(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
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2009 Trade Acquisitions:None
2009 Offseason Departures:
S Gibril Wilson (Miami)
C Jake Grove (Miami)
WR Ronald Curry (Detroit)
S Rashad Baker (Philadelphia)
FB Justin Griffith (Seattle)
LB Robert Thomas (Washington)
WR Ashley Lelie (Unsigned)
OT Kwame Harris (Unsigned)
QB Marques Tuiasosopo (Unsigned)
DE Greg Spires (Unsigned)
2009 NFL Draft:
1-7. Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland
2-47. Michael Mitchell, SS, Ohio
3-71. Matt Shaughnessy, DE, Wisconsin
4-124. Louis Murphy, WR, Florida
4-126. Slade Norris, OLB, Oregon State
6-199. Stryker Sulak, DE, Missouri
6-202. Brandon Myers, TE, Iowa
2009 Outlook:
Amazingly enough, Tom Cable was retained by Al Davis, maybe more or less because no one else wanted the job and Al just gave up, nonetheless Cable inherits the daunting task of trying to turn around a franchise that has finished with no more than 5 wins in a season
since they were decimated by the Buccaneers in the Super Bowl.
In an effort to jump start a cumbersome passing attack, the Raiders used their first round draft pick on wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey, a pick that was criticized heavily by roughly everyone but Raider fans themselves. Heyward-Bey will definitely give the Raiders a target that has speed to burn, but he is still an incredibly raw player and when the only other wide receivers added to the worst passing offense in the league were Louis Murphy, a fourth round selection out of Florida, and Will Franklin, a free agent acquisition from the 0-16 Lions - well, it's hard to really peg what exactly the Raiders would like to do here. It should be noted tight end Zach Miller is quietly establishing himself as one of the more underrated players at that position, and could very well be the only reliable passing target the Raiders have on the roster.
Jamarcus Russell should remain the starting quarterback for now, but will be pushed in camp and the preseason by veteran Jeff Garcia, formerly of the Buccaneers. Russell or Garcia will likely lean heavily on the rushing attack of Justin Fargas, Darren McFadden, and Michael Bush yet again. The rushing attack could even be more formidable with the addition of blocker Lorenzo Neal. In addition to signing Neal, the Raiders also let Kwame Harris go unsigned in free agency and will replace him with former Jags left tackle Khalif Barnes.
Defensively, as mentioned previously, the Raiders strength is in their secondary where Nmandi Asomugha and Chris Johnson are a very effective tandem. The Raiders also signed Keith Davis and used their 47th overall selection on Michael Mitchell out of Ohio to fill the vacated hole left behind by cap-causality Gibril Wilson.
Mitchell's pick, much like Heyward-Bey, came as a shock to many as he was not even projected to go higher than Round Six by many draft pundits, and some even had Mitchell go undrafted.
However, the Raiders weakness defending the run could be a major issue yet again. The $67.5 million dollar combo of Tommy Kelly and Terdell Sands has been nothing short of a disaster and the Raiders did not really address this in the offseason.
However, the Raiders weakness defending the run could be a major issue yet again. The $67.5 million dollar combo of Tommy Kelly and Terdell Sands has been nothing short of a disaster and the Raiders did not really address this in the offseason.
Derrick Burgess is aging and was said to be on the trade block leading up to the draft, and he may very well lose his starting spot to Trevor Scott. Late free-agent addition Greg Ellis will likely line up at the other defensive end position.
The linebacking corps will be lead once again by underrated standout Kirk Morrison. Thomas Howard, Jon Alston and rookie Slade Norris round out the rest of the Raiders linebacking crew.
2009 Schedule:
The linebacking corps will be lead once again by underrated standout Kirk Morrison. Thomas Howard, Jon Alston and rookie Slade Norris round out the rest of the Raiders linebacking crew.
2009 Schedule:
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