The Official 2013 Oakland Raiders Season Thread

[2Quik4UHoes]

OAKLAND, Calif. -- After a quick beginning, and even more fits and starts, the Oakland Raiders' offense needed a big play from its biggest playmaker.

And on third-and-14, from his own 41-yard line, and with San Diego within a touchdown and riding momentum midway through the fourth quarter, Terrelle Pryor heard the disembodied voice of his offensive coordinator in his helmet as he broke the huddle.

“He’s not going to get it off,” Greg Olson said, noting the dwindling play clock and not exactly filling the raw quarterback with confidence.

No matter. Pryor, it turns out, had enough confidence for Olson, his teammates, the coaching staff and practically the whole sold-out O.co Coliseum for Sunday night’s late start.

“That was hilarious,” Pryor said later. “I actually giggled. He’s crazy.”

Crazy like a fox. Because all Pryor did was roll right -- as he did most of the night -- look downfield and spy Brice Butler ... for the first time all game. Pryor hit Butler for a 20-yard pickup that extended the drive, and four plays later Sebastian Janikowski kicked a 50-yard field goal for the final points in a 27-17 Oakland victory.

Hilarious? Sure. Crazy? OK.

But try just downright fun. Because while there's no doubt Pryor’s chaotic play can and will give the normally staid and decidedly young Dennis Allen a few white hairs, it’s also giving the Raiders a chance.

“It’s exciting, it really is,” Allen said. “It gives everybody on the team a boost when he goes out there and makes those explosive plays and creates those plays. A lot of times when you look up and think, 'Oh no, something bad is going to happen,' and here he goes, getting out of the pocket and [he] creates.

“So it gives our team a sense of confidence that no matter what happens in the game, we’re going to still be able to continue to move the ball and have a chance to score points.”

That Pryor completed his first 10 passes, for 120 yards and a pair of touchdowns, including a 44-yard TD to Rod Streater on the Raiders’ first offensive play, and had a perfect passer rating of 158.3 at the time, was the fun part for Oakland.

Running around and basically clowning the Chargers’ defense in his first game since he suffered a concussion at Denver on Sept. 23 was the gravy.

“You can just see his swag back there,” Streater said. “He’s playing with a lot of confidence, making his throws, making his reads, and he’s getting a lot better.”

Consider the makeshift offensive line behind which Pryor had to operate against San Diego: LT Khalif Barnes, LG Lucas Nix, C Andre Gurode, RG Mike Brisiel, RT Matt McCants.

It’s a far cry from the projected line in training camp of LT Jared Veldheer, LG Tony Bergstrom, C Stefen Wisniewski, RG Brisiel and RT Barnes.

Then, a week after running back Darren McFadden strained a hamstring, backup Rashad Jennings did the same against the Chargers. The Raiders had to play fullback Marcel Reece, who was dinged up, having sprained a knee last week, at tailback in the second half.

Duct tape, anyone?

Perhaps Pryor, then, could use some to put on his cleats to keep the baseball infield dirt from clotting up and affecting his traction.

Yes, the dirt is a factor.

“It feels like you’re running on concrete,” Pryor said. “It’s very tough.

“Being in Oakland and understanding it, [the fans] die and they live for the A’s around here in the Bay. That’s big, but at the same time, I’m like, geez, I’m tired of getting tackled on that dirt.”

Pryor laughed. He could afford to after a victory.

“I keep slipping on it,” he said. “But hey, if it’s for the A’s to keep slipping on it, I guess I’ll be playing on it. I hope they do well and I want them to win.”

While the A’s are locked in a 1-1 American League Division Series with the Detroit Tigers, Pryor ended up rushing for 31 yards on 11 carries and threw for 221 yards on 18-of-23 passing and had a career-high passer rating of 135.7.

He likes to speak of his competitive nature, how he uses it as a psychological ploy.

And just before kickoff, reports filtered in that Josh Freeman, late of Tampa Bay and linked to the Raiders, had agreed to sign with Minnesota.

Surely, word of the Raiders’ reported interest in Freeman had to stir up some competitive feelings in Pryor, who had already outlasted Matt Flynn, no?

Well ...

“It is what it is,” said a stone-faced Pryor. “If he could come in and help, come in and help.”

