Week 14 News

[jatfly]

How they match up

RAIDERS RB JUSTIN FARGAS VS. COLTS DEFENSIVE FRONT

At 150.4 yards a game, Oakland has the NFL's No. 5 rushing attack with Fargas as the catalyst. He is a speedster with an impressive 4.7-yard average and 920 yards in only six starts. He took a helmet to the ribs in the last game but appears to be OK. The Raiders also have powerful LaMont Jordan, who started the first seven games and has 549 yards. Also available is former Colt Dominic Rhodes, who has more attempts as a kick returner (16) than as a ball carrier (12). Rhodes was suspended the first four games of the season for violating the NFL substance abuse policy.


COLTS RB JOSEPH ADDAI VS. RAIDERS RUN DEFENSE

Running behind a banged-up line, Addai hasn't had a 100-yard game in six weeks. Over the past five he has averaged 54.2 yards a game and 3.1 a carry. Addai should find more room against a defense that ranks 31st against the rush at 131.2 yards a game. Nine backs have run for more than 100 yards against the Raiders. San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson managed 198, and the list includes three backups: Houston's Ron Dayne (21-122), Kansas City's Kolby Smith (31-150) and Minnesota's Chester Taylor (22-164). Tackling has been a problem.
COLTS SECONDARY VS. RAIDERS COLLEGE OF QBs

Rookie JaMarcus Russell, the No. 1 pick in the draft, will not start but will play for the second time this season. Coach Lane Kiffin isn't saying when or how much, nor has Kiffin said whether Josh McCown (finger) or Daunte Culpepper (quadriceps) will start. It's probably all the same to a Colts secondary that has 10 interceptions in its past six games. McCown and Culpepper have combined to throw 14 touchdown passes and 16 interceptions. They have been sacked 33 times.
-- Phil Richards


http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071214/SPORTS03/712140381


___________________________________________________________




McCown will start at QB again

David White

Thursday, December 13, 2007

(12-12) 19:21 PST Alameda --

Quarterback Josh McCown will make his third straight start as Daunte Culpepper remains sidelined with a quad injury, coach Lane Kiffin said Wednesday.

Culpepper hasn't worked with the team in two weeks since injuring his quad Nov. 25 at Kansas City.

"After Daunte not being here today, that will be the plan," Kiffin said when asked about McCown starting Sunday against the visiting Colts. "We'll see how Daunte comes out (today). Doesn't sound good. I was hoping he'd come out today after a long weekend of rest."

The past two weeks, Kiffin has withheld his decision until the Friday before the game. This time, he let McCown know on the first day of practice.

"Yeah, it's good," McCown said. "I understand the situation, and can get ready to roll."

Rookie quarterback JaMarcus Russell will play off the bench, but Kiffin hasn't decided how much he will play or when. He said game flow will play a factor.

"You have a plan, but you don't know if that plan is going to go exactly how you want," Kiffin said. "Last time he played, it went perfect."

Kiffin stays put: Kiffin took the time to refute all stories tying him to the Arkansas job in recent weeks. The Razorbacks hired Falcons coach Bobby Petrino on Tuesday.

"I never had any contact with the University of Arkansas or any college about any job at all," Kiffin said. "I've done nothing but prepare my team for the upcoming game. I'm coaching the Raiders and getting us ready to play.

"I don't have any idea where all that information came from."

Injury update: Running back Justin Fargas practiced despite bruised ribs from Sunday's game. He's not expected to miss Sunday's game.

Backup center Jake Grove (knee) missed practice.

More days off: Kiffin continues to give veteran players a day off during the practice week, something he likes to do in the final month of the season.

Defensive tackle Warren Sapp, left tackle Barry Sims, receiver Jerry Porter and center Jeremy Newberry sat out Wednesday.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/13/SPU5TSSGT.DTL


_________________________________________________________


COMMENTARY
Blame in Oakland belongs at the top
By Ira Miller
The Contra-Costa Times

Whether Lane Kiffin actually will find an escape route from Oakland is open to question, but there clearly is a whiff of truth in the rumors that the Raiders coach is at least looking for an exit strategy.


