Today, I decided to re-open an old idea, which is to have a trivia segment where you can answer the question, off the top of your head (No Google-Cheating), and then get the answers the next day.

1) Which team loaned the Raiders 400k in order to continue playing football? What was the owner's name?

2) What is the Current Value of the team?

3) Who is the Raider Fanchise Leader in Tackles? Sacks?

4) Who played the most seasons in an Oakland Raider Uniform?

5) How many Raiders have won the NFL MVP while playing for the organization? Names?

I was starting to write the second piece of the Aw-fence-ive First Half Break Down, when my mind began to be amused by the duality of the word that is spelled "O-F-F-E-N-S-I-V-E", so I turned to Dictionary.com for a closer look as the break down of the word.

Here is what I found:

The root of the word, "Offensive", begins with the Latin Word for "Us", Offens, then goes into the Latin word for "To Strike Against or  Displease" and then wraps up with the common "ive", or showing characteristics of being.

As it relates to our football team, I would have to say that, the word, aw-fensive, would be either, a team striking against another with the ball in our hands as a unit and showing those characteristics by consistently executing a game plan with success.

I don't think that the 2009 Raiders, on the surface, with zero regard to actual stats, are anywhere near resembling that definition.

Mentally, the leader of the unit, JaMarcus Russell has said that it is not his fault. He has failed to take his lumps with his squad and also failed to realize that without the "us" in the word, there is no "offens", only an "ive". Therefor they have no chance of being Aw-fensive.

No, the form of the word that this squad has resembled is the Us-Displease-Ive.

Consistently, this team has been booed by the displeased patrons at the Coliseum. From the play calling to the execution the entire way through the play, the uh-fensive side of the ball has been unpleasant and disagreeable to the senses (Another definition of the word).

Taking the O-Line out of it, let's see which of our Aw-fensive skill positions players stack up:

Aw-Fensive

Zach Miller, Justin Fargas, Michael Bush, Louis Murphy (Maybe, because he drops too many balls)

Uh-Fensive

Darren McFadden (Always being hurt is unpleasant to my senses), Darrius Heyward-Bey, Johnnie Lee Higgins, Todd Wadtkins, JaMarcus Russell

As a unit, this crew is so Uh-fensive that, they rank at or near the bottom in every Aw-fensive Category. So, Raider fans there is nowhere to go but UP and I really feel that by just trying to STRIKE AGAINST others, as a team, would be a HUGE step in the right direction, because, even if the numbers still lag, we couls at least call them Aw-fensive and be grammatically correct, which is one heckuva step in the right direction.

With the Bye Week upon us, I think we should take this time to reflect on the first half.Of course, with a 2-6 record there will be much to look at on the disappointing side, but, there will be a few things that we can look at on the positive side. Unfortunately NONE of those will be on the offensive side of the ball.

Regardless of what the players on the scoring side of the ball say, (Darrius Heyward-Bey from the CC Times, "I've been very solid") they have stunk, and they have stunk regularly.

As I pointed out last week, and many local columnists have also since, they are at a "Bed and Breakfast level" of scoring.

Coming into last week, they reached the Red Zone the least amount of any team in football, 9 times, 9 MEASLY times. That is two games worth for most, decent offenses, so that should put their futility into some perspective. They aren't even giving themselves a chance to score, thus, they only lead the hapless St. Louis Rams (9.6) in scoring and are tied with Cleveland at 9.8 points per game.

So, how have they arrived here? Let's start with the most glaring weakness, the receivers.

First off, they are starting two rookies that THINK they are World Beaters. I mean, just reference the DHB line above and then listen to Murphy talk about how, "They are a GREAT team", and you'll soon get the picture. In all fairness to the squad, the three receivers with the best hands have not found their ways onto the field yet this year.

Chaz and Miller should be back soon and the only reasonable explanation for Javon Walker not playing is the Marcus Allen treatment he MAY be receiving from AL Davis due to him having off-season surgery and doing it on his own without telling anyone.

The ONE bright spot in the entire receiving core is Zach Miller, without him, I shiver to think how poorly this team would play.

Zach has hauled in 28 passes for 421 yards. Murphy and Bey have combined for 21 catches for 306 yards. In fact, the entire wide receiving core has 28 catches for 373 yards. That is just downright terrible. Especially when you see that Johnnie Lee Higgins, last year's top wide-out has only 2 catches for 8 yards.

