There is a time when every team has the ability to turn the page, and open a new chapter in the franchise story-line. This is the year for the Oakland Raiders to turn it all around.
It began last year with the #1 pick being JaMarcus Russell, instead of the Wide Receiver by the name of Calvin Johnson. Does anybody remember last year when all the sportswriters were "guesstimating," that we would end up with a good WR? What was our response?
A receiver does no good without an o-line, or a decent Quarterback.
Last year it seems to be that Al Davis made the right pick, or in Michael Huff at number seven the year before, was that a bad pick? We do not tend to make bad selections, especially in the first round.
This year I hope more than anything Chris Long falls past the top three, and ends up in silver and black. It is highly unlikely, but It is still a common dream of every Raider fan out there.
Other than that we all know who would end up in our colors. Can we stop with the whole idea that Al Davis doesn't know what he is doing. I don't think for one second that he is senile. He makes good selections.
And if we give both sides of the ball, an equal amount of play-makers, we have succeeded. The upcoming season will be a good one, with out a doubt in my mind, we will win the AFC West and rise once again. So to all you haters out there, please realize, we have been down since 2003, and this is our year. You can't deny us of hope.
When a team is climbing up through the ranks, especially when it is the Raiders, why do other fans want to shoot us down. Is it because we are no longer helpless? Is it because we finally have a good season to look forward to? Or is it that they are scared of us now? I will guarantee the last thing any team wants to do this season is to go to Mc Afee Coliseum on Sunday.
How many Broncos fans are looking forward to their season opener, in Oakland on Monday Night Football?
If you want to continue to hate, go ahead. We love it, it just fuels the fire. Not one true Raider fan on Bleacher Report is going to back down this season. This is our Nation. The RAIDER Nation!
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2 months ago
Totally agree! The Oakland Raiders our only hated for one reason, success.
2 months ago
About the only major blunder we've made, in the first round, would have to be marinovich.....in that case, the media hype hid the fact that the kid was a wild child, and too out of control.
Even when we picked up guys like Darrell Russell, he did give us some good years, before his off-field exploits ended his career. All in all, good article.
from 2 months ago
Dude what about Duddly do wrong?!?!?! Wasn't he a 1st??
I try and not recall & that SS that played last with Swaggart during Art's 1 year gig...
What was his name??? I always thought he was a 1st as well?
I'm sure you'll know...
from 2 months ago
Snoopy, Schwiegert was a 3rd round pick. still around, until we ship him off during the draft weekend. Either that, or since he's a local fan favorite, they'll keep him on ice, in case someone gets hurt. You know the drill.
As for Dudley do dropsie(one of many nicknames for this guy), He was a TE, so I wasn't expecting him to walk on water...at the time, the Raiders had Tim Brown as a primary weapon, a good running game with Nappy and didn't have bad TD numbers(29 in 5 years, ave almost 6 a year).
About the major knock i'd give Dudley, was the same problem I had with James Jett. Can't catch worth a hill of beans. Although, Jett's value, was that if he did manage to hold onto the ball, his speed was an asset. The other thing that didn't help Dudley, was the fact that about this time in Oakland, you had a merry-go-round for QB. Gannon didn't arrive until 1999, and the year before, he had 3 different QBs start games.
To be honest, I think most people are going to forget about Dudley's bungles, thanks to one Zach Miller.
2 months ago
Every year regardles of the 1st round pick...Al will try to pluck a diamond from a small school,somebody nobody else had on their draft-boards,like Oren Oneil etc....this years its going to be Beau Bell {mlb}hes a vicious hitter,with above-average tackling skills,and hes versatile......if we get a decent DT andMLB/OLB......they will all be hating on us for another few more years....win or lose they hate Al.....thats why he said JUST WIN BABY
2 months ago
Go Raiders!! We are back!!
from 2 months ago
hey man our linebackers are fine.......and hopefully the DT we picked up will turn out to be great as well
2 months ago
We need to start winning soon because I'm sick and tired of other teams using "Nation" when referring to their team. We all know there is only one real and true Nation.
