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[browna]

Good hire in Cable for the O-line. Gibbs left the team high and dry when he left near the end of training camp, and then so much for the zone blocking scheme Carroll had hired him to implement, and the line struggled all year.

One of the highlights of year was watching Seymour knock some sense into trash talking Rothlesberger, and Cable's reaction when the ref came to explain the ejection.

Of course Davis has slammed Cable as he's leaving, and, has already withled $120K in pay over the year.

1/2 for former AFC west coaches; indications that McDaniels did "snub" Seattle in some form. Not sure why yet, as mentioned, St. Louis talked to him on the weekend and only now after talking to Seattle last few days, including this morning, he went back to St. Louis. Using SEA to get more money from the Rams? Not liking having to work with Cable? Maybe just changed his mind after further thought?

Whichever, but the timing points to Carroll thinking they had a guy in mind and they thought possibly in hand, before going ahead and firing Bates this morning.

[flames_1987]

Great to see Tom Cable get a job quickly after his work in Oakland.

[PeteLFan]

Originally Posted by browna

Good hire in Cable for the O-line. Gibbs left the team high and dry when he left near the end of training camp, and then so much for the zone blocking scheme Carroll had hired him to implement, and the line struggled all year.

One of the highlights of year was watching Seymour knock some sense into trash talking Rothlesberger, and Cable's reaction when the ref came to explain the ejection.

Of course Davis has slammed Cable as he's leaving, and, has already withled $120K in pay over the year.

1/2 for former AFC west coaches; indications that McDaniels did "snub" Seattle in some form. Not sure why yet, as mentioned, St. Louis talked to him on the weekend and only now after talking to Seattle last few days, including this morning, he went back to St. Louis. Using SEA to get more money from the Rams? Not liking having to work with Cable? Maybe just changed his mind after further thought?

Whichever, but the timing points to Carroll thinking they had a guy in mind and they thought possibly in hand, before going ahead and firing Bates this morning.

Or the fact he gets to work with a team on the upswing with better coaching staff, and a guy named Sam Bradford. This was it Seattle for the foreseeable future, now that Bradford has arrived its the Rams time to shine once again.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by rubecube

I don't know why the owners are pursuing the 18-game schedule so feverishly. It sounds like the PA is willing to give on rookie salaries, but the 18-game schedule is a non-starter. I thought the last two weeks of this season were pretty watered down. I don't understand the need to add two more games and risk more injuries.

Agree 100% with this.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by browna

Edit: Didn't take long (these things usually don't). SEA supposedly talking with McDaniels as OC.

Geez, Bates must really be getting sick of that guy.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by flames_1987

Great to see Tom Cable get a job quickly after his work in Oakland.

His work in Oakland was mostly pretty poor actually. This years successes were all because of Hue Jackson. Previous season Cable was calling the plays and the Raiders were 30th in offense. The only changes this year was Jason Campbell and Hue Jackson and they turned into one of the most explosive offenses in the league (6th in scoring) and it wasn't because of Jason Campbell it was because of Hue Jackson. The weakest part of the Raiders this year was the OL and that's Cable's specialty. I like Cable despite the ongoing lawsuits from former women in his life. He seems like a guy you could sit and have a beer with and talk football but he's not HC material.

[rubecube]

Eagles are on the verge of hiring Titans defensive line coach, Jim Washburn, for the same position in Philly. Could be a huge step in the right direction

[d_phaneuf]

Love Hue, very excited for him to take over as HC and happy to see he is going to keep doing the play calling

good press conference from Al Davis today as well

[browna]

Originally Posted by PeteLFan

Or the fact he gets to work with a team on the upswing with better coaching staff, and a guy named Sam Bradford. This was it Seattle for the foreseeable future, now that Bradford has arrived its the Rams time to shine once again.

Maybe, or he wanted more control then SEA was willing to give him.

Yeah, Bradford is there, but it now means Sam has to learn a completely new offensive scheme then the previous coach had in place, in his sophomore year.

