Oakland Raiders

NFL Previews - Oakland Raiders

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2007 OAKLAND RAIDERS PREVIEW

(My Sportsbook) - For a man renowned for living in the past, Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis' sudden embrace of the future was among the most shocking NFL offseason developments that did not involve pit bulls, strip clubs, or automatic weapons.

Davis may still pride himself on being the league's renegade franchise leader, but the eccentric tycoon succumbed to the NFL's latest trend in his search for a new head coach. After observing 35-year-old Eric Mangini quickly turn the New York Jets from hopeless losers to playoff participants in obvious admiration, Davis outdid his former AFL rivals from the east with his hire of former USC offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, who will be 32 when the Raiders begin the season.

Although Davis' decision was in stark contrast to the previous offseason, when he reluctantly recycled Art Shell to run the team and then watched his former Hall of Fame tackle ineptly guide Oakland to a league-worst 2-14 record, it's actually not without precedent. John Madden, Mike Shanahan and Jon Gruden were all in their 30's when brought in by Davis to coach the Raiders. All three also won Super Bowls, although both Shanahan and Gruden got their rings after leaving town.

Kiffin may be younger than a number of his current players, and was eight years old when the Raiders last won a Super Bowl in 1983, but there's little doubt he'll be more competent in overseeing an offense than the Shell-Tom Walsh combo was last year. Oakland had one of the most pathetic attacks in modern NFL history, averaging a meager 10.5 points per game and ranking at the bottom of the league in practically every offensive category.

To no one's surprise, there will be plenty of new faces when the Raiders' offense takes the field this year. One was supposed to be JaMarcus Russell, the wonderfully gifted rookie quarterback whom Oakland snared with the top overall pick in April's draft. One was not expected to be Daunte Culpepper, the wonderfully gifted former All-Pro quarterback robbed of superstar status by a devastating knee injury nearly two years ago.

Kiffin's initial plan heading into the season was for ex-Cardinals and Lions signal-caller Josh McCown to handle duties under center until Russell was deemed ready to take over. That idea has been scrapped, however, because the Raiders still haven't come to contract terms with the rookie quarterback. Further complicating matters is the unexpected presence of Culpepper, who was quickly snatched up by Oakland after being cut loose by the Dolphins in the summer.

It's now anybody's guess as to who will see the majority of work as the No. 1 quarterback, as McCown and Culpepper were neck-and-neck heading into the final preseason game. What is for sure, however, is that the odds of Russell not taking a snap in an NFL contest this year increase with each day of the ex-LSU star's holdout.

Below we take a capsule look at the 2007 edition of the Oakland Raiders, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:

2006 RECORD: 2-14 (4th, AFC West)

LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: 2002, lost to Tampa Bay, 48-21, in Super Bowl

COACH (RECORD): Lane Kiffin (first year with Raiders, first overall)

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Greg Knapp

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Rob Ryan

OFFENSIVE STAR: Daunte Culpepper, QB (929 passing yards, 2 TD, 3 INT with Miami)

DEFENSIVE STAR: Warren Sapp, DT (47 tackles, 10 sacks)

OFFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 29th rushing, 31st passing, 32nd scoring

DEFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 25th rushing, 1st passing, 18th scoring

FIVE KEY GAMES: Cleveland (9/23), at Miami (9/30), Kansas City (10/21), Houston (11/4), Denver (12/2)

KEY ADDITIONS: QB Daunte Culpepper (from Dolphins), QB Josh McCown (from Lions), RB Dominic Rhodes (from Colts), FB Justin Griffith (from Falcons), WR Travis Taylor (from Vikings), WR Mike Williams (from Lions), WR Johnnie Lee Higgins (3rd Round, UTEP), TE Tony Stewart (from Bengals), TE Zach Miller (2nd Round, Arizona State), C Jeremy Newberry (from 49ers), G Cooper Carlisle (from Broncos), T Torrin Tucker (from Buccaneers), T Cornell Green (from Buccaneers), T Mario Henderson (3rd Round, Florida State), DE Quentin Moses (3rd Round, Georgia), DT Gerard Warren (from Broncos), CB Chris Johnson (from Chiefs), S Donovin Darius (from Jaguars), S Colin Branch (from Panthers)

KEY DEPARTURES: QB Aaron Brooks (released), QB Marques Tuiasosopo (to Jets), WR Randy Moss (to Patriots), WR Doug Gabriel (released), TE Randal Williams (released), TE Fred Wakefield (out for season/injured), T Brad Badger (to Cardinals), OL Langston Walker (to Bills), DE Lance Johnstone (released), LB Grant Irons (not tendered), DB Derrick Gibson (not tendered)

