Man, when I started this site back in 2006, the oakland Raiders had Art Shell as Head Coach, "Bed and Breakfast" Tom Walsh as OC and Aaron Brooks finished the season at 0-8 while the Raiders went 2-14.

As a team, the Raiders only scored 168 points. Insane!

Back then we used to have to write our own code in order to post photos or insert links and sometimes it took 3 minutes for a post to show up.

Fast forward to today and the has beens, Shell and Walsh, have been replaced by the dynamic duo of Allen and Tarver, Carson Palmer is throwing the rock and the Raiders are coming off of an "Underachieving" 8-8 season.

The most noticeable difference, besides this awesome interface built by Trei Brundrett and his buddies in his basement, is that Al Davis is no longer with us.

I am wondering what, if anything you old timers miss about the old days or like about the new days. And for the new blood, what is it that draws you to S&BP?

I have a very special surprise for all of you coming soon as well as some really cool insider info to share once it is releasedw but, for now, I'd like ot hear from you, or rather from "Us".

If you'd like a format, here you go, otherwise just go free form:

When did you join?

What brings you here?

What do you miss?

What would you like to see?

Cheers!

(Editor's Note: This news has been confirmed from multiple sources and from where I am sitting I see this as a shot over the bow to players who were overpaid by Mr. Davis. Stanford was our best corner last year and definitely had some trade value, so I am curious to know more about his structure )

The official Facebook for the Oakland Raiders just posted:

"The Raiders have released cornerback Stanford Routt."

Confirmed by Official Raiders Site: http://www.raiders.com/team/transactions.html

Continue reading this post »

Now, this is exactly what we need in Oakland. A young, hard working football rat with a deep knowledge of all areas of the Pro Game and that is exactly what the Raiders are getting by hiring Jason Tarver.

This is a HUGE upgrade over "The Bad Chucky".

Tarver has worked on both sides of the ball and has worked extensively with Inside Linebackers while ascending to Assistant DC over the past two years. You hear that Rolando? This guy worked under Nolan and Singletary and coached Patrick Willis. Watcha got big boy?

It's a new dawn, it is a new day!

With Allen and Tarver in town, I don't think that there will be many plays taken off on the defensive side of the ball.

You know what Raider Nation I am starting to get excited about the 2012 season and the 2011 season just ended yesterday.

I have a feeling that Reggie McKenzie has an idea of a few players that he wants to get on here and if they fit the mold of hungry "Football Players" that these two coaches seem to preach about, then next year will be something to behold.

With the Raiders having 50-1 odds to win next year, I may just lay $20 down then next time I am in Reno. $20 to win 1,000? I'm IN!!!

Welcome Jason, now GET TO WORK!!!

I was on the phone with a good friend this morning and he asked my thoughts about how Carson Palmer would do with the Raiders this year.

I took a second before I answered and the answer came to me as clear as day, "I would trade Carson and keep Campbell".

If Hue and Saunders were still running the show, I'd say that Carson would be the answer, but, with the team moving to a disciplined defensive model, Jason Campbell would not only be cheaper, he'd be a better fit.

Teams that are built around defense need a ball controlled offense with a good kicking game. See this year's version of the 49ers for how a team can turn around from a high draft pick to the Conference Championship Game by following this model.

Under this model, you can't have sacks or turnovers and you rely on your running backs, tight ends and the ability to take your shots down the field. That fits Jason Campbell perfectly. Carson Palmer, not so much.

Palmer is due 12.5 million in 2012, 5 million of which is guaranteed if he is cut, so, trading him and passing on that guarantee would be the best bet as far as I can see. Campbell, who has earned the starting job in Oakland, could then be signed to a 4 year deal around 32 million with escalators and we'd have the perfect mix for what this team needs. A mobile QB (Who needs to learn how to slide), who manages the game well and knows when to take his shots or get rid of the ball.

With a new regime in Oakland, I believe that they will do what is needed to move forward and pay backwards for the sins of their predecessors. If they can get A high draft pick back, it may be a no-brainer, imo.

What are your thoughts Nation?

I found it interesting that Palmer was sandwiched in between Jeff Garcia and Billy Cannon onPro Football Reference's Fan EloRater

If the word out there is true, then we are in for some good times, Nation! Word on the Tweet Block is that the Raiders have hired Jason Tarver, the Co-Defensive Coordinator for the Stanford Cardinal. This guy brings it to practice every day and there is no quit. Here is some of an article by Tom Fitzgerald of SFGate.com:

In 2001 Jason Tarver had finished three years as a graduate assistant on UCLA coach Bob Toledo's staff. He had a master's degree in biochemistry and molecular biology.

He could have gone into drug design or research, or to medical school. He had thought about being an orthopedic surgeon after shattering his knee as a high school safety.

