Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Welcome Back, CWood

A big, hearty return welcome to the one and only Charles Woodson to Oaktown!  I am somewhat surprised and ultimately thrilled that CWood24 was available in the open market and that the rebuilding Raiders were able to secure the services of arguably the best defensive back of the past 15 years. 

Woodson is a winner (NCAA Champ; SB Champ), an inspirational leader on the field and in the locker room, and future hall of famer.  He is an ideal fit as the Raiders Free Safety whereby he can utilize his vast experience, acumen and knowledge in a role that matches up nicely with his fine tuned football instincts. 

I equate CWood to a valuable Swiss Brand Army knife in terms of his elite and versatile football skills.  He brings the full package to include not only his supreme coverage skills but his ability to rush the passer, is a solid tackler in the open field, and his overall playmaking prowess (2nd in INTs with 55; 2nd in INTs for TDs 11). 

I'm excited about how our secondary has been rebuilt with talent and depth this past offseason with the acquisitions of Tracy Porter, Mike Jenkins, CWood, plus 1st round pick DJ Hayden.  The entire Raiders team will benefit from the addition of a proven performer and leader who exudes a winning mentality.  The CWood swagger is back in Silver and Black! 

30 Comments:

Anonymous JONES said...

Hey Jack...have you been eyeing this Reggie vs the Media thing? Corkran has his anal in a knot as do a few others because Reggie dismissed their accounts of minicamps. These press guys are bigger divas than the players. They really feel they have the power of the pen and those better bow unto them or they will be cursed by the pen. The EGO...it's a killa.

JONES

7:00 PM  
Blogger Calico Jack said...

Hey Jones,

The media seems to jump to hasty conclusions that fit an agenda or to create sensational journalism.

I'm glad that Reggie is selectively choosing the times to respond and add some balance to these non-stories.

Ultimately, the Raiders are a work in progress and results on the field during regular season games is what matters ... not the QBs performing poorly on 1 OTA day.

Hope you are enjoying the summer, amigo.

6:04 PM  
Anonymous Tooz 72 said...

CJ, another season is upon us. A few weeks ago, the odds makers had the Raiders picked to finish last in the AFC and 3rd last in the NFL. I think the team will outperform against those low expectations. This year is about building and growth, so we might have a stronger contender in 2-3 years. Looking at the schedule, I'm throwing out a six win over/under. The AFC West is brutal this year. What say you?

5:30 AM  
Blogger Calico Jack said...

Hey Tooz,

Nice hearing from you. I'm excited about the rebuilding project in Oakland although the Veldheer injury was a significant blow.

My expectations are that the D will be much improved in rush D and pass coverage but our pass rush will be lacking.

I think McFadden will rush for 1200 yards and Flynn will be a good overall game manager who minimizes mistakes. I'm pegging 7 wins and going into 2014 with high hopes for a continuous upward trajectory.

2014 we will have all our picks plus plenty of cap space. This year will be the key to a foundation.

Cheers,
CJ

9:41 PM  
Anonymous Tooz 72 said...

CJ, I agree about Flynn still, but he needs an O line. Without protection, the better choice is a scrambling QB like Pryor. First, I'm not a scrambling QB guy. I saw what it did to Steve Young. The concussions and risk of physical harm are not worth it. I think the same awaits for Kaepernick, RG3, and the hopeless showboat Cam Newton. Second, the fact that the O line is no good should not influence a QB selection. Third, I'm not yet a Pryor guy. One more outing like Chicago, and I might think about it, though.

7:47 AM  
Blogger Calico Jack said...

Tooz,
It will be very difficult for Flynn to manage the game without good OLine protection. Pryor is clearly an unfinished product but his athleticism and improvisational skills would give our offense a much needed spark. Ultimately, when push comes to shove, I believe that Pryor gives the Raiders the better chance to compete.

12:06 PM  
Anonymous Tooz 72 said...

CJ, how about Pryor? How about the team showing up against the Colts? There is plenty to work on, don't get me wrong. One game does not a trend make, but I saw some stuff.

Positives:
Pryor rushing
Pryor passing (mostly)
O-line, with hardly any experience between them
Allen (and this kills me) managed the game OK. Not stellar, but OK.
Kept a better team close in score, made them earn it.

Negatives:
Whatever $ they are paying Woodson.
Pryor still a newbie, must mature a bit.
D-line pressure on Luck, I just didn't feel it.

That's about it. I don't like to lose, but the team left the field with its dignity intact, and with eyes on the Jags. We'll see a better outcome this week.

5:02 PM  
Anonymous Tooz 72 said...

I just reread the stats. It didn't feel like 4 sacks, but it was. That ties their best from last season. Not bad.

5:40 AM  
Anonymous Tooz 72 said...

5 sacks yesterday, and CWood responded to my pep talk. DMF took the heat off Pryor. In this season, a win is a win, so good for the boys. Big game next week.

5:19 AM  
Blogger Calico Jack said...

Make-shift OLine played very well in both games so far. In a pass happy league, the Raiders are going against the grain very effectively. #1 rushing offense in the league. D did a nice job creating QB pressure and rallying to the ball.

9:19 PM  
Anonymous Tooz 72 said...

We find ourselves in familiar territory. The team should beat the Jets later in the season, perhaps be competitive against the Steelers, and depending on which way the wind is blowing, maybe against the Giants, too. Otherwise, this thing looks baked. Again. I want them to prove me wrong. I hope they prove me wrong. But we've seen nothing but draft busts, veteran busts, coaching busts, and injuries thus far. What changes between now and the end of the season? I could use a big dose of hope to offset the reality we have experienced thus far.

