What’s different between 06-07 and 08?

[pokeinrichmond]

Originally Posted by Worrier

JaMarc will struggle. The OLine will miss Simms. DL will be better w/o Sapp. DBackfield should be better w/o Huff. Yea, I'm going to say Huff sits when the real games start he's a nickle or dime back at best. Receivers are improved w/o Porter. RB is improved.

I don't agree with bringing McFadden along slowly. Let him return kicks, punts, we need a gamebreaker on the field. He's it.

We just signed another released LB from the ravens? He'll start.

This is a young team that will ride emotion. we will win or lose in streaks. 4-5 games at a time. Thats why McFadden has to return the opening kick off.

I'm always right.

If Michael Huff ends up to be a nickel or dime back at best then it will be another first round pick flushed right down the commode. He was suppose to have all this play making ability but he hasn't show it yet. He can't tackle. But he ran a great 40 time at the combine and had a some good years in college. So far Michael Huff has done nothing to justify being picked # 7 overall and if he doesn't do poop this year then he gets the same treatment I give Robert "Bob" Gallery. Bust. No more excuses.

[neverlooking]

Originally Posted by HITMAN

You hope [the line] they are decent to good. They haven't played as a unit and of all positions on the field the OL has to perform as a total unit, that doesn't happen in one off-season.

The point is that Cable essentially had the same players on the line last year, taught them a new system, and turned them from a laughing stock to one who provided the 6th best running game in the NFL, even though we had no QB to speak of.
Not only do I “hope” they’re good, it’s as good of a bet as there is on the team right now.

Originally Posted by HITMAN

[ Jamarcus is ] still technically a rookie, he will make rookie type mistakes regardless of his talent, and you fail to recognize that.

I fail???? LOL!
And you’re a mind reader who can’t read minds.
I know he’ll make mistakes, but based on last year’s performance without a pre-season, he’ll be 2x as good as McCown based on talent alone. If the running game improves due to McFadden, he could have a Rothlisberger type rookie season.

Originally Posted by HITMAN

You are banking that Walker is going to make it through the year healthy, that's an assumption you can't make in May, no one can, Lofton, may or may not be a good coach, but if your go to guy is injured it's really a moot point.

Ya think injuries affect a season? Ya think?
And maybe Tomlinson and Meriman and Rivers will elope and quit the NFL.
Come on, stick to the point.
Of course, Walker figures to be reasonably healthy, but he could go down. With Carter, Curry, McFadden, Miller, and Masden, there will be enough targets for JRuss.

Originally Posted by HITMAN

Assuming the Offensive Line can protect him, as I stated earlier it's going to take a while for this unit to gel, it's the nature of free agency this isn't like Raider teams of the past when the OL was in place for nearly a decade. This has been a major concern for sometime now even with Cable the pass blocking wasn't exceptional... 41 sacks is about 30 to many

It didn’t take last years unit much time to gel. They were down a billion % in sacks and up a billion % in running yards by week 4. In case you haven’t noticed, we’ll have 3 of 5 starters back, and the C is probably better and definitely healthier. We have a choice at LT, and Cable thinks that position is good. I’m believing Cable on this one as his credibility is better than the nervous Nellies.

Originally Posted by HITMAN

If you've read comments from Kiffin, McFadden is going to be worked slowly into the offense, he's not going to be expected to carry the load right out of the gate.

That’s not what he said. He said he won’t have McFadden doing too much, as N.O. tried to do with Reggie Bush.
No doubt McFadden will get 20 runs per game if he does well. There’s no reason anyone has come up with to think differently.
Actually, though, Kiffin already lined up DMac at HB, WR, and QB. He’ll have some trick plays.

Originally Posted by HITMAN

The Line was improved with a unit that pretty much was intact from the previous year, now you most likely will have two new starters, Cable is a solid coach, but you are assuming Harris is going to be a stud at LT, he's considered a bust at LT much like Gallery is.

There you go assuming again. I think whoever Cable puts at LT is going to be as good as Sims was, and I believe Cable/Knapp/Kiffin will compensate for whatever deficiency any lineman has.

Originally Posted by HITMAN

Yes, Walker is a deep threat, but as previously mentioned, you are assuming he's going to be healthy all year, that is certainly the hope of all fans, yet if he gets injured, there will be concerns.

You’re wrong again. I’m not assuming that.
I expect Walker will be a big part of winning several games, but I believe we’re deep enough on offense and solid enough on defense that losing him won’t kill the season.

