4101

I just think its funny you are making a big deal about this when the Raiders, even when good, have historically been one of the most penalized teams in the league. You can even argue its part of their persona as a franchise. Expecting that to change as a Raiders fan strikes me as like expecting 49er fans to stop being wine drinking elitists (and Bill). ;-)

4102

Hey, don’t forget the Brie also. The Niner stereotype isn’t complete without that.

4103

Yeah. Who’s your agile, mobile ball-hawk now, Sweatshirt?

4104

In today’s environment they won’t win until they minimize penalties. The Jets game was their best game this year and they only had five penalties for 55 yards and the defense played well.

I nor Coach Jackson believe that penalties have to define the Raiders. If they want to win for their legions of fans, they will solve this.

I really don’t understand what you are talking about Sarkus. In fact I think I’d go so far as to say you don’t either.

4105

First, all my posts on this subject have been accompanied by a “;-)”, which you seem to be not noticing or understanding.

Second, as Matt’s post notes I’m hardly out on a limb in noting the Raiders history in this regard.

Third, I realize your team just lost two home games and it sucks, but you need to relax.

4106

Sarkus, after a while it just get tiring. Having watched the team for thirty years, I’m kind of familiar with the history. I also don’t care for the vibe that the Raiders or any team can’t change. Just look at Detroit this year. I guess you would have told Talisker last year with your little ;) that his team was just going to keep losing. Or what about Seattle? They may not be good this year but they will have their day in the sun. And the Raiders will not always get the most penalties or whatever.

I’d just like to keep it positive as most of us do here if you don’t mind.

4107

I think the Raiders have just been released from the dungeon, but are still weak and emaciated from years of living on moldy bread and rats. You’re not going to be running marathons on the first day but for the first time in years there is hope that such things are possible.

Penalties are a result of poor discipline, which is a direct reflection of the coach. The Raiders haven’t had a good coach since Gruden. Al Davis didn’t think the penalties were a problem, and in fact he actively chased away good coaches, so the problem wasn’t going to get fixed. Now, without the specter of the lich king hanging over the team, they have a chance to hire somebody good and keep him long enough to turn the team into a real football team. The kind with the discipline not to take dumb penalties. However, it’s not going to happen this year. It may not happen with the next coach, or the one after that. But at least it’s a possibility now.

4108

I honestly believe that under Al Davis, the Raiders accepted penalties as a cost of doing business. They wanted to be aggressive and beat the other team down, and if that meant they occasionally jumped offside or took an interference penalty or personal foul in pursuit of an edge, they were willing to take those gambles.

And that doesn’t mean that all the penalties the Raiders take are good ones – I’m sure they make plenty of stupid, avoidable mistakes, just like any other team. But you don’t sit at the top of the league in penalties year after year, decade after decade, under a procession of different coaches, by accident. It’s part of a franchise philosophy to play aggressive, and it’ll take some time in the wake of Al Davis’ departure before that stops being true.

4109

The front-page photo on today’s Washington Post deserves the widest possible distribution:


I think it’s the greatest angry coach photo ever.

4110

Ha ha. I pity the kids who are on his lawn when he gets home.

4111

Not sure what he’s angry about. His team got shut out by Buffalo a week ago, this week they put up 11 points. That’s improvement! Focus on the positive, Mike.

4112

Exactly guys. The Raiders do have a chance now of turning it around. I don’t think the fan base likes the penalties either. All the penalties were fine with some people when the Raiders were going to the playoffs but not now. The problem was that Al Davis didn’t recognize that his team could no longer afford to lead the league in penalties.

Jackson swears it’s going to be turned around by December but we’ll see.

EDIT: And the other thing is that the lack of discipline is EXACTLY why the Raiders shouldn’t have mortgaged the farm with giving up all those draft picks for Palmer. They are not ready for a top level quarterback period. Vince Young would have been the right guy at this time in the Raiders development. And Jackson is going to eventually see this. He may not have a job by that time, but Palmer is going to be wasted on this team.

4113

Not necessarily. Palmer isn’t so old that he’ll be retiring after the season. The Raiders were playing pretty good football before Campbell got hurt. Give Palmer a full offseason and a good coach and they might make the playoffs next year.

I’m not saying it was a good trade, because obviously they just mortgaged the future and aren’t likely to win a Super Bowl, but I don’t think he’s going to be wasted. They have good young receivers, they can run the ball and play defense (some of the time). If Palmer is healthy and wants to play, it’s not inconceivable they could win the AFC West.

4114

Palmer could be Aaron Rodgers and if the defense commits 15 penalties a game it won’t matter. That’s what I’m saying. And I don’t think the Raiders are past doing that for the majority of games.

4115

Sure, but you only have to look across the Bay to see how quickly a good coach can turn a team around. Granted you’ll probably have to suffer through a Nolan or two (though probably not anyone as bad as Singletary) before you luck into a good coach. But you never know.

I wouldn’t put any stock in Jackson saying it’ll be fixed in a month. My experience of watching Niner coaches is that the ones who say “X will be fixed” don’t actually know how to fix anything, and the ones that do know, don’t say it.

4116

Cutler reminds me a bit of Favre. Good scrambler, likes to take risks on the run. When he’s on, he looks fantastic. When he’s off, it’s interception mania.

4117

Great fake punt, except it failed.

4118

They did an ok job when Brady got hurt. This year is just weird. The defense was ok yesterday except for the pass interference penalty that was costly. But the only reason that guy was in was because of the injury to Chung.

Brady throwing the three picks was likely the big issue for them.

4119

It was a strange defensive scheme by the Bears. Both gunners were left uncovered. If the punter could have made a throw that a Jr. High QB could make it would have been an easy first down, and probably a big gain.

Good game, and good defense by the Bears.

4120

Yeah I was surprised at how the Bears were covering it, as both outside gunners were uncovered as you said, so if the punter had made a catchable throw to either of them, it would of went for a long run. So instead of either getting a field goal or even possibly the go ahead touchdown, they ended up with the Bears going on a time killing drive that ended with a field goal.