Andre Smith: Bust In the Making For Cincinnati Bengals?

Is Cincinnati Bengals rookie offensive lineman Andre Smith headed down the road to Bustville?

 

No one knows for sure—and we won’t for a few years—but there are some glaring signs that point in that direction.

 

Red flags? Smith has a slew of them. He has more than China.

 

He was suspended for what would have been his final collegiate game at Alabama—the Sugar Bowl loss to Utah—and that was just the start of his three month tour of strangeness.

 

Smith did something this year at the NFL Scouting Combine in February that league observers can’t remember seeing ever before: he left early without a trace. (Which is awfully difficult for a man his size, so he should get points for being light on his feet.)

 

He literally left Indianapolis without telling anyone. Going AWOL a day early from the combine before going through any the offensive line drills appeared to be some insight into the mental makeup of this young man.

 

I remember thinking when news broke of Smith’s abrupt departure from the combine, “Well, no one would touch him with a top 10 pick now. How could you trust someone that would pull a stunt like that with so much on the line?”

 

But I should have known better. I should have thought,

“No one except the Bengals would touch him with a top 10 pick now.”

 

Smith did have a chance to redeem himself at Alabama’s pro day in March. However, he wasn’t very impressive and put on a personal advertisement for the Bro/Manzier from Seinfeld fame when he ran the 40 with his shirt off. Not exactly what LL Cool J had in mind when he wrote the early 1990’s rap tune “Jiggling Baby”. But at least Smith didn’t leave early—score one for him.

 

Even before that day of YouTube embarrassment, Smith’s conditioning had long been a concern. He’s listed at 335 pounds by the Bengals, but that is a conservative estimate to say the least. He’s probably at least over 350 and if he’s that big as a rookie, how much will he balloon to in future seasons?

 

 

Double agent?

 

Smith’s integrity has also been called into question due to how he handled the process of hiring an agent.

 

Smith changed agents just before the draft, going from Alvin Keels to Rick Smith (of Priority Sports). Many alleged it was bit of a scheme as I will get to in a moment.

 

The Bengals selected Smith with the No. 6 overall pick of the draft. It was bound to bring a boost to purveyors of Cincinnati-style chili that the city is famous for, but it remained to be seen if it would be a good decision for the organization.

 

In the days following the draft, Smith magically decided to go back to his previous agent, Keels. Many league insiders believed Smith only hired Smith/Priority Sports in order to help his draft stock. The Bengals’ front office has a good relationship with Priority Sports and it’s unclear if they would have taken the risk of drafting Smith if he had Keels as his agent at the time of the draft.

 

On top of everything else, word has leaked out that a long holdout is expected out of Smith. Since Mark Sanchez was drafted No. 5 by the New York Jets—and since the Jets arguably paid above slot for Sanchez—Smith wants a deal close to what Sanchez received. Of course that’s not reasonable since Sanchez is a quarterback, but Smith has proved logic doesn’t often factor into his equations.

 

Could Smith prove me wrong and be a great offensive tackle for Cincinnati for years? Certainly. Alabama emerged as one of the top teams in college football last year and he was a big reason why. However, at this point, the question marks far outweigh the talent.

Cleveland Browns: Building a Championship Defense Doesn’t Require Mangeniuses

With camp now open and the season quickly approaching, Browns fans will soon find out if Eric Mangini’s moves will lead to improvement for the team. While many believe that he has the team on the right track, I am really having a hard time buying into what he is doing. That is especially true on defense.

Yes, he is an NFL coach and I am writing online articles. Still, he is implementing an idea that I do not believe in at all. That is the idea that he wants smart football players.

Don’t get me wrong. Football intelligence is very important for a team. You really need it at quarterback. However, at the end of the day you need guys that will make it happen out there.

I have coached myself and have worked mainly on the defensive side. Now, I realize that coaching at the high school level and at the NFL level are not the same thing at all. But still, it is football, and at the end of the day the idea that you need geniuses out there makes no sense to me.

I have worked with some defenses that were really good and some that weren’t so good. With the ones that were good, there were three things they all had: a relentless pass rusher, a linebacker with a nose for the football, and a shutdown corner. None of these require a great deal of football smarts. They require studs.

How complicated is it to tell a guy to line up on the end and get after the quarterback? Does it take a genius to go out there, cover that receiver, and go wherever he goes? I don’t want my linebackers thinking. I want them relying on instincts and fierce speed to get to the ball.

