As a devout Raider fan, I am gonna take a different stab at this. Instead of being overly optimistic, I'm gonna be super picky!
Lane Kiffin said it himself at halftime during the Cards game last night. Our defense is ready, but our offense is embarrassing.
With that said, I would like to point out areas that really need some help and fast.
If the Raiders play a team that has a shutdown run defense, we are in serious trouble. JaMarcus needs a better WR corps. That is such a waste of QB talent in my opinion. Well, I started off with the most obvious issues.
Next, our suspect run defense. It was good the first half of the Cards game, but fell apart, even with most of our first-team defense still in. There looks to be a lot of confusion during the run.
And someone please tell me why Rob Ryan doesn't blitz. What is the rationale of his thinking? If you don't pressure the QB, then they will be successful, period.
Where is Russell's pass protection? JaMarcus was running for his life 75 percent of the game last night. That's ridiculous. Cooper Carlisle seemed to be "not there" last night. Three or four times, I watched as he ran around with his head up his ass.
Now, with the season-ending injury of Drew Carter, we're down one on our already thin WR corps. So actually, with what I saw last night, we might be in some trouble.
Hopefully, the play calling that Kiffin was putting out was meant to put them in situations that were difficult. That's my only hope at this point, but I am not sure.
I'll be happy with seven wins this year. That is to be compared to my prediction of nine before preseason. I still can't wait for my trip out to Oakland in September. Hopefully they pull out a win against Denver. I think we can win some games with our rushing attack alone, but we'll see.
37 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment
Dan Ferranti 10 months ago
Wow, nice, very honest article. I would suspect that Ryan will call for more blitzing once the season starts. Teams tend to use watered down offenses and defenses in the preseason so as not to tip their hands for the regular season.
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Casey Moritz 10 months ago
I have to agree that the Raiders offense ran from bad to down-right shameful. Now, I am a Cards fan so I was pleased as punch to see Travis LaBoy basically living in the backfield, but seriously if the Radiers can't find some way to get either tackle to slow down the edge rush the silver & black are going to have issues all year. Oakland will see several teams with a solid edge rush over the regular season, they are going to need to deal with that issue in a hurry.
Also where was the run game? Oakland had runt he ball well all last year and into this pre-season, however they looked straight inept in their rushing attempts with the 1s playing.
I can only hope the O line can get back into form for the regular season if the Raiders want to compete for a wild-card spot (which they are capable of).
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FL Raider Girl 10 months ago
Casey, I so agree. But, what you do have to remember. It was only 3-0 at half-time. At that point a lot of our 1st team was pulled out. But that shouldn't comfort anyone, because god forbid somebody get's injured on 1st team, these are the guys that back them up. And I don't like half-assed back ups.
As for the run game, Kiffin stated that he wanted to see us have a passing game to see where our guys stood. That was stated days before the game. Yes, we ran the ball a few times, but he wanted JaMarcus to use that arm and the WR to do their thing. Thank goodness, Javon Walker came to life a bit. I was happy to see that. Not happy to see that Drew Carter is out for the season, along with Oren O'Neal, but hopefully one of our new guys will step up, like Chaz Schillens.
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J.C. Ayvazi 10 months ago
Sober and accurate assessment FLG.
I've been hearing a lot of buzz that Al doesn't like having the D blitz. I have always believed you need to blitz if you want to win, just don't get foolish with the concept.
Our offensive tackles are rubbish. Art Shell could go out there today and do as good as these mannequins on the "active" roster. These folks will make it hard for the Raiders to be above .500 for the season without some sort of adjustment in either personnel, attitude, or ability.
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FL Raider Girl 10 months ago
Thanks for the comments. I may take a bashing for this article, but I am tired of having this kind of talent go to waste. If we don't beef us our mediocre O Line, and soon, we're not gonna have anything. Our 3 headed monster can only do so much without a hole for them to run through.
