Five Reasons The Oakland Raiders Will Be Better This Season

Over the last few years, the Oakland Raiders have been a Welcome mat for criticism from analysts and sports personalities, and have been criticized unfairly for their rebuilding process.

This upcoming season, the Raiders might have the last laugh.

Some teams draw higher criticism for losing, and that can be attributed to past success and tradition.

Notre Dame and Charlie Weis have been wiped all over the windshield for a one-season slide, and we all have had our share of comments for the New York Knicks.

The reality is that teams can't stay on top forever. Athletes get old, and in this era of free agency and the salary cap, it's harder to keep successful teams together. Oakland lost pivotal players in the 2000's such as Rich Gannon, Charles Woodson and Tim Brown.

After a Super Bowl appearance in 2002, things have been on a steady decline for the Raiders. Every season they are written off and for good reason.

This season, that trend will change.

Other teams such as the Houston Texans and Arizona Cardinals have been on the bottom for a while, but we don't hear nearly as much about them as we do the Oakland Raiders. Many so-called "experts" have already begun bashing the Raiders and placing them on the bottom of the AFC West.

I can see the AFC West finishing like this:

1. San Diego Chargers- 11-5*

2. Oakland Raiders- 9-7*

3. Denver Broncos- 9-7*

4. Kansas City Chiefs- 5-11*

* My prediction for the 2008 season

I don't believe the Chiefs will contend with Brodie Croyle at the helm and I'm not sold on the Denver Broncos with all of star WR Brandon Marshall's problems and an under-performing defense.

The Raiders also have a good schedule to start the season with Denver at home, and Kansas City and Buffalo in weeks 2 and 3, and can be 3-0 heading into a showdown with the Chargers.

What's the method to my madness you ask? I have a good reason to believe in the Oakland Raiders this season, and since I'm feeling philosophical I'll give you five of them.

5. JaMarcus Russell Becoming the Established Starter

After JaMarcus Russell's infamous holdout to start his rookie campaign, the NFL Live's and Sportscenter's of the world hung him out to dry and almost went far as to saying his career was done before it started. As Judge Judy would say, "bologny!"

Russell is a huge, athletically gifted QB that has a chance to be very good, and that little holdout is history. He only played the last few games of last season, but showed some flashes of what he can bring to the table. Now he has the keys to the Lamborghini this season, and doesn't have to look out of his rear-view mirror at Daunte Culpepper and Josh McCown. If Javon Walker can recover and stay healthy, watch out.

4. Good Production From the Halfback Position

Justin Fargas surprised everyone last season, rushing for 1,009 yards and averaging 4.5 yards per carry. Oakland smartly sent LaMont Jordan packing and retained Fargas. Now, with newly drafted talent Darren McFadden from Arkansas, the two should be very formidable for opposing defenses.

McFadden is drawing comparisons to Adrian Peterson, and we know what he did last season. While I don't believe McFadden will be good as Peterson, he will make an impact and will also catch passes out of the backfield. With Fargas already established as a very capable back, these two may combine for 1500 yards. Take that, LaDainian.

3. Healthy Javon Walker With A Chip On His Shoulder

I've always liked Javon Walker's game. His media circus with the Green Bay Packers and Brett Favre didn't help his public image, and I admit he whined to get out of Green Bay. The guy has talent, and to catch 162 balls for 2493 yards and 20 TD in years 2004-2006 isn't too bad, considering the fact he missed most of 2005 with injury.

After the tragedy of Darrent Williams' death in his arms and another injury plagued season last year, many said Walker may be done. In the wake of another personal tragedy in which he was recently almost beaten to death, the skeptics have grown and are saying that he's not handling Williams' death well. Who could given the circumstances?

I believe Walker will recover and play well this season. He has something to prove, and the talent is still there. If he develops a good relationship with QB JaMarcus Russell, he may catch 75 balls for over 1000 yards, something he hasn't done since 2004.

2. Being the Consistent Underdog

I've always wondered whether it's better to be the favorite or the underdog? In this case, the Raiders will benefit from being the underdog. Years of low expectations and bad teams will catch up this season, and the Raiders will come together and surprise everyone. All of the experts are predicting somewhere between 5 and 7 wins for the Raiders, and they are conscious of it.

I know there's a lot of unproven talent on offense, but I believe the Raiders will mesh better than most believe and be in the Wild Card discussion in the latter part of the season. If the Giants can upset a 18-0 powerhouse, record-setting team, then the Raiders can win 9 games and double last years win total.

1. Improved, Already Talented Defense

I'm the first to go on the record and say that I don't trust DeAngelo Hall, and as I argued in another article he is overrated (check "DeAngelo Hall Overrated, but Oakland Raiders Defense Solid). Everyone took that as a statement saying DeAngelo Hall isn't good. That's not what I meant. He is talented, but his arrogance and bad attitude hold him back.

Of course, he was a victim of "the Michael Vick Effect" and anyone who played on that team is exempt from my criticism because the team morale was out the door along with former head coach Bobby Petrino. He gets a fresh start in Oakland, and with a healthy Nnamdi Asomugha on the other side he should be able to shine. Hall is saying that he and Asomugha will be the best CB tandem in the league. There's that arrogance I speak of creeping in, and he just needs to be quiet and play the game.

With new additions of Gibril Wilson and Hall to complement S Michael Huff, Asomugha and a healthy DE Derrick Burgess, the Raiders should have a top-5 defense, and as they say, "defense wins...," well you know the rest.