Oakland Raiders Predictions
July 2, 2008
The Raiders were the most compelling team in the NFL this offseason. Al Davis’ feud with head coach Lane Kiffin made headlines, and then their nearly quarter billion dollar spending spree only added to the drama. The Raiders’ 79-year-old boss is desperate to get his team back to the playoffs after compiling a league-worst 19-61 record over the last five seasons. He traded for DeAngelo Hall from the Falcons and signed Gibril Wilson from the Super Bowl champion Giants to gives the secondary a boost, slapped a franchise tag on cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha and brought in Javon Walker from Denver to give QB JaMarcus Russell a proven target. Then the Raiders got the best player available in the draft in running back Darren McFadden to top it off. Let’s see how these moves pan out with our 2008 Oakland Raiders predictions and team preview below.
Offense:
Russell takes over as the starter from Day 1 this season. He played in only four games as a rookie and didn’t start until Week 17. He showed some poise against San Diego, but now must come to play every day for this team to have any chance of making it back to the playoffs. Andrew Walter, who was traded early last year, is the only other quarterback on Oakland’s roster with any game experience. So you can see what an injury to Russell would mean to the Raiders.
McFadden is a can’t miss prospect at running back. Despite having four other running backs on their roster, this was clearly the right move. How many carries McFadden gets depends on how quickly he picks up Kiffin’s system. Justin Fargas and LaMont Jordan will help ease McFadden into the lineup as both are proven starters in this league.
The Raiders have had just one receiver reach 1,000 yards since Jerry Rice did it in 2002. Randy Moss is obviously gone to New England, but the Raiders feel that Javon Walker will get his career back on track after two terrible years in Denver. If his knee holds up, Walker will be Russell’s No. 1 target with 1,000-yard potential. Ronald Curry will make the lineup as Drew Carter settles for the No. 3 spot after coming over from Carolina in the offseason. Zach Miller proved to be a dependable tight end with 44 catches for 444 yards and three touchdowns.
Line coach Tom Cable implemented his zone-blocking scheme a year ago only to lead the Raiders to the sixth-best rushing team in the NFL. With two new starters in left tackle Kwame Harris and center John Wade, Cable’s job will be a little tougher initially. Harris moves to the left side where he’ll replace longtime starter Barry Simms. Robert Gallery has found a home at left guard, while Cooper Carlisle settled in nicely at right guard. Oakland re-signed right tackle Cornell Green but he’ll be pushed by Paul McQuisan.
Defense:
Warren Sapp retired in the offseason, leaving a big gap in the middle of the defensive line. Tommy Kelley is expected to that hole, and Al Davis hopes he didn’t waste his money after making Kelley the highest paid defensive lineman in NFL history. Gerald Warran will start beside Kelley, as Tardell Sands and William Joseph add depth behind these two. Two-time Pro Bowl end Derrick Burgess was injury plagued in ‘07 but played well upon his return at the end of the year. Veteran Greg Spires was signed in May from Tampa Bay to start opposite Burgess. Jay Richardson and Kalimba Edwards will see plenty of action at end also.
Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan loves his middle linebacker Kirk Morrison and weak-side backer Thomas Howard. They combined for 215 tackles and 10 interceptions in 2007 and were perhaps the most explosive tandem in the league. Morrison has been a steady performer since 2005, but Howard had a breakout year last season as he returned two of his six interceptions for touchdowns. Robert Thomas plays the strong-side linebacker but he’s a far cry from Morrison and Thomas.
The arrival of DeAngelo Hall and Gabril Wilson cannot go underappreciated. Hall is a two-time Pro Bowler who’s ego is sometimes overshadowed by his skills. So he’ll fit perfectly in Oakland. Paired with franchise corner Asomugha, Hall gives the Raider one of the best defensive back tandems in the league. Wilson brings Super Bowl experience over from the Giants as well as a solid tackler in Oakland’s shaky secondary. Michael Huff, a first-round pick two years ago, shifts to free safety so Wilson can be their strong safety. Stanford Routt is the nickel back, with little to no depth behind him.
Info Plays 2008 Oakland Raiders Predictions:
We love what Oakland did in the offseason by spending money to help fill all of their needs. This team has the potential to make a playoff run, but they always seem to find a way to mess it up. There’s more egos on this team now than ever which has kept the Raiders from being a serious contender for years now. If these players can come together and play up to their potential, Oakland could possibly finish with as good as a 9-7 record and a trip to the playoffs. The Raiders are one of the toughest teams to predict though, because they could easily finish 4-12 again in 2008. We feel Oakland will have more success within their division this season with a 2nd place finish behind the Chargers. Oakland beats out the Chiefs and Broncos for the first time in a very long time.
