Amy Trask's Departure, New Raiders Stadium Intrigue and Mark Davis Being Consistently Inconsistent

I don't get Mark Davis. On one hand, I respect him for being humble when he said "I know what I don't know" during his first foray with the media after his father passed away.  However, now, he is saying “In my lifetime, we’ve had three successful seasons. That’s the absolute truth. That’s the way I live my life. That’s the way we live our lives. What we’re trying to build is a team that is going to go after Super Bowls. It can’t just be a one-shot deal.”

Ok, so if Mark lives his life according to the same win at all costs philosophy as Al did, then why wasn't he more involved in football decisions his whole life?  The latter statement sounds like Mark's attempt to convince himself and others he is a chip off the old block but the reality is pretty obvious. Mark is nothing like his father in any way shape or form.

It's no secret Al controlled all decision making with everything Raiders during his lengthy reign but he did solicit input from other people. If Al bequeathed the franchise to his only son, it would stand to reason there must have been some sort of knowledge transfer long before Al passed away. BUT that does not seem to have ever happened. Based on what we are seeing thus far from Mark, at least not in the volume enough for Mark to hit the ground running when he took over.  Very few people outside the franchise were even aware Mark even existed prior to Al's death except a handful of Raiders boosters who participated in golf events where Mark was present (Mark likes to golf).

Mark seems to want to honor certain principles his dad maintained as sacred.  The uniform and logo of course remain unwaveringly unchanged. Nike rolled out it's 2013 uniforms and equipment to all teams with options to incorporate  new technology to help player performance.  I can't imagine why Mark would not want his players wearing uniforms that offered superior fit and flexibility.  Yet, not even colorblocking jerseys and moisture wicking pants was approved.  Not even something as simple as tapered collar was acceptable. The Raiders identity must remain as static as Al was colorblind (which he was).

Uniforms aside, we have the sudden departure of longtime Al Davis crony, Amy Trask, who acted as the friendly face of the franchise since Al was unable to do that.  Insiders hint that Trask and Mark Davis did not see eye to eye on many issues. My guess would be Trask's resignation may have to do with the lack of progress with finding a new stadium solution.  The quick recap of that situation is here,  Roger Goodell put on a good show for the Oakland hopeful but what it amounts to is simply leaving the prospect of a new stadium up to the city of Oakland and the Alameda County Joint Powers Authority to pony up a significant part of the cost.  That would never happen. Oakland is not far behind Detroit and other decaying urban cities in deep financial trouble.

In Al's day, it was a lot easier to build a stadium. Al held the key to the city and in the 1960's the Oakland Coliseum was not a bad design. To demolish it and rebuild it now is something beyond modern economics can do. Not even the most daring of real estate developers would tread on that dump.  Amy Trask's idea of a super mall in that location was nothing short of ludicrous.

The Raiders do not have have anywhere near the same type of community support as the 49ers who were able to negotiate with a bay area city for a new stadium sharing the costs.

Nobody wants the Raiders as tenants as evidenced by their being unable to find a new home locally.  Trask may have been "the fall guy" for this since Mark's efforts also failed and he can't fire himself obviously.

If a new stadium gets built in LA it could still potentially go to the Raiders but it is a longshot. The Vikings fixed their stadium problem with swanky new digs on tap.  Though, due to proximity, unless San Diego can get a new stadium in SD, they seem a logical bet to move to LA.  If not, St. Louis seems the next logical choice because they have a much more favorable history with the NFL than do the Raiders.  I'm not even sure Oakland would get the nod over Jacksonville if it came down to it.

What it all means is now Mark needs to pull a rabbit out of his hair - I mean hat, I mean...well, you get the idea.

Comparing the Chiefs and Raiders Rebuilding Processes

I can’t say I followed Andy Reid’s career closely over the years but I have wondered how he held onto such a difficult job in Philadelphia for so long.  He has got to have nerves of steel to cope with that nutty fan base. Philly is a city so sports low on patience they once booed Mike Schmidt. How can anyone boo Mike Schmidt?

Thankfully, he probably won't need as thick a skin in KC as he needed in Philly. I think Reid is just what the Kansas City Chiefs need as head coach and architect to re-invigorate the franchise.  It remains to be seen how the Chiefs do on the field but in terms of infrastructure, I really like all of his hires. Reid has made calculated coaching hires and personnel decisions that fit together pretty well. I especially applaud his hiring of Chris Ault as offensive consultant. Not that Chris Ault is a mastermind but he is an innovator with an accomplished track record. The Chiefs will now benefit from his experience.

