SB Nation User Blog: Raider76

Greg Ellis signs with the Raiders

Raider76 — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:30:52 -0000

Greg Ellis signs with the Raiders

Raiders sign Bruce Gradkowski

Raider76 — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 21:33:52 -0000

According to Yahoo sports the Raiders claimed him off of waivers.

ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP)—The Oakland Raiders claimed quarterback Bruce Gradkowski off waivers from the Cleveland Browns.

Gradkowski spent his first two NFL seasons with Tampa Bay, starting 10 games as a rookie in 2006. He briefly played for St. Louis last year before joining the Browns, appearing in two games and starting the season finale against Pittsburgh.

Andrew Walter and Marques Tuiasosopo were the Raiders’ backups for former No. 1 draft pick JaMarcus Russell last season.

I for one am glad to have him because to be honest with you Andrew Walter and Tui posed no threat to taking over JaMarcus' job. This at least pushes him to concentrate because no he knowas there is a guy that can step in and take his place. I for one love a healthy competition.

2008 All-Pro Team

Raider76 — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:31:03 -0000

2008 All-Pro Team Voting

OFFENSE

Quarterback
Peyton Manning, Indianapolis, 28; Drew Brees, New Orleans, 10; Philip Rivers, San Diego, 9; Chad Pennington, Miami, 2; Kurt Warner, Arizona, 1.

y-Running Backs
Adrian Peterson, Minnesota, 45; Michael Turner, Atlanta, 40; DeAngelo Williams, Carolina, 13; Clinton Portis, Washington, 1.

Fullback
Le'Ron McClain, Baltimore, 38; Madison Hedgecock, NY Giants, 5; Mike Sellers, Washington, 4; Tony Richardson, NY Jets, 2; Ovie Mughelli, Atlanta, 1.

Tight End
Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City, 33; Jason Witten, Dallas, 14; Dallas Clark, Indianapolis, 2; Antonio Gates, San Diego, 1.

Wide Receivers
Andre Johnson, Houston, 45; Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona, 21; Steve Smith, Carolina, 16; Wes Welker, New England, 6; Anquan Boldin, Arizona, 5; Roddy White, Atlanta, 4; Brandon Marshall, Denver, 1; Randy Moss, New England, 1; Calvin Johnson, Detroit, 1.

Tackles
Jordan Gross, Carolina, 34; Michael Roos, Tennessee, 32; Ryan Clady, Denver, 14; David Stewart, Tennessee, 3; Walter Jones, Seattle, 3; Jason Peters, Buffalo, 3; David Diehl, NY Giants, 3; Joe Thomas, Cleveland, 3; Chris Samuels, Washington, 2; Jon Runyan, Philadelphia, 1; Levi Brown, Arizona, 1; Ryan Harris, Denver, 1.

Guards
Steve Hutchinson, Minnesota, 40; Chris Snee, NY Giants, 32; Kris Dielman, San Diego, 10; Alan Faneca, NY Jets, 7; Logan Mankins, New England, 4; Leonard Davis, Dallas, 2; Travelle Wharton, Carolina, 2; Harvey Dahl, Atlanta, 1; Ben Grubbs, Baltimore, 1; Justin Smiley, Miami, 1.

Center
Kevin Mawae, Tennessee, 25; Shaun O'Hara, NY Giants, 18; Nick Mangold, NY Jets, 3; Jeff Saturday, Indianapolis, 2; Casey Wiegmann, Denver, 1; Todd McClure, Atlanta, 1.

Placekicker
Stephen Gostkowski, New England, 28; John Carney, NY Giants, 13; Rob Bironas, Tennessee, 3; Jason Hanson, Detroit, 3; Phil Dawson, Cleveland, 2; Jason Elam, Atlanta, 1.

Kick Returner
Leon Washington, NY Jets, 19; Clifton Smith, Tampa Bay, 16; Leodis McKelvin, Buffalo, 4; Josh Cribbs, Cleveland, 4; Darren Sproles, San Diego, 2½; Johnnie Lee Higgins, Oakland, 1½; Roscoe Parrish, Buffalo, 1; Justin Miller, Oakland, 1; Reggie Bush, New Orleans, 1.