It's hardly a coincidence that, in recent years, everyone who coached the Raiders was eager to leave them or, at least, was very relieved when he finally did.
That even includes coaches who were fired, particularly Norv Turner, who looked 10 years younger when he was the San Francisco 49ers' offensive coordinator after he was fired in Oakland.
The common thread is that, near the end of each of these increasingly sour seasons, Al Davis gets more and more ornery, goes behind the coach's back more and more and complains, and nothing ever gets better. Even when the team succeeds, as it did winning the AFC Championship in 2002, the coach is allowed to become a lame duck rather than get a new contract the following season.
Recently, Davis opened up to a Minneapolis columnist he long has known. Among other things, the team owner blamed the coaches for getting rid of receiver Randy Moss last spring, as if they did it without his knowledge. A year ago, his spin was to blame Art Shell, last year's coach, for passing on a quarterback like Matt Leinart in the draft and choosing safety Michael Huff instead.
Let's get one thing straight. Nothing happens with the Raiders without Davis' approval. Absolutely nothing. But Al always manages to find a way to blame someone else when things go wrong, and the last five years they have gone wrong a lot.
Kiffin got almost unprecedented power when he was hired last winter because Davis was desperate. Kiffin got to pick his offensive coaching staff. That's normal in functional NFL operations but not Oakland. So now that things are going bad, once more, you can be sure that Davis is putting more and more heat on his young coach.
Because Kiffin's dad works for former Raiders coach Jon Gruden, you have to believe the kid heard all these stories before he took the job. But he's just that, a kid, and he probably thought he either could survive Davis or change him, a foolhardy thought. Now that the season has tanked, Kiffin may be realizing that this is not a good job for the long term and he's looking around.
Since the 2003 start of the season, Oakland's record is 18-57 under four coaches. But there has been one constant in the organization: Al Davis.
Now, where do you think the trouble lies?


http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071214/SPORTS03/712140384&theme=

 

[jatfly]

California native Matt Giordano knows what his Indianapolis Colts are in for Sunday when facing the Oakland Raiders and their infamous "Black Hole" cheering section.

Thursday's practice report

Colts
• Did not participate: S Antoine Bethea (knee), DT Raheem Brock (rib), T Ryan Diem (knee), WR Marvin Harrison (knee), DE Robert Mathis (knee), G Jake Scott (foot), S Bob Sanders (team decision), LB Clint Session (ankle).
• Full participation: RB Kenton Keith (hand).

Raiders
• Did not participate: DE Derrick Burgess (team decision), QB Daunte Culpepper (quadriceps), C Jake Grove (knee).
• Limited participation: WR Tim Dwight (hamstring).
• Full participation: QB Josh McCown (finger).
• Ruled out of Sunday's game: S Jarrod Cooper (knee).

The safety played at the University of California, a short drive from McAfee Coliseum. He wanted to see for himself what the rowdy reputation was all about. He experienced it only once.
"It is a good sight to see if you're a sports fan, but it's not a good thing to be in the middle of," he said. "I saw it and I got out."
Giordano likely will be in the middle of the on-field action when the Colts make their first trip to Oakland since 1995. Coach Tony Dungy has said safety Antoine Bethea probably won't play due to a knee injury. If Giordano gets the start, it would be the third of his three-year career.
Because Raiders fans are known for extreme behavior, Giordano has offered teammates the same advice he gave his family.
"I tell them watch out for their families, make sure their families are very careful what they wear because (Oakland's) fans are very partial to black and silver," he said.
Weak-side linebacker Freddy Keiaho, who played at San Diego State, has the same take on Raiders fans.
"I don't know how packed the stadium is going to be, but I told my family to wear black T-shirts and not to wear any Colts gear," he said.
Tight end Dallas Clark knows the fan get-up he wants to see.
"I want to see the shoulder pads with the spikes. That's all I'm looking forward to," he said.


