Tag Archives: Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis, the AFL pioneer who revolutionized professional football with his colorful and controversial style, has died according to the team. He was 82.
Davis was a huge proponent of the vertical passing game and was the author of two of the league’s most famous axioms: “Commitment to Excellence” and “Just win, baby.”
from the San Francisco Chronicle:
“Davis, elected in 1992 to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, also was a trailblazer. He hired the first black head coach of the modern era — Art Shell in 1988. He hired the first Latino coach, Tom Flores; and the first woman CEO, Amy Trask. And he was infallibly loyal to his players and officials: to be a Raider was to be a Raider for life.
Davis was one of the most important figures in NFL history. That was most evident during the 1980s when he fought in court — and won — for the right to move his team from Oakland to Los Angeles. Even after he moved them back to the Bay Area in 1995, he went to court, suing for $1.2 billion to establish that he still owned the rights to the L.A. market.
Until the decline of the Raiders into a perennial loser in the first decade of the 21st century he was a winner, the man who as a coach, then owner-general manager-de facto coach, established what he called “the team of the decades” based on another slogan: “commitment to excellence.” And the Raiders were excellent, winning three Super Bowls during the 1970s and 1980s and contending almost every other season — an organization filled with castoffs and troublemakers who turned into trouble for opponents.”
Tagged Al Davis, Oakland Raiders |
We just learned of the passing of one of the game’s most colorful and controversial players.
Jack Tatum , “The Assassin”, passed away of a heart attack today in an Oakland hospital.
Tatum was a All-Star defensive back at Ohio State in the late 1960′s and then a Pro-Bowler with the Oakland Raiders, making a name for himself by leveling receivers with vicious hits that would most likely get him banned in today’s NFL.
His fate will always be entwined with that of New England Patriots’ WR Darryl Stingley, who Tatum disabled with a hit during a preseason game in 1978.
Stingley would never walk again, paralyzed from the neck down, but “The Assassin” would also never be the same.
Former college teammate and Giants’ offensive lineman John Hicks...
“It was tough on him, too.” Hicks told reporters. ‘He wasn’t the same person after that. For years he was almost a recluse.”
Tatum would write several books, but never escape the tragic play involving Stingley. Over the years, he attempted mutliple times to meet with Stingley, but it never materialized. Stingley, who became an executive with the Patriots, died in 2007.
From the AP….
Tatum had said he tried to visit Stingley at an Oakland hospital
shortly after the collision but was turned away by Stingley’s family
members.“It’s not so much that Darryl doesn’t want to, but it’s
the people around him,” Tatum told the Oakland Tribune in 2004. “So we
haven’t been able to get through that. Every time we plan something, it
gets messed up. Getting to him or him getting back to me, it never
happens.”Part of the alienation came after Tatum wrote the 1980
book, “They Call Me Assassin,” in which he was unapologetic for his
headhunting ways.“I was paid to hit, the harder the better. And I hit, and I knocked
people down and knocked people out. … I understand why Darryl is
considered the victim. But I’ll never understand why some people look at
me as the villain.”
Jack Tatum was 61.
Tagged Jack Tatum, John Hicks, Oakland Raiders |
The Oakland Tribune ran a piece on Giants’ DE Dave Tollefson, whom the Giants signed off the Raiders’ practice squad in 2007……READ
Raiders’ QB JaMarcus Russell speaks out about allegations made by Boomer Esaison regarding his behavior……READ
The Raiders have loads of young, raw talent on their roster. One of the most prominent is rookie WR Louis Murphy. Here is an interview with the budding star, conducted by Kim Coyle of KPIX San Francisco.
Tagged Dave Tollefson, Oakland Raiders |
The 1-3 Oakland Raiders come to the Meadowlands to face the 4-0 New York Giants this Sunday. (CBS 1:00pm, WFAN 660 AM)
Overview
The Raiders have lost 11 or more games each of the past six seasons – an NFL record. This year they could be on their way to a seventh. After they leave New Jersey, their schedule is a daunting one that includes: the rest of the NFC East, the Jets, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, San Diego, Denver and Baltimore. In their current state, the Raiders would be lucky to win two of those games. They are ranked 32nd – last – in the NFL in total offense.
The Giants (4-0) are 26-10 in the regular season since 2007 (11-6 at home, 15-4 on the road). Their defense is ranked first overall in the league and they are #1 against the pass. WR Steve Smith is statistically the NFL’s top receiver. RBs Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw rank third and sixth respectively in rushing in the NFC.
When the Giants have the ball………
The big question is whether or not QB Eli Manning (heel) will play. If he can’t, it will be the first game he has not started since mid-2004, a mere 82 games ago. David Carr, an 8-year veteran with 79 NFL starts on his pelt, will get the start if Eli sits. If Eli can play, he will mostly hand off and throw only out of necessity.
