Home improvements
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Monday, August 20th, 2007 at 5:27 pm in Oakland Raiders.
News and notes, sights and sounds from the first day back in Alameda:
The Raiders returned to Alameda to find their locker room had been rearranged, with two rows of lockers running laterally across the room instead of horizontally.
“I guess coach Kiffin wanted a different look,” said safety Stuart Schweigert. “I like it. It kind of opens things up.”
Posted in many lockers were the Raiders three team rules:
1) Always protect the team
2) Be early
3) No whining, no complaining, no excuses
JaMarcus Russell’s locker sits directly opposite those of Josh McCown and Andrew Walter, filled with two unopened delivery boxes, a zipped up equipment bag and a miniature Raiders helmet with a note attatched from a well-wisher about his selection as the No. 1 pick in the draft.
– Oakland may or may not have remodeled its defensive line with the trade for Broncos’ tackle Gerard Warren. Even if Warren doesn’t work out, it’s a smart acquisition by the Raiders. Warren has already been paid some $2 million in roster and workout bonuses and carries a salary of just $595,000 this season.
“It’s something that has been available for a little while here,” coach Lane Kiffin said after practice. “It’s something that we feel in our situation is an extremely low risk for us. We’re going to give the guy a shot and see if he can come in and make the team.”
Over the next three seasons, under terms of a six-year deal he signed last year with the Broncos, Warren’s scheduled salaries are $4 million, $4.63 million and $4.68 million.
Denver coach Mike Shanahan said the Broncos would receive a fifth-round draft pick but only if Warren makes Oakland’s 53-man roster.
The NFL Network’s Adam Schefter reports Warren would earn an additional $2 million if he were to play 50 percent of the defensive snaps. Given Oakland’s philosophy of rotating defensive tackles, it’s not a given Warren would play that much.
If Warren plays as he did in Denver when he earned the big contract, the Raiders get a top-level player at a bargain price for one season. Then they can renegotiate a subsequent deal to their liking or let him go as a free agent.
If Warren is the player he was in Cleveland or apparently the one the Broncos saw in training camp this year, they can cut him.
“Obviously I’ve been here for training camp so I don’t know how (Denver’s) training camp has gone or any of that,” guard Cooper Carlisle said. “ I know when I was there he still had plenty of gas left.”
Another organizational source regarding Warren is personnel man George Streeter, who worked in Cleveland when Warren was there. Warren is scheduled to arrive in Oakland Monday night and the deal is not official until he passes a physical Tuesday morning.
Defensive tackle Larry Brown was waived in anticipation of Warren passing his physical.
In theory, Warren, at 6-foot-4 and 324 pounds, adds a second player of girth to be available in a rotation basis along with Terdell Sands. It enables the Raiders to use Tommy Kelly at right end, giving them a more stout presence against the run.
“He’s a big guy that’s tough to move but he can also move around for his size,” Carlisle said.
Rookie Quentin Moses, a sleek defensive end, may be more suited to situational pass rush duty than as a point-of-attack run defender. Jay Richardson, a fifth-round pick, is bigger but raw in terms of positioning and leverage against the run.
– Warren was the third pick overall by Cleveland in 2001 _ one spot ahead of LaDainian Tomlinson.
– It only seems like the last time the Raiders and Broncos were involved in a trade was 1967, when Al Davis fleeced Denver by getting cornerback Willie Brown (and a quarterback named Mickey Slaughter) for defensive tackle Rex Mirich and third-round draft pick.
The last time the Raiders and Broncos actually completed a trade was 1993, when Gaston Green came to Los Angeles for a third-round draft pick. Kiffin offered a smile and a no comment with regard to the length of time between a Broncos-Raiders trade.
– Defensive tackle Warren Sapp, to whom diplomacy is a foreign concept, will see what Warren has to offer but remains fiercely loyal to his teammates on the defensive line.
“If he makes it, he makes it. If he doesn’t, he doesn’t. He’s not going to make or break us. If you don’t make or break us, you’re irrelevant to us,” Sapp said. “We’re a unit. We’re a unit that runs together. I see my eight. My eight’s been here since I first walked in the door and I said, ‘There’s my eight.’ That’s what I’ve looked at and said, ‘There’s my eight, I can win with those eight.’ And he never came into that picture until I walked into the job this morning. I don’t see him cracking that eight. I don’t make personnel decisions around here, but I don’t see him cracking my eight.”
– Safety Donovin Darius, who left practice last Thursday with a calf injury and did not play Saturday, said the injury is minor and expects to face St. Louis Friday night.
– Tackle Chad Slaughter (ankle) returned to practice. Safety Hiram Eugene had his left arm in a splint and was scheduled to see a specialist Monday, Kiffin said.
– The Raiders went through tape of the 49ers game before lunch before turning their attention toward St. Louis, simulating a regular-season game week in terms of game plan meetings as closely as possible, Kiffin said.
– Kiffin wants to go through Tuesday’s practice before determining a starting quarterback against St. Louis. Regulars will go deeper into the game than at any time in the preseason, but Kiffin said the starting quarterback against the Rams is not a lock to start the regular season against Detroit.
– LaMont Jordan bounced back well from his 8-carry, 67-yard performance against the 49ers, Kiffin said. Kiffin said he has had “constant conversations with him about being a great back and the way he needs to practice to do that.”
Kiffin thinks the success behind a zone-blocking line probably came as a relief to Jordan.
“I’m sure he was thinking in his mind, ‘Hey maybe I am a power gap scheme runner,’ because he’s run so much of that in his career,” Kiffin said. “So I’m sure he felt really good and felt excited about the results he had.”
– The last thing players see as they walk out under a canopy outside the locker room to the playing fields is a Raiders banner with the Kiffin slogan, “I’m in!”
By Sept. 1, of course, many will be out as the Raiders reach a 53-man roster. A good indication of players who are extreme longshots or on the bubble are those who share a locker.
Aside from third-round draft picks Mario Henderson and Johnnie Lee Higgins, both roster locks, virtually every other shared locker contains either one or two players who aren’t likely to make the team.
Other shared lockers include Jeff Otis and Kyle Shotwell, Eric Frampton and and Johnathan Holland (I.R.), Marquice Cole and John Bowie, Rich Parson and Lauren Williams, Levonne Rowan and Kurt Campbell, Michael Bush and Oren O’Neil, Chris Morris and Tyler Fredrickson and Jared Clauss and Chris McFoy.
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August 20th, 2007 at 5:38 pm
MICHAEL HUFF PLAYED STRONG SAFETY IN COLLEGE. I cannot understand why everyone thinks he should go to his natural position when he is already at his natural position. The guy was listed as a Strong Safety but moved around and all over the field but played closer to the line of scrimmage more times than not. The Raiders are using Huff the same way that Texas did and thats why they drafted him in the first place. The problem is Huff. He is having some troubles because he’s playing in the NFL, not because hes in the wrong position. Most Sophmore players in every sport have trouble and he will get it together.
SCHWEIGERT IS BEING USED THE WAY HE IS DESIGNED TO BE USED. Schweigert doesn’t have alot of interceptions because he is not REQUIRED to get alot of positions. Schweigert is not being put in a position to make plays. He is strictly used for deep ball coverage to help support our man to man coverage. Considering this, he is 3rd in tackles on our team because he reacts to the run very quickly and comes up in run support. He also has alot of tackles because he is usually the only guy back there as the line of defense to help Asomugha and Washington make the tackles.
Schweigert’s responsibility is to play deep middle. Huff’s responsibility is to play anywhere on the field and as a coverage safety/Nickelback and Darius’ responsibility is to play close to the line of scrimmage to help with run support. This is the design.
August 20th, 2007 at 5:43 pm
Just wanted to say thank you Jerry for all the info and the behind-the-scene glimpses you give us on a daily basis. Living in VA, you’re the only in-depth source of coverage I get. Keep up the good work! I’m in!!!
