Team Preview: Oakland Raiders

For the Oakland Raiders, it’s all about the youth and skill positions. Last year’s number one overall pick Jamarcus Russell takes the helm of a team that has been the laughing stock of the league since their Super Bowl run in 2002. Since the ’02 season, the Raiders have finished in last place in the AFC West every year, amassing a total of 19 wins in 5 seasons. One would think this plethora of high draft picks would have enabled the Raiders to amass some young talent, but when Al Davis is in charge, things are never that simple. In the 2004 draft the Raiders were the only team in the top 8 to select a player that hasn’t been to the Pro Bowl or been named Super Bowl MVP. Amidst picks like Eli Manning, Phillip Rivers, Sean Taylor, Kellen Winslow, Roy Williams, and DeAngelo Hall, the Raiders selected offensive tackle Robert Gallery, who has since been moved to guard. In 2004 the Raiders traded their first round pick to Minnesota in exchange for Randy Moss. The Raiders drafted saftey Michael Huff in 2005, who is now the starting strong saftey in a defense that ranked 8th in the league in Pass Defense last season.

However, all the talk now in Oakland surrounds quarterback Jamarcus Russell and runningback Darren McFadden. The Raiders, who ranked 6th in the league in rushing last season, are expecting big things from McFadden. In their first preseason game he looked sharp and should be able to deliver some big plays for the Raiders this season. The Raiders are shaping up to have a triple threat at running back with 1000-yard rusher from last year Justin Fargas anchoring a group that also features McFadden and former Louisville star Michael Bush.

As the old football adage goes, “You pass to score and run to win.” Oakland was 23rd in the league in scoring offense last season, and the success of their team is going to depend on Russell’s growth and ability to lead a team with a lackluster receiving corps. The Raiders acquired Javon Walker in the offseason to boost Russell’s targets, but Walker’s offseason was tainted by an altercation in Las Vegas that landed him in the hospital.

Let’s make no mistake about this, this is a young, inexperienced team. McFadden may make some big plays that keep them in games but they’re going to be battling Kansas City for the bottom of this division again this year. With a schedule that features the AFC East and NFC South, the Raiders have five games against teams that had one of the top six picks in last year’s draft (Miami, Atlanta, Kansas City, NY Jets). The Raiders also get games against last-place teams Baltimore and Houston.

While their schedule is relatively easy, I fully expect Oakland to have another year in the basement, barely edged out by Kansas City. Intriguingly, their matchups against teams like Miami and Atlanta may very well set the tiebreakers for who gets the first pick in next year’s draft, in which Oakland will be looking for a marquee wide receiver. Additionally, if Lane Kiffin isn’t fired by Al Davis by the end of the year, expect him to lose the job in the offseason. In one of the worst coaching situations in the NFL, Kiffin has tried to right the ship and do things his way, which doesn’t exactly please hands-on owner Al Davis. The best thing that could happen for the Raiders would be for Davis to pass on the reigns of the team and let the head coach coach his players.

Ian’s 2008 Prediction: 3-13
John’s 2008 Prediction: 8-8