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MODS PLEASE LOCK | The Oakland Raiders 2015 Season Thread: Week 17 @ Kansas City / 7-8
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Things are looking up 
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http://www.sfchronicle.com/raiders/...hp?t=3debcfabe40a4808f6&cmpid=twitter-premium
The Fall of the Oakland Raiders (warning: LONG read, credit to reddit u/GipsySafety)
The Fall of the Oakland Raiders (warning: LONG read, credit to reddit u/GipsySafety)
I had been working on this writeup for a while, collecting data and info, but it's not looking like I'll ever put it entirely into a form I like. So here's the writeup as i have it now.
If someone is working on the Raiders in the 2000s for /r/nfl[1] , then feel free to cobble and grab anything from this you'd like.
In 2000, the Raiders were loaded. They had a great team that was on the verge of breaking thru. in 1999, they were 8-8 but each game they lost was within 7 points and many were lost on extremely poor field goal kicking. As a result, the Raiders drafted Sebastian Janikowski details[2]
Sebastian Janikowski
With his cannon-like leg, Janikowski was thought to revolutionize the kicking position. 40 yarders would be chip shots and 50 yarders would be knocked down with regularity. This would allow Gruden comfort in his conservative, run-first offense.
But it didn't work out like that. As with most rookies, Janikowski's rookie year would be a trying one and it would several years before he matured into a consistent threat. In 2000, Janikowski's FG% was only 68.8%, including 9/18 from 40+ yards. In comparison, Joe Nedney (the PK the Raiders released for Janikowski) was 89.5% including 10/13 from 40+ yards.
2001 may have be even more crucial. Janikowski's performance was improved, 82.1% overall and 7/11 from 40+ yards. BUT, there were 2 huge games.
Week 12 v ARI. Janikowski misses a 41 yard FG in the 2nd quarter. Raiders lose 13-10 in overtime.
Week 14 v TEN. Janikowski missed 3 FGs, 40yds, 33, 42. Raiders lose 13-10.
and then in the final game against NYJ, Janikowski was injured and replaced by Brad Daluiso, who missed an extra point and a 28 yard field goal. The Raiders lost 24-22.
At the end of the year, the Raiders were 10-6 and won the AFC-West. But those 2-3 games played a huge role in the Raiders' playoff positioning. 10-6 was good enough for the playoffs, but not good enough for a bye week or home field. The 11-5 Patriots had a bye and home field.
Imagine, just one or two made field goals that season and The Tuck Rule game would have been played in Oakland instead of in Foxborough. What could have been!
The exact reason that Janikowski was drafted #18 overall was to make these field goals. note : Joe Nedney in 2001 had another down year with a 71.4% rate and only 9/17 from 40+ yards.
It really wasn't until around 2009 when Janikowski started to show his value. In 2009-2012, from 50+ yards :
6/8
4/7
7/10
6/9
23/34 on 50+ attempts in 4 years and a 67.6% rate.
Youth and Veterans
What most fans will recall about the Raiders of the 2000s is that they were an aging team that sold out the future to make "One Last Run" to the Superbowl in 2002. That has some truth to it, which is why its the persistent thought that remains, but the truth is more varied and interesting than that.
The team from 2000-2002 was loaded with a mix of youth and veterans and talent at all positions. Offensively, defensively, and with Janikowski and Lechler the special teams was now stable and the team was ready to make the leap to the top of the AFC. The aging veterans were the high profile ones :
Gannon (37)
Brown (36)
Rice (40)
Trace Armstrong (37)
John Parrella (33)
Rod Woodson (37)
Bill Romonowski (36)
Lincoln Kennedy (31)
Charlie Garner (30)
Tyrone Wheatley (30)
Zack Crockett (30))
But the team had infused youth into this team and there were still a host of players in their prime or entering their prime :
Marques Tuiasosopo, QB, 23yo, 2nd round pick
Ronald Curry, WR, 23, 7th
Jerry Porter, WR, 24, 2nd
Napoleon Harris, LB, 23, 1st
Phillip Buchanon, CB, 22, 1st
Derrick Gibson, S, 23, 1st
Langston Walker, OT, 23, 2nd
Matt Stinchcomb, OT, 25, 1st
Mo Collins, OG, 26
Barry Sims, LT, 28
Frank Middleton, OG, 28
Darrell Russell, DT, 26, 1st
Charles Woodson, CB, 26, 1st
Eric Barton, LB, 25, 5th
Rod Coleman, DT, 26, 5th
note : age listed is for the 2002 season
The problem was not age, it was talent. The team had spent a number of high draft picks to set up the team with youth in needed positions, but as these young players were called upon, they would fail in some manner or other. By 2010, only Langston Walker would remain.
The Raiders' secondary was a strength. 23 yo Charles Woodson was entering his prime and 34 yo Eric Allen was showing he still had a couple of good years left. 31 yo Eric Turner was as good as ever and showed why Bill Belichick drafted him #2 overall. Anthony Newman at SS was serviceable.
Eric Turner
Most fans don't remember E-Rock and that is a crying shame. Think of the safety lineage and the fantastic players that have manned that position in the NFL over the years. Eric Turner fits almost perfectly into the slot between Ronnie Lott and Sean Taylor. In many ways, E-Rock was Sean Taylor v1.0. In his years as a Cleveland Brown, Baltmore Raven, and Oakland Raider, Turner excelled at either FS or SS and was dominant either ranging for the ball or in bringing a powerful hit.
He was the #2 overall pick by Bill Belichick's Cleveland Browns in 1991 (behind Dallas' Russell Maryland) and was an impact player, racking up huge tackle numbers as well as leading the league in interceptions in 1994. One year after the Browns moved to Baltimore in 1996, the high-priced Turner was cut loose and Al Davis grabbed the 29 year old in what must have been a Dream Come True. From 1997-1999, Turner solidified the Raiders' defensive backfield.
