Ask a Silver and Black Dude

I had maintained a degree of kool-aid flavored optimism up until yesterday. No illusions now.

No one’s happy with DHB’s production up until now. But I don’t know who to blame.

Is it him? Is it the stupid system they run? Basically, all they do 90 percent of the time is tell him to run down the field. Is it Russell? Probably all of the above.

I think he can get better. But will he? I hope so. The problem with the Raiders is that they draft these raw projects with upside like Russell and Heyward-Bey, but they suck at actually developing them.

All he’s said is “You’ll see when all the facts come out why I’ve kept silent” and “I’ll be vindicated” or something like that.

The tone of Hanson’s story seemed a little too pious if you ask me. Still, it seems Cable’s got some explaining to do.

And he tries to throw every ball like a laser beam. He has no touch.

Seymour’s visible impact hasn’t been nearly as big as we’d all hoped, but I also shudder to think how bad we’d be without him.

Our run game has disappeared into the black hole of suckiness that is our offensive line.

In poker parlance, the team went “all-in” on Russell this season. Let’s face it, Bruce Gradkowski is not a viable franchise QB. His last start he was something like 7 for 21 for 35 yards and 2 INT. Even Russell is better than that.

I think he could’ve been a successful QB with the right coaching. But he’s never had that and on top of it was handed 29 million guaranteed dollars. You can see the result.

It’s ultimately all Al’s doing. He’s sticking with Russell and he won’t be benched until Al gives up on him.

…at this point we’re basically better off to keep Russell in there and pray for a miracle. It’s not like Gradkowski or Frye or anyone else could salvage the season at this point.

I suck. Editing right now.

oh and thanks for beating the Bucs last year … we still appreciate that over here at BGN

Our defense will get tired in the 2nd quarter cause we will go three and out every time. We have a very bland defensive scheme that mcnabb will tear apart. as for Russell, we liked the pick at first cause we had no othwer choice. obviously quinn didnt turn out to good either.Now we want him on the bench, nothing more nothing less.

We stick by the team for players like Tyvon Branch, who interacts with us at S&BP, for guys like Nnamdi Asomugha who deserve so much better and out of hope that when Al Davis finally quits (or dies) we’ll return to respectablilty.

I wanted Joe Thomas or Calvin Johnson. But I was fine with the Russell pick because Lane Kiffin had developed good QBs at USC and I thought he could do the same with JaMarcus. You see how that turned out.

The problem with Al and coaches is that he’s basically wore out all his options. No one but a guy wanting to get his foot in the door (Kiffin) or an assistant without any other options (Cable) is willing to take the job now.

Davis wanted to hire both Sean Payton and Steve Sarkisian at different points. They both wanted control over gameplanning and personnel. In any other organization, that would’ve been no big deal. In Raiderland, though, different rules apply and we ended up with Norv Turner instead of Payton and Kiffin instead of Sarkisian.

Our D could have a solid shot at keeping the game respectable, but they’ll be worn out by halftime. When they play hard, they’re a good group. But the y’re so demoralized and I don’t blame them. You could see the fire gone out of them on Sunday.

As for Bush, he is still a good player but when you cant throw teams just stack the box and our running game has been stuffed. As for three headed monster, fargas is basically done here in oakland and most dont expect him to stick around for long. now, can we have Vick or Kolb please?

We’d all love to see him get 25 carries a game. But because Tom Cable is a dumbass, he insists on giving Justin Fargas lots of carries.

Also, with the sieve we call an offensive line and no passing game to speak of, Bush is pretty much set up to fail even if he runs every play.

Even if it takes decades. That’s what I keep telling myself anyway.

Care to throw the game this week so we can try to get some pride and self-esteem back?

He will never, and I mean never, give up until he is 1) dead or 2) physically incapacitated by a stroke or something similar.

I hate to wish death or injury on people. on the other hand, this team sucks so bad right now and so much is his doing. I compromise by hoping for a moment of clarity on Al’s part. I’m also currently wishing for a unicorn. I expect to get the unicorn first.

Everyone else has jumped ship by now.

When things finally turn around (even if it takes another 5 years) we’ll know who the hardcores really were.

Get a smart QB, not just someone with a massive arm (and belly) , coahing wise i would get someone who doesnt break people jaw and an aggresive defensive coordinator. Someone who will actually call a blitz every now and then. We also need a center and a right tackle. I need a veteran receiver as well.

Hopefully with me as owner, i could attract a real coaching staff. that’s priority #1.

Next, I’d institute a 3-4 defensive system modeled on Jim Johnson and Dick LeBeau. I love dynamic linebacker play.

On offense, I’m not so sure. Probably would want to go smash mouth city featuring Michael Bush 20-25 times a game and Darrne McFadden getting a variety of touches

Under 2 conditions

1) He commits himself

2) He gets proper coaching

Maybe he’ll wake up or not regarding his work ethic. But as for the better coaching…well, he won’t get it in Oakland.

