Starters get lots of work for Cardinals
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Tuesday, August 19th, 2008 at 3:02 pm in Oakland Raiders.
Quick hits from Tuesday’s single practice session in Alameda:
– A lot of snaps for the first team offense as the Raiders, playing Saturday night at McAfee Coliseum against the Arizona Cardinals, had what was essentially an in-season Wednesday practice in terms of work.
“I thought they worked well. We’re going to play our guys pretty long this game, especially the quarterback with the first unit, and it would be really good to come out of this game feeling good about our first unit on offense and feeling good about our run defense,” coach Lane Kiffin said. “If those two things could happen in this game I’d be pretty pleased.”
Starting units will play into the third quarter Kiffin said, with the possible offensive exceptions being Justin Fargas and Zach Miller, both of whom are ready to go physically and mentally in terms of their understanding of the system.
– Cornerback DeAngelo Hall originally thought he had a broken right hand, with Kiffin saying he thought it was a bruise. During the Fox network telecast Friday night, Hall said he had torn tendons, and he told a reporter Tuesday it was torn ligaments. He continues to play with his right hand in a cast.
Whatever the diagnosis, visual evidence suggests it is painful.
During one play in a team session, Hall stepped in front of a Marques Tuiasosopo pass, and attempted to catch the ball against his body.
The ball glanced off his right arm, hit him in the torso and dropped to the ground, incomplete. Hall immediately walked to the sideline and took a knee in obvious pain before returning a few plays later.
Kiffin said there is no broken bone, that Hall is will wear the cast to protect the bruise and that it hopefully will be a “non-issue” by the season opener Sept. 8 against Denver.
“There’s nothing telling us that there’s going to be surgery,” Kiffin said. “Everything tells us that he’s going to be OK for the opener. The problem is he’s got to wear that cast throughout all these practices and probably will still have to have it on this week. It’s hard to tackle. It’s hard to be a corner with a cast on, but it’s the situation that it is and we’ll make the best of it.”
– Practice ended with the offense taking over its own 31-yard line with 1:39 on the clock to simulate an end-of-half or end-of-game situation to get in position for a field goal.
Quarterback JaMarcus Russell opened the drive losing 2 yards on a sack then throwing a dump off to Justin Fargas over the middle for a short gain. Forced to throw the ball out of bounds on a rollout to his right, 53.3 seconds remained on fourth-and-7.
Finding no one open, Russell ran up the middle and was credited with 18 yards to the 49-yard line and 47 seconds left on the clock.
On first down, with tight end Zach Miller held in during maximum protection, Russell threw incomplete on a poorly-timed play to Javon Walker, with Hall in coverage.
With 43.4 seconds left, Russell’s pass over the middle to Walker was broken up with Gibril Wilson in coverage. Russell was flushed from the pocket on third-and-10 and threw a comeback route which Carter couldn’t reach, and then fired incomplete on fourth-and-10, with defensive coordinator Rob Ryan crowing, “That’s a win!.”
– The second team offense, facing the second team defense, made quick work of the final session. Quarterback Andrew Walter immediately found Todd Watkins over the middle for 19 yards, and then dropped back and located Johnnie Lee Higgins streaking into the clear past Michael Waddell along the right sideline. Touchdown.
– Wide receiver Chris McFoy had at least four catches of medium depth with no drops, having his best practice session since camp opened. Two off them came from Russell on back-to-back plays, one on a seam route and the other on a rollout
Rookie Chaz Schilens was also sure-handed and seems to be steadily improving.
– Those who missed practice included cornerback John Bowie (knee), Arman Shields (knee) Grant Irons (back), safety Hiram Eugene (hip) and kickers Shane Lechler (quad) and Sebastian Janikowski (hamstring).
It was a back injury which kept Irons out of football all last season. Irons said afterward he didn’t expect it to be a problem.
– The Raiders began preparations specific for Arizona, the only time they will game plan for an opponent in the preseason.
Jarrod Cooper wore a red jersey No. 24, simulating Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson.
– Russell had no turnovers during the practice session, continuing to operate safely and attacking occasionally. His most reliable receivers continued to be tight ends and running backs, with Miller and John Madsen catching the ball more than 15 yards downfield.
