Can The Raiders Be Legit Contenders In Upcoming Years?

[McBurks]

I was just reading up on some Raiders football stuff and it came to me that Al Davis might not actually be senile. Is he building up his team so they can make a run in the playoffs for years to come?

Yes.I choose the Oakland Raiders as a legitamite team in the oming years.Why you ask?

[url="http://msn.foxsports.com/video/NFL?vid=9ea38b01-4bc0-49e5-996a-a6c75e23b02a"]http://msn.foxsports.com/video/NFL?vid=9ea...6a-a6c75e23b02a[/url]

I was watching a video on FoxSports and shows how the Raiders have an elite rushing trio in the back-field.

As most you guys know a lot of football commentators say you have to set up the run to set up the pass.While this logic is not always true,[see NE Patriots 2007] I do believe this will relieve some pressure off JaMarcus Russell.

I'm sure you guys remember what happened to the Bucs in the last game of the 2008 season,their run defense fell apart,due in part because of the rushing attack of Micheal Bush and Justin Fargas.Underrated players put up some big plays to help the Raiders win. Now if you watched the video they say Tom Cable and his running back are comfortable with each other seeing as he is a former Offensive lines coach and knows how to start the run.

What I am getting at is,if the Raiders can get the running game started in 2009 do you think they have a chance in the playoffs?They have a solid defense,no questioning that.

[neepo13]

They've got some great talent at the skill positions but games are won in the trench's. Frankly, the Raiders offensive and defensive lines scare no one. JaMarcus Russell might be the greatest QB that ever played in the NFL, I doubt it, but we'll never know it if he's laying on his back.

[TSizzle00]

Well Russel now has a decent running game and hopefully Hayward-bey turns out to be the playmaker they want him to be. The Raiders can do some damage but there D-line and O-line still need work.

[theFRANCHISE]

The problem with the Raiders is that Al Davis is using logic that worked in the NFL of the '70s and '80s -- NOT the present.

Sure, Al Davis was a genius back in the day for picking up Bo Jackson in the 7th round (after Bo refused to play for the Bucs the previous year), and was praised for unearthing John Madden...but, the same risks he took back in the day, aren't paying off anymore.

He assumed that he could find another John Madden in Art Shell (and once again, in Tom Cable). He thought he could easily replace Jon Gruden. And his infinite arrogance made him assume he could buy a team like the Dallas Cowboys did, by luring guys who were stars with other teams like Warren Sapp, Derrick Burgess, Javon Walker, DeAngelo Hall, and others; of that list, Burgess has arguably been the most successful with the Raiders, while Sapp had a decent run but was otherwise unspectacular.

Davis gave into the draft hype by taking a chance on JaMarcus Russell. Then he refused to pay Russell #1 Overall money (despite its obscene amount), despite knowing full well the ramifications of drafting a QB with that top pick. He allowed the holdout to continue into the season, and then assumed that Russell could thrive once he was inserted with only a few weeks' knowledge of the playbook late in the season.

Davis again gave into the draft hype and selected Darren McFadden, despite already having a 1000-yard rusher in Justin Fargas and a recovering (yet promising) Michael Bush, and let go of former starter LaMont Jordan (who performed well with the Pats the following season). And again, the draft hype consumed Davis when he took Darrius Heyward-Bey, who was projected by virtually no one to go 7th overall. And in the most befuddling move, Davis took an unknown, unheralded prospect in Michael Mitchell in the 2nd round -- a player who wasn't even invited to the combine and was slated to go undrafted by most prognosticators (or at least the ones who had HEARD of him).

Let's not even get into the embarassment of the Lane Kiffin debacle.

Long story short (and yes, that was a LONG story), Al Davis doesn't know what he's doing anymore. His football logic doesn't apply in today's NFL, and though Davis has always been one to buck the establishment, his rah-rah attitude about pissing off the NFL by being unconventional is now just plain stupid.

