Silver and Black Report

Here’s a look at what some former Raiders did yesterday during the divisional round of the playoffs:

Dave Tollefson – Giants DL

Was shutout from the boxscore and was just a reserve during New York’s 37-20 win versus the top-seeded Packers.

Charles Woodson – Packers CB

“Anything you’ve seen through the regular season happened to us today — missed tackles, (missed) assignments, not getting to the QB. We let them throw for a bunch of yards. Everything that happened during the season happened today,” said the former Oakland cornerback. Woodson was of the goats from yesterday’s defeat.

Winston Moss – Packers Asst. HC/LB coach

Played for the Los Angeles Raiders (1991-94) and in 1993, when he led the Silver & Black in tackles on the team that advanced to the AFC Divisional playoffs, he earned the Ed Block Courage Award. All eyes now turn to Green Bay’s ouster, as there a few candidates that Reggie McKenzie can pick from to be Oakland’s next head coach.

Darren Perry – Packers Secondary/Safeties coach

Perry coached the Raiders secondary for two years (2007-2008), aiding the development of Nnamdi Asomugha and helping the Silver & Black stay within the top-10 versus the pass in both of those campaigns. The Packers allowed 325-yards passing yesterday and were ranked last in the entire league in aerial yards per game.

Greg Knapp – Texans QB coach

Houston’s playoff run came to an abrupt end in Baltimore, as Tyler Yates went 17/35 for 184-yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions. Knapp had a tough task at the end of the years, prepping his young passer for a post-season experience after losing the team’s top two passers.

Chris Carr – Ravens CB

Chris Carr in his playing days with the Silver & Black.

Was inactive during Baltimore’s 20-13 victory versus Houston.

Chuck Pagano – Ravens defensive coordinator

Spent two campaigns with the Raiders as a defensive backs coach. In 2006, Oakland led the league in pass defense (150.8) and Asomugha had a breakout year with eight interceptions. Pagano is now the mastermind behind that stout Ravens defense.

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The Green Bay Packers (12-0) are looking to clinch a first round bye in the playoffs with a win versus the Oakland Raiders (7-5). The Silver & Black are locked-up with the Denver Broncos (7-5) with just weeks remaining atop the AFC West. There’s no questioning who the desperate team is here, but Green Bay has visions of an undefeated campaign and a historical finish to their season – going perfect all the way through an scoring a consecutive Super Bowl victory. Hue Jackson’s team has to travel to a chilly environment and show that they belong with the upper echelon clubs in the league.

OAKLAND RAIDERS

On Offense:

It’s another week of who’s who on the infirmary report on offense, with running backs Darren McFadden [foot] and Taiwan Jones [hamstring] officially out on Sunday. Wide receivers Denarius Moore [foot] and Jacoby Ford [foot] also will not play against Green Bay.

Michael Bush will make his sixth start of the season against the 13^th ranked rush defense. “We need to get back to playing Raiders football, get back to doing what we do,” Jackson said. “We’re a big, physical football team and we need to play that way. We need to be able to stop the run and we need to be able to run the ball. That’s where it starts for us and that’s where it’s going to end. We need to be who we are and that’s what we plan on doing.”

A solid run game could keep Carson Palmer upright on Sunday, but more importantly, keep the Packer offense off the field.

“Control the clock,” Palmer said. “We weren’t successful the last two weeks running the ball, and it’s definitely on our minds, something we’re getting screamed at and ripped for, but something we’re working very hard on, because you have to keep the ball out of Aaron’s hands and keep those receivers off the field.”

On Defense:

It’s all about getting to Aaron Rodgers this week if you’re the Raiders. Problem is, you can’t blitz the league’s leading passer too often. Rodgers’ overall passer rating is an NFL-best 125.3, but when he’s blitzed it’s a staggering149.3.

So Oakland must get to the passer with four down linemen. Richard Seymour and Tommy Kelly have to be disruptive in the trenches, and the likes of Jarvis Moss, Lamarr Houston and Trevor Scott have to win their battles on the edges.

