Perspective?

poptart

poptart

UDFA
Joined
Nov 20, 2006
Messages
4,846
Reaction score
998
Week 1 - Detroit Loss 5-2 possible playoff team
Week 2 - Denver Loss 3-4
Week 3 - Cleveland Win 4-3 possible playoff team
Week 4 - Miami Win 0-7
Week 5 - bye
Week 6 - San Diego Loss 4-3 possible playoff team
Week 7 - Kansas City Loss 4-3 possible playoff team
Week 8 - Tennessee Loss 5-2 possible playoff team

5 of our 7 games have been against possible/likely playoff teams.
Combined record of 25-24
The only game we've truly been 'blown out' was the SD game, and even in that game, as bad as we played, we SHOULD have been in at halftime at 14-14.

Point here is that we ARE competetive.
Our 2-5 record could quite easily be 3-4, 4-3, or even 5-2 .... with just a few plays going our way.

Reality is that we haven't been able to get over the hump and we are 2-5.
Painfully, it is what it is.

I've read here that we are 10 or 15 players away from being a good team.
I don't buy that.
I think it's 5-8 players.
Maybe less than that.

One or two difference-makers on offense would do wonders for us, IMO.
Russell might develop into that, as might Bush.
That and a couple of big and capable bodies on the O-line.

Defensively we're only 2 or 3 players away, I think.

We've got the Texans and the Bears up next at home.
Can we win 'em both?

Quite possible.


Thoughts?
 
What so some of you think it is over????:nono:


:gripe:Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is!

Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!

And it ain't over now. 'Cause when the goin' gets tough.......

What the fuck happened to the Raiders Fans I used to know?

Where's the spirit? Where's the guts, huh? "Ooh, we're afraid to go with you jatfly, we might get in trouble.

" Well just kiss my ass from now on! Not me! I'm not gonna take this. Shanahan, he's a dead man! Dungy, dead! Norv Turner......." :gripe:
 
Let's see tart:

Defense:
FS - replace
SAM - replace/upgrade (who wants an injured Sam Williams every year - I like the guy and his talent, but I'd rather have someone who stays on the field)
NT - I like Warren and Sands is good off the bench, maybe we don't need someone, maybe, maybe.
RDE - I like Kelly there, and Richardson will develop behind him, but Sapp isn't a long-term guy at DT and Kelly could move right back inside
DT - there's no-one behind Sapp unless it's Kelly, then there's no-one behind Richardson at RDE. Give me a starting RDE out of these two and I'd be cool with it.
SS - I like Huff, but he's undersized and might be a good fit at FS with Stu shuffled out of the picture, who again are the backups at either position? Nobody.

So in my book we could definitely use 3 defensive starters and another 3-4 backups/rotation guys.

Offense:
WR - need some speed. Higgins might be the guy, Dwight is a fill-in. Porter is starting to show his age, and I don't think he'll age well.
TE - I'd like another young blocker who can catch
OL - LT is filled with a great guy who barely makes the grade, Center is filled with a gamer whose knees are shot, RT and RG could be upgraded.

On offense I don't mention QB because we've got the answer in-house (regardless of how long he takes to become the answer). I don't mention RB for the same reason. FB is solid with both starter and backup. So I think we need 3 starters, 2-3 rotations guys, and 2 near future starters (RG, RT) on offense.

So, yeah, you can definitely say we're close.
 
As my good friend Ugly Nipples would say, "Fuck a buncha perspective."

Perspective doesn't show up in the W column.
 
We need:

1 #1 WR
1 LT or RT depending on Mario Henderson
1 C to take over for Newberry. Grove, Gallery and Carlisle are guards.
1 franchise RB
1 FS to replace STu
1 everydown stud DE
1 DT to replace Sapp
1 OLB/MLB who is nails vs the run

I count 8.
 
We need players at several positions both on offence and defence, but the reality says without an OL we're going nowhere. So postpone everything and get some offensive linemen even if you have to sell your sister. Three mamooths at least.

Once this is achieved, we may start thinking about the DL and the Stus replacement. But We need fuckin pass protection for JaFuckus Russell.
 
Last edited:
poptart said:
One or two difference-makers on offense would do wonders for us, IMO.
Click to expand...

I agree.... You can have an effective offense with average speed at WR if you have a QB that understands getting the ball out on time, as Gannon showed with Brown and Rice... Right now, Pepper is strictly a guy that reacts to what he sees and almost always late because of it... I anticipate we may see a guy added across from Curry who has the ability to scare a safety and provide some much needed run after catch ability.... For that reason, it wouldn't surprise me to see Al make a run at Chad Johnson... Myself, I'd take a shot with Antonio Bryant if he's eligible and then try and add a guy that can really run (Andre Davis?) and hope either he or Higgins can become the deep threat needed to maximize JaMarcus's skill level...

