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Bold Predictions
2007-05-19 00:54:00 I, like many Raider faithful, am very excited about the direction the team has taken since the end of last season. After looking at all of our changes I feel like making a few bold predictions.1) We will win at least two divisional games this season.I think Kiffin will appease Al Davis in his first season as head coach by ending our streak of losses against our AFC West opponents.2) We will not finish last in the AFC WestThe AFC West has always been one of the toughest divisions in the league but I believe we will finish ahead of the Chiefs this season. 3) We will be in the Super Bowl in the next 4 yearsThis is by far my boldest prediction but I say it with confidence. We have an extremely talented defense that should continue to improve with time and a player to build our offense around. I think Russell will be one of the elite guys in the league when he gets some experience under his belt and I am hopeful that Michael Bush becomes the back to finally compete with the other AFC ... More About: Predictions , Predict
Draft Day 2
2007-04-29 18:39:00 The picks are starting to come in quickly. This is a nice change from yesterday.So far today we have taken RB Michael Bush and CB John Bowie in the 4th round and DE Jay Richardson in the 5th.Michael Bush could end up being a draft steal. He would have been a first round pick had he not broke his leg this season. He ends up in a perfect situation. He can sit behind Jordan and Rhodes this season and look at breaking into the starting lineup next season. I think Bush could become the one to compete with the other AFC West Running Backs.John Bowie is a project player. He is a track star that ran a 4.24 40 yard dash. It's hard to say if he'll ever crack into the lineup but we all know how much Al Davis loves speed.Jay Richardson is tall and strong. He will most likely be a special teams player but only time will tell. More About: Draft
Draft Day 1
2007-04-29 14:21:00 Now that Day 1 of the NFL Draft is in the books we can look back and see what we accomplished. I am very happy with the first three picks in our draft.The PicksRussell will hopefully become a fixture at the Quarterback position for the next 10+ years.Zach Miller is the best TE on our roster right now.Quentin Moses should end up starting opposite of Derrick Burgess.Mario Henderson could be a future replacement for Sims but we probably won't see too much of him this year as long as we don't have a bunch of injuries.Johnie Lee Higgins won't make an immediate impact on our offense but we could see him on special teams although I am still hoping Chris Carr is our return guy.The TradeOne of the biggest moves for us was acquiring Josh McCown and Mike Williams from the Lions for a 4th round draft pick. McCown will most likely start until Russell is ready to go. That is if Andrew Walter can't get it done but McCown is a better fit for Kiffin's offense.Mike Williams is a project but I...
With the #1 pick the Raiders Select...........
2007-04-14 17:09:00 With the draft just around the corner there are only two realistic options with the first overall pick. Let's examine each of these options.Why we should draft Calvin Johnson1) Quarterbacks take time to develop. Taking Russell would leave us with a guy who wouldn't be ready to start for a couple years. QBs only have about a 50% chance of panning out.2) Johnson is one of the best WR prospects in 10 years. He has all the tools and a great attitude and work ethic.3) It would make us much more likely to trade Randy MossWhy we should draft Jemarcus Russell1) We need a franchise Quarterback. If Russell pans out, it would leave us with a Quarterback to lead us for years.2) Russell has amazing talent. He can throw the ball further than almost any QB in the league.3) New coaching regimes often draft a new Quarterback to give themselves a little more time to get their systems installed.My ChoiceI would be more comfortable drafting Calvin Johnson. Most great quarterbacks have had a great ... More About: Selec , Pick , Raider , Aide , Select
NFL Draft
2007-03-30 22:25:00 With the draft rapidly approaching, I decided it was time to pull out the draft value chart to see what the first overall pick is really worth.Here it is:Round 1Round 2Round 3Round 4Round 5Round 6Round 713,000335806526597112129431612719314.222 ,6003456066260981081304216226.619413.832, 2003555067255991041314116326.219513.441,8 0036540682501001001324016425.81961351,700 37530692451019613339.516525.419712.661,60 0385207024010292134391662519812.271,50039 510712351038813538.516724.619911.881,4004 050072230104861363816824.220011.491,35041 490732251058413737.516923.820111101,30042 48074220106821383717023.420210.6111,25043 470752151078013936.51712320310.2121,20044 46076210108781403617222.62049.8131,150454 50772051097614135.517322.22059.4141,10046 44078200110741423517421.82069151,05047430 791951117214334.517521.42078.6161,0004842 0801901127014434176212088.217950494108118 51136814533.517720.62097.8189005040082180 114661463317820.22107.4198755139083175115 6414732.617919.82117208505238084170116621 4832.218019.4212... More About: Draft
Moss to the Packers?
