TrueRaiderLaker Productions #13: 2018 Oakland Raiders Hype Video - "IV"

Well, something is better than a nothing. After further delays and some last minute changes, here's is TrueRaiderLaker Productions #13: "IV."

No special titles here on this one. The "IV" obviously represents my fourth Raiders hype video since I first uploaded my first one in 2015 titled "New Generation." Last year's hype video brought a lot of inspiration to make yet another one. While the last year was full of hope, this one is a video with a whole lot of attitude like the Raiders are just ready to kick everyone's *expletive,* especially with the return of Jon Gruden.

The hype video hit a snag in the last couple of days when it was in the process of completion. The obvious one was the Khalil Mack trade. I had to put this aside to make the Khalil Mack tribute out of respect since he's the only the good 1st round pick the Raiders made in recent years. Also, I had a lot of sequences for Mack in this hype video prior to the trade. Of course, I had to ask "how will I replace Mack's parts that were awesome here?" So, I had accumulate some more material and it's a good thing P.J. Hall, Maurice Hurst, and Arden Key each recorded sacks in the preaseason, so I replaced them for Mack's parts. To be completely honest, the buzz of this hype video died when the trade happened. And all I can do was quick fixes. I didn't have a lot of time to think since the season opener was fast approaching. I wanted to accumulate more sound bites (I didn't use a lot here because those ideas were at the last moment), but I had a tight window ahead and this is all I got.

Since I did the regular season preview post before the hype video, despite this, yes I'm still not sold on the outlook of the roster since the Mack trade. I still stand by that. But, this video does give me some optimism that the Raiders can return to form.

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TrueRaiderLaker Productions #10! - 2017 Raiders Hype Video

In 2015, I made my first hype video titled "New Generation". Last year, I made another one titled "Welcome to the Show". This year, I live up to my own personal promise to complete my Raiders hype video trilogy..."by any means!" And with TrueRaiderLaker Productions installment #10, I give you my latest hype video "From the Ashes"!

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When I developed early concepts about my third hype video, I immediately thought back into the last few weeks of the regular season. And they were an emotional roller coaster. On Week 15, against the Chargers, the Raiders clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2002. We were all happy. Then Week 16, Derek Carr gets hurt. Week 17, the Raiders fumble away the AFC West crown to the Kansas City Chiefs. And finally on Wild Card weekend, the Texans put the final nail in the coffin to the Raiders' dream season of 2016. I thought to myself, I couldn't make a "hype hype" video with the way last season ended. If I'm making a third video, based on how the season ended, this hype video needed to be darker and more serious compared to my last two videos, but at the same time, it needed to be uplifting. Derek Carr is back. The Raiders made some serious upgrades, especially on offense. They're primed to get back up and go after that elusive 4th Super Bowl title. I think this video also highlights the maturation process of my editing since I made the "New Generation" hype video two years ago and the "Welcome to the Show" video last year. There already was a precedent set for me to make a theatrical-style video. That would be my Khalil Mack "Untamable Beast" highlight video. Unfortunately, my theatrical-style videos are at the wrong side of history as they get less views compared to my other work. I'm willing to go all-in that this hype video will get me over that hump.

Another thing I want to address is the question I'm sure everybody's asking me "Why the delay?" Yes, I'd usually release Raiders hype videos just before the first game of the preseason. This video in particular is released a few days before the start of Week 1 and a few hours before the Chiefs and Patriots kickoff opening night! I'm going to be completely honest, if you're an ambitious video editor like I am, you'd try new video editing techniques or start an entirely different series of videos. Basically, shaking up the creative direction a bit. That's what I've been doing the last few weeks/months. I worked on a couple of videos that are completely not associated with TrueRaiderLaker Productions. I sent those videos into music video competitions at a couple of pop culture conventions hosted here in Cali. Just recently, I found out that one of those videos finished 2nd place and I felt ecstatic about that. So, just to let everyone know, I'm calling the shots on a entirely different series of video projects. But, as I mentioned when I managed to squeeze a Lonzo Ball hype video in between, TrueRaiderLaker Productions is here to stay. Don't be alarmed. I'm adding new weapons to the "MechG2994 arsenal" in terms of video projects.

