Tom Cable, Randy Hanson and a Few Other Questions

Well, this should make for an interesting week of practice.

On one side of the Internet, the story leaked out via AOL Fanhouse that Tom Cable sucker-punched one of his own coaches in a hotel back on August 5 or 6.

From the general sounds of it, Cable broke the third-year assistant coach’s jaw, drawing a lot of ire from the haters and a lot of respect from the fans.

Then this last detail surfaced, from ESPN:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4405681

In a nutshell, Cable never hit the guy.

But from the article below the video, a he said/she said storyline was passed down through the media, involving every Raiders fans’ favorite hater, Chris Mortensen.

While it runs light on sarcasm, it seems Chris was running on the “fact,” from a friend of a friend, Daniel Jeremiah.

From the sounds of it, the injury occurred when Cable flipped the assistant coach from his chair and hit a cabinet nearby. This in turn was caused by Hanson swearing at John Marshall, the defensive coordinator for the Raiders…probably not the more intelligent thing for Hanson to do.

And of course, Cable’s opinion on the matter is that it is an internal issue. But he would also not confirm or deny if Hanson was still employed by the Raiders.

From what is being seen, several media people were looking for a story. Nancy Gay, the author who broke the story on Fanhouse is known for bias. Chris Mortensen as well, loves to report on anything anti-Raider.

It also doesn’t make a lot of sense for a coach to come out in the media 10 days after an event of this nature takes place.

Was he coerced? Or was he hoping to get a settlement for damages from Al Davis and Cable?

It should be interesting to see how this turn of events plays out.

Raiders’ Tom Cable Cold-Clocks Assistant Coach, Lands Randy Hanson in Hospital

It appears someone got a little angry.

Tom Cable, head coach for the Oakland Raiders, sucker-punched assistant coach Randy Hanson, causing enough damage to send Hanson to the hospital, according to FanHouse.com and NFPost.com.

It is not yet known what the injuries are exactly or what caused the argument.

Randy Hanson was best known for being suspended by Lane Kiffin last September for comments made following a season-opening loss to Denver.

Some wonder if a comment at the wrong time ticked off Cable enough to land a clean shot, or if Cable was getting tired of hearing excuses about Stanford Routt.

Stay tuned, more news as it becomes available.

Raiders-Cowboys: Analyzing Oakland’s 31-10 Victory

With the first preseason game in the books, the Oakland Raiders now have their first test out of the way.

Coming into this game, several things had to be addressed. Would the Raiders be able to move the ball? Would the defense be able to hold up? Could the players limit penalties or foolish actions that have limited their ability to score in the past?

After last night’s game, the Raiders learned that while they can do much, they can also do much, much more.

The answer to the first question, can we move the ball, was obvious.

In the air game, JaMarcus Russell passed for 50 yards on six completions. On one drive, the Raiders were helped by a pass interference call, moving upfield by 47 yards. As the second team rolled in and players started were being replaced, the yardage continued to add up, with Bruce Gradkowski gaining 161 yards with a touchdown pass.

Another QB later, and Charlie Frye was in the game, compiling 80 yards and another TD on seven out of 12 passes. Overall, Oakland had 291 yards passing, with only one sack allowed.

On the ground, the Raiders ran through the cycles.

The Raiders gained 176 yards on 26 plays, with two TDs coming on the night. Darren McFadden rushed only four times but had 63 yards, including a breakout 45-yard scramble late in the first quarter. Gary Russell picked up the second most yards, 44 on 11 carries, plus a TD, followed by Louis Rankin’s 31 yards and Michael Bush with 18 on two carries.

The big item to remember is that Dallas played with its first team in the first quarter. Once the second string entered the game, the game would obviously get easier, which it did.

The second question, regarding our offense, showed a few question marks.

On the first drive, the Cowboys were swamped right out of the gate, with Greg Ellis remembering his former teammates. Once the drive was done, so was Nnamdi Asomugha.

The result was a little surprising, but obvious, as Stanford Routt was gutted by Tony Romo’s passing game. On four completions, Routt’s lackluster ability was on display, helping the Cowboys score their only touchdown of the night.

Along the lines, some instances of better tracking of the football, finding ways to break down sweep routes, or better formation design may help limit opponents’ running games. Felix Jones was slowed down a bit, with 14 yards and a single catch, but with the team this early along, adjustments can be made.