Originally Posted by HITMAN

8 TD catches in 4 years isn't a lot of productivity, you are correct he's improving, but is he going to be the #2 guy? #3 guy? or #4 guy. You seem to have penciled him as the #2 guy and I'm more inclined to believe he'll be the 3rd or 4th option, so he's not going to be having monster numbers at least not the numbers you envision.

Where did you get that? I said he’s better than BMW, and that he’s been improving. He had his best season last year. Curry could be #2, or we could get a FA after June 1.
JRuss will have a lot of targets as the team sits right now:
Walker
Carter
Curry
Miller
Masden
McFadden
and Bush can catch.

Originally Posted by HITMAN

Yeah, so can a lot of backs in the NFL, If he's being utilized as a WR, then a WR is going to be getting less production, because you will be relying on McFadden more out of the backfield, nothing wrong with that, but I think your assumptions may be a bit premature until we see what Kiffin's philosophy is this year.

Huh?
If we’re that deep at WR, then why did you knock Carter?
McFadden provides depth, but the neat part is that he can line up at HB until the defense is set, and then go in motion and go deep.
If we’re short WR’s, Fargas and Bush can run while we line up McFadden at WR.

Originally Posted by HITMAN

Experience is always a key factor to the success of the team, but as I said, what will be [Miller’s] role? will he be a major key of the offense or will he be used more as a blocker with the addition of McFadden and Bush? Things change rather quickly in the NFL and a players role can change dramatically with the draft, free agency etc...

What? Miller’s roll will be similar to last year and will change from play to play from game to game depending on need. He figures to be better at blocking due to experience, and better at receiving because he has a real QB throwing to him.

Originally Posted by HITMAN

[More Talent than any team since 2002 ] That's your opinion, however there are still some unanswered questions going into this season. There is a surplus of untapped potential on this roster, it remains to be seen how talented they truly are.

Um, yeah that’s opinion. Based on looking at the roster.
I notice you didn’t show me a better roster (at least after Gannon went down in 2003).

Originally Posted by HITMAN

Established [running game], perhaps and McFadden will certainly make it a better part of the offense, but it all hinges on the success of the Offensive Line.

The offensive line that hasn’t changed much but sure looks more talented and healthier at C and younger and quicker at LT and hand picked by Cable.

Originally Posted by HITMAN

Hall is a solid player, but he's not 100% better than Routt, an upgrade, but not 100% better.

Then you put a number on it. I bet without checking stats he cuts the yardage thrown to last year’s #2 receiver by half, meaning if Hall gives up 500 yards, our #2 last year gave up 100% more, or 1000 yards. Of course, int’s and returns count for negative yardage, and I expect Hall will easily have 100% more TD’s than last years #2.

Originally Posted by HITMAN

Wilson is also an upgrade, but 100%, remains to be seen.

Wilson will limit yards after contact by the S by 500%. I might have exaggerated the improvement on some levels, but Wilson won’t be dragged 20 yards every week.

Originally Posted by HITMAN

[ Jamarcus will be ready, rookie or not - 50% upgrade over McCown - ] Ready in what way? He'll still be a rookie, and not many rookies other than Dan Marino came in and tore it up as rookies. Including Favre, Elway and some other great QB's.

To be a 50% improvement, Jamarcus only has to be adequate relative to his skills. Nobody had to cover McCown’s receivers past 25 yards. McCown played injured, too.
He had a QB rating of 69!!!!!! About average for his career. Jamarcus had a 91 on his final game.
The bottom line on QB’s is winning. He’ll easily win 50% more games than McCown. Easily win 100% more games than McCown.

[neverlooking]

Originally Posted by pokeinrichmond

You make some good points. But we have to crawl before we walk. We have to gel together and learn how to win as a team. Which the Raiders have not done since 2002.

Its sad to say but 5 games would be considered a improvement. Only won 4 last year. No matter how weak a schedule looks this the NFL. There is no such thing as a weak schedule or a easy win. 6-7 wins and I hate to say this because it hurts, but I would be happy and I would know they are building can can build off that. If they win 9-10 games I will mow Al Davis front and back yard for free with my own lawn mower.

We're on the same page.

We were crawling last year because we had an anchor on our QB's legs (McCown:injuries/weak arm, Pepp:gimpy/came late, JRuss: no pre-season).
We still beat Dungver and KC, and were close in a lot of losses. The improvents suggest we'll be much better out of the gate, much as the Lions were last year.

