Last Year:
Like Mufasa once explained to Simba, everything in nature exists in a delicate balance from the leaping antelope all the way down to the crawling ant. The Oakland Raiders were once front runners for the throne of the King but last season changed from predators to insignificant slugs after starting 2-5. Losing starting quarterback Rich Gannon in the 7th game of the season forced Oaktown into Hakuna Matata mode but the problem-free philosophy mixed with only 4 wins cost Head Coach Bill Callahan his job. The replacement is Head Coach Norv Turner and he brings along drastic transformations to a team that was so close merely a season ago. Has the circle of life come full circle for the Raiders or is this old team doomed for the elephant graveyard.
What we Learned from Last Year:
The Raiders started the 2003 season completely out of sync. An offense that battled with the best of ?em in 2002 was missing something that couldn?t exactly be fingered right off the bat.
A week 1 road loss against a vengeful Tennessee Titans squad was understandable, but barely squeaking by the lowly Bengals in week 2 fell just short of disastrous.
In 2002 Oakland averaged a second best 28.1 points per game, but in Gannon?s only appearances in 2003, the team scored just 18 points per game. That?s extreme.
In essence, that?s what it really came down to. There wasn?t anyone who ever counted on the Raiders? defense to take charge as they were the best man in the successful season, and little changes didn?t lead anyone to believe otherwise in the new year.
After Gannon turned in for the season, that was it.
Some other pertinent information was the growing dependency on Gannon?s shoulder and the passing game in the early goings as a team that averaged 110 yards per game on the ground in 2002 could only output a byte more than 20 yards less in the first 7 weeks. The passing game became predictable as the Raiders could not run the ball efficiently and a 37-year-old quarterback was obliged to air the ball out 34 times a game. Sure he averaged almost 39 throws a week the previous year, but that?s no way to keep an aging leader fresh.
And then there was the defense?
With the second best offense in the league nobody scoffed at a median defense that the Raiders boasted in the Super Bowl season but when the scoreboard was not so bright for the Grey and Black, the defense was placed under the microscope. Injuries along with inadequacies saw a plummet to 3rd worst. While numbers can be misleading, especially since effort is generally tossed out the window when hope is gone, the defense was not good, but not as bad as indicated.
The season turned out to be a complete mess for Oakland after wounds pried open the door for the elderly Rick Mirer and then locker room squabbles about the coach losing grasp of the team really topped the sundae off with a Maraschino cherry.
That?s how the cookie crumbles. When franchises makes championship caliber runs opponents and skeptics scratch their heads wondering how many breaks and bounces can go one team?s way, and then when the coin is flipped and a losing season goes from bad to worse, homers query what else could possibly go wrong?
What Has Changed?:
Nowadays a good off-season is dictated by the Terrell Owens or Clinton Portis? your team inserts into the roster but modern champions are built inside out.
Though Al Davis would have much preferred to adjoin a superstar wide receiver or running back to his squad, and likely gritted his teeth when the Raiders selected Robert Gallery instead of Larry Fitzgerald, in the end the proper choices were made.
Whether Kerry Collins or Rich Gannon is the starting quarterback of this football team, they will both be euphoric with the reconstructed offensive line. First-round selection Robert Gallery is considered a can?t miss prospect while second-round pick Jake Grove could also contribute right off the bat. The Raiders also signed free agent guard Ron Stone, one legitimate lineman from a scant New York Giants line.
Kerry Collins and Rich Gannon are both top tier quarterbacks, but problems occur once the offensive lines start to cave in front of them. With a stout group protecting him, Collins was highly regarded when the Giants traveled to the Super Bowl. When he is faced with pressure he tends to turnover the ball, and quickly becomes a liability. It seems unlikely that both will be kept considering Gannon is owed $7 million, and Collins signed a 3-year $16 million contract. The younger Collins has been raved about as a better fit for the new ?vertical? offense, so expect to see Gannon released late in the off-season to make sure that no competitor will have the full benefits of his services at season?s start.
In the backfield it?s hard to make an argument that the Raiders have improved. The dependable Charlie Garner steps out, while a slew of bottom shelf backs step in. Tyrone Wheatley is the headliner, but when?s the last time he was consistent of a prolonged period of time? Famous Amos Zeroue was cut by a team that could barely run the ball last season, and has not proven to be more than a 3rd down back. Justin Fargas has potential, but fumbles and durability are a reason for apprehension. And finally Troy Hambrick, who was inefficient in the lead role in Dallas, is thrown into the mix for the hell of it. At least the line will help them out.
