Tom Cable On Life Support As The Ravens Begin Their Circle Into Oakland

Nine weeks into the season, Al Davis, Tom Cable, and the 2-7 Raiders had finally seen enough of quarterback Jamarcus Russell’s impotent attempts to execute…well…anything.  

In a season and a half Jamarcus Russell managed to provide the Oakland Coliseum with plenty of elbow room with his poor play behind center.  With the season circling the drain, Cable announced that Russell would be benched.

That decision started what could only be described as a deadly game of quarterback Russian Roulette. Russell’s backup, Bruce Gradkowski, provided the quarterback position with the spark it needed, but two and a half games and two sprained knees later, third-string QB, journeyman Charlie Frye took over.

In his first game against a suspect Cleveland Browns secondary last Sunday, Frye threw for 333 yards, but had no touchdowns and three interceptions. The Raiders lost 23-9.  Yet it wasn’t so much a black mark against Frye as it was on Tom Cable’s playcalling ability.

Cable’s refusal to allow Raider running backs any opportunity to score inside the redzone doomed what was a very winnable game. Regardless, the Raiders still have a chance to finish at .500 in the second half of the season when the Baltimore Ravens come to town on Sunday for the season finale.

The Ravens come in with a deceiving 8-7 record. A victim of a brutal schedule, their losses have come at the hands of the Steelers, Vikings, Colts, Patriots, as well as being swept by the Bengals. 

Baltimore has a balanced attack that keys on all-everything running back Ray Rice. Behind Rice’s 1,269 rushing yards the Ravens are seventh in the league in rushing. Rice also leads the team in receiving with 74 grabs.

If the Raiders want to finish on a good note, Rice will have to be accounted for every second that he is on the field. Some say that the Ravens defense is a shadow of what it has been in the past, but despite being pitted against five of the top rated offenses in the league this year, they still managed to rank sixth overall in total defense.

The Ravens are coming to Oakland needing a win to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Luckily, the Raiders have made it a habit of upsetting potential playoff teams, knocking off the Eagles, Bengals, Steelers, and Broncos, respectively. Despite that fact, they may also be playing for Cable’s future.

After losing to Cleveland (a game that they should have and could have won), Davis has to be questioning Cable’s ability to return the Raiders to their former glory days.  Decades after being blessed with watching the likes of Stabler, Biletnikoff, Casper, Allen, and Long, Davis must ponder every night (or late afternoon) before he goes to bed “how did this franchise fall so far?”

Whispers out of Oakland say that Davis is looking at head coaching candidates like Jim Fassell and John Harbaugh. A few weeks ago, former Raiders coach and current Monday Night Football personality Jon Gruden made an appearance in a local Oakland sports bar, hanging out all night with Raider fans and signing autographs until the wee hours of the morning.

The thought of Gruden coaching the Raiders again has caused nothing but elation among Raider Nation and would without a doubt fill the stadium and boost the financially struggling franchise.  Close friends of Gruden say that he would return to Oakland if given the chance and the conditions were right.

Cable has to be feeling the pressure of possibly of losing his job. His playcalling has been called into question all season long, and so has the curious decision not to use players like Michael Bush and Darren McFadden in the capacity that best utilizes their gamebreaking ability—rather relying on consistent but boring Justin Fargas.   

This has many wondering if Cable has what it takes to be a successful coach in the NFL. Even with the playoffs being in the balance for the Ravens, the pressure is still on the Raiders because this game may just decide Cable’s legacy (or lack thereof) as head coach of the Oakland Raiders.

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Raiders-Broncos: Rivalry Renewed with a Few Bizarre Storylines

Since the dawn of the NFL, the Raiders-Broncos games have been one of the most heated rivalries in history. On and off the field they have openly shown their disdain for each other. 

