Oakland Raider Analysis: The Raiders will be improved over last season

Thoughts from the Dark Side

August 21, 2008

Oakland Raider Analysis: The Raiders will be improved over last season

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After watching the 2007 NFL Yearbook on the Oakland Raiders, it was clear that the title was accurate, "A Team on the Rise." Once I got past the masochism inherent in reliving the Raiders fifth consecutive double digit loss season, it was clear that the Raiders have a nucleus of young talent that they are building around. The Raiders easily could have been 8-8 or better last year, but they were a work in progress. They have added talent and another year under coach Lane Kiffin, and should be able to get some wins.

The Raiders greatest strength last season was their ability to run the ball. Tom Cable got the offensive line to finally come together and perform, saving the careers of Robert Gallery and Jake Grove. This improved offensive line allowed the Raiders to run well enough to be the sixth best rushing team in '07. The Raiders dumped the under-performing LaMont Jordan and the under-utilized Dominic Rhodes and replaced them with top pick Darren McFadden, who has looked nothing short of explosive, and Michael Bush who is fresh off the IR and running like a Brama-Bull. Adding those two to the workhorse Justin Fargas gives rise to an even more promising running game. If this trio pans out anywhere near as well as expected, they will be carrying the Raiders to wins.

Last year's passing game was disappointing at best, so the Raiders essentially cleaned house at wide receiver, with the steady Ronald Curry likely being the only hold-over once the disaster known as Johnnie Lee Higgins is cut. Chronic whiner and malcontent Jerry Porter was made to walk the plank. The receiving corps has not yet shown much, other than Curry and tight end Zach Miller, but those two will make solid targets for JaMarcus Russell. The biggest question mark is Javon Walker, to whom Al Davis backed up a Brink's truck over the offseason. Walker needs to get his head on straight and become the deep threat the Raiders need. Look for the Russell to Miller connection to pay huge dividends in the red zone.

The Raiders have been woeful at stopping the run for the past few years. This is an aspect of their game that improved against San Francisco, but looked inconsistent against the Titans. Terdell Sands needs to rebound from a disappointing 2007 and Tommy Kelly needs to show that he is completely rehabbed from his season ending ACL injury. The Law Firm of Kirk Morrison and Thomas Howard have another year's experience under their belt, and they have been playing the run stronger thus far in preseason. The addition of Gibril Wilson as a box safety should also improve their standing against other teams' running backs.

In passing defense, the Raiders on paper at least, should keep opposing offensive coordinators awake all night. The Raiders retained the services of Nnamdi Asomugha who is one of the truly elite shut down cornerbacks in the game. Morrison and Howard are a dynamic duo in coverage combining for ten interceptions from the linebacker position. They are also returning two time Pro Bowl defensive end Derrick Burgess to harass quarterbacks. To top this off, the Raiders added another pro bowl cornerback in DeAngelo Hall who should make quarterbacks pay for ignoring Asomugha as they did last season. the addition of Wilson will move Michael Huff over to free safety where he can use his athleticism to make plays on the ball.

The Raiders appear to have the pieces in place to make some noise this season. They went out and acquired talent. It will be incumbent on Al Davis and Lane Kiffin to make sure that the right role players make the team and drop the dead weight to ensure that the Raiders have a winning chemistry. Kiffin got a good start last season on changing the team's attitude, and this year it should begin to pay dividends.

A dose of optimism here at TFDS!

Tags: NFL, Oakland Raiders, Raiders

Discussion

20 Comments on "Oakland Raider Analysis: The Raiders will be improved over last season"

Posted by slick vik, August 21, 2008 6:47 AM

well... raider nation, its almost time for opening day. i didn't want to say i told you so, but i told you javon walker was a bust... untill he proves otherwise, thats my stand on it. On another sad note.... condolences to the Upshaw family. that man played a great role in winning the raiders 2 superbowls. he did alot for this league as well. Its time to win

Posted by KUSHMAN, August 21, 2008 7:44 AM

good article pat.. yes i AM PUMPED... even for this weekend... leinart will get shut down if our starters play... even if they dont he will have a tough time. muaha!!

vik: calling someone a bust in PRESEASON is just stupid. wait until opening night.. dizzle was right.. walker will light up the broncos like warren did (and will again) last season against them. grudges pay off, you'll see. as for after that game... yes he might need to do some catching up still..

