Nonstopdrivel
15 years ago

Where have you gone, Daryle Lamonica? 

Cold, Hard Football Facts for October 26, 2008
[img_r]http://www.coldhardfootballfacts.com/Images/DavisAl2.jpg[/img_r]
(Ed. Note: The Passing Yards Per Attempt figure that we use as one of our Quality Stats takes into account sacks. However, the NFL does not have any information regarding the number of sacks a team suffered before 1967. Therefore, for the sake of apples to apples comparisons, the bulk of this story looks only at gross passing yards per attempt. To stack up Oakland's passsing offenses through the years, check out this spreadsheet.)
[i]

Conventional wisdom tells us that Al Davis is past his prime and that the game has passed him by.

Consider this one of those rare times when the conventional wisdom regurgitated by pigskin pundits is deeply rooted in the rich, nourishing soil of the Cold, Hard Football Facts.

Another pathetic passing performance by the Raiders Sunday simply drives home the futility that is the current state of management in Oakland.

The Raiders lost at Baltimore Sunday, 29-10. It was a long way to go to not show up. And, as usual, an inability to pass the ball effectively was one of the main reasons the Raiders performed poorly.

JaMarcus Russell the former overall No. 1 draft pick taken by Davis in 2007 in an effort to inject new life into the mortuary-stiff Raiders offense dropped back to pass 37 times against Baltimore. He completed just 15 of 33 attempts (for a respectable 228 yards), while suffering four sacks for a loss of 41 yards.

Those figures add up to 187 net yards passing on 37 dropbacks an average of just 5.05 yards every time Russell stepped back into the pocket.

Good thing Daryle Lamonica is still alive, or else the Mad Bomber would have spent Sunday night rolling over in his grave.

But it was just another ordinary day at the office of humiliation for the Oakland offense of the 21st century. In fact, the organizations decline since its 2002 Super Bowl appearance directly coincides with a dramatic downfall in the teams ability to matriculate the ball down field via the pass.

THE EARLY YEARS

Al Davis critics argue that he continues to cling to antiquated theories about the downfield passing game that no longer work in todays NFL. The modern league, clearly, is defined by a high-percentage, low-risk passing game that's just as likely to spread the field horizontally as the old Al Davis offense of Lamonica, Warren Wells, Kenny Stabler and Cliff Branch was to spread the field vertically.

The Cold, Hard Football Facts may not prove that there's merit to this argument. But they do prove that the Raiders-style offense that once ruled the NFL is now the most ineffective offense in franchise history, and routinely among the worst in the league today.

But before burying Al Davis's legacy, it pays to remember that he was revolutionary figure in the history of the game, and that his offensive theories instantly turned the Raiders from laughingstock to powerhouse.

In fact, his arrival in Oakland heralded the organizations arrival as one of the elite outfits in all of sports.

The Raiders were pathetic during their first three years in the old AFL, winning just nine games from 1960 to 1962.

Davis showed up as Oaklands new head coach in 1963, and suddenly everything changed. The suddeness of the Davis impact is evident in these Cold, Hard Football Facts:

* The Raiders averaged just 5.99 yards per pass attempt in 1962, the year before Davis rode into town.
* The Raiders averaged a stunning 7.66 yards per attempt in 1963, Davis's first year at the helm.
* The passing-deficient Raiders went 1-13 in 1962 without Davis.
* The passing-proficient Raiders went 10-4 in 1963 with Davis.

Few, if any, coaches in history produced such a dramatic turnaround in the space of one year.

When Davis arrived, he took the ball out of the hands of quarterback Cotton Davidson and gave it to Tom Flores. He also brought in gamebreaking receiver Art Powell, who remains one of the most explosive but least heralded pass catchers in NFL history. (Powell caught 81 TD passes in just 117 games, one of the greatest scoring rates in pro football history.)

Davis would cede the head coaching job to John Rauch (1966), then John Madden (1969), then Tom Flores (1979), but one thing remained consistent: The Raiders were winners and they won year after year by passing the ball as well or better than any other team in football.

Oakland suffered just two losing seasons from Daviss arrival in 1963 through 1987, and the downfield passing attack was the team's deadliest weapon throughout its two-decade run of success.

