2019 Record (in Oakland) - 7-9-0
Head Coach - Jon Gruden
New Players in 2020 - Marcus Mariota (QB), Maliek Collins (DL), Cory Littleton (LB), Jason Witten (TE), Nick O'Leary (TE), Daniel Ross (DL), Jeff Heath (DB), Nelson Agholor (WR), Damarious Randall (DB), Eric Kush (OL), Nick Kwiatkoski (LB), Carl Nassib (DL)
Players opting out for 2020 season (COVID-19) - D.J. Killings (DB), Jeremiah Valoaga (DL), Ukeme Eligwe (LB)
OFFENSE - Derek Carr returns as the starting quarterback after passing for 4,054 yards last season along with 21 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Marcus Mariota comes over from Tennessee and will back up Carr. Mariota played five seasons with the Titans and had 1,203 passing yards a year ago with seven touchdowns and two interceptions.
The primary running back is Josh Jacobs, who rushed for 1,150 yards (4.8 ypc average) and scored seven touchdowns. Jalen Richard (3.7 ypc) and rookie Lynn Bowden, Jr. (Kentucky) will spell Jacobs in the backfield.
The Raiders have a plethora of wide receivers, including first round draft pick Henry Ruggs III (Alabama) who is a burner on the outside. Hunter Renfrow (49 receptions, 605 yards, four TD), Tyrell Williams (42, 651, six TD), Zay Jones (20 receptions) and tight end Darren Waller (90, 1,145, three TD) provide many targets in the passing game. Jason Witten is another tight end who caught 63 passes for 529 yards and four scores last season with Dallas after coming back from retirement.
DEFENSE - Defensive ends Clelin Ferrell (4 1/2 QB sacks) and Maxx Crosby (ten sacks) combine with tackles Maurice Hurst (3 1/2 sacks) and Johnathan Hankins up front while the linebackers are Nicholas Morrow and Cory Littleton (3 1/2 sacks) on the outside and Nick Kwiatkoski (three sacks) in the middle.
In the secondary Trayvon Mullen and Nevin Lawson play the corner spots with Damarious Randall and Johnathan Abram at the safety positions. Others playing roles this are expected to be Isaiah Johnson, Jeff Heath, Lamarcus Joyner and rookie Damon Arnette (Ohio State).
The Raiders defense was solid against the run in 2019, allowing 98 yards per game (8th in NFL) but struggled against the pass, giving up 257 yards per game (25th) and also allowed 26.2 points per game, which ranked 24th overall. They had 32 sacks and picked off nine passes.
OUTLOOK FOR 2020 - It's a new beginning for the Raiders as they will now play in Las Vegas following many years in Oakland (and some in Los Angeles) where they won three Super Bowl titles, with the last coming back in the 1983 season.
Head Coach Jon Gruden is in his third season in his second go round with the team and wants to see the team improve enough to get to the post-season, where they haven't been in four years.
Quarterback Derek Carr will have plenty of weapons to help in the passing game, so barring injury or any lengthy quarantine cases, this team should be able to move the ball downfield. Marcus Mariota is on board as the backup QB and has shown he can do the job when he is right. Josh Jacobs is a solid running back and Jalen Richard is adequate in reserve and is a reliable pass receiving target out of the backfield.
The Raiders offense moved the ball consistently last season, finishing eleventh overall in offense (364 yards per game) with 246 passing yards per game (ninth) and 118 rushing yards a game, which was 13th in the NFL. However, they struggled in the red zone as they averaged just 19.6 points per game.
The defense got lit up too many times with the big pass plays last season and that cost the Raiders as they lost three one-score games that helped to keep them out of the playoffs. With a better pass rush and new faces helping out in the defensive backfield this season, perhaps things will be different and there could be a chance they get into the playoffs.
The potential is there, now it is up to the Las Vegas Raiders to make it happen.
TEAM SCHEDULE
Week One - at Carolina
Week Two - vs. New Orleans
Week Three - at New England
Week Four - vs. Buffalo
Week Five - at Kansas City
Week Six - BYE
Week Seven - vs. Tampa Bay
Week Eight - at Cleveland
Week Nine - at L.A. Chargers
Week Ten - vs. Denver
Week Eleven - vs. Kansas City
Week Twelve - at Atlanta
Week Thirteen - at N.Y. Jets
Week Fourteen - vs, Indianapolis
Week Fifteen - vs. L.A. Chargers
Week Sixteen - vs. Miami
Week Seventeen - at Denver
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