The Giants have had some difficulty establishing the run, and Oakland has a respectable defensive line rotation, so this may get interesting. Last week against Houston, the defensive line had a great game statistically , led by DT Tommy Kelly with 13 tackles. Don’t forget, the Raiders have former New England Pro-Bowler Richard Seymour now, and former Cowboy DE Greg Ellis, who has four sacks. 
That aside, Giants’ talented and cohesive offensive line should be able to offset the Raiders in the trenches. The Raiders are 26th against the run and 11th against the pass, so the Giants will look to run first in this game. If by chance they cannot get anything going on the ground, they will need their receivers to outhustle the Raiders’ secondary, which is not an easy task.
All-Pro CB Nnamdi Asomugha is an imposing figure with great instincts and cover skills. His counterpart, Chris Johnson (pictured), is also a an excellent cover corner. The Giants’ young receivers may find themselves battling to get open. If David Carr is the QB instead of Eli, this also could get interesting.
Those CBs’ ability to cover the Giants receivers one-on-one will allow Oakland to stack the box and gang up up Jacobs. The Giants will have to counter with quick passes and screens to try to loosen them up and lure them out of position.
In the red zone, the Giants must begin to execute better, or they will be in a dogfight until the final gun. The possibility of using Bradshaw instead of Jacobs in short yardage situations is becoming more real by the week.
Plus, K Lawrence Tynes can’t miss any more easy field goals.
When Oakland has the ball…………
This is where the game gets tilted. Raider QB JaMarcus Russell was a project when he was drafted and to this day, he remains one. He has problems throwing outside the hashmarks, which means he keeps his passes in the middle of the field. Teams know this and the results have been ugly. Giants’ safeties Michael Johnson and C.C. Brown may be in for a big day.
He is big (6’6″, 260) and not very mobile. He has very little touch on his passes and usually aims them too high, leading to incompletions and interceptions. Russell is last among starters in the NFL in completion percentage (39.8), completions (43) and TD passes (1). This week, he’ll be rushed even more and won’t have the time to improve on those numbers.
Oakland’s top rusher, Darren McFadden, will miss the game with a knee injury. His carries will be split by Michael Bush and Justin Fargas. Bush is actually a better scrimmage runner than McFadden, so there’s really no drop off.
The starting wideouts are both rookies. Darrius Heyward-Bey, the team’s top selection in this year’s draft, has only two receptions thus far. Louis Murphy, the other rookie WR, has 11 for 172 yards. He is tied for the team lead with TE Zach Miller.
Miller suffered an concussion last week against Houston. The Raiders are bringing him 3000 miles to NJ in hope that he can play. They should ask the Mets and Ryan Church how that worked out for them….
Yesterday, we outlined the jostling of the Oakland offensive line. There are three players playing out of position. That’s not good if you plan on blocking the the Giants’ DL.
The oddmakers have made the 15.5 point favorites in this game. The reason? The Giants will convert turnovers into points and win the field position game. They also don’t think Oakland will score more than 10 points.
Neither do I.
Giants, 23, Raiders 3
Tagged Oakland Raiders |
Week Five has the 1-3 Oakland Raiders – a team that has been consistently getting it wrong – coming to the Meadowlands to play the 4-0 New York Giants – an organization that has been consistently getting it right.
The Raiders were once proud and prolific franchise that in past decades captured the hearts of rebels, renegades and castoffs all over the world. That was before the NFL became a structured business that leveled the playing field for all teams.
Since then, the Raiders have failed to modernize and change with the times, a practice that they got away with successfully in the past. Unfortunately for them, the 2009 version of the NFL is a highly-competitive environment that requires each team to operate under a cutting-edge business model, or suffer the consequences.
The Raiders and their owner, Al Davis, have refused to upgrade to that model and are now suffering the consequences.
Once upon a time. the motto of this franchise was “A Commitment to Excellence”. Now, there doesn’t seem to be much of a commitment to anything or anyone. Many fans and followers are questioning the direction of the organization and the competence of Davis as both owner and general manager.
The NFL is designed to assist poor-performing teams improve quickly by providing optimum placement in the amateur draft, a balanced schedule based on competition and a salary cap.
Since the Raiders appeared in the Super Bowl in January 2003, they have lost 75 of the 100 games they have played, never winning more than five games in a season and setting an NFL record with six consecutive seasons of 11 or more losses.
The Raiders have drafted poorly (based on Davis’ penchant for speedy players) and squandered a fortune on marginal and overrated free-agents. In addition, Davis has alienated every talented coach he has hired (five in the last seven years ot be exact), resulting in resignations or firings. The current head coach is Tom Cable, who has a long coaching resume, but is believed to be under the heavy hand of Davis. Cable, it is alleged, punched an assistant earlier this season, breaking his jaw. The case is still under investigation.
From a business standpoint, Davis has not capitalized on his unique brand in the fashion of other owners (such as Jerry Jones and Bob Kraft). The Raiders’ clandestine isolationism has actually diminished the brand, dropping them to the bottom rung of the NFL’s financial ladder. At last glance, the Raiders were the 28th most valuable franchise in the NFL. That’s out of thirty-two, for those of you who are counting.
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