DEFENSE

Ends
Justin Tuck, NY Giants, 26; Jared Allen, Minnesota, 21; Julius Peppers, Carolina, 20; John Abraham, Atlanta, 17; Mario Williams, Houston, 8; Dwight Freeney, Indianapolis, 4; Aaron Smith, Pittsburgh, 2; DeMarcus Ware, Dallas, 1; Trent Cole, Philadelphia, 1.

Tackles
Albert Haynesworth, Tennessee, 49; Kevin Williams, Minnesota, 25; Kris Jenkins, NY Jets, 11; Haloti Ngata, Baltimore, 6; Jay Ratliff, Dallas, 3; Casey Hampton, Pittsburgh, 2; Shaun Rogers, Cleveland, 2; Pat Williams, Minnesota, 1; Fred Robbins, NY Giants, 1.

Outside Linebackers
DaMarcus Ware, Dallas, 45; James Harrison, Pittsburgh, 38; Joey Porter, Miami, 13; Terrell Suggs, Baltimore, 2; LaMarr Woodley, Pittsburgh 1; Derrick Brooks, Tampa Bay, 1.

y-Inside Linebacker
Ray Lewis, Baltimore, 39; Jon Beason, Carolina, 18; Patrick Willis, San Francisco, 17; James Farrior, Pittsburgh, 12; London Fletcher, Washington, 8; Barrett Ruud, Tampa Bay, 1; James Harrison, Pittsburgh, 1; Stewart Bradley, Philadelphia, 1; Bart Scott, Baltimore, 1; Jerod Mayo, New England, 1.

Cornerbacks
Nnamdi Asomugha, Oakland, 32; Cortland Finnegan, Tennessee, 31; Charles Woodson, Green Bay, 17; Antoine Winfield, Minnesota, 10; Asante Samuel, New England, 3; Darrelle Revis, NY Jets, 2; Champ Bailey, Denver, 1; Ronde Barber, Tampa Bay, 1; Corey Webster, NY Giants 1; Will Allen, Miami, 1; Terence Newman, Dallas, 1.

Safeties
Ed Reed, Baltimore, 50; Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh, 46; Adrian Wilson, Arizona, 2; Quintin Mikell, Philadelphia, 1; Nick Collins, Green Bay, 1.

Punter
Shane Lechler, Oakland, 25; Donnie Jones, St. Louis, 10; Jeff Feagles, NY Giants, 6; Sam Koch, Baltimore, 5; Mike Scifres, San Diego, 3; Brad Maynard, Chicago, 1.

x-one voter selected only one running back.

• y-one voter selected only one inside linebacker.

A Raider Christmas

Raider76 — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 16:02:30 -0000

Here is a Christmas Poem. Raiders style.

Twas the night before Chrismas

and all thru the Nation.

The Raiders where winning

and not on my Playstation.

The children were nestled in their Silver and Black beds.

With visions of McFadden running through their heads.

My girlfriend in her Pink Russell jersey and I in my cap

had just settled down for the post game wrap.

When out on the screen their rose such a clatter

I lept at the TV to see what was the matter.

I picked up the phone and dialed up the haters

and yelled at the top of my lungs RRRRAAAAAIIIIDDDDEEEERRRRSSSSS!

When what should my wondering eyes should appear

but an old man in a walker full of holiday cheer.

He seemed much happier especially after their last loss

I knew an an instant that it was the Boss!

The players they huddled as soon as he came

he wistled and shouted and called them by name.

Now Russell! Now McFadden!

Now Nnamdi and Morrison!

On Zach! On Fargas!

And thank god for you Henderson!

To Tampa Bay we are headed to ruin their season

Johnnie Lee do your dance you don't need a reason!

Big Al got back on his walker and went out of sight

Yelling Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!!

