Year Two: The Oakland Raiders Offensive Veterans

Although the past few season for the Oakland Raiders haven't had huge turnover in returning starters the 2008 season will be the first time for most of the offensive roster to have the same scheme two years running much less what appears to be an improved offense around them.  This season will begin with an estimated 8/11 offensive starters many of whom have never played in the same scheme 2 years running in their entire careers.  This is a look at a few of these players and what the consistency and improvement may mean for them.

Ronald Curry:  Curry has been Oakland's best wideout over the past few seasons.  After being a late round pick in 2002 he has slowly climbed the depth chart and battled back from injuries.  He now enjoys the #2 WR position in most situations, in the past following Jerry Porter and now Javon Walker, with the exclusion of the terrible 2006 season where he was the #1 WR in one of the worst offenses of all time and yet was still productive.  With the weaker coverage on him he is generally Oakland's QBs favorite target and has several modest seasons, 700ish yards, under his belt as a result with a good amount of TDs involved. 

This season Curry will enjoy something new to him.  The same man under center all season long.  The athletic wideout, see above picture, is known for receiving in the middle which should fit well with the tall and quick armed Russel under center.  With an improved rushing attack the passing wont be the feature of the Raiders offense but with a healthy Javon Walker, the emerging Zach Miller and possibly the speedy Drew Carter pulling the bulk of coverage away from Curry we can expect good numbers.  Considering Curry is the only returning WR out of the three projected starting WRs and the only one who has worked with the young JaMarcus Russel it is safe to expect Curry to be a popular target this season and maybe, just maybe, break that elusive 1000 yard mark.

Justin Fargas:  The crash dummy that is Justin Fargas is coming off his best, and most surprising, season ever.  Posting 1007 yards in the run heavy 2007 Raiders offense in just 7 starts the 28 year old seems to have found his game.  After riding the bench for 5 season Fargas finally got his chance following a back injury to LaMont Jordan in week 4 of the season.  Not much of a receiving threat, Fargas does his damage with a injury proned rushing style that consists of running full-speed into a gap, or the line, which carries him and the ball for a nice, consistent 4.5 yards just about every time.  Not the breakaway type, in 222 attempts Fargas only managed a 48 yard run at the longest, Fargas may be the definition of a grind-it-out offense.  Fargas managed this style well from game 5 to game 14 taking the bulk of the carries last season before returning to the bench following a minor leg injury. While a second year in this scheme may not change his style the improvements of the offense around him and the allocation of carries may turn Fargas into a great RB.

This season Fargas wont be carrying the bulk of the load, half if he is lucky, in what figures to be one of the better rushing attacks in the league due to the second year in a zone blocking scheme as well as an improved stable of HBs.  Teaming up with the blazing Darren McFadden and the punishing Micheal Bush will greatly cut Fargas' carries but should improve his average and health.  Without speculation in the passing game, lets assume the box will have 8 men in it, the fact that Oakland has said that they have 2 HB formations as well as a mobile QB under center should greatly help Fargas by spreading those 8 men wide and deep.  Micheal Bush looks to be the short yardage back and goal like punisher so lets assume Fargas' loses those carries and must do his damage in the long drive scenario. 

The tandem of Fargas and McFadden is where Oakland should make its name.  If both are on the field the presence of DMac should spread the defense wide and far, something perfect for The Crash Dummy.  While we shouldn't count on Fargas to be a break away man expect the softer defenses to allow him to push further before contact is made.  The 4.5 average that drove him above 1000 yards should improve while the carries that helped that even more should drop.  With the lighter load Fargas should be able to avoid injury despite his tendencies and his incumbency status should allow for him to play from the start of the season.  With more games yet less of the load each game Fargas should be an effective weapon and may break into the 1000s again this season.

Robert Gallery:  Every Raider fan knows Robert Gallery.  The long haired, tattoo covered lineman is the bust of the decade for us, or at least was until recently, and was only beat by Barry Sims in stupid penalties.  While the #2 overall pick has disappointed us for years the 2007 showed us new hope in Gallery...... as a guard. Allowing only one sack and opening huge holes the reformed LT had a near pro-bowl season and is, for the first time, getting a chance to improve in a system over an off-season.  Gallery is returning as a LG to Tom Cables zone blocking scheme an should be one of the better guards in the league for it. 

While he is not surrounded by talent on his left Gallery will have help from the C in the form of veteran John Wade, a more than capable and highly consistent veteran. On his left Gallery has himself, a few seasons ago.  Kwame Harris was a huge disappointment for the 49 ers the past few season and is getting a new chance under Tom Cable as the Raiders LT.  Very strong in the run yet weaker in the pass Harris will be the man Gallery must account for this season.  Expect huge rushing holes and good pass protection from Gallery with a year under his belt, that is if he is not compermised by Harris.  With any luck Tom Cable can work his magic with Harris, who he claim can be "the ideal left tackle", and Raiders everywhere can finally see Gallery make it to the pro-bowl, even if it is as a guard.

Prediction:  The Raiders rushing attack, smart game management by Russel (see David Gerrard last season hopefully) and improved defense takes them into week 14 with a 8-4 record.  Tough Final 4 Games vs Playoff Thirst will make for a fun season and maybe a longer than normal season for the deserving Nation.