I had high hopes for Lane Kiffin.
After the carnage USC wrought in the coach's final season with the Trojans, I thought, "Oh boy, with the No. 3 defense and Lanes' offensive skills, the Raiders are going to own the AFC West!"
As you all know, it didn't happen that way.
The play I remember most from 2007 came in a game against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Raiders had the ball on the 28-yard line and faced a 4th-and-inches—and instead of taking what would have been an easy kick for Sebastian Janikowski, they went for it and failed.
They wound up losing that game by two points.
Poor performance wasn't as much of a factor in that loss as was poor decision-making.
All the great coaches say that you never chase points unless you have to. That means when you're down 6-0 in the first quarter and you have a chance to kick a field goal, you do it.
Maybe the problem is that Lane is rattled by the dominant ego of Al Davis, or that being a head coach in the NFL is too great a burden for him. Lord knows it's humbled even the mighty Tuna a time or two.
Hopefully, though, Kiffin has managed to get his head around it in the offseason—and is ready to help the Raiders hit the ground running in 2008.
And by running, I mean ramming Justin Fargas down people's throats and making him the NFL rushing leader. Spell him with Michael Bush and throw in some play-action for fun.
And for God's sake, stay away from deep passes until the offensive line gets up to speed—otherwise, it's gonna be sack city like it has been for the last four years.
If they can do all that, Lane Kiffin and the Raiders might just contend in the AFC West in 2008.
14 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Jeff Little about 1 year ago
I was at that game, There were 2 costly turnovers and 5 penalties that were responsible for that loss far more than the head coach. If the Raiders kicked the FG the halftime score would've been 6-3 KC. There were no guarantees that the Raiders would've scored in the second half. Both teams struggled offensively and Lamont Jordan didn't do a thing and it is the primary reason after that game Justin Fargas became the starter. Jordan was all talk and no production he couldn't find the hole half the time and for a guy who weighs 230 lbs. he never ran like it. The Raiders had lost to the chiefs in close games 8 times before that week 7 match up. The Raiders were in that game and should've won however with the above mentioned set backs and being not being able to stop Larry Johnson at the 11:30 mark of the 4th quarter lost that game. The killer was the interception thrown by Culpepper under two minutes to go after two short passes to the right side, one to the middle and then going to the well one time to many and throwing another pass short right that the defense knew was coming. These are things that the coach kiffin had nothing to do with. The coach was trying to send a message to the chiefs and his team that "I have faith that you guys can get me the inches necessary for a 1st down and beat this team." The team was in the re-building mode then as they are now and as you might've noticed they did a lot better offensively when they played kc for the second time. Oh and on your personal favorite the offensive line both teams O-Line gave up two sacks. The Raiders as a team were still learning how to win games and having faith in your offensive line will help build the team for the future.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
I won't disagree with either the story or the first Post by Jeff but even Jeff said that "thrrowing another pass short right that the defense knew was coming" was a play that coach Kiff called. I saw the game and it was a good game. I can't complian about going for it in the first half on forth down to make a point but doing so also makes some other assumptions like: you don't trust your kicker, you don't trust your offense to get in the position to score again and you don't respect their defense. If you make the kick, you get three points and the assumptions do not come up. You miss and your kicker is miffed, your offense is miffed and their defense is pounding their chest - for not reason. I like going for it on 4th but in this situation....................... kick that ball !!!!
Maverick
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alex chavez about 1 year ago
It is unintelligent to assume that if that kick is made, the rest of the game unfolds exactly the same and the Raiders win by 1 instead of losing by 2. If that kick is made, different chances are taken by both teams the rest of the game. KC may have gone for it instead of kicked a FG, or vice versa. Different plays may have been called at the end of the half or end of the game with a different score. Too many other variables would have changed.
Also, not all great coaches say you don't chase points. Even if you only succeed half the time at going for it on 4th down and ending up with a touchdown (7 points) you still gain more than having kicked a FG each time (6 points). Neither the touchdown or the FGs are a sure bet, but as far as odds go, it is a fine move. The Pats do it all the time. It hurt in the Super Bowl (though 4th and 10+ is much different than 4th and inches), but won them plenty of games elsewhere.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Hey can I write an article too!! It seems like anybody can these days. Look mommy I'm a SCRIBE.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
I agree that Kiff made an other than spectacular first impression with myself or Al Davis for that matter. He is young and a rookie HC so some slack has to be given. I think Al was forced to pull the alpha male role on him just to keep him honest and was terribly smart to bring in Lofton as to say hey if you keep screwing up guess what you too will be replaced. having said that though he sure helped out the 1st yr coach by getting players that fill immediate needs. If Lane fails its not Mr. Davis's fault its his own. I do remember that game & recall Jano missing 1 or two prior FG's.