RIP gene... we will miss you.. legend's never die.

Posted by angelodebo, August 21, 2008 8:02 AM

Nice article Pat. For the first time in a while I'm excited about this football team. As I've mentioned before, I think the Raiders are couple years away from being an elite team. But this year is going to fun!

A big question mark is obv. the receiving core. Hopefully, if the Raiders start out winning, Javon W. will realize how important his production is to this team and he'll work to become the receiver they hoped he would be.

Fantasy Prediction: Take McFadden in the 1st round because the the Raiders are going to run the ball alot. McFadden is going to be the face of this franchise and he is going to get a lot of touches inside the Red Zone.

Just Win Baby!

Posted by Proud OG, August 21, 2008 8:54 AM

Just happened upon an NFL films Bronco highlight package of their 2007 season while TV channel surfing a few days ago. Throughout the entire half hour piece, Javon Walker was basically missing in action, shown only once making a catch. Two other Denver receivers carried the load all year. I hope I'm wrong but Javon will not likely help the 2008 Raiders and could be completely out of the league by 2009. We must therefore compensate for his lack of interest and focus by finding other ways to move the ball. Go Raiders!

Posted by KUSHMAN, August 21, 2008 9:08 AM

if he doesn't pan out.. dropp him and give that money to antwon boldin... even if it means a 1st round pick if you ask me!! that is all pending if the card's will be willing to trade his unhappy ass!! so hopefully he'll drag ass until week 6 ... and the cards see no other choice... i mean the man already said he doesn't want to signwith them next year.. why wouldnt you want to get somethin for him if he's gonna be a free agent at the end of the season?

Posted by Bill, August 21, 2008 9:22 AM

Hey Patrick, Your finally feeling it huh? The past few posts on this site have been kinda negitive. Now I know this is the preseason so we are supposed be be working out our weakneses. I just hate hearing about them all the time. I'm tired of hearing about our record the past five years. I'm really tired of everyone blameing Al Davis. Mabey when the real season starts and all our starters are actually playing the whole game we will see some love our way. I'm with you when you said there were alot of games last year that we should of won. I think this year we will win those games. Even the last game of the year (SD) we could of won it, I was there. Thats why my prediction for the year is 11-5 and a AFC West Championship. I know all about the dolts, with out the roids their stars are just good players not great. What is the # of thier starters that have using roids up to? Anyone know? I do know almost their whole front 7 on D have been caught on the juice. Donkeys, Please! KC, Ya Brodie is going to light up our secondary. LMFAO!

Posted by Thoughts from the Dark Side: Oakland Raider Analysis: The Raiders will be improved over last season, August 21, 2008 9:53 AM

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Posted by azraider37, August 21, 2008 1:56 PM

I"m with you Kushman, I would much rather have Boldin than Walker. The only problem is we can't just give Walker's contract to Boldin becaues 16mil(or something like that) of it is gauranteed. So unless we can trade him (haha) or talk him into retiring, I would think we are stuck with him. Let's hope he wakes his ass up and starts playing at a high level. That's why I hated the signing, his kness are terrible to boot, why give him that contract. I wished we would have waited just a bit longer to weigh our options. Then we could have looked at Boldin or another route.

RIP Mr. Upshaw, you WERE Raiders football for a long time and we all love what you did for us! You are imortalized in the Nation as well as the Hall Of Fame, you will not be forgotten.

Posted by silver&black88, August 21, 2008 4:37 PM

Hey what about the idea of making a push for Anquan Boldin of the Cardinals, maybe trade a 2nd rounder and someone expendable but decent like Robert Thomas. We can then dump Walker's ass and conract and give Boldin a good one.

