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Warren Sapp retired after the 2007 season and hasn’t paid a lot of attention to the goings-on in the NFL in the last few months. But the chubby defensive tackle does have some unflattering thoughts about the Oakland Raiders, the team he played for the last four years.
For starters, Sapp tells Michael Silver of Yahoo Sports that the Raiders have problems on defense because owner Al Davis has put together “a team with 3-4 personnel, but they’re running a 4-3 system.”
Sapp also had some harsh words for former teammate LaMont Jordan, who carried 84 times for 424 yards in September of 2007 but just 60 times for 125 yards the rest of the season. According to Sapp, that’s because Jordan was out of shape.
“LaMont is like the worst offseason running back I’ve ever been around; he was out of shape and couldn’t keep it going,” Sapp tells Silver.
That’s why Sapp endorses the decision to select running back Darren McFadden in the first round of Saturday’s draft.
“I love Darren McFadden to the Raiders,” Sapp said. “I think it’s a perfect fit.”
And while Davis is widely believed to dislike head coach Lane Kiffin and regret hiring him, Sapp is in Kiffin’s corner.
“There is nothing wrong with Lane Kiffin’s offensive system,” Sapp said. “There is nothing wrong with Lane Kiffin as a head coach, and now he has another stud who can help him succeed. I guess Al’s going for his last hurrah.”
April 29th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Why not tell it like it is? He’s retired after four miserable years with that team.
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April 29th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Well…I assume he’ll go into the hall of fame as a Buccaneer!
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April 29th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
originally Rob Ryan wanted to run a 3-4 but after Ted Washington left they didn’t have anyone to play the nose, and also sapp is ill-suited for edge rushing in the 3-4. I don’t think we have the right linebacking corps for a 3-4. Sure Thomas Howard and Kirk Morrison should have been Pro bowlers, but then there still needs to be 2 more LBs (sam williams and isiah ekejiuba won’t cut it IMO). As for Sapp, he was a great pass rusher but a terrible run-stopper, one of the reasons I believe the Raiders did so poorly against the run the past few seasons.
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April 29th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Warren Sapp….the new Tiki?
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April 29th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
The one common element of all the Raiders’ dysfunctional relationships is the Raiders. And by the Raiders, I mean Al Davis.
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April 29th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Lamont Jordan is obviously completely out of shape and disappoints every year…can someone explain why Dominic Rhodes was cut today then?? I’m assuming it had to be because of his off the field issues and contract.
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April 29th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
I think Al wants to sell the team. Trying to get to the playoffs this year and sell.
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April 29th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
Michael Silver is one of the biggest pricks in the business…the guy is a complete tool.
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April 29th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Rhodes was cut b/c they were over the cap. They released him and are back under. Maybe Lamont is next…
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April 29th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Treez,
If that is the case, I’m all for it.
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April 29th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
I’m still pissed he had that despicable tackle on Chad Clifton a couple years ago.
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April 29th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
KY nailed it. Michael Silver blows. He makes Paul McGuire look like Socrates.
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April 29th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
J in the J, Sapp didn’t have to, but should have been, more discreet about L. Jordan. The guy’s going to be looking for work soon.
Alamedaman, you’re right on. Who does Sapp think the starting D should be? T. Sands or G. Warren starting at NT? D. Burgess as a situational pass rusher? S. Williams starting at ILB? He may not make sense, but he’s always good for a quote. Guess Sapp & Rob Ryan didn’t see eye to eye even though they acted like they were buddies.
KGleits, guess the Raiders decided Rhodes wasn’t all that much better than “Joe” Echemandu.
Treez, Davis announced last year that he intends to pass the team on to his wife. Amy Trask will probably promote to CEO, but she has not been involved with the football part of the organization. Bruce Allen looked like he was heir apparent before he left to join Gruden in Tampa.
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April 29th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
he didn’t say anything bad. the Raiders do have 3-4 personnel and Jordan is out of shape.
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April 29th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
First off, note how Sapp talks about the Raiders as “our” team. He still considers himself a part of the franchise.
