Bleacher Report - Articles by big ROC Stockton, CA

Dana White's Dream Fight?

big ROC Stockton, CA — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 22:03:17 -0400

Everybody loves the heavyweights. We all love the fact that a devastating K.O. can happen at any moment. One punch can make or break a career. Here goes what I think is going to happen in the near future in the UFC.

We have an upcoming fight between the champ, Brock Lesnar, and the undefeated, heavy handed Shane Carwin. I am pretty sure everybody who watches MMA is going to catch this fight. Some love Brock, some hate Brock but at the end of the day everybody wants to watch him fight.

He's kind of physical freak of nature. He always draws a crowd and people will pay to see him pound a guy's face in and others will pay and hope he gets sat on his ass. Either way people pay to see him.

I'm predicting Lesnar stopping an exhausted Carwin in the 2nd or 3rd round. Carwin's average time on his fights is about a minute. I think he'll be gassed if he doesn't finish the fight early.

That brings us to the upcoming Ultimate Fighter Show with the main attraction being Kimbo Slice.

Now, we all know that the heavyweight division is already relatively thin and the competition on the show isn't going to be anything close to world class. If there were any potential stars at heavyweight Dana White would just bring him straight in. With that said, I think the show is going to have a bunch of guys hand picked for Kimbo to walk through.

This will set up Dana White's "dream fight." With an undercard with belts from the other divisions on the line, this would be the most lucrative event Dana White has put together.

Kimbo Slice vs Brock Lesnar for the heavyweight title. I think a few of us would pay to see that. Somebody would be going to sleep.

Napoleon Harris Signs With Raiders, Now Back Where He Started

big ROC Stockton, CA — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:01:28 -0400

This morning the Oakland Raiders and Napoleon Harris agreed on a one-year deal to bring the seven-year veteran back to where his NFL career began in Oakland. Harris started 38 games for the Raiders from 2002 to '04.

Harris had 250 total tackles with the Raiders in his three seasons. His tackle total dropped from 107 in '03 to just 61 in '04, and then the Raiders sent him with the No. 7 overall pick to the Vikings for Randy Moss. Boy, we could have used that pick on something better than Moss. Like a toaster or something.

Harris then played for the Vikings for two seasons, tallying just 84 total tackles but did manage three interceptions. From Minnesota, he went to arch rival KC and had a "comeback" season, if you will. He racked up 117 tackles and picked off one pass in 2007. Last year he ended up back with the Vikings, where he started five games and had 34 total tackles.

That brings us back the present. Harris is now back in the AFC West. Hopefully he returns with a chip on his shoulder. You know he'll be fired up to get a crack at the Chiefs a couple of times this year. He seemed to be motivated the last time he returned to the division with KC as he had his best career season with 117 tackles.

At 6'3" 255 pounds, the Raiders could definitely use him to help shore up the run defense. He can play both middle and strong-side linebacker. He also brings much needed experience to a relatively young group of linebackers.

I wonder what this means about Morrison's injury? Harris gives us quality depth in case his injury takes longer to heal than initially thought.

Murphy and Higgins Making Plays With Go-To-Guy Out

big ROC Stockton, CA — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 02:52:55 -0400

In the preseason opener against the Cowboys, Chaz Schilens emerged as Jamarcus Russell's go-to-guy. Schilens had a very good game with 5 catches for over 50 yards and also drew a PI which moved the ball 47 yards setting up a score. A few days later Chaz fractured a bone in his foot and things weren't looking so good for the Raiders' passing game.

Well turns out that we have other capable WRs who can make plays.

Now their stats are not mind boggling or anything like that and unless you watched the game against the 49ers you probably don't know about the play that Higgins made against "lock down" corner Nate Clements. JLH put a move on Clements that he just wasn't ready for. It kind of reminded me of Tim Brown because the move Higgins did was subtle but very effective. Clements was beat badly and all he could do to prevent a TD was grab and hold Higgins' jersey. If he didn't interfere he would have given up two TDs instead of just one.

That brings us to rookie WR Louis Murphy. After having a solid NFL debut last week with two grabs for 40 yards, he followed that up with two more grabs for 34 yards and a touchdown. The Raiders were inside the five yard line but a couple of penalties set up a third and goal from outside the redzone.

Everyone was thinking FG but Louis Murphy ran a nice corner route and Nate Clements released him to a safety that wasn't there because Russell had looked left first, drawing the safety in that direction, and then looked right and fired a strike to Murphy in the corner of the endzone. It was an excellent play and even better execution.

So much for the talk about us not having any other reliable WRs. Murphy and Higgins are more than capable and they, along with DHB, Walker, and Zach Miller, will hold it down in the passing game while our number one WR is out.

That's it for now. Thanks for reading.

