The offense didn’t look much better than the 2009 version, but a new QB needs time with a new system and receivers.  I’m optimistic things will improve.  The two things that stuck out was that the WR corps needs a veteran (Terrell Owens might have been a good signing) and the center position is weak.  Satele is no Samson – he was run over and through at least a couple of times.  Maybe Veldheer will be moved up from 2nd team.  DHB had one pass thrown his way and it was broken up because he didn’t go get the ball – sound familiar?

Defense, especially against the run, looked much improved, but I need to see more to get too excited about it.

The game was not very well played, but the hardest part about sitting through a preseason game where the starters only play about a quarter, is sitting through a preseason game against Dallas with their homer announcing team.  NFL Network used to do half the game with each team’s announcers, but I guess the rules are different when Dallas is playing.  I didn’t think it was possible to be worse than the Redskin announcers in terms of shameless rooting for the local team, but these Dallas guys easily surpass them.  I mean, they didn’t even have the courtesy to give us the Raider starters’ names.  That’s plain rude.  The most attention they gave the Raiders was when they mocked them for their “Team of the Decades” motto, the many underachieving first round draft picks on the roster, the Jamarcus Russell debacle, or when they committed a penalty.  The typical “there go the Raiders again” spiel.

They win their first playoff game in about 15 years and their fairly recent mediocrity is forgotten, while no one seems to remember the Raiders’ 2003 Super Bowl appearance, the infamous tuck call that robbed them of a Super Bowl the year before, and Tony Siragusa’s pancake tackle on Rich Gannon in the 2000 AFC Championship game.

Evidently, this Dallas team has no weaknesses and it’s just a foregone conclusion that they’ll be in the Super Bowl in 2011….a handful of players that they’ll cut will end up starting for other teams.  Blah, blah blah.  Almost as bad as the Patriots and their fans in the media.

Back to the Silver and Black – I liked what  I saw with Michael Bennett, but I also like Rock Cartwright’s versatility.  Hope they are able to keep both.  Yamon Figures looked best among the WRs and he can return punts, so JLH might be sent packing.  It’s early, so we’ll see.  The offense and Jason Campbell must improve though.  I’m confident they will, but WRs and the OL could use help.

The Raiders should just cut their losses along with Jamarcus Russell. But it really is hard to believe that’ll happen after what Davis said (and displayed on the infamous overhead projector).  After all, it would basically be admitting “Lance” was right about Russell.

Here’s what I see happening – Russell gets talked into renegotiating his contract with a deep pay cut or incentives.  He has to have an agent that’ll tell him it’s better than not and risk being cut.  After all, what team would want him at anything more than the league minimum?

They may call the Raiders’ bluff though, and decline to renegotiate.  In that case, it will be interesting to see if the Raiders have the cojones to cut him as they should.

And all this will have to happen fast as the risk of him getting injured in training camp is too high.

It’s just a really sad situation for Raider fans.  I wanted WR Calvin Johnson when Russell was selected, but I was optimistic after hearing many, including Mel “The Hair” Kiper, rave about his skills.  We all hoped he would be the team’s saviour.

If the draft picks of the last several years and the mad money thrown at mediocre players the last several years weren’t proof enough, the way the Raider management is reacting to Rich Gannon’s offer of help for their mega-bust of a QB is the clincher.

This post on the Silver and Black Report outlines the situation very well.

The Raiders are acting like children, led by that buffoonish John Herrerra.

The Raiders responded to Gannon’s offer through team executive and John Herrera.  From the Oakland Tribune:

“It’s Rich that needs the help,” Raiders senior executive John Herrera said. “When he goes on a radio show offering Mr. Davis help, Tom Cable help, the Raiders help, maybe it’s Rich that needs the help.”

What the hell does that even mean?  That doesn’t even fit as a response.  It’s like in Dodgeball when Ben Stiller’s character responds with “touche” at a completely inappropriate time.  Sounds like John Herrera basically just said, “I know you are, but what am I?” or “I’m not a towel, you’re a towel.”  Are they trying to say he’s desperate for work? (read more at Bleacher Report….)

I have totally lost faith in this organization.  Things will not change unless Davis relinquishes power, hires a General Manager and that GM hires a competent coach with power to hire his own staff and select his own players.  Sadly, that might not happen until the old man passes away.  John Madden has even stated that it must be done.  I wonder if he’s been banished from Raider headquarters as well?

Remember when the Raiders were successful?  They were led by GMs or senior executives named Al LoCasale, Ron Wolf, and Bruce Allen.  Coincidence?  I think not.  Al’s Wingman has a good review of those eras and how the Raiders should have handled the Gannon offer (Hint: with professionalism).  Wolf turned Green Bay around and you just watch how Allen turns the Redskin franchise around.

