Raider Take

Just Move, Baby?

2009-11-10T08:10:00.000-08:00

Will the Raiders leave Oakland again in search of greener grass (and more greenbacks)?

The rumblings of this rumor are getting louder with the upcoming demise of the Coliseum lease combined with the recent lack of sellouts.

I don't believe it, but stranger things have happened, such as the first move to Los Angeles and losing our past 13 games against the Chargers.

Anyhow, this rumor has given rise to a peculiar perspective that has been voiced in the comments section here at Raider Take. Essentially, some folks are saying, "If you don't put your butt in the seats, you'll all get what you deserve if the Raiders hit the road."

Huh?

I'm not buying the "You MUST spend your hard-earned cash on awful football performances in PERPETUITY or ELSE the Raiders will move" reasoning, as if it's all on the fans to keep the team in Oakland, and as if the Raiders have no responsibility in matters of marketing or performance.

What arrogance.

If the most loyal and ardent fan base in the NFL is no longer showing up to your games, then it's time to look in the mirror, not call the moving trucks. Hopefully, the OAKLAND Raiders realize this.

The Raider Nation doesn't deserve a move of the Raiders. The Raider Nation deserves a competent football product. The Raider Nation has done its part, but is losing patience, and rightfully so.

It's up to the OAKLAND Raiders to do something about, not vice versa.

The Case for Hope

2009-10-31T08:47:00.000-07:00

So what is my case for hope? I really don't know, I just liked the sound of it.

To be honest, I'm not very hopeful about this season. How could I be?

NY Raider pointed out this unfortunate little observation from the newspaper: "This offense is the NFL's worst in total offense, net passing yards, passing average per game, pass completions, pass completion percentage, passing touchdowns, overall first downs (tied with the 49ers), passing first downs, red-zone possessions, red-zone touchdowns and fumbles lost."

NY Raider added: "This 2009 team has a good chance to rank statistically as the worst offense (worse than B&B) and defense the Raiders have ever fielded. How is that even possible?"

How, indeed? I just don't foresee a quick turnaround at this point. So it's all about 2010 and beyond at this point.

Some folks get mad when I make negative observations about the Raiders. Well, give me positive information, and you'll get positive observations. Garbage in, garbage out, right?

At the same time, I'm getting tired of being the garbage man. I wish the Raiders would stop filling up the trash cans at a record rate. The repetitive nature of so many consecutive seasons is mind numbing.

I want to be hopeful. I want to be jacked up about my team, and to recapture that feeling of the Raiders being a force, not a farce.

I do not agree with those who want to run Al Davis out of the building. What I want is Al Davis to get the help he needs and deserves. Why he has been unwilling to do that, in the wake of so much failure, is beyond me. What will it take?

To say that Al Davis needs help is not disrespectful. All great leaders need help. The president has a vice president. Generals have lieutenant generals. CEOs have VPs. Where's the shame in that?

The hallmark of greatness isn't doing it yourself. The hallmark of greatness is getting it done. It's not about intentions, philosophies or anything else. It's about results. Just win, baby.

But we are not getting results under the current operative mindset (far, far from it). The operative mindset of the organization needs to be radically rebuilt before the team can be rebuilt. That much is obvious.

I've always said that we'll know when true change is afoot when you can see and taste the change. It won't be a tweak or an adjustment, a nudge or a nuance. It will be a fundamental shift that will be evident to all of us.

Dare I hope for something like this? It's the only case I can make at this point.

One Postgame Take

2009-10-25T18:44:00.001-07:00

Once upon a time, we were dazzled by the Mad Bomber, Daryle Lamonica.

Today, we are confounded by The F-Bomber, JaMarcus Russell, who produces little more than profanity from the mouths of the Raider Nation.

I'm not sure what to say tonight. This was the Raiders' worst home loss ever in terms of points margin. It was the most sparsely attended Oakland Raiders home game since 1968, for good reason, apparently.

Sure, the offense stinks. But the defense didn't exactly step up, either. Allowing more than 300 rushing yards isn't acceptable under any circumstances, especially at home.

We now have just one wide receiver with more than five catches total after seven games. It's mind boggling. Murphy, our only receiver to exceed more than five catches total after seven games (16 total), is on pace to lead our receivers with a total of 37 catches.

Benching Russell was the right thing to do. The wrong thing to do was to create a QB depth chart with absolutely no depth, leaving our hopes in the hands of Bruce Gradkowski.