But Freeman is not coming to Oakland now.

Pryor shrugged.

“It is what it is,” he said.

Kind of like Pryor’s evolving game.

We gotta get this thread back active again.

 

[Trojan 24]

Good game, but I hate the sit on the lead approach. Should have kept firing away, 31 on the chargers couldn't cover for shyt. Hopefully next time were in this situation we keep playing.

 

[Trojan 24]

We did it bruhs, Matt Flynn gone

BREAKING: The Raiders have released QB Matt Flynn, according g to source.

— Jim Trotter (@SI_JimTrotter) October 7, 2013

 

[Supreme]

Hall Of Fame Clipboard Holder Matt Flynn​

 

[G.O.A.T Squad Spokesman]

 

[Trojan 24]

You know what I like most about Pryor is he's leadership and demeanor. He really steadies the team and it really feels like he elevates the teams play. He has some work to do but I think he can be special

 

[reserved_one]

Fire McKenzie? nikka he making your team relevant again

I keep saying this. McKenzie has brought life back to this organization.

Hiring Allen might've been questionable, but the man put us in prime position this off-season to go after free agents. He cut alot of dead weight, with the bad contracts we had previously and getting rid of Matt Flynn, which he admits was a bad move.

I understand the frustration....we should really be 4-1, if not for the Indy game when we outplayed them and the Flynn game where he stinked up the joint against the redskins. Maybe I just have a ton of patience and trust McKenzie. If Dennis Allen on the other hand (or whoever is calling plays) keeps up with this stagnate offense we saw in the 2nd half of last night....they might just need to


Just try to have patience Raider fans....

 

[aliG]

We playing well even with the litany of injuries especially to Mr. Glass (McFadden), Wiz and Branch. I think the Branch one is still stinging us the most.

 

[LurkMoar]

Could have been 3-2 if Pryor had played at Washington

 

[The Hovering Heed]

Call me hungover from last night's victory , but if we win next game . Our wild card spot chances is high .

 

[2Quik4UHoes]

I keep saying this. McKenzie has brought life back to this organization.

Hiring Allen might've been questionable, but the man put us in prime position this off-season to go after free agents. He cut alot of dead weight, with the bad contracts we had previously and getting rid of Matt Flynn, which he admits was a bad move.

I understand the frustration....we should really be 4-1, if not for the Indy game when we outplayed them and the Flynn game where he stinked up the joint against the redskins. Maybe I just have a ton of patience and trust McKenzie. If Dennis Allen on the other hand (or whoever is calling plays) keeps up with this stagnate offense we saw in the 2nd half of last night....they might just need to


Just try to have patience Raider fans....

Real shyt, as long as Pryor stays healthy and improves then we got no reason to trip. This team is an unfinished product but they play with more heart than they ever have. I'm gettin more and more excited thinking about it, brehs we really got a QB....

 

[LucaBrasi]

Breh's I'mma keep it real I recently became a fan of the Raiders on that Broncos game where Terrelle was beasting but it wasn't enough

Where can I watch the games I swear here in LA they play chargers/cowboys/packers games mostly

 

[The Hovering Heed]

Breh's I'mma keep it real I recently became a fan of the Raiders on that Broncos game where Terrelle was beasting but it wasn't enough

Where can I watch the games I swear here in LA they play chargers/cowboys/packers games mostly

Pm me

 

[PTBG]

Flynn opened training camp as the Raiders’ starting quarterback, but would lose that job to Terrelle Pryor, just as he lost the Seahawks job in camp a year ago to Russell Wilson. There have been whispers that Flynn was moping around in meetings and he was demoted to third-string behind Matt McGloin last week.

What a little bytch, thank fukking god we don't have to see this faggit ever again in Silver & Black.

But "right next" to Flynn's empty locker is a big balloon that says "Cheer, Yippee!" PR guys didn't appear to be happy.

 

[PTBG]

@VicTafur #Raiders Denarius Moore is showing some consistency. 15 catches for 274 yards and 2 touchdowns is the best 3-game stretch for third-year WR

Besides that week 2 game against the Jag's, he has been pretty good and actually consistent for once. Knowing him though, he probably won't catch another TD the rest of the year.