Merry Christmas to everyone at S & BP and have a safe holiday.

Don't Drink and drive! Cops are in full force this weekend!

AFC Pro Bowl Roster

Raider76 — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:19:39 -0000

Nnamdi and Lechler are named to the Pro Bowl. Lechler we knew was going to get in but i am glad Nnamdi finally got recognized. He should've been there last year.

AFC

Offense

Pos. Starter(s) Reserves

Quarterback Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Brett Favre, New York Jets
Jay Cutler, Denver

Running back Thomas Jones, New York Jets Chris Johnson, Tennessee
Ronnie Brown, Miami

Fullback Le'Ron McClain, Baltimore

Wide receiver Andre Johnson, Houston
Brandon Marshall, Denver Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis
Wes Welker, New England

Tight end Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City Antonio Gates, San Diego

Tackle Joe Thomas, Cleveland
Jason Peters, Buffalo Michael Roos, Tennessee

Guard Alan Faneca, New York Jets
Kris Dielman, San Diego Brian Waters, Kansas City

Center Kevin Mawae, Tennessee Nick Mangold, New York Jets

Defense

Pos. Starter(s) Reserves

Defensive end Mario Williams, Houston
Dwight Freeney, Indianapolis Robert Mathis, Indianapolis

Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, Tennessee
Kris Jenkins, New York Jets Shaun Rogers, Cleveland

Outside linebacker James Harrison, Pittsburgh
Joey Porter, Miami Terrell Suggs, Baltimore

Inside linebacker Ray Lewis, Baltimore James Farrior, Pittsburgh

Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, Oakland
Cortland Finnegan, Tennessee Darrelle Revis, New York Jets

Free safety Ed Reed, Baltimore

Strong safety Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh Chris Hope, Tennessee

Special teams

Pos. Starter(s) Reserves

Punter Shane Lechler, Oakland

Placekicker Stephen Gostkowski, New England

Kick returner Leon Washington, New York Jets

Special teamer Brendon Ayanbadejo, Baltimore

AFC
Offense
Pos.	Starter(s)	Reserves
Quarterback	Peyton Manning, Indianapolis	Brett Favre, New York Jets Jay Cutler, Denver
Running back	Thomas Jones, New York Jets	Chris Johnson, Tennessee Ronnie Brown, Miami
Fullback	Le'Ron McClain, Baltimore
Wide receiver	Andre Johnson, Houston Brandon Marshall, Denver	Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Wes Welker, New England
Tight end	Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City	Antonio Gates, San Diego
Tackle	Joe Thomas, Cleveland Jason Peters, Buffalo	Michael Roos, Tennessee
Guard	Alan Faneca, New York Jets Kris Dielman, San Diego	Brian Waters, Kansas City
Center	Kevin Mawae, Tennessee	Nick Mangold, New York Jets
Defense
Pos.	Starter(s)	Reserves
Defensive end	Mario Williams, Houston Dwight Freeney, Indianapolis	Robert Mathis, Indianapolis
Defensive tackle	Albert Haynesworth, Tennessee Kris Jenkins, New York Jets	Shaun Rogers, Cleveland
Outside linebacker	James Harrison, Pittsburgh Joey Porter, Miami	Terrell Suggs, Baltimore
Inside linebacker	Ray Lewis, Baltimore	James Farrior, Pittsburgh
Cornerback	Nnamdi Asomugha, Oakland Cortland Finnegan, Tennessee	Darrelle Revis, New York Jets
Free safety	Ed Reed, Baltimore
Strong safety	Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh	Chris Hope, Tennessee
Special teams
Pos.	Starter(s)	Reserves
Punter	Shane Lechler, Oakland
Placekicker	Stephen Gostkowski, New England
Kick returner	Leon Washington, New York Jets
Special teamer	Brendon Ayanbadejo, Baltimore

Another name to the list of potential coaches!

Raider76 — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 23:30:13 -0000

It is being reported on Profootballtalk that Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride is a possible name for the head coaching job here in Oakland.