“You have to get him off his rhythm,” stated Chuck Bresnahan.

Making Green Bay one-dimensional is a must. James Starks may not play, so containing Ryan Grant, who rushed for a career high against Oakland in 2007, is imperative. The Packers rank 29^th in the NFL rushing the football.

GREEN BAY PACKERS

On Offense:

The last time the Raiders defeated Green Bay, Rodgers was four-years old. The quarterback is at the top of his game and Oakland’s secondary knows it.

“They definitely have an ace at quarterback,” cornerback Lito Sheppard said. “He’s definitely on the same page as his receivers. He knows what they’re going to do, when they’re going to do it and how they’re going to do it. He’s just really good with putting the ball where it needs to be for them to make plays. … Aaron Rodgers is playing like an MVP right now.”

“You see a quarterback that can make every throw on the field,” added Stanford Routt. “He has great receivers, great scheme, great defense — he’s got basically everything you need to be successful. He’s got a little of that Tom Brady, where he doesn’t mind who is going to be the leading receiver that Sunday. Obviously, they do have a lot of good receivers. They’ve got about two or three guys that are actually like number ones, so it’s definitely going to be a good challenge for us on the back end on Sunday.”

Green Bay had many key drops last week against the New York Giants, something that they focused on for their next contest.

On Defense:

The Packers will have Charles Woodson on Sunday, and possibly A.J Hawk, who returned to practice on Friday for the first time since he pulled a calf muscle on Thanksgiving Day.

Linebacker Desmond Bishop is out.

“Having A.J. up for the game to me is a bonus,” coach Mike McCarthy said.

One area the Packers are susceptible at is their pass defense.  They are allowing 306.7 passing yards per game (31^st in the NFL) and have only tallied 26.0 sacks in 2011.

They are opportunistic though, as they have tallied 23 4^th quarter interceptions, tops in the league.

KEY MATCH-UPS

Raiders Front-Four vs. Packers Offensive Line

It’s all about disruption, and whether Oakland can bring the heat with their massive bodies in the interior versus the Pack’s offensive line. If they can get to Rodgers with four down linemen, they will have a shot at staying close.

Bush-Time

Controlling the clock is vital – keeping the Packers offense on the sideline.  Bush has a career high 196-touches, but has been slowed the last two weeks. Has he hit a wall? Can Oakland regain their run dominance from earlier in the season? Palmer will have an easier time dissecting that secondary if he can have play-action to complement the attack.

GAME NOTES

• “Tyvon [Branch] is a Pro Bowl player, without a doubt,” said Bresnahan about his starting strong safety, this week. “This is a guy who every game he comes with his A game.”
• “Nope. I’m done for the rest of the year, rest of my career. It was fun while it lasted,” stated Rolando McClain about his self-imposed silence with the media.
• The Colts lead the NFL with 83 missed starts because of injuries. The Panthers are second with 80, followed by the Giants, Rams and Raiders 65 missed starts.
• “He’s a very poised quarterback,” safety Mike Mitchell on Rodgers. “’That’s the one thing I’ve seen on film. He doesn’t rattle very easy. He gets the ball out of his hand very quickly. And he really just trusts his one-on-one matchups. When he sees the one-on-one, he thinks that his guy is better than yours. So, as a defender, it gets you a little excited because you know that you’re going to get opportunities to play the ball and make game-changing plays. It’s also a lot of pressure because the ball is coming.”
• Since their loss versus the Patriots, Oakland is one of two teams in that span to allow less than half the passes against them to be completed, with their 49.5 percent mark trailing only the Texans. They’ve tallied 22 sacks and 11 interceptions in that span, holding opponents to a 68.6 passer rating — second only to the Texans.

PREDICTION

Packers 37 – Raiders 16

 

Here’s a look at their 2007 match-up with game images:

A Look Back: Raiders at Packers (2007)

And a look at how Charles Woodson revitalized his career in Green Bay, from January, 2011:

Woodson masterful in Green Bay, revitalized after career in Oakland

Click on this link to follow Victor Cotto on Twitter and get up to date news, updates & thoughts on the Silver & Black.