In other words, I believe in the KISS theory on defense. That is “Keep it simple stupid.” Anytime you make it too complicated, you only overcoach the situation. That can hurt the team. You need players that will understand the system and that can cause you to settle for less-talented athletes. Anytime that happens, it’s bad.

The reality is that the smartest guys may not be the guys that can make plays for you.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I am not underestimating the value of football intelligence. It is very important to have players on the field that know the system inside and out. Those guys can be leaders and the ones the others follow. At the end of the day though, they may not be the guy who is making plays.

The reality is that the guys that were smart were guys we needed on the field. However, we often put them in places where we could hide their weaknesses.

The point is that yes you do need smart guys out there, but you also need studs that will make plays. I don’t care how smart an end is. If he can’t get after the quarterback, he is useless to me.

Yes, Mangini is an NFL coach and yes, my defensive theory isn’t the only one out there. So I will give Mangini a chance to show that his philosophy can work.

However, in my experience at the level I coached, smart defenses don’t equal good defenses. Again, high school and NFL are two totally different animals, but it is still football.

What the Oakland Raiders’ Starting Lineup on Offense Should Look Like

The search for a capable offense in Oakland has begun, as concerns are all over the map from coaching, playcalling, and productivity.

This unit will be under more scrutiny than any offense in the NFL in 2009.

 

Quarterback: Jamarcus Russell

Some of the Jeff Garcia supporters in the media will be disappointed when Jamarcus Russell’s name is announced when the Raiders open the season against the annoying San Diego Chargers.

But seeing Garcia start that game will make many puke, because then they will know the hunt for a franchise signal-caller is still on.

 

Running Back: Darren McFadden

The team’s most explosive weapon is healthy and determined to improve from his rookie campaign. It wasn’t a highlight reel year, and many fans on different sites are unimpressed.

It’s sure strange to read these comments, but what is even more strange is Russell going to Tom Cable requesting D-Mac to play more.

Michael Bush will get carries, but contractually it makes sense to see what the Raiders have in McFadden as an every down player.

 

Fullback: Lorenzo Neal

Hammering holes open for his fellow running backs throughout his career should continue in 2009.

Neal must have a large McDonald’s smile on his face knowing he gets to block for such talented backs that are in Oakland, and he brings an attitude and toughness the Raiders have lacked for many years.

 

Wide Receivers: Chaz Schilens and Johnnie Lee Higgins

Both young guys have the blessing of Al Davis and produced the best play out of all wideouts last season.

Schilens’ size, speed, and ability to go up for the ball should give him the chance to be the team’s No. 1 target.

Higgins provides the big play ability needed to make Russell’s life easier. Some say he is really a slot guy, but the team played better when he was out on the field. There isn’t any disputing it.

 

Tight End: Zach Miller

Everyone wants to see Miller get a Pro Bowl invite now that Tony Gonzalez has left the conference.

Russell trusts him more than his wide receivers, and he shall continue to use him as a safe option over the middle.

 

Right Tackle: Khalif Barnes

This is something he doesn’t want to happen, but he is a better run blocker than Mario Henderson and doesn’t have better feet than the third-year player from Florida State.

Nonetheless, Barnes is a major upgrade over Cornell Green, and the team would be confident in Barnes going up against left defensive ends .

 

Right Guard: Cooper Carlisle

He’s a steady, above average player who is looking to rebound after a disappointing 2008. The Raiders brought him back because they believe the 2007 version will appear during the season.

His experience in the ZBS will be needed as he learns to play next to new linemen.

 

Center: Samson Satele

I jumped for joy when Jake Grove wasn’t retained. I was sick of watching him impersonate a starting NFL center for the Raiders.

Samson Satele is an upgrade, and people will see this when he is getting through to the second level and opening up big holes for the running backs.

He is only 24, and this move will quiet a lot of us who wanted the Raiders to draft Alex Mack.

 

Left Guard: Robert Gallery

A very awful left tackle is possibly on the verge of becoming a Pro Bowl guard.

Cable gets a lot of credit, but so does Gallery for bouncing back and becoming a valuable player for the line. I was hard on the guy, but he played well the last two seasons.

 

Left Tackle: Mario Henderson

I was gad when Davis made the move to trade up and draft Henderson in 2007.

He did well last year, considering no one can be worse than Kwame Harris. Henderson critics speak about having a lot of help from tight ends and fullbacks last season.

