02-16-12 4:40 pm pac            

New Raider hire CB/DB Brandon Underwood plead no contest to "disorderly conduct" charges just after the Super Bowl ring party for the Packers.
The incident alleged Underwood tore the Super Bowl necklace his wife was given and slung her to the ground.
Though they are divorcing, his wife Brandi has sided with Brandon and did not want charges pressed.
The couple is divorcing. Whther that has to do with earlier charges Underwood plead guilty to involving a prostitute we're not sure but one thing is clear, Reggie McKenzie thinks the charges have been over blown and that Underwood is a good man who made bad mistakes.

Whether he feels the same about Rolando McClain's arrest remains to be seen but Reggie and Allen have publicly sided in McClain's corner pending trial or resolution to the former Crimson Tide 1st round Middle Line Backer.

Speaking of Raider Linebackers...

Kam Wimbley scorched Chargers 3rd stringers for 4 sacks but disappeared for the length of a bible for long stretches.

His announcement that he would be less than receptive to a restructure of his current Raider contract means he is good as gone.

Theres little chance the Raiders, $11 million over the cap, will pay Wimbley his full amount.

That makes McClain's job a little safer (he's due a little less than a million this season) and last years mid season sign Aaron Curry. Curry has holes in his game but effective on 1st and 2nd downs.

He's due $5.6 million next season and will likely be asked to restructure to stay.

With Wimbley's stance, Curry's becomes a little stronger unless McKenzie decides to gut the LB unit and add that to his list of rebuilds.

02-01-12 5:55 pm pac
                      
Photo Tony Gonzales                                                                                                       QB Jason Campbell

Rumors come and go.

We'd like to think they live or die by their analytical merit. Whether they come to fruition helps but that doesn't always mean theres not a grain of truth.

As far as this one goes it seems far fetched but we've learned over the years crazy things can happen and especially in Oakland.

There is a new regime in town and everyone assumes they'll be more sound and rational than former owner Al Davis but that again, is an assumption.

The latest rumor is that Oakland may re-sign Raider Free Agent QB Jason Campbell and trade current Raider QB Carson Palmer.

Okay, shocking no? But unless new HC Dennis Allen is simply going to flat out lie to the Raider Nation Carson Palmer is going to be the Oakland Raiders QB game one of 2012.

Thats what Allen said on a recent Bay Area radio interview shortly after his introductory press conference.

There, rumor quashed.

Right?

Maybe.

Analytically the move would seem to make sense to the new regime.

RETURN OF THE ZBS?

Considering Allen's recent additions to the Raiders Coaching staff (OC Greg Knapp and his Texans team mate Frank Pollack in particular) Oakland seems to be moving back to a Zone Blocking Scheme and a West Coast Offense.

Now, thats not Carson Palmer's forte'.

Jason Campbell seems better suited as a game managing ZBS dink and dunk offense. 

Palmer's certainly a capable QB so a ZBS switch doesn't automatically mean hes leaving town on the next thing smokin' if (when) Oaklands O goes ZBS.

DRAFT PICKS

GM Reggie McKenzie made a stink about the Palmer deal and wishing he had the picks it took to bring him to Oakland back.

"I like my picks."

McKenzie could theoretically re-coup something back if he traded Carson away and re-signed Campbell who would likely come cheaper.

THE NEW BOTTOM LINE

Background noise out of Raider land says the bottom line is being watched now that Dads gone. Davis senior was known for splashy signings and free spending that made clueless media scoff and opposing managers quake in their boots but Davis' son Mark is likely watching the books closely because hes shopping the Raiders for a new stadium.

The bottom line is going to be the bottom line when it comes to that issue.

Whether thats good for the team in coming years remains to be seen but it likely is what it is. GM McKenzie mentioned bringing in some Free Agents but whether Oakland cracks the books could depend on whether that FA can fill the seats not necessarily the short term win column.

Both would be nice.

ENEMY MINE

Now there are several landing spots for Campbell OR Palmer. Miami, Seattle and a host of others but this rumor has it the Denver Broncos are the co-conspirators in this clandestine deal.

Granted Allen was Denver's DC last year so theres a connection and the Broncos are still undecided about what to do with the God fearing Tight End they have lining up at Quarterback but Tebow or no, Campbell to Denver might make reasonable sense even if they decide to keep Tebow and run him out of College style sets in certain packages.

Thats about as far as that goes.

NEW DAY

Whatever happens in Raiderland in 2012 its sure to be interesting and its sure to be different. Raider fans were used to having Davis to bash around and blame when things went south.

