Whos gonna win the AFC West?
- Thread starter TheVille31
- Start date
The foundation is def there for a reciever (or even a rb like sproles who gets involved in passing plays) to come in and make plays, you guys have stability in players that have played together for a while and a very talented roster, so if anything I'd agree with your statement. However it remains to be seen because there hasn't really been a time in the past 2 years where you havn't had him there. So will the others step up? I think they will in the regular season with Rivers there, but still it would be good if VJ was on the team.
^LMFAO.... What about Gruden's opinion then?
http://www.insidebayarea.com/raiders/ci_15968461
Inman: Jon Gruden says get on the Oakland Raiders bandwagon
You have to love Jon Gruden's proclamation Wednesday that the Raiders can win the AFC West.
Does his belief reek of loyalty to Raider Nation? Yes, and how great is that?
Does Gruden, the Raiders' transcendent coach from 1998-2001, state a solid case about this season's Raiders? Yes, making him a credible fountain of hope.
Gruden, entering his second season in the "Monday Night Football" booth, did not go bonkers and compare this season's edition to Oakland's last Super Bowl-winning team, as Al Davis recently did regarding the 1980 fun run.
Nor did Gruden couch his win-the-West hunch with the ol' line of how you can't win the lottery if you don't play. The AFC West, by the way, should be a lot easier to win than Super Lotto, as long as the Raiders beat a weakened San Diego Chargers team for the first time since 2003.
"The Raiders should be excited," Gruden said in an ESPN conference call. "I don't just say this being former a Raider (he pronounced it 'Raiiiiider') myself, but I do like their defense.
"If you look at their front seven, I know all the years I was coaching, I'd love to have that group. Adding guys like (Kamerion) Wimbley, (John) Henderson, trading for Richard Seymour (in 2009), (having) Tommy Kelly, getting (Rolando) McClain in the first round. That's a good front seven. (Nnamdi Asomugha is) arguably one of the top corners in all of football. I like everything about their defense. And I think I should.
These are talented football players."
Defensive upgrades indeed thrust the Raiders into AFC West relevancy more so than quarterback Jason Campbell's arrival (and JaMarcus Russell's expulsion). That said, big plays remain a key concern, especially with Tennessee Titans long-dash specialist Chris Johnson on the Week 1 agenda.
Gruden did not just toot the defense's horn, adding: "Jason Campbell, between he and Bruce Gradkowski, will do the thing they need to win there with this defense -- protect the ball."
Interesting that Gruden should bring up Gradkowski. Is he not sold on Campbell? Has he, like us, seen Gradkowski's knack for moving the chains? Or is Gruden acknowledging how rare it is for a quarterback to make it through all 16 games healthy? One guess: All of the above.
Gruden, by the way, did not give a glowing recommendation to Matt Leinart, the disgruntled Arizona Cardinals quarterback whom -- according to ESPN's Adam Schefter -- was drawing trade interest from the Raiders even as the Raiders were subsequently disputing the report.
"He's clearly been average," Gruden said of Leinart. "He hasn't been a guy that has really taken control and choked the opportunity that's been given to him."
Gruden had much kinder words for the Raiders special teams, with punter Shane Lechler and kicker Sebastian Janikowski the only holdovers from his Raiders tenure.
"They have maybe the best punter in history. And I'm not kidding you. His statistics make Ray Guy look normal. Shane Lechler is an equalizer," Gruden said. "Janikowski can put points on the board. They're going to be outstanding in the kicking game, very good on defense."
As for the offense, Gruden did not mention new coordinator Hue Jackson but did offer a diagnosis for success.
"If they can take care of the ball, run the ball and develop a couple of these young offensive linemen -- and I've heard good things about some of their sleepers that they have in camp -- I think they can win the division. I really do. I like the Raiders a lot."
There, he is on record. Decorate your eye patches with Gruden's prediction (or mine next week).
But that last quote again. It starts with the word "if." All 32 teams can win their divisions IF everything falls in place.
For the Raiders, they need the Chargers to fall from their AFC West perch, as neither the Denver Broncos nor Kansas City Chiefs pose a threat. Gruden's ESPN colleague, Ron Jaworski, justifiably considered the Chargers among the NFL's most overrated teams and sighed about their contract disputes with left tackle Marcus McNeill and wide receiver Vincent Jackson.
Flattery about the Raiders further entrenches Gruden into the Raider Nation's good graces, an admiration society that has grown with each passing season of 11 or more defeats since he clocked them as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach in Super Bowl XXXVII.
The Raiders have not returned to the postseason since then. Maybe Gruden's words Wednesday will lift that curse. Maybe not. But it is always fun hearing him croon about the Raiders.
http://www.insidebayarea.com/raiders/ci_15968461
Inman: Jon Gruden says get on the Oakland Raiders bandwagon
You have to love Jon Gruden's proclamation Wednesday that the Raiders can win the AFC West.