RAIDERS 4 LIFE ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Maclin To Show Al Davis What He's Got

big ROC Stockton, CA — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 01:07:36 -0400

So much for the talk about the Raiders not bringing in any of the top prospects in this year's NFL Draft.

Jeremy Maclin is scheduled for a private workout with the Raiders this week. It is time for him to prove that he is worth drafting at No. 7.

I am sure that he is already at or near the top of Al Davis' list. Maclin is the exact type of play-maker that Al Davis falls in love with.

Can he convince Al that he is their guy?

Both Mel Kiper and Todd McShay have the Raiders drafting Maclin with their first pick. McShay and other "mock experts" even have us passing on Michael Crabtree to select the dynamic WR/KR from Missouri with our No. 7 pick.

Some say that he is basically another Johnie Lee Higgins.

Well they are similar in terms of ability but Maclin is a lot bigger. At 6 foot and 200 lbs he has a bigger build than Higgins. JLH is "generously" listed at 5' 11", 185 lbs, on ESPN.com.

Maclin is also a stronger runner and is better at breaking tackles, with Higgins more of a make you miss type of player. Maclin has all the moves and a little more but comes in a taller, bigger frame. He is also a more polished WR than Higgins was coming out of college.

Jeremy Maclin is a guy that can do a lot of things very well. He is a threat whenever he has the ball in his hands. Whether he is catching a pass, running the ball, or returning a punt or kickoff, he is a dangerous player.

Here are his stats after two years with the Tigers:

182 rec 2,315 yards 22 tds 85 KR 2,049 yards 2 tds

91 car 661 yards 6 tds 48 PR 577 yards 3 tds

That's over 5,600 total yards and 33 touchdowns in just two seasons. Pretty impressive numbers.

Depending on how his workout goes, and who is available at No. 7, he just might hear his name called when the Raiders are on the clock.

Personally I think we should take the best available defensive player. I'm hoping either Raji or Orakpo will be there. If they are both gone then it comes down to Aaron Maybin and Everette Brown.

We need to address our problems stopping the run and rushing the passer.

If Al Davis absolutely has to have Maclin, hopefully he realizes that he can get him a few selections down, works a trade, and picks up a fifth or sixth round pick, which we don't have at the moment.

This move would also lower the amount of guaranteed money that Al would have to pay him.

What do you think? Is Jeremy Maclin going to convince Al Davis that he is worth his first round pick?

If it has to be a WR, do you want Maclin or Crabtree?

Your opinion will be greatly appreciated.

A Healthy Oren O'Neal Is HUGE!

big ROC Stockton, CA — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 12:56:02 -0400

In 2007, the Raiders had the fifth-ranked rushing offense in the entire NFL. Justin Griffith started the season at FB, but Oren O'Neal started getting more and more playing time as it became evident that he was clearly the better lead blocker. He played a huge role in Fargas' impressive stretch when he rushed for his first 1,000 yard season.

In '08, we slipped to 10th best in the league. A big reason for that was the fact that FB Oren O'Neal went on IR in the preseason. We got solid play out of veterans Justin Griffith and Luke Lawton, but neither one of them are true lead blocking fullbacks.

Oren O'Neal has the prototypical size of a smash mouth fullback. He stands 5'11" and weighs in at nearly 250 lbs. He is a nightmare for LBs and safeties. He is the type of fullback that wears down a defense. I look at him as the next Lorenzo Neal. A play that I remember is when O'Neal and MLB Donnie Edwards met head on at the LOS. Edwards ended up missing a few series after that collision.

A player like O'Neal might not be a household name, but we absolutely need this guy back on the field so that McFadden, Fargas, and Bush can get past the LOS without being touched and really do some damage. If O'nNeal is back at 100 percent and stays healthy, expect a lot of big plays out of the Raiders' talented RB stable.

O'Neal makes the RB's job easier but it doesn't stop there. The passing game benefits from his return, as teams will be forced to bring down a safety to support the run defense. Big plays will open up for JaMarcus Russell when the defense "bites" on the play-action pass. I can see Miller faking the run-block and then finding the void in the defense for a huge gain. I sure hope O'Neal is back and ready to knock guys around again.

RAIDERS4LIFE ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Your feedback and opinions will be appreciated.

Ramses Barden On Raiders' Radar

big ROC Stockton, CA — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 16:27:34 -0400

A lot of the RAIDER NATION think we need to draft Michael Crabtree in the upcoming NFL Draft. I have nothing against Crabtree as I think he will be an outstanding player in the NFL. I just think our No. 7 overall pick should be used to address our poor rushing defense or lack of a pass rush.

With that said, I was pleased to find out that my beloved Raiders are targeting Cal Poly WR Ramses Barden. So far they have interviewed him at the Senior Bowl, the NFL Combine, and his pro day.

