Silver and Black Forever

The Real Deal on Gruden

chbraidernation1@sbcglobal.net (Calico Jack) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:57:00 +0000

Jerry MacDonald had a very interesting blog post tonight detailing the Gruden saga and the unlikely conditions of his return.

As I mentioned in my previous post, the key to turning this team around is:

"The newly hired Head Coach and GM need to have the authority on all football matters"

When push came to shove, the reason that Gruden left after the 2001 season is that the original contract that had been agreed upon earlier in the preliminary stages of negotiation had been stripped of the 2 key provisions:

(1) the authority to pick his own 53 players
(2) the authority to pick his own coaches

Gruden bailing on Oakland and heading for Tampa Bay had nothing to do with a bad working relationship with Davis nor was it caused by Gruden's interest in being closer to family in Florida.

In essence it boiled down to a Head Coach who had won 2 straight divisional titles wanting to have control over the players he coached and the staff he worked with.

In order for the Raiders to attract and hire a proven, capable Head Coach candidate, a few critical elements need to be in place. A new Head Coach needs a GM on board to act as an important buffer and partner when dealing with Davis. The Head Coach needs to know that if he is going to be the cook, he should be allowed to pick the ingredients to the team members that fit his system. This imaginary Head Coach also needs to be paid fair market value.

Doling out $5M+ for a Head Coach & GM and giving authority to allow them to do their jobs is a very small price to pay to restore the franchise's luster. The alternative is an unproven Head Coach who is struggling mightily, a vacant GM slot, and more double digit loss seasons. Doesn't seem like a very difficult choice unless you factor in Davis' ego and the constantly dysfunctional management that currently permeates the building.

1st Half Review - Offensively Impotent

chbraidernation1@sbcglobal.net (Calico Jack) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:52:00 +0000

Here is a quick snap shot of the Raiders offenses 1st half statistics which can be characterized as offensively impotent or the exact opposite of explosive:

(All statistics are on a per game average)

First Downs: 12

3rd Down Conversion Rate: 29%

Total Offensive Yards: 215

Total plays: 54

Rushing Yards: 94

Passing Yards: 121

Passing Completion Rate: 49%

Pass Completions: 12.5

Touchdowns: .75 (not a misprint ... averaging less than 1 TD per game)

Time of Possession: 26:37

Points per game: 9.8

In 8 games played this season, the Raiders have failed to score more than 1 TD in 7 games while getting completely shut out from the end zone in 3 games. The offensive unit has only a few players that are executing at a starter's caliber: TE Miller, LT Henderson, and when healthy, LG Gallery. The rest of the 8 men on the unit need to demonstrate a huge level of improvement, be cut, or take a seat on the pine.

With the Nation in a foul mood over a 6.5 year run of ineptitude in winning less than 25% of the games played over this span, here is my "wish" list to get the franchise back on track:

(1) First and foremost, Al Davis needs to hire a General Manager. Yes, this is stating the obvious. A GM who is involved in the player evaluation, the draft, coaching hires, and football operations would be the only significant way to recalibrate the path we are on.

(2) The newly hired GM's first order of business is to demote Tom Cable to OLine Coach and conduct a thorough, exhaustive search for the most proven, capable Head Coach.

(3) The draft needs to focus on building the team from the inside, out. The offensive and defensive lines need to be the priority.

(4) A starting caliber, veteran QB needs to be added to the roster with a real, best man wins, competition in camp 2010.

(5) At least 1 established, veteran WR needs to be added to the roster via free agency.

(6) A traditional SLB needs to be added through the draft or free agency. We haven't had a legitimate SLB since the days of Romo and our run defense has suffered the consequences.

(7) The newly hired Head Coach and GM need to have the authority on all football matters. This includes modernizing the offensive and defensive schemes and running more sophisticated game plans.

(8) The owner needs to put the team first and his ego a distant second. He needs to trust the executive support staff that he hires to do their jobs. He needs to return to the loyal fan base the one thing that has been missing the past 7 seasons ... hope.

Raiders "Jeet Kune Do"

chbraidernation1@sbcglobal.net (Calico Jack) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 05:18:00 +0000

I have been a life-long fan of Bruce Lee and the Oakland Raiders. I have admired, been inspired, and thoroughly entertained by both Lee and Raider football for countless years. Bruce Lee was revolutionary in his philosophies and martial arts. I find it apropos to tie Jeet Kune Do, which was the brain-child of Lee, with the Raiders upcoming game vs. the Jets.

After many years of feeling restricted by the art of Kung Fu, Lee developed Jeet Kune Do. The essence of Jeet Kun Do is to adapt your combat fighting style to whatever works best against your opponent. It is the "style of not style". It's not "this" method or "that" method. It was Lee's hope to free his follower's minds from clinging to styles, patterns, or molds.

The Raiders played arguably their best overall defensive game since beating the Steelers in 2006. The Raider Nation is naturally fired up about blitzing McNabb to hell. Many fans are looking towards the blitz as the remedy to continue on this path. I believe that the blitz is a very important tool for an effective and dynamic defense. Sustaining QB pressure and running an unpredictable defensive scheme are the pillars to a modern NFL defense.

However, it is important to note that the Eagles were the perfect team to blitz with regularity. The Eagles do not rely on the running game on 1st and 2nd down. The Eagles OLine was beat up and missing starting LT Peters for most of the game.

Going into the Jets game, the Raiders defense needs to adapt their defensive approach to fit the opponent. Here are a few statistics that are relevant for our upcoming opponent:

N.Y. Jets
Rushing Attempts Per Game: 33.5 (#1 in NFL)
Rushing Yards: 978 (#1 in NFL)
Avg. Yards Per Carry: 4.9 (#3 in NFL)
Avg. Yards Per Game: 163 (#2 in NFL)

Oakland Raiders (Defense)
Avg. Yards Per game: 145.3 (#28 in NFL)

Last week the Jets rushed the ball for 318 yards. RB Thomas Jones ran the ball 22 times for 210 yards. The team had 40 carries for 7.9 yards per carry.

On 1st and 2nd down, the Raiders defense needs to put 8 in the box against the Jets, be stout at the point of attack, maintain their gap responsibilities, and have an excellent day in tackling. This will require team discipline and passionate, aggressive play.

If and when the Raiders D puts the Jets offense in 3rd and long situations, then it will be time to cut the dogs of war loose on rookie QB Sanchize.

Modern Raider Defense Unveiled ... Finally!

chbraidernation1@sbcglobal.net (Calico Jack) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 03:36:00 +0000

Eagles 9 - Raiders 13

The Raiders attack dogs on defense were mercifully and shockingly cut loose vs. the Eagles. Going into Sunday's contest, the Raiders blitzed less than any team in the league. (20 blitzes in 153 pass plays, or 13.1 percent).