[neepo13]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' post='193018' date='May 15 2009, 08:49 PM']The problem with the Raiders is that Al Davis is using logic that worked in the NFL of the '70s and '80s -- NOT the present.

Sure, Al Davis was a genius back in the day for picking up Bo Jackson in the 7th round (after Bo refused to play for the Bucs the previous year), and was praised for unearthing John Madden...but, the same risks he took back in the day, aren't paying off anymore.

He assumed that he could find another John Madden in Art Shell (and once again, in Tom Cable). He thought he could easily replace Jon Gruden. And his infinite arrogance made him assume he could buy a team like the Dallas Cowboys did, by luring guys who were stars with other teams like Warren Sapp, Derrick Burgess, Javon Walker, DeAngelo Hall, and others; of that list, Burgess has arguably been the most successful with the Raiders, while Sapp had a decent run but was otherwise unspectacular.

Davis gave into the draft hype by taking a chance on JaMarcus Russell. Then he refused to pay Russell #1 Overall money (despite its obscene amount), despite knowing full well the ramifications of drafting a QB with that top pick. He allowed the holdout to continue into the season, and then assumed that Russell could thrive once he was inserted with only a few weeks' knowledge of the playbook late in the season.

Davis again gave into the draft hype and selected Darren McFadden, despite already having a 1000-yard rusher in Justin Fargas and a recovering (yet promising) Michael Bush, and let go of former starter LaMont Jordan (who performed well with the Pats the following season). And again, the draft hype consumed Davis when he took Darrius Heyward-Bey, who was projected by virtually no one to go 7th overall. And in the most befuddling move, Davis took an unknown, unheralded prospect in Michael Mitchell in the 2nd round -- a player who wasn't even invited to the combine and was slated to go undrafted by most prognosticators (or at least the ones who had HEARD of him).

Let's not even get into the embarassment of the Lane Kiffin debacle.

Long story short (and yes, that was a LONG story), Al Davis doesn't know what he's doing anymore. His football logic doesn't apply in today's NFL, and though Davis has always been one to buck the establishment, his rah-rah attitude about pissing off the NFL by being unconventional is now just plain stupid.[/quote]

Franny, I think Mr. Davis would take great offense to your accusations. DeAngelo Hall was Lane Kiffen's idea. I think Mr. Davis made that perfectly clear in his 30 minute press confrence after firing Kiffen.

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='neepo13' post='193047' date='May 15 2009, 11:27 PM']Franny, I think Mr. Davis would take great offense to your accusations. DeAngelo Hall was Lane Kiffen's idea. I think Mr. Davis made that perfectly clear in his 30 minute press confrence after firing Kiffen. [/quote]I also think that Mr. Davis would haunt me in my sleep because he's the second coming of The Cryptkeeper. But that's neither here nor there.

[img]http://i39.tinypic.com/otm8zs.jpg[/img]

[darklight1216]

Of course the Raiders can become legit contenders... so can the Lions.

[52Kia Kaha92]

i think the raiders made some nice moves this offseason and there team looks liek this

QB - Russell
FB - Neal
RB - McFadden/Bush/Fargas
WR - Darius Heyward Bey
WR - Javon Walker
WR - Chad Schilens
WR - Louis Murphy
TE - Zach Miller
LT - Mario Henderson
LG - Robert Gallery
C - Samson Satele
RG - Cooper Carlisle
RT - Khalif Barnes

LE - Derrick Burgess
NT - Gerard Warren
UT - Tommy Kelly
RE - Jay Richardson
LOLB - Thomas Howard
MLB - Frantz Joseph
ROLB - Kirk Morrison
CB - nnamdi Asomugha
FS - Michael Huff
SS - michael Mitchell
CB - Chris Johnson

Thats how i see there team looking and it looks pretty good IMO
They wont contend but they got Jamarcus a great young line to work behind and an amazing running game
A great TE and a good bunch of WR lead by the burner who J - Rock will love

They get a healthy Burgess back which will help the rush and they have a great group of corners and a hard hitting safety and a very good linebackin core. They have holes at FS, NT and WR and maybe LB but they are going in the right direction IMO

Playoffs in 2009 - doubtful
However they are going in the right dieraction IMO

[neepo13]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' post='193057' date='May 15 2009, 11:59 PM']I also think that Mr. Davis would haunt me in my sleep because he's the second coming of The Cryptkeeper. But that's neither here nor there.