Raiders WR Coach Sanjay Lal has also been reported to have been in contact with him several times.

He didn't wow anybody at the NFL Combine in the 40 but put up a very strong 17 reps of 225 lbs. He likely caught Al's eye when he ran a 4.48, 40-yard dash at his Pro Day workout.

Barden is a big play WR as he caught a 25+ yard pass in every game in 2008. After four years at Cal Poly his numbers are 206 REC-4,203 Yards-50 TDS. He came on very strong as a Junior hauling in 57 passes for 1,467 yards, 25.7 ypc, and 18 TDs.

In his Senior year he caught another 18 TDs with 67 receptions for 1,257 yards.

Just for comparison, these are Crabtree's and Barden's stats over the last two years:

Crabtree REC 231, Yards 3,127, 41 TDS

Barden REC 124, Yards 2,742, 36 TDS

With BJ Raji's trouble, he just might slip to us at No. 7. He would instantly improve our Run Defense. We could also very well use Brian Orakpo's ability to get to the QB. He is a beast off the LOS and would team up well with Trevor Scott on the other side.

What do you think? Should we go defense in the first round and then Ramses Barden in the second round? Or should we take Crabtree or Maclin in the first, then go defense?

Your opinion will be appreciated.

RAIDERS4LIFE!!!!

Great News for RAIDER-NATION, Cutler to be traded

big ROC Stockton, CA — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:23:10 -0400

It's official, Raider Nation.

Our path to the AFC West Title is about to get a little easier. Broncos owner Pat Bowlen has released a statement basically saying that he, and HC Josh McDaniels, have been trying to contact their disgruntled QB with no success for over a week.

Bowlen spoke with Cutler's agent and came to the conclusion that Cutler has absolutely no desire to be a Bronco. Bowlen will grant Cutler his wish and trade him very soon. He said that at least 10 teams have contacted the Broncos for Cutler's services.

I don't know how many games the Broncos would have won last season without Cutler. Their defense was horrible and they had to use about ten different RBs due to injuries. Cutler pretty much put that team on his back last season on his way to 4,500+ yards passing.

Only a handful of QBs put up more yardage than he did last season. He had eight games with more than 300 yards passing including a season high of 447 yards. I'm glad all of that production is leaving Denver.

It's good to see the Broncos about to trade their first franchise QB since John Elway. It took them nearly a decade to find a true franchise QB to replace Elway and now they are going to trade him after a few seasons.

He hasn't won a Super Bowl for Denver but the Broncos have a weak squad right now and, without Cutler, the Broncos would have been as bad as the Lions.

So, on behalf of the RAIDER NATION, I'd like to thank Pat Bowlen and Josh McDaniels in advance for getting rid of their young gunslinger. Back to square one for them. Good luck with Phil Simms' kid.

Wake Forest's Chip Vaughn Scheduled To Workout For Oakland Raiders

big ROC Stockton, CA — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 04:14:14 -0400

Big, fast, and physical are a few ways to describe the Wake Forest safety.

Chip Vaughn is scheduled to workout during a visit with the Oakland Raiders. He had an excellent workout at the Combine, finishing as a "Top Performer," on NFL.COM, in six categories including the 40-yard dash, bench press, and vertical jump.

The 6'2" 221 lbs safety put up 21 reps of 225 lbs and ran a 4.51 40-yard dash. His bench total was impressive, but his 40 was way slower than his personal best time of 4.36 seconds, which is listed on NFLDraftScout.com.

He is very smart and had a lot of responsibility in college. At Wake Forest, their defense is built around the safety. He made all the calls and checks on the field. Don't forget, this is a defense that had potential No. 1 pick LB Aaron Curry.

In 2007, Vaughn led the team in tackles with 105 and registered another 87 tackles in '08. If Al Davis and Tom Cable aren't confident with the safety corps we have now, Vaughn could very well end up wearing silver and black this year.

He just might be the physical presence we need in our defensive backfield. Remember how WRs used to "proceed with caution" when entering the second level?

He is projected to go in the mid-second or early-third round. Some may think, myself included, drafting him with our second round pick might be a reach, but don't put it passed Davis to fall in love with him if he runs a blazing 40 during his upcoming workout for the Raiders. Hopefully he falls to us in the third round.

RAIDER NATION, what do you think? Could we use this hard hitting safety?

Breaking News: Oakland Raiders Acquire Center

big ROC Stockton, CA — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 02:18:24 -0400

Doesn't he just look like a Raider?

In another move to shore up the offensive line, the Oakland Raiders traded an undisclosed draft pick to the Dolphins for C Samson Satele.

Samson Satele started 53 games during his collegiate career at Hawaii. He mainly played at center, but also saw time at both guard positions. He earned all-WAC honors every year and all-WAC First Team in '05 and '06. The Dolphins drafted him in the second round of the '07 draft.