QB: Either Culpepper or McCown, acquired in a draft-day trade with Detroit, gives Oakland a better option here than last year's comical duo of Aaron Brooks and Andrew Walter (1677 passing yards, 3 TD, 13 INT). Culpepper is the physically superior and more experienced player of the two, but McCown has a better grasp of Kiffin's offense at this point in time. Walter was thrown to the wolves for eight starts in 2006 and never had a chance behind a porous offensive line and the old staff's questionable game plan. Still, the 25-year- old's youth and strong arm make him an excellent No. 3 guy. One member of the trio may very well be moved whenever Russell signs, with McCown the one likely to bring the most in return.

RB: After putting together a very strong season with the Silver and Black in 2005, LaMont Jordan was limited to nine games and 434 rushing yards last year due to a host of injuries including an MCL tear that ended his campaign in November. Because of the stocky back's durability issues, the Raiders signed Dominic Rhodes (641 rushing yards, 5 TD, 36 receptions) away from defending world champion Indianapolis to share time in the backfield. Jordan will have to carry the load early on, though, as Rhodes will sit out the first four games for violation of the league's drug policy. Justin Fargas performed admirably in Jordan's absence late last season and finished with a team-best 659 rushing yards, but the fifth-year pro's spot on the roster could be in jeopardy because of a stellar preseason by Joe Echemandu, a practice-squad participant for most of 2006. Oakland also drafted bruiser Michael Bush in the fourth round back in April, although the ex-Louisville star could wind up on injured reserve while he continues to recover from a broken leg. Catching the ball out of the backfield is an essential part of Kiffin's offense, a main reason why Rhodes and former Falcon Justin Griffith (106 yards, 23 receptions, 4 total TD) were targeted in free agency. Griffith's addition and the sixth- round selection of blocking specialist Oren O'Neal could signal the end of veteran Zack Crockett's (163 rushing yards) seven-year tenure with the club.

WR/TE: Kiffin sent an early and clear message by ridding the team of the cancerous presence of Randy Moss in April, ending the mega-talented wideout's disruptive and disappointing two-year existence by shipping him to New England for a fourth-round pick. Fellow malcontent Jerry Porter, who was buried on the depth chart by Shell, was kept and will assume Moss' old flanker position opposite the underrated Ronald Curry, Oakland's leader in catches (62) and receiving yards (727) last season. Ex-Viking Travis Taylor (57 receptions, 3 TD) was brought in over the summer to serve as the No. 3 receiver, and the Raiders took a chance on first-round bust Mike Williams (8 receptions, 1 TD) as part of the McCown trade. The Lions' washout is a former pupil of Kiffin's at USC. Oakland hasn't had a productive pass-catching tight end in years but feels that problem is solved with the choosing of Arizona State's Zach Miller in the draft's second round. However, the rookie is being pushed by second- year man John Madsen (11 receptions, 1 TD), who's turned heads with an excellent camp. Serviceable veteran Alvis Whitted (27 receptions) and fleet- footed rookie Johnnie Lee Higgins figure to round out the wide receiver corps, with former Bengal Tony Stewart (14 receptions, 1 TD) the favorite to claim the third tight end spot.

OL: The primary culprit for Oakland's offensive incompetence was a line that yielded a whopping 72 sacks and failed to adequately open holes for a ground game that was the fourth-worst in the NFL. Reinforcements were added during the offseason in oft-injured center Jeremy Newberry and two former Broncos well-schooled in new offensive coordinator Greg Knapp's zone-block scheme, guard Cooper Carlisle and tackle Cornell Green. Newberry, a three-time Pro Bowl choice with San Francisco from 2001-03, appears to have made it back from a career-threatening knee injury and is set to overtake the disappointing Jake Grove in the middle. The Raiders seem to have given up on their expectation of Gallery emerging into a franchise tackle, as the No. 2 overall pick of 2004 has been shifted to left guard during camp. Scrappy veteran Barry Sims will return to his customary role as the team's left tackle, one he held for five consecutive seasons before being inexplicably moved to guard by the Shell regime. Carlisle and Green will start out the year on the right side, with youngsters Kevin Boothe, Paul McQuistan and Mario Henderson joining the loser of the center battle in the reserve force. Boothe and McQuistan both showed promise in extended auditions as rookies last season.