One of Russell’s harder thrown balls caught Drew Carter by surprise and he couldn’t come up with the catch.
– Practice started off well enough for Walker, who reached behind him during drills to somehow catch a bullet from Russell and added two later catches with a snag of an Andrew Walter pass on an out pattern against Hall and a catch during a team session from Russell against Nick Sanchez.
He later had an opportunity for a big play, breaking free behind Darrick Brown. Walter’s pass was a wobbler and slightly underthrown, but Walker had so much separation it didn’t matter. He put his hands up at an awkward angle _ “poor hand placement,” as Kiffin might say _ and the pass thudded off his hands and to the ground.
Walker stared straight ahead in disbelief and dropped to the ground in an act of self-punishment, doing 10 push-ups.
– If only coaching was this easy all the time.
“They’re not going to toss from this motion, so let’s clean up and wait for the turnover,” Ryan said just before the ball was snapped in a seven-on-seven drill, with Tuiasosopo dropping back and safety Rashad Baker correctly reading the play and making the interception.
“And there it is,” said Ryan.
– A columnist attempting to revisit the roster issue found Kiffin standing his ground but unwilling to get into the topic again. There were no roster moves made as of Tuesday afternoon.
“I think that’s kind of a dead issue,” Kiffin said. “I said what I said and it’s the situation it is. To keep dwelling on it is not going to do us any good.”
Not that Kiffin didn’t have a subtle zinger handy.
When asked if he had sought advice and counsel from his father Monte Kiffin a veteran NFL coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Kiffin said, “No, I don’t really talk to him too much about it because unless you’ve been here, you don’t understand it. So he really doesn’t have any advice for me.”
[You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.]
August 19th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
http://www.raiders.com/Raiderettes/CheerleaderBio.aspx?id=712
August 19th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Al is God.
Kiffin is a fraud.
Just Win Baby.
August 19th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
24-17 Raiders
August 19th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
28 - 10 NATION
August 19th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Noting on MacFadden?? It should be interesting to see how our secondary holds up against the cards receiving core.
August 19th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Big Game on Saturday!!!
August 19th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Give Kiffin what he needs. Are we going to let another great young coach slip through our fingers like Gruden did??!! Al’s ego needs to go and he needs to let the people he paying to run the franchise actually make some decisions and run it!!
August 19th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Bring back the the Wiz
August 19th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Al is a senile fraud Kiffin is the future!!!!!!!!!!
August 19th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Thanks Jerry
Andrews Mom would you please switch it up! That chicks hot and all but the Nation is all about diversity! =)
August 19th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
present
August 19th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Henery Lawrence is KING!!!!!!!!
August 19th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
HappyDaze#37
I really can’t remember when you started to comment on this blog, I’m glad you do.
I sense your frustrations, this blog has never changed.
I find myself just hoping to find a few insightful commnets to keep a discussion lively.
I’ve been here a little longer than some, but I can’t let the discussion good or bad discourage my time on this blog.
You have great comments, I’m quick to scan the comments but never pass yours by.
Just hang in, I have so could you.
August 19th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Gotta run — it’s been fun.
Raider On everybody…yes, that means you too, brother KK!
August 19th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
DMAC AND BUSH ARE THE SILVER AND BLACKS FUTURE
August 19th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
“exceptions being Justin Fargas and Zach Miller”
Now we know who works the hardest on this team as far as learning the playbook is concerned.
“a subtle zinger handy”
Here we go AGAIN!!!!
August 19th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Jerry says “Walker had so much separation it didn’t matter.” Sounds like Walker is getting his burst back even if he dropped the ball.
August 19th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Kiffin is the master of the smoke screen, rightfuly so, he is learning from the BEST.
August 19th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
THE SKY IS FALLING!!!!!!
August 19th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Joe Horn anyone?
August 19th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Can we get more info on Hall? Seems he is more hurt than what has been reported. Do we have a real ETA on when he will be full stregth?
August 19th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Somebody with some diversity best step up to the plate.
I only have eyes not to mention time for one big eyed Raiderette
August 19th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
It is a shame Kiffin won’t make it past this year. Al will regret it if he lives long enough.
August 19th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Trade for T.J Hoosyourdaddy now!!!!!