We are now 31st in the NFL in total offensive points (62, just two points ahead of the Rams), and we are currently trailing our offensive points-per-game average of 2006.

What else can I say? How can we find ourselves in such a dismal state, still, after so many seasons?

For once, I am at a loss for words. Take it away, amigos...

Who Let The Dogs Out? (Jets Pregame)

2009-10-25T08:58:00.000-07:00

Who let the dogs out? Prior to playing the Eagles last week, the Raiders blitzed less per defensive snap than any other team in the NFL.

Then, suddenly, they decided to bring it, blitzing like crazy, sacking Donovan McNabb six times and notching an improbable victory.

Afterward, Nnamdi Asomugha said that defensive coordinator John Marshall admitted he might get "yelled at" for employing such a defense, which tells you something, does it not?

With the the Jets and their rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez struggling lately, it seems to me that the Raiders should continue to mix things up and bring pressure when warranted.

Don't put the dogs back in the pen!

One Postgame Take

2009-10-18T21:47:00.000-07:00

Bravo! The Raiders delivered a stout defensive performance and won one for the home crowd. It was a true effort, one that turned the ugly tide of the previous three weeks.

Leading up to the game, Tom Cable and staff taped articles around the locker room quoting Antonio Pierce about the previous week's "scrimmage" against the Giants. The Raider Nation did essentially the same thing, rising up en masse to smite the malingerers.

Shame was the last resort of motivation for both Cable and the Raider Nation, and apparently it worked.

Now maybe we can get back to the business of exerting 100 percent effort to the final whistle, and to salvaging the remainder of the season.

This win reminds me of the startling defensive shutdown of the Steelers at home in 2006.

Let's hope the comparison to 2006 ends there, that lessons have been learned, and that momentum is, finally, on our side.

Eagles Pregame Take

2009-10-17T13:36:00.000-07:00

Or is it a pre-scrimmage take? We shall soon see.

It's been interesting to listen to the Raider Nation over the past three weeks. I am now far, far from alone in believing that the threshold of unacceptability has been breached. Even the most loyal fans in the world have their limits, it appears.

Thus, we have our second consecutive blacked-out home game, as well as countless vows of abstinence with regards to merchandise and ticket purchasing until things change for real. That's what happens when you shamelessly produce a scrimmage-level effort while on the verge of extending the NFL record for consecutive seasons of futility.

Maximum effort from each player, for a mere 30 minutes of actual game play on each side of the ball, 16 times per year, for millions of dollars, is not too much to ask.

If things are going poorly, I want to see JaMarcus Russell huddling with his teammates and coaches on the sideline, trying to figure things out, and pumping each other up to go at and reclaim the momentum. If someone pulls another stupid foul or stunt, I want Cable in his grill. If the Eagles are picking us apart, I want to see some smart, swift adjustments.

In other words, I want to see some real fire and energy; not, in the words of Antonio Pierce, a "scrimmage," a bunch of inert jerseys, falling to the ground.

Speaking of smart, swift adjustments, I want to see them on the organizational level as well. I want to see true change that you can see and taste, as I've said before.

When I said these things last year, many people would respond, "Well, who the hell are you?" and "Your opinion has no leverage whatsoever."

Who the hell am I? Apparently, I am the Raider Nation, judging by what I'm hearing.

As for the Raider Nation's supposed lack of leverage, well, things are getting pretty interesting on that front, eh? The fans' subsidizing of serial mismanagement and reckless disorganization is no longer a given.

Which brings us to tomorrow's blacked-out game. Just win, baby? Let's start with maximum effort, baby, and see where that takes us.

One Postgame Take

2009-10-11T12:28:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week, someone who thought I was being too negative about the Raiders said, "What will you say if the Raiders beat the Giants?"

Well, that settles that.

The opposing coach removed his starting quarterback out of mercy, and CBS pulled the broadcast plug in favor of a Lions game. That's all you need to know about today's drubbing by the Giants.

The Clown Car is picking up speed, and now it's being chased by a Napa police car. The forecast for the remainder of the season is, to use a charitable word, grim. We have been outscored 96 to 16 over our past three games.

I hate what has happened, and is happening, to the Raiders. A little part of me is dying inside. I have been screaming for substantive and significant change, change that you can see and taste, but there's nothing I can actually do about it. The organization has to want change.

Until then, we are all left wanting.

P.S. I would be interested in everyone's thoughts on where do we go from here? Memdf said, "Now what?" That's a great question.

I think we know what the core problems are (at least most of us do, the rest are running away, plugging their ears). But how to go about solving them sooner rather than later?