First visit

Quarterback Peyton Manning, like most of his teammates, will be playing at Oakland for the first time. Manning has thrown a touchdown pass in 29 of 32 NFL stadiums. He needs Oakland, Seattle and St. Louis for the full set.
"I know it's a tough place to play," he said. "Every game on the road is tough. It's a long trip. It comes at a critical time for us."
O-line may shuffle again

Right guard Jake Scott (foot) did not practice for a second consecutive day and right tackle Ryan Diem (knee) sat out a day after returning to practice, which could indicate the Colts will rely on reserves.
"This was more of getting him back in the flow of practice than really looking at the game," Dungy said of Diem's Wednesday workout.
Scott's injury is similar to what cornerback Marlin Jackson suffered earlier in the season, but not as severe, Dungy said. Jackson didn't miss any time.

Etc.

The Colts, CardioChek and Indiana Blood Center are teaming up again for the eighth annual Bleed Blue Blood Drive beginning today. Through Tuesday, donors at any of the 14 statewide Indiana Blood Center locations will receive a special edition Dungy football and photograph, while supplies last. . . . Five Colts were among the Pro Bowl leaders upon completion of online/wireless voting. Manning ranked third overall behind Green Bay QB Brett Favre and New England QB Tom Brady. Colts RB Joseph Addai, C Jeff Saturday, DE Dwight Freeney and PK Adam Vinatieri led their respective positions. . . . Rookie LB Dedrick Harrington has been signed to the practice squad in place of waived CB Darrell Hunter.


Star reporter Phil Richards contributed to this report. Call Star reporter Phillip B. Wilson at (317) 444-6642.

 

[Chris_77]

Because Raiders fans are known for extreme behavior, Giordano has offered teammates the same advice he gave his family.
"I tell them watch out for their families, make sure their families are very careful what they wear because (Oakland's) fans are very partial to black and silver," he said.
Weak-side linebacker Freddy Keiaho, who played at San Diego State, has the same take on Raiders fans.
"I don't know how packed the stadium is going to be, but I told my family to wear black T-shirts and not to wear any Colts gear," he said.

That's pretty weak.

I've been to enough sporting events for various teams to know that our assholes are no different than those that root for any other team.

 

[BigTron]

That's pretty weak.

I've been to enough sporting events for various teams to know that our assholes are no different than those that root for any other team.

I love that kinda stuff. Let em all be afraid. We know that our fans our no different. Let them worry. Ive been to Philly stadiums so saying we are the worse is just an opinion.

 

[R4Life]

December 14, 2007
Raiders need Rhodes this week

ALAMEDA – Perhaps Dominic Rhodes will play against his old team after all.

Rhodes came to the Raiders as a free agent, but probably wishes he were free again after being relegated to third-string tailback and kickoff return duty much of the season.

Rhodes has been inactive the last two games.

Now that receiver Tim Dwight is hurt, there’s a chance Rhodes could be returning kicks since Chris Carr might have to takeover punt return duties Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts.

Dwight hurt his hamstring yesterday. At today’s practice he was working out on a separate field with Fred Wakefield, a tight end on injured reserve.

That’s not a good sign for Dwight’s status.

Also, with Justin Fargas playing after bruising his ribs last week, it would be wise to have Rhodes active.

If Fargas were to go down, the only tailback the Raiders would have would be LaMont Jordan, who has dealt with a bad back all season.

Also, without Dwight, the Raiders, who have inexplicably carried only four receivers most of the season, would be down to three. One of those receivers, Johnnie Lee Higgins, is a rookie the coaching staff hasn’t shown much faith in this season.

Having Rhodes as an option in the passing game would make sense, but Lane Kiffin might opt to simply use John Madsen as a receiver more than at tight end.

--Jason Jones

 

[R4Life]

Coach beyond reproach
Posted by Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer on Friday at 2:03 pm

Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy is the anti-Bill Belichick, a coach with a sense of perspective which is for the most part absent in his profession. He is not a yeller or a screamer. He isn't secretive and paranoid.