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This is the official thumbnail of the hype video featuring: Marshawn Lynch, Head Coach Jack Del Rio, Amari Cooper, Michael Crabtree, Bruce Irvin, Khalil Mack, and Derek Carr.

*2017 Regular Season Preview Post to follow! Stay tuned!*

Now Official: Marshawn Lynch is an Oakland Raider

Let's try this again. And no, that picture to the right is not Photoshopped. Beast Mode was in the house at the Raiders' HQ in Alameda today. The Raiders and Seahawks made it official today by drawing up a trade that would send Lynch home to play in Oakland and the Raiders didn't have to give up too much. The Raiders send their 2018 5th round pick to the Seattle Seahawks for Marshawn Lynch and a 6th round pick. In addition, the Raiders ink Lynch to a 1-year deal that could be extended to a possible 2-year deal worth $8.5 million if Lynch reaches some incentives.

I've said it in the previous post that all signs point to this as a done deal. It took a lot of back and forth between the Raiders and Seahawks, but they managed to get a reasonable deal done. I heard on NFL Network that the original deal was that the Seahawks would send their 26th pick of this year's draft and Marshawn Lynch to the Raiders in exchange for the Raiders' 24th pick. Luckily, that didn't fall through, so the Raiders stand pat in their current position. I'll stand pat in my concerns about Lynch in the previous post 1) he's on the downside of 30, 2) football shape after being off one year, and 3) the transition from a zone blocking scheme in Seattle to a power blocking scheme in Oakland. But, Lynch's one-year retirement helps him take off some wear and tear and he's running behind one of the best O-lines in the league outside of the Cowboys. The Raiders get their bruiser out of the back field to take this offense to top-tier next season. Finally, welcome to the Raider Nation and welcome back to the NFL Beast Mode!

#BeastModetoOakland: Marshawn Lynch to Unretire; Agrees to Terms With Raiders

This has been building up over the past month. The return of Beast Mode! Marshawn Lynch called it quits after the 2015 season, but he's been teasing a return, not as a Seahawk, but as an Oakland Raider! Today, multiple sources reported that the Raiders and Marshawn Lynch have agreed to terms of a contract. It's almost close. But, the hurdle is that the Seahawks still own his rights, so the Raiders will have to package a deal to make this trade official.

Reggie...freakin'...Fridays. The suspense has been killing us over the past month and it is so close to reality. As I mentioned, there are reports that both parties agreed, but the Raiders still have to package a trad deal since the Seahawks still have his rights. But, all signs point to this as a done deal. Reggie McKenzie, John Schneider, GM of the Seahawks, have a very close relationship since their Green Bay days. The trade negotiations should fall through smoothly barring any unforeseen circumstances. The Raiders were in need of a power back since Latavius Murray signed with the Vikings and they just found an instant big time upgrade in Lynch. Of course, there's gonna be concerns. 1) Lynch is in his 30's and running backs in their 30's slow down because of the wear and tear. 2) He was out of football for a year, so football shape comes into question. 3) The Seahawks ran a Zone-Blocking Scheme in which Lynch excelled at, how will he fare in a Power Blocking Scheme? To counterpoint, Lynch is coming out of retirement fresh and fully recovered and he's running behind one of the NFL's top Offensive Lines. In addition, he's adding another dimension to an already high octane offense. If this trade falls through, the Raiders are going to be very hard to stop when the offense takes the field. Expect a whole lot of defensive selections in the draft. I wouldn't be surprised if all 7 rounds centered around defense. With that said, even though the writing is not on the wall yet, "the Black Hole has a Beast inside." Welcome back to the NFL and welcome to the Raider Nation, Marshawn Lynch!