Miami obviously thought Jake Grove was a better center for their system, but I think he is an upgrade at center for the Raiders. Jake Grove's injury report is thick as a phone book.

Samson Satele has proved to be very durable with 53 starts in college and 32 starts since becoming a pro. He also started all eight preseason games for the Dolphins, Satele brings stability to the position.

The Hawaiian born center stands 6'3", 300 lbs. He brings versatility to the Raiders' O-line as he has experience at G and C. He was projected to move to G if he stayed with the Dolphins, but he will be our starting C going into the season.

The move also opens the door for the Raiders to go D-line or LB in the second round instead of targeting a C like Alex Mack or Max Unger.

I like how the Raiders keep adding to the trenches. Satele is only 24-years-old with 32 career starts. We most likely acquired him for a pick on the second day of the draft which would be fourth, sixth, or seventh. I'm thinking sixth or seventh or maybe a late round pick from the '10 draft. Who knows? We'll all find out soon enough.

Now it's time to focus on the D-line in the NFL Draft.

RAIDERS4LIFE ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Oakland Raiders Need to Add First Round Talent to Their Defensive Front

big ROC Stockton, CA — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 01:41:53 -0400

As the first wave of free agency has passed and the NFL Draft approaches Al Davis and Tom Cable should be thinking about addressing the defensive side of the ball. The only thing is that there are only a few players that are "worth" drafting at No. 7.

LB Aaron Curry, DT BJ Raji, and DE Brian Orakpo all would be upgrades to their respective positions if we drafted them with the seventh pick in the draft.

Curry would give us that SSLB that he havn't had since...yeah it's been that long. Enough of the Sam Williams experiment. He most likely will be off the board at No. 7 but keep your fingers crossed.

Raji is a flat out beast and he'd do a far better job of clogging up space than Sands could do against a JV football team. William Joseph and Terdell Sands are not the answer at DT. Both are depth players at best. Sands should re-sign for the vet minimum.

Brian Orakpo would be that guy reaking havoc on QBs every time they drop back to pass. Imagine him and Trevor Scott coming off the edges. Opposing QBs had way too much time to scan the field on third and long. This also would open the door to move injury prone, new deal demanding, DE Derrick Burgess.

If those three are off the board at No. 7 then we pretty much have no choice but to take either Michael Crabtree or Jeremy Maclin. Guys like Everette Brown, Aaron Maybin, and Rey Maualuga are solid players but aren't "worth" drafting at No. 7.

What do you think?

Raiders Continue To Improve O-Line, Sign Barnes For One Year

big ROC Stockton, CA — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 19:52:05 -0400

The on again off again negotiating between the Raiders and Khalif Barnes is finally over. The Raiders sign the free-agent left tackle to a one-year deal.

Barnes is a four-year veteran with 57 starts in 60 games played. He's been clearing lanes for Fred Taylor and MJD and now he will have another stable of great RBs to block for.

It was initially reported that we were close to signing him long term but what was on the table wasn't exactly what Barnes thought he was worth.

A one-year deal gives Barnes a chance to prove that he is worth a big, long-term contract. It also gives Al Davis and Tom Cable a chance to see if the 6'4" 325 lbs tackle can excel in the zone-blocking-scheme.

The O-Line is almost set now. Henderson and Barnes will battle for the LT position and the other will start at RT. The Raiders clearly won't be drafting a tackle with the No. 7 pick now but should be targeting a C/G in the second round. Hopefully Alex Mack or Max Unger is still on the board.

Well there you have it Raider Nation. The silver and black finally made a much needed acquisition to shore up the offensive line. This opens the door for us to go either defense or WR with the No. 7 pick.

RAIDERS4LIFE ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

T.O. and Bret Favre...On the Same Team?

big ROC Stockton, CA — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 23:22:41 -0500

If a team were to acquire both of these FA's, they would instantly become a very dangerous team. Yes, I am calling Brett a FA until the season begins.

Back to what I was getting at.

If T.O. really wants to become a champion and if Brett wants to make one last run, they both should sign for below market value with a team that could use a QB and a WR.

I know it's not likely to happen but, who knows? Teams like the Vikings, Bucs, 'Skins and Jets would become legitimate Super Bowl contenders if they were able to land both players.

The team would have to build a couple of single-man locker rooms for it to work though.

What do you think? Could it work?

Javon Walker Makes His Best Move Since Becoming a Raider

big ROC Stockton, CA — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 00:10:34 -0500

A year ago, Al Davis gave Javon Walker a six-year, $55 million dollar contract, thinking he would solve our problems at WR.

Javon didn't solve our WR problems.

He actually became one. After being found unconscious, beaten, and robbed, he put up his worst career season. 15 receptions for 196 yards, and one touchdown are great numbers...for one game. Those were his numbers for the season.