The Raiders passed on a left tackle in the draft, because they know something others don’t. Drew Rosenhaus does as well.

 

Guys who take the heat if it doesnt work

Tom Cable will call the plays on offense, with Ted Tollner adding input as well. Paul Hackett will be over Russell as he tries to continue his magic with quarterbacks.

Jim Michalzcik gets to handle the big uglies up front, with obvious help from Cable. Adam Henry has the job of keeping Miller on point and developing a complementary second tight end.

Kelly Skipper will handle the responsiblity of coaching the running backs to a level of consistent play. His connection to Lorenzo Neal from Fresno State ought to help, as Neal is a strong figure who wants to team to take on a tougher role.

Sanjay Lal probably has more pressure on him to make the wide receivers productive than any other position coach in Oakland.

Favre Averts a Juvenile Affair with Vikings

For a quarterback who tossed 22 touchdowns and as many interceptions in the overt twilight of his career last season, Brett Favre still managed to carry the airy lustre of a top draft pick.

At least that’s the way he was viewed by the Minnesota Vikings, whose exhausting pursuit and inexorable patience for the 39-year-old was more astounding than ambitious.

Adding the fact that Favre is tending to a freshly operated right arm—his throwing appendage, at that—and is but frail in his sense of being, one would be remiss not to question the motives of the Green Bay Packers’ divisional rival.

Queries were cleared yesterday when it was publicly announced that Favre would indeed remain retired, ending coach Brad Childress’ idea of seeing Favre in the centrefold of the Vikings offense.

Whether there is any long-term veracity in Favre’s vow to leave football for the second time around is secondary.

However, the sentiment of his most recent confirmation leads us to believe that there is neither the zest nor commitment to play football again.

The Vikings, of course, possessed an exclusive scenario under which Favre could exact revenge on his former team, the Packers, and general manager Ted Thompson, to whom Favre attributes his previous quarrel and ultimate severance with Green Bay.

Presumably noticing he couldn’t endure the wear of another season at his age, Favre proved that he wasn’t a selfish man when he left the sport, even though he was as stubborn as a rusty nail in wood. He didn’t allow the petty prospect of sticking it to Thompson cloud his decision.

According to ESPN, though, the Vikings were more so complicit in trying to see the record touchdown passer’s prospect of retribution come to fruition at the Metrodome.

For the Vikings, it is reported, handed Favre an additional 36 hours to reassess his final conclusion; deployed several players including star running back Adrian Peterson and ubiquitous defensive end Jared Allen to entice Favre with a final persuasive message; and maintained contact until the decision was irrevocable.

All that was missing was an open plea. Through all that, Favre—for his standards—was remarkably lucid, and that could indicate an end to perpetuating a ragged comeback.

“They (the Vikings) were telling me, ‘You went through all this, you had the surgery and you’ve got to finish it off,” Favre told Ed Werder of ESPN. “It was the hardest decision I’ve ever made. I didn’t feel like physically I could play at a level that was acceptable.”

Creating such a spectacular stir for Favre didn’t deter Tavaris Jackson, one of two leading candidates for the quarterback position.

“He was his cool, calm and collected self,” agent Joel Segal said of his client, Jackson, after Favre’s declaration. “He said, ‘Great, let’s get ready for camp.’”

Sage Rosenfels, who split last season with Jackson, is the second option in the position and would have been in a spot to battle for a back-up role should Favre have come on to the team.
That’s not the vote of confidence required for two players who were equally instrumental in capturing the NFC North title last year, Peterson’s athleticism aside.

Considering Jackson wasn’t so rattled, perhaps there isn’t much need for extensive damage control on Childress’ behalf.

Besides, the Vikings haven’t actually lost anything by way of talent on their roster.

“It was a rare and unique opportunity to consider adding not only a future Hall of Fame quarterback, but one that is very familiar with our system and division,” Childress said in an open statement. “That does not detract from the team that we have.

“As we have consistently communicated, we feel good about our team. With this behind us, we look forward to getting to Mankato (Minn.) and getting training camp under way.”

But the real testimony is for Favre in this ordeal, as he had a chance to severely hamper not the perception of his Hall of Fame credentials, but of Favre the mind. His stint with the Jets only lasted one season, understandably, although he would have made a legitimate farewell all but impossible if he signed with the Vikings.

Favre was stepping into the realm once inhabited by the late efforts of Michael Jordan, Dominik Hasek and Evander Holyfield—all of whom were unable to identify an appropriate end to their careers.

