MVN: Most Valuable Network

#1

Posted by Patrick Patterson, August 28, 2008 11:14 PM

Rob, I got Waddell for four times burnt and three missed tackles per quarter.

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#2

Posted by Rob Calonge, August 28, 2008 11:21 PM

I'll take your four times burnt and three missed tackles and raise you 1 fumbled return.

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#3

Posted by Umer Waris, August 28, 2008 11:30 PM

Rob,

I really want to see Todd Watkins play. The guy should be given longer playing time. From all the hype he has been getting from training camp, I am really anxious to see him make some big plays.

Not much in the mood to see the backups play but hey, its Raider football so why not. The regular season is going to be with the first team and these guys... cant say much about them.

Yeah I liked the stanford game too. Really didnt get that fumble at the end though.

Dude, no offense or anything, but how could u even think of a new head coach?!?!? The last thing we need is inconsistency at the coaching spot again.

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#4

Posted by Thoughts from the Dark Side: Oakland Raiders versus Seattle Seahawks: What to watch for | The Raider, August 28, 2008 11:46 PM

[...] Read more. Posted in Commentary, Oakland Raiders | [...]

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#5

Posted by KUSHMAN, August 29, 2008 12:37 AM

yea mikeini i agree with you on ryan... but you know what.. as long as they can stop the run worlds better than last year(which i think with gibril & hall running around out there that they will)... the pass rushing doesnt need to be tremendous.. 10+ sacks for derrick would be proper.. any less, yea big waste of his talents.. putting him at MLB positions... just a waste of his passrushing ability.. let him get used to the other end so he doesnt have to get double teamed on every play and he will have a career high sack year.

as for these WRs.. watkins is definetely going to make it.. everyone else is just a toss up. i think todd show up tonight in a big way on sppecial teams and receiving...

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#6

Posted by mikeinny, August 29, 2008 3:48 AM

so here we go again, another in a long line of "FAILURES" by my raiders ! no matter what this potentialy great offense does this year ! it wont be enuff to compensate for again the

"worst coached defense ever " . it already is etched in stone & going in that direction !!!

look at the obvious ryan is keeping BROWN @ solbr, this guy is weak vs run ,& cant cover any te / hb/fb in league so what are we looking at here ??

simple more of the "robryanbizaro" world style D!! the solbr is supposed to be able to "cover " short as well as be strong vs the run , ( like-morrison ) so look for wilson to be asked to play in reality " solbr " @ 5yds ,vs the run then have to catch up with the slot guy or te / any back coming out , this will create a simple read for the qb! z-flanker @ 12 yard open with slant all day ! and the te open 2-3 times a game down middle of seam @ 15+yds ! HUFF the free safety will be forced to cover way to much ground (although @ tim,es he will astound us this year with his closing abailty ) so oak will once again lead the nfl in 20+yard plays allowed !!! and once again all u robryan people will blame the players .

and then this lead to the

"pass rush " , or lack of it again!!! pass rush, wow i remember that , we used to be amongst the elite every year sincethe 60's , till 2004 !!! since ryan 04 we have & never will get a pass rush !!

cause this guy just has no clue how to develop one . it is suposed to be simple , like kc/allen sd/merriman denver/mossetc ptt/doggin GIANTS/using inside shades with the rite personel to implode the pocket etc!!!

now we have burgess/williams/kelly/sands these 4 should give us 35 sacks alone , but when ryan has burgess on

" THE WRONG SIDE OF THE BALL AGAIN " what can u expect?? another 10 game year due to inury and yeah the occasional big game by #56, and he will limp to another 7-8 sack year & " UNDERACHEIVE"

burgess is the equivalent to allen merryman and look what they do with them!! sd uses #56 all over the place doggin/blitzing up top/weak side/strong side/middle etc!! and allen goes from weak side end only , either way burgess would flourish! but ryan down want that !!! he wants burges playing every down , getting targeted vs the run by the other team ! look at the stats last 2 years and this preseason every team starts the game going rite at both ends of the raiders . with 'BIG TIME " sucess !!! and this year wil just be worse even worse!!!

willaimsa should be used as a passrusher but is plundered by ryan also!! SOLBR?????? for a guy who is 6-5 260 lbs runs a 4.55 40!! he should be also deployed all over the place along with burgess to form a dyanamic pass rush duo this year !!! but ryan dont wnat that !!!!

