Oakland Raiders' Three Keys to Success

I’ve been reading everything that anybody has written about the 2008 Oakland Raiders. Some have touted the Nation as new and improved, at least compared to the previous five editions. Others have predicted the same results, despite all the changes made this year.

Me?

I believe that last year was the beginning of the long crawl back into the upper-echelon of the NFL hierarchy. I expect to see improvement this year, but not miracles. Here are three keys to a successful 2008 campaign.

 

1. Allow Lane Kiffin to shape the Raiders into his team.

Not an easy task, considering that this has been Al Davis’ team for 40 years. People have said the Kiff is already shopping for a new job. There are only 32 head-coaching jobs at this level, and if he is unsuccessful in Oakland, what are his chances of landing another?

The man wants to win and should be given the opportunity to run his team his way. Let Lane have the reigns, give the team its head, and watch them run.
 

2. Control the line of scrimmage (A).

Last year, the Raiders emerged as a team that could run, finishing the season among the league leaders in total-yards rushing (sixth in NFL, fourth in AFC). This year, they should be even better.

The additions of Darren McFadden and Michael Bush bring an explosiveness that was missing before. And let’s not forget about Justin Fargas, who ran for over 1,000 yards last year. If successful, running by committee will open up the passing game.

JaMarcus Russell will be brought along in a similar manner to Pittsburgh's treatment of Big Ben. I expect to see a 70/30 mix of run/pass, with few big plays downfield. These Raiders will not play vertical football; they must cherish the rock and run the clock. Ball-control offense and a low turnover ratio will equal success for the offense.

 
3. Control the line of scrimmage (B).

The defensive front seven needs to step it up. No other team gave up more runs over 20 yards, over 40 yards, or touchdowns rushing last season. The holes in the line have got to be closed up.

Hopefully, Terdell Sands can regain the form he had in the years prior to the loss of his mother, and Tommy Kelly will live up to expectations. The linebacker corps, which is solid against the pass, needs to come up and make tackles at the line.

The secondary will be among the best in football, if they can stay healthy. The addition of DeAngelo Hall at corner and Gibril Wilson at strong safety should complement Nnamdi Asomugha and Michael Huff.

 
That’s my take on the Raiders' upcoming campaign. After two preseason games, I could talk about the players that aren’t where they should be, in terms of preparedness, or about the “lack of competition”, but that isn’t my job. I’ll leave that up to Kiff; he gets paid for it.

Just win, baby!