When the Raiders hired Defensive Coordinator John Marshall before the season, many Raider fans were ecstatic about a new DC with a reputation for using a heavy dose of blitzes to ratchet up the pressure on the QB. The LBs in Marshall's defense typically ranked high in individual sacks.

The Raiders defense has been painfully stuck in a very predictable defensive mindset the past many years. You know the drill. 4 DL expected to apply QB pressure, LBs in pass coverage, corners in man to man. Is there anything wrong with this as your base D? No. The problem arises when you don't strategically change things up in order to keep your opponent on their heels.

In this game, which is an aberration until proven to be a trend, the Raiders actually called an unpredictable defense game plan that clearly rattled and confused long time veteran QB McNabb. To start the game, the Raiders blitzed Howard, Morrision, and Branch on numerous plays. The DLine ran aggressive stunts and twists. The secondary mixed in some zone coverage. The end results: 0 TDs, 6 sacks, 2-16 3rd down conversions.

QB McNabb: “This week the defensive coordinator came up with a scheme in which we haven’t seen. They’re known for playing man coverage. They dropped back in a lot of zone, more zone than we’ve seen in the early games. That allowed them to sit back in a zone and just wait for a guy to catch the ball and make the tackle. They came up with more of a blitz package today. They were able to get pressure.”

The Eagles saw the Raiders previous 5 games on film. Clearly the Eagles were caught off guard by the Raiders unpredictable, aggressive defense.

Offensive Tackle Winston Justice: “They were doing some stunts. They caught us by surprise. They did a lot of things that we weren’t really expecting.”

Eagles Right Guard Max Jean-Gilles: “They just generated a lot of pressure. We just weren’t prepared.”

Other key factors in the victory:

- An early TD by the Raiders offense to jump out to a 7-0 lead; Russell to Miller 86 yard catch-n-run TD

- Handling the Eagles blitz packages; good line calls by Satele, excellent blitz pick ups by FB Gary Russell, mixing up the playcalls to including a heavy dose of screens to Gary Russell (5 receptions, 55 yards)

- Solid special teams play from K SeaBass (2 for 2 FGs) & Lechler (7-51.1). The way these 2 veterans are playing is worthy of a ticket to the Pro Bowl.

- Raiders offense doing a better job of sustaining drives by committing to the run. Fargas ran the ball with conviction 23 times for 87 yards. Force feeding Huggy Bear allowed the Raiders to manage the down and distance and win the time of possession battle (33:02 to 26:58)

- An efficient, steady performance from QB Russell (17-28, 61%, 209 yards, 2 ints, 1 TD).

The big questions that will be answered in the next few weeks:

Was the Eagle game a fluke?

Will DC Marshall continue to use the blitz as an important tool to a modern, sophisticated NFL D?

How will the team handle a week where most everyone is patting them on the back?

Will the offense finally begin to carry the unit's fair share of the load?

Witness to a Car Wreck

chbraidernation1@sbcglobal.net (Calico Jack) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 04:35:00 +0000

I wanted to send a friendly "heads-up" to the Raider Nation who plan to tune in to the game this Sunday vs. Philadelphia. Be prepared to crane your neck to view a ghastly car wreck collision.

Last week the Eagles blitzed the Bucs on 60% of their offensive snaps (45 blitzes on 75 snaps). This is not a typo. New Defensive Coordinator Sean McDermott has taken a page from former DC Jim Johnson's (RIP) playbook. The Eagles blitzed more in this 1 game than the Raiders will blitz for the entire 2009 season but that is another blog entry for another day.

Why did the Eagles blitz so much vs. the Bucs? Quite simply, DC McDermott realized that his Eagles defense was facing an inexperienced QB in Josh Johnson. When is a blitz effective? When you've got a QB who is indecisive with his reads, holds on to the ball to long, runs an unsophisticated offense, and has a leaky OLine. Sound familiar?

I hate to say it after such an embarrassing dismantling last week vs. the Giants but this upcoming game is where the wheels really fall completely off the vehicle. McDermott dials up a very diverse set of blitz packages in every conceivable game situation. It doesn't matter if it is 1st down, 2nd down, or 3rd down. It can be a red zone blitz, run blitz, all out blitz. If the opponent isn't able to handle and capitalize on the blitz pressure then he serves up even more blitzes.

Factor in a QB whose confidence is reeling, a team struggling to churn out 200 yards of offensive production, 2 rookie WRs who are not reliable to read and react, and you've got yourself a seat to a full on, no holds bar gore fest. The over/under on total sacks, interceptions, and QB fumbles has to be close to a +/- 12. Are these what Cable would call "explosive" defensive plays? Can you say "Dynamite, Tom!"

I would like to think that Cable is doing everything humanly possible as the Head Coach to prepare the offensive unit for the inevitable onslaught of a "Super Sunday Blitzkrieg" in terms of scheme, personnel groupings, play calling, and group prayers to get ready for Sunday.

I would love to see the the entire team to play with a sense of pride, purpose, aggression, and conviction.

Being a realistic optimist (hoping for the best outcome but grounded in reality), my view is that this is the type of match-up that is no better than bringing a parka jacket to hell.

A Cry For Help

chbraidernation1@sbcglobal.net (Calico Jack) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 21:39:00 +0000

N.Y. Giants 44 - Oakland 7

Let's face it ... this was the perfect storm for the Raiders to flounder. The beat down delivered by an elite team like the Giants is merely a symptom of a team crying out for help.

The only way for the Raiders to turn things around is to change the way business is conducted at Alameda.

- We have a Head Coach who is the acting Offensive Coordinator, the playcaller, and Head Coach. Even if Cable was qualified and capable of handling all of these major responsibilities (which he is not), how far would he get with the current personnel?

- We have a young QB who needs stability, structure, coaching, patience, and solid support personnel around him to develop ... he doesn't. Russell has a non-existent running game to lean on and 2 rookie WRs to throw to.

As the QB playing so poorly, Russell is the natural focus for all the negativity from the fans. I understand that is part of equation with being the franchise QB. It is much easier to direct your angst at Russell than all of the other problem areas. Russell's poor play is a major concern but not the only concern such as:

Are you upset with Davis wasting a #7 pick on DHB? Does it bother you that our running game is non-existent? How much does it disappoint you that our defense gets continually gouged for big, explosive plays? How good do you feel about our current WR group? Our OLine? The Hanson incident blowing up in our faces? The fact that we don't have a GM?

- We have an owner who for dubious, negligent reasons, refuses to seek the help of a capable GM to partner with.

Simply replacing a Head Coach and/or replacing a QB is only putting a band aid on a gushing, wound. Significant change starts with the hiring of a GM. It carries forward with an exhaustive, thorough, diligent search for a HC who is given the authority to make key decisions on his staff and what type of offense/defense he wants to run.

