The way I see it...

[Crossbones]

Quarterback: It seems to me we're wasting our time with McClown and probably Culpepper too. I know there is a lot of sentiment that Russell should sit the year but I disagree. To me it's time to get this guy up to speed as quickly as possible and get him some NFL experience. Throw the man into the mix about week 8 and let's get on with it. McClown and Culpepper are both FA's aft the end of the year and neither are the future in Oakland. That BS yesterday was just sickening. 73 yards and 3 INTS for our starting QB? Fuck that.

Robert Gallery: Man it's nice to see this guy responding and playing well. From all the reports I read from yesterday's game Gallery is getting the job done at guard. To me this is just a huge plus. Sure he didn't cut it at LT but at this point so what. What if he develops into a por bowl guard? I'm OK with that.

Defense: I never really bought into the fact that our defense was a top 5 defense -- even last year. Or should I say "especially" last year. Teams ran on us like crazy last year and passed the ball when they had to. So being #1 against the pass last year never really impressed me all that much. We have major problems at safety and on the DL. From what I have seen and heard after two games, Sands and Kelley are meh. The RDE is a fucking disaster and overall our pass rush sucks. Our corners have no chance out there since teams are clearly not afraid to throw the ball on us this season. BTW, the Raiders have given up the most points of any team in the AFC West. Great.

Randy Moss: Just how fucked up are the Oakland Raiders? I hate Moss and his lazy prima-donna attitude but looks to me playing with a decent team with good coaching and one of the best QB's in the league shows this clown still has it. But still he's a fucker and I hate seeing him succeed. I just makes me sick that the Raiders have fallen off the face of the earth and are really one of the three worst teams again in the NFL.

The AFC West: Wow...the most embarrassing stat in NFL history? 0-19 in the AFC West in the last 3+ years? That is just about the most unacceptable outcome one could imagine. Al Davis has to be beside himself knowing how he hates to lose to a division opponent. As bad as the Chefs look it's not going to surprise me if we lose twice to them. With the problems we have scoring points it isn't far fetched that KC could actually win in Oakland again. I have no confidence we'll win in KC. And it's more than likely that we lose both times to Denver and SD. Good God...I don't even want to think about it any more.

Lane Kiffin: I like this guy a lot. I think some of his decisions are just about being young and maybe a little stubborn. But the similarities to the Jon Gruden era are already becoming more in focus. Now whether we'll end up 8-8 is another story but this guy just reminds me of Gruden and how he operated when he took over in Oakland. Both Kiffin and Gruden seem to be able to handle Al Davis or at least they are standing up to him and getting the Dark Lord's ear. That's a good sign. I don't understand the love affair with McClown but maybe that is part of the growing up process. I was pretty sure reality would hit hard on September 9th and sure enough it has. Being a HC in the NFL is no picnic especially for a 32 year old kid with no pro coaching experience. Still in the end I think Kiffin will be just what the doctor ordered.

HD TV: Was staying in a hotel this seekend and got to watch some college football on HD TV. Man that is just too cool. Who can tell me about what I need as far as HD service to allow for receiving broadcasts in HD? Do I need a new box for my DirectTV and cable (I have both)? How much of normal programming is actually in HD these days? I just can't stand the squashed heads in analog programming with the wide screen TVs.

A matter of fat: Brittany Spears IS fat.

 

[Jack's sore libido]

73 yards and 3 INTS for our starting QB? Fuck that.

Methinks a rookie QB with like two weeks of practice will be even worse.

 

[Crossbones]

Methinks a rookie QB with like two weeks of practice will be even worse.

But I'm willing to live with that so that we can have him well on his way for next year instead of going through this whole thing all over again. And besides you never know. Maybe JaMarcus will be the exception to the rule. We just don't know. Right now what we're doing just doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

 

[Chris_77]

Kiffin's refusal to sit McCown has cut the honeymoon short with me. It's no different than Art Shell starting Whitted over Curry.

Meanwhile, SF is in first place and I have to stop taking phone calls by 9 am Monday morning.

Fuck.

 

[massraider]

If Kiffin isn't starting Culpepper, there has to be a reason.

Was he going to bench McCown after throwing for 300 yards? That would have been interesting.

I am in the start Culpepper camp, but I was that after the preseason too. But I wonder what happens if CPepp starts, and we get "Miami" Culpepper instead of "Minnesota" Culpepper.