In April of 2000, rumors swirled that Eric Turner was sick and that it was very serious. The Raiders organization and Turner himself came out to deny those rumors, but even with that the rumors persisted. Only a few weeks later, on May 28th, 2000 Eric Turner died of intestinal cancer.
The sudden death of Eric Turner created a tremendous hole in the Raiders' secondary and a huge need at the safety position. For 2000, the short-term solution was to sign 2 free agents : 30 year old Marquez Pope and Anthony (son of Tony) Dorsett. These were stop-gap solutions at best and these two players were better known for the plays they surrendered than any plays they made; in fact, Marquez Pope will probably be singularly known for surrendering Shannon Sharpe's 96yd TD rec in the Playoffs
In the 2001 draft, safety was not just a need, it was a desperation. In that desperation, the Raiders drafted Derrick Gibson out of FSU. Were Al Davis able to wait one more year, he may have been able to transition from Eric Turner to Ed Reed, but as it was, Derrick Gibson was yet another physically talented athlete who could not perform in the NFL.
The Raiders would continue to struggle to find safeties. Rod Woodson provided a relief for 2 years, but then Jarrod Cooper, Stuart Schweigert, Michael Huff, Derrick Gibson, and Tyvon Branch would give the Raiders' CBs little help.
The next 4 picks following Gibson were interesting :
Ryan Pickett, DT
Reggie Wayne, WR
Todd Heap, TE
Drew Brees, QB
The reason this is interesting is b/c it was known at the time that Gruden was begging Davis for a QB to develop behind Rich Gannon. The way the story goes is that in the 2nd round (pick #59), when Davis drafted Marques Tuiasosopo, he said to Gruden, "Well, there's your QB." WOuld have/Could have the Raiders' future fortunes been different if Gruden had been able to convince Davis to take Brees? If Eric Turner were still healthy, would Davis have been amenable to taking the QB in round 1? With Gruden and Gannon, would Brees have fit right in and grown into type of the QB he is today?
Leon Bender
In 1998, the Raiders used the #31 pick (in those days, it was a 2nd round pick) on Washington DT Leon Bender. On June 10th, before training camp, Bender was found dead due to a Seizure Disorder. He was known to have epilepsy for which he was taking medication.
The Raiders medical knew of the epilepsy and had determined that with medication, it should not be an issue. The death was thought to be a "fluke" incident.
Bender was not slated to be a superstar, but Davis had high hopes for him; loved his raw athletic ability, his work ethic, and his hunger to improve. Davis' eye for DTs at the time was very good, having drafed Chester McGlockton, Darrell Russell, and later round gems like Rod Coleman and Grady Jackson.
If he had just grown into a solid player, he would have proven valuable in the 2000s as the Raiders' struggled with some issues
Darrell Russell
In 1997 Al Davis wanted Orlando Pace. Period. And if Peyton Manning had not decided to return to Tennessee for his senior year, Davis may have had him. But as things went, Oakland offered their 1st (#10), 2nd (#39), 4th (#107) and WR Darryl Hobbs to the Jets for the #1 overall pick + 6th rounder. Bill Parcells turned the offer down and so
Al Davis offered it to the Saints and thus traded up to the #2 position.
It was obvious that Davis wanted Pace and so the Rams then traded 1st (#6), 3rd (#67), 4th (#102), and 7th (#207) for the #1 pick. side note: Jets had traded into the #6 slot and were in position to draft the "second best offensive tackle in the draft", HOF Walter Jones, but then traded that pick away for LB James Farrior (Pick # and RB Leon Johnson (4th round). Whatever the trade value chart may say, in hindsight, there's no making up the value between Walter Jones and James Farrior.
When the Rams took Orlando Pace, Davis could have taken Walter Jones if he was so fixated on the position, but instead, he took the 2nd best player on his list : Darrell Russell. And it was hard to blame him : 6'5", 320 lbs, and runs a 4.8s 40 yard. pre-draft article[3]
While Russell was an impact player in his first 3 years, he started to falter in 2000 and then in 2001, he was suspended for the final 4 games for failure to comply with the League's drug test. Later, he tested positive for a banned substance and was suspended for 2002. The Raiders would release "Drug Russ" and over the course of a couple of years, a position of strength became a position of need.
In 2002, the fill-ins at DT were veterans 29 yo Sam Adams from BAL and 33 yo John Parella from SD.
In 2003, Sam Adams was done and so what should have been led by Darrell Russell and Leon Bender was instead 33yo Dana Stubblefied, 34 yo Parrella, Rod Coleman, and Terdell Sands.
Barrett Robbins
Fans remember the 2000-2002 Raiders fondly as an offensively explosive team led by Rich Gannon and 2 HOF WRs Jerry Rice and Tim Brown. Jerry Porter, Charlie Garner/Napoleon Kaufman, Ty Wheatley, Zack Crockett, and Jon Ritchie may also figure into those memories.
But what fans may sometimes forget is that the Raiders' OL was what made those teams so effective. Gannon was great, but having 4-5 seconds to throw really helped. That OL was anchored by 2-3 fantastic players. 30yo RT Lincoln Kennedy, 34yo LG Steve Wisniewski, and 28 yo C Barrett Robbins.
Wisniewski was a Raiders' icon for his time, but 2001 was his final year. Lincoln Kennedy was aging quickly and the 30yo barrier was a tough one for him. Having great players like this on the OL allowed for Barry Sims (LT), Frank Middleton (RG), and then later Mo Collins (LG) to play and form an effective unit.
Wis retired after the 2001 season. Lincoln Kennedy lasted thru the 2003 season.
BRob should have had 5-7 more very good season left to transition the OL to another unit. But that fateful night 1/25/2003 prior to Superbowl XXVII, whatever Demons came to Barrett Robbins have tormented his ever since. He did play one more season (2003) but was not the same player.