Mid-season coaching change...again?

Bench Russell...and then what?

Hire a GM...when?

Clean house...how?

It's easy to say do this, or do that, but how do we do those things in the most efficient and effective manner possible, so that we don't end up on a 12-year plan to reaching the .500 mark?

Giants Game Thread

2009-10-11T08:58:00.001-07:00

You play to win the game, not for "moral victories."

Beat the Giants, and please don't make me break out the Clown Car (again)!

One Postgame Take

2009-10-04T13:34:00.000-07:00

Ladies and gentleman, what we have here, just four games into the season, after setting an NFL record for consecutive years of 11 or more losses, is yet another dumpster fire.

When will it end? Today’s first graders were tumbling out of the womb the last time we consistently played competent football. Two presidential elections have been held in the time it took Rich Gannon to go from team leader to banned in Alameda.

When I pointed out earlier this year that our head coaching “search” was a farce, that our resistance to hiring a general manager was reckless, that our draft was bungled and that our preseason was an exercise in bad mojo, I was pilloried here for being “negative.” In fact, people are still wagging their finger at me for being “negative.”

What some folks call “negative,” I call simple observation. It's up to the Raiders, not me, to change the tone of the conversation. Don't like negative? Do something positive.

Today, we had a chance to prove that last week’s game was an aberration, not a sign. We had a chance to right the ship. Instead, we steered it straight into the iceberg. We couldn’t catch, we couldn’t tackle, and we couldn’t coach.

In the three drafts since the offensive debacle of 2006, we have chosen three offensive skill players in the first round. And yet, a quarter of the way through this season, against less-than-stellar competition, our offense is rivaling the incompetence of the 2006 model.

We have scored three offensive touchdowns in four games, which means we’re on pace for 12 total. Would you like your breakfast in bed? We're serving the 2006 Special this morning.

Don’t look now, because here come the Giants, Eagles and Jets. This could get a lot uglier in a hurry.

But maybe I’m just being negative?

Texans Game Thread

2009-10-04T08:31:00.001-07:00

Six words: Run the ball, stop the run!

UPDATE

Six words: Can't catch, can't tackle, can't coach.

Broncos Postgame Take

2009-09-27T09:53:00.000-07:00

Well, that was just unacceptable, plain and simple. What do you want me to say? I could point out the obvious, but why bother? Russell, two picks and 61 yards total? Zero catches for Heyward-Bey? More than 200 rushing yards given up to the crappy Broncos on our home turf?

Well, at least we vanquished our real enemy today: Rich Gannon.

In my pregame take, I wrote: "It's only week three, but I believe that this game will tell us a lot about where this team is headed."

Unfortunately, I think I might be right, but not in the way I wanted to be.

PREGAME TAKE...
This Rich Gannon business is regrettable. Today’s game is blacked out, the Broncos are in town, we are trying to establish a new regime and leave the years of epic failure behind...and our executives are worried about what a television commentator is saying? Don’t we have bigger fish to fry? It’s weird, and it’s belligerent.

We nearly failed to sell out the opener against a division rival, and now we have a blackout, against another division rival, no less? Wow. Sure, the economy is bad. But it’s bad everywhere, and only the Lions and Raiders games are being blacked out today. The Lions have lost 20 straight games, so that explains that. But the Raiders? It must be the marketing chicken coming home to roost.

For example, the Raiders made little effort to get me to renew my season ticket package this year. Their communication was essentially limited to threats about my seats being in "high demand," and that I would lose them. It was no carrot and all stick.

Suddenly, they’re tossing carrots all over the place, with discounts and coupons for everyone, and the Coliseum still isn't sold out. I’ve been saying for a long time that the Raiders will eventually pay for their poor marketing, and the bill has now come due. It's really sad if you can't figure out a way to get the NFL's most passionate and loyal fan base to sell out your stadium in week three against a division rival after a win on the road.

Well, onward and upward, the stadium might not be full, but I am confident that it will be loud, because I expect the Raiders to put the hurt on Donkeys. Won't that be fun?

This is nitpicking, but on our last scoring drive in Kansas City, with timeouts in our pocket, in the red zone, with over a minute left, we snapped the ball with 19 seconds left on the play clock. We scored quickly thereafter, giving the Chiefs plenty of time to mount a final scoring drive. That type of clock mismanagement will bite us in the ass if we’re not careful.

