Holla At Me Raider Nation!
Make no mistake; The Oakland Raiders can not afford to lose this game against Miami. If you read my last two articles then you understand the situation the Raiders are facing. Here's some background, just to be sure that we're seeing "eye to eye". Prior to my last article (more on that later) I gave The One and Only Raider Nation five things that they should be watching.

Now, when I compiled that list it was to give us some things to keep in mind, as we watch the team throughout the season; I had no idea we'd see three out of five during game one.

First I want to address the referee situation. I'm aware that Raider Nation feels the officials missed a number of interference / holding calls against our wide receivers. However, as far as I'm concerned this does not excuse their poor performance. On too many occasions Raider wide receivers had their hands on the ball, unfortunately they were unable to come up with the catch.

This is N.F.L. football. In the N.F.L., as a wide receiver if you can get your hands on the ball - YOU NEED TO MAKE THAT CATCH! There are no excuses. What are these guys getting paid for anyway? You would hope that it's not just to make the "ordinary" catch (because my youngest niece can do that). 

Next, let's talk about Dennis Allen. Question: When do you know you're teams head coach is a true rookie? Answer: When he's being out coached by Norv Turner.

When it became clear that T.G. (Travis Goethel) / wasn't ready to be on T.V. / our rookie H.C. / needed to come up with a plan B! / (but as WE all know - he didn't)

Note to Raider Nation: I've been watching a show called "Black Dynamite". The show features Michael Jai White. One of the characters on the show is named "Bull-horn" and when he speaks everything he says rhymes. My attempt to lighten the mood. Quite frankly the only member of the coaching staff that didn't disappoint was defensive coordinator Jason Tarver.

However, while the defense, generally speaking, did perform well, the Raiders secondary, was looking a little suspect. As a defensive back by nature I'm no fan of "face guarding". For those of you who don't know about face guarding this is when the defensive back uses the face, and or reactions of the wide receiver as his signal that the ball is about to arrive.

My main "beef" with face guarding is this: You CAN NOT intercept a football, when you've got your back facing the ball!! (some one needs to remind Ron Bartell of this fact) This is part of the reason why the Raiders were unable to create a turnover against San Diego when they really needed one.

We've mentioned the referee's. We've mentioned the head coach. We've mentioned the defensive backfield. I've given you three out of five, however I don't want to be perceived as stingy so I'll give you one more: The Schedule.

I was looking for the Raiders to be at least a .500 football team at the end of the first quarter of the season. This would have given Oakland a 2-2 record heading into their early bye week. Pittsburg is scheduled as the next Raider home opponent; Followed by a road game in Denver, against Payton Manning.

With games against Ben (Roethlisberger) and Peyton (Manning) up next, this game against rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill a must win situation.

In my last article I wrote that despite Oakland being under "new management" I was hoping that Raider Nation would get to see the olde Raiders. However instead of seeing the olde Raiders, we saw the same old Raiders.

The Raiders have always been one of the most penalized teams; However, the olde Raiders were penalized, not because they didn't know what they were doing, but because they were kicking the teeth down the throat of their opponent. 

Unlike the these Raiders who get penalties for things like jumping off sides, when you're right in front of the ball!! (see Tommy Kelly for example) Having too many men in the huddle. Delaying the game, Illegal formations, and for any other stupid thing you can think of!

In my last article I spoke about how the olde Raiders played a smart, opportunistic, aggressive, entertaining, and most of all WINNING brand of football. While these Raiders play an unintelligent (stupid penalties), unaggressive (what ever happened to attacking the football?) non entertaining, and LOSING brand of football.

The players were not alone; In my article I mentioned that we would not find out if Dennis Allen (as a head coach) had brass balls or plastic ones. I have to say that he showed some brass, with the reverse the Raiders ran on their side of the fifty yard line; However, that brass quickly turned out to really be plastic, when the Raiders had the ball on the Denver one yard line,

With time running out in the first half of the game, and the Raiders needing a score Allen opted for Oakland to kick a short field goal rather than go for the touchdown; As it turned out the Raiders would not get a better touchdown scoring opportunity for the rest of the game. Rookie head coaches.

In this game against Miami, Oakland needs to play the way we've been hearing that they're going to play; If not we could be looking at going 0-2, with games against Pitt, and Denver next. Oakland going 0-4 (which could happen) is not the way ANYONE associated with the Raiders wants or needs to start the season.

This game against Miami is an early season test for the new regime; Let's all hope that they pass!