August 20th, 2007 at 5:58 pm
Yea in college he may have been a good fit for ss but in the nfl things are diffrent in think huff would have more success at fs personally if you ask me. Thats just my opinion.
August 20th, 2007 at 5:59 pm
#24 great explantation but I bet people here will still insist that he was a FS against all facts.
August 20th, 2007 at 6:00 pm
M.Bush cut? I haven’t seen him play or practice for that matter but I doubt it. IR maybe or PUP but cut> doubt it.
August 20th, 2007 at 6:03 pm
Didn’t Madden only have 3 team rules? Ah shucks, the Kiffster is taking a page out of Madden’s book. Gotta love it!
August 20th, 2007 at 6:04 pm
Bush is on PUP right now. It’s up for debate as to whether they put him on IR or not. Personally, I’d like to see him rum - assuming he’s 100% healthy. I can’t see them cutting him at this stage of the game. There’s too much potential upside to consider that without knowing what you’re giving away.
August 20th, 2007 at 6:08 pm
man I’m so excited…
Hope and think Gerard Warren will do good to our line against the run
August 20th, 2007 at 6:10 pm
Huff24 you hit it right on the head. A lot of people are critical of Stuart, and Huff is also attacked because of his link with Leinart. All I can think of is that these two guys are two of the players that have solidified the defense. stuart did not give up any big plays last year, and Huff always seems to be around the ball. He played solid and always in the right position.
I like the warren addition. Warren Sapp feels sort of slighted because Gerard Warren will be taking time away from him, but Warren and Sands will clog the middle of the defense. This trade improves the Raiders run defense a lot. The D line is now complete. I expect to see Burgess play all downs because he is a play maker, and I expect to see Warren, Sands, Tommy Kelly on running downs, and Warren (Sapp), and Moses on passing downs along with Burgess and another body.
the defense is going to be mean. I can’t wait.
August 20th, 2007 at 6:13 pm
I just have this feeling like weve been had with this Warren trade. It’s like when your ex-girlfriend that you’ve cheated on does something nice for you, something is amiss.
August 20th, 2007 at 6:17 pm
Warren is a no-lose situation. If he doesn’t cut it in the next two weeks, he’s gone at no cost. NO COST. That’s a no-lose situation. If he makes a roster spot, we probably lose Brayton. That’s a NO-LOSE situation too. Although I must confess, Brayton has surprised me inside.
August 20th, 2007 at 6:17 pm
tell me what chu guys think of this a**hole.
http://www.sportsline.com/video/player/nfl
August 20th, 2007 at 6:19 pm
Huff24, thanks as usual for the clarification on the safety positions. You should
have your own blog, allways a good read.
August 20th, 2007 at 6:35 pm
Huff24, yes, Michael Huff was a SS and CB at Texas, but he was projected as a FS or shut-down corner coming into the pros. He certainly has the speed and ability to play FS for the Raiders.
And, looking at most prototype safeties in the league, Huff is certainly more in the FS Ed Reed mode physically than he is like Roy Williams and Sean Taylor.
With regard to Schweigert, he has had plenty of chances to intercept passes from his FS position, but just doesn’t seem to have that talent. He is an average FS and a decent tackler. But, pairing Huff with Darius at the safety position will improve the D significantly, IMHO.
August 20th, 2007 at 6:35 pm
Just because a guy played a certain position in college, doesnt mean he has to play that same position in the pros. Huff24, your logic is flawed. Gallery was a left tackle in college. Randel-el was a QB in college. Alot of safeties were LBs in college.
Huff is soft, that is his biggest problem. He cant hit hard. He better learn to cover. What he did against the 9ers backup TE the other night isnt going to cut it when he’s going against guys like Gonzo and Gates.
August 20th, 2007 at 6:35 pm
Damn I can’t wait for the regular season to start. Cause the boys in black are back. Kc hasn’t done anything to make their team better,and have no qb. The donkeys have injury problems and seem to be having trouble getting use to the new defense this bates character is bringing in. The chargers have norv (cant win) turner as head coach. And #1 we have qb’s and our line is blocking which should make us the best in the west. Oh riite. gigady gigady.lol
August 20th, 2007 at 6:36 pm
Gerard Warren - ESPN Insider Scouting Report
Grade: 71 | Key
Alert: None
Comment:
Warren has great size to play in the interior defensive line. He has very good athletic ability, but his size might hinder his ability to use his skills to the utmost. He has very good strength and is capable of being a two-gap, control type of player. He has decent foot quickness and decent running ability, but he is somewhat inconsistent in his ability to get off on the snap and is frequently late off the ball. He shows the ability to hold up on the line of scrimmage and does not get knocked off the ball, but he has poor use of his hands in shedding and does not redirect to the ball well. On occasion he will come off the ball and drive upfield, knock hands down and do a great job of pushing the pocket, but you don’t see him do that with any consistency. He does a good job overall with play recognition, but he lacks lateral movement and change-of-direction skills and is a poor effort kind of guy. He rarely gets involved in chase, and he appears to wear down quickly. With all of his size and athletic ability, he is not a dominant player and takes too many plays off.
August 20th, 2007 at 6:38 pm
I agree with silvernblack. Huff would be awsome at fs.
August 20th, 2007 at 6:43 pm
Ted Hendricks - I cannot deny that there are players that come out of college and play a different position in the NFL. Ronald Curry is a classic case of a guy who played QB at North Carolina and just so happens to be our best WR. Even Jerry Porter played a limited amount of WR in college because he was moved around so much and was a project player when we drafted him. I am not saying Huff cannot be a good FS. I am simply saying that he played SS in college. The guy plays all over the field and can essentially be a FS, SS and CB all in one. Huff was not drafted by the Raiders to play FS. He was drafted to be a rover. Now that could change over the years and we can move him permanently to corner or permanently to FS but he is what he is. He is a jack of all trades coming out of college and he still is during his NFL career so far.
August 20th, 2007 at 6:44 pm
Good find huff. But it makes me feel good because we don’t need him to start just fill in for sapp here and there so we dont have to worry about the plays off. And since we traded for him does that mean we can release him whenever and not have to pay anything?
August 20th, 2007 at 6:48 pm
Another Al Davis debacle. lol
“Russell really doesn’t want to play for the Raiders anyway — that’s the biggest open secret in the league right now. Russell was never crazy about going to Team Turmoil with that leaky line, ever-changing coaching staff and weird front office.”
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/peter_king/08/19/mmqb/4.html
August 20th, 2007 at 6:51 pm
that guy is clearly an ass. dont expect much from this team this year. go f off!!!! you know what amazed me about coach kiffen getting sick was that the media was more concerned on how that looked for the raiders as opposed to how coach was feeling. some idioits on espn i heard had the audacity to say the job overwhelmed him. its this kind of unprofessionalism that makes me wonder how the hell do u get a job in the media. shit we should all apply for a sports talk job!!!!!
August 20th, 2007 at 6:58 pm
I’m in……!!!!!….cant wait to see Warren stuff a donkey RB
August 20th, 2007 at 7:10 pm
Well. I don’t know if I want to see any Warren’s stuff a donkey but I wouldn’t mind watching some football.
August 20th, 2007 at 7:15 pm
Robospawn,
I just read that BLAST you got off on Charger, that was one of the best pieces of lit. I have ever had the privlige to read! A definate must read everybody, check out the blog on “postgame wrap”, and scroll down about 8/10 of the way. Classic.
