32 Teams in 32 Days, Team #17: The Oakland Raiders

The Oakland Raiders opted to not improve their horrendous defense in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft. Instead they went with another offensive playmaker in Arkansas running back Darren McFadden. Was McFadden so desirable that a team with a defense as bad as Oaklands really couldn’t pass him up? I guess so. Still their defense needs work and without a strong defense their hopes of making it to the playoffs will be shot down. For Oakland is too easy to run on and they are even easier to pass on. They play in a division that is praised for their respective running games and if Oakland can’t stop them, they don’t stand a chance. They finished last season with a 4-12 record. Last season, was a horrible display of both offense and defense, but I think that they’re offense was better then they were given credit for. Their running game was fantastic. 3 running backs from Oakland had 100 yard games last season and I don’t see that changing much this year. Their offense will be much improved and maybe that can make some noise, but it takes a whole lot more to make the playoffs.

Warren Sapp as retired so gone now is the best part of the Oakland Raider defense. Without Sapp, they will struggle to stop anyone, not that they weren’t already struggling. DeAngelo Hall is a talented cornerback with an attitude problem. If he can stay in the game long enough to make something happen then maybe that will be good for Oakland, but his brash, despicable attitude will cost this team more then it will help. The Oakland Raider defense is terrible. I personally would have drafted Glenn Dorsey with my first pick, but the Raider’s opted for offense. Yes offense sells tickets, but defense wins championships. They will struggle this year.

One of the key components the Raiders needed to add to the offense this year was reliable wide receivers. They have a young quarterback who needs confidence and with the right weapons, he can gain that confidence quickly. The Raiders did go out and get Javon Walker. Walker is a fantastic wide receiver, but has had his problems staying healthy. Of course we all know about the tragic event that took place in Walker’s life recently, when he was jumped and robbed. The doctors say he will be fine to play and hopefully that is the case. The Raider’s need Walker to be healthy this year. If he can stay healthy, he can make big things happen for this team. Accompanying Walker is 6 year veteran Ronald Curry. Curry did not have a stand out year last year. He amassed only 717 yards and 4 touchdowns. Granted a lot of that can be attributed to the fact that 1, the Raider’s are a run first team and 2, there were a lot of quarterback issues for this team last season. This year the Quarterback issues are solved and although this team will run far more then they will pass, I still expect more production out of the passing game.

The Raider’s have a great ground game. They have so much talent at the running back position and the offensive line provides big holes for the backs to get through. The Raider’s have made a couple changes to that ground game for this year. Gone are the veteran backs of Dominic Rhodes and LaMont Jordan. This year the Raider’s are going with a younger backfield. Justin Fargas, last year’s wonder will most likely get the start for at least a couple weeks, but everyone is awaiting the moment when the stand out from Arkansas, Darren McFadden gets his opportunity to play. I don’t see it being real tough for McFadden to win the starting job. I think we will see a situation like last year’s Minnesota Vikings team. McFadden will be a back up for a few weeks, but it will be evident that he needs to be the starter. Eventually, McFadden will take over the starting job with Fargas spelling him from time to time. This is going to be McFadden’s team. He is super talented and is going to bring big time moments to this team. No one however, is talking about the other super talented running back on this team. The running back that missed his rookie campaign due to injury, but is passionate about playing this year and making a statement. I am of course talking about Michael Bush. Bush has all the talent in the world to start for this team, but the Raider’s showed no faith in him by drafting McFadden. However, should Bush live up to his potential, he will easily pass Justin Fargas on the depth chart and what we will be left with is one of the most talented and feared backfield tandems in the NFL. I am excited for all the possibilities the Oakland Raider’s running game can bring into this year.

And now we come to the quarterback position. There is only ONE option here that makes any sense at all. JaMarcus Russell will finally be the starting quarterback for the Oakland Raiders. After a year of contract problems and sitting on the bench. JaMarcus Russell will lead this team from week 1 on. He is an amazingly talented quarterback with a canon for an arm. If JaMarcus can learn this game quickly enough and take some of his licks, he is going to be one of the best Quarterbacks in the league. I was disapointed last year, when JaMarcus Russell spent basically his entire rookie season on the bench, despite the problems at quarterback the Raider’s were having. You are paying this man $39 Million to play, put him in the game. It came to a point where you knew their season was over. They should have let him play the remaining games down the stretch. That would have better prepared him for this year. The Oakland Raider’s are now hoping for Russell to be great from the get go, I don’t think its going to happen, but I too believe in his talent. Maybe not this year, but I think in a year or 2, he is going to be one of the top ten quarterbacks in the league.

The Raider’s have a lot of questions to answer this year. Was McFadden worth it? Will Russell live up to his potential? Can their defense step up and stop someone? And can they win more then 4 games and be competitive in the AFC West? It’s going to be difficult. I don’t believe a team with a few guys on their offense that haven’t really played in the NFL bodes well for their hopes for this year especially when one of them is your starting quarterback. However, I see 6 maybe 7 games on their schedule that they can win. Its all a matter of making the plays that need to be made. If the Oakland Raiders can step it up this year, I think they end the season with a 6-10 record. A much better result then last year and a great sign of things to come.