Now, consider that this has all taken place over just a few months time, coming off a season where they were the worst team in the NFL.  How would you compare the way the Chiefs have rebuilt in less time than the Raiders are in the process of doing?

I completely understand the Raiders salary cap constraints which have been talked to death by now.  I completely understand the mess Al Davis bequeathed his non-football-knowledgeable son Mark. I completely understand Reggie McKenzie being a rookie General Manager and his rookie hire of rookie head coach Dennis Allen who continues to make very rookie-like mistakes.

I understand at this point the Raider Nation has no choice but to give Dennis Allen time to grow into the role. That is what his boss, Reggie McKenzie, is doing and that is what team owner Mark Davis has stated the plan of action is for the foreseeable future.

But the NFL is a win now league. So if I was in Dennis Allen's shoes, I would be looking for a home run hire to score points.  I'd look for someone to add to the coaching brain trust who can help shape the focus of where we want to go in as short a time span as possible. Surely DA knows he can't do it alone or rely on his mentor and good friend John Fox with the rival Denver Broncos. Does anyone else find it ironic how the Broncos and Raiders are not bitter enemies so long as those two guys are head coaches of those teams?

Yet, DA's reliance on his own network failed him with the hire of Greg Knapp to run the offense in year 1 of his reign.  Now, a reliance outside his network seems to point in the same direction for year 2.

I do not agree with the hiring of Greg Olson as offensive coordinator.  Why?  Because Olson has held that role before in the NFL and has not stood out as a difference maker.  You need guys with the kind of experience who can turn a weak program into a competitive program quickly, not mediocrity.  You need guys who have seen it before and know what to do. I am tired of Dennis Allen’s “we’ve got to get better” statements.  Oh really?

A previous post of mine tosses out a few ideas. Maybe these guys are not a good fit or maybe too high priced, who knows.

Terry Shea is a proven asset to coach QBs. Jim Tressel is a bona fide winner. Jeff Tedford is still available. These guys would help solidify the direction of the offense. Instead, Dennis Allen went with just another guy named Greg.

Apparently they feel the Mad Chemist, Jason Tarver, is all they need as a defensive brain trust.  I will leave that one be for now.

The Chiefs are on track to go from league worst to the middle of the pack. The Raiders just seemed to have re-tooled their roster with different names with different salaries along with a few minor coaching changes. It is wait and see of course but where do you honestly think the Raiders and Chiefs will end up in the standings in 2013?

The Old Raiders Mystique Really Is Dead

...and it may not be a bad thing,.  We just don't know what the new Raiders mystique is yet or even if the franchise will have a mystique at all.

The Mark Davis/Reggie McKenzie/Joey Clinkscales/Dennis Allen era of Raiders football is upon us in full swing. Maybe what we are seeing now is how hard it is to rebuild an NFL roster from scratch over a year's time.  The Oakland Raiders have all the earmarks of an expansion franchise - a rookie owner; a rookie GM; a rookie Director of Player Personnel, a rookie Head Coach.  Even though those guys have been on the job for over a year and have plenty of NFL experience in other capacities, it's still a rookie brain trust.

With Al Davis, we knew what we were getting when it came to his player personnel decisions.  There were some gray areas but it usually came down to physical measurables and a belief that the players Al chose to wear the silver & black would embrace the Raiders mystique and wear the uniform with pride. In Al's belief system, this pride would carry over to success on the field.  Al rewarded who he chose to reward based on this singular logic.

Times certainly passed Al by in more ways than we can count.  Players, especially younger players who may not even have been born when the Raiders were a feared team in the NFL, did not really care about Al's image of what the Raiders are and should be. Sure, any diehard Raiders fan can play up the legacy angle, maybe even as well as Al can pitch it.  Young players can be awestruck for a few minutes when they see the trophy case and portraits of hall of famers lining the walls at HQ.  BUT, it is debatable if players really care what NFL team they are playing for so long as they get paid. It just so happens they ended up with the Raiders so they made the most of it.  It's a fact.  Pro sports is all about money, not team pride.

