To smash those Donkey’s in Oakland!!!

Nuff said

has even come out of his slumber. He pointed out what we have been saying all along that the Raiders schedule is such that the only winning team they face from last year in the 1st 12 games are the Chargers. He has them going 7-5 before the NE game. I actually have them going 8-4 at that time. Anything less than 10 wins this season is going to be very disappointing. In this league, dramatic turnarounds are not unusual. Even the worst teams lose very close games so there is a very fine line between winning and losing.
A long run here, an interception there makes all the difference in this league. Hopefully with the parts the Raiders now have the wins will start flowing this way for a change.
It appears from listening to Kiffin that Henderson has a long way to go before he steps into the starting lineup.

now all we got to do is go sign up asu so he can start goinn to camp.

...among those with LOFTY expectations that is! We all know that many of the games that we lost as of late were by slim margins. Others, resulted from mistake after mistake. Not to mention those games in which we were profoundly out played. Keep in mind that we have consistantly been inconsistant at the QB position. That we have had O-lines that have performed poorly, and that we have not been able to stop most opposing backs from grinding us down. We have been on the field way to long on “D”, and then off the field in a hurry on “O”. I am here to tell ya that the tide has turned. That 11-5 season is here. It’s going to be as hard to keep the three backs on the field (ie sharing the rock) as it will be to keep them off of the field (ie 4th & punt). All three of them are 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th down backs. All three are red zone backs…well maybe Fargus will be the least affective in the red zone. All three are goal line backs. Fargus has some catching up to do in the “good hands” department. All three are good for breaking 15-20yd runs. Only DMAC suites the slot. Only DMAC is a threat to go the distance at anytime, from anywhere on the field. How this unfolds is gonna be interesting but in Raider history it has been done before. In Russell we have consistancy that has been lacking since Gannon. He has had a chance to learn the play book, get stronger, slimmer, quicker, and is ready to play. This team is young , fast, and hungry. The offense won’t bogg down as in recent years. We now will be able to not only move the chains but score. Far less 50+ attempts for Seabass! The “D” is as fast as the offense. Dispite popular belief our DTs will be able to stop the run, you’ll see. I think that there are 4 positions that we need to count on for a 11-12 win season. (2) DTs and (2) OTs, that’s it. Everywhere else we are SOLID! I CAN NOT WAIT! I hope yall remember this. I do. LOFTY yes, attainable…yes.

Long Live Da Nation.

In the days of yore the Raiders knew they were going to win, the other team knew it also.
For a brief time Gannon willed this team to victory but then he got hurt and all hell broke loose. Now the Raiders think they are going to lose and they do, it is Kiffin’s job to get the winning feeling back. For damn sure Russell is not used to losing, so hopefully he will be the guy who wills them back to victory. The most important factor in this season is Russell obviously, but the schedule is also a major factor. A few years ago the Raiders were simply over matched against almost all the teams they played, that is not the case this year.
To be honest I will be very disappointed in a .500 season, and sure Al will be too.
The Raiders have not been losing because of the defense, it has been an offense that thinks 14 pts. a game is a major success.

...very true. I was pleased with Kiffin’s philosophies last year and am glad that he has remained. It will be his job to unite the wills of this team. I think that they are all in. I think that they will win because the will to win will be fortified by more than sufficeint talent. We now are not out matched. When the ball is snapped and they realize that they are no longer outmatched, but actually begin to dominate play after play after play, the “mind set” required to become a perenial winner will solidify this team and once again we will be a force to be reckoned with. My friend, that day is at hand! We are going to shock the NFL and it is going to be dramatic. In the past two seasons, the defense, even after valient efforts, has allowed teams to “make a play” when we needed another stop, dispite being put in really bad situations by our offense time and time again. But you are right, we have lost because of our offense…to few points, inconsistancies everywhere, mistakes, negative yardage, 3 and outs, punts, punts, punts and more punts! Those days have come to an abrupt end. Everyone is in…get ready to be shocked!

Long Live Da Nation!

...a 4th down back is one in which you have the confidence to get the 1st down when it’s 4th and a yard or two because they deliver for you time and time again. I think Bush & DMAC are 4th down backs more so than Fargus, but that is the just of what I meant.

