TAW here posting for the first time since Rolando's emabarrassing run in with the Alabama Popo. A lot has happened to our Raiders since then including the team's first draft under the Reggie McKenzie regime. While this team has shown less than more to get excited about his preseason; we all need to stop and remember isn't this an exhibition season the players' union has been trying to bury for years anyway?

You can't read into preseason at all. We have yet to utilize some of our key components. You think Lechler would have been blindsided as easily as King was against the Cards last week? Dick Seymour and Denarius Moore haven't broken a sweat. I recall 2010 we had some very impressive showings on the road in the preseason against Dallas and Chicago and were very solid against Seattle when we returned home. We then go on to start the season getting buzz-sawed by Tennessee in Nashville 38-13 and if not for a halftime QB switch in a very ugly 16-14 home opener against the poorous Rams we would have started the season 0-4. Who can forget a few years ago we finished the preseason under Art Shell 4-1 thinking this was the beginning of our rebirth? It ended up being Art Shell's only positive contribution during a 2-14 season.

I am not clairvoyant thus cannot begin to tell you that reverse history will prove the poor first two showings mean we are going to end up 14-2 and host the AFC Championship. We may end up with our worst record since our OC's first run here under Kiffin. I don't believe that will happen though. I think the best example of what I want to believe is going to happen is regarding the Lakers during Phil Jackson's return from retirement from the Bulls. Then GM/ Laker legend Jerry West spoke of the team practicing fundamentals a youth basketball team would have understood how to execute. He recalls them constantly practicing simple two-hand passes that never hit the groud and dribbling drills during preseason. It culminated in a 67-15 regular season and their first world championship in 13 years. While many think this is homerism and perhaps it is; the talent level is capable. The discipline and organization looks to be at its most stable in years. The preseason is merely a curtain jerker, an afterthought. The real deal is right around the corner and this team is 0-0. As a fan I can't wait to watch it unfold!