Oakland RAIDERS OffSeason Thread

SMFH at Chaz, I really won't be surprised if he gets cut if this injury sticks with him past pre-season.
 
SMFH at Chaz, I really won't be surprised if he gets cut if this injury sticks with him past pre-season.
 
well guys, another year is upon us. it was fun messing with everyone in here last year and i hope to do the same this year.

the raider/chiefs are no longer at the bottom of the division. that goes to Denver now. should be a fun year.

when i went to change my sig to my chiefs one, i noticed i had a raider nation sig in place of it. then i remembered i lost a sig bet when the chiefs lost in Oakland. SMH.

im sure ill be making sig bets again this year.
 
well guys, another year is upon us. it was fun messing with everyone in here last year and i hope to do the same this year.

the raider/chiefs are no longer at the bottom of the division. that goes to Denver now. should be a fun year.

when i went to change my sig to my chiefs one, i noticed i had a raider nation sig in place of it. then i remembered i lost a sig bet when the chiefs lost in Oakland. SMH.

im sure ill be making sig bets again this year.
 
NAPA, Calif. -- Getting to go to certain training camps year after year, you really have a chance to evaluate the current version of a team vs. what you saw the prior season. In the three practices that I've seen, the Oakland Raiders seem like a team ready to accomplish something in 2011.

I'm not sold on the San Diego Chargers bouncing back this season and the Kansas City Chiefs could take a step back after winning the AFC West last season.

Great expectations for Campbell

bucky_brooks-110726_65.jpg
Aided by two coaches who know their way around a high-powered offense, Raiders QB Jason Campbell is poised for a breakout year, writes Bucky Brooks. More ...

That's where the Raiders come in. Hue Jackson's team is ready to make a playoff run. You see the attitude adjustment in camp with him as the head coach and with his two new coordinators. One thing that seems to have changed under Jackson is the physical demand on players. They appear to be working harder and hustling more between drills. It's not a 75 percent jog that's been the case in years past; it's a 110 percent all the time.

Jackson's rallying cry for the team this year is to be the "bully on the block." The Raiders are well on their way to living up to the slogan, and here are some reasons why they could win the AFC West this season.
[h4]Campbell taking the next step[/h4]
It appears Jason Campbell is ready to thrive with new offensive coordinator Al Saunders, who has nearly 30 years of NFL coaching experience. Saunders is really good at doing things to make quarterbacks better. He won't call the plays for Campbell, Jackson will, but the foundation for success is in place.

Don't forget, Campbell didn't play poorly last season and has 22 more touchdown passes than interceptions in his career.
[h4]More weapons on offense[/h4]
The receiving corps isn't the best group in the league, but it's capable enough to make Campbell a better quarterback. The Raiders want to run the ball -- they had the second-ranked ground game in 2010 -- but they have more weapons in the passing game.

Jacoby Ford had a pretty darn good rookie year and should only get better. He's so much more confident than he was last season. Louis Murphy is a pretty good receiver, while Darrius Heyward-Bey always looks like he's ready for the next step -- but potential hasn't led to production yet.
[table][tr][td]

Watch preseason games LIVE online in HD. Get the Back to Football special at NFL.com/preseasonlive.
[/td][/tr][/table]
Marcel Reece really creates matchup problems out of the backfield because he's a former wide receiver playing fullback. He can run, catch and his speed makes a him a tough cover.

Fifth-round pick Denarius Moore can run a sub-4.4 second 40-yard dash and really runs good routes. A lot of fast guys can't get out of their breaks, but he can. He could have an immediate impact. He's also good on kick returns. He had a long one called back in the Raiders' preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals.

The Raiders lost Pro Bowl tight end Zach Miller in free agency, but Kevin Boss is a pretty even exchange. Sixth-round pick Richard Gordon is going to give them a great blocking tight end. That should help their running game.
[h4]Defense taking shape[/h4]
The defense is anchored by veteran Richard Seymour. He's the leader of every drill, running around like a rookie who's trying to make the team.

