Thats Better......

I have to admit, I was starting to second guess our team going into the Official Dress rehearsal, Game 3, against the Lions. But I have to say, I have seen the light and it speaks of a great season. Let me explain.

Defense, defense defense. What can I say? The Lions may suck at running back, but they are an NFL team and those players get paid to play, regardless of draft position.  65 rushing yards allowed people. Only 65. Against any team, that's good. But so you know it is not a fluke, we rank 3rd in the Pre-Season in Team Defense, 4th against the rush with 82 yards per game allowed, 3rd in Total yards allowed and 5th in pass yards allowed at 153 per game.

I mean this is the Lions. They are a team on the up and up with star players on their team in Stafford and Megatron. Yet Stafford only went 8/10 for 68 yards and Johnson only caught one ball for 7 yards. Not to mention that the Lions only had 14 first downs, 1 by rushing and 13 by passing.

I am putting my money down in Vegas. Mark my words people......... Top 5 Defense this year.

Some of the key players to watch:

Miles Burris - He runs sideline to sideline and looks like a 3 down backer. He has good strength and plays with a very low pad position which will show in his tackle numbers.

Lamar Houston - He is beginning to play more D-Tackle at times and looks like he is going to be a severe challenge for any Guard. He is in the backfield disrupting plays and forcing runners back into his help. If he can play consistent, he will have a career year. 8 sacks min.

Mike Mitchell- He has been playing later in the game in backup for Branch and Huff. I know, you think well that's lower on the totem pole so why worry about him? Well, he will be coming in to rest these guys out and he has been showing that he has slowed down in his pursuit on the ball and is making better decisions on his angles. I like what this staff has done for him thus far, if he can pull it together, he can be the next Jack Tatum. Come over the middle punk asses, I dare you!

Philip Wheeler- This guy has to be the Pre-Season Co-MVP along with Darren. He hustles to the ball, is a sure tackler and has been playing dominant football.

On Offense, I am going against the grain and popular opinion. I think Palmer had a great game. He was on time with most of his throws, made great decisions with the ball and moved the ball up and down the field. The two turnovers were the responsibility of the wide outs who have not played very consistent all pre-season.
He only went 17/26 for 187 yards. I think with a few more games under his belt, our scoring is going to go out of the roof.

Prior finally solidified his spot on the teams depth chart as the 3rd QB. He is quick, has finally shown his touch on the ball, but he is hanging on by the hair on his chinny, chin chin.

Players to watch for:

Rod Streater - Talk about someone fighting for a position. He may have just won himself the 3rd receiver spot. Ford continuously rides the pine with one injury or another, Denerius Moore can't seem to stay healthy either, so I see this guy as the starter on the opposing side of DHB. I think Palmer likes him and I see at least 65-75 catches and 600-700 yards for this guy. Consider him the TJ Houshmenzadeh to Chad Johnson combo Palmer used to throw to in Cincy.

Taiwan Jones - Mr. Freshlegs may be exactly what we have been looking for. He is in his sophomore season and in his first game back showed some flashes of brilliance. If he can pick up 600 yards in a back up role, I would be stoked.

DHB - I think you can finally remove the veil of question on this Al Davis choice. He is starting to pay dividends. Love the acrobatics on the deep ball reaching over the former Raider Justin Miller. He is showing that mentality that he is going to go after the ball, and it is something we have not seen since Tim Brown. 

Criner - He is the red zone answer. Bottom line!

Special Teams-

I will leave it at this, something needs to happen in the next few weeks to get this aspect of the team together. They have played like crap and someone needs to be accountable to staying in their gaps and making tackles. We can't put the defense in the situations they have had to play in. Always backed up to our end zone.  Its bullshit and needs to be fixed PRONTO!

The last game against the Sea Chickens will be a fight for those last few players that will make the 2nd and 3rd stringers and the practice squad. See you Friday. Check back for updates and post game video.

Chaotic View

Post Game Videos - Cowboys Vs. Raiders

Mike Mitchell

Coach Allen

Carson Palmer

 Terrell Pryor

Matt Leinart

This Team Believes!

Big wins don't come often in this league for the Raiders, as most times when we have been down over the past 7 years, we stay down and roll over as who ever the competition steam rolls us at the finish line. For longer then I care to remember, this has been the case. Well ladies and gentlemen, those days are long gone and we are riding the success of a 3 game winning streak, and it looks like those days of old have finally seen our backside and given us a kiss on our arse as we go on our way.

