Sunday, December 18, 2005
Norv and Kerry can both kiss my A$$
It was a cool, wet and breezy day out at the Oakland Coliseum. No worry, we were playing the lowly Cleveland Browns. Forget that Norv Turner chose to start Kerry over Tuiasosopo, Kerry can find a way to beat the Browns. Wrong, dead wrong.
Our defense did enough to beat the Browns, but it takes an offense to put points on the board and the Raiders offense couldn't muster more than seven points. It was so obvious that the problem on offense was Kerry Collin's inability to read defenses that I wonder why Norv left him in the game. The only logical answer is that Norv has something to gain by playing Kerry. Maybe its money, maybe its someone to blame for the losses, but Norv is clearly stuck on Kerry. He doesn't give a damn about the future of the Raiders or about giving Tuiasosopo another chance.
Some believe Norv went with Kerry to protect his job. Scary to think that a coach would rather stick with a quarterback that has only been consistant in being the goat for losing games than give a five year backup a legitimate chance to play. Giving Tui one start in a game where you didn't gameplan for his style of play (last week against NY Jets) nor protect him from the expected blitzes all day is suspect to say the least. With our running game working today against the Browns, it would have been a perfect scenario for Tui to play, even if it meant coming off the bench to relieve Kerry. I know the fans would have praised Norv for trying to win the game as opposed to protect his job.
Being at the game you got to see just how out-of-synch Kerry Collins is with the offense. Granted, he was getting blitzed early, but the offensive line stepped it up later to give him the time. Kerry, other than the 28 yard touchdown to Randy Moss, wasn't making the reads to see the open receiver. Again many of his throws were either too low or too high. His low pass to TE Courtney Anderson may have attributed to Courtney injuring himself while trying to reach low to catch the ball. I believe Courtney Anderson is 6ft 8in or so. All season us fans have been wondering how is it that our quarterback fails to see an open receiver as tall as Courtney? And then when he does see him how is it that he either under throws him or over throws him? It's mindboggling that our coach hasn't made adjustments at the quarterback position for more than just one game.
SeaBass missed a 51 yard field goal attempt and had another long attempt blocked. But I wouldn't attribute the loss to SeaBass. The conditions were poor. I actually question why Norv didn't opt to go for it instead of trying the long attempt that was blocked? That missed field goal gave Cleveland good field position for their final drive.
So with a Leader that can't lead us to victory over a lesser opponent, the Raiders lose in the final seconds on a field goal to the Cleveland Browns 9 to 7. The Raiders Faithful braved the wet and windy elements to support their underachieving team. If the saying "struggle brings unity" bears any truth, then seeing the Raider fans united in their rejection of Norv and Kerry will hopefully uplift our struggle for replacement at head coach and quarterback come next season.
Bring us your tired and hungry longing to be free. Bring us a Coach and Quarterback who'll deliver victory.
... but it just a game, Mr. Powell!
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