to trade him?
I hope that the Vikings send a 3rd rounder over for him.
Get an offensive line that can block!
How they could not with two HOF’s coaching them last year is a mystery.
Sorry A** Raider Fans
January 29th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
MARK S.
For me, it’s not a question of talent with Moss (although he is on the down side of his career), it’s more his attitude and whether he wants to be a Raider. And from all indications Moss doesn’t want to be in Oakland and it is affecting his play. The Raiders need to move on and Moss needs a change of scenery to get his HOF career back on track.
January 29th, 2007 at 3:41 pm
808Raidah
He did not want to be there last year because they do not get him the ball.
He was the same in Minnesota when the stupid Viking coaches (Tice)
could not get the QB (Fimblepeper) to make a read and throw him the ball.
He is under utilized. If he is not getting the ball then somebody else needs to do something.
He gets paid to put people in the seats which he did the first year.
Now last year was just whacked for you Raider Fans.
I mean I cheer for Moss which by osmosis means I am cheering for you too.
All I’m saying is that Moss is not a kiss ass for the media and he probably cannot explain himself (and does not want to) in the way that people would understand.
He should redo Keyshawn’s Book … Just throw him the ball please!
It is just painful to watch him not getting respect for all that he has done.
I say he still has four to six good years in him and I would bet that he is still going to have his best year of his career (at least 20 TDs).
Maybe I’m a homer.
January 29th, 2007 at 3:51 pm
Regardless of the Knapp hire, I don’t see Coach Kiffin (I like the sound of that) running a entirely WC offensive scheme: he’s too innovative to fall back to an already “old-school” scheme like the WC; on the other hand, I think he brings in Knapp to help with developing a more hybrid type of offense: some WC (lot of ball control short to medium passes to the backs and TE’s) and mix it up with some vertical game to the WR’s and then alternate the schemes depending on the flow of the game, whether they’re seeing more “cover 2″ vs. straight 3-4’s ; I also agree the hiring of Knapp further points to Randy Moss leaving us (and good riddance to that, if it’s the case); if we run a “hybrid” type of offense, Moss will just continue to whine that he’s not getting the ball all the time, and then he’ll get lazy ass on his blocking assignmentsfor the short passes…
January 29th, 2007 at 4:06 pm
Moss is a bum. The Raiders should keep him and demote him to kicking team special teams coverage only. At Lane Kiffin’s press conference, Al Davis said he got the guy who could ‘call the plays’ in kiffin. well, who’s it gonna be calling the plays? Kiffin or Knapp?
January 29th, 2007 at 4:09 pm
Michael Vick is athleic yes, but he sucks at QB. No one could use him “right” in the NFL, cuase the guy sucks. Kiffin wanted Knapp as OC, and btw he won’t be calling plays, so if you have any faith in Kiffin it seems you’d have to have faith in his hires too. As for Randy Moss, he’s an ass. He would NEVER fit with 70s Raiders as someone said because he doesn’t have any heart. Those guys in the 70s might have been undisciplined partiers, but when it came time to play, they gave it everything they had. Only people on crack would say that Randy Moss is the same.
January 29th, 2007 at 4:14 pm
I say give Moss to the Broncos for a 6th round pick.
January 29th, 2007 at 4:33 pm
You will regret if Randy go’s somewhere else. Dude is a beast.
Like I said, Jerry Rice could not even do not better in the B&B offense. I’m serious. Have you seen a offense worse than that?? I’m just talking about as far as scheme’s and play calling go’s. That offense, and that coach put the team back 10 years. honestly, who would want to play for the Raiders after that?
January 29th, 2007 at 4:38 pm
i’ve been a lifelong viking fan. moss is depressed. he never wanted to be traded in the
first place. red mccombs effed us viking fans because we went to the met with signs that
read “down with scrooge mccombs”. everytime he shows his face around viking faithful he
got his ass booed off! it got so bad that his last season with the team before selling, he
didn’t even come to training camp. “i think red mccombs needs to spend some money
and get some quality veterans in here to help this team.” subsequently after that
moss was traded. it left all us vikes fans with a bitter taste in our mouths and mccombs
got what he wanted. to eff us vikes fans over because he felt we were “disloyal to him”.
send him back to winter park where he belongs and we’ll give you troy williamson and
nap harris back…………….
