The Oakland Raiders Set Sail For Respectability

To say that the Oakland Raiders have experienced some rough sailing since they were crowned AFC Champions in 2002-2003 would be an understatement to say the least. 

As soon as Barrett Robbins sucummed to his demons on the eve of Super Bowl XXXVII, The Oakland Raiders began a fatal plunge into the depths of the NFL abyss, posting a 24-72 record.                                                                                  

With the dust settling on the 2008 campaign, yet another losing season with no hope anywhere in sight...a silver n' black ray of hope emerged.

A modest 3-3 record in the seasons homestretch provided the loyal Raiders fan base a glimpse of hope for the future, showcasing some of the young talent on the roster, culminating in impressive wins at home vs Houston and a comeback win on the road vs a Tampa Bay team needing a win to make the postseason.

As the Oakland Raiders push towards training camp, there are several positives to focus on in Oakland.

In a six year span that saw five coaching changes, the revolving door has been slammed shut at least for now by head coach Tom Cable, who has fostered more improvement in the team than his 4-8 record shows.                                         

Cable has instilled an accountability factor into the team that has been dormant since the Gruden regime sailed east in 2002 and most importantly, has the respect of Al Davis, the overlord of everything Raiders. 

The young offensive talent is the main cause for hope in the Raider Nation.

In the face of dysfunction last season, JaMarcus Russell made strides towards becoming a franchise quarterback, making marked improvment during the season's home stretch.

The stable of running backs that the Raiders possess as well as the speed at reciever to make the most of Russell's cannon, now make standout tight end Zach Miller a real threat in a growing young offense.

The purging of high priced players who did not fit into Cable's plans made way for younger players on both sides of the ball, who did not disappoint when given the opportunity to play.

Led by the NFL's top cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, Oakland has finally has some positive's emerging from the defensive side of the ball. Trevor Scott led all rookies in sacks last season adds to the defense's emerging speed.

Linebackers Thomas Howard and Kirk Morrison showcase speed and playmaking ability that should make the duo primed for continued production.

Though there are still more questions in Oakland than answers, the steadying hand of Cable and the maturation of the Raiders young core could produce anywhere from 6-8 wins this year for a team desperate for any kind of improvement. Or it could produce more of the same dysfunctional tendencies that have kept the Raiders from relevancy in the last six years.