Should Kiffin be fired?
- Thread starter Tony
- Start date
Cut and pasted:
Bills quarterback Trent Edwards is in his second season. He participated in training camp, started nine games and attempted 269 passes as a rookie. Russell missed all of camp, started one game and attempted 66 last season.
Hence, Edwards said, Russell still is seeking his comfort level and earning the trust of Kiffin that he knows enough to do more than hand off the ball, avoid turnovers and throw the occasional pass.
"Deep down inside, yes," Russell said of his desire to pass more. "But the team player part of me says, 'Whatever it takes to win.' If I have to go out there and hand off 100 times in a game, and we win, I'll hand off 101 times. No matter what it is to win that game, I'm going to be that team player and go out there and help out."
At some point, Edwards said, Kiffin needs to remove Russell's training wheels, give him a huge push-off and let him find his way.
"To have it in the back of your mind — don't turn the ball over — well, what happens when there's a deep throw and a chance to take the ball down the field and you're passing up an opportunity to make a play when you're being told not to turn the ball over?" Edwards said.
"There's a fine line you have to walk at this position to know when to check the ball down and when to take chances, too. But it's kind of an instinctual thing that you have to have. It's going to happen, and when it's there you've got to know when to take your shot and when not to. A coach can tell you not to turn the ball over, but you have to be able to take your shots or you're not going to put points on the board."
Bills quarterback Trent Edwards is in his second season. He participated in training camp, started nine games and attempted 269 passes as a rookie. Russell missed all of camp, started one game and attempted 66 last season.
Hence, Edwards said, Russell still is seeking his comfort level and earning the trust of Kiffin that he knows enough to do more than hand off the ball, avoid turnovers and throw the occasional pass.
"Deep down inside, yes," Russell said of his desire to pass more. "But the team player part of me says, 'Whatever it takes to win.' If I have to go out there and hand off 100 times in a game, and we win, I'll hand off 101 times. No matter what it is to win that game, I'm going to be that team player and go out there and help out."
At some point, Edwards said, Kiffin needs to remove Russell's training wheels, give him a huge push-off and let him find his way.
"To have it in the back of your mind — don't turn the ball over — well, what happens when there's a deep throw and a chance to take the ball down the field and you're passing up an opportunity to make a play when you're being told not to turn the ball over?" Edwards said.
"There's a fine line you have to walk at this position to know when to check the ball down and when to take chances, too. But it's kind of an instinctual thing that you have to have. It's going to happen, and when it's there you've got to know when to take your shot and when not to. A coach can tell you not to turn the ball over, but you have to be able to take your shots or you're not going to put points on the board."
We don't have any quality recievers, besides maybe Ronald Curry, who's been as dependable as a retard with no arms in catching balls so far this year.
You can rave all you want about one pass for 84 yards, but completing only 50% of your passes speaks for itself. We have a solid running game that's proven it can get something done. We do not have a passing game that's proven anything besides it cannot be depended on and lacks consistancy.
Fire Kiffen and we'll suddenly start winning games, huh, Tony? Does that really make sense, even to you? Kiffen isn't responsible for the LACK OF TALENT and EXPERIENCE at key positions on our team. Kiffen needs to improve on some of his play calling, yes...but do you also fire Russell for his poor percentages? Or the WR's for dropping anything thrown their way? Or maybe the defense, including Rob Ryan, for letting Denver put up Madden '09 numbers on us?
If we fire the coach every time something goes wrong (which has happened every year since Gruden left), we'll be in this same position forever. Bring in Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Adrian Peterson, and any combination of linemen you want, and with Al Davis running the show, we'll get our asses handed to us weekly. He'd find some way to trade Moss for another 4th rounder, cut Brady in favor of Marques Tuiosasopo, bench Peterson in favor of Luke Lawton, and we'd probably move to L.A. (again), just to spite us for doubting his sanity...
You can rave all you want about one pass for 84 yards, but completing only 50% of your passes speaks for itself. We have a solid running game that's proven it can get something done. We do not have a passing game that's proven anything besides it cannot be depended on and lacks consistancy.
Fire Kiffen and we'll suddenly start winning games, huh, Tony? Does that really make sense, even to you? Kiffen isn't responsible for the LACK OF TALENT and EXPERIENCE at key positions on our team. Kiffen needs to improve on some of his play calling, yes...but do you also fire Russell for his poor percentages? Or the WR's for dropping anything thrown their way? Or maybe the defense, including Rob Ryan, for letting Denver put up Madden '09 numbers on us?
If we fire the coach every time something goes wrong (which has happened every year since Gruden left), we'll be in this same position forever. Bring in Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Adrian Peterson, and any combination of linemen you want, and with Al Davis running the show, we'll get our asses handed to us weekly. He'd find some way to trade Moss for another 4th rounder, cut Brady in favor of Marques Tuiosasopo, bench Peterson in favor of Luke Lawton, and we'd probably move to L.A. (again), just to spite us for doubting his sanity...