A week after suffering a devastating loss to the Miami Dolphins the task does not get any less challenging for the Oakland Raiders. This week, the Raiders head to chilly Lambeau Field to take on the undefeated Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers.

Including the playoffs last year and this year’s regular season play, the Packers have won 18 consecutive games, second to only the New England Patriots who won 21

straight games from 2003-2004.

After leading his team to their Super Bowl victory in February, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is having an MVP-like season. This season, Rodgers, who was born in Chico, Calif. and went to the University of California-Berkeley,  is completing an astonishing 70.6 percent of his passes for 3,844 yards, 37 touchdowns and only five interceptions thus far this season.

Rodgers and Green Bay’s passing game could pose problems for a Raiders defense that has had a problem of giving up big plays in the air this season. The Raiders are currently 17th in the league with 231.9 passing yards allowed per game.

Corner back Stanford Routt and his secondary will have their work cut out for them this week as they take on Rodgers and his explosive wide receivers that include Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson. Jennings has hauled in 65 receptions for 929 yards and nine touchdowns and Nelson has hauled in nine touchdowns and 876 yards of his own.

In order to help relieve the linebackers and secondary, the defensive line will need to be able to apply pressure on Rodgers and disrupt the timing of plays. The return of

pass rusher Jarvis Moss should help the rest of the defensive line rush the passer. Moss returned to practice this week after missing the last three games due to injury.

The Packers offensive line has allowed the 11th most sacks in the league with 29. The Raiders are tied for fifth in the NFL for the most sacks with 33 on the season.

Much to the pleasure of the Raiders defense, they face a weak Packers rushing offense. The Packers have the third worst rushing offense, only averaging 96.5 yards on the ground per game.

The Raiders have again struggled against the run this year, which has seemingly been an annual problem of late. The Raiders are allowing 141.4 rushing yards per game this year.

Packers starting running back James Starks went down last week with an ankle injury, it is looking like backup Ryan Grant will get the call as the starting running back. Grant ran for a career-high 156 yards and a touchdown the last time the Raiders and Packers met in 2007.

The Raiders still are without wide receivers Jacoby Ford and Denarius Moore, along with star running back Darren McFadden. All three have yet to practice this week and remain in doubt to be on the field for the Silver & Black come Sunday.

This means that the Raiders will once again likely be starting Michael Bush at running back. Bush struggled last week with only 10 carries for 18 yards against the Dolphins, but faces a Packers defense that is allowing 105.1 yards per game. Rookie running back Taiwan Jones is also expected to miss the game after missing practice this week with a hamstring injury.

With the injuries to Moore and Ford, the Raiders will likely start Darrius Heyward-Bey and Chaz Schilens at wide receiver.

Going up against a porous Packers pass defense that has allowed 292.8 passing yards per game, second worst in the league thus far.

This means that Raiders quarterback Carson Palmer and his wide receivers should be able to find room to get the offense going through the air.

Palmer and the Raiders offense will be facing former Raiders Charles Woodson, who played his first eight seasons in the NFL wearing the silver & black before going to the Green Bay Packers. Woodson suffered a concussion during their game last week, but has returned to practice and is expected to start against his former team.

With the Broncos continuing their winning streak, the Raiders now find themselves outside of the playoffs looking in. They must win more games than the Broncos down the stretch to win the AFC West, and are also in the hunt for one of the AFC Wild Card slots.

“I think everybody is beatable. You just have to play your best game. You have to play probably as well as you’ve played all year in order to do it. Everybody is going to take their shot at them. It’s our opportunity now. We’re the next team up. We’re not coming there to lose, that’s for sure. We’re coming there with an attitude that we’re coming there to win a football game, and that’s what you have to do. If you don’t, you might as well not even make the trip,” said Oakland Raiders head coach Hue Jackson on Wednesday.