RAIDER NATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just Win Baby!
from 2 months ago
LARDR76, The next time you hear anybody USURPING the NATION moniquer just say:
You know Al Davis has ALWAYS said that, "Everybody Wants To Be A Raider!
Imitation is the highest form of flattery. So thanx dude for proving his point!
This is know back in my hood as "A SLAP WITH A WHITE GLOVE"
Homeboy knows he just got B-SLAPPED but has no real way to come back at ya. At least not for long
I GUARANTEE. That if we do this to all those who dare disrespect us by stealing our name...
They will get that sharp point up their collective rumps and refuse to use it in the future...
This will defiantly STOP!!!
RAIDER NATION IN DA HOUSE
CAN - YOU FEEEEEL - IT!!!
2 months ago
"We do not tend to make bad selections, especially in the first round"
Are you kidding? Here's a list of Al Davis first round picks in the last 10 years. 13 total picks and out of those picks only 2 players are pro bowl type players. This is why the Raiders suck. A monkey drawing names out of a hat could draft better than Davis.
* Woodson
Collins
Stinchcomb
Jano
Gibson
Buchannon
Napolean Harris
* Namdi
Brayton
Gallery
Fabian
Huff
Russel
2 months ago
Huff has paid off, Janokowski is the fanchise leader in points, Brayton was never a good pick I will give you that, How many other teams have all their number one picks still?
from 2 months ago
Read carefully...here are the last 13 players the Giants selected in the draft..all still with the team and all being fitted for Super Bowl rings....
not to mention former top picks Jeremy Shockey ('02), Eli Manning ('04), Corey Webster ('05), along with Michael Strahan, Amani Toomer, Chris Snee, Justin Tuck, Brandon Jacobs, Osi Umenyiora, David Diehl and David Tyree who were all drafted by Big Blue and remain with the club as we speak...
Year Round Number Position Name College
2007 1 20 CB Ross, Aaron Texas
2 51 WR Smith, Steve USC
3 81 DT Alford, Jay Penn State
4 116 LB DeOssie, Zak Brown
5 153 TE Boss, Kevin Western Oregon
6 189 T Koets, Adam Oregon State
7 224 SAF Johnson, Michael Tyler JC TX; Arizona
7 250 RB Bradshaw, Ahmad Marshall
2006 1 32 DE Kiwanuka, Mathias Boston College
2 44 WR Moss, Sinorice Miami (Fla.)
3 96 LB Wilkinson, Gerris Georgia Tech
4 124 NT Cofield, Barry Northwestern
4 129 T Whimper, Guy East Carolina
That's how you draft , brother. You want to talk about family, nation or whatever - you gotta LIVE it, not just TALK it....
from 2 months ago
To john Below,
The epitome of an apples-to-oranges comparison - we were talkin about 1st rounders, not all rounds - get a clue and take a class in logic. You'll learn alot about how to frame a solid argument based on the facts, not misuse of statistics
from 2 months ago
I agree with you, Pat
but logic is overrated...especially on this site
2 months ago
The biggest misconception of the draft is that a first rounder is expected to be a pro bowler. With 32 teams, and most pro bowlers repeat bowlers, and most not first rounders, the numbers don't support that assumption. I will agree that a first rounder should be a starter, and if they're not then they are a bust. Although if a team decides to target the second year for the starting position then they still may not be a bust. Give them 2 years to start before considering a bust. With that in mind of that list of 13, I see 2 busts. I'm willing to bet that is well within the league average.
2 months ago
Pretty good read, especially in light of some recent overly inflammatory articles referring to the Raiders and their fanbase. However, I see a couple of issues, one: while Oakland does indeed have a 2nd place finish in the completely depth free AFC West locked up (Denver and KC will be 7-9 and that is a generous prediction) but San Diego went to the AFC championship game last year they may have reached Super Bowl XLII had LT and Rivers not been injured, I see the raiders as a 9-7 or 10-6 wild card this year with some promise down the road. two: As a fan of a different team, I gotta say that people around me tend to think of Raiders fans as rude or abrasive, which causes fans of other teams to try to "shoot you down". (quick disclaimor: I actually quite like the passion for the game and loyalty to their team that Raider fans have and I see no issue with being optimistic about an upcoming season, especially after an off-season as active as the one in Oakland has been.)
