Oakland Team Preview

I wonder what it must be like to be an Oakland Raiders fan. Considering their past history of awful coaches, overrated players, and an owner who is crazy, the passion they still bring to the games everyday shows why the football is such a great sport. That’s about as good as the Oakland team has it this year, as the team itself is riddled with overrated players and blissful ignorance of the season to come. Starting at QB Jason Campbell has been talked about as the QB that can turn it around this year for the Raiders, however if you have ever watched Jason Campbell play a game, you will quickly realize that he is no better than Seneca Wallace of Cleveland or dare I say former backup Shaun King, nothing more than a guy who can roll out of the pocket on play-action and complete a 10-12 yard pass. Backups Brad Gradkowski and Charlie Fry don’t prove to be looked upon as reliable backups, questioning if a veteran signed early in the year could be an option. Carrying the rock for the Raiders will most likely be a by committee format as Michael Bush and Daren McFadden both seem capable to making strides this season. Bush is an all around better back than McFadden, though he lacks his speed, and Bush can provide a consistent pace and sustain more contact. McFadden is not a bad player; however his inability to find holes, and display side to side cuts to go along with his top end straight line speed makes him the consummate #2. Inhibiting the Raiders promising run game is an offensive line that shows little promise. Outside of Mario Henderson, and I hate to say Robert Gallery, the line is a dismal group. Gallery’s play is spotty and Henderson is still finding his own consistency, so I don’t see much changing, especially with a mobile QB. At the receiving position, TE Zach Miller is the best pass catcher on the team. Look for him often to be the go to weapon for Campbell, much like Fred Davis was last season in Washington. At WR Louis Murphy showed a lot of promise last season considering the QB play. If Campbell does shock and surprise us, Murphy should have a respectable sophomore year. Other WR Chaz Schilens also displayed abilities to change games and should step in comfortably to play opposite of Murphy. A lot of eyes will be watching 2nd year man Darius Heyward-Bey this year in Oakland to see if he was a complete bust. He is a talented player, yet cannot run a route or catch a ball to save his life. We will see early if off-season drills helped a skilled, yet flawed player.

The bread and butter of the Oakland Raiders this year is their defense. This unit possesses a unique quality and that is to go out and win games by itself. Playing in conservative 3-4 scheme, the front line consisting of Richard Seymour, Tommy Kelly, and Jay Richardson all have great size and athleticism to stop the run and force pressure from inside. At linebacker, a talented group of Kamerion Wimbley, Thomas Howard, and rookie Rolando McLain all offer great tackling skills, and notably Wimbley, offers an outside rushing presence that could prove effective. In the secondary, the dominant abilities of Nnamdi Asomugha cannot be understated. His cover ability to latterly take teams #1 receivers out of games is the lynch pin that elevates this unit from a par to above average group. Playing his opposite, the other Chris Johnson will be tested often as teams will shy away from Asomugha. His decent ability should prove adequate over the course of the season. Roaming the back end, Tyvon Branch and Michael Huff are an average group that plays overly aggressive, yet has the skill set to be one of the best in the league. Branch has proven he is a good player, yet this will be a year in which his play could significantly improve the overall pass defense of Oakland.

For the Oakland Raiders this year I see hardships aplenty. Playing in the AFC West offers opportunities to steal a few games, yet outside of that winning will be an overwhelming task. To put it simply if Jason Campbell finds his groove this year, and Hayward-Bey can show he isn’t the bust he is quickly becoming, then the team stands to challenge for a playoff spot. The defense is overall an above average group who should keep them in many games. It is up to the offense to produce for success for Raider nation in 2010. In all 4-5 wins seems reasonable though I wouldn’t bet against them going .500 with their schedule and new hopes at QB.