August 19th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Joe Horn is washed up. We need to make a play for Boldin.
August 19th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
4 days, 2 hours, 37 minutes, and 3 seconds left until the Arizona Cardinals visits the Oakland Raiders.
Hope to meet some of you there.
August 19th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Kiffin is and will be the head coach of the NATION. Unless we are close to the situation, meaning we are either AL, or Lane we really dont know WTF is going on. So until otherwise noted I will support our Owner and Head coach because we need both of them to win.
August 19th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
These recievers gotta start catching these balls man. I know JaMarcus throws a laser but they’ve been catching all of his ball back in OTAs so it shouldnt be much different now. For all of us who were wishing for Chris Henry, we can lay that to rest now. I’ve decided Im gonna show faith in Walker, Carter, and Curry. Miller’s a non-issue, he catches everything thrown to him in games so no worries on him. Despite the friction in Raiderland’s front office, Im prone to believe it’ll desolve once we start winning games, and I think we have a nice shot. Here’s to 11-5,,, 10-6?,,,no?,,,9-7 then. YA KNOW?!
August 19th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Johnnie Lee Higgins catching a pass with Waddell defending is like scoring with a hooker with a 100 dollar bill in your hand…
August 19th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
“No, I don’t really talk to him too much about it because unless you’ve been here, you don’t understand it. So he really doesn’t have any advice for me.”
But Gruden does!!!
August 19th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Housmazilla is hurt
August 19th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
D-Dawg will be used quite abit at wide receiver. Also will be used at the QB like in college. Lets see what the donks have for that… Can’t wait for the opener!
August 19th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
fair enough Andrews Mom! She is hott and @ least you didnt say it!
August 19th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Our best overall unit - 2nd string offense. Maybe Watkins, Higgins and such should get some reps with the starting unit. At least they can catch once in awhile.
August 19th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
“When asked if he had sought advice and counsel from his father Monte Kiffin a veteran NFL coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Kiffin said, “No, I don’t really talk to him too much about it because unless you’ve been here, you don’t understand it. So he really doesn’t have any advice for me.”
August 19th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
1. Adarius Bowman
2. Koren Robinson
August 19th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
We need our WR’s to be used like WR’s I wish they would catch the damn ball! I like the walker doing push ups thing tho! sep it should me 100 not 10
August 19th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
be
August 19th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Post 34, agree coach put guys in that ” can catch”. Not a popularity contest, nor is it scholarship.
August 19th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Joe Horn doesnt want any part of Kiffin.
August 19th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
In fact they should open it up to all WR’s to work with the first team. Hope AZ plays their first just as long.
August 19th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Where is Kenyon Rambo?
August 19th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
I am still basking in the lies I was told this offseason like how no free agent is going to sign with us!!
Didn’t we pick up a few guys this offseason…someone wake me up when the sky stops falling please!!
August 19th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
am I trippin or did andrews mom jost post a funny story about al running away from kiffin? where did it go? freakin m o d s
August 19th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
I know its Al’s fault that Kiffin cant call his daddy for advice.
Its also Big Al’s fault that KK has an infected hemorrhoid and I got a rash from that $100 Hooker!
August 19th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Waddell …boy I hope to never see him touch the field …just call him “automatic 6″
COW - You must be utilizing a bit of sarcasm there. Its not a fare comparison with the 1st team vs 2nd team. I mean come on …going up against Waddell, Johnson and company? Not even a fare comparison vs going up against Nnamdi, Hall, Wilson, Kelly et al. The 1st team defense is just too damn talented in the secondary. But that good b/c it should make these WRs better.
Sounds like Walker is turning up the heat. Sounds like he’s getting primed for Denver.
August 19th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
My posts are being deleted right now by MR.
August 19th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
If one more of my posts get deleted by that troll MR I am going to Jason Jones blog!
August 19th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
All things being equal the WRs will have to work harder to get open - run better and more crisp routes. It should make them better. Now they just have to catch the damn ball when they DO finally get open.
August 19th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
666
I cant believe there after Andrews Mom! This place gets stranger every day Jerrry sup with the m o d dude?
August 19th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
the mod is MR 408Raider that’s how he is able to get away with what he does for so long.
