Oakland Raiders: Assessing the Early Moves of the New Regime

When Reggie McKenzie took over as general manager and Dennis Allen was named head coach, their appointments were seen as the dawning of a new and different era for the Oakland Raiders.

The initial moves from this new regime have certainly indicated a fresh approach to team-building from a franchise often criticized for living in the past. In both free agency and the draft, the pair have opted for low-key, solid additions and stayed away from controversial signings offering the allure of star power.

The Raiders have made a good start to shedding their maverick image and seem intent on constructing a more disciplined and scheme-versatile roster. A look at their free-agency acquisitions reveals how this new mantra has been applied.

The signing of Mike Brisiel from the Houston Texans, gives the Oakland front five a disciplined blocker, whose game is based more on technical refinement, rather than natural aggression. This pattern is even more evident on defense.

McKenzie and Allen resisted the urge to pay over the odds for the likes of Cortland Finnegan to upgrade the secondary. The cornerback's unquestioned talent is matched only by his penchant for losing discipline, the kind of rebellious streak the Raiders were often acutely attracted to.

Instead, they added reliable veteran Ron Bartell and former San Francisco 49er Shawntae Spencer. The names are not marquee, but Spencer and Bartell are two dependable and savvy corners, whose presence will help eliminate Oakland's habit of surrendering the big play.

The additions of Philip Wheeler and Dave Tollefson to an already deep and talented front seven, only emphasize the new regime's commitment to acquiring reliable and capable players. They give Allen two athletic pass-rushers for his multiple-blitz schemes.

Tollefson, in particular, has the versatility Allen can utilize. With the Denver Broncos he was fond of having his rush ends rotate into and blitz from the A-gaps from certain sub-packages. Tollefson has experience with zone drops and attacking from a variety of positions from his days with the New York Giants.

The same recruitment strategy was applied in a draft undermined by the hefty trade price paid for Carson Palmer. The selections of Tony Bergstrom and Jack Crawford showed a fidelity to strengthening the trenches with new schemes in mind.

The early signs are promising in Oakland. McKenzie and Allen have resisted the quick-fix approach that has blighted an otherwise talented team for too long. The rewards may not be immediate, but the Raiders' long-term prospects suddenly look a lot better.