On Sunday, ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported that Raiders owner Al Davis is interested in possibly hiring Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride to be the team’s next head coach.

Gilbride, who has spent nearly five full seasons with the Giants, worked as quarterback Eli Manning’s position coach for three seasons before taking over the offense.

And Gilbride fits the profile of a potential Raiders coach. The 57-year-old had one prior stint as an NFL head coach, losing 16 of 22 with the Chargers before being fired six games into the 1998 season. In the following ten years, his name has yet to percolate back to the short-list of head-coaching candidates — possibly due to his failure in San Diego and possibly because his name still triggers for many images of the fist to the face he took from Buddy Ryan when both were working for the Oilers in the earlt 1990s.

“He has no business coaching the pros,” Ryan later said about Gilbride. “He should be selling insurance. . . . He’s a wimp.”

Still, Gilbride has presided over the developed of Eli Manning, and Gilbride might provide the Raiders with the last, best chance at salvaging the career of JaMarcus Russell, the first overall pick in the 2007 draft, three years after Eli was the top selection.

Of course, if Gilbride were to take the job in Oakland, Davis might finally have to part ways with defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, whose father is Buddy Ryan.

Something in the back of my head keeps screaming NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Don't do it Al. I really hope this doesn't happen.

McCain a Raider Fan?

Raider76 — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 22:25:34 -0000

I normally don't like talking politics on a football blog but this article on Yahoo made me laugh.

A plane pulling a banner saying “McCain is a Raiders Fan” flew over Invesco Field on Sunday as fans gathered for the Denver Broncos’ game against the Miami Dolphins.

The liberal group ProgressNow hired the plane to link McCain to Denver’s archrival after hearing about the plans of John McCain supporters to hold a “hibachi tailgate” party in one of the stadium’s parking lots.

Here is the full link:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Accusation-John-McCain-is-a-gasp-Raiders-fan;_ylt=ApXhIvgIj_8DhSQ5gyucJjpDubYF?urn=nfl,119245

Thats enough politics for me. Go out and vote!

Justin Griffith out for the Season

Raider76 — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:30:57 -0000

Damn. Damn. Damn. Another blow to our running game. First we lose Oren O'neal our best blocking fullback, then McFadden gets turf toe and now we have lost Justin Griffith for the season. Here is the article taken from Yahoo Sports:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AqOY.oXpyimQ0HCyHLFTeq2R2bYF?slug=ap-nflbriefs&prov=ap&type=lgns

The bad news from the Oakland Raiders’ blowout loss at Baltimore carried over into Monday with the news that starting fullback Justin Griffith would need season-ending surgery on his knee.

Griffith tore the ACL in his right knee late in the third quarter of a 29-10 loss to the Ravens. He stayed in the game for a few plays and managed to score Oakland’s only touchdown on a 2-yard catch. He was hit hard by Ray Lewis on the play and knocked out of the game.

An MRI on Monday determined the severity of the injury. Oakland will place Griffith on injured reserve and look to sign another fullback.

“You lose a terrific person, a lot of leadership,” coach Tom Cable said. “He’s solid as a rock. He comes to work every day. He does things to the best of his ability every opportunity he gets. Someone who’s familiar with the system. You’re losing quite a bit there.”

The only healthy fullback on the roster is Luke Lawton, who has mostly played special teams after being brought in late in training camp when Oren O’Neal went down with a season-ending knee injury.

Lawton played in 11 games last season for the Colts at running back and on special teams. He had five rushes for 13 yards and four receptions for 29 yards, including a one-yard reception against Jacksonville on Dec. 2 for his lone career touchdown. Lawton also played four games for the New York Jets in 2005.

Cable said moving tailback Michael Bush to fullback, a position he worked at briefly in training camp, was an option, but that the team would probably have to bring someone in this week.

More Chaz Schilens!

Raider76 — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 20:14:37 -0000

In reading about our woes at the reciever position it looks like we might see more Chaz in the next couple of games. In this article found in Yahoo Sports talks about the changes we are going to see at WR.