My ultimate nightmare scenario is that he’s cut loose and develops into a real QB in another organization.

lets leave it at that ;)

I assume even though you tragically lost Jim Johnson (RIP, what an awesome coach), your defensive philosophy is still “blitz first”, yes? Our O-line is such a patchwork right now, that it could give us nightmares.

Actually don’t know much about your offense. I’ll be interested to see it in action.

I wanted BJ Raji, Jeremy Maclin or Eugene Monroe. Others were all for Michael Crabtree or Brian Orakpo. No one wanted DHB

It’s frustrating to see the talent on the team go to waste by inept coaching and antiquated systems.
We hang in there though…can’t go on forever

Stanford Routt is maybe the worst nickel corner in the league. Nothing but another Davis track star. The people behind him are worse, if that’s possible.

Our starting SLB and his backup both got hurt Sunday, so that situation is even worse, if that’s possible

The Coliseum is like 44 years old. They need a new stadium. But in the current economy (Oakland has been really hard hit) and with how bad the Raiders are, they aren’t going to get one any time soon.

That being said, I think Al wants to remain in Oakland. So we’ll see.

Lack of discipline, poor execution. Cable said it best after the Giants game: “We’re playing hard, but we’re not playing well”

The offensive line is a disaster. Our best lineman went down with an injury. Samson Satele was supposed be our starting center for the next 5 years, but was slow picking up the ZBS and got beat out by a career backup in camp. Satele is playing now only because of injuries to others. Cooper Carlisle, once an excellent RG, is showing signs that the tank is just about empty. Cornell Green, who many of us can’t stand and who is probably the worst starting RT in all of football, went down with an injury……and his replacement is EVEN WORSE.

It begins and ends with Russell. If he was playing like he did the last several games of the 2008 season, we would’ve scored more points and maybe beat the Chargers and even the Broncos or Texans. This team can be competitive if he finds that form again. If not, we have no shot.

Turnovers don’t help either. The Denver game was close and the offense was actually moving well when Darren McFadden fumbled. The game got out of hand right after that.

I wrote a huge post about how the Raiders problems all begin with Davis:

Basically, Al Davis is delusional and won’t let the past go. You can read the link for more details.

McFadden needs to learn two things: 1) Ball security and 2) Keep those legs driving. He leaves a lot of yards on the field, so to speak, because he doesn’t fight through tackles enough.

One of the few bright spots on offense. Total steal in the 4th round.

He’s had some bad drops and got JaMarcus picked off in the Charger game because he ran a bad route. Buuuuuut, those are the kind of things you expect in a rookie receiver. They’d be a lot less noticible if the rest of the offense was clicking.

leave your eagles cap at home and don’t cheer for the eagles during the game if there are drunk fans around you. when walking towards your car after the game, don’t talk to anyone and just mind your own biz. i’m an eagles fan that lived in the bay area for 10 yrs and i’ve heard some crazy stories about drunk fans beating up on fans that root for the other team or fans in non-raider gear. for the most part, the raidernation shows great sportsmanship and knowledge about the game e.g. raybin, but it only takes one bad seed to make the entire crop look bad and as eagle fans, we all know this better than anyone…

You wont get shot or stabbed but mugged is a possibility and constant booing when you walk around will happen. Now if you are sitting in the nose bleeds you should be fine. Maybe keep it in your back pocket with your shirt over it until you get up there. Basically mind your own buisness, if you can stay by a crowd with as many kids as possible with older adults. Peopole may assume that your with the kids. Biggest tip, dont feed the fans(meaning dont talk to anyone, or influence anyone, if you can bring a kid cause people may not boo you as much if there is a young kid). They will throw beer on you, harrass you so much cops may escort you to another area of the stadium. Just dont do anything to make you stand out.

Fuck that rep your team.

So I’ve never been to a game. I hope to soon.

From what I know, it’d be standard visiting fan etiquette at most places. Don’t wear a hat, but a jersey is fine. Don’t shout or taunt anyone. Be good natured if you get heckled.

Special note for Raider games: For the love of God, STAY OUT OF THE BLACK HOLE. If your tickets are there, sell them. Even I know that much. :-)

Offense: Louis Murphy, Darrius Heyward-Bey (can’t give up after 5 games), Chaz Schilens, Zach Miller, Mario Henderson, Robert Gallery, Michael Bush, Darren McFadden. I think 3rd TE Brandon Myers would be worth keeping too. I think he has a nice future.

Defense: Richard Seymour, Tommy Kelly, Thomas Howard, Kirk Morrison, Nnamdi Asomugha, Tyvon Branch. I’d also kee reserve DT Desmond Bryant and DE Matt Shaughnessy to see how they turn out.

Who I’d get rid of: Everyone else.

Easiest part of our game to exploit? Everything.

Seriously, though, to beat the defense, run right at it. Medium range passes also work because the defense always overpursues and they turn into big gains.

As for beating the offense, well,…….you already do it. Blitz, blitz, blitz.

And say five sacks.

Who scares me the most on your team? DeSean Jackson has the speed to get behind Nnamdi. Brian Westbrook and LeSean McCoy are dynamic. And of course, Donovan McNabb.

Defense, it’s pretty much your whole defensive line.