January 29th, 2007 at 4:38 pm
HAHAHa the raiders are doomed forever with problem players! Id just like to take this time to refresh everyones memory of their last Superbowl appearance: BUCS 48-Raiders21! HAHAHAHAAAAAA!
January 29th, 2007 at 4:41 pm
Moss needs to go. He doesn’t want to play here and will never be a team player. I was really excited when he arrived, but with all he’s said to the media in the last year it just can’t work out. Here’s hoping we can get a second-rounder for him.
As the article suggests, it will be very interesting to see how this plays out between Davis and Kiffin. I believe Al really respects Lane’s input on personnel, so maybe he’ll give him more latitude than in the past. This will be a very bad thing if Kiffin wants him gone but Davis overrules.
January 29th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
I say trade Moss to a team he wants to play for then get the best deal. Raiders have too many WRs with hang ups and issues. Heck, he’ll never play to his peak cause the Raiders are a mark team, refs just won’t give the Raiders wideouts the calls. That’s the fact. Just Raiders!
January 29th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
For all of the pros and cons about Randy Moss, there is one fact which is not in dispute. He quit on the team last year, both in words, his lack of effort on the field and his lack of desire to get back onto the field. Even assuming he was not having fun, what kind of excuse is it that. Can you imagine Jerry Rice, Marvin Harrison or even Michael Irvin not trying when out on the field. He is poison in regard to the rest of the players. Last year we could have just as easily lost 14 games without him.
The delusional Viking fans seem to think Quitter Moss is a lock for the HOF. However, in this modern age a lot of receivers are putting up big numbers and numbers alone will not get him in. Especially when you consider he has been terrible lately. Players like Rice and Tim Brown continued to do well into their 30s due to the fact that they worked so hard on their route running, their rapport with their QBs, and constantly became more intelligent about coverages. Moss relies almost exclusively on his physical ability and once that starts to slip (and it already is) he will lose his ability to be special. Also Vike fans, remember while Moss has not played great for us, you did not exactly make out like bandits in our trade. N. Harris and Troy “Bad Hands” Williamson. Dre, we will not take your two duds back. We would trade Moss back to you for your first round pick. However, that is not going to happen because the Vikings do not want him back. Childress is running a tight ship. He had problems with TO in Philly and does not want a repeat.
January 29th, 2007 at 4:51 pm
Moss fits only in a system where the QB is a beast who can elude pressure and buy time to send long passes:
>>Dante Culpepper
And in a stadium with artificial turf where he can be fast and elusive
>>Minnesota Vikings stadium
He is out of place playing in natural turf
>>Oakland Coliseum
Under a statue of a QB
>>Andrew Walter
Under a bad QB
>>Aaron Brooks
Conclusion:
>>Get rid of the bum
January 29th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
MARK S.
I would love to see the Moss Raiders marriage work. I was thrilled when the Raiders traded for him and in the first few games as a Raider things seemed to be working out great.
I too feel he has a few good years left, but maybe too much has happened over the last two seasons for this to work out. Our new coach needs to have players that will perform at their best whether the ball is coming their way or not.
January 29th, 2007 at 4:59 pm
you’re right on, jc. moss quit on his team; and this from a team captain. a terrible, corrosive example for the rest of the team struggling to get a win. the broncos got a third round pick this year, and a fourth next year for ashley lelie. now lelie’s looking for a job again. lelie never blatantly quit on pass routes in atlanta the way moss did this past season. how sweet would it be to get similar draft choices for moss, and then move ahead.
January 29th, 2007 at 5:01 pm
Moss is a bum. Trade him to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Trade him to theScranton Women’s League. The problem is football is a team sport and Moss isn’t a team player. A lot can be said about what an ass-wipr Terrell Owens is, but he at least plays hard. Moss couldn’t carry T.O.’s jockstrap. Hell, Randy Moss couldn’t carry my jockstrap. I bet his smoothies taste like failure. No self respecting Raider fan would spend a dime on one of his smoothies. He quit on all of us and he is a piece of shit.