Peace,
Max
from 2 months ago
thanks for your comment Max.
I understand the Chargers have a decent team, but we stayed with them in the last game of the season. If the draft pans out the way I hope it will, we will have one of the top offenses in the league. And we already have a defense that seems to be forming itself into the upper eschalante of the league as well.. Lets wait and see.
RAIDERS
from 2 months ago
MAX said; "people around me tend to think of Raiders fans as rude or abrasive"
Well dude, that's because you haven't been to a Browns Game in Cleavland, Or spoken to Pariots fans as a NON- NE fan...
Fact is all teams have clown who root for them. We are hatted because at some point during their lives they have been distroyed by their team (_________) fill in the blank, Loosing to the RAIDERS in a heartbreaker so naturally they hate us and wish us dead.
We hate NE for the Tuck rule and we love Justin tuck from the Giants because he brought JUSTICE to Brady for us and with a TUCK!!!
Oh poetic justice in-deed!
So that 's my opinion on that Max, your a cool dude... Even thou i think
Passion is what makes them hate us or us love us. They steal our moniquer "NATION" in a veiled attempt at dissing us but ignorant soals don't realize that All always has said that"Everybody wants to be a RAIDER" Thus validating his claim...
RAIDER NATION IN DA HOUSE
CAN - YOU FEEEEEL - IT!!!
2 months ago
Well said Max, and well article written greg. I wrote a simular article recently on the same topic. Keep em coming
2 months ago
Yup. Nice article.
Time the nation rise agan.
2 months ago
Its not hard for those of us who are paying attention, and not just reading about the money being thrown around, to see a completely retooled Raider team that has made improvements at just about every position on the field. Not to mention the positive direction we started in after the Art Shell experiment.
S- Wilson and Huff is a big upgrade
CB - Maybe as good a tandum as there is with the addition of Hall.
Ol - Harris and Wade give us options that we lacked last year.
RB - Michael Bush and Darren McFadden anyone?
WR - Walker and Carter in Porter out. I'll take it.
DL- Kalimba Edwards and William Joseph added to replace Sapp. Still got Burgess and Kelly.
QB. JaMarcus with a bit of training camp and pre-season.
With those CB's and quality safties. In our divison without WR. Imagine what the defense can do when they can count on the defensive backfield to do their job.
HLP
2 months ago
been a Raider fan for over 40 years..that was a stupid article..the guy who gave you the list of 1st round busts was right on...and he could have named more than 13..you have no idea what you are talking about...Jano leads the raiders in career points?? big deal..what's his accuracy %?..in the bottom 3rd of the league..Raiders had Nedney when they took Jano..much more accurate kicker...could have had heap or Pennington...Bob Brukowski...Marc Wilson....
Can't stop the run, Huff???..come on.....Davis blew that too..if Huff is so great why is he on the trade block???should have taken Leinart, then C. Johnson last year..DUMB ARTICLE..will NOT win more than 8 games if lucky...
2 months ago
marc you are correct! however i will be a little more optimistic. who knows how many games we will win but as many close games we have played the last few years plus the tallent (i feel) in the coaching staff plus a very week AFC west. i think the raiders will be just fine . Born a Raidertildeath
2 months ago
As many of you, I've been a devout Raiders fan for more than 30 years. I've stuck it out thru the best and the worst of years. We are targets for criticism because of our past domination. Every other team has been waiting for us to falter. Although it's tough for me to handle the recent losing seasons, I know that it's only a matter of time for things to turn around. I've read all the recent articles about our overspending, past draft busts and mock drafts predictions. What I think it comes down to in order for us to make a turn around is for us to believe in ourselves once again. This has to be done thru changing out our roster. One could say that we've recently had enough talent to win (players and coaches). We've not had the RIGHT mix of talend that is truly "committed to win" and has the mindset of being winners. This comes thru experience and leadership. Al's approach to go after free agents gives us the best opportunity to win now. Yes, there are controversial picks, but I am more optimistic now than in the recent past. Al has tried other strategies (Shell, Moss, etc.), but it didn't work and he has gone a different direction. That's the sign of a great leader and general. He's reclaimed his power and we must give him a chance to get it done, his way. I'm proud to say that I'm a Raiders fan. Without question, the greatest sports team of all time. A team who's fan following and fraternity is like no other. Peace.