LARaider70
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
where are all of these "colomnists" coming from? both this opinion by Sellars and a Raider draft opinion yesterday are so full of shiite that you gotta wonder what kind of football education fans are getting these days.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
from raiders 76
First if you can"t get a few inches for a first down, well you shouldn't be in the NFL, second Jano is not a kicker and he should've not been in that game or with the Raiders as of now, he has a bag full of misses from any distance, just check his record. Or perhaps your are content with an "offense" which run on first and second and pass on third and ofcourse punt on fourth down, right
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
I disagree with Alex. He should have kicked it, and it's not only un-intelligent to say otherwise, but it's outright insane to not criticize Kiff for that. It was brazen and bone-headed, and his gamble hurt us.
Essentailly, I agree with the author of this article, but there's more to it than just jamming the ball up their throats. We have critical player development issues on the offense like preparing Jamarcus to make good decisions, retaining Cable, deciding on the RB depth chart, getting our WRs to play well, and properly installing this offensive line better.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
I also did whatch the game and in my opinion it was a very good decision going on fourth down, the problem was the play that was call and the execution, disciplane and heart are the key which some raiders dont have. Jano is a good kicker in my opinion. I agree just about every team that we play knows what is coming and yet we lost most of the games by three or four points, which makes me go back to disciplane and play calling offense as well as defense which ln most games and situation did not made the plays.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
I hope we still have Kiffin as are coach. because we need him.
Al Davis wake up! let him do his job. IAM IN
GO RAIDERS
RADLADY
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
i agree with the author that we should have just kicked the fg (but im not saying we would have won the game by a point) i remember watching the game and thinking why the f**k did we not take the 3? the points on the board could have gave us momentum going into the 2nd half but intead the offence must have felt a little deflated after failing to get the 1st, but anyways F**k it its all in the past now.
I hope with Kiffin going into his 2nd year and Lofton on board that the play book is a bit thicker next year. I think Carter was a good pickup as he was quite productive for the panthers last year, Walker is obviously has a lot of critics to answer , likewise Tommy Kelly has a point to prove and if he can get healthy i believe he will this in turn should give Terell sands a kick up his fat arse and start playing like his contract suggests(if hes not dropped for a rookie) Jamarcus looked good against the chargers and it doesnt seem to matter who runs for us, they can still notch up 100yard games. though i am still eagerley awaiting Bushes 1st game. The trend is to dog the raiders down and talk about how s*t they are but the position upgrades keep coming and we are well positoned in the draft to address other issues(DL,LT,C) F**K the Money, F**K the haters, F**K everybody who doubts this team is heading in the right direction, Keep the faith .500 this year at least!!!
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Every one keeps saying Raiders kick FG and win by 1, but remember after K.C. scored in the 4th they went for 2 and failed, if Oakland had kicked the FG K.C. would have kicked the PAT and the score would have been tied, not to say we could not have won on O.T. but not Kicking the FG did not cause us to loose by 2
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Jeff Little about 1 year ago
True Statement and a point that needed to be made.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
It wasn't about if he could make it or not, it was about the smart thing to do or the only thing to do was take the three. Don't forget our offense sucked, and making a foot was a reach with the offensive line. We have to take any points we can get until there is improvement with the offense. We are starting to pull in some players but the Kiffin and Al situation has to be fixed (if there is anything wrong) because what makes suspect something is Al bring in deep throw offensive players and that is not Kiffin dink and dunk system. Its kind of a message that Al is stuffing the deep ball game down Kiffin throat and he better get use to it because that is the kind of players that will coming. However, I think the Carter trade is a very clear message to Curry that if he drops passes like last year he will be sitting. The Raiders need w/r's who will catch the ball, not some superstars who don't have the supporting cast. What is going on with Newberry, I thought he did a decent job, but after watching the Raiders trying to bring new players in I am not complaining unless it turns out Grove is back, because it means Gallery and Grove instead of Sims and Gallery. None of those combinations should be starting in the NFL. We still need offensive lineman. Green,Harris,Grove, just doesn't make a starting lineup in the NFL. I am sure the raider fans who live in the bay area and watched the whiners and harris had to say to themselve "WHY"? He is nothing more then the second coming of Sims, but with a ton of money hung around his neck.
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