The new rookies, Davis Jr., McKenzie and Allen will be the first to experience the wrath of the Raider Nation if this massive rebuild doesn't yeild results quickly. Trust on this, if the Raiders suck, Mark moves the team and McKenzie's "gut" draft picks don't pan out, Raider fans wrath will be biblical.

01-07-12 9:09 am pac

Photo Denis Poroy / AP                                                                                                   WR Denarius Moore

The fact Oakland failed to post any first team All Pros for the first time since 2006 isn't a scathing indictment on their lack of talent its a testament to the decimation of their top line players.

Players like FB Marcel Reece, WR/KR Jacoby Ford, rookie WR/PR Denarius Moore, DE Matt Shaughnessy and of course RB Darren McFadden who was leading the League until injured 2 plays into Oaklands match up at Kansas City.

In fact, McFadden's injury helped facilitate the Carson Palmer trade. Even if QB Jason Campbell had not been injured Oaklands ariel attack would've floundered without McFadden. 

McFadden's injury was particularlly telling not only because he was leading the League in rushing at the time with 614 yds on 113 carries with a 5.4 yd average but because his loss highlighted the fact Oaklands young inexperienced receivers were running generic routes that worked with Campbell because McFadden and the Raider running game was to be feared.

With Campbell breaking his clavical against Cleveland back up Kyle Boller failed to "manage" the game and proved too erratic and inaccurate even with the Raiders generic routes.

Campbell had begun to develop remedial chemistry with his WRs in his 2nd season under the same system but still suffered epic brain farts that had Hue and fans scratching their heads.

Some have accused Jackson of a power play for shipping Oaklands 1st round and conditional 2nd round draft pick off to Cincinnati for "retired" QB Carson Palmer but when McFadden went down early the very next week Jackson should've been lauded as a genius but suddenly without McFadden Oaklands vaunted running game became one dimensional.

Boller and Oaklands simplistic air assault was shelled by a solid KC secondary and Hue decided to throw Carson into the fire.

Later Palmer admitted the experience was like street ball. With a repertoire of around 10 plays and zero chemistry with his receivers the result was a foregone conclusion and Palmer was picked apart leading haters to call Hue's "greatest trade in football" a joke.

Hue later stated the decision to throw Carson in the fire wasn't desperation, its was strategy. After sitting on the couch for so long, Palmer needed live fire to get up to NFL speed.

After the bye week Palmer looked like he was beginning to shake the rust and despite throwing 3 picks completed 19 of 35 passes for 333 yds and 3 TDs and actually had Oakland in position to win until an epic defensive melt down and the beginning of the grating and uber annoying stretch of "Tebow magic".

All without the assistance of McFadden.

The next week Palmer shredded the dinged up San Diego Chargers. Missing most of their starting LBs, RB Michael Bush rushed for 157 yds and a TD on 30 carries forcing San Diego Safeties toward the LOS and letting WR Denarius Moore break free for deep strikes and TDs.

Moore finished the game with 123 yds and 2 TDs on 5 catches but Oakland lost another weapon early when Ford tried to jump up and run after a 43 yd bomb, tweaking an ankle.

The writing was on the wall.

Despite our warnings Moore was too valuable now to risk on Special Teams, the very next week the sensational rookie Wide Out exacerbated an ankle ding suffered against Denver.

While returning a punt a Minnesota Vikings player "just landed on it during a punt return," Moore said. "He came from behind and tackled me and landed on my ankle."

Moore suited up for practice the next week but was held out. He didn't play again until week 15.

Oakland certainly has All pro caliber talent and not only on the offensive side of the ball. SS Tyvon Branch played at an All Pro level in 2011 but the fact he did so on a cellar dwelling defense that allowed 433 points and over 6,000 yds of total offense made his exclusion frustrating but more understandable.

As we've said before, this is one of the most explosive, talented Raider teams we've ever seen. If they can stay healthy and on the field we guaranteed several of them will be on 2012's All Pro list.

01-02-12 9:07 am pac

Photo / AP                                                                                                                      QB Jason Campbell

Astute Bay area writers countered our claim Oakland was the most dinged up team we could remember by pointing out Green Bay won the Superbowl with 16 players on IR.

You can take that anyway you please. As a slap at the Raiders for not getting it done with scrubs and back ups or as a statement that good teams find a way.

Our point was who went down was far more important than quantity but Oakland still had alot of players down and or out throughout the year.

For instance, the loss of Davis is immeasurable. He was unique and as we pointed out, his loss hurt the Raiders more than any other team, since he built Oakland in his image and was pulling the strings.

Once our Leader was gone a rookie Head Coach was left to try to follow the Davis blueprint which he did, in our opinion, with great dash and aplomb.

