Top 8 Reasons to Be Excited About the Oakland Raiders in 2017
Your general manager just pieced together a promising draft class that should put the team in Super Bowl contention. Maybe it's the year to claim a division title after losing to an archrival over the past few seasons. A new scheme will finally utilize the roster's strengths as opposed to fitting square pegs in circular fits.
For the Oakland Raiders, all of the above may hold true, but the excitement for the 2017 season doesn't stop there.
The Silver and Black have been on the rise since losing 10 consecutive games to start the 2014 season. In the following year, head coach Jack Del Rio took over the reigns and a collective breath of fresh air swept over the Oakland Coliseum.
At some point during the 2016 season, condescending comments toward the Raiders disappeared and many took their seats on the bandwagon.
After a 12-4 campaign, NFL analysts can't just gloss over the Raiders' bright future.
At the top, the roster architect, general manager Reggie McKenzie, earned the Pro Football Writers of America Executive of the Year award. Edge-rusher Khalil Mack received the Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year honors. Quarterback Derek Carr garnered MVP talk before his late-season injury.
How can anyone not feel optimistic about the Silver and Black in 2017?
Despite the unrest between local fans and owner Mark Davis for his role in pushing the team to Las Vegas, the urgency to bring a Super Bowl to the team's birthplace with a stacked roster adds more intrigue to the upcoming season.
The players feel they owe fans in Oakland a postseason celebration and the probability increased when the team signed a hometown icon in Marshawn Lynch. In his words via Twitter, "I'm really from Oakland doe like really really really from Oakland doe."
For Raiders fans, there's 2017 season allure coming from different angles, which include the chance to see this team aim for a spot in the Super Bowl, welcoming an Oakland native with a distinct run style that young ball-carriers copy and changes to the defense that should help balance the team's approach to winning games.
We'll narrow the list down to the top eight reasons why fans should be psyched for the 2017 season.
Heightened Expectations
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Oakland finished 7-9 under Del Rio in his first year on the sideline, but doubts still clouded over the team's outlook after a third-place finish in the AFC West. Many questioned whether the Raiders had enough resolve to take the next step as a playoff contender.
Carr emphatically answered those doubts with seven fourth-quarter comebacks and game-winning drives. Last year, the Raiders defined resilience on the football field. Del Rio set the tone in the first week with a gutsy two-point conversion call to beat the New Orleans Saints 35-34 on the road.
In the past, Oakland found multiple ways to lose. In the previous season, Del Rio fearlessly rolled the dice with his offense expecting to win.
With the penchant for winning tight contests instead of losing in heartbreaking fashion, the Raiders will take the next step in controlling games from start to finish. With all due respect to the opponents on the schedule, Oakland should win a few games decisively based on overall talent.
Raiders fans should shift their mindsets from "they can win this game" to "they should win this game" when rooting for their team as the favorite.
Marshawn Lynch in Silver and Black
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Initially considered a pipedream, Lynch agreed to a deal with the Raiders, and the Seattle Seahawks swapped a 2018 sixth-round pick for a 2018 fifth-round pick to relinquish their rights of the Oakland native, per Fox Sports' Jay Glazer.
Pablo Picasso couldn't paint a more beautiful portrait than Lynch in a silver and black Raiders uniform. The jubilation is palpable on both sides.
Del Rio commented on Beast Mode after Day 2 of the draft:
"There's going to be questions about how much is left in his tank and things like that, and we're going to find out. I don't know if I've ever seen anybody else be more excited or pleased to be joining a team, my team, our team, you know?... He's fired up about it. He's a big man and he plays with the violence that we like and appreciate."
For those looking for a storybook ending with a happily ever after, Beast Mode to the Raiders fits the bill. If the Silver and Black deliver a Super Bowl to Oakland, why not have Lynch help drive the delivery truck along the way?
Beast Mode will pick up steam with stiff arms and power runs early in the season. Once it's playoff time, Lynch—behind a massive offensive line—should resemble a freight train no one wants to see headed in their direction.
Derek Carr Back in Action
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Fans and teammates watched Carr leave the field with a broken leg and the team's deep postseason run left with him in Week 16.
In the following game, the Raiders logged a season-low in first downs (11) in a 24-6 loss to the Denver Broncos. Oakland also logged a season-low in total yards (203) in its postseason loss to the Houston Texans.
With the bad fortune in the rearview mirror, Carr seems primed to go through an entire offseason program in preparation for the upcoming season. He spoke to the media with confidence about his ability to go full speed with his teammates on the practice field.
Carr shows just as much humility in his demeanor as he does fire on the field. Donald Penn, an 11th-year veteran, spoke about his quarterback in the huddle on Fox Sports' The Herd with Colin Cowherd, and he used the term "leader" to describe No. 4 on the field.
The Raiders' starting signal-caller doesn't just bring gaudy box-score statistics to the field, he's the captain and driving force on this team.
As we all know, a competent quarterback, who can lead his team through adversity, lists as the main ingredient to a Super Bowl contender.
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New Offensive Coordinator, Fresh Ideas
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We don't know exactly what's in store for the Raiders offense under Todd Downing, but one can expect to see more tight end receptions for the upcoming season.