2007-03-15 00:40:00 According to http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill. htm, the Pack er s and Raiders are discussing a potential trade involving the moody Randy Moss and inexperienced Quarteback Aaron Rodgers.The real question is if we acquire Aaron Rodgers would we still draft a Quarterback? That would leave Andrew Walter as the only QB with any starting experience. It would also open the door for us to draft Calvin Johnson. A more likley trade would involve Randy Moss for draft picks but Al Davis would likely ask for more than any team would be willing to part with for an expensive 30 year old receiver who plays when he wants to play.I can't envision us with three unexperienced QBs on our roster so if Rodgers comes to Oakland, we most likely won't be draft a Quarterback. If this rumor is real, the trade would probably take place later so we could try to trade our pick to Cleveland who is interested in Russell. More About: Packers , The Pack
Busy Friday
2007-03-10 02:15:00 It was a busy Frida y for the Raiders. After the smoke has cleared it looks like the Raiders have added five players to the roster.RB Dominick RhodesFB Justin GriffithTE Fred WakefieldTE Tony StewartWR Alvis Whitted More About: Busy
Raiders Offseason Update
2007-03-08 02:55:00 FA Update :Signed C Jeremy Newberry (49ers)Signed LB Charlton KeithReleased CB Tyrone PooleDid not pick up option on QB Aaron BrooksSignees:Jeremy Newberry started his NFL career with the 49ers in 1998 after being drafted in the second round (58th overall). He started in 79 of 80 games from 1999-2003 but has faced injury problems since then and has only appeared in 11 games in the last three seasons. He suffered a torn ACL in the '98 season in mini-camp and didn't play that season. He has a major microfracture surgery on his left new in August of 2006. He appeared in three consecutive pro bowls from 2001-2003. If he can stay healthy, he is a good acquisition but that is a pretty big if looking at the last three seasons.Charlton Keith spent last season with the Cleveland Browns and did not play in any games. He is listed on NFL.com as a DE and on the Raider s site as a LB so he is most likely a tweener. He was a rookie FA pick up by the Browns last season and looks to be a practice s... More About: Season , Offseason , Aide
Slow start to Free Agency
2007-03-03 21:05:00 The Raiders are known for big offseason moves, so this slow free agency start is a bit suprising to most Raiders fans. The only transaction thus far in Free agency has been cutting CB Tyrone Poole according the official site.There are still some decent options available but any real value moves will most likley be done through trades. Former 49ers center Newberry is a likely addition and at a relatively low expense. There aren't any other FAs that have seemed to catch out front office's eye yet so keep an eye out for trades. I still expect Randy Moss to be traded and a veteran QB to be brought in. David Carr or Brad Johnson are both options. The sad thing is the best QB left in Free Agency might be Aaron Brooks. At this point, I wouldn't mind having him back as long as it comes at a lower cost and he isn't named our starter. More About: Start , Star , Tart
Garcia and Raiders at Impasse?
2007-03-03 16:12:00 NOTE: Garcia has officially signed with the Tampa Bay BucsNew reports are surfacing that are saying Garcia and the Raid er s are at an impasse. This comes one day after reports saying a deal was in place. All things considered, this is probably a good thing. Garcia will command a very large contract after leading the Eagles to the playoffs last season and he has struggled in below average offenses. At his age, he isn't worth the kind of money he will get.With Plummer retiring and Garcia most likley heading to Tampa Bay, our options for a veteran QB are getting thin. We could still look at David Carr. He would come at a lower price and has a few less years on him.Other NewsFormer RT Langston Walker has signed a deal with the Buffalo Bills. More About: Pass , Aide
Garcia a Raider?