The 1976 Raiders won the franchises first Super Bowl and they did it with the best passing attack in franchise history, averaging a stunning 8.85 yards per attempt. To put that production into perspective, consider that Tom Brady and the record-setting 2007 Patriots averaged 8.28 yards per pass attempt.

The Raiders of 1967 to 1969 dominated the AFL, posting an incredible 37-4-1 record over the three seasons. Each year they were among the dominant passing teams in the league, averaging, respectively, 7.63, 8.06 and 7.69 yards per attempt.

The 2002 Raiders are the only Oakland team in recent history that passed the ball with any semblance of respectability. Their average of 7.58 yards per pass attempt is the best by an Oakland team since 1990. They 2002 Raiders, not so coincidentally, won the AFC title and is the last Raiders team to reach the playoffs or, even, post a winning record.

THE RECENT YEARS

Since that 2002 season, the Raiders offense is about as hip and trendy as Oakland's other great export, MC Hammer.

In the five-and-half seasons since that Super Bowl appearance, 11 different quarterbacks have tried and failed to break the team out of its passing-game doldrums. Aaron Brooks, Kerry Collins, Daunte Culpepper, Rich Gannon, Rob Johnson, Tee Martin, Josh McCown, Rick Mirer, Russell, Marques Tuiasosopo and Andrew Walter have all taken snaps for the Oakland offense over this period.

It's been a complete disaster.

In fact, the years from 2003 to 2008 have been the worst in franchise history. The Raiders have suffered five straight losing seasons from 2003 to 2007 for the first time ever. Now 2-5 here in 2008, the Raiders are well on their way to a sixth-straight losing season.

So why are the Raiders so poor? No surprise here: the worst records in franchise history coincide with the very worst passing teams in franchise history.

The 2003 Raiders were the single worst passing team in franchise history, with an average 5.74 YPA. The 2003 Raiders went 4-12. The four wins were the fewest by a Raiders team since the pre-Al Davis club went 1-13 in 1962.

The 2006 Raiders are the second worst passing team in franchise history, with an average of 5.90 YPA. The 2006 Raiders went 2-14, suffering more losses than any other Oakland team. (For the record, if you use CHFFs adjusted formula, which includes sacks, the 2006 Raiders averaged just 4.36 YPA, the worst mark ever by an Oakland offense).

The 2004, 2005, 2007 and now 2008 Raiders all stand among the worst passing teams in franchise history.

So there you have it, folks: theres plenty of statistical evidence that indicates that the game has passed by Al Davis, leaving the old warhorse and his organization a shadow of their former selves.

But as you mock the man and the organization, remember that the game that has passed him by is one that he helped create in the first place.


UserPostedImage
Rockmolder
15 years ago
Love that they actually shed some light on his postive influence as well. He's been an amazing owner/GM for a long time.

That said, he should just call it quits. I don't see him changing anything that will get this franchise back on track again. He's too set in his ways. Problem is, I don't see him retiring as the GM either. This franchise will suffer some more mediocre years. At least untill Davis is gone, hard as it sounds.

