Tag: Miami Dolphins

Let’s See How This Goes

It should not be hard to be optimistic heading into this season. The Raiders again have a change at head coach. This time, it’s a first-time, high-energy, player-focused head coach with an offensive background.

They finally drafted their QB of the future with Fernando Mendoza in the first round. Maxx Crosby is back, even after the team tried to ship him out.

Yet Mendoza didn’t win the job. The plan is for Kirk Cousins to get a shot at running the offense, despite being mid with far superior weapons in Atlanta last season. Brock Bowers is out. Michael Mayer got paid despite the team never really prioritizing him. Nobody really emerged as the Raiders’ go-to receiver. Ashton Jeanty is banged up. Mike Washington is third on the depth chart despite lighting up the preseason. Deonte Thornton is banged up. Now, we’re banking on Tre Tucker and Jack Bech to perform way above anything they’ve shown us so far. Josh Nailor also got some offseason hype, but he has mainly been a third or fourth receiver.

Defensively, the Raiders recharged their linebacker corps with two big signings. They also picked up a new slot corner. Despite needing some elite upgrades, their secondary group is pretty much the same. They’ll also have a new defensive coordinator for the first time in a few years. Patrick Graham survived three coaching regime changes. The new DC has big shoes to fill.

Overall, the Raiders have a favorable season opener versus the Dolphins at home. They will have to contain Malik Willis, who can tear them up on the ground and through the air. He is underrated and was good for Green Bay in spots. The Dolphins receivers won’t scare anyone. They’re a collective of youngins and washouts.

Expect Vegas to run the ball a ton. Expect Michael Mayer to get the ball spammed to him. Hopefully, they can get a play or two from their receiving group. If they can do that and their defense limits big plays, Vegas could actually start the season on the right side of victory. Then again, they won Week One last year, and look how that turned out.

Raiders Globalization

london

Earlier this season the Oakland Raiders announced they will play a home game in London. Last week they announced that they will be hosting the Miami Dolphins.

A few weeks ago, I read a report via Bleacher Report that said Al Davis would never consider forfeiting a home gome in favor of traveling across continents to Europe. The article talked about how the NFL pays the home team the same amount as if it were a sold out home game, but from a competitive standpoint it gives the Raiders only seven actual home games.

My thoughts are, what organization outside of the Raiders has an iconic logo and reputation? There are few organizations who have had as much influence on popular culture as The Raiders. We’ve seen rappers, actors, and all kinds of people have been seen rocking Raider gear as signs of Fashion rather than fan ship. Even on a smaller scale, the Raider logo has become a symbol of rebellion, and a statement of being unique. The fact is, like them or hate them, you know who the Raiders are.

Since Mark Davis became the face of the Raiders he has said that he is not his father. He has done everything he can to propel his Raiders into the times. Having a game in London is just another way Davis is showing he is committed to expanding the Oakland Raiders. He is also showing the NFL world, that this is not the closed market Raider team that your parents new. Rather this is the same Raider team in a global economy.

which brings me to my point, As a brand why wouldn’t you want to globalize such an iconic piece of the NFL and American culture. The Raiders represent a piece of NFL and iconic history. From a business perspective, the NFL needs to bring a rich piece of their history and brand into the globalization, so why not start with the Raiders? We have already seen the league make it a point for teams to do Hard Knocks, so it is only a matter of time before an overseas team becomes mandatory for teams. So if it is going to be any one, it mine as well be the Raiders.

As a bonus, expanding the Raiders brand can only help them appeal to the city of Oakland in their quest for a stadium. Or if they decide to opt for a stadium in The media capital of the world, Los ANgeles, well having a foundation in London can only make their franchise more appealing for Los ANgeles.

The Raiders already have two UK natives in Jack Crawford and Manelik Watson. The Raiders are already a symbol of popular culture in America. So why not build the foundation for fans in London. The Raiders brand is already a huge national brand, and now it is time to expand it to a global platform. Global Populations have already become familiar with the Raider logo from movies and music, so now its time to give those people a chance to buy into the brand of the Raiders. In the process, they might just become fans and followers. Either way this can only be a good thing for the Oakland Raiders and their brand.