With week six of the NFL season approaching, the Oakland Raiders once again have to do some serious soul searching. Whilst, technically a 1-4 record doesn't mean they are eliminated from the playoff picture, their completely abysmal performance thus far in 2009 shows that there is no hope of a post season for the Silver and Black.
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(AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, file)
No one from the organization can come out and say that it is time to thrown in the towel on the season, especially with Al Davis around. However, the stark reality is that with the way they are playing, the chances they avoid double digit losses for the first time since 2002 range somewhere between slim and none. In fact, the Raiders look more like a team competing for the first overall pick than anything else.
The Raiders have been between bad and ineffective in all three phases of the game, and despite the assurances from players like Michael Bush saying "every game should be a relatively equal match, we're good." they are far from a good team. Good teams have a bad game. The Raiders have had four straight games where they couldn't even manage 200 yards of total offense. That is not the mark of a good team. That is the mark of a very bad team.
With the allegations swarming around head coach Tom Cable, as well as the pitiful performance of the team on the field, it is becoming a safe bet that 2010 will see the Raiders start the season with a new head coach for the third consecutive year. WIth JaMarcus Russell's seeming inability to get out of his own way, the Raiders very well could and possibly should be considering replacing him as well come next season. Since 2010 will be the 'uncapped year' there won't be any cap to take a hit for his release.
The Raiders have a few options on how they can play out the string.
Tank you very much:
This has been a common second half to nearly every Raider season since 2002. They reach the point where they realize they are just playing out the string, and start tanking. There could be strategic merit to this as they position themselves for a better pick in April's draft, or it could be the players knowing that they are under yet another lame duck regime, so why bother? This happened to Bill Callahan, Norv Turner, and Art Shell. It seemed to happen with Lane Kiffin in 2007, despite Kiffin coming back to start the following season. The Raiders won two straight under Kiffin and looked like they were heating up, only for the story to break about Kiffin being interested in the job at Arkansas and the team to lose their last four.
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If the Raiders were to go into tank mode, it couldn't look any worse than the Raiders have looked so far this season. They have no offense, defense, or special teams. In fact, Antonio Pierce of the New York Giants said, "There was no vibe of trying or effort from the Raiders at all from a defensive standpoint against their offense. We're getting three-and-outs. You don't hear nobody (saying), 'Hey, let's go!' trying to pick the guys up, rallying them, getting guys fired up. There was nothing. It was quiet. A guy gets sacked or somebody gets beat, they just get up. It's not like there's yelling or no kind of (emotion) about the way they were playing."
Mix and match:
Perhaps the Napa district attorney's office doesn't proceed to trial against Cable, and he feels he can fight for another year. He could go hog wild by benching the players who are not producing and try other guys. That method, along with some luck, could light a fire under some of the guys and produce a few extra wins. This would be favored by the fans, as wins are the ultimate goal. However, it would seem that Cable's ability to make changes in the roster are limited from above.
Stay the course:
This is the most likely scenario, as well as Cable's favorite saying. Barring injury, JaMarcus Russell will be starting for the remainder of the season. Darrius Heyward-Bey will likely also continue starting despite his inability to hold on to the ball. (2 catches and at least 10 drops.) Cable will continue with his post game assessments that shift the blame from one unit to another and the losses will continue to add up.
Sadly, with the way the Raiders have been playing, 2006 may be in jeopardy as the plateau of ineptitude not only from an offensive standpoint, but also from standpoint of the win-loss record.
You can also find Patrick Patterson on Thoughts from the Dark Side.
Comments
MAN IM SO SICK OF THIS CRAP AL DAVIS EVERYTHING IS YOUR FAULT EVERYTHING IF YOU HADENT LET GO OF GRUDEN WHO KNOWS HOW MANY MORE AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES COULD HAVE PLAYED IN YOU IDIOT .AL DAVIS YOU ARE THE BIGGEST IDIOTTTTTTTTTTTTT N THE WORLD
I am a die-hard Raider fan, but I believe Al Davis could care less how the fans feel when their team plays bad. I believe, if a team looks as bad as my Raiders have the past few seasons, they should be barred from playing professionally until the get their sh-- together.
Wake up Patrick and everyone else that think the problem is not Al Davis. Davis is the one that is in charge of everything. He Hires the coaches, he drafts the players, he chooses who plays and who sits. Davis is in control and we all see what that looks like. Write about Davis and his inability to as an executive. Don't pass this garbage on as a problem of a player or coach - the whole organization is dysfunctional.