We'll cover that more later...

Right from the get Oaklands casualties piled up. Oaklands secondary was never up to speed losing rookie Chimdi Chekwa day one, drill one, after returning from the strike. Oaklands DB health plummeted down hill from there with a disclocation, hamstrings, groin pulls, surgery, infection, bad ankles and all manner of dings causing them to miss time and or sit on IR.

And that was just the Secondary.

MLB Rolando McClain gutted it out with a bad ankle but gave away any good will when his smiling face was seen being loaded into a police car after a violent incident yet to be taken to trial. He could miss games next year and might even be kicked off the team depending on court findings.

His arrest came at the exact wrong time much like Barrett Robbins Superbowl freak out and cost the Raiders focus and saw them enter a 3 game skid but truth be told, Oakland was already dinged by massive injury, struggling to install a new QB who couldn't develop WR chemistry because of all those injuries. Add to that opposing Offenses had figured out Bresnahan's generic by the numbers Zone defense which Oakland was ill equiped to play even if they had been healthy.

So many rumors and outright lies about what happened and why this season.

Faux even had an article claiming Hue's ego destroyed the Raiders.

What a joke.

We'll set about in the following days to bring you the unvarnished TRUTH.

Just like we've always done.

12-26-11 1:25 pm pac              
      
Photo Nhat V. Myer / AP                                                                                                    QB Carson Palmer

It’s good to do that, especially after such a dramatic and climactic win on Saturday. It should have sunk in to anyone paying attention that the Playoffs actually started during our last game, with the Raiders winning their first round game; just like in the Playoffs, any losses will knock you out of the tourney, so now we turn to the San Diego (Los Angeles??) Chargers, who like the Raiders the week before, lost to the Lions – although THEIR LOSS was UUUUGGGGGGGGLLLLLY!!

Let’s quickly go over some post-game thoughts for both our Raiders as well as our next opponent, the San Angeles Chargers (didn’t we see that city in Demolition Man??) Well, the Raiders successfully beat all three foes on Saturday – the Chiefs, the Refs, and their Fourth Quarter Demons – although the ride wasn’t a smooth one for sure. For all those keeping track, you knew it was going to be tough when ‘Showtime Mike Carey’ was announced as the Referee for the game – ‘Showtime’ in that I firmly believe that Mike is looking towards his ‘next career’ as a face model for commercials (and his dreamed for jump to the ‘big screen’) since he certainly enjoys being the main attraction at any game that he ‘graces us with his presence.’ Mike certainly gets his due, especially during Raider games, since the San Diego-native (there is a BIG problem right there) and his crew do some of his best ‘arms throwing flags workouts’ that should be sponsored by any big-name National Gym.

Mike and his boys certainly didn’t disappoint, as plenty of penalties were called on BOTH SIDES; it’s just the penalties that AREN’T CALLED on the Raider opponents that are usually the culprits for a day that usually ends with an “L” in the column for the Raiders. Cases in point: Stanford Routt had many a flag thrown against him on Sunday, yet the KC secondary LITERALLY crawled over the back of Denarius Moore during a crucial series late in the game when a first down was needed to ‘seal the deal’ with nary a yellow hankie appearing on the field. Also, during the game-tying TD toss from Orton to Bowe, everyone watching could see that an OFFENSIVE PASS INTERFERENCE against Bowe for the push-off on Routt should have been called; looking at the field…no flags…and listening to the commentators lauding the ‘great play’ by Bowe, many a Raider fan was left looking for their ‘barf bags.’ Additionally, a block in the back called against Demarcus Van Dyke on a kick-off return should have been reciprocated on a KC return in the fourth quarter, but I’m sure EVERY OFFICIAL must’ve blinked their eyes in unison during the occurrence, thereby rendering them able to say that they ‘didn’t see it.’ I won’t even comment on the Personal Foul that should’ve been called on KC at the end of the first half when a Chief dove right at the knees of Matt Giordano after his successful recovery of the blocked Ryan Succop Field Goal attempt… whoooooooooooooops… Too Late!! Well, this dead horse has been successfully beaten into submission…