also poor kelly & warren they will be gettin doubled every play !! vs run & pass , you see w/ #56 @ sde the te or fb can block him vs the run whcih leaves an extra linemen to shoot out at the def tackl & lbrs' every play !!!!! this is how it'sbeen since 2004 and this is " HOW IT WILL STAY TILL THEY FIRE THIS NO GOOD EVEIL RAT RYAN & ALL HIS CRONIES "

oh & ps blaming AL DAVIS FOR THE DEFense is extremely transparent & COMPLETE & TOTAL FRAUDULENT CLAIM & A F'N LIE OF COURSE!!! this little obsurd "loose statement " has probably been initiated by RYAN himself due to the new talent on defense added by davis , so ryan is running out of excuses , he acnt blame th offense anymore like in 05-06 !!! he cant blame the talent like in 04 , he then late in 07 started this sneaky quiet "well al really runs the def " campaign to once again find a scapegoat !!!

to run a scam u need a "patsy" " bad guy" or a guy who is to busy to notice!!!! and this RYAN GUY HAS & IS RUNNING A SCAM ON THIS team !!!

why??

well either he is really this inept or he is just undermining the raiders for the NFL,PATRIOTS OR JUST BECAUSE THAT IS 'LOWLIFES" DO !!!

so this year in game 1 vs denver u will the ryan d get scorched by a average @ best denver team , and they will be @ best by week 5 2-3 and kiffin once again will another head coach fired !! cause of ryan !!!! they will finish 25-32 vs the run, 25 sacks @ best, middle of pack in INTS' (huff wil have 5 +)

and @ best this team can go with ryan is 5 wns , now this without ryan & cronies RIADER SHAVE & WOULD BE THIS YEAR A PLAYOFF/DIVIOSN WINNER!!@ 10-14 WINS!!!! EVERY YEAR BTW!!!

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#7

Posted by Raider Blues, August 29, 2008 7:28 AM

What's there not to get about the fumble at the end. Beav Fans face the all-mighty KARMA! We fumbled through the end zone last year against Cal and Beaver Fan rejoiced. Even though all the "Experts" at BSPN tried to say we were undefeated until the end of the year when we lost Dixon we lost against Cal early on by doing exactly what Karma did to the Beavs by fumbling though the End Zone for a Touch Back.

Nobody wants to watch Backups - isn't that what we do? At least for the last 5 years. We think we can run and we can play D for a half and sort of pass but we don't know what we can do for an entire game. I'd rather see us get more Starter time in - WE NEED IT!

Just Win Baby!

Oh... almost forgot... Can we make fun of the Donkeys for the silly events held in their stadium?

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#8

Posted by Rob Calonge, August 29, 2008 8:02 AM

Umer - The fumble was a case of going for more than he could handle doing. Those bother me, but at least the effort was there.

mikeinny - I'm completely with you about Ryan. Not getting rid of him after last season was surprising to say the least. He has one more year to prove himself, so I guess we'll get to see what he can do.

Raider Blues - Cal got lucky last year with Oregon, that's for sure. As far as making fun of the Donkeys, I'm sure that we can come up with something.

Thanks for stopping by everyone!

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#9

Posted by Rebel2124, August 29, 2008 9:15 AM

Back ups hmm? I do want to see Chaz and Watkins. I do want to see McQuistan. I won't mind watching Rankin. Higgins needs all the time he can get returning punts in a live game. I'm not incredibly excited about seeing anyone else we picked up who'll be out there tonight, nor does anyone else. What does that tell you about the people we picked up? And that's why Kiffin wanted other people in camp.

I'm all for giving Ryan another shot with better talent. If there's only so much talent to work with then a person can only do so much.

By no means was the event last night at the Donkeys stadium silly.

Peace

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#10

Posted by S&B, August 29, 2008 10:42 AM

Only position I care about for this game is the wide receiver position. The winner of this race can have a direct impact on the offense. That makes this game as important as the last three. Remember, Marques Colston was a seventh round pick. Hopefully, Watkins, Higgins, Shields and Shillens show us something. Here's hoping for a diamond in the rough, even if its cubic zirconia.........

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#11

Posted by LDizzle, August 29, 2008 2:01 PM

Again you list quite a few guys as "locks" or "safe bets" that aren't. Here is who is not a lock that you seem to think is:

Terdell Sands- He has been buried in the depth chart and has a salary much higher than the guys around him (I don't mean Kelly) and has been playing no better than those lesser paid guys. If he makes it, it will be by default.

Kalimba Edwards- He has stunk it up against the run and hasn't been all that good rushing the QB either.

Trevor Scott- He has looked good in limited duty but being a 6th rounder and playing the opposing teams 3rd team does not a lock make.