As a whole, the defense has a good mix of veterans with younger guys like Rolando McClain and Lamarr Houston, which usually leads to success.

Speaking of McClain, he's dropped 10 pounds from last year and is really moving well. He came in as a rookie with an attitude off a national title team like he had nothing to prove. That's gone now.



Stanford Routt takes over the role of the team's top cornerback for the departed Nnamdi Asomugha. Third-round pick DeMarcus Van ****, who has impressed and can hold his own in man coverage, could be an early contributor. He's a young guy with talent who gets to learn the ins and outs of the game from a Hall of Famer in Rod Woodson, the Raiders cornerback coach.
[h4]Impact special teams can make[/h4]
The third phase of the game is often overlooked, but the Raiders have a great punter (Shane Lechler), kicker (Sebastian Janikowski) and return man (Jacoby Ford).

Special teams can make a difference in close games, just ask the Chargers. The Raiders went 6-0 in the division last season in part because of what the unit provided
Click to expand...
 
NAPA, Calif. -- Getting to go to certain training camps year after year, you really have a chance to evaluate the current version of a team vs. what you saw the prior season. In the three practices that I've seen, the Oakland Raiders seem like a team ready to accomplish something in 2011.

I'm not sold on the San Diego Chargers bouncing back this season and the Kansas City Chiefs could take a step back after winning the AFC West last season.

Great expectations for Campbell

bucky_brooks-110726_65.jpg
Aided by two coaches who know their way around a high-powered offense, Raiders QB Jason Campbell is poised for a breakout year, writes Bucky Brooks. More ...

That's where the Raiders come in. Hue Jackson's team is ready to make a playoff run. You see the attitude adjustment in camp with him as the head coach and with his two new coordinators. One thing that seems to have changed under Jackson is the physical demand on players. They appear to be working harder and hustling more between drills. It's not a 75 percent jog that's been the case in years past; it's a 110 percent all the time.

Jackson's rallying cry for the team this year is to be the "bully on the block." The Raiders are well on their way to living up to the slogan, and here are some reasons why they could win the AFC West this season.
[h4]Campbell taking the next step[/h4]
It appears Jason Campbell is ready to thrive with new offensive coordinator Al Saunders, who has nearly 30 years of NFL coaching experience. Saunders is really good at doing things to make quarterbacks better. He won't call the plays for Campbell, Jackson will, but the foundation for success is in place.

Don't forget, Campbell didn't play poorly last season and has 22 more touchdown passes than interceptions in his career.
[h4]More weapons on offense[/h4]
The receiving corps isn't the best group in the league, but it's capable enough to make Campbell a better quarterback. The Raiders want to run the ball -- they had the second-ranked ground game in 2010 -- but they have more weapons in the passing game.

Jacoby Ford had a pretty darn good rookie year and should only get better. He's so much more confident than he was last season. Louis Murphy is a pretty good receiver, while Darrius Heyward-Bey always looks like he's ready for the next step -- but potential hasn't led to production yet.
[table][tr][td]

Watch preseason games LIVE online in HD. Get the Back to Football special at NFL.com/preseasonlive.
[/td][/tr][/table]
Marcel Reece really creates matchup problems out of the backfield because he's a former wide receiver playing fullback. He can run, catch and his speed makes a him a tough cover.

Fifth-round pick Denarius Moore can run a sub-4.4 second 40-yard dash and really runs good routes. A lot of fast guys can't get out of their breaks, but he can. He could have an immediate impact. He's also good on kick returns. He had a long one called back in the Raiders' preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals.

The Raiders lost Pro Bowl tight end Zach Miller in free agency, but Kevin Boss is a pretty even exchange. Sixth-round pick Richard Gordon is going to give them a great blocking tight end. That should help their running game.
[h4]Defense taking shape[/h4]
The defense is anchored by veteran Richard Seymour. He's the leader of every drill, running around like a rookie who's trying to make the team.

As a whole, the defense has a good mix of veterans with younger guys like Rolando McClain and Lamarr Houston, which usually leads to success.

