Skip to content

ErinOak.org

Erin's Oakland Sport Picks

Archive

Archive for December, 2013
The Oakland Raiders face an uphill battle in their Week 14 game against the New York Jets, and it’s not just because the Jets have the NFL’s top-ranked run defense. Dennis Allen’s team hasn’t won in the Eastern time zone since 2009 and may be without its top two running backs for the game. Darren McFadden failed to practice for the second straight day since suffering an ankle injury last week against the Dallas Cowboys. Rashad Jennings is still recovering from a concussion and has yet to pass the required tests mandated by the NFL. Third-stringer Jeremy Stewart also hasn’t practiced ...
The Oakland Raiders' Week 14 matchup sees them traveling to New York for the second time in the 2013 season, this time taking on the struggling Jets. The Raiders have had a number of disappointing losses thus far and have been a much more competitive team than their 4-8 record shows. Sunday's matchup would provide them with their best chance yet to break out of their losing ways on the East Coast, and it's the perfect opportunity to show the progress they have made in just one season. Despite the Jets' dominant defensive front, the rest of the team has had a tough ...
Strong safety Tyvon Branch practiced Wednesday for the first time since suffering ankle and leg injuries in Week 2. That’s significantly good news for the Oakland Raiders, who have had major problems at the back end of their pass defense most of the season. Since entering the NFL as a fourth-round draft pick in 2008, Branch has developed into Oakland’s best defensive back and one of the top safeties in the NFL. He was a Pro Bowl alternate in 2011 and made a career-best 146 tackles in 2012. Not surprisingly, the Raiders have sorely missed Branch in the secondary. Brandian Ross, a converted ...
When it comes to evaluating wheeling and dealing around Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane, few steadfast rules apply to the discussion. Days after trading for relief pitchers Jim Johnson and Luke Gregerson and outfielder Craig Gentry, clearly indicating an all-in approach to winning big in 2014, another trade rumor emerged involving a Beane player. This time, per Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, a major contributor was rumored to be exiting Oakland.  Any discussion involving Yoenis Cespedes will cause a stir, especially within the context of the moves made by Oakland earlier in the week. If the A's are truly interested in ...
In the last 48 hours, the Oakland A's have been quite active, setting themselves up nicely to finally advance past the American League Division Series for only the second time since Billy Beane became general manager. The A's official website has the scoop on the Dec. 2 wheelings and dealings. Oakland signed veteran pitcher Scott Kazmir, via Jane Lee/MLB.com, and then later the same day, the team swapped Jemile Weeks for All-Star closer Jim Johnson (also via Lee). Less than 24 hours later, Ken Rosenthal tweeted that the Texas Rangers sent outfielder Craig Gentry and pitcher Josh Lindblom to Oakland in ...
Although the Raiders' 4-8 record hardly has the team where they wanted to be in the standings at this point, it does little to diminish the significant strides they have made and how competitive they have been throughout the 2013 season. Sunday's matchup on the road against the struggling New York Jets may be the lone winnable game remaining on the Raiders schedule—it's one they need badly. If the defense continues to play the way they have so far this season, they should be able to take control against a Jets offense that has scored just six points in their past two ...
The Oakland Raiders haven’t fully committed to Matt McGloin as their starting quarterback for the remainder of the season. It just seems that way. What happens after 2013, however, is anyone’s guess. One day after Oakland’s Week 13 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, head coach Dennis Allen gave McGloin a lukewarm endorsement and said the undrafted rookie had played well enough to stay in the lineup. At the same time, Allen also noted that the Raiders still want to see more of Terrelle Pryor, who was the team’s starting quarterback until suffering a right knee sprain against the New York Giants on Nov. ...
For the first time in a while there isn't "50 feet of crap" between everyone else and Oakland. Also, for the first time since anybody can remember, the Oakland A's seem to be making some serious moves this offseason. And for the first time in a long time, the A's may gives fans reason to again scream the famous phrase of late A's announcer Bill King, "Holy Toledo!" Yes, the same Oakland Athletics who were seen as merely a Triple-A team from 2007-11, finishing four of those five seasons with sub-.500 records, who have won the American League West pennant the last two ...
Dennis Allen insists he isn’t worried about keeping the Oakland Raiders motivated, even though their hopes of ending a decade-long playoff drought are dimming with each passing game. At 4-8, the best they can do is finish .500, and even then it might not be enough. The schedule isn’t much in Oakland’s favor. After flying to New York this week to play the Jets, the Raiders close out the regular season with a string of games against AFC West opponents: Kansas City, San Diego and Denver. Here’s a look at some of what you need to know heading into the Raiders’ Week ...
For the fifth time this season the Oakland Raiders built a lead they couldn’t hold. The continued meltdowns in the second half might point to even bigger issues for coach Dennis Allen and his staff than just figuring out who the starting quarterback will be. For the record, Matt McGloin will be the starter for the fourth straight week. Allen confirmed that when meeting with reporters a day after the team’s 31-24 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving. Allen also continued to stand by his team despite a fourth loss in five games that dropped the Raiders to 4-8—just one win ...