[img]http://i39.tinypic.com/otm8zs.jpg[/img][/quote]

Great, now I am going to have nightmares. That show to this day scares me. Thanks a lot, Franny. I thought we were buddies.

[McBurks]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' post='193057' date='May 15 2009, 11:59 PM']I also think that Mr. Davis would haunt me in my sleep because he's the second coming of The Cryptkeeper. But that's neither here nor there.

[img]http://i39.tinypic.com/otm8zs.jpg[/img][/quote]

Oh lord,this guy has officially gone insane.What was he doing,trying to scare the cameraman?

[Devastat1on]

[quote name='52Kia Kaha92' post='193064' date='May 16 2009, 12:15 AM']LOLB - Thomas Howard
MLB - Frantz Joseph
ROLB - Kirk Morrison[/quote]

Frantz Joseph will NOT start at MLB for the Raiders.. Hes an undrafted free agent so what leads you to beleive he'll be starting there?

LOLB- Thomas Howard
MLB- Kirk Morrison
ROLB- Ricky Brown

Brown showed promise prior to his injury which knocked him out for the rest of the year after playing 7 Weeks.. His last few weeks he started to perform pretty well.. Frantz wont start and im 99% sure about that..

I still think the Raiders have a ways to go before they'll make the playoffs.. They still need some time plus a new owner..

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='Simba' post='193141' date='May 16 2009, 02:29 PM']Oh lord,this guy has officially gone insane.What was he doing,trying to scare the cameraman?[/quote]I like how he has scotch in a Raiders-branded glass in that picture. That's classy. And stereotypical of a rich, senile old man.

[BaltimoreBulldog]

Every year people get sucked in to believing the Raiders are a good team.

[McBurks]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' post='193181' date='May 16 2009, 04:06 PM']I like how he has scotch in a Raiders-branded glass in that picture. That's classy. And stereotypical of a rich, senile old man. [/quote]

That was scotch!? I thought it was rootbeer,I mean come on does he even have a liver anymore?

[Ravenglenn]

It's the AFC West, so anything is liable to happen any time. After all, if 8-8 wins the division,
Al always has a chance.

[darklight1216]

[quote name='Ravenglenn' post='193538' date='May 17 2009, 10:26 PM']It's the AFC West, so anything is liable to happen any time. After all, if 8-8 wins the division,
Al always has a chance.[/quote]
I hope no one else gets the division; who will take out the Colts for us if the Bolts aren't there?

[BloodRaven]

Not without an o-line or d-line they wont.

[Twoo]

They have the talent to be playoff contenders but Al Davis ruins everything he touches. I have the upmost respect for him as an owner but he needs to hire a GM, sit back and let the coaches he hired COACH the team. He's like Jerry Jones who has to have his hands in to everything and more times than not, it costs the team.

[Wacko4Zacko]

Oakland? Pfftt Oakland who?

[#1 D]

[quote name='Twoo' post='193621' date='May 18 2009, 09:51 AM']They have the talent to be playoff contenders but Al Davis ruins everything he touches. I have the upmost respect for him as an owner but he needs to hire a GM, sit back and let the coaches he hired COACH the team. He's like Jerry Jones who has to have his hands in to everything and more times than not, it costs the team.[/quote]

lol yea i think al davis is a bit too old to have his hands on like this...if, at least, he took more of a laissez-faire approach like, for example, Steve Bisciotti, then he could get some more success instead of nabbing the fastest timed players in the draft.

[McBurks]

[quote name='BloodRaven' post='193605' date='May 18 2009, 07:13 AM']Not without an o-line or d-line they wont.[/quote]

Derrick Burgess and Tommy Kelly?