In the terms of question three on penalties…you could have asked if they were playing flag football out there.

The two teams combined for 25 penalties, ranging from the boneheaded holding call on Cooper Carlisle to the “oops” by Seth Wand. The Cooper penalty was a lingering problem from last year, as it probably killed the chance of a TD, moving us from a 2nd-and-goal at the two to a 2nd-and-goal at the 12.

At least you could say the Cowboys were equally gifted at getting flags, as several penalties helped Oakland’s drives, to the frustration of Wade Philips and Jerry Jones.

What does this all mean for the Raiders?

For one, the team needs Asomugha’s skills. If he had remained in the game for a full quarter, it’s a question if the Cowboys would have even reached the end zone. If the penalties can be reduced to the point where they won’t kill drives at the wrong time, it could lead to more points.

Secondly, some players did well to help their efforts to make the final team.

Nick Miller, who has been impressive in camp, hauled in a 48-yard pass, just missing a TD.

Louis Murphy helped his cause with two catches for 40 yards, including a 22-yard pickup.

Probably the biggest surprise for most was Michael Huff making the only interception of the night, plus David Dixon recovering a fumble.

As for those who didn’t help their chances, starting off the list would be Stanford Routt. He may be good as an emergency starter, but he was burned repeatedly by Romo’s passing game.

Cooper Carlisle would be on this list, but due to the lack of options in replacing him (Mark Wilson and Marcus Johnson…who?), it isn’t really practical to swap him out.

Seth Wand, with his penalty, is already considered a long shot to make the club.

Jason Horton, another long shot, was slapped with a PI call late in the game.

Next game up for the Raiders will have them staying in the area, but going to Candlestick for a matchup with the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday, Aug. 22, 5:15 PM local time.

Again, the Raiders won at home to start the preseason, 31-10.

Oakland Raiders Vs Dallas Cowboys: A Preseason Primer

For some people, preseason games are a waste of time and talent, and delay the real football to be experienced.

What some people fail to realize is those same games are the only door some free agents have to either start a dream of playing in the NFL, or seeing a final door close.

For the ones who want to see starters, some clubs, out of safety reasons, will keep their first team in for a quarter or less. The risk of losing a multimillion dollar player is a horrible gamble to take.

And how many people would second-guess Cable if Darren McFadden wound up destroying a knee on a worthless play in a meaningless game?

But for those, like Luke Lawton, Nick Miller, or Seth Wand, every down they can get in a game can either be seen by other teams or by Cable. A good night of blocking by Seth, and he might make it past a round of cuts.

If Nick can turn into a viable threat, he might join a growing trend in Oakland, looking to younger players.

And Luke, a backup fullback is either hoping to hang on if Lorenzo Neal or Oren O’Neal have any problems…or he can hope to catch on elsewhere if needed.

For some players, there is another platform waiting, on the practice squad…but the limit puts some players in a small boat waiting for the call.

So, what should we look for in the first game of the year?

Number one is the starters in the first quarter. Coach Tom Cable wants to try out players, see how they work in true game conditions. If the team looks weak, more work could be needed in the practices.

When the second team starts to play, they will be taking on two opponents—the Cowboys, and their own teammates. A good play on defense, and a player could move up the roster. A blown play in coverage and someone might become expendable come the day of cuts.

For the Raiders fans, each of the four games will be a good chance to learn about the team, see who can be expected to make the opening day roster…or who will be watching the game at home with other fans around the country.

As for who is going to win…I could see the Raiders winning the contest. But I want to see how our first team handles against their first team. It’ll give us a preview of the important game to be held on Thanksgiving, in the regular season.

Michael Crabtree, Al Davis, and the World of Fuzzy Logic

Some people wonder if Michael Crabtree will ever play a meaningful game for the San Francisco 49ers.

Work leaked out, first from ESPN, then via Yahoo Sports, that Michael Crabtree was contemplating sitting out a year and re-entering the NFL Draft, according to David Wells, an adviser to Crabtree at this time.

What? Why?

In his mind, it’s all about the money.

Before the draft, everyone and their father-in-law who covers it put together a draft chart, on who should go where, who should be the number one WR, who should be the number one QB, etc.

After having his ego inflated by guys like Cris Carter, Mel Kiper and his own coach in college, Michael Crabtree believes that HE IS THE ONE.

Better than the GOAT, Jerry Rice?

Better than T.O.?

