Postgame wrap
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Sunday, October 28th, 2007 at 10:00 pm in Oakland Raiders.
News, notes and observations from the Raiders’ 13-9 loss to the Tennessee Titans at LP Field:
– The Raiders have two offensive touchdowns and 33 points in their last three games after scoring 35 against the Miami Dolphins.
– Coach Lane Kiffin was putting the blame entirely on the shoulders of the Oakland offense, essentially absolving the defense of responsibility for giving up 192 rushing yards. When the Titans broke through on a 69-yard, four-play scoring drive, that, too, was the fault of the offense.
He remembers watching his father’s defenses break down occasionally in Tampa because of stress put upon it by an inefficient offense.
“What happens is, you get in the mind-set your offense is struggling so much, as we were today, and our defense is playing so well, that they feel they got to make a play,” Kiffin said. “You see it happen all the time. You hold somebody down all day and then there’s one drive. It happened last week.
“When you’re playing good defense like that, that happens sometimes. That comes from, ‘Well, we better go and make some play. I better dive to knock this ball out,’ as opposed to form-tackling. Or, ‘I better jump this route,’ or whatever it is. Sometimes that pressure comes when the other side of the ball is not performing.”
– Wide receiver Mike Williams offered no excuses for his dropped pass on fourth-and-14 at the first down marker. It was Oakland’s lone drop of the day, coming at the worst possible time.
“It was a drop. I was trying to run and it was a drop,” Williams said. “It’s a situation that you want to be in as a player and it just didn’t work out. It was a drop.”
– Ditto Barry Sims, who was called for three false starts and a holding penalty as the Raiders offensive line accounted for eight penalties with six false starts and two holds.
“I know the team counts on me and us ot do a job, and when you (bleep) it up, the job doesn’t get done,” Sims said. “That’s the way it goes. I feel bad that I let my teammates down, but we’ve go to regroup and get this thing going offensively.”
As for fixing the penalty problem, Sims said, “That’ a good question because it obviously hasn’t been done yet. We’re just going ot have to work on it. I don’t have an answer for you for that.”
– Want to know why Culpepper is so popular among his teammates? Here’s what he said about Williams after the dropped pass:
“Mike is a big-play player. I have all the confidence in the world in him, because I see what he can do. He just didn’t his play right there. If we had the same situation again I would go right back to him if his number is called and he is open. I think he just tired to get up the field before he had the ball.”
– Crowd noise wasn’t the root of Oakland’s problems along the offensive line. It was a rather sedate stadium overall, perhaps put to sleep by the Titans being content to manage the game and Oakland’s inability to mount much of an offensive threat.
“I didn’t think the crowd was even a factor today,” Kiffin said. “It was kind of a late-arriving crowd and there is no excuses for that.”
– Much of the crowd appeared to be on Broadway and in the country honky tonks the Saturday night. So many people were in costumes for Halloween it was tough to tell the Raider fans from the civilians.
– Paul McQuistan picked up a pair of false starts subbing for Cornell Green, who left with a knee injury on the second series.
– Tommy Kelly, who might be Oakland’s best all-round defensive lineman over the last three games, left with a knee injury in the third quarter and was on crutches in the locker room after the game. The Titans immediately exploited his side on some running plays when Jay Richardson came in.
– The Raiders defense bottled up quarterback Vince Young both on the ground and in the air. Derrick Burgess had his first sack of the season and Warren Sapp his second in two weeks. Young was 6-for-14 for 42 yards and had just 11 yards rushing on seven carries.
To be fair, Young appeared to be limping on a few occasions with a quadriceps strain which caused him to miss the last one and a half games.
– LaMont Jordan has 41 carries for 87 yards after leaving at halftime of the Miami game with an injured back.
– No sign of Dominic Rhodes from scrimmage, although he did have kickoff returns of 22 and 26 yards. Probably not what the Raiders envisioned when they signed him to a two-year free agent contract.
– ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported the only reason the Raiders haven’t waived Rhodes is because Al Davis doesn’t want him to be claimed by Mike Shanahan or Jon Gruden. Although a vested veteran, all players are subject to waiver claims following the trade deadline and ESPN contends Davis wants to make sure Rhodes winds up somewhere other than Denver or Tampa Bay.
The Broncos could lose Travis Henry to suspension and the Bucs, who signed Michael Bennett last week, are still looking for help at running back.
– Justin Fargas, who carried just one last week behind Jordan and Rhodes, carried 12 times for 61 yards and was Oakland’s best running threat. He also took his weekly head-on collision and, as usual, seemed none the worse for wear.
“That was the plan coming in,” Kiffin said. “We were going to play Justin more and I like what Justin brings and he hadn’t had many opportunities as of late. We wanted to give him a shot today, and he responded.”
– Adimchinobe Echemandu, who made the 53-man roster but didn’t merit a carry duruing the regular season before being waived to make room for Rhodes, led Houston with 62 yards on 10 carries Sunday and will face the Raiders Sunday at McAfee Coliseum.
– Kiffin said he never considered subbing Josh McCown for Culpepper.
“I didn’t think of going to Josh,” Kiffin said. “Going into the game, Josh isn’t 100 percent. He can do some things. But I felt we were going to go with Daunte. Daunte wasn’t false starting. Daunte wasn’t hitting people in the back. Daunte wasn’t holding. Daunte didn’t drop the last pass. ”
– Daunte did fumble four times, including two which had nothing to do with contact. LaMont Jordan scooped up one as if it were a bounce pass and rushed for four yards — one of his better runs of the game. Culpepper jumped on the other one, which was a shotgun snap he may have been expecting.
If case you’re of the mind Culpepper is liable to lick this fumbling thing soon, he now has 91 fumbles in 90 games, losing 37.
– Wide receiver Ronald Curry remains in Culpepper’s corner.
“I think don’t think he deserves any criticism. It is undeserved, but that is what people do,” Curry said. “They want to throw the head coach and quarterback under the bus. A lot of things that happened were not his fault. It is easy to sit back and say what you could have done or would have done, but it is hard to get back there and do it.”
– Despite the losses, this seems to be a fairly unified team. Curry is right, though. The pressure will mount on both Culpepper and Kiffin if the losses continue. The Raiders are 2-5 — the same as they were under Art Shell.
– JaMarcus Russell was the emergency No. 3 quarterback, meaning he suited up while Andrew Walter did not. No telling if he is getting any closer to the field as Kiffin went with his daily variation on the “he’ll play when he can help us win” theme.
– Great day for the kickers, as Sebastian Janikowski connected from 50, 53 and 54 yards without a miss and has eight successful field goal attempts. Shane Lechler averaged 51.8 yards per punt and a 44.0 net. Lechler had a 70 yard punt into the end zone that travelled 80 yards in the air.
– Offensive penalites: False starts–Barry Sims 3, Paul McQuistan 2, Cornell Green. Illegal shift–Justin Fargas. Holding–Oren O’Neal, Robert Gallery, Barry Sims.
–Special teams penalties: Illegal block–Ricky Brown, Oren O’Neal.
–Defensive penalties: Defensive offsides–Tommy Kelly.
– The Raiders have gone 32 consecutive games — two full seasons — since scoring on their opening drive. It happened in Tennessee, when Kerry Collins capped a 66-yard drive, seven-play with a 26-yard scoring pass to Jerry Porter. The Raiders won 34-25.
– No such luck Sunday. The Raiders gained 35 yards in nine plays before Janikowski kicked a 50-yard field goal. They never penetrated the Tennessee 20-yard line, getting as far as the 22 in the second quarter before losing three yards and settling for Janikowski’s 43-yard field goal.
– Here’s how Warren Sapp summed up the penalty-fest:
“We came out the most undisciplined group that’s ever lined up in a Raider uniform, and that’s real hard to (bleeping) do because there’s been some crazy (stuff) going on around this organization for a long time with penalties,” Sapp said.
– Al Davis held a private chat Friday night for a small group which included three of his former players from Adelphi College in New York, where he was a line coach in 1950.
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October 28th, 2007 at 10:15 pm
The Titans didn’t beat the Raiders today…the Raiders did.
October 28th, 2007 at 10:35 pm
Cut the whole damn offensive line! Need to work on some things? Thats the way things go? Sims, get your ass out of town. Hey Newberry, we are in shotgun — quite skipping snaps back in the backfield.
Hey Mike Williams, coach wants to see you, bring your notebook.
The Titans D-line just bitched slapped the O-line and all we have to do is re-group? Hell if I was Kiffin I would ask the O-line from USC to come up for Sundays, they could be as inept as our current group but he could a chance to visit some old friends.
Why waste a Sunday? It is a time to just kick back and relax, right O-line?
Raider Pride? How in the hell can the offensive line have enough guts to pick up their checks on Monday? Looks like to me they cashed it in Sunday.
Today was it, the season is over. Did I think we were a playoff team? NO. Did I think we could compete? YES. It was possible to hit 7-9 or 8-8. Hell the biggest news from our team on the sports channel highlights is our kicker breaking a Raider record. That is exciting!
Congrats to Echemandu, 60 yards on ten rushes and he was on the Texans practice squad last week. Thank goodness we signed Rhodes to help our running game. Jordan, Rhodes, and Fargas. Fat, Fast, and Faster. Two out of three ain’t bad! Get rid of Jordan to while I am on a rant.
