Bronx33
01-20-2008, 02:54 PM
Link
(http://mvn.com/nfl-raiders/2008/01/20/thoughts-from-the-other-side-a-chiefs-fan-take-on-the-oakland-raiders/)
Just to see what the other side thinks, I asked Ryan Brown of the Home of the Chiefs site here on MVN to give his assessment of the Oakland Raiders. As part of the deal you will be able to find my assessment of the Kansas City Chiefs posted on his site soon.
By Ryan Brown
Slumming it in Thoughts from the Dark Side
Patrick asked me to cross enemy lines and discuss what a division rival thought the Raiders’ biggest needs were this offseason. Please be aware of two things:
1.) I despise the Raiders - much like most Oakland fans hate the Chiefs. However, I will try to temper my feelings and be somewhat objective.
2.) I did absolutely no research on this. These are simply observations from a guy in Kansas City who has little intimate knowledge on the day-to-day goings on in the Raiders’ organization.
First and foremost, I am almost at a loss to figure out how the Oakland Raiders can be so consistently bad the last few years. I know there is such a thing as a Super Bowl hangover, but this is like a Super Bowl decapitation. I don’t the team has won more than five games since appearing in the 2002 Super Bowl - which, in this day and age of NFL free agency and parity, is amazing when you think about it.
I would venture to guess that the biggest problem starts at the top - owner Al Davis. While I’m certain that Al could do a starring role in “Weekend at Bernie’s 3″ as the title character, he still has enough influence to counter any possible success the Raiders could have. For God’s sake, the man hired Are Shell…twice! While the rest of the league was thanking Al for giving the fans a source of comedy for 16 games, I cannot imagine the hell that the Raiders’ fans had to endure watching Art all season. He looks like he can’t remember if he wiped himself when he came out of the bathroom, let alone break down a blitzing cover two defense.
I know that Davis like things to be his way, results be damned. Unfortunately, the only thing that the Raiders can take solace in that eventually Father Tim is going to catch Davis and hopefully the team will be placed into better hands. Right now, let’s address what the team can do to get better.
First - start JaMarcus Russell. I think that the Raiders actually did the smart thing last year by not playing him much. I’m not sure how intentional that move was, but it was the correct one. Give the guy a year to digest not only the playbook, but also life in the NFL. Now that he’s warmed up the car, it’s time to let him take it out of the garage. I think he’s going to produce at least one “WOW!” play a game, either with his arm, or when some blitzing safety bounces off of him. Hopefully it’s not Jarrad Page.
Second - give Justin Fargas the starting tailback position. As someone who considered naming his newborn baby “Fargas” after he led my team to a Fantasy Football Super Bowl appearance, I’m a big fan of this guy. He’s got the quickness, he has got breakaway speed, he can catch and he can get tough yards up the middle. Resign him immediately, throw Lamont Jordan into the Bay, and enjoy a tailback who can average 5.1 yards a carry. By the way, the wife shot down the idea of naming my kid after a football player. The only way I could do that is if we named him Tony Gonzalez Favre Brady Brown. That has a nice ring to it, actually.
Next, replenish the defensive line. I’m so glad that Warren Sapp retired - but mostly because I was tired of seeing him yapping on the sideline or on the field, even when he didn’t do anything. He’s my new Junior Seau - a guy I hate because he’s on camera for either piling on a tackle late, or because he’s talking to someone. Enjoy the television booth, Warren - you won’t be missed.
Keep working Zach Miller into the offense. As someone who has had the pleasure of watching the best tight end in the history of the NFL, I can confidently tell you that having a good tight end is a luxury most teams don’t have. The Raiders have an emerging star in Miller - he always seemed open when the Chiefs played against him.
You have a solid corps of receivers - most teams would love to have either Ronald Curry or Jerry Porter, and you have both. You do NOT need another top flight receiver like Chad Johnson, though. Might I remind you that Randy Moss played on your team for a few seasons…and how did that work? I know that Moss pretty much mailed in his entire time in Oakland, and may or may have been high 80% of the time. But the Raiders have other glaring needs that should be addressed before the go after another receiver. How many Super Bowls did a run-and-shoot team win?
Finally - keep some consistency on this team. For God’s sake, I honestly blanked when I was trying to think of the Raider’s coach. But as a casual fan, can you blame me? I thought Bill Callahan was still running the show. The turnover and change in Oakland has turned into a disease, and everyone is catching it. Without some consistency from the front office, the results on the field are going to devastatingly similar - poor play, too many penalties, and a top-five draft pick.
I enjoy the Raiders - when we beat them. Their fans are cute, too. It’s funny to see you guys all dressed up in your Darth Vader costumes and spiked shoulder pads, trying to convince yourselves that a 4-12 team is fun to watch. Al Davis has been a running source of jokes for a long time in my house - so I hope that continues forever.
Ryan Brown writes on the hated Kansas City Chiefs here on MVN.com. Please send any and all hate mail over to the Home of the Chiefs, they deserve it.
