Encouraging???

So the Raiders have played 2 pre-season games, what have we learned? They played a young 49er team that cant fight its way across the Bay Bridge at mid-night with no traffic, and they played a mediocre Tennessee Titan team that is still trying to find its identity.

Against the 49ers the Raiders played well enough to win against their cross Bay rival but did they impress you? The defense looked good and Johnnie Lee Higgins brought a little light to the special teams play. JeMarcus only played sparingly so what did we really learn from that? Michael Bush looked good on only 8 carries but the touchdown always goes a long way even in the pre-season.

But really was anyone thinking that this game was anything more then one more chance for the winning teams fans to rub the losers nose in it? Not really.

As far as the game against the Titans while it ended in a Raiders loss, there were some encouraging moments and a few shining moments that made you go Hmmmm. The touchdown Russel threw to Zach Miller was a beauty and gave fans a reason to cheer. Russel really only looked good in that series but in limited duty it may have been enough to bring hope to even the most pessimistic of fans. JeMarcus finished his duties going 10-of-17 for 75 yards and the aforementioned touchdown. That being the encouraging moment, I believe the shining moments belonged to the rushing game. Darren McFadden the rookie rushing phenom had limited duties that he made the most of with 6 rushes for 44 yards with a spectacular run for 26 yards capped by a field goal giving the Raiders a 10-7 lead at the half. Averaging 7.1 yards a carry is going to go a long way in securing a starting position for McFadden should he continue to churn yards out like this on limited carries. The one, three punch behind McFadden could be narrowed down by the end of the pre-season but there are a litany of backs looking to back Darren up should the need arise. It may be deceiving because of all the differing players contending for playing time during the pre-season but the Raiders did have 224 yards on just 37 carries for a 6.1 ypc average.

So what have we learned so far this pre-season? Nothing we didn't already know. JeMarcus has a canon for an arm and the Raiders can run the ball against a fairly porous defense. This weeks game against the Arizona Cardinals won't be much of a test either but it could be...encouraging.

Image vs Reality

We have all heard the words "Just win Baby" and we have all seen the silver and black from D.C. to Seattle, but is there more to the Raiders then just a catchy slogan and one of the best selling color schemes in history? Ask the casual fan and a diatribe of slogans and championship years are spewed forth like spiders from the nest. Ask a fan from any other team and you get a slew of curses and mocking tones that would make the most seasoned thug blush. So is there more to this team then just observances? The easy answer would be who knows? but nothing concerning the Raiders is easy, so lets try to find the answer.

Are the Raiders good? Simple question, innocuous I know but relevant. They were, just as simple an answer, but is it true? The Raiders have dazzled football for as long as anyone can remember. Not always for their skill or winning ways but dazzled non the less. They have won ugly and underachieved all in the same game, they have pushed the envelope of good taste and good sportsmanship and have celebrated (sigh, yes I will say it) with some of the greatest fans ever. So when it comes to an easy answer to if the Raiders are good, the answer is "they were."

An easy answer unfortunately doesn't help us for this year though, so a better answer should be, They could be. They could be, they have talent, they have good if not great coaching, they have a owner willing to spend the money to make them great. So where do they miss out on greatness? Philosophy & Execution, the Raiders have been one of the most penalized teams to play the game, they shoot themselves in the proverbally mentioned foot. They get in their own way, the Raiders have made a habit of looking great and then turning a game into a comedic revival. So execution explained what about Philosophy? The Raiders have been a team without an identity for too long. Just when you think they are a passing team, the likes of Marcus Allen comes along and you believe they could rush for 200+ every game and just when you think that it couldn't get any better a gun slinger like Hostetler comes along and throws the ball around the field like a hot potato. Now we have a new incarnation of the Raiders, a strong arm from Jemarcus Russell, and the elusiveness of Darren McFadden, will this equate to greatness? It could. If the Raiders could find an identity and perform up to the potential they have in so many young players then yes the Raiders "could be" great.

So what makes the Raiders great? Another simple and resounding answer, "the fans", they hold the glory and greatness of the Raiders to their bosom like the prodigal son squeezed to his fathers breast. The fans remember, they cheer and they love the Raiders, plain and simple. You hear other fans bemoan their draft luck, you hear them cry after a tough loss and curse their players or a coaches decision, and to some small part Raiders fans do to but it never lasts long. The fans have pulled this team up by its boot straps as no player or coach has. The fans cheer and the Raiders let them down. The fans remember and the Raiders let them down. The fans love and the Raiders let them down. So it is not the greatness of the Raiders, it is the greatness of their fans.

So are the Raiders good? No, but they could be, but thanks to their fans they always will be. The mystique and lore of the Raiders is not the team, it is it's fans.