The Silver & Black travel the Green Bay to face the undefeated Super Bowl champion Packers on Sunday. At 7-5, Oakland is tied atop the AFC West with the Denver Broncos, but if the playoffs were to start today, the Raiders would be spectators. “It’s a tight race for everyone in our division. It’s a race to the end but I kind of like where we are. We just have to finish well over these next four weeks,” Jackson said.

He continued: “That’s the schedule we have and we have to play in an unbelievable stadium against a really good football team and we look forward to the challenge.”

“It’s my favorite place to play. I love getting a chance to go out there and play and be in that atmosphere. It’s fun to be cold. We’ve got a chance to play against the champs and they’re undefeated. We’re in desperate need of a win,” stated quarterback Carson Palmer.

Oakland has to find a way to get back to basics on Sunday – that means running the football. Over the last two weeks, the Raiders have averaged 59.5 rushing yards per game. “We need to get back to playing Raiders football, get back to doing what we do,” Jackson was quoted. “We’re a big, physical football team and we need to play that way. We need to be able to stop the run and we need to be able to run the ball. That’s where it starts for us and that’s where it’s going to end. We need to be who we are and that’s what we plan on doing.”

“We just aren’t running the ball (enough),” Michael Bush commented. “We have to stick to it and run it more.”

Palmer added: “We weren’t successful the last two weeks running the ball, and it’s definitely on our minds, something we’re getting screamed at and ripped for, but something we’re working very hard on, because you have to keep the ball out of Aaron’s hands and keep those receivers off the field.”

OTHER NOTES

• Chris Johnson’s sister, Jennifer, was fatally shot Monday in Fort Worth, Texas. His mother, Della, was also shot, but is expected to live, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Johnson was excused from practice today, as Jackson stated, “Very, very tough situation that he’s dealing with. He’s handled it like any man or any brother or son would.”
• The team inked running back Lonyae Miller, who played four games last season for the Cowboys, and linebacker Carl Ihenacho to their practice squad. To correspond those signings, they cut tight end Kevin Brock and linebacker Jeremy Lehman from the practice squad.
• Including playoffs, the Packers have won 18 straight games, the longest winning streak in team history. It is tied for the second-longest winning streak in NFL history, including the postseason, behind only the 2003-04 New England Patriots (21 games).
• Green Bay holds a 6-5 edge in the all-time series with Oakland. The Raiders won five straight games in the series from 1972-1987, but Green Bay has won the last five meetings between the clubs.
• Ironically, the last time both teams met, it was also in Week 14 at Lambeau Field, in the 20007 season. Green Bay won 38-7, as they clinched the NFC North title in front of their home crowd. A win on Sunday clinches a first round bye for the Packers.
• Charles Woodson tidbit: In 106-games (8-years) with the Silver & Black, the cornerback posted 4.5 sacks, 17 interceptions and 2 touchdowns. As a Packer, in 90-games (6-years), he has tallied 10 sacks, 36 interceptions and 10 touchdowns.
• Aaron Rodgers’ overall passer rating is an NFL-best 125.3, but when he’s blitzed it’s 149.3.

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Charles Woodson started his career masterfully with the Oakland Raiders.

As a rookie, the cornerback started all 16-games, becoming the first Raider to do so since 1971 at that point. Even at a raw state and age, he tallied an NFL leading 64-tackles for a cornerback. Signs of things to come for the well-rounded defender…

For four straight campaigns at the start his career, Woodson was a Pro Bowler.

But his best efforts may have been during Oakland’s Super Bowl run. He played through a shoulder injury, leg and ankle ailments before opening the game versus Tampa Bay with an interception – one of the few highlights that afternoon for the Silver & Black.

Then, it went all downhill.

The Raiders and Woodson were never able to come to an agreement on a long-term deal after several negotiations that ultimately led to him being franchise tagged in back-to-back off-seasons.

Questions about his commitment, durability and whether or not he could ever live up to the hype he had early in his career were surrounding the former Heisman trophy winner.

Woodson was sidelined by knee and hip injuries in 2004 and by a broken leg in 2005. He last played a 16-game schedule in 2001 and was coming off a career low of six games played when he departed to the Green Bay Packers.

