2009 NFL Football Preview - Oakland Raiders
The Raiders were losers to Tampa in Super Bowl XXXVII six seasons ago; since then, no team has lost as many games in the NFL as Oakland. And we mean, ever - the Raiders are the first team in league history to lose at least 11 games in six straight years. The fifth official coach in seven years is Tom Cable; he was 4-8 as the interim coach after owner Al Davis unceremoniously fired Lane Kiffin. Cable has two assistants helping him call the offense while John Marshall tries to lead a defense that was second-to-last against the rush in 2008. Oakland's offense has some interesting pieces, as QB JaMarcus Russell enters his third season, while Darren McFadden and Michael Bush are more than capable running backs. Still, the Raider receivers caught a total of 82 passes - a number eclipsed by TWELVE (!) individual receivers in the league last fall. The O-line is mediocre at best. On the other side, Nnamdi Asomugha is now the highest paid DB in NFL history, but he's only had two interceptions the last two seasons as opponents now avoid him. Just like the offense, it appears that there are guys who can make plays and will make great ones at times. However, there just might now be enough of them. Help must come for Asomugha. It won't in the form of 39-year old backup QB Jeff Garcia or 38-year old fullback Lorenzo Neal, although those vets figure to be team leaders. |
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ASK the bookie? - The Raiders were interesting at times toward the end of last year, and their win in Tampa to close the season was a game the Bucs needed for the playoffs. It goes to show that the Raiders aren't totally incapable of beating a better team, as they were a few years back. They will ride a two-game winning streak into the 2009 opener at home against San Diego on Monday night; but even after a five-win season, it looks like six is in the
pffing, meaning with an upset early, OVER would be the only play...
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