Through the years they have jumped at the chance to sign each others’ players and coaches. Over the years there have been players like Lyle Alzado, Bill Romanowski, Ashlie Lelie, and Javon Walker, not to mention former and future Hall of Fame coach Mike Shannahan.  Even now there are Lamont Jordan, Erik Pears, and Gerrard Warren who have all swapped sidelines.

The results have taken this rivalry to a new level. As a matter of fact, if an NFL rivalry is comparable to a candle light vigil, this rivalry brings a flame thrower!

Last Sunday the two teams met once again, and from a grudge match point of view it didn’t disappoint. When they met in Oakland earlier in the year, the Broncos won, handily outscoring the Raiders’ anemic offense 23-3.

During the game, however, there was an incident that involved Raiders defensive end Richard Seymour pulling Broncos offensive lineman Ryan Clady’s hair at the end of a play resulting in an unsportsman-like penalty.  This became the fuel that re-ignited the fire and revenge was on the minds of the Broncos while the Raiders sought their own revenge for a home loss earlier in the year.

The problem is, revenge is a dish best served cold, but when it is served hot, it’s sloppy…

The Raiders owned the ground while piling up 241 rushing yards and a touchdown, while the Broncos’ Kyle Orton attacked through the air with 278 yards and a touchdown of his own.

Ahhh, but just like old times, it wasn’t long before the pushing and the shoving began and by the third quarter Brandon Marshall’s go ahead touchdown celebration took a backseat to a Raider-Bronco Melee that filled the end zone. The officials kept their flags in their pockets through it all, earning the praise of all the fans who watched these teams duke it out through the 70s and 80s. 

Another bizarre twist came in the fourth quarter as the game had to be stopped due to one or more fans using laser lights to distract the teams and officials. After what seemed like an eternity, they got their man, or at least someone close by…

As if this game had a lack of storylines, Raiders defensive tackle Tommy Kelly added his own by losing his pants while tackling Knowshon Moreno. The only thing between the viewers and an R rating was his jock strap. Fortunately the camera angle was from the front.

In the end it was the Raiders calling on three unlikely players—one forgotten son, one prodigal son and one scorned son to eventually prevail.

Of the 241 yards rushing Michael Bush had 133 yards and a touchdown. In Week 10 Bush carried for 14 times and 119 yards against the Chiefs, but in the four games since, has only carried eight times for 36 yards. Even with this curious drought, Bush still leads all Raiders in rushing. Before the game against the Broncos, Bush seemed all but forgotten.

Langston Walker was drafted by the Raiders in 2002. Used often as a backup and special teams. He finally had enough after the infamous 2006 campaign where Art Shell had one of the worst offensive lines in NFL history. Walker left for Buffalo. 

After being cut, the prodigal Walker returned to Oakland last October, where he was born and raised. He was thrust into the starting left guard spot when Robert Gallery suffered a season-ending back injury and Chris Morris showed he was too inconsistent to be reliable. The results were stellar as Walker opened gaping holes for the running game all day, including the touchdown run by Bush.

Jamarcus Russell has been beat up and scorned in the media. His teammates all but lost faith in him as his struggles on the field and rumors of poor preparation and a lackadaisical attitude swirled. Finally, after no signs of improvement, the league’s lowest rated starting quarterback found his way to the bench.

In the fourth quarter, Russell was once again called upon after Frye left the game due to a head injury.  A collective groan rose up from Raider Nation as Russell’s first play from scrimmage was a sack and a fumble. Raider tackle Cooper Carlisle fell on the ball retaining possession for the Raiders.

The next few plays were classic Bronco-Raider football. There was a pass interference, three incomplete passes, followed by a fourth down conversion, more illegal contact, and ending with a Russell to Chaz Schillens touchdown. The extra point gave the Raiders a 20-19 advantage with 29 seconds left. Russell completed four of five passes, a fourth down conversion, and threw the winning touchdown. His play earned him some relief…for now.

The ensuing possession saw Orton complete a 39-yard pass to Tony Sheffler, but with five seconds and no timeouts, the Broncos couldn’t stop the clock.

