Oakland Must Win
The Raiders Post
After last weeks come from behind win by Buffalo, Oakland must beat the San Diego or the season is a wash. They are 1 -2 and cannot afford to fall to 1-3.
Last week they had the game in the bag, then the defense reverted back to the soft zone that has been picked apart all season. This defense is much better when attacking the line of scrimmage and driving on the ball. But them back on their heels and they are worthless.
After I speak up for Kiffin in my last post. He goes and blows the game on his end through horrible clock management in the last few minutes. Does he really want to win? After last week I wonder, leaving 2 time outs on the clock in a close game is inexcusable.
If they lose this week then, it will be time to pull the reigns off JaMarcus and let him run free and see what he is capable of. The pass for a TD to Johnny Lee Higgins was a highlight in a game that became a lowlight. Our run offense looks good, pass blocking still needs a lot of work.
Where the hell has Ronald Curry been? 2 catches for 18 yards in 3 games, this guy is a good receiver. Not a huge threat to break a huge gain but a solid possession receiver, get him the ball.
Javon Walker looks to be an other paid bust of an off season pick up so far. So does DeAngelo Hall, his play is very suspect, He plays 15 yards off the ball and seems to get flagged every other play. If he can’t play, bench his ass or move him to the nickle and let Routt start opposite Asomugha.
Prediction Chargers 31 Raiders 14
Al Davis Sit Back, Shut Up and Let Kiffin Coach!
The Raiders Post
The last time the Raiders had a winning season John Gruden was the coach a young fiery coach that wouldn’t be pushed around much. Now he has Lane Kiffin and in the second game of his second year we could be on the verge of a turn around for a team that hasn’t seen a very many wins in the last 5 seasons.
The sentiment from the Raider Nation is just what I said in the headline, sometimes worse than that. The game has evolved but Al Davis is stuck in the seventies trying to build teams in that mold that are not competitive amidst today’s game plans.
Al Davis just needs to let the coach, coach and give Kiffin some time to develop a team. History shows that trying to buy a ring usually ends up costly you a lot of money and getting few results.
McDonald: Kiffin’s way or the highway for Raiders?
By Jerry McDonald
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – His press briefing having ended minutes earlier, Lane Kiffin stopped briefly in the training room to do a radio interview, then headed toward the showers.
He saw a reporter and said, “See you later…maybe,” before ducking behind a red curtain. The he poked his head back out and added with a playful grin, “ If I don’t, it’s been good.”
It was good Sunday, anyway. A physically dominant 23-8 win at Arrowhead Stadium is a good day no matter how bad the Kansas City Chiefs are.
Rushing for 300 yards on 47 carries in an NFL game will turn heads, regardless of the opposition. Holding Larry Johnson to 22 yards on 12 carries, sacking the quarterback five times, intercepting two passes, breaking up 12 and allowing a single touchdown is worth a pat on the back, even if the Chiefs deserved all the boos they got from the home fans. If you’re Kiffin and about to be told you’re out of a job, there are worse ways to go out.
It was only six days but light years away from the 41-14 season-opening embarrassment against Denver. More to the point, to Kiffin’s way of thinking, it was a validation of his philosophy improving his team by running the ball and beating the opponent to the punch.
The Chiefs came in having lost 10 straight dating back to last year. They were waiting to be manhandled. Kiffin’s plan since he arrived is to change a losing culture with a no-frills, no excuse, punch ‘em in the mouth approach.
The Raiders were able to ccomplish that, and just because the Chiefs ended up being down to their No. 3 quarterback, someone named Tyler Thigpen from Coastal Carolina, you don’t throw it back or act as if it doesn’t count. Maybe that’s why Kiffin looked nothing like a man who has all but been given a cigarette and a blindfold, waiting his fate as the eighth coach to walk the plank by order of Al Davis since the Raiders returned to Oakland in 1995.
The first thing he said when he got to the podium was, “Did Buffalo win?.” He was told the Bills, who the Raiders face on the road next week, were 20-16 winners over Jacksonville.
There are no guarantees Kiffin will be there to see it, although the thought of Chiefs G.M. Carl Peterson being forced to swallow a 15-point loss to the Raiders may lessen Davis’ irritation level somewhat with the kid coach.
“That’s not my decision,” Kiffin said. “I’m excited by the way our staff and our players prepared this week. If I’m here, we’ll do the same next week.”
