Oakland Raiders: Biggest Storylines Ahead of Training Camp
With the official start of training camp just days away, the Oakland Raiders are on the verge of beginning one of the most important seasons in team history.
The Raiders haven't seen a season that ended with a winning record in more than a decade. Since then, every season has been "the season." Every year, Raiders fans have heard that this is the season the team finally turns things around.
The difference in 2015 is the hope and optimism have some real substance to back them up. This roster contains more talent and promise than any Oakland roster in years. The question now is whether the players will turn this talent into actual wins.
While this team is laden with potential, it has to address some key issues in order to ensure long-term success.
For Oakland, training camp presents the first opportunity to address these issues.
The Absence of Sio Moore
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With less than a week to go before camp, the Raiders made a major announcement regarding the health of Sio Moore, the favorite to start at weak-side linebacker. CSNBayArea.com's Scott Bair has the latest:
"Raiders outside linebacker Sio Moore had significant hip surgery early this offseason, and was supposed to be ready for the start of training camp. It doesn’t look like that’s going to happen. The third-year pro was placed on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform list, according to an NFL transaction wire posted on Monday afternoon.
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This could potentially turn into a much bigger problem in Oakland. But for now, it doesn't appear to be as big of an issue as it seems. Bair notes that "Moore can sit out the start of training camp—Raiders rookies, quarterbacks and previously-injured players took the field first on Monday—on the PUP, but be activated immediately once cleared by team doctors. That could happen at any time."
Bair goes on to add, "Moore has been hindered by health thus far [this offseason], but is still expected to be the starting weak-side linebacker in 2015."
Based on Bair's observations, it seems as if Moore's placement on the PUP list shouldn't cause too much concern. With the Raiders not kicking off the regular season until September 13, Moore still has more than six weeks to get cleared by the team doctors.
However, there's still no clear indication on when he will actually be allowed to return. That means that, at least for now, the Raiders will have to find a replacement at weak-side linebacker in the starting lineup. The favorites to fill this role are Malcolm Smith and Ray-Ray Armstrong.
For now, Smith and Armstrong will just be temporary replacements. But depending on how well they perform in training camp and how long it takes Moore to get back on the field, it's possible that the move could become permanent.
A starting linebacking group of Moore, Khalil Mack and Curtis Lofton has the potential of being Oakland's strongest position group. The absence of Moore, even if it's just in training camp and the preseason, is a major hindrance to this group's development into a cohesive, effective unit.
Early indications are that Moore being moved to the PUP list isn't a long-term concern. But the longer he's on the list, the bigger of a story his injury will become.
Identifying a Primary Ball-Carrier
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The Raiders' rushing attack last season was a disaster. To remedy the issue, the team overhauled the running back depth chart by adding Trent Richardson and Roy Helu Jr. Only Latavius Murray, who saw limited action late last season, is returning from last year's running back corps.
All three options provide intriguing possibilities. But of the three, not one is a proven 16-game, over-20-carries-per-game running back.
Helu is a good pass-catcher out of the backfield, as is Murray, and Richardson is an underrated blocker. However, what the Raiders need to figure out in training camp is which of these three players can consistently carry the ball 20 or more carries per game and turn this workload into 100-yard performances.
Oakland now has plenty of talent in the backfield. But effective rushing attacks depend on volume. The Raiders have to incorporate enough running plays throughout a game for the ground game to actually work. And for it to work, most of those carries have to go to one player.
While all three running backs should find a role in the offense, only one of them can be the primary ball-carrier. They'll have their opportunities to earn the starting job in training camp.
The Raiders have to find an effective ground game, which makes it even more crucial for the coaches to select the right player to take on the bulk of the responsibility early in camp.
Khalil Mack's Role in the Defense
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For all the praise that was heaped on Khalil Mack in his rookie season, there was one major knock on his play: not enough sacks.
