Kick a Man When He's Down?

I look at the Raiders past six year as two different periods of time. Pre Shell or Post- Shell.

Pre-Shell this team was old, expensive from old contracts, combined with more miss than hit drafting over 3 years and just slow.

Post-Shell the team is young, loaded, and hoping for a breakout year or at least another year of improvement.

The one consistent and nice thing Al has done here is the fact he’s built a very solid young team that is going to become scary once everyone is on the same page.

I have faith in Al Davis and believe he’s admitted his mistakes and has in the last 3 year’s rebuilt this team. It’s obvious if you look at the following depth charts:

A look at the Raiders starting roster based on sets ie 2 WR, 3 WR, etc with the O line being and QB obviously being the same accept for the Wildcat:

Two WR Sets

WR Chaz Schilens, Darrius Heyward-Bey  

TE  Zach Miller

RB Darren McFadden

FB Lorenzo Neal

O line of Henderson, Gallery, Satele, Carlisle, and Pears (I think he’ll win out)

QB Jamarcus Russell

One WR, Two TE

WR Chaz Schilens

TE Zach Miller, Brandon Myers  

RB Michael Bush

FB Lorenzo Neal

Three WR, No FB

WR Chaz Schilens, DHB, Johnnie Lee Higgins

TE Zach Miller

RB Darren McFadden

Four WR no TE

WR Chaz Schilens, DHB, Johnnie Lee Higgins, Javon Walker (this set is totally dependent on Louis Murphy’s ability to take Walker’s spot)

RB Darren McFadden

Wildcat

QB Darren McFadden

RB Michael Bush

TE Zach Miller

WR Chaz Schilens, DHB, Johnnie Lee Higgins

Taking an actual look at the Raiders various offensive sets they’ll use next season provides a very good glimpse at the rebuilding Al Davis has done to this team since 2007. Except for Gallery and Walker (who it’s unknown what will happen), every offensive starter is a new and a young player whether it’s a FA pickup or a draft pick.  

The question is can the O line provide Russell with enough time to provide the threat of a passing attack? Can Al’s new WR’s stretch the field and give the offense more space to operate because defenses will be forced to run zone coverages?

The core of this team is going to be together for a long time. Once everyone knows what they are doing and clicks the NFL needs to watch out. If Russell keeps improving and the O line improves, the offense is going to become very scary given their receivers and 3-headed rushing attack.

Even those who question Al’s decisions, the one thing you have to be happy about is the good solid young core of this team. Even on defense there are young players on like  Kirk Morrison, Thomas Howard, Trevor Scott, Nnamdi Asomougha, Tommy Kelly, and hopefully Mitchell and Tyvon Branch. There are plenty of pieces to start building something solid.

Does anyone remember watching special teams during the ’05 & ’06 seasons were visibly upset because the players were slow? Since ’07 Al has made the special teams relevant again with lots of speed and depth. Justin Miller & Higgins are scary package for teams to deal with.

Make no mistake about it, if John Marshall’s run D can play top 20 and the offense can put up 24 points a game the team will win more than they lose, even against top competition.

For once Al has rebuilt this team and it’s the year they finally play respectable ball from the start until the finish of both the games and the season.

Obviously everyone likes to kick a man when he’s down, but Al’s going to go out swinging and will get the last laugh.