The Raiders should have signed someone or done something to fix that linebacker problem. I don’t know about Jon Alston coming in and being a starter. At best, he’s a backup linebacker right now. I don’t think he has much potential. I hope he proves me wrong, but we could’ve done something to address the obvious problem.

Regarding the NFL predictions — well, I’ll start with the Raiders first. I agree with the 7-9 mark for us. I know most people want to pencil us in at 10-6 with the division title, I just don’t see that yet. San Diego is still one of the most talented teams in the league. I have us at 7-9 and that’s a very reasonable prediction. If it comes true, I’ll be satisfied. It would prove that we’re moving in the right direction and building through the draft takes time.

Regarding the 7-9 record, here’s how I see how can achieve that mark. Split the AFC West (3-3) and AFC North (2-2) gets you to 5-5. After that, we have six games left with those being against the NFC East, the Texans and the Jets. Between those six games, win two and you’ll be at 7-9.

As for the rest of the teams, I haven’t been able to put a figure on the wins and losses just yet, but I think the Patriots will have the best record in the NFL. Other teams winning their divisions are the Steelers and Colts in my book. The two Wild Card teams to me are between the Ravens, Bills and Texans. I’m not sure which two I have yet. I think the Titans will take a large step back and the worst teams in the conference will be the Chiefs, Broncos and Browns. The Bengals could surprise people, but I’m not sure about that. As far as the Jaguars go, well, I don’t know. I think that 4-12 prediction could be accurate. I think they’re going to finish in last regardless of their record.

That looks like me in Yosemite last week!!!

we couldn’t stop the run last year and we have the same players. Teams know this and will base their game plan around it. we need a dominant tackleling linebacker.

As for your predictions I think your right on except the chiefs will win 5 games and the donkeys win 2

Tom Brady, Tom Brady, Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, Bill Belichick, Bill Belichick, that is why New England will win their Div. They are coached to win with what they have to use their strengths and conceal their weaknesses. The Raiders should be 9-7 if they can sweep Denver and KC, neither team should win a game against us this year if our play calling is not predicable.

Derrick Brooks should be signed to come in and offer leadership and knowledge to our Linebacker corps. The 49ers sighned Hacksaw Reynolds at the end of his career for the same reason and the results was leadership and knowledge at the position that led to their first Super Bowl victory. Hacksaw would be on the sideline with the other linebackers and a clipboard coaching his guys on where to be and why.

You guys may not like this, but I am going to say it anyway, I believe Garcia at 39 and at the very end of his career should at least allow the Raiders to consider Michael Vick as a potential number 3 backup, Vick knows he won’t start coming in and should JaMarcus go down we have someone that is only 29 years old with speed and experience, as well as Garcia who is 39 years old and ready to retire soon. And being that I am born and raised in East Oakland, let me say this. If you don’t like dog fighting, and I don’t personally condone it, he paid his debt and did his time, if Vick wears the Silver and Black, you come to Oakland at your own risk trying to protest on our turf, that would be a far bigger mistake than Vicks involvement in any dog fighting. Oakland is a City of blue collar hard working rough necks that can care less about your personal feelings when it comes to the Raiders. If you root for Denver in Oakland your entire family had better be wearing Silver and Black and have you surrounded. Oakland is a different kind of place with a reputation for toughness, the City that is, so long time Raider fans are really used to having players that are lets say less than civil. Plus Vick will not come at a high cost, does anyone believe that other than Garcia any of the other backups have near Vicks talent?

I believe we have to think outside the box, we have been the worse team in football and it is hard as a life long Raider fan to watch us look so badly, it’s terrible. Our blogs should be about how to repeat, not how to win 7 games. So, Vick is available, Brooks is available I believe we should sign them both, neither require a huge cap hit at all.

KA1Z4R, TheRaiderWay and the rest of you guys I would appreciate your opinions on this.

As a Colts fan, im so sick of everyone (Main Stream Media and casual fans) writing us off as missing the playoffs and signaling the end of the Colts. You guys are one of the few that understand that the Colts have improved there greatest weakness (DT’s) and that some of the younger players are ready to emerge and take that next big leap to stardom.

I don’t know about him starting. He will have to prove he can stop the run before he is a starting SLB in the NFL.

As for your predictions, I like & agree with most of what you put up. I think both Den & KC will have 3-5 wins and I think we should sweep all four games with them. SD will be a tougher nut to crack & will probably win our division with 10-11 wins. I think we will finish with 7-9 wins which is a huge improvement from last year. I think the keys to our season are our passing offense & our run defense. If we have the one & can stop the other, (paging Mr. Mitchell) we can have a winning season. If that will get us into the playoffs is another question.

   My point is when i look at the past Raider quarterbacks, and look at the current back ups, and yes he missed a couple of years, however, so did Roger Staubach. I have to agree, he has not been a pocket passer, however, in light of the fact we are not sure about our O line it would be good if it did falter to have someone that could get out of the way when he needed to. JaMarcus is getting killed back there and until something different is proven, that is where we are.

