Lanyae Miller is from Fresno State. He was a College backup running back on a talented Fresno State squad. He ran a 4.43 in the forty and weighs in at 232lbs. Holy moly, Batman!

Miller is known for long runs and power and speed when backed up against the goal line. He's faster than Bush and also a younger man than Bush. He will come cheaper too. Miller is a shrewd pickup that hasn't gotten a lot of attention. But it seems that McKenzie is using his magic to load the team with depth. There is no reason why the Raiders can't provide depth behind their superstar lottery picks.

Continue reading this post »

According to the friend, Rolondo did not pull the gun, which is what the charges are. When you title your post "he did it" please be accurate. The charges are about the gun not about the fight. I can't believe the type of bull these people here are trying to pull.

The Raiders interior defense is garbage. Seymour is terrible and old. Henderson is old. Kelly is holding it down but they don't run in his direction.

And all the people asking why DHB wasn't a starter even though he was doing well. Three drops today already.

Poll

What's worse?

60%

news people lying

6 votes

40%

bloggers lying

4 votes

10 votes | Poll has closed

Was it just me or were the Miami linebackers on every one of the passes to the middle. While, the Raider linebackers were way off the ball. The issue when this happens is usually coaching. Man up and stick close or drop into a zone and wait for the receiver to come to you. Coaching and scheme.

Then in the Red Zone the Raiders linebackers get beat by a receiver. Hello? Can they matchup properly or what?

Lastly, we have some dinosaurs on the D-line which can't be fixed until next year. So, the when the Raiders fall behind it is very difficult to get anything going defensively. Good luck the rest of the year.

Right now, the Raiders have lost the speed dimension out of the backfield. There is very little surprise for the opposing defense.

Need I say more? It turns out yes I need to say 75 words to publish. But there is nothing left to say other than Seymour is great but seems to disappear in long stretches. Henderson is good in limited action. Bryant is filling in on the outside. And Tommy Kelly is just like Seymour, great at times but can disappear for long stretches. 

If the linebackers weren't so concerned with holes in the middle of the defense, they could pay more attention to those edge runs the Raiders keep giving up. 

Poll

Should the Raiders sign Albert H.

18%

Yes

27 votes

9%

Heck Yeah

14 votes

31%

Heck No

46 votes

18%

No

28 votes

22%

maybe

33 votes

148 votes | Poll has closed

FYI to everyone talking about how Hue has no faith in Boller. A particular Hater who will remain nameless is saying that since Hue didn't have faith in Boller to start, he should have never been a backup. That makes no sense to me. If a backup QB was good enough to be a regular starter, then he wouldn't be a backup in the first place. There are plenty of teams that need improvement in their starting QB. Do people really think that every team in the league has a backup QB that can be a regular starter? Backup QBs are just that backup. When a starter is injured for the long haul, teams look for a QB that they can either develop or simply work with until they can either trade, pickup a free agent, or regain the services of their regular starter. Or wait till next year.

Hue Jackson has made it very clear. The time in now! Why does he say that? Because the Raiders have one of the best running backs in the league. They have a great special teams. They have a decent defense. And they have good position players on offense. From O-line to FB the Raiders are ready to go. But most important is the running back. The Raiders don't want to waste McFadden's best years waiting for next year.

What the QB trade is an indication of, isn't that Hue didn't have faith in Boller. But that Jason Campbell wasn't that great. Rest assured, when Campbell is healthy, he will likely be trade bait the same way Palmer was. 

I will now be using Sacbee.com to avoid the local haters in the local papers. It is not so much the hate, but the logic that doesn't make sense. It seems to me that particular writers do it on purpose to piss us off. I don't need to be pissed, I prefer to chill.

I don't have much time so let me post this quote from Rex Ryan during a teleconference with local reporters.

“Believe me,” Ryan said, “the least concern I have is about our defense. I wouldn’t trade this defense for anybody’s in the league. I think our defense is really going to be outstanding. I challenge everybody to put your negative comments out there and we’ll see what happens at the end.”

