Las Vegas Raiders Thread

You just picked up as bad a pair of hands as there is on the waiver wire in Little. I had serious hopes for him. Never to be. Says a lot that Cleveland drop him when WR is a big need.

Surprised he was picked up so fast. Guy is an asshole too. Always good for 5 yard penalty.

RIP James Garner, one of my favourite actors and a diehard Raider fan, who died over the weekend.

He used to be on the sidelines during Raider games in the 1980s and is pictured here with Todd Christensen(who passed away last November).

Cool jersey featuring Garner here too.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/24629456/look-james-garner-who-died-at-86-was-a-huge-raiders-fan

I heard before that due to Garner's influence, his character, Jim Rockford, was also a Raider fan, but couldn't find any confirmation for that.

I cant see this being a runner. Jerry Jones is a close personal friend of the Davis family. To me, this is more of a negotiating Tactic. I would attach more credence to the reports if it was for Los Angeles. Much bigger market and they have a history there. San Antonio Raiders????? Eugh!

Lirange wrote: »

I have to say Carr impressed me against the Seahawks. I know it's only the preseason but he showed a lot of promise in terms of making quick reads and executing a variety of throws.

As you say it was only preseason, but thats all we have to judge any rookie by so far and it hasn't stopped the so called experts making judgements about the other highly drafted QBs - Bortles, Bridgewater and Manziel. We also don't know whether we have signed the Matt Schaub who was one of the top ten QBs in the year pre-2013 or the Matt Schaub that played so poorly last year that Houston ended up with the leagues' worst record, resulting in them trading him. Based on their preseason play, Carr seems to have outperformed Schaub, but there is a big difference between preseason and its vanilla defences and week one of the regular season, when a rookie QB will face regular blitz packages.

Schaub has looked short of confidence and arm strength, but obviously has a huge edge in experience, while Carr has the greater arm strength and confidence.

Dennis Allen is remaining coy about who his starter is, possibly to keep the Jets guessing, possibly to keep the fans quiet and possibly to deflect any criticism of the decision to sign Schaub (who would possibly be the leagues' highest paid backup). Dennis Allen and to a lesser extent Reggie McKenzie have to win or at least compete this season, so they might feel that an experienced QB like Schaub offers less risk, but if Schaub does start next week, it might not be long before Carr gets his chance.

Personally, if they can get the running game established and play sound defence, I'd go with Carr as Schaub hasn't shown anything to make you want to choose him and so long as you're not throwing Carr to the wolves, he offers much more upside. But at this stage neither QB is Peyton Manning, so they can't afford to fall way behind and expect either to lead them back, but if they can keep the games close, then Carr should start.

Carr has already shown more promise than the last few QBs that the Raiders drafted, so fingers crossed.

Allen and McKenzie have to go for broke. They have the sword of damocles hanging over them, in the most competitive division and they have one of the toughest schedules in the league this year. If your rookie is performing better than your incumbent then at least try him out.

McKenzie and Allen are doomed

I think the Bed and Breakfast offense generated more yardage

It was really awful. For me, this was worse than last season. Last season, we all knew that the management were handicapped financially. This year there is no excuse and the play and coaching were awful. Putting in a rookie Quarterback to a team with an awful running game and a changed line is never a good thing. And the QB play is about the only highlight I can think of. That and the fact that JJ watt had a fairly quiet game, defensively. So now we go through another coaching change. In the last 12 years Oakland has changed owner, GM, Coach, and players. And our record is still lousy. The depressing thing is that its not just one thing, its everything that needs improvement. Other teams can point to areas of optimism or potential. We cant even do that.

I think if they get badly beaten this weekend(which is very possible) then Allen could be fired on Monday, the only thing that might save his job for another week is the fact that the Raiders game the following week is in London and changing coach following an east coast game and prior to flying to London might postpone any decision for a week.

Carr is the only bright spot, the O line can't seem to create running lanes no matter which RB is playing and whether the receivers can't get separation or the O-line can't offer adequate protection, the passing game is anaemic.

James Jones has done okay, but the other big free agent acquisitions on offence haven't performed, while the Woodley, Smith and Tuck on defence have been bossed by the opposing lines and haven't managed much QB pressure, allowing the opposing QBs to exploit the weak corners. I don't know how much the loss of Nick Roach is affecting the overall defence, but as they can't change personnel at this stage, maybe they need to add a few more drastic wrinkles to their defensive playcalling, they can't just keep doing the same thing and hoping for a different outcome.

They need a win urgently to restore confidence or the wheels could really come off and even a change of coach might not prevent the possibility of a 0-16 season Not to mention what sort of score the likes of Denver might put up against them

Safety Tyvon Branch has been placed on injured reserve for the second season running, after it was announced that his fractured foot will require surgery. He missed 14 games last season and will now miss 13 games this season, which must place some question marks over his future.

To replace Branch, the Raiders have claimed Brandian Ross off waivers, having waived him during the preseason, he has travelled to London and may feature on Sunday.

No news yet on what the team may do with wide receiver Rod Streater, who also suffered a foot fracture last Sunday. But he too may end up on injured reserve, when the team get back home.

The Tony Sparano/Greg Olson era begins.........forgive me if I'm not jumping with joy. Nor am I jumping with joy with the prospect of the Chucky era pt 2. 10 years out of the game.....