Cable wouldn’t say exactly what other changes he might make but acknowledged rookie Chaz Schilens will be more active in the passing game. Schilens has only three catches for 38 yards, but the 6-foot-4, 225-pounder is the biggest receiver on Oakland’s roster and has shown the ability to get open deep.

“Schilens is going to be involved more this week, that’s one thing I’m prepared to say at this point,” Cable said. “What we’re going to try and do is play guys a little more continuously and maybe not so much in and out.”

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AiZ4MlghflKv1hExJtq3UCOR2bYF?slug=ap-raiders-receivers&prov=ap&type=lgns

I myself was excited because he played well in the preseason and has a tremendous upside. Our recievers have been a huge disappointment this year compounded with JaMarcus' accuracy problems(Lane was Right about our passing game). Too many dropped passes, lazy routes aren't helping out JaMarcus either. This should bring energy to our lifeless reciever corps.

Updated:

Per Jerry McDonald Schilens is starting over Ronald Curry:

Schilens, coach Tom Cable said, would start in place of Ronald Curry, who caught 117 passes the last two seasons but has been plagued by drops and inconsistency for all but about the first two weeks of training camp.

Javon Walker will continue to be the starter at split end.

“I’m excited. It’s like a dream,” Schilens said quietly, a smile splitting his face following practice. “I couldn’t tell you how excited I am.”

When told he didn’t sound that excited, Schilens said, “Trust me. Come Sunday, I’ll barely be able to contain myself. It’s a great opportunity.”

Schilens has three receptions for 38 yards through five games with no drops. At 6-foot-4, 225 pounds, he makes for an angular target for quarterback JaMarcus Russell, and he has shown no fear at making difficult catches in traffic over the middle.

When asked what attribute Schilens has he likes, Cable said, “I think his competitiveness for the football when it’s in the air. You look at a couple of the plays he’s made, some tough catches, having to get it in traffic, or having to get a high ball up in the air. Something that maybe wasn’t quite on target, he’s been able to go get those things out of the air, and the fact that he’s really starting to develop. And it shows every day at practice.”

Justin Fargas back on the field

Raider76 — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 23:25:00 -0000

I'm still a little bitter over everything that transpired last week but I'll get over it. It's time to forget and start talking about the players. Here are some notes from Jerry McDonalds blog:

Cable was pleased to see Justin Fargas back on the field as much for the potential of positive yardage as his positive influence.

Cable sees Fargas as part of the equation when the Raiders are attempting to get first downs and work the clock with a lead.

“In this system, we use the term ‘Gain a blade. Gain a blade of grass.’ Everything’s positive. Typically we don’t have but maybe one, two, maybe three at the most negative runs in a game,” Cable said. “If you look at the last couple, we’ve been at three, four five. (Justin) will go in there and get something positive and make the chains move, somehow, some way. And he really is a terrific finisher. He runs so violent it’s a great change-up with him and Darren and now Michael, it’s a good mix with all of them. But he can definitely, definitely make something positive happen at the end of a game.”

– Fargas said he wasn’t quite 100 percent, but expects to face the Saints Sunday in New Orleans.

“I feel pretty good. I’m going to keep rehabbing it, keep treating it, and get ready to go,” Fargas said.

– Darren McFadden was being held out as a precaution, not because of any sort of setback, Cable said.

“We probably could have done a little with him out there today but we thought, ‘Hey, why not? Let’s just rest it, be smart about it, give him a couple more days off it with tomorrow off and then we’ll go for it Wednesday,’ ” Cable said.

– Cornerback DeAngelo Hall, the only Raiders player who attended the press conference last week during which Al Davis detailed his reasons for firing coach Lane Kiffin, said the switch in coaches is nothing like what went on in Atlanta last season when Bobby Petrino bolted for Arkansas after 13 games.

“When Petrino packed up and left . . . it was hard to put the pieces back together,” Hall said. I don’t think Tom Cable has to do a whole lot in terms of getting us to win games. It’s just a matter of finishing games and not getting into back-and-forths in the newspaper with the owner. I’m sure he can definitely do that.”