In the span of 3 years, the Raiders went from one of the most formidable OLs in all of football to perhaps one of the worst :
Barry Sims, LT
Brad Badger, LG
Adam Treu, C
Jake Grove, RG
Robert Gallery, RT
and with the failed draft pick of Gallery (he would eventually become quite effective as a LG), the Raiders' OL would not recover and would be a monumental weakness for the decade and beyond. BRob wouldn't have single-handedly converted that OL into a good unit, but he would have been able to provide some stability at a key position and allowed an anchor point to build around. When the Raiders moved Jake Grove (and later Samson Satele) to C, the problems multiplied.
Jerry Porter
In 2002, Jerry Rice did not lead the Raiders in receiving TDs. It wasn't Tim Brown either. It was 3rd year, 6'2", 225 lbs, 4.4s 40yd, former QB, former DB, out of WVU named Jerry Porter.
As a Big Slot receiver, sandwiched between two Hall of Famers and in the Pass Happy Bill Callahan/Marc Trestman variant of the Jon Gruden offense, Porter was allowed to learn the position and grow. An enviable place to be.
At the time, it looked like Porter was the future and would take over as Brown and Rice aged out of the league. 2004 would be that time. Tim Brown went to Tampa for his final year and Jerry Rice was traded to the Seahawks.
In Norv Turner's offense and with QB Kerry Collins, Jerry Porter responded with
2004, 64 rec, 998 yards, 9 TDs
2005, 76 rec, 942 yards, 5 TDs
The future looked bright, indeed. But in 2006, Art Shell replaced Turner as HC and Jerry Porter did not respond well to Shell's hardline approach. Porter's attitude decayed and he became about as prima donna-ish/diva-ish as imaginable, going so far as to wave dollar bills at the fans while inactive (Coach's decision) on the sidelines.
Was it Art Shell's fault? Was it Tom Walsh's offense that de-railed Porter? Was it just Porter showing his true colors? Notable that Porter rebounded a bit with 700 yards receiving in 2007 (from a combination of McCown, Culpepper, Jamarcus), but then went to Jack del Rio's Jacksonville and was never heard from again (11 rec/181 yds in 10 games with David Garrard).
Charles Woodson
The Raiders have always been built on speed. But Al Davis really treasured size-and-speed in his outside players (CBs and WRs). He liked fast guys; he LOVED Big Fast Guys (tm).
And Raiders' teams of lore were built on CB tandems. Soul Patrol featured Willie Brown and Skip "Dr Death" Thomas. The 80s teams were built on Hayes and Haynes. The 2000s and beyond were supposed to have Charles Woodson anchoring it on one side until Davis could fill the other side.
drafted #4 overall in 1998.
It took a little while, but in 2003, Davis would find that backfield mate for Woodson : 6'2", 210 lbs CB Nnamdi Asomugha.
But in the three years they were on the team, Davis' dream duo would rarely play together. Asomugha would grow into an NFL starter over his first 2 years and then in his 3rd year, when he finally won the starting LCB job, Woodson went down with an injury after 6 games.
If it were up to Al Davis, Woodson would have been a Raider for Life. A top tier talent, a fantastic playmaker at a position of prime importance to Davis. Add to that, the cred for having the Heisman trophy (over Peyton Manning) and it's a dream come true.
But in the years leading up to 2005, things were growing increasingly problematic and contentious between Woodson (or at least Woodson's agents) and Davis. Rumors began (and persisted) of Woodson's enjoyment of the Bay Area nightlife and his increasing partaking of marijuana (some fans nicknaming him "CWeed"). His work ethic, his commitment to studying and preparing for opponents were reportedly (rumored) to be not quite good. In 2003, at age 27, he was being called "immature". And topping it off, he was increasingly having difficulty staying healthy. Shoulder, fibula, leg, broken leg. Games started from 2002-2005 : 7, 15, 12, 6.
During this time, Woodson was paid a premium. Under the old CBA, top draft picks earned a mint and CWood was the #4 overall pick. That 6 year contract expired in 2003 and then he received 2 consecutive franchise tags. In his years as a Raiders, Woodson was paid at the top end of the CB salary scale.
As his rookie contract was setting to expire and as Woodson's "issues" were arising, Woodson's agents were growing increasingly contentious in their relations. Not just with Al Davis and the Raiders, but the agents were problematic throughout the league.
In the early/mid 2000s, Woodson's agents were anathema to many GMs and fans. "The Poston Brothers" (Kevin and Carl) were renowned for extremely adversarial tactics that sometimes went against even the player's wishes.
In 2004, he was given the Franchise Tag ($6.8M), almost the same as Orlando Pace's 1yr/$7.02M. Woodson responded by staying healthy and playing 15 games.
As the 2005 season was starting, the Raiders placed the franchise tag on Woodson for a second time, this time it was the NON EXCLUSIVE version, allowing Woodson to seek out another team.
Al Davis (and Bruce Allen) always played the Salary Cap game as close to the limit as possible. Every offseason reports that the Raiders were 10M or so over the cap and then by training camp, a couple of restructures and suddenly the Raiders were fine.
In 2005, CWood's franchise tag amount was ~$10.5M. But the Raiders would not need to account for that until the tender was signed.. Presumably, Davis was preparing to work his magic on the books before having to deal with Woodson, one way or another.
At this point, Woodson (and the Poston bros) sealed his fate with the Raiders by signing the Franchise Tag Tender. By signing the contract so quickly, it immediately forced the Raiders to account for a sudden $10+M cap hit. This type of maneuver put Davis in a difficult position and essentially ended Woodson's (first) career in Oakland.
Woodson wanted out. He forced himself out. He got out.
In a slight miscalculation, the market for Woodson in 2006 was not as robust as he had expected. Some fans may remember the feeding frenzy when Asomugha went on the market. For Woodson, it was much quieter. Woodson did not want to go to Green Bay; he was used to the Bay Area and was looking for a Big City to go to. But since NO ONE ELSE offered him a contract, he took what he could get. 7yrs/$52.7M including bonuses and incentives (and a Superbowl ring).