Maybe I don’t want wins, I just want some freakin’ HEART, PASSION, and PRIDE!
Thank you Raiders defense for your quality effort today, sorry another day in your career was wasted by Sims and Co.
Just Regroup Baby!
October 28th, 2007 at 10:39 pm
What, no Stu bashing? What’s going on here?
October 28th, 2007 at 10:42 pm
I figured Stu couldn’t take another hit!
October 28th, 2007 at 10:42 pm
cant say much more than I’m sick of this. to think….i called in sick to work today to watch the game. i missed 8 hours of pay for THAT????
October 28th, 2007 at 10:45 pm
James I feel for you! I have the weekends off, can’t imagine how bad you feel!
October 28th, 2007 at 11:17 pm
Good work D. You can’t do it by all yourselves.
Good work at last Seabass. You finally started earning your paycheck.
Now for the O:
Offensive Line: You are offensive. You should apologize to every other member of the team, the owners and in particular the fans. YOU WERE, AS A WHOLE, PATHETIC AND UNDISCIPLINED.
LJ: You are done. You are too slow, too old and just not worth it. You are out at the end of the year. we should have kept Eche. At least he showed some heart. You can see him next week. Take notes.
Fargas: Not a bad job today considering the poor performance of the O line.
DC: I was a DC supporter but no longer. You are too slow, too old and just not worth it. Hit the bench and work on your resume. You will need it because you’ve done nothing since the Miami game to increase your worth to any other team. You are in slow-motion coming out of the snap, you are indecisive, your vision appears to be limited and your accuracy is less than 50-50. Your sprint-outs look like that of an old man. You have less mobility than AW. Your days and career are over at the end of this year.
BMW: You have the tools, start using them. You have the potential to be a real threat but you are very incosistent. The clock is running out for you so you better get your game together or else you can be an Ex-NFL’er.
JP: A couple of nice catches but you are also slowing down. You need to give 110% and you don’t give the impression that we are getting your all.
RC: Similar to JP but at least you look like you are trying.
Kiffin: You need to resolve the QB problem. DC is not the answer. JM is not the answer. Play AW next week or let’s see JR. It’s time. On the running front, enough of LJ. Let’s see Fargas & Rhodes. Get Michael Bush ready. He’s needed now.
I personally didn’t expect a W today but I also didn’t expect an embarrassment on O. Today was like 10 steps back on offense. We looked worse than Miami!
October 28th, 2007 at 11:24 pm
Kiffin’s “Tell the Truth Monday” Forecast
by Raider Raul
1. Our offensive line needs to do a better job of communicating and improve technique to protect the quarterback better.
2. Justin Fargus proved that he has a spark coming in against a touch run defense.
3. The D Line is starting to get to the quarterback more often.
4. We had too many penalties on offense, and we had to dig ourselves out of holes.
5. The turnover in the 4th quarter hurt, obviously.
6. Mike Williams needs to do a better job to holding onto the ball; Jerry Porter needs to run better patterns.
7. Tennessee did a great job against the run and rushing the quarterback.
8. Janikowski looked great, with the exception of a few kickoffs.
9. We continue to lose in the turnover and penalty battle.
10. We need to find a way to finish games.
October 28th, 2007 at 11:41 pm
Man, I’ve learned my lesson. Never skip work to watch the Raiders. Got burned way too many times. I love Raider in Reno’s rant, can’t agree more. Our biggest mistake this off-season was not doing more to revamp our piss-poor O-line. And the biggest mistake we could make now would be to play Russell. He’ll get killed behind Sims and co. Look at Walter, he’s still suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. Best thing we can do is be patient. And drink a lot of Guiness.
October 29th, 2007 at 12:01 am
Not sure what the Raiders were thinking when they went with the same bozos as last year on the o-line. Sims was always problematic and now he’s old. Gallery (looks like Tarzan plays like Jane) is a flat out bust. Newberry is really old and injured (niners didn’t even want him - thats bad). I dunno even know who the other guys are but they stink on ice. If we don’t beat Houston next week we could very well go 2-14 again.
October 29th, 2007 at 12:03 am
Drink more and smoke more to numb the losses and contantly banging my head on the wall!!
R4E,
Not only is Stu afraid to tackle and continues to take bad angles, but he’s so SLOOOOOOOW.
He’s talentless and needs to NOT be on our squad in 2008!!
October 29th, 2007 at 12:17 am
We are a great SS and a reliable SLB away from being a dominant defense. Chris Clemons has a future as an edge rusher. Sam Williams is always hurt. I wouldn’t mind going to a base 3/4 if we can get big hitter at inside LBer. There’s a kid at Cal Worrell Williams if he declares that I would love to have and a safety Josh Barrett at ASU that I like a lot.
Offensively we need to add a OT and C and add speed to WR. We probably have all or most of these but they need to be developed. But a big time big play WR would be great. Bush is the feature back for this offense with Fargas as a change up. And we have the ultimate QB.
Anything in addition to that I’ll take it but those are a must IMO. I think Big Al is going to get Russell a big time WR one way or another.
I like this team but it needs help in some specific areas in order for Kiffin to coach the way he wants to. This stuff is definitely grading on him. 2 easy wins just thrown away. I don’t envy him.
October 29th, 2007 at 12:22 am
From within every pain a little light will shine. We won’t be the #1 pick again next year, that’s reserved for Miami. But, we might be #2. We should be able to add some valuable talent. This of course assumes our scouting department has been revamped. Their track record over the last 5 years has been pretty piss poor.
Here’s the wish-list for next year:
Offense
Line - LT, C, RT
WR - speedy sure hands guy
Defense
Line - DT, DE
LB - either an outstanding MLB or Strong side LB. Can move Morrison to SSLB if necessary.
Safety - Heavy hitter. Move Huff to FS
The greatness of the Raiders is in the future. It sure as hell is nowhere in sight this year. Keep a positive thought. We’ve got JR, MB and some high draft choices to be appearing soon.
October 29th, 2007 at 12:52 am
– ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported the only reason the Raiders haven’t waived Rhodes is because Al Davis doesn’t want him to be claimed by Mike Shanahan or Jon Gruden.
………
Hence, the owner that wants to win more badly than any owner in the game. Al Davis make decisions based upon grudges instead of what’s best for the team? Never.
October 29th, 2007 at 1:19 am
Kill me now, Jesus, unless I’m already dead and this is F’n Hell - There are now two things I know going into every Raider game - 1. We’ll have the lead or or a chance to win in every game, and then 2. WE WILL FIND A NEW WAY TO LOSE EVERY TIME! I could b#tch about 50 things, but most have been covered. We need a big time WR - Jerry Porter could be the guy but his head isn’t in it - On DC’s INT, that was on Porter, Duante tossed it to the outside, giving Porter a chance to make a play, and with his athletic ability, he should have made it - BMW, what happened to you? I understand you don’t have the speed to run deep in the NFL, but your hands were gold at SC - I’m pretty sure the ball is the same damn size - CATCH IT! Maybe we could paint white stripes on the ball to make you think it’s the NCAA - GAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWD!
LJ - you’re hurt and it shows - you’re done, hope you saved some of that 20 million we’ve paid you for the last 4 years - hasta la vista in 08.
I never wanted Rhodes to begin with 3.3 ypc in 07, has a big post season and we give him 8 million - typical. Start (I can’t believe I’m saying this) Fargas and activate Bush - We need to see what we’ve got -
I will say this about Kiffin - He’s got an eye for talent - He was right about Bing, Moses, Hawthorne, and Darious to our surprises (at least mine), and also McClown being better at managing the game then DC - Both Suck, bring in AW for a couple weeks (maybe he can up his trade value) and let’s see JaMarcus - I’m not paying for tickets to watch this cr*p. Alright, I’m lying, but only if it’s blacked out will I buy tickets to watch this cr*p. I’d rather get blown out or lose 35-28 every week then only need a lousy field goal or one touchdown to win knowing our offense won’t get it done - Kiffin must want to hang himself - he can’t do Jack with his playbook b/c our line can’t block - and I don’t blame him for not getting any FA’s - Langston Walker was the biggest name on the FA block and I would have spontaneously combusted if we resigned his lard butt.
Anyway, I know it’s better, just not as good as I thought it was going to be (8-8 with a shot at 10-6 with a few lucky bounces) - I hope JaMarcus is the second coming of Tom Brady and is instantly good b/c I can’t take 2-3 more years of rebuilding while he learns the ropes. Let’s get these young guys in and sling the rock around - next year we’ve got to get a big time WR and lots of OL - that’s it - I don’t care about our defense (fine draft a SS too) that much - it’s good enough - I just want to see some points on the damn board - the problem is obvious, LACK OF TALENT on offense.
All right, I feel better. I’m still in - don’t have a choice - Keep fighting Raiders, if you can find a way to put points on the board, you’re a top 10 team in this league, just keep battling (and start Russell and Bush :)).