As for the Raiders, they played an inspired and generally successful game despite their challenges against the Chiefs, the Zebras, and the Clock – which took an awesome Special Teams fake Field Goal TD – what would’ve been Shane Lechler’s second of the season to a Raider TE – off the scoreboard. They ran enough with Michael Bush, and threw enough with Palmer to our receivers, to include two much needed long bombs that I’m sure made Daryle Lamonica smile seeing #3 chuck it up for our Raiders. Palmer’s 61yd rainbow to Moore gave the Raiders a 10-3 lead in the 3rd QTR, but when all is said and done, Palmer’s dart to Darrius Heyward-Bey in Overtime was a thing of beauty, with DHB being pushed out of bounds at the Chief 23yd line after hauling in the 53yd heave. Two thoughts here before we go further: 1) Raider Nation needs to thank Richard Seymour for blocking two end of the half field goals in the game (NFL.Com has Trevor Scott blocking the second one, so we’ll need to figure out the exact truth to that stat) which ultimately led to the extra period, and 2) The Palmer to DHB connection was strangely – and beautifully – reminiscent of the Campbell to Ford 47yd bomb last year – both plays on the Raiders’ FIRST PLAY FROM SCRIMMAGE in Overtime. Hmmmmm… either the Chiefs don’t believe in watching game-film and tendencies (possible) or the Raiders were confident that KC defensive backs couldn’t keep up with Oakland speedsters (likely). No matter… hopefully we won’t have to endure another overtime this year…errrr…technically NEXT YEAR. Let’s just say THIS SEASON…which hopefully will go beyond the New Year’s game.

So looking to this Sunday, the Raiders will be playing a DIS-Chargers team that was thumped by the Lions as Detroit gained their place in the Playoffs for the first time since 1999, while the Chiefs will be playing the Donkeys in what Raider fans hope will be an inspired team wishing to win the last game for their interim head coach (wishing to remove that ‘Interim’ pre-cursor) Romeo Crennel, while Kyle Orton would love nothing more than to silence the Rocky Mountain fans who mercilessly booed him off the team for the ‘Savior in Waiting’… some kid whose name escapes me. The Raiders look to WIN and let the cards fall as they may, either as the AFC West Champs, a #6 seed Wild Card, or a team with a winning record for the first time since 2002, looking at those 1-2 games that kept them out of ‘the party.’

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves…let’s get that NINTH WIN OF THIS SEASON and work towards that Overdue Playoff appearance!! YAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH!! Go Raiders… let’s repulse and decimate this boarding party from the south, kicking their arses all the way back to San Angeles where they belong… Sing Out Raider Nation!! We need you there screaming until you’re hoarse without voices!! Silver and Black Mateys, Pirates, and Wenches all!!

12-20-11 8:58 pm pac                     

Photo Marfcio Jose Sanchez / AP                                                                                                      Megatron

With apologies (or actually respect) to Yogi Berra, the master of malapropism for today’s title.

There they were… the Oakland Raiders, clinging to a lead where a defensive stand was needed, as any opponent TD would win the game (well, to be fair, a TD coupled with a PAT, but we’ll get to that…)

Sound familiar? Well, it should, as the 2011 Raiders have been in this spot before… several times in fact. After Denver closed the opening Monday Night game to 3pts, the Raiders ran out the clock against the Broncos, winning 23-20 in a game that really wasn’t that close; in their next game, the Defense couldn’t hold on as the Bills scored 35 second half points with the Raider D unable to make that ‘vaunted stop’, this time losing by 3pts 38-35; in probably their most memorable clash this year, the week 5 tilt at Houston saw a 10-man Raider D (with a little help from above) garner a Michael Huff game-clinching INT in the end zone as the Raiders held on 25-20; the following week, Oakland’s D again held on and kept the Browns out of the end zone after they came within a score to tie the game as the Raiders won 24-17; against the Chargers, the D was again on the field as time expired, pulverizing Philip Rivers into a game-ending fumble to keep San Diego from tying in another 24-17 win; A 1-play last defensive stand and fumble recovery sealed the win against the Vikings, after Minnesota made an ‘interesting’ … errrr … heart palpitating game in the 27-21 Oakland victory; and finally, the D again on the field to end the game, the Raiders 25-20 win against the Bears saw an (almost) comeback engineered by Caleb Hanie – thank goodness his ‘Intentional Grounding’ on the game’s last play was due to his ignorance of the rule book.

Bottom Line: Playing with the lead, the D had held on and won six of seven games with the winning margin being a touchdown or less (the Jets win was a relative ‘laugher’ as a 10pt victory). So last Sunday’s game against the Lions again had the Captain’s Blood Pressure spiking the sphygmomanometer (yeah, look that one up gang!!); how could the Defense give up a game that they were winning by 13points?!?!? OMG, right? In a game that they pretty much dominated – minus a few bone-headed plays by the Defensive backfield, while additionally knowing that the Jets and Titans had lost with the Denver Tebows losing badly – how could they give up THIS GAME? A game needed to make their Playoff run more probable. That, Mateys and Wenches, is the question that all in the Raider Locker room will need to answer, if not in the next few weeks, throughout the course of OTAs and Training Camp 2012 to come.