Sure, Favre played that game for a year. But say his stay in Minnesota saw him embroiled in a quarterback controversy—which the Vikings’ situation could have potentially lend itself to—or his arm couldn’t produce.

It could have been the last five games of last season with Jets, magnified and multiplied.

Looking at Holyfield, for example: the man is 47 years old, unequivocally discouraged by the New York State Athletic Commission for his diminishing skills, and, all be damned, he fought and lost to Nikolai Valuev, the current WBA heavyweight champion, last December.

If this is to be Favre’s last period of contemplation—and the Hamlet act is emphatically closed—then there is no chance of seeing him, the historic and storied quarterback, distantly decrepit in action.

Hopefully these are finalized words: “I would like to thank everyone, including the Packers, Jets and Vikings—but, most importantly, the fans.”

And with that, let his name card be affixed to a mantle in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, not another locker.

Derrick Burgess Can Stay Away from Oakland Raiders Training Camp in Napa

So Derrick Burgess wants to hold out and not report to camp? Awesome!

This has been a long time coming, and it’s something the Raiders have prepared for since the spring. Burgess was on the trading block around draft time, and I’m sure Al Davis refused to bite on any garbage offers like he did for Randy Moss in 2007.

There is no disputing Burgess’ pass-rushing ability can help a team, but what about his run defense? It is truly awful, as the right tackle or tight end constantly throws him on the ground.

I’ve been on site after site for the last year or so screaming for the guy’s departure.  Some even have had the nerve to challenge that idea, as if he can still play at a Pro Bowl level. He is an injury prone, one-dimensional defensive end wanting to get paid because this is his last chancce at a big contract.

I can’t really blame the guy for looking out for himself when football is over in a few years. The thing is, Mr. Burgess plays left defensive end, where Greg Ellis will be starting. Ellis is more versatile and plays the run better, so he instantly makes the defensive line more competent.

It is undetermined who the right defensive end will as of now, but most believe second-year player Trevor Scott will take that job.

Burgess reportedly doesn’t like going up against the left tackle. So I ask: what role does he really have on this team?

Spare me the situational pass rusher nonsense. Since coming to the Raiders, Burgess’ production has slipped dramatically, and it is no wonder the Raiders have drafted a healthy amount of defensive ends lately.

The left defensive end goes up against right tackles and tight ends at times. In the run game, the right tackle is more of the road grader than the left tackle. Franchise left tackles get big money to protect the quarterback’s blindside, but having a good run-blocking right tackle is paramount for an offense’s success.

What good does a left defensive end do for a defense if he continually gets pushed by the opposing right tackle?

Derrick, it was nice, but your time is up and the writing is on the wall, man. Stay away from Napa and plead for your release or trade.

Both parties will be better off, because Davis isn’t budging after making you a starter four years ago. Play out your contract is all Davis will say to you, brother.

How to Best Use LenDale White and Chris Johnson

The 2008 season was dominated by Smash and Dash, LenDale White and Chris Johnson. The Titans’ running backs used this nickname long before Carolina’s running backs did, and it fits them better, too. White and Johnson are more of a dynamic contrast to each other.

White’s size and power made him unstoppable in goal-line situation, and Johnson’s breakaway speed put fear in defenders’ hearts every time he touched the ball.

One thing I noticed was that the two of them were rarely on the field together.

This slide show offers things you could do with a formation that featured both Johnson and White. White is on the strong side of this formation, so he can benefit from the blocking of the tight end. Johnson is on the left side of the quarterback.

I had been referring to this as a split backs formation until I found out that was the wrong name for it; since then I’ve just been calling it the Smash and Dash formation.

In a split backs formation, the running backs are placed farther behind the quarterback, and there is more distance between the two RBs. Because of that, Split Backs actually favors the pass. This formation, which is technically not Split Backs, favors the run because the running backs are closer to the line of scrimmage.

With both backs on the field, defenses are less sure of what type of play to defend against, meaning that they have to design plays to effectively contain White and Johnson at the same time. This strains the defense and opens up room for the passing game as well. In that sense, Smash and Dash are both highly relevant threats when on the field together.

Brett Favre to Stay Retired, What It Means for the Vikings

If for some reason you haven’t heard already, Brett Favre is re-retiring and will not play for the Vikings this year—we think. 

Well, we hope.

After all the media hype Brett pulled the plug at the last minute when everyone thought it was a slam dunk he was coming back.