Summary of the necessary corrective surgery:

(1) Hire a capable GM.

The GM would be directly involved (acting as a true partner to Davis) in overseeing the scouting department, the draft, and most importantly, the recruiting, evaluation, and selection of a Head Coach. The likelihood of finding someone Davis trusts enough to be a GM/partner seems remote at best. Is Davis seriously looking to find a GM? If so, I guess I shouldn't be so damn impatient considering it has only been what 3+ years and counting since Lombardi aka "the fox in the hen house" left the building.

(2) Hire a proven head coach.

To attract and hire a proven head coach requires (a) A GM already in place (b) the full authority to hire his own staff and (c) to run whatever type of offense/defense that he sees fit. The chances of hiring a well qualified Head Coach under the current circumstances is a major long shot.

Honestly. How low do we have to sink before Davis seeks help and revamps how business is conducted in Alameda? We are well past "wait til next year when we draft Johnny Jet Legs from Auburn". When you have lost 75% of your last 100 games, "tweaks" here, a few added players there, a new QB, a new HC will not suffice.

What is sad to me is that Davis should want to get a GM. At his advanced age, he deserves to get some help. If he gets a capable GM and the franchises' fortunes are turned around he will still get his deserved credit. When the team is winning at a 25% clip there is simply no credit to go around.

Door A
Allow the franchise to wallow in shame by not taking corrective action

Door B
Make organizational changes and bolster the executive support group to take another legitimate shot at glory

Is this a difficult choice?

Beyond The Sunrise

chbraidernation1@sbcglobal.net (Calico Jack) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 03:02:00 +0000

Oakland 6 - Houston 29

In the opening game this season, the Raiders played a spirited, tough brand of football in a hard fought loss to the Chargers. The acquisitions of Seymour & Ellis gave our defense some real teeth to it. The Raiders were, without question, the more physical team on the field. Offensively, we were able to run the ball effectively. Defensively, we were able to stop the run. In spite of the loss, the Raiders team showed resiliency by overcoming a late game deficit. There was a genuine sense of hope after this game that this season had real promise.

In the 2nd game vs. Kansas City, 2 of our 3 units (Defense, Special Teams) played exceptionally well allowing the team to be in the position to win in the last 2:00. Russell's struggles became quite evident in this game and there was a gloomy sense in Raider Nation that our offense could be as bad as the 2006 Bed N Breakfast edition. Instead of committing to the run in this game, Cable chose to open up the passing attack. The rushing game never gained traction. Since the team overcame and won on Russell's clutch TD drive, there was still hope. We were learning how to close out a game. A "W" is a "W", right?

In the 3rd game vs. Denver, at home with a chance to take a share of the division lead, the Raiders laid a sulfurous egg. The defense was gashed by the Broncos running attack, Russell continued to have more difficulties with his accuracy, and the run game never materialized. There wasn't any acceptable excuse for the Raiders coming out flat and unfocused. The negative feelings about the team resurfaced.

Today's game vs. Houston confirmed the negative outlook. Where is the improvement from game to game? Going into the game, the Texans were the #32 ranked team in run defense. Were we able to run the ball? Net yards rushing = 45. Did Cable make a concerted effort to get Bush more carries? Bush had 3 carries for the entire day. Was Russell more accurate in his passing? Russell completed 36% of his passes (12-33). Were we able to sustain drives? Try 8 first downs for an entire game. Did DHB or McFadden contribute to our offensive attack? Not unless you count DHB doubling his career receptions (from 1 to 2) or McFadden losing 3 yards on 6 carries. The final straw to this blowout was a dismal performance by our special teams coverage units who gave up big yardage on kickoffs and punt returns to include a 95 yard TD return after the safety.

With the team reeling from 2 bad losses, Russell becoming the poster boy for a bad team, and the most difficult part of the schedule looming (NYG, Philly, NYJ, SD), it could get ugly fast. I would like to think that hope is right around the corner if and only if the offensive unit can come up with a few solutions to their woes. Right now, the offensive unit is so bad that the team is playing with 1 arm behind it's back. Here are a few solutions to ponder:

(1) Come hell or high water, this team needs to re-establish the running attack as the foundation of the offense where drives are sustained and toughness demonstrated. Find a spot on the OLine for Barnes to beef up the run blocking. Putting Barnes at LG or RT is worth a trial run.

(2) Cable needs to rethink how he is distributing playing time. DHB needs to earn his starting position during the week of practice and by producing on the field. Our best inside runner (Bush) needs to be given the opportunity to get in a rhythm in a game by getting more than 3-6 carries.

(3) The running backs and tight ends need to become a more integral part of the passing attack. This is especially important and true for a team that has a QB struggling and a team having a difficult time sustaining drives. In this game vs. the Texans, only 3 balls were completed to the RBs and another 3 to TE Miller. Is there any reason why Cable can't incorporate more 2 TE sets and use Stewart/Myers as pass catching TEs? Does it make sense for McFadden to get only 1 passing touch for an entire game? There are dozens of creative ways to utilize McFadden and Bush into the passing attack. This omission points back to Cable's play calling. He knows his offensive unit is in a black hole. It is up to him to find ways to use his personnel to make it easier to pull themselves out of this hole. The players need to ultimately execute the plan. If one of your biggest weapons (McFadden) is only getting a couple touches per game than there is a problem with the game plan.

(4) The most important piece to an offensive lobotomy is for Russell to become a competent and reliable passer. I am not convinced that Russell will transform himself overnight when you've got 2 rookie starting WRs who are having a difficult time supporting him and a non-existent rushing attack. If and when the running attack gets going and Shilens returns there is a glimmer of hope that we can begin to climb the hill again.

Raiders Offense - The Sad Clown

chbraidernation1@sbcglobal.net (Calico Jack) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 02:19:00 +0000

Denver 23 - Oakland 3

Futile, lifeless, inefficient, impotent, inept, rudderless ... these are the words to describe the current Raiders offense. 3-out/Punt, 2-Int, 3-Int, 12-56/FG, End Half, 8-20/Punt, 2-10/Fumble, 5-16/Punt, 3-0/Punt, 5-20/Downs.

1 stinkin' drive in an entire game where we moved the ball. Total net yards from scrimmage = 137. Total net yards passing = 42. The lack of execution and rhythm was atrocious

The players who are being counted on to provide dynamic offensive proficiency are failing miserably. 3 high draft choices in the past 3 years (#1 Russell, #4 McFadden, #7 DHB) who are struggling beyond belief.