  Having a number 3 with his ability makes since to me, and had this dog thing not happened I am sure most would have welcomed a talent like Vick into the Raider fold. If a player deserves to start he should, I am not trying to replace JaMarcus, however, if he did falter it would be good to still win, and if the O line is not completely up to par, the other back up potentials will go in to get killed as well except for maybe Jeff Garcia and his days are truly numbered at 39. Vick is better than a wildcat player because he can throw the ball. I look at what we have and what he can add, and I am for it, however, I am sure most feel the way you do KA1Z3R. So the saga continues………..

It seems that to stop the run you have to hit and tackle someone, the problem is there seems to be a blatant lack of tackling going on. Yes, Kirk Morrison needs to be moved to the Strong side, next sign DERRICK BROOKS to come in and add some intensity!!! And lets give the DT’s a chance for now and see what unfolds in the preseason, however, DT needs to be addressed in the draft next year.

I do have a good feeling about this years camp for our defense, we should see some real improvement.

Brooks was a terrific anchor against the run and is just two tackles shy of 1,700 stops for his career. Although he dropped into coverage much more often than he rushed the quarterback, Brooks still had 13½ career sacks. And his pass-coverage skills, highlighted by his 25 interceptions and 41 passes defensed, were tremendous for a linebacker.

Even last season, when his playing time was reduced because he generally came off the field on passing downs, Brooks posted 73 tackles against the run for the most part. Brooks wasn’t released for salary-cap purposes, but rather because the team’s new football regime wanted to develop some of its younger players. This guy has always been a run stopper KA1Z3R hands down. Brooks didn’t reinvent the weakside position, but only a handful of men in NFL history have played the spot as well as he has.

There have been few classier gentlemen in the league during the past decade and a half, and few players who have been as respected by their peers. As a defender who earned 11 Pro Bowl selections, Brooks was arguably in a class by himself.

Now as we look at the Raiders, I look past what we have, and I agree that if Kirk Morrison is moved to the Strong side where he should be and you put a veteran like Brooks on the weak side to help develop our linebackers understanding of the game, and Brooks can still play, it will help our defense in the long run. No he is not a long term solution, he is a leader that can help our linebackers identify who the next leader will be, as it stands they just go through the year getting their butts kicked and run all over. D Brooks will help us more than any other linebacker on the roster. His locker room presence would be so important. And he won’t break the bank, he comes at a great price against the cap and his income does not have to be guaranteed.

 However, again Brooks will probably be overlooked with the hope and prayer that someone will rise to the occasion. It seems to be what all Raiders fans hope for, every year we look at our roster and believe this is the year we will really improve. And pow 5-11, 5-11, 2-14 etc, it’s pitiful and being a guy that has been a Raider fan for close to 40 years I don’t get it. My hopes are that we do it this year, we have a great chance, I am just looking at every angle to help keep spirits high, the Raiders have a losing culture it’s all this team knows, bringing in additional standout veterans from winning clubs in key positions can help change the culture.

We agree on far more than we disagree on, I just believe in a veteran presence when the teams culture is one of losing, the Raiders have had bad years but never a losing culture until now, and it is hard to break the cycle as you see. So players like Vick and Brooks have the ability to ignite a spark and change the culture. Until that changes and you can say winning with do that, but let me tell you when you have a losing culture, an early loss or two promotes a negative attitude, not a ok, you guys caught us slipping but we’re going to beat the sh-t out of the next team we play and let it be known we are not going for getting beat.

That is why I look at players the way I do. Yes, I agree with you on certain veterans deficiencies because all players have them, however, what is the up side, does it out weigh the deficiencies and in the case of Mike Vick and Derrick Brooks my answer is yes for the Raiders, if our O line falters we have a Wildcat weapon and at LB we have a proven veteran with a stellar reputation and the creditials to back them up. So again the saga continues…..

And one thing KA1Z3R what veterans do you believe can help our young linebackers, we don’t have a young talent like Urlacher was coming in or someone that comes in the league blazing, our guys are good players with the ability to improve, is there anyone out there that can help with that, we must change the culture.

I don’t know that people are still writing on here, however, I have got mad respect for Coach Cable, he deserves the props…He is focusing strictly on the mental part of the game the first 5 days, that is incredible. Well, let me break this down, most players, especially new players to the team, rookies and quite frankly many veterans don’t study to a point of knowing exactly where they are supposed to be. Coach Cable has the foresight to have the entire team working on only that aspect, no pads, no hitting, no throwing, no touching, just application of the plays. Observing foot work, placement, its brilliant.

The Raiders, are going to be a better team this year, and with Paul Hackett coaching the Quarterbacks we may just surprise some teams. I have been talking about the play calling not being predictable and the need for better execution, well, Coach Cable is well on his way to being able to call a play that is properly run, and when a play is executed properly you achieve the desired result.

The fact that there is a focus on the mental game team wise will help tremendously in the Raiders execution. I am very pleased with Coach Cables concept. Qute frankly, this is a major relief, the Raiders will have a fighting chance if players know what they are supposed to do.