[OILFAN #81]

Colts are starting negotiations with Peyton Manning on a new deal, and also to re-work the contract of Bob Sanders. Manning's deal is a no brainer, and I am happy that Sanders' agent understands that his client should do a new deal since he hardly plays. Manning and Sanders share the same agent. Indy also fired their running backs coach today.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

His work in Oakland was mostly pretty poor actually. This years successes were all because of Hue Jackson. Previous season Cable was calling the plays and the Raiders were 30th in offense. The only changes this year was Jason Campbell and Hue Jackson and they turned into one of the most explosive offenses in the league (6th in scoring) and it wasn't because of Jason Campbell it was because of Hue Jackson. The weakest part of the Raiders this year was the OL and that's Cable's specialty. I like Cable despite the ongoing lawsuits from former women in his life. He seems like a guy you could sit and have a beer with and talk football but he's not HC material.

Actually...I think it was because they didn't have to use Jamarcus Russel at QB as a request of the owner.

I hate the Raiders, but they do have some talent, whenever they could put someone else at QB in 2009 they'd start showing life. The fact that he wasn't around all year in my opinion is the biggest reason they were a better team. I wish they'd try to bring him back.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Actually...I think it was because they didn't have to use Jamarcus Russel at QB as a request of the owner.

I hate the Raiders, but they do have some talent, whenever they could put someone else at QB in 2009 they'd start showing life. The fact that he wasn't around all year in my opinion is the biggest reason they were a better team. I wish they'd try to bring him back.

Maybe Denver will give him a shot.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

Love Hue, very excited for him to take over as HC and happy to see he is going to keep doing the play calling

good press conference from Al Davis today as well

really?

I thought he looked like he had walked right off the set of The Living Dead and into the press room.




And this writer thought the whole thing was bizzare.

http://www.insidebayarea.com/raiders/ci_17130079

And the worst part for Raider fans IMO?

He said there is no need to hire a general manager to help him and his personnel department, especially with the league's uncertainty regarding the stalled labor talks over a new collective bargaining agreement.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Actually...I think it was because they didn't have to use Jamarcus Russel at QB as a request of the owner.

I hate the Raiders, but they do have some talent, whenever they could put someone else at QB in 2009 they'd start showing life. The fact that he wasn't around all year in my opinion is the biggest reason they were a better team. I wish they'd try to bring him back.

Russel was a bit of a scapegoat IMO and didn't even start all the games in 2009. Was he bad? Yes. Was the playcalling equally as bad? Yes. was the O-Line under Cable historically bad? Yes. Also Cable loved Grads which was a bad call and likely cost the Raiders the playoffs this year. Cable made him the starter and he was horrible losing all three of his starts. That as much as anything cost Cable his job.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by transplant99

really?

I thought he looked like he had walked right off the set of The Living Dead and into the press room.




And this writer thought the whole thing was bizzare.

http://www.insidebayarea.com/raiders/ci_17130079

And the worst part for Raider fans IMO?

Considering his age it's quite remarkable how sharp he is. There's no doubt his inability to let go and seek out help to run the franchise or listen to others has really hurt the team but he's still pretty sharp as evidenced by last years draft which may have been the best by any team. Raiders fans realize that things are not truly going to get better until he goes but we are a pretty loyal buch so until that happens we just accept the bizarre and move on.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Considering his age it's quite remarkable how sharp he is. There's no doubt his inability to let go and seek out help to run the franchise or listen to others has really hurt the team but he's still pretty sharp as evidenced by last years draft which may have been the best by any team. Raiders fans realize that things are not truly going to get better until he goes but we are a pretty loyal buch so until that happens we just accept the bizarre and move on.

how does one make this claim? I mean it all sort of has to play out over a few years to have any idea who had the best draft, but based on this season alone I would say that is more than a stretch.