January 29th, 2007 at 5:04 pm
Art Shell quit on this team when he put himself b4 the team when he benched JP for nothing at all. He quit on the team when he can’t even follow his own rules by punishing Andrew Walter for speaking out against the media, but it’s okay for him to speak out against Mike Lombardi. He quit on his team when he hired B&B man. Who would want to play for a guy like that??
January 29th, 2007 at 5:09 pm
I agreed to many that Moss is a QUITTER. LOL.. you don’t see Jerry Rice or Tim Brown QUIT when things go bad! The fact is Moss wants OUT, it’s like any job, if you don’t like the work enviroment then a change of scenery is the best choice. The Raiders need to accomadate the cancer before it spread to the entire team. Moss was explosive his first year as a Raider, the 70 yard TD bomb catch versus KC was a thing of beauty, Collins had the arm to toss it that far with Moss out running the entire secondary. Just Raiders!
January 29th, 2007 at 5:19 pm
I don’t know if Shell put himself before the team or not. I think he tried to deal with JP the way they did it 25 years ago and the my way or the highway doesn’t work so well anymore. I think he had the taem’s best interest in mind, he just was clueless as to how to do it. Definitely not HC material. Randy Moss however, does not have the teams best interest in mind. He just told his HC to go to hell and he demands a trade. Why would anyone want somebody like that on their team?
January 29th, 2007 at 5:34 pm
Bronco Steve needs to consider that Kiffiin is a great evaluator of talent and the offense will get better. We have ten picks in this upcoming draft and are in pretty good salary cap situation. The offense will get better through a good draft and the signing of a couple of good free agents. If it’s the Denver Broncos, you’ve got nothing to brag about. GAG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 29th, 2007 at 5:44 pm
I just saw on ESPN that the SF Chronicle reports that Greg Knapp (former OC of the Falcons) has accepted the OC position with the Raiders.
January 29th, 2007 at 5:50 pm
Greg Knapp will make any RB Raiders draft a 1000yards runner. This guy knows how to get offense from the running game. If the Raiders trade down and draft Peterson, he’s going to get his yardage, the scheme Knapp imploy is impressive. Just Raiders!
January 29th, 2007 at 6:24 pm
Rise and shine, fellow night shifters (yawn). Knapp hiring is now on the Raiders official site. This looks promising. Already Lane Kiffin is beginning to sell his message to effective assistant coaching hires - Knapp could have had a shot at his own HC job eventually. He has a good track record, and he opted to come be with us. Nice job in selling the program, Kiffin. I was worried that no one would come to work for a young kid like this. OK!!
Every year as an OC (six seasons), Knapp has had two effective RBs and good running from the QB position. Vick got sacked some, but that’s his tendency. The best WR stats came from TO is his SF days. Crumpler in ATL was his best TE. Unless we are truly cursed, we will run the ball better next year. This character certainly would have got more mileage out of Brooks, Fargas, and Jordan than we got from them under previous management. But the Nation will howl if Brooks returns. Expect a mobile QB - this hire does not bode well for AW if he gets through to Kiffin with his own philosophy.
January 29th, 2007 at 6:46 pm
Finzel, I think AW has a little mobile, look at what Kiffin did to Leinart in SC.
January 29th, 2007 at 6:58 pm
I like Knapp and I hope that AW is given another opportunity regardless of who we draft. Even though Kiffin said he would call all the plays, Knapp will be an outstanding sounding board and will add the NFL touch to Kiffin’s offensive scheme. Hopefully an OL coaching hire is forthcoming.
January 29th, 2007 at 6:59 pm
Cdub, yes, AW takes off now and again for the odd 12-yd jaunt. I’ll back off a little now that I think it over, it was likely a function of Garcia’s and Vick’s talents as opposed to Knapp coaching them to play that way.