I don't think the Raiders mystique exists anymore and it hasn't for a long time.  The nail went into the coffin long before Al passed away. The day the old Raiders really died was Super Bowl XXXVII.  John Gruden, the man who helped revitalize the Raiders mystique, was the same guy who crushed it. It is time to realize and accept the old Raiders are never coming back. Mark Davis doesn't want a bully.  Reggie and Dennis Allen surely don't want a penalty-laden team either. The new players representing the silver and black are all about trying to build a career in pro football, not restore greatness.  End of story.

Welcome to the new reality of Raiders football.  Players change allegiances quickly as we all do when we decide to change jobs.

So the housecleaning led by Team Reggie is not a surprise but what is unclear is what kind of team now exists on the field. There are lots of players with experience but what does it all amount to when they all come together?

I'm not so sure they have upgraded personnel since 2012. It just seems like different personnel with better depth. So few of the current roster players have distinguished themselves other than at collegiate programs. New draft pick Sio Moore talks tough but looks a step slow in the clips I have seen. That's my youtube analysis anyway. Like every other rookie, he has to show he can play the faster pace of the pro game.

Veteran Tracy Porter has the best highlight reel of any defender on the roster but then again, so did Gibril Wilson when he came over after a solid performance for the Giants in one of their Super Bowl runs.  New QB Matt Flynn is not a face of the franchise.  He has had one good game as a pro.  Ok, one great game but it was at the end of the season against Detroit.

I still don't have confidence in Dennis Allen. Reggie should have hired a head coach with better connections to build the type of staff that can work with an expansion/start-up roster.  I think DA will give us 4 years of below 8 wins a season.  In fact I think if he does get us 8 wins in a season it will be his peak.  It's a tough job and he's not the right man to do it.

How many of these players will be around by the time DA is fired and maybe Reggie as well? Probably none since they will keep turning over the roster.  That is the new reality of Raiders football.  Keep bringing in guys from Houston or Wyoming or wherever you can scrape them from until you find guys that "fit the system."

On the brighter side, all teams are in the same boat.  The NFL is all about parity now and finding the handful of stars to form your team identity (think Ray Lewis, Peyton Manning, Larry Fitzgerald, Aaron Rodgers, etc).  Until someone claims that role on the field for the Raiders, this group does not have an identity.

A Quick Snapshot of Raiders Offseason Moves

I really like the transition away from Carson Palmer to Matt Flynn at QB.  I didn’t get the impression Palmer really wanted to be in Oakland.  His attitude reminded me of a zombie corporate guy going to work with no emotion.

The bottom line is Flynn will get his shot in Oakland.  How that plays out is all speculation right now.  Flynn does give the Raiders a better pocket presence than Terrelle Pryor.  If the Raiders planned to run a read-option offense then Pryor would be the best fit and they would have brought in a similar type of talent to compete but that is not the case.

Flynn has lived a charmed life thus far in the NFL.  He has not been called upon to do too much yet has been paid very well.  In limited action he has shown good ability.  I don’t think we should read too much into Flynn getting beat out by Russell Wilson in Seattle.  Wilson is a great talent.  If Seattle or any NFL team knew how well Wilson would be able to handle the rigors of running an NFL offense as a rookie, Flynn would still be Aaron Rodgers’ backup in Green Bay.

By the time the draft rolls around and there are more free agent signings, there should be a good workhorse contingent ready to compete in the backfield for depth.

Right now we are young with talent at receiver.  Hopefully there is a gamebreaker in Juron Criner to go along with Rod Streater and Denarius Moore and we find a tight end.

I am a more concerned at this point how the defense will hold up.  Rebuilding a defense is not easy but GM Reggie McKenzie is doing the needful in bringing in (hopefully) healthy bodies to fill some gaps.

We have three free agent linebackers added to the roster with the expectation that all will win starting jobs.  Last year McKenzie hit a home run by adding free agent linebacker Phillip Wheeler.  No one, myself included, expected Wheeler to be such a beast.  His loss this year will truly be felt.  If McKenzie has the same mojo with Kaluka Maiava,  Nick Roach and Kevin Burnett then that would really go a long way to finally turning the corner on D.  It remains to be seen where 2012 weak side starter Miles Burris fits into that picture.