Just as an example, because i am familiar with them, the Packers had 6 of their 7 picks from the 2010 draft start games. Granted it was mainly due to injury, but they more than adequately filled in and in some cases will be starting this weekend in the NFC championship. Thats a good draft no matter how you look at it, but even i cant say its among the best in the league because i have no idea how other teams players did.

One other team I would add to that list is the Patriots...I think they too had 6 guys from the draft start games this year and contribute massively. McCourty, the two TE's, and Brandon Spikes all come to mind.

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by transplant99

how does one make this claim? I mean it all sort of has to play out over a few years to have any idea who had the best draft, but based on this season alone I would say that is more than a stretch.

Just as an example, because i am familiar with them, the Packers had 6 of their 7 picks from the 2010 draft start games. Granted it was mainly due to injury, but they more than adequately filled in and in some cases will be starting this weekend in the NFC championship. Thats a good draft no matter how you look at it, but even i cant say its among the best in the league because i have no idea how other teams players did.

One other team I would add to that list is the Patriots...I think they too had 6 guys from the draft start games this year and contribute massively. McCourty, the two TE's, and Brandon Spikes all come to mind.

in terms of starters I think they had the best return

McClain started I think 15 games, he missed 1 with injury
Houston played in every game (hard to say he started because they rotated 7 guys usually on the d line, and he was in the rotation from game 1)
Veldheer started the last half of the season at LT and was great
Bruce Campbell (who was a project pick and not expected to do much) started 4 games I think and played in 10
Jacoby Ford went Beast Mode in the 2nd half of the season
Walter McFadden played a bit in dime formations

that's probly the best return I think in terms of a draft class so far all around

especially when you had two guys in Veldheer and McClain playing 2 of the most important positions on the field (LT and MLB) very well, and they look like they are going to lock those positions down for awhile

Davis gets ripped on his drafting because of Russell (although he was the consensus pick) and DHB (who isn't looking great, but look at what McFadden did in year 3, next year will be huge for DHB)

but he has had some very solid picks, Miller in the 2nd round, Asomugha at the end of the 1st (called a reach by everyone), Murphy and Ford in the 4th etc.

and the Seymour trade everyone ripped looks like a great deal now

[d_phaneuf]

In terms of the AFC West I think it's shaping up to be an Oakland/KC battle for the next few years

SD is always going to be in there as long as Rivers is upright but the rest of the team is getting old or they are losing guys

Denver is the bottom feeder right now, and I think their future rests heavily on Tebow, if he is good they are probly right back up there in 1-2 years, if he falters it could be longer

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by transplant99

how does one make this claim? I mean it all sort of has to play out over a few years to have any idea who had the best draft, but based on this season alone I would say that is more than a stretch.

Just as an example, because i am familiar with them, the Packers had 6 of their 7 picks from the 2010 draft start games. Granted it was mainly due to injury, but they more than adequately filled in and in some cases will be starting this weekend in the NFC championship. Thats a good draft no matter how you look at it, but even i cant say its among the best in the league because i have no idea how other teams players did.

One other team I would add to that list is the Patriots...I think they too had 6 guys from the draft start games this year and contribute massively. McCourty, the two TE's, and Brandon Spikes all come to mind.

Yes there are other teams that had decent drafts but as of now no team did better than Oakland. Mel Kiper revisited the 2010 draft and did a re-draft and in it Rolando McClain, Lamarr Houston, and Jacoby Ford would have been all first rounders and that doesn't count Jared Valdheer which is amazing. These guys were all starters, not injury fill-ins.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Yes there are other teams that had decent drafts but as of now no team did better than Oakland. Mel Kiper revisited the 2010 draft and did a re-draft and in it Rolando McClain, Lamarr Houston, and Jacoby Ford would have been all first rounders and that doesn't count Jared Valdheer which is amazing. These guys were all starters, not injury fill-ins.

So Oakland has one decent draft amongst severaly years of terrible drafting, and suddenly Davis is "sharp?"