2012 NFL Season Preview: Oakland Raiders
By Editorial Staff
Oakland Raiders
Front Office:
Owner: Al Davis
GM: None
D: The 2010 Draft is all that’s keeping this grade from a F. I have stated before that owners, who act as the GM, rarely are successful. The Owners do not know anything about football. It’s not like in other companies where the owner had grown up in that field and worked their way up…these are rich men who buy the team as a hobby…let their GM run the team and you work with him…Step your game up Al Davis.
Coaching Staff
HC: HueJackson
OC: Al Saunders
DC: Chuck Bresnahan
C: Just as Tom Cable was making this team a contender Al Davis ships him out. Now, Tom Cable was a jerk and had lousy morals…but didn’t that fit in with the Raiders??? I like Hue Jackson, I really do. I do not like his coordinators. Old, dinosaurs of past years who will struggle to adapt to today’s football. Maybe that is harsh but I still think Al Davis picked the coordinators and not Hue Jackson.
QB: C
Jason Campbell is decent. Nothing more and nothing less. I would have thought this team would have somebody developing under him. The Raiders seem to love this kid and do not want competition for him. I knowCampbellhas done little since coming into the NFL…though he has been on Al Davis and Daniel Snyder owned teams…not a great situation.
RB: A
Darren McFadden and Michael Bush form an amazing thunder and lightning tandem. All they need to do is stay healthy and resign Bush. Raiders feel they found a steal in Taiwan Jones at RB. They also have a weapon at FB in Marcel Reece.
WR/TE C
WR core is loaded with speed. What they do not have is reliable hands or route runners. Last chance for Darrius Heyward Bey to prove his worth and Chaz Schilens to prove he can stay healthy. I do love Zach Miller and think he is a top 5 TE. I also love the potential of Jacoby Ford. I believe he is what the Bears wanted to make Devin Hester…a weapon as both returner and WR. Lots of complementary WR but no main target is what keeps the grade down.
OL: D
There is talent…too bad all of it is in young players. I think one day Jared Veldheer and Stefen Wisniewski will be in Pro Bowl discussions…but that day is not today or any point in the upcoming season. I also think Joseph Barksdale has talent but is too green and did not have much training camp time. The Raiders have no OG talent. FA should be used on this.
DL: B+
Tommy Kelly finally realized what it took to become dominate. I think a lot had to do with Richard Seymour coming in. The duo form a devastating inside pass rush. They rotate John Henderson in on running plays. At DE the team likes the young duo of Matt Shaughnessy and Lamarr Houston. The Raiders also likes the fact that many of the DL can play in the 3-4 scheme as well.
LB: B
The Raiders love the versatility in 3-4 and 4-3 schemes with this group. Rolando McClain finally gives the Raiders that physical MLB they have wanted for a long time. Kamerion Wimbley is a huge play maker for the Raiders. Travis Goethel has the potential to become a solid WLB. It would be nice for better depth though.
DB: C
This unit is like the WR core…filled with speed that does not know what to do with it. Stanford Routt, DeMarcus Van Dyke, Chimdi Chekwa all have size and speed and now only need to produce. Team also likes their young safety duo of Tyvon Branch and Hiram Eugene. Lots of money for a group that has done nothing yet…but that’s the Raider way isn’t it???
2011 NFL Draft:
I was angry when the Detroit Lions did not select Stefen Wisniewski…Raiders did well by not making the same mistake. After that, the Raiders did their normal drafting. DeMarcus Van Dyke,TaiwanJones, Dennerius Moore, and Chimdi Chekwa all are raw prospects who have burner speed. D
Offensive/ Defensive Sleepers
Jacoby Ford as a sleeper is overdone…but for a reason. He is capable of being a big time weapon. His grasp on offense was way higher than I thought it would be. I can see him being their first option in the passing game and being a real threat in the return game. Something like 55-60 receptions for 800+ yards and 6 TD’s is likely. I also see 2-3 return touchdowns this season as well.
Matt Shaughnessy is quietly becoming a very talented DE. Wisconsin DE are known for their tenacity, pass rush moves, and unrelenting motors. I see him as a 10 sack a season guy who is stable vs. the run with scheme versatility.
2012 Season Prediction: 7-9
Loss of Nnandi Asomugha as well as Robert Gallery is not good for this team. Their secondary and OL going backwards will not allow this team to take the next step forward. All is not lost but I cannot say the Chargers will be down for a second years in a row. Raiders need to do better at acquiring talent next offseason.