Comments on The 3-4: Oakland Raiders 2010: Can They Improve?

I don’t know if you remember a guy named Jamarcus ...

2010-09-07T10:51:14.911-04:00

I don’t know if you remember a guy named Jamarcus Russell but he went 26 for 39, last preseason with 1 Td and 0 Int. I’m guessing at this time last year Raiders fans thought they were going to win the super bowl. Preseason is not that important, so you may want to pump the brakes with the whole best off-season in 30 year talk. The Raiders had a good draft, but the expectations are so low because of previous drafts that you may be over hyping it.

I don’t see how losing a bad QB that had 2 wins in 9 starts and replacing him with an average QB that had 4 wins in 16 starts, (a QB the Redskins have been trying to get rid of for the last 2 years), will equal a dramatic improvement. The Raiders still have a bad offensive line, no proven backs or receivers.

The defense has potential, but I just don’t see any reliable weapons on offense. You say that there are a lot of guys that are being talked up and could have breakout years, but there are many player around the league that get talked up every year, yet never seem to make a huge impact: Laurence Maroney, Trent Edwards, Roy Williams, Robert Gallery, and Michael Huff to name a few.

The last thing is that the fact that 3 rookies are starting does not mean that it was a great draft; it just means there were a lot of holes. The Colts and Saints do not have any rookies starting on their depth charts, that does not mean they had a bad draft, they just didn’t need them to start, the Raiders do.

By the way, what is up with the Pow thing?

@Anonymous, thanks for your comment. I do think t...

2010-09-07T08:28:15.919-04:00

@Anonymous, thanks for your comment. I do think the Raiders are going to be better this year, but you do need to look at their team a little more objectively. You must know you cannot base every point/prediction/analysis on preseason. I will be a bit surprised if DHB and Murphy play all year like you say they will after last season. In 2009 DHB had nine catches and six drops. That is brutal. Louis Murphy had nine drops.

Just because three draft picks will start doesn't give them immediate playmakers at the position. I think McClain is a phenomenal player and that he will win defensive ROY. That said, it is very hard (and uncommon) for a rookie to come in and dominate.

The offensive line is still shaky while the defense is improving. And just because Asomuouga said Shaughnessy will be a star doesn't make it true! It's nice that some players have confidence in others, though. And you can't base a prediction that Houston will be the best DL in the draft because of one half of a preseason game!

All that said, adding Campbell was a HUGE upgrade at QB. DHB and Murphy need a complete turnaround this year, as well as Darren McFadden...he is becoming close to "bust" category.

You're not very good at this - the Raiders enjoyed...

2010-09-07T07:18:26.658-04:00

You're not very good at this - the Raiders enjoyed their best off-season in almost 30 years. We picked up what might very well turn out to be the best def. lineman in the draft after trading down twice, no less in the 2nd round. Houston had two sacks against the Cowboy's first team in the first half of his first game in the NFL. Pow. He has a mean streak. Asomuouga said that Shaugnessy (DE) is going to be a superstar, this 2nd-year player's got all the tools. Kelly, our DT, lost 35lbs. and has never looked better or more agile. We have moved Seymor back inside to be the leader of this stout unit which had 12 sacks in the first two pre-season games. Pow. McClain is not going to be a Patrick Willis type, but instead a Matt Millen type, which is exactly what the Raiders need to finally put the brakes on opponent's running game. All of our draft picks made the team, 3 will start. Offensively, we added by subtraction. This is a different team with JR. The Raiders could have been 7-9 last year, easy, without him. We have a very inspirational OC, the former Ravens qb coach, who so far has impressed. The Raiders have scored on their first possession the last 3 pre-season games in a row. Last season that didn't happen once. DHB, last year's 1st-round bust, is back and he's on a mission. His camp and pre-season was a 180 degree turnaround from last year. Louis Murphy, WR, plays like a crafty, wily old veteran. Bush, our bruiser back, was recently injured, but he was practicing with the team this week and may surprise the experts and play. We have a new starter at qb with improving numbers every year he has been in the league. He has led those 1st series TD drives the last 3 games, spreading it around. Our backups are excellent, so no worries, in any case. All in all, 8-8 would be a conservative prediction given the weight of their off-season.

I see the Raiders finishing second in the AFC West...

2010-08-18T16:50:12.753-04:00

I see the Raiders finishing second in the AFC West, behind the Chargers and ahead of the Chiefs. Jason Campbell will succeed in Oakland. Hopefully for him one of his receivers will step up and contribute.