He earned $19.32 million in 2004-2005, but many were surprised to see the Packers land him for 7-years, an agreement that was then worth as much as $52.7 million with bonuses and incentives and netted him $10.5 million in the first year of the deal and $18 million over the first three years.

Overpaid? Yup, many thought at the time.

The Woodson in his later years with the Raiders was unhappy and immature.

He called out Bill Callahan in 2003 on ESPN and was suspended along with Charlie Garner for the season finale that year.

To this day, many Raider fans look at what could have been, especially since Nnamdi Asomugha has emerged as one of the league’s best cornerbacks.

But that great tandem was never going to materialize in Oakland.

As much as you want to envision both in Silver & Black, it’s just a dream that had no chance of coming to life.

Woodson needed to leave Oakland. He was disenchanted and his play would have never escalated to Hall of Fame material if he continued to be a Raider.

Oakland never attempted to sign him once he became a free agent, but so did other teams, which was why Woodson didn’t ink a deal till April of 2006.

In Green Bay, he re-found his dedication, love for the game and will to be one of the better players in the NFL.

In 2008, 2009 and 2010, Woodson has been a Pro Bowler. But his defining moment was being named the NFL defensive player of the year in 2009.

Woodson said upon winning the award “It’s a great honor. I felt like I put a lot into the game, mentally and physically — your body’s always beat up — and it’s great to be recognized.”

His body was beat up his final days in Oakland; and his desire for greatness and to endure through the tough times that was shot. He was finally getting recognized, but only because the Woodson in Green Bay was not the Woodson in Oakland.

He had more interceptions in four years in Green Bay than his previous eight with the Raiders, along with more touchdowns and sacks.

No longer were there questions about his health or dedication.

Now, he’s one step away from another Super Bowl, on another team that is an offensive juggernaut.

When winning the MVP, Woodson stated, “I’m just going to keep taking shots until I get back to the Super Bowl — and win it.”

He has another shot. And this time around, if he makes it to the big game and wins it, it will just lock what has already been a Hall of Fame career. He’s going to Canton, but on the strength of his revitalization in Green Bay, not his early success with the Raiders.

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

Per ESPN, the Oakland Raiders will use their franchise tag on defensive lineman Richard Seymour if both sides cannot agree on a long-term contract extension.

Oakland acquired the five-time Pro Bowler prior to the start of the 2009 campaign for a 2011 first round draft choice.

If he is tagged, Seymour could make $12.398 million – the cost of the franchise label for a defensive end this upcoming season. Oakland has until next Thursday to decide whether or not to designate him as their franchise player.

Seymour was named in January to the All-Decade team and is a three-time first team all-pro and a three-time Super Bowl champion (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX) with the New England Patriots.

Back in mid-January, he stated, “I’m in a unique situation where obviously, I played out my contract, I’ve one my time there and I’ve talked to Mr. [Al] Davis before I left and he said he would be getting in contact with my agent to try to work a deal out.”

He continued: “I would like to re-sign out in Oakland, because I think its always, when you can be a foundation piece and help turn an organization around, I think that’s a challenge for me.”

In 2004, Oakland utilized their franchise tag on Charles Woodson two days prior to the deadline and after not being able to negotiate on a long-term deal, they took that tact again the following season keeping him around in 2005 with the pricey designation.

In February of 2008, Nnamdi Asomugha got tagged, as Oakland retained exclusive negotiating rights with the cornerback. A year later, he expected to be tagged again stating, “Last year, Al (Davis) called me the day before just to let me know he’s going to do it, and then they waited until the very last possible second.

“I don’t know how they’ll do it this year, but the expectation from my agent is that the tag will happen.”

Asomugha inked a three-year deal worth $45.3 million with $28.5 million in guarantees that off-season.

Seymour ended his first season in Oakland with 47-tackles, one forced fumble and 4-sacks.

He said at seasons end, “I’m willing to take on that responsibility and that challenge and help being a part of bringing in some good guys that really can make a difference. I really enjoyed putting on the Silver & Black.”