This really is disgusting and, I believe, is much worse than the time spent under Shell and Walsh, this team actually has talent on the offensive side of the ball and they are terrible. There is no excuse for NOT getting the ball to Johnnie Lee more and for sitting Javon Walker on the bench so that DHB can watch another perfectly thrown TD bounce off of his facemask.

What do you think of the Receiving core's perfromance, so far, Raider Nation?

This post was sponsored by Comcast Red Zone

Everyone knows how this game is supposed to end up, BUT, if the games always followed suit, there would be no need to play them.

So, now is the time for the Raiders to Answer the Bell, much as , according to Charlie Frye, JaMarcus Russell did at 6:30AM this past Wednesday. Heck, the 60 million dollar man probably woke up earlier than me that day!!  (Cue Gomer Pyle, "Surprise, Surprise!!!".)

It would not "Surprise" me at all to think that this is Tom Cable's last hurrah, if he doesn't get a win this week. 2-6 going into the break, with a last place scoring offense that you call the plays for and an owner with a quick fuse, well, you get the picture. If this team loves Cable as much as they say they do, they'd better leave it  ALL on the field.

Here is to hoping that, once again, this team does the unthinkable and beats a team that nobody picked them too.

So, raise a glass of whatever you are drinking, and, toast with me:

"Here is to the Good Times And Bad,

The happy times and sad,

And here is to Every Sunday,

Where the GOOD GUYS WEAR BLACK!!!"

RRAAAIIDDEERRSS!!!!!!

By now you know that Comcast Red Zone sponsors this article every week:

What you may not know is that the 2nd to last place in scoring team, Tampa Bay, is scoring 30% more points than the last place Oakland Raiders!

Here is another alarming stat: The San Diego Chargers, our Week 8 Opponent, have scored 56 Touchdowns while JaMarcus and his Merry Men have scored 12. This is over 4.5 times as many Touchdowns!!!

That is despicable and Tom Cable needs to hold himself culpable for this. He calls the plays that DON'T Score, so he wears the blame.

As far as the Red Zone scoring goes, the Raiders had their Red Zone trips last week, ahem, I mean TRIP, stopped as First Round Disappointment let a ball go threw his hands for a sure TD. Did I mention that this came with the game over and the Jets already booking their post flight dates!

Once again, this is inexcusable! Tom Cable abandons the run MUCH too soon and panics. He should know that this is a running team and he needs to run it like that. That is unless being Offensive Line Coach, Offensive Play Caller and Head Coach is too much for him!

The bottom line in this League is results, and Tom has shown Bed and Breakfast like results!

Quick Note to Tom Cable:

Sorry Tommy, I had to go there. The job you've done warrants it.

Now, get Javon Walker in the game and run the ball 2-1 this week. That is, twice as many times as you throw it. Do not abandon this and see what your defense can do, and allow JaMarcus to take his shots deep the few times a game that the defense sags and he reads it.

This entire Community thought that this was a running team for the past two years, and we hope that you begin to see this Too!

Here is a brief story that should give an inside look into the life and times of JaMarcus Russell.

A freind of mine was booing JaMarcus when his Bentley was passing him on the way out of YET ANOTHER disappointing JaMarcus Russell performance, when Russell put on the brakes and one of his "Posse" emerged from the car and exclaimed, "At least we eatin' while your ass is broke!"

First of all, I, nor my friend would want to EAT what he has to eat to ride in that car, and neither of us is broke.

I must add that I was not there and this story has been relayed to me. But, I think it speaks volumes about the mentality of JaMarcus. He doesn't care about his performance, as long as he gets his checks and feeds his "Dawgs" he is pleased.

Personally, I am DONE with him and I wish our organization was too.

I am DONE with the talent tease that is J-Bust. DONE!!!

Bring it Raider fans!!! This is YOUR SITE and this is OUR DAY!!!!

A win today makes us 3-4 with a showdown in San Diego next week!!!

OOOAAAKKLLAAANNDDDD!!!!!!

RRRAAAIIDDEERSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cue Jane's Addiction:

They make great PETS, they make great PETS, THEY M-A-K-E GREAT PETS!!!

P-E-T-S..PETS...PETS...PETS!!!