#10

Posted by Ian, August 21, 2008 9:20 PM

11-5 and an afc championship? okay? maybe 9-7 but they won't make the palyoffs sorry but not this year in 09 i could see it but your kidding yourself this year...San Diego will be the only ones from our division in the playoffs. and im a chiefs fan neither team will make it

#11

Posted by slick vik, August 22, 2008 12:31 AM

KUSHMAN no disrespect but... preseason tells you alot about your starters. J.Walker was on my shit list ever since we sighned him. his knee is shreded. he is going through some issues, to say it nicely. for shit sake the guy wanted to retire. are you still convined his heart is going to be in the game enought to light up the donkey's on monday night. sorry to be negative... but i don't think so. ANY WAY... WHRE ARE ALL THE SEASON TICKET HOLDERS AT. WE SHOULD HAVE A GIANT GROUP TAILGATE ON OPENING NIGHT. WHATS UP!?

#12

Posted by juice, August 22, 2008 1:21 AM

Anybody think that lining up against his old teammates monday night might light a fire under Javon's ass? For Christ's sake we don't need another Moss. As for Boldin, I doubt he'll be available until the season is over, which will give us a full season to decide whether or not the Javon Walker experiment is an unmitigated disaster or a stroke of genius on Al Davis's behalf.

#13

Posted by Bill, August 22, 2008 6:51 AM

Juice, your absolutly right. The Raiders can not give up on Walker until after the season. The Cards do not want to trade Boldin until after the season. Lets say that Walker works out. Then we don't need Boldin and get to keep all our draft picks. This is the situation that we as Raider Fans are hopeing for. If Walker is a disaster then the Raiders are left with a few diffrent options. One Draft A WR, two trade for a WR or three do nothing about our WR because while Walker was a disaster our other WRs stepped up and Russell still threw for over 4000yds and 30 tds. That last one was wishful thinking but you never know.

#14

Posted by teofilo dimaano, August 22, 2008 9:38 AM

who needs walker ..we have chaz schillens??

#15

Posted by teofilo dimaano, August 22, 2008 9:40 AM

da cowboys r looking at boldin???... u think we should blitz again like we did in da titans game???

#16

Posted by teofilo dimaano, August 22, 2008 9:42 AM

anybody know how archuletta is doing??

#17

Posted by Billyboy, August 22, 2008 11:17 AM

How can you not be improved over a 4 and 12 season? I mean get real, if I was a Raider fan I'd have a brown bag on my head. Just be thankful that you got some good draft picks. McFadden will be a big help.

#18

Posted by slick vik, August 23, 2008 12:29 AM

Billyboy- you probably have a brown bag over your head. if your not a raider fan, why are you in this discussion. get a life and pay attention to your own team's blogs, or are they not as interesting for you. Archuletta is doing well at LB... hard hitter, probable going to come in on running situations or when we start using the 3-4 defence. i hope we see alot of defensive td's this season.

#19

Posted by Rebel2124, August 24, 2008 3:27 PM

We'll be improved, absolutely, that is if the O-line doesn't get J Russ killed. They were absolutely horrible against the Cards last night. The much maligned Robert Gallery wasn't bad, but as for our offensive tackles, they stunk up the joint. We're in for a long hard season if they don't either play better or get replaced. The problem is, with who. No one currrently on the roster will get it done in my opinion.

Again other then 53, our linebackers were just as bad as the OT's. Morrison is still not making the plays needed, getting caught up in traffic and being unable to shed blockers. Again 52 appears to not have long enough arms to fend off guys or be strong enough at the point of attack. Look for Gibril Wilson to lead the team in tackles making the stops Morrison should have. The problem is, like the OT situation, theres no one else on the team to step in in my opinion.

I hope to see us do what needs to be done at cut time; let the guys go who can't help us at these two positions and grab some more talent or we're in big trouble.

Peace.

#20

Posted by Billyboy, September 9, 2008 1:25 AM

Ok hear it is a running count after every game

0-1 after a humilating defeat at the hands of Denver at their own stadium. I Love the Raider Attitude if we can't win the game we're going to rack up the stupid penalties.

How low can we go, Raider Fans