LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
2024 Record - 4-13-0
Head Coach - Pete Carroll
2024 Offensive Rank - (27th overall) - 303 YPG; Passing - 223 YPG (13th), Rushing - 80 YPG (32nd); SCORING - 18.2 PPG (28th)
2024 Defensive Rank - (15th overall) - 333 YPG; Passing - 216 YPG (15th), Rushing - 117 YPG (13th); SCORING - 25.5 PPG (25th)
Key Additions for 2025 - Geno Smith (QB), Ashton Jeanty (rookie - Boise State), Elandon Roberts (LB), Jeremy Chinn (DB), Alex Cappa (OL), Raheem Mostert (RB), Eric Stokes (DB)
Key Losses for 2025 - Robert Spillane (LB), Jack Jones (DB), Christian Wilkins (DL), Divine Deablo (LB), Andre James (OL), John Jenkins (DL), Gardner Minshew (QB), Tre'von Moehrig (DB), Nate Hobbs (DB)
OFFENSE - Geno Smith comes over from the Seattle Seahawks to play quarterback after passing for 4,320 yards last season with 21 touchdowns and 15 interceptions while also rushing for 272 yards (5.1 YPC) and two touchdowns. The running game will feature rookie Ashton Jeanty (Boise State) while veteran Raheem Mostert (278 yards, 3.3 YPC, two TD with Miami) will look to play in Vegas this season. The wide receivers include Jakobi Meyers (87 receptions, 1,027 yards, four TD), Tre Tucker (47, 539, three TD) and tight end Brock Bowers, who hauled in 112 receptions for 1,194 yards and five touchdowns in his rookie season.
DEFENSE - The Raiders have Defensive End Maxx Crosby (7 1/2 sacks) up front and he will team with Adam Butler (five sacks), Jonah Laulu and Malcolm Koonce this season. The linebackers are led by Devin White, Elandon Roberts and Amari Gainer while the secondary had an overhaul and will feature safety Jeremy Chinn (107 tackles with Washington) and Isaiah Pola-Mao (85 tackles) along with corners Eric Stokes, Darnay Holmes and Jakorian Bennett. Last season, the Raiders had ten interceptions and 38 quarterback sacks and ten different players from the linebacking corps and secondary left the team in the off-season.
OUTLOOK - New Head Coach Pete Carroll brings an impressive resume along as he will look to get the Raiders back to a level of respectability this season. They haven't made the playoffs in four years and will be looking to jump start the offense after finishing dead last in rushing in 2024 and also ranking near the bottom of the NFL in scoring. If rookie runner Ashton Jeanty can make the explosive plays he did in college, the running game will benefit for sure. Veteran QB Geno Smith played for Carroll in Seattle and had his best seasons there before the Seahawks moved on from Carroll two years ago. Better pass protection is a must as Raiders quarterbacks were sacked 50 times last season.
The Raiders defense has to improve as well, especially in the red zone as they were middle of the pack against the run and pass, but ranked in the bottom quarter of the league in scoring defense. The revamped secondary and linebacking corps will be the key to any improvement in 2025. Playing in perhaps the toughest division (AFC West) in the NFL will present a big challenge to the Raiders as the other three teams all made the playoffs last year and the Kansas City Chiefs are the three-time defending AFC champions. Making the playoffs this year is a big reach, but improving on four wins in 2024 should happen and who knows . . . if Smith and company catch fire on offense under Carroll, the Raiders could surprise some opponents this season.
2025 SCHEDULE
Week One - at New England
Week Two - vs. L.A. Chargers
Week Three - at Washington
Week Four - vs. Chicago
Week Five - at Indianapolis
Week Six - vs. Tennessee
Week Seven - at Kansas City
Week Eight - BYE
Week Nine - vs. Jacksonville
Week Ten - at Denver
Week Eleven - vs. Dallas
Week Twelve - vs. Cleveland
Week Thirteen - at L.A. Chargers
Week Fourteen - vs. Denver
Week Fifteen - at Philadelphia
Week Sixteen - at Houston
Week Seventeen - vs. N.Y. Giants
Week Eighteen - vs. Kansas City
No comments:
Post a Comment