And to hear Al Davis tell it, could have been the coach of the Raiders.

The Los Angeles Raiders.

It was Jan. 3, 2006, when Davis, addressing the firing of Norv Turner and the difficulty of winning a championship, recounted how he interviewed Dungy for the position which eventually went to Mike Shanahan in 1988.

"Tony still hasn’t gotten to a Super Bowl, whether it was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or the Indianapolis Colts,’’ Davis said on Jan. 3, 2006. "And you have to do it. And you know you have to do it. It will be interesting to see if he can get there. He should. We love him, and I would like to tell you that in 1988, when I hired Mike Shanahan, one of the other candidates was a 32-year-old defensive coordinator named Tony Dungy.’’

Dungy, with a Super Bowl now on his resume, wasn't aware he was such a serious candidate.

"He never brought me out for an interview,’’ Dungy said. "We talked on the phone quite a bit and we talked at the combine and different places. I never came (to Los Angeles) for an interview. I never felt I like I was his type of coach.

"I think maybe philosophically and idea-wise (we were compatible) but back in those times he was always hiring offensive coaches so we talked but never in a formal interview setting.’’

At the time, Dungy was 32 and the defensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers under Chuck Noll, having been hired to that position at 28 _ the youngest coordinator in the NFL. He joined the Minnesota Vikings as defensive coordinator in 1988.

His classy, understated style has never wavered.

Lane Kiffin, whose father worked with Dungy in Minnesota and as his defensive coordinator in Tampa Bay, has long been impresseed by his demeanor.

"I thought he was so on it all the time. You could see he never gets flustered," Kiffin said. "That's even back to Minnesota when I was younger. I was around him in high school in Minnesota. Every day, he came out and was the same. Couldn't rattle him. Things couldn't get him down, he just kept coaching. "

They were lessons Kiffin observed from Dungy, even if he is reluctant to say he copied them.

"I don't think you can copy people's personality but you can take things from them," Kiffin said. "Tony's also a perfect person, if there's such a thing as a perfect person. He's unbelievable how he handles adversity and the way he handles things and the way he is with his family. This profession it's very hard to get that done and he does an unbelievable job at it. I know there's a lot of coaches who wish they could do it like him."

Dungy said he remembered Kiffin as a youth being drawn to the game.

"You could see he was one of those guys who was really interested in the game of football," Dungy said. "Where my kids were around camp and kind of interested in the food and running around, Lane liked the football part of it."

Dungy is proud of being the first African-American coach to win a Super Bowl simply because it removes another racial barrier. Raiders running back Dominic Rhodes, who played for the Colts last season, said his reasons for being happy for Dungy have nothing to do with race.

"You have this coach who is so respected, and he respects everyone the way he would like to be respected," Rhodes said. "You want to work hard and bring victories and do special things for himi because he's a special person . . . he's always going to treat you like a man. They say he's he first black coach to win the Super Bowl, but it's more about one of the best people in the league won a Super Bowl."

News, notes and observations from Friday:

– QB Daunte Culpepper (quadriceps) and C Jake Grove (knee) did not practice and are listed as doubtful, meaning you can expect to find both on the inactive list Sunday. S Jarrod Cooper (ACL tear) is out.

– WR Tim Dwight, who sustained a leg injury in practice Thursday, worked with trainers on the side Friday. Kiffin said Dwight looked good adn was listed as probable, but the Raiders had Johnnie Lee Higgins doing extra work after practice, just in case.

– Hanging in every locker Friday was a copy of quote by Winston Churchill:

"A competitor will find a way to win. Competitors take bad breaks and drive themselves just that much harder. Quitters take bad breaks and use them as excuses to give up. It’s all a matter of pride."

– Over/under on the number of Raiders players who know Churchill was once the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom: 12.

 

[raiderfreak7]

– Hanging in every locker Friday was a copy of quote by Winston Churchill:

"A competitor will find a way to win. Competitors take bad breaks and drive themselves just that much harder. Quitters take bad breaks and use them as excuses to give up. It’s all a matter of pride."