Russell: 31-75, 378 yards, 41.3%, 1 TD, 4 Ints
McFadden: 41-148, 3.6 yards per carry, 2 lost fumbles
DHB: 1 reception; countless drops

Where to begin with cleaning up this mess on aisle 3? It starts with Cable and Russell. Both of these guys need to dig deep to come up with solutions. It might be stating the obvious but leadership and performance from Cable and Russell respectively is what really matters.

Cable, Tollner, and Hackett urgently need to burn the midnight oil to devise a customized game plan for your franchise QB who is performing so poorly. Cable needs to find the right motivational buttons to push Russell towards a sharper focus on the task at hand. It very well might mean sitting Russell down if he is unable to get on track vs. Houston in order to recalibrate the young QB's focus.

Bush needs to become the workhorse back over McFadden. Where is the commitment to the running attack? McFadden & Bush combined for 18 carries. DHB shouldn't see the field unless it is a 3 WR set. Perhaps the return of WR Shilens will provide a jump start to the passing attack. It was clear in training camp and exhibition season that the Russell/Shilens combination was pivotal for Russell's confidence and moving the chains.

Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on your perspective) the core group of offensive skill players are guys in their 1st, 2nd, or 3rd year of development. Russell, McFadden, Bush, Shilens, Murphy, DHB, Miller need to be relied upon to be the engine of this offensive unit. What does this mean? It means more growing pains, heartache, and hopefully much needed progress in the near future. However, let's not kid ourselves. Until Russell gets his act together, this team is staring down another double digit loss season.

Closing Time

chbraidernation1@sbcglobal.net (Calico Jack) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 03:14:00 +0000

Raiders 13 - Chiefs 10

Last week the Raiders lost to the Chargers yet the game was a buoy line to the Raider faithful. In a loss, there was a feeling of hope and better days to come. The next step in climbing the competitive ladder was for the team and coaching staff to learn how to close out a game.

Today the Raiders earned an ugly win vs. the Chiefs yet the game was a beautiful sight for the Raider Nation. In a win, and in spite of a dismal showing by the offensive unit, the team learned how to close out a game.

This game demonstrated why professional football is the ultimate team sport. The Raiders special teams unit playing a near flawless game. Kicker SeaBass nailed both of his long field goals attempts (48 yards; 54 yards). His long kickoffs prevented the Chiefs from netting a single yard on their returns for the entire game. Punter Lechler had an exceptional day (7 punts; 56.9 average) which was pivotal in the field position battle.

The Raiders defense gave up 409 net yards to the Chiefs. This might seem like a big chunk of yardage to the naked eye. However, if you watched the game, you realize that the D made big plays at critical junctures (2 pivotal sacks + 2 game altering interceptions). The defense also showed resiliency by minimizing the Chiefs to only 10 points in spite of a time of possession deficit of 38:39 to 21:21.

It is also clear that FS Michael Huff has taken a BIG step in his career progression. Huff has 3 interceptions and 1 fumble recovery in the 1st 2 games. His tackling and field awareness is leaps and bounds ahead of his previous 2 years in the league.

With the Raiders down 10-6 and 2:30 left on the clock, it was time for Russell to put the previous 57:30 behind him and find a way to elevate his game. This game deciding series is where ugliness gets a much needed face lift. During the course of the game, the Raiders offense only got in rhythm on 1 series. Russell was in the midst of his worst game in his young career. Somehow, some way, Russell blocked out the ugliness of his performance and the unit's performance and focused on winning time.

Thanks to a superior job by the special teams and an admirable job by the defense, the Raiders had an opportunity to win this game. 2:30 on the clock and 2 timeouts, the Raiders needed to march 69 yards to paydirt. On a key 2nd and 15, Russell connected with WR Murphy for 19 yards. On the play of the day, facing 3rd and 15, Russell found WR Watkins for 28 yards. McFadden closed out the drive with a 5 yard scamper after a fake to the upback and a pitch from Russell.

After 2 games, I'm sure many Raider fans are worried or upset about the performance of QB Russell. He has struggled with his accuracy and getting into rhythm. I'm looking at the Russell struggles with a silver lining. In both games he showed his ability to raise his game when the team needed him most. In spite of these struggles, I am confident that Russell will overcome the upcoming 2009 challenges. In my mind, Russell has showed his true leadership by fighting through his adverse times and keeping his eye on the prize.

Murphy TD Video

chbraidernation1@sbcglobal.net (Calico Jack) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 04:51:00 +0000

2 feet down, butt on ground with clear, complete control and possession of the football = TD. Don't bother with the argument that "Murphy was going to ground while making the catch ... yada, yada, yada." He caught the ball in the air. He possessed the ball in the air. He possessed the ball with 1 foot down. He possessed the ball with 2 feet down. He possessed the ball with his butt on the ground.

The Raiders lost this game for 3 other primary reasons:

(1) The kick coverage unit getting gashed by Sproles which set up short fields and cheap points.

(2) Turnovers which took points off the board (Russell INT) or set SD up with a short field (McFadden fumble).

(3) The defense going soft with the game on the line. Going to zone coverage and playing your LBs too far off the line of scrimmage led to back breaking, game deciding points when it mattered most.

Hope Springs From Loss

chbraidernation1@sbcglobal.net (Calico Jack) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 01:49:00 +0000

Chargers 24 - Raiders 20

"We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope."
-- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Last night's result was a rare 'daily double'. When the scoreboard hit 00:00, 2 feelings washed over me which are usually mutually exclusive. The combination was my heart sinking yet being filled with hope at the same time.

It is easy to figure out why it was a tough loss to swallow. In spite of the questionable call overturning Murphy's TD at the end of the 1st half, the Raiders put themselves in a position to close out the game. The Chargers were backed up on their 11 yard line, down by 3 with 2:11 to play.

For inexplicable reasons, DC Marshall had the LBs play a soft umbrella coverage 10 yards off the line of scrimmage. This was an error in tactics that needs to be corrected going forward. Play to win. Don't play to "prevent" a loss.

DC Marshall deserves praise for getting the Raiders to play "Lights Out" (Sorry Merriman) D for 57:49. What impressed me the most about the Raiders defense was the energy, aggression, and fundamentals throughout most of this hard fought contest.

Of course, the addition of Seymour paid off immediately. He made a HUGE contribution and impact. Seymour had 2 game altering sacks and showed his versatility by playing all 4 positions on the DLine.

This versatility will give opponents nightmares as they try to locate and adjust to Seymour. It was crystal clear that Seymour has the abilities to lead and inspire his teammates to new heights. I had VERY high expectations for Seymour making a noticeable, tangible difference in our run defense. The fact that he garners so much attention from the opponent's OLine by being constantly double teamed has allowed his teammates a better opportunity to make a play.

Holding the Chargers to 77 net yards rushing is 1 sign that Seymour is a game changer. The other aspect of the game last night that really stood out was the Raiders ability to collapse the pocket. Throughout the game, the Raiders base 4 was able to put pressure on QB Rivers. Adding a blitzer is the next step in the D being less predictable and more dynamic. By Rivers count, the Raiders only blitzed twice the entire game.