 

I was at the game a few years ago when the Raiders got crushed by the Jets. The game immediately after the Raiders beat Philly. The opening offensive drive, after the Jets scored first, started inside the Raiders' own five yard line, a pass was called, fumble, Jets recover. I hope to "hear" everyone at the game this year. Redemption. Please feel free to help out by doing some advanced scouting of the Jets. I look forward to reading what you post.

 

BTW: I was trying to think about why the Raiders would still keep DHB apart from the obvious, then I remembered that Hagan was noted for speed and poor hands when he came out of college. I'm now pretty sure we'll keep DHB for at least one more year all the way to the first couple games next year. 

This message is for any Raiders fans in Long Island. I will probably be moving to Long Island NY at the end of summer. My fiance won't join me until December, so if I drive to the Raider game by myself it will be quite boring. So let me know if anyone is planning to head to the game from Long Island. I've got a car and would be down to drive to Buffalo to see the Raiders rock the Bills. Not to mention, let me know of any Raider friendly bars that will be showing Raider games.

 

 

So the train has left the station. About a third of the route (season) is complete and there is ample evidence to show that Jason Campbell is not the answer to the Raider’s and their fan’s woes. Let’s backtrack to preseason proclamation by some that the Raiders were on their way to their first winning season since 2002. For the Raiders to improve that significantly, they would have to overcome the excuse most often given for lackluster play at QB, offensive system changes.

 

Let’s first vet the excuse that learning a new offense is what keeps quarterbacks from performing at their best by comparing it with the idea that a quarterback's play improves as they gain experience. Is the experience a quarterback gains negated by their learning a new offense? The answer depends on the quarterback. Stats show that for Jason Campbell, knowing his teammates is more important than knowing the offense. With a new offense at Washington last year, Jason continued to show improvement by posting his best career stats with 3,618 yards, still well below the 4,000 yard mark pursued by elite quarterbacks. His other stats, such as tds (20) and wins (4) are nothing to write home about. Considering that David Carr posted 3,500 yards in his third year, Jason Campbell’s career as QB has been slightly better than a failure. As a Raider, Jason Campbell’s job gets more difficult, he would have to learn a new offense and learn how to play with the young receivers in Oakland. So far he hasn’t done either. As reported this weekend, he is still trying to learn the formations. That sounds like a job best performed in practice and not on the field in front of hungry fans starving for wins.

 

Statistics show that Jason Campbell has had a pro bowl tight end who reached 80 catches only once, and a wide receiver who reached 79 catches only once. Not only is Jason’s job pressure packed, but the fact is that Jason Campbell is not, has never been, and will never be an elite quarterback. Jason Campbell is an average quarterback at best who has come close to 4000 yards only once in his career. But look on the bright side, last week, after a college career and five years in the pros, he learned how to slide.

Here are some other stats to think about. Points per game and wins 2009: Redskins 16.6 4, Raiders 12.3 4. Points per game and wins 2008: Redskins 16.6 8, Raiders 16.4 5.

 

Dubzfan asks that I make the key stats more clear, so here goes:

Campbell's best year statistically, is 2009 with a new offense: This shows that Campbell improves as he gets to know the players around him. That is an indication that he is likely not to get close to his best numbers at Wash because he doesn't know the players around him in Oakland.

Campbell's best numbers are mediocre and don't translate to wins. 2009, his best  year statistically, 4 wins.

Campbell cannot elevate the players around him, his best receiver barely got 79 catches in Campbell's best year.

 

 

On the Defense:

 

As I’ve said before, the defensive secondary has been exposed. They have rebounded well recently, but the failure of the offense to score has left the defense tired late in games once again. If the Raiders can’t get the lead, the opponents will continue to wear down the Raiders with the run. No team can take a heavy pounding on the ground for a whole game.

 

On Cable:

 

I don’t fault Cable for supporting the defensive including the safeties. It is hard for him to blame the defense when they have been on the field so often and have had to deal with an offense that mostly scores field goals.

We cannot expect another change at head coach to be a solution. Everyone likes to suggest that the Raiders get a guru coach like Sean Payton or Shanahan, but look at the Steelers, I don’t even know what Tomlin’s specialty is. In fact, most coaches in the NFL are not considered gurus of the same caliber as Payton, yet there are plenty of Super Bowl wins across the coaching spectrum. When it comes to the NFL, the battle is won in the trenches as much as it is won by the quarterback. Cable continues to work on the offensive line and provide a stable leader for the team.