To this end, he went to the 49ers and was asking to be paid like it.

The 49ers, however, come from the more logical world of draft picks. A number 10 pick obviously isn’t going to net a deal worth $20 million a year.

But that’s where Crabtree’s fuzzy logic comes in.

In his mindset, he feels he should be paid and paid well, BEFORE he ever has to catch the ball, put on a uniform, and run a route in a game. In his mind and ego, he feels that right now, his college stats should earn him a fat contract with the bells and whistles.

So, the stalemate goes on.

How does Al Davis play into this mess?

As noted by the Yahoo article by Dan Wetzel, most of this is Al’s fault. By declining to take the WR Crabtree and selecting Darrius Heyward-Bey, Michael Crabtree was no longer the first WR to be taken in the NFL.

Also, after dropping a nice sum to sign DHB to a five year deal, it forces the 49ers and Michael Crabtree into a game of wills.

Who is going to flinch in this case? The team that needs a WR? The WR who wants big money?

Right now Al Davis is probably enjoying the soap opera he created, all because he didn’t go with the NFL media line that Crabtree was the guy to pick.

And with Crabtree’s ego problem, Al’s choice in the draft is looking better every day.

The Gloves Are Off in Oakland, Time for Some Contact Sports

The players that have been going through the motions these last four days will finally get their chance to put the lessons to use.

Monday, Oakland’s players will get to put on the pads and take turns using what they learned earlier: how to get an inside cut on the linebacker, how to block out a blitzing player, how to call an audible, how to shift, and how to work as a team.

For some, the last four days have been pointless. After all, camps like the 49ers across the bay are already in a hitting mode. For others, it’s a good refresher course to get everyone on the same page.

I, for one, think the learning experience helps these players…you wouldn’t drop a fourth grader in with a Calculus class and expect him to know everything, would you?

By having everyone working together, with the same knowledge and mindset it gives Tom Cable a better level to measure the players with. Who catches on faster, does better, will get the better chances to make the team. If a guy can’t grasp that jumping offsides is a bad thing, his next stop might be better suited for Kmart.

Two items to watch: Derrick Burgess may be on the way out; however, considering he is still on contract for one more season, Al could simply fine him out for his last year’s salary. I don’t think anyone will be willing to give two draft picks, rumored to be a third and a fourth, for a disgruntled end who is in decline.

Secondly is Tommy Kelly…for the money, you’re paid to play well, not to jump offsides every game. The drawback? Behind him is William Joseph on the depth chart, or Ryan Boschetti…unless either player steps up, Oakland is going to be giving away first downs from Kelly.

(Much thanks to Jerry McDonald, David White and Adam Schefter via Twitter for information on camping habits)

How To Properly Hate on The Raiders(Humor)

As we’re dying for training camps to open up around the NFL, there hasn’t been a lot of good, valued news worthy to work with. Even more, people in various sites have been trying their hands at putting together “fantasy” guides, guessing at what teams are going to win it all or how the season plays out.

Depending on which way you go, some pick the Raiders to be a surprise playoff team or they could go 3-13, lose the head coach and Al dies of an obscure variety of diseases.

One thing that has been coming up repeatedly is comments made, articles written or opinions shot out at the speed of light, either lacking fundamental football knowledge.

For these unenlightened, I offer this handy writing guide on hating on the Raiders. Granted, i’ve heard all the arguments. I’ve followed the team long enough to know that hate carries over from generation to generation … and apparently, stupidity.

Number One: Hate the Owner – This is a simple task, as Al Davis is older than your dad, older than your grandpa and probably richer than both combined. Hating rich people is easy but it’s a bonus that he’s also the owner of the team you love to hate. This guy is 80 years old, has to be on his last leg and has ran the team like a track meet. Speed is key, but doesn’t win games. Could also mention he looks like the grim reaper.

Number Two: Those last six years – The Raiders have been hideous the last six years. Don’t let Raider fans know that the last 10 years, they were in a Super Bowl, that they have more wins in the post-season than any other AFC West team….only fractured stats count!

Number Three: Mess up a name – With the players the Raiders have, if you can’t spell it, they must not be that good. Asohumga? Nmanidi? Who? Ekajagubja? Isn’t that the guys who invented dog food? And if they try to correct you, just tell them it doesn’t matter..Aso only had one interception last year.

