Reactions From the Raider Nation: Still a Lot of Work to Do

After staying up until 1:30 in the morning and watching the Broncos do awful, awful things to the Raiders, I've spent some time this morning surfing the internet for reactions to the dismal Oakland debut in 2008. The early consensus seems to be unanimous.

Actually, it reads like a lot of knee-jerk reactions, and I understand those. Really, I do. We're all sports fans, and that's what we do, especially in the NFL where there's only 16 games and every game matters. And I can sort of relate to the Raiders fans since I've been a Pittsburgh Pirates fan for the previous 16 years, so I understand what it feels like to be embarrassed every season in strange new ways, while having those optimistic opening day thoughts be flushed right down the crapper.

Anyway, some reactions from Bay area scribes and Raiders blogs after the jump.
Columnists and Beat Writers

Cam Inman writes in his column at the Contra Costa Times that 'D Is For Disgraceful'

Pick on virtually any Raider you want, be it the franchise icon who doled out crazy millions in an offseason shopping spree, or the offensive lineman whose false start euthanized the Raiders' miserable first half, or the bozos responsible for the familiar fumbles, sacks, dropped passes, blown coverages, missed tackles, injured starters and idiotic penalties that have been a staple of the Raiders' post-2002 diet.
Just be sure to flog the defense, and specifically cornerback DeAngelo Hall. Make that Angelo Hall. He didn't play "D."

Gwenn Knapp of the San Francisco Chronicle says the Raiders Still Aren't Ready For Prime time.

Sacramento Bee writer Jason Jones details the Monday Nightmare.

Fan Reaction From The Blogosphere

The folks over at Silver And Black Pride talk about The Opening Night Dud

Lane Kiffin looked like an uninterested and outclassed kid. His play calling was TERRIBLE. He was still trying to run the ball when the team was down 27-0 at the end of the third quarter. I really find that inexcusable.

Raidertopia: D-isappointing

Raidertake offers up this after watching the game in person:

I don't know how it looked on television, but it was sure grim inside the Coliseum. This was a gutless, confused and undisciplined performance, especially on defense.

Across The Silver And Black Pond calls it 'Embarrassing.'

Silver And Black Report gives out some game grades.

On the plus side, there's nowhere to go but up.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

9-09-2008 @ 2:53PM

Dubbz45 said...

REACTION TO RAIDER NATION: LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As the great Smokey would say,"You just got knocked the F$#& OUT!!!"""""

9-09-2008 @ 3:41PM

coren said...

it makes me mad when people talk about kiffin i respect him soo much. he is playing the cards he was dealt. he was dealt running backs. he has no good wide recievers and davis wont let him do nothing. I love that kiffin himself would tell you what i said because hell speak his mind. how about new recievers? and defence has good players but you couldnt tell by their sloppy performance they are used to covering the raiders sucky revievers in practice they couldnt handle ones at the NFL level

Silver & Black 4ever

9-11-2008 @ 10:51PM

Norman Wilson said...

If you all will remember Kiffin wanted to get rid of Rob Ryan during the offseason, but Al Davis wanted to keep him. this team will never do anything again until something happens to Al davis!

9-09-2008 @ 4:31PM

richard said...

The Raiders will not be functional again until Al Davis dies, and the entire organization is rebuilt from the bottom up. This is unfortunate but true. Hopefully, looking at Al recently, his demise may be imminent. We can only pray.......

9-11-2008 @ 9:29AM

Charles Moore said...

I totally agree. The Raiders will never be competive again until Al is no longer in the picture. Raiders need a dose of new ownership and management. If new ownership were to happen today, I would blow up the entire team. I'd keep Russell, Bush,
Mcfadden, Fargas and Zach Miller. All remaining positions would be filled with new players. This Raider team is an embarrasemtnt to the NFL. What a disgraceful effort by the Raiders in memory of the great Gene Upshaw.

9-18-2008 @ 10:27PM

hdevil35 said...

I agree, Lord forgive me but who really wants coach this team? Ever coach we have had has been a puppet for Al with the exception Gruden and we all know what he did, Al you could had a super bowl but Gruden was not putting up with your crap! So you make Ryan head coach a new puppet for you to pull the strings! For me the perfect coach Mike Ditka he would straighten out this team but that will never happen he would never take your bull**it. This team will never return to glory as long Al continues to pull the strings!!! If I won't see them win a super bowl just maybe my son in his lifetime will .

9-09-2008 @ 4:54PM

Choakland Tater Hater said...

As a die hard Broncos fan, I always like playing the Choakland Taters. Especially when it's as sweet as this. Can I just ask one favor? Could you guys please show up to the game next time?

9-09-2008 @ 5:37PM

RetUSMCGunny said...