Speaking of McClain, he's dropped 10 pounds from last year and is really moving well. He came in as a rookie with an attitude off a national title team like he had nothing to prove. That's gone now.



Stanford Routt takes over the role of the team's top cornerback for the departed Nnamdi Asomugha. Third-round pick DeMarcus Van ****, who has impressed and can hold his own in man coverage, could be an early contributor. He's a young guy with talent who gets to learn the ins and outs of the game from a Hall of Famer in Rod Woodson, the Raiders cornerback coach.
[h4]Impact special teams can make[/h4]
The third phase of the game is often overlooked, but the Raiders have a great punter (Shane Lechler), kicker (Sebastian Janikowski) and return man (Jacoby Ford).

Special teams can make a difference in close games, just ask the Chargers. The Raiders went 6-0 in the division last season in part because of what the unit provided
Click to expand...
 
Oakland Raiders' 'old soul' in the middle

By Jerry McDonald

NAPA -- As the No. 8 overall selection out of Alabama in the 2010 draft, Rolando McClain had a bigger responsibility than any Raiders draft pick on defense since Charles Woodson was taken No. 4 in 1998.

To be fair, even Woodson and Michael Huff, the No. 7 pick in 2006, weren't given the authority bestowed upon McClain the moment he walked into the locker room. Defensive backs cover receivers. Middle linebackers run an entire defense.

McClain left Alabama after his junior year, and although he's an admittedly reluctant authority figure, teammates and coaches believe him to be wise beyond his years.

"Where I come from, we say he has an old soul," Raiders weakside linebacker Quentin Groves said. "He never carried himself like a rookie."

Nowhere is that more evident than in the film room, where McClain has turned what began as a chore into a passion. Independent, analytical and uninterested in being a celebrity, McClain, 22, only occasionally consents to interviews, preferring to wind and rewind his way through game film to better understand the chessboard presented each week by the opposing offense.

It's something that was instilled at Alabama by coach Nick Saban.

"I hated it. To be honest, I never wanted to watch film," McClain said. "In high school, I just played off talent. I had to learn quickly that when you get to college you need to be able to scheme.

"You need to be able to single out your opponent and know
what they're going to do before they do it, so you can counter and be ahead of them. It's something I do now. Instead of going out, I'll watch film."

Linebackers coach Greg Biekert, whose preparation enabled him to forge an 11-year career with the Raiders and Minnesota Vikings, said McClain is always working to be a step ahead mentally.

"Ro's a little different. Typically you don't see a rookie make all the calls and still manage to think ahead of what the offense is doing," Biekert said. "He sees things that it takes most guys four or five years to recognize in terms of sets, formations, what guys are going to do."

Winner of the Butkus Award in 2009 as the nation's top linebacker, McClain helped lead Alabama to a national championship and was the highest drafted linebacker for the Raiders in franchise history.

His first season was solid and unspectacular, as he finished third in tackles but did little in the way of forcing turnovers. Diagnosing plays was not an issue, but getting there was another matter.

To rectify the problem, McClain spent time during the lockout poring over tape of himself at Alabama.

"I watched film from junior year to my rookie year, and I noticed a difference. I wasn't as quick as I wanted to be," McClain said.

Listed at 6-foot-3, 255 pounds, McClain said he's dropped "6 or 7 pounds" in part by adding lap swimming to his weight regimen.

"I just got in the pool and swam laps, about an hour and a half or so a day," McClain said. "It helped my joints, actually. Not as much wear and tear on the body as running those sprints."

McClain is convinced he'll play quicker physically as well as mentally.

"They threw me into the fire, and I was learning on the go," McClain said. "I feel a lot more comfortable now. I feel I can play fast without thinking."

As for asserting himself as a leader, McClain said he'll do it in his own way.

"I keep to myself," McClain said. "I'm not a rah-rah guy. It's hard for me to be a vocal leader. But when there's a time for it, it comes out naturally."

The Raiders took Tuesday off and return to practice Wednesday.
 