 

[Crossbones]

But I wonder what happens if CPepp starts, and we get "Miami" Culpepper instead of "Minnesota" Culpepper.

Simple. We trade him to NE and he becomes an instant reborn star.

 

[RZ]

Simple. We trade him to NE and he becomes an instant reborn star.

Worked for Gabby

 

[Stanny]

Quarterback:It seems to me we're wasting our time with McClown and probably Culpepper too. I know there is a lot of sentiment that Russell should sit the year but I disagree. To me it's time to get this guy up to speed as quickly as possible and get him some NFL experience. Throw the man into the mix about week 8 and let's get on with it. McClown and Culpepper are both FA's aft the end of the year and neither are the future in Oakland. That BS yesterday was just sickening. 73 yards and 3 INTS for our starting QB? Fuck that.

We're two games into the season and I don't think our division is as tough as it was. I think we can play with the Bolts, we've proved it with the Donks and I seriously think we sweep the Cheifs this year as they are seriously that BAD. I think we should put Pepp in and see what he can do. Give him until about week 8-9 and if things are panning out, you play the young buck and take your lumps.

Robert Gallery: Man it's nice to see this guy responding and playing well. From all the reports I read from yesterday's game Gallery is getting the job done at guard. To me this is just a huge plus. Sure he didn't cut it at LT but at this point so what. What if he develops into a por bowl guard? I'm OK with that.

100% agree with you....From watching both games, he is night and day and is playing with aggression which I believe comes from his confidence. If we can pull a Steve Hutchinson rather than an Ogden, I would be ok with that. He still has a ways to go, but he's night and day right now. He was blowing up some holes in the Donks and Detroit game.

Defense:I never really bought into the fact that our defense was a top 5 defense -- even last year. Or should I say "especially" last year. Teams ran on us like crazy last year and passed the ball when they had to. So being #1 against the pass last year never really impressed me all that much. We have major problems at safety and on the DL. From what I have seen and heard after two games, Sands and Kelley are meh. The RDE is a fucking disaster and overall our pass rush sucks. Our corners have no chance out there since teams are clearly not afraid to throw the ball on us this season. BTW, the Raiders have given up the most points of any team in the AFC West. Great.

The thing that baffles me this year, is Ryan seems to be playing soft for some reason? Where is all the man play (more yesterday), twisting the line and stunting the backers? Why aren't we sending Huff off the edge, or lining Sam I Am more up on the line? Instead I'm watching fucking Warren Sapp drop into coverage, putting Morrison into coverage and expecting Terds to fight through a tripple team? Stuey, needs to GO and give me some BJ Ward. I said from day one, look it up that Jay Richardson would be a player. Give that kid two more weeks and you will hear his name routinely...

Randy Moss:Just how fucked up are the Oakland Raiders? I hate Moss and his lazy prima-donna attitude but looks to me playing with a decent team with good coaching and one of the best QB's in the league shows this clown still has it. But still he's a fucker and I hate seeing him succeed. I just makes me sick that the Raiders have fallen off the face of the earth and are really one of the three worst teams again in the NFL.

Fuck him and his corn rows....only a matter of time before his random "smoke" screening screws him.

The AFC West: Wow...the most embarrassing stat in NFL history? 0-19 in the AFC West in the last 3+ years? That is just about the most unacceptable outcome one could imagine. Al Davis has to be beside himself knowing how he hates to lose to a division opponent. As bad as the Chefs look it's not going to surprise me if we lose twice to them. With the problems we have scoring points it isn't far fetched that KC could actually win in Oakland again. I have no confidence we'll win in KC. And it's more than likely that we lose both times to Denver and SD. Good God...I don't even want to think about it any more

.


I think we bone the Chefs at both stadiums......break out the red brooms and you heard it here first, Nothing but crying mullets and unpaid dental bills come Oct 21st and Nov 25th.

Lane Kiffin:I like this guy a lot. I think some of his decisions are just about being young and maybe a little stubborn. But the similarities to the Jon Gruden era are already becoming more in focus. Now whether we'll end up 8-8 is another story but this guy just reminds me of Gruden and how he operated when he took over in Oakland. Both Kiffin and Gruden seem to be able to handle Al Davis or at least they are standing up to him and getting the Dark Lord's ear. That's a good sign. I don't understand the love affair with McClown but maybe that is part of the growing up process. I was pretty sure reality would hit hard on September 9th and sure enough it has. Being a HC in the NFL is no picnic especially for a 32 year old kid with no pro coaching experience. Still in the end I think Kiffin will be just what the doctor ordered.