August 19th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Walker will be at full strength against denver. I hope he shows up with a vengence like culpepper did against miami last year.
We will need him to step up big and I beleive he will.
Beating denver will give him some clarity…..
Adarius Bowman
Koren Robinson
August 19th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
666,
You’re such a dweeb, that it’s hard to stay mad at you.
And I appreciate you at least calling me out with your own monniker, for a change.
August 19th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
as crazy as it sounds it makes sence! straight twilight zone isht!
August 19th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Kevin McMahon
August 19th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
I know 408 I can understand them coming after me, but Andrews mom I have never seen use foul language or berate other posters.
Stranger goings on in here than in the Raider front office and that is WEIRD!!!
August 19th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Alex Vandike
August 19th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Walker we need you to catch the ball you go tless then 3 weeks to get your isht together!
August 19th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
KK if i ever was to use another moniker I would not be to address you it would be to hide from the troll….unless you are the troll?
August 19th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
First of all, why are they pushing hall so much right now….they know his potential….and they paid him way to much to risk an even bigger injury and miss real season games
Secondly….if you guys are playing fantasy football…I hope you picked up RUN DMC because he is going to EXPLODE against denver gauranteeeeeeeed.
I give him two touchdowns that game and 150 yards
YOU GUYS JUST WATCH
Go raiders
August 19th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
[...] get lots of work for Cardinals Starters get lots of work for Cardinals - Inside The Oakland Raiders - A look inside the world of th… __________________ *The proceeding link is not affiliated by this site, nor the provider. listed [...]
August 19th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Winning is everything! It does not matter how it is done, it just muts get done.
Just Win Baby!!!!!!!!!!!
Kiffin win’s he is safe, if not…. NEXT!
August 19th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Im gonna @ least make 1 comment on JJ blog every time he has a new post starting today! Its kinda sad to see bis blog with only 3 hits when we all read his take!
August 19th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
KK, I have nothing to hide or hide from I have many times posted my seat # in here in hopes that you or the troll or both would come pay me a visit during a home game.
If you or your troll friend ever want to meet me I will gladly post my address. I am not afraid of a internet pseudo bully.
August 19th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
It will be important, for the starters on both sides of the ball, to show some consistent good play, by being in the game long enough to get a rhythm going.
Also, will be interesting to see if someone besides JLH will be deep on punt returns.
Who, is the starting center?? Brien’s —-> Guy Or
Dell’s —-> Guy.
Any wagers??
August 19th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
The NATION needs Continuity……
August 19th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Zach miller is going to be a top 5 tight end by the end of the season
August 19th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
408 I just got done registering on Sacbee so I can post on JJ’s blog.
Se you there!!!
August 19th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
408, what up Bro?
August 19th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
POST #61 Damn your good!!!!
August 19th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Scary deleted it because I said
“jerry said”
August 19th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Yeah sure you would. Sure.
August 19th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Good post Jason Jones. Oops wrong site! lol
August 19th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
sup Thec
just tring to get my fix but these rumors and WR’s dropping the rock are just killing me!
August 19th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/raiders/archives/014728.html
August 19th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
D-Mac will be our 3rd WR.
Louis Rankin will rush for 125 yards, and catch 5 for another 75 on Monday night 09/08/08
FOR THE DONKEYS
August 19th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Andrews mom we need to have an off site discussion about this mod situation.
You can meet me at the sacbee site and we can talk safely there.
August 19th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
sign Joe Horn
August 19th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
I should have said once upon a time in a land far far away there was a bad arse coach named Kiff and he had a boss named Al.
One day Kiff chased Al out of the stadium and told him not to come back untill opening night.
Then Kiff went looking for Hall to put his size 11 sneaker up Halls backside for dogging it
We will be writing stories about the legend named Kiff for a long time.
Just dont say Jerry said any of the above things or he will delete it faster then Al runs when Kiff is after him
August 19th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
I wonder how much of the offense’s struggles in practice are due to the quality of our secondary. Not that the 49ers and Titans are expected to have great passing attacks, but those two teams were completely shut down by our first-team defense.
And the one time they turned JaMarcus loose, last week vs. Tennessee, he carved out a quick TD drive.
