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September 10, 2008

Oakland's Version of Dumb and Dumber

Just read the Oakland Tribune's Jerry McDonald's latest blog and it's really disheartening.

It's about Kiffin and the defense. And guess what?

He has no say in what the Raiders do defensively.

Surprised?

I'm not.

Here's an excerpt from McDonald's blog in BOLD

(full version: http://www.ibabuzz.com/raidersblog/2008/09/10/kiffin-leaves-defense-to-rob-and-al/)

– Lane Kiffin has his own ideas about defense. He is simply powerless to implement them. He leaves that up to defensive coordiantor Rob Ryan and owner Al Davis, who meet weekly to formulate the defensive game plan.

Kiffin made reference to blitzing one time in 10 third down plays during his Tuesday press briefing, and when quizzed Wednesday about bringing more pressure, he essentially shrugged his shoulders and said it wasn’t his call.

“We talk about it early in the week. Rob and the owner are in communication,” Kiffin said. “For the most part, I let Rob do his thing over there. He has a belief in certain things and he has a conversation with the owner about that. So that wasn’t the way the game plan ended up the other night.”

Kiffin was asked about bringing more pressure, given the belief that they have a talented defensive backfield.

“I’m not going to get really into if I was the defensive coordinator what I would do because that really doesn’t matter,” Kiffin said. “I’m the head coach, I oversee everything and I control what I can control. Do I have the exact belief we do on defense? No, but it’s hard to have the exact belief that we do. So it is what it is.”

Translation _ it was made clear to Kiffin when Ryan was retained to butt out when it comes to defense. Kiffin talked glowingly last year of the Cover 2 scheme as run by the Indianapolis Colts and coach Tony Dungy, the same defense his father runs as defensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Sad, sad, and more sad.

Davis' antiquated defensive philosophy -- get natural pressure from the front four defensive linemen -- worked when the Raiders had penetrating defensive tackles (Rod Coleman, Grady Jackson and Warren Sapp to name a few) but the 2008 crop isn't half as good.

Rob Ryan has to have blitz packages in his playbook but since Big Al won't let it happen, it won't.

Davis and Ryan, Oakland's version of Dumb and Dumber.

Posted by Ray Aspuria at 07:27 PM | | Comments (808)

Just as expected, right?

Anyone that knows me knows I'm a Raider fan. They also know I was telling them that Oakland was about to get embarrassed on national TV. And tada! They were on Monday night.

The reason was simple -- owner Al Davis.

I wasn't overtly worried with the offense. It's a work in progress with second-year QB JaMarcus Russell basically a rookie this year after a holdout stunted his growth. Add in a lackluster receiving crop, an offensive line that specializes in run blocking, not pass protection and a ground game that is basically their primary method of moving the chains.

The defense was another concern though.

All the off season additions looked great on paper, defensively. Davis opened up the checkbook and banked on free agent corner back DeAngelo Hall and strong safety Gibril Wilson. Both were used and abused by the Denver Broncos.

Hall was turned inside out and left clueless by a rookie, again, ROOKIE, wide receiver in Eddie Royal. The Virginia Tech speedster should have handed Hall some butter. Because after Monday night, Hall is one thing -- burnt toast.

But the real concern was Davis and his philosophy of natural pressure from the front four and no blitzing. Look a what happened? No blitzes and Cutler has a squeaky clean jersey and looked like John Elway out there.

There is no way I believe Rob Ryan -- the son of legendary defensive guru Buddy Ryan -- doesn't have a sound blitz package in his playbook. He probably does. But guess who makes the call on that? Davis.

It's been reported in the Contra Costa Times that Ryan makes all the calls on defense on game day and Davis has no say. But without a doubt, Ryan is a yes-man and he isn't about to cross the line with the be-all, end-all in Oakland -- i.e. Davis.

I haven't said it in my columns or entries, but everyone is right.

Davis and his antiquated ideals need to go, for the sake of the Raiders.

Don't get me wrong, Davis was a pioneer in his prime. He was the architect of a very successful and ruthless Raiders team of old.

Now, he's a stubborn old fool, hell bent on proving his obsolete ways still work.

Well, it doesn't.

And as long as he's the man calling the shots, the Raiders will always be, the laughing stock of the NFL.

It's going to be a long season. At least it will be interesting.

I wonder how many ways Oakland will find to lose games this season. We all got reason No. 1 on Monday night against Denver. That would be a loss by not playing any defense.

If this horrid play continues, how long will head coach Lane Kiffin remain the head coach. If the defense can't step up, how long will Ryan be around?

Davis didn't hire James Lofton solely for the purpose of being the wide receiver coach. There's something else there. I mean the man interviewed a few times for the head coaching position.

I bet Davis is waiting for the opportune moment to blame the Raiders' inability to actually play on Kiffin, fire him, and install Lofton as the head coach.

Prediction Time:

AFC West

1. San Diego Chargers -- As long as LaDanian Tomlinson is running the rock for the Super Chargers, they are hard to beat. And the weak AFC West -- the Broncos looked good, but that was against Oakland -- should be ripe for the picking for Tomlinson and crew. Even without all-pro mauler Shawne Merriman, the defense will be fine.

2. Denver Broncos -- With Brandon Marshall returning to the lineup and the emergence of Royal as a weapon, Denver could give San Diego a run for their money. Keyword "could". The defense looked good against Oakland but they don't have enough to take down Philip Rivers and the Chargers.

3. Oakland Raiders -- They were BAD on Monday, but the team has the talent, young talent, to succeed later on down the road. Russell should grow into the role and running back Darren McFadden will become more effective as the season wears on. The defense's pride was severely gored against Denver, but Ryan should get his troops back on track, if Davis lets him.

4. Kansas City -- Losing Brodie Croyle will hurt and putting up a good fight against the Tom Brady-less Patriots was a good sign. However, the Chiefs don't have the weapons on the outside to bring down the Chargers or the Broncos. And the battle of the bad teams (Oakland, KC) will go to the worst team, I believe. The Raiders will sweep this seasons series.

Posted by Ray Aspuria at 12:02 AM | | Comments (655)