And the Raiders moved on with Nnamdi Asomugha manning that position.
The fortunes of the Raiders' future did not lie with Charles Woodson. When he left, the team was already struggling and for some fans, it was a welcome relief to save the cap hit from that position. But had things worked out just a little bit differently, had Woodson wanted to stay or had he not chosen the Poston Bros to represent him, things may have turned out differently with Woodson and Asomugha paired up.
NOT because it made that much of difference defensively (though it is a hell of thing upon which to build), but because the Raiders may have been spared from Davis chasing after another CB to pair with Asomugha and drafting 2 CBs in 2005 to potentially replace Woodson :
Fabian Washington #23
Stanford Routt #38
If Woodson and the Raiders had a long-term contract in 2005, would Al Davis have been willing to draft Aaron Rodgers at #23? (and would Rodgers have turned into a premier QB without Mike McCarthy or would he have turned into a higher-drafted Andrew Walter?).
Coaches
2000 Gruden
2001 Gruden
2002 Callahan
2003 Callahan
2004 Turner
2005 Turner
2006 Shell
2007 Kiffin
2008 Kiffin/Cable
2009 Cable
When discussing the coaches of the 2000s "continuity" is often brought up. With 6 coaches in 10 years, there's no way to build up any continuity and cohesion. In actuality, the problem was less one of retaining a coach for 4 or 5 years, but in acquiring talents HCs in the first place. Likely no one would argue that Callahan should have be retained after 2003. He went on to be Nebraska's head coach, was fired after 3 years, and then returned to the NFL as an OL coach. Norv Turner's 2 years of 5-11 could easily have been 4 or 5 years, also at 5-11. The prospect of Art Shell for 4 years (and possibly 8 total wins) is a mind-numbing one.
The more interesting stories at the time were the coaching prospects that turned down the job or refused to interview with Al Davis.
In 2005, Payton interviewed and reportedly, the deal was all-but-done for Sean Payton to replace Norv Turner, but Bill Parcells talked him out of it. LInk[4]
In 2006, which may have been the nadir of the Raiders since Al Davis took over, both Ken Whisenhunt and then-Louisville Head Coach Bobby Petrino turned down the Raiders. Art Shell was not chosen to coach the Raiders, he was the fall-back; in fact, Shell said that he took the job as a favor to Davis.
In 2007, Davis wanted the coach from USC. Not Pete Carroll (though if there were a chance, Davis would probably have gone for it), but Offensive Coordiantor Steve Sarkisian. When Sarkisian turned down the Raiders, Davis hired the other USC coach : Lane Kiffin.
In some beautiful alternate future, Sean Payton and Drew Brees lead the Raiders to a Superbowl.
Who knows what would have happened had some things gone right instead of painfully wrong for the Raiders? Leon Bender and Eric Turner don't die. Barrett Robbins doesn't go over the edge. Darrell Russell stays out of drug trouble (and other things). CWood buys in long term with the Raiders.
That's in addition to Jon Gruden working his way out of Oakland and several "Can't Miss" Prospects failing in the most spectacular manner :
Robert Gallery was a better prospect than Joe Thomas.
Michael Huff was a bigger, faster, stronger Earl Thomas.
Darren McFadden was one of the most undeniably exciting RBs.
Those unanimously lauded picks were mixed in with the Jamarcus Russell (who was also a viable prospect for the #1 pick at the time) and Darrius Heyward-Bey.
One of the most interesting stories is Jamarcus. While the main narrative will always be his failure to put in the effort and the hiliariously embarrassing story of the blank DVD, there is an aspect of "what if?" that lies upon his story as well. For him, Uncle Ray was his surrogate father.
In 2008, Jamarcus had a meager statline :
15G, 53.8% completion, 2400 yards, 13 TDs, 8 Ints
In April of 2009, Jamarcus' Uncle Ray died and Russell regressed terribly and became reportedly more apathetic. This was also when the reports (rumors) of his "sizzurp" use began.
His 2009 statline was terrible :
12G, 48.8% completion, 1287 yards, 3 TDs, 11 Ints
2008 may have been just a bit of a mirage, just a little blip of some potential in the future that never would actualize. Or it may be difficult to account for a young man who has all the material wealth and has lost the one person that had any real meaning to him.
Could Jamarcus have had a future if Uncle Ray had survived a few more years?
There's no easy one-line explanation for how the Raiders fell from grace, going from loaded Superbowl team to pathetic franchise that has to beg for someone to coach them. It's a multitude of things, some were mistakes, some were miscalculations, and some were just strange occurences that may not ever happen again like that.
If someone is working on the Raiders in the 2000s for /r/nfl[1] , then feel free to cobble and grab anything from this you'd like.
In 2000, the Raiders were loaded. They had a great team that was on the verge of breaking thru. in 1999, they were 8-8 but each game they lost was within 7 points and many were lost on extremely poor field goal kicking. As a result, the Raiders drafted Sebastian Janikowski details[2]
Sebastian Janikowski
With his cannon-like leg, Janikowski was thought to revolutionize the kicking position. 40 yarders would be chip shots and 50 yarders would be knocked down with regularity. This would allow Gruden comfort in his conservative, run-first offense.
But it didn't work out like that. As with most rookies, Janikowski's rookie year would be a trying one and it would several years before he matured into a consistent threat. In 2000, Janikowski's FG% was only 68.8%, including 9/18 from 40+ yards. In comparison, Joe Nedney (the PK the Raiders released for Janikowski) was 89.5% including 10/13 from 40+ yards.
2001 may have be even more crucial. Janikowski's performance was improved, 82.1% overall and 7/11 from 40+ yards. BUT, there were 2 huge games.
Week 12 v ARI. Janikowski misses a 41 yard FG in the 2nd quarter. Raiders lose 13-10 in overtime.
Week 14 v TEN. Janikowski missed 3 FGs, 40yds, 33, 42. Raiders lose 13-10.
and then in the final game against NYJ, Janikowski was injured and replaced by Brad Daluiso, who missed an extra point and a 28 yard field goal. The Raiders lost 24-22.
