2018 Oakland Raiders

[Don Wassall]

It looked initially like Jon "Cucky" Gruden was going to lighten up the blackest team in NFL history, but he quickly did a 180 and now the Raiders once again are in single digits with just nine Whites on their 53 man roster. Obviously it's easier to be semi-fair in a broadcast booth than it is as an NFL head coach.

QB - Derek Carr, A. J. McCarron
WR - Jordy Nelson
TE - Lee Smith, Derek Carrier
T - Kolton Miller

PK - Mike Nugent
P - Johnny Townsend
LS - Andrew DePaolo

LB James Cowser, the backup who showed well when he played, was purged and now the defense is coal black.

All eight of the players on IR, PUP or suspended are black. For what it's worth, FB Ryan Yurachek, S Dallin Leavitt, and TE Paul Butler are on the practice squad.

For a heady few days it looked like the Raiders were going to have three White receivers seeing the field this season -- Jordy, Ryan Switzer and Griff Whalen. Gruden was cooing that Switzer was uncoverable and set to be the starting slot receiver, then Whalen joined the competition. But then Switzer was all but given away (Oakland traded Switzer and a sixth round pick to Pittsburgh for a fifth round pick), and Whalen magically came down with a season ending injury.

And now is all back to normal in Oakland. How much Gruden cares is debatable -- he's already under heavy fire for making the Raiders older and then trading Khalil Mack. Their all-black defense looks like it's going to be atrocious and the team has the look and feel of a bottom feeder -- but Cucky has $100 million reasons not to feel too bad if his return to the coaching ranks is a failure.

Number of White starters: 3

Number of Whites on 53 man roster: 9

Grade: F-

 

[Freethinker]

We’re not counting starting safety Erik Harris as an honorary White? He’ll certainly be treated as such by the DWFs and if the defense stinks he’ll be the certain scapegoat.

 

[Don Wassall]

Harris was set to be a starting safety a couple of weeks ago but since then has been demoted to backup, so maybe Cucky thinks he's White.

 

[Thrashen]

Harris was set to be a starting safety a couple of weeks ago but since then has been demoted to backup, so maybe Cucky thinks he's White.

Don, I’ve seen numerous photos of Harris. He has light blue eyes and blond hair. He looks “off” in some photos, but entirely white in others such as this one from his college days...

https://calvulcans.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=845

Did you see an article that he’s mixed?

 

[Don Wassall]

Don, I’ve seen numerous photos of Harris. He has light blue eyes and blond hair. He looks “off” in some photos, but entirely white in others such as this one from his college days...

https://calvulcans.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=845

Did you see an article that he’s mixed?

I was going by posts 82-84 in the 2018 NFL Preseason thread where he was discussed and Leonardfan said he's mixed. Also, from doing a quick search, his baby daddy split when he was very young and his mother moved him to beautiful Baltimore. He ended up playing at California University of PA, a small college notorious for recruiting black football players who end up being arrested for various crimes, some quite serious. Here's a pic where he looks mixed:

And this:

 

[Westside]

It looked initially like Jon "Cucky" Gruden was going to lighten up the blackest team in NFL history, but he quickly did a 180 and now the Raiders once again are in single digits with just nine Whites on their 53 man roster. Obviously it's easier to be semi-fair in a broadcast booth than it is as an NFL head coach.

QB - Derek Carr, A. J. McCarron
WR - Jordy Nelson
TE - Lee Smith, Derek Carrier
T - Kolton Miller

PK - Mike Nugent
P - Johnny Townsend
LS - Andrew DePaolo

LB James Cowser, the backup who showed well when he played, was purged and now the defense is coal black.

All eight of the players on IR, PUP or suspended are black. For what it's worth, FB Ryan Yurachek, S Dallin Leavitt, and TE Paul Butler are on the practice squad.

For a heady few days it looked like the Raiders were going to have three White receivers seeing the field this season -- Jordy, Ryan Switzer and Griff Whalen. Gruden was cooing that Switzer was uncoverable and set to be the starting slot receiver, then Whalen joined the competition. But then Switzer was all but given away (Oakland traded Switzer and a sixth round pick to Pittsburgh for a fifth round pick), and Whalen magically came down with a season ending injury.

And now is all back to normal in Oakland. How much Gruden cares is debatable -- he's already under heavy fire for making the Raiders older and then trading Khalil Mack. Their all-black defense looks like it's going to be atrocious and the team has the look and feel of a bottom feeder -- but Cucky has $100 million reasons not to feel too bad if his return to the coaching ranks is a failure.

Number of White starters: 3

Number of Whites on 53 man roster: 9

Grade: F-

Wow! I thought for sure Gruden would change the complexion of this vile team. While hopefully like last year they will crash and burn. An F, wow.

 

[Don Wassall]

The Raiders are in complete rebuild mode after trading Amari Cooper to the Cowboys. This after trading Khalik Mack earlier. Gruden has now accumulated a stash of first round picks for the 2019 and 2020 drafts. We'll see if he remakes the Raiders in a less coal black direction as the roster is in the process of being near totally revamped this year and the next two years.