...Russell, in his 1st year of any significance, will bring consistancy because he won’t be on the QB carousel that has been so prevalent in the Raider backfield for the past few years. Consistancy because win or loose, the receivers will develope sense of his tendancies, as will the backs. The O-line will become accustomed to his cadences. Zack Miller said it best when he said he is working on being there for him, an outlet when he’s in trouble, someone to look for routinely. That all takes reps, timing, confidence, in essence…a degree of consistency. Because Russell won’t be jerked from under center, he’ll bring consistancy to the Raider QB position. In any case…that’s how.

Long Live Da Nation

...you saw how willing Kiffin was to go for it on 4th down last year! Just wait and see how many successful 4th down conversions we have now that we have legitamate 4th down backs! You’ll see!

I really just can’t wait!

...We’ll win our division. Our western schedules are identicle except for 2 games: Raiders vs: Ravens, Texans
Chiefs vs: Titans, Bengals
Broncos vs: Jags, Browns
Chargers vs: Pittsburg, Indy

Every other game is verses common opponients. We are a drastically improved team proven or not, we are a drastically improved team. We don’t need to be 11-5. We need to win the division. If we need to be 11-5 to win the division, then so be it. If we can accomplish that, we will have grown emmensely and could go in to the post season poised to make a run.

identical

good nite all

Long Live Da Nation

OK, so the Bolts have owned us. I promise you, the Raiders are a different team. We all know that their defense poses problems for us, but they have been playing a team in Oakland that has not been right from the coaching staff to offensive schemes with respect to coordinator & O-line coaches, to poor rushing, to recievers that could not get open (even Brown & Rice), to the QB issues, to countless other issues that have as of late have begun to look a great deal better. Truely, we have been fielding wounded teams. Take this example of the TEs. Gates is the man, right? But in the 2 games in 2007, Zach Miller, in his rookie year, out performed him. He will again this year and it’s in part because we’ll cover better than they will. But look…
Game # 6 2007: Gates 3 rec, 58yds, 0 TDs. Miller 3rec, 17yds, 1 TD
Game#17 2007: Gates 6 rec, 62yds, 0 TDs. Miller 8rec, 84yds, 0TDs

Point is it wasn’t until the last game of the season that Russell and Miller really had any significant time together on the field. Nor did Russell take a significant amount of snaps with the 1st team all of last year in practice during the season. Where as the Bolts didn’t have those sorts of issues.

I understand the Nation’s frustrations, I have been a Raider fan since 1969, but I promise you, this is a team that is going to be hard to beat. We are not going to be pummeled by anyone. What we don’t outright win, will be close, and the loses of the past, the ridicule, and Kiffin as well, have this team ready to win. All the pieces are in place. All we need at this point is solid play from the 4 tackles. You’ll see.

Again, I can’t wait!

Lond Live Da Nation

...go look, Miller in his rookie season, outplayed Gonzalez also.

Take care

Long Live Da Raiders

...yes, everyone including me knows Gates and Gonzalez are headed to Canton. I also am well aware of the fact that catches are not the sole critiria in judging a TE. And that SD had many more targets to spread the ball around to only makes my point. I eluded to that previously in the blog. Now we have recievers that can get open. Backs that can run the screen, swing more effectively, and throw passes. A QB that is not a sitting duck. A legitimate kick returner (vs. Carr…straight ahead, full steam, in to the pile and Higgins…uneffective by any measure). A far better red zone offense. The list goes on and on. Believe it or not, the starting D-line will probably be Burgess, Kelly, Warren, and Spires. They are going to be formidable group. And the back 6 (of 7) are amount the best in the league.

In any case, that we got beaten and badly was not the point. Last years final outcome in those games in the west, specifically SD, was not the point. The point is that since 2002 our divisional foes have played a far less prepared team than this team will be come September. We are a far more talented team with key players set to remain in there positions barring injury. We have a coaching staff that has remained in tact for a second consecutive season for the first time this decade (almost).

In my humble opinion, the West better come ready to play harder than they have in a very long time because, in this 2008 season, we are not going to be the doormat that we have been. We are poised to take the division, this year. You’ll see. And if I’m wrong, I’ll be more surprised than I will if I’m right. Not disappointed, surprised.

I think that we are going to be a formidable opponient. Be prepared for that. I guess we’ll see won’t we.

Peace,

Long Live Da Nation!

...I’ll meet ya at a game or two R.Pete

I’ll buy you a beer.

Peace

Very exciting. If McFadden keeps it together he will be a great pro.