August 20th, 2007 at 7:16 pm
firts of all charger if jamarcus russell did not want to be a raider he would of said it second he would not buy the house in oakland hills and third this is no suprise cause no one likes the raiders its typicall jamarcus will sign the only reason he is not telling his agents anything cause he know they have to or they will never get a top ten pick ever to do a deal with so lets be calm hold all the russell drama cause trust me he wants to be a raiders why else would he were al black at the draft and untill russell is quoted for saying something negative then ill beleive it
August 20th, 2007 at 7:17 pm
Huff24 - Your analysis of MHuff is spot on. People are going nuts about Huff because he gave up two plays in a preseason game…big deal! Get them bad plays out of the way now rather than later. Look Huff played damn good last year for a rook. He locked on some of the best TE’s in the league and rarely gave up the big plays. Sure he didn’t make any game changing plays, but I’m hoping that comes with more experience. I expect him to be better this year…lets give him a chance to prove himself when the games actually count.
Like the Warren signing…cheap with no risk. A team can never have too many bodies at DT. Plus he should be motivated (a problem with him in the past) since he is playing for a new team, especially in Week 2.
August 20th, 2007 at 7:30 pm
Stu has got to make more plays , they are there for him to make and he’s not making them.
free safety is just what it sounds like free to chose what side of the field the QB is trying to attack and read and re-act. He does that but he doesn’t use natural ball skills to make plays on the ball.He misjudges the ball in flight and takes bad angles or re-acts too slow to get to the ball. Which is all instinct and anticipation. He is just not there yet, niether is Huff for the exact same reasons anticipation is lacking.
this all comes with playing time and seeing the same Qb’s over and over again and a lot of film study. You must know your opponent and understand how he’s going to attack you. These two guy’s have got to get in the classroom and put the time in. And then believe what they see.
. They both have the talent now trust it and make the play!!…….. NO MORE EXCUSES!!!!.
GET IT DONE!!! If you want this team to get to the elite status they must they must play better.
August 20th, 2007 at 7:44 pm
More on the subject of the two safeties. They both play the position safe. and it’s not that I want to see them become gamblers. But FS is the quarterback of the secondary He is being read by the QB and he must read the QB, his eyes as well as body language and set the secondary to take advantage of what he sees the QB trying to do. That is STu’s job and he just needs to take it to next level. Donovin is here to get them there but they’ve got to believe in themselves.
August 20th, 2007 at 7:56 pm
#1 Pass Defense. You don’t get that with a bunch of chumps and its the reason we own the #3 Defense. Thats all I have to say.
August 20th, 2007 at 8:08 pm
alameda needs:
new grass
raiders hall of fame
indoor practice facility built next door
bigger tailgate areas
retractable roof dome over the stadium to help oakland’s chance of hosting a superbowl
August 20th, 2007 at 8:08 pm
What about WR Robert Ferguson? kick Whitted out and take Ferguson in
August 20th, 2007 at 8:09 pm
RE:
Whitted hater #1 Says:
August 20th, 2007 at 6:17 pm
tell me what chu guys think of this a**hole.
http://www.sportsline.com/video/player/nfl
WTF kind of Raider preview was that? I checked out some of the other previews where they actually talk about the players and the team. This guy is just trying to spin off a story on all negative bullshit. Did he even watch the practice? I can’t wait until the regular season where we prove all the haters wrong.
August 20th, 2007 at 8:25 pm
One thing that everyone needs to keep in mind regarding the defense is the fact that the defenses #’s will be down from last year. Our offense which I think is clearly better will cause opposing offenses to take more risks than they wouldve last year. So all you Ryan haters out there don’t start giggling when it “appears” the defense is crumbling. I really don’t get where you people want to bash Ryan for these fictious reasons.
August 20th, 2007 at 8:29 pm
I think signing Ferguson would be a great thing. Porter, Curry, Williams, Taylor, Higgins and Ferguson would surely be the deepest WR core in the NFL. I think Ferguson is a good player but he has a few feelers around the league and if the Raiders are interested, they will wait it out and see what kind of interest there is first before they bring him in. His value will drop the longer he is on the market and that’s when the Raiders will jump in and grab him like they did with Donovin Darius.
August 20th, 2007 at 8:35 pm
Robert Ferguson - ESPN Insider Scouting Report
6′1 210 lbs
Grade: 73 | Key
Alert: None
Comment:
Ferguson is big, physical and smooth. He is athletic, quick and has a nice burst off the ball. He has improved as a route runner over the years and now consistently creates separation coming out of his cuts. He will snatch the ball away from his body and compete for high throws. He isn’t afraid to go get balls in traffic. He has the size and the strength to push off against the jam and is tough to hold up in press coverage. He works better against zones but is effective enough pushing off against tight man-to-man coverage. He is competitive and works very hard as a downfield blocker. But Ferguson lacks ideal vertical speed and can be inconsistent. He won’t create separation on vertical routes, flash after the catch or make many big plays. He has some lapses in concentration and suffers drops.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:08 pm
Ferguson is a nice player, but he doesn’t sound like he’s a whole lot different than the guys we have now. To me, if we bring another guy in he’s got to be able to stretch the field a little better than our current group. I’d be surprised if we end up with him, anyway; there are others out there with more pressing needs at WR than us (Atlanta, Tennessee, KC, the Dolts for example) and he would no doubt get more playing time with some of those teams than with us.
I do like the Warren trade, though. Sounds like the talent is there. If he’s not motivated he won’t last with Kiffin and Ryan anyway, and like some have said here, it doesn’t cost anything to give him a look.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:51 pm
Huff? Who? The guy with fewer picks than Stu? The guy trying to hang on to his starting job? Oh, that guy. The guy with ONE pass defense all last year. Him. Okay.
Michael Bush will likely wind up on IR. Think about it. He hasn’t learned the system or had any reps in practice. Jordan, Rhodes and Joe all look good. Why cut Joe to roll the dice on Bush? Let him rest a year. Jordan could be gone next year given his injury history of late. Save Bush for 08.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:54 pm
Watched the Broncos-Cowboys starters. The Broncos Defense misses Al Wilson big time. Their run defense in particular. They have big names in the DB department in Lynch and Bailey but Romo was hitting on both of them.
Cutler was under pressure against Dallas’ D. This is all good news for the Raiders.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:56 pm
FatGuy,
That would be our Raider Disneyland……I hope I live to see it while I’m alive!! We are the only team that still shares a field with a baseball team. We need some major improvements because we are way behind the times. City of Oakland…”Build it and we will come”…The RaiderNation!!!
August 20th, 2007 at 10:17 pm
Huff24 makes a strong case, but how about Schweigert at free safety, Darius at strong safety and Huff at rover?
August 20th, 2007 at 10:23 pm
Thats their current positions as we speak.
August 20th, 2007 at 10:24 pm
Really?
I thought Huff was the starting strong safety.
August 20th, 2007 at 10:24 pm
Thats what the Wolverine package consists of.
August 20th, 2007 at 10:27 pm
The Wolverine package is a nickel based defense with a 3 Safety set instead of a 3 corner set. Basically, Huff is a safety playing corner in the package and Darius is the true Strong Safety playing near the line of scrimmage like a linebacker. Schweigert continues to play his deep middle zone.
August 20th, 2007 at 10:31 pm
Huff is the starting strong safety in all the other sets right now like the 4-3 and the Dime. I don’t recall whether or not we ever use the 46 scheme but I know Rex Ryan uses it with the Ravens.