The game was over, but it seems this generation are ready to carry on the NFL’s version of the Hatfield and McCoys. What the fans witnessed on Sunday was the awakening of what looks like many more years of back and forth games with controversy and bizarre conclusions. Just like old times…

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Jamarcus Russell: A Parody with Some Kinks Involved

Russell (to the tune of LOLA by the Kinks)

 

I met him in the Swamps down at LSU where they turn out athletes that have alot of Muscle.

M –U –S –C – ELL, Muscle

I saw the big fella chowing down on a hog and I asked his name and in a Creole voice he said Russell

R – U – S – S – ELL, Russell

Maybe my hearing was way off track, but this 300 pound guy said that he’s a quarterback, oh my Russell

Ru-Ru-Ru-Ru- Russell

I’m not saying his work ethic is s**t, but he blows off game plans for the barbecue pit, oh Russell

Ru-Ru-Ru-Ru-Russell

 

 

(bridge)

He played pop-warner not 10 years before and he’s never ever learned, not one thing more.

And when he misses the open man, he blames the wide recivers and the lineman

 

Well I’m not saying he’s not a good shot, but most of his completions are to the mascots, oh my Russell

L-O-S-E-R, Russell

Ru-Ru-Ru-Ru-Russell

Well the fans all hate him and the team is mad, the only guys that love him are Frye and Grad, Oh my Russell

Fifty million dollars didn’t buy Al much, but for a five hundred grand he got to two and one No Mo Russell.

F-I-R-E, Russel…

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Oakland Raiders: Is JaMarcus Russell Betraying Raider Nation?

On Sunday afternoon the Denver Broncos defeated the Oakland Raiders 23-3 on their home field. For Raider Nation the loss couldn’t be more painful. For the first time in six years the Raiders had a reason to be optimistic. The 2008 season ended with two back-to-back wins (in convincing fashion I might add) over teams that had playoff aspirations.

In the offseason the run defense, offensive line and wide receiving core were all addressed in the draft and free agency.

To help coach JaMarcus Russell, Raiders hired not one, but two offensive gurus to help his mechanics. Ted Tollner, a disciple of “Air Coryell” and “The Greatest Show On Turf” was hired to be the passing game coordinator. Paul Hackett, whose coaching resume included quarterbacks Joe Montana, Rich Gannon, and Jeff Garcia, was also signed to aid and mentor Russell.

It all looked so perfect. So what happened? The answer to that question is in a timetable that started in OTAs and continues to last Sunday.

JaMarcus Russell showed up for camp early to workout at the facility. That was good news to Raider Nation until OTAs started and he was not missing for the better part of a week. When he did show up, he was once again overweight. When he took the field his passes were described as “inaccurate,” “wild,” and “nowhere near the targeted receiver.” Pictures surfaced of JaMarcus Russell partying it up in a nightclub. Although he didn’t look as “compromised” as Matt Leinart or Vince Young, rumors began to circulate about his commitment.

Yet Raider Nation stood behind him, after all he was learning new footwork from the great Paul Hackett. It takes time.

Things quieted down after that, as he began to do much better.

When training camp started, Russell was described as being very streaky. Some good-looking throws followed by some horrible throws. Russell was also drawing criticism for not being approachable by the media. Meanwhile Jeff Garcia was hitting the airwaves and making his case for the starting position by stating that the Raiders need to field the best quarterback.

And Raider Nation stood beside him.

During the preseason, Russell had good games against the Cowboys and 49ers, but fell to pieces in the third game against the Saints. After the game Greg Ellis called out the team, without naming names, about their partying before a game. We all assumed he was calling out the defense.

Opening night against the Chargers, Russell had a good night with modest numbers, he looked like he was ready to lead the Raiders offense. He drove the offense down the field making big passes when he had to including a fourth down touchdown pass to Louis Murphy. However since then Russell has been nothing short of putrid, only matched by his leadership skills.

