Random Takes
I'm obviously no Jim Rome, and not even a Raider Take (http://raidertake.blogspot.com), but after sitting through the game Sunday and finally getting the energy to read the posts since, I have a few random takes of my own to add to the pile.
1. Ronald Curry - Ok I know all about this poor guy and his injury issues. But it was great to see him zipping around the secondary again making great catches and looking like the stud he is. I just can't understand Art Shell's stubborness in starting Whitted over this guy. Whitted tries hard but he just doesn't have what Curry has. With Moss injured, it appears Curry will get a bit more PT, but I just don't understand how Art can keep a talent like Curry on the bench when we appear to be so bereft in that department. A smart man plays Curry and Morant the rest of the season to get a feel for what they can do together. Moss is Moss, and Whitted is at best average, and there's no better time than the present.
2. Nnamdi Asomugha - This guy is just getting better and better. Did you see that second interception he had Sunday. That was an insane catch. I hope they keep this guy locked up on contract for a while. I think Fabian Washington is going to be really good too, but he didn't have his best day Sunday. Hang in there man.
3. Chuck Bresnahan - Too bad his defense never stopped anyone when he worked for us!! Seeing him brought back some ...errrr....memories.
4. Aaron Brooks - I've said it before and I'll say it again. He is NEVER going to be good. Just sit him on the bench and bring in Walter. It does us absolutely no good to continue to start brooks. If we can get Walter some PT, he might actually develop into the starter we need him to be. Either way, history has shown us Brooks is not a winning, viable QB in the NFL. Worst case scenary of bringing in Walter is that we learn more about what he can or cannot do for us. Winning is irrelevant now. Build for the future!!
5. Art Shell - Hasn't done an insanely good job this year. He let his feelings for Tom Walsh dictate his decisions, has made some pretty poor personal decisions, and his game management needs work. However, I think given enough time he COULD do a good job. Let's face it, no new coaches ever turn a 4-12 team around in the first season. Most often when new coaches start there is little to no tangible improvement the first year. If Al Davis does fire him, I would support promoting Ryan and letting him pick his new crew. He's done a good job of getting quality assistants, and he is a motivator. With that said I think it's worth giving Art more time to get this turned around. Throwing a new coach into the mix every year won't solve anything.
6. Personnel in general - There are a lot of players they should absolutely be getting a look at for these last 3 games. It will really be the epitome of silliness if we don't get a better look at players like Madsen, Morant, Curry (as #1), Walter, Lee, and a bunch of others. If nothing else we can take this dead season and do some personnel evaluation. Come on Art, let's figure this thing out.
7. Denver - Oh that was awesome seeing them get beat down like that. Good job Shanihan.
8. I've been reading a lot of people griping about the Raiders not drafting a QB last offseason with their first pick. I think it's pretty stupid to get on them about this since they got Michael Huff who has started every game and has played very well contributing to a defense in what has been a huge position of need for us since Rod Woodson retired. Those people are forgetting about the missed tackles like Shannon Sharpes big touchdown run in the AFC Championship against Baltimore. Our defense that year and several years surrounding were our weakness. Also let's add into the equation what has happened with our last two first round QB picks. And no these guys weren't reaches. They were supposedly awesome QBs whom would have been drafted even if we hadn't picked them up. These names still evoke fear and loathing: Todd Marinovich (Marijuanavich) and Marc Wilson. With the infrequency that first round draft QBs actually live up to the hype, I am not sure how you can blame a team from not going back to that well again. The last time we got it right was in 1968 with Stabler. My point is look how many first round draft QBs are busts in the NFL, and you'll see why Oakland avoids putting themselves in that position. Ryan Leaf anyone?
For now, and ever, I'm in THE RAIDER'S CORNER!!
4 comments:
you say a first year coach never turns a team around???? you have to look no further than gruden... he turned a brutal team into an 8-8 team his first year,look at payton in new orleans and there are others.. that statement is false and it is just another excuse for art's poor performance... art looks just like the last time when he was here,it is what he is,if you want to crown his ass........anyway,art isn't good enough...other than that,i agree with what you wrote.;
I say give Art another year at least just beacause he's Art Shell. And like Ray said, changing coaches every year is not good at all. Plus poor Al might drop dead if he has to go through that process two years in a row. Art has a great record still even if he looked bad doing it in the past, and I WISH he looked like he did the last time he was here, winning records sure would be nice. He's more than capable of leading this team with the right execution on offense and the right coaching staff to compensate for the things he doesn't do well. It can't get any worse than this year, and if it still sucks, Art will make a nice replacement for Lombardi some day. As bad as we appear to be on the surface right now I get the feeling we are not far from being a very good team moving in this direction. We just need to drop some dead weight, get an offensive weapon or two in the draft, get the O-line right and better motivate what is left as our re-vamped offense. 3 wins here we come!
Psycho
I guess turning a team around depends on your definition. I don't see an 8-8 record as much of a turn around. Gruden went 8-8 two years in a row if I remember correctly. The net result, no playoffs. I'm not saying he did a bad job, but it's rare that a 4-12 team "turns around" in one year under any coach. IF Peyton has truly turned the Saints around in one year, then he is one coach out of how many? How many bad teams were there last year that are still bad? I'm just saying 1 year isn't a litmus test of a coaches ability. From the standpoint of the defense's success this year it can be argued that half of the team made a huge turn around. Now again, my first statement about Art was that he hasn't done all that well. Gruden's "turned around" team didn't make it to the playoffs until a couple years into things if I remember correctly. I guess my point is if we'd have fired Gruden after his first 8-8 season we'd have messed up. Obviously we'll do no better than 4-12 again this season. But if you look between the lines, there is some good stuff happening. For every 1 Jerry Porter there are 5 guys on defense with a good attitude buying into what the coaches are doing.
You make some excellent points Raider Ray. Keep rockin' it!
Here are a few additional points to consider;
1. Ron Curry is the BEST overall, complete WR on the Raiders BAR NONE! Curry (when healthy of course) is versatile, has good size and speed, is an excellent route runner, is outstanding at running after the catch, has good hops, stength, and instincts to get open. His background in basketball and being a former QB gives him a keen awareness of how to use his body to shield off the defender and find open spaces in the zone. Curry should be the Raiders #1 WR next year.
2. Awesome-WAH's 2nd INT vs. the Bengals was amazing. It is great seeing him finally trust his instincts which has allowed him to take a few more chances. The difference btwn this season and last is that Nnamdi is no longer playing tentatively. In today's NFL, he is a one of a kind package at 6'2", 215, long arms, strength, and speed. Hello Honolulu for many years to come.
3. I will take Caveman Ryan over any DC in the league.
4. We know what we got with AB2...an athletic QB with questionable decision making skills who has a flair for a great play followed up by a horrible one. Unfortunately, if Shell comes back as HC, you can pencil Brooks as our opening day starter.
5. I'm on board for giving Shell 1 more year to get this ship off the rocks.
6. My list of players who should see increased playing time over the next 3 games would be;
Offense: Walter, McNasty, Madsen, Morant, R. Lee
Defense: Routt, Huntley, Hawthorne
7. Shana-Rat took a big risk changing QBs late in the season. Although it looks like it has blown up in his face for 06, I do think the Donkeys are better off long term w/Cutler over Plummer.
8. The only way I see us drafting a QB in the 1st round is if we get an additional 1st round pick in a trade. Otherwise, I would like us to go after either RB Adrian Peterson or LT Joe Thomas. I think it is highly likely that the Raiders will be in the FA market for a veteran QB to compete with Brooks and Walter.
Keep on being in the Raiders Corner, Ray.
Calico Jack
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