DL: While the offense continually spun its wheels, Oakland did field a very respectable defense during last year's fiasco. End Derrick Burgess (50 tackles) represented the unit in the Pro Bowl after putting together an 11- sack campaign, while charismatic tackle Warren Sapp (47 tackles, 10 sacks) should have received an invite with his outstanding comeback season. The 34- year-old should again be a pass-rushing force despite his advancing age, as Sapp entered camp 30 pounds lighter than his playing weight of 2006. The Raiders struggled to find a reliable rusher outside of their top two, however, which led to the selection of Georgia's Quentin Moses in the third round of last spring's draft. The rookie will share time with converted tackle Tommy Kelly (68 tackles, 3.5 sacks) at right end, leaving returning starter Tyler Brayton (42 tackles) a possible roster casualty after a sackless year. Lining up opposite Sapp will be the massive Terdell Sands (41 tackles, 1 sack), one of the league's more underrated run stuffers, and more beef was added with the preseason acquisition of Gerard Warren (30 tackles, 2.5 sacks) from the rival Broncos. Holdover Anttaj Hawthorne (13 tackles) will also be part of the tackle rotation, while rookie Jay Richardson and former Redskins castoff Chris Clemons figure in the mix on the ends.

LB: The Raiders have struck gold through the draft in this area in back-to- back years, landing Kirk Morrison in the third round of '05 and Thomas Howard in the second last year. Morrison (127 tackles) held up well in the middle, where his coverage skills contributed greatly to Oakland's No. 1 overall ranking in pass defense, after spending his rookie year outside. Howard (110 tackles) parlayed his blazing speed into an every-down role on the weak side and has a chance to be a big-time playmaker. Sam Williams (44 tackles, 1 sack) made a nice recovery from a knee injury that kept him out all of 2005 to do a solid job on the strong side. Former first-round pick Robert Thomas (36 tackles) can capably back up all linebacker positions, while Isaiah Ekejuiba (5 tackles) and Ricky Brown (8 tackles) are valued for their work on special teams.

DB: Oakland has invested heavily in the secondary in recent drafts, tabbing strong safety Michael Huff with last year's seventh overall pick to join cornerbacks Nnamdi Asomugha (2003) and Fabian Washington (2005) as first- rounders in the team's defensive backfield. Asomugha (50 tackles) finally lived up to his advance billing last season, as the Cal product ranked among the NFL leaders with eight interceptions in a breakthrough campaign. Washington (40 tackles, 4 INT) also played at a high level and has the speed to run with any receiver. Huff (78 tackles) started all 16 games and was okay as a rookie, but the 24-year-old needs to make more plays to justify his lofty selection. He'll now have a fine tutor in 10-year pro Donovin Darius (48 tackles), who was released by Jacksonville after having trouble staying healthy the last two seasons. Stuart Schweigert (107 tackles) will begin his third straight season as the regular free safety, with ex-Raven B.J. Ward and 2007 fifth-round draftee Eric Frampton competing to be his understudy. Veteran Duane Starks (4 tackles) should see action as the nickel corner, with return ace Chris Carr (17 tackles) and raw rookie John Bowie, a former Big East 100- meter champion, also slated for backup spots.

SPECIAL TEAMS: A solid all-around special teams corps is headlined by three- time All-Pro punter Shane Lechler, who led the AFC at 47.5 yards per boot in 2006 and has averaged more than 45 yards in six of his seven pro seasons. Kicker Sebastian Janikowski (18-25 FG) had a second consecutive shaky year on field goals, however, and his future in the organization is riding on an improved effort on long-distance kicks this fall. Carr averaged a strong 25.5 yards on kick returns but a so-so 6.2 yards taking back punts. He could surrender that portion of the job to Higgins, who flashed game-breaking ability during the preseason. After the Raiders severed ties with longtime long-snapper Adam Treu just prior to training camp, undrafted free agent Jon Condo looks to have the inside track at claiming the position.

PROGNOSIS: It's not beyond the realm of possibility for the Raiders to more than triple last season's two-win total, especially if Culpepper claims the starting job under center and performs near the level that made him one of the NFL's elite quarterbacks just a few years back. The defense is playoff-caliber and Oakland clearly has more talent and depth than it did a year ago, although it's a stretch to expect Kiffin to pull off a Mangini-like turnaround. But no matter how many games Oakland improves by, 2007 can't really be considered a fulfilling year for the franchise if Russell is unable to get onto the field.

WagerOnFootball.com - Oakland Raiders Predictions

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