Check out all of our 2009 NFL team previews.
Offseason Additions: Greg Ellis (DE); Jeff Garcia (QB); Khalif Barnes, Lorenzo Neal (FB); Erik Pears (OT); Keith Davis (S).
Offseason Losses: Gibril Wilson (S); Jake Grove (C); Justin Griffith (FB); Ronald Curry (WR).
Player to Watch: Darren McFadden, RB.
A turf toe injury limited McFadden to only 499 yards on 113 carries and four touchdowns in his rookie season. But McFadden is completely healthy and is on the verge of leapfrogging Justin Fargas on the Raiders’ depth chart. Even though Oakland’s offensive line is a potential weakness, McFadden will get the opportunity to shine this year as the Raiders want to get him involved as both a runner and receiver. As long as he can stay healthy, the former Arkansas product could have a breakout season.
Team Strength: Can potential be deemed a strength? Quarterback JaMarcus Russell still has a long way to go in his development as a passer, but he certainly has enough weapons around him in McFadden, Darrius Heyward-Bey and Chaz Schilens. Of course, Heyward-Bey is a rookie, McFadden has to stay healthy and Schilens (an emerging No. 1 receiver) has to bounce back from the foot injury he suffered in practice a few weeks ago. But again, these players have potential and if they develop together, the Raiders will have a solid offensive corps for years to come. (But that’s a big “if.”)
Potential Weakness: Outside of Pro Bowl cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha (who chipped a bone in his left wrist and will be sidelined for at least two weeks) and middle linebacker Kirk Morrison, the entire defense is a massive weakness for the Raiders. Actually, the secondary is pretty good (Asomugha is the best corner in the league), but the front seven won’t be able to generate much of a pass rush and therefore the backfield will be highly susceptible to giving up a ton of yardage. Another factor that will hurt the defense is if Russell and the offense can’t sustain drives. The defense was on the field entirely too long last season and it could be again this year.
Outlook: Unless this is the year that Russell puts it all together, the Raiders will once again be one of the laughingstocks in the NFL. The running game is good and the receiving corps has potential, but this team’s success revolves around Russell. And even if Russell does take the next step as a passer, the offensive line won’t give him much time to throw anyway. Defensively, if Asomugha isn’t healthy, then the Raiders don’t have much going on that side of the ball, especially consider the entire front seven is suspect outside of Morrison.
If Oakland’s third preseason game (a 41-7 beat down at the hands of the Saints) was any indication, then Al Davis’s team still has a long way to go.
2009 Prediction: Fourth, AFC West.