August 20th, 2007 at 10:33 pm
huff is a strong safety, he will not move to SS, he even balked up to 208lbs(from 195) so would be more of a prototypical NFL SS, and RR doesn’t run a typical FS-SS D scheme, he plays a RS(right S) and LS(Left safety) with their assignments switching based on the formation of the offense and adjustments made by the offense after the snap(motions/audibles), so switchng huff to FS(or in RR’s system, LS) won’t change his responsibilities, he is great in man-man coverage and is a solid from tackler with great instincts, he held up great all last year, man-man, against the best TEs in the NFL, and under RR, DBs typically break out after they learn the ropes, Fabian and Nnamdi were both taught to know there responsibilities and play smart, which they did and were then freed up to make more plays, which they did, huff did last year what fabs and nnamdi did in 05, and this year you can expect him to be more of a playmaker, he bulked up to be more of a hitter and to be more of a force against the run while still keeping his 4.34 speed and sideline-to-sideline range, last year he asserted himself as one of the top 15 SSs in the NFL, expect him to break the top 5 this season, and bhp, FS is not “the QB of the defense,” MLB is the QB of the defense, and make no mistake, kirk morrison is the QB of the defense, last season kirk actually called more plays than RR did and all of the adjustments go through kirk, he is the leader of the d, and is one of the top 10 MLBs in the NFL, right behind urlacher, lewis, thomas, and vilma, he is our field general on D and should make the pro bowl this year, as should huff, and howard, u can all stop calling for huff to be switched to FS, because in our defense, there is no FS, and he has never played FS anyway, rob ryan is a great coach, and likely a HC somewhere next year, thanks for the constant updates jerry, I’M IN!
August 20th, 2007 at 10:37 pm
because huff gives up a preseason TD(because stu blows an assignment), everyone wants his head, WTF, pure stupidity, WIN, LOSE, or TIE, RAIDERS till I DIE!!!
August 20th, 2007 at 10:37 pm
because huff gives up a preseason TD(because stu blows an assignment), everyone wants his head, WTF, pure stupidity, WIN, LOSE, or TIE, RAIDERS till I DIE!!!
August 20th, 2007 at 10:37 pm
because huff gives up a preseason TD(because stu blows an assignment), everyone wants his head, WTF, pure stupidity, WIN, LOSE, or TIE, RAIDERS till I DIE!!!
August 20th, 2007 at 10:42 pm
Raiderfan how can you listen to a guy that still wears a high top fade.
August 20th, 2007 at 11:17 pm
Huff24, thanks for taking the time to explain that to me. I have been a Raider fan for 25 years, but I am not an expert. I do know that we have the best coach we have had since Gruden, and this year is going to be fun.
August 20th, 2007 at 11:32 pm
No problem.
August 21st, 2007 at 12:26 am
FS IS THE QB of any defense if you ask any D=coordinator that’s who the QB keys in order to read a defense as well as the middle LB but especially the FS to see what coverage the defense is in that’s how the QB makes his reads. The MLB calls the defensive sets for the front seven and the FS sets the secondary that’s what any defensive player or coach will tell you.
Ronnie Lott played there Rod Woodson and Jack Tatum. George Atkinson was the better cover guy so he played SS in what was really a cover-2 defense way back in the day. The FS is an very instinctive position because your playing a chess match with the QB, you really don’t have a offensive responsiblity your to reading the QB and reacting to where you think he’s going to attack the defense. That’s why they often call him the QB of the defense and not the MLB.
Boy are mistaken Rob-O calls ever play of the defense. He sends in those via the MLB every D-coordinator in the league does it that way, What are you talking about? The MLB takes the play from the D-coordinator and relays it to the players on defense the same as the QB on offense does for the offense. But when QB of an offense reads a defense he is keying the FS not the MLB on pass plays because that’s where he sees what defense they’re in.
August 21st, 2007 at 12:37 am
KIrk Morrison does whatever ROB-O tells him to do no more no less, what do you think this is SANDLOT FOOTBALL. Everything is schemed and game planned by Rob-O and his assistants Kirk is still learning his craft no MLB in the NFL calls whatever he wants. He may freelance on his own the same way Jr. Seau always does but he calls exactly what’s sent in to him. Where do you get this garbage from?
August 21st, 2007 at 12:41 am
And I don’t care where Huff plays as long as he plays well period!!!!!!!
August 21st, 2007 at 5:19 am
Funny… everybody else says the MLB is the QB of the defense…
To quote Howie Long: “…Linebackers are the leaders of that 11-man squad. They are the defensive quarterbacks and coaches on the field…”
But if your MLB is young some of his duties would be shared with some of the vets… I guess thats our situation
August 21st, 2007 at 5:21 am
Hey whats up with Sapp dissing Warren ? Sapp sounds like hes pissed ?
August 21st, 2007 at 5:43 am
Casper… my guess is he protecting his guys because he is a leader among them, If Warren becomes a member of the 53-man roster, i’m sure Sapp will turn into a real teammate
August 21st, 2007 at 5:46 am
Huff needs to step it up, and get more physical. Thats it, i dont care where he plays he needs to get tough, especially to play against top tier TE’s like Gates.
August 21st, 2007 at 6:31 am
What do you all think of Brayton’s chances? Seemed like he was getting blown off the line all night vs the Whiners. Seems too tall to be an everday interior guy - lacking leverage so the opposing olineman get under him and push him back. That is also what I think I see when it comes to Gallery - DTs using leverage to get under him and push him back.
Anyway, too bad for Brayton b/c he’s been moved around like an old sofa, but I have a hard time seeing him succeed at DT.
August 21st, 2007 at 6:38 am
I don’t think the Warren pickup effects his status one way or another because Warren is a big run-stopper, and Brayton is more of a pass situation DT. Brayton may or may not make the team, but i dont believe it has to do with the Warren trade.
August 21st, 2007 at 6:49 am
Interesting stuff today. Huff24, great points. I think everyone wants a switch because its more commonplace to think of a FS as someone who flies around covering the deep ball, someone fast with good insticts while a SS is someone who covers the big TE’s and lays wood on RB’s. With that in mind its logical to place the skillset of huff at ss and stu at ss.
Have you guys seen Huff’s youtube clips? Huge playmaker, all around the field at the SS position. Ryan is giving him that same opportunity, no reason he cant do it. But i dont get all the negativity, he did very well last year, or do we forget how badly and consistently we got torched by gates and gonzales previous to HUff?
One concern with huff however is thatr he is NOT a hitter, even in all his spectacular college plays he always arm tackles-always. Probably too late to change that at this point in his career but obviously much harder to arm tackle at this level.
August 21st, 2007 at 6:54 am
I dont agree however huff24 that we have the deepest WR corp with the possible addition of ferg. I am a big fan of porter, curry, williams and higgins but have you looked at the pats roster? the cardinals or bengals? Top 8 maybe.
August 21st, 2007 at 7:04 am
damnation! Ferguson on his way to the texans
I believe ‘if’ Warren makes the roster… that brayton will be cut, because it makes Kelly available at ‘end’ for more snaps. Kelly and Huntley both has the upside in pass and run situation towards Brayton, furthermore his salary is big, too big for a backup…
August 21st, 2007 at 7:11 am
Again to the people all over Huff’s back…think about Nnamdi’s first two years in Silver & Black and where he is now? It takes certain guys time to be a “great” DB in this league. People who want Huff’s head right now have no patience. He started every game as a rook and played solid…hopefully greatness is around the corner. Let’s see what he does this year and not one fricking pre-season game.
The posts about signing Rober Ferguson, forget him. He is always hurt and never turned into a solid WR even with Brett Favre tossing him the ball. It would be a waste of time and money. Travis Taylor has had a more solid career and I consider him an average WR. Trust me, my best friend is a diehard GB fan and he could care less that Fergie is gone.
August 21st, 2007 at 7:45 am
Jeremiah Trotter released!
August 21st, 2007 at 8:09 am
Raiders will sweep the Donkeys this year. Something that I have not seen anybody post
on is that the Raiders new ZB offensive scheme is very similar to that run by the Broncos,
and the Raiders are seeing it now everyday in practice (although, without the cut blocks).
I’m sure R.Ryan is figuring out new ways of shutting down the cut back lanes that the
ZB scheme depends on, and if the Broncos can’t run against us and have to depend on
Cutler to win it for them, they have no chance. Raiders 2-0 vs Broncos, yeah baby!