2007-03-02 23:28:00 There are numerous reports all over the internet claiming Jeff Garcia has reached an agreement with the Raid er s. Can Garcia help salvage or team or will he be a scape goat next year?Jeff Garcia has played very well in certain situations and struggled in others. The current situation in Oakland may not be the best and this could go down as a struggle for him. It depends on our offensive system. No one is really sure what it will look like yet other than our coaching staff. More About: Aide
The Latest
2007-02-24 01:23:00 With only one Quarterback, Andrew Walter, returning to our organization, there has been a lot of speculation flying around about the draft and potential trade candidates. There are two potential trades that I could see having some sort of credibility to them.Trade Scenario 1Trade Randy Moss to the Jaguars for Leftwich and some sort of draft pick package.The good thing about this trade is that we get rid of Randy Moss and get compensation for doing so. The bad part is that Leftwich hasn't really done anything the last few years to prove he can lead a team effectively. Overall, I wouldn't say this is a bad trade. Even if Leftwich doesn't start, he would be valuable as a second Quarterback. This trade seems to be a little far-fetched to me. I can't see the Jaguars wanting to part with Leftwich because Garrard isn't a capable starter and there aren't many others available.Trade Scenario 2Trade a draft pick (3rd/4th) for Texans QB David CarrDavid Carr hasn't done much in a T... More About: Test , Late
Raiders Draft Outlook: Running Backs
2007-02-16 03:35:00 The top Running back in the upcoming draft is Adrian Peterson. Peterson has all of the skills to become a great NFL back but his injuries may make some teams shy away. He is the only Running Back in the draft that can realistically be considered with the first overall pick but there are some other decent options if we decide to trade some picks or players around.Cal's Marshawn Lynch is projected to be a mid first round pick, with a likely landing spot in Green Bay at pick 16. He also has all the skills needed to succeed in the NFL but the only way we would land him is by trading down or somehow acquiring another first round pick. It is unprobable that he will end up wearing the silver and black but you never can tell what Al Davis has up his sleeve.The other Running Backs with first round potential are Kenny Irons and Michael Bush. One of these two guys could be a likely choice if we are able to trade up into the back half of the first round. Auburn has produced some decent N... More About: Outlook , Draft , Look
Raiders Draft Outlook: Quarterbacks
2007-02-03 15:46:00 With our current draft position, there are a couple of Quarterbacks that could warrant a look. The first and most likely choice is Jemarcus Russell. Russell is the most physically gifted of the Quarterbacks in the upcoming draft and can throw a deep ball that will make Al Davis drool. He is currently the first or second Quarterback selected in most Mock Draft s and his stock will not drop after the combine due his remarkable physical skills. He is a bit raw and may need a little time to develop properly but he could be worth the wait. If he is drafted, there is a good chance he could sit on the bench his first season. If that is the case, look for us to either keep Aaron Brooks on the roster or pick up another veteran Quarterback for the upcoming season.Another viable option is Brady Quinn. His stock may be dropping slightly after a poor bowl game outing but he may be the most NFL-ready Quarterback in the draft. I have a feeling that Quinn will drop a few picks after the NFL ... More About: Outlook , Arte , Back , Look
Raider's Team Needs
2007-01-29 03:51:00 With the draft and free agency approaching, it's time to take a peak at our needs this offseason.QuarterbackAfter horrible seasons by both Andrew Walter and Aaron Brooks, it is time to start looking for a franchise Quarterback. The best option open to us for filling this position is the draft but there will be a few veteran QBs to take a look at like Carr, Leftwich, Plummer, Johnson and Schaub but the draft still remains the best route.Running BackLamont Jordan has done little to prove that he has the talent to be more than a good backup. It may be time to give up on him and look for another option. I don't think the Chargers backup Turner is much of an improvement but we could always try to make a move on a star like Clinton Portis but we would have to part with more than we'd like to. There are also some decent options in the draft but other needs will most likely force us to fill other positions first.*Wide ReceiverThis is marked with an asterisk because it won't be as pr... More About: Team , Need , Raider , Aide , Raid
The Coaching Search and the Draft
2007-01-14 06:41:00 The Search for the Next Head Coach As coaching candidates continue to come and go, the real question become "Who is the right coach for our team?" Here is a short list of coaching candidates that I feel could have a positive impact on our team.1) Rob RyanI know we could use a coach that has a great offensive mind but Rob Ryan is a great candidate due to the support he has from the players on our roster. Ryan has turned our defense into one of the youngest and most talented groups in the league and he would be a coach that shows passion and emotion on the sideline. The only drawback to Ryan as our Head Coach is that it could adversely affect the defense.2) Steve SarkisianThe main reason I have Steve Sarkisian on this list is because Al Davis has an outstanding eye for young coaching talent and this is an Al Davis pick all the way. Sarkisian is young and unproven which will allow Davis to pull the strings and select the rest of the coaching staff and well as handle the personel dec... More About: Coaching , Draft , The D