It is obvious Nick Roach will supplant Rolando McClain in the middle.  That is of course unless they utilize a 4-3 set in which case Roach will occupy an inside slot.  Roach is exactly what the defense needs. You need smart, tactical guys in the inside.  

Maiava is lauded as one the finest football talents to ever come out of the State of Hawaii.  He is a solid LB and should outright win the strongside role.  He signed for 3 years at 6 mil overall.  That includes a signing bonus of $2 million,.  They must have high confidence in him.

Also added were free agent defensive linemen Jason Hunter and Pat Sims. Base salaries are 1 million for DT Pat Sims, $715,000 for Hunter.  A pretty good bargain to fill some much needed real estate on the line to partner with Lamarr Houston.

Big question mark at punter with Shane Lechler gone, Marquette King must step up.  Thus far he has been less than impressive along with injury slowing him down.  King has to come through.

Will Dennis Allen's Culture Change Work for the Raiders?

I found recent comments by Dennis Allen regarding his intent to change the culture of the Oakland Raiders to be curious.  As we know, the culture under Al Davis lent itself to players having a sense of entitlement, especially the well-paid players.  After you had a conversation with Al Davis you knew where you stood in the organization. You didn't feel accountable to the head coach or other coaching staff as much as you did to Al.

Though, the problem with Al's methods is it leaves it wide open how players choose to professionalize themselves (if at all). When players make the jump from college there is not only financial considerations to factor in with young talent but maturity and work ethic.  Players have to grow up fast and that is easier said than done.  Many players choose not to grow up at all.  This problem is throughout pro sports but with the Raiders it was especially damaging.

A few years ago, former 49ers Tight End Brent Jones put together a group of investors (which also included Steve Young) and approached Al with the idea of buying the franchise. Surprisingly, Al listened to the pitch but not surprisingly, decided to decline the offer.  Jones was upset at being rebuffed and spoke out publicly what he would have done with the franchise had the offer been accepted.  Jones wanted to immediately change the culture.  What he (and many others) saw in the Raiders was a complete lack of infrastructure to support player development.  Sure, you have the weight room and physical therapy available but a professional organization requires professional people.  The Raiders had none of it.

(credit to Jerry McDonald for capturing the KNBR transcript)

Jones said:

“I don’t want to take away my respect for Al Davis, because he was one of the brightest guys in this league and certainly had been spectacular up through the 70s and early 80s. But to be able to hold on to absolute power, what happens is it eventually corrupts, and you can’t get smart people, you can’t get bright people.

“You don’t give anybody the ability to make decisions, and it’s just shocking how just drastically depleted the scouting, front office, the organization, I mean, it’s just, I feel the worst for young players who come to play, because they think they’re coming to the National Football League and they’re going to Oakland Junior College.”

Ouch.

There is no finer recent example than Rolando McClain for how this epidemic played out. When he was drafted by Al, McClain did and said all the right things. Coming off a National Championship at Alabama, the first thing he did was ask to see the Raiders playbook. Though McClain usually brushed off the media (and fans, often refusing to sign autographs) and was edgy whenever he did interview, the coaches continued to praise his work ethic.  There was no question McClain studied film and prepared himself to play.

Unfortunately, McClain did not fall in step with the coaching in Oakland and this led to his demise. LB coaches Mike Haluchak and then Johnny Holland could not get the most out of him. You could see the slide in his play.  He started off with potential but never developed to the level the Raiders needed.  As a pro, McClain's star fell and his off the field behavior speaks for itself.  You could tell he was and still is tuned out.  I would bet not even the veterans in the locker room or team chaplain could reach him to help guide the kid.

Whether it was the big money contract making him feel invincible or the immaturity or whatever happened to Rolando McClain, it is not an isolated incident. At the pro level, players are expected to take responsibility for themselves but you need a support system within the team structure.  That has to be there.  These players need to feel motivated and committed to performing up to their contract. Otherwise, they crash and burn quick.

Maybe Dennis Allen's culture change is religious in tone. That is just my guess and there would be nothing wrong with that.  Religion in football is very common.  It probably would have helped McClain and many other washouts to have more of a chance to succeed at the pro level if they bought into that type of team environment.  That is a big IF though.  A player has to want to be part of the structure to give himself a chance.

So if DA's culture change plans pan out (whatever those plans might be) then hopefully this blight of having our draft picks wash out will stop and the team can rebuild.