Shane Lechler and Richard Seymour were the only current members of the Oakland Raiders to be named on the National Football League’s All-Decade team.

The full squad was announced tonight prior to the Pro-Bowl in Miami and it also included former Raiders Randy Moss, Warren Sapp and Charles Woodson.

Lorenzo Neal who was with the team during the summer and waived prior to the season also made the squad.

Lechler is a five-time Pro Bowl selection, five-time first-team All-Pro and a two time second team All-Pro.

In his 10-season with the Raiders, the former 5^th round pick has averaged 47.3 yards per punt and a 38.6 net average.

Moss spent the 2005 and 2006 seasons in the Bay Area.

He compiled 102 receptions for 1,558 yards and 11 touchdowns after being acquired for Napoleon Harris, a 1^st round selection and a late round pick.

After Oakland traded him to New England, Moss found his stride again after a dominant start to his career in Minnesota and tallied 23 touchdown grabs, setting the league single season record.

Woodson was Oakland’s 4^th overall selection in the 1998 draft. The six-time Pro Bowl selection was the AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year with the Silver & Black.

He donned the Raider colors from 1998-to-2005.

This past season, he was voted the AP NFL defensive Player of the Year.

Woodson has 45 career interceptions.

Sapp spent 4-years with the Raiders. The boisterous defensive tackle tallied 19.5 sacks while in Oakland.

Seymour just finished his first season with the Raiders after being acquired in a trade with the New England Patriots.

NOTES

• Seymour is a three-time Super Bowl Champion with the Patriots (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX). He has been selected to five Pro Bowls and is a three-time first team All-Pro.
• Sapp is a four time first team All-Pro and a Super Bowl Champion with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (XXXVII). He was also selected to the NFL’s 1990s All-Decade Team. The former first rounder out of the University of Miami won the 1999 NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. He ended with 96.5 career sacks.
• Moss was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the year (1998), has been a seven time Pro Bowl selection and was the Pro Bowl MVP in 2000.

Oakland Raiders punter Shane Lechler was selected for the Associated Press All-Pro team.

The 33-year old received 48 out of a possible 50 votes from a panel of sports writers. It is Lechler’s 5^th all-pro selection after punting 96 times for an average of 51.1 and landing 30 of those kicks inside the 20-yard line.

Lechler enjoyed his best season as a pro, nearly breaking Sammy Baugh’s single season mark for gross punting average.

“It’s a good honor, something to be proud of, I really appreciate it. I’m truly humbled and honored.” Lechler stated on the official Raiders web site. “It’s an honor [to be part of the Raiders tradition of great punters], They’re all good guys who just went out and did their jobs on Sundays. That’s what I’m proud to be a part of.”

Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha was chosen as a 2^nd team All Pro.

Former Raider Charles Woodson was on the first team along with Darrelle Revis of the New York Jets.

“Being selected an All-Pro for the third time in my seven-year career with the Raiders is the most humbling honor of all,” Asomugha said. “I’m very proud to continue to carry the torch for a long line of Raiders cornerbacks that have had great success in this league. I’m truly honored and proud to be recognized.”

Oakland Raiders legend Willie Brown retired on Wednesday.

He commented to reporters outside the team’s facility, “I’m retiring,” and then stated “Yep,” as he went on his way when he was asked if he was serious.

Oakland has not made an official announcement, but per beat writer Steve Corkran, Raiders CEO Amy Trask stated, “Willie shall be remembered as one of the, if not the, greatest Raiders players of all time. We will honor Willie in the coming months.”

Brown just finished his 39^th year of service to the Silver & Black and the 15^th as the Director of Squad Development and defensive backs assistant. He was the secondary coach from 1979-88 and during that span, the team won Super Bowls XV and XVIII.

He played for the Raiders from 1967-1978 and tallied 54 interceptions during his illustrious 16-year career. In one of the most iconic moments in Super Bowl history, Brown returned a Fran Tarkenton interception 75-yards for a score during the Raiders 32-14 mauling of the Minnesota Vikings.

His induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame came on July 28, 1984.

Brown stated on his way out on Wednesday that he had no knowledge of Tom Cable’s status with the Raiders and that all other coaches are still employed by Al Davis.

Michael Huff was reminded everyday of the importance Oakland places in solid secondary play.

“I’m wearing the number 24″ he said a few years back. “Willie Brown follows me around every day.”

And that legacy at cornerback that is rich in tradition in Oakland was also carried by another no. 24 that just won a defensive player of the year for the Green Bay Packers – Charles Woodson – who always praised Brown for aiding his development.

Current Raiders Pro-Bowl cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha stated once, “You’ve got to be able to play man if you play for the Raiders. It’s that simple.”

Not too many did it better, nor taught it as well as Brown.

Since Jon Gruden compiled a 40-28 record with the Oakland Raiders, the revolving door at head coach for the Silver & Black has been kept busy with constant change. SBReport will take a look back at the dreadful track record along the sidelines since his trade to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers:

Bill Callahan (2002-2003)

He became just the fourth rookie head coach in league history to lead a team to a Super Bowl in his first year with the Raiders. A 15-17 overall record in two-seasons was unbalanced toward the loss column when Oakland piled up 12-defeats in 2003. What started as a joyous time for Callahan, ended with misery when his own team openly stated their dislike towards him. “I don’t think he was happy there, and I don’t think everybody was happy with him,” said Callahan’s starting left guard Frank Middleton at the time. “I felt like something had to be done, either with the players or with the coach.

“We’ve had that before on great teams”, commented Davis about locker room distractions during the 2003 season. “The thing with the coach [Callahan], and the players, that’s something that I don’t think we’ve ever had here, really to the extent that it went this year”.

His demise was a post-game rant in which he critiqued his team for being dumb.

“We’ve got to be the dumbest team in America in terms of playing the game!” Callahan yelled to reporters. “I’m highly critical because of the way we give games away — we give ‘em away! Period. It’s embarrassing, and I represent that. And I apologize for that. If that’s the best we can do, it’s a sad product.”

Norv Turner (2004-2005)

Turner tallied a 9-23 record during his two-year stint. Al Davis fired him with a year remaining on his three-year deal worth about $1.75 million. “I belong here,” stated Turner, upon his arrival. “When I got off the plane the other night, I felt like I was coming home. I feel like I’m home now.”

Oakland traded for Randy Moss and inked LaMont Jordan during his stay. But the crafty offensive mind was not able to ignite the offense for prolonged periods and his one-win against divisional rivals was his downfall. “I just thought it was the right fit,” said Davis, when he hired Turner. “Everything that we need at this particular time, we will rely on Norv to help us with.”

Players sympathized with Turner, as they knew the burden of all the losses and the misery during his tenure should be blamed on all involved. “I think he did what he could,” then starting linebacker Danny Clark stated. “Ultimately, everybody involved didn’t get it done. Unfortunately, this is a production-based business and if you’re not winning the weight falls on someone.”

Oakland at that time was the last of seven teams to fill their coaching vacancy when they inked Turner.

Art Shell (2006)

Oakland only managed two-wins in Shell’s second tenure. Again the Raiders were the last team to fill their coaching void that off-season, when they hired Shell,  after a search that included the courting of Ken Whisenhunt – who decided to remain on Pittsburgh’s staff – and offers to Bobby Petrino who stated he was flattered but wanted to remain in Louisville.

Raider quarterbacks were sacked 72-times that season, as Shell along with Jackie Slater and Irv Eatman attempted to work with the offensive line.

Shell’s feud with Jerry Porter made headlines, his handling of Randy Moss was atrocious and the offense was miserable (fewest points in team history – 168), while the defense played admirably under Rob Ryan.

“Everybody has a way of doing things. The Raiders have a way of doing things. We’re about winning. And we will win,” Shell said at introductory press conference.