Fire Kiffin and his prevent offense. Javon Walker is quality, Ashlie Lelie is playing like a quality receiver, our tight end is quality, McFadden is a quality receiver out of the backfield, Bush is a quality receiver out of the backfield. Kiffin is building his excuses for his prevent offense. We have talent it's just that it's not being utilized right.
That's probably why Al is threatening to can this Kiffin cat. He didn't pay all that money for Javon not to be involved in the offense and not having balls thrown his way. The axe is coming if the Raiders don't go to the air more. Two passes were only thrown his way and then his number wasn't called anymore.... Kiffin only called 3 pass plays in the 2nd half alone... no wonder Javon has only 2 catches. Give him an opportunity!
Check game... I don't blame yesterday's loss on Kiffin but this sports writer agreed with what I was saying for a while now:
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/articl...id_reason_to_fire_Kiffin__Really_bad_coaching
Davis has solid reason to fire Kiffin: Really bad coaching
Published: Sunday, September 28, 2008 at 7:05 p.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, September 28, 2008 at 7:07 p.m.
You know the prevailing theory. Al Davis wants to make a case against his coach, Lane Kiffin. Davis wants to fire Kiffin for not properly representing the Silver and Black, for not being loyal. Davis wants to fire Kiffin for cause — and without pay — because Kiffin repeatedly has shot off his mouth, putting down Davis and assorted other Raiders executives and coaches.
I think Davis has it all wrong. He doesn’t need to assemble a case based on disloyal remarks or sly remarks or smart-aleck remarks. Davis could fire Kiffin for another cause, a better cause. Davis could fire Kiffin for his bad coaching, pure and simple.
Davis conceivably could convince an arbitrator that Kiffin is not a coach, never was. He is a man impersonating a coach, playing the part of a coach — not playing the part in a convincing manner. He’s what you call a bad actor. On that basis, the arbitrator might deny all future salary to Kiffin.
My issue with Davis and this whole prolonged, agonizing, God-when-will-it-ever-end firing process is not that Davis is wrong to fire Kiffin. It’s a question of Davis’ manners, which are bad and sadistic and a distraction from the one and only goal of a sports team — winning. This firing process is a terrible drag on the Raiders.
But Davis has every right to fire Kiffin on the facts, damning in themselves — and if Davis can do it without paying his coach a nickel, that’s between them.
The facts are these: Two weeks in a row, the Raiders went into the fourth quarter with a lead and two weeks in a row they couldn’t hold the lead, fell apart, gave up the game in a flash.
In the first horrendous loss, the Bills moved at will in the fourth quarter. In Sunday’s horrendous loss, the Raiders’ offense was missing in action in the fourth quarter and was pretty wretched in the third quarter, too, as the Chargers went about scoring 25 points in the second half.
Sure, you partly could blame this loss on the blowhard defensive coordinator, Rob Ryan. Blame away as far as I’m concerned. The Raiders’ defense is no big deal when it needs to be.
But, honestly, the defense needed some help from the offense, needed the offense to make plays and score points and give it a breather. Although Kiffin is supposed to be an offensive whiz, he isn’t. Not really. Not when it matters.
If Davis fires Kiffin this morning or tonight or in the middle of the night or any time Tuesday or sometime during the Bye Week, no one in his/her right mind could say Davis was harsh or made a mistake or didn’t give the kid a chance. A fair-minded observer, an observer in a normal state of mind, would say, “You have every right, Al.”
Kiffin deserves to get the ax and should get it on the merits — or demerits — alone. He hasn’t taught his team how to hold a lead or even believe it deserves a lead. He hasn’t taught the Raiders how to win.
Don’t be sentimental about him because he’s young and apparently has been abused by the owner. Be realistic. The Raiders are going nowhere with Kiffin, which means he has to go. You could say all of this is Davis’ fault – he hired Kiffin when Kiffin didn’t deserve a head coaching gig and after that he made Kiffin’s life miserable. Sure, but that doesn’t mean Kiffin has coached well. If you want to define Kiffin, you define him as a fourth-quarter loser. That is his M.O. and that is his identity.
Naturally, Kiffin doesn’t see things this way. After the game, he met the press — I thought his voice shook just a little and he didn’t seem as cocky as he’s seemed after other crummy defeats. Here are some humdinger pearls of wisdom from him:
“There were some really good things to build off in this game.”
There were? That sounds like a particularly desperate thing for a desperate coach to say because, face it, the bad outweighed the good. And, anyway, Kiffin won’t be around much longer to do anything in the building department.
“I think this team is as good as anyone in the league. We very easily could be 4-0.”
Baloney. Ridiculous. Lots of teams are better than the Raiders and, no, the Raiders couldn’t be 4-0, although with some luck they very easily could be 0-4.
Toward the end of Kiffin’s news conference someone asked, “Do you expect to be the coach when the team goes to New Orleans.”
To which Kiffin replied, “It’s not my call. I don’t know what to expect.”