Well at least we won’t have to listen to and read about what Brett Favre ate for breakfast anymore on ESPN.

On a football related note, I don’t think it has much of an affect on the Vikings. Sure Brett Favre at quarterback sounds a lot better that Sage Rosenfels or Tavaris Jackson, but as we witnessed last year, Favre has lost a step. 

He doesn’t have the same zip he used have on ball and can’t make all the throws he used to. This combined with his still intact gunslinger mentality didn’t make for a good match.

The Vikings are built to run the ball while controlling the clock, and Favre isn’t built for that. His predilection to force the ball and take unnecessary chances is not what the Vikings offense needed.

Either Rosenfels or Jackson is better suited for the role. This team did win a division title with Jackson as it’s quarterback last year so its not like they can’t do it again.

We tend to forget Jackson will be entering only his fourth year in the league and is coming from a small 1-AA program. Perhaps this is the year he puts it all together. 

I’m not saying he is going to make the Pro Bowl, but as long as doesn’t turn the ball over and makes the occasional big throw, he should be fine.

Even if Jackson plays similar to last year, this team will still be fine. All they have to do is get to the playoffs and then it’s a whole different ballgame, just look at last year’s Cardinals. No one thought going into the playoffs that they had a shot and yet they were two minutes away from a Super Bowl victory.

One thing that looks promising for the Vikings is the addition of Percy Harvin. The speedy rookie has gotten rave reviews so far, and the Vikings have reportedly installed a Wildcat package with him at quarterback. 

Harvin gives this offense another dimension with his skills. Defenses now have to be worried of both him and Peterson because either of them can score any time they touch the ball.

So Vikings fans don’t be angered by the decision of Brett after his flirtation with the Vikes. They are still a very good football team in a wide-open conference that anyone can win.

For the rest of football fans, we can all breathe a deep sigh of relief. Hopefully, this will be the last time I mention Brett Favre until his time in Canton rolls around. So enjoy it you never know when a report will surface that he’s still working out just in case he gets the itch to play again. 

Oh wait, that just happened.

Washington Redskins Will Benefit from Competition at Cornerback

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It’s hard to really determine how good the Washington Redskins secondary was in 2008.  The word solid comes to mind—Washington ranked seventh in the league in passing yards, giving up just over 193 yards per game, and allowed only 16 touchdowns through the air.

The word opportunistic does not come to mind, however.  The Redskins accumulated a measly 18 turnovers last year.  That number could have been marginally higher if it were not for a case of the drops in the secondary.  Some of those drops could have been game changers.

On the flip side, it’s only fair to point out that the secondary operated without much help from a pass rush.  It doesn’t take a defensive mastermind to understand that the pass rush generates turnovers and turnovers lead to wins. 

The Redskins organization understands this; thus the acquisition of Albert Haynesworth and the drafting of Brian Orakpo.  They also grabbed Jeremy Jarmon in the supplemental draft.  The offseason gains will drastically improve the pass rush.

That may be the necessary component to catapult the Washington defensive backs from solid to dominant.  They should have plenty of help from the safety position as well.

Chris Horton was a certifiable stud as a rookie last year and LaRon Landry continues to make strides towards becoming one of the elite safeties in the league—it’s a shame Sean Taylor can’t still be there to alligator-arm receivers across the middle.

Nevertheless, a good pass rush will allow the corners to play aggressive, physical man-to-man defense, something they weren’t able to do effectively minus a menacing pass rush. 

There shouldn’t be any speculation as to who the starting cornerbacks are.  The Redskins spent a bundle to keep DeAngelo Hall in town, signing him to a six year, $54 million contract.  Hall’s reputation had him billed as a problematic player after his release from the Raiders organization.

His time with the Redskins last year was apparently a test in which he passed—the question is: Will he continue to perform at a high level after signing the major deal?

Hall has playmaking ability, there’s no question about that.  It will be interesting to see what he is capable of playing for a defense that is loaded with talent all over the football field.

Carlos Rogers has shown the ability to be one of the better cover corners in the league; however, his play has been inconsistent at times.  Picking off passes is not his forte either; he has only six interceptions in his four-year career.

But if Rogers can stay healthy, he is perfectly capable of being a shut-down cornerback, even more so with the upgrade to the pass rush.

With Shawn Springs’ departure, the third spot on the depth chart is up for grabs, although all indications point to veteran Fred Smoot as of now.  His playing time declined slightly last year, but Smoot is a fan favorite and a leader in the clubhouse, not to mention one of the best trash talkers in the game.  But age may be sneaking up on him.