The receivers are earlier in age, but are they better? Jerry Rice will start opposite of Jerry Porter, but with Tim Brown gone the depth is scattered. Fourth and fifth round draft selections Carlos Francis and Johnnie Morant are projects, so not much is to be anticipated as of now.
On defense the Raiders switch to a 3-4, which is a questionable move. Warren Sapp and Ted Washington have supplemented the defensive line, but the plan is to put a fourth linebacker on the field when the Raiders? can barely scrape together three acceptable ones. Dwayne Rudd and Danny Clark will join Napoleon Harris and Travian Smith, but aside from Harris, there?s not much to write home about.
In the secondary the Raiders are euphoric that Charles Woodson is back because he will be the only sure thing in this grouping. Phillip Buchanon has been uneven in his 2 seasons and last year?s first-round pick Nnamdi Asomugha has proved very little. Derrick Gibson has made a mild impact in his 3 seasons, and his safety partner will be an aging Ray Buchanon. Like the rest of the team, this secondary posts a lot of ?ifs?.
Expect the offense to be free flowing even with a committee at running back and a decent passing game, but they don?t have enough firepower to pull up the defense. Norv Turner has always been an offensive guru but unless he has a defensive teacher hidden up his sleeve to connect the pieces on the other side of the ball then it will be tough for Turner to build on his 50-60-1 coaching record.
O/U 7.5:
With so many personnel imports and exports team chemistry is an uncertainty for the Raiders heading into 2004. Denver and Kansas City encompass many more assurances which positions the Raiders at least in third place in this division. The Chargers?are still the Chargers. Oakland plays: @PIT, BUF, TB, @HOU, @IND, NO, @CAR, @ATL, TEN, and JAX.
Fantasy Sleeper:
If the stars align in an agreeable way, there should be a few Raiders with positive seasons. Around the goal line, Tyrone Wheatley will likely carry the load, so 10 touchdowns is attainable for him. Jerry Porter may be the biggest beneficiary in the new downfield offense as his number could reach career highs with strong-armed Kerry Collins as the quarterback.
Like Mufasa once explained to Simba, everything in nature exists in a delicate balance from the leaping antelope all the way down to the crawling ant. The Oakland Raiders were once front runners for the throne of the King but last season changed from predators to insignificant slugs after starting 2-5. Losing starting quarterback Rich Gannon in the 7th game of the season forced Oaktown into Hakuna Matata mode but the problem-free philosophy mixed with only 4 wins cost Head Coach Bill Callahan his job. The replacement is Head Coach Norv Turner and he brings along drastic transformations to a team that was so close merely a season ago. Has the circle of life come full circle for the Raiders or is this old team doomed for the elephant graveyard.
What we Learned from Last Year:
The Raiders started the 2003 season completely out of sync. An offense that battled with the best of ?em in 2002 was missing something that couldn?t exactly be fingered right off the bat.
A week 1 road loss against a vengeful Tennessee Titans squad was understandable, but barely squeaking by the lowly Bengals in week 2 fell just short of disastrous.
In 2002 Oakland averaged a second best 28.1 points per game, but in Gannon?s only appearances in 2003, the team scored just 18 points per game. That?s extreme.
In essence, that?s what it really came down to. There wasn?t anyone who ever counted on the Raiders? defense to take charge as they were the best man in the successful season, and little changes didn?t lead anyone to believe otherwise in the new year.
After Gannon turned in for the season, that was it.
Some other pertinent information was the growing dependency on Gannon?s shoulder and the passing game in the early goings as a team that averaged 110 yards per game on the ground in 2002 could only output a byte more than 20 yards less in the first 7 weeks. The passing game became predictable as the Raiders could not run the ball efficiently and a 37-year-old quarterback was obliged to air the ball out 34 times a game. Sure he averaged almost 39 throws a week the previous year, but that?s no way to keep an aging leader fresh.
And then there was the defense?
With the second best offense in the league nobody scoffed at a median defense that the Raiders boasted in the Super Bowl season but when the scoreboard was not so bright for the Grey and Black, the defense was placed under the microscope. Injuries along with inadequacies saw a plummet to 3rd worst. While numbers can be misleading, especially since effort is generally tossed out the window when hope is gone, the defense was not good, but not as bad as indicated.