At the end of the year, the Raiders were 10-6 and won the AFC-West. But those 2-3 games played a huge role in the Raiders' playoff positioning. 10-6 was good enough for the playoffs, but not good enough for a bye week or home field. The 11-5 Patriots had a bye and home field.
Imagine, just one or two made field goals that season and The Tuck Rule game would have been played in Oakland instead of in Foxborough. What could have been!
The exact reason that Janikowski was drafted #18 overall was to make these field goals. note : Joe Nedney in 2001 had another down year with a 71.4% rate and only 9/17 from 40+ yards.
It really wasn't until around 2009 when Janikowski started to show his value. In 2009-2012, from 50+ yards :
6/8
4/7
7/10
6/9
23/34 on 50+ attempts in 4 years and a 67.6% rate.
Youth and Veterans
What most fans will recall about the Raiders of the 2000s is that they were an aging team that sold out the future to make "One Last Run" to the Superbowl in 2002. That has some truth to it, which is why its the persistent thought that remains, but the truth is more varied and interesting than that.
The team from 2000-2002 was loaded with a mix of youth and veterans and talent at all positions. Offensively, defensively, and with Janikowski and Lechler the special teams was now stable and the team was ready to make the leap to the top of the AFC. The aging veterans were the high profile ones :
Gannon (37)
Brown (36)
Rice (40)
Trace Armstrong (37)
John Parrella (33)
Rod Woodson (37)
Bill Romonowski (36)
Lincoln Kennedy (31)
Charlie Garner (30)
Tyrone Wheatley (30)
Zack Crockett (30))
But the team had infused youth into this team and there were still a host of players in their prime or entering their prime :
Marques Tuiasosopo, QB, 23yo, 2nd round pick
Ronald Curry, WR, 23, 7th
Jerry Porter, WR, 24, 2nd
Napoleon Harris, LB, 23, 1st
Phillip Buchanon, CB, 22, 1st
Derrick Gibson, S, 23, 1st
Langston Walker, OT, 23, 2nd
Matt Stinchcomb, OT, 25, 1st
Mo Collins, OG, 26
Barry Sims, LT, 28
Frank Middleton, OG, 28
Darrell Russell, DT, 26, 1st
Charles Woodson, CB, 26, 1st
Eric Barton, LB, 25, 5th
Rod Coleman, DT, 26, 5th
note : age listed is for the 2002 season
The problem was not age, it was talent. The team had spent a number of high draft picks to set up the team with youth in needed positions, but as these young players were called upon, they would fail in some manner or other. By 2010, only Langston Walker would remain.
The Raiders' secondary was a strength. 23 yo Charles Woodson was entering his prime and 34 yo Eric Allen was showing he still had a couple of good years left. 31 yo Eric Turner was as good as ever and showed why Bill Belichick drafted him #2 overall. Anthony Newman at SS was serviceable.
Eric Turner
Most fans don't remember E-Rock and that is a crying shame. Think of the safety lineage and the fantastic players that have manned that position in the NFL over the years. Eric Turner fits almost perfectly into the slot between Ronnie Lott and Sean Taylor. In many ways, E-Rock was Sean Taylor v1.0. In his years as a Cleveland Brown, Baltmore Raven, and Oakland Raider, Turner excelled at either FS or SS and was dominant either ranging for the ball or in bringing a powerful hit.
He was the #2 overall pick by Bill Belichick's Cleveland Browns in 1991 (behind Dallas' Russell Maryland) and was an impact player, racking up huge tackle numbers as well as leading the league in interceptions in 1994. One year after the Browns moved to Baltimore in 1996, the high-priced Turner was cut loose and Al Davis grabbed the 29 year old in what must have been a Dream Come True. From 1997-1999, Turner solidified the Raiders' defensive backfield.
In April of 2000, rumors swirled that Eric Turner was sick and that it was very serious. The Raiders organization and Turner himself came out to deny those rumors, but even with that the rumors persisted. Only a few weeks later, on May 28th, 2000 Eric Turner died of intestinal cancer.
The sudden death of Eric Turner created a tremendous hole in the Raiders' secondary and a huge need at the safety position. For 2000, the short-term solution was to sign 2 free agents : 30 year old Marquez Pope and Anthony (son of Tony) Dorsett. These were stop-gap solutions at best and these two players were better known for the plays they surrendered than any plays they made; in fact, Marquez Pope will probably be singularly known for surrendering Shannon Sharpe's 96yd TD rec in the Playoffs
In the 2001 draft, safety was not just a need, it was a desperation. In that desperation, the Raiders drafted Derrick Gibson out of FSU. Were Al Davis able to wait one more year, he may have been able to transition from Eric Turner to Ed Reed, but as it was, Derrick Gibson was yet another physically talented athlete who could not perform in the NFL.
The Raiders would continue to struggle to find safeties. Rod Woodson provided a relief for 2 years, but then Jarrod Cooper, Stuart Schweigert, Michael Huff, Derrick Gibson, and Tyvon Branch would give the Raiders' CBs little help.
The next 4 picks following Gibson were interesting :
Ryan Pickett, DT
Reggie Wayne, WR
Todd Heap, TE
Drew Brees, QB
The reason this is interesting is b/c it was known at the time that Gruden was begging Davis for a QB to develop behind Rich Gannon. The way the story goes is that in the 2nd round (pick #59), when Davis drafted Marques Tuiasosopo, he said to Gruden, "Well, there's your QB." WOuld have/Could have the Raiders' future fortunes been different if Gruden had been able to convince Davis to take Brees? If Eric Turner were still healthy, would Davis have been amenable to taking the QB in round 1? With Gruden and Gannon, would Brees have fit right in and grown into type of the QB he is today?