It's a good thing that I am not drinking today, because I can just see myself leaving the Coliseum acting like a 225 pound Perry Ferrell and singing that song until I lose my voice!!!

Today IS the Day Oakland!!! I've been saying that all season and truly, once again, TODAY IS THE DAY!!!

Today is the day to see if Richard Seymour is right, 4-4 going into the break would open some eyes in the League, and the Raiders need to TAKE CARE OF THEIR PETS today in order to have a chance at that.

The Raiders will need to stop the run in order to be effective and I am praying that Chaz will be able to go today: (Can someone please post the 45 man active rosters for today ASAP)

The Jets come in with a running game that is second in the NFL in Yards per game, with 163, and third in yards per attempt, with a gaudy 4.9 average.

I wonder if we will be run blitzing and if Mike Mitchell will be the choice at nickel?

I do expect much less of a passing blitz, unless it's third and 10 or more. And even then you have to keep someone, Branch in the middle to protect against the draw, and also someone home on the outsides to protect against the screens.

Both of these teams need a win BADLY today, so this one will be UGLY from the get-go.

GO GETTEM RAIDERS!!!!

(In case you missed Noontide's Excellent Breakdown, here it is)

As I have been doing this season, oops, before I continue I must tell you that this post is being brought to you by A Big Old Can of Whoop Ass, brought to you by the Silver and Black Mob Squad, where Branch, Seymour, Howard, Nnamdi and Morrison bring IT weekly, it is time to update some defensive numbers.

As you, who have been reading this Blog for more than a season, know, I look at a value of indicators and then compile them together to get a true Defensive Ranking. It is not an exact science, and I am open to suggestions to add to the matrix, but here it is:

Here is one EXAMPLE (Interceptions in relation to Scoring Offense):

I am compiling yards allowed, with points allowed and turnovers forced. The best score would be a three with the worst being a 96.

Here is where our Raiders rank:

In total Yards allowed: 26

Total Points Allowed: 25

Turnovers forced: 16

That is an aggregate of 77, and is a pretty indicator of a 2-4 team.

Now before you go crazy about the defense being terrible or it all being the offense's fault, you must lean heavily on the side that blasts the offense. Quite simply put, the Oakland Offense is historically bad. So Let's try this:

Average Per Rush: 20th

Average Per Pass: 10th

That is an average of 15th, which is fantastic for a defense who has seen the field more often than Clay Wood! (A Little Shout to the A's/Raider fans on the board)

Turnovers and sacks are a product of how many oppurtunities a defense gets, especially against the pass, so let's divide those by the number of opportunities:

The Raiders have seen the 16th most passing attempts in the League, and are 17th in interceptions and 6th in Sacks!!! That is VERY solid. In fact the Raider lead the NFL in sacks per pass attempt!!! THANK YOU JIM MARSHALL!!!

The Raiders have seen the 4th most rushing attempts and are 20th against the run in yards per attempt, that is pretty stout. IN comparison, the Cardinals see the least amount of rushing attempts and are ranked first.

Teams are running the ball against the Raiders because the offense cannot score, not because they have a terrible run defense.

So, as you can see, when you really look into the numbers this defense is a fantastic pass rushing defense that, IF, the offense can score some points, can, perhaps carry us to the Playoffs!!!

Today may be the day that we can get some picks and really improve our, Defensive Ranking!!!

GOOO RAIDERS!!!!!

Before I go any further with this, I do have to let you know that this is a sponsored post by Sprint, I also have to let you know that I am more than happy to do this because the Palm Pre allows me to follow all of the action of the game in the "Palm" of my hand and I LOVE IT!

In fact, this Sunday, I will be Live Blogging from the Jets game, on my PHONE!!!

If you haven't heard about their NFL Mobile Live function, here is how it works:

There is an NFL Icon that is preloaded on every Palm Pre. Once you click on that icon you can set it up to follow your favorite team, of course I picked the Niners...NOT!

You can then listen to any and all games while they are being played and get LIVE updates sent to your phone. I no longer have to wait for the scores to update to know how the Donkeys, Dolts or Chefs are doing. I can hear it LIVE while I am at the game. This function is SICK!!!!

The Pre does not have 85,000 apps, but the ones that they do have are by far the best. Even if this wasn't a sponsored post I would highly recommend getting the Palm Pre to EVERY NFL fan.