As for blitzing, we just don't do that. I personally think, and I know this may sound weird, but a lot of our O line penalties wouldn't happen if we blitzed. Plus that would help stop all these holes we have and make the rushing abilities harder on other teams. Al needs to realize that this isn't 19660, 1970 and 1980 anymore and football has changed, in a big way. I commend what that man has done for the Raiders and the NFL, but there is a time when all good things need to come to an end. He needs to take a chance and let Kiffin do what every other coach does, and that's coach.
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Jeremy Salway 10 months ago
Nicely put , I thought we had a little bit of depth this year , Apparently I was wrong . I hope Andrew Walters is ready to play this year , because if we dont protect our "future" Jamarcuss Russell , we could be looking at some more bleek years to come. and I am driving over 1500 km to Oaklands home opener against Denver so i really hope that they figure it out damn quickly . Too far of a drive to watch them lose.
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Jeremy Salway 10 months ago
Nicely put , I thought we had a little bit of depth this year , Apparently I was wrong . I hope Andrew Walters is ready to play this year , because if we dont protect our "future" Jamarcuss Russell , we could be looking at some more bleek years to come. and I am driving over 1500 km to Oaklands home opener against Denver so i really hope that they figure it out damn quickly . Too far of a drive to watch them lose.
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FL Raider Girl 10 months ago
Well Jeremy, I am flying 2490 miles to see them. This will actually be my first time at the Coliseum, so I am looking to flying home with a big smile on my face. Plus, my layover is in Denver. I want to wear a jersey on the flight home without being heckled. LOL JaMarcus will be ok. Watching him the other night, he doesn't go down that hard when he is sacked. Every time he was hit, it was like slow-motion. Very uncanny. You know how most QB's when they are hit, they like bounce and slam around. JaMarcus will be just fine.
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EndZoner 10 months ago
Well, Jeremy, I drive 500 miles round trip to all the games and I agree, it IS too far to go to watch them lose. We open with a game against Denver. A team we beat by 2 touchdowns the last time we played them. In fact, we are a 52 yard FG that hit the top of the upright away from sweeping them. This is a very beatable team and I think that we will run all over them, again.
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Maloso Omar 13 10 months ago
I have been a fan for 29 years. And I have been through some "lean" season, but man I need to say that I lost pretty much all of my optimism this last saturday as I watched our offense fizzle out at the end of the 1st possesion. I leaned over to my buddies and we pretty much the feelt the same. I remember a couple of years ago when Art Shell became our head coach I told my friends that we might win 3 games according to our schedule...Well I got the same feeling this last saturday..maybe 3 to four wins.... maybe. Our defense showed up and played great.
A while back I read an article on some other sports page that was suggesting that the league step in and save the Raiders from Al Davis's hands. From what I read, the commisioner has some rights that can be excersied to step in and "right" our ship..MLB did it with Marge Schott of the cincinatti reds a while ago.. the NFL did the same with the Arizona Cardinals not too long, as their owner was running the orginization to the ground.. I love Al Davis but I am tired of the same old garbage that he puts out year in and year out. We had a good 3 years not too long ago but I hate to admit it we have sucked the last few years.. And things dont look much better.. No matter who we have behind center or in the backfield...as long as we dont have a decent offensive line of a coach who is allowed to coach we will continue to be the laughing stock of the NFL.. Kiffin should be able to make decisions to cut or promote players and from what I have been reading he is not allowed too... who knows... all I do know is that I will continue to drive to each game regardless of how we do.. I am a season ticket holder who lives in Los Angeles and who faithfuly drives to each home game....I am just tired of having to defend my Raiders year in and year out...and if what I saw saturday is an indication of what this new season has to offer, it going to be a long, long season..and I'm just fucking tired of it...
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J.C. Ayvazi 10 months ago
RE: League step in and save Raiders from Al Davis's hands.
If the commissioner was going to stop a mentally deficient owner from running a team into the sewer, the Rams would have been snatched from Georgia the bytch's grubby paws while they were still in Los Angeles.
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Raider Card Addict 10 months ago
Actually JC, if you want to talk about a team that was truly horrible, go look at Tampa Bay. They went 12 straight seasons, of double digit losses, and still locked into the sub .500 league.