January 29th, 2007 at 7:00 pm
i think its very unrealistic to think that just because Knapp lost his OC job at San Fagsisco and Atlanta that he isnt a good OC.. he wasnt fired by the HC he was working with but Rather by the new HC who came in. 99% of the time the new HC brings in his own staff.. especially the OC..
C-Dub.. i am old school as well.. the best i could do was yell at him from 10 feet away behind a fence.. i dared him to come over.. but to no avail.. i guess i could have jumped the fence and ran up to him and said what needed to be said but i would have been thrown in jail and missed the game.. but had i had the oppertunity to meet him on the street face to face.. i assure you that i wouldnt have any problem telling him how i felt..
Last thing.. go to Raidernews.com. there were a few people looking for Raider fans from the Atlanta area who had first hand knowledge of Knapps offenses.. if you have the time and dont mind.. it would be greatly appreciated if you could share your opinion with us there..
Thanks
Tomy
January 29th, 2007 at 7:03 pm
Moss for Schaub??? (Reunite Knapp with his former QB) and we give Ron Mexico another headcase to deal with!!!!
Also, I like the idea if we go out and get a decent QB via FA (like Carr or Schaub), to focus on Adrian Petersen (could be the next Ladanlian??)
West Coast schemes (that Knapp has a fondness for) need mobile, good pass catching backs!!!!
January 29th, 2007 at 7:31 pm
If Kiffin has any real chance of succeeding.. Moss MUST be gone.. dont care how.. but he must be gone…
January 29th, 2007 at 8:23 pm
Geez Greg, I kind of like that Moss for Schaub trade. I am sure that it is just a thought and I doubt it could really happen, but that would kill three birds with one stone. One, get rid of the cancer Moss. Two, get a young QB. Three, allow the Raiders to package their pick to move down and get multiple picks in the top 100 of the draft.
January 29th, 2007 at 8:45 pm
Anything for Moss. The cancer gets to play with Vick. That be really great for the Falcons, they get a Moss without giving up Vick. Just Raiders!
January 29th, 2007 at 10:56 pm
al davis is cheaper than a single mom on welfare, the guy never spends money on big name head coaches, never spends money on a real general manager, real scouts, and he always begs for the nfl to build him a new stadium, this guy is the cheapest owner in pro sports, only al davis would hire a 31-year-old college offensive coordinator, who has called plays for only 2 seasons and is using a playbook that doesnt even belong to him, but belongs to norm chow and his high pressure attacking wide open hawaiian-chinese BYU offense. Lane Kiffin will go 1-15 in 2007, and al davis will either the next kid he sees in the burger king drive-thru, or some retread like joe bugel or tom flores. Al Davis sell the team to a real owner like Mark Cuban who bring a high profile back to raider nation and would build a beautiful waterfront stadium with state of the art equipement. Al Davis wants to drink fine wine, but is only willing to spend the price of cheap domestic draft beer. Al davis your garbage, al davis your flea market wrap around sunglasses and white tracksuits have gotta go. Mike Lombardi you gotta go. Rob Ryan you will eventually leave the team and join norv turner in Dallas. Fred Bilitinikoff, your a has-been WRs coach, and your washed al davis cornie that cant coach if u coached in a drunk flag football league. The raiders are a mess, and how come nobody is calling out robert gallery? gallery is the biggest offensive line bust since tony mandarich.
January 30th, 2007 at 7:32 am
RaiderRich……We went to the AFC Championship Game in 2005 and we played well last year. We aren’t short sighted though when it comes to the NFL. We didn’t just want to make the playoffs. We wanted to win the Super Bowl. Jay Cutler is better than ANY QB that you have had in the last 20 years. Our record over the last 10 years against your “Raider Nation” is something you really don’t want to talk about now is it? We benched Plummer to get better for next year. And believe me WE will be better….can you honestly say the same thing? Your Ol Line might be the worst in football, you have no explosive back, you have NO quarterback what so ever, no TE worth a crap, and your starting receivers are a bunch of “Me First” players. I liked what you did with your defense, but Sapp is about done…..and now you hire a 31 year old coach with NO HEAD COACHING EXPERIENCE. You sir should really really shut up. I apologize to the other Raider fans for my less than pleasant comments, I had no intention of coming in here other than to just read the story and make a comment about Vick, but he had to say something that I needed to address.
