Oakland Raiders in 2009: Light at the End of the Tunnel?

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

After finishing strong in 2008, the Raiders seem to have a direction, that isn't to be confused with retreating.

Finishing with wins over the Houston Texans and the Tampa Bay Bucs, the Raiders started their offseason with everyone guessing where they were headed.

Tom Cable, who took over the reins after Lane Kiffin was dropped, had to watch calmly, as the team shuffled coaches in and out looking for a suitable replacement. Meanwhile, the Raiders also had to make some choices on two possible free agents in Shane Lechler and Nnamdi Asomugha.

Then the Raiders pulled the gun, securing both players, shortly before the deadline.

Slowly, they scraped away some dead weight. Letting go of players like Gibril Wilson, Kwame Harris, and others, the Raiders started focusing on the players who would help them return from the last six years of frustration.

The Raiders seem focused on building for the team, not for players who believe in the "me first" attitude.

Some extra help was brought in along the offensive line, when Khalif Barnes was brought in. Erik Pears as well as Samson Satele were brought in to replace the questionable Jake Grove.

And recently, Lorenzo Neal was brought in, considered by some to be one of the best fullbacks in the game.

When the draft had come around, the Raiders looked at the roster. They had addressed the line, worked on a few spots, but truly needed someone to stretch the field. They had a couple options but settled on Darrius Heyward-Bey, deciding for a player that wanted to be there, instead of a player who seemed hesitant to play for the Raiders.

Of course the media had their picks. It is their job to look over players. But for the Raiders, they got exactly who they planned to draft, along with a safety that makes old school Raiders chuckle.

How does this spell out for the Raiders in 2009?

The Raiders don't have an easy schedule. But if Cable can pull the team together and play similar to the last two games of 2008, I wouldn't count out an 8-8 finish.

And last year that spelled the playoffs.

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