After the Bronco game some tailgaters, who were parked by the road where the players come and go, and this was what they saw:

“Our tailgate happens next to the road the players drive in and out of the stadium. after the dismal game some of the boys went back to do a bit more tailgating and eat…a white Rolls Royce is leaving the stadium with JaMarcus Russell driving…fans know this and are booing…the passenger side window rolls down and with JaMarcus driving one of his home boys on the passenger side yells out “Well at least we are eating good, you guys are still broke”…and JaMarcus visibly chuckles in the driver’s seat…”

Raider nation has supported Russell, but it became crystal clear last Sunday that he hasn’t been doing anything to improve his game. Worse, he doesn’t seem to have any remorse about his woeful performances. He apparently is oblivious to the fact that time is running out on his sorry career. Is this is what Jeff Garcia was trying to communicate in his interviews? Could this is why he wanted his release and didn’t want any part of Russell?

Soon Russell will join the ranks of Matt Leinart and Vince Young who also let their wealth and need for social life over rule their responsibility to their teammates and fans.

Raider Nation deserves better than this and to allow one player to scuttle a promising season is nauseating. It took six years to get Oakland’s head above water and I for one do not want a self-centered player to push it back under.

 

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Raider Nation Has Yet to See “Raider Ball”…and That’s a Good Thing

 

45-7!

That was the final score when the Raiders hosted the New Orleans Saints last Saturday. Since that day, Raider Nation has been anything but positive. There has been panic, anger, and even depression…over a preseason game.

A preseason game?

So far what I have seen is a coach that has used the preseason not to practice what the Raiders do well, but to work on what they don’t. To see this, one will have to look at every preseason game.

En route to winning 31-10 against the Cowboys, the Raiders rushed the ball 29 times for 127 yards and held the ball for 30 minutes. They also passed 37 times for 280 yards and totaled 457 yards. Not bad, but the defensive line showed cracks during the game, yielding 176 yards.

In the next game against the 49ers, the Raiders rushed only 18 times vs. 27 passing attempts. Even with a 14-3 lead, the Raiders continued to evaluate the passing game, sacrificing a sure win and forcing the defense to play 38 minutes. The defense gave up a gaudy 275 yards on the ground on 47 attempts.

The question that came to mind was: If the 49ers plan to name their QB after that game, why did they choose to run 47 times? Which coach was evaluating the team and which coach wanted to simply win the game?

Last week the Raiders hosted the New Orleans Saints and the result was a 45-7 shellacking, but looking at the game closer, a route was inevitable. The Raiders threw the rock 33 times vs. 11 rushes. Of those 11 rushes, only nine were by running backs. At the half, the score was 31-0 and the Raiders had rushed just four times.

In other words, Cable sent his offense out to have a shootout against 2008’s No. 1 offense and against only the second quarterback in NFL history to eclipse the 5,000 yards passing mark. Drew Brees was one dropped ball away from breaking Dan Marino’s record!

Maybe this will put things in perspective:

 

New Orleans-2008

Point per game- 28.9 (1st)

Yards per game- 410.7 (1st)

Passing yards per game- 311.1 (1st)

 

Cable’s plan was to pass the whole game to get the timing down between Jamarcus Russell and his young receiving corps. The result was a game of near misses, drops, and miscues. Problems were exposed. Meanwhile, it forced the defense into the undesirable situation of having to fend off the NFL’s No. 1 offense for a staggering 39 minutes!

During the Cowboys game, the defense showed many fronts. There were stunts, zone blitzes, and a lot of different packages, and even though they surrendered 176 rushing yards, they stiffened up and yielded only 10 points.

The following week the first and second string defenses yielded six points. It wasn’t until the starting rotation was off the field that a touchdown was surrendered and that was without a game plan from defensive coordinator John Marshall, who stated that he wasn’t going to send them out with one. Against New Orleans there wasn’t anything special going on, other than sending a massive blitz at a pro bowl quarterback with a lightning quick release. That’s a no-no.