October 29th, 2007 at 1:53 am
How many years do we have to be patient? The maverick of instability (AL) simply won’t let the Raiders have stability. He doesn’t have anyone who can judge talent, this scouts on this team seem to be scholarship babies as well were Jett and Whitted among others. He doesn’t have a GM. He has Amy Trask who is fine and dandy as a lawyer but please don’t give her any football intelligence, rumor has it she was the one who clashed with Gruden. I mean if kiff isn’t given at least 5 years to exercise this team of demons and we know he won’t be given such opportunity, I can envision 3 coaches in five years can’t you? The maverick of instability is Al’s new nickname, print it.
October 29th, 2007 at 1:58 am
Jedi ,Exactly what I was refering to earlier.. Raiders always go FOR smoking mirrors. Then they pay him that money and hardly use him SWEET! Heres to a bunch of underachievers who will do nothing but give faithfull raiders fans’ ULCERS!! Wheres james Jett , hey I seen rocket ismail on CMT bullriding with TY maybe the raiders can sign him ! Desmond Howard anybody but what we currently have ..Kiff needs to refer to them as pop werner and not High school #’s PUNT TEAM! PUNT TEAM!!! PUNT TEAM!! 3 and out again . 5 reciever sets, Oh wait we currently only have 4 wr sorry!
October 29th, 2007 at 2:04 am
wow ikbeija or whatever his name is was worth eeping all that time .NOT. a double minded man is unstable in all his ways. Chris Johnson seting the world on fire. two examples of players who should have been cut and are still taking up space!
October 29th, 2007 at 2:12 am
The Raiders talent show
LT Sims- head case, has nightmares about Simeon Rice and Jason Taylor
LG Gallery- No strength in them chicken arms. Can’t bench 50 lbs, better contact Merrimen
C Newberry- Old
RG- invisible- a clue to why the donkeys didn’t resign him
RT- invisible
QB Culpepper- should be invisible
RB Jordon- fat, slow and hurt, a triple threat
RB Fargas- invisible
RB Rhodes- invisible, although he played for Dungy and Peyton how bad can he be?
WR Williams- invisible
WR Porter- had promise once
WR Curry- the only clutch we have
TE- invisible
October 29th, 2007 at 2:24 am
Nobody mentioned him so I will. Stu’s sorry ass got dragged down the field again, this time 10-15 yards by a half back. The sorry fool looked scared to tackle. I saw him shadow a runer down the sideline for about 10 yards before the guy stepped out of bounds. Stu scary ass never attempted to move in and tackle the guy. He plays like a damn girl.
This dude is a disgrace to the Raider team and the entire Raider Nation. Why the heck do they continue to run this fruitcake out onto the field. This season alone he has smell the azz crack of runners for about 100 total yards, as they have dragged him down field. He has been stiff armed like a street corner hooker on numerous ocassions. This pansy routinely shows up to a play when everyone is getting up rather than going down. The only time he gets dirty is when he’s getting dragged down field, damn enough is enough !! CUT STU !!
October 29th, 2007 at 3:29 am
Stat of the century, Culpepper has 91 fumbles in 90 games. Aye carumba!
Were better off with McCoun than this guy.
October 29th, 2007 at 5:24 am
Can all the WRs please hold on to the football? Jesus, it don’t matter WHO is in Raiders unis, any WR wearing it will have dropsy problems. The drops definitely hurt Raiders chances of winning in any fashion and form. The 2 minutes drill is useless when the receivers drop balls on their hands and cuddling arms. Too ball the NFL don’t allow stickum anymore, this Raiders receiving bunch really could use it!
October 29th, 2007 at 5:48 am
Did anyone notice how Lamont Jordan was hitting the holes yesterday? It looked like he was walking up to the line and falling down, maybe I cant blame him since our O line so DISGRACEFUL, they cant even slow anyone down so forget blocking. Sims,Gallery,Williams,Schweigert, look you get the point, ya know we should do it backwards, instead of picking out the losers every week ,we should salute the two or three players that play with heart, lets see there is Morrison,Howard,Sapp(old,but has heart) who else can you say that plays with heart? They are all funkin disgraceful, from the coaches to the players to the front office, the whole funkin place stinks! I thought the time span from 1983 to 2000 was a painful wait, this team is like seven years away from being able to compete. I think Al Davis is too old to compete himself therefore hes giving more control away to less football wise people and we see the results.
October 29th, 2007 at 6:11 am
rhodes did not have a carry? wow! why did we sign him again? culpepper has fumblitis, our receivers have hands of stone, and our o-line has a fear of blocking; but hey, at least they’re pretty damn good at false starting! oh wait.
are we sure that schweigert should be on defense? the way he has a fear of tackling, he should be playing on offense. give me rhodes, fargas, bush, and j-russ; or give me my money back.
October 29th, 2007 at 6:27 am
AMEN RAIDER RENO. THAT IS NOT AN OFFENSIVE LINE, THE LINE IS OFFENSIVE PERIOD. LOOKS LIKE GALLERY LIKES TO EXPLODE PAST THE GUY HE’S SUPPOSED TO BLOCK TO BLOCK A LINEBACKER 10 YARDS DOWN FIELD. THIS OFFENSIVE LINE OFFICIALLY MAKES US THE WORST TEAM IN THE LEAGUE. THEY ARE BAD, THEY STINK, AND THEY SUCK. ALSO, SCHWEIGERT - GARBAGE - CAN’T COVER AND CANT HIT. WHAT A WASTE.
October 29th, 2007 at 6:44 am
time for a change, this team sucks again. get rid of culpepper, he sucks, get rid of jordanand rhodes and activate bush and dump stu. enough is enough, drop the dead weight and move on!!!!
October 29th, 2007 at 6:49 am
agree, drop gallery, sims, stu, and especially that fat running back jordan. fat fat fat = slow. get rid of fargas too - can’t break a tackle fargas. knocked down by the wind. gallera - what a disappointment
October 29th, 2007 at 6:49 am
Can’t get good reception on this ledge. Will post later if I come down.
October 29th, 2007 at 6:54 am
Just lose ,baby????..but i still bleed black and silver,mike
October 29th, 2007 at 7:03 am
Stu,
This is contact football not touch football, tackle the man with the ball , do not run with the man with the ball, tackle the man with the ball, this is not practice, tackle the man with the ball, if the man has a different color jersey and the ball hit him hard, tackle the man with the ball, Lendale White does not make juke moves , tackle the man with the ball.
TACKLE THE MAN WITH THE BALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 29th, 2007 at 7:07 am
Hey Jerry ,
Please ask Kiffin if he’s satisfied with the tackling of the safeties in particular the free safeties.
October 29th, 2007 at 7:17 am
Try a screen pass or draw to slow pass rush…
October 29th, 2007 at 7:26 am
our offensive line just doesnt have the talent, plain and simple. with 14 penalties, we kill ourselves. like i said, the playcalling was excellent as far as mixing it up, it was just poor @ss execution. the constant pressure of the titans D did help us out either. i just cant believe how we lead ourselves to loose another game. we should be this and should have done that…….pshh we’re f#ckin 2-5 and thats all we are.
October 29th, 2007 at 7:39 am
I am in total shock from that game yesterday. I honestly can say I have never seen an offensive line collapse like this one has from the start of the season till now. This loss is squarely on the offensive lines shoulders. Seriously.
Williams dropped a pass that cost us the game, so what. D broke down when it needed to step up the most, so what. Culpepper threw a big 4th quarter interception, so what. The offenive line was beyond rancid and cost us more than all of those plays combined!! How the hell can Daunte POSSIBLY go deep!!! You need to have your feet set to pull that off and our line wasn’t allowing that to happen! My God the Titans were almost taking away our freaking HAND OFFS!!!! It was that bad and worse!!!
If they can’t step it up we will not win anymore games this year. I am dead serious! Joe Monatana, Barry Sanders, and Jerry Rice in their primes could not have led this team to victory Sunday behind that line. It was that terrible!
October 29th, 2007 at 7:43 am
I’m already looking forward to April to the draft. Raiders will be lucky to win four games this year. Same old Raiders.
October 29th, 2007 at 7:48 am
Hey charger chok thats some funny stuff about stu and i agree but unfournatly its true
October 29th, 2007 at 7:51 am
it’s called a three step drop and throw…CP holds on and that’s why the line fails now like it did in the last years…once McCown is healthy put him back in. Also, if you get rid of Rhodes look for Jordon to go back to his old ways; hell he’s even lowering production now…put Rhodes in .
October 29th, 2007 at 7:56 am
Whay aren’t the Raiders using more of Dominick Rhodes? Jordan is obviously not the same runner since we put the beat doen on the Dolphins. Did he have a dispute with Kiffin? I do not understand why we don’t use him in more with Fargas.
October 29th, 2007 at 7:57 am
Hey way too much gloom and doom here. How about props to to the D? They played a hell of a game. So did special teams - Jano was on fire… We all knew the offence was going to take time and it is. Rome wasn’t built in a freakin day. We will win next week, no doubt
October 29th, 2007 at 7:58 am
Rob Ryan needs to do something to shore up the run defense. Lendale White is a bloated stiff who pounded the defense for over 100 yards. Rob Ryan is a fraud.