Kevin Barnes should challenge Smoot for the nickel corner spot.  There has already been some mild, hopefully friendly trash talk between the two.  The Skins’ third-round pick out of Maryland has been impressive in OTA’s, markedly with his ability to get his hands on the football, and more importantly, hang onto it. 

Good hands is not his only major asset.  At 6’0”, 190 lbs, Barnes can match up well with some of the more physical receivers in the league.  If he continues to progress, there’s no question that he will compete for playing time this year, and may overtake Smoot on the depth chart.

Justin Tryon, the Skins’ fourth-round pick out of Arizona State last year, is in the mix as well.  He didn’t see the playing field last year but has track-star speed and a chance to compete for a top-four spot on the roster.  At only 5’9”, he will really need to impress in camp and preseason in order to outmaneuver Barnes.

Byron Westbrook and Doug Dutch are both undrafted free agents who hope to make a roster spot.  Westbrook has spent the last two years on the practice squad, but could sneak his way on with his special teams play.

Dutch is a converted wide receiver rookie out of Michigan.  With the talent ahead of them, both will need to garner serious attention with their play to rise up the depth chart.

Fierce competition in training camp can only be a good thing for the Washington Redskins.  Barring serious injury, the cornerback position is deep and talented.  If competition serves its purpose appropriately, the level of play should make this one of the best secondaries in the NFL.

 

Dear Tarvaris Jackson: Time to Prove Us Wrong

Dear Tarvaris Jackson:

It’s been a rough year for you, big guy.

In January, you went 15-for-35 for 164 yards and a pick in a playoff loss at home.

In February, the Vikings imported a 31-year-old career backup to compete with you.

And from early May through yesterday afternoon, the team did its best to acquire a 39-year-old passer with a bum throwing arm to replace you outright.

Brad Childress said missing out on Brett Favre “doesn’t change anything about how I feel about our football team.” Given that his recent pursuits don’t suggest he feels all that hot about his chances with you under center, I’m not sure that’s a good thing for you.

Local sports radio producer Darren “Doogie” Wolfson ranked yesterday’s news as the third-biggest letdown in Minnesota sports history.

In other words, heading into this season with either you or Sage Rosenfels under center is third-worst thing ever to befall Twin Cities sports fans, right behind the ’98 NFC Title Game and “41-doughnut.”

Stop me any time here.

So your coach isn’t crazy about you. Your fans aren’t crazy about you. And if you put stock in reports that Adrian Peterson, Jared Allen, and Steve Hutchinson all lobbied Favre to join up even after he told the team he wasn’t coming back, your teammates aren’t all that crazy about you, either.

What are you going to do about it?

The way I see it, you’ve got two choices: Sulk and shrink from the occasion, or whip yourself into shape as the quarterback nobody seems to think you can be.

It sounds like a no-brainer. Nobody wants to throw in the towel. Nobody wants to show the doubters they were right.

But if option No. 2 were easy, we wouldn’t have a list of quarterback washouts waiting on the tips of our tongues. Tim Couch, Joey Harrington, Cade McNown, Quincy Carter: It’s not hard to find guys who started early, bounced in an out of the lineup, and never found their footing again.

For a man on the brink of joining the ranks of those who couldn’t cut the mustard—and make no mistake, you’re on the brink—there are a few obstacles to overcome that must be nothing short of maddening.

By all accounts, you’re already working plenty hard. Some of your teammates even said you were having such a good offseason that all the Favre talk was nonsense. Now, you have to figure out how to work harder.

We have to imagine you already wanted the starting job. Now, you have to figure out how to want it more than the other guy.

Think Alice in Wonderland here: You’re already going full speed to hang on to what you’ve got; if you want to get better, you need to go twice as fast.

Then there’s the matter of repairing whatever damage your confidence has sustained. It’s hard enough to believe in yourself after winning, losing, and regaining the No. 1 role in each of the last two seasons—now, you have to lead an offense in which a handful of the key cogs tried to lure someone else under center.

It’s safe to say that none of those cautionary tales mentioned above intended to be busts. At one point or another, all of them undoubtedly tried to turn things around.

None of them did. That’s another hurdle: The knowledge that some people work their butts off and fail anyway.

Starting to see where these situations take a turn for the worse? Feel like sulking yet?

