Raiders vs. Bears

R4Life

R4Life

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Now, to me, this represents the single greatest piece of evidence about how KK is regarding 2007. He is mindfully running this as an extended tryout for 2008. He's trying to win games too, but as a secondary goal (i.e. he has cut players that would help him on the field in favor of others who have the right mindset). No one interested in winning a low scoring Bears game kicks to Hester. Kiffin wants to see how (and who) they respond more than he wants to gain field position. This shows how new he is. No seasoned NFL Coach would ever trade a victory for information. They know losses are what get you fired.
Losing sucks, but this is the right approach as far as I'm concerned. You get more information, better draft picks, softer schedule, better position on the waiver wire and 2007 would have been a mulligan for him anyway. Find out who stays, draft another class of your guys, trade the players that you can for the players you want, cut the rest and make a few deals in free agency, come back with a cohesive unit in 2008.

Kiffin has no fear -- will kick to Hester

Rookie Oakland coach Lane Kiffin has no fear of Devin Hester.

None he's showing, any way.

Asked if he would kick the ball to Hester during the game Sunday in Oakland, Kiffin responded yes.

The surprising answer led media to ask for a clarification. Will he kick to Hester?

"Yes," Kiffin replied.

The natural follow-up to that, why?

"We’re excited about the challenge," Kiffin said. "We’ve started to play better on special teams the last few weeks and this obviously is probably the best returner ever to play the game. It’s not just him. Chicago plays great special teams in all phases of their special teams and is extremely sound. We’re prepared for a challenge.

"It’s no fun to kick it out of bounds so we’re going to see how well we can cover."

The Sun-Times then inquired if the man behind the commitment to excellence, Al Davis, was aware of this strategy?

"Um, I haven’t had that conversation with him," Kiffin responded. "No."

Let's wait and see what really happens with Sebastian Janikowski and Shane Lechler come Sunday.

Devin Hester is not at Halas Hall today to get the good news that Raiders coach Lane Kiffin has pledged to kick the ball to him.

Hester is ill and is not at the facility, one of four players to miss practice Wednesday.

CB Nathan Vasher (groin) was doing some walking around the field when practice opened. Safety Brandon McGowan (right elbow) and left guard Ruben Brown were also sidelined.

Vasher's absence has to be somewhat concerning, making it more likely the veteran will miss a sixth game. The way the Raiders have been throwing the ball, that might not be the biggest problem the Bears could have.


A shout out to whichever Raider fan in Chi town who sneezed on Hester's Big Mac.
 
How bout Jano just pounds it to the endzone everytime?
 
I don't agree with Kiffens strategy on kicking to Hester. That's just foolish and Jano should be kicking it into the endzone or squibbing it every kickoff. Sorry Kiff but this team fails miserably when trying to rise to a challenge. This team doesn't need big returns to destroy what little confidence or motivation they have left. I know Kiff is trying to put confidence in this unit, but better to play smart as a coach with these bums were fielding.
 
Jano is the best (on pace to break the record of 40 in a season) at touchbacks, but he's also good for a knuckler or a shot to the 5 once or twice a game. Lechler outkicking coverage is my biggest fear.
 
One thing I'll say is that at this point in the development of this team there is little sense for being cocky. The Raiders special teams blow and if Kiffin is intent on kicking the ball to Hester then he's not being very smart. :nono:
 
Agreed, he can change the complexion of a game very quickly. A ST play could be the difference in this one.
 
CrossBones said:
One thing I'll say is that at this point in the development of this team there is little sense for being cocky. The Raiders special teams blow and if Kiffin is intent on kicking the ball to Hester then he's not being very smart. :nono:
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I think it's like Kiffin said. They've been playing better. Duh, Ekejiuba and Cooper are out there now. So maybe he's giving them a wake-up call. Maybe they've been getting cocky. Maybe he's informing them that they're going to have to prove they're as good as they've been playing recently.

Maybe.
 
Rupert said:
I think it's like Kiffin said. They've been playing better. Duh, Ekejiuba and Cooper are out there now. So maybe he's giving them a wake-up call. Maybe they've been getting cocky. Maybe he's informing them that they're going to have to prove they're as good as they've been playing recently.