Russell might develop into that, as might Bush.
Click to expand...

We're certainly counting on it... Assuming Jamarcus and Bush are "who we thought they were", we're actually not that far away IMO... Bush getting back to his pre-injury form would be huge, not only for his running ability but for what he brings to the game as a pass receiver... There's just not too many 250 lb backs floating around that can line up wide and be a threat...


That and a couple of big and capable bodies on the O-line.
Click to expand...

Here in lies the key... Mario Henderson was hand picked by Cable so I'll trust that he'll be a solution rather than be a part of the problem... If we can find another tackle, I actually think we're only really short a center...

Finding another OT will be the biggest bitch to overcome I think, which is why I wouldn't be opposed to floating Gallery back to RT for the remainder of the year... Sink or swim that fugger already... We have a bunch of guys that can play guard in his place (McQ, Grove, Cornell Brown), plus we could start those unrealistic sign Alan Faneca dreams up... Short of drafting a guy really high or seeing Gallery snatch and grab a spot, I have no idea what to do at tackle opposite Mario Henderson...



Defensively we're only 2 or 3 players away, I think.
Click to expand...

This is where I disagree... I personally don't like the makeup of our D-line... We have one true DE in Burgess who is at the age where being a small end who loses a half step would be fatal... and we have one true two gap DT in Sands who for whatever reason has become too blockable this year... Sapp is probably in his last year here, Gerrard Warren is already showing what has frustrated people with him since he's been in the NFL: a couple of good games followed by getting dinged and leaving people wondering if he's soft...

Honestly I look at our D-line and see a bunch of guys that may be more effective playing DE in a one gap 34 system (Kelly, GWarren, Brayton, Richardson)... With most free agent D-line difference makers either being subject to the franchise tag or ridiculous salary offers from deep pocket teams, it may be more practical to go out and find a NT that can rotate with Sands and a couple of LB's.... A guy like Haynesworth would be ideal, but a second tier FA like Randy Starks would be fine.... Assuming Burgess would be perfectly fine as a rush backer, finding another through the draft or FA shouldn't be difficult... There's certainly not a shortage of them in the draft (Chase Ortiz, Quinten Groves, Tommy Blake, Xavier Adibi etc...)

Another safety is a given, and frankly I'd rather go out and get a vet instead of adding yet another pup through the draft... I'd keep an eye out and see what Philly does with Brian Dawkins... He's at about the age where the Eagles are known to cut bait on the vet and replace him with a cheaper youngster... Otherwise Mike Doss or Gibril Wilson are potential guys...

We're looking at adding 4-5 guys if we stay with a 43 (2 DT's, rush end, OLB, S) and 3-4 guys if we go to a 34 (NT, 1 or 2 rush backers, S)....

** While a big splash offseason would be nice, I think we can be pretty good merely by switching to the 34 with Randy Starks and Gibril Wilson added in free agency and the very, very underrated Chase Ortiz in the draft... If you're looking for a guy with a Jared Allen type motor, Ortiz is your man...


Rupert pointed out in another thread how our poor drafts have contributed to our fall from grace from the Super Bowl to the Toilet Bowl... I think we're a lot closer to being a really good team if Al allows Kiffin to run the draft just because Kiff is much more likely to draft guys that have been productive football players instead of look great off the bus or running in shorts and track shoes athletes IMO...
 
Good post Hboy. You know I was thinking that one of the benefits of coach Kiff would be his fist hand familiarity with all the college talent... besides coaching, I think he was one of the main recruiters for SC wasn't he?
 
Just checking the stats, but we've essentially 'climbed' back into defensive respectability lately...

We're now 15th in total defence, and 18th in scoring defence.

I see us scrounging into the top ten by seasons end.

We're still a FS, OLB and DT away though, at the very least.
 
I'm waffleing big time already, but I'm inclined to go with Glen Dorsey with our 1st pick.

The quickest way to respectability is through having a solid defense.

How about drafting Dorsey and making a FA play for Albert Haynesworth? What what that do for our defense?

How much better would Kirk Morrison, Derrick Burgess and Thomas Howard look?

Our secondary with Asomugha, Routt, Huff and Washington? Forget about it.
 