Of course, so is San Diego....go figure.
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J.C. Ayvazi 10 months ago
I believe the time period with Tampa Bay included an ownership change.
Georgia inherited a Super Bowl team and frelled it up. She drove off her best players with absurd contract positions, brought in washed up pretty boy QB's like Dan Pastorini and Bert Jones, turning a quality team into a joke people wouldn't pay to see.
Dumping Dickerson and Kevin Greene showed her lack of commitment to fielding a quality team. Yet Tagliabue did nothing to prevent the destruction of the franchise.
For that reason alone, Tags should not be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
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EndZoner 10 months ago
Nice article. I think that part of the reason that Ryan does not blitz is because he knows how dangerous his linebackers are in pass coverage. Howard and Morrison had how many picks last season? Also, the second all pro corner will allow more man coverage so we can blitz more.
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ItsNolen 10 months ago
Good read!
Well, I don't think its all that bad imo. When your head coach comes out 4 days before gameday and says. "We're gonna pass, and then we're gonna pass some more." it kind of gives the other team, preseason or not, a chance to gameplan a little. If you noticed, our TEs were double teamed most of the game. Add to that, the cards blitzed and then they blitzed some more.
I will agree that we still need some (some lmao!!) help at the WR position. I'm one of those people that hate watching preseason games period. Vanilla offenses and base defenses really don't do it for me.
Do we all really believe that Kiffen will be using Mcfadden like he has been all this year? He looks like the Bus so far. *McFadden takes the snap..takes it between the tackles and bursts through the line for 4 yards* simple offense to me. :/
They need to trim this boring preseason to about 2 games. How many starters will play this lst game? probably none. There will be guys playing this weekend, then next, they'll be bagging groceries at you local food market.
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Jim Kennard 10 months ago
It blows me away that people put so much emphasis and make predictions based on preseason games. The only thing that matters in preseason is not getting starters hurt, developing depth and establishing roster spots, and not exposing too much of your offensive and defensive schemes. Be conservative on offense and defense so your regular season opponents cannot use preseason film to scout you and pick you apart. For example, McFadden has run between the tackles on nearly every carry. Do you honestly think he will not run a sweep during the regular season? Coaches and teams are sandbagging right now. LT, Brady, and Manning haven't even played in preseason so noone knows anything about SD, Indy, and NE yet. Are those teams panicking? I doubt it. It's like poker. Don't tip your hand yet.
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Scott T 10 months ago
I have been a loyal fan since 1972 and it just breaks my heart to see how the organization has fallen apart! Al Davis has done so many wonderful things for pro football and its players; however it is time he removes himself completely from the game and simply become a proud owner and fan of his team. Truly great players know when it is time to retire and Davis is irreparably damaging his legacy as a league innovator and football genies. If he continues to run this team into the ground he will be remembered as a tired, angry, confused bitter man who refused to admit it was time to step aside. If Davis truly loves this organization he is not showing it, great teams are not comprised of great players, they are comprised of players who play great together and compliment each others strengths, while minimizing deficiencies. Yes you need your super stars, however if you focus too much on them, you can’t build a support network around them. Over the last several years I feel cheated, I so look forward to watching the Raiders play on Sunday, and to be honest, it is just depressing!
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Scott T 10 months ago
I used to plan my whole week around the games on Sunday during the season, my family new that was my one day during the week where was not available. Now, I have agreed to coach my wife’s 40 and over soccer team and tape the games so I can fast forward through it and hope for a few good plays or a surprise win. Don’t get me wrong, or label me as a fair weather fan, because I am not, in fact I am a very proud fan and my office is a shrine to the Raiders; however it is soon becoming a shine to the past. I love the wins, and we all want them, but hey we can deal with losses and even a losing season, if it makes sense and we are bringing in players to build for the future, but the way we are doing it does not work, it is all out of sync. Oh and as for our head coach, well F him, talk about an ass, shut up and do your job, do it with class and have some passion and be a positive influence or quit, he is the worst thing that has happened to us since Gruden left! I could go on and on, but just like my optimism every year, it is just not worth it.
