Posted on Friday, 6/12/2009 - 11:46 p.m. PDT — by Gasbag
No news here but it is nice to hear Aso get some props outside of Oaktown.
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/afcwest/0-3-2321/Asomugha-is-a-textbook-build...
....Aso has been been as useful as a one legged ladder....until CJ came a long..... Now if we only had a run stuffing DT like Ron Brace or an offense that could hang on to the ball, eat clock, and score a few first half points.
Joined: Jul 2006
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Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson
At the conclusion of the 2003 NFL draft, I was talking to an executive about the draft in general.
Unprovoked, the draft decision maker told me that his team had the top pick of the Oakland Raiders, who was selected with the No. 31 overall choice, rated as a seventh-round pick. The executive said his team barely had that player listed as a draftable prospect.
That player was Nnamdi Asomugha.
You know, the guy who is considered the best cornerback in the game and the guy who Oakland just gave a three-year, $45 million contract to.
It is stories like that that make Asomugha want to root for his new teammates, Darrius Heyward-Bey and Mike Mitchell. Like Asomugha, Oakland's first two draft picks of 2009 were maligned.
"I know that guys are getting a hard time about where they were picked," Asomugha said. "I know how they feel ... But they just have to keep focused and work hard. I'm sure it will give them extra motivation. I know it gave me extra motivation."
Heyward-Bey, a fast receiver from Maryland, was taken with the No. 7 overall pick. He was expected to be a late first-round to be taken well after top receiver prospect, Michael Crabtree. Instead, Crabtree was taken three picks later by San Francisco. Mitchell, a hard-hitting safety from Ohio University, was taken in the second round. His selection caused several experts to pan the pick. Four teams that I talked to had Mitchell rated as an undrafted free agent.
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That is an awesome piece of info as it relates to our drafts. I always worry when the 'draft experts' love our drafts (ex: Gallery/Grove, bucannon, Moses was a 'steal' in the 3rd, etc.). It's not always perfect but, more oftern than not, with criticism comes our best drafts. Thank you.
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Anytime man! I read the article and thought it was interesting enough to post. I knew that lots of people thought we reached for Nnamdi, but I didn't realize that some people had him as a 7th rounder. Just goes to show that there is really no true way to asess the talent until they actually play an NFL game. Everyone also knows that there are more guys in the NFL that haven't been drafted in the first round and turned into something. This just makes me feel much better about what the "experts" said about Mitchell. Your right though, when I hear them say that we took the safe pick it always makes me cautious
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I knew picking him was laughed at and mocked but, I had no idea he was considered a 7th rounder either. Another interesting tidbit was that personel guys from other teams 'went out of their way' to offer the criticism. AD is not well liked and I wouldn't put it past anyone to take shots at him in this way. I would love to know if they were AFC West personel guys. Then again, I'm a conspiracy theorist by nature. Either way, great article man.
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I'm with you. I knew that when we selected Asomugha in the first round was considered a reach, but I had no idea that he was supposed to be a 7th rounder. It just goes to show that Davis can still judge talent although he does get off course with speed.
Its funny about Davis cause he is very well respected in the football world, but he causes so many problems and does so many head scratching moves that people aren't sure what to really make of him now-a-days. It used to be when he walked into a room people were like "Hey there is Al Davis" now people are more like "Oh great, Al Davis is here." Ha ha. Its just a shame that because we have sucked for 6 years people look at him that way. If we do start to win again though while he is still around, people will talk about how great he is cause we went from the worst team in football 6 years running into one of the best and this guy knows what he is doing. Ha ha just amazing how much a few wins can do for you.
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What I find interesting is his penchant for occilating back and forth from drafting by the book to swinging for the bleachers, with the latter being the more often of the two. Does he give some coaches more say or is it simply his strategy? Or does he change scouts as often as coaches? I don't know but, he knows more about football than any of the other owners and definately more than his critics, of which I am often one. Or is it simply like a coach, clinging to a 2pt lead, going for it on fourth and one on his own 20 with 1:30 left in the 4th Qtr rather than punt to John Elway? Make it and you're a 'Genius'. Get Stuffed and... You are absolutely right about what a few wins will do.
Also, AD worked his way up from the bottom as you already know. He climbed over alot of people to get there and wasn't exactly met with a warm reception from the other owners, whether self induced or not. Ozzie Ozborn was asked if he had any advice for the new generation of rock stars and he said something to this effect, 'Yeah. Don't P on everyone on the way up. You will meet those same people on the way back down."
Someone once told me, 'Everyone has an Awhole friend.' I started to disagree and then remembered one of my friends. AD reminds me of that friend. Or, maybe he's more like your really cool friends' Awhole Dad. You may not like him but, you better respect him if you are going to hang out at his house. You may even realize, right or wrong, he has your best interest in mind.
I do appreciate your refreshingly honest and I think accurate view on AD. Thanks and keep up the good work.
PS. I sure hope he's not like the Grandfather, who comes out with brilliant advice from his vast experience but, you realize at some point, he thinks he's MacArther.
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Very insightful my friend. You know how much pride Davis has considering the fact that he has held his position on the Raiders longer than anyone else in the league and has had some success in every decade. Until recently we had one of the most successful teams in all of sports and a lot of that is due to Al Davis and I think sometimes people forget that. I like your quote by Ozzie by the way, I had never heard that.