(http://mvn.com/nfl-raiders/2008/01/20/thoughts-from-the-other-side-a-chiefs-fan-take-on-the-oakland-raiders/)
Just to see what the other side thinks, I asked Ryan Brown of the Home of the Chiefs site here on MVN to give his assessment of the Oakland Raiders. As part of the deal you will be able to find my assessment of the Kansas City Chiefs posted on his site soon.
By Ryan Brown
Slumming it in Thoughts from the Dark Side
Patrick asked me to cross enemy lines and discuss what a division rival thought the Raiders’ biggest needs were this offseason. Please be aware of two things:
1.) I despise the Raiders - much like most Oakland fans hate the Chiefs. However, I will try to temper my feelings and be somewhat objective.
2.) I did absolutely no research on this. These are simply observations from a guy in Kansas City who has little intimate knowledge on the day-to-day goings on in the Raiders’ organization.
First and foremost, I am almost at a loss to figure out how the Oakland Raiders can be so consistently bad the last few years. I know there is such a thing as a Super Bowl hangover, but this is like a Super Bowl decapitation. I don’t the team has won more than five games since appearing in the 2002 Super Bowl - which, in this day and age of NFL free agency and parity, is amazing when you think about it.
I would venture to guess that the biggest problem starts at the top - owner Al Davis. While I’m certain that Al could do a starring role in “Weekend at Bernie’s 3″ as the title character, he still has enough influence to counter any possible success the Raiders could have. For God’s sake, the man hired Are Shell…twice! While the rest of the league was thanking Al for giving the fans a source of comedy for 16 games, I cannot imagine the hell that the Raiders’ fans had to endure watching Art all season. He looks like he can’t remember if he wiped himself when he came out of the bathroom, let alone break down a blitzing cover two defense.
I know that Davis like things to be his way, results be damned. Unfortunately, the only thing that the Raiders can take solace in that eventually Father Tim is going to catch Davis and hopefully the team will be placed into better hands. Right now, let’s address what the team can do to get better.
First - start JaMarcus Russell. I think that the Raiders actually did the smart thing last year by not playing him much. I’m not sure how intentional that move was, but it was the correct one. Give the guy a year to digest not only the playbook, but also life in the NFL. Now that he’s warmed up the car, it’s time to let him take it out of the garage. I think he’s going to produce at least one “WOW!” play a game, either with his arm, or when some blitzing safety bounces off of him. Hopefully it’s not Jarrad Page.
Second - give Justin Fargas the starting tailback position. As someone who considered naming his newborn baby “Fargas” after he led my team to a Fantasy Football Super Bowl appearance, I’m a big fan of this guy. He’s got the quickness, he has got breakaway speed, he can catch and he can get tough yards up the middle. Resign him immediately, throw Lamont Jordan into the Bay, and enjoy a tailback who can average 5.1 yards a carry. By the way, the wife shot down the idea of naming my kid after a football player. The only way I could do that is if we named him Tony Gonzalez Favre Brady Brown. That has a nice ring to it, actually.
Next, replenish the defensive line. I’m so glad that Warren Sapp retired - but mostly because I was tired of seeing him yapping on the sideline or on the field, even when he didn’t do anything. He’s my new Junior Seau - a guy I hate because he’s on camera for either piling on a tackle late, or because he’s talking to someone. Enjoy the television booth, Warren - you won’t be missed.
Keep working Zach Miller into the offense. As someone who has had the pleasure of watching the best tight end in the history of the NFL, I can confidently tell you that having a good tight end is a luxury most teams don’t have. The Raiders have an emerging star in Miller - he always seemed open when the Chiefs played against him.
You have a solid corps of receivers - most teams would love to have either Ronald Curry or Jerry Porter, and you have both. You do NOT need another top flight receiver like Chad Johnson, though. Might I remind you that Randy Moss played on your team for a few seasons…and how did that work? I know that Moss pretty much mailed in his entire time in Oakland, and may or may have been high 80% of the time. But the Raiders have other glaring needs that should be addressed before the go after another receiver. How many Super Bowls did a run-and-shoot team win?
Finally - keep some consistency on this team. For God’s sake, I honestly blanked when I was trying to think of the Raider’s coach. But as a casual fan, can you blame me? I thought Bill Callahan was still running the show. The turnover and change in Oakland has turned into a disease, and everyone is catching it. Without some consistency from the front office, the results on the field are going to devastatingly similar - poor play, too many penalties, and a top-five draft pick.
I enjoy the Raiders - when we beat them. Their fans are cute, too. It’s funny to see you guys all dressed up in your Darth Vader costumes and spiked shoulder pads, trying to convince yourselves that a 4-12 team is fun to watch. Al Davis has been a running source of jokes for a long time in my house - so I hope that continues forever.
Ryan Brown writes on the hated Kansas City Chiefs here on MVN.com. Please send any and all hate mail over to the Home of the Chiefs, they deserve it.