 

On the blog:

 

When we aren’t pleading for the Raiders to sign another experiment at quarterback, we are usually doing a good job of questioning, analyzing, and organizing. The reporter’s recent question to Cable regarding the heavy criticism towards the safeties is a direct result of conversation we have started.

 

With that said, I want to say “I told you so” to all the fans who called for Raiders to acquire Campbell last year. Campbell’s performance has been nothing short of atrocious. I find it curious that so many bloggers are currently calling for the Raiders to lure Vick. Another ill advised plan that may work on paper and on Madden, but will surely fail in action. Here is a list of the big and strong QBs the Raiders have put under center only to watch them fail miserably. Aaron Brooks, Jamarcus Russell, and now Jason Campbell. I have a suggestion. Let’s go for a quarterback that is proven passer, period. (It is more than fair to place the blame directly on AD for these picks)

 

Gradkowski broke all Montana’s high school records in Pennsylvania, and if he could stay healthy great, but lets add some depth. The point is that Gradkowski has shown that he is a passer who can put up numbers. Even though things haven't worked out for him in the pros, Bruce has done it before at some level. The same can't be said about the previously mentioned quarterbacks who have never ever shown that they can lead their team by passing effectively. 

 

The bright side:

 

There are other bright sides I could discuss. But let me jump into the Singletary discussion. I must admit that when the 49ers hired Singletary I was a little jealous. But after watching him on the sideline, I realize that he has no idea what he is doing. Did you notice his strut once the 49ers got the lead last week? After watching him I felt a little dirty. Then he began giving a lecture to Alex Smith who wasn’t listening. I have very little doubt that Singletary will be fired at the end of the year.

 

On the offensive line:

 

After watching the last few games, I’ve seen Jason Campbell stand there with enough time to throw with poor results. The line needs help from the receivers, quarterback, coordinator, and the running backs to be effective. How often will that occur? Not often. But we do know that the Raiders are working on it. Finally!!!

 

On the media:

 

When it comes to the Raiders’ future, the media lacks valuable insight and knowledge. Earlier this year, they wrote that new offensive coordinator Hugh Jackson was a guru hired to help Russell, but we found out that Jackson’s role was much broader than that. Then the local media repeatedly tried but ultimately failed to create a controversy between Cable and Jackson. Currently, they are trying to paint a negative image about Rolo so watch out.

In my heart of hearts, I wish Campbell improves significanlty, but his best game so far has been two touchdowns and a bailout by a San Diego offense that inexplicably tried to pass instead of run when they were in field goal range. I don't see teams making that mistake week after week, so with Campbell under center, expect the losses to pile up.

Poll

Did you ever have faith in Jason Campbell?

12%

Yes

15 votes

23%

No

28 votes

28%

I did have faith, but I've given up

35 votes

9%

I still have faith

11 votes

26%

I'm praying for a miracle every week, especially when Bruce is inactive

32 votes

121 votes | Poll has closed

I’ve said this before, we need to be an exceptional 12th man.

 

Let me give you an example of what I’m talking about.

 

Last week, I knew my services would be needed at the game, but unfortunately, I couldn’t make it to the game until the second half. I walked down to my seat. Looked around… silence. I didn’t care, I started at first by myself, yelling, screaming, and stomping my feet to help the defense out. There was a stop. YES. The crowd began to make noise, another stop, and then a first down. The crowd went silent. I continued to clap as the Texans neared the end zone before the 4thquarter until someone said, “hey, what are you, a Texan fan.” I said no, “I’m a Raider fan, where is all the noise, you guys are silent.” He responded, “you must have missed the first half.” True dat. But I’m sure I wasn’t the only die hard unwilling to give up.

 

 

Everyone is talking about giving up and the team being back on their heels.  We can help fire up the defense so that they can break out of their funk. Just as the 4thquarter got underway and the Raiders kept things close by scoring back, the crowd got fired with the help of the fanatics, one guy yelled, “hey, lets help them out.” The crowd got louder and the Raiders made stops and gave the offense a change to tie things up. But one chance wasn’t enough.

