Post by TheShadow on Dec 13, 2003 22:08:11 GMT -5
www.bayarea.com
ERIC GILMORE: TIMES COLUMNIST
Consider this the wake-me-when-it's-over calm in the land of silver and black.
But make no mistake, a huge storm is headed the Raiders' way. It should arrive the moment the Raiders' season from hell ends at San Diego in 15 days and their must-see offseason begins.
"It's definitely time for some things to change around here to get on a more positive note and get back to winning," Raiders safety Anthony Dorsett said.
"Hopefully the organization will get on the right track and it won't take a long time."
Heads are going to roll. No, we're not talking about Tony Soprano or bowling ball bags. But plenty of coaches and players are going to pay with their jobs for the mistakes they've made during this 3-10 disaster. That's the NFL way.
Will coach Bill Callahan survive? Only Al Davis can answer that question, and he's not talking, at least not publicly.
So all we can do is look at Davis' history for clues. Since 1988, Davis has hired six coaches. He fired four of them: Mike Shanahan, Art Shell, Mike White and Joe Bugel. Bugel lasted 16 games, Shanahan 20 and White 32.
Shell was fired despite posting a 56-41 record and making three playoff trips in five-plus seasons. In other words, Davis is to patience what Sam Adams is to tofu.
Callahan should hope for a miracle but also have his resume printed and suitcase packed.
The Raiders still have three games to play in their dismal season. Three games that promise to be as compelling as a Tigers-Orioles doubleheader in late August.
When the Raiders' season ends, the drama will begin. The ax could fall quickly on Callahan -- White was fired on Christmas Eve -- signaling the start of yet another Raiders search for a coach, with the usual intrigue.
Who knows? Maybe Davis will give Shell another chance to coach his team. Stranger things have happened. Or did you miss Warren Sapp's touchdown celebration dance?
Whether Callahan survives or not, the 2004 NFL draft will offer the Raiders and their fans plenty of offseason entertainment.
In the NFL, worst drafts first. At 3-10, the Raiders are in a four-way tie with San Diego, Atlanta and Arizona for the league's worst record.
Don't bet against the Raiders in this race for the No. 1 draft pick. They'll need more than a few miracles to beat either the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday or the Green Bay Packers the following week in a Monday night game -- both at the Network Associates Coliseum.
The Raiders finish against San Diego on the road, where they're 0-7. By then, it's a good bet the Raiders will be thinking more about making vacation plans than stopping LaDainian Tomlinson.
Can you say Mel Kiper Jr., 24-seven? It will be that type of offseason for the Raiders, a draftnik's paradise.
Drafting in the top five and maybe even No. 1 certainly will help the Raiders fix what's wrong.
One of the team's biggest question marks is at quarterback, where Rich Gannon is recovering from season-ending shoulder surgery.
Kiper projects Mississippi quarterback Eli Manning -- son of Archie, brother or Peyton -- as the No. 1 pick. Talk about your quick fixes.
Of course, the Raiders have more than a few holes on their roster now and will have even more once their offseason purge ends.
They have to get younger and faster at wide receiver, where Jerry Rice and Tim Brown are running on fumes.
Texas wide receiver Roy Williams -- No. 2 on Kiper's list -- would be a nice fit.
The Raiders offensive line needs a makeover. It's hard to imagine right tackle Lincoln Kennedy returning for another season after enduring so much pain this year.
Knee surgery will end guard Mo Collins' season. Center Barret Robbins is hobbling on a bad knee, too. Guard Frank Middleton lost his starting job to Brad Badger before Collins' injury forced him back into the lineup.
Then there's the defense and more problems.
The Raiders have only 18 sacks -- 111/2 by linemen -- fewer than all but two other teams. The defense ranks 31st against the run.
The Raiders desperately need a wide body to stop the run and an outside pass-rusher to sack the quarterback.
Ohio State defensive end Will Smith is fourth on Kiper's list.
Then there's the question of what to do with cornerback Charles Woodson, who's headed for free agency.
Will the Raiders make him their franchise player or make him an offer he can't refuse? Or will they say goodbye to a player who publicly skewered Callahan?
