ESPN reporter Bill Williamson on the Oakland Raiders 0-4 heading into the bye week and say bye bye to Head Coach Dennis Allen who was just fired late Monday

ESPN Oakland Raiders reporter Bill Williamson broke the story that late monday night, Oakland Raiders Head Coach Dennis Allen has been fired after just 2 seasons. During his tenure, Dennis Allen lead his Raiders team to victory just eight times in a span of 36 games. After just two full seasons with the Oakland Raiders as Head Coach and an abysmal 0-4 record to begin the regular season, the Raiders organization has pulled the plug on Allen making the announcement on Monday. In those two season, the Raiders have unfortunately held the second to worst win percentage in the NFL. The only team with a lower win percentage than Oakland (.222 win percentage) is the Jacksonville Jaguars at .167 percentile.

Mark Davis, son of the famous former Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis, whom now owns the Raider organization was reported as stating that he was weary from his beloved Raiders team continously losing in lopsided fashion and in big blowout games. A statement that would continue to reoccur as under Dennis Allen's tutelage the Raiders were blownout in 9 games of Allen's 36 and lost by more than twenty points. It appeared the loss on Sunday in Webley Stadium, UK against the Miami Dolphins was the tipping point leading to the firing of Allen, it was loss recorded at 38-14 making it another 20 point plus loss for Oakland. Former legendary owner Al Davis was no stranger to firing and replacing head coaches and as his son Mark Davis fires Allen that makes 7 head coaches fired since they traded Jon Gruden to Tampa Bay in 2001. The seven Raider head coaches axed makes it the longest streak of firing head coaches in the NFL. An ugly statistic added on to an even uglier slew of problems for Oakland.

When you don't win games in the NFL, you simply will not be coaching for long. Even Bill Williamson remarked that Allen's inability to keep the Raiders competitive and relevant was his downfall. This is a process that happens all too often in the NFL. Nevertheless, Mark Davis and the Raiders Organization had sound reasons for the firing. The two seasons before Dennis Allen was made head coach the Raiders were 8-8, not a great record but one that is often good enough to be in the playoff hunt/picture.  Questioning eyes are now on the Oakland Raiders General Manager Reggie McKenzie who personally picked Dennis Allen with confidence to lead the Raiders back to former glory of the Madden Era/ Al Davis era of smashmouth Raiders football. The 0-4 start this season paired with an NFL high of ten straight losses and an overall 8-28 record is reason enough for any NFL managers to send Allen the boot. The unfortunate truth is that Oakland heavily recycled and tried to improve their roster in the off-season last year and has found themselves in another dreadful season. As Oakland Raiders head into their bye week for the season (which they will definitelty need) they say 'bye bye' to Dennis Allen and look forward (so to speak) to another rebuilding year.

References:
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11615699/dennis-allen-fired-head-coach-oakland-raiders

Photography/ Image Courtesy:

Dear Al: Ron Hall

ESPN Green Bay Report Rob Demvosky on Why Packers Fan Can Keep Calm and R.E.L.A.X with an Aaron Rodgers 151.2 QB Rating FTW

ESPN Green Bay Packers reporter Rob Demvosky in an article published today tells his fellow Packers fans  they can now effectively take some R & R after the Packer's effective offesnsive performance.  During the first three drives of the game for the Packers, Rodgers looked indubitably different in pace and focus. Aaron Rodgers strung together three touchdown drives of 205 yards combined in just 8 mintues and 56 seconds in those opening three offesive drives. It was such an offensive onslaught and fervent pace that was reminiscent of Peyton Manning No-Huddle charges or the Philadelphia Eagles recent playcalling.  That is the style and type of offensive productivity that Packers fans have been accustomed to. Quite possibly, Packers fans galore may be too accustomed to it. Where there was panic in Green Bay last week; this week such frightened woes about the season for the Green Bay Packers were replaced with hype and hopes in a solid outing against the Bears.

Demvosky goes on to make the notations that the Chicago Bears are currently ranked 23rd in yards allowed and missing three DB starters including Charles Tillman at CB is who on the reserve list. Nevertheless, the Bears would see Rodgers and company score a touchdown or more throughout every quarter of play. Packers effectively handed the Bears their second loss of the season with 38-17 victory. Packer's own division again becomes manageable as the last two consecutive outings for wins place them right behind the 3-1 Detriot Lions. The NFC North, just a couple weeks ago, looked grim for Green Bay; two wins later for the Packers and with all other contenders(Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings) except for the Lions at 2-2 , the NFC North is not only wide open but its a division where Aaron Rodgers and Packers should be dominating in the weeks to come. Even Rodgers stated something to that effect in the post game interviews, "Well, I just know it's a long season, so there's always going to be mini-freakouts along the way...You just got to stick together, stay the course. [Coach Mike McCarthy] talked about trusting the process this week. I just wanted to remind everybody that it's a long season and at some point we were going to get this thing figured out."