So, where's the big move?

Today, Javon Walker agreed to restructure his contract. The move saves the Raiders over $8 million in cap space for 2009. His new deal is for just $16.5 million over five years.

Speaking for the entire Raider Nation, thank you Javon Walker. Now get out there, and earn some of that money you got paid in 2008.

NFL Draft: Who Will Fall To The Raiders On Day Two?

big ROC Stockton, CA — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 02:31:43 -0500

Over the past few seasons, the Raiders have drafted very well on the second day. Last year, we drafted DE Trevor Scott in the sixth round. The 6'5" 256 lbs DE had five sacks, which led all rookies.

A rookie class that had high profile players like Chris Long, Glenn Dorsey, Vernon Gholston, and Sedrick Ellis. LBs Jerod Mayo & Keith Rivers, and DE Derrick Harvey were all also drafted in the top 10.

We also drafted WR Chaz Schilens in the seventh round of the '08 draft. He has everything it takes to become an elite WR. The 6'4" 225lbs WR ran a 4.38 40 and has a 43" vertical. He didn't WOW anybody with his overall stats but finished his rookie season strong with a TD catch in each of the last two games.

He only caught 15 passes but made the most of them with nine first downs, a 19-yd rec, two 24-yd recs, and a 60-yd rec. He is also an excellent run blocking WR.

Tyvon Branch was drafted in the fourth round of last season. A hand injury limited his playing time but he should see the field this season with the release of Gibril Wilson. Branch caught Al Davis' eye with a 4.31 40 time and 19 reps of 225 lbs.

He also loves contact.

RB Michael Bush fell to the second day in '07 because of a leg injury but Al Davis didn't hesitate to take him in the fourth round knowing that his leg wouldn't be 100 percent for another year.

He was buried on the depth chart by Fargas and McFadden but stepped up when called upon. Against KC he had 90 yards on 16 carries and a 32 yard TD. In the season finale he had to carry the load and didn't disappoint with 177 yards and two TDS including a 67-yard rumble.

We got Jay Richardson on the second day in '07. The 6'6" 280lbs DE has played in every game since being drafted with 22 starts. He has 86 career tackles, four sacks, and a safety.

I did a little digging and here goes a few second day prospects that Al Davis might be looking at heading into the 2009 NFL Draft.

We need a Safety after the release of Gibril Wilson.

Clemson FS Chris Clemons had 323 tackles, 20 PD, and five INTs in his three seasons starting for the Tigers. He ran a 4.41 at the combine and that alone is enough to get Al's attention. Projection: fourth-seventh round

Another Safety is David Bruton from Notre Dame. He has the big frame, 6'2" 219 lbs, and the speed, 4.46 sec 40, to become a play-maker in the NFL. He had 176 tackles and 7 INTs over the last two seasons.

He was a "Top Performer" in five workouts at the combine according to NFL.com. Projection: early fourth round

We also need a WR. A lot of people want Crabtree or Maclin but the No. 7 overall pick should be used on DT BJ Raji or the best OT available. If we pass on WRs the first day don't panic. Remember, we got Chaz Schilens in the seventh round.

WR Mike Wallace from Missippi ran a blazing 4.33 sec 40 at the combine and had a 40" vertical. He averaged 18.9 and 20.1 yards per catch in his last two seasons. Projection: sixth-seventh round

WR Johnny Knox caught a lot of attention at the combine. His official 40 time was 4.34 sec but a lot of scouts had him at 4.28 and 4.29 on their stop watches. Entering the combine he was projected as an undrafted FA but his 40 time pretty much ensures that a team will use a pick on him. Projection: third-fifth round

We could also use a LB that knows how to tackle.

Gerald McRath was the second fastest LB at the combine behind Aaron Curry. McRath had 386 tackles, 33 TFL, and eight sacks in his three-year career at So Miss. His size, 6'2" 231 lbs, might be what causes him to slip to day tow. Projection: third-fifth round

A DE would be a smart choice with Derrick Burgess' injury problems and the release of Kalimba Edwards.

DE Lawrence Sidbury Jr. from Richmond had a solid college career. He finished his '08 campaign with 11.5 sacks. The 6'2" 266 pounder came up big in the CAA National Championship with four sacks.

He'd be an excellent situational pass rusher and would do a better job than Edwards in that role. At the combine he was a "top performer' in four workouts according to NFL.com. Projection: Fourth round

DE David Veikune would be another solid second day choice. He stood out at the combine with 35 reps of 225lbs and was amongst the fastest D lineman with a 4.8 sec 40.

At 6'3" 265 lbs he'd be a great third-down pass rusher. He had 73 tackles, 16.5 in the backfield, nine sacks, and four forced fumbles last season with Hawaii.

