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Darth Raider: Future Shots

Damn, do we need a lot of work. It actually took the Lord of the Sith, Master of all Evil a whole week to get over the that miserable ass kicking by the orange and blue Asses. Touchdown after Touchdown I could only think of how and when we will be competitive.. Next year? Two years? 5 more? Regardless, future shots are on me.

Should we draft another QB? I think it's our only option. That is, unless you want the Quarterbacks of the past that were given great opportunities, but failed to rise to the occasion (Mike Vick, Josh Freeman).

Teddy Bridgewater, Tahj Boyd, Derek Carr and Johnny Manziel all seem like dynamic and 'hip' options..

but honestly? Who the Hell knows if any of them will pan out?

After looking at countless Quarterbacks, I believe we run a great risk of wasting our high pick, but we really don't have another option.

Would you really like to see Terrelle Pryor and Matt McGloin battle it out another year?

I thought not...so make it so, Reggie.

Draft a QB that is capable of great accuracy, strength and leadership. If you're not confident in selecting? Depend on someone else...perhaps Jay Gruden.


Anyone else tired of Dennis Allen's coaching? I sure as Hell am. Ok, fine.. I think the guy is intelligent, strongly defensive minded and possibly should deserve another shot due to the lack of picks.. but if Chuckie's brother just 'happens' to listen to our calls? I suggest we make him an offer he can't refuse (lightsaber to his throat). The Coaching in Cincinnati seems superior to most in the NFL.

The organization was also responsible for picking a recently decent fresh QB who is responsible for their 3rd consecutive playoff appearance (Andy Dalton).

Honestly, I wish Jon Gruden didn't sign up for another year on Monday night Football, but those are the breaks, kids. I guess another scenario will be to give DA one more chance, then pitch for Chucky the following year if we don't show improvement. We'll see how it all pans out in good time.


In the meantime, there's also the following needs we must address: 1) the resigning of Vets that are worth a damn- Lamarr Houston,Kevin Burnett, Jared Veldheer, Charles Woodson and Rashad Jennings are NOT going to play for peanuts and Hot Dogs...pay the men!!! 2) Draft or sign capable linemen to open holes and protect our future QB 3) Draft/sign a Running Back that will compliment Jennings if he is resigned. I'm not sure if Rashad is a #1 back, but we will need a duo to help our Rushing get to the next level. 4) Draft or sign a decent pass rusher. 5) Add new Receivers to the mix.


Sure, I'm also wondering if we'll need to add to the DB squad this year, but I believe Mike Jenkins and Terry Porter have done a phenomenal job when they are healthy. I also don't want to give up on our 2013 #1 pick just yet. DJ Hayden will improve...I have foreseen it.

Tight Ends? Eh..I'll suit up. I Force block well..



Summary last game:


OAKLAND, Calif. - With one sterling half, Peyton Manning accomplished all he needed to in the regular-season finale by seizing another prestigious record and home-field advantage in the playoffs.

Manning set the NFL single-season record for yards passing and threw four first-half touchdown passes to clinch the top seed in the AFC playoffs for the Broncos with a 34-14 victory over Oakland on Sunday.He knows his next time out probably won't be so easy.


"This was a good game today," Manning said. "We needed this win. We needed to improve on some things. The coaches challenged us in a couple of areas and I think we responded to those challenges."


The Broncos (13-3) were nearly perfect in building a 31-0 halftime lead before coach John Fox gave Manning and some other regulars the second half off to rest for the first playoff game two weeks from now in Denver.


Manning threw touchdown passes to Eric Decker and Knowshon Moreno in the first quarter and added two to Demaryius Thomas in the second quarter. He broke Drew Brees' record of 5,476 yards set in 2011 with a 5-yard pass to Thomas with 13 seconds left in the half to make it 31-0.


That ended Manning's day having completed 25 of 28 passes for 266 yards. He finished the season with 5,477 yards and 55 touchdown passes.


"The first half was about as good in all three phases as we've been all year," coach John Fox said. "It allowed us to get some guys out of the game and rest them and still take care of business on the field."


The Raiders (4-12) ended their 11th straight non-winning season with six consecutive losses and big questions about the future of second-year coachDennis Allen. Oakland has won eight games in Allen's two seasons but after showing signs of progress early this season, regressed down the stretch to put his job in jeopardy.


"That's a decision that's made over my head," Allen said. "I fully expect to be back. I fully believe that I deserve the opportunity to come back here and get a chance to go through the reconstruction phase. I want to be part of the rebuilding phase."Allen said he expects to meet in the next few days with general manager Reggie McKenzie and owner Mark Davis to discuss the future of the organization.


The Raiders, who allowed the second most points in franchise history, were completely exposed by Manning. He frequently targeted fill-in cornerback Chimdi Chekwa, who started for the injured Mike Jenkins.

The Broncos forced a punt on the opening possession and then easily drove down the field. Manning completed eight of nine passes for 70 yards on the 12-play drive, capping it with a 3-yard pass to Decker.

A bad snap by Stefen Wisniewski on the first play of the next drive set up a 7-yard TD pass to Moreno and the rout was on.

Oakland held Manning to a field goal early in the second quarter before he beat them deep with a 63-yard pass to Thomas to make it 24-0 and then methodically led a late drive down field that was capped with the short throw to Thomas that broke Brees' record and earned Manning some rest in the second half.


Brock Osweiler played the entire second half in his most extensive action of his two-year career. He completed 9 for 13 passes for 85 yards but only led Denver to one field goal."I feel like it's a record every other week," Thomas said. "It's great to be a part of, to get it. We just have to sit back and talk about it but our main goal is to win the Super Bowl. It's a good accomplishment for our offense. The main thing now is being able to win."


The decision to go back to Terrelle Pryor at starting quarterback after six games with Matt McGloin failed to provide the spark Allen had been seeking. Pryor looked rusty in his return to the lineup, missing receivers and having little room to run on read-option plays and scrambles.


Pryor completed 21 of 38 passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns after the game was out of reach. Pryor also ran for 49 yards to give him 576 yards rushing for the season, breaking Rich Gannon's franchise mark of 529 for quarterbacks set in 2000.


"I would say I'm inconsistent," Pryor said. "Period. I got to get better."

The Raiders couldn't even capitalize on their one good chance as Sebastian Janikowski missed his ninth field goal of the season after blocked punt by Jamize Olawale gave Oakland the ball at the Denver 24.


NOTES: Broncos S Duke Ihenacho left the game with a concussion. ... The Raiders had about 45 members of the 1983 team that won the Super Bowl on hand for a halftime ceremony.


Alright Nation, it's been a pleasure venting, pondering and writing down ideas to compliment my therapy. I'll see you all next season when we grow into a better team.

Much Love kids and may the Force be with you,

Darth Raider