The front office signed Jared Cook to strengthen the position during free agency. Based on his track record, Carr should have a reliable target down the seam and in the red zone.
Along with Lynch and Cook, McKenzie added wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, which piles on to the No. 7-ranked scoring offense from the previous year. With two second-year dynamic running backs already in place, Downing may opt to gouge interior defenses with the ground attack.
Last year, Oakland put tremendous pressure on Carr to close football games by falling behind early or simply putting the ball in his hands during the final minutes. Now, the offense should be able to control contests with the ground attack and punish defenses with one of the most physical ball-carriers to grace the football field on a year's rest.
For those who felt opposing defenses should fear Carr's late-game accuracy, wait until they see his hand-off options in 2017.
New Defensive Assistant, Better Results
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Defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. brings a fiery demeanor to hype his guys, but his bark hasn't translated to a bigger bite among the players on the field.
On several occasions, the Raiders overall defense put the offense in a bind during the previous campaign. The team ranked No. 26 in yards allowed and surrendered a league-worst 6.1 yards per play.
It's never a good sign when management adds another voice who's held the same work title as you to help do your job. The Raiders decided to add John Pagano as a defensive assistant to bolster an underachieving unit.
The former Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator has already made his presence felt at rookie minicamp, per Kyle Martin of Raiders.com:
"Pagano has wasted no time vocalizing his thoughts on the field. He was active during the 11-on-11 drills, pulling Melifonwu aside to share pointers and advice with the rookie. Pagano also spent time with cornerbacks coach Rod Woodson on the sideline discussing a variety of topics."
Under Pagano, defensive lineman Joey Bosa penetrated the Raiders' offensive line three times to take down Carr and racked up 10.5 total sacks en route to Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. Furthermore, the Chargers ranked No. 10 in rushing yards allowed and No. 8 in passing touchdowns surrendered.
Norton and Pagano will work together for the greater good, but Pagano's influence will be instrumental in elevating a defense with established and developing talents.
More Pressure from Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin
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As mentioned above, Pagano knows how to dial up pressure on the quarterback and stop the run. Linebacker Melvin Ingram led the Chargers in sacks (18.5) over the past two seasons as a premier edge-rusher.
Based on what Pagano accomplished with Bosa and Ingram, imagine what he has planned for Mack and Bruce Irvin, who combined for 18 sacks during the previous season.
The Raiders hope to see defensive lineman Mario Edwards Jr. for a full healthy season. His presence should bode well for Mack and Irvin as well.
For good measure, McKenzie added Eddie Vanderdoes—a proven run defender when healthy—and Treyvon Hester, who projects as a pass-rushing defensive tackle. The Raiders have a defensive line deep with talent. Del Rio expects to see Jihad Ward make strides in his second season, per San Francisco Chronicle reporter Vic Tafur.
With all the talent up front and Pagano's creative mind, Mack should contend for the sack title with Irvin pushing to best his eight-sack season as a rookie.
Will Aldon Smith Play or Not?
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On Instagram Live, suspended pass-rusher Aldon Smith spoke about his possible reinstatement. His followers added context to the live session (h/t San Jose Mercury News reporter Daniel Mano)
However, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport tapped into sources who don't think Smith will return "anytime soon." Furthermore, the league will likely look at the recent incident that resulted in the police detaining the 27-year-old, who seemed under the influence, as a setback, per NBC Bay Area.
This doesn't fall under the positive-excitement category, but there's immense fascination with this storyline. Many wonder if Smith will ever return to the field. His confidence draws interest, but logic says he'll continue to serve a lengthy suspension.
ESPN's John Clayton joined Greg Papa on 95.7 The Game and expressed an optimistic perspective on Smith's potential return, but he also said the talented linebacker still needs to clear a few hurdles.
In actuality, the Raiders pass-rusher still has a legitimate chance to return at some point during the 2017 campaign if he keeps his name out of the news clippings.
At this point, Smith would return as a luxury asset for the defense. If the league doesn't reinstate him for the upcoming year, he'd reach two-and-a-half years of football inactivity. Despite the very low risk on his deal, when does the team say enough is enough?
One way or another, the 2017 season will add another chapter to Smith's story.
Obi Melifonwu's Freakish Athleticism
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We expect first-round picks to make a profound impact. Though, the Raiders picked their most intriguing prospect in the second round. Safety Obi Melifonwu turned heads at the NFL Scouting Combine, stands at 6'4", 224 pounds and wants to patent his game after Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor.
Travis Kelce, meet your match in coverage.
According to Football Outsiders, tight ends averaged 65.5 receiving yards per game against the Raiders defense during the previous season. Melifonwu's athleticism and experience as a free safety at Connecticut should compensate for the question marks at linebacker on passing downs.
Melifonwu won't start in Week 1. However, the coaching staff should slowly implement the rangy safety into the game plan as the season progresses, especially if opposing offenses heavily target the linebackers with athletic tight ends and receiving backs.
In the best-case scenario, Pagano's influence and Melifonwu's coverage ability should lead to fewer yards allowed and more opportunities to close games with a stifling defense.
Stats provided by NFL.com and Pro Football Reference unless otherwise noted.
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