But there he was, sitting at a conference table at the 49ers' headquarters. Bill Walsh was there. So was Steve Mariucci, then the head coach, along with others.

"Why the heck do you want to be doing this?" they asked.

He's been asked the question quite a few times over the years in a career that led him this year to become co-defensive coordinator at Stanford. He and Derek Mason guide a unit that leads the nation in run defense.

Tarver had gotten his interview with the 49ers through the coaching network. After a long talk, they offered him the keys to a club van and told him he could either take them, go to his father's home in Livermore and come back to work - or take a job he had been offered with the Green Bay Packers. He said, "Give me the keys."

Here's all you need to know about his skills as a coach: He was hired by Mariucci, then retained by Dennis Erickson, Mike Nolan and Mike Singletary. Counting Jim Tomsula, who coached the 2010 finale after Singletary was fired, he worked for five head coaches in one organization.

Jim Harbaugh would have kept him, too, but David Shaw offered him a key position at Stanford.

He's 37 now, and still gets asked: "Why coach?"

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/09/28/SPH01LAOMK.DTL#ixzz1lUgLgsvu

I also am going to post this video that was posted earlier by KillaFresh:

Coach Speak with Co-Defensive Coordinator/Inside Linebackers Coach Jason Tarver (via stanfordathletics)

This is definitely a refreshing choice and just what we need.

I figure that since 120 million people will be using a secondary device when they watch the Super Bowl today that we should have an open thread for those of you who want to watch this game with other Raider fans.

many of you know that I pulled hard for Sterling Moore to make the team out of camp and was happy when he made the practice squad. I was them equally bummed when, while our DBs were injured and we were seeking out washed up vets, The Patriots rolled into town, beat the Raiders and took Sterling Moore back with them.

I have been a closet Patriot fan since. I know, let the boos begin. Just know that I haven't rooted for them to win, but, for Sterling to do well.

My perfect outcome today is that the Giants beat the Patriots by 10 and Sterling Moore makes a few nice plays.

Who are you rooting for and and have you been rooting for Moore?

So, many of us in Raider nation are pretty upset about the names that have replaced the names that were here before them.

We have already lamented Hue and praised the potential of "The Manace", so let's move on to the next level of additions and subtractions.

Offensive Coordinator

Out - Al Saunders

Al Saunders was on my wish list for about 8 years. He is an offensive genius with a deep understanding of the modern offense. He was also one of DHB's biggest cheerleaders as he showered constant praise on the underachieving wide-out who seemed to come into his own in 2011.

Saunders also game planned each week and was key in developing the script that Hue Jackson worked off of.

In my opinion, his dismissal is the worst so far and appears, on the surface to be a removal of any threat to the new regime. Al has been a Head Coach and Assistant Head Coach three times in his career and with this team in a complete shake-up, which boggles my mind, (They were only a competent DC away from being 11-5), he had to go.

Fortunately, it appears, he will not be joining the Kansas City Chiefs who hired Brian Daboll yesterday.

In - Greg Knapp

This is a HUGE downgrade, in my opinion. Last year the offense had two very god minds working together from the Head Coaching and OC positions, now, it will be a Defensive HC with a washed up retread for an OC who is best known for cowering to T.O. in 2004 when he was the OC for the 49ers.

Grade: F

I think that I am going to have to break this into multiple sections because I am literally sick to my stomach.

On the bright side it looks like we are adding some more quality control positions and also a better training and conditioning staff.

I bleed silver and black and will support this team on the field and off, but, I have to break it down how I see it as a writer and a fan. Being one play from the playoffs and seeing this entire staff, except for Skipper and Big Wiz blown up makes me sick!

There you have it. The Oakland Raider offense that was semi-resurrected after Cable, Knapp and J-Russ ran it into the ground is back, with two exceptions. Tom Cable and JaMarcus Russell will not be in Oakland this year, or any other for that matter, but, Greg Knapp is reportedly back in Oakland. (Source: Wiki)

I am neutral on this one, but, am tilting toward, "What are you thinking?".

Knapp is a well known West Coast offensive coordinator who's best days were at the head of San Francisco and Atlanta's offense from 2001-2006. Interestingly enough, he was replaced in Atlanta by Hue Jackson after he and Jim Mora Jr. were fired following the 2006 season.

This is a bit of a head-scratcher because the strength of this Raider team is power running and getting the receivers downfield.

He failed in Oakland and was stripped of his play calling duties by Tom Cable and then was one and done with Jim Mora Jr. in Seattle.

This is not the type of move I was hoping for. I was hoping for an offensive coordinator, like, ummmmm, Al Saunders. An experienced OC who is one of the most respected minds in the game who would be a strong pillar for a young coach, not a retread who football seems to have passed by.

You Thoughts Raider Nation?