Number Four: Those Super Bowl Wins are so long ago – Be sure to use this in a San Diego voice, with the valley girl inflection. Like your team is so icky, you should just lose and die. Those wins were like so long ago … the Chargers are so great now, who wants a trophy? We like don’t need one!

Number Five: Deflect blame of bad seasons – Don’t let Raiders fans know your team was worse than the Raiders, either on a single season, or for a decade … all that matters is what is going on right now.

Number Six: All Raider Nation Fans are criminals – This is the only way they can get fans into the stadium to fill out those vacant seats. Remember, at least 300 people are attacked every football game in Oakland … it’s a violent place and no one is safe!

And Number Seven: These are all facts – If ever questioned on where you get your data, claim some obscure, imported periodical from a third world country where you got your data from. Not only will the article sound more official … your fellow Donkey, Bolt or Chef fans will respect your ageless wisdom and intellegence.

Feel free to reproduce this article, pass it among the unenlightened. Maybe the quality of articles will improve.

Or maybe not.

Jumping the Gun in Oakland: Don’t Write Off JaMarcus Russell Just Yet

Judging by the last couple of articles on the subject, there are some fans who would throw away JaMarcus Russell faster than a Todd Marinovich jersey.

Then there are some who think the guy should get a chance to prove himself. After all, he’s only started 16 games in his short career.

Looking at the Raiders more generally, there have been both good things, and not-so-good things, that have come out of waiting and watching.

Our first candidate was drafted by the team hoping to make a new start. An older quarterback had just left, and a couple older QBs were on the roster, yet within three years he would be starting for the Raiders.

Meet Marc Wilson.

Marc, for all his blundering, wasn’t horrible, but he wasn’t the long-term solution. In and out of the lineup he would come and go, either injured, ineffective, or the fans simply hated him. He was playing with a tremendously gifted running back, a great tight end, and a defense—that while aging—still went to two Super Bowls in the 1980’s.

Wilson didn’t play in either game.

He finished his career with the Raiders at 31-19, spending most of it watching Jim Plunkett, seven years his elder, lead the team to its brightest moments.

Could Marc Wilson have done better if Jim Plunkett was forced to sit on the bench in 1981? Could Marc Wilson have done it all in 1983? The doubters say no…I do too, because seeing him play, he sometimes looked lost out there.

Our second quarterback came to the Raiders from a good school, holding a national title, and was a second-round pick in the late 60’s. Playing for a team that contained the greats of Daryle Lamonica and George Blanda in front of him, he must have wondered when he’d get his shot.

In three seasons, from 1970 to 1972, he had a 1-1 record, with five touchdowns and eight interceptions. But the team stuck with him, watching him play as a team was assembled around him. By 1973, he started 11 games and went 8-2-1.

Ken Stabler had arrived in the NFL. Lamonica, at age 32 was in his second to last season with the club, effectively setting Stabler in as the face for the Silver and Black.

Now, what would have happened if the team had decided Stabler wasn’t good enough to lead the team in 1973? What if they would have cut him loose and tried to draft someone else? What if they felt they might get another three-to-five years out of Lamonica?

For all we know, they might had tried to bring Cotton Davidson out of the mothballs one more time, as bad as he was for the franchise.

The primary thing with a QB is giving the player a chance to perform. Allowing him to steady for several seasons will be the only way to know if he’s going to succeed, fail, or if there’s more that can be done to help him.

As good as the Raiders were in the 1970s, it’s anyone’s guess if Lamonica stayed healthy if he could have gotten a ring in 1976. As well, most people feel Marc Wilson was too green to play in 1980, let alone lead the team to the Super Bowl.

With Russell, the team hasn’t been the best the last six years, which is why we were able to draft him. I think as the team improves, you’ll get a chance to watch what he can really do for the team.

Give the JRuss his chance.

Why Does the Raider Nation Enjoy the Past? We Have One!

In recent months more and more has been said regarding the Raiders, their owner and their titles fading into the distance. Their trophies, three in Oakland, one as an AFL winner, and one for LA, are part of a long-ago heritage. Many also like to think that this present darkness, to borrow a phrase, will go on for some time.

Probably the biggest problem with the present mindset is that the Raiders live in the past. We can spout stats like the best of them but little can translate into the present day team, consisting of some of the players who were not even born.

Why is it then, that so many of us hold onto the faith so tightly, like a long lost friend?

Because we have a history….and one we’re very proud of.

