We Believe in Al
Written by Mario Henderson, Tuesday June 30 2009
I am really excited to get back playing this year. I think it’s going to be a big year for the Raiders. We want to show you loyal Raiders fans that we’re a good team. We’ve had a rough couple of years but I feel that the pieces are there to make a run at the playoffs. I just have a gut feeling that this is going to be one of those great years.
It was good to see all the guys again during OTAs. We had a chance to really build on our teamwork.
Last year was real tough because of the coaching changes and all that. But I think that because we have a great head coach now whose job is secure that it will help us play better. Our new guys are going to be big for us this year. Greg Ellis coming over from the Cowboys is going to be a great addition to our defense.
Despite what Mel Kiper and ESPN say, I have been really impressed with Darrius Heyward-Bey. I got to see firsthand his hands and speed and all of it is for real. I think he deserves where he was picked. ESPN thought we should have taken Crabtree. They think Darrius is no good, but everybody on our team thinks he’s going to be really good.
Everybody continues to talk about Al Davis and how they think he’s doing things wrong. But me and my teammates think Al Davis is a great man. He’s been around a long time and he knows what he’s doing. From the outside you can’t see what’s really going on, but everyone here believes in him.
We have a great foundation on offense with JaMarcus Russell and Darren McFadden leading the way. Those guys are building a chemistry off the field as well as on it. They are working together and watching tape together. Darren got a year in the NFL while other guys his age were still in college. People forget how young he is. His explosiveness is going to be key for us. The fact that they’re getting better will make me and the rest of the O-line better.
Seeing the Cardinals make it to the Super Bowl last year was inspiring to me. As a team that wasn’t supposed to get there according to the experts it just showed that anything can happen when you get there. They played well and kept on winning. Our number one goal is to be that surprise team this year. The biggest test will come in the first game of the season against the Chargers. We need to try to open the season with a win.
We feel we have a great chance to do some things. With our offensive and defensive foundations in place I think this is going to be a great year.
Mario Henderson is an offensive tackle with the Oakland Raiders. His blog for www.playerpress.com runs at www.mariohenderson75.com.
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2 comments
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Great to be part of this community and this blog .. I have been a Raiders fan for over 30 years .. DIEHARD .. I can count on one hand, the number of televised Raiders games I've missed in the past 30 years, and if you exclude my 6 year marriage 10 yrs ago, I may have missed one or two televised Raiders games in 30 years. So that certainly qualifies me as a serious fan .. Two things, surely you must say good things about Al Davis because he pays your salary, and I understand that, but AL has to go for the Raiders to be successful long term .. and I really hope I am wrong because I certainly want to see the Silver and Black do better. Going back to the last few games of last season and the first two of this season, the Raiders could very well be back to at least, respectability .. Two: still waiting for JaMarcus and now Darrius to step up, especially JaMarcus who has so much potential but I think he needs to STUDY THE GAME more .. he needs to stop being so non-chalant about the game .. He could be one of the greatest to ever play the game if he puts his MIND to it ..
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Good update... thanks! Good to hear the team is all together and headed in the right direction. Do you have any personal goals for this season?