Another aspect to the game that gives me hope is how Russell responded late in the game. By all accounts, Russell had a rough night both physically and from an accuracy standpoint. He was simply missing wide open receivers. However, he showed his poise and focus when the stakes were the highest. Facing a 4th and 15 with the game on the line while overcoming a hyper-extended knee, Russell connected with Murphy for a 57 TD pass. I was proud of how Russell responded to adversity. I am confident that he will develop better timing with his 1st year receivers. Murphy is well on his way to establishing a chemistry with Russell.

CJ's Bottom Line:

Last night the Raiders displayed the type of competitive spirit, effort, and aggression that can't be quantified but fills my heart with pride. It is odd to say it but hope can spring from loss.

"Desire is the starting point of all achievement, not a hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating desire which transcends everything."
-- Napoleon Hill

Ice Cube - Raider Nation (song)

chbraidernation1@sbcglobal.net (Calico Jack) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 20:13:00 +0000

Seymour - Suited & Booted

chbraidernation1@sbcglobal.net (Calico Jack) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 05:05:00 +0000

Richard Seymour arrived in Oakland today. As he said in the brief press conference "I'm ready to put on my hard hat and go to work." It just so happens that his "hard hat" will be a 1963 Raiders helmet for the opener vs. San Diego. Welcome to Oakland, #92. Now, if you can stonewall LT and put Rivers into the turf headfirst, all the better!

I Seymour Run D

chbraidernation1@sbcglobal.net (Calico Jack) — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 20:27:00 +0000

Exciting breaking news: The Raiders acquired defensive lineman Richard Seymour from the New England Patriots for a 2011 1st round pick. Seymour, 6'6", 310 lbs, has played 8 seasons in the NFL and has earned 5 pro bowl selections and 3 super bowl rings.

Here is a summary of Seymour's scouting report:

"Seymour is a very productive three-down defensive end with excellent size, strength and power. He has very good hands with a strong upper body to control blocks. He is explosive off the ball and can push the pocket from both inside and outside. He can dominate one-on-one blocks."

Bill Williamson, who blogs about the AFC West for ESPN, had an interesting take on the acquisition. His main point is that the Raiders needed to take this risk to bust out of their 6 year rut.

Here are my views on this acquisition:

#1 - Seymour is an excellent run defender, pass rusher and is a very durable, high character player with pro bowls and SBs to his resume. He has started in 105 of 111 games.

#2 - Seymour is capable of playing both DT and DE. This versatility is HUGE considering our current DL.

Think of some possible combinations depending on down, distance, game score, time in the game, etc ...

DE: Ellis, Scott, Shaunessey
DE/DT: Kelly, Seymour, Richardson
DT: Warren, Bryant

A base DLine that consists of Ellis, Warren, Kelly, and Seymour has the potential to be pretty damn good considering the possibilities of mixing and matching DL personnel. For example, Kelly and Seymour can be interchangeable. On certain plays, Seymour can move inside while Kelly goes outside to DE.

#3 - IMO, the biggest Achilles heel of the Raiders has been run defense and toughness. Seymour adds both elements.

I understand their is a cost and risk associated with acquiring a player of Seymour's caliber. There is without a doubt some potential downsides such as;

- Seymour being 1 and done
- The loss of a valuable 1st round pick

The biggest difference that I see with this veteran acquisition and the other big ticket ones from the past that ended badly is three fold. The other acquisitions such as DeAngelo Hall, Javon Walker, and Randy Moss were peripheral, skill players (DB, WR) with either questionable character issues, injury history, or both. Seymour is known for being a quiet leader and solid character. The most significant difference in my view is that Seymour has the ability as a DLineman to make a bigger impact on a struggling team like the Raiders. A skilled DB or WR playing outside the tackle box isn't going to impact the bare essence of the game. As the godfather of coaching put it,

"Football is blocking and tackling. Everything else is mythology." — Lombardi

Cuts from yesterday:

S Jerome Boyd, DB Darrick Brown, DE Greyson Gunheim, WR Jonathan Holland, OL James Marten, LB David Nixon, LB Slade Norris, LB Chris O'Neill, FB Marcel Reece, RB Gary Russell, P/K Ricky Schmitt, TE Darrell Strong, OL Mark Wilson, , DT Ryan Boschetti, QB Jeff Garcia, LB Morlon Greenwood, CB Justin Miller, DT Terdell Sands, T Seth Wand

Waived/Injured: DB Michael Hawkins, S Rashad Baker, C John Wade

With the acquisition of Richard Seymour, I would expect WR Todd Watkins to be cut.

Russell Is Right On Track

chbraidernation1@sbcglobal.net (Calico Jack) — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 23:38:00 +0000

I came across some very interesting statistics in the most recent EPSN magazine. Stat guru KC Joyner compared Russell with Joe Flaco and Matt Ryan. The comparison was for the last 7 games of the 2008 season.

I can't tell you how many times I've heard and read 'Russell is a bust' ... 'this is a do or die year for Russell' ... ' Yeah look at Ryan and Flacco' ... 'Russell isn't progressing fast enough' etc.

Russell was in his first full season at the helm last year. The last 7 games of the season showed his true development and overall progress as a QB.

If Flacco and Ryan are considered the "gold" standard for first year QBs, what does it mean if Russell had a higher QB rating than both of them for the final 7 games? What it means to me is that Russell is right on track (if not ahead of schedule) with his career development.

QB Category	Russell	Flacco	Ryan
Comp/Att	95/152	106/185	116/184
Yards	1,134	1,332	1,531
Touchdowns	7	7	5
Interceptions	4	5	6
QB Rating	88.5	81	84.8

It's Time, DHB

chbraidernation1@sbcglobal.net (Calico Jack) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 00:45:00 +0000

DHB had arguably his best week of practice leading up to the game tomorrow vs. the Saints. Cable praised DHB and raised the bar. In reference to a spectacular catch by DHB, Cable said, "He had a great day of catching the ball. Right after he caught it, I said to him, 'Your mistake is you showed me you can do that and, so now, the expectation goes up. That's who you are. That's what you're capable of."

It is time for DHB to start building momentum and confidence leading up to the regular season opener on Sept. 14. He needs to prove to himself, his teammates, and the coaching staff that he can carry a good week of practice into an actual game. I don't care how many circus catches he makes in Napa or Alameda if it doesn't translate to reliable production on game day.

The game vs. the Saints is significant for DHB for a few reasons. First, it is the last meaningful exhibition game where starters will be given significant time on the field. In the last pre-season game vs. the Hawks, the starters will only get a series or two before being yanked for injury precautions. Secondly, DHB needs to test himself vs. quality cornerbacks to build his confidence. He also needs to start developing a chemistry and building trust with QB JaMarcus Russell.