August 21st, 2007 at 8:42 am
good post burqueraider, never thought about that situation. when rob finds a way to stop us cold on offense in practice, benOver has no chance. we have cooper and now warren to help us out with what the doncos scheme….ala gruden.
August 21st, 2007 at 8:55 am
Huff had a great year last year? He played? i think he made one outstanding play, other than that he was alright. As a top 10 Safety, i expect more from him. Sean Taylor, Ed Reed those are first round safeties that came in a played great in year one.
Fact is he needs to step up this season, he needs to be more physical, im not jumping off his bandwagon yet, but im watching him real close.
Did anybody notice zach miller when he’s blocking? Dude just ate people up. I’m liking what i’m seeing with him. I think he’ll end up being better than 1st rounder Olsen.
August 21st, 2007 at 8:58 am
People get on my nerves with this bad mouthing Huff crap. He had one off preseason game for goodness sake. He feels the pressure to do great because of all the “we could’ve had Leinart” talk. In college he played all 3 positions, Griffith was an SS as well in case u guys forgot. He is that type of an athelete, the guy has game. He was talked about as being a corner before he was drafted after C wood was lost to FA. His position in college and his natural position have very little to do with eachother. Ron curry was a Qb in college and a damned good one at that. Asomugha was a safety as was Thomas Howard ( howard later moved LB). I believe that Sam Williams was a De and madsen was a WR. Demarcus ware and Terrel Suggs were both De. So don’t go into this position crap. Fs is supposed to be the guy that is the roamer and freelancer. They are the read and react guy and usually have deep middle or deep half resposibility. I played FS in high school as well as WR and I am a very small guy (6′3″ 185) but I am tall and quick as lighting. SS is supposed to be their for run support and light coverage duties. Jus because Huff plays Fs is no reason that he wouldn’t be able to cover TE’s or play the nickel in the 4-2-5. He has superb athleticism and I believe that he could make more plays even at the SS position if he had a more capable Fs than Stu. Huff is comparable to Ed Reed with more speed but less experience IMHO. Huff was a hitter in college as well, he may not be big but he brought the thunder. One of his weaknesses was that he went for the big hit too often instead of wrapping up the ballcarrier and would sometimes whiff on the tackle. Ryan has gone on record as saying that this year would be the coming out party for Huff and that he would have a breakout year much like Asomugha did this past season. Huff will be fine, remember that he is playing at a very physically demanding position at only 205 and that’s after gainig 10 lbs since last season. People keep saying, “what he did last night isn’t going to fly when he plays Gonzalez or Gates”, newsflash; HE PLAYED THOSE GUYS LAST YEAR AND DID A DARNED GOOD JOB!!!!!!!!! He hasn’t regressed he is jus trying too hard to make plays. On the TD he was out of position because he was watching the Qb and trying to make a play, and covering stus behind. Its like a wr running the wrong route on a timing pattern and blaming the qb if he throws a pick. If not for a perfectly placed ball by alex smith, the pass would’ve either been knocked down or intercepted anyway, that’s a testament to Huff’s ability . Huff is not the problem and he is a better player than any other safety we have on the roster. Ps last preseason huff had 2 picks I beleive , I remember one for certain
August 21st, 2007 at 9:04 am
HUFF needs to step it up, thats it.
not cause what i saw in the preseason, but because he wasn’t outstanding by any means last year. He needs to be more physical, i don’t care what position he plays. He needs to be a great player, not just a good one, because he was top 10 pick.
August 21st, 2007 at 9:12 am
interesting to see if it gets played out this way….
“If the Raiders cut Warren before the first game and re-sign him after it, they own the Broncos nothing. So the Raiders can cut him before the first game, and re-sign him after it, and keep their fifth-round pick in the 2008 draft.
As to Warren, the only risk that the Raiders would be taking is that someone else could swoop in and sign him. But if the Raiders and Warren work out a wink-nod thing, they can pull off the maneuver and stick it to the Broncos.
Maybe dogs and cats aren’t living together, after all.”
I want this to happen just to stick it to the donkeys!
August 21st, 2007 at 9:16 am
I’ll post my question again today to see if any of you intelligent folk can give me an answer:
I noticed watching the replay of the game, this weekend, a play where the Raiders’ RG was engaged with a DT when the RT dove at the front of the DT’s legs and roled into him causing the DT to fall to the ground. Isn’t that a penalty? I thought you couldn’t cut a defender when they were engaged with another offensive player. We didn’t get penalized, so I’m wondering if the ref’s missed one.
August 21st, 2007 at 9:25 am
Ryan - I was always under the impression that rule was for the old cartoon setups…. one guy’s engaging the DT, and somebody else drops at his feet so that the original guy pushes the DT over his partner. In other words, don’t blindside somebody who’s already engaged, but if it’s your guy, take care of business.
August 21st, 2007 at 9:28 am
According to Thomas Howard and this article Tommy Trojan is correct
http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/334445.html
August 21st, 2007 at 9:30 am
I saw the same play, i thought it was a penalty.
August 21st, 2007 at 9:30 am
Ryan - I believe that should be a penalty and the ref missed it. Unless the rule is that you can’t hit an engaged player from BEHIND? Now I’m questioning myself, I might have to look this up online. I’ll write if I find anything.
August 21st, 2007 at 9:30 am
If it isn’t a penalty, it seems unfair but very smart. If the defense doesn’t rush enough guys, the OLineman that doesn’t have anyone to block should always dive for the knees of someone getting blocked. There should be no reason for a OL standing there with nobody to block. Also in a double team, one guy goes high and one low, everytime. Also a TE or a RB performing a chip block could dive for the knees and feet and still have time to get up and be available for the dump off.
August 21st, 2007 at 9:35 am
10-6 not impossible. The saints bounce back was incredible. ours will be smiliar, coz we have a better D than they had. 10-6 playoffs, we are going to shock the AFC west.
August 21st, 2007 at 9:39 am
SHOCK THE WORLD
August 21st, 2007 at 9:41 am
the world…………..
August 21st, 2007 at 9:59 am
DID YOU PEOPLE SEE THAT 13 YD RUN BY CULPEPPER. NEED I REMIND YOU DIE-HARD RAIDER FANS AND CRITICS ALIKE THAT THERE WAS A YEAR WHILE HE WAS STILL PLAYING FOR THE VIKINGS IN WHICH HE HAD THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE FOR THIRD DOWN CONVERSIONS BY A IN THE NFL??? HE’S BEGINNING TO COME ALIVE, HIS KNEE IS HOLDING UP AND QUITE STRONG 9HATS OFF TO THE ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON INVOLVED) AND HE IS STILL THE COMPETETOR HE’S ALWAYS BEEN. IF HE GETS THE NOD FOR STARTING QUARTERBACK AND THE O-LINE TIGHTENS UP GIVING HIM THE PROTECTION AND THE TIME TO THROW, WE CAN REALISTICALLY ANTICIPATE A REPEAT PERFORMANCE LIKE THAT OF 2004 OR EVEN BETTER. SO, NEY SAYERS AND DOUBTERS:TAKE NOTE! HIS FIRST YEAR AS THE STARTING QB FOR THE VIKINGS BACK IN 2000 GARNERED HIM AN ESPY AWARD FOR BREAKTHROUGH ATHLETE OF THE YEAR. THIS JUST MIGHT BE HIS COMEBACK ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARD. WHAT’S THAT OLD SEVENTIES SONG BY THE POINTER SISTERS??? “I’M SO EXCITED”!!!!!!!!! YEAH! GO RAIDERS!!!
August 21st, 2007 at 10:02 am
Ryan — I also think it has something to do with being in the box… you can cut an engaged defender if they are within a certain area with relation to the line of scrimmage, kinda like how they use the tackle box to determine if a quaterback is in the pocket for intentional grounding. I remember hearing something about it last year but I don’t fully remember the exact rule… Anyone else?