Howard-Morrison-Nnamdi-Hall-Wilson-Huff-Routt are going to be very tough to beat in passing situations.
August 19th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Kiffin must have done something that someone wasnt happy about b/c Behind the Shield online didn’t even put up his PC. But thats pure speculation on my part. Just win Kiffin - the world as you know it in Raider land get a lot better after that.
August 19th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Let me go against the grain for a minute.
PREDICTION:
Kiffin wins 9 games this year and Big Al signs him to a 5 year extension.
All this rumor mongering will be laid to rest just as it was when Nnamdi showed up to camp and every local sports writer was scrambling to do a story on it so they could cover their butt for saying he was going to hold out.
August 19th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
i think Al needs to hire a gm and just be content being the old rich guy who owns the team… leave personell to someone else. it’s obvious this team is super-wierd from a mgmt perspective and every coach/player talks about it. Kiffin obviously is frustrated and would like out, but isn’t getting a paycheque for nothing… so he’ll bitch and moan publicly - hoping (i think) to get his walking papers… not good for the team long term as we’ll again have a new staff in the next 6 months, but good for someone to finally tell Mr. Davis that he thinks things are messed up.
August 19th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
This is why I haven’t totally given up on Walker. He still has a burst apparently. He cares, or at least appears to with his reaction with that dropped ball. Finally, we know he has ability locked up in that head of his.
I’m disgusted with Walker, but that can quickly change if he produces in the season. Like most fans, I’m willing to change my tune when things start going right with him.
August 19th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
SNB 666
I agree, that is I spell RELIEF!!!
August 19th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
SilverNBlack666, I hope that happens. I doubt it does, but that would be awesome.
August 19th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
I saw Walker get behind the CB in the titans game. the burst is his. He will ultimately be an asset for the NATION….
August 19th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Then follow that up with a 13-3, 14-2 and a SB Birth/WIN.
August 19th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
I smell a trade.
August 19th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
I hope Al can get out of the way and let Kiffin do his job, we have an opportunity to be special with this bunch
August 19th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
i agree…….Sign Horn and cut the recievers you know wont make the roster.
August 19th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Stop reading this rumor bs. It is bad for you health. Watch the games, read the box score, see the wins pile up.
August 19th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Leryn Franco is smoking hot! she can throw my javelin any time!
August 19th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
The difference between our number one reciever this year “Jivin’” Walker and last years Number 1 Jerry Porter is Walker still has speed and cares about playing. I don’t think Porter has played in a practice more or less a game for Jokesonville. How’s that taste Jack Del Rio??
August 19th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Is James Jett avalabile? How bout Rocket, or Andre Rison?
God I miss Tim.
August 19th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Oakglenn, you got connections.. do somethin. Bring back Mervyn Frenandez please.!!
August 19th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Why couldn’t Darrell Russell have kept his cool? Throw him on this line and boom, no one would get a pass off on us.
August 19th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Is Rod Coleman signed?
August 19th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Swervin Mervin..
There is a blast, from the past…
August 19th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Wiz 76
I love that guy!
August 19th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Boy would’t it be nice to see 81 come across on a slant for a nice 12 yard gain and a first down.
August 19th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Otis Sistrunk..
August 19th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Wow you went through and deleted all the posts talking about the truth
bye
August 19th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
WILLIE freakin GAULT!!!
August 19th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Ira Hayes, I mean Ira Mathews
August 19th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
What about Alexander Wright?
August 19th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
NFLN just said the Raiders were this years sleeper…….IF RR could get his act together on D.
August 19th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Kenny Shedd
August 19th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
The Raiders clearly have set things up to fire Kiffin, why they are going to wait til he gets us going with a 2-6 start before they get rid of him makes no sense. Fire him now. Hes a worthless little crybaby. The players dont like him, the other coaches hate him, he has no friends or allies on the team or staff. So he runs to the media because thats all thats left. Fire him now.
August 19th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Alvis Lives: Bring back Whitted
August 19th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
And his brothe Steve from Iowa
August 19th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
951,…the NFL Network didnt say it,..Rod Woodson did,…hes still tight with Al Davis and threw him some props. Eisen could be seen smirking as Rod was saying this.
