Teams Las Vegas Raiders - The Black Hole

[LarryBrown24]

Re: Oakland Raiders: "The Black Hole"

source

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After the draft it was said that Dallas too opted for players with a focus on desire, commitment, heart etc. Perhaps these two clubs notorious for an obsession with flash may be finally waking up to themselves. New boys Jackson and Garrett seeing the light, and Davis and Jones allowing them to...?

 

[Exe Gesis]

Re: Oakland Raiders: "The Black Hole"

Dallas are still going to have to get thru the Dez Bryant era first, maybe trade him after one or two more indiscretions. It was JR for us that tipped us over the edge.

 

[GeeCats07]

Re: Oakland Raiders: "The Black Hole"

Looks like it was Campbell, DHB and Murphy. Good Schilens wasn't there otherwise he would have made a few clutch catches then pulled every muscle in his body and broken a few bones.

 

[Exe Gesis]

Re: Oakland Raiders: "The Black Hole"

Raiders Issue Rookies Jersey Numbers

36 HB Taiwan Jones
72 OT Joe Barksdale
35 CB Chemdi Chekwa
82 TE Richard Gordon
86 WR David Ausberry
17 WR Denarius Moore
38 CB DeMarcus Van Dyke
61 C Stefen Wisniewski

 

[GeeCats07]

Re: Oakland Raiders: "The Black Hole"

More info about what Campbell and others are doing

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81fdc15c/article/pieces-are-in-place-for-campbell-raiders-to-build-on-2010

 

[Exe Gesis]

Re: Oakland Raiders: "The Black Hole"

Pretty good story for the Raiders...

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/18/richard-seymour-footing-bill-for-raiders-camp/

Bill Williamson of ESPN.com writes via a news release from Maximum Sports Management that Seymour is handling the cost of a four day Raiders camp that include weight lifting, swimming and “nutritional counseling.”

 

[Exe Gesis]

Re: Oakland Raiders: "The Black Hole"

And a pretty good initiative here...

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/18/raiders-have-creative-approach-to-lockout-economics/

According to Jarrett Bell of USA Today, the Raiders aren’t reducing pay or putting employees on furlough. Instead, they want the employees to sell season tickets.

 

[GeeCats07]

Re: Oakland Raiders: "The Black Hole"

Feels like they're really trying to build something here. To get 33 players to attend a mini camp in Atlanta is impressive.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6584864

 

[Exe Gesis]

Re: Oakland Raiders: "The Black Hole"

JerryMac makes a case for Davis to draft Terrelle Pryor in the supplementary draft, and i agree with him...

Full article

I made my case in today’s Bay Area News Group print editions that it’s a no brainer take disgraced Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor in the draft and worry about what position he’ll play later.

That goes for the Raiders and virtually any other team in the league, but when you get right down to it, Pryor would be a classic Al Davis pick.

Pryor’s getting bashed pretty good among talent scouts as being a reach as a quarterback. Maybe so, but a 31-4 record with two BCS bowl wins that included MVP awards is at least worth a look.

I find it remarkable so many people seem to be writing this guy off when he was so comparable to Cam Newton in terms of run-pass skill set and should come at a fraction of the cost in a supplemental draft.

And unlike Newton, Pryor has played a little receiver and looked pretty good doing it.

 

[drd23]

Re: Oakland Raiders: "The Black Hole"

Newton is a far better passer than Pryor, and Pryor will never be a WR because his ego won't allow it

 

[Exe Gesis]

Re: Oakland Raiders: "The Black Hole"

Just consider where other teams have taken players like Newton, Armanti Edwards, Pat White, Vince Young, etc, and really, the measurables pro-offense experience and record Pryor has is certainly equal if not above them. On talent alone justifiable to spend a 1st/2nd on, not this 7th round value people hit him with. He has attitude problems yes. But GMs/Owners often draft guys on that talent ceiling and it's the job of the coaches to shut up and make something of them. Newton for instance. You cant pass up that natural ability, a GM thinks, so coach the ball's in your court. Because there's nothing about Newton that justifies a #1 pick otherwise.

 

[drd23]

Re: Oakland Raiders: "The Black Hole"

Armanti Edwards was drafted by Carolina (hardly a ringing endorsement) in the 3rd round as a WR, not a QB. Pat White is an admitted mistake that Parcells says he would never make again. Newton and Young were better passers coming out of college.