August 21st, 2007 at 10:04 am
MBOSS310 - It may also require the QB to be within the tackles…
August 21st, 2007 at 10:12 am
Just read an article about Culpepper in the Mercury.
“It’s good,” Culpepper said after the 49ers game. “We’re helping each other, and it brings out the best in competition. . . . I’m just grateful for the opportunity.”
Hey JaMarcus, are you listening?
August 21st, 2007 at 10:21 am
Im all for shocking the world and hope we pound the AFC West. Im just wondering how many bad calls are going to go agaist us this year.How many calls that could of been called on the other team, that were not called. Bad enough that I had to live through that immaculate reception crap since I was a kid, not knowing that I would live through another bull$hit call like the tuck rule, and all the bad calls inbetween ! Maybe the Commish should look into that as well. I hope Lane turns into a animal on the sidelines, and not let the refs take over the game like they normally do! If the raiders have any success in the cut blocking offense,you probably see the nfl band cut blocking.Maybe Im being a little gun shy, but can you blame ? Kick the chargers butts ! GO RAIDER NATION !
August 21st, 2007 at 10:21 am
Gerard Warren passed the physical: http://www.raiders.com/Team/Default.aspx?id=152
August 21st, 2007 at 10:38 am
Nobody wants his head, I just want him to play to his ability. He has all the ability necessary to be great, he just needs to do it. I think he is as talented a db as he wants to be, and has to be if this team is going to the next level.
Brayton and Warren play different positions. Brayton is a 3-tech and Warren is a NG. But it all boils down to how Rob-O wants to use them. I thought Brayton played well I just think he’s going to get caught in the #’s game. But it doesn’t mean he can’t play. Somebody will get a very good player if he doesn’t stick .
If Daunte starts Friday and plays well the race is over. the other 2 can fight for 2nd string
August 21st, 2007 at 10:45 am
I do think pepper will start and we will keep walter, McCown released when we sign Jamarcus. It may just be me but i wasnt enthused seeing pepper take off for those 13 yrds. He did have that nice cut but right after it looked like his legs were giving out? Looked like he was falling anyway and decided to go down…it was an awkward slide, down on his side. Again prolly just me but at first i thought he hurt himself.
August 21st, 2007 at 10:50 am
Regarding the Warren signing, I’m going to play “paranoia” here since its still pre-season.
Denver sent Warren here as a Trojan Horse. He will drag his ass so he doesn’t get signed.
Then he’ll be picked up by the Donkeys again with a nice lil playbook hidden in his luggage.
Sorry guys, I just don’t trust Shanarat. He’s the kind of character who would pull something
like this. Damn, can’t wait till the season starts!
August 21st, 2007 at 10:53 am
Trotter got released. LOL. This guy is a STUD LB. All pro play thru out his career. The coach must be smoking something. Raiders gotta take a look at this guy!
August 21st, 2007 at 10:55 am
Rolling at the defense guy knee is an illegal block. The refs missed the call IMO.
August 21st, 2007 at 11:04 am
I’m not too high on Warren. The guy is LAZY IMO. I think he just want a NFL paycheck and sly on by in life. I won’t be surprise if he gets cut before pre-season.
August 21st, 2007 at 11:04 am
I’m not too high on Warren. The guy is LAZY IMO. I think he just want a NFL paycheck and sly on by in life. I won’t be surprise if he gets cut before pre-season.
August 21st, 2007 at 11:05 am
I have had the same concerns as Casper from the moment I ever read the words ‘cut-blocking’ and Raiders in the same sentence. Guess we’ll see how screwed up it gets.
August 21st, 2007 at 11:06 am
Ferguson is TRASH. The guy isn’t pro material at WR. Glad to see him going to another team.
August 21st, 2007 at 11:11 am
Ferguson went to Vikings…
SnB… have you seen PFT? they had my thoughts exactly… cut warren just before reg-season. sign him immediately when reg-season starts, no pick to donkeys, and warren shows the finger to shananagan and brings us donkeys play book =) not that we don’t know whats in it
August 21st, 2007 at 11:15 am
Trotter looks good in Silver/Black. This guy is an MONSTER! He stuff soooo many guys by himself that a team can play 2 LBs and WIN. LOL.
August 21st, 2007 at 11:18 am
Warren is a BUST. The Broncos know what they are doing IMO.
August 21st, 2007 at 11:24 am
Both of our starting safeties are very good players. I believe we had the no1 pass defense last year, no?
August 21st, 2007 at 11:34 am
Whoever it is that is posting Warren is going to help us beat the Broncos ala Gruden is delusional. Gruden beat the Raiders in the SB because he designed and knew our offense like the back of his hand. Comparing that to one DT from the Broncos is just stupid. You think Warren is going to explain in detail what the Broncos are going to do on offense? He has enough problems making the team dimwit.
August 21st, 2007 at 11:39 am
Huff24…you’re wrong regarding Huff/Stu.
Schweigert, for whatever reason, simply has not adapted to the NFL. As a free safety, being used in deep coverage, he’s the guy that should be dropping back, and then helping out whichever cornerback is following a WR coming into his area. When the other team throws a long bomb, the cornerback should be playing the man, and Schweigert should be playing the ball. Schwiegert jumps up for the INT, if he misses, the CB is still there, getting in the WR’s face and hopefully forcing the incomplete or making the tackle right away.
Simply put: Schweigert does not do this. All last season if you saw him, it was running over to the play too late, nowhere in position to make the INT. I don’t know if he’s slow physically, slow to mentally recognize, taking Dorsett angles, or what, but for whatever reason, he’s constantly out of position and the team might as well just be playing a 10-man defense with Schwiegert yelling signals from the sidelines (since that’s all he can do, apparently).
The reason people want to move Huff to FS is because he’s probably more suited for it in the NFL. Yes, he played SS at Texas. Big deal. Most players in college are smaller than the NFL, allowing Huff to get away with playing closer to the LOS instead of in space. Hell, he spent time at Texas as a CB, so you know he’s fast and has coverage skills. With Schweigert sucking and a bona fide stud in Darius (he just needs to stay healthy) at SS, it makes more sense to put Huff at FS and Darius at SS to get our best two safeties on the field.
Now, the Wolverine package came about because the coaching staff decided that Darius could play a rover-OLB type position (which is true, he’s a hard hitter). Basically, they decided they’d rather have Schweigert on the field instead of Sam Williams. Given last year I would’ve agreed with this as Williams was a total non-factor, but Williams has been tearing it up in preseason this year (as a starter), making me think we should spend more time in the regular 4-3 alignment with Williams on the field and Huff/Darius at safety.
Time will tell…
August 21st, 2007 at 11:51 am
I say if Huff don’t show up at SS the first 3 games, then put Darius in as starter, Huff is too small to play SS in the pros, that’s how I see it. Swaggert is too slow to play FS. Huff is better off playing FS, even if SS was all he play thru out his short career.
August 21st, 2007 at 11:54 am
warren sapp just ripped gerrard warren:
Defensive tackle Gerard Warren is now a member of the Raiders. But current Raider Warren Sapp isn’t impressed.
In fact, Sapp doesn’t think Warren will make the final 53-man roster.
“He’s not going to make or break us,” Sapp said. “If you don’t make or break us, you’re irrelevant to us. We’re a unit. We’re a unit that runs together. I see my eight. My eight’s been here since I first walked in the door and I said, ‘There’s my eight.’ . . . And he never came into that picture until I walked into the job this morning. I don’t see him cracking that eight. . . .
“I wouldn’t want to go to a team three weeks after their training camp and try to make their team, with my talent,” Sapp added. “I wouldn’t want to do that.”
http://www.timesheraldonline.com/ci_6678724
Honestly, i dont want any damaged goods like trotter, strahan, or gerrard warren, the only
veterans this team needs is pep and darius. This team should trade Sapp to a cover2
team like bills or colts, and get some draft picks. Get sapp outta here, and hopefully
warren gets cut before the season starts.