This is one of the first things new defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. pointed out when he joined the Raiders, according to CSNBayArea.com's Scott Bair:
"Everybody is saying how good he [Khalil Mack] is and he got four sacks. I thought to myself, ‘How many great players have four sacks?’ You have to get in double digits. So he has a lot of growth ahead. If they’re thinking he’s this good and he’s done so little, imagine when he actually does what he’s supposed to do.
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It's no mystery that Mack is Oakland's most important defensive player. He's as talented as any of the top defenders in the league. Now, it's a matter of figuring out how to get the most out of him in his second season.
It's possible that Mack, who has added 18 pounds of muscle since last season, according to the San Jose Mercury News' Daniel Brown, could see more time at defensive end. This is something that head coach Jack Del Rio suggested, noting that a move to this position for Mack would be a "natural for him," as reported by SilverAndBlackPride.com's Levi Damien.
Mack could also take on a role similar to the one filled by Von Miller with the Denver Broncos, which is that of a defensive end/linebacker hybrid. Another option is for Mack to become Norton's "Sam" linebacker. In either case, Mack would be used to rush the quarterback more often, which is something Oakland wants.
The goal for the Oakland coaches in regard to Mack in 2015 is clear: turn him into the one-man wrecking crew everyone believes he can be.
This has been talked about all summer. Now that training camp has arrived, Del Rio and Norton will get their first opportunity to start implementing the defense. This will shed light on how Mack will actually be used.
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Youth, Lack of in-Game Experience and Unclear Depth Chart at Cornerback
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When it comes to cornerback, the Raiders have made their stance clear: The position belongs to the young guys.
According to the Raiders' official roster, of the 10 cornerbacks on Oakland's roster, there isn't a single one older than 27 years old. Of the three players who are likely to make up the top of the depth chart (D.J. Hayden, T.J. Carrie, Keith McGill), not one is older than 26. Between the three of them, they've played only four seasons in the NFL.
Per the official 2014 depth chart, the Raiders kept six cornerbacks last season, so it's reasonable to assume that they'll keep six this year. But beyond Hayden, Carrie and McGill, which players will actually make up the depth chart is anyone's guess.
The other seven cornerbacks on the roster are:
| Player | Years of Experience |
| Chimdi Chekwa | 4 |
| Rob Daniel | Rookie |
| James Dockery | 5 |
| Ras-I Dowling | 3 |
| SaQwan Edwards | Rookie |
| Dexter McDonald | Rookie |
| Neiko Thorpe | 3 |
No one on this list has seen extended playing time in his career, and three of them have never seen a live NFL snap. Aside from Chekwa and Thorpe, who have earned limited playing time in previous seasons with Oakland, no one in this group really separates from the pack or has any obvious advantage in the battle for roster spots.
At the top of the depth chart, where Hayden, Carrie and McGill have emerged as the favorites, there are questions about just how they will line up.
The presumed No. 1 is Hayden. But as ESPN.com's Bill Williamson noted, McGill saw first-team reps ahead of Hayden earlier this summer on more than one occasion. Carrie played well last season as a No. 2 cornerback, but it's possible that the new coaching staff prefers to use him in the slot instead.
Even among the three favorites, there's still uncertainty regarding exactly what role each player will have.
From top to bottom, Oakland's depth chart at cornerback is unsettled, and in-game experience is in short supply across the board. It'll be left to the players to clear things up in training camp.
Chemistry Between Derek Carr and Amari Cooper
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When the Raiders took Amari Cooper with the fourth overall pick of the 2015 draft, the guessing game immediately began regarding how quickly the relationship between Derek Carr and the rookie receiver would develop.
That development was expected to begin back in May. Unfortunately, an injured finger kept Carr from throwing passes in OTAs. More specifically, it kept him from throwing passes to Cooper, and it meant Cooper couldn't catch passes from his new quarterback.
Their first opportunity to play together as Raiders will take place in training camp. It'll be their first chance to compete against NFL defenders and an NFL defense, which will make the experience crucial to the development of their chemistry.