Disapointing end to a disapointing season
2007-01-02 06:35:00 Well it's official. We are the worst team in the NFL this season which means it is finally time for us to look to our future. Here is a short list of things to think about this offseason. Will Art Shell be our head coach in 2007?Where will Randy Moss and Jerry Porter end up?Will we honor the contracts of Ronald Curry and Lamont Jordan despite large bonuses in the horizon?Who will be the first overall draft pick?Some of these questions will be answered very shortly but others may linger a bit too long. I think Art Shell will be our coach in 2007 but we will hire a new offensive coordinator and give him more control over the offense. Randy Moss wanted to go to Atlanta when he signed with us so that is a possibility but Minnesota is also interested by all early reports. Jerry Porter on the other hand could go just about anywhere. He is unlikely to get a lot of attention due to his large contract and poor production.The first pick in the upcoming draft is up in the air. I ... More About: Season , Point , Inti , Seas , Sapo
Only 2 Remaining
2006-12-19 05:42:00 Sunday's loss to the Rams was one of our worst losses this season. There were some positives but they are few and far between. Despite our bismal season, we still will end up missing out on the Quinn sweepstakes because the Detroit Lions are just as pitiful and lost their best player for the season.Despite being shut out there are a couple of offensive performances that I'd like to analyze.Andrew WalterWalter came into the game late and made some nice throws. He completed 14 of 20 passes for 131 yards and two interceptions. The two interceptions turned a decent outing into a poor one but he really did show some progress. One of the interceptions was tipped up in the air by his receiver so that one shouldn't be completely on his shoulders but the other was his fault. Despite the interceptions I really feel that Walter showed he can be an effective Quarterback. He made some really nice throws and did complete 70% of his passes. I think he deserves a chance of playing the re... More About: Main , Only
Positives from a Negative Season
2006-12-13 02:46:00 2-11 isn't what most Raiders fans were expecting this season but even with all of the poor play and distractions that have occured this season there are a few positives.The most obvious is the vast improvement by our defense. I know the defense was torched by the Bengals but overall they have performed amazingly. Nnamdi Asomugha may be on his way to his first Pro Bowl appearence, he currently leads the league in interceptions and has returned one for a touchdown. Thomas Howard has played great for a rookie. He is second on the team in tackles and can play from sideline to sideline. Derrick Burgess and Warren Sapp have both had success getting to the Quarterback this season. Burgess currently has 10 sacks while Sapp has added another 7. Rookie Michael Huff hasn't made many impact plays but has been very solid in run support and has shown that he may become the Strong Safety that Derrick Gibson never was. Even on the offensive side of the ball there may be one positive. Ron... More About: Season , Positive , Negative , Posi , Seas
The long road to redemption
2006-12-01 03:04:00 Last week's loss at San Diego was a tough one. We dominated them throughout the majority of the game and then fell apart in the fourth quarter. Our defense looked good as they have for the majority of the season and our offense continues to improve so there is hope for the future. The "forward pass" call by the officials was a tough call to take. By the rules, it may have been the correct call but if that is the case the rules need to be changed. Here is some food for thought: Is Nnamdi Asomugha actually becoming one of the top corners in the league? I think so.The promoting of John Shoop to offensive coordinator was a good move. Tom Walsh struggled to adapt to our opponents defensive schemes and didn't call plays based on the abilities of our players. I am hoping that this move will provide a spark and maybe get Randy Moss "happy". The poor performance of our team thus far has brought to light some questions for the upcoming offseason. What do we do with Randy M... More About: Redemption , Long , Road , Rede
Another close loss
2006-11-20 01:21:00 Another close game lost in the fourth quarter. There were some encouraging signs but also some huge disapointments.First off, Aaron Brooks played much better than I expected him to for the majority of the game. His end zone interception was very disapointing but he was able to make it through the game with out taking a sack and his mobility greatly helped a struggling offense.Lamont Jordan started the game very well but incurred a knee injury that will take him out for the rest of the season. Justin Fargas carried the ball 19 times for 52 yards in his absense but Jordan will be missed.Moss may have had his worst game of the season but Ronald Curry may be re-emerging. He led the team with 5 catches for 85 yards and caught the pass that nearly set up the win for us.The secondary played very well but the defense as a whole struggled against Larry Johnson. Johnson carried the ball 31 times for 154 yards and 2 TDs. We all knew he would be a challenge but 154 yards was unexpected. More About: Other , Close , Loss , Another
Best Offensive Performance Yet?