October 29th, 2007 at 7:59 am
The Raiders had a total of 14 penalties, so there is enough blame for the loss to be shared by everyone. We can single out our favorite players to bash here, but all in all, the Raiders had evey opportunity to come back, and win the game at the end yesterday, and Daunte was suppose to come in, and lead the charge after the Titans failed to cash in on the interception he gave up, that was a gift seeing that Raider fans were calling for their Bar tabs until we thought we had a reprieve, so he has to do some finger pointing in direction of his chest, even though the rush was on him like Flies on crap.
October 29th, 2007 at 8:02 am
Glad I didn’t watch yesterday! Really tired of the same old crap. Players committing penalties at crucial times, dropped passes, fumbles,no QB worth a dam, it”s old. It’s very discouraging. And note to Kif..the dc experiment has failed, the guy is a turnover factory…god this sucks.
October 29th, 2007 at 8:03 am
Thanks J Mac, in todays coaches interview please ask Kiffin. 1. Why is LJ still getting the carries when clearly J.Vargas is out preforming him. 2. If your not going to use D. Rhodes why did you sign him? 3. What happened to the quick slants, screen passes and other quick hitters we saw during presaeson. LJ is hurt and is hurting the team but won’t admit it because he’ll lose his job. D.Rhodes and Vargas are speed and hit the holes so much faster that LJ. And once again Nation the same old story. They find a way to lose another game.
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF!!!
Win,lose or tie Silver and Black till I die.
October 29th, 2007 at 8:11 am
I fing it hard to blame DC, his pass protection was terrible and the play calling has been just as terrible as the pass protection.
No sense putting Russell in with terrible protection.
Why didn’t the Raiders keep Echemandu again? OOh that’s right he out performed everyone in preseason so it only made sense not to give him a shot in the reagular season…
Higgins is the fastest WR on the squad how about going deep to him once in awhile?
Jordan has great vision for a RB, however, he’s just way too slow and often injured.
The Raiders aren’t going to win until Kiffin stops playing not to lose and starts attcking defenses to try to win, in other words stop being so conservative an go all out.
October 29th, 2007 at 8:13 am
no more infield, we know that the D played well, and we will surly give them their props, but were waiting for the D, and the O to Jell all at the same time before we start throwing out the praise Towels. Rome wasn’t built in a freakin day, but this is 2007, Rome should be able to be built in freakin hours. Hey, one more thing, I’m an Oakland A’s fan as well, and the infield aint going nowhere until at least 2012, or more.
October 29th, 2007 at 8:30 am
I guess we’re all sick of losing, huh? I had to work bingo at my Daughter’s Catholic high school on Sunday. The game was not televised locally, we only have a couple of “rabbit ear” tv’s to work with. I kept cruisin’ by the TV for updates and when I saw the score at 9-3 starting the 4th quarter I had a bad feeling in my gut.
This O-line turned out to be a mirage. We need smaller, quicker O-linemen to maximize our current scheme. Since Grove isn’t playing, I really don’t know if anyone on this line is really salvagable. Sims can’t play outside anymore. The guy has big heart, but not the quickness required to get it done game in, game out at Tackle
#1 job has to be to fix the O-line this offseason. Culpepper, what can I say, I bought in hook, line, and sinker. Seen enough! Whatever it takes to get Russell in for some snaps next week, Kiffin needs to make it happen.
Sit down with the other QB’s and tell it like it is, the FRANCHISE has to get his feet wet. I’m not worried about JaMarcus’ health, he’s a big kid, he will be alright.
The bottom line is the O-line, they prospered against suspect D’s, and the last 3 legit D’s we have faced have made them look bad!
Two weeks in a row, defense does it’s part, 12 and 9 points respectively. Hopefully they continue to give us a chance to win games.
JUST GET RUSSELL IN THERE BABY!!!!
October 29th, 2007 at 8:33 am
First…Jordan is getting slower by the game. Not that I think Fargas is great, but compared to Jordan (who thinks he is playing two hand touch) Fargas looks terrific. With no sign of Rhodes, maybe Bush a.k.a. (HELP) is on the way to some touches.
What in the name of (I can’t see the ball out of the corner of my eye) is wrong with our O-Line?? The ball moves first, then they are supposed to. I know this is confusing but dam!! These guys put new meaning to shoot them-selves in the foot. Cheers to our guards, besides a holding call, didn’t hear much from them. Newberry could have snapped better when we use the shot gun. D-Pepp was getting the ball at his knees all day. Our tackles…Green…Sims…and put Paul in there also, need to be taken out back and beat with a fu^$’n rubber hoes. 5 false starts??? Sims was called our best o-lineman before the game. 3 false starts at horrible times. This is the easiest part of his job.
Blocking was pathetic, at least for the pass, it is hard for me to complain too much about the run because Jordan is running soo SLOW and SOFT that I can’t blame the blocking because it is not getting any effort with Jordan in the game. Seemed Fargas would gain at least 3 to 5yds a carry on his spot opportunities. O-line failed us this game and seems to be getting worse. Cable is back down to earth, I voted him for president a few weeks ago. I take that back now. I won’t hear any JR talk because I don’t want him to take the beat-down that D-Pepp had to take. I need our line to perform better before we bring him in. It would be interesting to see Bush as our running back, we could use a boost of power on this offense. Someone for our team to count on to be tough!! To hit back instead of the tag n fall down Jordan. It might take some heat off our o-line as well. Then slide JR back there to take a few snaps. Defense is back on their game, come on “O”, we are so close…Just a bunch of guess’s, thanks for reading.
October 29th, 2007 at 8:33 am
OFFICIAL TO DO LIST…
1.) Bench Lamont, Insert J. Fargas & D. Rhodes
2.) Cut Stu Schweigart, Move M. Huff to Free Safety, Find a Hard hitting, sure tackiling SS
3.) Find an Offensive Line, Cut Gallery’s and or at least his Hair
4.) Put some playmakers in the game… Johnie Lee Higgins
5.) Find another pass rush demon opposite D. Burgess
October 29th, 2007 at 8:36 am
I don’t know why you guys are so surprised at Culpeppers performance. This is how I remember him in Minnesota. He had good numbers, mostly because of Moss, but, like the Chargers, he always choked at critical moments and turned the ball over. Definitely not Raider material. Lane Kiffen showed he was weak by giving in to the “Mob” and playing him. If the Raiders cut him today, I doubt if anyone would pick him up. Let’s see what those expensive kids have going, they are being extremely well compensated, let’s throw ‘em in! Welcome to the NFL! Let’s see if they can take a beating!
October 29th, 2007 at 8:37 am
The Raiders Franchise is miserable….has been for half a decade now. What the hell is it going to take to put the pieces back together? Yes, the talent is lacking (both on and off the field). Yes, Kiffin will hopefully help in the scouting department. With top 5 overall picks every year, you would hope to show some sort of improvement before too long. I think the biggest problem lies within the front office and Al Davis himself. He needs to separate himself from any and all personell decisions. Like Derrick Gibson, we have held on to players like Stu, Fargas (although I admire his passion) and Porter for too long. Get Russell some playing time, give Michael Bush a few carries, start auditions for the Saftey possitions and fix the offensive line woes!! I am a die hard Raiders fan that has resigned himself to the fact that the Silver and Black just aren’t very good. I can live with that fact. But, it is becoming increasingly harder to root for a team that consistently gets embarrased on Sunday. Win a freakin divisional game or draft a first round pick that actually materializes into pro bowl material. Do something! This is the collective voice of thousands of frustrated Oakland fans speaking. GIVE US SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO AGAIN. We, the fans, the team, the ownership are the laughing stock of the NFL right now…..SOS
October 29th, 2007 at 8:38 am
im done for the day. im tired of trying to make excuses for a poor offense after a loss game in game out. it makes no sense to even come in here and read the comments, they are the same ones that were posted last week and the week before. same subject with different words that make the same point. this is a rebuilding stage my @ss, you dont go through 4 maybe 5 losing seasons to rebuild. this is crazy and pathetic. daunte obviously is not the answer and QB i thought he was. i dont even care who they put in now. 9 games left and we probably can win only 3. this is not the way i anticipated this season to go, the luck is just not falling in our direction.
i feel like f#ckin chester cheetah………..it aint easy be cheesy.
October 29th, 2007 at 8:39 am
Sim’s comments make my head explode. He makes the same sort of comments every year. Cut his worthless fat ass already. Nobody on that O-line is responsible for more screw ups. I certainly hope Kiff has a plan for revamping that O-line in the off season because we couldn’t possibly expect to win more than four games a year with the current group.
October 29th, 2007 at 8:42 am
C-Pepp, besides the horrible pretection, made the throws to keep us moving, who dropped it? More so, who dropped THEM last week? Brady wouldn’t do shit playing with these guys, nor has ANYONE that has been back there at QB. McCowen did worst on a more consistant basis with his shot, and he would continue to do poorly if he was put back in. He even had a running game at the time.
October 29th, 2007 at 8:48 am
GET THE BALL TO FARGAS!
Yes, I actually caught myself yelling that in the third quarter as the O went 3-and-out again. Right before I said, “Damn we’re only up by 6. Not again.”
