The pride of Lane Kiffin, 2007 edition

By Os Davis  |   Wednesday, December 26, 2007  |  Comments( 21 )

Oakland Raiders
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Four days from now, the Oakland Raiders' Lane Kiffin will be giving his final pre-game talk of 2007. Perhaps the rookie head coach is mulling over his words as you read this, sure to mix some combination of age-old phrases (imagine clips of Denzel Washington delivering the lines) such as "men, we had our ups and downs this season," "some of you will be here next year, some of you won't," and "I'm proud of each and every one of you."

In his head, however, Kiffin may have slightly deeper and most likely contradictory thoughts than a tough guy's locker-room bon mots. Even Raider Nation's most patriotic (sorry) would have to admit that a few problems exist with a four-win team. But let the negatives be for the future.

What made Kiffin proud about the 2007 Raiders?

The offensive line. Literally a laughingstock (at least for Randy Moss) last year while giving up 72 sacks, Kiffin brought in offensive coordinator Greg Knapp, line coach Tom Cable, a zone-blocking scheme, Jeremy Newberry, and unheralded Cornell Green. The resulting 37 sacks allowed this season says volumes about the improvement and talent there. Decent protection was provided throughout for Josh McCown and Daunte Culpepper; once some mobility is introduced at QB, that number will decrease further.

The emergence of Justin Fargas. Indeed, it is the Fargases of the world for whom sportswriters use words like "emergence." After living mostly in anonymity on the Raider sideline for four years, Fargas blew up during Week 4 in Miami, turning in a 179-yard performance. He ultimately added four 100-yard efforts in just seven games, in which he notched more than 15 carries. (Remember season's beginning when all speculation was on Dominic Rhodes?)

Pray, Nation, that Fargas isn't a one-hit wonder. And that he returns unscathed from the injury in 2008.

The Pro Bowlers. Um, Pro Bowler. Which is to say Shane Lechler. Ah, Sebastian Janikowski was robbed!

JaMarcus Russell, the situation and the man. Kiffin may actually win the battle and the war here; a successful performance by Russell on Sunday will tell until the ceasefire of spring. Midway through the season or so, rumor spread that Al Davis was putting pressure on Kiffin to play the expensive No. 1 overall pick. Kiffin (rightfully) endeared himself to Raider Nation by holding out the early season holdout of the starter's spot while devoting time to those prepared to play on opening day. Russell still has a long way to go, however, and Kiffin knows it.

Finally, Kiffin should be proud foremost of himself. Famously and now legendarily the youngest-ever coach in the NFL, Kiffin has done an admirable job in terms of game planning, player development (a decade from now, they may be using the 2007-2009 Oakland Raiders roster moves as a blueprint for rebuilding), self-development (recall him freezing the opposition's kicker a week after Janikowski had gotten done the same way), upper-management resistance (see above) and even media presence. A couple of weeks ago, sportsfolk were suggesting Kiffin might bolt for the University of Arkansas. Raider Nation had better be glad he's staying, because excepting maybe Russell, no one is more Oakland football's future than Kiffin.

Now go out there and spoil a season!

Prediction: Having to win to obtain the No. 3 seed because of a Steeler win earlier in the day, Norv Turner and the boys choke despite four TDs from the unstoppable L.T. But Russell goes for two TD strikes and overcomes a shaky performance with a little help from key turnovers. Raiders 31, Chargers 28.

Accentuating the positive (well, mostly. OK, sometimes) all year-round at RealFootball365.com
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About Os Davis

Os Davis has taken a twisted route to get to RealFootball365.com in his nearly 17 years in professional writing, working in any number of capacities in the sportswriting, news reporting and film criticism worlds. In print media, Os has served as editor at a few publications, including Albuquerque's...
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CommentsComments: 21  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
Raiderusmaximus		10:12 AM
12/26/2007
I would love to see jamarcus throw 3 TD's this Sunday against the Chargers. The Raiders had an outstanding performance ithe...
No.2
The Judge 37		12:25 PM
12/26/2007
Lane Kiffin should be proud of the job he's done. He's had this team playing hard every week ( minus GB & JAX )and they are much...
No.3
mmp1123		12:27 PM
12/26/2007
Off the subject, but check out SF Chron/Nancy Gay's article on the grumpy '72 Dolphins, specifically, she lists all the NFL teams...
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