The Raiders Nation knows DHB is more than capable of running deep routes to clear the field for other Raider skilled players. We also know that he is a hard working, humble young man who could become a big play threat. What I'm interested in seeing on Saturday is DHB running a full complement of routes with precision and showcasing his ability to secure the ball and gain yards after the catch. With DHB's blinding speed there should be a cushion of space for him to work the underneath routes and comeback patterns. Lastly, it would be ideal for the Russell to DHB combination to put on film a deep ball connection. It will become much easier to force opponents to double team and account for DHB if he is producing and a legitmitate deep ball threat. DHB can make a valuable contribution to the team and impact a game with his big play ability.

CJ's 2 Cents

chbraidernation1@sbcglobal.net (Calico Jack) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 04:20:00 +0000

The Raiders defensive front 7 got completely mauled last Saturday by the Niners in a 20-21 loss. The Niners rang up 275 yards on the ground on 47 carries. In the context of an exhibition game, what really concerns me most is what happened in the 1st half when the Raiders played most of their defensive starters.

It is startling that 1 basic play was run over and over and over again by the Niners with continued success. Rookie RB Coffee was able to gouge the Raiders defense for 129 yards on only 16 carries which equates to over 8 yards per carry. This basic play was the Niners guards pulling and the tackles power blocking.

Said defensive end Greg Ellis: “They were pulling some of the linemen around and we’re just going to look at it. I’m pretty sure the coaches are going to come up with a solution to make sure that doesn’t happen again. It wasn’t like they were able to run any play and get yardage on us. That one play, we just didn’t handle it well. They did what they should, they kept doing it one side to the other and they kept having success with it.”

The question I have is why an in-game adjustment wasn't made by Defensive Coordinator John Marshall? Improving the run defense is paramount for any team success in 2009.

Unfortunately, the run defensive woes isn't just 1 thing that can be easily "tweaked". It is a combination of numerous factors.

(1) Poor tackling

There were plenty of times vs. SF where (a) our players are in the right spot but lacking the fundamental techniques to bring the carrier down upon contact or (b) the Raider defender allowed the ball carrier to drag him for an addition 2,3,4 extra yards.

(2) Inability of the DL and LBs to get off/shed their blockers

Watching the game vs. SF, what I noticed was that the Raider D had a VERY difficult time disengaging from their counterpart. Shedding the blocker and wrapping up the RB is basic stuff that was faulty throughout most of this game.

(3) Lack of discipline

Each individual player needs to focus on his individual assignment/responsibility and trust that their teammates will do their own job. This was evident every time a defender over pursued and neglected maintaining gap control.

(4) Lack of aggression and toughness

The Raiders front 7 got completely manhandled by the Niners OLine. Cable put it correctly although he used a poor choice of words when he said that the defenders "need to set their jaw". In other words, winning the physical one on one matchups is the essence of winning the battle.

(5) Lack of in-game adjustments by the coaching staff

This is in reference to countering what the opponent is doing. Changing up defensive playcalling, adjusting formations, schemes, gap controls, and personnel accordingly is imperative to stopping the bleeding.

(6) Lack of talented run stoppers

Our front 7 that doesn't have 1 single player who is noted for being a good run stopper. Since we don't have any outstanding run defenders, the team needs to compensate for this lack of talent with discipline, scheme and collective aggression, and most importantly, a coaching staff that puts a premium on improving this area.

My personal belief is that the Raiders need to commit their energies, coaches' meetings, personnel, and focus to making the necessary improvement of run defense PRIORITY #1. If this means sticking SS Tyvon Branch in the box, so be it. If it means putting in the best personnel at stopping the run, I'm all for it. For example, I wouldn't be opposed to using DE Trevor Scott as only a situational pass rusher. I wouldn't disparge the useage of newly acquired LB Nap Harris even if it means sitting Kirk Morrison. If it requires scouring the waiver wire for a run plugging DT, go for it.

Whatever it takes to force the opponent to put the ball in the air to beat us the better chance we have to win. Pass defense is clearly the strength of the unit. If we allow opponents to run the ball down our throat without an answer, it will be next to impossible to have a successful 2009 campaign. Sure, it might have been only a preseason game in August but I don't think it is too early to ring the bells in order to put the emphasis and urgency in fixing this major shortcoming.

P.S. Hard to believe but "CJ's 2 Cents" was my 200th post at SBF ... time flies by way too fast!

POW! Or No KAPOW?

chbraidernation1@sbcglobal.net (Calico Jack) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 02:35:00 +0000

According to Nancy Gay at AOL Fanhouse, Tom Cable punched Defensive Assistant Coach Randy Hanson on August 5th at the Raiders Napa Valley training site. Since Hanson had to go to the emergency hospital with what is being reported as a fractured jaw, the hospital was obligated to report it to the police department as a possible assault.

Just when the Raiders seemed to be having a controversy free, business like training camp, this incident crops up. If Cable did in fact assault Hanson, it was a serious mental meltdown. Whatever Hanson did or said to anger Cable, Cable showed a lack of leadership and judgment in how he conducted himself. These are the type of distractions that a Head Coach is responsible for eliminating not starting himself.

According to Police Lt. McGovern, he considers the matter closed at this point, "unless we are re-contacted by the victim, and the victim changes their mind that they want us to follow through and pursue an investigation. At this point we're not doing anything else with it."

UPDATE:
In a surprise twist to this speculative story, Pro Football Talk reports that ESPN has a different take. ESPN backs Cable's denial of sucker punching Hanson. I'm sure this isn't the last we've heard on this story.

I must admit, in today's 24/7/365 "news" cycle, it is easy to be a little too quick on the trigger. I will say this though ... If the real facts paint a far different picture of the alleged incident than the one Nancy Gay posted, she is in for a rude awakening from the Raider Nation. If Gay was factually incorrect about her post AND her "sources" are not credible, I will personally lambaste Gay to no end for irresponsible, damaging, unprofessional, and cowardly journalism. Stay tuned!

UPDATE 2:
From ESPN; "But Cable told ESPN's Mark Schlereth later Monday that no punches were thrown.

That's backed up by what a former NFL scout Daniel Jeremiah told ESPN's Chris Mortensen. Jeremiah's "reliable source" said that Hanson broke a facial bone when his cheek hit a cabinet in a team meeting room when Cable flipped him out of his chair.

Jeremiah also wrote on his Twitter page that Cable reacted when Hanson spoke profanely to defensive coordinator John Marshall. He rebuked Hanson, then pushed his chair, which caused the injury."

