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Archive for June, 2010
It's not easy being a wide receiver in Oakland. You'll have to go all the way back to 2002 to find a receiver that caught over 80 passes, the last time a receiver caught 10 touchdown passes was in 2000. This may be hard to believe considering the Raiders love for the deep ball, then again the Raiders haven't given any quarterback a decent offensive line to work with. Pro bowl players like Javon Walker and Randy Moss were so terrible in Oakland that you have to wonder if the movie Super Bad got its title from their play. There is no Tim Brown, ...
Remember when you were watching your favorite horror movie?  At the end of the movie everyone thought that the subject that was creating all the fear was dead, but then, suddenly, a hand protrudes from the rubble paving the way for ten or so sequels?   In this years NFL off season it has been the bony hand of Al Davis that has made the NFL analysts leap in their seats. Written off for dead, ESPN and the NFL network danced and giggled at every move that Davis had made in the last 7 years. Wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey was announced as the Raiders ...
The Raiders have another big-play tight end, and Zach Miller is that "Ghost." This is the third ghost to appear in Raider Nation.  Todd Christiansen appeared in  Raider Nation just a few years after Dave Casper. It was a long time coming this time around. Raider fans have endured tight ends like Rickey Dudley, Teyo Johnson, and Courtney Anderson in the past. Older Raider fans will never forget the play the original "Ghost" (Casper) made during the playoffs of the 1977 season. It was a Willie Mays, over-the-head type of catch. The play was promptly named "Ghost to the Post." I'm sure even younger Raider fans have knowledge of it, as it is ...
The Oakland Raiders are a team on the rise in 2010. After moving on without former No. 1 pick Jamarcus Russell and adding new starting quarterback Jason Campbell, things are very optimistic in the Bay Area. This slideshow is a full 2010 season preview for the Raiders looking at each regular season game with predictions of the outcomes as well. Let's get on with it...Begin Slideshow
Along with my series, entitled "Biggest Strengths of NFL Teams," I will be ranking each position in the AFC West. I am most familiar with the division, as I am a diehard Raider fan. Also, the last line of each ranking is a 'joke'. Whether or not they're funny is almost as perplexing a decision as to what shirt you're going to wear in the morning... To start it off, here are the quarterbacks.   1. Phillip Rivers This is a no-brainer. The guy has the moxie, the arm, and the respect of his teammates. Rivers has a fantastic arm, and puts great touch on ...
In 2009, the Oakland Raiders wide receivers struggled due to unstable quarterback play, an inconsistent offensive line, a case of the dropsies, and overall lack of experience. But, they grew up. When you look at the core of Oakland's wide receivers—Louis Murphy, Darrius Heyward-Bey, and Chaz Schilens—each took their lumps while experiencing substantial growing pains. Murphy definitely showed that he is capable of being a reliable receiver. Whether or not he is a number one option is still the question, but his clutch performances showed that he is not afraid to step up in key situations. Heyward-Bey took the majority of the ...
From the team that brought us the "vertical game," here is a list of the top 10 wide receivers in Oakland Raiders history. I have no doubt that any list of the top 10 for the Raiders will provoke a huge debate amongst the fanbase. But that's a good thing, right? So here are top 10 as I see them, and it can only be a personal view. Whilst statistics clearly play a part, it isn't the only thing that my list is based on. It is also based on what these individuals meant to their team, and what ...
The Oakland Raiders had the worst wide receiver corps in the NFL. Both starting rookies, Darrius Heyward-Bey and Louis Murphy had a case of the dropsies. Chaz Schilens, the most polished wide receiver on the roster, was out for the majority of the season. This year, Oakland's group looks young, promising, and most importantly healthy. There should be a big competition at the wide receiver position, but the question is, who starts? The three main candidates are Chaz Schilens, Louis Murphy, and 2009's seventh overall selection, Darrius Heyward-Bey. First, let's take a closer look at these players.   Chaz Schilens Chaz was drafted in the seventh round by ...
Whether a contract extension, a new agreement with a free agent, a flimsy indenture to a proven elite standout, or a teeming surplus deal with a derailing draft bust, it’s all eligible for this assignment. Note that often the phrase “guaranteed” money comes via the form of roster bonuses, so players must remain on the roster or undergo a team-related injury to collect. So without further ado, I present the 10 worst contracts in the history of the NFL.Begin Slideshow
Things are beginning to heat up between 49er and Raider Nations. The teams that share a world-famous bridge are going head-to-head for the right to call themselves "Bosses of the Bay." Both teams appear to be returning to their former glory with good offseasons and positive changes, but who will come out on top when the 2010 regular season comes to an end? To find out, we have to remember that football comes down to matchups. This squad vs. that squad; this player against that player. The team with the most depth usually wins in the end. In this slideshow, I will not ...