If that happens then I would not mind DA being a boring head coach.  At least we would see tangible change for the better.

Why the Raiders Need Vince Young

It's really simple.  Carson Palmer is a medical disaster. Remember what finished him off last season - a savage sack that damaged not just his rib cage but a lung.  Think of the many other injuries Palmer has suffered throughout his career.  He is a warrior, probably on the same scale as Favre, but he does not have the same track record of clutch plays as Favre. Palmer has limited mobility at this point in his career.  He has the ability to throw for yards but all it will accomplish is him finishing out his monstrous contract. He's not going to lead the team to the playoffs.  He's just a physically degenerating NFL QB.

Terrelle Pryor does not seem to have impressed Dennis Allen or Reggie McKenzie thus far.  He too, is just finishing out his contract. What I find really odd is Pryor hiring QB consultants on his own to help him develop and get ready for training camp.  To me it's a statement Pryor has not been given the level of professional training needed for him to succeed as part of the team.  The Raiders have been deficient for many years in developing their QB talent.  Some guys deserved to wash out (like JaMeatloaf) but other guys could have developed into something better and didn't (such as Andrew Walter) and now possibly Terrelle Pryor (unless he makes a big splash in camp).

Even without Al pulling the strings, the Raiders are still in the pattern of plugging in the big, strong armed guy (like a Kerry Collins, Jason Campbell, Carson Palmer, Marc Wilson, Jay Schroeder, etc.). There is always a place in the NFL for the big arm guy but the intangibles of the game right now are better served by a QB that can improvise.  Terrelle Pryor has that potential but we don't know where he will end up as far as playing time

The fact is when a mobile QB is utilized, you have more options. When he was on his game in his prime, Ken Stabler set the standard for this in his era. That is what I think of when I think of Raiders football.  I don't think of Plunkett's wobbly passes.  I think of Stabler and how he got his nickname "Snake".  That's how he ran through defenses and avoided sacks.

I am thinking right now, Vince Young is a good solution.  I also think if Young's head is screwed on right, he can be a mentor to Pryor.  The problem as I see it as I don't think either Young or Pryor is a Dennis Allen kind of guy, whatever that may be.  To me, DA is extremely generic, kind of like cardboard. I just haven't seen or heard anything from him in the way of actual analysis or proposed strategy.  He bullshits us with attempts at coachspeak but it is flat and just horribly contrived statements of nothingness.  At least Reggie McKenzie says something tangible.

I'm curious how much different DA will be in year 2 as head coach.  I don't see guys like Vince Young or Terrelle Pryor able to fit into that cardboard world of DA as well as a guy like Carson Palmer who is adept at being cardboard himself.  Cardboard relates to cardboard very well.  Hey, if I was making 10 million or 12 million for my efforts, you bet I could be cardboard too if need be.  This is where Carson Palmer has us all beat.

Real change is not around the corner BUT... I will consider buying season tickets again for the first time in a few years IF Vince Young is brought on and wins the starting job.

The Raiders Long Range Plan is Moving in Slow Motion

If recent speculation is true the Raiders are bringing in Vince Young for a workout, I am all for it.  Vince has made his share of mistakes on and off the field but like anyone, he deserves another chance.  Why not?  It's obvious by now, the current regime is not liking everything they have seen from Terrelle Pryor and have given up on him.  Pryor is seen as an Al pick and therefore, will serve out his contract and be released as weill Carson Palmer on whatever timetable.  Vince Young just might have learned his lesson and the guy can play.  Remember, he was a pro bowler in 2007.

Then again, Carson Palmer has made the Pro Bowl a few times as well.

A recent published interview with Hue Jackson revealed that before Al Davis expired, he offered Hue the General Manager position. There is no reason to doubt Hue on this. It explains why he stated in a press conference (when he was still the Raiders' head coach) he intended to have more influence in personnel decisions and why he was the point man for the Carson Palmer trade.

Had Hue taken the GM job it would have been far more disastrous for the team. Hue is a capable coach but does not seem suited to take financial responsibility for a franchise.

Fortunately, Hue passed on taking the GM job but unfortunately, lost his head coaching job as a result. His one act while in the capacity of pseudo-GM did not pan out. As we all know, the Palmer trade has not paid off a return on investment. The only upside is having a veteran QB capable of running an NFL offense.