August 21st, 2007 at 11:59 am
Sapp is older than Warren and Trotter. I like to take a look at Trotter. Sapp for a pick … if he’s playing well then I won’t mess with the defense chemistry. That’s probaly Ryan’s call IMO.
August 21st, 2007 at 12:05 pm
get rid of sapp, he talks too much, he lost weight, but he lost a step, he cant bang with
the young players anymore, sapp should just focus on taking jamie dukes’ job on
the nfl network as the resident “fat loudmouth afro-american”. Lets get some young
guys on this defense, also trade schweigert to a team that lacks safety depth like
the new york giants who lost will demps.
August 21st, 2007 at 12:09 pm
raiders should take a look at chris gocong, who is LB for philly, he played college
at cal-poly as a DE, and is very versatile, he could play DE/LB here, and is
familar with the NO-CAL area.
August 21st, 2007 at 12:10 pm
Trotter is better than Lewis. Have any of you seen the guy play? This guy is the real deal. I don’tcare about youth when he makes play that no other LB could do… I know his salary is an issue but let him go thru the wires first.
August 21st, 2007 at 12:15 pm
Trotter is a SYSTEM LB. At Philly he looked good. At Washington under a different system he stank. If Philly is releasing him outright without a trade - something is up. I don’t know if he fits our system and either way his salary is too high to justify for a back-up MLB.
Sapp is an emotional leader on our defense. He has played no small part in the improvement of our defense and his leadership and upbeat style keeps the energy flowing just like Kiffin wants it. This isn’t Madden - there are intangibles to consider.
I’m wondering who exactly is Sapp’s “eight” he thinks will be on the D-line.
Burgess, Sapp, Sands - obviously
Kelly, Hawthorne, Brayton, Moses, and Richardson?
I wonder…
August 21st, 2007 at 12:19 pm
Brayton is the odd man out IMO. He just isn’t good at anything. I get the “system” LB Trotter in who is proven than Brayton anytime of the day. Trotter is a tackling MACHINE!
August 21st, 2007 at 12:20 pm
All this talk, can we stop trying to screw around with our defense, especially our secondary for christ sakes! We were #1 against the pass, lets leave what worked alone improve what we should and fix what we have to:
Improvements:
sands and darius against run.
Moses and kelly pass pressure.
OL new scheme, coach and personel.
Run-new scheme, coach and personel.
Pass-new scheme, coach and personel.
WR-two new starting receivers and better depth.
One of the few things that did WORK was our secondary, can we get off huff and stu? Little trust in ryan, he obviously knows and sees more….
August 21st, 2007 at 12:29 pm
lol
Myopians in Raiderfantasyland crack me up. Revel in your day dreams about Culpepper, Warren and Trotter. Reality is coming soon enough when the season starts and you discover there is a reason these players were cast off by superior teams. lol
August 21st, 2007 at 12:30 pm
News about Russell, Raiders (scroll down to “Odds and Ends”) http://www.sportingnews.com/experts/tim-montemayor/blog/index.html
August 21st, 2007 at 12:36 pm
I have to admit that I am of the same thought process as SnBFreek. I am very skeptical about this trade. Even if he is a low risk proposition I still wonder in the back of my mind what is really going on. Shanarat is the biggest rat/weasel out there and I would not put anything past him.
I hate to sound paranoid but it’s an unfortunate way of life as a Raider fan. Also I witnessed many a Niner transgression during that game, numerous offsides penalties that were not called as well as that blatant pass interference non-call in the end zone at the end of the game. Yes Whitted should have caught the ball anyway but if you watch that play closely you will see the Niner defender get beat and leg sweep Whitted to the ground right before the ball got there. I’m not sure if I can live through another season of bs calls against the Raiders and too many non-calls for our opponents. All I want is consistency which is never the case. That PI call on Nmandi was such BS. Then to see what happened to Whitted at the end of the game and no call is made is utter crap!
Raiders for Life…I’m In!
August 21st, 2007 at 12:37 pm
Huff needs to step it up. Plain in simple, he needs to be a game changer, not just a good safety.
I can’t believe raider fans would bash Sapp. The guy played his arse off last year, he could have taken it easy, but he worked hard. Most guys with his resume, would say to hell with this and quit, he didn’t. He just had the best year of any DT in the league with zero recognition.
I don’t think its bad for him to backup his crew thats there right now busting their arse.
August 21st, 2007 at 12:39 pm
cut sapp’s mouth, cut brayton, cut fargas, cut stu, trade walter, start pep.
Also bring back Tim Brown to work in the front office, and build a new facility that fans can tailgate in.
August 21st, 2007 at 12:51 pm
I hate to break it to all of you Sapp haters but the big man isn’t going anywhere. He is in the best shape of his NFL career and he has earned the right to say anything he damn well pleases. I may not always agree with what he says but the man is statistically one of the best DT’s to ever play the game. I am not entirely sure but he is either the all-time sack leader for a DT or he is very close to being the all-time sack leader for a DT in the history of the NFL. Someone knows the answer to this, help me out. The bottom line is like him or hate him he is still one of the defensive leaders for this Raider team and a good hard working influence on these younger guys.
Raiders for Life…I’m In!
August 21st, 2007 at 1:01 pm
Trotter is not a Pro Bowl caliber player anymore and probably never was. The Eagles have a good defensive system and their system when clicking works very well. 3 of 4 starters from their secondary made the Pro Bowl either their Super Bowl year or the year before that. Only about 1 of them actually has Pro Bowl caliber talent(Dawkins). Trotter is a tackling machine but his tackles are padded from special teams play too.
He was absolutely horrible in Washington and wasted 2 years of his career there. Philly is thin at LB and released Trotter so that should tell you something. The system he excelled in no longer looks at him as a good fit. That should be a sign.
As for Warren, the Broncos are updating their system and are looking for bigger DTs(2 gap?). These are your DTs like Sam Adams, Terdell Sands, etc. Warren does not fit that mold at all and could still be productive. In the previous Denver system, he did produce so it could be possible that he will make some sort of impact in Oakland.
People may wonder that Denver’s d-line and LBs are having trouble creating pressure this pre-season so that must mean Warren must not be worth anything if they decided to part ways. That defense is suffering without Al Wilson and you can tell. He was a playmaker that I don’t think they can replace. They’re going to miss him.
August 21st, 2007 at 1:10 pm
gerrard warren is overrated, he is fat, slow and only cares about his bling, why bring a turd
into raider land? cut him and fat sapp. No more posers.
August 21st, 2007 at 1:23 pm
Naturally stupid and arrogant. Who let you into Raiderland?
August 21st, 2007 at 1:24 pm
I agree with Justin and Coach on Wheels - Trotter is nothing the Raiders need right now. He was a bust in DC for two years and found life again when the Eagles picked him up because they knew how to use him. Plus his knees are busted.
Ferguson, Trotter…if there is a slightly warm body on the waiver wire someone from Raider Nation wants him in Silver & Black. Cracks me up. I’m all for bringing in talent, but lets have some standards people.
And Attention to Raider Nation…Sapp is a future HOF’er and has played like one the past two seasons. Sapp is a Raider, a leader and looks damn good in black (so slimming) get off his back! Anyone who wants him gone is a knucklehead, plain & simple. Props to RaiderDogg, ryan420 and anyone else who KNOWS football and defends our defensive leader. Warren Sapp, QB Killa - for the Nation.
August 21st, 2007 at 1:25 pm
whoever is posting a comment then regurgitating it is delusional.
“If the Raiders cut Warren before the first game and re-sign him after it, they own the Broncos nothing. So the Raiders can cut him before the first game, and re-sign him after it, and keep their fifth-round pick in the 2008 draft.”
u think u have to write a sentece then explaine what u just wrote!!??!! what a dimwit, as if we didnt understand it the first time.