The news that Russell skipped the final team meeting for “personal reasons” which was later discovered to be a trip to Las Vegas is yet another sign that this guy is a loser and a bust.  Now, the team (Herrerra) says he went with the permission of the team and with a team official.  So, that makes it right?  That’s a further indictment on the Raider management.

I can’t wait to see what gem they choose at #8 in the 2010 draft.

Meanwhile, “Lance” Kiffin is having a hearty laugh at all this.

On the one hand, kudos for him for finally talking to the media after his benching.  But you know what JaMarcus?  Maybe you should just not talk.  You just don’t get it.

The transcript of Russell’s Q&A with reporters reads like a high school drop out.  Doesn’t say much for an LSU education.

Worse than that, he basically throws his teammates (wide receivers mostly) under the bus for supposedly playing better for Gradkowski than him.  He’s still in total denial about his  poor performance, poor preparation, and poor leadership.

This is from Jerry McDonald’s blog:

On one hand, Russell seemed humbled by the demotion and determined to be the starting quarterback in the future, while at the same time seeming to either disagree or be in denial about his weight, work ethic and dedication issues which have plagued him since the start of training camp.

It was as if receivers and the players surrounding him magically began playing better when Gradkowski took over and it was simply bad luck they hadn’t done it for him.

His reply to the question of whether he’s talked to Al Davis is nonsensical.

He needs to listen to what his teammates are saying about Gradkowski.

He needs to watch Gradkowski prepare and watch how he motivates and leads the offense.

He needs to work harder in the gym and shed 30 pounds.

He needs to do a lot and I’m not holding out hope, frankly.

13!

I never thought I’d see the team so bad and for so long. Post-game comments included these gems:

“I did a pretty good job,” Russell told reporters.

“I thought he did some really good things that way today,” Cable said. “Very much seemed to be in control today. A couple of throws hed probably like to have over again but for the most part he gave us a chance to win today and that’s what you ask your quarterback to do.”

That’s what it has come to in Raiderville. That’s how low the bar has been set for a number one overall draft pick that’s supposed to lead this team. The most pathetic thing is that these comments came after he threw for a whopping 109 yards passing (81 net yards). The longest pass play went for 15 yards. He had one bad interception where he said “it didn’t hurt too much”. I guess he forgot that it led to a San Diego touchdown or he just missed that while he rested his fat ass on the bench in his ski cap. He was lucky that at least one more wasn’t intercepted and that he didn’t lose his fumble.

The season is half over.  JaMarcus Russell has 2 touchdown passes.

Two touchdown passes in eight games.  I would be willing to bet that just about every other starting QB in the league has two in a quarter.

I didn’t think it was possible, but this inept offense is on pace to be worse than the infamous Tom Walsh B&B offense.

This team is maddening to watch.  They’re not even entertaining.  The QB is horrible.  The WRs can’t get open and when they do, they can’t catch.  The return game is non-existent.  The defense folds when they need a stop and they allow way too many third down conversions.

The defense still cannot stop the run.  Tomlinson is officially over the hill, but has all three of his TDs against the Raiders this year.

I generally like the speedy, active linebackers (Howard and Morrison), but they cannot fill a gap to save their lives.  The Raiders need a stout, strong linebacker like Brian Cushing that can fill a hole, shed blockers, and tackle well.

Chris Chambers is a veteran WR who was just released and who could instantly help the Raiders (if Russell can get him the ball….did I mention that he can’t hit the side of a barn?), but I’ll be surprised if they sign him.

I’ll also be surprised if Al Davis hires a take-charge GM before he dies.  He needs to do this to rescue the franchise, but he’s a stubborn old man.  In his head, doing that would just be an admission that he was wrong and his critics were right.

So much for “Just Win, Baby”.

This is the voice of the franchise.

The leader.

The quarterback.

The guy that needs to be the smartest man on the team.

Sheesh, we’re in even more trouble than I thought.

“I don’t think it’s me personally, I really don’t. It’s a bad combination of one guy doesn’t do something right one time.”

What quarterback says that? Add his comments to the way he conducts himself off the field, most notably his weight, rumors of missing meetings, and general lack of commitment to this football team. And watch him on the sideline. He reportedly sits in his usual spot on the bench and doesn’t engage other players or coaches much at all. The most animated he has been was cheerleading for Bruce Gradkowski when he replaced him last Sunday.

Miller said he didn’t talk to Russell about being benched but hopes it will have a positive effect in that he’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again. That’s Cable’s plan, anyway.“You hope so. If a guy’s wired right, that’s exactly how they’ll use it,” Cable said. (more)

Let’s all hope that this guy is “wired right”. All signs point the other way right now.

Want a laugh?  Try this site: Vote JaMarcus Russell for the 2010 Pro Bowl!

