Compiled by RaiderBeat.com Staff
2008 VS. 2009
It’s near impossible to gauge how well a team is going to do from season to season because so many variables are involved.
As evidence, we offer: the 1998 Atlanta Falcons, who went from 7-9 to 14-2 and a Super Bowl appearance in one season; the 1999 St. Louis Rams, who jumped from 4-12 to 13-3 and Super Bowl champions that season; or the 2000 New England Patriots, who went from 5-11 to 11-5 and captured the first of three Super Bowl victories within a four-year span.
The only reliable measure of a team’s improvement is the change in personnel from one season to the next.
Given that, let’s take a look at the changes on this year’s team from last year’s 5-11 team.
Wide receivers Ashley Lelie and Ronald Curry, fullback Justin Griffith, left offensive tackle Kwame Harris, center Jake Grove, strong safety Gibril Wilson and cornerback DeAngelo Hall started for the Raiders in their regular-season opener last season.
All seven are playing for other teams or unemployed as of right now. Their projected replacements, respectively, are: Chaz Schilens and Javon Walker, Lorenzo Neal, Mario Henderson, Samson Satele, Tyvon Branch and Chris Johnson.
You don’t have to be Bill Belichick or Bill Parcells to deduce that the latter group of players is a more impressive one than the former seven.
Furthermore, running back Darren McFadden is expected to play a much more prominent role in the offense, which makes the offense more dynamic and potent right away. Also, Michael Bush is healthy and bolstered by the knowledge that he can play at a high level in the NFL after sitting out his rookie season while recovering from a broken leg he sustained in college.
Quarterback JaMarcus Russell has another season’s experience under his belt and is being pushed by veteran Jeff Garcia. That has to count as another upgrade.
The addition of rookie receivers Darrius Heyward-Bey and Louis Murphy gives the Raiders a chance at fielding a far-better receiving corps than the lacking one from last season.
Defensively, there isn’t much change beyond Johnson and Branch. Hiram Eugene has replaced Michael Huff at free safety. Jon Alston is slated to replace Ricky Brown at strong-side linebacker and that’s about it, for now.
Still, those few changes are enough to generate optimism for improved play. Eugene already has showed that he is more consistent than Huff.
Johnson played far better than Hall did in eight games for the Raiders. Alston is faster and more versatile than Brown. Branch’s ability to succeed in pass coverage at least once in a while gives him a huge leg up over the one-dimensional Wilson.
Coach Tom Cable also is confident that the teachings of veteran defensive coordinator John Marshall will lead to improved play against the run, the Achilles’ heel of Oakland’s defense the past six seasons.
None of this accounts for Oakland’s tough schedule, its inability to beat the San Diego Chargers the past 11 games and the two-ton monkey on their back from winning no more than five games in any season since 2002.
But all of it is cause for optimism and as fine a place to start as any when projecting how the 2009 season might turn out for the Raiders.
And, most of all, don’t overlook the chemistry issue, with Lane Kiffin running amok in Knoxville these days as the University of Tennessee football coach and not doing everything he can to undermine Davis and the stability of the franchise, as he did before Davis fired him four games into last season.
BROWN RECOGNIZED
Former Raiders cornerback Willie Brown is on the verge of adding another hall of fame honor to his resume when he is inducted into the Grambling State Legends Hall of Fame on July 18.
Brown already is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Now he is being honored by the college he attended in the 1960s.
Brown will be among the first 25 players inducted into Grambling’s Hall of Fame at the Monroe Civic Center in Monroe, La.
Others scheduled for induction include: Willis Reed (basketball), Tommy Agee (baseball), Ernie Ladd (football, wrestling), Ralph Garr (Baseball), Eddie Robinson (football coach), Buck Buchanan (football), Willie Davis (football) and Charlie Joiner (football).
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this is the raiders not the cubsacouts,lighten up everybody were the outlaws……..look what the original rebel says about JR-
——->>On familiarity with JaMarcus Russell: “I watched him through his high school career (in Mobile) and called games he played in at LSU (while Stabler worked Alabama radio broadcasts). He is a great kid with a lot of ability. I would love to see him do well. I’ve talked to him on occasion and interviewed him and he’s a great kid, with great character and tremendous ability.”
Pcblack, really? are you kidding? this great kid shows no leadership skills which is a huge characteristic for a franchise qb.
Mb I think JR leads in a quiet manner he’s not a rich gannon in your face guy. This was said about him in college and when he was coming out in the draft. He’s gotta have more than just one year as a starter before we call him a bad leader.
JR’s is soft and he needs to be that vocal leadership. After all he is the leader of the team.
It is a little unrealistic to think that a rookie QB is going to gravitate to being a leader in his first full year. Eli Manning was being criticized by his team mates in his 3rd year of starting because he wasn’t a leader, the next year they were in the Super Bowl, not because he was any better as a leader but because their defense dominated the other teams and Manning made fewer mistakes.
Win a few games, come from behind a few times, then you can lead your team. 22 year old rookie QB’s don’t get respect until they have done something. If Russell was to yell at his team mates now they would quit in a hurry and he would lose all their respect.
easy guys jr will be just fine screw all that leadership crap he just needs to produce and with our run game and if walker plays half way better than he has we will win this division. cant wait till we sweep the donkeys go raiders ps mitchell is a beast i live in ohio and trust me people will see this kid is the real deal ive seen him play alot
Webb, I agree Mitchell is going to rip some heads off. I still think your boy jr needs to man up. This is the “NFL” not the cfl, It’s the real deal holyfield my friend. I expect our manboy to produce this year. I hate to sound sooo negative, just frusterated at fat boy’s efforts to improve. The raiders don’t deserve this. In 2009 we have to pound that ball with my boys DMC and MR. BUSH Go Raidas!!!!!!
Hey Webber, what part of ohio do you live in? I stay in massillon, as evident by my name. J.R. has got to bring it like never before! I know he’s young and inexperienced and all that crap, but the time is now for us. The reason why is the division is down right now, chiefs and broncos suck, well they always do, and the chargers are just feasting on the division teams, which is the fastest and easiest way to the playoffs. I think with the addition of Lo. Neal, it will help free up Miller cause he may not have to stay in and block as much like last year. A healthy McFadden, a beast in Bush, anf some young hungry receivers should help improve our offense alot. Russell is the last piece, and I’m not putting him dowm, but theres a vet behind him just waiting for the chance to help us in areas Jamarcus cant! Will be interesting nonetheless!!!
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