Life In The DPC!

Land of the free and the home of Dave

Happy Birthday, Al Davis

Saturday, July 5th, 2008

Happy Birthday, Al Davis!!! Today many will celebrate the birth of America, or George Steinbrenner for that matter, but DavidPatrickCastro.com sends its best to the Bay Area’s best. Happy birthday, Mr. Davis and hopefully the 2008 season is a big improvement on 2007.



DPC’s Take On Al Davis and Answering Fan Mail

Wednesday, October 10th, 2007

I don’t get you DPC. You despise Ault and have asked for his ouster on several occasions. Yet you say you respect the Raiders organization who is run by the most infamous micro manger in football history? Al Davis is everything that you claim Ault is, and more. He’s an overbearing knowitall who has done more to damage the organization and it’s image than any other person.

So please, could you explain these divergent positions? -Rory

Dear Rory;

You are absolutely correct in asking for an explanation on why I dig Al Davis but why I don’t groove to Chris Ault. As I stated in an earlier blog, Mr. Davis influenced my Madden PS2 experience more than any other man, except maybe Jeff George. During my UNR academia days I wasted a lot of time playing Madden as opposed to studying my future craft. My roommate at the time would observe my tendency to draft nothing but big armed and immobile QB’s and speedy but less than talented wideouts and maintained I acted like Mr. Davis during franchise mode. Initially this was viewed as an inside joke but after exhaustive research the joked turned into absolute respect and admiration for him. I recommend any football fans and/or Mr. Davis naysayer to read his biography “Slick”.

Mr. Davis has many detractors and rightly so but his contributions to modern football are too great to ignore. Yes, he is somewhat of a cliche but the man is a football genius. Many of the positive aspects I just listed for Mr. Davis could be biographical for Ault. I realize this but the main difference between the pair of hall of famers is that Davis has thee championship rings and numerous accolades at the highest level while the Little General dominated D-1AA . Ault is great and despite what the Wolf Pack community may assume I have nothing but the utmost respect for the man but his greatness pales in comparison to Mr. Davis.

    Ault and Mr. Davis do share one trait; micromanagement. Beyond that Mr. Davis has a commitment to excellence while Ault wants to keep Mackay Stadium the way it was. Which I assume is some arcane coach speak for giving the Wolf Pack community a less than stellar product on the Field Turf each Saturday afternoon.
    That and I admire Mr. Davis for his rebel spirit. He was never part of the establishment and continues to be his own man despite his detractors.



    Welcome To The Raider Nation

    Thursday, October 4th, 2007

    Photo by DPCOn Sunday, September 23, 2007, I joined the Raider Nation. I think I technically joined their clan a few weeks before when I ordered a partial season ticket plan but either way it’s always nice to be wanted. I ordered the tix for a few reasons and not one of them is because I am a Raider fan. I respect the franchise and I cheer them on but I am not a fan, if that makes any sense. First of all they are hosting the Bears, which is one of the reasons I was a Cardinals ticket holder. Second, I have no life and lot’s of free time. Third (Thrice?) I like watching football and no one goes to Raider games so there are plenty of good seats left. (A prime example of my seat is the pic to the left)

    Unlike my Cardinals’ escapades I don’t envision falling in love with the Raiders. I have the utmost respect for Al Davis and I had a good ole’ time watching the Browns and Raiders game go down to the wire but the Raiders are like a woman that you meet that you know will lead you to an up and down relationship. There will be dizzying highs but the lows with involve you getting lamps thrown at the back of your head.



    Notes On The First Day Of The 2007 NFL Draft

    Sunday, April 29th, 2007

    *Due to cancelling cable last month I was forced to listen to the ESPN Radio coverage of the 2007 NFL Draft.

    The Good:

    Oakland Raiders:
    JaMarcus Russell is the prototype Al Davis quarterback and is an upgrade out of the gates over Aaron Brooks and Andrew Walter. Zach Miller was a good grab in the 2nd round. Also on Saturday night they traded their 4th round pick (105) to Detroit for QB Josh McCown and WR Mike Williams.

    Cleveland Browns: Grabbed the most coveted OL in the draft Joe Thomas wiith the 3rd pick and wheeled and dealed to get another 1st round pick, 22nd from Dallas, and grabbed Brady Quinn. Their is the possibility of two franchise players with their first two picks.

    The Bad:

    Miami Dolphins: Ted Ginn Jr. with the 9th pick was an odd choice when they needed to address their QB issue and Quinn was available.

    Detroit Lions: I realize they got the best player in the draft in Calvin Johnson but they should have dumped traded the pick to garner more choices and fill many pressing needs.

    The Ugly:

    Brady Quinn: He fell from a likely top 10 pick all the way to 22nd. I thought Leinart got shafted last year but Quinn’s recent drop blows it out of the water. On a positive note he went to the team he wanted to but lost some serious cash in the process.

    THE Ohio State: Criticism has already been thrown towards Ginn Jr. Antonio Pittman was once conisidered a 2nd round pick and fell to the Saints in the 4th round. Troy Smith went from Heisman winning darling to tanking in the BCS and is now an uncertainty in the draft. On a positive the other Tony Gonzalez went to an ideal situation with the Colts.



