Post by TheShadow on May 17, 2008 23:04:50 GMT -5
www.bleacherreport.com/
by Raider Card Addict
Sometimes, in the Raiders history, you'll see spots that defy logic. Choices made reflecting on the club but as well causes ripples that eventually come back to haunt the team.
For today's lesson, we'll start by looking at the 1985 Raiders squad. First to mention is Marcus Allen. In this season, he was on fire, rushing for over 1750 yards, 11 rushing touchdowns, and three TD catches—all around stellar play.
Next to mention is Todd Christensen, another pro bowler, who had 82 catches. Dokie Williams, Wide out, had 48 catches...but both had over 900 yards receiving.
The team, as a whole, had a 12-4 record...so, what went wrong?
The first weak link, anyone within the Raider Nation, was a guy named Marc Wilson. As a QB, he was drafted in the first round, 15th overall, in 1980.
Jim Plunkett, for his age, was supposed to be a stopgap. Instead, Plunkett seemed to make a habit of replacing him in an injury filled career.
Also, there was a disturbing trend that Marc couldn't shake. His TD to INT ratio was causing a lot of dismay. But most, simply hoped he wouldn't blow a game with an errant pass.
So, going into the playoffs for 1985, the Raiders were at home against a Patriots team. The Patriots, 11-5, came to LA and left with a win...a 27-20 victory that also started the cracks between Allen and Davis.
To this day, I do not know if Davis held onto Marc Wilson because he believed the QB could turn his season around, or if he simply was frustrated with the embarrassing loss in LA...only Davis knows.
So into the following year. The Raiders, seemed ready to go beyond last year, started out good. They had gotten to 8-4 when the wheels came off.
Losing two division games and dropping three close games in all...the Raiders had to watch the playoffs, instead of taking part. Allen also was dealing with a few issues.
He failed to break the 1000 yard mark but part of this was due to playing in only 13 games. Also, Jim Plunkett and Marc Wilson split starting duties, eight games each.
Plunkett had a better percentage than Wilson. But Plunkett was now 39 years old, as Wilson was only 29...the Raiders were starting to wonder if replacing Wilson would solve the problem...Plunkett couldn't play forever.
Finally, 1987 came along. This proved to be Tom Flores' final year. In a way, I think he must have been relieved with the stress and the last three years turning to chaos so fast.
For the Raiders, this last season also saw the end of Plunkett's career. Ironically, he never got to play a game in 1987, and the experience showed the Raiders sank to 5-10. But there were a few bright spots.
Allen had a new running mate in Bo Jackson. Vince Evans made his first appearance. And Marc Wilson, somehow, threw more touchdowns than picks in the season.
However, as said...with the damage, Tom Flores left Oakland. Davis, deciding to shake things up, brought in Mike Shanahan, at that time, a young and spirited coach to lead the Raiders.
Little did we know how this action would affect the silver and black.
As Shanahan became the head coach for the Raiders, it was obvious, that plenty of things would be different.
How different, people would soon learn, was like day and night.
First thing, out of the gate, was a transition from the old guard, to a younger team. Players like Dokie Williams, Todd Christensen, and Michael Haynes, by a year, all left quickly. Jim Plunkett, all set to return, was told by Shanahan, that he wasn't needed anymore....a real surprise, as Marc Wilson, left and then signed with the Patriots.
The solution, as it were, turned out to be bittersweet, as the Raiders traded for Jay Schroeder, from the Redskins....but it also was a trade that cost the Raiders more. Giving Jim Lachey to them, they gained a player who would be a Pro Bowler for years.
Meanwhile, the QB, turned out to be part of a parade of poor choices.
Shanahan's first year ended out at 7-9. But, like selling your stuff at the garage sale, and then burning the garage...the damage was done.
The next season, 1989, had the Raiders starting out roughly. With Shanahan, they were 1-3, dropping the last 3. One thing that also didn't set well with the fans, was the loss of Tim Brown Early in this season.
Al Davis, knew something needed to be done.
This, was when Art Shell first came into the picture.
Art, as it was, was old school Raiders. He had a long pedigree in the game, he was well liked by fans and teammates....some, that had survived, were still on the squad.
Art's task, was to restore his teams' image.
For this season, there was two QBs being used. One, was Schroeder, the other, would be in the league for a long time....Steve Beuerlein. For this season, Steve's TD-INT numbers were better, as well yardage, but again, he was picked up in 1987, missed a year with injury....and some feel Steve was damaged goods.