Dallas vs. Oakland

chbraidernation1@sbcglobal.net (Calico Jack) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 03:55:00 +0000

With the preseason starting up this week, I exchanged a friendly Q&A with a Cowboys blogger named Phillip from http://www.dallascowboysnation.com/. The Raiders play the Cowboys this Thursday night in Oakland for their first preseason game. It will be interesting to see how sharp the Raiders execute the game plan coming off of 2 weeks of training camp. I am excited to see some of the new players (Greg Ellis, Lorenzo Neal) and rookies (DHB, Mike Mitchell, Louis Murphy) perform for the 1st time in Raiders gear. Later this year, the Raiders visit the Cowboys on November 26th on Thansgiving Day for their 11th regular season game.

These are my questions with Phillip's answers directly below. To see my answers to Phillip's questions, go to http://dallascowboysnation.com/2009/08/weekly-roundup-cowboys-raiders/.

1. Give the Raider fans some valuable insight on Greg Ellis as a player, teammate, and person. Do you think he will make an impact as a base DE in our 4-3 alignment?

Greg Ellis for the largest portion of his career with the Cowboys was an exceptional player! He is a very gifted athlete, strong, smart, and can play just about anywhere. No one has ever questioned Greg the person; by all accounts he is just an outstanding individual. Greg as a teammate, well that depends! If you are asking about the Greg Ellis that completely confident in his place on the team, well he is an exceptional teammate. On the other hand if you are asking about the Greg Ellis of today that is much older and much less confident on where he stands, well do not expect a lot of mentoring of younger players and such. Greg is just the type of person that wears his heart on his sleeve, and gets his feelings hurt very easily. He could be a very big contributor to your team as a DE, he fills that position very well. Greg is most comfortable as a DE.

2. Is the clock ticking on the tenure of Head Coach Phillips? Do you expect Phillips to be your head coach in 2010 or is it more likely that Mike Shanahan will be hired?

The clock on any coach in the NFL begins as soon as they accept the position! Wade Phillips is no different, Wade catches a lot of grief and some of it due to his making but quite a bit of it has nothing to do with him. This team must make a deep push into the playoffs this year or there will be a ton of heads rolling around Valley Ranch, one of those most assuredly will be Wade Phillips. From there though I have no idea what Double J may do?

3. Here in Southern California, I have noticed many proud, brash Cowboy fans at bars and in the general public. Have you noticed a strong contingent of the Raider Nation in Texas?

Other than the handful of times I have been to Southern California I have never seen a strong contingent of the “Raider Nation” anywhere much less Texas!

4. Which rival do you take the most satisfaction in beating? Is it the Giants, Redskins, or Eagles?

That is a very tough question, simply because I take a great deal of satisfaction in beating all of those teams! If I had to just pick one though, I must go with the Redskins. There is no better day than a day that includes a beat down of the Redskins!

5. Give us your prediction on the Raiders at Cowboys game on Thanksgiving Day ... your overall prediction for both team's records in 2009?

While I really like a few of your players there, the Raiders stand absolutely no chance at winning this game! As long as the Vampire is calling the shots in Raider Nation you guys are destined to lose! The Cowboys are just way to strong on both sides of the ball for this game to be any closer than 10 points.

6. You are probably aware of the Raiders recent 6 years of ineptitude. Set me straight ... is the current Cowboy playoff win drought eating you alive?

Of course it is! All of us longtime Cowboy fans though have been here before; it sucks to lose in the playoffs. What is more aggravating about it though is to see the likes of ESPN and Douchebags like them point fingers at unwarranted people for being the cause if this run. It took this team a long time to figure out how to work the salary cap; therefore it took a longtime to reload. Jerry Jones was a huge part of this problem, maybe even the entire problem. I can tell you this though, the problems this team had when this streak began are not the problems today. This is a young team, and all young teams go through growing pains.

Number Crunching on Run DMc

chbraidernation1@sbcglobal.net (Calico Jack) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 01:53:00 +0000

The upcoming 2009 season has consumed my thoughts. The one guy on the Raiders' squad who I sincerely believe is on the cusp of stardom is running back Darren McFadden. In his rookie campaign, Run DMc gave the Nation a brief glimpse of his talent in game #2 at Kansas City. In this early season contest, McFadden demonstrated his big play ability, breakaway speed, and dynamic playmaking skills. Of course, as we all know, late in the game he suffered his first turf toe injury and he simply wasn't the same player for the remainder of the season. Although he battled 2 turf toe injuries and played fairly well at less than 100%, his inconsistent reps. prevented him from getting in a true rhythm.

Going into the 2009 season, these are the numbers I project for #20:

Based on the Raiders getting approximately 60 offensive snaps per game, I predict the Raiders will run the ball about 33 times per game (33 runs to 27 passes or a 55% to 45% run pass ration).

With McFadden as the lead back, I'm guessing that he will get 288 carries for the season (18 rush attempts per game average which is 55% of the rushing load).

Since the Raiders passing attack is a work in progress with the development of Russell and some of the younger WRs (DHB, Murphy, Schillens, JLH), I would anticipate McFadden being an integral weapon in the passing playbook. Split out wide, set in motion, circling out of the backfield, delayed screens are some of the ways the Raiders will utilize McFadden's skills and to create favorable matchups. A conservative estimate of the number of balls thrown to McFadden should fall in the range of 3-6 per game.

Number Crunching / Predictions:

Rush Attempts Per Game: 18

Rush Attempts Season: 288

Yards per carry: 4.5

Total Rushing Yards: 1,296 yards

Rushing TDs: 6

Receptions: 64

Yards per reception: 9.0

Total reception yards: 586

Receiving TDs: 4

Total TDs: 10

Total Yards: 1,882

To top it off, I expect McFadden to have 2-4 pass attempts out of the wild cat formation. There is no doubt in my mind that the Raiders coaching staff needs to use McFadden in a variety of creative ways to be the engine to the offense. Mixing and matching the RBs, using different formations and sets, and forcing the opponent to account for McFadden are some of the keys to a successful season. I'm really excited about the Raiders developing their core skill players on offense. The Raiders 2009 offense has the potential to become a special unit and McFadden is the fulcrum for making it a reality. I don't discount the fact that Russell needs to play an instrumental role in the offense's success. Yet, I firmly believe that the dynamic playmaking ability of McFadden will make Russell's transition into a franchise type QB that much easier.

Training Camp Questions

chbraidernation1@sbcglobal.net (Calico Jack) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 04:17:00 +0000

All of us are itching for the Raiders to get into gear, throw on the pads, and get training camp underway. Here are a few questions to contemplate before training camp opens in 8 days:

(1) Will any of the rookies emerge in training camp and make an impact in the 2009 season?