The season turned out to be a complete mess for Oakland after wounds pried open the door for the elderly Rick Mirer and then locker room squabbles about the coach losing grasp of the team really topped the sundae off with a Maraschino cherry.
That?s how the cookie crumbles. When franchises makes championship caliber runs opponents and skeptics scratch their heads wondering how many breaks and bounces can go one team?s way, and then when the coin is flipped and a losing season goes from bad to worse, homers query what else could possibly go wrong?
What Has Changed?:
Nowadays a good off-season is dictated by the Terrell Owens or Clinton Portis? your team inserts into the roster but modern champions are built inside out.
Though Al Davis would have much preferred to adjoin a superstar wide receiver or running back to his squad, and likely gritted his teeth when the Raiders selected Robert Gallery instead of Larry Fitzgerald, in the end the proper choices were made.
Whether Kerry Collins or Rich Gannon is the starting quarterback of this football team, they will both be euphoric with the reconstructed offensive line. First-round selection Robert Gallery is considered a can?t miss prospect while second-round pick Jake Grove could also contribute right off the bat. The Raiders also signed free agent guard Ron Stone, one legitimate lineman from a scant New York Giants line.
Kerry Collins and Rich Gannon are both top tier quarterbacks, but problems occur once the offensive lines start to cave in front of them. With a stout group protecting him, Collins was highly regarded when the Giants traveled to the Super Bowl. When he is faced with pressure he tends to turnover the ball, and quickly becomes a liability. It seems unlikely that both will be kept considering Gannon is owed $7 million, and Collins signed a 3-year $16 million contract. The younger Collins has been raved about as a better fit for the new ?vertical? offense, so expect to see Gannon released late in the off-season to make sure that no competitor will have the full benefits of his services at season?s start.
In the backfield it?s hard to make an argument that the Raiders have improved. The dependable Charlie Garner steps out, while a slew of bottom shelf backs step in. Tyrone Wheatley is the headliner, but when?s the last time he was consistent of a prolonged period of time? Famous Amos Zeroue was cut by a team that could barely run the ball last season, and has not proven to be more than a 3rd down back. Justin Fargas has potential, but fumbles and durability are a reason for apprehension. And finally Troy Hambrick, who was inefficient in the lead role in Dallas, is thrown into the mix for the hell of it. At least the line will help them out.
The receivers are earlier in age, but are they better? Jerry Rice will start opposite of Jerry Porter, but with Tim Brown gone the depth is scattered. Fourth and fifth round draft selections Carlos Francis and Johnnie Morant are projects, so not much is to be anticipated as of now.
On defense the Raiders switch to a 3-4, which is a questionable move. Warren Sapp and Ted Washington have supplemented the defensive line, but the plan is to put a fourth linebacker on the field when the Raiders? can barely scrape together three acceptable ones. Dwayne Rudd and Danny Clark will join Napoleon Harris and Travian Smith, but aside from Harris, there?s not much to write home about.
In the secondary the Raiders are euphoric that Charles Woodson is back because he will be the only sure thing in this grouping. Phillip Buchanon has been uneven in his 2 seasons and last year?s first-round pick Nnamdi Asomugha has proved very little. Derrick Gibson has made a mild impact in his 3 seasons, and his safety partner will be an aging Ray Buchanon. Like the rest of the team, this secondary posts a lot of ?ifs?.
Expect the offense to be free flowing even with a committee at running back and a decent passing game, but they don?t have enough firepower to pull up the defense. Norv Turner has always been an offensive guru but unless he has a defensive teacher hidden up his sleeve to connect the pieces on the other side of the ball then it will be tough for Turner to build on his 50-60-1 coaching record.
O/U 7.5:
With so many personnel imports and exports team chemistry is an uncertainty for the Raiders heading into 2004. Denver and Kansas City encompass many more assurances which positions the Raiders at least in third place in this division. The Chargers?are still the Chargers. Oakland plays: @PIT, BUF, TB, @HOU, @IND, NO, @CAR, @ATL, TEN, and JAX.
Fantasy Sleeper:
If the stars align in an agreeable way, there should be a few Raiders with positive seasons. Around the goal line, Tyrone Wheatley will likely carry the load, so 10 touchdowns is attainable for him. Jerry Porter may be the biggest beneficiary in the new downfield offense as his number could reach career highs with strong-armed Kerry Collins as the quarterback.
