Tag: Oakland Raiders (Page 26 of 33)

      2008 NFL Draft re-do

      December 11, 2008 /

      Don Banks of SI.com decided to re-do the 2008 NFL Draft after what we know now. (I.e. Matt Ryan is a freak.)

      Matt Ryan1. Miami Dolphins (Original Pick: Jake Long, OT, Michigan)
      RE-DO PICK: MATT RYAN, QB, BOSTON COLLEGE
      Chad Pennington has been superb, and Chad Henne is locked and loaded as the Dolphins quarterback of the future. But Ryan is in the midst of one of the greatest seasons ever by a rookie quarterback, and you don’t pass on that given a second chance. Just like Ben Roethlisberger in our inaugural re-draft of 2004, Ryan shoots to the top of the heap.

      2. St. Louis Rams (Original Pick: Chris Long, DE, Virginia)
      RE-DO PICK: JOE FLACCO, QB, DELAWARE
      You think Flacco lingers to No. 18 on the board this time around? Uh, no. It’s a quarterbacks league, and while I’m not sure anyone could win in St. Louis about now, Marc Bulger sure isn’t getting it done. The list of teams that wished it had believed in Flacco last spring is getting longer all the time.

      3. Atlanta Falcons (Original Pick: Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College)
      RE-DO PICK: JAKE LONG, OT, MICHIGAN
      Without the Falcons getting their quarterback in this slot, they would turn to their need at left offensive tackle, where they took USC’s Sam Baker after trading back into the first round at No. 21. Long, Ryan Clady and Duane Brown have all excelled at LT this year, but the ex-Wolverine has been a solid pro.

      4. Oakland Raiders (Original Pick: Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas)
      RE-DO PICK: CHRIS JOHNSON, RB, EAST CAROLINA
      We all know Al Davis loves speed, but in Johnson he gets speed that has actually produced as a rookie. McFadden has just one 100-yard rushing game, and that came in Week 2. Johnson has been a spectacular season-long contributor to Tennessee’s overwhelmingly successful running game.

      5. Kansas City Chiefs (Original Pick: Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU)
      RE-DO PICK: CHRIS LONG, DE, VIRGINIA
      The Chiefs have gotten virtually zero impact out of Dorsey, and they sure could have used some defensive line help to offset the loss of the traded Jared Allen. Long has modest statistics, but his four sacks are a good first step in the right direction. Don’t forget it took Mario Williams until year two to find his groove.

      It’s always interesting to look back at the draft every year after most of the regular season has been played out. In April, Glenn Dorsey was arguably the best defender in the draft but as Banks points out, he’s made no impact for the Chiefs. Granted, these players are just 14 weeks into their young careers so a lot could change, but how wrong was everybody (myself included) who suggested the Falcons should have taken Dorsey over Matt Ryan? It would have looked like one of the biggest draft blunders of the year, assuming of course Dorsey was equally ineffective for Atlanta.

      NFL

      Is JaMarcus Russell a bust? Vol. II.

      December 5, 2008 /

      JaMarcus RussellBack in October I questioned whether or not former first overall pick JaMarcus Russell was a bust after the Saints’ routed his Raiders 34-3 in Week 6. And after the San Diego Chargers blasted Oakland 34-7 on Thursday night, I’m proposing the question again.

      Russell completed 9 of 13 passes, but he two of his three incompletions were interceptions and he threw for just 68 yards. On top of his poor numbers, he was also carted off the field at halftime with an ankle injury. Andrew Walter replaced him in the second half and was equally atrocious, throwing for 61 yards and a pick himself.

      In 12 games (he missed one due to injury), Russell has compiled a 70.1 passing rating, 1,797 yards, seven touchdowns and six interceptions. His completion percentage is a paltry 51.4% and he’s thrown for over 250 yards once this season (Week 4). But perhaps a more telling stat is that he’s been sacked 27 times this year, or 2.25 times a game.

      No quarterback, not Brett Favre, Joe Montana or Tom Brady, can do it by himself. I’m not excusing Russell’s play because he has looked absolutely brutal at this season, but how can the Raiders expect this kid to win if they don’t protect him? Furthermore, he doesn’t play in an environment conducive to winning and neither Tom Cable nor Greg Knapp are very good play callers/offensive coordinators. Knapp’s offenses will put you to sleep with their predictability.

      Russell needs to show dramatic improvements, but the Raiders front office also has to help him out. Instead of going out and getting a flashy, high-priced free agent wide receiver or drafting another running back, they need to start building an offensive line. Russell will never survive without the big bodies up front to protect him, I don’t care how strong his arm is how or how big he is.