QB - Duante, dude, you can cheer Mike Williams from the sideline. Bottom line is down by 1 point on 3rd and long you held the ball too long and SAW THE HIT coming and still fumbled. The D held but Tenn kicks a FG and its a 4 point game. No chance for Seabass to win it. This is the 2nd week in a row you killed Seabass’ chances. When you had no pressure and threw the ball at guys feet or ran into pressure, that helped too. The guy is like molasses getting out from under center. MOVE! Your slow a$$ handoffs are hurting the ground game too. Nine points? Well, I said stats wise Duante should get us 8-12 points. Get used to it fans. He can’t get it done any more. Ma-Cown, Ma-Cown or, Wal-ter, Wal-ter, or Jay-Russ, Jay-Russ! Practice your chanting now for the half empty stadium on Sunday.
RB - Jordan said in preseason he didn’t like the blocking system. Since his back injury he hasn’t done squat. Get Fargas more carries. He seems to fit the system much better.
WR - Screw QB strength issues. “They don’t have a WR that stretches the field,” Gannon said. Amen! We have a bunch of #2 and slot quality guys. No #1 type guy. And no, Curry has proved to be a #1 talent. The flop on his big catch was embarrassing. Try to break a tackle! Every week you see a WR break a tackle and go for a big TD. Just not our WR’s.
OL - Hold your water! Fargas had what was looking like a huge hole but - Sims started early. And so it went. Newberry can’t snap the shotgun. Green was replaced by McQ and I didn’t see much drop off. McQ false started just like Green does. Maybe the team should go with more quick snaps so the guys don’t have time to jump. One Sims jump was after DC called for the ball but Newberry kept looking around.
SNAP COUNT! How much do you think it helps the Defense to know that in the shotgun Newberry will look over his left shoulder right before he snaps the ball every time? They are flying in because they know the count thanks to Newberry’s habit.
The D wasn’t perfect but I agree with Kiffin. They gave up 10 points on the road with no help from the offense. The other 3 was on DC.
October 29th, 2007 at 8:49 am
Dumbest team in America???
October 29th, 2007 at 8:51 am
Funny, the game I watched included Stu making all the tackles in the defensive backfield that the DL and LBs couldn’t make.
October 29th, 2007 at 8:51 am
Time to look forward to next year…this is how Cub’s fans must feel!
O-LINE: Can we please use every pick in the 2008 draft on the o-line? With our track record drafting players we might get one serviceable back-up with one of the picks! Did Tom Cable leave the team at some point in the last month? I guess when you are working with turds like the Raiders o-line you have to expect setbacks. Maybe we can pick up a veteran quality starter in the off-season like Alan Faneca from the Steelers (he wants out of Pitt.) Other than Faneca, the free agent cupboard is pretty bare, although I would be glad to see us cut every last one of the current o-linemen and sign 9 career backups from other teams, they can’t do worse than this overpaid bunch of losers.
WR: Curry has game (even if he falls down like a fainting goat at the thought of getting hit by a safety), Porter disappears for weeks at a time, Williams is showing why he couldn’t cut it in Detroit and the rest are crap. Can we please get a WR that has some speed and can open up the field for the underneath passing game? Is James Jett out there somewhere? Again, few quality free agents out there, but Bryant Johnson from the Cards or Patrick Crayton are free agents, and either one of them would be the #1 on the Raiders.
RB: Jordan needs to be shut down for the season, he is clearly injured, and his time with the Raiders is over. Do the Raiders take a risk and sign another backup that has shown potential in limited playing time? Michael Turner will be a FA I believe, Big Al would love to steal one from the Dischargers. Can’t count on Bush next year unless we see him perform on the field this season.
SS & FS: No quality FAs out there, better get used to Stu, unless we waste another first round pick on the position or make a trade.
D-LINE: Despite the good game yesterday, Sapp is done, should have kept that weight on, but who can blame him for being worried about his health. Sands is a waste of money. Kelly has some game, and so does Burgess. Richardson will get a free pass to be on the team next year. Great FAs out there, Jared Allen, Haynsworth and Mike Rucker to name a few. Jared Allen on the opposite side of Burgess would really make our CBs and Safeties look a lot better-and stick one to the Chiefs to boot.
QB: Very few quality backups out there on the open market, maybe trying to talk McClown into staying on as a backup is a good idea after all. DC seems to have played his way out of being a starting QB in the NFL, although the O-Line is not helping his cause in the least. It seems like the time to stick Andrew Walter on the field and see what he can do, although he may have to be dragged out there after what happened to him last year. J-Russ needs to be slowly mixed in with a series here or there in the second and fourth quarters. Let him get used to the feel of the game for a few games and then let him start the last 4 or 5 weeks. The Raiders can’t let him sit for the year and expect him to start next year. He needs to get on the field and slay those dragons so that he can mentally prepare himself for next season. Bust his cherry.
Going into this season I hoped the team could win 6 games and simply improve their game play. It looked good at the beginning, but the offense has reverted to their old ways and it is time to give up trying to tune up this bunch of pansies, the Raiders need to completely re-build the offense, starting with the O-Line and WRs. There is still plenty of time for the team to show improvement, but I for one am not going to hold my breath.
October 29th, 2007 at 8:56 am
If we can come away with a win against the Texans, and improve to 3-5, then I can see us going 5-11. We NEED to win an AFC West game this year! If we lose next weekend, we’ll probably end up at 4-12. And that IS better than 2-14. Considering how bad some other teams are in the league, we’ll probably only get the 8th or 9th pick in the draft. We need to draft a big time WR, SS, or DL. The best part about being 5-11 is that Kiffin will clean house this offseason, and really begin molding the personnel to his standards. Kiffin really didn’t have much to work with this year. Considering the crap attitude and talent, I’d say he’s doing a pretty good job. He’d tell you he could be doing MUCH better.
Here’s my list of 2007 starters who should NOT be on the 2008 Raiders roster:
1. Lamont Jordan
2. Daunte Culpepper
3. Stuart Schweigert
4. Jerry Porter
5. Chris Carr
6. Sam Williams
7. Barry Sims
8. Cornell Green
October 29th, 2007 at 9:06 am
OK Stu got subbed out on obvious passing downs. He had a nice hit that broke up a TD pass in the 4th quarter. BUT he is so afraid of getting burned for the big TD so he takes really safe angles. Really safe, too safe. but…
CALL OUT HUFF YOU HYPOCRITES!
The big 24 yard run that started Tennessee’s TD drive. Who blew it? HUFF WHIFFED IN THE HOLE! Stu forces him out 24 yards later but that run was on Huff, period.
Oh and TD run that Stu tried to tackle at the goalline? Fredrickson, Thomas and Morrison all let themselves get caught inside so Henry turns the corner and everybody wants to blame Stu. Sure put Huff there so when it has the same results everybody can make excuses.
October 29th, 2007 at 9:10 am
C’mon fellas! Daunte didn’t look great, and how I wish he doesn’t throw those very untimely interceptions, but he still makes some plays to keep us in or (to win) games. No telling how that drive would have ended if Mike Williams makes that catch. Same as how last week if Curry doesn’t drop that third down slant with no one in front of him which would have turned the tide in our favor in that game. Daunte played bad, but the loss is on the O-line and the O-line alone. Sims is a penalty prone bum who actually might be one of the better blockers. Gallery….well, let me not start my weekly rant on what I think of our multimillion dollar GUARD. He’s average at best and good for his weekly hold as well, but I guess you all are gonna tell me he’s learning right? Whatever! Sorry if it seems like I’m pissed at ya’ll. I’m just pissed that our O looks that bad that we can’t crack inside another team’s 20 yd line. Our D did the damn thing, and all we needed was one TD to win that game. Pathetic.
Bright spots
Everyone loves to bash Justin on here, and I hope you all give him his props now. He should be the starting HB next week. Hands down…..
Burgess and Sapp work so well together. Looking forward to the D-line bringing more of that much needed pressure.
The coverage unit was phenomenal. Even Stu came up big with a hit to ensure that their WR dropped that TD. The D is really fun to watch. Too bad, we have to hope that Howard picks one off every week and returns it for 6 for us to have a chance to see the endzone. C’mon Offense, give the blanket unit a break!
What the hell is wrong with our return special teams? Our kickoff returns start around the 27 yard line on average and our punt returns are the worst I have ever seen in a long while. Why is it every time I see a gunner on an opposing team move in motion before the play from the sideline towards the middle of the field, I know he will make it down the field damn near untouched. Well, that is till’ we push him in the back. Our max return package blocking sucks. Two people should at least be able to stop a gunner for 2 seconds. Every time a team sends their gunner in motion, I know we’re screwed. Everyone needs to do their job. Our division leader’s records aren’t that great so it isn’t over completely yet, but it almost is. The Jamarcus debuts in either two weeks or three.
October 29th, 2007 at 9:14 am
Why dont we just punt on 3rd down? Everything comes up short.
Sims is the worst LT in the NFL on the road. False starts so much.. somebody look up hisis stats on that.
Rhodes is good. Play him full time. Why we cut Adim Eche I will never understand. Kiffen , please stop being stubborn about running Lamont. He is done for now 12 carries for 16 yrds? Longest carry 7 yrds? Dude it wasnt the offensive line all the time, even though they made it difficult.
Lets get some more beef in the middle of our line to stop the run and practice tackling every practice.
I have the answers to our problems… just listen to me Davis and Kiffen and any other retard we’ve hired for coachs.