I didn't mention any second day DTs because I am hoping for BJ Raji in the first round or Ron Brace in the second round. Either one would be an upgrade over Sands and Warren.

Well there you have it, Raider Nation. Just thought I'd do something a little different since all the other draft articles mainly focus on day one. Hope you enjoy.

RAIDERS4LIFE!!!!!!!

Wait Just a Minute—At Least Al Davis Tries

big ROC Stockton, CA — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 02:51:10 -0500

I've been reading a lot about how the Raiders will never turn the ship around with Al Davis as our Captain. People say that he has lost his touch and that his first priority isn't making the Raiders a winner.

He may have given a few players (J.Walker, K.Harris, D.Hall) big contracts that they didn't really deserve but I look at it as at least he is trying. People don't give him credit for bringing in guys like Derrick Burgess.

He had just 8.5 career sacks after three seasons in Philly. Al took a chance on him and he has paid off with 38.5 sacks in four seasons. Al has also gotten Pro Bowl seasons out of veterans like Rich Gannon, Jerry Rice, and Rod Woodson after nobody else wanted them.

People say that he makes a lot of poor draft decisions. Al has drafted defensive studs Thomas Howard and Kirk Morrison at linebacker and CB Nnamdi Asomugha who is regarded as the best at his position.

Al Davis took some heat for passing on DT Glenn Dorsey, DE/LB Vernon Gholston, and DT Sedrick Ellis in the draft for Darren McFadden. We ended up drafting DE Trevor Scott in the fifth round who was first amongst rookies in sacks.

The Raiders also got production from second year WR Johnie Lee Higgins and rookie WR Chaz Schilens. They both closed out the season strong with Higgins catching a TD in the final three games and Schilens doing the same in the final two. Higgins was a third round pick and Schilens was a steal in the seventh round. RB Michael Bush saw his draft stock plummet after a leg injury. The fourth round pick proved he could produce in the season finale with 177 yards against the Bucs.

Another thing is the Lane Kiffin situation. People said that Lane deserved more time to turn things around. Bottom line is that he produced just five wins in 20 games. Tom Cable, without an offseason to prepare, managed to produce four wins in 12 games. Kiffin obviously wasn't dedicated to the Raiders so he had to go. It was the right decision.

All I am trying to say is that he isn't going to be right on every decision he makes. At least he tries. At least we don't have an owner who is greedy and doesn't spend on available free agents.

Al Davis has the Raiders very "close" right now. Three more wins and we would have made the playoffs with a second year rookie QB. Just be patient Raider Nation. The days of the Raiders being winners again are closer than you might think.

Here's to the Raiders winning the AFC West in 2009!

The Pain of Being a Northern California Sports Fan

big ROC Stockton, CA — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 04:32:41 -0500

I'm from Stockton, CA. My favorite teams are the Raiders, A's, and Kings. Although the Raiders and A's have won it all during my lifetime, I was just a one-year old when the Raiders beat the 'Skins and only seven when the A's won the "Battle of the Bay."

The Kings have come close but couldn't get it done.

My Raiders did have a very strong team at the start of the millennium. In 2000, we made it to the AFC Championship only to have our dreams crushed by Tony Siragusa doing a belly flop on Rich Gannon, knocking him out of the game.

In 2001, we got burned in the snow. We all remember Brady's fumble that never was. In 2002, we made it all the way to the big show but our MVP QB had his worst career game. That was three consecutive years that our season was ended by the eventual Super Bowl Champions.

My A's have been equally disappointing. We made a few runs as of late. We can't seem to catch a break though. We had the Yankees all but eliminated in 2001. We were up 2-0 in the series but ended up losing three straight.

The exact same thing happened against the Red Sox in 2003. In 2006 we swept the Twins but then we were swept ourselves by the Tigers in the ALCS. The one that hurts the most is against the Yankees. If Jeter doesn't make that miraculous play at the plate, things could have been different.

Now on to my Kings. My Kings are horrible right now but we did have a championship caliber team earlier in the decade. Webber, Bibby, Chistie and Stoyacovic were the cornerstones of a very good team over a few years. The 01-02 season was our best chance at an NBA Title.

We were 61-21 that season. We made it to the Western Conference Finals against the Lakers and were up 3-2 headed into Game Six. I truly believe the referees cost us that game. The Lakers were awarded 27 free throws in the fourth qtr of that game while the Kings only shot nine free throws.

The Kings also had Game Five and the series won but Vlade Divac tipped a loose ball directly to Robert Horry and he nailed the game winner.

Anybody else feel my pain? It hurt me just writing this article.

2008 Oakland Raiders: Injuries Really Hurt

big ROC Stockton, CA — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 02:49:09 -0500

The 2008 Oakland Raiders finished the season 5-11—another terrible season in the books. Although a lot of things factored into the outcome, injuries played a big part in the disappointing season.