The Raiders, that year, just missed the playoffs, losing the last game of the season, To the Giants. At 8-8, it would have made good cover...but, at least the Raiders next season, would improve.
Now, here's where the open question comes in. How much of this team's turnaround, is because of Art's style of coaching, and how much of it, is from Shanahan's player training and tempo? Art had a way to inspire his players, Shanahan, seemed to get them fighting among themselves. Also to mention, was when Shanahan had almost a complete riot on his hands, when he lit into some players for sitting on their helmets....to him, it was like spitting on a cross....to the Raiders, it was just a way, without a bench, to get a quick seat.
Back to the season, I'll add in 1990, for two reasons. It added up the overhaul, that Shanahan did in his career....but as well, it showed when Art's team finally got running, it could do some things.
The season went 12-4. Art got named Coach of the year for his efforts, and the team was running like a well oiled machine. Sadly, disaster hit the team, as Bo Jackson was felled by a career-ending injury, and then, the next week, Buffalo didn't waste any time destroying the Raiders.
We can take credit for this: Buffalo spent so many points on us...they didn't have enough for the Super Bowl. Small joke.
But in this year, we had several things occur.
Tim Brown started to develop into an all around weapon. Time and again, Shanahan vied for his talent, even forcing Oakland to lock up Tim for a long term contract. Hey, we'll take that burden, easy.
We continued to watch Marcus Allen rot on the benches. This has to be a glaring black eye....after all, with Bo Jackson gone, shouldn't we dust off the rocket for some more fun? Al would speak nothing of it, and Allen's time was spent, gaining a little over 1100 in his last 3 years of the Raiders. And then, he would return the favor, with Kansas City. Ouch.
Ironically, for the players who left because of Shanahan, none came back, or for that matter, played again. Dokie Williams, who was seen in training camp with the Browns, was cut. Todd Christensen, simply retired. Howie Long lasted until 1993, then hung it up. Some say he could have kept playing, but he was also a smart man, retiring when he did.
So, from the train wreck of 1985, to the 1990 season, Oakland went through 3 head coaches....a major overhaul.
Some choices, you grit your teeth, hope for better times, and you know, sometimes it works.
Other times, you'd like to throw something.
Raider On, faithful.
by Raider Card Addict
Sometimes, in the Raiders history, you'll see spots that defy logic. Choices made reflecting on the club but as well causes ripples that eventually come back to haunt the team.
For today's lesson, we'll start by looking at the 1985 Raiders squad. First to mention is Marcus Allen. In this season, he was on fire, rushing for over 1750 yards, 11 rushing touchdowns, and three TD catches—all around stellar play.
Next to mention is Todd Christensen, another pro bowler, who had 82 catches. Dokie Williams, Wide out, had 48 catches...but both had over 900 yards receiving.
The team, as a whole, had a 12-4 record...so, what went wrong?
The first weak link, anyone within the Raider Nation, was a guy named Marc Wilson. As a QB, he was drafted in the first round, 15th overall, in 1980.
Jim Plunkett, for his age, was supposed to be a stopgap. Instead, Plunkett seemed to make a habit of replacing him in an injury filled career.
Also, there was a disturbing trend that Marc couldn't shake. His TD to INT ratio was causing a lot of dismay. But most, simply hoped he wouldn't blow a game with an errant pass.
So, going into the playoffs for 1985, the Raiders were at home against a Patriots team. The Patriots, 11-5, came to LA and left with a win...a 27-20 victory that also started the cracks between Allen and Davis.
To this day, I do not know if Davis held onto Marc Wilson because he believed the QB could turn his season around, or if he simply was frustrated with the embarrassing loss in LA...only Davis knows.
So into the following year. The Raiders, seemed ready to go beyond last year, started out good. They had gotten to 8-4 when the wheels came off.
Losing two division games and dropping three close games in all...the Raiders had to watch the playoffs, instead of taking part. Allen also was dealing with a few issues.
He failed to break the 1000 yard mark but part of this was due to playing in only 13 games. Also, Jim Plunkett and Marc Wilson split starting duties, eight games each.
Plunkett had a better percentage than Wilson. But Plunkett was now 39 years old, as Wilson was only 29...the Raiders were starting to wonder if replacing Wilson would solve the problem...Plunkett couldn't play forever.
Finally, 1987 came along. This proved to be Tom Flores' final year. In a way, I think he must have been relieved with the stress and the last three years turning to chaos so fast.