October 29th, 2007 at 9:15 am
One typo among many - I meant to conclude with the “Jamarcus Russell Show” debuts in either two weeks or three.
October 29th, 2007 at 9:20 am
The D did a good job. WHen we lose a game, it is easy to focus on the D-breakdowns because we need to identify weaknesses or blame something. The D did a good job all game. THat was why the score was a low 13. Same happened in SD and KC. The problem is with our offense.
This offense reminds me a little of the Walsh passing offense. Running game is decent but passing game is always a deep drop looking for some long ball. Gruden used to call short passes that worked like short runs. This frustrates the opposiing D’s because they would rush to stop the run and ended up getting burned with a short pass. When they tried to stop the short pass, then a run would hurt them. When they started getting up close to within the 15 yard zone, Gruden’s offense would attack them between to 10 yd and 20 yd line.
I do not see that sort of imaginative attack in this offense. Having played when young, it is hard to blame the OL or CP or LJ. Remember LJ had a back injury and that is a tough one. I blame it on the lack of pass plays. Passing game is unlike running game. It has to refine over several games especially when implementing a new scheme. One starts with short easy passes for short east catches. This sets up the WR, TE and OL to mesh their timing. The QB gains confidence, learns how the OL blocks, how WR and TE run, and he can adjust his throw timing and angle. None of that happened.
On several occassion yesterday, CP took off running in the pocket when he did not need to. He could have just thrown the ball away or stood and look for a chance. He was always within 1 or 2 second of making the right decision. It seemed like he was uncomfortable behing the OL.
This is a rebuilding year. The players have to know they are paid millions to work and that is to play and perform for the spectators. if they do not, many will not be around come end of this season.
I do enjoy the D though, they play with fire and speed. In a few more months, they will be smash-mouth all game.
October 29th, 2007 at 9:22 am
SilvernBlack, I totaly agree with you. alot of these guys claim to know football and starts tto blame everyone from DC to Jordan. BUT THEY DONT KNOW JACK. At the end of the day, it’s all about the trenches. The reason why we lost 3 games in a row is because the Oline cannot block. when the QB is running for his life every down (as DC did in the 2nd half), we will never score any points. I turned the game off at the beginning of the 4 qtr because I knew there was no way we’d win with the pressure and 3rd and long. PUt AW, JM, JR, Peyton, Brady, or Montana in there yesterday and they would have lost too.
On the other hand, props to Fargas. I was wrong about him. We will win when we fix the Oline. After SD put 8 in the box and exposed our weakness, we have not made adjustmens.
October 29th, 2007 at 9:23 am
Bench sims now, but in Bush. And pray a lot, becaues we need all the help
we can get.
GO RAIDERS
October 29th, 2007 at 9:23 am
I was guessing the JR Show would begin next week at home against Houston, at least for a handful or more of series…but with all of Kiff’s comments absolving DC in this one, it’s probably gonna be another week of DC at least, with some McKown mixed in if he can walk. y Yesterday I opted to sit and watch the game in a pub, rather than take a nice hike thru some hills in the foliage. That decision was as bad as Raider personnel decisions.
October 29th, 2007 at 9:26 am
I meant in a few more weeks, the D will really be smashing mouth.
Kiffin just needs to ignore the W or L and start balancing the passing game with running game. Insert Fargas because LJ is playing hurt, not becuase LJ is bad.
Kiffin needs to implement short passing games and call them with the consistency that he calls the running game. This builds confidence for the offensive side and allows the O to work out its timing. They are playing like individual pegs right now rather than a “net” of interlocking parts, as my old HS coach used to say.
Give them short passes, intermediate passes, mix that up with runs, and the offense will heal itself in about two to three games. Keep doing that, the offense will start to click in four games. They may lose all four games, but constant improvements give them a chance to put up a fight. As it is, every time they touch the ball, I expect them to make a mistake.
October 29th, 2007 at 9:29 am
For all who are blaming the lost on Al Davis. I’m not listening. For all who blame Kiffin,not listening. A competent owner and head coach are there to put the players in positions to win ball games. That is exactly what they did. So put the faults on the players that were in position to win games. Place your blame on the mental and physical errors. Place the blame on what is obvious. It is obvious there are less than a handful of players making the same mistakes. correcting the mistake may not easy,especially the O line. They may replace a player with mental error with a player that has less physical skills. Kiffin is trying to assess what players possess heart,intellect,and skills to be part of a winning team. IT TAKES TIME !!!! It take time to Know who are the Raider Warriors, who are the Raider intellect and who are the the Raider skillmen. The raiders are not far from being champions again. If you want to talking about a handful a players that can make this team better, I,m all ears.If you are advising a complete demoliton of this team, My advise to you is; go jump on another teams bandwagon until The Raiders get things fixed. The strength of the Raiders is mounting evidenced by the many winnable games. True Raiders fans Got Game.
October 29th, 2007 at 9:31 am
This season is over… we can discuss about draft prospects for next year…
I am really dissapointed I had hopes that this team could make some things but there is no talent in the ofensive side of the ball… the ones that I will call back are Fargas (just for his desire, he lacks of enough talent), zach miller, ronald curry as a #2 reciver, maybe porter as a slot receiver… the rest of the bunch can go and help rebuild the dolphins really don´t care…
JRuss will start any time soon, If he don`t… he will not get playtime experience needed for next season… and we will get more of this sh!t!!!!!Cpep is done, McClown?, Walter…once a promise just a guy with very bad luck…
Why do you have 5 RB’s in a team… considering that Lamont Jodan is another bust, Fargas is not 100% reliable, Rhodes could end with a long term suspension, anyway… is he a kick returner?damn… what is m bush doing day in and day out next to the practice field instead of getting some reps???
Kiffin you are OUT!!!!!!
October 29th, 2007 at 9:33 am
THE O-Line -
They stank with the penalties and there were many plays they didn’t block well BUT it also wasn’t all on them. Not giving them a pass but consider -
Fargas averaged 5 yards a carry. Jordan looked terrible but I don’t think it was all the O-line’s fault. Seems Fargas found holes okay.
Sacks and pressure - DC got pressured several times but there were many times he just needed to step up in the pocket. He almost always tries to run to his right and twice McQ was blocking nicely until DC ran past him into the DE. Not designed roll outs. DC panic runs.
DC holds the ball too long. Period. C’mon even as a fan you’re watching him looking around and thinking “uh-oh, do something. Get rid of it.” On the last drive why was it 4th and 14? Gannon says, “Ok just don’t take a sack or put it on the ground. There’s plenty of time.” The next play, DC holds it too long and gets sacked!
Every two-minute drill DC screws up! EVERY ONE! Sacks, fumbles, picks.
When the game is on the line he chokes.
No trips inside the Tenn 20. That’s not good QB play. That’s 3 weeks in a row DC has done more harm than good.
I’m not going to ask for Rhodes to play because Kiffin has been right about DC, Bing, Moses, Darious, Crockett and so on. Rhodes must look terrible in practice.
October 29th, 2007 at 9:36 am
Well, well people are finally admitting that the O-line still stinks even under the Cable guy. All of you calling for O-linemen in the draft you should have been calling for them this past draft instead of swinging from Kiffin’s sacks as he selected the players he wanted. Now after drafting the players he wanted and cutting players (mostly veterans) he didn’t want he’s still not getting it done. “If” we lose next week against Houston we will be 2-6, the same record as Art and gang at this time last year. Funny thing is Kiffin is getting a complete pass by fans here. Art on the other hand was getting roasted last year at this time by these same fans. This year, however, it’s everybody and everything but Kiffin. It’s AL’s fault were losing. It’s R. Ryan’s fault. It’s the O-line. It’s the defense. It’s this, it’s that. How about the guy in charge? When is he going to be held accountable for the performance of his team? No scholarships? Huh! Then why is M. Williams still playing for the Raiders?
October 29th, 2007 at 9:43 am
Lane need to call alot more TRICK plays. The AFC teams know Lane’s called plays now, they scouted the Raiders inside/out the last 7 games, the reason for the offense stumbling. Jordan need to go on the injured reserved, obviously, he’s not healthy. Can the coaches please SIT DOWN a player when he’s INJURED ala McCown and Jordan. This really hurt the Raiders chances of winning. Don’t the coaches realize we’d could been 4-3 if the INJURED players are not playing at all.
October 29th, 2007 at 9:43 am
Kiffin is getting a pass because we have a chance to win.
We have had a 4th quarter lead in 5 games. A second half lead in 6 now.
Kiffin is putting guys in a position to win and they’re not executing.
Kiffin has had these guys in a position to win every game this year. He now has to build the talent to make the plays.
Kiffin called the play on 4th and 14 that worked. Oh but wait, dropped pass.
Even as bad as Williams is he is an upgrade over Whitted.
The reality is you can’t just “go get a great FS” or “just get a better O-line” it takes time to compete with 31 other teams for the same talent.
Shell was getting spaanked every week. Kiffin is cleaning up a three year mess.
October 29th, 2007 at 9:46 am
My thoughts- My love for the Raiders is like being in love with an old hooker. She sure is offensive at times but I love being with her. I am an old fart now and remember that the great Raider teams of the 60s, 70s and early 80s were built around great offensive lines. Derek Thomas use to own us all through the 90s and why Al Davis seems to have forgotten the “O” line is the heart and soul of the offense is as puzzling as why American cars can’t be as reliable as Japanese cars. I know there is a reason, I am just not close enough to the source to figure it out.