8:04 PM  
Anonymous Tooz 72 said...

Well, shiver me timbers, CJ. Any time the Dolts come to town and get a beat down is just fine with me. O performed, D performed, Special teams performed. Even the coaching staff performed. As usual, I'll invest just a little too much hope that the team is turning a corner. But what a great game!

5:03 AM  
Anonymous Tooz 72 said...

RiP, beloved TE Todd Christenson, #46. I am in tears. Nothing more to be said.

6:09 PM  
Anonymous JONES said...

Was Todd a drinker? They said he had liver problems. He was 1 of a kind, a real talker...I watched him on the NFL Network Super Bowl teams, Raiders of 83...he was one of the Narrators...he came to tears while talking about winning the Super Bowl...showed his heart, may have said big words, but he had the heart of a fighter. Many of the Old Guard are passing..it sucks getting old.

JONES

9:01 PM  
Blogger Calico Jack said...

Jones,
Todd was a devout Mormon so no, he wasn't a drinker. The speculation is that he liver problems were brought on by a botched gall bladder surgery that he had many years ago. Todd was an interesting, non-conventional, highly intelligent pro football player who will be missed and remembered.

12:04 PM  
Anonymous JONES said...

Thanks for clarifying, Jack. I'll ask you, do you know RAIDERTAKE personally?

JONES

4:09 PM  
Blogger Calico Jack said...

Jones - I've never met Raidertake in person but at one time a few years ago, Raidertake, I, and another blogger had a partnership (Raiders Fans Network) and we've exchanged personal emails back and forth.

9:12 PM  
Anonymous JONES said...

Thanks for the info, Jack. Any idea what his "experiment" is all about? Sometimes, his statement that his site is an experiment, seems like he wants chaos on his blog. Is he a straight shooter?

JONES

10:36 PM  
Anonymous JONES said...

McGloin has my interest peaked, this Kid could end up the 'feel good story' of the NFL this year. Of course, he has to continue his climb up the ladder of NFL QB'em.

O-line is finally getting it's top players back, which coincides with McGloin's appearance as a legit starter, hopefully.

Jennings looks to be stepping into his role as the top RB...now if the Wr's can put some solid games together, this O can score some points, hopefully.

I like the Raiders chances this week vs the Titans.

JONES

10:41 PM  
Blogger Calico Jack said...

RT is a straight shooting, intelligent fan who wants a healthy debate.

4:17 PM  
Anonymous JONES said...

I have to disagree with you, Jack. RT is a game playin weasel. He isn't intelligent because anyone with intelligence doesn't try to deceive others....his actions this past couple days gets closer to what he really is. A FRAUD.

JONES

9:32 AM  
Blogger Calico Jack said...

Definitely not a fraud and disagree about intentionally trying to deceive. Communication styles are different in forums, emails, etc. You are for example blunt and confrontational with substance. The words used and the context leads to miscommunication and lack of shading.

My theory is that if you and RT were sitting in a pub face to face chatting and debating about the Raiders, it would be an entirely different situation.

6:52 PM  
Anonymous JONES said...

Well, dealing with what I have dealt with on that site, can't help but be that way. I try to change it, but, whether Take is behind it or not, it gets dragged back into the bullshit. Once it goes there, I am more than happy to oblige.

The provokers come on there, with Take's blessings IMO, and try to provoke responses, so I give it to them...if Take didn't want it that way, he could steer it that way, but he doesn't. So to me, he is a fraud because he wants it to be chaos, IMO.
Do not like liars or deceivers ....sincerity is a hard thing to find these days.

JONES

10:39 PM  
Anonymous Tooz 72 said...

The Jones vs. RT drama is more entertaining than a Raiders game, that's for sure. The stinker against the jets was it for me. See you next season.

7:46 PM  
Anonymous JONES said...

Me too Tooz, I'm done....only thing to wait for is what roster additions will be made in the offseason. The team gave it their best shot, lack of depth and so many 1 yr deals are now bring down this team. Some players have 'checked out'/hurt/season over, IMO. Many won't be back, again...will probably be another big turnover with a talent upgrade in the works.....see ya next year.

JONES

9:39 AM  
Anonymous Tooz 72 said...

Thought I'd stop in today. Houston game is almost over. If we ever needed proof that McKenzie and Allen are incompetent, we need look no further than the past two seasons and the first two games of this one. And I delicately suggest that Al's Demon Spawn is of the exact same caliber. Given the nonsense with the Coliseum currently under way, what stops this train wreck of a franchise from moving to LA? It's easy -- retire the Raiders name and history, a la the Oilers, and voila! LA gets a brand new team. I wouldn't be surprised if the NFL forced Davis to sell. It's no different than the corporate office at Burger King forcing a franchisee to sell because he's hurting the value of the brand. Perhaps the end of a beat down game is not the best time to be posting!

4:14 PM  
Anonymous Took 72 said...

CJ, the season is almost fun to watch this year. Have you decamped to another site?

6:53 PM  
Anonymous Tooz 72 said...

Took. Great. Can't spell my own name.

6:54 PM  
Blogger Calico Jack said...

Tooz - It is nice to see the Raiders playing some good football and building a nice core of key, young guns.

7:20 PM  
Anonymous ZeshLFC said...

Yeah. it's nice but they need to build their team around young guns. Liverpool transfer news latest

11:31 AM  

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