Maybe.
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To me that's like putting a fuckin' sign on your back that says "kick me"...WHY? I've never been one to be afraid of a damn kick returner but I grew up with the great Raider teams. This team is a mess and we shouldn't give Chicago any more help than we have to. I vote for Jano to kick into the Black Hole but that is exactly the time he won't.

Anyway, if Hester runs one back Kiffin is gonna take some heat. Not afraid of him? Bah. Use your head.
 
Ghost Poster said:
I don't agree with Kiffens strategy on kicking to Hester. That's just foolish and Jano should be kicking it into the endzone or squibbing it every kickoff. Sorry Kiff but this team fails miserably when trying to rise to a challenge. This team doesn't need big returns to destroy what little confidence or motivation they have left. I know Kiff is trying to put confidence in this unit, but better to play smart as a coach with these bums were fielding.
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Agreed... There isn't a player on this team that's managed to rise to the occasion once this year.... but the way I look at it... Kiffin's still a rookie coach from a school that's always been 10 times as talented as the opponent and could get away with arrogant, boneheaded decisions like this. This game will ultimately be another lesson learned for our rookie head coach.............
 
R4Life said:
Jano is the best (on pace to break the record of 40 in a season) at touchbacks,
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Which is pretty amazing when you consider how infrequently the Raiders get the opportunity to kick off.

Jano's got touchbacks on an unheard-of FIFTY-ONE PERCENT of his kick-offs.
 
This Devin Hester issue is like the McCown-Culpepper affair: aboslutely irrelevant. At the end any coach will do what he wants, and by no way is commited to the words he said to the press. Gruden was a master at this. Kiffin should take a look at these videos and probably would get out of problems in press conferences. I mean, a coach has not to look cocky or anything else. It will often backfire. He is in command, he is not at the line, is bussiness are those from a leader, and anything he says will be dissected. "Youre the owner of your silence, but the slave of your words" , said the greeks, and coachs often play a game with the media they don't know, and the reporters take advantage of anything to create controversy, even from the most stupid things.
 
raiderfreak7 said:
How bout Jano just pounds it to the endzone everytime?
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Bingo... it's what we drafted him for isn't it?... If Jano does his job and skulls the ball 7 yards deep, it isn't going to matter who the other team has back there... Personally, I hate when a team tries to squib kick... It seems like the other team always ends up with great field position....


Punting to him is another matter as mentioned, since Lech does seem to outkick his coverage... I think it's best if Lechler goes in thinking hang time instead of distance this week....
 
Raiderfan007 said:
At least we have the number two pass defense though. :rolleyes:
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... and a $60 million piece of work on the sideline who couldn't hold A.Peterson's jock strap... From now on whatever you recommend, let's hope for the Raiders sake that Al does the exact opposite.




Raiderfan007 said:
And those amazing players are still on their rookie contracts...:rolleyes:
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It's a shame they aren't the most important position of the team or the face of the franchise. I can't wait to see those 4 Super Bowls and 10 Pro Bowls, bro.
 
i like kiffens mindset, and i think it is ultimately just a confidence boost/swagger type of statement

but seriously, thats playing with fire

we should have our hands full just controlling the offensive and defensive phases of the game, and now there is a threat of a guy that is very capable of taking a kick or two to for scores, and really putting us in a bad situation for the game

all that said, i still hope we end up having to kickoff a whole lot in this game
 
this game reminds me of the pitt game last year. we have no business winning it but the team coming in is a shell of the team it was the year before. I'm not afraid of greiseball and look forward to his return to oakland. Take the under on this game folks because it wont be a high scoring game.
 
SoCalRaider said:
... and a $60 million piece of work on the sideline who couldn't hold A.Peterson's jock strap..
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Man just like people saying he's qb savior w/o a snap, you on your end need to give up that subjective silliness. Officially Russell is no better or worse a pick until he actually plays. To pterson's credit he's lived up to the hype i felt about him at draft time when I wanted us to grab him. But he's a vike now, fuck him. I just wanna see us get an offense worth a damn on the field so Russell doesnt have to be Vince Young running around out there.

Also let me say that putting Vince Young in early has progressed his ego more than his game. For all his talents, he'd be a far better QB if they gave him a year to learn how to make prototypical plays first before innovating. I think he innovates a lil' too much.
 
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