In the meantime, Jordy Nelson is now the clear number one receiver on this year's team. Derek Carr should be looking to use him that way after under-targeting Jordy in most games prior to Cooper being traded. Cooper btw is a quasi-bust, not coming close to meeting expectations after being a first round pick and then having a very good rookie season.

 

[Extra Point]

The Raiders fleeced the Cowboys by getting a first round pick for Amari Cooper. According to Pro Football Focus Cooper had a drop rate of 13.6% his first three years in the league. This is terrible. Six games into this season he only has 22 receptions and 280 yards. Plus the Cowboys will have to invoke an expensive fifth year option for Cooper for next year after which his contract runs out.

Bad trade for the Cowboys.

 

[Bucky]

Gruden's woes continue. 1-7 start. Jordy has been neglected, while rest of upsider WR group stinks. Sumo OL still sucks and Raiders just brought in 5 more Sumo OL for workouts this week. Defensively? Name 1 Raider Defender now that Khalil Mack is gone.

Positives, he has stockpiled an impressive amount of Draft Picks. Negative to that, likely every player Gruden will draft Will be an afflete.

 

[Extra Point]

The Raiders had a pretty good linebacker named James Cowser. He played well whenever he was given the opportunity. The Raiders cut him. It wasn't because he wasn't playing well.

There are reasons the Raiders are 1-7.

 

[Leonardfan]

Gruden's woes continue. 1-7 start. Jordy has been neglected, while rest of upsider WR group stinks. Sumo OL still sucks and Raiders just brought in 5 more Sumo OL for workouts this week. Defensively? Name 1 Raider Defender now that Khalil Mack is gone.

Positives, he has stockpiled an impressive amount of Draft Picks. Negative to that, likely every player Gruden will draft Will be an afflete.

Gruden is a real bizarre case - he was pretty much a straight shooter as a commentator and has basically devolved into a caste clown like he was when he got fired. It would be nice if they just drafted three white OL in round 1 next year with those first round picks.

 

[Don Wassall]

There was a lot of speculation over the past week that Derek Carr has "lost the locker room." I actually think that happened last season when he didn't join the overwhelming majority of his teammates in disrespecting the country during the national anthem. Right after that was the infamous MNF game against Washington when the o-line didn't seem interested in protecting him and it leaked that they had done it deliberately.

Fast forward to this season, and Gruden was initially raving about Ryan Switzer and Griff Whalen. Then suddenly he did a 180 and traded Switzer for pretty much nothing and Whalen was put on IR and cut. Cowser was also cut along with an o-lineman who was supposed to be a starter at tackle (can't recall his name just now). The long-established toxic environment in Oakland wasn't interested in changing for Gruden so it appears he got the message and "went with the program," at least for 2018. I even wonder if Carr not looking Jordy's way at all yesterday (one measly catch) was to prop himself up in the eyes of his teammates. With Amari Cooper traded, Jordy should be the clear number one receiver yet it was like he wasn't even on the team yesterday.

A complete rebuild is now underway, so it'll be a couple of seasons before we can judge Gruden fairly. What he does with his five first round picks for the next two drafts will be indicative but not necessarily dispositive as there are so few Whites who successfully overcome all the hurdles to become considered early round draft choices. The few teams considered relatively White friendly haven't gotten that way through the early rounds of the draft, the Patriots in particular.

 

[Freethinker]

There was a lot of speculation over the past week that Derek Carr has "lost the locker room." I actually think that happened last season when he didn't join the overwhelming majority of his teammates in disrespecting the country during the national anthem. Right after that was the infamous MNF game against Washington when the o-line didn't seem interested in protecting him and it leaked that they had done it deliberately.

Fast forward to this season, and Gruden was initially raving about Ryan Switzer and Griff Whalen. Then suddenly he did a 180 and traded Switzer for pretty much nothing and Whalen was put on IR and cut. Cowser was also cut along with an o-lineman who was supposed to be a starter at tackle (can't recall his name just now). The long-established toxic environment in Oakland wasn't interested in changing for Gruden so it appears he got the message and "went with the program," at least for 2018. I even wonder if Carr not looking Jordy's way at all yesterday (one measly catch) was to prop himself up in the eyes of his teammates. With Amari Cooper traded, Jordy should be the clear number one receiver yet it was like he wasn't even on the team yesterday.

A complete rebuild is now underway, so it'll be a couple of seasons before we can judge Gruden fairly. What he does with his five first round picks for the next two drafts will be indicative but not necessarily dispositive as there are so few Whites who successfully overcome all the hurdles to become considered early round draft choices. The few teams considered relatively White friendly haven't gotten that way through the early rounds of the draft, the Patriots in particular.

Good post. I think you are right about the racial politics at play in Oakland. I’m no fan of Gruden but he’s got to navigate a minefield. If he’s to ever have success again, he’s going to have to “drain the swamp” so to speak.