– Over/under on the number of Raiders players who know Churchill was once the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom: 12.

Great quote at a perfect time. And if you don't know who Winston Churchill is than.....

 

[poptart]

- Quarterback Josh McCown will make his third straight start as Daunte Culpepper remains sidelined with a quad injury, coach Lane Kiffin said Wednesday. -


Yep, I'm sure McKlown, who was batted around like a ball of yarn at GB, is gonna lead the troops to greatness over the Super Bowl champions.

Hey, this season has the potential to end with a resounding THUD.

If we can somehow squeeze one more win out of the last three it'll be a miracle.

After back-to-back wins over KC and Denver it appeared as though the organization had FINALLY begun to turn the corner on it's nightmare run of awful football.

But not so fast .......

And now we have the Kiffin to ..... anywhere and everywhere..... chatter day-in and day-out.

I still don't think Lane is out of Al's woods here as far as retaining his job .... if he even wants to retain it, that is.
I wouldn't put it past the old man to show him the door, thinking, in his current state of dementia, that Martz (or whoever) would have this thing on a faster track than Lane.
Also, if Al thinks Kiffin is positioning himself for another opening he may pull the plug.
Anything is possible.

Kiffin played the market right, and landing in Oakland was a very good move for him at the time he took the job.
Buy low.
The program in Oakland had nowhere to go but UP, and any upward progress with the program would reflect well on Kiffin.
A couple of years as a Raider and Lane would/will be in a good spot to land at least land an NFL coordinator gig -- or college or other NFL head gig.

No way is Lane Kiffin truly a Raider -- in the way that we'd all wish for it to be.

Hell, I don't know that it is even possible for a rational human male to BE a TRUE Raider as head coach in this day and age, and working for Al.

 

[BigTron]

- Quarterback Josh McCown will make his third straight start as Daunte Culpepper remains sidelined with a quad injury, coach Lane Kiffin said Wednesday. -


Yep, I'm sure McKlown, who was batted around like a ball of yarn at GB, is gonna lead the troops to greatness over the Super Bowl champions.

Hey, this season has the potential to end with a resounding THUD.

If we can somehow squeeze one more win out of the last three it'll be a miracle.

After back-to-back wins over KC and Denver it appeared as though the organization had FINALLY begun to turn the corner on it's nightmare run of awful football.

But not so fast .......

And now we have the Kiffin to ..... anywhere and everywhere..... chatter day-in and day-out.

I still don't think Lane is out of Al's woods here as far as retaining his job .... if he even wants to retain it, that is.
I wouldn't put it past the old man to show him the door, thinking, in his current state of dementia, that Martz (or whoever) would have this thing on a faster track than Lane.
Also, if Al thinks Kiffin is positioning himself for another opening he may pull the plug.
Anything is possible.

Kiffin played the market right, and landing in Oakland was a very good move for him at the time he took the job.
Buy low.
The program in Oakland had nowhere to go but UP, and any upward progress with the program would reflect well on Kiffin.
A couple of years as a Raider and Lane would/will be in a good spot to land at least land an NFL coordinator gig -- or college or other NFL head gig.

No way is Lane Kiffin truly a Raider -- in the way that we'd all wish for it to be.

Hell, I don't know that it is even possible for a rational human male to BE a TRUE Raider as head coach in this day and age, and working for Al.

Ahhh so negative!

 

[poptart]

Tron, I WANT to believe Kiffin will be in Oakland for 7+ years, and will lead the troops to one or more Super Bowl wins.

I just don't believe it'll play out that way.

I see Kiffin leaving (one way or another) by the end of '09, and likely sooner.
He'll leave with a losing record as Raider head coach.

That's my prediction.


Look into your own crystal ball and tell me what you see Kiffin's future being.

 

[Raidermania12]

I think he goes 9-7 next year. but its too early to make a prediction worth a damn. Its fairly obvious that there will be many changes, so we gotta wait til those take place atleast tis offseason. unless you dont believe he can win with a legit roster.