2006-11-13 01:45:00 This loss against the Broncos may have been our offenses best performance of the season. Andrew Walter completed 18 of 33 passes for 214 yards and no interceptions or touchdowns. Another impressive stat is that 9 different receivers caught passes. Walter still held on to the ball too long at times but he seems to be improving and is starting to look like our Quarterback of the future.The running game was extremely disapointing. Zack Crockett led the way with 7 carries for 40 yards (5.7 ypc) but Jordan and Fargas both struggled to get anything going on the ground although both did have 21 yard receptions.Shane Lechler may have had the most impressive outing of his career. He had 8 punts for an average of 44.5 yards per punt and pinned the Broncos 3 times.The Raiders defense was impressive once again. Fabian Washington had 2 interceptions (should have been 3) and Nnamdi Asomugha had one. Warren Sapp had 2 sacks.The most impressive player on the defense this week had to be rooki... More About: Performance , Best , Best of , Form , Perform
Best Offensive Performance Yet?
2006-11-13 01:45:00 This loss against the Broncos may have been our offenses best performance of the season. Andrew Walter completed 18 of 33 passes for 214 yards and no interceptions or touchdowns. Another impressive stat is that 9 different receivers caught passes. Walter still held on to the ball too long at times but he seems to be improving and is starting to look like our Quarterback of the future.The running game was extremely disapointing. Zack Crockett led the way with 7 carries for 40 yards (5.7 ypc) but Jordan and Fargas both struggled to get anything going on the ground although both did have 21 yard receptions.Shane Lechler may have had the most impressive outing of his career. He had 8 punts for an average of 44.5 yards per punt and pinned the Broncos 3 times.The Raiders defense was impressive once again. Fabian Washington had 2 interceptions (should have been 3) and Nnamdi Asomugha had one. Warren Sapp had 2 sacks.The most impressive player on the defense this week had to be rooki... More About: Performance , Best , Best of , Form , Perform
Where you at Randy Moss?