 

Yeah, sometimes it seems like a lost cause. But even then, I continue to yell and scream, hoping that a defender will take a bit of that motivation break free and clock the QB onto IR. That’s the least we can hope for.

 

So I ask all fellow Raider fans, and especially fellow silverandblack bloggers, don’t give up. Lead the yelling, screaming, stomping, clapping, and keep it up throughout the whole game, even after the awkward silence of an opponent’s score, don’t let it stop you. Ask the people around you to get up and do the same. The Raiders are going to need our help so lets do our part. We can make a difference. I’m not delusional, I know we are facing the league’s top offense this week, that’s what makes our efforts so much more needed.

 

 

There may be two reason why we should all show up on opening night in Oakland against the St. Louis Rams. The obvious reason is to root the Raiders to an opening night home win that the Raiders and us rabid fans were robbed of last year (Louis Murphy TD). As fans, we filled up the stadium last year in a valiant effort to demonstrate our support for a young team, that today, needs our help more than ever. Even with all the questions we have, whether it is the young rookie, or the veteran struggling, we can and should win home games. There is a big difference between a packed stadium and an empty stadium in Oakland. Last year’s loud and heavy crowd attending the Eagle’s game helped the Raiders rattle McNabb and resulted in the first of a few Raider upsets.

 

The second reason why RaiderNation should make itself heard once again, is that we are proud fans who can easily start the season with the ENERGY the Raiders lacked traveling to the East..An early morning adventure to the East coast that woke fans from a Sunday rest to find their team in early disarray. But this is home turf. RaiderNation has shaken and forgotten last year like George Atkinson forgot to say "excuse me" every time he clocked a receiver coming through the middle. We’ll keep it loud for as long as it takes Zack Miller to run eighty yards while dodging two Eagles and getting two additional blocks from Murphy on his way to a game winning touchdown. Let’s reignite the Raider passion at home and cheer while our defense tries to turn back the clock to the good old days.

Poll

What are you concerned about most?

5%

Give JC two to three games before panicking.

2 votes

70%

More concerned about offensive line right now.

28 votes

2%

More concerned about safety right now.

1 votes

22%

More concerned about safety and offensive line right now.

9 votes

40 votes | Poll has closed

Huff is doing exactly what Schweigert did to lose his job. Schweigert was brought in as a hard-hitting safety good in coverage. How safe can Huff's job be after his recent performances. Wasn't he supposed to be an upgrade in tackling coming from the run heavy Texas team.
Huff: I would give Huff no more than a year before he loses his starting role.
Stevie Brown: My first choice to replace Huff in the starting lineup would be Stevie Brown.
Mitchell: I would rotate Mitchell in during big sets and goal line.
Branch: I am happy with Branch because he seems to be the only decent player both against the run and pass. Another option would be to move Branch to FS immediately.

Poll

Who do you want at FS?

23%

Huff

55 votes

29%

Branch

70 votes

13%

Broiwn

33 votes

33%

Mitchell

80 votes

238 votes | Poll has closed

I think we all forget the difficulties we face in life and how they come to a head right about the time we leave college. The first part of life is a roller coaster ride; adolescence, high school, college, turning eighteen, then twenty one. Once in your early twenties things slow down and you can reflect on repeat mistakes. I think that is where Russell is today. I have read reports that Russell's mentor passed away early last year and he has had a lot to deal with. That doesn't mean that he is forgiven for holding the team hostage over 1 million guaranteed or that he is forgiven for his fumbling and interceptions. It only means that we may have yet to see the best Russell has to offer... so I agree with Saint on this one.

I regret the fact that we have to live through his growth, but not everyone comes from great upbringing like the Mannings and the Brady's of the world. Because of these reasons, I refrained from booing early in the season and early in games, but after Russell fumbled inside the five on the first drive against the Jets, the boos were flying out of my mouth without abandon.

Regarding Tom Cable. I wouldn't be surprised if he stayed or left. I would caution fans who take seriously the words of writers like Monty Poole who suggest nutty professors like Mike Leach or pose a choice between Russell or Cable. College task masters like Mike Leach have failed in the NFL over and over, just ask Nick Saban or Petrino. When the Mike Leach suggestion was made, it showed that Poole chooses not to think when doing his job. As Jerry McDonald mentioned, we have witnessed the fact that Al Davis doesn't care if people don't get along in his organization, so he could very well keep both Russell and Cable. Of course I don't know what will happen, however, neither do most of the beat reporters who follow the Raiders.

