Oakland Raiders; Diary of a Puppet

[TCrouch]

OK, get your jabs in now. After watching Eli suck and knowing how badly I screwed the pooch with the Giants, I decided to just run one franchise, day and night . I'll play it during the day, then upload it when I go home and continue. This means I should get through a season in record time, lol.

I picked "my" team this time, so here goes. I'm now at preseason game 1, and here's the synopsis:

Draft day 1:

1. Vince Young, QB, Texas
2. Donte Whitner, SS, Ohio State
3. Joseph Addai, HB, LSU

Draft day 2:

4. Joe Klopfenstein, TE, Colorado
5. Joe Toledo, OT, Washington
6. Kai Parham, MLB
7. David Kirtman, FB, USC

QB, MLB, and OT were all owner-mandated draft picks (Parham was the best available MLB by the time I picked, although I've never heard of him).

In training camp, Addai destroyed LaMont Jordan in productivity, busting loose on multiple 70 yard TD gains in full 11-on-11 contact drills. It remains to be seen whether that's a testament to my defense's inability to stop the run, or my offense's amazing talent at rushing the football. Addai always makes the "right" move in practice, breaking a tackle every run.

Vince Young has struggled, getting picked off by Donte Whitner repeatedly. I've calmed him down some as training camp wore on, but he still chucks one up for grabs about every 5 plays or so.

I also moved Derrick Gibson from SS down to LOLB, where his speed could be utilized covering TE's better. Klopfenstein claimed the starter's job early in training camp, and it's off to face preseason opponent #1: The Minnesota Vikings.

[SoMiss2000]

Re: Oakland Raiders; Diary of a Puppet

Parham's pretty good, at least he was in college. I think he went undrafted though. He may have signed with my Boys. I'll have to check. I do remember the name though.

Edit: yep, signed with the Boys as a FA out of Virginia.

[Acid]

Re: Oakland Raiders; Diary of a Puppet

Well, atleast you had some draft picks this time.

This is looking good though, could be a fun offense with Young, Addai, and Moss.

I like the pick of Whitner, with you moving Gibson to OLB.

Good luck.

[SPTO]

Re: Oakland Raiders; Diary of a Puppet

You couldn't handle the NY pressure eh?

Looking pretty good tho it seems Young may be a project at QB there.

[TCrouch]

Re: Oakland Raiders; Diary of a Puppet

Yeah, I cracked LOL

Young's a project, alright. It's going to be a freakshow...

Preseason week 1 is in the books, and here's how it went down:

Raiders 20
Vikings 14

Oakland built a 20-0 lead before Minnesota charged back with back-to-back scores, and driving the length of the field late in the game. Vikings QB Daunte Culpepper drove the team to the 6 yard line as time expired, sealing the first meaningless victory of the season for the Raiders.

Even in victory, however, many chinks showed up in Oakland's armor.

First chink: Vince Young's passing. Hesitant and lost, Young either refused to throw the ball, or severely overthrew his targets for the entire game.

Passing Stats:

Vince Young, OAK: 4 completions, 12 attempts, 39 yards, 0 TD's, 2 INT, 3.8 rating
Daunte Culpepper, MIN: 17 completions, 37 attempts, 185 yards, 1 TD, 5 INT, 30.6 rating.

Neither QB lit it up, but Culpepper had the better productivity and moved the offense (usually before turning it over).

On the ground, Joseph Addai started out red-hot before the defense started clamping down on the running game. He had 48 yards in the half, and was completely stymied in the second half as Minnesota dared Young to beat them with his arm. He couldn't leading to Minnesota's almost-comeback. Moe Williams did break off a long TD run in the game that was the big highlight reel play of the game. Vince Young was the biggest rushing threat in the game, repeatedly converting the critical plays with his legs and refusing to put the ball in the air.

Rushing Stats:

Joseph Addai, OAK: 18 carries, 58 yards, 1 TD
Vince Young, OAK: 12 carries, 74 yards, 1 TD

Moe Williams, MIN: 13 carries, 97 yards, 1 TD
Daunte Culpepper, MIN: 5 carries, 41 yards, 0 TD
Michael Bennett, MIN: 2 carries, 11 yards, 0 TD

Oakland's receivers in the game were largely ignored. Young wouldn't even look their way very often, and appeared bewildered. Culpepper, meanwhile, struck time and time again to Troy Williamson.