Now with Reggie McKenzie running things upstairs, with all of the other cap moves and not re-signing all of their of free agents, what we are looking at is a complete rebuilding effort. Realistically, you can't do that in a single season or even two.  It happens over the span of at least 3-4 years. This is likely what Reggie had in mind all along and probably why his contract as well as Dennis Allen's runs for 4 years.

It also seems reasonable Reggie and Dennis expect this as part of their long range plan.  It does not make anyone happy but with other teams in the division on the upswing (including the Chiefs who were the worst team in the NFL last season), it's just going to keep getting tougher to come by wins.

What this amounts to is a lot of opportunities for rookies and free agents to win jobs.  This could be a good thing.  The bad news is you need an entire team of them to overachieve at an NFL level week in and week out.

The Raiders are looking at another 4-11 or 5-12 season in 2013.

You have to wonder if Mark Davis will think long and hard about the big picture. Thus far he has struggled to make a decisive decision one way or the other. I get the sense he will go with a status quo.  He has not (yet) pulled the trigger on hiring an executive for Reggie to report to and add the extra balance in weighing the tough football decisions.  Though he interviewed some well known candidates for that job.  Maybe that hire is forthcoming after the draft.  As it stands now, it sure looks like Mark is taking some time growing into the big chair, unfortunately, just as Mike Silver predicted he would.

The Carson Palmer Dilemma

The reason Carson Palmer is a member of the Oakland Raiders at this time is because he was fed up with losing in Cincinnati so he held out. It wasn't about getting a big new contract.  He was a number one draft pick. He had his share of paydays with the Bengals and had he stayed a Bengal he would have continued to be paid very well. He held out because he did not like the franchise ownership and the way they went about building a team. It's not a new story.  The Bengals organization has that type of reputation.

Palmer was looking to play for a contender. He came to Oakland because Hue Jackson recruited him to replace the injured Jason Campbell. Hue broke the bank to make Palmer a Raider.  Overall on the field, Hue did ok as a head coach and Palmer did pretty well at QB.  Together as a unit, this may have been a solid long term solutions for the Raiders.

The death of Al Davis changed that course of events from ever happening.

New Raiders owner Mark Davis has had ample time to reflect on the chain of events. By his own admission, Mark was not the football mind the franchise needed. He relied on old timers John Madden and Ron Wolf to guide his decision what to do next after Al passed away. Reggie McKenzie was hired as GM. Over a year later, Mark Davis  realizes he needs more direct help than just a GM.   His next maneuver will be the hiring of an executive to oversee football operations. A year too late but better late than never.

McKenzie, though a capable GM, ousted Hue and then proceeded to make the wrong head coaching hire in Dennis Allen who in turn has made questionable assistant coaching hires. This entire combination has not been effective to get the most out of Carson Palmer, star running back Darren McFadden, the receiving game or even the defense which has suffered even more than it typically has in years past.

Oh but there's a bright spot. Penalties are down. Don't everyone applaud at once.

The big picture now is the Raiders want to be as competitive as possible obviously and they don't have a more capable QB than Palmer on the roster.  However, Palmer is neither medically sound nor was his 2012 play indicative of what a winning team needs. He tallies big stats but the team still loses and it's not all because of a soft defense.  Palmer knows it and has owned up to it.  Logic dictates they unload him and his massive salary.

Palmer must have changed his tune by now as far as career aspirations.  He knows the Raiders won't win a Super Bowl in his time with the team. He's in a much worse situation than he ever was at Cincy.  It's all about the money for him now.  He is hoping his body will at least last him a few games so he can claim his 13 million in 2013.  That's what it's all about for him.

Making Palmer's ambition seem likely to come to fruition is Terrelle Pryor  may not yet ready to be a big time NFL QB.  Maybe he is not the mobile QB prodigy that other teams have in the form of RGIII, Colin Kaepernick, Russell Wilson or even an injury addled Michael Vick  Still, Pryor deserves a chance to develop as the starter.  That's why Al drafted him. The logic continues to dictate he gets the playing time but if he does it's going to come at a risk even if he lights it up and outright wins the job in preseason.

It's damned if they do, damned if they don't. Palmer or Pryor may bring the same results.  It is conceivable that both start games in 2013.