Lane Kiffin (2007-2008)

During his 20-game tenure, Kiffin went 5-15. The then 31-year old was the youngest coach in Oakland’s history. Davis chanted to those loyal to his club when introducing Kiffin, “To the Raider fans, players, to the Raider nation, to the organization, that bleed and give their loyalty and skill to the organization…we will come back, and Lane Kiffin will lead us back!”

But a rocky relationship behind the scenes that included Kiffin’s reluctance to draft JaMarcus Russell and the notion that he wanted out and attempted to do so through insubordinate acts marred the marriage.

“I just couldn’t go on much longer with what I would call, propaganda, the lying that had been going on for weeks, and months, and a year, and time. And he had a few questions, he says ‘does that mean I don’t get paid’, I said that’s what I’m saying to you”, Davis said during a memorable press conference.

Kiffin was fired via phone reportedly and the official Raiders web site acknowledge the happening at the time, “Lane Kiffin has been released as head coach of the Oakland Raiders for cause.”

Per Davis, Kiffin complained, as he stated, “[Kiffin] complained he didn’t have this, and didn’t have that.” Remarks that peeved Davis which he in turn he stated to Kiffin, “If you don’t think you can win resign,” per the owner’s remarks in the almost 50-minute session which included an over-head projector.

Tom Cable (2008-current)

Cable joined the Raiders as an offensive line coach in 2007 and was the interim coach when Kiffin was dismissed.

He ended the 2008 campaign with back-to-back wins and all the players lobbied for his hiring. “I want to be the head coach of the Raiders, but it’s not in my hands. But I certainly know I put this team together and got it going in the right direction, and today proved that,” commented Cable after the win to knock Tampa Bay out of the playoffs.

But a tumultuous off the field in 2009 that included an alleged attack on Randy Hanson (Cable was cleared and no charges were pressed by the Napa police) and a story that aired on ESPN which exposed his history of violent behavior could be some of his downfalls this off-season.

Russell’s lack of development and Davis’ insistence that his quarterback is still a part of the team’s future could also lead to Cable’s demise.

Cable did surprise many by keeping his team competitive, pulling out solid victories against the Steelers, Bengals and Broncos in the second half of the season and giving this team some semblance of order after the Kiffin fiasco.

His record as coach: 9-19 and the extension of a NFL worst seven straight seasons with 11 or more losses in a campaign.

What did Davis say in hiring Cable back in February 2009:

Just listen to him. Just the fact what he did with the team at the end.

His excellence with the offensive line was never in doubt. He always did well with them.

He’s good, he really is. He really loves football; he has a passion for the goddamn thing.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS DURING THAT SPAN

“No coach has been hired. There will be a time period before a coach is hired,” stated Davis in January of 2004 when it was rumored that Sean Payton – then Dallas Cowboys assistant – could be a candidate to be the next Raiders coach. “Were this got started, was an assumption and it just carried. It seems like everything carries today, very, very quickly.”

“We have a coach with a very big ego, you know what I mean? He’s not listening to those veterans. And that’s what’s sad about it. When you get to a point, I think, in your life where you can’t listen to guys with the experience that we have on our offense, then I think there’s something very wrong”, Charles Woodson stated about Callahan early in the 2003 season, foreshadowing a lot of what would go wrong that season.

“I expect a whole lot out of myself,” Shell said as the 2006 season wound down. “I expected a whole lot out of this team. And when we don’t meet or come close to those expectations, then it’s disappointing.”

“I’m going for this job 100 percent,” stated Steve Sarkisian back in January of 2007. “I’m solely focused on this job with the Oakland Raiders.” He appeared to be the prohibitive favorite before bowing out. “The Oakland Raiders were not ready to offer the position and wanted to wait until after the weekend as the organization is still doing its due diligence,” the organization said in a press release prior to settling on Kiffin. “I thank them for their interest in me,” Sarkisian then commented. “While the job was never offered to me, at this time in my career, I’ve told them I want to stay at USC. I strongly believe that the Raiders’ job is a great opportunity for whomever their next head coach is going to be.”