Raiders News: Big Al Giving Kiffin a Vote of Confidence?

It's been over a month now since the stories started inundating the net about the rift between Oakland Raiders Head Coach, Lane Kiffin, and the notoriously impatient and crass owner of the Raiders, Al Davis. 

While many of the media still expect a change in philosophy and personnel from the head coaching position of the Raiders, there is another theory that could be just as accurate judging by all of the moves out of Oakland since the explosion of rumors flooded the net...Al Davis believes Kiffin will turn things around (still).

I know, most of you are probably saying, "WHAT?!?  This guy is outta' his mind!"  While many of my friends and family could tell you stories to reinforce that thought, bear with me for a few paragraphs while I make my point. One could look at the changes that have occurred over the past two months on and off of the field to see that Big Al is placing all of his chips on the Lane Kiffin "pass" line.

James Lofton has been called, "Kiffins' successor at head coach."  How about calling him the most questionable firing of the 2008 off season? 

The Chargers young receivers showed marked improvement last year over years past.  Stats don't tell you how much better the receivers have gotten at catching a football, they only tell you how many times that guy DID catch the ball.  A look at Philip Rivers' stats from 2006 and 2007 shows that he attempted the same number of passes (460) for seven fewer receptions last year, but that doesn't tell the whole story either.  Rivers threw six more picks and had three more fumbles in 2007 than in 2006, which would also begin to explain the lower average yards and total yards in the Charger passing game. 

L.T. and Gates both had their usual seasons combining for 135 of 281 receptions made, which also steers away from Lofton's accomplishments.  Where Lofton succeeded was in the development of Vincent Jackson and Chris Chambers.  Jackson caught a career high 41 receptions during the season, 16 games, while in the three post season games he had a total of 18 catches for 300 yards.  Chambers played in only 10 games for the Chargers and caught 35 balls for 555 yards, but in the post season he had 16 catches for 278 yards. 

If you take their production in the post season and translate that to 16 games, Jackson would catch 96 passes and Chambers would catch 85!!  You don't get tougher competition than in the post season, and that's where the benefits of good coaching shine.

On the flip side of the Chargers receiving production, the Raiders receiving corps was not as successful.  Running backs on the Raiders combined for 89 receptions of a total of 260!  Curry and Porter each had 55 and 44 receptions while rookie Tight End Zach Miller also caught 44.  Tim Dwight, Johnie Lee Higgins, and Chris McFoy combined for a total of 13 receptions and this year Porter and Dwight won't be on the team.  With Curry getting older, Walker a health risk, and Carter here for a year, the Raiders need to have receivers developed within the next two years. 

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