Hey this guy is making us competitive and we've been in both games till the end with a chance to be 2-0. Last year the 2006 Raiders open up against SD and lose 27-0....NO CHANCE. They posted 129 total yards, the QB was sacked 9 times and that was how the season started. Week two the Raiders lose to the Ravens 26-8 and produce 162 yards, 0 touchdowns, and the QB was sacked 6 times. They were two games into the season and failed to score a single touchdown, they produced a total of 8pts, the QB had kissed the dirt 15 times and they committed 13 penalties.

Through two games this year we've put up 678 yards of offense, scored 41pts, QB has been sacked 7 times but have committed 18 penalties. I think that is a HUGE turn around from last year. I know the season is long, but I like where this young Buck is taking us. In the mold of Gruden as you stated and has the fire and scheme to take us to higher places. So I would have to agree, this is the kick in the Ass this team needed.

 

[Abelardo]

We can be in every game and still lose all of them. I want to see them take the next step, which means pull out a single win... is it too much?

I don't wanna see them fight in every game, I prefer them to be only in four or six but be able to get the wins. This is not about playing nice, this is only about winning. Only this kinda thinking gives you the sense of urgency necessary to be competitive in this league. Otherwise you feel like you're immortal and there's always the next game, and when season is doomed, then you have the next year. Just like Detroit, and man, they just defeated us at home in the opener.

Now we face Cleveland and Miami... We can get some win here. Miami defence is IMHO very good and has the exact tools to defeat the Raiders. We had Cleveland last year and allowed them to run away with the W. Of course there's no damn Charlie Frye now,as there's no Fiedler in the white phishes.

One of these two games has to fall in our hands. SanDog? forget it. KC? You know how it has been, I dunno why some say we cann sweep them not having won a single division game in almost three years.

Marrowhead stadium is the most hostile environment we have played in, and even when they are bad and we've been good, they have won there. So we have to avoid being overconfident. KC in the road is still a major threat for the Raiders.

 

[RaiderIVlife]

Every team is a major threat at this stage.

I'm really concerned about the players' confidence after yesterday's outcome. That was about as gut-wrenching as it get's IMO. Terrible loss.

 

[Madturk]

HD TV: Was staying in a hotel this seekend and got to watch some college football on HD TV. Man that is just too cool. Who can tell me about what I need as far as HD service to allow for receiving broadcasts in HD? Do I need a new box for my DirectTV and cable (I have both)? How much of normal programming is actually in HD these days? I just can't stand the squashed heads in analog programming with the wide screen TVs.

You'll need to swap out your receiver box for an HD one. You're better off just buying one then renting it in the long run. I think it was like $300. You might try E-Bay as someone had suggested. You'll also need to swap out your dish. I just called Direct TV and they came out and did everything. The dish was inexpensive, like $100 or you can buy one and do it yourself, but for that loot, let them do it. You'll also have to pay an additional $100 to get the Superfan package if you want the NFL games in HD. You also need to cough up $10 extra a month for the privilige of getting the HD channels which are scarce right now but from what I'm told, we'll have a lot more to choose from in the next few years.

As far as cable, I think you just need to get a digital box. You should get some of the local channels in HD which you cant with Direct TV. Hope this helps.

 

[SoCalRaider]

Quarterback: It seems to me we're wasting our time with McClown and probably Culpepper too. I know there is a lot of sentiment that Russell should sit the year but I disagree. To me it's time to get this guy up to speed as quickly as possible and get him some NFL experience. Throw the man into the mix about week 8 and let's get on with it. McClown and Culpepper are both FA's aft the end of the year and neither are the future in Oakland. That BS yesterday was just sickening. 73 yards and 3 INTS for our starting QB? Fuck that.

I certainly don't subscribe to the throw all your eggs in 1 basket theory with Russell. I'm not convinced locking the guy up suddenly gives him the keys to the kingdom. I think the Raiders are in a great position with a couple FA QBs who are in 1 year prove it deals. If either or basically if DC can get in there and show he still can play at the level of an All Pro, I think it would behoove this organization to lock him up and take their time with Russell (a la Montana - Young). Makes a lot more sense to me than letting a good QB go and ignoring the risk that Russell can still very easily be the next Ryan Leaf.

