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In 2008 the Raiders return teams proved to be the spark plug that fired the Raiders late season success. During the last seven games, the Raiders returned three punts and two kickoffs for touchdowns. So far this season, the Raiders return teams have been positively unable to get out of their own way.
The Raiders have not been able to find a viable option as a kickoff returner, and Johnnie Lee Higgins has been off his game as a punt returner since he has returned from the injury he suffered in the first game of the season. The blockers have not been opening the same holes they were last year.
Special teams standout Sam Williams takes responsibility for the issues with the return game, "That is definitely on us. We help each other out. If we give them a little bit of space, they have to make one person miss, which will open it up. … It’s our job to get our job blocked, and it’s the returner’s job to make one guy miss and then get to the house.”
Last year's special teams coordinator Brian Schneider is now coaching for the University of Southern California and his replacement John Fassel seems to find himself on Levi's weekly buster list. The NFL also made changes to the blocking rules for kickoff returns. In this past offseason, they eliminated wedge blocking. Its a subtle change, but one that makes a wold of difference.
Williams said it would only take one return to get them on a roll. “That’s all it takes is one good return to get the confidence up and the returner believing in us and us believing in the returner.”
Last year's spark? According to Williams it was the addition of Marquis Cooper. "When Marquis [Cooper] came last year he was kind of the spark plug that got the special teams unit going. As soon as he came, we started taking it to the house and doing that kind of stuff, around this time of the year. All it is is us getting our confidence back, belief in us winning the one-on-ones. It’s easy to go out there on kickoffs and run somebody over. But when someone’s trying to run you over and you have to hold your ground, you have to be mentally tough.”
The Raiders need a spark right now wherever they can find it. If the return teams can pull it together for that first return to the house, that could be the needed jumpstart to the other two units.
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What is it with the rest of these guys. They see JaBustus and DHB pulling the "I don't have any confidence coach" routine and suddenly they are off the hook to perform. Does anyone know why? Well, try this simple test. How exactly do you repair confidence? Depends on the person. Hmmm. How long exactly does it take? Depends on the circumstances and the person. Hmmm. How long exactly does it last? Depends on the circumstances and the person and the results of the treatments. Hmmm. So how does it work in real life?
A friend told me once she was unhappy because she and her husband weren't having good sex. She said that he told her it was a confidence problem and got a doctor to back it up. He later left her after getting caught shagging her best friend in their bed. Confidence returned I guess, just not with the wife. Can you say jerk?
So if they made the league minimum or more they would be rich folk. I am confident about that. They make more than the minimum to a man. I am fairly confident about that. They are all professionals with a resume to protect. I am confident about that. But they are not required to be any better than they are because now they have a confidence problem. I am confident about that. They will leave on the first train out of town for a better offer after they have vacationed in Oakland on the "no-hit, no-hurt" team for however long it takes to get their confidence back. I am confident about that. They are confident that this strategy is working for them because this is no longer sports; it is a job with bennies and great paycheck. I am confident about that. They're confidence will return, to a man, as soon as they leave Oaktown for place that demands accountability, results and performance. I am confident about that. The only person in the organization that IS confident about how to handle this problem is the old fool that made the Raiduhs the embarassment of the league. I am confident about that too!