For the Raiders, this last season also saw the end of Plunkett's career. Ironically, he never got to play a game in 1987, and the experience showed the Raiders sank to 5-10. But there were a few bright spots.
Allen had a new running mate in Bo Jackson. Vince Evans made his first appearance. And Marc Wilson, somehow, threw more touchdowns than picks in the season.
However, as said...with the damage, Tom Flores left Oakland. Davis, deciding to shake things up, brought in Mike Shanahan, at that time, a young and spirited coach to lead the Raiders.
Little did we know how this action would affect the silver and black.
As Shanahan became the head coach for the Raiders, it was obvious, that plenty of things would be different.
How different, people would soon learn, was like day and night.
First thing, out of the gate, was a transition from the old guard, to a younger team. Players like Dokie Williams, Todd Christensen, and Michael Haynes, by a year, all left quickly. Jim Plunkett, all set to return, was told by Shanahan, that he wasn't needed anymore....a real surprise, as Marc Wilson, left and then signed with the Patriots.
The solution, as it were, turned out to be bittersweet, as the Raiders traded for Jay Schroeder, from the Redskins....but it also was a trade that cost the Raiders more. Giving Jim Lachey to them, they gained a player who would be a Pro Bowler for years.
Meanwhile, the QB, turned out to be part of a parade of poor choices.
Shanahan's first year ended out at 7-9. But, like selling your stuff at the garage sale, and then burning the garage...the damage was done.
The next season, 1989, had the Raiders starting out roughly. With Shanahan, they were 1-3, dropping the last 3. One thing that also didn't set well with the fans, was the loss of Tim Brown Early in this season.
Al Davis, knew something needed to be done.
This, was when Art Shell first came into the picture.
Art, as it was, was old school Raiders. He had a long pedigree in the game, he was well liked by fans and teammates....some, that had survived, were still on the squad.
Art's task, was to restore his teams' image.
For this season, there was two QBs being used. One, was Schroeder, the other, would be in the league for a long time....Steve Beuerlein. For this season, Steve's TD-INT numbers were better, as well yardage, but again, he was picked up in 1987, missed a year with injury....and some feel Steve was damaged goods.
The Raiders, that year, just missed the playoffs, losing the last game of the season, To the Giants. At 8-8, it would have made good cover...but, at least the Raiders next season, would improve.
Now, here's where the open question comes in. How much of this team's turnaround, is because of Art's style of coaching, and how much of it, is from Shanahan's player training and tempo? Art had a way to inspire his players, Shanahan, seemed to get them fighting among themselves. Also to mention, was when Shanahan had almost a complete riot on his hands, when he lit into some players for sitting on their helmets....to him, it was like spitting on a cross....to the Raiders, it was just a way, without a bench, to get a quick seat.
Back to the season, I'll add in 1990, for two reasons. It added up the overhaul, that Shanahan did in his career....but as well, it showed when Art's team finally got running, it could do some things.
The season went 12-4. Art got named Coach of the year for his efforts, and the team was running like a well oiled machine. Sadly, disaster hit the team, as Bo Jackson was felled by a career-ending injury, and then, the next week, Buffalo didn't waste any time destroying the Raiders.
We can take credit for this: Buffalo spent so many points on us...they didn't have enough for the Super Bowl. Small joke.
But in this year, we had several things occur.
Tim Brown started to develop into an all around weapon. Time and again, Shanahan vied for his talent, even forcing Oakland to lock up Tim for a long term contract. Hey, we'll take that burden, easy.
We continued to watch Marcus Allen rot on the benches. This has to be a glaring black eye....after all, with Bo Jackson gone, shouldn't we dust off the rocket for some more fun? Al would speak nothing of it, and Allen's time was spent, gaining a little over 1100 in his last 3 years of the Raiders. And then, he would return the favor, with Kansas City. Ouch.
Ironically, for the players who left because of Shanahan, none came back, or for that matter, played again. Dokie Williams, who was seen in training camp with the Browns, was cut. Todd Christensen, simply retired. Howie Long lasted until 1993, then hung it up. Some say he could have kept playing, but he was also a smart man, retiring when he did.
So, from the train wreck of 1985, to the 1990 season, Oakland went through 3 head coaches....a major overhaul.
Some choices, you grit your teeth, hope for better times, and you know, sometimes it works.
Other times, you'd like to throw something.
Raider On, faithful.