Now, comes the fun part of Oakland's season. The other part of the team...
Yep, we're talking the defense. Also known as, "the guys that need to stop the other team from scoring."
The last few seasons were a mish-mash of oddly constucted defenses, a few bright spots, but pure and simple we couldn't stop the run.
Case in point, any game we played in had a running back go wild on us. LT loves playing us. Even third stringers loved trying us out.
Okay, so let's look at the bright points.
We know how to pick off passes. We have Nmandi Asomugha, who did well with his chances. Of course, the previous season, he punished QBs with picks. We have Derrick Burgess, who's gotten 35 sacks in three years, and last year, in only 14 games, still had eight.
We've got Kirk Morrison, from an LB position, getting six picks in three seasons, all in the last two years.
In the offseason, we said goodbye to Warren Sapp. In his place, there's a cast of guys looking for the keys to the line.
We added in DeAngelo Hall, another CB to force teams to play honest and gamble on long throws...something not seen in Oakland, since Hayes and Haynes played in the 80s.
Now, what sort of defense, should we expect to see from this team?
Well, the basic premise, is pretty simple: stack the box. Close the safeties in, and let the corners roam out, forcing teams into three choices:
•Throw deep, and hope for a bad day by the CBs.
•Go over the middle, and hope one LB didn't see you.
•Hope their line still can't tackle with all these players at close coverage.
Personally, on a set like this, you could mix in a blitz, or, for a royal surprise, bring everyone. Granted, it works only on one or two plays, but throwing it when no one expects it...well, it would be funny to find Philips running for his life from DeAngelo Hall.
The second option calls for a dual spread with CB and S set back in a more open formation. The downside is that it offers the offense a better chance to run the holes. After last season I'd only do this if I felt either Kalimba Edwards, Greg Spires, etc., could step up and replace Sapp's position—it'll be iffy.
There's also been questions if Rob Ryan will try to go back to his original idea of going 3-4, something he tried his first season only to have it fail horribly due to Sapp's inability to play the position well.
All in all, it'll be fun to see how the first major training camp with vets unfolds. If anything, let them get down and dirty, shake loose the rust. And if you can't cut it, join the unemployment line.
Or, go to another team.





45 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Joe Atwell about 1 year ago
Edwards and Spires play end. Tommy Kelly is going to replace Sap at tackle
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Raider Card Addict about 1 year ago
Depends on the formation....so far, two different analysts have them two fighting over who's going where.
Kelly could fill the hole, but that ACL issue has question marks.....left a few in te Raider Nation asking, how much money?
One guy I miss on defense, was Langston Walker. Sure, he'd have the occasional brainfart, not nearly as often as Sims, but he could also elevate and block field goal attempts.
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Justin Collins about 1 year ago
"...well, would be funny to find Philips running for his life from DeAngelo Hall."
Who the hell is Philips? There aren't any QB's or RB's in the NFL with the last name Philips. As a matter fact, the NFL currently does not have an offensive player with that name...and the only Phillips in the AFC West is San Diego OLB Shaun Phillips. Why would he be running from DeAngelo Hall?
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Raider Card Addict about 1 year ago
Philip Rivers.....the QB for the San Diego Chargers......and if I have to point it out, there's more than teams missing in your division.
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Chris X about 1 year ago
You made numerous errors in your story which opened you up to a lot of criticism.
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jd drew about 1 year ago
What Langston Walker on defense??? Stick to collecting cards and stop acting as if you understand football.
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Raider Card Addict about 1 year ago
jd, first of all, Walker, at 6-8, was a SPECIAL TEAMS asset. at 6-8, blocking kicks was simple for him. Thinking, for you, takes some talent....I know it hurts, but don't.
You're probably of the same mindset that didn't understand that Ted Hendricks wasn't useful.
It's a shame, because of the hall of fame jacket.
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Raider Card Addict about 1 year ago
Walker is frequently used as a field goal blocker. He blocked a potential game winning field goal against the Denver Broncos in on November 28, 2004. [1]
Wikipedia....use it sometime jd, you might get a clue, but you still have to buy a vowel.
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Rick Faller about 1 year ago
Kirk Morrison 6 picks in 3 seasons is ok. How about Thomas Howard 6 picks last year with two returned for SIX!
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Raider Card Addict about 1 year ago
Howard is an animal. Pure and simple, it's fun to watch him settle down into a pocket, make the QB forget about him....then, there's that pick.
