Oakland Raiders: Quarterbacks By the Numbers

FRANK YRAY — Tue, 20 May 2008 20:14:34 -0400

We had six pass plays over 40+ yards. Only six teams ranked worse.

We had 31 pass plays over 20+ yards. Only five teams ranked worse.

Our No. 1 and No. 2 had zero 40+ yards, and JR had only two plays over 20+yards out of 66 attempts.

This is the No. 65 factor at work! The first commandment of Sims: thou shall not pass the ball over 20 yards or thou shall be sacked, as it was in the Super Bowl lose, and shall be now until the day of my release.

Andrew had only one cameo last year, for anyone who thinks we need a vet like Pep back. This included his five for eight, no INT, and 62.5 percent completion ratio. I'm sorry we didn't see more of him, he is a very capable QB in the NFL, and now with No. 65 gone, he might go to 70 percent when he's called on this year.

Added bonus, he survived the curse of No. 65. These can only be attained by braving a 70+ team-sack season, then forced to sit out 90 percent or more of the following season to heal and regain your confidence.

As for JR, No. 65 got him for three sacks and one fumble that we lost, and the p.o.s. couldn't even jump on the ball or knock it out of the end zone! Another loss delivered by No. 65!

These are some quick numbers to play with here in May. What do you see?

Rank	Player	Team	Pos	Comp	Att	Pct	Att/G	Yds	Avg	Yds/G	TD	Int	1st	1st%	Lng	20+	40+	Sck	Rate

70	Daunte Culpepper	OAK	QB	108	186	58.1	26.6	1,331	7.2	190.1	5	5	60	32.3	59	17	3	21	78.0
70	Ronald Curry	OAK	WR	0	1	0.0	0.1	0	0.0	0.0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	39.6
70	Josh McCown	OAK	QB	111	190	58.4	21.1	1,151	6.1	127.9	10	11	54	28.4	46T	12	3	14	69.4
70	JaMarcus Russell	OAK	QB	36	66	54.5	16.5	373	5.7	93.2	2	4	17	25.8	32T	2	0	6	55.9
70	Andrew Walter	OAK	QB	5	8	62.5	8.0	38	4.8	38.0	0	0	2	25.0	19	0	0	0	74.0

Section 116 Row 11 Seats 12 and 13

Oakland Raiders: Is There a Tackle in the House?

FRANK YRAY — Mon, 19 May 2008 20:41:22 -0400

February 29, 2008: my new favorite day of the year!

Why, you may ask? It's like getting out of jail, being pardoned from execution, or giving hope that my team may return to greatness!

It's a new national holiday that can be summed up in nine everlasting words: "Barry Sims has been released by the Oakland Raiders."

I don't want to seem like an ingrate, but I'm glad you and your 20-plus sacks a year are gone!

If you haven't been watching the Silver and Black since the Super Bowl loss, then you might think I'm referring to a super DE. Painfully, I'm talking about the harbinger of death, the Grinch that stole Christmas, the giver of four games a year (to the other team): The one, the only No. 65.

I'm a lifelong Raider fan. I attended my first game when I was 4. I'm nearing 40 now. I have made trips to L.A. when my sunshine was taken away. I bought my season tickets on the day of its return to me! Call me a fanatic, obsessive or just insane, but never ever take my Raiders away!

I feel the excitement in the boards in May, my father and brother talk Raiders all day and we and many of you feel we are back!

I don't want to rain on any Raider parade and I'm sorry but there's one thing I can't shake. Maybe it's the flashbacks that come from the scars Sims has left on me for the last five years, but I still think we need a tackle in the house!

I'm not okay with throwing my franchise QB to the blindside protection of a benched RT from the worst team in the league (despite their record). They benched him for a guy in Staley that is not the equal of Mario Henderson and although he actually can run block, I wouldn't trust him to block my 2-year-old son!

So Nation, although we can rejoice in the heavenly knowledge that No. 65 is gone, I'm under the rude awakening of knowing "Kry me a river" Harris might be nothing more then a notch above our dearly departed brother (formerly known as the guy pretending to be a football player, No. 65)!

I know you some of you will post if Cable must have seen something or you trust Cable to turn him around. Before you start typing those thoughts, remember this Cable couldn't fix the guy pretending to be a football player, No. 65! Then some will say well none could fix the guy pretending to be a football player, No. 65. To which I will say that's right. So why are we sure he can fix "Kry me a River" Harris?

I have an even better question while we sit back and (Stu) on this. Why should Cable have to use baling wire and chicken fencing? I hear this one coming too, well, we drafted Gallery or Stichcomb or Collins who never filled the void. I say ok well that's right we did and they did and we have been here since the bed and breakfast guy knew so.

All that proves is we haven't drafted well for tackles since the #78 Big Bad Hall A Famer! (Thank you for the years at Left Tackle, MR. ART SHELL, do you have any eligibility left?)

If you know you can't draft for tackles at all, why do you try? Why don't you trade for a top notch all pro or better yet spend the free agent dollars to the guys in the trenches that win games, not go up in free agent flames? (no offense, Larry Brown)

Is there a tackle in the house?

Silver and Black Championship dreams to all in the Nation!

By SECTION 116 ROW 11 SEATS 12 & 13

Bleacher Report - Articles by FRANK YRAY

Oakland Raiders: Quarterbacks By the Numbers

Oakland Raiders: Is There a Tackle in the House?