So I don’t agree with Florio that Sapp is ripping the Raiders. Sapp is being Sapp, which is blunt and opinionated.
As far as Sapp throwing Lamont Jordan under the bus, you have to consider the history:
- Raiders sign LJ as their franchise RB in 2005. He performs well in 2005 but is gassed / cramping in the 2nd half of a lot of games
- In the 2006, LJ admits he didn’t bother to learn the OL blocking schemes the previous year. LJ has trouble staying healthy, and even when he’s on the field, he’s still getting tired in the 2nd half of games. It’s pathetic
- In 2007, more of the same as 2006, except Kiffin won’t tolerate it. Fargas becomes the starter, and remains so, even after LJ is healthy enough to play
The only reason LJ is still on the Raiders roster is they are waiting to dump him as late as possible, so that he doesn’t latch onto another team (e.g. in the division).
Rhodes was released because he asked to be released after DMac was drafted, and unlike LJ he didn’t b!tch publicly about lack of playing time. And the Raiders needed to free up some cap space per the Fabian Washington trade.
The only thing I disagree with Sapp is he take that the Raiders have personnel better suited to 3-4. That’s ridiculous, look at the guys we have in the front 7:
1. we don’t have a 3-4 NT. If you don’t have a stronger 2-gapper, the DL will get eaten alive by runs between the tackles
2. putting Kelly at 3-4 DE would be a waste of his 1-gap penetration ability, just as it was a waste of Sapp’s in 2004
3. our 2 stud LBs, Morrison and Howard, esp Howard, are great fits for the 4-3, where they have 2 DTs in front of them. Howard himself said on his website (mr53.com) that he thinks 4-3 is the best system for him. He’s a great 4-3 WLB, but in the 3-4, he’d have to move inside and deal with unblocked OL
4. you could argue that 4-3 LDE Burgess would make a great 2-pt 3-4 rush OLB. He probably would. But he’s been productive at 4-3 LDE, why fix if it ain’t broke?
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April 29th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
edweirdo,
Lamont sucks….who would take him?? Maybe Denver, but sheesh, what good would that do since Lamont doesnt know the blocking schemes let alone actual plays, he’s out of shape, and even if the first two weren’t true he wasn’t that great outside of backing up Curtis Martin in a two back system.
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April 29th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
Sapp needs a TIKTAK…
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April 29th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
the Raiders have Sands and he is an ideal 3-4 Nose Tackle.
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April 30th, 2008 at 11:51 am
Grulks,
I agree Lamont doesn’t have a lot of value, given his durability concerns. But I think the Raiders don’t want to let him land in a good situation, period, let alone in the division, where he *might* have a chance to get back at his old team.
Either way, I’m not concerned. We gave Lamont a franchise-type contract, but he pulled a turd move and didn’t work hard. Everyone knew this was the risk when he was signed. Back in NY, the biggest concern with Lamont was that he got by with his talent but wasn’t working hard.
Henry Plainview,
Sands was a huge disappointment last season.
He was supposed to be the starting 4-3 NT, but he didn’t pan out. If he can’t even 2-gap in the 4-3, what makes you think he can handle the toughest 2-gap position in football, the 3-4 NT?
Sands has tremendous size (6-7, 335), but he has 2 problems:
1. consistency
2. playing with leverage
Those are both things that are critical for a 3-4 NT.
I was one of many fans who was happy with Sands 2006 play. But in 2007 he just disappeared.
And after Sands, there is no viable backup for 3-4 NT. No one.
I wrote an article on The Basics of the 3-4 Defense a while back (http://geocities.com/epark/raiders/football-101-3-4-defense.html), it’s one of the top ones listed if you Google “3-4 defense”. Check it out. I have a lot more written there about what personnel are required for the system.
I still don’t know where Sapp is coming from. We don’t have the personnel for the 3-4.
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April 30th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
LJ had back problems but STILL played that is why he had an unproductive season
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May 1st, 2008 at 7:07 am
i know all about the 3-4 and actually read your article a while back. i never said he was good, i said he was ideal, as in his size. you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink it.
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