Does his belief reek of loyalty to Raider Nation? Yes, and how great is that?
Does Gruden, the Raiders' transcendent coach from 1998-2001, state a solid case about this season's Raiders? Yes, making him a credible fountain of hope.
Gruden, entering his second season in the "Monday Night Football" booth, did not go bonkers and compare this season's edition to Oakland's last Super Bowl-winning team, as Al Davis recently did regarding the 1980 fun run.
Nor did Gruden couch his win-the-West hunch with the ol' line of how you can't win the lottery if you don't play. The AFC West, by the way, should be a lot easier to win than Super Lotto, as long as the Raiders beat a weakened San Diego Chargers team for the first time since 2003.
"The Raiders should be excited," Gruden said in an ESPN conference call. "I don't just say this being former a Raider (he pronounced it 'Raiiiiider') myself, but I do like their defense.
"If you look at their front seven, I know all the years I was coaching, I'd love to have that group. Adding guys like (Kamerion) Wimbley, (John) Henderson, trading for Richard Seymour (in 2009), (having) Tommy Kelly, getting (Rolando) McClain in the first round. That's a good front seven. (Nnamdi Asomugha is) arguably one of the top corners in all of football. I like everything about their defense. And I think I should.
These are talented football players."
Defensive upgrades indeed thrust the Raiders into AFC West relevancy more so than quarterback Jason Campbell's arrival (and JaMarcus Russell's expulsion). That said, big plays remain a key concern, especially with Tennessee Titans long-dash specialist Chris Johnson on the Week 1 agenda.
Gruden did not just toot the defense's horn, adding: "Jason Campbell, between he and Bruce Gradkowski, will do the thing they need to win there with this defense -- protect the ball."
Interesting that Gruden should bring up Gradkowski. Is he not sold on Campbell? Has he, like us, seen Gradkowski's knack for moving the chains? Or is Gruden acknowledging how rare it is for a quarterback to make it through all 16 games healthy? One guess: All of the above.
Gruden, by the way, did not give a glowing recommendation to Matt Leinart, the disgruntled Arizona Cardinals quarterback whom -- according to ESPN's Adam Schefter -- was drawing trade interest from the Raiders even as the Raiders were subsequently disputing the report.
"He's clearly been average," Gruden said of Leinart. "He hasn't been a guy that has really taken control and choked the opportunity that's been given to him."
Gruden had much kinder words for the Raiders special teams, with punter Shane Lechler and kicker Sebastian Janikowski the only holdovers from his Raiders tenure.
"They have maybe the best punter in history. And I'm not kidding you. His statistics make Ray Guy look normal. Shane Lechler is an equalizer," Gruden said. "Janikowski can put points on the board. They're going to be outstanding in the kicking game, very good on defense."
As for the offense, Gruden did not mention new coordinator Hue Jackson but did offer a diagnosis for success.
"If they can take care of the ball, run the ball and develop a couple of these young offensive linemen -- and I've heard good things about some of their sleepers that they have in camp -- I think they can win the division. I really do. I like the Raiders a lot."
There, he is on record. Decorate your eye patches with Gruden's prediction (or mine next week).
But that last quote again. It starts with the word "if." All 32 teams can win their divisions IF everything falls in place.
For the Raiders, they need the Chargers to fall from their AFC West perch, as neither the Denver Broncos nor Kansas City Chiefs pose a threat. Gruden's ESPN colleague, Ron Jaworski, justifiably considered the Chargers among the NFL's most overrated teams and sighed about their contract disputes with left tackle Marcus McNeill and wide receiver Vincent Jackson.
Flattery about the Raiders further entrenches Gruden into the Raider Nation's good graces, an admiration society that has grown with each passing season of 11 or more defeats since he clocked them as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach in Super Bowl XXXVII.
The Raiders have not returned to the postseason since then. Maybe Gruden's words Wednesday will lift that curse. Maybe not. But it is always fun hearing him croon about the Raiders.
What I'm saying is, coming from YOU, it doesn't mean shit. If someone else says it, that's fine but nobody on here takes you seriously. So your posts don't count. Was I saying anything to anybody else who predicted the Raiders to win the division? No. Besides, your logic is retarded. You need to retire from posting in this section of the Siccness. Raider fans don't even like you lol. Go back to your hole kid!
Everyone knows SD is the team to beat in the AFC West. Don't get me wrong but Denver and KC should never be overlooked because they always play us good. But beating SD is what we're aiming for. I wish that punk L.T. was still there so we could see him cry after we beat y'all.... because I know he hates the Raiders.
If we can beat SD and win the division, maybe just maybe we could see the Jets in the playoffs. I know L.T. would hate it even more if his team lost to the Raiders in the playoffs.
If we can beat SD and win the division, maybe just maybe we could see the Jets in the playoffs. I know L.T. would hate it even more if his team lost to the Raiders in the playoffs.