God Bless you all, unlike Davis who doesn’t know when to get out, I do, and I am done
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ItsNolen 10 months ago
"Don’t get me wrong, or label me as a fair weather fan, because I am not.."
Ok, quitter....
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Philip Fitch 10 months ago
It was one preseason game, Kiffin also said after the game in a post game interview, don't worry raider fans, we will be fine. If the raiders were to kick the field goals, witch they would have in regular season, the score would have been 12 -3 raiders at the half. The two starting corners didn't play much, and Burgess was pulled early, I believe the raider running game will eat the clock and keep the D off the field, and fresh, once the season starts. I still think the raiders will be 8-8 or better. If the raiders had a game plain in the first half, instead of just passing the ball, and everyone knew that, i think they would have put some points on the board and nobody would be talking about this game.
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FL Raider Girl 10 months ago
But that's my problem Philip...I am tired of settling for field goals. How many times last year did we get to the red zone only to be stopped. I know you can't judge from pre-season, but you can take away enough. The red zone stops are one thing that I want changed. I want the 6 points not the 3.
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The_KRAKEN 10 months ago
First Off !! Allen Davis born on July 4, 1929 is the BOSS !!! until he decides otherwise so LIVE WITH IT !!
Second !!! Lane Kiffen born May 9, 1975 is the coach under the BOSS !! And yes he should SHUT UP !!! He signed the contract, he needs to DEAL WITH IT !!!
THIRD !!! ONE BAD PRESEASON GAME IS JUST THAT !! A BAD PRESEASON GAME !!!!
OPTIMISM FOR THE FUTURE ? ON MY PART YES !! PESSIMISM FOR THE PRESENT? JUSTIFIED !!!
The RAIDERS Will have a winning season, thats my story and I'm sticking with it !!
THE GREATNESS OF THE RAIDERS STARTS - MONDAY SEPTEMBER 8th, 2008 BE THERE !!!
Just one Krakens humble Opinion !!
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The_KRAKEN 10 months ago
All I'm saying is, it is what it is and neither your opinion or mine will change that fact. We will endure !!
Thanks for commenting.
Yours in the RAIDER NATION !!!
The Kraken!!
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Nick Paulsen 10 months ago
The reason you don't always blitz on a run is because you will get fooled on a play action pass and get beat down the field, or if the defenders don't get the RB he could possibly beat them for a huge gain. Don't try to assume you know more about football than our coaches. Seriously how many NFL teams have you coached for to give you the right the criticize them? You stop the run by putting 8 men in the box. In most cases that is not needed unless you are going up against an all pro back like LT. Running more 3-4 defense could possibly help us stop the run a little better. I'm pretty sure you will see allot of 3-4 this year.
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john failho 10 months ago
After reading all these comments, I find myself agreeing with some, and then shaking my head at others. Raider fans are know for being loyal and faithful, crazy, and a lot are clueless. I know because I see it at every home game. Its comedy, yet extremely annoying to see and listen to Raider fans that have no clue about FOOTBALL. Half the fans in the colesium are fans because the like the raider colors or the pirate or because its cool. If you know football you know what I'm talking about. They'll get drunk and wanna talk shit, fight, boo, and yell for a back up, not knowing that he hasn't been on the roster all year. Seriously, pay attention and watch when the next time we go for it on 4th and 1 or 4th and goal...The crowd gets louder and louder with excitment not understanding that the louder they get the harder it is for the offense to convert the down. That won't happen at many other stadiums because, while being a team fan, they are also fans of the game.
Preseason is that, Preseason. The teams go through the motions, experiment, try and find debth and hopefuly, maybe get a win without injury. Arizona knew all we were gonna do was drop back and pass. Coach said that days before the game. Darren Mcfadden will not be stuck running the ball up the gut every down in the regular season, they will use him to his strengths, and when we pass the ball this year it will be with play action off of the run, bootlegs, and roll outs. As for the defense, the blitzes will come as well. Raider nation, look for about 7 - 9 wins this year, hope for more, be realistic.
