Raiders Close Out Year on a Winning Note

The Oakland Raiders went across the Raider Nation to Tampa, to take on the formerly playoff-bound Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Raiders are actually starting to look like an NFL team these past few weeks and, I think things are gonna be looking bright going into next year.

Here are a few things I am pleased with:

1. The fact that Cable benched "Lame" Kwame Harris.

-Mario Henderson is starting to look like a formidable NFL LT, he's miles and miles better than Harris. The Raiders need to take an OT with their first round pick, which is looking like a 7 or 8 pick, this would enable them to take either a right or left tackle. This could be kind of difficult because there are no "sought-after" right tackles in the first round, and then we would have to move Super Mario over to the right side, I would think if you can play blindside tackle with a right handed QB, you should be able to play RT. I wouldn't mind seeing them take Virginia's Eugene Monroe. It's easy to want to get a chubbie over Bama's Andre Smith, but I read that he is a little slow against the speed rushers, and that is basically what the entire NFL is. A good O-Line is the key to JaMarcus' development. He's showed what he can do with a little time every once in a while.

2. The emergence of Michael Bush this season.

-Michael Bush got the chance to play in his first full season, and he didn't disappoint. We now have the opportunity to use three backs. Bush stepped in this week and got 177 yards on 28 carries when DMC and Fargas were dinged up. We could call them Earth, Wind, and Fire, I seriously made that up just now. Michael Bush=earth, Darren McFadden=wind because he's faster than fast, Justin Fargas=fire because he is a very hard working and strong athlete.

3. Tom Cable's ability to get these guys to play these last two games.

-You know what? I was thinking firmly that the Raiders needed to go out and get another stinkin head coach. Maybe not. Tom Cable the "interim"coach has gotten the team to play this season, since the infamous firing. I'm not necessarily saying that he should stick with Cable, but he should for sure consider him as a top candidate for the job. He can work with the new offensive lineman that they draft, and he would give them a little bit of continuity and reliablity that the team hasn't had in a coon's age.

Final Week Predictions

Here's where I'm gonna lay down a blog that breaksdown all the B.S. of the NFL playoffs.

NFC:

Here are the teams who are in: New York Giants, Carolina Panthers, Arizona Cardinals, and the Alanta Falcons.

Bubble Teams: Minnesota Vikings or Chicago Bears. Minnesota needs to beat the New York Giants, if they do that they will win the NFC North and get in as the third seed. If the Bears win and Minnesota loses the Bears win the divsion and Minnesota is done. The Bears can get in as a wild card if they win and the Buccaneers and Cowgirls lose (don't worry Mikey, the Bucs are going to lose to the suddenly hot Oakland Raiders this week).

Dallas is in the driver's seat for the six seed. Win and they're in. Easier said than done being that they play Philly in Philly against that defense, and given Tony Romo's history for playing less than stellar in December might continue. Philly can get in themselves, but they need a lot of help. They need to win and basically everyone to lose. That tie at Cincy is killing them right now.

When the dust settles after tomorrow's action here's what the NFC will look like.

1. Giants

2. Panthers

3. Bears

4. Arizona

5. Falcons

6. Eagles

I think the Eagles will get in after beating Dallas and the Raiders beat the Buccaneers.

AFC:

These teams are in: Tennessee Titans, Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Indianapolis Colts these are the only ones who clinched a spot.

Bubble Teams: This is the more messy Conference. The AFC East is gonna be a good race on Sunday. The Jets and Dolphins play in New York, the Pats play Buffalo in Buffalo, the Jets are 9-6, so they need to beat the Phins and the Bills to beat NE. I think the Jets will lose to the Dolphins and the Bills will beat the Pats, so the Jets and Patriots are out of the question, Miami gets in.

Baltimore win and they're in as a wild card. This should happen against Jacksonville. Also, San Diego should get ready to lose to Indy in the first round after they beat Denver this week. Denver isn't worthy of making it in. Too inconsistent.

When it's all said and done tomorrow:

1. Titans

2. Steelers

3. Dolphins

4. Chargers

5. Colts

6. Ravens

This is big mess at the moment and this is how it will look in my opinion. I hope I was somewhat accurate in lieu of this mess.

Video Blog #1

I decided to try out my webcam and I wanted to try a video blog this time. Let me know what you think. I had to talk about the Raiders big victory against a "good" Houston Texans team. I needed to talk about the Lions and, I did something new: Performers of the Week. "Boom's Brats" is what I'll call them.

Can They Get a W This Week?

It would be really nice to see the Raiders beat the Texans this week in Oakland and give some of these awesome fans something to cheer about in the final home contest, and give themselves some momentum heading into next year.

At the same time, it's almost a waste to win another game and lose a prime spot in the draft. This next draft is going to be huge. We need to have a big draft. We need help at various positions across the entire field, I look at OT as the biggest need and should be addressed in the first round. You can't really go wrong with a good offensive tackle, unless his name is Tony Mandarich. But, that was all hype anyway. Another large need is FS, we need a good Free Safety to play across from Gibril Wilson, who is having a great year. It would be nice to get another WR at some point, and even though I hate to say it, I think they need to draft another QB in the late rounds to give a possible backup to maybe push JaMarcus Russell a little.

People across the Raider Nation are talking of trading CB Nnamdi Asomugha, are only true Pro Bowler (Shane Lechler is a punter, c'mon). This would be a mistake. I don't think it is a good idea to trade the best cornerback in the league and the only on the team who cares about winning at this point. Having said that, I don't think slapping the Tag on him again is the right call either. We need to lock him up.