Johnnie Lee Higgins- He could easily be replaced with a decent veteran on the waiver wire. Even if he isn't in the Raiders initial cuts, he could be gone shortly thereafter.

I don't see Louis Rankin clearing waivers and making it to the practice squad. After how well he has played this preseason along with his 1300 yards for UW last season, he should be swiped up pretty quickly if the Raiders were to release him.

According to Todd Watkins; he will be playing nearly the entire game. If he doesn't then somebody lied to him.

You are right about there being some hard hitting and bodies flying around tonight as players play for their NFL careers. In some ways, this game has more appeal than any of the other preseason games. I got my popcorn ready.

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#12

Posted by LDizzle, August 29, 2008 2:28 PM

LMAO @ Rob and Patrick playing a high stakes game of poker with Waddell.

Oh and great call on Jim Harbaugh being a possibility if we lose Kiffin. That would be a fantastic choice.

Good Karma call Raider Blues. That Cam Colvin fumble through the endzone was complete bullshit. That rule needs to be changed. It is penalizing a team for which way a ball bounces. Like roulette. Just like they changed the rule about a defender intercepting and sliding into the endzone is not a touchback either. Go DUCKS! Beat them Dawgs on Saturday!

OH I just understood what you meant by making fun of the event that happened at the Donkey's stadium last night. What is to make fun of? Obama gave a truly awesome speech and McCain panicked and gave the VP position to a woman today to not only divert everyone's attention from raving about how Obama handed McCains ass to him, but to try and steal all of the stupid, sexist, female Hillary voters. McCain's mistake is thinking that all women are stupid. One woman is not just as good as the next and Palin is just about the polar opposite of Hillary. She may as well be another species. Also how ironic is it that the only leg McCain has had to stand on is the whole "inexperience" thing and Palin has a whopping TWO YEARS experience in frickin Alaska! Where criminals go to hide from their past. McCain is really backed against the wall now and everyone knows it.

Oh Yeah, Go Raiders!

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#13

Posted by Rob Calonge, August 29, 2008 2:36 PM

LDizzle - Tsk..Tsk...Tsk...your comment caught me at the right time. So often you come on here to bash my posts and I remain silent. There's a reason that I haven't commented on your posts and that's because my mother taught me to not say anything when I didn't have anything nice to say. Just this once, I'm going to forego that advice because I'm in the mood to.

Terdell Sands, Kalimba Edwards, Trevor Scott not locks? You pretend to be the resident English Professor for the TFDS comment section, try and tell me and everyone else here what 'near certainty' and 'I think that it’s safe to say' mean. I think that you'll agree that they don't mean 'locks'.

Now if it was something the Raiders viewed as easy to do, don't you think that they would've brought in someone to return kicks when the roster size was 80? Where's your logic in cutting Higgins, a 3rd round pick from last year, when you haven't gone out and gotten anyone else that you deem adequate to return kicks? Besides, I said "I think everyone is pretty sure that Johnnie Lee Higgins’ job is safe for now due to him being the top return man" and not that he wouldn't lose his job.

As far as Rankin goes I may be wrong about an undrafted rookie getting cut and signing on to the practice squad. I only meant that if he were to get cut and clear waivers that the Raiders would sign him there.

On Todd Watkins - I haven't seen where he'll be playing all game long. That's why I said, "I’m guessing not much." You know what the word 'guessing' means, right Professor?

'locks,' 'safe bets,' whatever. Until you can come on here and tell me WHO is going to take their roster spot and WHY, then the sum of your post is to trash my commentary. Don't be like Mike49er Dizzle, be a Raiders fan. BTW - you forgot to leave us all a link to your last post. You must be slippin' ;-)

Thanks for stopping by

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#14

Posted by Coach Elkins, August 29, 2008 2:55 PM

Now we're getting somewhere.....

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#15

Posted by LDizzle, August 29, 2008 4:11 PM

Rob I know that whenever I bring up politics you get all red in the face and start throwing barbs. That is always the "right time" for you. And just for the record "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all" is terrible advice. Never saying anything that might be contrued as negative goes completely against what makes this country great and is a remedy for failure.

Winston Churchill once said "Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfills the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things."

But what does he know right?

I only left a link to my post when it was on Examiner.com instead of here. ONE POST. And that is for Patrick as much as for myself. He gets paid by how much traffic goes to his page. I shouldn't have to tell you that Rob. Move on.

And how is what I said about your post so "negative"? You claim to enjoy creating conversation and then when I try and have one with you, that vein pops out in your forehead. If you can't take the heat etc etc.