Leon Bender
In 1998, the Raiders used the #31 pick (in those days, it was a 2nd round pick) on Washington DT Leon Bender. On June 10th, before training camp, Bender was found dead due to a Seizure Disorder. He was known to have epilepsy for which he was taking medication.
The Raiders medical knew of the epilepsy and had determined that with medication, it should not be an issue. The death was thought to be a "fluke" incident.
Bender was not slated to be a superstar, but Davis had high hopes for him; loved his raw athletic ability, his work ethic, and his hunger to improve. Davis' eye for DTs at the time was very good, having drafed Chester McGlockton, Darrell Russell, and later round gems like Rod Coleman and Grady Jackson.
If he had just grown into a solid player, he would have proven valuable in the 2000s as the Raiders' struggled with some issues
Darrell Russell
In 1997 Al Davis wanted Orlando Pace. Period. And if Peyton Manning had not decided to return to Tennessee for his senior year, Davis may have had him. But as things went, Oakland offered their 1st (#10), 2nd (#39), 4th (#107) and WR Darryl Hobbs to the Jets for the #1 overall pick + 6th rounder. Bill Parcells turned the offer down and so
Al Davis offered it to the Saints and thus traded up to the #2 position.
It was obvious that Davis wanted Pace and so the Rams then traded 1st (#6), 3rd (#67), 4th (#102), and 7th (#207) for the #1 pick. side note: Jets had traded into the #6 slot and were in position to draft the "second best offensive tackle in the draft", HOF Walter Jones, but then traded that pick away for LB James Farrior (Pick #
and RB Leon Johnson (4th round). Whatever the trade value chart may say, in hindsight, there's no making up the value between Walter Jones and James Farrior.When the Rams took Orlando Pace, Davis could have taken Walter Jones if he was so fixated on the position, but instead, he took the 2nd best player on his list : Darrell Russell. And it was hard to blame him : 6'5", 320 lbs, and runs a 4.8s 40 yard. pre-draft article[3]
While Russell was an impact player in his first 3 years, he started to falter in 2000 and then in 2001, he was suspended for the final 4 games for failure to comply with the League's drug test. Later, he tested positive for a banned substance and was suspended for 2002. The Raiders would release "Drug Russ" and over the course of a couple of years, a position of strength became a position of need.
In 2002, the fill-ins at DT were veterans 29 yo Sam Adams from BAL and 33 yo John Parella from SD.
In 2003, Sam Adams was done and so what should have been led by Darrell Russell and Leon Bender was instead 33yo Dana Stubblefied, 34 yo Parrella, Rod Coleman, and Terdell Sands.
Barrett Robbins
Fans remember the 2000-2002 Raiders fondly as an offensively explosive team led by Rich Gannon and 2 HOF WRs Jerry Rice and Tim Brown. Jerry Porter, Charlie Garner/Napoleon Kaufman, Ty Wheatley, Zack Crockett, and Jon Ritchie may also figure into those memories.
But what fans may sometimes forget is that the Raiders' OL was what made those teams so effective. Gannon was great, but having 4-5 seconds to throw really helped. That OL was anchored by 2-3 fantastic players. 30yo RT Lincoln Kennedy, 34yo LG Steve Wisniewski, and 28 yo C Barrett Robbins.
Wisniewski was a Raiders' icon for his time, but 2001 was his final year. Lincoln Kennedy was aging quickly and the 30yo barrier was a tough one for him. Having great players like this on the OL allowed for Barry Sims (LT), Frank Middleton (RG), and then later Mo Collins (LG) to play and form an effective unit.
Wis retired after the 2001 season. Lincoln Kennedy lasted thru the 2003 season.
BRob should have had 5-7 more very good season left to transition the OL to another unit. But that fateful night 1/25/2003 prior to Superbowl XXVII, whatever Demons came to Barrett Robbins have tormented his ever since. He did play one more season (2003) but was not the same player.
In the span of 3 years, the Raiders went from one of the most formidable OLs in all of football to perhaps one of the worst :
Barry Sims, LT
Brad Badger, LG
Adam Treu, C
Jake Grove, RG
Robert Gallery, RT
and with the failed draft pick of Gallery (he would eventually become quite effective as a LG), the Raiders' OL would not recover and would be a monumental weakness for the decade and beyond. BRob wouldn't have single-handedly converted that OL into a good unit, but he would have been able to provide some stability at a key position and allowed an anchor point to build around. When the Raiders moved Jake Grove (and later Samson Satele) to C, the problems multiplied.
Jerry Porter
In 2002, Jerry Rice did not lead the Raiders in receiving TDs. It wasn't Tim Brown either. It was 3rd year, 6'2", 225 lbs, 4.4s 40yd, former QB, former DB, out of WVU named Jerry Porter.
As a Big Slot receiver, sandwiched between two Hall of Famers and in the Pass Happy Bill Callahan/Marc Trestman variant of the Jon Gruden offense, Porter was allowed to learn the position and grow. An enviable place to be.
At the time, it looked like Porter was the future and would take over as Brown and Rice aged out of the league. 2004 would be that time. Tim Brown went to Tampa for his final year and Jerry Rice was traded to the Seahawks.
In Norv Turner's offense and with QB Kerry Collins, Jerry Porter responded with
2004, 64 rec, 998 yards, 9 TDs
2005, 76 rec, 942 yards, 5 TDs
The future looked bright, indeed. But in 2006, Art Shell replaced Turner as HC and Jerry Porter did not respond well to Shell's hardline approach. Porter's attitude decayed and he became about as prima donna-ish/diva-ish as imaginable, going so far as to wave dollar bills at the fans while inactive (Coach's decision) on the sidelines.
Was it Art Shell's fault? Was it Tom Walsh's offense that de-railed Porter? Was it just Porter showing his true colors? Notable that Porter rebounded a bit with 700 yards receiving in 2007 (from a combination of McCown, Culpepper, Jamarcus), but then went to Jack del Rio's Jacksonville and was never heard from again (11 rec/181 yds in 10 games with David Garrard).