 

[SoCalRaider]

- Quarterback Josh McCown will make his third straight start as Daunte Culpepper remains sidelined with a quad injury, coach Lane Kiffin said Wednesday. -


Yep, I'm sure McKlown, who was batted around like a ball of yarn at GB, is gonna lead the troops to greatness over the Super Bowl champions.

Hey, this season has the potential to end with a resounding THUD.

If we can somehow squeeze one more win out of the last three it'll be a miracle.

After back-to-back wins over KC and Denver it appeared as though the organization had FINALLY begun to turn the corner on it's nightmare run of awful football.

But not so fast .......

And now we have the Kiffin to ..... anywhere and everywhere..... chatter day-in and day-out.

I still don't think Lane is out of Al's woods here as far as retaining his job .... if he even wants to retain it, that is.
I wouldn't put it past the old man to show him the door, thinking, in his current state of dementia, that Martz (or whoever) would have this thing on a faster track than Lane.
Also, if Al thinks Kiffin is positioning himself for another opening he may pull the plug.
Anything is possible.

Kiffin played the market right, and landing in Oakland was a very good move for him at the time he took the job.
Buy low.
The program in Oakland had nowhere to go but UP, and any upward progress with the program would reflect well on Kiffin.
A couple of years as a Raider and Lane would/will be in a good spot to land at least land an NFL coordinator gig -- or college or other NFL head gig.

No way is Lane Kiffin truly a Raider -- in the way that we'd all wish for it to be.

Hell, I don't know that it is even possible for a rational human male to BE a TRUE Raider as head coach in this day and age, and working for Al.

Good stuff bro................

I once went through a personal experience comparable on some levels to what Kiffin is going through with geriatric Al. A Sr. partner had taken me on as a junior partner... and at first things went off great... and I seriously saw myself in that situation for the long haul.... then we had our first major disagreement... and it was pretty bad. To have a Sr. partner pull rank on you and go behind your back and do exactly what you did not want to do is an awful, awful feeling. My ass burned for weeks.... and to make a long story short, I got the hell out of there at the first opportunity.

So in a lot of ways, I can really appreciate Kiffin's frustration over that Russell pick and the season long holocaust that has ensued. A backfield of Garcia and Peterson is light years better than the teacher's pet and Fargas. At first I really never understood or respected Kiffin's attachment to the teacher's pet... but now seeing both sides of the story start coming through.... what he was trying to do in his battle with geriatric Al makes a lot more sense.... and if I were him, I'd get the fuck out of that situation as well. He's a young guy, who's got a solid future as a HC ahead of him... he's got nothing to gain by staying in this diseased organization.

 

[raider60]

Gosh, I wish I had the first-hand information and knowledge of Kiffin's exact relationship to Al Davis and their opinions regarding players and the direction of the franchise. Maybe then I could make the educated criticisms that litter this thread--

 

[SoCalRaider]

Gosh, I wish I had the first-hand information and knowledge of Kiffin's exact relationship to Al Davis and their opinions regarding players and the direction of the franchise. Maybe then I could make the educated criticisms that litter this thread--

No worries bro.... you can get the first-hand information and knowledge straight from us.

 

[Crossbones]

We got info...

Gosh, I wish I had the first-hand information and knowledge of Kiffin's exact relationship to Al Davis and their opinions regarding players and the direction of the franchise. Maybe then I could make the educated criticisms that litter this thread--

Come on man. Isn't that what we do on these boards?

I'll take it any day instead of the old days when getting information on the Raiders or talking to anybody in town about the Raiders was next to impossible.

Just opinions man...no harm no foul.

 

[RNorris]

Gosh, I wish I had the first-hand information and knowledge of Kiffin's exact relationship to Al Davis and their opinions regarding players and the direction of the franchise. Maybe then I could make the educated criticisms that litter this thread--

I agree here ...

All rumors at this point.

 

[raider60]

Come on man. Isn't that what we do on these boards?