Here is a range of tweets by Greg Cosell of NFL Films on Pryor that illustrates the problems with Pryor as a passer:

Watched 2 T. Pryor games today. Number of things stood out. Pass game principles basic. Predominant 1 read concepts from under center.

More Pryor: Pushed the ball, didn't drive thru throws. Tendency to lift back foot off ground before delivering ball. Reduces arm strength.

More Pryor: Limited pocket feel + presence, impatient + uncomfortable in pocket. One read + then break down. No ability to move + reset.

More Pryor: Poor footwork as he sets + plants to deliver. Little sense at this point of how drop of QB syncs up with receivers routes.

More Pryor: Not naturally accurate. Scattershot. Over-reactive to perceived pressure. No precision to game. A random, unstructured player.

More Pryor: Overall long way to go before any chance of being NFL QB. In 2 games I evaluated showed no attributes that transition to NFL.

More Pryor: Will watch more tomorrow, including bowl game. Really struggled to find traits that project to NFL QB. Average arm + inaccurate

I watched 2 games of Pryor, 7-8 of the other QB in draft. Based on those 2 games, Pryor a late round pick at best. Want to see more.

Finished 4 game study of Pryor: Miami, Wisconsin, Iowa and Arkansas in bowl game. A developmental project. No NFL QB traits at this point.

More Pryor: Those who equate body athleticism to QB skills + tools will see positives. Those who see NFL QB as a craft will not see much.

More Pryor: Many issues that need major work. 2 are average arm strength + erratic accuracy. Little velocity. Can't drive ball. Poor passer.

More Pryor: For those who equate athleticism with QB he's a draftable player. I evaluated him w/late round/free agent grade. No NFL skills.

Major difference between Pryor + Newton is Newton can throw. Big arm, drives the ball. Newton can make NFL throws, Pryor at this point can't

Pryor's advantage in supp. draft is no expectations. Can be a #3 QB + perhaps develop over time. Still a major question but ideal situation.

https://twitter.com/#!/gregcosell

Couple these problems with a questionable personality for a QB in that he lacks leadership, is used to getting his own way, lacks work ethic and surely you can see why people are saying he is a late round prospect.

I agree with you that on potential alone he would be taken in a higher round, probably 3rd/4th IMO but I personally wouldnt touch him with anything higher than a 5th rounder. You expect 1st-4th rounders to contribute in their rookie season (unless you are a top team that can afford to draft pure BPA and have good vets at all positions, kinda like Pittsburgh and draftees on defense) and Pryor is a developmental #2/#3 QB at best for a couple of years

I think that Buffalo or Philly are probably the best case scenarios for him. both have a current starting QB and a QB minded HC

 

[Exe Gesis]

Re: Oakland Raiders: "The Black Hole"

That's just Greg Cossell's opinion. I'm sure you'll find analysts who slam Newton hard too.

I reckon, despite all the negatives, he's a davis type of talent and as a raider fan i'd love to have pryor on the team...like jerrymac said, get him on the team first, and THEN discover what his position could be. But there's talent there as an athlete/footballer worth getting imo. Especially as he'll come very cheap.

 

[drd23]

Re: Oakland Raiders: "The Black Hole"

Sure its one person's opinion, but its a pretty damning one coming from a guy who watches film for a living. Combine that with the reports of GMs and HCs not being impressed with what they've seen and it doesnt bode well for Pryor'c chances of ending up as a good NFL starting QB.

That said it only takes one team to fall in love with that athletic potential for Pryor to go high. He is certainly an Al Davis type of prospect, but Im not sure how big of a plus that is.

As I said, I wouldnt want my team to take him with anything higher than a 5th rounder (as 5th rounders are only 50/50 to make a good team's final 53 man roster anyway so if Pryor doesnt work out, you aren't losing much)

 

[Exe Gesis]

Re: Oakland Raiders: "The Black Hole"

I can't argue with that post of yours. He has football issues and character issues that he can improve on. He'll come cheap to whomever takes a punt on him, and that's the gist (cheap no financial risk). And then it's anyone's guess what may or may not come of him.

 

[Exe Gesis]

Re: Oakland Raiders: "The Black Hole"

Happy Birthday to Al Davis, turning 82 on July 4th.

A couple of articles...