Here’s the main reason the Raiders are so inept offensively: horrible drafting.  They have Russell, McFadden, and Heyward Bey when they could have Adrian Peterson, Joe Flacco, and Crabtree or Maclin.  The sad thing is, they have so much invested in these players, they’re going to have to suffer with them until it’s obvious beyond any reasonable doubt that they are busts.  These lean years will continue because of it.

Crabtree watch:  In his first game, Crabtree has already surpassed Heyward-Bey’s productivity.  DHB has played virtually every snap for seven games.  They could be tied if he hadn’t dropped a touchdown pass late in the Jets game. Bad hands, but man he can run really fast.

That’s me.

Won ton at Bleacher Report writes exactly what I feel, though I have about 10 more years as a Raider fan on him.  I’m not going to be spending any ticket or tog money on them, but I’m not jumping ship.  I can understand how others might be and I can’t say that I blame them.  My nature dooms me to endure the pain.

Jarrod Cooper gives a frank assessment of the team on KNBR and he speaks the unfortunate truth.

It’s nothing that isn’t now totally obvious.  Take what NY Giant Antonio Pierce, who grew up a Raider fan, said about playing against the pathetic Raider offense. It sounds a lot like what the 49ers were saying in a pre-season scrimmage, but at least that actually was a scrimmage.

It’s a truly depressing situation where hope is dwindling. I never thought it would come to this, but Ray Ratto is now a voice of reason and someone whose writing I am know plugging. Read his latest on the Raiders and what they’ve become. Us Raider fans like to point out the 2002 Super Bowl but it really has been sandwiched by about 20 years of some pretty sad football…

Yes, quarter-century. Going back to 1986, the Raiders have made the playoffs six times; of the teams that have existed that long, only Arizona and Cincinnati have been less January. The last six years and change have been spectacularly awful, but this has gone on a lot longer than anyone wants to admit.

Obviously, the pre-2000 slump pales in comparison to what we’ve been seeing the past 6-7 years and it appear to not be getting any better. I should have seen this coming with the selection of Heyward-Bey at number 7 this spring. Oh, and by the way, the guy I wanted, Jeremy Maclin, had a great game last week and will undoubtedly be showcased against the Raiders on Sunday. I hope Al is watching. And it will add to the Raiders embarrassment when Crabtree, just across the bay, starts playing at first rounder’s level while Heyward-Bey continues to struggle.

And JaMarcus Russell?  I’ve almost lost all hope in him.  I don’t see any improvement in him.  I don’t think an inaccurate passer can suddenly become accurate.  I don’t think he’ll work hard enough to be a good quarterback and I don’t think he has the leadership qualities (see Antonio Pierce’s comments).  I also think that Al Davis is totally off base in comparing him to other, slow-starting QBs that became great ones.  That’s like the Heyward-Bey pick – a reach.  And wishful thinking.

And really, what do we suffering Raider fans have left to do but laugh?  Kissing Suzy Kolber has a hilarious piece on the Raider’s  so called QB:
JaMarcus Russell is Too Lazy For Clever Headlines

How could a QB be sooo bad on first down passing?  A down where the defense usually expects run?  Russell is 12 of 40 for 136 yards with one sack, three interceptions and a passer’s rating of 10.  Ten!

On the polar opposite end of the spectrum, wouldn’t it be nice if Russell and the other “10 percenters” on the Raiders had the attitude of Khalif Barnes?

“Being a professional and being in this league for a while now – I’m still young, I’ve only played four years – but you catch on to stuff and you know how stuff kind of works,” Barnes told me. “Whenever there’s adversity, and things aren’t going your way and your back’s up against the wall, and everybody’s out to get you and against you, the one thing, I think, a coward would do (is) turn his head, tuck his tail, and kind of walk off. A strong man, you kind of find out what a man is made of when he goes through his hardest hours, when his team goes through its hardest hours, darkest hours. So I think those kind of moments really define a person and let’s you know what a person is made of. Let’s you know who you want exactly on your team – are guys going to fold in the tent, throw it away already? It’s already a quarter of the way (through the season) and there’s 12 more games left. Anybody on this team who thought we were done and finished, probably shouldn’t be here. You have reporters and beat writers, they have their job. News guys have their job; that’s their job is to report what’s going on. You can’t get mad at them for doing their job and you can’t worry about them doing it. What you’ve got to do is worry about the guys inside this building. If you’re worried about everything else like that, you’re not going to get it done on Sunday. You have to worry about what you’re doing that week, get it done and know the adversity is coming – it’s going to be there. I’ve gone through it; I’m going through it now, other guys are going through it now. But what you do in that darkest hour is what defines you. When you come out that tunnel, man, it’s a good feeling. That’s how I look at it.” (from Paul Gutierrez)