Three Burning Questions
Can the Raiders improve in the running game?
The Raiders finished 29th last season in rushing. One of the main problems with the Raiders a year ago was the inconsistencies on the offensive line and their lack of commitment to running the ball. RB LaMont Jordan rushed for 1,025 yards last season, but he averaged only 19 carries per game. With a higher emphasis placed on the power inside running game, look for Jordan to put up impressive numbers this season.
Camp battle to watch
Aaron Brooks vs. Andrew Walter
Head coach Art Shell has yet to name a starting quarterback. Based on what he has seen so far in the minicamps and OTAs he is not yet sold on Brooks leading this offense in 2006. However, Brooks has the early lead based on his experience. Brooks is a big-time athlete with a live arm that opens up the vertical passing attack. He places a lot of pressure on the opposing defense with his mobility inside and outside the pocket. He has struggled throughout his career with his poise, decision-making and accuracy.
Second-year quarterback Walter has a shot at becoming the quarterback of the future in Oakland. He is a young developing player who has a big-time arm that fits the Raiders' vertical passing attack. He has no regular-season playing experience, but he was very impressive in his understanding of the offense and his participation on the field in the offseason camps.
Can the Raiders protect the quarterback?
Inconsistency was the key word when watching and studying the Raiders offensive line in 2005. The offensive line suffered throughout the regular season in both protecting the quarterback and generating consistent push off the line of scrimmage in the run game. The Raiders allowed 45 sacks trying to protect the immobile Kerry Collins. With the addition of QB Aaron Brooks and the reshuffling of the offensive line, the Raiders are hoping they'll have better success protecting the quarterback. Even though the Raiders return a majority of their offensive line from 2005, they spent three selections in the 2006 draft on offensive linemen. Last year's starting RT Robert Gallery moves over to the left side, while LT Barry Sims moves to LG to secure the left side of the offensive line. The versatile Jake Grove should anchor the center position, but there are still concerns about the right side of the offensive line. Experienced RG Brad Badger will have his hands full holding off rookie Paul McQuistan, while Langston Walker should handle the RT position.
Can Warren Sapp still have an impact?
With the loss of NT Ted Washington the Raiders must find a replacement to play opposite Sapp against the run. Sapp played in 10 games last season before having surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder. He looked more natural playing inside in the Raiders' multiple 4-3 defensive fronts prior to his injury. He still has the ability to pressure from inside alignment and close on the quarterback as an inside pass rusher. He is still somewhat inconsistent when maintaining his pad level and controlling his gap responsibility against the run. However, he had limited exposure and work during the offseason camps due to his shoulder but he is expected back at the start of training camp. If fully healthy he still has the ability to create some mismatches as an inside rusher in sub.
The player under the microscope
LT Robert Gallery. After being selected as the No. 2 overall pick in 2004, Gallery has yet to fulfill expectations. A projected LT when entering the league, he has spent his first two seasons playing on the right side of the offensive line. Gallery will now be even more under the microscope as he makes the switch from RT to the most critical position on the offensive line, LT. The additions of new offensive line coaches Jackie Slater and Irv Eatman should help Gallery make the transition, but there's no guarantee the move will pay dividends.
Breakout players
Veteran TE Courtney Anderson and Randal Williams. With the installment of the new offensive system and strong supporting cast, the tight end position becomes a key element in the offense. The TE should be utilized on a lot of different option routes in the short and intermediate areas of the passing game. Anderson, the starter, is a big target who doesn't run that well but could factor in as an underneath possession receiver. Williams, a former WR, is a better athlete than player. However, he is a boom or bust type player who could give the Raiders a big lift if he makes a successful transition to TE.
Comeback player of the year
Veteran All-Pro receiver Randy Moss. Moss struggled last season with a nagging hip and groin. He finished the season third on the team with only 60 receptions for 1,005 yards and eight touchdowns. He is still truly gifted from an athletic standpoint with his downfield leaping ability, hands and playmaking skills. If healthy, he is still one of the league's premier players at his position. With a new head coach and system in place, Moss should put up explosive numbers in 2006.
Offensive philosophy
Head coach Art Shell returns to the Raiders and will implement, along with offensive coordinator Tom Walsh, more balance within the Raiders' offensive schemes. Walsh returns to the Raiders in hopes of turning around an offense that ranked 21st in the NFL and 23rd in points scored in 2005. Walsh hasn't coached in the NFL since 1994 and the key for his success will be how he assimilates back into the league. Oakland will rely heavily on RB Jordan and the power inside running game to set up the vertical downfield play-action attack. The Raiders will utilize a lot of spread formations that involve their explosive receiving corps of Moss, Jerry Porter, Doug Gabriel and Ronald Curry. The Raiders will also incorporate a lot more opportunities for their tight ends in the passing game than they have in years past. Also, look for them to line up and run plays with less shifting and motioning; in years past they relied on creating mismatches on the perimeter based on situational down and distance.
Defensive philosophy
Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan returns to the Raiders for his third season in charge of a defense that struggled against the run in 2005. Ryan is an aggressive coach who implements schemes that dominate and attack opposing offenses with multiple changing fronts and attacking zone pressures. He is big on creating mismatches and attacking the weakness based on personnel groupings within offensive subpackages. They will also incorporate a lot of matchup zones and single safety coverages. His schemes put a lot of pressure on the secondary based on his attacking styles of not letting the quarterback sit in the pocket and go through his progression reads. First-round pick Michael Huff should improve an inexperienced secondary that has struggled over the last few years. However, because of his aggressive style the Raiders have struggled against the run. They must play better gap control defense, while making the proper run fits within the defensive scheme. Ryan is an outstanding coach who is starting to get better personnel/speed that can hold up in his pressure scheme.