RHC said:
As my good friend Ugly Nipples would say, "Fuck a buncha perspective."

Perspective doesn't show up in the W column.
Click to expand...

Agreed... especially when you consider some of these games have not been nearly as close as the score would indicate.... At this point, just like to see this team build an identity on offense and continue to get better each week on defense.
 
"An Identity on offense"

Love it, this must be the the bumper sticker slogan of the week.

The Raiders are the 5th ranked rushing team in the league and they average 31.9 rushing attempts per game.

http://www.nfl.com/stats/categoryst...-s=RUSHING_ATTEMPTS_PER_GAME_AVG&d-447263-n=1


Our offense is attempting to attack all areas of the field in the passing game, but a combination of a talent poor offensive line, suspect QB play and lack of explosion at WR is really hampering the offense.

This thing will look a lot different next year.

It's not an "identity" problem, it's a talent/execution problem.
 
I can really only find fault in how Kiffin has handled the RB situation.

My only guess is that he's allowing LaMont Jordan to grab the starting RB job for this year & beyond and he's giving him enough rope to hang himself.

Still, Fargas/Rhoades should be more involved.
 
RaiderIVlife said:
"An Identity on offense"

Love it, this must be the the bumper sticker slogan of the week.

The Raiders are the 5th ranked rushing team in the league and they average 31.9 rushing attempts per game.

http://www.nfl.com/stats/categoryst...-s=RUSHING_ATTEMPTS_PER_GAME_AVG&d-447263-n=1
Click to expand...

Thanks for making my point for me bud...

If the Raiders are averaging 32 carries a game, but manage 23, 24, and 27 carries, respectively in the last 3 games... it tells me they have gotten away from the running game that got this offense out of the gutter.

I'd like to see the Raiders get back to the numbers they ran in weeks 2-4... 35, 41, and 49 carries respectively.

Big difference, bud (you can also look at the run/pass ratio and see a very similar trend).
 
Teams have completely shut down the run, bud. Yet Kiffin has been more apt to stay with it than previous coaches, bud.

My point is that the Raiders are committed to running the football, but dificiencies in the passing game are allowing our opponents to load up the box to stop our running game.

You do understand that circumstances will sometimes dictate your ability to stay with the run even when you would prefer to stick with it?

Charger game: Down all day long and couldn't run a damn lick.

KC game: Very close all day long, but our running game was in quicksand.

Tennessee game: 27 attempts isn't exaclty chopped liver, and I think Kiffin does deserve some criticism for not sticking with Fargas, but again, how many 2 & 20's and 3rd & forevers did we face?

I think we'll continue to see the Raiders run with limited success (due to our shortcomings), but we'll continue to see a high number of rushing attempts nonetheless.

Yeah, you sure got me there, bud.
 
IV Life is right, Kiffin hasn't gone away from the run.
It's just that since Oakland steamrolled Miami w/the run teams have loaded up to STOP the Raider run game.
It's been a failure of the offense to execute the modern day ..... forward pass.
Bad QBing, subpar pass blocking, mediocre receivers.

SD and Tennessee both have EXCELLENT run defenses, btw.

I actually give Kiffin credit for sticking to the run better than any Raider coach in recent memory.
 
I'd have to agree with Poptart. We've faced three of the better run defenses the past three games but I think we should be able to open things up somewhat this week against Houston. Jordan does not look anywhere near 100% so I don't understand the reluctance to utilize Rhodes more on a regular basis. I also thought that DR would be more involved in the passing game.

I think we match up well against Houston. They don't particularly run the ball well, relying more on their passing game which should play into the strength of our defense. It also looks like Sage Rosenfels will start in this one.
 
Madturk said:
I think we match up well against Houston. They don't particularly run the ball well, relying more on their passing game which should play into the strength of our defense. It also looks like Sage Rosenfels will start in this one.
Click to expand...
But offensively we don't match up well with anyone. Why? 8 men in the box beats us more often than not. And if you can get pressure on our QB you're pretty much guaranteed a win. And any kind of slightly creative pass rush can do that.
 
I get the feeling that Kiffin doesn't like players missing games through injuries when they "should" be able to play. It is just from how he spoke about pushing Burgess earlier in the season and him letting McCown start while doing his black knight impression. I wonder if Jordan is a case of he should be good to go so Kiffin is giving him carries to see how tough he plays. I don't know why Rhodes hasn't been getting more playing time. I am more keen to see what we have in Bush than Russell. If we get to see Russell even if he is poor we are tied to him for the near future, but it would be nice to know if we have anything more than average at RB.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top