Charles Woodson
The Raiders have always been built on speed. But Al Davis really treasured size-and-speed in his outside players (CBs and WRs). He liked fast guys; he LOVED Big Fast Guys (tm).
And Raiders' teams of lore were built on CB tandems. Soul Patrol featured Willie Brown and Skip "Dr Death" Thomas. The 80s teams were built on Hayes and Haynes. The 2000s and beyond were supposed to have Charles Woodson anchoring it on one side until Davis could fill the other side.
drafted #4 overall in 1998.
It took a little while, but in 2003, Davis would find that backfield mate for Woodson : 6'2", 210 lbs CB Nnamdi Asomugha.
But in the three years they were on the team, Davis' dream duo would rarely play together. Asomugha would grow into an NFL starter over his first 2 years and then in his 3rd year, when he finally won the starting LCB job, Woodson went down with an injury after 6 games.
If it were up to Al Davis, Woodson would have been a Raider for Life. A top tier talent, a fantastic playmaker at a position of prime importance to Davis. Add to that, the cred for having the Heisman trophy (over Peyton Manning) and it's a dream come true.
But in the years leading up to 2005, things were growing increasingly problematic and contentious between Woodson (or at least Woodson's agents) and Davis. Rumors began (and persisted) of Woodson's enjoyment of the Bay Area nightlife and his increasing partaking of marijuana (some fans nicknaming him "CWeed"). His work ethic, his commitment to studying and preparing for opponents were reportedly (rumored) to be not quite good. In 2003, at age 27, he was being called "immature". And topping it off, he was increasingly having difficulty staying healthy. Shoulder, fibula, leg, broken leg. Games started from 2002-2005 : 7, 15, 12, 6.
During this time, Woodson was paid a premium. Under the old CBA, top draft picks earned a mint and CWood was the #4 overall pick. That 6 year contract expired in 2003 and then he received 2 consecutive franchise tags. In his years as a Raiders, Woodson was paid at the top end of the CB salary scale.
As his rookie contract was setting to expire and as Woodson's "issues" were arising, Woodson's agents were growing increasingly contentious in their relations. Not just with Al Davis and the Raiders, but the agents were problematic throughout the league.
In the early/mid 2000s, Woodson's agents were anathema to many GMs and fans. "The Poston Brothers" (Kevin and Carl) were renowned for extremely adversarial tactics that sometimes went against even the player's wishes.
In 2004, he was given the Franchise Tag ($6.8M), almost the same as Orlando Pace's 1yr/$7.02M. Woodson responded by staying healthy and playing 15 games.
As the 2005 season was starting, the Raiders placed the franchise tag on Woodson for a second time, this time it was the NON EXCLUSIVE version, allowing Woodson to seek out another team.
Al Davis (and Bruce Allen) always played the Salary Cap game as close to the limit as possible. Every offseason reports that the Raiders were 10M or so over the cap and then by training camp, a couple of restructures and suddenly the Raiders were fine.
In 2005, CWood's franchise tag amount was ~$10.5M. But the Raiders would not need to account for that until the tender was signed.. Presumably, Davis was preparing to work his magic on the books before having to deal with Woodson, one way or another.
At this point, Woodson (and the Poston bros) sealed his fate with the Raiders by signing the Franchise Tag Tender. By signing the contract so quickly, it immediately forced the Raiders to account for a sudden $10+M cap hit. This type of maneuver put Davis in a difficult position and essentially ended Woodson's (first) career in Oakland.
Woodson wanted out. He forced himself out. He got out.
In a slight miscalculation, the market for Woodson in 2006 was not as robust as he had expected. Some fans may remember the feeding frenzy when Asomugha went on the market. For Woodson, it was much quieter. Woodson did not want to go to Green Bay; he was used to the Bay Area and was looking for a Big City to go to. But since NO ONE ELSE offered him a contract, he took what he could get. 7yrs/$52.7M including bonuses and incentives (and a Superbowl ring).
And the Raiders moved on with Nnamdi Asomugha manning that position.
The fortunes of the Raiders' future did not lie with Charles Woodson. When he left, the team was already struggling and for some fans, it was a welcome relief to save the cap hit from that position. But had things worked out just a little bit differently, had Woodson wanted to stay or had he not chosen the Poston Bros to represent him, things may have turned out differently with Woodson and Asomugha paired up.
NOT because it made that much of difference defensively (though it is a hell of thing upon which to build), but because the Raiders may have been spared from Davis chasing after another CB to pair with Asomugha and drafting 2 CBs in 2005 to potentially replace Woodson :
Fabian Washington #23
Stanford Routt #38
If Woodson and the Raiders had a long-term contract in 2005, would Al Davis have been willing to draft Aaron Rodgers at #23? (and would Rodgers have turned into a premier QB without Mike McCarthy or would he have turned into a higher-drafted Andrew Walter?).
Coaches
2000 Gruden
2001 Gruden
2002 Callahan
2003 Callahan
2004 Turner
2005 Turner
2006 Shell
2007 Kiffin
2008 Kiffin/Cable
2009 Cable
When discussing the coaches of the 2000s "continuity" is often brought up. With 6 coaches in 10 years, there's no way to build up any continuity and cohesion. In actuality, the problem was less one of retaining a coach for 4 or 5 years, but in acquiring talents HCs in the first place. Likely no one would argue that Callahan should have be retained after 2003. He went on to be Nebraska's head coach, was fired after 3 years, and then returned to the NFL as an OL coach. Norv Turner's 2 years of 5-11 could easily have been 4 or 5 years, also at 5-11. The prospect of Art Shell for 4 years (and possibly 8 total wins) is a mind-numbing one.
The more interesting stories at the time were the coaching prospects that turned down the job or refused to interview with Al Davis.