Some clubs weren’t even in existence when the Raiders dismembered of the Redskins in 1983. Teams like the Panthers, Jags, Texans, and even the Titans, who would have to rewind to the Oilers, still haven’t won a Super Bowl ring.

Look at back what the Patriots had, before Tom Brady, and you’ll find a dysfunctional franchise, with 0-2 Super Bowls, chaos in the coaching ranks, and a team destroyed by the Chicago Bears.

San Diego, Atlanta, New Orleans, are still looking for that first ring. The Chargers and the Falcons both made an appearance but the Chargers got run over by a 49er team and the Falcons found out how hard it was to stop John Elway’s retirement party.

Telling the Raiders they live in the past is in itself is a contradiction in terms. If we are living in the past, how about Dolphin fans? They haven’t won a title since 1973. The Chiefs? 1969.

Or we could simply list the clubs that have made a habit of losing the big games… Minnesota with four losses, along with the Bills.

If you feel that the Raiders haven’t done anything worthwhile recently, how about them Bears? 1-1 in the Super Bowl Era… last win, was 1985.

Oakland spread out it’s winning, with Super Bowl wins in 1976, 1980 and 1983. We had playoff appearances in 21 seasons.

Tell me that a club is only measured by the last six seasons and you just showed how narrow-minded you are, and that you must be truly ashamed of your own team’s past.

The Al Davis Thoughts: Do You Think Al Could Be Worse?

Old. Senile. Destructive. Task-Master. Evil. Satanic.

And these are the descriptive words that can be used to describe Al Davis that can be printed.

Time and again people will make the comment that Al Davis is destroying the team, doing all the wrong things, living in the past…some would accuse him of ruining the California budget, if they could find evidence supporting it.

But what a lot of people fail to realize…things could be a whole lot worse. For your amusement and debate, I present the current situations…and how they could be a whole lot worse.

First of all, was Al’s spending spree in 2008.

Al Davis went out and spent about a quarter of a billion dollars to field a team for Lane Kiffin. Sadly, Kiffin apparently could have cared less, set this model to self-destruct and did everything possible to get fired.

How could this have been worse? Easy. Al could have tightened the purse strings, made it completely impossible to bring in anyone and forced Lane Kiffin to work with the already depleted team. By the end of August those who still remained, uninjured would have been butchered in the season.

Secondly, Al Davis hasn’t named a GM, leading to issues of communication problems. When everything has to flow through the man at the top, issues of contract problems, holdouts and no one to bounce problems off of can lead to rebellion in the ranks.

How could this be worse? Easy…can you imagine having Matt Millen in there?

Thirdly, Al Davis in this last six years has built a team with a record for 11+ losses in consecutive seasons. With bad drafts, poor production and a lack of true organization, this team can’t get any better.

How could this be worse?

Even easier….what if the Raiders were truly this bad for the last 49 years? No Super Bowl wins, no division titles, no Hall of Famers…..nothing? Instead Oakland has those great years, those trophies, those titles…and a lot of busts in the Hall of Fame in Canton…including one for Al too.

Fourth up, Al Davis can’t draft to save his life. He never finds any talent, he can’t find anyone who is a pro bowler and his word is law.

How could this be worse? Easy…he could trade any potential star as soon as he’s showing signs of greatness, trade out those first round picks for nothing in return and completely forget where he’s drafting, ala Vikings.

Lastly, can this man keep a coach longer than a year? Can this guy possibly find anyone else to coach this club? Davis has been a joke for years, maybe Al Davis should just name himself the coach…

How could it be worse? Easy. Could you imagine having three head coaches in one season? Or how about having to put up with a coach that had a winning percentage of .298? Marion Campbell was such a coach, who led the Falcons and Eagles for nine years.

Nine years, with no winning seasons. As for Al Davis being the head coach…would be worth the price of admission. Not to mention he has a higher winning percentage than Norv Turner.

Things could be a lot, lot worse, in Oakland. Try to look at the positive things…might improve your outlook on life, too.

« Previous Page — Next Page »

NFL Sport Channel Latest

• Just How Far Would You Go?
• Sorry Rex, But It Isn’t Happening
• Super Bowl Predictions: Five Stat-Free Reasons Why the Eagles Will Reach The Super Bowl
• Seahawks Attempt to Turn Corner With Heavy Pursuit of Pete Carroll
• Bill Cowher Unlikely to Coach in 2010