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S Thomps about 1 year ago
Are you seriously making fun of the people who comment on your article?
WOW that is amateur!
Have a bit of journalistic integrity.
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Raider Card Addict about 1 year ago
Not really, just the people who smart off at my article....just like you, S.
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Pinocchio's Twin about 1 year ago
Nice article. I wanted to note however, that the Raider defense would actually play relatively well but would gas-out because of poor play by the offense. So with D-Mac, Javon Walker, Drew Carter, Michael Bush, Justin Fargas and a "growing" JaMarcus Russell--the Raiders should be able to let the D rest more than they did in 2007. Let's face it, not every team can be as dominant defensively as the Ravens were in 2000. The fact is, the Raiders have a talented defense, began to gel on special-teams but had two quarterbacks that were riddled with mistakes. Daunte Culpepper showed flashes of his old brilliance but struggled with injuries. Josh McCown meanwhile, did not understand what his role should be. With a defense that was generally talented, McCown should have understood that his role should be that of a Dilfer-esque game-manager not a wannabe Favre-swashbuckler. McCown took too many chances and got burned for it--but would often negate bad plays with great plays but in the end, those would just offset themselves and leave the Oakland offense in neutral. So in 2008, I hope that Oakland commits to run and plays tough D, and occasionally let J-Russ throw the bomb in opportune times. I'm not saying that Oakland will go 12+ wins with that strategy, but until J-Russ gets more experience, I think that is the best strategy for Oakland and I do believe gives them a chance to challenge San Diego in the West (with Denver and KC rebuilding or in dissaray). I'd say 10-6 is not outside the realm of possibilty with Oakland, so long as they don't try to put pieces where they don't fit.
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Raider Card Addict about 1 year ago
well, one good side to the Raiders having more pieces on the Offense, is time control.
Obviously, the longer the defense is out there, the longer they play, the faster they get worn out.
back in the 80s and early 90s, you could count on the Raiders controlling the clocks, for 50-60 percent of the time, putting up a drive that would take half the 3rd quarter, and then kill the clock at the end.
With a running game, we can go back to that system.
It also helps, if we get younger players, for example, Hall and Aso are both still relatively young, and should be mainstays, if we can lock up Aso for a longer term, next year.
Our line, as the pieces come in, has Kelly, Morrison, Huff, and even Stu, if he stays put, as young.
Of course, young doesn't always translate into good.....the trick, is finding the happy medium between and going with it.
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Johnny Comelately about 1 year ago
Field Goal blocking is special teams; granted most defensive players are on the field to play against a fake, but your an idiot if you say you missed Langston Walker on Defense??? He was a Offensive Tackle number one and a field goal blocking specialist, not a defender!!!! This article was weak.......
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Raider Card Addict about 1 year ago
i'll take a mulligan on this one Johnny. By the way, where's your article, Johny, or are you one of the one line wonders, that never adds anything to the Bleacher report?
BTW, blocking field goals, still happens when the opposing team's offense, is on the board. I took it as a basic defense pattern, and yes, he did win the game with the play on the defensive side of the ball. If this is the best defense for this article, then go write a counter article.
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Brendan Majev about 1 year ago
See, 8 men in the box sounds great. One problem: you have no Glenn Dorsey. You should have him, but alas, you don't.
I'd expect the Raiders to get run over- again- and finally be forced to accept the fact that they need a true run-stuffing DT in front of the linebackers when they have another first-half draft pick this coming season.
It's kind of sad, because it's really the ONLY piece they are missing... stupid Al, should have taken Dorsey, or Ellis, if he was your guy... then you could be talking playoffs!
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Raider Card Addict about 1 year ago
I did a little reading on the case of Dorsey vs McFadden. Dorsey, obviously is a line stuffer, but again, who's around him? And can he, by himself, make every tackle that's needed?
Maybe, but it's a long season.
You could also add in the fact that he's a three tool player, and the Raiders have spent, about the GNP of a small country, in Free Agency, to plus Sapp's hole. Drafting either Dorsey or McFadden, creates the same problem.
The other risk, with Dorsey, is the Darrell Russell risk. What's the odds he'll pan out, to be a 12 season star, vs a 5 season washout? Numbers are one thing, but what did Dorsey do against McFadden in College? Nothing.