Despite the problems outside his control, I see Dennis Allen as a lame duck. He won't last another season if the teams ends up 4-11 or 5-12.  Well, he shouldn't last but he is under contract for another 3 years.  It will be up to Mark Davis or his executive in charge of football operations to make that call if/when.

It's not all Allen's fault.  His predecessor, Hue, made a disastrous trade decision, using that booming voice to convince Mark Davis they needed to make the Palmer deal with Cincy.  Now we are all regretting carrying Palmer's dead financial weight, his questionably effective play and battered body, not to mention the lost draft picks. What do we have from Carson Palmer other than stats?  = zero.  Maybe inching along development of a few receivers at best.

Barring an unexpected division championship and playoff run, Mark Davis or the football executive he hires will have to make a call on cleaning house (again) in 2014. The big question is what will McKenzie do right now to salvage the 2013 season?  If Palmer refuses to restructure then how much further damage would there be if they cut him and went with Terrelle Pryor or a free agent or a draft pick?  Probably not much.  We are still looking at a 4 or 5 win season. Mayyyyybe 6 wins but doubtful.

Either direction is (still) rebuilding.  It's just a matter of choosing personnel and players wisely.

After I fire Reggie and Dennis Allen, this is what I'll do

Whether he is ready or not, Terrelle Pryor must inherit the QB role for the Raiders in 2013. Barring a trade or free agent signing for a different QB, there is no better time for Pryor to start. Pick Six Palmer needs to go.

The question is, who will help develop Pryor?  New Offensive Coordinator Greg Olson does not have a notable track record in developing QBs.  Olson has been a QB coach in the NFL for several teams.  He has also been an Offensive Coordinator with several NFL teams.  Here's the thing. Nothing stands out with the guy.  As one example, Josh Freeman struggled with the Buccaneers under Olson.  Then Freeman really came alive when Olson was replaced by Ron Turner as QB coach.  That's just one example.  If a QB is successful only after his coach is fired, what does that tell us?  Why do we need another unsuccessful retread leading the offense and coaching the QBs?

Regarding why Olson was hired, I will credit Levi Damien (prolific Raiders blogger) for catching this statement made by Dennis Allen via Paul Gutierrez of Comcast Sports Bay Area.

"I like his demeanor, I like his philosophy I like the way he wants a tough, physical and yet explosive-type offense. And I liked the fact that the fact that he talked about, we've got to fit the scheme to the personnel, to the guys that we have and try to do the things that they do really well. And really limit the times that we ask them to do things that maybe they aren't as good at."

Well, once again, I will preface this by saying I am not a professional football guy.  BUT, I do know incompetence when I see it and that my friends is evidence that Dennis Allen is the wrong man for the job. He's not even qualified to hire at Burger King. If the guy cannot or will not evaluate talent, instead, go by his convictions and generic nonsense, then there is no hope at all he will succeed as a head coach.  

Olson played QB in college (then again, so did Greg Knapp).  John De Filippo is the QB coach on staff for the 2013 season.  De Filippo is as underwhelming as Dennis Allen is.  Coach Flip is a young guy and capable of running drills. That's about it. The problem is you need some achievements to go along with your resume. Just having NFL experience does not add up to what we need which is to develop Terrelle Pryor or any draft pick brought in to win and win now.

The real shame of it all is the Raiders could have done a lot better than Olson.

Offhand, I can think of five available coaches with better qualifications, actual accomplishments in leading teams, being both a mentor and a leader of players.  Who knows if these guys would be interested but here's who they could have at least interviewed:

Jeff Tedford
Chris Ault
Terry Shea
Mark Mangino
Jim Tressel

Tressel, Shea, Tedford and Ault are top notch QB coaches with the credentials to also lead an NFL offense. These are the types of guys you want analyzing your QBs strengths and weaknesses, prepping him for the system you want to run and teaching the guy along the way.

Here are my fantasy candidates as GM after I fire Dennis Allen and Reggie.

Jeff Tedford:  He had a good run of success at Cal but eventually washed out because he did not recruit a good enough QB to succeed Aaron Rodgers. He never matched his success after Rodgers left. However, Tedford is a gifted QB coach as well as offensive strategist. He knows how to groom players.  Numerous Tedford players have moved on to the NFL with success. I get the sense if he was handed a pro offense,  he would get it done.