In 2005, Payton interviewed and reportedly, the deal was all-but-done for Sean Payton to replace Norv Turner, but Bill Parcells talked him out of it. LInk[4]
In 2006, which may have been the nadir of the Raiders since Al Davis took over, both Ken Whisenhunt and then-Louisville Head Coach Bobby Petrino turned down the Raiders. Art Shell was not chosen to coach the Raiders, he was the fall-back; in fact, Shell said that he took the job as a favor to Davis.
In 2007, Davis wanted the coach from USC. Not Pete Carroll (though if there were a chance, Davis would probably have gone for it), but Offensive Coordiantor Steve Sarkisian. When Sarkisian turned down the Raiders, Davis hired the other USC coach : Lane Kiffin.
In some beautiful alternate future, Sean Payton and Drew Brees lead the Raiders to a Superbowl.
Who knows what would have happened had some things gone right instead of painfully wrong for the Raiders? Leon Bender and Eric Turner don't die. Barrett Robbins doesn't go over the edge. Darrell Russell stays out of drug trouble (and other things). CWood buys in long term with the Raiders.
That's in addition to Jon Gruden working his way out of Oakland and several "Can't Miss" Prospects failing in the most spectacular manner :
Robert Gallery was a better prospect than Joe Thomas.
Michael Huff was a bigger, faster, stronger Earl Thomas.
Darren McFadden was one of the most undeniably exciting RBs.
Those unanimously lauded picks were mixed in with the Jamarcus Russell (who was also a viable prospect for the #1 pick at the time) and Darrius Heyward-Bey.
One of the most interesting stories is Jamarcus. While the main narrative will always be his failure to put in the effort and the hiliariously embarrassing story of the blank DVD, there is an aspect of "what if?" that lies upon his story as well. For him, Uncle Ray was his surrogate father.
In 2008, Jamarcus had a meager statline :
15G, 53.8% completion, 2400 yards, 13 TDs, 8 Ints
In April of 2009, Jamarcus' Uncle Ray died and Russell regressed terribly and became reportedly more apathetic. This was also when the reports (rumors) of his "sizzurp" use began.
His 2009 statline was terrible :
12G, 48.8% completion, 1287 yards, 3 TDs, 11 Ints
2008 may have been just a bit of a mirage, just a little blip of some potential in the future that never would actualize. Or it may be difficult to account for a young man who has all the material wealth and has lost the one person that had any real meaning to him.
Could Jamarcus have had a future if Uncle Ray had survived a few more years?
There's no easy one-line explanation for how the Raiders fell from grace, going from loaded Superbowl team to pathetic franchise that has to beg for someone to coach them. It's a multitude of things, some were mistakes, some were miscalculations, and some were just strange occurences that may not ever happen again like that.
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whoyouthink
Banned
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The_Isomotion31
formerly thewindscar31
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In. Who's going to camp this year?
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Lets not forget the HOFer
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He's doing preseason games with Millen now.
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Looking forward to this season fellas 
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Open message to everyone here:
This is our thread. If there is anything you guys want to see happen in here, like particular blog postings to be linked in here, articles to be posted, videos from wherever that should be embedded, weekly polls, definitely throw them in here or just write in here that you'd want that. I'll gladly make it a regular happening. Just say the word.
This is our thread. If there is anything you guys want to see happen in here, like particular blog postings to be linked in here, articles to be posted, videos from wherever that should be embedded, weekly polls, definitely throw them in here or just write in here that you'd want that. I'll gladly make it a regular happening. Just say the word.
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Need to shock the world and win the division.
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http://espn.go.com/blog/oakland-raiders/post/_/id/11913/tj-carrie-prepared-for-more-responsibility
http://espn.go.com/blog/oakland-rai...ming-is-key-for-derek-carr-and-rookie-targets
I think Bill Williamson gets paid a flat rate per article. He doesn't put more than 300 words into his ****.
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He knows the fans only read his headlines.
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Thinking about going to training camp on the 3rd (Monday)
Season can't start soon enough
Season can't start soon enough
The_Isomotion31
formerly thewindscar31
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I'm gonna straight run through friends and family on Madden with the Raiders. legit. Can't wait to play my cousin while he's using the niners.
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so excited for the season. my dad, brother and me(life long raider fans) are finally going to go see a game in oakland in december 
. we've gone to one game when they played the cards in phx back in 2001 i think
. we've gone to one game when they played the cards in phx back in 2001 i think
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Might be the last game in Oaklandso excited for the season. my dad, brother and me(life long raider fans) are finally going to go see a game in oakland in december. we've gone to one game when they played the cards in phx back in 2001 i think
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raider5 yeah thats why we decided we HAD to finally go this year. any recommendations you guys for the trip/game?
How far away are you coming from?
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Johnny_Cakes
tucson az. We driving up. Don't know how long the drive is
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One thing I'd definitely recommend doing in Oakland is going to Fenton's. Best ice cream place.
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Some notes from the beat writers on Day 1:
-Derrek Carr & Michael Crabtree seem to have some legit chemistry so far. Crabtree was getting thrown too all the time on 7v7's, constantly making catches.
-Khall Mack plays at a different speed than everyone else.
-Marcel Reece slimmed down (apparently in a good way), hopefully we finally utilize him properly.
-Trent Richardson & Rod Streater were on the Non Football Injury list and are expected to come back soon.
-TE Clive Walford was out too...not sure if it was on the non football injury list or not...should be back soon.
-Sio Moore lookin like he might be out a minute.
-Derrek Carr & Michael Crabtree seem to have some legit chemistry so far. Crabtree was getting thrown too all the time on 7v7's, constantly making catches.
-Khall Mack plays at a different speed than everyone else.
-Marcel Reece slimmed down (apparently in a good way), hopefully we finally utilize him properly.
-Trent Richardson & Rod Streater were on the Non Football Injury list and are expected to come back soon.
-TE Clive Walford was out too...not sure if it was on the non football injury list or not...should be back soon.
-Sio Moore lookin like he might be out a minute.
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Sio's hip injury is scary. His tackling power and adjustment in space is wholly dependent on him being able to fully recover there.