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john failho 10 months ago
After reading all these comments, I find myself agreeing with some, and then shaking my head at others. Raider fans are know for being loyal and faithful, crazy, and a lot are clueless. I know because I see it at every home game. Its comedy, yet extremely annoying to see and listen to Raider fans that have no clue about FOOTBALL. Half the fans in the colesium are fans because the like the raider colors or the pirate or because its cool. If you know football you know what I'm talking about. They'll get drunk and wanna talk shit, fight, boo, and yell for a back up, not knowing that he hasn't been on the roster all year. Seriously, pay attention and watch when the next time we go for it on 4th and 1 or 4th and goal...The crowd gets louder and louder with excitment not understanding that the louder they get the harder it is for the offense to convert the down. That won't happen at many other stadiums because, while being a team fan, they are also fans of the game.
Preseason is that, Preseason. The teams go through the motions, experiment, try and find debth and hopefuly, maybe get a win without injury. Arizona knew all we were gonna do was drop back and pass. Coach said that days before the game. Darren Mcfadden will not be stuck running the ball up the gut every down in the regular season, they will use him to his strengths, and when we pass the ball this year it will be with play action off of the run, bootlegs, and roll outs. As for the defense, the blitzes will come as well. Raider nation, look for about 7 - 9 wins this year, hope for more, be realistic.
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FL Raider Girl 10 months ago
If you read my last sentence you would see that I agree with what you said about wins, Here's my sentence,
"I'll be happy with seven wins this year. That is to be compared to my prediction of nine before preseason."
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Maloso Omar 13 10 months ago
John we've been "experementing" for the past 5 years, different head coaches, different offensive coordinators, different qb's. When is enough, enough? Other than Gruden, what head coach have we had that has had discretion on players, drafts, play calling and overall schemes? Why did he trade Gruden? Cause he became the face of the Raiders.. And Al Davis was not going to allow that to happen... thats why..I'm a Raider purist.. I live, breath Raiders. And even though Mr. Davis has run our team to the ground I love him, He brought a Super Bowl Chaqmpionship to the city of Los Angeles and for that I will always respect him..But its time for him to let it go..In most recent years there have been more than enough experienced winning head coaches available, the likes of Bill Parcell, Bill Cowher,offensive coordinators who have gone on to become head coaches for other teams and have succeded the likes of Romeo Cronell, Ken Wisenhut, Sean Payton...But they would never make themselves available to us cause of the way Mr. Davis runs his orginization...by the time Mr. Davis fires Lane Kiffin, Bill Cowher is still going to be out there and possibly available, but not to us.. and until either the league steps in and removes him from "power" the way MLB did to Marge Schott, or worst that he passes... we will almost have the same garbage to look forward to.
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john failho 10 months ago
I agree that its hard to find an experienced coach to take a coaching job under Al Davis. Its mainly because Al won't give up control of the personel department, GM. I, as you, agree that he should allow someone else to make the roster and personel decisions. Atleast listen to his staff and take their information with an open mind. Lane Kiffin took the job understanding that he would be in charge of "coaching" and that Al was the GM. Kiffin would not have been given a NFL head coaching job with his experience any where else. Al allows his coaches to coach, if he allowed them to make personel decisions then you would see more experienced coaches come our way.
You can argue all you want as to why Al traded Gruden away, the fact that the Raiders recieved $8 million, 2 first round draft picks and two 2nd round draft picks says it all. Now what he did with those picks is another story. Like I said, I wish he allowed other people to make personel decisions.
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andrew caskenette 10 months ago
Let Sign a few vet recivers like korean Robinson or something cause are guys just can't catch I have no confidence in curry !!! or any of our guys I also would like to see Arman shields make the team but since he has missed camp he will prob get cut ...
I also think cutting spires & hartwell is dumb yeah there not gonna start but they provided dept ... Our first squad Defense looked nice !!! Tommy Kelly needs to step it up in the middle No more F**King around !!!