August 19th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
I would really like to see Bush play with the first unit in this game. He’s earned it. If Fargas sits out, that might just happen.
August 19th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
Rod Woodson always gives the Raiders respect. He said the same thing last year. Cool dude and the Raiders will back it up this year.
August 19th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Rod Smart
August 19th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Anderws Mom JJs blog the exudos begins
August 19th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
I’m looking forward to this roster getting cut down. Way to many people sitting on the sidelines and training tables getting paid to keep the trainers busy.
They need to keep the real players healthy not these scrubs. God help the S&B if any of the starters on either line or the secondary go down.
August 19th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Walter has looked really good this year. If russel goes down i think we will be in okay hands, he had a unfair chance in 06. I also want to see bush with the starting line and no backups.
August 19th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
DID ANYONE HEAR X GM REESE COMMENTS ON ESPN? WHAT THE F@%K DOES HE KNOW! I DOUBT HE FOLLOWS OAKLAND ENOUGH TO EVEN KNOW WHAT HE’S SAYING. RIDERS-4-LIFE!!!!
August 19th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
408 I saw you there just a minute a go I hope to see Andrews mom there soon!
August 19th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
WIZ I never ever thought I would see the Name Ira Mathews on this blog he used to wear #43.
I loved watching him return punts!!
I thought i was the only old timer that remembered that guy!!
August 19th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
The more I read/hear of Javon’s onfield reactions to his level of play, the more I am thinking there is something really wrong with this guys mind. I’m certainly no doctor, but I have a cousin that has some mental instabilities, a lot of depression and a paranoid personality.
Some of the quick hit description of his short antics after a failed play, he always has some little tantrum action as to show to the coaching staff that he is aware he f*ed up and he is punishing himself already so he doesn’t get punished. Instead of simply getting back into the play and trying to fix it in the next snap.
I’m kinda worried this guy is going to hurt himself eventually. I mean, we are screwed regardless since it seems Kiffin and the staff are already planning for the possibility that he wont play in the starting position. If that’s the case, it really doesn’t matter if he is on the team or not.
I wish they would have allowed this guy to leave when he requested to retire. If he was to get his head on straight and want to unretire, his contract would obviously belong to us still so we would get first crack at him. But allowing him to stay on the roster, make the most money on the team and be allowed to f* up while everyone works their arse off, doesn’t create much of a locker room confidance.
I just hope the other guys can pick up the slack and Kiffin just uses this guy as a straight decoy until he gets his head on straight.
We shall see how this works out. Maybe the Bronco game will work as a trigger to get him into a much better focus.
Too many maybe’s, if’s, hopefully’s with this guy.
August 19th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
roger bird…oh no…he fumbles too…cost us a superbowl…..crap
August 19th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Watching the Denver vs Dallas and I’m not as impressed with Denver’s offense as some have mentioned here. Its the Dallas defense thats making them look good. Dallas looks like they don’t even want to play. Zero pass rush. They look slow and WRs are running around the field wide open. Of course Cutler will look good with WRs that far in the clear.
On the other hand, Denver’s run game doesn’t look as potent as it has been in past years. Insofar (2 drives), its looks a little below average compared to past standards.
Their defense looks better the the Cowboys defense but still not that good. The Cowboys defense is looking weak - like they don’t even want to be there.
August 19th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Mike Siani!
August 19th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
…he never returned punts you moron
August 19th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Bird did return punts and I was never sure why. He wasn’t very good at it. He was also a lousy DB. Slow as molasses.
August 19th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Bird led the AFL in punt return yards the superbowl year….he was good at it…get a clue
August 19th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Rodger Bird returned 92 punts for the Raiders in his career. Had an 11.3 average. Not too bad.
August 19th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Joe Horn would fit right in with the other Raider receivers. Just another loser.
August 19th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Today’s good news: JLH caught a touchdown pass! Today’s bad news: He did it against Michael “Lock Down” Waddell.
August 19th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
Hope Al Davis didn’t throw away the phone numbers of Carlos Francis and Johnny Morant.
August 19th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Today’s Riddle
All of these end in the letter n and will have something in common “down the road”
Shanahan
Gruden
K_ _ _ _ n
Time for Amy Trask to take over!