      But that’s not Al Davis’s style is it? He wants flash over substance. And that’s why this team is forever doomed with him at the helm. It’s likely Russell will never get a fair shot before being labeled a bust and ushered out of Oakland.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      The NFL is a fickle whore

      November 30, 2008 /

      Brandon StokleySo I’m here to take my medicine after calling the Denver Broncos frauds last week. Not only did the beat the New York Jets 34-17 on Sunday, but they did so in absolutely convincing fashion.

      The NFL is an amazing thing. The hapless Oakland Raiders (who lost to the even more hapless Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday) drilled the Broncos last week, while the Jets beat the previously unbeaten Tennessee Titans. This week, the Jets are an 8-point favorite at home and Denver comes out like world-beaters. The Broncos dominated every aspect of this game.

      So now what? Are the Broncos for real? Are the Jets a one-hit wonder? Or is this just another case of parity in the NFL? I’ll take Option C. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see opposite performances out of the Jets and Broncos again next week, although I won’t make the same mistake twice in calling Denver frauds. (My deepest apologies, Broncos Nation.)

      With San Diego’s loss to Atlanta on Sunday, the Broncos are essentially a lock to win the AFC West. And if Denver’s run defense could play as well as they did against the Jets, they could definitely surprise in the postseason. They just haven’t been consistent this season.

      Good thing for the Jets is that the Patriots were waxed by Pittsburgh in Foxboro, so they remain a game above the Patsies and Dolphins in the AFC North. But maybe after this upset, we can all relax on the all-New York Super Bowl.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      Report: Lane Kiffin to be the next head coach at Tennessee

      November 28, 2008 /

      ESPN.com is reporting that former Oakland Raiders’ head coach Lane Kiffin is heading to the University of Tennessee.

      Kiffin, 33, will be making his college head coaching debut in succeeding Phillip Fulmer, who will coach his last game for the Vols on Saturday.

      Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton denied reports on Wednesday that Kiffin had been offered a contract. But Kiffin has been at the forefront of the Vols’ search for some time.

      Part of the holdup is that Tennessee didn’t want to do anything officially this week that would take away from Fulmer’s final game Saturday against Kentucky. Fulmer was fired by Hamilton on Nov. 2 and allowed to finish out the season. He’s been at Tennessee as a player, assistant coach and head coach for 35 years.

      The university has dubbed Saturday’s game “Phillip Fulmer Appreciation Day” at Neyland Stadium in celebration of his 17-year tenure.

      One of the big draws with Kiffin was the staff that he’ll potentially be able to put together. He’s talked with his father, Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, about joining him at Tennessee. The elder Kiffin is considered one of the foremost defensive minds in football.

      Outside of drawing recruits with his NFL resume, I’m not sure Kiffin is a great fit at Tennessee. But the Vols are in major need of an offensive facelift, which is supposed to be (read: supposed to be) Kiffin’s specialty.

      How huge would it be if Lane could convince papa Monte to come up from Tampa and join him? Monte Kiffin’s defenses are always so underrated and he’s easily one of the best schemers in the NFL. It’s doubtful he would leave the Bucs, but one would have to imagine that the temptation to join his son would be strong.

      College Football

      The Broncos are frauds

      November 23, 2008 /

      Denver BroncosThe most fraudulent team in the NFL right now has to be the Denver Broncos. After a comeback victory over the Browns two weeks ago and an impressive win last Sunday in Atlanta, the Broncos got stomped by Oakland 31-10…they lost…to the Raiders…at home.

      Somehow the Denver defense limited the Falcons to 20 points last week, but surrendered 31 to a previously two-win Raider team. Not only that, but JaMarcus Russell only attempted 11 passes and completed 10 of those attempts for 152 yards and a touchdown. How does Oakland only attempt 11 passes and win 31-10? Better yet, how do you only score 10 points against the Raiders when you average 24.8 points per game? It’s mind-boggling.

      Hey, maybe the Broncos just had an off day. But 31-10 to the Raiders? That’s just embarrassing. I realize that the Raiders do have some talented players and Denver’s defense has been atrocious this season, but how does this happen? The Broncos had zero interest in trying to tackle Justin Fargas and Darren McFadden.

      For the Broncos to lose to the Raiders and fall to 6-5 on the season but still lead their division shows you how absolutely brutal the AFC West is this season. It’s a shame that a team like the Colts, Ravens, Patriots or hell, even the Dolphins might miss the playoffs this season, yet this crap Denver team gets in because they play in a joke of a division.

      Related Articles: I eat my words after the Broncos beat the Jets in Week 13.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

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