My hunch is that WR DHB will be given every opportunity to earn reps. as a #3 WR and big play threat. SS Mike Mitchell aka Eminem will make an instant impact as a special teams contributor and earn a starting role by week 8. The consensus from OTA reports and mini camp is that WR Louis Murphy is a special and talented player who could be the wild card in the WR corps. TE Brandon Myers fills the role of the blocking TE who allows TE Miller to release as a pass catcher.

(2) Who will be the recipient of Mitchell's first KO blow in camp?

The Raider Nation is eagerly anticipating the intimidating presence of Mitchell in the secondary. I'm guessing that Shillens will be the WR who is lit up first on a crossing pattern by Mitchell. Raider snot bubbles are worth the price of admission! It has been far too long since we've had the type of hitter that causes opponent's WRs to get alligator arms.

(3) Who will earn the SLB and LT positions?

The lead candidates are Jon Alston and Mario Henderson but until they put the pads on, you just never know. These are 2 critical positions that the Raiders need to lock down. It has been countless years since we've had high performance and stability at these important positions. Alston is competing with Ricky Brown while Henderson is going up against veteran FA acquisition Khalif Barnes.

(4) How strong of a relationship will develop between HC Cable and QB Russell?

The tide of the Raiders will rise or fall depending on the performance and leadership of these 2 men. One could argue that the Head Coach and QB are the 2 most important leaders of a team and have the lion's share of responsibility and impact. There is no doubt in my mind that Cable and Russell's careers depend upon each other. Cable needs to calibrate his use of the carrot and the stick with Russell to maximize his development. Russell needs to take heed and become a true franchise QB.

Onward & Upward ... Calico Jack

Garcia The Firestarter

chbraidernation1@sbcglobal.net (Calico Jack) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 05:20:00 +0000

The goals of Al Davis signing Jeff Garcia to a contract are two fold:

#1: Sign a veteran QB to act as a capable backup and insurance policy in case JaMarcus Russell gets injured.

#2: Allow Garcia's competitiveness to light a fire under Russell's ass and push him to greater heights.

The season hasn't started and in my humble opinion, both goals have been realized. For starters, Garcia is a much more accomplished and established backup than Andrew Walter or Tui could ever hope to be. But more importantly, the signing and presence of Garcia has been a huge boost and instigator to get Russell to take the next steps in his career progression. I hope Russell feels threatened by Garcia. I hope Russell senses Garica breathing down his neck.

There has clearly been an added dimension and focus to how Russell has reacted this offseason. Players on the offensive unit have remarked to the media about Russell's improved command of the huddle in OTAs. Russell took it upon himself to organize and pay for WRs to join him in Alabama to work on their timing and build a rapport. Russell has even been confident enough about his offseason conditioning that he has made a friendly wager with his head coach about coming into camp at a designated weight.

Although Russell is only 23 years old, he isn't naive. He is aware of the statements Garcia has made to the press about being the guy who gives the Raiders the best chance to win. I love it. Russell is a prideful, confident, talented QB. The signing of Garcia gave him that little extra juice to start doing all of the extra things required of a franchise QB.

Dash, Smash, and Crash (Video)

chbraidernation1@sbcglobal.net (Calico Jack) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 03:01:00 +0000

The original video is labeled as "Smash (Bush), Slash (Fargas), and Dash (McFadden)". I took some creative editing liberties and changed it to "Dash (McFadden), Smash (Bush), and Crash (Fargas)". First, I changed the order to reflect what I consider the true depth chart which is McFadden as the lead back, Bush as the #2 back, and Fargas at #3. I also changed Fargas nickname from "Slash" to "Crash" since one of his real nicknames is "Crash Test Dummy".

This video showcases each RB's different skill set and running style. The engine to getting the offensive unit's RPM up is clearly the 3 headed monster. I eagerly anticipate Cable using McFadden and Bush in a variety of creative ways in both the running game and passing attack. It will be interesting to see how the carries are distributed amongst the 3 backs. One offensive scheme that I think could be very effective is a 2 back set of McFadden and Bush in the backfield with the option of putting either RB in motion. In my view, it is critical to the Raiders overall success in 09 that McFadden is on the field as much as possible. His big play ability and multiple skills (run, catch, pass, decoy) forces the opponent to account for him and adjust their focus accordingly. This creates a multiple of opportunities for the other offensive skill position players.

80 Years Young

chbraidernation1@sbcglobal.net (Calico Jack) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 04:44:00 +0000

Not enough room on the cake to stick 80 candles but nevertheless, "Happy Birthday Al!" If you were to go back as far as his days in high school in Brooklyn, Davis has been involved, immersed, fascinated, and in love with the game of football for 67 consecutive years. It is rare to find someone who has kept a singular focus and passion burning so bright for so many years in a truly remarkable career. In case you were wondering what I got Al for his BDay, see below!

Raiders Sign Veteran Greg Ellis

chbraidernation1@sbcglobal.net (Calico Jack) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 02:20:00 +0000

The Raiders signed veteran DE/LB Greg Ellis to a 3 year deal today with the contract details unknown. Ellis, who was cut by the Cowboys a few weeks ago, will transition from a 3-4 LB to a 4-3 DE. Does this move mean that Derrick Burgess will be shipped off for a 3rd round pick? I am hopeful that the organization will keep DBurg around 1 more season to squeeze as much production from him in a contract year.

If DBurg stays in Oakland, this is the list of DLineman competing for a spot on the final 53 man roster:

DE Derrick Burgess, Greg Ellis, Jay Richardson, Trevor Scott, Greyson Gunheim, Stryker Sulak (R)

DT Gerrard Warren, Tommy Kelly, Terdell Sands, Ryan Boschetti, William Joseph

Greg Ellis - 6'6", 262 lbs, 11 year veteran
2008 Stats: 36 tackles (25 solo); 1 interception, 8 sacks

Ellis is 10-year veteran with very good size and adequate speed and quickness. He reacts quickly to the run. He has good size and strength to maintain effective hand use. He has long arms to stack and shed. He will get upright with his pad level, but has good strength and balance to keep his feet. He's a former defensive end who understands leverage. He can play physical and get off blocks with good timing. He is still quick enough to work his feet and re-gain outside leverage. He is also quick enough to contain and force running backs back inside. He has adequate acceleration in space with good effort to pursue from behind. As a pass rusher, the Cowboys will bring him off the edge from a three-point stance where he has good success recording sacks when his hand is on the ground. He has strength in his upper body to re-work his hands inside then react off of the offensive tackle's technique. He's physical with his hands and works to finish. He is also strong with the ability to rip inside-out. He has a variety of pass-rush moves including spins and counters. He does a good job turning speed to power. He will get upright on counter moves, but comes hard inside and has strength into traffic. He has some limitations in coverage due to his lack of burst in space. He will stall changing direction and lack the quickness to break down consistently, when isolated.