Archive for November, 2011

No matter the outcome of a game of football played on a Sunday there are those moments when we’re all reminded that it is just a game. Darrius Heyward-Bey had one of those moments today in Minnesota when the back of his head collided with the knee of a Vikings’ defender early in the fourth quarter. So violent was the collision that DHB’s helmet went flying and he had to be carted off the field after being stabilized. As bad as the aftermath appeared, Heyward-Bey was able to move his limbs and underwent a series of tests that all yielded [...]

The Oakland Raiders like to keep things interesting. As proof, I offer you today’s trying, turbulent and ultimately triumphant outing in Minnesota. The finals score was 27-21 which would indicate a close contest. The manner in which the Raiders dominated would tell a much different story. In the end you are what your record says you are. On paper the Vikings had no business ever being in the contest. For the better part of three quarters that was the case as Oakland opened a 27-7 lead. That lead came despite some horrendous officiating, inconsistent offense and the occasional defensive lapse. [...]

Sometimes life is just unfair. In the book on sportsmanship you’ll likely find an entry that instructs you to not kick an opponent while they’re down. Well, that book only applies to amateurs. In the big boy professional world picking on an opponent’s glaring weakness is mandatory. On Sunday the Minnesota Vikings will take the field with a secondary depleted by injuries, arrests and general poor play. If Carson Palmer doesn’t throw the rock at least 30 times it had better be because Michael Bush has more than 200 yards rushing. Last week Hue Jackson unleashed his bully on a [...]

Whenever two teams going in much different directions get together the only safe bet is to expect the unexpected. When the Raiders and Vikings take the field tomorrow both will have much different goals in mind. Oakland has its sights set on winning the AFC West while the Vikings are trying to figure out what works and what doesn’t for the future. From where they were two years ago it would seem as if these two franchises have swapped places in the NFL hierarchy. When it comes to the unexpected, JBB specializes in doing things differently to get our great [...]

There are injuries-a-plenty around Oakland these days and I’m not talking about all the dustups going on with the Occupy Oakland happenings. Nope, we’re talking about the Raiders here. All week long it has been like following the stock market to get a beat on who is going to play Sunday. Both Darren McFadden and Jacoby Ford were expected not to play so both being ruled out was no more shocking than Demi Moore’s divorce. However keeping tabs on Richard Seymour’s health has been difficult. Despite Seymour not practicing at all this week it is revealing that even Hue Jackson [...]

It goes without saying that the Oakland Raiders must contain Adrian Peterson to have any chance of victory on Sunday. Don’t let the Vikings’ record fool you. This team is dangerous when Peterson is on his game. With all the attention Peterson will receive it is easy to forget that the Raiders have their hands just as full on offense when it comes to stopping Jared Allen. Currently Allen is on pace for a record breaking season that will push Michael Strahan aside for most sacks in a single season. Aside from his sickening sack total, Allen is a bigger [...]

Right about now is when NFL teams start looking at the big picture. From a team standpoint some squads, like the Oakland Raiders, are looking to the postseason.  With regards to those playoff aspirations, teams like the Raiders must also decide which players are best to help the team reach their goals. Today the Raiders decided that Ohio State rookie Chimdi Chekwa just wasn’t going to be able to get right in time to help the team during the playoff push. Chekwa’s nagging hamstring injury has earned him a spot on the Injured Reserve effective ending his rookie season with [...]

With the way Michael Bush has consistently performed in the absence of Darren McFadden there is no doubt he can and should be a starter in the NFL. Al Davis got himself a real bargain when he was willing to draft Bush knowing the rookie would have to sit for an entire year while rehabbing from a collegiate injury. That very injury is what took Bush off the board in the 4th round of the NFL Draft instead of the 1st. That same injury is also what cost him a year of service in the NFL. Scheduled to be an [...]

The Oakland Raiders control their own destiny going forward. If this team is going to make the playoffs then it will be because they win the AFC West. There is no other route to the postseason. It is all too easy to overlook the Minnesota Vikings. From their 2-7 record to the embarrassment on Monday Night, the Vikings might appear to be easy prey. But this is the NFL which stands for Not For Long when you make those types of assumptions. On paper the Raiders should have the advantage. Carson Palmer has elevated the passing game to a new [...]

The Raiders continue to stay busy in the DB market. Each week is seems like a series of roster move ensues prior to game day with the majority of those moves centered on the secondary. This week the Silver and Black brought in a few more players for tryouts before settling on Terrail Lambert. The former Golden Domer from Notre Dame, as you would expect, has blazing speed. However the Los Angeles native has yet to see any action in the NFL despite spending some time with the Dolphins and Saints. Lambert is the latest in a long line of [...]