The Raider Nation
As long as I've known what football was I've been a fan of the Raiders. Whether they were in L.A. or Oakland it didn't matter to me. I took pride in the fact that the Raiders were one of the most hated teams in the NFL but also one of the most loved. Even though they weren't always the best team around they were always a respectable team. That is until now. For those of you who don't know I was at the Raider's 2006 season opener against the Chargers on ESPN Monday Night Football. It was the first Raider game I have ever seen in real life. Sadly the Raiders suffered their first home shut out in 20+ years that night when they lost 27 - 0. I knew after that game that this season probably wouldn't be any better than last year or the year before that but I never dreamed that it would be worse. How can you not improve when you only win 4 games in the previous season? The loss to San Diego was followed by more losses. There was even talk of the Raiders being the first team to not win a game in an entire season. Then along came the hapless Cardinals who gave Oakland their first win of the year. The second win of the year was a fluke. Oakland returned two interceptions for touchdowns against the defending champion Steelers and won the game with less than 100 yards of offense. Then we come to Oakland's second Monday Night Football game of the year against the Seahawks. I think I can honestly say that I've never seen a team look as bad as the Raiders looked last night. They became the first team ever to be shutout twice on Monday Night Football in the same season.
I almost took an internship with the Raiders this season. When the opportunity was first presented I was really excited and thought that I would for sure apply for the position. After thinking about it for a while I decided that missing two semesters to take the internship was more than I wanted to give up so I ultimately didn't take it. Now after watching how the team has performed so far I am so glad I didn't take the internship. I don't think I would be able to sit back and watch what I am seeing from the team especially if I was there in Oakland and working for the Raiders.
In hopes that maybe someone who can make a difference will read what I write, here are my recommendations for the Raiders.
1. Fire Tom Walsh - The guy is obviously not running the offense in a way that can win games. They can't even score or gain yardage. Obviously the offense he is trying to run isn't working. Rather than adapt it to fit better with what the players can do he just keeps running the same schemes over and over.
2. Art Shell - I like Art; I think he has the potential to bring the Raiders back to respectability. The one thing that Art needs is to show some passion. Where is your love? The players need someone who will get in their faces and throw things when they make a mistake. Don't just stand there like a statue. At the beginning of the season the goal was to bring back the Raider mystic. That will never happen with a lifeless coach on the sideline. It is your team, light the fire!
3. Andrew Walters - Oakland passes on Matt Leinart and Jay Cutler because they believed that you were their quarterback of the future. At times you look like you could be a pretty good quarterback and then there are times when you look terrible. Your o-line has more wholes than a chain link fence so you've got to get the ball out quick. Drop back, make your first read, if its not there make the second read if its not there then get rid of that ball like it was a time bomb.
4. Player management - What was up with trading Gabriel to the Pats for a 6th round pick. He was a great receiver and you basically kicked him to the curb. That's not good for player moral. It shows with the way Porter and Moss are acting now. Why would anyone want to stay on a sinking ship? If people want out then let them out.
Here is to the hope that one day in the not to distant future Oakland will return to glory.
I almost took an internship with the Raiders this season. When the opportunity was first presented I was really excited and thought that I would for sure apply for the position. After thinking about it for a while I decided that missing two semesters to take the internship was more than I wanted to give up so I ultimately didn't take it. Now after watching how the team has performed so far I am so glad I didn't take the internship. I don't think I would be able to sit back and watch what I am seeing from the team especially if I was there in Oakland and working for the Raiders.
In hopes that maybe someone who can make a difference will read what I write, here are my recommendations for the Raiders.
1. Fire Tom Walsh - The guy is obviously not running the offense in a way that can win games. They can't even score or gain yardage. Obviously the offense he is trying to run isn't working. Rather than adapt it to fit better with what the players can do he just keeps running the same schemes over and over.
2. Art Shell - I like Art; I think he has the potential to bring the Raiders back to respectability. The one thing that Art needs is to show some passion. Where is your love? The players need someone who will get in their faces and throw things when they make a mistake. Don't just stand there like a statue. At the beginning of the season the goal was to bring back the Raider mystic. That will never happen with a lifeless coach on the sideline. It is your team, light the fire!
3. Andrew Walters - Oakland passes on Matt Leinart and Jay Cutler because they believed that you were their quarterback of the future. At times you look like you could be a pretty good quarterback and then there are times when you look terrible. Your o-line has more wholes than a chain link fence so you've got to get the ball out quick. Drop back, make your first read, if its not there make the second read if its not there then get rid of that ball like it was a time bomb.
4. Player management - What was up with trading Gabriel to the Pats for a 6th round pick. He was a great receiver and you basically kicked him to the curb. That's not good for player moral. It shows with the way Porter and Moss are acting now. Why would anyone want to stay on a sinking ship? If people want out then let them out.
Here is to the hope that one day in the not to distant future Oakland will return to glory.
posted by Rumel at 4:27 PM
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