Lastly regarding the "Old Grizzled One". According to Bill Belichick, nfl teams do 95% of the same things today as they did 30 years ago. So it is more accurate to question Al Davis attitude rather than his knowledge. Considering what happened with Gannon this week or with Kiffin last year, or with Gruden, or Allen, handling issues with grace has yet to be impressed upon Al Davis. If Al Davis was a comedian his knock knock joke would go like this:

"Knock knock!"

"Who's there?"

"Go F*** yourself"

I respect where Al Davis is coming from, a narrow east coast back ally. I'm surprised that Gannon didn't see that one coming. But then again, he didn't see the Buccaneer's linebackers or safeties either. Gannon already received negative attention from the Raiders during the season, then he reports publicly that he is reaching out to Al Davis, Kiffin-itis must be going around. Reminder, when entering the Raider Nation, bring your worn leather jacket and a crow bar rather than you cashmere sweater. As always, I look forward the what the future brings. Knowing Al Davis and Raiders, there will be plenty of drama for us to discuss. Go Raiders!

On the final drive of the game yesterday, Gradkowski looked to both sides of the field. After the snap he looked deep and to the right, this kept the safeties at bay as he went to the left where there was single coverage or a check down. No need to double a lowsy reciever at that point. As he moved down the field, the defense closed toward DHB and the safety was there to snatch the tip. The Raiders made this adjustment after Gradkowski's first few drives.

Signs of a bad quarterback. All season, Russell has been getting receivers clocked. JLH keeps getting clocked on slants. Murphy has been clocked a few times. On short throws he's so slow that the defense closes in and makes the backs drop the check downs. RUSSELL IS EXPOSING RECEIVERS TO HITS.

Russell needs to take responsibility for building the chemistry at the BEGINING of the game. All season Russell has been erratic with throws that are either high, behind or low. He's so erratic at the begining of games that he get's everyone out of whack.

DHB needs to be catching footballs day and night.

Poll

Is Russell, the PLAYER most responsible for the Raider's offensive problems?

76%

YES

88 votes

23%

NO

27 votes

115 votes | Poll has closed

 

1. Does it seem from Cable's statement that he is now more concerned about the psyche and development of the whole team than the fact that Russell is the big money high pick qb?

 

2. I believe that Russell’s erratic accuracy at the beginning of the game ruins the passing games chemistry for the whole game, what do you think?

 

3. If teams don’t respect the Raider’s passing game with Russell it makes it that much harder to run the ball. It seems that Gradkowski could help the Raider’s run.

 

4. Is that what Gradkowski is alluding to when he says they shouldn’t have been in that position at the end of the game? He may be lobbying for the start, what do you think?

 

5. Lastly, if Cable has been forced to follow Al Davis’ directive on Russell so far, then doesn’t that give him a pass on the poor first half – so that he can save his job these next seven games?

Outside the lines video. The interviewees allege that Randy Hanson may not be the only victim of Raider's Coach Tom Cable's actions. This story has not gone away. Tom Calbe has karma coming back to bite him. These are questions that still haven't been answered.

 

There is now more evidence that Tom Calbe's judgement is in question. His leadership has not been as stellar as we would have hoped. The Raiders and Jamarcus Russell need the best leadership and judgement available especially with their young team but instead may be received mediocre leadership from the coaching staff.

Poll

Should Cable be fired?

32%

Now

30 votes

46%

At the end of the season

43 votes

21%

Give him an extension

20 votes

93 votes | Poll has closed

Please join me for a protest at Jamarcus Russell's home to voice our disgust with his play. Three years and he can't throw a simple check down pass. He can't throw to wide open receivers. He doesn't put in enough work throughout the week.

I'm totally disgusted. If he is not getting the picture, then we should bring it to his front door.

 

Tell your friends, everyone can participate in this protest.

Poll

How many people can and want to protest at JRussell's?

56%

Yes

119 votes

43%

No

91 votes

210 votes | Poll has closed