With 2 dominating statistical victories over the previous 2 weeks, an unstoppable Raiders offense, piling up 1,053 yards with ease and our defense allowing just 405 yards and 17 points, we started to take on the image of an immovable force that was to be reckoned with. Well, I think they lived up to the hype this week and showed that there are things in the works here that we as fans can't even really see. We did not back down to the over rated Chiefs when they came pounding on our doorstep right before the half. We didn't cower when the ref's made call after call that went against us when we all know if it was some other team, the call would have went their way. We did not back down from the league who said they wouldn't buy into the hype, like they did all week on the NFL Network in their show the Playbook, BSPN's Countdown, and all of the other Media Outlets who refuse to pay attention because of their hate for the Raiders.

Believe it now SUCKERS!!

Here are the catalysts to our success in the Chaotic View.

Coaching

AP Photo

Tom Cables message all year has been to cut it loose. Let it go and have fun. Well, that seems to be working and the backyard ball the Raiders are playing is breeding feelings of confidence this team has not had in years. And remember, this is a different energy because this team is now one of the youngest in the league, versus the 2002 team that was the oldest of that time. Look at these quotes from Tom Cable....

“We can’t sit around here and feel like, gosh, what a great effort, this and that, or execution and all that. It was a tremendous but it’s just not very clean. What did happen today, a new building block showed up today. And that is, no matter what, no matter how long it takes, we just keep grinding and find a way. And that’s what we did. The thing I’m so, so pleased about was to see us on the sideline and to just feel it, like nobody was backing down, nobody was giving in, and we were just going to keep finding a way. I kept seeing the offensive guys pull for the defensive guys, and vice versa. And it really mattered down there at the end.”

Tell me this isn't the mindset of a humble coach who has his hand on the true vibe of the players on the field. For a coach to notice that we are under performing, and yet still see that stuff going on is huge and shows that the pulse of the team is Tom Cable.

“A new building block showed up today,” Oakland coach Tom Cable said. “And that is, no matter what, no matter how long it takes, we just keep grinding and find a way. And that’s what we did. The thing I’m so, so pleased about was to see us on the sideline and to just feel it, like nobody was backing down, nobody was giving in, and we were just going to keep finding a way.”

The fighting ways of the Raiders are back. A scrappy bunch of misfits, who no one believes in from the outside world, but we will punch you in the face and knock you on your ass until you recognize us. Be ready world, we are not done yet.

Players Swagger

Who means more to the Raider Nation, then this 53 man roster and the boys on the practice squad? Their effort is evident. Their will to win is immaculate. Their no guts no glory approach is inspiring and their perception of each other is forming a cohesion, that like the wedge on a kickoff return, can prove to be impenetrable.



Photo B. Ward - SF Chronicle



Mike Mitchell-

“You see it. I don’t know what it was like a few years ago, but I can tell you last year we don’t win this game,” said Mitchell. " I can say that with 100 percent assurance. You can see the change. Guys, when we got down (last year), it was almost like, Here we go. It’s over, but this year, we don’t care. We’re going to play you until there’s no time on the clock. We’re going to play you, and we’re going to fight you as hard as we can, and that’s what coach Cable has us believing, that’s what we’re doing, and that’s the team we are.”

Trust is a big thing in this league. Trusting the man next to you is doing their job breeds confidence that you don't have to do too much. That is leading to better execution on both offense and defense as guys don't over pursue to make up the negligence of their teammate.

Marcel Reece-

"I commend our defense, because they play lights out night in and night out. One thing that we had to do was try and match their intensity, match their confidence, and match their execution."

Wow. So competition from the opposite side of the ball is taking shape. Remember last year when Jamarcus would go out and flop the game on the offensive side of the ball, and the entire defense was saying, "We just have to carry the team and allow the offense the chance to get the ball again and hope they score some points" Interesting their competing with one another during the game, which shows they are having fun. So important. 

Tommy Kelly-

Photo B. Ward - SF Chronicle

“The Raiders are back,” Kelly said. “Yep, the Raiders are back. We’ve won three in a row. We just had a come-from-behind win against a division leader. We’re back, man.”

Richard Seymour-

"Everybody is starting to see, when we play together the things that we can accomplish. It doesn't matter what the score is, we just continue to fight."