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Brendan Majev about 1 year ago
See, in college, Arkansas was smart enough to run their 3.2 40-speed RBs (two of them- scary) away from Dorsey. I don't really buy the argument that McFadden is better than Dorsey because of what happened in head-to-head. They're pretty close in ability.
I understand that the Raiders went out and signed everybody but George Blanda to play DT this offseason, and you make a valid point that you have lots of depth at both positions. But where you already had Michael Bush, who was supposed to be a 1st-rounder, and Justin Fargas, who, while not elite, was good, you lost Sapp and are now depending on Tommy Kelly, above all, to fill that void. The last time Kelly played inside, it was a disaster.
The point I'm making? Even if you truly think that Dorsey vs. McFadden was a luxury pick (and I'll grant you that, for the sake of argument), it's better to overload on the side of the ball that isn't yet proven to be improved. At worst, you've got great depth and can rotate DTs to keep them fresh in the 4th quarter and down the stretch.
If I'm wrong, I promise I'll come out and admit it. But I just don't think the Raiders added anything more than backups at DT.
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Raider Card Addict about 1 year ago
Well, I can admit that shopping for a DT is a lot simpler than trying to draft one....but then, at the same time, if a DT has been in the league for several seasons, like, Kalimba Edwards, then they must be doing something right, or they would have washed out years ago.
Simple question, remember when the Raiders picked up Derrick Burgess, a part time player from the Eagles? His numbers didn't look impressive. 3 seasons later, he's a sack machine.
How about Nmandi, plug him in, and now, QBs won't throw to that side.
Tonight, on RaiderCast, I heard one guy, who felt we should have traded down for extra picks, grabbed Mario Winningham, and then had more picks to work with.
Lemme throw some numbers to you.
Napoleon Harris....Was a Raiders pick, sent to Minnesota, still hasn't quite found a niche.
Derrick Gibson....DB, same story, out of football in a hurry.
Tony Bryant.....who?
Mo Collins.....again, who?
One thing, I've always believed, is the Draft, is the closest thing to a guessing game, that people love to watch....aside from maybe Wheel of Fortune.
Some of the players, might come off sounding better, with awards, trophies, etc.
But for each trophy, the final measure, comes down to if the player can perform at the next level.
Remember Andre Ware?
Ty Detmer? Gino Torretta? Rashaan Salaam?
They all pulled down the Heisman.
Now, Mr Dorsey....3 Awards, one Trophy, and 3 accolades.
Go into the past, for the Lombardi award....
Some guys are decent.....some, blew up on launch. Steve Emtman? Percy Snow? David Pollack? Now, some guys, more recently, like AJ Hawk, are working hard, and making their name. Time will tell, on Glenn Dorsey.
After all, who could forget the all time worst back to back picks....the Colts got Manning....and the Chargers got Ryan Leaf.
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Jon Train about 1 year ago
somebody please get raidernews.com to stop picking up this amateur bullshyt! a qb named philips? edwards and spires replacing sapp (different positions)? ryan possibly switching to 3-4 (davis would never allow it) ??????
these bleacher reports are full of inaccuracies. it's like u guys are competing to see who can fit in the most typos and factual errors (not to mention idiotic far fetched opinions) in the least amount of print space. i mean c'mon!!!!!! hahahahaha......these are SHORT articles with MANY mistakes!
just stop
for real
now
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Raider Card Addict about 1 year ago
I talked to Raider News, Jon.....they said until you start writing, they won't.
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raider32assasin about 1 year ago
dude, speaking of brain farts...
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joe stocchero about 1 year ago
did a fifth grader write this?
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James Adler about 1 year ago
If we don't fix the front seven and stop the run, NOTHING else is going to matter. It's all been said a hundred times over but we won't need a pash rush or cover corners if teams don't need to pass against us. Why pass, if you can run all day against us.
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Ian Philip about 1 year ago
The lead footed Rivers would never get away from Deangelo Hall, but with no Defensive Tackle to speak of, how will the Raiders stop the other team's rushing attack?
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ydoireadthscrap ydoireadthscrap about 1 year ago
very lame
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Sulo about 1 year ago
Im sorry, but even with DeAngelo Hall, I hope we don't set our safeties too free. DeAngelo has been burned more times than a matchbook by top tier receivers, Fortunately their aren't too many on our division rival squads...
It will be very interesting to see Aso on Moss and Halll on Welker against the Patriots. That should show us exactly where our duo stands in comparison to the other CB tandems in the league.