For Carr and Cooper to become a truly dangerous passing-game combination, they have to learn the nuances of each other's playing styles. They need to understand and get comfortable with each other's tendencies, and they need to learn what to expect from each other.
While the Raiders wide receiving corps is stronger overall than it was last season thanks to the addition of Michael Crabtree and the return from injury of Rod Streater, the success of the wide receivers ultimately comes down to Cooper. He's the deep threat—the player Carr has to feel comfortable throwing to no matter what the situation is.
Carr and Cooper both have the potential to be great. For them to reach that level, they need the best from each other on a consistent basis. That requires an unspoken understanding that's only developed through repetition.
How well Carr and Cooper play together is essential to the team's success in 2015, which makes the development of their on-field relationship in training camp crucial.
Resolve the Uncertainty on the Right Side of the Offensive Line
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The Oakland offensive line is strong at left tackle, left guard and center. The right side of the O-line, on the other hand, presents major questions.
At right guard, the team is waiting for rookie Jon Feliciano to develop with the hope that he'll eventually take over. In the meantime, the coaches have to decide whether J'Marcus Webb or Khalif Barnes is the better temporary solution. While neither Webb nor Barnes is an exciting option, they're at least both veterans capable of being effective.
The coaches also have a big decision to make at right tackle. The biggest issue now is that as the team gets ready to begin training camp, there's no clear favorite.
The battle for the starting right tackle spot is between Menelik Watson and Austin Howard. The Raiders would love it if Watson, whom they drafted in 2013 to be the long-term answer at the position, would finally step up. However, his development has been underwhelming up until now.
The early favorite to win the starting job is Howard if for no other reason than the fact that he's proved to be a capable right tackle in the NFL. He's not a game-changer, but he proved during his three seasons with the New York Jets that he can get the job done.
Someone has to play these positions during team drills, so the coaches will have to plug someone in at right guard and right tackle immediately. However, it's likely that every player at these positions will get the opportunity to earn the starting job.
It's especially important for the coaches to make a decision at these positions as soon as possible for two reasons. First, Derek Carr needs to get comfortable with the group in front of him, and second, the offensive linemen need to play together as much as possible in order develop cohesion with and confidence in one another.
The coaches don't want to make rushed decisions, but they do have to make them as early as possible.
Mario Edwards Jr.'s Development as a Pass-Rushing Defensive End
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Of all of Oakland's draft picks, perhaps none is facing more pressure in his rookie season than defensive end Mario Edwards Jr.
Fellow rookie Amari Cooper is facing immense pressure of his own, but he has help in the form of Michael Crabtree, Amari Cooper and Derek Carr. Edwards, on the other hand, is expected to single-handedly resolve what was arguably Oakland's biggest defensive weakness in 2014: the pass rush.
Edwards' shortcomings in college have been well-documented—the weight issues and the lack of sacks. One of those has already been addressed as he arrived in Oakland at a lean 280 pounds, according to the Raiders' official site.
The team can only address the issue of rushing the passer on the field, and Edwards will have his first opportunity to show what progress he's made in this area in training camp.
Some will point out it's unfair to place this burden on Edwards. After all, veteran Justin Tuck will man the opposite defensive end position, and he should be able to create pressure. Also, Khalil Mack is expected to see a greatly increased role as a pass-rusher.
But Tuck will only rush from his side. As for Mack, he'll be moved around, and he's still expected to fulfill his other duties as a linebacker, which means helping up and down the line as a run-stopper as well as dropping into pass coverage.
Ideally, Edwards will take care of the pass rush on his side of the line on his own most of the time.
He proved in college that he can be effective against the run. What the Raiders need to see is if he's added the ability to consistently create pressure on the quarterback.
Unless otherwise noted, all stats taken from Pro-Football-Reference.com and NFL.com.
What do you think is the biggest storyline heading into Oakland's training camp? Share your thoughts in the comments section below and on Twitter @BrianJ_Flores.
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