Vegas NFL Futures betting has the
Oakland Raiders winning 6 games for the 2008-09 NFL regular season.
- They go from having one of the hardest schedules in the NFL to having the easiest schedule in the NFL. 11 of our first 12 opponents didn't even make the playoffs last season. John Clayton has stated on ESPN that the Raiders could be 7-5 going into December.
- They've revamped their entire roster... especially the offense.
- #1 overall pick in the 2007 draft, Jamarcus Russell, is the new full-time starting QB.
- #4 overall pick in the 2008 draft, Darren McFadden, looks like a complete stud at running back (and anything else he decides to play).
- Newcomer WR, Javon Walker, is coming along slowly but surely from knee surgery to provide a nice big-play target for Jamarcus to utilize.
- The unsung hero will be
Kwame Harris, an excellent run blocker for a run-prominent offense. The acquisition of Harris will prove to be huge when he continuously opens up that 1 crease that Darren McFadden uses to explode through into the second level of NFL defenses.
- 4th round pick from 2007, RB Michael Bush, is a personal fan favorite of mine. I'm transferring to the University of Louisville this Fall, and I'm well aware of the legacy that Bush left there as a big-play back. He is in the mold of
Brandon Jacobs, but he can move smoothly through blocks with better agility.
*All of these players did not receive extensive playing time in Oakland in 2007. They are completely new to the lineup.
Their defense has improved as well...
- Criticize the contract of
Tommy Kelly all that you want. The Raiders are giving it to him for a clear and distinct reason...
Tommy Kelly is one of the best defensive players in the game when he is healthy.
Warren Sapp was quoted as saying that Kelly could probably be better than he ever was when it's all said and done. Torn ACLs are tricky to judge though... hopefully he'll regain that explosiveness that makes him such a dangerous DT.
- Gabril Wilson is a surefire tackling safety that will save a lot of 20+ yard runs from happening. In a division that features LT, LJ and Denver's running attack... it's important to have that last line of defense actually be able to make a tackle (sorry
Stuart Schweigert).
- The acquisition of Wilson allows #7 overall pick from the 2006 draft,
Michael Huff, to move to his natural position at Free Safety.
-
DeAngelo Hall is a PHENOMENAL PICKUP! In a secondary that already has
Nnamdi Asomugha, this will leave D-Hall in man coverage with every team's #2 WR. There are only a handful of teams that boast a #2 WR that I am truly fearful of.
Conclusion:
If I could look into a crystal ball and tell you the future... I'd tell you that on paper, the Raiders have vastly improved in intricate aspects of the game that they were completely weak in last season. They should win more than 6 games... so if you are the gambling type, I'd put my chips in for Oakland if I were you.
- They've improved their running game not only with the additions of McFadden and Bush, but with run-blocking specialist,
Kwame Harris. This will take more and more pressure off Jamarcus Russell... making the playaction more and more effective... and I've seen Jamarcus stiff-arm some Linebackers... so I'm not afraid of him getting sacked as much as previous Raider QBs have in the last 5 years.
- They've improved their passing game with the acquisition of Javon Walker... somebody seasoned who knows how to catch and hang on to the ball.
- They probably have the scariest secondary in the game now... (
DeAngelo Hall/
Michael Huff/Gabril Wilson/
Nnamdi Asomugha/
Stanford Routt).
- They are getting
Tommy Kelly back from injury.
Just Win, Baby!