I'll take it any day instead of the old days when getting information on the Raiders or talking to anybody in town about the Raiders was next to impossible.

Just opinions man...no harm no foul.

You're absolutey right--this is a message board and people have the right to post thier opinions. Some appear like clockwork without the accuracy--

 

[Langlier]

McFoy signed to the active roster... Lets see if the USC connection sticks!

Cooper was IRed to make room

 

[BigTron]

Tron, I WANT to believe Kiffin will be in Oakland for 7+ years, and will lead the troops to one or more Super Bowl wins.

I just don't believe it'll play out that way.

I see Kiffin leaving (one way or another) by the end of '09, and likely sooner.
He'll leave with a losing record as Raider head coach.

That's my prediction.


Look into your own crystal ball and tell me what you see Kiffin's future being.

I like to believe he sticks around for a few seasons with JaMarcus and gets this thing turned around. He got rid of most of the cancerous players and will get rid of the rest (Pouter/Lamont/Rhoades) very soon. We lost alot of talent doing this because we didnt grade attitude before Kiffin showed up (Moss). So now he will have an offseason to re-stock the cabinet with quality players. He is in a good position to succeed. I just think wanting to be a HC in the NFL (where his daddy works) will keep him around if he can be successful. He already has a franchise Qb to mold. Im just saying. Unitl i hear otherwise I like to believe Kiffin is staying. Wouldnt of he been dead set on getting a player to help this year (CJ/AP) if he were planning on bouncing very soon? Or was it all Al Davis's choice to draft JR? I heard everyone say Culpepper was AL's QB the whole time and he wanted CJ... blah blah blah. Kiffin has a good job and will have alot of tools to make this team better with in the offseason (cap room/High draft picks). He wont be blamed for anything bad that happens... it all will go to AL. He is getting paid more money than he ever has made and hasnt had a chance to learn enough about being a HC yet to move on IMO. I feel like he will stick aorund to prove to Pete Carroll and everyone else he is such a good coach he can turn this franchise around to spite everyone's opinion. EVEN THE RAIDER FANS! Next year if JaMArcus plays like crap then he might leave. Until then i feel like he will stay.

 

[poptart]

It's a good post, Tron.
I too want to believe that Kiffin will hang around and get this thing legitimately turned around.
I like him and think he might be up to the challenge.

Shell, Turner, Callahan, Gruden, Bugel and White ....... preceeding him haven't been able to make it [Eagles]In the Long Run[/Eagles] in Oakland.
That doesn't inspire confidence in me that Kiffin will make it.

Gruden was the closest thing to a 'stayer' in Oakland.
He was immature in a lot of ways, IMO, and also of course, Al perhaps shares blame for his departure.

On the surface, there are a lot of attractive things about the Raider job right now.
The West looks poised to be weak in the near future.
KC will be on hard times.
Denver isn't on an upswing.
SD, especially under Norv, will always be a bit shaky.
Another good draft, weed out more of the riff raff, pick up a couple/few good free agents, solidify our current guys within the Kiffin system, get Russell comfortbale, and we could make some noise within our division .... or maybe more.
We could become a contender.

I think all of that ought to inspire Kiffin to WANT to stay on for at least another year.

But what does Al want and what does he really think?
And can he stay back and let the kid do his thang?

I dunno about the 'reports' about Kiffin and other jobs .... I just dunno.
I tend to think that where there is smoke there is fire.
Maybe I'm a pessimist.
Or maybe a realist.

In Kiffin's public 'denials' of reports, one thing I would have LIKED to hear come out of his mouth is, "I'm a Raider, I like being the Raider head coach, we're heading in the right direction, and I PLAN ON BEING HERE WELL INTO THE FUTURE."

We didn't hear that from him.

Instead he said he didn't know how the reports got started, he is coaching the Raiders, and getting them ready.


I WANT success and longevity, but there is a nagging feeling deep in my stomach that tells me that the kid isn't diggin' Al a whole lot, and he's wanting to find an exit strategy.

Hope I'm wrong.