Every year around this time, the fans are in about the same state of mind. It is that optimistic and, in some cases, even homeristic mindset that has them believing their team will be a contender in the coming season. This is expected of course and is a good thing for the most part. However, the flip side to this hopeful high is the equal level of anger felt when anyone dare suggest the team may not live up to their lofty hopes and expectations.
Sure, this team needs our support. But it also needs our criticism. And they absolutely do NOT need excuses. The coaches will not settle for anything but the very best from their players. And the players themselves are not supposed to settle for anything less either. So why should the fans and/or the media? We all understand that in certain situations, judgment should be reserved and benefit of the doubt should be handed down. But that only really applies to rookies and new teammates acclimating to a new system.
Jared Veldheer being thrown into playing center in an NFL game although he has been playing offensive tackle throughout his career is an example of this. We give him the benefit of the doubt that he has a lot of improving to do. But even in that situation, Cable acknowledged Veldheer’s mistakes and pointed them out in the post game press conference as areas he needs to improve.
Rolando McClain should be allowed a few mistakes while he gets the hang of the NFL and a new system and players around him. What he definitely should not get any excuses for is his spurning of the boosters as well as the media at practice the other day. He is still a rookie who has yet to play in his first NFL game. There is no excuse to act like that. It reminded me of another former number one pick by the Raiders. A certain lethargic, overweight, egomaniacal piece of dead weight.
The player I am referring to is JaMarcus Russell in case anyone hadn’t figured that out. And the team as well as the fans were making excuses for Russell all the way up until the moment he was sent packing. In Vegas during final team meeting? It was an excused absence for personal reasons (HA!). Late for training camp? He was closing on a house. Overweight? Just vicious rumors, he’s just a really big guy and has been working with a trainer who says he’s lost weight (this turned out to be false). Lethargic and doesn’t seem to care? He is just a calm, soft spoken type of leader. And you can bet those same fans were just as vocal about their hatred of him after his release too.
It’s as if when a player puts on the Raider uniform, he is forgiven of all his faults. That seems completely backwards to me. The moment a player dons the Silver and Black is when we should all expect them to be at their best. To accept less and make excuses for them only invites complacency and a losing attitude.
Excuses are not what this team needs. And after 7 straight 11+ loss seasons, there is almost no room for benefit of the doubt. As happy as everyone may be about the offseason, this team still has to go out on the field in a regular season game and prove it.
Coaches and owners and analysts all talk about acquiring players who “have been there” and are “used to winning.” That is because winning begets winning — a ‘rich get richer’ type of thing. The Raiders have become confident at times over the last few years and every time it ends in defeat. And that is because it isn’t the right kind of confidence. This kind of confidence manifests itself in a let up. A kind of “we got this” style of play. Real confidence comes from knowing that if you prepare the same as you did before and play at the same high level and with the same technique, you will succeed and you will win. When a team gets confidence based on anything else, it will always be overconfidence because it is unearned.
Those outside of the team (fans, media) should be approaching it the same way. Anything more than a cautious optimism is unjustified. Until this team can prove they can win more than they lose during the NFL regular season, what does anyone have to strut around about?
The only thing this team showed last year is that their defense had improved. But they still must prove they can consistently stop the rush, prevent the big play, and rush the passer. And no, their pass rush performance in the preseason doesn’t count. Nearly every preseason, the Raiders show a revitalized pass rush with several blitz packages only to pull back on it when the season arrives.
The offense really hasn’t proven anything. The offensive line still has to keep defenders out of the backfield. The receivers must stop dropping the ball and stay healthy. Michael Bush had just two games last season in which he ran for over 100 yards and now he is out with a broken thumb. His replacement, Darren McFadden, has been a complete disappointment in his career. And Jason Campbell has high hopes placed on him but we still have to wait and see if he can live up to any of them.
The only player on this team that anyone can say unequivocally accepts nothing but the best from himself, and puts in the work to equal that, is Nnamdi Asomugha. I asked him at the final training camp practice if there was one thing he really felt that he had wanted to work on this camp and I was amazed at what he told me. “I wouldn’t say there was just one thing. More like ten things.” Seriously? TEN things?! We are talking about the best corner in the game and he thinks he has ten things he needs to work on? THAT is the kind of work ethic and expectations we should have for these guys. Oh and note to Rolando McClain: Nnamdi is also one of the most humble and giving players in all of sports. His attitude and contributions off the field don’t go unnoticed and cannot be underrated.
So if certain fans want to get angry at me for bursting their bubble, so be it. Just remember that my need for proof, outside of meaningless play in practice and in preseason, doesn’t mean I am wrong. This team and these players don’t need excuses. They need to know that we won’t accept anything but their best on and off the field. That is the only way they will become a winning team.
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