Randy Moss: Just how fucked up are the Oakland Raiders? I hate Moss and his lazy prima-donna attitude but looks to me playing with a decent team with good coaching and one of the best QB's in the league shows this clown still has it. But still he's a fucker and I hate seeing him succeed. I just makes me sick that the Raiders have fallen off the face of the earth and are really one of the three worst teams again in the NFL.

Every time I see Moss tear it up... I keep reminiscing about Davis' interview in the summer where he mentioned that the coaches thought Moss was done, while Davis felt he could still dominate. Tells me Davis at least hasn't lost his eye for veteran talent... Also tells me the Pats are becoming more and more Raider. There once was a time when we were the team that saved guys like Moss, Seau, and Harrison... and there once was a time when we were the organization that would be implicated in stealing signals... Man I miss being that team.

 

[RaiderIVlife]

Good post SoCal.

We also used to be a team that would scowl at the donkos and kick them when they were down. What was all the Happy-Smiley shit I saw yesterday on the field. Fuck them.

 

[hawaiianboy]

If Kiffin isn't starting Culpepper, there has to be a reason.

Reminds me just a bit of the Seattle situation when they first traded for Hassleback and Holmgren decided he was the guy to run his system despite being outplayed by Kitna in the preseason... Hass looked atrocious the first 3 or 4 games there and I remember the Seahawk posters wondering why they didn't go back to Kitna.... We ended up knocking the crap out of Hass and they got their wish... After a few games of Kitna holding onto the ball too long, it became evident why Holmgren thought Hass the better fit... Now I'm NOT saying that in our situation that McCown is the better fit, just that sometimes the coach prefers a guy for certain reasons...

I am in the start Culpepper camp, but I was that after the preseason too. But I wonder what happens if CPepp starts, and we get "Miami" Culpepper instead of "Minnesota" Culpepper.

Before anyone accuses me of being a McCown apologist, I was in the Trade for Culpepper camp last year so obviously I believe he should be our guy, but just to offer another point of view, I'm starting to wonder if Kiff's decision to hold off on playing him is not directly related to Pepper's ability to adjust the O-lines protection calls ... For all of his physical skills, Minny fans seem to feel that he was very weak in this area and that he was heavily reliant on Matt Birk during the glory years and that liability was magnified when Birk was out for the year his last year in Minny and teams blitzed the Vikes like crazy and Pepper played like stir fried shit... Is it possible that Newberry getting hurt somehow currently figures into the decision not to start Pepper?...

As well as Pepper played in the preseason, you just don't see that many blitz looks thrown at the QB from the defenses... I'm NOT defending the decision to start McCown, but Daunte not being up to speed with protection calls yet, coupled with a still developing offensive line may not be the best mix in the coaches view... While Daunte may be able to get by with a 75% grasp of the playbook, he does need to be in synch with what the O-line is doing to be successful... That said, I don't even know if Kiff's system is as reliant on the QB to set protection at the line as some other WCO's are... I just remember Gannon discussing his intense film study and how it pertained to his responsibilities in setting up the WR's reads and pass pro with O-line and RB's at the line of scrimmage awhile back...

I dunno, with reports of Daunte getting a bunch of reps with the ones, it sort of feels like Kiff was maybe trying to buy him a few weeks... :: Who knows... Hopefully, maybe? ...

To answer your question, if we get Miami Culpepper instead of the Minny Culpepper, JaMarcus instantly becomes everyone's favorite backup QB, with respect to the few remaining Andrew Walter homers of course...

 

[Abelardo]

Hawaiianboy, good post man.

While there are reasons to keep Culppeper on the bench; the truthful and awful reality bites any reasoning. McClown has played more bad than good. Isolating the good parts only, doesn't help. It's the same thing than isolating the bad stuff. McGown has been innefective a good portion of the playing time. A burst in the third quarter last week and a few passes yesterday, He has turned the ball over as many times as any unknown QB would do. He ain't a catastrophe either. The Raiders have been more or less in contention last games, having taken the lead in both, though briefly.

I'm on the antiMcdown wagon, but I must admit he deserves more chance if those intangibles Kiffin is supposed to see are so valid. But also Culpepper deserves some playing time. Why give it all to a QB who had never started for the S&B? Do a couple of series for Culp would undermine McClowns "leadership"? Why such a commitment to one guy if Kiffin coudn't make a decision till last week of preseason? or was it a fake move too?