There is no point in hating Davis cause he isn't going anywhere. He said he would not retire until he wins two more Super Bowls or dies of natural cause and we all know that it could be a while before either of those things happen.
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For as long as I've been a Raider fan I have heard the same criticisms. The sad part is that eventually, the game will pass him by and the critics can claim victory and some fans may even cheer, and to them I would caution, be careful what you wish for. But, Babe Ruth didn't call his shot each game and claim victory when the ball eventually bounced his way, nor would we revear that magnificent moment if he did. So, if critics point to the past six seasons as evidence of their creditbility I would point to the more than 20 years they've been saying it.
His competitive nature is truly his most destructive enemy and his greatest asset, IMO. Something tells me Davis would swear an everlasting feud over a game of tic tac toe, and that does make him difficult for both his opposition and his fans to handle. Although, it isn't all bad having an owner who knows football and wants to win at all costs. He literally built this team we follow right down to the silver and black. And, as you pointed out, takes a great deal of pride in what he does, which is of course, bleed silver and black. Thanks again.
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Once again man I'm going to have to agree. Eventually he will have to hang it up and the game could possibly be past him. I can see where the guy is coming from though. Like we have said, its his team and if they win another Super Bowl he wants to be a main factor in it. There is a great deal of pride that goes into building a team letalone a winning team. I'm not too sure the game will pass him by all the way, but I think he needs to stop trying to pull a rabbit out of a hat every year. He needs to stop trying to shock the world with his drafts and the money he dishes out to the players.
Thanks again man.
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Well said. We may both be preaching to the choir here as I agree with you once again too. So even if we're 'crazy', I at least know I'm in good company. One last analogy (I can't help myself man); He reminds me of a boxer that is so mean and viscious that he will destroy any opponent but, he keeps getting in fights on the way to the ring. If we could ever just get him into the ring... Thanks for all of your kind words and excellent takes.
BTW, one of my favorite sayings, "The only people in this world who aren't crazy, are people you don't know very well." All in good fun man. Thanks again.
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Well this year will be a true test as to where Davis is. He didn't spend a lot of money and he kept Cable as the HC so the team should have the same outlook they did at the end of last season. If our direction stays the same we will probably be in trouble cause Davis will once again jump the gun and fire the coaching staff and we will start all over. I hope to god that doesn't happen, but we will know for sure.
Ha ha That saying is very true I never thought of it that way. Take care man.
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This year should tell us a lot about this young team (players, coaches, organization) which is, as you already noted, truly a test of Davis. His handling of Kif may not have been his finest hour but, he did recognize continuity of systems was key to the development of the young guys. Regardless of why, the fact is Kif was trying to get fired. Yet, here we are entering the 3rd year in a familiar system. Maybe he's not so crazy. Or, maybe I just don't know him that well. We shall see. Thanks my friend.
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we've won so many games with Aso.
isn't our Defense rated last every year with him? just saying = everyone just runs on us so quit making the guy "best in the game" can't even get an INT. give me a break. can't tackle or intercept but still probably our best guy on defense
sad
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You're an idiot. I'm sorry, Nnamdi is just your run of the mill CB. Absolutly not in the top 10 in the whole league.
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i'd probably put him in the Top 10.
People in here call him the BEST in the NFL. Sorry, he's not.
100% all the talk about Aso is for his "coverage skills". So then where are the INT's? Do you not think CB's get INT's?? How about tackling skills because i remember some truly GREAT CB's on the Raiders that could get INT's and also STICK.
get it?
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He is one of the top CBs in the NFL mainly because everyone avoids him. Its kinda hard to get a lot of picks when you only get thrown to 21 (something like that) times in a season. He is a shutdown corner and no one can dispute that. If QBs avoid you and go out of their way not to throw to you, I think you are doing your job quite well.
You remembering some GREAT CB's on the Raiders that could get INT's and STICK also played on a far better D. Were not talking about the past here, the only players we're comparing him to are the ones currently in the league.
I do happen to like Nnamdi and I too like winning, however we aren't talking about winning we were just talking about Nnamdi stepping into his own and people saying that he wasn't anything and wasn't going to be anything and so far he is proving them wrong. Is he a top CB in the league? Maybe its all up to personal opinion which is obviously jaded by the fact that were Raider fans. He is the best player on our team and its about time he got some recognition.
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You earned it man!
Joined: Feb 2009
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but HE could tackle. and INT.
al harris better, too.
again NOT complaining, said he's our best Dman. lighten up! guess you're all AsoLovers.......okay
i'm a WINlover myself. JUST WIN BABY!
Joined: Jan 2009
Current Posts: 6
Let me give you a name from the past: Wayne Haddix
You probable don´t remember the guy because he played for the bucs during the 1990 season (a crappy team just like our present Raiders). That year he got 7 ints, and returned 3 for TDs, he was voted to the Pro Bowl of course, and I bet it is the kind of season you also think is deserving of a trip to Hawai, but you are wrong!
The guy had so many ints because every team targeted him all game long, yes he got 7 pics but he also gave up 10 TDS. But I bet you think that´s what CBs do, you know, get ints and stuff.
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Nnamdi had 8 ints in 2006 which is 3 more than Woodsons best year (five). Since, Nnamdi has 1 int per year, which Woodson had 5 of the 8 years here.
'WINlover'? I always pegged you as a MAC type of guy.