THE OFFICIAL OAKLAND RAIDERS 2009 OFFSEASON THREAD
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Candid Cam: Raiders' sked is good and bad
By Cam Inman
FIRST THE BAD news: The Raiders are opening the season at home on "Monday Night Football." We've seen that act before, and it hasn't been pretty.
Now the good news: The Raiders will play at Dallas in the Cowboys' new stadium on Thanksgiving Day (1:15 p.m.). It promises to provide great theater between two of the league's most dramatic and storied franchises. It's a plus for the Raiders to see a NFC East beast later in the season so quarterback JaMarcus Russell and his cast have more time to get in sync.
Check back in the coming weeks for the Raiders' schedule of their 14 other regular-season games.
Opening the season on "MNF" should instinctively invoke excitement, with its national spotlight and prime-time feel. But that opening-weekend finale hasn't treated the Raiders well in the past, and that's why it's bad news as they try finally righting their sinking ship.
The Sept. 14 opener (7:15 p.m.) will be against the San Diego Chargers, who blanked the Raiders 27-0 in a 2006 "MNF" opener at the Coliseum. This will be the fourth straight season the Raiders open at home, and you might remember that they've lost the previous three.
Last year's season opener — a 41-14, DeAngelo Hall-assisted face plant against the Denver Broncos on "MNF" — set the tone for the Raiders' sixth straight season of double-digit losses. (They finished 5-11 after an impressive 3-3 finish.)
England Patriots and Tom Brady's rebuilt knee against the Buffalo Bills and Terrell Owens, assuming he doesn't skip the first game like he did Monday's opening of voluntary offseason workouts.
As for playing on Thanksgiving, the Raiders haven't had that honor, if you will, since 1970, when they lost 28-14 to the Detroit Lions at Tiger Stadium.
The Raiders other home opponents (dates and times TBA) are: Denver, Kansas City, Baltimore, Cincinnati, New York (Jets), Philadelphia, and Washington. Their other road trips are to Denver, Kansas City, San Diego, Cleveland, Pittsburgh,Houston, and New York (Giants).
Did you see they've reportedly swapped centers with the Miami Dolphins? The Dolphins, who actually acquired ex-Raider Jake Grove in free agency, are shipping Samson Satele to the Raiders for a sixth-round draft pick along with a swapping of draft choices in an undisclosed round, according to ESPN.
Samson is expected to compete with John Wade and Chris Morris for the duty of snapping the ball to Russell and, more important, helping point out defensive alignments to Russell, who'll be in his second season as the full-time starter.
The Raiders better hope "Lineman Swap '09" goes better than the 2008 version, when they acquired former 49ers offensive tackle Kwame Harris while the 49ers brought aboard long-time Raider Barry Sims.
By Cam Inman
FIRST THE BAD news: The Raiders are opening the season at home on "Monday Night Football." We've seen that act before, and it hasn't been pretty.
Now the good news: The Raiders will play at Dallas in the Cowboys' new stadium on Thanksgiving Day (1:15 p.m.). It promises to provide great theater between two of the league's most dramatic and storied franchises. It's a plus for the Raiders to see a NFC East beast later in the season so quarterback JaMarcus Russell and his cast have more time to get in sync.
Check back in the coming weeks for the Raiders' schedule of their 14 other regular-season games.
Opening the season on "MNF" should instinctively invoke excitement, with its national spotlight and prime-time feel. But that opening-weekend finale hasn't treated the Raiders well in the past, and that's why it's bad news as they try finally righting their sinking ship.
The Sept. 14 opener (7:15 p.m.) will be against the San Diego Chargers, who blanked the Raiders 27-0 in a 2006 "MNF" opener at the Coliseum. This will be the fourth straight season the Raiders open at home, and you might remember that they've lost the previous three.
Last year's season opener — a 41-14, DeAngelo Hall-assisted face plant against the Denver Broncos on "MNF" — set the tone for the Raiders' sixth straight season of double-digit losses. (They finished 5-11 after an impressive 3-3 finish.)
England Patriots and Tom Brady's rebuilt knee against the Buffalo Bills and Terrell Owens, assuming he doesn't skip the first game like he did Monday's opening of voluntary offseason workouts.
As for playing on Thanksgiving, the Raiders haven't had that honor, if you will, since 1970, when they lost 28-14 to the Detroit Lions at Tiger Stadium.
The Raiders other home opponents (dates and times TBA) are: Denver, Kansas City, Baltimore, Cincinnati, New York (Jets), Philadelphia, and Washington. Their other road trips are to Denver, Kansas City, San Diego, Cleveland, Pittsburgh,Houston, and New York (Giants).
Did you see they've reportedly swapped centers with the Miami Dolphins? The Dolphins, who actually acquired ex-Raider Jake Grove in free agency, are shipping Samson Satele to the Raiders for a sixth-round draft pick along with a swapping of draft choices in an undisclosed round, according to ESPN.
Samson is expected to compete with John Wade and Chris Morris for the duty of snapping the ball to Russell and, more important, helping point out defensive alignments to Russell, who'll be in his second season as the full-time starter.
The Raiders better hope "Lineman Swap '09" goes better than the 2008 version, when they acquired former 49ers offensive tackle Kwame Harris while the 49ers brought aboard long-time Raider Barry Sims.
oh boy!
another monday night opener. unfortunately i witnessed both losses. like i said then, monday night should set the tone for the season, it did. i hate/love rivers for obvious reasons. but he is a baller in every sense of the word. i'm looking forward to the opener. the coliseum is electric on monday nights.
another monday night opener. unfortunately i witnessed both losses. like i said then, monday night should set the tone for the season, it did. i hate/love rivers for obvious reasons. but he is a baller in every sense of the word. i'm looking forward to the opener. the coliseum is electric on monday nights.
"The Raiders better hope "Lineman Swap '09" goes better than the 2008 version, when they acquired former 49ers offensive tackle Kwame Harris while the 49ers brought aboard long-time Raider Barry Sims."
Not really a swap but whatever as the raiders go its not a bad deal dude is only 24 started all games at center since he was drafted and only had to trade a 6th round draft pick and swap a 4th. May not be a upgrade from Grove but better then what was left on the roster when Grove bounced. Plus the kid is young and started a important position on a playoff team so not a bad pick up for what it costed the Raiders.
Not really a swap but whatever as the raiders go its not a bad deal dude is only 24 started all games at center since he was drafted and only had to trade a 6th round draft pick and swap a 4th. May not be a upgrade from Grove but better then what was left on the roster when Grove bounced. Plus the kid is young and started a important position on a playoff team so not a bad pick up for what it costed the Raiders.