2006-11-10 04:18:00 Nearly everything has gone wrong this year for the Raider offense but one thing seems to stick out in my mind more than others. Randy Moss is tied for second in an NFL receiver category and it isn't a good thing. He has dropped seven balls this season according to www.sportsline.com. The self-proclaimed best receiver in the league has no legs to stand when critisizing the Raiders offense because he first needs to look at himself.Another disapointment is Head Coach Art Shell. He definitely has not fixed our offensive line and one has to question his ability to coach. On monday night versus the Seahawks our offense needed a spark. There are two individuals I think could have helped that did see the field when we needed them too. Justin Fargas and Jerry Porter.Fargas has proved many fans wrong this season and has looked very sharp running the ball. Jerry Porter has whined his way to the bench but if he is dressed what is the point of keeping him on the sidelines? He is sure-... More About: Andy , Randy Moss , Here
Three Observations
2006-10-09 03:42:00 Questionable Coaching may have been a factor in our loss to the 49ers.1) When Justin Fargas starting running well, why did we quit giving him the ball and start giving it to Jordan again? Fargas carried the ball 8 times for 63 yards with a long rush of 19 yards. That's nearly 8 yards per carry.2) Why was Andrew Walter pulled out of the game? Walter had a couple of bad plays but it was the second start of his career. Late in the game would have been a very good experience for him and I believe Tui is in his last season with the Silver and Black.3) One real positive I have noticed this season is the improved tackling by Schweigert. It is disapointing when our free safety has to tackle the running back but Schweigert was consistently making good tackles, which he hadn't done the last two seasons.0-4 isn't a good place to be but we have some young and talented players who seem to be starting to step up which makes our future look a little brighter. More About: Observations , Three
The Cleveland Browns
2006-09-30 15:04:00 Charlie Frye has played much better than many expected thus far this season. He has emerging receiving threats in Kellen Winslow Jr. and Braylon Edwards and could eventually form a very dangerous passing game.The good thing is Cleveland has had similar problems as us along the offensive line. The Brown s have been unable to produce a running game and tend to give up a lot of sacks. If we want to win this game we will need to win the battle with our defensive line. Warren Sapp and Derrick Burgess will need to get consistent pressure on Frye and sack him in key situations. If we plug gaps and put Cleveland into third and long situations we should be able to keep them off of the scoreboard for most of the game.The Browns defense isn't anything special but they do have a couple of key players on the defensive line. If we want Andrew Walter to be successful, we need to keep Willie McGinest away from him. He is the biggest pass rush threat on the team. Ted Washington will also make it dif... More About: Cleveland Browns , Land , Vela
AFC West Standings: Week 3
2006-09-25 06:41:00 Here's a look at the current AFC West standings after week 3.AFC West TeamWLTPCTPFPAHomeRoadAFCNFCDIVStreakSan Diego2001.0006771-01-02-00-01-0Won 2Denver210.66736311-01-12-00-11-0Won 2Kansas City020.00016320-10-10-20-00-1Lost 2Oakland020.0006550-10-10-20-00-1Lost 2 The only AFC West team to play this week was the Broncos and they were able to beat the Patriots 17-7. Denver's defense allowed it's first touchdown of the season in the fourth quarter. They look to be a pretty solid unit but their offense is still hit or miss. Javon Walker scored a couple of long touchdowns and if he can be limited it would limit their offense. More About: Week , Standing , Stand
Team of the Decades
2006-09-21 07:11:00 I know we are sitting at 0-2 right now but we were once known as the team of the decades because we had won a Super Bowl in every decade up until the 1990's. That is a trend that needs to get started again. Let's take a look at how we've done this decade.2000: 12-4, won the division but lost to the Ravens in the AFC Championship game2001: 10-6, won the division but lost to the Patriots by way of the infamous "tuck rule"2002: 11-5, won the division and advanced to the Super Bowl but lost to the Bucs2003: 4-122004: 5-112005: 4-12So that puts our overall record at 46-50 so far in this decade but we have won the AFC West 3 times in the last 6 years. I am confident that our organization will be fixed and we will enjoy more seasons like the first three listed in the near future. More About: Team , Ades , Cade , The D
Whats happening in the AFC West?
2006-09-20 07:25:00 The AFC West has been a very difficult division to predict so far this season. There is only one team in the division that has been dominant and that is San Diego. But what does that mean? San Diego has looked like a very good team so far but they've only faced us and the Titans so far and neither team looked very good. Will San Diego and Rivers be able to hold up against teams that are playing much better? We'll have to see how Rivers handles the Ravens defense in week 4.The Broncos are sitting at .500 but haven't looked anything like a Super Bowl contender yet. They had a loss against the St. Louis Rams who didn't score a single touch down and then they were only able to beat a Trent-Green-less Cheifs by a score of 9-6 in overtime. The Chiefs offense has completely fallen apart this season leading them to a 0-2 start to the season. Trent Green's injury could put them into a hole they won't be able to climb out of.We have also started off 0-2. We have some question m... More About: What , Hat , Hats , The A |
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