And to think I had them as my dark horse pick this year... lol.
Fan Shout
dfosterf (14h) : It's my one day deal complaint dept. on shareholder meeting day
dfosterf (15h) : Probably a homer access credential intimidation kinda thing
dfosterf (15h) : Meathead "journalists" skip this, concentrating on operational revenue when convenient. They switch when net revenue is more favorable.
dfosterf (15h) : Resulting in an actual drop of net revenue of 12.5%. She is from Minnesota. Just sayin'
dfosterf (15h) : Any plans to hold Maureen Smith (CFO) accountable for a 95% drop in investment revenue?
Mucky Tundra (15h) : In your face, HBO!
Mucky Tundra (15h) : @ByRyanWood Mark Murphy: “A great source of pride of mine is that we were never on Hard Knocks.”
Mucky Tundra (16h) : *years
Mucky Tundra (16h) : @mattschneidman Mark Murphy says he anticipates “many Packers games” being played in Germany, Ireland and/or the U.K. over the next 5-10 yea
dfosterf (16h) : *cafeteria* I have hit my head also, so I sympathize
dfosterf (16h) : Possibly hit his head leaning into the glass protecting the food in the cafateria
dfosterf (16h) : Maybe a low flying drone
dfosterf (16h) : Did Savion Williams run into a goalpost or something?
Mucky Tundra (16h) : also, no bueno when a guy starts getting concussions right off the bat in his career
Zero2Cool (16h) : Concussion is worse. Banks probably vet off day via back booboo claim
Mucky Tundra (19h) : @AndyHermanNFL Jordy Nelson out at camp today. No word if he’s in play for one of the two open roster spots ; )
dfosterf (19h) : Is that better or worse than Banks bad back?
Zero2Cool (20h) : Savion concussion ... not good.
packerfanoutwest (24-Jul) : Aaron Rodgers’s first pass of first team period was picked off
Mucky Tundra (24-Jul) : tbh I didn't hear of his passing
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Cosby Show. Malcom Jamal Warner I think is real name
Mucky Tundra (24-Jul) : I was thinking of Ozzy and Hulk
Mucky Tundra (24-Jul) : Who's Theo?
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : How is Theo alliteration?
Mucky Tundra (24-Jul) : Bad week for people whose names are alliterations
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Hulk Hogan gone too.
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Oh, it's toe injury
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Hope it's not serious. that would stink
dfosterf (24-Jul) : Sounds like an ankle not a knee for Fields
dfosterf (24-Jul) : Ya Flaccp on Browns
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Maybe Tyrod Taylor instead
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : He's on Browns, right?
dfosterf (24-Jul) : They would probably go with Flacco is my guess if Fields out
dfosterf (24-Jul) : Fleece 'em again!
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Malik Willis might be someone Jets come after
packerfanoutwest (24-Jul) : Packers introduce 1923-inspired classic uniform, leather-look helmet
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Both LB Quay Walker and Rookie DB Micah Robinson have passed their physicals
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Happy to see site feels more snappy snappy
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : No sir. I did not.
dfosterf (23-Jul) : You didn't get free childcare when you were at work?
wpr (23-Jul) : These guys make hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. Pay for their own childcare.
dfosterf (23-Jul) : 2nd issue. Number 1 issue was no gameday childcare. 1 of 3 teams not providing it
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Suppose if locker room is main issue, we sitting pretty
wpr (23-Jul) : I thought so Mucky. In those useless player polls GB always rates high overall. Locker is a part of it.
Mucky Tundra (23-Jul) : Wasn't the locker room just updated like 6 or 7 years ago?
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : I have forum updated on different site. We'll see how this one goes before going to that
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : Elgton Jenkins has a back injury, is expect to end contract dispute
wpr (23-Jul) : It's funny the PA complained about the locker room. It wasn't that long ago it was top shelf. Things change in a hurry.
wpr (23-Jul) : The site is much more better.
Zero2Cool (23-Jul) : NFLPA report said Packers lockerroom needed upgrade. Whining bout where you change?
Please sign in to use Fan Shout
2025 Packers Schedule
Sunday, Sep 7 @ 3:25 PM
LIONS
Thursday, Sep 11 @ 7:15 PM
COMMANDERS
Sunday, Sep 21 @ 12:00 PM
Browns
Sunday, Sep 28 @ 7:20 PM
Cowboys
Sunday, Oct 12 @ 3:25 PM
BENGALS
Sunday, Oct 19 @ 3:25 PM
Cardinals
Sunday, Oct 26 @ 7:20 PM
Steelers
Sunday, Nov 2 @ 12:00 PM
PANTHERS
Monday, Nov 10 @ 7:15 PM
EAGLES
Sunday, Nov 16 @ 12:00 PM
Giants
Sunday, Nov 23 @ 12:00 PM
VIKINGS
Thursday, Nov 27 @ 12:00 PM
Lions
Sunday, Dec 7 @ 12:00 PM
BEARS
Sunday, Dec 14 @ 3:25 PM
Broncos
Friday, Dec 19 @ 11:00 PM
Bears
Friday, Dec 26 @ 11:00 PM
RAVENS
Saturday, Jan 3 @ 11:00 PM
Vikings
Recent Topics
15h / Around The NFL / Mucky Tundra

16h / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

22h / Green Bay Packers Talk / TheKanataThrilla

25-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / dfosterf

25-Jul / Around The NFL / beast

24-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

24-Jul / Around The NFL / beast

24-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

23-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

23-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

22-Jul / Random Babble / Zero2Cool

22-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

22-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

20-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

20-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

Headlines
Copyright © 2006 - 2025 PackersHome.com™. All Rights Reserved.