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Oakland Raiders 2009 Preview
Well, here we go again. Another football season is fast approaching Oakland Raider. What will Oakland Raiders to be like in 2009? Will more of the same or will the Raiders finally make some headway in AFC West, in my opinion is very open. First Instead, I'll start by saying that I like Tom Cable as head coach and I think the Raiders made a smart move to keep you on board. I think the Raiders have shown promising results Cable coach any coach since Gruden. When you look at the realistic candidates for the Oakland job you realize that the maintenance of cable in an effort to give a some stability to a franchise that has lacked for years makes sense. Cable is a former OL coach and McFadden, Fargas, and Bush this team is built to be a team Power passing and I think Cable will really work in setting up the race this year.
Unlike past seasons where the Raiders low have tried to land some well-known actors free period of free agency this year has proved to be relatively quiet for the Silver and Black. Outside the firm of Marshall Jeff Garcia of the Raider biggest off season move has clearly been re-signing of CB Nnamdi Asomugha. Asomugha is one, if not the best corner cover in the league today and invoked memories of Lester Hayes to see him play. The Raiders also waived punter Shane Lechler was also believe that a strong movement. We all saw in the playoffs in recent years how valuable a punter may be in terms of field position. Lechler is one of the best and I am Please see him again.
In my opinion the Raiders OL is a mess and it's a shame because they have three backs that can tote the rock effectively in McFadden, Fargas, and Bush. Remains to be seen whether there will be a hole for any of them to run through. To strengthen a line that has underachieved for years to Raiders added LT Khalif Barnes of Jacksonville. While it appears on paper that this is an upgrade over Kwame Harris this is still a position that the Raiders need to address in the draft next week. Former 1st round selection Robert Gallery has played virtually all positions in the OC and has been dominant in any of them. Jake Grove has gone to Miami and instead has Samson Satele who should benefit from the Raiders' zone blocking schemes cable likes to use.
Defensively Raiders have many glaring deficiencies. After the secondary Asomugha is extremely thin in spite of the tenth overall in yards allowed with 201.2 per game. Former Texas safety Michael Huff has been a disappointment highlighted tremendous amount in the same way that the gallery has and by the end of the year was replaced in the lineup holder by Hiram Eugene. Chris Johnson is a solid player, but Stanford and Route, Justin Miller, are players in the situation at best. The LB are pretty solid with Kirk Morrison and Thomas Howard anchor in the middle, but this body could use some help from the disabled list was a nightmare last season with the departure of Warren Sapp. The Raiders allowed 159.7 yards per game on the ground in 2008 to rank 31 in the NFL. Tommy Kelly had a horrible year and Gerard Warren has never made any impact on any Instead he has played.
So, if the draft the Raiders with the seventh overall selection? I've been saying that the future of this franchise remains Marshal JaMarcus Russell Field. Obviously, we all know that Russell has a cannon arm, but his shots are erratic and he has been hurt not having anyone to throw the ball to outside of Zach Miller. If Russell pans out the Raiders will be fine, but if it is a bust and you're hearing whispers in this sense that the Raiders are done for another 5 years at least. Cable subtly hinted recently that Russell's work ethic could be better and it has to be established as more of a leader on the team. Russell said to attend training Raiders season and has reached the point to wait, because cable is right to say that if mature and work on your mechanics that can be very large. With that in mind, I doubt the Raiders need to select Michael Crabtree and Jeremy Maclin with the seventh pick on Saturday.
To protect Russell has never had a guy go from the start in the NFL. Javon Walker is a joke and Ronald Curry had been released and has since signed with the Lions, leaving virtually none of the Raiders in position. The Raiders need Russell to give a go to guy, someone to work and grow together with much the same way Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison used do in Indy. The Raiders and Russell in particualr need a receiver with despair. I hear many so-called "guru", saying the Raiders prepare OL Andre Smith of Alabama. This would be a big mistake no pun. pysique Smith is atrocious what to me is a sure sign of laziness. Laziness is one thing the Raiders do not anymroe necessary. What the Raiders need is someone to step in immediately and be a player for the team and especially Russell and either would provide Maclin or Crabtree. More down in the draft the Raiders can address some of their positions other needs, such as DL, OL, and the secondary.
It's been a long time 2001 to be exact since the Raiders have had a glimmer of success. We hope this is the year that Russell made some progress and gives everyone something Raider fans that Michael Irvin said the only thing a man needs to move forward: Esperanza. Until next time.
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About the Author
Chris Limburg is the fanatical purveyor of gothicfootball.com: A Oakland Raider/fantasy football blog that provides commentary on everything that is the NFL or fantasy football. Visit today at http://www.gothicfootball.com
2008 Clear Choice Awards Winner – Beer – Miller Chill