Oakland Raiders Get First “WIN” of the Playoff Weekend!

Captain Jack Rack 'em Levy – Jan 7, 2012

The making of a Playoff contender started with the announced signing of Reggie McKenzie as Oakland Raiders' General Manager, with an announced press conference next Tuesday, January 10th at 2:00 PM Pacific-5:00 PM Eastern Time. This truly is MUST SEE TV. It will mark the first time since the Captain can remember that ‘Godfather’ Al Davis will not be there to ‘thrust and parry’ with the likes of the snide Bay Area media…

Are you listening Tim Kawakami? How about you Ann Killion? Glenn Dickey? What’s the name of that fat guy who is so blatantly anti-Raider he is as disgusting as the sight of his triple-chin? Darn… can’t think … oh yeah!! Ray Ratto!! Gonna miss the site of Al ‘holding court’ and whipping out the overhead projector, that’s for sure…

I hear Tuesday’s festivities will be handled by Mark Davis and possibly John Madden, who BOTH conducted the actual interview which brought about Reggie McKenzie’s long overdue return to the ‘House that Al Built’ to semi-steal a phrase. Welcome home Reggie!!

What does McKenzie’s hire as Raiders’ General Manager truly mean Raider Nation? It shows the entire NFL that the Raiders have finally followed into the modern era and will build to WIN, as McKenzie is a proponent of building through the draft while being a connoisseur of evaluating talent.

The former will be sparse this spring, aside from the addition of some compensatory picks, while the latter will be seriously put to good use as this Free Agent class is classified as one of the ‘most talented’ in several years. Yeah, I’m going to paraphrase something that is continually heard in Green Bay’s Lambeau Field…”Go Regggggggggg Gooooooooooooooo!!”

Now, the Captain would like to make an observation or two… nay, his opinion on something that he holds near and dear to his heart. As an "O Lineman" myself from my days as a stud in Junior/Senior High, (Queue Springsteen's Glory Days....lol). I think the only MAJOR tweak we need to do on the Offensive Line is fish/cut bait with Bruce Campbell this next year, along with moving Wiz-II to the Center spot, and see what we have with Barksdale and Heyer.

In this scenario, we'd have our line of:

Veldheer - Heyer/Barks - Wiz - Heyer/Barks - Campbell, (based on his apparent move back to tackle).



Offensive Line Coach Bob Wylie did a yeoman's job with the line this year, with Satele and Cooper playing better than expected overall, and Barnes not screwing up as much as LAST YEAR - 2010, (which is an easy accomplishment when considering how often his penalties were drive killers this past year in 2011). Still, having said that, Satele and Barnes would be decent backups and should be considered for that role if they aren’t already under contract, (I haven’t looked as of yet).

Granted, the lineup indicated above doesn't take into consideration the possible signing of an unrestricted free agent or two for the line that would help immeasurably, moving one of those starters to backup while additionally shoving one to two of those backups into the unemployment line…

WE ARE SET on OFFENSE for the next several years, (in theory) with the Offensive Line mentioned, (plus/minus those possible free agent additions) with Palmer and Pryor at Quarterback, (although I'd be stoked to keep Campbell as a backup, although most think that’s a pipe dream).

A receiving corps that is SCARY GOOD in DHB, Ford, Moore, Murphy—keepers, and possibly Schilens and Houshamazilli, ("CHAMPIONSHIP!") although I'd like to see TJ transition to WR coach; some really good TE's in Boss ,(didn't get the chance to shine but still a stud), Meyers, Ausberry, and Gordon.

At running back, what can you say about DMac other than he needs to stay healthy and the possible anointment of Taiwan Jones into a capable back-up if not starter’s role; he too would need to stay healthy along with possibly losing the fumbleitis tendencies of college days. I'd like to keep Bush too, but at a decent price. The question would be does he want to stick around for the 'good times ahead'... Nnamdi didn't.... hey, great segue!

The Defense will need to come through as well, and while the majority of Raider Nation may think the Captain is smoking something, (for the record the Captain has NEVER indulged in such activities, but has partaken of the grog a time or two) but keeping Defensive Line Coach Mike Waufle, an excellent coach in his own right, is at least an attempt to get his cohort in crime – and former supervisor as Defensive Coordinator in New York with the Giants – Steve Spagnoulo to at least consider coming out to Oakland. The Eagles are on record to keep Andy Reid for next year, which means that’s at least ONE SPOT where he PROBABLY won’t go, (stay tuned as the off-season hasn’t ended its first week yet though).

As long as a decent, (minimum) to good, (probable) to excellent, (orgasmic) Defensive Coordinator comes here and KICKS ASS and gets those that are NON-PRODUCERS in game-time effort to perform or perish, we will be hosting a playoff game in the first or second week next year! That is provided the earth doesn't end on 12/21/2012 or whenever it’s slated to occur according to the Mayans...

I am genuinely EXCITED RIGHT NOW...kicking Chuck B's sorry butt finally out of the building will make this off-season that much better; getting a start on Free Agency by signing those here that are deserving, while picking through and signing some ELITE Free Agents and reworking the contracts of those that are overpaid in the "GRAND SCHEME OF THE TEAM" mantra will be telling.



It hasn’t even been a week since our Raiders were unceremoniously dumped from the confines of presumed AFC West Champions that they seemed destined to be this year; however, with the mere addition of former Raiders stalwart Reggie McKenzie, a man who was a 10th round draft pick, but was a starter for the Raiders in his rookie year of 1985. THAT Raider Nation is a dynamic that I hope will be instilled in the entire team immediately!!

Coach Hue Jackson said the team needed an ‘Attitude Adjustment’; well Coach, I think you just got one!!

YAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!! Raider Nation!!

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