Before Raider Nation gets too depressed, they need to sit back and reflect on last year at this time. The Raiders had a successful preseason, showing that they could run the ball and get pressure on the quarterback only to get bludgeoned in the season opener by the Denver Broncos. No one expected the Raiders defense to look that bad, but then again, no one addressed it during preseason so there was no time to fix it.

Cable already knows that the strength of this team will be it’s stable of running backs. However, with Chaz Schillens getting hurt and Javon Walker having yet to show that he is still effective, the Raiders are left with a young receiving corps that has to grow up in a hurry.

The other thing that has become a revelation is that the defense has regressed under pressure by missing tackles and not being responsible for their assignments. If there were any egos that needed bruised, mission accomplished.

One pleasant surprise was yielded from Saturday’s game. Voices that haven’t been heard in a long time began to cry out. Greg Ellis and Ricky Brown spoke up and reprimanded the defenses effort. They accused the team of not preparing and taking responsibility. They put it on the player’s shoulders and not the coaches. Finally! The defensive line and linebackers have a voice.

Now that the weaknesses have been exposed there will be opportunities to fix them. Soon, teams around the NFL will be cutting down to 53 man roster and anyone who hasn’t performed will be cut and replaced by players who just missed the cut on other teams.

Cable has taken the approach that preseason football is there to evaluate players and to expose potential weakness, and unlike last year it is not too late to correct these mistakes. Many good teams have been routed in preseason and go on to win their divisions. There’s no reason to think differently at this point.

When the season starts, the Raiders will have a balanced offense, something they haven’t exhibited in the preseason. They will be all about ball control and controlling the clock. Raider Nation has to take a step back and realize that they have yet to see the Raider’s play their game.

Other teams are doing what they do well in preseason, while the Raiders are addressing what they can and can’t do and are fixing what needs to be fixed greatly, like Tom Landry did while he was coach of the Cowboys. He had a notoriously bad preseason record. I, for one, am not panicking because we have yet to see 2009 Raider football.

 

 

 

Oakland Raiders Defense: Cause for Alarm or a Glimmer of Hope?

 For the Oakland Raiders, the annual “Battle of the Bay” matchup  vs the 49ers ended up in surrendering 275 yards on the ground on their way to a 21-20 loss. One hundred-forty nine of those yards were to a rookie back named Glenn Coffee.

If I were a 49er fan, I wouldn’t get too excited, because Juan Valdez could have walked his pack mule through those holes for a buck twenty on the Raider defense that day.

After watching the game for the fourth time the thing that caught my ear was that, a reporter who talked to Defensive Coordinator John Marshall before the game, said that he was sending them out without a game plan.

In other words he was looking to see how they handled one-on-one matchups and was going to treat that game like a preseason game.

After that, I saw a few things that repaired my calm. Even though I still see a lot of cause for concern, I no longer believe I have to call 911 and report a murder.

The first sign of hope came with linebacker Morlon Greenwood, a Texans castoff who signed with the Raiders in the offseason. Greenwood was winning his matchups and shedding his blocks on a regular basis. Ricky Brown and Slade Norris turned in good performances too.

Defensive tackle Tommy Kelly can get penetration when he is not being double teamed, Gerrard Warren and William Joeseph spotty at best, but the guy to watch is Desmond Bryant. Bryant is taking on the double teams better than any of the defensive lineman so far and if he lines up next to Kelly, thay may just be the best duo for the job.

Defensive end Trevor Scott seems to have “Derrick Burgess” disease. He is willing to sacrifice the running lane to go after the QB, But Jay Richardson is showing that he has improved at the end position and is sufficient at stopping the run. Watch for him and Ellis to secure the outside.