I agree with the other Posters - This is about the man at the top. Davis is no longer effective in the NFL. He should plan the team's transition and sell to a more functional owner. He should see he is ruining his reputation as a winner and developing a more reputationa as a meddleing narcisist owner that can manage himself out of a paper bag.
Hey AL, Im just a phone call away and with an uncapped year coming up let me hire R.Gannon as my asst. and follow my lead in gm duties.
Lets Offload Russell,C.Green,T.Kelly,E.Pears,H.Eugene,S.Routt and go after some veterans and some young draft picks on the
O-Line. What do you think AL?
In the America I grew up in and in the one in which I still live I can't for the life of me understand how Cable has stayed out of jail all these weeks. The assistant coach must be suffering from a combination of fear and Stockholm Syndrome. If this is the kind of "men" they are hiring they will never get anywhere, bullies and pussy willows --the lot of them. Al needs to take some iron supplements. He is just a little too swishy to still be involved with the Raiders if this is all he can come up with while dropping Garcia and re-signing the blob he seems to have a fascination with overweight has-beens. I hear Amy Trask runs things now and she sure ain't no Marge Schotenhiemer.
Good afternoon Mr. Davis,
I'd like to remind you and all of the Raider Nation how it feels to be a winning team again. If you're interested please drop your ego and walking cane, lay down in your luxury suit and allow me to handle business. I'm tired of watching your loser greasy face all over network t.v. and I'm also tired of hearing
the commentators bash you because of your ineptitude. It's time to hire a caretaker and while your at it, please hire a competent GM. I promise to buy you all the Ensure you need as long as you stay away from the phone, players, playbook and most of all stay away from Tommy! I hear he's got a mean left hook!
Al needs to step aside and give someone a total controll deal (like Parcells, Holmgrin, Shanahan etc got). Then we could get a good coach. Cable is not the answer but I cringe to think of who will except the job under the current circumstances, Yikes!! We'll have to hire assistant cordinaters from college again.
In the America I grew up in and in the one in which I still live I can't for the life of me understand how Cable has stayed out of jail all these weeks. The assistant coach must be suffering from a combination of fear and Stockholm Syndrome. If this is the kind of "men" they are hiring they will never get anywhere, bullies and pussy willows --the lot of them. Al needs to take some iron supplements. He is just a little too swishy to still be involved with the Raiders if this is all he can come up with while dropping Garcia and re-signing the blob he seems to have a fascination with overweight has-beens. I hear Amy Trask runs things now and she sure ain't no Marge Schotenhiemer.
WITH THE NUMBER 1 PICK IN THE 2010 DRAFT, THE RAIDERS SELECT, "THE FASTEST WIDE RECIEVER IN THE DRAFT WHO EVER THAT MIGHT BE. aND WITH THE NUMBER 2 PICK THEY SELECT THE FASTEST CORNER IN THE DRAFT.
So you all think I'm an idiot do you. Who made this franchise the most recognized in all of professional sports world wide? You or I?
Who took the Raiders to victory in three Superbowls? You or I? Who gave "Pride And Poise" to the city of Oakland? You or I? Who gave "Commitment To Excellence" and "Just Win Baby" to the Team of the decades? You or I? I'm tired of all you whining stink talking Raider Fans thinking you know the Raiders better than I do. I AM THE RAIDERS! I find the talent! I tell the coach who to put on the field! I call the plays! If we don't win then it's because the coach doesn't get it! Screw him , I'll fire him and hire this Cable guy, or whoever. I am the genius of the Raiders! If Raider fans don't like it then to hell with all of you! I am the Raiders! I AM THE RAIDERS! Press conference is over boys....get lost.
AL I have two word for you . Quinn baby. Quinn for the win make this organization great once again! bring back that silver and black.
just think not to long ago we had veterans from GANNON to TIM BROWN,JERRY RICE, KAUFMAN,BEIKERT,SIMMS,JOLLY ETC...WE HAD PEOPLE WHO KNEW HOW TO WIN. WIN IS THE KEY WORD, WE DONT HAVE THAT NOW, FROM THE TOP DOWN YOU SEE IT IN THE ORGANIZATION, ON THE SIDE LINES NO SINCE OF EMOTION.AS A FAN IAM DISGUSTED TO SEE MY TEAM PLAY WITH NO HEART.WHEN YOU DAWN THAT SILVER AND BLACK YOU SHOULD REMEMBER ALL THE ONES THAT CAME BEFORE YOU!!LOSERS WORK AT LOSING RIGHT NOW THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE IN THE ORGANIZATION LOSERS GOD DAMNIT!!!!!!!!
As David Bowie would say "Ground control to Major Tom". It's official. " The Raiders have hit rock bottom!"
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