It's only week three, but I believe that this game will tell us a lot about where this team is headed. I am encouraged by what I've seen during the past two weeks. There's a fresh sense of toughness on defense, and if our offense can find a way to start clicking, I think we could make a run for the division title.

RAIII-DERRRS! RAIII-DERRRS! RAIII-DERRRS!

Chiefs Game Thread

2009-09-20T07:43:00.001-07:00

Despite some immature play in our passing game last week, I believe that coaching, more than anything else, let us down and cost us a victory.

The Chargers play the Ravens this week, and we missed a marvelous opportunity to possibly put them in an 0-2 hole while positioning ourselves for early command of the division.

On Monday, our coaches abandoned two things that were clearly working for us: an aggressive defensive scheme and a rowdy rushing attack.

Our running backs rushed the ball 21 times in the first half for an average of 4.9 yards per carry. Yet in the second half, we gave our running backs just eight carries while JaMarcus Russell was tossing fluttering pigeons all over the field.

I don't need to mention what happened to our defense. All I'll say is that we inexplicably went soft on the final drive with predictable results.

Today, we just need to turn up the heat, and keep it up. Run the ball. If it doesn't yield big results early on, keep at it. If we give Bush and McFadden time and opportunity, they are bound to reward us.

As for the defense, they don't need to do anything different except not get cute at the end of a close game.

Oh, yeah, one other thing. The joint is going to be loud. Watch the false starts and stupid penalties. They always seem to happen at Arrowhead. But not today, right?

Last Monday was a beacon of hope. Now it's time to light the bonfire.

RAIII-DERRRS! RAIII-DERRRS! RAIII-DERRRS!

One Postgame Take

2009-09-14T22:47:00.000-07:00

When I was growing up as a Raiders fan, being pleased after a loss was unthinkable. However...Everything in context. Which is why, tonight, I have smile on my face.

The toughness and energy displayed tonight felt like fresh blood in the veins. I'd almost forgotten the feeling. Wow! Seymour, Bush, McFadden, Murphy, the offensive line...If Russell could have hit the broad side of a barn on half of his throws, and if the officials had not continued to perpetuate the biggest conspiracy this side of Roswell, the game would have been ours.

Sure, our defense broke down in the waning minutes (surprise!). But this was still a game to hang a hat on. This was a game that made the ESPN announcers nervous, their voices quivering as they tried to comprehend and cope with the reality of the Raiders smashing the mouths of their darling Chargers. This was a game played with vigor and intensity, focus and purpose. This was competitive football. In Oakland. In prime time. Long time coming.

This was ultimately game upon which hope can be built, and upon which momentum can be established. Don't hang your heads, Raiders. Job well done. Just make sure you close the deal next time.

Time to Restore Order

2009-09-13T12:56:00.000-07:00

The San Diego Chargers are the most overrated team in the NFL. They went 8-8 last year in a weak division, yet everyone talks about them with hushed reverence. Show me another 8-8 team that gets to strut around as if they laid the golden egg, and as if they've already won their division before a single ball has been snapped.

As much as I've scratched my head about the Raiders lately, I am hopeful that they can pop the air out of San Diego's over-inflated balloon on Monday night, sending both teams on opposite trajectories.

We have the opportunity to break two mind-boggling streaks in one fell swoop: 11 straight losses to the Chargers and 10 straight losses on prime time television. If our time is not now, then when is it?

The key to the game is so obvious it's almost insulting to mention it: stop the run. On that front, Richard Seymour gives hope where there was precious little just seven days ago.

The Broncos just beat the Bengals on a fluke play at the end of the game. The Chiefs nearly beat the Ravens. Crazy stuff is already happening in our division.

It's time to crazy it up even more. It's time to shut L.T. down, and to shut 'Lil Phil's trap. It's time to paint another pained grimace on Norv Turner's face. It's time for the return of true Raiders football, and for order to be rearranged and restored in the AFC West.

Time to Grill The SeaChickens

2009-09-03T17:48:00.001-07:00

Okay, no real take here, except that I hope we leave the clown car in the garage and play some real football.

Also, with this thread, I hope to clear out some of the noxious air that blew into the comments section of the previous take.

We can always agree to disagree. Vociferous debate is the lifeblood of this site. So have a take, and defend your take, but please keep it classy and avoid the personal stuff. I'm not going to let this site become another run-of-the-mill forum full of unproductive finger pointing.

We are all Raiders fans. At the end of the day, we are a team, and we stick together. It's the other teams that we need to start beating.