JerryMac's Blog

Here’s a column on Davis posted on the Inside Bay Area Web site by longtime columnist Martin Snapp which illustrates the “you’re with us or you’re against us” approach the Raiders owner had with the media back in the 60s.

 

[sherrinorburley]

Re: Oakland Raiders: "The Black Hole"

Mr. Davis has his birthday on Independence day, brilliant. Hopefully at least 1 SB win before he turns 100

I like this viewpoint -

As John Madden has said hundreds of times, the NFL is a better and more interesting league when the Raiders are good.

 

[Pied Piper]

Re: Oakland Raiders: "The Black Hole"

All our draft picks signed up and ready to go...

http://www.ibabuzz.com/oaklandraiders/2011/07/28/ot-barksdale-signs-all-draftees-under-contract/

Reckon we'll get a vet WR from the FA ranks?

 

[Exe Gesis]

Re: Oakland Raiders: "The Black Hole"

We tried for Ochocinco but he went to New England instead.
There'll be some more vets we'll try for in the coming days.

 

[Pied Piper]

Re: Oakland Raiders: "The Black Hole"

Yeah I saw that. There are some big names still up there but I doubt any will end up at Oakland.

Realistically, someone like a Mike Sims-Walker?

 

[Exe Gesis]

Re: Oakland Raiders: "The Black Hole"

In the wake of Asomugha leaving Oakland, I reflect on Raiders Football, how we invented bump and run coverage (Brown/McCloughan), the NFL putting in a rule to stop it (it's not illegal in the NCAA), and the great tradition of Raider shutdown corners. It's a process-line in Oakland, we'll see more great shutdown corners in the near-future.

Here's a good old article from the '80's about Lester Hayes...

Violent and Eloquent

The phone rings in the locker room at the Oakland Raiders' practice facility. Long distance for Lester Hayes.

"Another stickum for you," says the equipment man as he hands the phone to the Raiders' left cornerback.

"Yes," says Hayes, listening and then nodding to the equipment guy to verify the nature of the call. "Uh huh. No, it won't interfere with my intercepting the ball. I've explained this before. The value of the stickum was to prolong the bump in bump-and-run coverage. No, I don't think it'll curtail my effectiveness."

A few more yesses and nos and uhhuhs and the call is over. Hayes puts the phone down and sighs. "Ever since they outlawed stickum in March, that's all I've been asked about. Every 20 minutes. Is this the end of Lester Hayes? I wish they'd talk about the 19 interceptions I had last season."

 

[drd23]

Re: Oakland Raiders: "The Black Hole"

Talk about commitment to your favourite sports team

 

[manureid]

Re: Oakland Raiders: "The Black Hole"

Is his goatee tattooed on as well?? hahahaha

 

[Exe Gesis]

Re: Oakland Raiders: "The Black Hole"

*Free safety Michael Huff said he was amused by all the stories during the offseason that had him headed to the Dallas Cowboys or somewhere else. He said he and the Raiders had an understanding that he would be back once he was allowed to re-sign. It wasn’t that he didn’t have any other offers, though.

“I could have (left), yeah, but like this whole time I didn’t take any visits, didn’t take any phone calls or nothing,”Huff said. ”They called, but I didn’t answer.”

Huff said he still is the free safety. However, he intends to “do it all.”

“Whatever the defense needs, I’ll do it,” Huff said. “I’ll play dime, I’ll play a little linebacker in there – I’m not really too big but I’ll do anything to help the defense. I just want to win. That’s the main thing is to win and make plays.”

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this is why i can understand people are disappointed/angry with Nnamdi.

also, the way Al teaches DBs he likes to have all Safeties and Cornerbacks skilled in both areas, so that they're interchangeable, injuries, but also on downs, and having multiple CB or Safety sets.

Huff was a CB converted to FS, but i wouldn't be surprised to see Huff end up at CB opposite Routt with Nnamdi leaving. Having Branch and Mitchell at safety. We're chasing Cromartie, but he brings too much baggage and possibly too high asking price given Chris Johnson is just as good anyway.

The whole DB set up will be an interesting development thru camp anyway.

 

[GeeCats07]

Re: Oakland Raiders: "The Black Hole"

I'm interested to see how long we groom Pryor to be a QB. Do we give him a year to see if he has the chops to be a QB then if he isn't working out turn him into a WR? Four year contract shows we are committed.