I am not so sure we need to stack the box every down like most suggest, maybe a SINGLE BLITZ a game would be nice to keep the opposing offense wondering. I love Rob Ryan, but never understood why he does not install a better blitzing scheme. Blitz or not, I just want a SAM backer to step up and play decent, that alone would help us tremendously.
Scratch the 3-4 until we get personel that can play in it. D-Line is not cut out for it.
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TJ Zwarych about 1 year ago
Go Chargers! There are so many people talking playoffs for the Raiders, but there is absolutely no way they can or will get passed the chargers this season. Simple as that.
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FRANK YRAY about 1 year ago
One guy I miss on defense, was Langston Walker. Sure, he'd have the occasional brainfart, not nearly as often as Sims, but he could also elevate and block field goal attempts.
They are right walker ansd sims played offense line not defense, and special teams isn't defense.
Horrible article I fee dumber for reading it!
After last season I'd only do this if I felt either Kalimba Edwards, Greg Spires, etc., could step up and replace Sapp's position—it'll be iffy.
They are DE's not DT's!
We aren't playing a 3-4 not enough quality at linebacker!
It's pretty simple in run downs we will be in base in pass situation nickle or dime based on the formation and personel grouping of the offense!
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mike jones about 1 year ago
Mario Winningham???? Who the hell is that? Did he play 2nd string gunner for Western Michigan, anyways I think you meant Mario Manningham WR for the Wolverines, now a NY Giant, do you guys have editors at the bleacher report? If you don't and if you guys have some resources beside Wikipedia than hire one, please... Anyways I'm a die hard Niner fan, I think the bay area will have something to be excited about later this year, whether it be the Niners or maybe the Raiders, the Niners had a nice draft with Balmer and Richal building within the trenches, and Bruce, Foster, and Bryant along with Gore and Davis should be a much improved offense just as long as ALEX SMITH performs.
My prediction: Niners 8 - 8
Raiders 6 - 10 Dorsey would have been such a nicer pick to fill the hole for Sapp, McFadden is to sketchy for me, reminds me of Ricky Watters we'll see
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Brendan Majev about 1 year ago
Actually, I'd put the Niners at something on the order of 4-12 this year... and don't accuse me of Raider bias, because I'm not a Raider fan.
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Blaster about 1 year ago
Raider Card is clueless...
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Blaster about 1 year ago
Kelly & Joseph are inline to replace Sapp. Edwards & Spires are DEs not DTs & it doesn't depend on the formaton/situation. "Phillips" was egregiously bad. & your replies to people taking you to task on such a sloppy article are moronic.
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Raider Card Addict about 1 year ago
Ok, fine, i'll ignore everyone from here on out.....that's a good solution.
However, if you want to keep reading, you might look at the 3-4 configuration at the OTAs that are being tried out. Kiffin was quoted as saying, on media day, they caught us on a red zone defense, and it's not a normal configuration, but it also featured players trying different spots on Defense....
Some players, obviously had reasons for being gone, like Stu, and Kelly, but now, some players, like Wakefield, are trying to find a spot to fit into.
Also, Asomugha is not allowed to practice until he signed his tender offer, so Routt's taking his spots, but some has said this may bode well, because until he does, that's training he can get....and Burgess is out right now, along with some offensive players.
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Ron Telisco about 1 year ago
Instead of trying to impress us with artificial intelligence, try focusing on your natural stupidity.
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Raider Card Addict about 1 year ago
No, Ron, i'll just borrow yours...it seems you have plenty to work with.
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Raider D Richardson about 1 year ago
Don't listen to 'em Raider Card Addict, (I'm tired of typing that, next time I'll call you RCA) Most of 'em HAVE NOT WRITTEN AN ARTICLE. Why it matters? Well listen to this haters: It's a tiny bit harder to CREATE than to CRITICIZE (key words haters)
Keep it up RCA!
BTW: Have you haters ever heard the word "nation"?
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Raider Card Addict about 1 year ago
I know, sometimes I wonder where these peons come from. Thing that is sad, is to shoot the messenger, but like another no-name idiot, if their house is on fire, they'll continue to complain....If they don't like my articles, fine, don't read them. Go write something yourself.....in a way, that's why I started my articles, is because of all the slanted media from NFL Network, ESPN, and SI.
I'll be off for a while, as I'm going into training, for the next 6 weeks....then start picking brains from the Raider Nation, and as well, OTAs that are coming up.
