Week 8 – Raiders @ SD – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

By: MexicanRaider

Week 8 - Sunday Nov 1 @ 1:15 PM PST - Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California

Final Score: Raiders 16 - Chargers 24

Final Stats:

OAKLAND RAIDERS
Passing	Cmp	Att	Yds	TDs
J. Russell	14	22	109	0
Rushing	Car	Yds	Avg	TDs
J. Fargas	18	59	3.3	1
M. Bush	7	27	3.9	0
Receiving	Rec	Yds	Avg	TDs
Z. Miller	5	52	10.4	0
J. Fargas	3	20	6.7	0

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
Passing	Cmp	Att	Yds	TDs
P. Rivers	16	25	249	1
Rushing	Car	Yds	Avg	TDs
L. Tomlinson	18	56	3.1	2
D. Sproles	5	38	7.6	0
Receiving	Rec	Yds	Avg	TDs
V. Jackson	8	103	12.9	1
M. Floyd	2	64	32	0

The GOOD

Matt Shaughnessy - DT/DE - Rookie - This guy brought it on game day and was in all-on mode during the game.  His motor never stopped, not even on one snap, and he finished with 5 tackles and his first career sack.  He showed great hustle at the point of attack, he dominated his blockers, and was definitely one of the few bright spots of the defense in this game.

Sebastian Janikowski - PK - 10 yr vet - What else can we say about good ol' Jano?  12/12 on the season, he is perfect when we need him, plus he has been booming his kick-offs as always.  He is like good wine: getting way better with age.  He should be going to the Pro Bowl this year if he maintains this level of play.

The BAD

Darrius Heyward-Bey - WR - Rookie - He looks lost and we are not even sure he is trying hard enough. Seems to have work ethic issues and is definitely raw as hell. No way to sugar-coat it here:  he looks, game in and game out, like a huge reach at #7 overall. Needs more than anyone in that core the presence of a vet to teach him and show him the way.

Khalif Barnes - RT - 5 yr vet - So he is allegedly the solution at RT?  He looks worse than Green who was serviciable at RT.  Very poor pass  protection and below-average run blocking.  No way he was ever a challenge for Mario Henderson at LT.  He is a Tom Cable pick and looks like a wrong one so far. We badly need a true legit RT.

The UGLY

Jamarcus Russell - QB - 3 yr vet - When you go barely above 100 yds with such a simple game plan, so simple to execute, and you still are able to almost miss dump-offs and screen passes, you know you have huge issues.  He apparently cleaned up his act this week, taking some of the blame on the Jets game and looking cleaner in the locker room. However, he still needs to work way harder, show at practice earlier, and be the last one to leave.  He needs work, too much work.

Tom Cable - HC - The game plan sucks to say the least.  The offense doesn't have a chance and the defense is still the same soft, 4-man-rush, man-to-man, outdated scheme. Yes, we all know this is baby-fed to him, but he needs to take a chance here and do the same thing he did the last 2-3 weeks of last year.  Put up a game plan that actually works.  If the offense can at least get 20-25 points, the defense seems to step up and we have a chance.  I hope he doesn't read this and want to punch me on the jaw, though!

Oakland Raiders Funeral Service

By: BH from RaiderOutlawz.com

Welcome Raider Fans from around the world to today's celebration of a great experience which we have all witnessed for many years.

Raider fans were truly grateful to be a part of many great moments. Like the Jon Gruden era and our Superbowl run back in 2002 when the Oakland Raiders were alive and one of the best teams in the NFL, led by league M.V.P Rich Gannon. Those were the days, people.

I'll go before my time and mention the Superbowls we have won. The Oakland Raiders are 3-Time Superbowl Champions: winning their 1st in 1976, 2nd in 1980, and their 3rd in 1983. Remember the great players that have put on that Silver and Black over the years? Like Jim Otto, Jack Tatum, Ted Hendricks,Ray Guy, Lester Hayes, Mike Haynes, Art Shell, Marcus Allen, Fred Biletnikoff, Dave Casper, George Blanda, Howie Long, and Gene Upshaw; the list goes on and on and on.

The Oakland Raiders have been a part of some of the best games in NFL history. Games that are well known around the league and the very earth that we live on.

The Raiders have had some of the better head coaches leading this franchise to greatness in Tom Flores, and of course the great John Madden.

You see, it's OK to remember the good times at times like this, and its also OK to show sorrow or happiness.

A Raider fan will mourn this horrible loss of a great franchise. While some will continue to fight a battle that seems hopeless to some but hopeful to many, there are also those who continue to act like everything is all right.

What I have to say about that is this: Each individual person that is a Raider fan will wear the same colors as you, watch the same games as you, but WILL NOT always:

-Share the same views as you

-Go to the games and be a season ticket holder like you

-Post on the same Oakland Raider message board as you

-And perhaps most importantly, WILL NOT always like you.

Raider fans are a part of ONE fan base. This fan base is full of individuals, so please always remember that.

But today it's not about being an optimist, realist, or whatever. It's about being an Oakland Raider fan today. Each Raider fan has a right today to choose either to come up here and look at this coffin or to walk out of the back door. For the people who want to come up here and pay their respects to something that they love so much, you are free to come up here, but I'll go up first to say some words.

Man, over the years I've learned so much about you. Every season is supposed to bring new hope, a new beginning, and new battles.

It's like a kid opening a gift on Christmas Day. Sometimes that gift will bring you happiness, but just like the NFL, the Christmas holiday is every year and you won't like every gift you get. This has been the case for many years up to this point.

I know what you stood for and I know what you are supposed to be. But now I look down at you lifelessly laying in front of me.

I can't stand to see you like this. I'm hoping for a miracle and hoping for any signs of life from you. However, the powers that be are stopping it from happening, and because of that, I just wanted to tell you that I have much love for you and will be waiting for that miracle. If I die before you wake once again I hope you return to something that I was proud to be a part of.

Rest in Peace.