Even by Raiders standards, it was a bizarre week. When asked about the lack of defensive pressure Wednesday, Kiffin said defensive philosophy was mainly shaped by defensive coordinator Rob Ryan and Davis each week, as if it were a matter beyond his control.
The club countered by sending Ryan out the next day to refute Kiffin. This never happens anywhere else _ the team setting up a press briefing to counter comments made by the the head coach.
Lo and behold, the Raiders team that dominated the Chiefs Sunday blitzed early and often, with the likes of Thomas Howard and Gibril Wilson taking turns storming the backfield.
“I thought we set the tempo from the beginning of the game, guys coming in and rattling the quarterback,” Kiffin said. “I’m real excited about Rob’s game plan this week.”
Whether through accident or manipulation, Kiffin got what he wanted, and hasn’t let so much as a bead of sweat form on his brow over what still may be to come.
Call it confidence, as his supporters do. Call it arrogance, as many in the building do. Whatever you call it, the consistent thing about Kiffin is that on many levels he doesn’t care what his critics think, whether inside the building, in the media or in the vast Raider Nation.
He will listen to what they have to say, answer politely, then continue with his own sometimes curious methods.
Kiffin will run the ball as often as possible to keep the game out of the hands of JaMarcus Russell until the quarterback has enough experience and good receivers take over. He doesn’t care if you think it is stunting Russell’s growth.
He won’t adhere to the party line or bask in the Raiders tradition, not when the team was a mess when he arrived and is 5-13 since he got here. He doesn’t care if you think he should be more reverential to the great Raiders teams of the great Raiders teams from the 1960s through the early 1980s.
Of late, he won’t even call Davis by name, usually referring to him simply as “the owner.” He doesn’t care if you think that is a sign of disrespect.
Kiffin refuses to say things are great when they’re not and won’t pretend there isn’t a problem with the operation if he thinks one exists. He doesn’t care if the public relations department wishes he would just put a cork in it and play the diplomat.
He will keep doing it his way until he is told otherwise by Al Davis. Being a maverick in Oakland is a great thing if you’re a player, but it it’s risky business for a head coach.
Kiffin doesn’t care about that, either.
Another Long Season Ahead?
The Raiders Post
Well my prediction was wrong Oakland’s secondary got shredded and the Run-D wasn’t much better. Hopefully as Kirk Morrison said, it will take a couple games to jell, but it sure doesn’t look like it based on last nights killing.
Denver scored a touchdown on the game’s opening drive. Russell fumbled in the red zone and the Broncos’ recovered on the 7-yard line. The Broncos scored three of the first four times they had the ball, built a 17-0 lead and controlled the action from start to finish.
The way the Broncos thrashed the Raiders no doubt is reason for major concern for Kiffin.
The Raiders have based much of their confidence for this season on their Hall trade, the Wilson signing to strong safety and Michael Huff’s move from strong safety to free safety.
Those off season moves look like they did not bolster anything but the salary cap number. Wilson was beat on a 26-yard touchdown pass and on a few other occasions. Jay Cutler targeted Hall time and again, with huge success. Huff was late on a sideline pass to wide receiver Darrell Jackson and then missed the tackle on a 48-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
“It might take a couple of games to jell,” middle linebacker Kirk Morrison said. “This was the first time where we played a whole game. Sometimes it’s going to be like that.”
The Broncos typically run the ball and wears down opposing defenses. The Raiders feel as if they are at their best when teams pass the ball. The Broncos shredded them badly through the air.
The Raiders need to get right and quick or this will be another long season!
Regular Season Has Begun – Week 1 Prediction!
The Raiders Post
The Raiders open up the regular season at home on a Monday Night Double Header against the hated Denver Broncos.
The Raiders will look to utilize the 6th best rushing attack in the NFL last year. An attack which should be even more dynamic with the addition of McFadden.
JaMarcus Russell should be asked to just protect and manage the ball. Russell has tons of potential but is virtually a rookie and will need to protect the ball. Not to mention Oakland’s Offensive Line is better in running situations then passing.
The Raiders defense should be able to shut down the Denver passing game, with the best DB tandem in the NFL. The winner of this game will be the team that is able to slow down the other teams running attack the most.
My prediction Raiders 13 Denver 10.
