Raiders looking for a Glimmer of Anything this Sunday

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When I wrote the pre-season preview for the Raiders this season, I honestly thought that they would be better than what they have shown this year. Maybe it was the intoxicating way that the other Oakland team, the A’s, were playing that lead me to believe that the Raiders would be able to share some of that magic at the Coliseum this season. Or maybe it was just me being a little overly optimistic and really buying into everything that I was hearing about Dennis Allen and how he was bringing  in a different attitude or how he supposedly “looked” like a coach that could possibly be the face of the new look Raiders sans Al Davis.

(AP Photo/Ben Margot)

The problem is for all the talk of “Getting Back to Work” and “All I know how to do is get back to Work” is falling on deaf ears for a lot of Raiders fans. Especially in the face of a 3-10 record heading into Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs, you have many Raiders fans questioning whether or not they want the team to win because if they do, it pushes them further away from the possibility of a high draft pick. At this point in the season, as a fan, I don’t even know what I want anymore from this years incarnation of the Raiders.

So here are 3 things that I would like to see the Raiders do on Sunday against the Chiefs:

1.) How about rushing for more than 100 yards?!!

(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

So the Raiders haven’t been able to run for more then a 100 yds since week 11 and that was against the worst run defense in the NFL. The Zone Blocking System is a whole other issue along with Greg Knapp and his inability to keep the running game intact while attempting to elevate the passing game. Also not to Greg Knapp, no need for some of the extra arse kissing during the Raiders latest press conference.

To have the personnel changes with the players and off the field issues with some players. That is a lot for a coach to handle and he’s handled it Beautifully.

We get it Knapp, you want to keep your job. So how about just focus on getting the rushing game and offense going instead of  worrying about how beautifully coach Allen is handling player issues.

2.) Can the Defense please stand up and be out at the game because I would like to see them there.

(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Look, I get it the Raiders were able to stop Peyton Manning from scoring to much while in the Red Zone last Thrusday. But that still doesn’t dismiss the fact that the Defense is ranked 30th overall, 28th in Pass Defense, 26th in Rush defense, and first in “I hope my Fantasy Running Back is playing the Raiders today” rankings. I get that there are injuries and I even get that whole “There is a new coaching staff and new defensive scheme” but when teams look forward to playing your defense that is not a good thing. So I expect the Raiders to hold the lowly Kansas City Chiefs to 13 points or less in today’s game.

3.) Finally, if both 1 and 2 don’t pan out today at the Colliseum, ALL ABOARD THE TANK EXPRESS!!!

Sure some Raiders fans don’t want to hear that but in my eyes the only way to salvage the season would be to go all in on Tanking. If you really look at the situation this year, what sounds better winning the next 2 out of 3 games of the season and dropping down to the 5th or 7th pick. Or have Dennis Allen recognize that what this team needs is talent and the easiest way to get top tier talent is to be in the top 3-4 of the draft. Especially this year when there can possibly be a couple of franchise changing defensive players in the draft like Star Lotulelei from Utah, Jarvis Jones from Georgia, Manti Te’o from Notre Dame, etc… He already has a 3 year contract and McKenzie doesn’t seem like he is going to pull the rip chord on the Raiders head coach just yet so why not make a boss move and tank in order to make sure that he has more talent to work with next year.

So whatever happens after today’s game versus Kansas City, the Raiders and Dennis Allen should really take a look in the mirror and just repeat to themselves, “TANK EXPRESS, TANK EXPRESS, TANK EXPRESS” and have that mantra round out the rest of this Whoa Be-Gone season. In order to not end up like Wile E. Coyote and chasing the AFC West via bad ideas and horribly thought out plans. Please let’s stop being Wile W. Coyote and be the Road Runner!