The Official 2012-13 Oakland Raiders Thread

[PTBG]

Who da back up RB?

I believe its still Goodson, the Raiders traded Campbell for him early this year.

 

[Brady-Carter]

You guys are a few years aways. But Reggie McKenzie is a good dude to be righting the ship..

..New world for you guys. Best of luck Raiders Nation.

 

[2Quik4UHoes]

I really can't wait to see what this team looks like down the road though, we've still got a bunch of trrble contracts to get off the books and there needs to be a rebuild on defense but damn it feels good to actually be rebuilding for once, and at the same time have the talent to compete.

 

[Hater]

I really can't wait to see what this team looks like down the road though, we've still got a bunch of trrble contracts to get off the books and there needs to be a rebuild on defense but damn it feels good to actually be rebuilding for once, and at the same time have the talent to compete.

 

[Supreme]

Seems they don't have alot of confidence in Taiwan Jones.

 

[BayArea Breez]

It's not Taiwan they don't have confidence in, it's Goodson. He's the #2.

But reality is McFadden and Goodson have injury history... and Benson is more than serviceable. I noticed Reggie has been doing work with inking Branch to a long term freeing up more money.

I'm not trying to be overly optimistic, but I truly feel this team has a chance at the Wild Card or even the West. I don't think anybody should be crowning Denver just because Peyton is there.

For the 1st time, the Raiders are playing a modern defensive scheme. Not that mom & pop scheme ran by Al Davis from his glory days.

If their defense improves (as I expect it to) and they can at least cut their penalties down in half, this team is going to play a lot of close, low scoring games.

Week 1 - SD Chargers WIN
Week 2 - Mia Phins WIN
Week 3 - Pitt Stlr LOSS
Week 4 - Den Donkies WIN
Week 5 - BYE
Week 6 - ATL Falcons LOSS
Week 7 - Jax Jones-Drews WIN
Week 8 - TB Bucs WIN
Week 9 - Chiefs WIN
Week 10 - BMore Ravens LOSS
Week 11 - NO Saints LOSS
Week 12 - Bungles WIN
Week 13 - Browns WIN
Week 14 - Donkies LOSS
Week 15 - KC Chiefs WIN
Week 16 - Panthers WIN
Week 17 - Chargers LOSS

10-6 (should be good enough for the AFC West) I think SD Chargers will be better this year if Ryan Mathews really is in the best shape of his career and ready to be a workhorse.

RAIDER NATION!

Got my season tickets for this year and I [Bart]can't wait![\Scott]

 

[BayArea Breez]

Let's get this Cedric Benson deal done! Any chance we pick up a MLB? that area is lacking right now

Yeah, the platoon LB situation is not desirable and McClain is pretty much fukked after his trial concludes. I'm pretty sure he's looking at least a 1 year ban. Hopefully the defensive scheme can fill any gaps left by the LB Corp.

Also, Jacoby Ford almost had a serious knee injury in their first practice today... luckily is was just a scare

 

[Supreme]

Yeah, the platoon LB situation is not desirable and McClain is pretty much fukked after his trial concludes. I'm pretty sure he's looking at least a 1 year ban. Hopefully the defensive scheme can fill any gaps left by the LB Corp.

Also, Jacoby Ford almost had a serious knee injury in their first practice today... luckily is was just a scare

Dude better shape up, or he could be losing time on the field to those rookie receivers we got.

 

[Hater]

Oakland Raiders pushing Rolando McClain to be more vocal

Members of the media aren't the only ones that find it difficult getting Raiders middle linebacker Rolando McClain to be more outgoing and communicative. Raiders coaches are doing double time in an effort to get McClain to assert himself as a leader and the linchpin of the defense.

In a rare interview, McClain said he is open to a heightened role, even if it means stepping out of his comfort zone.

"Oh. I don't know," McClain said Monday, when asked if he's comfortable being a leader. "I don't, really. My nature is, I'm a quiet shy guy and I keep to myself. The coaches ask me to get away from that, basically. I'm trying to do that and I'm fighting with myself."

McClain said his teammates are making it easier on him to be more vocal and to do more than lead by example, which is the method McClain prefers.

In McClain, the Raiders see a bright, young, talented player who has yet to realize his potential or play at the level commensurate with the No. 8 pick of the NFL draft.

"He's done a real good job from a leadership standpoint," coach Dennis Allen said after an offseason workout. "He's very instinctive. He's smart out there. He's taken command of the huddle. Those things I've been pleased with."

Allen also wants McClain to improve in his pass coverage. The Raiders, of course, can help out by not asking McClain to cover the likes Calvin Johnson or Vincent Jackson on post routes.

So far, McClain has proved adept at
blitzing and covering receivers in the flat in his two NFL seasons. Beyond that, the knock on him is that he too often guesses wrong, jumps in the wrong gap and gets out of position on both run and pass plays.