Raiders Fan Reparation Plan

2009-08-31T10:15:00.000-07:00

Well, the Raiders say they are “embarrassed” by Saturday’s “effort” while many fans are declaring this a “wake-up call.”

You'd think that the wake-up call might have been the Falcons game last year. Or the pathetic showing in 2007. Or the 2-14 record the year before that. Or recently setting the NFL record for most consecutive seasons of 11 or more losses. Or maybe the 275 rushing yards given up to the 49ers last week.

We've become the Rip Van Winkle of the NFL. Nothing wakes us up.

Now we have Greg Ellis calling out his comrades for partying instead of game planning. And no one is even pretending that Ellis is mistaken in his perception.

Credit JaMarcus Russell for admitting that Saturday’s performance was “disrespectful to our fans, ourselves and our family."

Then Cable said: "I am excited about the fact the we really show a lot of remorse."

Who said Raiders fans have nothing to be excited about?

And people wonder why I wasn't confident enough in this group to renew my season tickets this year? I can’t tell you how happy I am to not have subsidized the turd that was laid on Saturday.

Season ticket holders are required to buy tickets to the preseason games. They are thus owed, at the very least, a professional effort in the preseason as well as the regular season.

Therefore, I feel that all season ticket holders should be offered a full refund for Saturday’s “disrespectful” display of unprofessionalism.

Put your money where your remorse is, Raiders, and give back the money you essentially stole from your fans on Saturday.

They were sold tickets to a professional football game, and what they got was an abomination staged by a bunch of unprepared, hungover clowns. Reparations should be made accordingly, and immediately.

P.S. Follow Raider Take on Twitter.

Beatdown by New Orleans

2009-08-29T16:14:00.000-07:00

After today's beatdown, Tom Cable said, "I'm embarrassed."

You know it's bad when you're embarrassed by a preseason effort, or lack thereof.

I'm sure I'll hear the all-too-familiar refrain: Don't worry, be happy. It's not that bad. It's not part of a trend, or indicative of a pattern. It's just preseason. Just because our defense has been awful for years, and just because it's been awful this preseason, doesn't mean anything.

We live in a world of dots, not to be connected. Or so I'm often told.

Well, sorry. I'm with our coach on this one. I'm embarrassed.

The question for the Raiders is: How many times can you be embarrassed before you no longer can legitimately claim to be embarrassed? It's becoming an empty word. It's practically becoming a slogan: Oakland Raiders, We're embarrassed.

So go ahead, try and convince me that there's nothing to worry about. Tell me why I shouldn't fear that our head coach might be in over his head, that our defense isn't just more of the same old cirque du soleil (clowns flying around, hitting nothing), and that our offense isn't suffering from arrested development.

It'll all be fine come September.

Right?

The Cable Incident

2009-08-17T18:43:00.000-07:00

I was initially amused by the reports of the Raiders players rallying around Tom Cable, chanting rather creatively "Cable Bumaye!" in support of their coach after it was reported that Cable had been in an altercation with an assistant.

I liked the fact that the players were circling the wagons and exuding a sense of spontaneous team unity. I created a shirt commemorating their chant.

However, my friend Calico Jack has opened my eyes to a different perspective on the matter, as detailed in the following comments. I don't want to contribute to anything that is perceived as condoning off-field violence or mocking a victim of it. That was not my intention. Therefore, I have removed the shirt.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Hopefully, it was just a brief skirmish in the heat of the moment, one that can serve as a positive rallying point for the team. The concern is that it was a detrimental lapse in professional judgement, and that there is a mean-spirited undercurrent running through the situation.

I'll wait for more details to emerge before having a true take on the situation.

Give Al Davis His Due

2009-08-10T19:51:00.000-07:00

A lot of folks get upset with me for criticizing Al Davis as the man most responsible for the state of the Raiders over the past several years. These folks prefer to point fingers elsewhere.

Well, the problem with failing to apply most of the blame to Mr. Davis is that it also robs him of what he most deserves: the credit.

After all, if the Raiders get on a hot streak and make the playoffs this year—which I think is possible, especially given the state of the AFC West, where eight victories won the division last year—who should get the most credit? Our general manager? Oops, we don’t have one. Tom Cable? Sure, he’ll get some of the credit, but not nearly as much as the man who had the vision to tap him for the head coaching job.

See how this works?