Can the Raiders improve in the running game?
The Raiders finished 29th last season in rushing. One of the main problems with the Raiders a year ago was the inconsistencies on the offensive line and their lack of commitment to running the ball. RB LaMont Jordan rushed for 1,025 yards last season, but he averaged only 19 carries per game. With a higher emphasis placed on the power inside running game, look for Jordan to put up impressive numbers this season.
Camp battle to watch
Aaron Brooks vs. Andrew Walter
Head coach Art Shell has yet to name a starting quarterback. Based on what he has seen so far in the minicamps and OTAs he is not yet sold on Brooks leading this offense in 2006. However, Brooks has the early lead based on his experience. Brooks is a big-time athlete with a live arm that opens up the vertical passing attack. He places a lot of pressure on the opposing defense with his mobility inside and outside the pocket. He has struggled throughout his career with his poise, decision-making and accuracy.
Second-year quarterback Walter has a shot at becoming the quarterback of the future in Oakland. He is a young developing player who has a big-time arm that fits the Raiders' vertical passing attack. He has no regular-season playing experience, but he was very impressive in his understanding of the offense and his participation on the field in the offseason camps.
Can the Raiders protect the quarterback?
Inconsistency was the key word when watching and studying the Raiders offensive line in 2005. The offensive line suffered throughout the regular season in both protecting the quarterback and generating consistent push off the line of scrimmage in the run game. The Raiders allowed 45 sacks trying to protect the immobile Kerry Collins. With the addition of QB Aaron Brooks and the reshuffling of the offensive line, the Raiders are hoping they'll have better success protecting the quarterback. Even though the Raiders return a majority of their offensive line from 2005, they spent three selections in the 2006 draft on offensive linemen. Last year's starting RT Robert Gallery moves over to the left side, while LT Barry Sims moves to LG to secure the left side of the offensive line. The versatile Jake Grove should anchor the center position, but there are still concerns about the right side of the offensive line. Experienced RG Brad Badger will have his hands full holding off rookie Paul McQuistan, while Langston Walker should handle the RT position.
Can Warren Sapp still have an impact?
With the loss of NT Ted Washington the Raiders must find a replacement to play opposite Sapp against the run. Sapp played in 10 games last season before having surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder. He looked more natural playing inside in the Raiders' multiple 4-3 defensive fronts prior to his injury. He still has the ability to pressure from inside alignment and close on the quarterback as an inside pass rusher. He is still somewhat inconsistent when maintaining his pad level and controlling his gap responsibility against the run. However, he had limited exposure and work during the offseason camps due to his shoulder but he is expected back at the start of training camp. If fully healthy he still has the ability to create some mismatches as an inside rusher in sub.
The player under the microscope
LT Robert Gallery. After being selected as the No. 2 overall pick in 2004, Gallery has yet to fulfill expectations. A projected LT when entering the league, he has spent his first two seasons playing on the right side of the offensive line. Gallery will now be even more under the microscope as he makes the switch from RT to the most critical position on the offensive line, LT. The additions of new offensive line coaches Jackie Slater and Irv Eatman should help Gallery make the transition, but there's no guarantee the move will pay dividends.
Breakout players
Veteran TE Courtney Anderson and Randal Williams. With the installment of the new offensive system and strong supporting cast, the tight end position becomes a key element in the offense. The TE should be utilized on a lot of different option routes in the short and intermediate areas of the passing game. Anderson, the starter, is a big target who doesn't run that well but could factor in as an underneath possession receiver. Williams, a former WR, is a better athlete than player. However, he is a boom or bust type player who could give the Raiders a big lift if he makes a successful transition to TE.
Comeback player of the year
Veteran All-Pro receiver Randy Moss. Moss struggled last season with a nagging hip and groin. He finished the season third on the team with only 60 receptions for 1,005 yards and eight touchdowns. He is still truly gifted from an athletic standpoint with his downfield leaping ability, hands and playmaking skills. If healthy, he is still one of the league's premier players at his position. With a new head coach and system in place, Moss should put up explosive numbers in 2006.
Offensive philosophy
Head coach Art Shell returns to the Raiders and will implement, along with offensive coordinator Tom Walsh, more balance within the Raiders' offensive schemes. Walsh returns to the Raiders in hopes of turning around an offense that ranked 21st in the NFL and 23rd in points scored in 2005. Walsh hasn't coached in the NFL since 1994 and the key for his success will be how he assimilates back into the league. Oakland will rely heavily on RB Jordan and the power inside running game to set up the vertical downfield play-action attack. The Raiders will utilize a lot of spread formations that involve their explosive receiving corps of Moss, Jerry Porter, Doug Gabriel and Ronald Curry. The Raiders will also incorporate a lot more opportunities for their tight ends in the passing game than they have in years past. Also, look for them to line up and run plays with less shifting and motioning; in years past they relied on creating mismatches on the perimeter based on situational down and distance.
Defensive philosophy
Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan returns to the Raiders for his third season in charge of a defense that struggled against the run in 2005. Ryan is an aggressive coach who implements schemes that dominate and attack opposing offenses with multiple changing fronts and attacking zone pressures. He is big on creating mismatches and attacking the weakness based on personnel groupings within offensive subpackages. They will also incorporate a lot of matchup zones and single safety coverages. His schemes put a lot of pressure on the secondary based on his attacking styles of not letting the quarterback sit in the pocket and go through his progression reads. First-round pick Michael Huff should improve an inexperienced secondary that has struggled over the last few years. However, because of his aggressive style the Raiders have struggled against the run. They must play better gap control defense, while making the proper run fits within the defensive scheme. Ryan is an outstanding coach who is starting to get better personnel/speed that can hold up in his pressure scheme.