Chris Ault:  Arguably, an even more gifted offensive strategist than Tedford who won games with far less talent and resources at UNevada.  And yes, Ault won even without Colin Kaepernick. Ault was the man at Nevada for several decades.  He did it all as player, AD and head coach.  His pistol offense is now used all over the U.S. at every level.  This guy would step in and make a difference in Oakland. He has the all around skills set you want. He can relate to players with his knowledge and affable personality, coach to the talent on board and design game plans around strengths.

Terry Shea - A dynamic coach who has been around a long time (like Ault has).  Shea coached Jeff Garcia at San Jose State and also later in the CFL. Shea's forte is developing QBs but he is an offensive mastermind as well.  There is no doubt Shea has seen it all and can therefore prepare an offense as well as anyone in the NFL.  Shea would be the senior level hire the Raiders need to instill a sense of structure (which is obvious they do not have under Dennis Allen).

Mark Mangino:  I admit he is the longshot of the bunch but the guy has a great track record of building winners. He deserves a closer look.  He got the most out of his players at UKansas. Mangino raised the Jayhawks from dormancy by instilling a program of hard work and discipline.  He just wasn't disciplined enough with his own behavior to keep it going. It would be interesting to see what he could do with a pro level offense with players expected to behave like professionals. Mangino is big on character. He might have a problem identifying with the aloof mentality of many pro athletes. Still, it would be a pretty intriguing experiment.

Mangino was Offensive Coordinator with Oklahoma when they won the 2000 National Championship with Josh Heupel as QB.  That has to count for something. I am getting the impression Mangino has been humbled by his dismissal from Kansas. I could be wrong and he could very well return to his blustery firestorm ways when he returns to coaching but I like him.

And the guy I would probably hire in my fantasy GM role:

Jim Tressel:  Is there a better candidate to mentor Terrelle Pryor?  Hardly. My bet is Tressel never even showed up on Reggie or Dennis Allen's radar to fill the Offensive Coordinator position and that is a shame. Tressel is a guy who has consistently won everywhere he has been.  He was considered among the best of the best college head coaches at Ohio State for a long time.  It all came crumbling down due to what?  His players exchanged jerseys for tattoos?  Who cares?  Anyone who thinks that's a crime or breach of ethical rules needs to seriously get a life. No seriously, check your own past mistakes and see if any of them are less flagrant than not peering down so deep into players' lives to see if they gave jerseys away for tattoos.

Sadly, Tressel has not caught on elsewhere as a viable coaching candidate since that undeserved fall from grace. In a perfect world, he would be installed to run the Raiders offense. I would even put him as head coach.

Mark Davis said "I know what I don't know".  Let me offer what I do know: The Dennis Allen experiment has not worked out.  Another 4-12, 5-11 or even 6-10 season won't get it done.  Meanwhile, plenty of experienced, winning head coaches are available to replace the mistake. Jim Tressel is more than qualified to take that challenge on.

Loose Women, Guys with Money and Bad Decisions Part II

Say it isn't so Dan Marino.  C'mon, you have to be kidding. One of the greatest QBs in NFL history, a guy with about as intense a determination you can ever find to play the game gets outed for siring a love child.

Why on earth would you bang a woman who is not your wife without wearing a bag?   What's that you used to say on behalf of Isotoner?  "Take care of the hands that take care of you."

Life is tough sometimes.  We get bored, perhaps frustrated with our regular partner. Maybe even get turned away (for any number of reasons).  It's only natural to seek relief with someone you have no emotional attachment to, just to get it over with.  It's human and it is hardly unique. The big deal is to not lose sight of the big picture. It's really, really important to protect your assets.

Child support is no joke, especially when you are loaded.  That means you are open game.

Now Dan Marino is in the same class as doofs like Terrell Owens, Vince Young, all the guys mentioned in Part I of Loose Women, Guys with Money and Bad Decisions and every other pro athlete, former pro athlete that shanked themselves by boning a woman interested in their money first and foremost.

Why can't guys just get their head straight before indulging?  It's not about satisfying yourself.  The game is about the woman playing you.  Yea, they really are faking it so they can get pregnant and screw you over.

I was a Jets fan in an era with Dan Marino's most epic battles with Ken O' Brien - sometimes Ken won, sometimes Dan won but it was impossible to not concede to Dan Marino's incredible talent. Sad to see the man's image take a tumble.