People forget that I’ve been an ardent defender of Mr. Davis against those who would say that our success earlier this decade was all the work of Jon Gruden and Bruce Allen. It was all Gruden’s work? Are you kidding me? First off, Mr. Davis is the one who had the vision to tap Gruden. Also, don’t tell me Mr. Davis didn’t have a firm hand in our free agent signings and draft picks during that era. He always has, and he always will.

I’ve always said that you can’t blame Mr. Davis for the bad times without giving him the credit for the good times. But if I’m being intellectually honest, then the inverse is also true.

More than any other owner, Mr. Davis’s hand is on our results, both good and bad. The problem is that the results have been mostly bad lately, and the blame must be assessed accordingly. I suspect he would agree with me.

I had to laugh when I criticized Mr. Davis for our dreadful free agent activity in 2008 (during which we threw bags of gold at DeAngelo Hall and Javon Walker, among others), and folks actually wanted to blame Lane Kiffin for those signings. Say what? You mean you let that punk—whom you already distrusted, whom you knew didn’t have the organization’s best interests at heart—write blank checks in free agency? Geez, that would be even worse and more blameworthy than writing the checks yourself.

The same goes for the hot topic of just how much influence Mr. Davis wields over our defensive schemes. It’s the subject of much debate and speculation here at Raider Take, with some suggesting that he's not culpable in what transpired on our defense in recent years. Yet Jay Richardson the other day called it the “Al Davis defense,” apparently without a hint of sarcasm.

Well, what’s so wrong with that? I’d rather it be Mr. Davis’s defense that failed over the past several years than the alternative—which would be that he was just idly letting Rob Ryan run with scissors year after year. Better to try and fail than to be blind and absent.

The upside of all of this is that when our fortunes take a turn for the better, Mr. Davis will be the biggest beneficiary of the accolades to follow. Now wouldn’t that be cool? At his age, to show that he’s still got it, and to poke a sharp stick in the eye of his jealous haters? I can’t wait, and I’ll bet he can’t, either. I hope it happens as early as this December.

The bottom line: Let’s be intellectually honest now, so that when the time comes, we can legitimately give Mr. Davis what he will amply deserve: the credit.

A (Recent) Raiders History Lesson

2009-07-16T20:00:00.000-07:00

What better way to survive the seemingly interminable wait for training camp than watching classic Raiders highlights?

No, I’m not talking about the Ghost to The Post or the Super Bowl victories or any of the other epic moments featured on the Raiders’ cool new 50th anniversary web site.

I’m talking about September 10, 2000, when the Raiders overcame a 21-0 deficit on the road against the Colts to win 38-31, igniting what would become an exciting three-year run that culminated in a Super Bowl berth.

I bought this game on DVD several years ago, and now I’m glad I did. I watched part of the second half last night, and it was good for the soul. The Raiders kicked Peyton Manning to the curb and took firm control of the game in that second half. I was particularly impressed with our offense.

Napoleon Kaufman with feet of lightning. Tyrone Wheatley pounding the middle. Tim Brown and Andre Rison running crisp, precise routes. The offensive line giving Gannon ample time, and Gannon making the most of it…

As I watched, part of me thought, Wow!

Another part of me thought, it’s not rocket science. Is it really that difficult to run disciplined routes, block oncoming rushers and throw the ball with fundamental accuracy and decisiveness?

Yes, we had good talent back then, but more than that, we were just crisp and focused and disciplined. Yet in recent years, the Raiders have managed to make this stuff look really complicated and almost unattainable, as if we were trying to unlock the keys to the universe, not gain a simple 10 yards.

Another thing that struck me was how in control and engaged Jon Gruden looked on the sidelines. I don’t know why so many Raiders fans dislike the guy. Prior to Tom Cable, six of our last seven coaches have gotten the boot after two or less years, with Gruden being the exception. We've had three winning seasons since 1994, and Chucky presided over two of them. He must have been doing something right.

Compare his sideline demeanor to Callahan (I belong here, right?), Turner (gee whiz, we’re losing again?), Shell (deer meets headlights) and Kiffin (whatever, is the game over yet?).

I could play quick random sideline clips of each of these coaches to a class full of sixth graders who know nothing about the Raiders, and ask them which coach they thought was a winner, and 30 out of 30 kids, I guarantee you, would pick Gruden.

Tom Cable, please take note.

I imagine that, to some of our rookies and young players, the whole Raider “mystique” and old highlights are intimidating and even hard to comprehend. All of our draft picks over the past few years were born after our last Super Bowl victory.

If I were looking to motivate them with a Raiders history lesson, I wouldn’t go all Stork and Snake and Sea of Hands on them.