2 months ago
Did you all ride the short bus? All teams have draft busts. Raiders have no mroe or less, at any level. All this argument amounts to is a veiled attempt to ding the Raiders and Al Davis, again, for the auto-erotic pleasure of the haters out there. Why? I don't understand, but the subject of the Raiders stirs mouth-breathers everywhere to misuse of stats and convenient memory lapses when it comes to their team.
2 months ago
The reason the "Oakland Raiders are hated" is because that some of the fans are flat-out rude.
I do not hate the Oakland Raiders, nor do I hate the passion of the Black Hole. I rather admire it, actually, that a group of fans can be so passionate about their team. I admire that despite a losing record, the Raiders were still near the top of the league in merchandise sold.
I am a die-hard Ravens fan and I would dress up in purple any day of the week; I do not have a problem with the Raiders or most Raider fans.
The difference is that in my experience, including on Bleacher Report, many Raider fans have not provided constructive criticism for any articles; rather, they simply bash the hell out of articles that criticize the organization or Al Davis with no real backing.
Some of that stuff has merit- Al has a reputation to consider; he does like skill position players. He does not like to trade down. Rather than putting him up on a pedestal as a savior, writers here at BR should attempt to refute the points made with examples. Greg, for example, has very different views than me about what the Raiders should do in the draft. However, he's given me solid feedback and written some articles of his own supporting his opinion. That I do not mind- even if I sometimes come off as a "fighter" in my posts.
Thanks for reading.
from 2 months ago
People hate us because in terms of records, the Raiders have usually beaten them more than they have beaten us.
That is why we members of the Raider Nation HATE ( or thoroughly dislike) The CHEF's! Because they are among the few who in terms of over-all records have won against us more than the other way around.
In regards to you guys well, I think were very close but the Ravens have beat us more than us you guys I'm not sure... But you guys haven't been around long enough for us to hate you. Aside from that Jabba the Hut Tony Saragoosa who fell on Gannon in order to take him out and did... Even then you guys barly won. But hey what was done is done and I for one don't blame you guys 4 that. I guess it's part of football but we in the NATION hate this Jabba! (Can you tell? LOL!)
Also dude, you seem like a good block but really I too dislike all of this crap going on in these blogs but comp[laining about it is as irrelevant as critizizing spelling and bad grammer!!!
This is the internet and that is not an issue unless you're running out of points or loosing and argument
Dude, it is what it is!!! Good luck with your new coaching staff out there except when we play you guys!!!
RAIDER NATION IN DA HOUSE
CAN - YOU - FEEEEL - IT!!!!!
2 months ago
good point snoopy, every fanbase has it's share of jackasses among them, heck I happen to come from pompous fan Mecca up here in New England, the collective sense of entitlement in regards to that Super Bowl was almost comical, this site just happens to have more vocal Oakland fans than any other team so it is made to look like Oakland has more jackasses than other places while in reality if this were a site with a large Cleveland/NE fanbase the resulting amount of idiots would be the same.
Quick Sidebar: you guys can have nation cuz I don't want it, it actually meant something back in '04 but the blatant and gratuitous (did I spell that right?) commercialism for which the phrase "Red Sox Nation" is being used is nothing short of disgusting.
Peace,
Max
2 months ago
This was my pick of the day, Way to go Greg! I totally get your point
from 2 months ago
thanks for your support.
2 months ago
JaMarcus Russell is just talented enough to keep both teams in the game. If you watched him at LSU, he shined against lousy opponents and made mind-numbingly bad mistakes in crucial situations against the good ones. I'd be more careful than assuming he's the answer at QB if I were you.
from 2 months ago
I agree, I belive he has some potential, and with some good coaching he could be better, but he wont be some saviour anytime soon
2 months ago
I would have to disagree that they are hatin because we are on the rise. Usually the haters disappear when we are winning, they like to kick us while we are down. The hating will stop this year and the Nation will be back on top, where we beLONG.
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