OAKLAND RAIDERS
2009 RECORD: 5-11-0
(3rd in AFC West)
HEAD COACH: Tom Cable
Key Additions: QB Jason Campbell (trade/Washington), LB Kamerion Wimbley (trade/Cleveland), QB Kyle Boller (FA/St. Louis), RB Rock Cartwright (FA/Washington), CB Joey Thomas (FA/Miami), DE Quentin Groves (trade/Jacksonville)
Key Losses: RB Justin Fargas (FA/Denver), WR Javon Walker (FA/Minnesota), QB JaMarcus Russell (FA), QB J.P. Losman (FA), LB Kirk Morrison (trade/Jacksonville), DT Gerard Warren (FA/New England), DE Greg Ellis (FA)
Offense: JaMarcus Russell is gone and Bruce Gradkowski, who led the team to some wins late in the season, is likely out for the year with injuries. Charlie Frye was also placed on "injured reserve" for the 2010 season.
So what do the Raiders do for a quarterback?
They trade and get Jason Campbell from the Washington Redskins.
Campbell threw for 3,618 yards last season and had 20 TD passes with only 15 interceptions. He also rushed for 236 yards, which was second for the 'Skins. The backup signal caller will be Kyle Boller, a journeyman quarterback who played in St. Louis last season.
The running game features Darren McFadden and Michael Bush with Oren O' Neal and Luke Lawton as the fullbacks.
McFadden gained 357 yards a year ago and Bush led Oakland with 589 rushing yards (4.8 ypc average) and scored three touchdowns.
The wide receivers include Darrius Heyward-Bey, Chaz Schilens (29 catches for 365 yards and two TD), Louis Murphy (34, 521, four TD) and Johnnie Lee Higgins.
The tight end is Zach Miller, who led the Raiders with 66 receptions in '09 in addition to scoring three touchdowns and also racked up 805 receiving yards. He is probably the best tight end for Oakland since Todd Christensen in the 1980's.
The O-Line features center Samson Satele, guards Robert Gallery and Cooper Carlisle and tackles Khalif Barnes and Mario Henderson.
Oakland struggled to put points on the board last season, scoring only 197 points which ranked 31st in the NFL. The Raiders averaged 266 yards per game in total offense, which also ranked them 31st in the league in that category.
Defense: The defense struggled to stop the run a year ago, allowing 156 yards per game. which was 29th in the league. The pass defense was better, giving up only 206 yards per game, which put Oakland in the Top 10 (7th) in the NFL.
Up front in the 4-3 scheme is Richard Seymour at defensive end along with Matt Shaughnessy at the other end spot and tackles Tom Kelly and Desmond Bryant.
The linebacking corps has Rolando McClain in the middle with outside backers Thomas Howard and Kamerion Wimbley, who comes over from Cleveland.
The safeties are Michael Huff and Tyvon Branch and the corners are Chris Johnson and Nnamdi Asomugha, who is a tremendous cover corner. Johnson and Huff led the Raiders with three picks in 2009.
Oakland had only eight interceptions in '09 to go along with 37 quarterback sacks. Last season's sack leader Greg Ellis is gone via free agency and Seymour and Shaughnessy each had four sacks.
OUTLOOK: The Raiders and their embattled Head Coach Tom Cable, would like to take the next step and move up another level in the AFC West, which is a division they owned once upon a time.
They improved from years past and finished 5-11 in '09, but to keep that movement going upward the Raiders will need the offense to get better in a hurry.
McFadden has been a bust thus far in his years with the Raiders. If he and Bush can muster steady yardage on the ground, it would do wonders for the rest of the offense.
Campbell will be tested as the Raiders line allowed 49 QB sacks last year.
If the young quarterback, who showed some flashes of brilliance with the Redskins, can hook up with the young receivers, perhaps Oakland will surpass 200 points scored in 2010. Seven different times in 2009 the Raiders scored ten points or less during games.
The defense has to stop the run. It is as simple as that.
Playing in the AFC West is a challenge for Oakland and they would do well to finish second this season. That would be a step up from third place a year ago. The one step at a time approach likely suits the Raiders this year as they look to the future and possibly challenging the Chargers a year or so down the road.
But for now, second place and a 7-9 finish is not out of the question for Oakland as they build for a better future.
TEAM SCHEDULE:
Week 1- at Tennessee
Week 2- vs. St. Louis
Week 3- at Arizona
Week 4- vs. Houston
Week 5- vs. San Diego
Week 6- at San Francisco
Week 7- at Denver
Week 8- vs. Seattle
Week 9- vs. Kansas City
Week 10- Bye Week
Week 11- at Pittsburgh
Week 12- vs. Miami
Week 13- at San Diego
Week 14- at Jacksonville
Week 15- vs. Denver
Week 16- vs. Indianapolis
Week 17- at Kansas City
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