I would pop in the DVD of the Raiders vs. the Colts from this very decade, featuring players who are now their professional peers, like Charles Woodson and Sebastian Janikowski.

I would say, look, this isn’t rocket science—as long as you care, and if you work at it, and if you are disciplined in your approach. We can win. You have the talent. But we need you to step up and do what it takes.

Those guys you're watching in 2000 didn't have appreciably more talent than you. But did they have more heart? That's a question only you can answer. And if you give the right answer, we will win again, and you will quickly understand what it means to be a Raider, and what the mystique is all about.

Stop The Timidity

2009-06-28T20:57:00.000-07:00

What is with all of the soft-pedaling of our recent first-round draft picks? If you listen to some folks, you'd think that JaMarcus Russell, Darren McFadden and Darrius Heyward-Bey are fragile little eggs instead of first-round draft picks in their athletic primes.

JaMarcus Russell, he needs time, doesn't he? A: He's had two years, his time is now.

How should we use Darren McFadden in the backfield? A: Ummm...give him the freakin' ball...a lot.

Let's not expect too much from Darrius Heyward-Bey in his first year, okay? A: Why not?

Honestly, what's up with the aura of timidity and fragility that surrounds our young skill players? Listening to some fans, you'd think we had all the time in the world to coddle these guys instead of expecting big things, right now.

Sure, these guys need time to hone their games. But in the meantime, why shouldn't we expect them to set off some fireworks and show vivid signs of their potential? Why shouldn't we expect them to take firm control of their respective positions? After all, each was drafted no lower than seventh in their respective drafts, right?

Where's our Matt Ryan, Adrian Peterson or Calvin Johnson? Who coddled those guys? Who set low expectations for them? Remember how much was made of the Chargers "sitting" Philip Rivers for "years" before turning him loose? Well, they actually turned him loose in his third year, the same year that JaMarcus Russell is in right now, and he promptly racked up a 92-percent passer rating. So there you go, JaMarcus. You don't need to be Matt Ryan. But can you at least start kicking ass in your third year like 'Lil Phil? Is that too much to ask?

Whenever I give examples like this, folks remind me that I'm focusing on the success stories in the NFL, not the failures. Well, why shouldn't I focus on the success stories? Why should I expect failure over success? These guys were drafted as the studs of their draft classes, each being the first taken at their respective positions. They should be ready to rock the house. Not tomorrow. Today.

So take off the velvet gloves, Raider Nation. Let's play some football. Let's turn the young studs loose and expect big things. Heck, let's demand big things.

P.S. I don't want to hear about this not really being Russell's third year due to his holdout. Many of those who are making excuses for him now were telling me back then that the holdout wasn't a big deal, and you can't have it both ways. The fact is that he was drafted as the very first pick in the 2007 draft and it's now 2009. Time for big things.

The Great 2009 NFL Helmet-Off

2009-06-25T08:13:00.000-07:00

Talk about the dog days of summer. Our biggest news right now is old news: Darrius Heyward-Bey needs a cane to walk. Michael Huff is on the hot seat. JaMarcus Russell needs to prove himself. We need to figure out how to stop the run. Blah, blah, blah...

So to help cure our collective boredom, I have devised The Great 2009 NFL Helmet-Off, a blow-by-blow divisional ranking of team helmets followed by exciting postseason action.

Below is my take on the sartorial splendor of NFL lids. What's your take? Where have I gone wrong? Remember, this is for helmets only, so you can't dock, say, the Titans for their Transformers-style jerseys or the Broncos for their pajama pants.

(If you are on Twitter, please re-tweet my tweet on this @RaiderTake with the tag #helmetoff)

Let the games begin...

AFC West
Oakland Raiders - Hands down, the best. Epic.
San Diego Chargers - Gotta love the return to the white helmets
Kansas City Chiefs - Classic and true, no complaints.
Denver Broncos - Awful and childish...like many Broncos fans

AFC North
Pittsburgh Steelers - Tough and traditional, love it.
Baltimore Ravens - This division sucks for helmets, grading on a curve.
Cleveland Browns - No, no logo is not cool, sorry.
Cincinnati Bengals - An abomination, someone should be held accountable.

AFC South
Indianapolis Colts - Clean and simple, and there's nothing wrong with that.
Tennesse Titans - Eccentric in a hip sort of way.
Houston Texans - Close to a winner, but something's just not right.
Jacksonville Jaguars - Can't name a single color on that helmet.