I'm loving this since I'm one of the BIGGEST RAIDER HATERS in the world! They deserve to be in the cellar for their incompetence and my greatest joy is that they certainly won't live up to that "Commitment to Excellence" this year - more like "COMMITMENT TO EXCREMENT!"*LOL*

9-09-2008 @ 6:35PM

gscott said...

that game was bad but its only game one...the D will come back strong...But the O needs to bring up there young talented playmakers from the practice squad Marcel Reece and Luis Rankin to bring some more fire puwer to the team...

9-10-2008 @ 9:12AM

Mike said...

They didn't look like they could beat a good high school team let alone be in the NFL. Being a life-long Raider fan........I am really disapointed, again! If they win 4 games this season I think they will be lucky. By the way, I lost five bucks on you assholes!

9-10-2008 @ 11:07AM

Derek said...

On the plus side? There is no plus side! Things can and will get alot worse, this team is a clueless as their senile owner. Until Davis steps back and allows some real professionals to run his team and make all the personal and coaching decisions this team isnot going anywhere but down.

9-10-2008 @ 2:11PM

MAX GOLDSTEIN said...

ROB RYAN DOES NEED TO BE FIRE I WISH KIFFIN HAD HIS WAY!!
WE HAVE THE BEST MAN TO MAN CORNERS IN THE LEAGUE AND HE CALL ZONE FOR ALMOST THE WHOLE GAME!!
THAT IS WHAT REALLY RUINED THE GAME FOR US KIFFIN CALLED AN OK GAME BUT HE WAS KEEPING THE PLAYBOOK BACK FOR JRUSS. YES OUR O- LINE IS WEEK BUT IT WASN'T THAT BAD WE JUST NEEDED BETTER DEFENSE!!

9-16-2008 @ 2:19PM

Big Baloney said...

If you think J Russ is the answer, better think again. From what I've observed, one guy can single handed bring him down. He cannot hit his receivers. check it out. Just look at his stats of completions verses attempts both game 1 and game 2.

Coach Kiffen had no choice but to go with his Running Offense because of J Russ inability to perform up to expectations.
A total waste of money.

9-10-2008 @ 4:03PM

scottytoohotty said...

VERY SIMPLE GET RID OF AL DAVIS AND LET THE COACHES COACH AND ALL WILL BE WELL. HE SHOULDVE NEVER TRADED GRUDEN WE WOULD HAVE HAD MULTIPLE RINGS AT THIS POINT. BUT THAT OLD CONTROL FREEK DAVIS SCREWED THAT UP YOO!
Silver and Black till I die!!!

9-17-2008 @ 11:19PM

ROBERT GONZALEZ said...

YOU GOT THAT RIGHT AL DAVIS NEEDS TO GO THEY SHOULD HAVE KEPT GRUDEN

9-10-2008 @ 4:04PM

dave said...

I got up at 3am in the morning here in the UK to watch that sh@t.

I've been looking forward to that game for so long. Totally gutted. Just like our D.

9-10-2008 @ 8:07PM

JLS1967 said...

AL HAS GOT TO GO! HE IS THE ONE CONSTANT OVER THIS 5 YEAR SPAN OF DEMENTIA. I KNOW IT ISN'T POSSIBLE BUT A GAME IN AN EMPTY STADIUM WOULD SEND AL A MESSAGE.

9-10-2008 @ 11:50PM

RON BENNETT said...

I HAVE BEEN A RAIDERS FAN SINCE 1970, AND WAS VERY DSSAPOINTED. I BLAME ALZHEIMERS DAVIS FOR THEIR DEMIZE. AL DAVIS.......PLEASE STEP DOWN FROM YOUR THRONE. THIS IS A CALL TO ALL RAIDER NATION FANS. "BOYCOTT" ALL THE GAMES, UNTIL "AL ALZHEIMERS" RELINQUISHES HIS POWER AND THRONE.

Al Davis is the problem and will continue as long as he remains the owner. He needs to be forced to sell the team. Raider fans should try boycotting all of the Raider games. Those fans that paid for season tickets should request a refund. Even though the NFL does not like the Raiders they don't want teams looking this bad. It's an embarassement to their product (NFL).
Roger Goddell should look into taking some action. Mentally,
Al Davis can no longer manage a franchise.

9-11-2008 @ 11:02AM

Kevin said...

Al was in charge in 2002, which saw the Raiders go to the superbowl and complete three straight division titles.

He has been very erratic since then. Especially trying to start Collins over Gannon after the superbowl cause of his arm.

He has a great eye for young coaches. Madden, Chucky, and Kiffin.

Kiffin was right to want and fire Ryan. Davis is agianst the blitz. If this D blitzs, they dominate, its that easy.