Matt Shaughnessy has shown flashes of high level play, but he has yet to put together any consistency and is hesitant at times, when it comes to reading and reacting. Greg Ellis was all over the field and will be the vocal leader of the defensive line, a role that Derrick Burgess was unable to fill.

Safeties Tyvon Branch, Hiram Eugene, and Jeremy Boyd have shined in camp and preseason, for the first time since 2002 the Raiders should have solid safeties.

Mike Mitchell is a head scratcher due to missing alot of time over a strained hamstring. Rashaad Baker is back in silver and black after a short stint with the Philadelphia Eagles, and he is a solid backup. Michael Huff hasn’t been spectacular, but he has dramatically improved and is finally determined to shed the bust label.

During the 49er game most of the players who made the plays were not on the field at the same time, and based on performance thus far the starting defensive unit would look like:

Defensive tackles: Tommy Kelly, Desmond Bryant. Defensive ends: Greg Ellis and Jay Richardson. Linebackers: Ricky Brown, Morlon Greenwood, and Thomas Howard. Safeties: Hiram Eugene and Jeremy Boyd (there’s no need to go into the cornerbacks, they are as solid as concrete).

Soon teams will have to make cuts to achieve the 53-man roster. I will be anxious to see if the “Cable Company” will pick up what they need, which is a solid defensive tackle/nose tackle to consistently push the opposing center back. Another run stopping defensive end would be welcome too.

The Raiders defense is far from a polished group, but getting rid of Rob Ryan and hiring John Marshall was an instant up grade. He is evaluating players and expect him to put the best players on the field, despite the the order that they were drafted in.

Marshall has to teach this team how to blitz and be assignment responsible. Something Ryan was not willing to do. The preseason run defense has been ugly so far, but in this writer’s opinion, the eventual starters have yet to take the field as a unit.

Oakland Raiders Positional Battles: Let the Competition Begin

It’s been a strange offseason in Oakland. In the past, superstar/prima donna’s with character issues have found a huge payday waiting for them in Oaktown.

After they would sign, we would sit back and watch their lackluster efforts for an entire season, their inflated salary and reputation guaranteed that, despite their hideous numbers, they would start every week. 

After that player retires or moves on, they don’t miss the opportunity to throw the organization under the bus to explain their poor performance during their stay. The next year, another high profile player would be plugged in and underachieve like the one before.

The collateral damage was evident in the players who were drafted. Behind these prima donnas, the players were learning nothing about what it took to be a starter in the league, how hard they would have to work to achieve success.

And so it went for six long years…

 

In the last six years their have been only three exceptions. Nnamdi Asomougha, Justin Fargas, and Robert Gallery (whose numbers are Pro Bowl worthy, yet somehow Gallery still carries the bust label).

Not only did all three work their asses off to shed the bust label, but they became an example of the toughness that it takes to turn a franchise around, but it still wasn’t enough.

Tom Cable became a coach through the same diligence as Asomougha, Fargas, and Gallery showed. With Pro Bowler Shane Lechler on special teams, a common thread was now shared in all three phases of the game, as well as the coaching staff.

Already, in OTAs, the competition is fierce. Defensive tackle Terdell Sands has heard the footsteps of offseason acquisition Ryan Boschetti and drafted “tweener” Matt Shaugnessy. Sands showed up at OTA’s in the best shape in years.

Micheal Huff seems to be making a valiant effort, but to no avail. He still is a step behind and will likely not see the field in Oakland. Incumbent Hiram Eugene, along with Tyvon Branch, are looking over their shoulders at Mike Mitchell, whose college highlight reel consists of almost seven minutes of attempted murder on anyone who touched the ball.

Controversial draft pick Darrius Heyward-Bey and fourth rounder Louis Murphy have given Javon Walker a wake up call. Walker is finally taking the steps to return to prominence and should be healthy for the first time in years.