Sure, every NFL game is an adventure, but as it looks, the known quantities on this year's team are such an improvement, 6-7 wins looks easy.

It will take a lot of things to go right to win 9-10, but, barring disasters, it's doable.

Does Al paint his lawn silver and black after it's mowed? ;)

[neverlooking]

Originally Posted by Worrier

JaMarc will struggle. The OLine will miss Simms. DL will be better w/o Sapp. DBackfield should be better w/o Huff. Yea, I'm going to say Huff sits when the real games start he's a nickle or dime back at best. Receivers are improved w/o Porter. RB is improved.

I don't agree with bringing McFadden along slowly. Let him return kicks, punts, we need a gamebreaker on the field. He's it.

We just signed another released LB from the ravens? He'll start.

This is a young team that will ride emotion. we will win or lose in streaks. 4-5 games at a time. Thats why McFadden has to return the opening kick off.

I'm always right.

It'll be interesting to see how much Huff and Stu play, and where they play. I've been assuming Stu will be the primary sitter, but Huff doesn't tackle much better.
If Stu can start tackling using his Tony Gonzales hit, well, we'd all like that.
Still, with one of them on the bench, Wilson will make the secondary a place where you don't automatically get 20 yards after first contact.

McFadden won't be brought along slowly. He'll get a veteran's load of plays. He just won't be the QB in the red zone as much as he'd like

Hartwell will play if he's healthy. He and Kelly will be my biggest injury concerns.

[Locdog]

Originally Posted by HITMAN

Exactly, he's going to be brought along nice and slow, some people are thinking he's going to light it up... the kid is basically a rookie, yeah he'll have time to prepare, but not quite the same as coming into a game and throwing a few passes. He'll have to manage the clock, the game, make snap decisions the whole enchilada, and he's not going to grasp it all in an off-season...

yep yep, no way in hell is kiffin going to allow this guy to loose games for him...kiffin knows that the offense doesnt have to win games. he said it last year and again after the season....he wanted the defense to hold up and he wanted to run the ball in order to keep the dfense fresh and keep possesion time high while keeping the score low.

what davis did is he gave kiffin weapons that kiffin didnt have the year before. he gave him a #1 wide and a top tier running back. im still scratching my head about harris but ive heard tom cable wanted him or was it knapp im not sure anyways davis thinks he upgraded the LT spot too and for the raiders we live and die by davis's perception. he gave him plenty of wides to develop and he already had a tight end from last year.....so if i know davis like i think i dont then....kiffin doesnt have any excuses.

[HITMAN]

Originally Posted by Locdog

yep yep, no way in hell is kiffin going to allow this guy to loose games for him...kiffin knows that the offense doesnt have to win games. he said it last year and again after the season....he wanted the defense to hold up and he wanted to run the ball in order to keep the dfense fresh and keep possesion time high while keeping the score low.

what davis did is he gave kiffin weapons that kiffin didnt have the year before. he gave him a #1 wide and a top tier running back. im still scratching my head about harris but ive heard tom cable wanted him or was it knapp im not sure anyways davis thinks he upgraded the LT spot too and for the raiders we live and die by davis's perception. he gave him plenty of wides to develop and he already had a tight end from last year.....so if i know davis like i think i dont then....kiffin doesnt have any excuses.

There's a reason they ran the ball so often last year, besides having two QB's that didn't get it done, the offensive line is not that great at pass protection. When you give up 41 sacks that's still about 30 more than they should give up if they are an elite unit.

If they continue to improve the running stats and drop the sack totals by 20%, we might see a big step in wins, but this idea this team is going to just be off the cuff is unrealistic, talent or no talent, there are some glaring issues that in my opinion haven't been addressed and those that were addressed still are questionable because health factors into the equation. Signing players coming off of season ending injuries isn't always the wisest move, but we're going to find out if they pay dividends or become liabilities....

[neverlooking]

Originally Posted by HITMAN

There's a reason they ran the ball so often last year, besides having two QB's that didn't get it done, the offensive line is not that great at pass protection. When you give up 41 sacks that's still about 30 more than they should give up if they are an elite unit.
...

The pass protection was fine last year.
McCown had plenty of time last year.
He had a lot of coverage sacks because, as since Brown and Rice left, nobody got open, and he couldn't hit them when they were open.

There's a reason his QB rating is a lifetime 72. He was hired as a project and as insurance. He should never have been a starter for us.

This year, JRuss can hit them where they are, and we have a WR coach that is proven.

[RaiderVince]

nice write up homie...now thats what i'm talking about.