Oakland Raiders' 'old soul' in the middle

By Jerry McDonald

NAPA -- As the No. 8 overall selection out of Alabama in the 2010 draft, Rolando McClain had a bigger responsibility than any Raiders draft pick on defense since Charles Woodson was taken No. 4 in 1998.

To be fair, even Woodson and Michael Huff, the No. 7 pick in 2006, weren't given the authority bestowed upon McClain the moment he walked into the locker room. Defensive backs cover receivers. Middle linebackers run an entire defense.

McClain left Alabama after his junior year, and although he's an admittedly reluctant authority figure, teammates and coaches believe him to be wise beyond his years.

"Where I come from, we say he has an old soul," Raiders weakside linebacker Quentin Groves said. "He never carried himself like a rookie."

Nowhere is that more evident than in the film room, where McClain has turned what began as a chore into a passion. Independent, analytical and uninterested in being a celebrity, McClain, 22, only occasionally consents to interviews, preferring to wind and rewind his way through game film to better understand the chessboard presented each week by the opposing offense.

It's something that was instilled at Alabama by coach Nick Saban.

"I hated it. To be honest, I never wanted to watch film," McClain said. "In high school, I just played off talent. I had to learn quickly that when you get to college you need to be able to scheme.

"You need to be able to single out your opponent and know
what they're going to do before they do it, so you can counter and be ahead of them. It's something I do now. Instead of going out, I'll watch film."

Linebackers coach Greg Biekert, whose preparation enabled him to forge an 11-year career with the Raiders and Minnesota Vikings, said McClain is always working to be a step ahead mentally.

"Ro's a little different. Typically you don't see a rookie make all the calls and still manage to think ahead of what the offense is doing," Biekert said. "He sees things that it takes most guys four or five years to recognize in terms of sets, formations, what guys are going to do."

Winner of the Butkus Award in 2009 as the nation's top linebacker, McClain helped lead Alabama to a national championship and was the highest drafted linebacker for the Raiders in franchise history.

His first season was solid and unspectacular, as he finished third in tackles but did little in the way of forcing turnovers. Diagnosing plays was not an issue, but getting there was another matter.

To rectify the problem, McClain spent time during the lockout poring over tape of himself at Alabama.

"I watched film from junior year to my rookie year, and I noticed a difference. I wasn't as quick as I wanted to be," McClain said.

Listed at 6-foot-3, 255 pounds, McClain said he's dropped "6 or 7 pounds" in part by adding lap swimming to his weight regimen.

"I just got in the pool and swam laps, about an hour and a half or so a day," McClain said. "It helped my joints, actually. Not as much wear and tear on the body as running those sprints."

McClain is convinced he'll play quicker physically as well as mentally.

"They threw me into the fire, and I was learning on the go," McClain said. "I feel a lot more comfortable now. I feel I can play fast without thinking."

As for asserting himself as a leader, McClain said he'll do it in his own way.

"I keep to myself," McClain said. "I'm not a rah-rah guy. It's hard for me to be a vocal leader. But when there's a time for it, it comes out naturally."

The Raiders took Tuesday off and return to practice Wednesday.
 
I was thinking we could use this to have team-specific discussions and share Raiders specific news here, and then have trash talking and AFC West news/discussions in the other thread. I remember there being a lot of trash-talking in our thread and the other team's threads, so maybe it's better that we have a central thread for everything. Plus I can record signature bets and whatever else people want to propose.
 
I was thinking we could use this to have team-specific discussions and share Raiders specific news here, and then have trash talking and AFC West news/discussions in the other thread. I remember there being a lot of trash-talking in our thread and the other team's threads, so maybe it's better that we have a central thread for everything. Plus I can record signature bets and whatever else people want to propose.
 
I'm expecting big things from Rolando. Seems like he has his head in the right place though.
 
I'm expecting big things from Rolando. Seems like he has his head in the right place though.
 
Anyone else going to be at the game this week? Friend picked us up a couple tickets so I'll be supporting the team up close.
 
Anyone else going to be at the game this week? Friend picked us up a couple tickets so I'll be supporting the team up close.
 
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