I agree with most of the previous posts and I am glad to see we tried to open up the offense with the passing game. I just don’t agree with a lot of the patterns run by the WR or that DC all too often DC got away from the quick release type passing game. Why not stay in the shotgun and for crying out loud, don’t hold on to the ball too long. I always wanted AW as the QB but then jumped on the DC band wagon once I saw JM play. Now I am just glad we kept all four QBs because like I have said so many times before, we are going to need them with our “O” line. I still think that moving DR and Fargas around to utilize them on passes down the field is a good idea.
Kiffen, I hope big Al has given you the control a head coach deserves and keeps you around long enough to give you a fair chance. I feel you may have been deceived by Tom Cable into thinking this “O” line would work with his new blocking system but if you do not correct this situation with the next draft you will have sealed your doom as a Raider coach and possibly as a head coach in the NFL. I am tired of being embarrassed on Sundays by the Raider miscues and righting the ship begans with a “O” line. If you do not bring in a better “O” line this next draft, I for one will not remew my long time season tickets. I will ALWAYS be a Raider fan but spending a ton of money for season tickets on what is now a retired person’s income when I can stay home and watch the game on high definition is silly. I guess I just change my moniker to Mad Home Dog!
October 29th, 2007 at 9:48 am
I believe it’s SELFISH for a player to claim he’s healthy but in actuality INJURED. The coaches need to sit down the players neccessary for this franchise to WIN. How can anybody win in this league if you are 65% healthy against a defense 100% healthy?
October 29th, 2007 at 9:49 am
Give me a break Raider Savage!!! What have you been smoking??? It’s obvious this team is a lot better than Shell and Bed&Breakfast Walsh had to offer. THAT WAS REALLY PATHETIC! The team is improving, but not as good as they should be. Atleast were not getting blown out. There is atleast 8 players on the team that dont belong in the NFL as starters. Kiffen is not the problem. And neither are his coaches. We just have a bad team right now. It’s going to take some time!!! Like it or not. We dont have the right pieces in place to win games on a consistent basis!! And thats the TRUTH!!
October 29th, 2007 at 9:49 am
“Games will be so easy because practices will be so hard…” Lane Kiffin during his introduction speech…
Easy games? my A$$
October 29th, 2007 at 9:53 am
McCown scrambling around in a fracture foot and ankle. Jordan trying to bust a big run with a bad back. These are the things we’d all need to look at instead of putting blame to the entire offense including the OL. Give me a healthy QB the first 3-4 games… possible win. Give me a healthy RB who can burst thru a hole… possible win. This is not entirely the OL fault.
October 29th, 2007 at 10:00 am
McCown play with a fracture ankle and toe cost us a few games in retrospect. Jordan lack of burst and speed cost us yardages in retrospect. Please sit the guys down for crying out loud!
October 29th, 2007 at 10:06 am
Stu has to go - I can’t take it anymore. All read (Derek Says: October 29th, 2007 at 2:24 am ). We gotta get rid of this clown. I saw that play also. He engages the runner 7 yrd from the LOS and gets dragged for 10 more. U gotta be kiddin me. I say lose Stu. Move Huff over and bring in J Cooper he can lay wood on these fools before they get to second level. His pass coverage is just as bad as Stu, but he will help stop the run. They probably would bring in DB to cover anyway like they did in this game. Stu does not attack the LOS he just runs after people and takes bad angles. He has hang onto people and get dragged like a sack of poatoes to make a tackle.
Turdell Sands was the biggest waste of money this offseason. For all u haters on old man Grady… Sands did nothing again Sunday.
Kelly was a monster until he got hurt. If only Sands could play with that king of heart and enthusiasm.
October 29th, 2007 at 10:07 am
Radlady….funny stuff….I will start a Novena. With all the doom and gloom, I see some real good posts. Fargas definitely has earned his shot.
I don’t care who plays QB, as long as JR goes to #2 ASAP. Kiffin sounded pretty pissed about the Offensive performance and the penalties. We’ll see what gets done about it in practice this week I guess.
Like so many have stated……IT’S THE LINE, PEOPLE. It must be upgraded, and yes, we need a REAL #1 WR on this team! Keep the faith people, we are rebuilding here!
JUST GET RUSSELL READY BABY!!!
October 29th, 2007 at 10:08 am
This is why I love this blog: “My love for the Raiders is like being in love with an old hooker. She sure is offensive at times but I love being with her.”
October 29th, 2007 at 10:09 am
For you Bed & Breakfast types here’s an analogy:
We’re asking Kiffin to make Sunday Brunch with greasy leftovers. Kiffin has tried to upgrade every spot but there are only so many players available every off-season.
QB - Drafted JR but holdout has him way behind. JM/DC upgrade over A Brooks
RB - Given Jordan / Fargas - Drafted Bush and signed DR to try to upgrade
FB - Given Crockett - Griffith a big upgrade, rookie in the wings
TE - Given Anderson - Drafted Miller for big upgrade
RT - Given nobody - Drafted Henderson and signed Green to fill in
RG - Given McQ - Brought in Carlisle the only guy not getting penalties
C - Given Grove - Brought in Newberry who should be an upgrade
LG - Given Booth - Moved Gallery in where he looks good but his inexperience shows
LT - Given Gallery - Drafted Henderson and moved Sims to hold down fort
WR - Given bad attitude Moss and Whitted - Drafted Higgins, added Williams, starting Porter & Curry - big upgrade but not enough
Kiffin is trying to bring in guys but also has to deal with the fact you can’t just find starting LT’s in front of Home Depot.
Look to the future (next year)
JR, Bush, Griffith, Miller, Henderson, Higgins, O’Neal - these are the guys of our playoff teams. They just aren’t ready yet so Kiffin has to fill in with DC, Jordan, Sims, Porter and Rhodes.
We have 3 new starters on O-line so it isn’t like we’re not trying to improve.
October 29th, 2007 at 10:10 am
Stu problem is he cannot make a tackle. I use to be a DB, you wrap your arms around the players LEG and NOT the waist or shoulder pad. Can someone please teach Stu how to make a proper tackle in the NFL? LOL… this is getting really old with all the mistackles.. another reason why we’d are losing.
October 29th, 2007 at 10:13 am
RF - They should teach Huff too while they’re at it. His whiff in the hole was pathetic.
October 29th, 2007 at 10:15 am
You don’t need to be BIGGER than the other players. Just wrap your arms around the legs or ankles, they will FALL! I use to play QB too. You cannot scramble with a fracture FOOT and ANKLE trying to make a BIG PLAY or THROW. LOL… this is getting OLD.
October 29th, 2007 at 10:24 am
Look at this comment by Vince Young: “That was the game plan this week,” Young said, “to go three tight ends and just pound the ball real hard. I really feel like LenDale answered that challenge. I feel like the offensive line answered that challenge.”
AND NOW, HERE COMES ECHEMANDU… REMEMBER DC VS THE PHINS?
they better stop the run, or again this team will show endless ineptitude…
once again… the Nation is Watching you Lane…
October 29th, 2007 at 10:26 am
What is going on with the scouting deptartment. Jordan has had about 30 horrible games and three good ones and they keep giving him the ball. Fargas gets spot duty and Rhodes is on the bench. They cut Echemandu and he goes to the Texans (6.2 yds/ carry check out his stats). They are afraid to cut Rhodes because of where he might end up. I don’t know why they won’t put him in the game. Even if he just runs up to the line of scrimmage and falls down, he will get more than 16 yds on 12 carries. (1.3 yds/ carry).
The offensive side of the ball needs a serious overhaul of talent. After four coaching changes and the same players with the same horrible results. I think its pretty clear. Its not the coaches. How many times do we have to watch a defensive player blow past Sims before we will admit its time for a new left tackle. How many times do we have to watch Porter stand there when a defensive player intercepts the ball before we decide he doesn’t want to fight for a pass. He may do it for someone else but he will not do it for us.
October 29th, 2007 at 10:27 am
Good points all, COW…
I (and a lot of you, obviously) let myself get caught up in this whole early bit of success, and hoped that a former Pro Bowl QB had some magic left.
Well, some times REALITY BITES! We are in rebuilding mode, hopefully it gets much better this offseason. Al has always been deep pockets when it comes to FA, and Kiffin will get to handpick a couple of new toys there.
Russell should be making his debut the next couple of weeks. I can’t wait to hear Kiffs Monday pm Tell the Truth comments. He took responsibility for getting the offense fixed. It will be interesting to see how much he can do to accomplish that.
Definitely think Fargas deserves more carries, would like to see him start. I’m blown away by the whole Rhodes thing. Just seems like pissin money away to sign that dude, and now he is in the doghouse? Maybe he’s headed for the three time loser one year suspension or something. You would think Al would’ve learned to steer way clear of SB heroes by now….
Being in every game, as frustrating as 9 or 10 offensive pts are, is way better than getting our heads kicked in. The next step is winning more consistently, and then comes winning big.
I just PRAY JR is the real deal.
JUST GET RUSSELL IN THERE BABY!!!!