The good news is that if you’re still game for the self-improvement route, you’ve got a whole stack of motivational kindling piled high and ready to burn.

Every time the Favre debacle creeps into your mind, do an extra set in the weight room. Every time some idiot columnist picks Rosenfels to edge you out, put in an extra hour in the film room.

Memorize the playbook until you forget it. Focus on five or six throws and repeat them until your brain stops interfering with your arm. Print out a list of things that went wrong this offseason, tape it to the treadmill, and see if you get an extra mile or two out of it. Make the team drag you off the practice field kicking and screaming.

We’re skeptics, not haters. We don’t want you to fail. We just want somebody to lead this team to the promised land.

So far, all we’ve seen is a pet project that never quite panned out.

Prove us wrong.

Follow Vikings posts and updates on Twitter: MarinoEccher.

Oakland Raiders Got to Clean Up What They Messed Up

The rhythm was syncopated. The words were simple: “I got to clean up, what I messed up…starting all over again.”

I started rocking and rolling in my car, turned the radio up like one of those hip-hop kids who stops at a stop sign and blasts his radio. The radio was so loud, you could feel the vibrations of the bass in the sound system.

An idea came to me—this is exactly the concept we need to share in order to reverse the NFL record of the Oakland Raiders. I felt something special going on.

The topic I was to teach, today, in a college algebra class is connected to the “clean up what I messed up” concept. Let me set up a framework for this discussion.

During the 22 year period the Oakland Raiders were perceived as a dynasty, there certainly was a “formula” to their success. Each component of that formula has to be identified and separated so that the component can be analyzed.

Next, after the variables have been, “separated,” there needs to be an assessment of the contribution of each variable or component. Then, as is done in “linear programming,” a weight (a type of emphasis) needs to be attached to each variable. In a simple way, a formula is set up and set in place.

Here is my point. For each component, say, “a” in this formula, there should be defined a “not a.” The “not a” component is the reversal of “a.” Now let’s think about the Oakland Raiders training program.

If during those golden years, “speed” was a component, and if in the last few years, “not speed” was in the playing strategies, then reverse from “not speed” to “speed.”

If during the golden days, the quarterback made the difference, say, Daryl Lamonica, then find another “Lamonica-type” and put him in place, quickly.

Did you say you need graceful and fast wide receivers, and during the past few years, no one has been able to perform in an outstanding manner. Then reverse that component and find the new “Cliff Branch” and reverse the results.

Step by step, component by component, whatever Oakland had during its golden years, make certain these components are in place for the 2009 season.

Now the dual of the problem. Whatever the formula has been in the past 22 years of struggle, again, identify the variables or components, and select, refine, design and make operational the blend of abilities that reverse the situation.

Clearly, we are asking the coaches and team to clean up, what they messed up. Isn’t it interesting that there were 22 years of glory, followed by 22 years of “non-glory”?

Isn’t it interesting that 80 means “new beginning” and the song of inspiration that I heard, this morning, while driving, hurriedly, to school to teach inverse functions, contains the phrase, “starting all over again.”

It is clear to me that there is a destiny we will miss, if we do not listen carefully, to those inner voices.

I know what you are thinking. I plead the inverse—this is not too deep. It is simple.

The Oakland Raiders need to learn how to construct the inverse formula to regain the Oakland Raiders glory. The entire Oakland Raiders machinery, including the fans, need to sing a new song.

In summary, the Oakland Raiders can and will, “Clean up what they messed up, and start all over, again.”

A final example: Have you been criticizing and “bad mouthing” Al Davis and Oakland? Well, do the inverse function, speak victory and success from this time forward.

Have you doubted the ability of Oakland to regain its former glory? Stop. Reverse. Now, begin to proclaim that Oakland has an excellent chance to begin, again, in the 2009 season.

It’s simple. Clean up each and everything that has been messed up, and shift your Gestalt from black to the glistening silver, shift from losing to winning, and start all over again, being the Raider dynasty that this B/R writer believes the Oakland Raiders can be.

Afterthought: Now let me swerve, wiggle, and dance my way “outta here.” My radio is turned up loud and I am listening and doing my jiggle to the Canton Inspirational song:

 

I GOTTA CLEAN UP WHAT I MESSED UP

I’M STARTING MY LIFE  OVER AGAIN

I GOTTA CLEAN UP WHAT I MESSED UP

I’M STARTING MY LIFE  OVER AGAIN

 

 

 

 

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