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Around SBN: Raiders' GM Begins The Purge

Oakland Raiders News, 12-03-07:

There it is!!! The sweet comeuppance that, like revenge, is a dish best served cold and received on fire.

When I looked down and saw Mike "Rat" a-han, Mrs. Saint calls him The Leprechaun, jumping around with schoolboy glee when Robert Gallery was called for holding and set up a 3rd and 11 that put the odds in Denver's favor of a TD and Field Goal tying the game I said to myself, "Uh-OH, how can we lose this one?".

The play that Griffith made on 3rd and 11 was inspiring. He went through three hits and kept his feet long enough to give us a dagger of momentum which Justin Fargas dug into the heart of the Mules as he went sailing around McQuistan and Carlisle into the end zone, quickly sealing the Broncos fate.

I took a sick pleasure out of seeing "The Rat" shift countenances from the rabid rodent into that of a church mouse in a mere two minutes.

The last time we beat the Broncos it was 2004, IN Denver. Although that was a great victory and to take nothing away from Ronald Curry's beautiful catch in the snow, that victory was of last second variety, which is a thrill in itself, but it was not as effective in doing what yesterday's contest achieved.

Yesterday, for the first time since 2002, the Raiders took care of the home field against the  Broncos, spanking them in every facet of the game, and showcased the future of this franchise, JaMarcus Russell, a man they will face 20 more times in ten years. J-Russ looked like a confident, tall, strong armed, accurate and even a bit nervous quarterback , as he drove the ball down the field twice on them.

Seeing JaMarcus's reads yesterday and his decision making, as well as his natural ability...I am BUZZZZING!!!

As well should you all be:

With his mother sitting in the stands and the fans standing and giving him the loudest welcome that I can ever recall a player getting, he calmly stepped back from center, gazed the field, and right as the pressure got to him, threw a frozen rope to Jerry Porter on the sideline that only Jerry could catch. Catch it, he did. Dragging his toes on the sideline and giving us a glimpse of what Jerry Porter can be with JaMarcus Russell.

It was a 16 yard completion, a 16 yard completion!!!

16 yards, like #16 Jim Plunkett, it was a Raider first down and the Raider fans were "In" with JaMarcus.

His second drive was equally impressive and although I would have loved to see play action on 4th down, I was behind Lane 100 percent for going for it.

That is one of Lane Kiffin's trademarks. He has been going for it on 4th down since the USC days. We all remember when he went for the knockout with Lendale White against Texas. If Lendale makes that yard, USC wins the Championship. He put the ball in his offenses hands and said, "Win me this game".

There are times when time left in the game, distance from the goal and the score MAKE you go for it on 4th down and then there are times when going for it is a momentum call.

Yesterday, it was a momentum call. It showed that Lane Kiffin and the Raiders were out for their just dessert. They wanted some revenge and now he is 2-0 against the Division in his second time through.

I am sure that yesterday's victory has instilled a bit of swagger back into the Raider Nation. As long as we are better than the rest of our Division, we have a shot in the playoffs.

These next few games against Green Bay, Indy and Jacksonville can do nothing but help the team's confidence. A win in any of those games would probably have Lane Kiffin nominated for coach of the year!

Then, we square off against our most pressing nemesis, LT and his Band of Chargers.

The last time that we took care of business against LT was in 2003 and with disposing of the Donkey Dominance, I would love for this team to finish off the schedule by running the table against the West.

Go RRRAAIIDDEERRSSS!!!!  

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I was thinking today about
the changes the Raiders have made on offense this year, correct me if I am wrong but only Curry is playing on offense in the same place as last year.
Gallery and Sims have switched places on the O line, everyone else is new, in other words 8 of the 11 starters are new to the team, and 2 of the remaining 3 are in new positions.  Looking ahead to next year Bush will probably start with Fargas as the 2nd back who will get a lot of playing time. Griffith and O'Neal will probably be the fullbacks, Russell and McCown will be the QB's.   I would expect the O line to stay the same with Mario and some free agent/draftee  being brought in to strengthen the depth of the line.  I assume Newberry will be resigned with Grove still in the mix.  We still need a little more speed on the outside but the rookie should come back better next year.   Who knows if Dwight will be resigned.  Overall, things are looking up for the Raiders offense with improvement expected after a year of learning the system, and the addition of Russell.

by chinabob on Dec 3, 2007 5:07 PM PST reply actions  

We Finally Got The Ball To The Tight End!!!
Miller was finally used the way Lane Kiffin planned.

The O-Line is doing a good enough job NOW, that Miller can go out more and not be stuck in helping out against the pass rush.

His ability to leave his feet and make the catch off the turf really pleased me.

Pride And Poise!!!

by Raymond St. Martin (Saint) on Dec 3, 2007 8:56 PM PST up reply actions  

Every successful offense
has to utilize the tight end down the field, the one player who is usually guarded by one player, usually smaller or slower than the tight end, like you I was very pleased to see Miller have some balls thrown at him, unlike last year when the tight ends dropped every ball thrown their way.  I notice Madsen got in on a lot of plays, only once having a ball thrown in his direction, that is good also.
You haven't mentioned it much but the special teams has played very well this year, not so much on our returns but when we kick or punt to the opposing team.

by chinabob on Dec 3, 2007 9:09 PM PST up reply actions  

From the little I saw of the highlights
it looked like JaMarc looked great out there.

Is there any doubt that if he was still in the LSU offense, they would be undefeated right now absolutely putting fear into the hearts of the NCAA?

I'm glad he is silver and black.

Time to get a JaMarcus jersey to compliment my old Timmy Brown fit.

Black Battle Axe

by oaklandSMASH on Dec 4, 2007 10:44 AM PST reply actions  

There was a lot of negative comments
when Quentin Moses was released this year, (3rd round pick) and how the Raiders had screwed up again, but when you look back at this draft it has turned out quite well.  I think we all feel that Russell will be around a long time, Miller is doing quite well, O'Neal has moved into a regular role, Higgins looks good, needs more time, expect some good things next year from him, I really like Bowie even though he is not playing this year, and Richardson is making more and more plays. A team is not built totally on drafts, free agents are a major factor in this league also, plus picking up guys other teams have given up on, in that respect Warren, Carlisle, Clemons have also contributed, some will be around longer, others may not, but it all points to Kiffin and the coaches searching and bringing out the best in guys.  Kiffin has this team on the right track and I love the fact that he doesn't care about where a player is drafted, or how much a free agent got, you have to show it on the field, both practice and games.  8 of 11 on offense are new, and Washington lost his job to Routt, Sweigert to Eugene, Thomas took over for Williams, Sands is getting shoved out, Brayton lost his job, Richardson and Clemons taking over, these are good signs of a team which has a direction, produce or go somewhere else.  I am really looking forward to the off season, the draft, the free agents, the pick ups.  Kiffin knows what he wants to build, and he will get there.  For sure, Jordan and Rhodes are gone, Bush is waiting in the wings, Bowie will compete for defensive back next year, and the draft should bring this team 5 or 6 good players.  The Raiders will pick around #10 so should get a blue chip player there, and add to this team.  I'm hoping they will win another couple of games this year but it is a daunting task, tough schedule remaining but the future is not as bleak as last year.  

by chinabob on Dec 4, 2007 3:53 PM PST reply actions  

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