    More Jeff George

    Sunday, September 3rd, 2006
    The Oakland Raiders cut my Madden PS2 hero Jeff George as the 2006 season begins next week. The move seemed completely logical from all perspectives. The Raiders have three quarterbacks on their rosters and by dumping George they can save $810,000 for the season.”As I said when we first brought Jeff in here,” Raiders Head Coach Art Shell said. ”It was a precaution.”

    But there is hope for this Jeff George fan, I am one of two remaining in this world (http://espn.go.com/page2/s/whitlock/021031.html), the Raiders can sign George once the regular season begins and pay George a prorated amount of his salary. With questions surrounding the health of backup quarterback Andrew Walter this seems like a logical move for the Raider Nation. Aaron Brooks is a good but occasionally erratic qb. Walter is unproven and at this point injured. Tuiasosopo is the third option but has largely played mop up duty and is less of a passer than an aging George.

    I believe I am grabbing at straws thinking that George has one more comeback available but in this world of complicated offensive theory George is the rare qb that can be plugged in and run an offense with some semblance of continuity if a a starter goes down. Ideally another squad will benefit from the Raiders mistake and snatch up George. This seems unlikely though since Al Davis is the only man suited to make sense of this situation.

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    Reunited

    Monday, August 28th, 2006
    Jeff George is back in the NFL after a brief hiatus. George signed with the Oakland Raiders as a serviceable replacement in case the three quarterbacks in front of him on the depth chart go down. George last signed with the Chicago Bears in 2004 but did not play a down. He has not taken a snap in the NFL since 2001 with the Washington Redskins. George played for the Raiders from 1997-98.“I’ve always been intrigued by the guy, to be honest with you,” Raiders Head Coach Art Shell said. “He still has that zip, he still has that quick release and was very impressive.”Aaron Brooks was signed away from the New Orleans Sainta to be the starter and ASU’s Andrew Walter is the quarteback of the future. Marques Tuiasosopo is the Raiders’ current third string option. George was the first overall selection of the 1990 NFL Draft and has a history of tumultuous relationships with coaches. These run ins with authority have cost the gifted QB jobs in Atlanta and Washington.George has been on the rosters of six NFL squads.George and I have a history together. In Madden on the PS2 he has always been the cheap, cannon armed option that I’ve always needed to run my vertical game offense.http://davidpatrickcastro.com/blog/2006/08/18/thank-you-al-davis/
    So I guess I am really no different than most general managers in the sport who view George as a cheap option to throw the ball deep. But unlike the NFL, Madden takes very little of George’s luggage as a supposed malcontent into consideration and his outbursts do not exist in the digital theatre. George, to me at least, was the symbol of hope and promise unfulfilled. Drafted first overall the pundits maintained that he would rewrite the records books straight out of the University of Illinois. This did not happen. He was taken by talent challenged Colts squad and he was just a piece of the overall puzzle as opposed to savior. I always viewed George as a cog in machination of offense. He would never be the leader but still a valuable asset.At this point I am the St. Jude for the Jeff George experience. I hold on to some deranged hope that he will resurrect a squad and lead them to an improbable Super Bowl victory. Stranger things have happened. Remember Trent Dilfer was a bust that became a champion later in his career. We, at DavidPatrickCastro.com/blog, hold on to hope for George and his ability to throw the deep ball. The vertical game has missed you sir and you are as timeless as the tides that wash into the Oakland bay.

    “I’ve always been able to throw the ball, George said. “I’ve been blessed to throw the ball. And I think I’ll be able to do that till I’m 60.”




    Thank you, Al Davis

    Friday, August 18th, 2006
    Madden 2007 is being released for the PS2 next Tuesday and I have started to mentally develop the strategy and personnel that will lead my digital Chicago Bears to the top. I have been buying and to a certain degree obsessing over Madden since I have had a Play Station. Through every incarnation the notions towards victory remain the same. You can’t coach speed and the vertical game is only alive in a digital world. Al Davis taught us these concepts and his Oakland Raiders are still predicated on these notions. Outdated? Possibly but in the realm of digital theater the vertical game is king and the University of Nevada won last years national title with the option.In Madden 2006 I stuck to my guns, or the rules taught to me by Davis. By year five of franchise mode my beloved Bears were the Monsters of the Midway by moniker but not by ideology. I traded the farm for Randy Moss. Cedric Benson and two first round picks were shipped to move up and grab Reggie Bush (imported from NCAA 2006). Ted Ginn lined up opposite of Moss and Matt Jones was my slot receiver. Bush’s blocking back was Michael ‘Burner’ Turner straight out of Northern Illinois. Behind center was Darrell Hackney a 5′11″ gunner with a 99 in arm strength. He fulfilled Daryl Lamonica’s role as the Mad Bomber and is the perfect carburetor for my nitro glycerine fueled offense.Did the schemes work? Of course there were too many weapons and no defense has the playmakers to stop all of those weapons. The unfortunate pratfall to my overloaded offense is its inherently salary cap busting price tag. Loaded on offense with no defense turned every game into the last nights of the Alamo.

    Will I maintain these ideas next week when the new Madden hits the shelves. No doubt. I’ve been doing it for years and the players have changed names but there roles are the same. Jeff George was replaced by Byron Leftwich. Leftwich gave way to Hackney. Al Davis has maintined the same schemes and replaced the parts as time passed on. Kerry Collins, Aaron Brooks and Andrew Walter are no different than Lamonica. Moss is no different than Cliff Branch, Willie Gault and James Jett.