This is a new team. They should allow themselves to attempt more stuff. They still look extremely stiff. When they get relaxed they will get better. Switching QBs in games is not necessairly a bad thing. Some times you don't have another option, like Miami in the eighties with Woodley-Struck. They lost anyway, but they did better than commiting to one of them only.

But in our case who knows what the truth is? As long as we don't see Culpepper on the field, we can't make a comparison. At the end he may suck as well. Just like all of our QBs before and after Gannon (only in modern times of course), which happens to be I didn't like very much. But the guy was true competitor, and along with Gruden were the key to our only success after the eighties. I wouldn't mind if McClown makes it, simply it seems highly improbable he will.

 

[RaiderDestiny]

Every time I see Moss tear it up... I keep reminiscing about Davis' interview in the summer where he mentioned that the coaches thought Moss was done, while Davis felt he could still dominate. Tells me Davis at least hasn't lost his eye for veteran talent... Also tells me the Pats are becoming more and more Raider. There once was a time when we were the team that saved guys like Moss, Seau, and Harrison... and there once was a time when we were the organization that would be implicated in stealing signals... Man I miss being that team.

I am right there with you brother.

 

[RaiderDestiny]

Reminds me just a bit of the Seattle situation when they first traded for Hassleback and Holmgren decided he was the guy to run his system despite being outplayed by Kitna in the preseason... Hass looked atrocious the first 3 or 4 games there and I remember the Seahawk posters wondering why they didn't go back to Kitna.... We ended up knocking the crap out of Hass and they got their wish... After a few games of Kitna holding onto the ball too long, it became evident why Holmgren thought Hass the better fit... Now I'm NOT saying that in our situation that McCown is the better fit, just that sometimes the coach prefers a guy for certain reasons...

I'm right there with you, and I am trying to keep my confidence in Kiff. The only difference, and it is big in my mind right now, is that Holmgren had a solid track record with QB's with which to make the decision. At this point, Kiffen does not have that history and he is making me a bit nervous.

 

[Crossbones]

You'll need to swap out your receiver box for an HD one. You're better off just buying one then renting it in the long run. I think it was like $300. You might try E-Bay as someone had suggested. You'll also need to swap out your dish. I just called Direct TV and they came out and did everything. The dish was inexpensive, like $100 or you can buy one and do it yourself, but for that loot, let them do it. You'll also have to pay an additional $100 to get the Superfan package if you want the NFL games in HD. You also need to cough up $10 extra a month for the privilige of getting the HD channels which are scarce right now but from what I'm told, we'll have a lot more to choose from in the next few years.

As far as cable, I think you just need to get a digital box. You should get some of the local channels in HD which you cant with Direct TV. Hope this helps.

I KNEW there wa a reason why I didn't go out and get a HDTV.

Jesus...$100/yr for DirectTV HD + a new dish + install charges I assume + a $300-400 box so I can get the HD shit for Sunday ticket. Yeah I KNEW there was a reason. On top of that I think I have to upgrade my cable to the digital variety...

Thanks for the info Turk. While I liked the HD pic I'm not sure it's really worth all the $$$ and the hassle of getting everything installed dialed in. Is it?

 

[Jack's sore libido]

Reminds me just a bit of the Seattle situation when they first traded for Hassleback and Holmgren decided he was the guy to run his system despite being outplayed by Kitna in the preseason... Hass looked atrocious the first 3 or 4 games there and I remember the Seahawk posters wondering why they didn't go back to Kitna.... We ended up knocking the crap out of Hass and they got their wish... After a few games of Kitna holding onto the ball too long, it became evident why Holmgren thought Hass the better fit... Now I'm NOT saying that in our situation that McCown is the better fit, just that sometimes the coach prefers a guy for certain reasons...

It was actually Trent Dilfer, not Jon Kitna.

 

[Madturk]

I don't know Bones, it's an individual thing. Put on Discovery HD and then let me know. I took the plunge figuring I would sooner or later but I'm not paying those fuggers at Direct TV another 100 beans to see the NFL games in HD. I tried to get them to give it to me for free being I'm on their "so called" preferred customer list. I guarantee if you're new and contemplating adding NFL Ticket, they'll give you Superfan as an incentive. Fuggers