NFL 2012: Oakland Raiders Season Outlook

Quick Review of 2011

Offense—No. 11 passing, No. 7 rushing, No. 9 total

Defense—No. 27 passing, No. 27 rushing, No. 29 total

Perhaps, no regular season in Oakland Raiders history was as heart-breaking and frustrating as 2011 was.

After posting an 8-8 season in 2010, breaking seven years of losing at least 11 games, and sweeping the AFC West that year, the Raiders were hoping to be contenders last season.

With new coach Hue Jackson, the team started 4-2. During that good start, the Raiders lost iconic owner Al Davis. Davis, who held virtually absolute power and had been with the Raiders since 1963, died on October 8.

The Raiders' heartaches continues as they lost quarterback Jason Campbell for the season. He went down with a broken collarbone against the Cleveland Browns.

The Raiders then made a trade with Cincinnati for quarterback Carson Palmer. Palmer, who had "retired" in Cincinnati, led the Raiders into December with a 7-4 record.

However, the Raiders' 29th-ranked defense played horribly down the stretch. They were blown out in consecutive road losses at Miami and Green Bay before a frustrating 28-27 loss to Detroit.

Then, after a penalty-filled win over Kansas City, they lost the finale to San Diego 38-26 to finish again at 8-8.

They lost a three-way tie for the division against Denver and San Diego, and Hue Jackson was fired after only one season.

New Additions

CB Ron Bartell, G Mike Brisiel, WR Duke Calhoun, DE Hall Davis, RB Mike Goodson, OT Kevin Haslam, G Nick Howell, TE Troy Humphrey, G Zach Hurd,  RB Rashawn Jackson,  CB Terrail Lambert, CB Pat Lee, QB Matt Lienart, WR Eddie McGee, C Colin Miller,  RB Lonyae Miller, FB Owen Schmitt, CB Shawntae Spencer,  S Curtis Taylor, DE Dave Tollefson, CB Brandon Underwood,  OT Ed Wang, LB Philip Wheeler

Draft Choices

G Tony Bergstrom, LB Miles Burris, DE Jack Crawford, WR Juron Criner, DT Chris Bilukidi, LB Nathan Stupar

Undrafted Free Agents

CB Conroy Black, LB Kaelin Burnett, K Eddy Carmona, WR Derek Carrier, WR Brandon Carswell, DE Wayne Dorsey, TE Kyle Efaw, DT Dominique Hamilton, S Aaron Henry, LB Chad Kilgore, P Marqette King, OT Dan Knapp, LB Mario Kurn, WR Thomas Mayo, WR DeAundre Muhammad, QB Kyle Newhall-Caballero, G Lucas Nix, S Chaz Powell, WR Travionte Session, WR Rod Streater

Subtractions

LB Darryl Blackstock, QB Kyle Boller, TE Kevin Boss, LB Ricky Brown, RB Michael Bush, QB Jason Campbell, RB Rock Cartwright, LB Quentin Groves, DT John Henderson, OT Stephon Heyer, WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, DE Jarvis Moss, WR Louis Murphy, CB Stanford Routt, C Samson Satele, WR Chaz Schilens, DE Trevor Scott, CB Lito Sheppard, LB Kamerion Wimbley

Outlook for 2012

For the first time in 50 years, Al Davis will not be running things in Oakland.

Reggie McKenzie, a former Raiders linebacker, who has spent the past 18 seasons working for the Green Bay Packers is the Raiders new general manager.

He brought in a new coach, Dennis Allen, and has not only changed the coaching staff and some players, but the scouting department has been re-staffed also.

Carson Palmer will be working with new offensive coordinator Greg Knapp. With a full offseason of work with the Raiders receivers, Palmer could return to Pro Bowl form.

If running back Darren McFadden can stay healthy and play all year, the Raiders' running game—a respectable No. 7 ranking last year—could be among the NFL leaders this year. The ground game could be Carson Palmer's best friend in 2012.

It's the defense though that really must improve. Both the run and pass defense need shoring up.

The Raiders signed free-agent cornerbacks Ron Bartell, Pat Lee and Shawntae Spencer, who along with 2011 draftee DeMarcus Van Dyke should improve the secondary. The Raiders also used four of six draft picks on defense.

Schedule

Sep. 10    San Diego

Sep. 16 at Miami

Sep. 23    Pittsburgh

Sep. 30 at Denver

Oct. 14 at Atlanta

Oct. 21    Jacksonville

Oct. 28 at Kansas City

Nov.  4    Tampa Bay

Nov. 11 at Baltimore

Nov. 18    New Orleans

Nov. 25 at Cincinnati

Dec.  2    Cleveland

Dec.  6    Denver

Dec. 16    Kansas City

Dec. 23 at Carolina

Dec. 30 at San Diego

There are two prime-time games at home against division rivals—Week 1 against San Diego and December 6 against Denver.

Five games in the Eastern Time Zone could be the roughest part of the schedule. Included in those five games will be Carson Palmer's return to Cincinnati on November 25.

Though they play seven teams that were in the playoffs last year, there are some favorable stretches.

A three-game stretch of Jacksonville, Kansas City and Tampa Bay, plus a three-game December home-stand—all games the Raiders can win—will have this team in contention all season.

Prediction

The Raiders have made lots of changes throughout the organization.

What the final product will look like on the field is still unknown.

The offense should be fine, but will the defense be improved enough to make a difference in the win column?

I liked this team last year, and I believe they will be better this year, achieving a winning record for the first time in a decade.

Even so, five trips back east and four games against Philip Rivers and Peyton Manning will take their toll.

The Raiders will go 9-7, but it may not be enough for a playoff spot.