On a similar note, how many are going to the Biletnikoff Golf Tournament? Big deal to work with, meet some legends!
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Bob Mowery about 1 year ago
Raider Card its all good. Yes a few holes but thanks for writing and stimulating conversation about our beloved Raiders. I myself cannot wait for the season to start. I really feel like a 9-7 or even a 10-6 season could happen. As long as we are exciting and continuing to grow I will be happy. As long as we beat the stinking Chiefs and Broncos I will be very happy especially since I am a Raider fan living in Missouri.
Remember Raider Fans we are One Nation Under Al so as the Honorable Rodney King said "can't we all just get along"
Can't wait for 08
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Perry Davis about 1 year ago
While you guys are all talking about deangelo hall and nmnandi being able to help us out, I have been wondering why no one has said anything about Gibril wilson? i think that he is another thing that should be talked about considering he had the most interceptions this season out of all safties in the league and just picked up a championship ring. And i must say i am confused about us drafting mcfadden. I think we had enough depth with Fargas, Bush, and Rhodes who now has been released due to the drafting of darren. I strongly feel we should have picked up someone that can plug up the hole and fill in the last piece to the puzzle the raiders have been looking for. But all in all i think the Raiders did a great job this offseason. Having that said, even though there is all the controversy with our front line I think that our defense will play well for us. The thing that worries me is Russell. I truely beleive that our success lies in his hands. He if he plays well and can get the ball out to Walker, Curry, Miller, Carter. We will be having a good season.
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Raider Card Addict about 1 year ago
True Perry. I think a lot of the Raider Nation are overly concerned, that he'll inheret the Super Bowl curse, like when we traded for Howard, etc.
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Raider Card Addict about 1 year ago
ooh, a Tard.
I'm almost impressed mike....you almost made it out of kindergarten.
Two things.
First of all, you can't remove comment posts....they're stuck, and you can't edit them.
Second....88 posts.....no articles....solidifies your position as the biggest whiner since the 60's to come out of california.
Thing is, I know why you don't write an article. You yourself wouldn't be able to handle direct comments. Anyone with a computer and a search engine, realizes your famous for one thing: Chronic complaining. From Rams' sites, to infiltrating other sites. Complaining.
Heck, you don't even post on 49er sites.....Why don't call yourself the Anti-NFL? It's pretty obvious you don't like anyone....and a lot of teams don't like you, period.
Probably the best, i've seen, is listing you as a punishment for hackers.....if caught, they'd become your Civil Partner.
Don't ask me, but I think you'd get the apron.
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Raider Card Addict about 1 year ago
Actually, if you don't like me having busy threads, by all means, shut up, sit down, and don't annoy people.
I can live wthout you annoying every Raider fan......all you're doing is ticking them off, which, from your other postings, is pretty normal.
In fact, if you fell off the planet...I think very few people, if any, would miss you....except for your husband, or a dog.
As for the life of an article, I can count quite a few, that didn't need your idiotic, arrogent stupidity to hijack. Maybe it's the purely normal fact, that no one likes you, Mike.
Personally, on any other site, I'd probably have you banned, or put on ignore....chat rooms are good for tasks like that.....ignore hell, as we'd call it.
As for calling me a Tard, I should think up a proper name for you.....like Choad, Buckwheat, Dogmeat, fleafarm, tick muncher, or pistola.....coming from California, there's a second column, but considering I'm the more mature, I won't go into those.
Run along to your lover, mike.....he's probably the only one who loves you....when he's not cheating on you.
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Raider Card Addict about 1 year ago
Oh, and Mikey....you also need to go back to grade school, and learn addition.
Going down the string, there's 7 with no comments. 2 of those, were in the last 4 articles written.
Of course, reading into the comments on the short ones, might also explain why no one else has bothered to write.....they like the candor, they feel no need to repeat the comments over and over, and go on to read other articles.
Now, I could write something contraversial, like, Alex Smith and the 101 failures of 49er picks, but that too, would get no responses.....BECAUSE NO ONE CARES!
Unlike you, who seems to get off on irritating people, I write about my team, a few favorite sports, and a perspective of the history of the game.
You, on the other hand, don't bring anything to the site. No articles, no purpose, other than being completely annoying.
Maybe if anything, you should go back to your basement, and if you truly consider yourself a sportsfan, go write about your team.
But, that's kinda like beating a dead horse.....pointless.
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