October 29th, 2007 at 10:43 am
the defense gave us a chance to win that’s all you can ask , but turning the ball over is killing this team. Slo pepper is too slow backing away from center as Gannon said numerous times that is giving the defense the extra seconds to disrupt the timing of the plays . Tennessee’s defense is good but, the o-line helped their cause immensely . all you can do is keep fighting until they get it right
October 29th, 2007 at 10:43 am
Coach on Wheels…..I think Kiffin did clean house as much as he could in this one year and I do not think he is finished yet by any means …The team has 6 starters this year on offense that were not even with the Raiders last year….I think in the off season he will do some more house cleaning…I also had the same thoughts as you concerning DC…he did little to help himself by not stepping up in the pocket sooner on many plays…he looks more like a guy holding on to the ball too long in hopes of making a great play to make the highlight films
October 29th, 2007 at 10:45 am
At least this year it took seven games for us to realize the season was over…last year it only took about 1/2 of the first game to realize the season was over. Progress? I guess so. Stay positive Raider Nation!
October 29th, 2007 at 10:49 am
Once again I say it….
JORDAN IS FINISHED. Dude can’t hit a hole if his life depended on it. I am so tired of LaLame I can’t stand to watch him disgrace the #34 any longer. O-Line sucks, but it’s not ONLY their fault. Dude is fat, slown, and whines like a b!tch.
I refuse to acknowledge Mike Williams as a Raider. Rich Gannon said it best after the drop, summorized, “Jerry Rice and Tim Brown would have made that catch”. Ok I understand Mike Williams isn’t Jerry or Timmy, but making that catch is what makes great players.
LaLame LaSucs LaDick!
October 29th, 2007 at 10:50 am
This team will not be much better next year. This offense is 2 years away at best. I hope the front office can hold our defense together until some real talent can be found for the offense.
This is the dumbest team in America. Pathetic.
October 29th, 2007 at 10:53 am
DC hold on to the football too long? Do all you know when to make a throw when the receiver break away, DC did the right thing. Take a sack or throw it away when the receivers are cover. The defense is playing the Raiders short, packing in and taking away the running game. DC is trying to make a play downfield, it takes time, and when the receiver cannot make the break then it’s useless, might as well take a sack. I cannot express that some of the vet WRs have hard time separating from the DB, I stated that during pre-season, that’s something the receivers need to work on IMO.
October 29th, 2007 at 10:56 am
What makes Kiffin so special that he needs a complete team of only players he selected before he can be held accountable for the teams performance. No new coach in the NFL has that luxury. Old man Art didn’t have that luxury and neither did “Nervous” Norv. They both had to coach players that they didn’t hand select that played on bad teams. Bottom line, that’s a Lame Kiffin excuse. And speaking of the O-line, it was Kiffin that said that the O-line was fine and he didn’t feel he needed to draft multiple O-linemen. Kiffin drafted who he wanted and made FA pick-ups that he wanted aswell. Todate, it’s not working very well. But the season is not over so Kiffin still has time to right the ship. We shall see.
October 29th, 2007 at 10:56 am
Considering changing my posting name to something related of dissing LaLame Jordan. So I am not labled a troll I will make the announcement when i decide on a name. Stay tuned for the big announcement…..
October 29th, 2007 at 10:58 am
Hey when Schweigert came to us as a rookie, I thought he was the second comming of Vann McElroy, Im sorry Vann just to mention him in the same sentence with you ! Boy was I off on that one !
October 29th, 2007 at 10:59 am
The whole O looked like it was in slow motion. I’ve never seen so many slow people at the same time on any given team.
I wasn’t expecting a W but I wasn’t expecting to be embarrassed by such a bunch of offensive losers. I don’t care who’s in there going forward because all we are playing for now is practice, experience and to determine whether we draft 2nd or 3rd.
These are the players I’d prefer to NOT see in S&B ever again:
For the offense - LJ, DC, the whole O line with the possible exception of JN, JM & JP.
For the Defense - SS, TB, SW & RT
For ST - CJ, HE & CC.
Let’s face it, we have limited talent available and that’s where it all starts. We need a big upgrade with our scouting department. Their track record over the last 5 years stinks. Hopefully we can get help in the upcoming draft and in FA.
October 29th, 2007 at 11:04 am
PLAY CALLING !!!! PLAIN AND SIMPLE .. I didn’t play much in HS or in college. I watched with guys that did both. I could tell what the RAIDERS were running from the formation they were in. If I can do that, and I’m only an AVID watcher, imagine what pros can do. The PLAY CALLING was unimaginative and telegraphed. When Tennessee adjusted in the second half the RAIDERS stuck to the same game plan. Blame a hobbled Jordan, a banged up culpepper, or 10 offensive penalties, but lining up and trying to push a football down someone’s throat doesn’t work anymore. Jeff Fisher was smart enough to go no huddle tire out the defense, then bang them in the mouth.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE besides me that thought the game was over AFTER the first series in the third quarter?
October 29th, 2007 at 11:04 am
Dude, JB, please use SOME names, my head hurts trying to figure out who you are talking about!
October 29th, 2007 at 11:08 am
gtown,
You can’t call complex plays when you have the dumbest team in AMERICA! Maybe there is something to this Wonderlic testing? I bet Indy and NE put a lot of emphasis on their player’s IQs. The Raiders clearly do not.
October 29th, 2007 at 11:11 am
I believe Jordan should not play if he cannot fully recover from his back injury. I would use Fargas exclusively in th I formation, at least he woulda made a difference in the yardage gain dept., face it fellas… there is no one player or coach culpable. The entire offense need to be scutinize.
October 29th, 2007 at 11:11 am
Out of the starting 22 players, 15 should be cut, starting with Stu ! Fans should boycott home games more than they do, and then you will see things turning around. I cant believe that I fell for this again, Why is it so HARD to be a Raider fan, always.You can can never watch a game with confidence now. I remember watching the raiders in the late sixties and through the seventies, that was a era of hard nose football on and off the field,from their owner to their coaches to their players, that was raider football not these pussies! Hey Raiders YOU GUYS SUCK !
October 29th, 2007 at 11:14 am
Dakota.. That’s hilarious… But I do agree that there must be something to that. That left side is a disaster. Cut Gallery now and put Barry Sims back to where he’s comfortable. I don’t know if JR will be any good. I watch a lot of college football, maybe too much, and he never impressed me other than his size. I think he had a great team at LSU, but going to a team with limited options and mediocre coaching in the RAIDERS, I think he will get crushed in the media and on the field. In this system a mobile quarterback will succeed from getting killed, but the play-calling will make him look like Ryan Leaf.
October 29th, 2007 at 11:19 am
holding on to the football by the QB and wideouts would help this team greatly that and knowing the snap count better than the defense does
October 29th, 2007 at 11:19 am
Worst pass protection in the league period. Anyone blaming this loss on DC is nuts. He kept us in this game with some huge third down throws if anything. I can not even believe the O-line is this bad. I’d say put JR out there but what for? He’s not gonna learn anything being on his ass the entire game. Right now Culpepper gives this team the best chance to win because he has the ability to make a clutch throw. I don’t see this season ending well but the QB position is not our problem.
October 29th, 2007 at 11:20 am
Raiders SUCK
October 29th, 2007 at 11:22 am
I don’t know gtown, maybe Kiffin simply knows what his current players are capable of and he is afraid, in a close game, to take risks because he knows they will botch it up. His play calling at USC was okay wasn’t it? I lean towards blaming the players and not the coaching…at least at this point. These players have been around for a while and for several coaches, and they have sucked every friggin year.
I think as far as Russell is concerned, I hope we the fans and the media give him a chance because if he plays this year the o-line simply will not give him enough time to show what he can do. We can’t judge him on this year because like Darth Helmet in the movie Spaceballs he will be surrounded by @ssholes!
October 29th, 2007 at 11:28 am
My boyfriend is a passivist, so leave him alone!
October 29th, 2007 at 11:30 am
History Lesson for Rich Gannon: Tim Brown did drop that catch in the SUPER BOWL. Rich also threw 5 picks, so he should just shut his trap.
October 29th, 2007 at 11:32 am
De Ja Vu- RAIDER are 2 and 5. Sound familiar? Defense keeps the RAIDERS in the
game and the Offense stinks it up! The offense did have a couple of good plays,but
once again very,very.very inconsistent! Come on Coach Kiffin, we RAIDER FANS
know you can do the job and support you, but after 4 seasons we are beginning to lose patience!!!!
Here is some advice for next season:Check out the receivers on the University of Hawaii
(my alma mater) Davone Bess, Ryan Grice-Mullen and Jason Rivers. Look at their stats
for yac (yards after catch) these are the type of receivers we need on this team!
For that matter, just draft the U of H entire offensive line!!! Sorry, just venting!!!!!!
October 29th, 2007 at 11:35 am
I called in also gave up 12 hrs pay. Luckily i have PTO/ but still …aww just frustrated! Com on guys get it together….!!!!!!!!!!
October 29th, 2007 at 11:36 am
I guess the Culpepper / Plunkett comparisons can stop now.However we’ll probably have to keep playing him for a few more games. Coach is going to have to take some blame for this loss. You need to change your game plan when ever