AFC East
New York Jets - Sort of ugly, but yet...cool.
Miami Dolphins - A bit wimpy, but classic and unique.
New England Patriots - An update gone horribly wrong.
Buffalo Bills - See Patriots.

NFC West
Arizona Cardinals - Always loved it, and the recent update was sensible enough.
San Francisco 49ers - Pains me to say it, but it's a strong look.
St. Louis Rams - Go back to the blue and white, or even yellow, and you trump the Niners
Seattle Seahawks - My eyes, my eyes!

NFC North
Chicago Bears - The strongest in a strong division.
Green Bay Packers - A bit gaudy, but distinctive and oddly dignified.
Minnesota Vikings - The new sheen knocks them down a notch.
Detroit Lions - Not bad, but last as always.

NFC South
New Orleans Saints - Crisp and classic.
Atlanta Falcons - Helped by a weak division, old helmets were better.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Not great, but better than the original.
Carolina Panthers - Teal should be banned. The lame semi-stripe doesn't help.

NFC East
Dallas Cowboys - Undeniably sweet.
Washington Redskins - It's not pretty, but it delivers the goods.
Philadelphia Eagles - I want to like it more, but I can't.
New York Giants - That's all they can come up with?

Wild Card Weekend
Chargers upset the Colts
Jets beat the Titans
Packers upset the Saints
Bears beat the 49ers

Divisional Playoffs
Raiders trounce the Jets
Steelers beat the Chargers
Cowboys beat the Cardinals
Bears beat the Packers

Championships
Raiders beat the Steelers
Cowboys beat the Bears

Super Bowl
Raiders steamroll the Cowboys

Just Wondering, Baby

2009-06-21T08:20:00.000-07:00

1. Rob Ryan says that he will incorporate the 46 Defense in Cleveland, in which up to eight players may rush the quarterback. So now he's aggressive? Remember when he dropped 11 guys into coverage against his new team a few years ago and still gave up yardage?

2. What's up with Andrew Walter? Is he a total bust? I liked the guy coming out of college. To me, he looked the part, but he has since struck me as a bit sheepish and uninvolved (of course, that's just from afar, I really have no idea what he's like). Now he's clearly on the outs. What's missing? Ability? Attitude? Opportunity?

3. It's no secret that I have opted not to renew my Raiders season tickets this year. My take is that Lane Kiffin was retained heading into the 2008 season partly for money reasons and partly for stubborness reasons, and certainly not for long-term reasons related to building a winner. At the same time, the team had no problem taking my money after sending me glossy renewal literature talking about the "commitment to excellence," which in retrospect was a sham. I personally witnessed some of the most inept, eyeball-burning "football" in my life last year as a result of the inexcusable upheaval early in the season.

I'm no less of a Raiders fan this year, but I'll be damned if I'm going to write them a check for $1,200 for me and Cousin of Raider Take. My trust needs to be earned back before I write them a big check again.

Anyhow, I thought it was interesting that a sales representative from the Oakland A's called me a month ago, trying to talk me into attending a game. I haven't been to an A's game in a few years, and here was this guy working hard to get me to spend $40 for a ticket. Meanwhile, the Raiders have only sent me two form letters regarding my lapsing season tickets. No phone calls, no one asking me why I'm not renewing or trying to convince me to reconsider. Just two letters telling me that "as a result of high demand for quality seats like yours, we can no longer continue to hold your seats without payment." Okey-dokey.

I guess with all that high demand, they don't really need to work hard at retaining customers and selling packages. Could season ticket sales be on the rise this summer?

Playoffs or Bust

2009-06-17T09:52:00.000-07:00

If we don't make the playoffs this year, we have failed again, in my opinion.

That may be an unpopular opinion, but so be it.

We're in an awfully weak division, and numerous teams have gone from losers to contenders within the span of a year. We see it all the time in the NFL.

We've had plenty of years (and high draft picks) to figure out how to do it ourselves, and there's no excuse for not finally doing it.

Cable said we'd get to the playoffs this year. Now it's time to hold him and the organization accountable. Who here has a problem with accountability?

Playoffs or bust, amigos. Raise your standards, raise your expectations. Too many Raiders fans have become accustomed to enabling, excusing and accepting. No more.

That's not a lion on our helmet. That's a Raider. Time to play like it.

Join me in raising the bar and please spread the word. Let's light a fire and keep it burning.

Michael Huff Haiku

2009-06-17T09:01:00.000-07:00

Seventh pick in the
draft, now the invisible
man, time to man up.