All I have to say is we better beat those Broncos on Monday night !!! Jay cutler is a big mouth looser who belongs @ the bottom of the sea he is a shrimp Thats why we drafted Russell hes big & all Arm !!!
I think we should cut higgins & Mcfoy & maybe watkins cause yeah kiffin says he catches everything he has caught nothing in a game ...
then keep curry walker get Robinson & keep Shields or Chaz or relaease one and sign another vet not Joe horn hes washed up !!!
our staring defense D-line should be burgess kelly warren Edwards ... also maybe picking up another LB would be nice I have no confidence in thomas or brown Willams should be moved to DE hes big and quick !!!
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JSpicoli 10 months ago
Your headline is too long. Other than that, B+
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FL Raider Girl 10 months ago
I agree, but I struggled with that....thanks for the grade!
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hawaiiR8dr 10 months ago
Thanks FL Raider Girl, the truth sure hurts!
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Raider Glory 10 months ago
Happy with seven wins??? Wow, just throw in the towel now!I don't even pay attention to preseason or barely watch it. Yes I agree you gotta be realistic, but with our schedule anything can happen. Seriously though the Cardinals were not even playing the run, they new Kiffin was going to test the passing ALL game and he did that. He wanted to test the o-line and put pressure on JR, 2 of the 4 sacks was because of JR falling down so the O-line really only gave up 2 sacks which is great for passing almost every down. I think JR looked good under pressure, yes I would have loved a TD the 4 times we were in the red zone,but he's a rook and we were not running the ball at all. Cardinals were just sitting back waiting for the pass. Ill wait until 4 games into the regular season before i make any predictions.
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FL Raider Girl 10 months ago
I'm not throwing in the towel. I said I would be happy with 7, I didn't say we were gonna only win 7. I did say I would of like to have scored in the red zone, that is something that has plagued us the last 5 years, and nobody can deny that.
Yes, JR is a rookie and yes I know he's gonna make mistakes. I don't expect him to come out there and go 30/30 500 yards 0 int. That's not gonna happen. Every time I write only about the negatives and my grievances this happens.
Look, I love the Raiders, I bleed Silver and Black to the fullest. I am just tired of saying year in and year out that we're gonna do it this year, or we're gonna be contenders. I'm just saying what I think.
I know that we were 3-0 at the half, that's awesome. We are a run team, and that's what we have to do. Run the ball down their throats until their defense starts to bleed, then start to throw the ball when they are to darn exhausted to even think.
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Jeff Little 10 months ago
Good assessment FLG.
I know for a fact that you're a true Raiders fan. I can feel your passion. The third pre-season/exhibition game is a dress rehearsal for the regular season and everyone wants to know where their team stands.
No one wants to see thier team lose and especially not and embarassing loss at home. However at the end of the day it is still a pre-season/exhibition game and fortunately they don't count. The goal is give the starters work to stay in shape, give drafted and free agent players the opportunity to make the team and most importantly come out of the games injury free. As history tells us, its best not to rush to judgement.
Don't get me wrong I agree with your assessment and said the same things myself. I wouldn't suggest telling the world that "we're going to pass the ball alot this week." The Raiders do need to blitz more, play better run defense. I wasn't exactly happy with the addition of Javon Walker then or now. The team will sign another wide receiver but wveryone needs to step up their game. The Raiders are a running team that will pass when necessary.
I've agreed with some of the previous comments, as well as disagreed with others. I've been through the good as well as the bad and remain a Raiders fan. I hope that Lane is given the time and opportunity to build the team, the right way, through the draft. The Oakland Raiders will be a competitve team and make noise in 2008.
In closing FL Raider girl, I hope the storm didn't do enough damage that you and your family can't overcome. Continue to Keep the stories coming.
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FL Raider Girl 10 months ago
Thanks Jeff, I really appreciate that. The storm came and went (finally) and we were ok. Some of my neighborhood was flooded but we were not. My brother-in-law's house is flooded, but most importantly everyone is ok.
I also hope Lane is given the opportunity to stay and coach this team. I really think he is phenomenal given the time and means necessary to do so.
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