 

[Shadowlight]

Interesting take above on the current Raiders current status. I have had a growing concern about black locker rooms which in my mind dooms white athletes.

The media at first blamed the Khalil Mack trade as the key reason why the Raiders are so awful. But the media has been a bit quiet of late on that front because Mack hasn't done much of anything the past two games. In fact the Patriots snuffed him out. Mack is a good player but he like many black players is overrated.

But Don is right. The Raiders were so lost up in a hole that a lot of reorganizing is needed. This often happens to teams that go full scale caste. Now the jury is still out on Gruden. Sometimes you just can't get right back on the bike like before. He was a delight as an announcer but he is being humbled big time right now.

We all hope here Jordy ( my favorite NFL player the past decade) gets some momentum going. They play Thursday night against the 49ers.

As for rebuilding their all black defense is pretty damn bad. I think Carr is a capable build your team around QB but I would like to see Gruden grab some white defensive players in the upcoming drafts. Their current defense has that typical clueless awfulness and lack of toughness that has spread like wildfire in the NFL as teams have gone the all black D route.

I recall once before a draft a hyped up ultra athletic black Ohio State DB was being heralded as the next big thing. But Gruden was watching the tape and noticed the kid never made a tackle. Gruden was totally unimpressed. You knew that was not his type of defensive player. Yet the league is now full of these types.

The media is not cutting Gruden any slack but like both Free and Don suggest Gruden needs a year or two to clear out this mess and at that point we will be able to properly gauge Gruden's performance.

 

[Truthteller]

There was a lot of speculation over the past week that Derek Carr has "lost the locker room." I actually think that happened last season when he didn't join the overwhelming majority of his teammates in disrespecting the country during the national anthem. Right after that was the infamous MNF game against Washington when the o-line didn't seem interested in protecting him and it leaked that they had done it deliberately.

In retrospect, Carr's career took a devastating turn for the worse when pizza-faced, veteran Caste Clown OC Norv Turner vehemently pushed Minnesota to use their first round pick on Teddy Bridgewater, instead of Carr. Derek has had some success in Oakland, but he's never fit into that militant, all-black locker room....Had he gone to the Vikings (as many expected) he'd be thriving on the field and in the locker room, particularly with that very white friendly offense.

Fast forward to this season, and Gruden was initially raving about Ryan Switzer and Griff Whalen. Then suddenly he did a 180 and traded Switzer for pretty much nothing and Whalen was put on IR and cut. Cowser was also cut along with an o-lineman who was supposed to be a starter at tackle (can't recall his name just now). The long-established toxic environment in Oakland wasn't interested in changing for Gruden so it appears he got the message and "went with the program," at least for 2018. I even wonder if Carr not looking Jordy's way at all yesterday (one measly catch) was to prop himself up in the eyes of his teammates. With Amari Cooper traded, Jordy should be the clear number one receiver yet it was like he wasn't even on the team yesterday.

Prior to the season, I thought Jordy Nelson was making a huge mistake signing with the Raiders. New Orleans and Oakland went after him with the most vigor....I'm really hoping Sean Payton can swing a deal to acquire Jordy this week. N.O. needs receiver help in a major way and he might come cheap, in terms of draft pick compensation.

I can't ever remember so many big, mid-season trades in the NFL. Houston and Philly both dealt for starting WR's today. Is Jordy next? Caste media claims Jordy contract (2yr. $15 mill, with $13 mill. guaranteed) makes a trade impossible?

A complete rebuild is now underway, so it'll be a couple of seasons before we can judge Gruden fairly. What he does with his five first round picks for the next two drafts will be indicative but not necessarily dispositive as there are so few Whites who successfully overcome all the hurdles to become considered early round draft choices. The few teams considered relatively White friendly haven't gotten that way through the early rounds of the draft, the Patriots in particular.

Chucky walked into a huge black/racist swap. If he even wants to begin to "drain the swamp" he must get Lonsman owner Mark Davis to fire his buddy/bizarre looking racist GM Reggie McKenzie.....No way Gruden makes any real progress with McKenzie and his henchmen at his side. Particularly when it comes to drafting players.

 

[Thrashwolf]

James Cowser promoted from practice squad

https://www.google.com/amp/s/profoo.../2018/10/30/raiders-promote-james-cowser/amp/

Hopefully he sees some playing time the raiders linebackers have played awful

 

[Bucky]

James Cowser promoted from practice squad

https://www.google.com/amp/s/profoo.../2018/10/30/raiders-promote-james-cowser/amp/

Hopefully he sees some playing time the raiders linebackers have played awful

Good news, If I were Gruden I would throw Cowser immediately into the fire. See what the guy can do. Low cost plus low risk situation, since Raiders already suck.

 

[FootballDad]

I remember a tackling machine LB that was on the roster a couple of years ago that epitomizes what Gruden refers to as a “grinder”. I’m sure Ben Heeney is available.

 

[Extra Point]

A few years ago the Raiders had a tackling machine named Miles Burris. They let him go.