August 21st, 2007 at 1:27 pm
Just thinking that…a Natural Idiot
How can any Raider fan bust on Sapp!
August 21st, 2007 at 1:27 pm
Question, probley a stupid one but oh well, how much do season tickets cost?
August 21st, 2007 at 1:32 pm
My lover chad also hates the raiders
August 21st, 2007 at 1:36 pm
I agree with jjvill on sapp, but not about not having standards, the raiders are giving people shots that can possibly be good, if they arnt, they dont stay on the team, plain and simple
August 21st, 2007 at 2:01 pm
ColbertNation - I believe that anyone who can help the team win deserves a shot with the Raiders (GWarren & Darius). I just laugh at the fact that anytime a player gets cut, ANY player, someone from the Nation wants the Raiders to scoop them up. IMHO Ferguson can not help the Raiders or Trotter.
August 21st, 2007 at 3:16 pm
Did charger actually say we change our coachinhg staff all the time. hahahahahahahahahahah
Norv!!!!!!!hahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Some people are really reallt stupid.
August 21st, 2007 at 3:21 pm
I believe Raiders will go 8-8 at least this season.
August 21st, 2007 at 3:30 pm
I believe Raiders will to 10-6 at least this season.
August 21st, 2007 at 3:34 pm
I’m with South Texas on this one, 10-6 and a wildcard berth!
August 21st, 2007 at 3:44 pm
I think a 7-9 season and improving is possible and I’d be happy. I don’t want to go wild with expectations. Ok, 8-8.
August 21st, 2007 at 3:46 pm
Ferguson can’t help the team but Trotter surely can. Morrisson could use a mentor at the MLB position now that Danny Clark is gone. I was a fan of Clark and the style in which he played with but now that he is gone Trotter could fill the veteran role for the LB’s much like Sapp does for the d-line, and Darius for the secondary. He would have great value at the right price. Like a poster above stated, this is real life and you have to take into account intangibles one may bring as well as play on the field. Ike is gone for a while and we could use a little help on special teams as well.
August 21st, 2007 at 3:49 pm
The pieces are here. Regardless of JaMarcus whom I personally thought would be a fine addition to the silver and black. Now? Let him and the rest of the unproven greed mongers do whatever they do. No, I never wanted to see another retread quarterback but I’d rather see a man who wants to be in oaktown than someone grinding for the last drop of nectar. Sad. when most of us just try to make ends while loving the Raiders, some kid believes that his ten-percenter is doing him and us a favor by sitting home. Anyway, the pieces are in place. I never believed that the O-line was as bad as it played last year. Nor was the defense as good as it was ranked. It is all schemes and who can perform them. Injuries aside, there is little talent level different from team to team in the NFL. Belief, execution and confidence make the difference. Oh yes, it is said that you cannot teach either talent or speed, but if those two things are left uncultivated and improperly used you get a poor effort, bad record and a dismal outcome. Hopefully the staff has gotten all of this turned around. We deserve it as much as the players themselves do.
August 21st, 2007 at 3:56 pm
Charger’s predictions for the 2007 Raiders:
0-4 in September.
3-13 for the season.
0-6 in the division.
Bank it.
August 21st, 2007 at 3:57 pm
I agree Marcus, good points.
August 21st, 2007 at 4:01 pm
Sure, I’ll bank it Charger. Do you have a Paypal account you want to put some money into your 3-13 prediction???
August 21st, 2007 at 4:05 pm
Love this message board. No place like it for Raider news and good banter.
Huff is a good Safety-free or strong. He will continue to improve because that’s what young talent does. I like Stu but Darius should be starting opposite Huff in all 2 safety sets (my humble opinion).
Sapp is a monster and I think his comments, like someone metioned before are for the protection and morale of the rest of the D. Also, I think he wants to set a tone for G. Warren coming in that this is a “hard work” environment and this big man is not going to be handed anything in Oakland.
Can’t wait for the season to start! I think I am going to freeze myself in a snowbank for three weeks so if anyone can come thaw me out come the start of the season-I would appreciate that. I’m in.
August 21st, 2007 at 4:13 pm
Week 1, Detroit at Oakland: 38-9 Lions.
Calvin Johnson shows Al Davis and Raiders fans what they missed by passing him up. 101 yards receiving and 2 TD grabs in first NFL game. Raiders offense is so inept it can’t keep the defense off the field. John Kitna shreds it in the second half, throwing for 3 TDs in the final two quarters. The combo of Roy Williams, Mike Furrey and Johnson overwhelm Raiders secondary. Mike Williams drops all three balls thrown his way.
August 21st, 2007 at 4:46 pm
Charger,
Don’t the Lightning Dolts have a blog where you can contribute your “pearls” (I know
you are familiar with them…lol) of wisdom?
Perhaps no one cares about your opinion on your own sites either?
Grab a seat, enjoy the season and prepare to be “Norvalized”!
August 21st, 2007 at 4:49 pm
I would love to see a 7 - 9 or 10 - 6 season but realistically I think a 6 win season would be in the right direction. I know this team has the talent to win more than that but with the way things have gone over the past 4 seasons I don’t want to get my hopes too high and be disappointed again. It’s hard to bear.
If our offense is somewhat productive then I think that will put added pressure on our pass defense and that’s something that we didn’t have to deal with last year. I know our secondary was productive but Stu and Huff weren’t productive(not that stats show the whole story because they did have decent seasons from what I watched). I just wonder what our pass defense is really going to be like if we’re actually winning games in the 2nd half. Last year, we would be ahead by halftime in quite a few contests but end up coughing up points through mental errors and teams could coast with the run for much of every game. I just hope Kiffin eliminates as much of that as he can and the Raiders play intelligent football.
I truly believe Kiffin is a man up to that task and I seriously hope Al considers keeping him around as a franchise coach if/when he succeeds like a lot of us believe he can. Kiff needs to show success as quickly as possible and prove that he can turn this franchise around.
Football is much more fun when the Raiders are winning football games because the entire league hates us and we love our team for that very reason. When we’re losing, everybody loves to pick on us and kick us while we’re down because they know that when we get this thing turned around, they will have that Raider mystique on their psyche and be quivering with intimidation.
August 21st, 2007 at 8:15 pm
Hey charger… shouldn’t you be ironing your Doug Flutie jersey right now?
DJ Stoggie, the answer to your question is “No.” He doesn’t have any money. At 25 he still lives at home with his mommy, while trying not to get grounded from his video games.
August 22nd, 2007 at 10:53 am
Unless one of my Raider Nation brothers objects, I have saved chargers prediction of our first regular season game against detroit. I will repost it on monday just to prove how absulutely wrong the no football knowledge, fairweather dolts fans can be sometimes. Our Raiders will take detroit ok. I’M In
August 22nd, 2007 at 11:47 am
I think Charger is Marty Schottenheimer , who hates the Raiders, he has nothing else to do but try and impress us with his lame bolt comments. Face it Marty you choked and and got the boot !
August 23rd, 2007 at 2:20 am
while i believe the lions will be a .500 team, just as we will, they will be a .500 team in the NFC, meaning that they are a 4(at best) win team in the AFC, we can take them without a problem, we have the secondary to handle there wide outs and with an improved OL going up against an inadeqauate pass rush, we have a shot to put up 30pts on them, their O is improved but our D is designed to nutralize their style of offense and our O is good enough to shred their D, which is arguably the worst in the league, Week 1 against Detroit 31-10 Raiders, but i’ll give CJ 70(maybe a bit more) and 1TD, which is an amazing acomplishment for a rookie WR against the 2nd(have to give champ his credit) best man-man cover corner in the league in “Nnam,” and “Fabe” is no picknic either, the lions are improved but have no chance, I’M IN!