The answers will come after the offseason storm arrives.
ERIC GILMORE: TIMES COLUMNIST
Consider this the wake-me-when-it's-over calm in the land of silver and black.
But make no mistake, a huge storm is headed the Raiders' way. It should arrive the moment the Raiders' season from hell ends at San Diego in 15 days and their must-see offseason begins.
"It's definitely time for some things to change around here to get on a more positive note and get back to winning," Raiders safety Anthony Dorsett said.
"Hopefully the organization will get on the right track and it won't take a long time."
Heads are going to roll. No, we're not talking about Tony Soprano or bowling ball bags. But plenty of coaches and players are going to pay with their jobs for the mistakes they've made during this 3-10 disaster. That's the NFL way.
Will coach Bill Callahan survive? Only Al Davis can answer that question, and he's not talking, at least not publicly.
So all we can do is look at Davis' history for clues. Since 1988, Davis has hired six coaches. He fired four of them: Mike Shanahan, Art Shell, Mike White and Joe Bugel. Bugel lasted 16 games, Shanahan 20 and White 32.
Shell was fired despite posting a 56-41 record and making three playoff trips in five-plus seasons. In other words, Davis is to patience what Sam Adams is to tofu.
Callahan should hope for a miracle but also have his resume printed and suitcase packed.
The Raiders still have three games to play in their dismal season. Three games that promise to be as compelling as a Tigers-Orioles doubleheader in late August.
When the Raiders' season ends, the drama will begin. The ax could fall quickly on Callahan -- White was fired on Christmas Eve -- signaling the start of yet another Raiders search for a coach, with the usual intrigue.
Who knows? Maybe Davis will give Shell another chance to coach his team. Stranger things have happened. Or did you miss Warren Sapp's touchdown celebration dance?
Whether Callahan survives or not, the 2004 NFL draft will offer the Raiders and their fans plenty of offseason entertainment.
In the NFL, worst drafts first. At 3-10, the Raiders are in a four-way tie with San Diego, Atlanta and Arizona for the league's worst record.
Don't bet against the Raiders in this race for the No. 1 draft pick. They'll need more than a few miracles to beat either the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday or the Green Bay Packers the following week in a Monday night game -- both at the Network Associates Coliseum.
The Raiders finish against San Diego on the road, where they're 0-7. By then, it's a good bet the Raiders will be thinking more about making vacation plans than stopping LaDainian Tomlinson.
Can you say Mel Kiper Jr., 24-seven? It will be that type of offseason for the Raiders, a draftnik's paradise.
Drafting in the top five and maybe even No. 1 certainly will help the Raiders fix what's wrong.
One of the team's biggest question marks is at quarterback, where Rich Gannon is recovering from season-ending shoulder surgery.
Kiper projects Mississippi quarterback Eli Manning -- son of Archie, brother or Peyton -- as the No. 1 pick. Talk about your quick fixes.
Of course, the Raiders have more than a few holes on their roster now and will have even more once their offseason purge ends.
They have to get younger and faster at wide receiver, where Jerry Rice and Tim Brown are running on fumes.
Texas wide receiver Roy Williams -- No. 2 on Kiper's list -- would be a nice fit.
The Raiders offensive line needs a makeover. It's hard to imagine right tackle Lincoln Kennedy returning for another season after enduring so much pain this year.
Knee surgery will end guard Mo Collins' season. Center Barret Robbins is hobbling on a bad knee, too. Guard Frank Middleton lost his starting job to Brad Badger before Collins' injury forced him back into the lineup.
Then there's the defense and more problems.
The Raiders have only 18 sacks -- 111/2 by linemen -- fewer than all but two other teams. The defense ranks 31st against the run.
The Raiders desperately need a wide body to stop the run and an outside pass-rusher to sack the quarterback.
Ohio State defensive end Will Smith is fourth on Kiper's list.
Then there's the question of what to do with cornerback Charles Woodson, who's headed for free agency.
Will the Raiders make him their franchise player or make him an offer he can't refuse? Or will they say goodbye to a player who publicly skewered Callahan?
The answers will come after the offseason storm arrives.