There are also rumors of the Raiders going after Giants OC Kevin Gilbride as their next head coach. In a way, it makes sense because he has brought Eli Manning into a Super Bowl Champion and he might be able to do the same with JaMarcus. But, I don't really want someone who was punched in the face by Defensive Coordinator Rob Ryan's father Buddy Ryan for being a pussy back in the late '90's when he was head man of the San Diego Chargers. So the Raiders need to get Jim Fassel. Fassel would be a great fit. He once coached in Oakland in the mid '90's and I think that Al Davis can put his trust in him. He took the Giants to a Super Bowl in 2000, so he's a proven Super Bowl coach.

CC Reportedly Headed to New York

As of early Wednesday morning, free agent pitcher CC Sabathia was close to a deal with the Yankees with huge dimensions. 7-years and $161 million dollars later he signed with the Evil Empire.


The Yanks first offer was reported to be 6-years and $140 million. It was also reported Tuesday that CC spoke with Dodgers GM Ned Coletti saying that he wanted to play in Los Angeles, in his native California. It seemed like the Yankees weren't his first choice, considering he was so big into hitting and that's not possible in the AL. Apparently, playing close to home is no match for $161 million.


He wanted to play on the West coast and no team really stepped up in making any substantial offers, so it came down to returning to Milwaukee, a place that I feel he enjoyed but lacks the ability to win championships year in and year out, or, going to the Big Apple for a boatload of money.


This is my personal view on the situation: CC Sabathia will always hold a special place in my heart as a Milwaukee Brewer fan. He led us in a magical '08 season in which we wouldn't have made the playoffs without him. Having said that, he made the choice to go to the big city and run the risk of becoming, in the words of my boy Jim Rome "A-Roded," where you are judged on how you play in October, and if you don't perform, you're just another wasted free agent signing. He struggled in his one playoff appearance this past season. No one in NYC cares if you won the Cy Young in 2007 or in A-Rod's case several MVPs. All the Yankee fans and the Steinbrenner family care about is winning World Series titles.


Good luck to you CC, I will continue to root for you, but going to New York doesn't strike me as best decision for you and your family.

-Mitch

Championship Saturday

We have, quite possibly, the biggest Saturday of the year going down this week. Here are my picks:


Friday 7 p.m.: #12 Ball State vs. Buffalo University (MAC Championship)-
Turner Gill has done a phenomenal job at the helm for Buffalo U getting them to a bowl game, after winning 5 of their last 6. Gill is a potential Coach of the Year, but I can't go against Nate Davis and the Cards. I like Ball State in this one. BALL 35-24.


Saturday 11 a.m.: East Carolina vs. Tulsa (Conference USA Championship)-
David Johnson is a heck of a QB, he has 3,671 yards and 42 TD's this season, and he spreads the ball around a little bit. East Carolina started out the year looking unstoppable, then they lost three straight to fall back in the ranks. Maybe they're a little inconsistent? I'll take Tulsa 42-28.


Saturday Noon: #18 Boston College vs. Virginia Tech (ACC Championship)-
BC has bounced back pretty nicely from back-to-back losses in late Oct./early Nov., including one to an underachieving Clemson team. They did beat VA Tech earlier this season in Chestnut Hill, MA. I think Frank Beamer will have the team ready to go this time. I'm gonna go with my instinct on this one... VA Tech in a squeaker 20-17.


Saturday 3 p.m.:#1 Alabama vs. #2 Florida (SEC Championship)-
This is probably gonna be the game of the year, outside of the National Championship. It's such an intriguing matchup: Alabama's strength vs. Florida's speed. I can't really decide if I want to see Tim Tebow lose tomorrow or in the BCS National Championship. Why Wait? I'll take BAMA to finally slow down Florida, look for a big play in the special teams of Alabama. BAMA 28-24. In a great game.


Saturday 7 p.m.: #4 Oklahoma vs. #19 Missou (Big 12 Championship)-
I am a huge Sam Bradford fan. If he doesn't win Heisman, something is wrong. The game is played at Arrowhead Stadium in Killer City. This will be the first time there will be an 11-1 team in that stadium all year. I think the cold and crappy conditions will slow down the spread attack of Mizzou. Stoops will find a way to get the team pumped for this game, plus, Oklahoma is much better. OU in a barn-burner 49-31.


Saturday 11 a.m.: Army vs. Navy -
Army is not good at all. Navy is quite good. Navy all the way, 38-10.

Sharks Improve on Franchise-Best Start

The San Jose Sharks are off to their best start in franchise history. It's no long and storied history like the Montreal Canadiens or anything, but a pretty good history nonetheless.

The Sharks improved to 21-3-1 on Tuesday night, in a 5-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Tank. The Sharks got out to a fairly quick 4-0 lead and never looked back.They were led by Joe Thornton who picked up a goal and three assists, bringing his season assist total to 23. Joe Thornton's 23 assists are good enough for second in the NHL, right behind Pittsburgh's young Superstar Evgeni Malkin. Wisconsin native, Joe Pavelski, also had a decent showing last night. He finished with a goal and an assist, along with getting four shots on goal.

I look for the Sharks to continue what they are doing, as long as, they can adjust on fly as teams become more and more prepared for them. I am very pleased at what I am seeing out of young RW Devin Setoguchi. He's playing at an all-star level this season.

Go Sharks!