We were hit early. At 6'4", 205 pounds, wide receiver Drew Carter was a free agent signing who was supposed to provide JaMarcus Russell a big, speedy target to throw to. Carter was lost for the season during the preseason. Johnnie Lee Higgins ended up being the most productive wide receiver with 22 receptions for 366 yards. We could have used Carter's services.

Fullback Oren O'Neal also went on IR in the preseason. If you aren't a Raiders fan, that might be the first time you have ever heard that name. However, losing him was a big reason why the running game wasn't as dominant as last season. At 6'0", 250 pounds, he is a lead blocking fullback.

Veteran fullback Justin Griffith did a decent job, but he wasn't a true lead blocker. He went down for the year after seven games. We ended up with Luke Lawton as our starting fullback.

The running back position seemed loaded with 1,000-yard rusher Justin Fargas and first round pick Darren McFadden. Both would suffer injuries in week two. Fargas partially tore his groin, missed the next two games, and wasn't the same until week 12.

Darren McFadden had 22 carries for 166 yards in that game, but suffered turf toe during his breakout performance. He ended up carrying the ball just 83 more times all season, including three games in which he didn't even touch the ball, and two other games were he carried just once.

Derrick Burgess hurt a tricep muscle in week three. He didn't play or suit up for the next seven games. He ended up with just 3.5 sacks on the year. This production came from a guy who had 35 sacks during his previous three seasons.

Those were just six players on a 53-man roster, but they were key guys. They were counted on and expected to produce for the Raiders in 2008.

Tim Brown, Great Numbers, But Could He Have Been Better?

big ROC Stockton, CA — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 02:33:33 -0500

Tim Brown is likely a first ballot Hall of Famer. He is one of the best ever at his position. Young WRs can only dream of having a career like Tim Brown. With all that said, he could have had a way better career.

His career stats are as follows: 1094 REC - 14,934 YDS - 100 TD - 4 Punt/Kick RET TD.

Those numbers are great, but if Tim Brown played with better QBs throughout his career he would have put up mind boggling numbers. Maybe even close to Jerry Rice's career stats.

In his 1st five seasons he was stuck with Jay Shroeder, Steve Beuerlein, and Todd Marinovich. He had a solid QB in Jeff Hostetler for the next four seasons and then some Jeff George and Donald Hollas the two seasons after that. He finally had an upper echelon QB in Rich Gannon for his last four seasons with the Raiders.

When you look at Jerry Rice's career QBs you see MVPs Joe Montana, Steve Young, and Rich Gannon.

It's too bad Tim Brown didn't have better QBs throughout his career. He also never really had a solid supporting cast at the skill positions around him. Jerry Rice had guys like Dwight Clark, John Taylor, Brent Jones, and Terrell Owens with him.

Mervyn Fernandez, an old Willie Gault, Jerry Porter and James Jett were Tim Brown's running mates. Tim Brown was the focal point of defenses week in and week out. The lack of talent around him allowed teams to double him all day.

It's too bad he was stuck with a bunch of "average Joes" for the most part of his career.

Just thought I'd pay a little homage to one of the greatest Raiders of All Time.

Why Al Should Run The Oakland Raiders Offense

big ROC Stockton, CA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 13:59:17 -0500

I'm not talking about Al Davis. I'm talking about Al Saunders. He has been mentioned as the latest person who will be interviewed by the Raiders.

I think he should be the next guy to run the Raiders' offense. He won a Super Bowl with the Rams. We all remember "the greatest show on turf." He was the WR Coach during that time. That experience would do wonders for Johnnie Lee Higgins, Chaz Schilens, and any WR the Raiders bring in via the draft.

His most recent success was with Kansas City. The Chiefs had one of the most dominant running games under Saunders. He was the offensive coordinator for the Chiefs from 2001 thru 2005, and had the highest ranked offense over a four year span (02-04).

He turned Priest Holmes into a touchdown scoring machine, as he set the previous touchdown record with 27. The following season, Holmes went down, and Larry Johnson didn't skip a beat. He rushed for 1,750 yards. I think he would have good ideas on how to use the Raiders' running backs.

What do you think, Raider Nation?

OAKLAND RAIDERS AND OTHERS TO HAVE A "BREAK OUT" SEASON IN 2008

big ROC Stockton, CA — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 15:07:48 -0400

Every year a few players who have not done a whole lot "break out" and have a solid season. Last season we seen guys like Ryan Grant, Justin Fargas, Antonio Cromartie, as well as rookie phenom Adrian Peterson burst on to the NFL scene.

Here goes a few guys who look to have "breakout" performances this year. I'll start off with a few players from my beloved Raiders and then take a look at other potential NFL stars around the league.