The game was great for fans of the Packers high flying air assaults. Not only were Rodgers numbers on point for the game, he shared the wealth as well. Rodgers hooked up with....of course.. Jordy Nelson for 10 catches, 100+ yards & a couple touchdowns but found help from Randall Cobb (118 yards with two touchdowns), Richard Rodgers (a nice big 43 yard catch for the rookie) and Davante Adams (2 catches, 18 yards). This offensive clinic was almost as impressive as Rodgers QB rating for the game. Never since a 2009 game against the Browns (155.4) has it ever been this high at 151.2 which was thanks to 22 of 28 completions with 302 yards and four touchdowns. Tied in second for their division, consecutive wins their last couple outings and a near Aaron Rodgers' career high 151.2 QB rating is more than enough for the Green Bay Packer's world to 'R.E.L.A.X.' just take Rodgers' word for it.

References:

http://espn.go.com/blog/green-bay-packers/post/_/id/13611/aaron-rodgers-packers-quick-hitting-offense-should-help-fans-r-e-l-a-x

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11576354/aaron-rodgers-tells-panicking-green-bay-packers-fans-relax

Photography/ Image Courtesy:

Aaron Rodgers: Mike Morbeck

Green Bay Offense: Joe Bielawa

Vince Lombardi Quote: Next TwentyEight

ESPN Reporter Andy Jasner Is Worried About Philadelphia Eagles' Sack Drought And Why You Should Be Concerned

ESPN reporter Andy Jasner is woried about the Philadelphia Eagle's defensive effeciency and thinks you should be just as concerned. If you remember three weeks ago, the Eagles recorded a respectable three sacks during their come from behind victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Those pass rushes are an element in what would become a 34-17 shootout win. Andy Jasner is much more concerned with the fact that since that game the Eagles haven't posted another sack as of yet. While offensive productivity is relatively good and Philly can boast a solid rating for their QB, Nick Foles, who is in the top ten performing quarterbacks, leaving the game with no sacks for your defense is a worrying statistic. The NFL and football itself is evolving and its general trend on defensive effeciency is tightly related to how much pressure you can place on your opposing quarterbacks. Sacks in a game are often under appreciated, many DBs around the league will tell you if you can get a sack it takes pressure of your back and places it on the offense. When teams pass rush effectively it deters and keeps offenses honest, the less time the quarterback has in the pocket, the more likelihood that the plays turns out in the defense's advantage.

The Philadelphia Eagles are no stranger to this defensive philosophy. The great and revered former Eagles Defensive Coach Jim Johnson was a pass rush intensive playcaller, which gave a reputation and respect around the league for the heavy hits and blitz rushes back in the day with great pieces to that stellar defensive puzzle such as Brian Dawkins at strong safety who molded well with playcalling and style for consecutive successful years of a strong Eagles defense. Very talented stars have took up that helm at defense like Trent Cole, who has impresive speed and power, yet ever since the new direction along with the failure of the last couple years with the 'Wide 9' style, which saw disasterous results in pass rushing, getting sacks has been a big gap and great detriment to Ealges defensive productivity. Many Eagles recognize this recurring problem such as Connor Barwin who made the statement that "I think we're rushing the passer really well when we have the opportunities,But the opportunities haven't been what we've wanted them to be. And that's on us to make it happen. Or else everybody's going to keep talking about it -- and rightfully so."

Frankly, Philadelphia Eagles just have been unable to bring their defense back to the luster and productivity of Jim Johnson era of Ealges defense. The wide 9 gimmick defense seemed to bring in even less sacks than less intensive pass rushing teams during the last two seasons. While the defense seems better positioned in many areas of personell and playcalling, there is noticeable disconnect with what the Eagles set out to do on defense and what the numbers and statistics state. Even Connor Barwin addressed that he believed that their defense was getting good pressure but quick releases (from opposing QBs) and other factors lead to no sacks in the last two outings. Nonetheless, many Eagles realize that if they want their undefeated season to stay that way, Eagles defensive coordinators, defensive leaders like Cole and Barwin and others will have to figure out this conundrum and start getting QBs on the ground.

References: http://espn.go.com/blog/philadelphia-eagles/post/_/id/8034/eagles-stuck-on-sack-total-since-opener