August 19th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Amy has actuall been making the personnel decisions the last couple of years.
August 19th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
666
yeah I had to put the in front of 408RAIDER! that was lame! But I will post @ least 1 comment for every new thread JJ puts up over there!
RAIDER ON NATION
August 19th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
Oddsmakers have Cal giving the Raiders 10 points! And Stanford by 3.
August 19th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Dump Walker.
Start Watkins.
August 19th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
how about Darryl Hobbs……………………..whats old 80 doing, RICE would love to make a comeback, whitted is better than 1/3 of the recievers we have now………………….DESMOND????????????????????????………….oh for the love of god AL…..package up a RB and a D lineman and get us a reciever………..
August 19th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
we need more cowbell…
August 19th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
and cowbell…
August 19th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Anquan Boldin has requested a trade. Considering Javon Walker aint done much, and us not really having a proven reciever, Al Davis, just trade for him baby!
August 20th, 2008 at 3:31 am
keep rankin!!!! go for boldin!!!! i keep telling u guys… nows the time to make a move for him!!!
August 20th, 2008 at 4:45 am
trade Fargas and Walker for Boldin…Rankin makes a better 3rd string RB than Justin.
August 20th, 2008 at 6:52 am
we shouldve gone after chris henry when we had the chance now it only seems logical to go after boldin we need someone out there that can accent russell’s throwing abbilities
August 20th, 2008 at 8:18 am
Did you just say Rankin is better than Fargas???? Hahaha…OMG, C’mon man, you sound like a “Random Drugster” than a “Random DrugTester”! Why would we want Chris Henry??? He has some serious character issues…might as well bring in Mike Vick when he gets out of jail too!
August 20th, 2008 at 8:31 am
Justin Fargas will fall to 3rd on the depth chart before long…might as well keep Rankin as a 3rd stringer and trade Fargas for some value now…deal from strength.
Boldin is a quality young receiver…Overall talent is improved with Boldin at WR and McFadden, Bush, Rankin at RB instead of Walker at WR with Fargas, McFadden and Bush at RB.
IMO
August 20th, 2008 at 8:36 am
But in reality…Walker’s contract makes him virtually untradeable.
P.S. I never said Rankin was better than Fargas, he just makes more sense at 3rd string, financially and depth-wise for the future.
August 20th, 2008 at 9:21 am
YOU THINK TIM WILL COME OUT OF RETIREMENT!!! I MISS TIM
August 20th, 2008 at 10:39 am
The Raiders should be much better than their records have shown the past five seasons. Every coach from Turner, Shell, Kiffin and Callighan has had outstanding talents. The D-line is far more consistant than San Diego’s one man pass rush and the running game is very good. In this parity age why does local media take Kiffin’s ideas about the Raiders when far less talented clubs get ignored with the same argument? Make the plays and hope the players can execute, complain more about referee’s and NFL bias than the talent you have or don’t have and please attack instead of run plays that a college defense could stop.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:54 am
Do we even have the cap room to go after Bouldin? I doubt another team would accept him in a trade.
I would agree to trade Fargas and a 3rd for bouldin.
August 20th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
Besides the Kiffin drama, I am unsure what many of the worries here are about.
It is true that the team has few WR who can threaten a secondary like Brown and Rice. This was the same problem as last year when we had a rotation of Walter, McCown and Culpepper. Yet, the team came close to winning several games. It was the fourth quarter melt-down by the defense that resulted in losses.
This year, there is a young and capable QB who can maneuver and zing passes into tight spaces. There is a TE in Miller who can catch near everything in the vicinity without goop on his hands. There is a trio of running backs and ALL of them can catch out of the backfield.
While there are definite obvious weaknesses, they may not be as bad as last year. If the defense can stay in shape, stay focused, learn to tackle when it counts, it can keep us in the game until the very end. With a QB and a young group jelling, this team can do something good this season.
I will say that on average, 8-8 is a possibility. If a few balls bounce the right direction, 9-7 or even 10-6 is not impossible. Of course, if we have a defensive melt-down, a few punt losses, really bad O-line play, then it is back to 6-10, 4-12 or worse.
I am looking forward to the Cardinal game this Friday. It will give a hint of what is to come.