RB Darren McFadden & Michael Bush

What a great 1-2 punch these guys can be. Both guys had very good performances last week in their young careers. McFadden carried most of the load with 22 attempts, 164 yds and one TD, while Bush finished off the Chiefs with a late 31-yd Touchdown run finishing the day with 90 yds on 16 attempts.

FS Michael Huff

Huff is going to show why the Raides drafted him seventh overall a couple years back. With the lack of a solid SS he had to play in the box more than he should've had to. With Gibril Wilson coming to town he can now play his more natural FS position which should maximize his athletic ability. He can move so well that he could play CB if needed.

RB Michael Turner

Turner is another guy who is off to a great start after playing behind LT to begin his career. He always shown "flashes" when he got a chance to play. In week one, we all saw how good he can be with a fair share of carries. He exploded onto the scene with 220 yds rushing.

With a rookie QB, look for "Turner the Burner" to get a ton of carries and have a very strong season for the Atlanta Falcons.

WR DeSean Jackson

Jackson is quickly becoming McNabb's guy. All he has done is become only the second WR in NFL history to begin their careers with back-to-back 100+ yard performances. He has excellent hands and is very scary in the open field. He also is a dangerous return specialist who can score at any given moment.

QB Aaron Rodgers

Rodgers is another guy off to a great start. So far he has looked great replacing a legend in GB. The Packers seem to have not skipped a beat coming off an NFC Championship game appearance thanks in big part to Rodgers. He looks poised to carry the Packers on another playoff run this season and throw around 30 TDs.

DE/DT Justin Tuck

Tuck is also trying to fill some big shoes with Strahan retiring and Osi Umenyiora going down for the season. Through two games he has 3 sacks and has been herassing opposing QBs all game. Look for Tuck to have a double-digit sack total before the season is over.

QB Jay Cutler

As much as it hurts me to say, Culter looks like he has a big-time season ahead of him. Through two games he has guided the Denver offense to nearly 80 points. Not to mention he has done it against two of the better CB tandems in Oakland's Nnamdi Asomugha & DeAngelo Hall and San Diego's Quentin Jammer & Antonio Cromartie.

If he keeps it up he might be representing the AFC in Hawaii.

Well that's all I got. Feel free to mention other guys that will "break out" this year.

Don't Be Shocked if...

big ROC Stockton, CA — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 18:49:22 -0400

The Raiders finish 9-7 and make the playoffs.

The Oakland Raiders are not as far off from being a contender in the AFC West this season as people think they are. I know we are coming off another terrible season, and all of us Raiders fans always get hyped up every year during the offseason.

This year, however, we have legit reasons to be optimistic. Don't forget that the Raiders held the lead in the fourth quarter of five games last year. A few lucky bounces, a well timed TO by Denver, and some fair officiating and the Raiders may very well have been a .500 team last season. That was last year.

Here are a few reasons why I think the Raiders can turn things around and make a serious run at the AFC West title this year.

1. Stability at QB

Last season, we played musical chairs with our QBs. Four different players saw action under center. JaMarcus Russell will be a lot better than "Andrew McRussellpepper" from last season.

With Russell being our full-time QB, he can develop chemistry with the play makers he has around him. I can see big plays down field coming off of play action. Speaking of PA.

2. Running game

The Raiders were the sixth-best team last season when it came to running the ball, and our stable of RBs has improved. We have a very scary three-headed monster in Fargas, McFadden, and Bush. These guys complement one another so well. They all bring something different to the table. These guys are going to make JaMarcus Russell's job so much easier.

3. Secondary

The trade for DeAngelo Hall and the signing of Gibril Wilson make the entire defense better. Hall and Nnamdi Asomugha are both lock-down man-to-man corners. Nnamdi will cover the opposing team's No. 1 guy, while Hall should have an easy day matching up against the team's No. 2 WR. They also give the D-line that extra second to get to the QB.

Gibril Wilson can move down into the box and play the run. He gives us that intimidating presence in the secondary that we have missed for so long. I expect a lot of big plays from Mike Huff now that he can move to FS and roam the secondary.

4. Speed on offense

That was something we missed last year. The Raiders got a whole lot faster this year. Darren McFadden is the type of player that can take it the distance anytime he touches the ball. We also brought in Javon Walker, who has left quite a few DBs in his dust, and Drew Carter from Carolina, a man who can flat-out fly. We also have Johnie Lee Higgins coming back, who is another sub-4.4 guy.

Opposing defenses are going to have their hands full trying to match up against the speed we have on offense, as well as the potent rushing attack that we'll have. Having a pair of lock-down corners is going to do wonders for our D. We can put eight or nine in the box to stop the run with these two CBs. The season is around the corner and I can't wait!

RAIDERS FOR LIFE!!!!