I DID tell you WHY they were not "locks" or "safe bets". And you should never tell anyone to "be a Raider fan" as if you wrote the definition. I think what you are referring to is being a "homer". I simply enjoy a good conversation about the state of the team and am not afraid to disagree or add to what you said or anyone else says. You know what the word "conversation" means right huffy?

Patrick seems to handle it well without getting all caddy like what you just displayed. Temper, temper! You go boy! Give me the "Straight Talk" Rob!

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#16

Posted by KUSHMAN, August 29, 2008 4:23 PM

go rob!

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#17

Posted by Rob Calonge, August 29, 2008 4:59 PM

Dizzle - Once again, you misread something that I typed. I don't leave smiley faces when I'm angry. As far as the political talk, well I didn't see that until I finished posting my last comment.

I'm not going to discuss politics with anyone on the site again. That was a one time mistake. Besides, had I seen that comment first, I wouldn't have posted to you...I would not have needed to in my opinion.

As far as the 'red in the face' comment...THAT got me red in the face, but I'm going to let that slide because I realize you're just fumbling for something to get me back on.

Calling me 'huffy' or explaining yourself is just silly. There's not a visitor to this site that hasn't seen you go off on someone so that's a little like the pot calling the kettle black isn't it?

I'm not mad at you, but you should know that you offer absolutely nothing with your "criticism"...nothing. I would expect more from someone like you. Someone that is usually 'schooling' someone on comments they've posted, but all you do is come on and tell me I'm wrong? Well O.K., you're wrong too. :-)

Like I said in the last post, explain how and why I'm wrong. Give me a logical explanation for it. Live up to the same standards you set for everyone else on these boards.

Sure, you may have told me they weren't good, but who's going to beat them out? Do you have information on the Raiders signing somebody that nobody else has?

I did find it very amusing that a lefty like yourself would pull out a quote from a conservative. Had Winston Churchill been running for president this year, you'd probably be calling him a Nazi. That's not me discussing politics, just your transparent double-standard.

Like I said, I'm not mad, but I am in the mood for a discussion and a debate about the team. That's the ONLY reason I replied to that comment.

For all of the times that you've come on here and called people idiots, ignorant, and basically chased people away, I would expect thicker skin from you also.

My comment was serious, but also in jest. (SEE ---> :-) )

Speaking of which, when you say, "contrued," did you mean construed? ;-)

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#18

Posted by Coach Elkins, August 29, 2008 7:11 PM

I am not taking sides here, this is nothing more than a healthy, respectful debate. The only side I will ever take is my own, but I respect everyones right to their opinion.

Perhaps if the Oakland Raiders had meetings of this sort we wouldn't be looking at a 6th straight losing season? Nobody wants to hurt little ole Lane feelings I guess?

Dizzle, I love the Churchill quote!

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#19

Posted by Rob Calonge, August 30, 2008 12:58 AM

Not sure why the site is still up, but it is I guess. Jerry McDonald is reporting that Kiffin has already indicated that the Raiders will be keeping Tui and sticking with 3 QB's to start the season.

Cut's don't go final until 1pm.

Duh - Just seeing if you'd answer ;-)

Rebel2124 - I couldn't agree with you more about Alston. Last night was a case of him playing himself out of job. At least it should be because he was horrible.

While I'd be worried if Henderson was starting, I was mildly pleased that as the game went on, he got better and actually made fewer mistakes than Wand who was the other bookend. I also like what I'm seeing from Watkins and Schillens. It seemed that Watkins got a raw deal last night with the few Andrew Walter passes that were off target. Madsen also received a couple of those bad passes. All in all, I thought the Raiders backups did a pretty good job most of the game.

Players that I was impressed with was Underwood on two days of practice, Gunheim, Walter, Schillens, Janikowski.

Players that I can't wait to see leave from last night: Waddell (NEARLY every big passing play was to his man), Alston...well those were really the only two I can think of right now that I was annoyed with.

Players who didn't help their cause: Wand, Sanchez, Ekejiuba, Joseph.

Players that might squeak by: Archuleta, Reece, Lawton (not impressed with his blocking), Shaw.

LDizzle - I'd rather trade a 3rd round pick for Starks than Henderson.

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#20

Posted by LDizzle, August 30, 2008 1:17 AM

What you are missing here Rob is that I am not telling you that you are wrong in your predictions. I too love to make predictions. Where you are "wrong" is in your certainty about some players

making this team.