Quarterback Andrew Walter has shown nothing but contempt for the Silver and Black since being benched in ’06, and with the signings Jeff Garcia, Charlie Frye, and Bruce Gradkowski, JaMarcus Russell no longer can afford to think that he is irreplaceable at any point.

The offensive line was the biggest focus in the free agent market. Khalliff Barnes and Eric Pears Will, at the very least, provide the depth that the line has been lacking, but Cornell Greene, Mario Henderson and Cooper Carlisle will have to have a great camp if they intend on retaining their starting roles.

It’s been a long time since the Raider fans have looked at a roster with this much depth. For once we can look beyond the starters to the developing talent. Injuries are a part of the game and to know that their are players that can step in and be effective has given Raider Nation a comfortable feeling.

Cable has collected a team of overachievers and talent that has been hidden in obscurity. Cable has created an atmosphere that will hold the players accountable in their  preparation.

Cable has a passion for football and bleeds Silver and Black and the players that have lost their love for the game will have to dig deep and find it again or give way. No more free rides.

Raider Nation to NFL Analysts: What? You Didn’t Get The Memo?

Judging from the reaction that followed, when the Raiders chose Darrius Heyward-Bey with the seventh selection, one would have thought that Al Davis had been identified as the shooter on the grassy knoll who allegedly assassinated John F. Kennedy.

Conspiracy theorists, also known as NFL Network and ESPN “analysts,” were somehow caught off-guard and said that the Raiders drafted DHB simply because he ran the 40-yard dash the fastest. That could be the only explanation.

I guess they didn’t get the memo.

The memo that said that the Raiders’ locker room was no longer going to sound like an opera singer warming up.  No more: me-me-me-me.

I guess they didn’t read the first line that said that Deangelo Hall no longer fit Tom Cable’s “team” concept, or the second line that read, “even if you are a veteran receiver and you don’t perform, you will find your way to the bench.”

Did the analysts miss the part of the memo that said, “Just because you are a first round pick, it doesn’t give you the right to start”?

I guess they missed the chapter where Ronald Curry and Gibril Wilson played their final game in an Oakland Raider uniform, punctuating the fact that the Raiders will no longer be a place to collect a paycheck and grumble about their role on the field.

If they only read to the end, they would have seen players like Terrell Owens, Ocho Cinco, Adam “Pac Man” Jones, and Tank Johnson who, according to pro football “analysts” were destined to land in Oakland, were passed over by Davis and Cable without even a glance.

For anyone covering pro football, it should have occurred to them that the Raiders might be looking at a deep threat rather than a possession receiver. A receiver who is actually as tall as he says he is, one who has proven that he is as fast as advertised and a player who will not disrupt the locker room with his ego. 

So instead of picking the best-rated player on the board, the Raiders had the audacity to pick the best player to fill their need. A long-armed, tall receiver who gets off the line quickly and can block very well in the running game. Someone who fits the “Team First” concept that is now the Raiders’ locker room.

When Tim Brown was selected from Notre Dame, the Raiders were criticized for collecting Heisman trophy winners. Now they draft DHB and are being criticized for drafting the speediest guy in the draft. Maybe that’s a good omen…

Since Tom Cable has taken over, he has made it no secret that he wants players who feel they have to prove themselves every week; players with athletic skill coupled with a personality that is determined to work hard and push the players around them.

Cable’s concept was an immediate success in the off season when Nnamdi Asoumougha, Shane Lechler, Justin Miller, Isaih Ekuba, and Hiram Eugene all re-signed. The icing on the cake came when Jeff Garcia signed on the dotted line.

The locker room is now filled with players who feel privileged to play in the NFL. Players who want to play for their coach and for the Raiders. When these players run out of the tunnel and onto the field in the ’09 season, they will be one unit for the first time in six years. They will have each other’s back and they will not be taking plays off and like the Raiders of old.  Players like DHB and Mike Mitchell will certainly be playing with a chip on their shoulders.

Maybe then, the pro football “analysts” will say: “I finally got the memo.”

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