January 30th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
Plummer would have at least got them to the playoffs, i.e., past san francisco.
and likely seattle too!
moss for schaub makes a lot of sense, but methinks atlanta isnt quite that stupid. vick doesnt have the same freedom of operation any more.
I am just a bettor, but the raiders have plenty of motivated and speedy young WRs. Ronald curry looks like a star in the making. if they can get something or porter and moss, i say why not. they finished with the top draft pick with them on the team. it isnt like they will do worse without them. they will probly do better.
like the lions, who i have to watch moer often, oakland needs to trade the top pick and get more/better OL and/or just go sign OL FA. even old fart WRs can get open if the defenses are forced to keep 8 guys in the box and consider a 9th.
raiders D doesnt need much help.
AW may be worth keeping around to see if he matures. Erring (Greatnesss!) Brooks sucks out loud and should be cut come june.
January 30th, 2007 at 7:55 pm
Ah, I’m just sitting here chuckling as a HUGE Vikings fan! I still remember Moss at his first Raiders press confrence(mixed emotions here) stating how he’s excited to play for a winner and that he’s playing for a team committed to excellence(I could hear the Raider Nation roar many miles away)…..I wonder if they’ll be committed to him next year. Send him to Miami! After all he can spend more time with Daunte, of course on the bench!
Enjoy the headache. At least he made a few plays with the Vikings!
Oh wait, I think we need a WR. Maybe we could get a Hershall Walker like trade done!
January 30th, 2007 at 8:01 pm
If true, you, Candy Moss, can go catch passes from Troy Smith between arguments with Avezzano in Cleveland.
The Raiders can go get themselves a FOOTBALL PLAYER. Beeyotch.
February 1st, 2007 at 5:07 pm
I jsut want to see both of the primadonas gone
February 4th, 2007 at 4:48 am
Hey Randy, Call 1-800-STFU and ask if anyone in the Black Hole cares.
February 10th, 2007 at 10:57 pm
Wow, looks like a lot of the Raider nation wants to trade him.
I’m a diehard raider fan with season tickets in the black hole the last 10 years, and i think it would be a BAD DECISION TO GET RID OF MOSS.
The last thing we want to see, is Moss get traded and then flourish with Other team. That would be horrible, can you imagine the media on that one??
The best thing we can do is draft CALVIN JOHNSON with the NO.1 pick, team him up with Moss and Porter, then go for Offensive Linemen the REST OF THE DRAFT
Believe me, Randy just wants to win, he’s an @$$ when he’s not winning, but he’s not like TO, who will complain regardless. The only reason Moss has been a big pile of **** is because of the win loss record these last few years.
I say keep moss, if he doesn’t show up and perform well the first few games, TRADE him BEFORE the trade deadline.
But he’s too good to be traded for anything less than a high first round pick, and it is not worth it to get rid of him for a third round pick like everyone is saying.
February 10th, 2007 at 10:58 pm
Just imagine CALVIN JOHNSON on one side and RANDY MOSS on the other.
February 13th, 2007 at 2:31 pm
[...] Jerry McDonald - Kiffin’s first test [...]
March 15th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
To lain kiffin
i am a big football fan of the raiders. I would only trade Randy Moss if i was you for a first round draft pick from the packers
and a player so when the draft comes you can first pick up Jemarcus Russel witch is what you should do and then you should
pick up either Calvin Johnson or Dwanyne Jarret
March 15th, 2007 at 1:27 pm
to lain kiffin sorry about my other message this is my real email address dylan-188@hotmail.com not dylan188@hotmail.com
.To lain kiffin
i am a big football fan of the raiders. I would only trade Randy Moss if i was you for a first round draft pick from the packers
and a player so when the draft comes you can first pick up Jemarcus Russel witch is what you should do and then you should
pick up either Calvin Johnson or Dwanyne Jarret