There's a faction that believes the Raiders used McClain the wrong way the past two seasons. To that, McClain said, he isn't sure what to make of how he has been used so far.

"I don't know," McClain said. "Of course, I was in a 3-4 with coach (Nick) Saban and I did pretty well. But I'm just playing whatever they ask me to play and play that to the best of my ability, do the best I can and help make this defense better."

McClain was referring to his standout days at Alabama, when he anchored the Tide defense and received the Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker.

Allen said the Raiders defense will be more "multiple" this season, meaning they will incorporate the 3-4 and more blitzing into their overall scheme. Those changes figure to bode well for McClain.

When asked to assess his play last season, McClain refused to use injuries as an excuse for his uneven play last season.

"I'm not going to put an injury on anything," McClain said. "I'm just saying that I didn't play to the best of my ability and neither did our defense. We all can improve. It starts here with training camp. We came in with the right attitude in terms of we're looking to improve. So, let's start with that."

Backup safety Mike Mitchell said McClain has learned from his off-field transgressions the past year or so and that McClain is primed for a big season.

Before you discount that as a possibility, consider the quantum leaps taken in their third season by former Raider cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha and current wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey.

"He's just more mature," Mitchell said. "You got to think, when he first got drafted, he was 21 years old. So, he's a very young guy. The changes that you see are just a boy becoming a man.

"You won't see nothing but good things coming from Ro. He's learned from everything that's happened from him. He's learned from being in the league two years. It's going to be a big year for him. I'm really excited."

The odds of McClain making a precipitous jump this season seem to skyrocket when you take into account the scheme change. Mitchell agrees.

"I think so," Mitchell said. "But, again, I'm not Ro. He controls what he does. I'm 100 percent confident in him. This is the best shape he's ever been in. Coach gave us weights that we had to report at for the first time. He looks really good. He was killing the conditioning test. You saw him flying around today. The kid's a beast."

During the five-minute-plus interview, McClain was engaging, introspective and even funny, at times. Team employees have worked hard in the past to get McClain to speak to the media and, by extension, the fans. To little avail.

It didn't help that during McClain's rookie season, then-coach Tom Cable, according to McClain, told McClain that he didn't have to speak with the media, which is against league rules and places McClain at risk of being fined $25,000 for each violation.

Former Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon spoke with the Raiders players Sunday about the importance of speaking with the media. It remains to be seen whether that resonated with McClain. Here's to hoping that McClain comes out of his shell, for he is one of those players who actually has something to say that is worth hearing and reading.

Time will tell. When asked at the end of the interview, whether the media were growing on him, McClain said, "No, I wouldn't say that."

The Raiders, of course, are more concerned about McClain growing on the field. Not even McClain has a strong take on whether the fans, his teammates and coaches have seen the best of McClain.

"I don't know," McClain said. "I guess we'll see. Like I said, I don't know. I'm not big on individual stats. The most important thing is for the defense to be great. That's why they drafted me, to bring the defense up and make plays. That's what I'm striving to do."

Let's start with that, as he said.

Oakland Raiders pushing Rolando McClain to be more vocal - Chico Enterprise Record

I pray to god this will be the season he shows us he was worth the 8th pick.

 

[kingofnyc]

listen to espn 710 mason & Ireland yesterday

dem nikkaz said Oakland will be in playing in LA next season

 

[Lakerman0834]

listen to espn 710 mason & Ireland yesterday

dem nikkaz said Oakland will be in playing in LA next season

Even though i think we legit 2-3 yrs away from being powerhouse i like the way Reggie has taken over. Lakers/Raiders/Dodgers same city shyt going be going OFF

 

[Smokin Rider]

Checkin in*

DHB finna break 1,000 yards and 10 TDs

Taiwan Jones finna be a Darren Sproles and a HEALTHY DMC will get the rushing title

Carson Palmer will......ehh

 

[Joey24]

My Friend from Northern Cali loves this team hoping they make the plays this year after coming two years so close

 

[2Quik4UHoes]

I believe in McClain, it's funny how he don't fukk with the media tho. He's basically the type of player Al would love. But I'm thinking Dennis Allen will be the coach to bring out the potential we've been waiting to see from Ro. It's gonna take a few drafts to get the defense we've been waiting for but I know McClain gon beast, Tyvon Branch gon have a breakout year and I'm still holding out hope for Mike Mitchell cuz he has the raw tools but needs to gain the skills. Huff thankfully is suppose to be converted to CB, that change has needed to happen for the longest and he'll more useful in that capacity.

I'm torn on the Raiders going to LA, it'd boost the team's worth and make the nation that much stronger but Oakland is the Raiders and the Raiders are Oakland. It'll be a good look either way.

 

[BonafideDefacto]

*checks in*

As a Steelers fan, I'm looking forward to our game in September...the last time we played yall at the Coli I didn't go. I had a feeling we'd lose & we did lol. This year I'm going. Gonna drop dough to go cause regardless it'll sellout.