"Doubt is not a pleasant state but certainty is a ridiculous one." --Voltaire

As a veteran such as myself you should know not to assume things. Things such as me being a "lefty" just because I don't agree with your choice politically. Only extremist Liberals and blind following Conservatives place such judgements on people that don't agree with them. OakFoSho called me a conservative because he is an extremist Liberal (by his own admission). I have said before that I am non-partisan and have voted Republican, Democratic and Independent in my lifetime. So much for your theory Rob. Got any other words you can put in my mouth? And you say I am "fumbling" for a way to get back at you. If you are so certain of your side of this you wouldn't need to resort to saying I would think Winston Churchill is a Nazi. Now THAT is transparency. Just put a question mark at the end and you would be right up there with FOX News "reporting"

Yes, I meant construed. That was a typo. A REAL typo. You make like you are just having fun but the fact that you keep mentioning my correcting of grammar says otherwise. You are truly the peoples champion Rob. Illiterates everywhere are counting on you to stand up for them. Keep fighting the good fight!

And I know what you mean by people thinking you are serious when you are joking. That is how it is when one speaks in a comment box. Most of the time people think i am angry and flying off the handle but I just have a way with words. I am a passionate guy. I wouldn't be such a devoted fan if I wasn't. I didn't write the definition but I am pretty sure that is what it means to "be a good Raider fan". One of the ways anyway.

Thanks Coach, it is one of my favorite quotes.

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#21

Posted by Rob Calonge, August 30, 2008 8:11 AM

Dizzle - NOBODY cares what political party you are affiliated with, especially me. You keep talking politics and not once have you made a statement, politically, that would give me the opinion that you are non-partisan, but that's beside the point. I want to apologize for calling you a 'lefty' as you pointed out. I guess with all of your Bush/Fox News/McCain/Conservative bashing that you've stated in this space, I ASSumed that you were, so I'm sorry.

You do keep obfuscating the issue and my point.

This is what you said "Again you list quite a few guys as “locks” or “safe bets” that aren’t. Here is who is not a lock that you seem to think is:" Then you go on to list the players that you think could get cut. Well DUH!!! Anyone could get cut! It's been reported that Moses was cut by accident last year, so you make no point in that regard.

My statements never made anyone out to be a lock (scroll up to the highlighted portion of my first post). Yes, I was wrong about Watkins' playing time and yes I could be wrong about Rankin. Hell, I could be wrong about the whole article, but nothing that I wrote was wrong in saying so.

Well, it's Saturday morning and the site is still up for some reason. I've made my point and that's all that I came on to do. I've got more serious work right now being the 'peoples champion.' Anyone seen any 'illiterates' around here?

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#22

Posted by Rebel2124, August 30, 2008 11:13 AM

Well um so....

I think last nights game was a clear indication some of those guys wearing Raiders uniforms absolutely do not deserve to be wearing Raider uniforms. Alston was a complete embarrassment getting hurdled and then getting ran over. Hey, I'm 5'7, 215 pounds, played corner in college and I would've BROUGHT TJ DUCKETT DOWN MAN! LOL. (Seriously, I think I could've. I frequently had opposing teams in college run my direction in looking at my height. What they didn't know was that I was a tough bastard squating 525lbs) Alston among others really solidified their roster spots on the free agent market in my book. I've heard a lot of good things about Watkins, but I wasn't really all that impressed. Chaz should be the 3rd WR if we don't bring in a vet in my opinion. In fact, I don't think we should bring in a vet unless Walker or Curry goes down. Let young Chaz play.

Linebackers, linebackers, linebackers. There has to be guys some where out there who are better than the guys we currently have. Thank God its cut day. Henderson looks like Gallery early on, he should probably be moved inside or cut before he gets one of our QBs killed. We've got to bring in some O-lineman period.

Hey guys, don't act like girls. Expressing ourselves is why we're all here right? A good heated debate is a good thing. We should be able to have a great debate and still be respectful of one another. Just my two cents on it. I'm looking forward to reading more from all of you.

Peace

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#23

Posted by LDizzle, August 30, 2008 11:19 AM

Ok I have grown tired of this argument. You go ahead and keep stewing, I am moving on. There is NEWS to talk about.

Steelers have released Eddie Drummond who would be a great replacement for JLH. Drummond has been on of the best return men in the game for a while.

Steelers are also reportedly shopping Max Starks for willing trade partners. I had pegged Starks as a guy that would be a great pickup for the Raiders before the Steelers put the transition tag on him. And with our dearth of tackles along with Kwame Harris stinking it up, Starks seems like the logical choice. The only drawback is that he carries a $7 mil price tag. But, as we all know, getting good tackles is no easy task so I think it would be worth it. Well depending on what they would want in return.

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#24

Posted by Duh!!, August 30, 2008 11:21 AM

You rang???

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