Receiving Stats:

Jerry Porter, OAK: 2 rec, 25 yards, 0 TD
Teyo Johnson, OAK: 1 rec, 10 yards, 0 TD
Courtney Anderson, OAK: 1 rec, 4 yards, 0 TD

Troy Williamson, MIN: 6 rec, 93 yards, 1 TD
Miwelde Moore, MIN: 2 rec, 22 yards, 0 TD
Nate Burleson, MIN: 2 rec, 21 yards, 0 TD
J. Kleinsasser, MIN: 1 rec, 18 yards, 0 TD

Defensively, the Raiders came to play...at least in the first half. Warren Sapp broke through the Vikings line like a hot knife through butter, racking up four sacks and 6 tackles. 2nd round draft choice Donte Whitner had an amazing debut, intercepting 3 Culpepper passes and recording 6 tackles as well. Danny Clark, Kirk Morrison, Dexter Jackson, and Charles Woodson all had 5 tackles.

The biggest bright spots of the first game were the play of Donte Whitner and OG Brad Badger (12 pancakes). Joseph Addai's running was electrifying until the Vikings were able to put 11 in the box and still not get challenged through the air, shutting down the run completely.

Next week it's the 49ers in a game in which I hope will include more passing.

[TCrouch]

Re: Oakland Raiders; Diary of a Puppet

I've already got a minor mutiny on my hands. I lost trust across the board; QB's coach, WR's coach, RB coach, DL, and OC. I tried smoothing the situation over, but they all were pretty upset with my gameplan.

Here's hoping it doesn't get worse before I ever even play a meaningful game...

[Beantown]

Re: Oakland Raiders; Diary of a Puppet

Man...you as a head coach just isn't working out, huh?

First you give away your 1st and 3rd round picks for a slot reciever...and now your entire coaching staff hates you?

[SPTO]

Re: Oakland Raiders; Diary of a Puppet

I've already got a minor mutiny on my hands. I lost trust across the board; QB's coach, WR's coach, RB coach, DL, and OC. I tried smoothing the situation over, but they all were pretty upset with my gameplan.

Here's hoping it doesn't get worse before I ever even play a meaningful game...

Oh man! Are you trying to be Parcells without the reputation?

EDIT: BTW who's your backup QB? Maybe you should try to get a solid vet in case Young falters.

[TCrouch]

Re: Oakland Raiders; Diary of a Puppet

Oh man! Are you trying to be Parcells without the reputation?

EDIT: BTW who's your backup QB? Maybe you should try to get a solid vet in case Young falters.

Andrew Walter, who I love in real life, but in the game he's crap. I've invested the 7th overall in Young...it'll take a lot for me to pull him.

Off to get whipped by the Niners now. I've taken Young aside and told him to step up, don't run, throw the ball, etc. Delivering it quickly and forcing it if necessary will probably prove disastrous, but who knows...

[TCrouch]

Re: Oakland Raiders; Diary of a Puppet

AMAZING what a little coaching and micromanagement does.

It's only halftime against the 49ers, but I've told Vince to get rid of it quickly, force it if he needs to, step up in the pocket, use some touch on the ball, and DO NOT RUN!!!! His halftime stat line:

85.2 rating, 10 of 19, 179 yards.
6 carries, 30 yards (4 for first downs).

Oakland leads 24-6 at the half, in no small part to Young's play.

[Beantown]

Re: Oakland Raiders; Diary of a Puppet

Finally a good coaching decision by Mr. Crouch

[TCrouch]

Re: Oakland Raiders; Diary of a Puppet

Finally a good coaching decision by Mr. Crouch

Miracles DO happen!

[Beantown]

Re: Oakland Raiders; Diary of a Puppet

Nothing like simplifying the offense to help Young out.

"Drop back..look..pass to the first open guy you see..GO!"

(And yes, this is coming from a Longhorn/Young fan, lol0

[TCrouch]

Re: Oakland Raiders; Diary of a Puppet

Nothing like simplifying the offense to help Young out.

"Drop back..look..pass to the first open guy you see..GO!"

(And yes, this is coming from a Longhorn/Young fan, lol0

You know what's funny? That's exactly what I did, thinking back to that 1-read offense I kept hearing about.

I'll call a play and give him his primary receiver, and I've told him to focus on the #1 receiver all game long. It's worked, so far...

[Beantown]

Re: Oakland Raiders; Diary of a Puppet

Hey...at least the game is realistic.