As the title says, I fully expect the 2008 Raiders to be in the playoffs and win the SuperBowl. But I expect that every year, I'm a die hard FANactic. I expect the best and live with what we get. Which for the last 5 years has been the worst.
While I was looking at the pics from the current OTA in the premium section, I was glad to see the coaches looking like they were actually coaching and wanted to be in Oakland.
Then it hit me.
What if the season doesn't go as planned and...
Hey, Welcome to the BlackHeart Show with your host BLACKHEART. This show I will be interviewing a 49er fan about the Oakland Raiders and get an outside point of view on their views about the team we love even though I've said that I don't care what other fans think but thats where I got the idea from so I take it back since its cool in some cases to get an outside point of view instead of an in house one since the answers maybe more truthful then the inhouse answers if you know what I mean. These...
With Javon Walker and Drew Carter's, prior knee injuries and Ronald Curry's Achilles history, some are wondering if the Raiders can stay healthy enough to be a threat through the air in 08'.
Recent news from IBA's Jerry Mac reports the highly paid Walker was out performed by Carter at OTA's.
Not a major problem, but would be nice if he was in shape, though its pretty early and theirs alot of time before the seasons starts, but still, the report has some questioning Walker's signing already, and in turn, the viablility of the raiders receiving corps as a whole.
Are things as grim as doomsdayers predict?
Carter had an unspectacular but solid season with Carolina and in my opinion is a solid Z who may challenge for the Y slot.
Lets hope Javon can win the X spot he was paid for. He's a professional, and in my mind, its more of a mention than a red flag.
Its always an unknown when it comes to a particular players health (Curry had foot surgery recently), but I believe Kiffin and co. are fairly good at managing their resources.
Questions of health will remain a factor this season and beyond until they prove critics wrong, but the real "X" factor may be whether Oaklands stable of untested but seemingly gifted reserve receivers can step in and make plays if called upon.
The fruits of a trade with Baltimore for former 1st round draft pick CB Fabian Washington, Richmond Spider Arman Shields has the name to be a Pro football player and at 6-1, 195 lb has the size too.
He contributed 160 catches for 1,930 yds and hauled in 13 TD's.
But after a blazing season opener against Vanderbilt in which he caught 12 passes for 107 yds, he tore his PCL the next game and missed the rest of the year.
Despite the serious injury, the Richmond wide out drew scouts attention.
Reports state a local scout for the Eagles was "pissed" when evaluators swarmed the work out.
Arman wasn't as below the radar as some thought, especially considering a seemingly weak WR draft class.
Though injured most of last year, reports from a packed Pro day state he "killed" the competition in drills.
Of note to Raider fans familiar with Al Davis' love of speed, was one of Arman's 40 times.
Though he averaged 4.44 total he did mange to clock a blazing 4.38 and silence critics who felt his knee was a concern.
If he can stay healthy, he could be a sleeper in the years to come.
6-4,225 lb. Chaz Schillens was a Raider 7th round pick (So was Curry) in the 08' draft.
The former San Diego State Wide out played 39 games, caught 103 passes for 1,603 yds and 7 Tds.
He has the size and speed the Raiders want to exploit.
He's a long shot who'll have to work hard to make the team, but may end up a project player like Carter was in Carolina or, like Johnnie Morant for us a few years back.
Hopefully the former...
Out of the Northwest another big receiver, 6-3, 240 lb. Marcel Reece from the University of Washington. He didn't let the fact he was undrafted keep him from performing well enough to win a contract from Oakland on May 13th of this year.
From watching film, he seems like an above average straight line runner who makes good adjustments on the ball, but will need to work on routes and blocking if he expects to compete in Coach Kiffin's "West Coast Hybrid" .
And because I like to root for the locals and the under dog, I'll be watching closely to see how he progresses...
Though making appearances in all 16 regular season games his rookie year, former UTEP return star Johnnie Lee Higgins failed to distinguish himself in 07'.
With some new competition, especially on punt and kick returns, he'll have to do a much better job than last year if he hopes to advance.
At times he looked tentative and unsure.
He'll have to steel his nerves and study hard if he wants to contribute in 08'.
Though the Raiders have made moves in the draft and free agency this year and last, they'll likely need one or heaven forbid, more receivers to step up this year if they want to utilize their $60 million dollar QB and return Oakland to the dominant air threat they used to be....
I'm from Arkansas and I am now an offical Raiders fan because you drafted the best HB in all of college football, Darren McFadden. I've seen talk on here about his fumbles and I must say its nothing to worry about. All most all of his fumbles came when we were running the Wild Hog and he was in at QB taking the snap from shotgun or on kick off returns. The few he had while he was actually running the ball it was because he had 5 people on him and he would go down and 3 of those we're trying to knock...
As a common fan, sometimes you only see what the media shows you and unfortunately, you miss a lot of what goes on behind the scenes. Say what you will about the Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis, but I know for a fact that the past five-seasons bother him more then any fan! It's been a rough stretch, but I commend him on always trying to do what is best for the team. Regardless of his age, this man is still sharp as a tact!
Here's a man that sold part of the Raiders franchise this...
Folks, welcome to the first edition of Questions from the Easy Chair with Hitman and Attyla. We plan to post this blog every Friday throughout the season to give you our insights into the team we all love. Today, we introduce the first ever questions as we present:
Tales from the Easy Chair with Hitman and Attyla
Q: Considering our picks of Shields, Scott and Schillens in particular, could...
I have been covering the Raiders for an Independent Media Site for about three years now, and this is the time of year where it becomes hard work. Frankly, there is not much to write about. Once the season ended, the drama with Al and Lane broke out and there were more ways to slice and dice that than Martin Yan with a bell pepper. That drama gave way to free agency which gave way to the draft lead in. There are only so many ways to analyze the draft class before it becomes total tedium. ...
Why or how can a team expect to spend this much money on a select few players and then just let the rest collect the scraps? Granted, Al wanted a good (great) quarterback. When JaMarcus has been with the team long enough to learn their tendencies and such, he'll be awsome! But, until he's given the chance to learn, (a whole training camp would be a nice start) he's going to screw up. It's inevitable... Would anyone of you out there in internet space be able to do anything without being given...
I think that it's about time that the Nation got a descent coach. Someone with a hand on the new and upcoming plays and also someone that's at least been in football in the last few years (Sorry, Art Shell, but you pick for Offensive coordinator was simply that... Offensive!) I think that if Al just lets Lane do what he's paid to do, things will start to finally look upwards for the Silver and Black. Al is still old school and sometimes you can't have that in the 21st century NFL... I mean,...
2008. Ill tell you I am a fan, no need to proove for how long or how much, but just like every Raider fans, we all await the future. Ill tell you one difference i see myself doing. Now, more than ever, i find myself under complete control of the internet and anything Raider related. Salivating at every bold highlight post, rumor from other mouths, or news article that says anything about the Silver and Black. To be perfectly honest, I have not...