So again, I ask Coach Jackson, a man that I’ve grown to really like and admire, and a Coach that I’m 100% behind during his rookie season, how can you not learn from your ‘déjà vu’ mistakes? Remember that Houston win, when Michael Huff and the spirit of Al Davis were there to grab the game winning interception and entice a dropped sure touchdown from the Houston fullback, respectively? I sure do… so when its late in the game, and you need to run out the clock and make sure your D doesn’t HAVE to be put in that untenable position of keeping that winning touchdown from ever happening, AND Michael Bush has battered the Lion Defense into submission… why on 3rd and 2 do you have Palmer throw a PASS down the right sideline towards Schilens (much like the Campbell pass to Moore in the Houston game that nearly came back to bite you in the ass)? The incompletion stops the clock and forces a punt, whereas the Bush run either makes it a first and “WIN” (or at the very least, a fourth-and- that-much-less-time-for-Stafford-before-the-punt…) I realize that the play was similar to the Murphy catch a few weeks ago that practically sealed the win against the Bears (yes, a great call when it works), but I’d rather go with the percentages of my ‘Power Back’ (or if you did want to be ‘cute,’ how about a QB rollout run/pass option… naaaaaaaaah… stick with Bush) and the Raiders win this game and are more likely to get that Playoff spot (4th seed or 6th seed – no matter).

To be fair, I agree with Coach Jackson when he said that the pass on the fourth down in the 1st QTR would’ve been a harsh blow to the Lions; I also agree that in the 1st QTR, you can possibly afford to be the ‘Riverboat Gambler’ Head Coach. However, in the long run, when you combine the missed Moore 4th down overthrown TD/drop; the Schilens late 4th QTR 3rd down gimmick pass; even the not going for the 2pt conversion following the Curry Fumble-recovery TD (which ultimately may have led to the same fate – losing by TWO, while it hopefully would have enabled you to be TIED in the end), added with the unlucky DHB fumble to end the 3rd QTR with no points on the board for your team… ANY ONE OF THOSE EVENTS, leading to one or more points, means either a VICTORY or at the very least, a TIED GAME… ((SIGH))

I’m still with you Coach, but I implore you to do all you can do to make sure  you have NOT lost that locker room!! You need to WIN THE LAST TWO… if not for the TEAM… for all of RAIDER NATION that has stood behind you during this season of injuries, hardships, and heartfelt losses… not just games, but people. IT CAN BE DONE… we’ll see on New Year’s Day if the Raider season lasts into January. If not, then we’ll know that looking back at a few of our losses (Bills / Lions in the forefront), we would’ve “missed it by thaaaaaaaaat much”…

12-15-11 3:53 pm pac 

Photo Tony Gonzales                                                                                                         "The Someday D"

Even after his death Raider Legend Al Davis' defensive strategies are being lauded and maligned.

The truth is, Davis' defensive design is still on display even though his philosophy is not.

Well at least not as much.

Defensive Coordinator Chuck Bresnahan began changing the defensive scheme right away and with the Offense clicking and putting up points, it seemed successful, but as atrition and the season wore on Bresnahan's defense was exposed.

Now the O could help out, eat the clock and put up points to defend but its really more about scheme right now.

No longer shackled by Davis' rigid and simplistic man heavy scheme Bresnahan has called more zone defenses and blitzes than Mr. Davis would've liked (or allowed) with less than stellar results.

Those who decried Davis' defensive approach as having stymied the Raiders may have the last word but it won't be this year or maybe not even the next.

No matter the scheme, the players currently occupying the roster were selected to run Davis' man coverage scheme and thats what they should be doing but no matter what type of defense is called Oakland will continue to falter unless they retrurn to something they did much earlier this year when they were winning. 

TALK TO EACH OTHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Same goes for the Offensive line. They even mentioned it themselves to the press earlier in the season. Line communication was great and responsible for better play.

How bout lets return to that?

Same needs to go for the D.

Too often defenders kind just of go "...uh, um, not sure will stand flat footed when the ball is snapped and try to read or hope the play is away from me!"

Cannot tell me, CANNOT, that many 1st round Draft picks on defense don't know how to play football.

Clearly there is immense talent being fielded by the Silver and Black but there has been a lack of focus, attention to detail, communication and ACCOUNTABILITY.

Each man does his job to his best, ADVANTAGE OAKLAND.

They're bigger, faster, stronger and when they execute, more often than not, they're going to win. 

When they don't, communicate, when they don't execute, they lose.

Its as simple as that.

Its as simple as Silver and Black.

Raider Fett

Merry Christmas!