The team goes to New Orleans in two weeks — the Raiders have a bye in between. Don’t bet the mortgage, such as it is, on Kiffin making the trip or frolicking in the French Quarter.
How can Davis afford NOT to fire him between now and then?
For more on the world of sports in general and the Bay Area in particular go to the Cohn Zohn at cohn.pressdemocrat.com. You can reach Staff Columnist Lowell Cohn at 521-5486
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/articl...id_reason_to_fire_Kiffin__Really_bad_coaching
Davis has solid reason to fire Kiffin: Really bad coaching
Published: Sunday, September 28, 2008 at 7:05 p.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, September 28, 2008 at 7:07 p.m.
You know the prevailing theory. Al Davis wants to make a case against his coach, Lane Kiffin. Davis wants to fire Kiffin for not properly representing the Silver and Black, for not being loyal. Davis wants to fire Kiffin for cause — and without pay — because Kiffin repeatedly has shot off his mouth, putting down Davis and assorted other Raiders executives and coaches.
I think Davis has it all wrong. He doesn’t need to assemble a case based on disloyal remarks or sly remarks or smart-aleck remarks. Davis could fire Kiffin for another cause, a better cause. Davis could fire Kiffin for his bad coaching, pure and simple.
Davis conceivably could convince an arbitrator that Kiffin is not a coach, never was. He is a man impersonating a coach, playing the part of a coach — not playing the part in a convincing manner. He’s what you call a bad actor. On that basis, the arbitrator might deny all future salary to Kiffin.
My issue with Davis and this whole prolonged, agonizing, God-when-will-it-ever-end firing process is not that Davis is wrong to fire Kiffin. It’s a question of Davis’ manners, which are bad and sadistic and a distraction from the one and only goal of a sports team — winning. This firing process is a terrible drag on the Raiders.
But Davis has every right to fire Kiffin on the facts, damning in themselves — and if Davis can do it without paying his coach a nickel, that’s between them.
The facts are these: Two weeks in a row, the Raiders went into the fourth quarter with a lead and two weeks in a row they couldn’t hold the lead, fell apart, gave up the game in a flash.
In the first horrendous loss, the Bills moved at will in the fourth quarter. In Sunday’s horrendous loss, the Raiders’ offense was missing in action in the fourth quarter and was pretty wretched in the third quarter, too, as the Chargers went about scoring 25 points in the second half.
Sure, you partly could blame this loss on the blowhard defensive coordinator, Rob Ryan. Blame away as far as I’m concerned. The Raiders’ defense is no big deal when it needs to be.
But, honestly, the defense needed some help from the offense, needed the offense to make plays and score points and give it a breather. Although Kiffin is supposed to be an offensive whiz, he isn’t. Not really. Not when it matters.
If Davis fires Kiffin this morning or tonight or in the middle of the night or any time Tuesday or sometime during the Bye Week, no one in his/her right mind could say Davis was harsh or made a mistake or didn’t give the kid a chance. A fair-minded observer, an observer in a normal state of mind, would say, “You have every right, Al.”
Kiffin deserves to get the ax and should get it on the merits — or demerits — alone. He hasn’t taught his team how to hold a lead or even believe it deserves a lead. He hasn’t taught the Raiders how to win.
Don’t be sentimental about him because he’s young and apparently has been abused by the owner. Be realistic. The Raiders are going nowhere with Kiffin, which means he has to go. You could say all of this is Davis’ fault – he hired Kiffin when Kiffin didn’t deserve a head coaching gig and after that he made Kiffin’s life miserable. Sure, but that doesn’t mean Kiffin has coached well. If you want to define Kiffin, you define him as a fourth-quarter loser. That is his M.O. and that is his identity.
Naturally, Kiffin doesn’t see things this way. After the game, he met the press — I thought his voice shook just a little and he didn’t seem as cocky as he’s seemed after other crummy defeats. Here are some humdinger pearls of wisdom from him:
“There were some really good things to build off in this game.”
There were? That sounds like a particularly desperate thing for a desperate coach to say because, face it, the bad outweighed the good. And, anyway, Kiffin won’t be around much longer to do anything in the building department.
“I think this team is as good as anyone in the league. We very easily could be 4-0.”
Baloney. Ridiculous. Lots of teams are better than the Raiders and, no, the Raiders couldn’t be 4-0, although with some luck they very easily could be 0-4.
Toward the end of Kiffin’s news conference someone asked, “Do you expect to be the coach when the team goes to New Orleans.”
To which Kiffin replied, “It’s not my call. I don’t know what to expect.”
The team goes to New Orleans in two weeks — the Raiders have a bye in between. Don’t bet the mortgage, such as it is, on Kiffin making the trip or frolicking in the French Quarter.
How can Davis afford NOT to fire him between now and then?
For more on the world of sports in general and the Bay Area in particular go to the Cohn Zohn at cohn.pressdemocrat.com. You can reach Staff Columnist Lowell Cohn at 521-5486