Photo B. Ward - SF Chronicle

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is coming from a Superbowl Champion of the current NFL Era. I think his words are quite evident that the team is moving in the right direction and progressing the way that the New England Cheatriots did when they started to believe and went on their recent run of superior play. They should have still lost the Tuck Rule game, so no props to them.

It was a damn fumble!

The Raider Nation

61,075 fans in the Hole!

Our first sellout in 12 games dating to the 2009 season opener against the San Diego Super Chokers.

Some quotes from an article on the SF Gate from the Nation....

"We're not back," the Gorilla Rilla said. "We never left." I would love if that were true. Some fair weathered fans are jumping on the band waggon, but that's OK, there is plenty of room.

"The fans were off the hook," Raiders coach Tom Cable said. "That's what it's about when a team connects back with its fan base. They're just going to get bigger from here on out."

"It feels like the Rich Gannon days," Dr. Death said. "You just feel the energy. The team has stepped up their game. It's time for us to step up our game."

"The Raider Nation is back", the Violator said. "Be very afraid, A sleeping dog has awakened."

Chaos and Rilla

Raider Nation and Fans of the NFL, The Raiders are relevant!

ATTENTION TO THE OTHER 31 NFL TEAMS , your notice has been SERVED!

As Always, just a

Chaotic View

Seeing Is Believing - Defense

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. The achilies heel. The show stopper. One game they show up, the next they're no where to be seen. Its funny how the first week all 3 phases of the team put it together for a complete team win, was 7 weeks into the damn season. It's often said that the Defense is the quickest part of the team to gel when the season opens. Looks like someone forgot to tell the Raiders that.

Opening game against the Tennessee Titans, the Raiders were sent home with their tails tucked between their legs, allowing Chris Johnson to run for 142 yards and two touchdowns, and Vince Young to throw  for two scores in a 38-13 route. They had 205 yards rushing in that game and held the ball for 31 minutes.

Throwing out the Arizona game, which could have went our way, they lose miserably at home against a good Texans team who also gashed the Oakland rush defense for 249 yards and maintained the ball for 30 minutes.

And who can forget the debocle against the whiners where the Raiders allowed 158 rush yards and gave the whiners over 33 minutes of possession.

There is a trend here. Time of possession and controlling the run!

Here are our stats year to date:

26.3 points per game allowed

26th in the league

331.1 yards per game

16th in the league

192.3 Pass yards per game

5th in the league

138.9 rush yards per game

28th in the league

So, what's our fix to this mess?

His name is Richard Seymore and he has a few buddies that go by the name Tommy, Trevor, Mike Mitchell and Rolando Mclain.

Here are the keys:

Staying true to gap responsibilities. Wrap up tackles in space and gang tackling at the point of attack. OWN the line of scrimmage and do not, I say again Rolando, do not over-pursue the damn play!!!!!!

Stopping the Seattle run game won't be easy, but failing to do so will set up the play action pass and allow the Seahawks to get big plays and control the clock.

In the secondary, I wont even touch on Nnamdi, because that would'nt be fair to the opponent. He is absolutely a shut down corner, hands down. The big key to this game, as Nnamdi will pretty much shut down the resurgent Mike Williams, is Mike Mitchell. This guy has done a tremendous job on some of the best tight ends in the league. Vernon Davis of the 49ers caught only one ball . Antonio Gates caught only two. Being able to cover the tight end and also be aware of the run is key to this defenseive team gelling and performing their roles. Remember, it takes a team effort on defense. ( Oh yeah, I've been wanting to say this for a long time now......

STANFORD ROUTT, YOU SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Seahawks will try to beat the Raiders in Oakland for the first time in nearly 13 years Sunday.Seattle is trying to end a five-game losing streak in Oakland dating to December 1997. Key words there, try and trying. Sorry to tell ya boys, but youre not winning this weekend.

Protecting Matt Hasselbeck, who was sacked five times last week, could also be an issue with rookie left tackle Russell Okung's status in question due to a left high ankle sprain.

Yes I know this is Charlie Whitehurst....and?

I'll say it here as I do when I am watching the game, GET HIS ASS!!!!!!!

PS.....There is only one Nation, The Raider Nation, so someone tell these clowns to stop biting our rhyme.

Losers.

As always just a

Chaotic View