Hall said he was having some work done at his home on the player’s day off, was going to work out anyway, and that he had “heard there was something going on, so I’m going to come on down. And I came on down, and the circus was on.”

His reaction? Hall said he was stunned so much has gone on between the owner and the coach, adding, “Maybe I was naive about it.”

Not suprisingly, Hall is standing behind the man who authorized $24.5 million in bonus money on a new contract when he was acquired from the Falcons.

“I definitely think this is still a great franchise,” Hall said. “This is Al’s baby. He treats it like a kid. He wants the best for it. He wants the best the same way I do for my children and I’m sure you guys
do with yours. You can hear the way he talks about the Oakland Raiders. It’s a passion of his. That passion is his life. You have to protect it and cherish what is yours. That’s what he did.”

– Hall said he would have no problem recruiting free agents to come play in Oakland, but inadvertantly touched on one of the problems with a franchise in which the head coach is not viewed as the absolute authority figure with regard to the on-field operation.

“Obviously there’s going to be a whole lot of stuff this offseason with trying to figure out who is going to be the head coach and all that all over again,” Hall said. “From the top down, I like it. We answer to Al. Al knows us personally.

“It’s nice when you have that personal relationship with the owner as opposed to trying to kiss up to every head coach who comes in. That’s when you probably have a problem. When you can sit down and talk to the owner about any problem, it makes it a little easier.”

– It remains to be seen how it will all play out Sunday, but Cable sounds as if he wants legitimate balance. Kiffin never fully trusted his passing game, and would occasionally throw the ball in clusters _ he called for six passes in eight plays early against the Bills _ before reining it back in.

“I don’t want to go out there and have drives where we threw it three times and we’re out or we ran it three times and we’re out. I don’t want that anymore,” Cable said. “I want to see balance. I want to see us take our shots down the field, and I want to see us get the lead, then I want us to turn it over to that backfield.”

– Tight end John Madsen was surprised to find himself back in a Raiders uniform. One week after being inactive for the first time since early in his rookie season, he was inactive against the Chiefs.

He was informed of his relief while getting dressed following the Friday practice as the Raiders were getitng ready to depart for Buffalo.

“I thought it was the end of my Raider career, actually,” Madsen said. “It kind of came out of the blue.”

Madsen said he had a workout with Baltimore and had another scheduled for this weekend in Cleveland.

– Ben Troupe, the tight end signed when Madsen was cut, could practice Wednesday, Cable said. Troup has practiced one time since Sept. 19, injuring his foot halfway through his first practice.

The Raiders continued to take it easy with cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha (elbow) safety Gibril Wilson (back), cornerback Stanford Routt (ankle) and are expecting all to go Wednesday.

– As good as second-year man Johnnie Lee Higgins has been, rookie Tyvon Branch will get some work returning kickoffs.

“That was the plan originally before the injury,” Cable said. “Johnnie’s done a terrific job but one thing that Branch is going to give us now, he’s going to give us some depth and he’s going to give us a chance to have two returners that we feel good about. He’s a super fast guy that will hit it and hit it quickly. So I think that’s a big bonus for us.”

Among kickoff return specialists with 15 or more returns, Higgins ranks six in the NFL with a 26.8 average and a long of 69 yards.

– Hall of Fame defensive end, Raider legend and Fox analyst Howie Long thinks Kiffin shouldn’t have been surprised regarding Davis’ level of involvement.

“I played there 13 years and 95% of the time Al Davis was a great owner,” Long said on Fox NFL Sunday. “It’s been 15 years since I’ve been part of the organization so I can’t speak to the day-to-day operations. But if you’re Lane Kiffin, you should know what you are getting into. He has access to a guy like Jon Gruden who coached there. Don’t be surprised when the owner who coached in the league and built three world championships gives input on a day-in-day-out basis on the goings on of the football team. Don’t be shocked by that.”