Oakland Raiders: Is Hue Jackson The Future of The Silver and Black?

Oakland Raiders : Is Hue Jackson the future of the Silver and Black?

This off season new Raider’s Offensive Coordinator Hue Jackson has made quite a splash. Not only with the Oakland players, but the fans and media. Every article about the Raiders making improvement this year puts Jackson’s impact high on the list, and it should be. 

To asses what he has done so far we have to start with the players, because ultimately the biggest indicator of a coach is how his players respond to his philosophy. If the off season has been any indication at all then Jackson is well on his way.

 Many Oakland players have raved about Jackson’s high energy and attention to detail, and not just offensive players either. Nhamdi Asomugha himself gave kudos to the new energy that Jackson brings to the table, along with the confidence and jeering that he can “dish out” during practice. 

Many are predicting huge improvements in 2010 for players such as Darren McFadden, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Louis Murphy, and Jason Campbell. Many believe that Jackson’s arrival will have a big impact on these players, or they hope. The fact of the matter is that one of the key reasons for the Raider’s struggles the past few years is the lack of production from the high offensive draft picks.

 The Raiders have drafted 3 offensive players in the top 10 picks since 2010. Including “he who must not be named”, who was released earlier this off season. None of these picks have lived up to their expectations coming out of the draft and have really hurt the team. Darren McFadden has had injury problems, and every time he seems to get ready to break out he is hurt again. Hopefully this year with a more experienced offensive line and a higher caliber offensive coordinator, McFadden will have his breakout year. 

Heyward-Bey has had an interesting off season. Coaches and media have talked up the second year for the disappointing first rounder out of Maryland. With a horrendous 1st year with 9 catches, 124 yards, and 1 touchdown you can see why people started calling him a bust compared to the production Crabtree, Harvin, and Maclin gave. Is Jackson’s new offense based on confidence what Heyward-Bey needs? 

Jason Campbell is another player who is expected to benefit from the new coordinator. Jackson has a way with quarterbacks as he showed with Flacco in Baltimore. Campbell has had a rough start to his NFL career. A victim of having way too many coordinators, maybe Jackson is the right one. Campbell was at a disadvantage due to the fact he was simply in the wrong offense. The Redskins tried to run the West Coast style of play which requires a more mobile quarterback. Campbell is better suited in the Raiders offense which, like it’s defense, hasn’t changed much over the years of the franchise. Al Davis loves to throw the ball down field and that’s exactly what big armed Jason Campbell can do. Campbell has a lot in common in terms of talent when compared to JaMarcus Russell. However, he differs in that he’s a hardworking, doesn’t weigh as much as most lineman, and has the maturity of an NFL player. 

If Hue Jackson can put all these players together for the 2010 season and the Raiders offense returns to the prominence that it has always been known for then people should expect big things in the future. “Just Win Baby” is what Al Davis believes in no matter what other people believe. I like Tom Cable and think he has done a fairly good job. However, the only reason that he’s still here is because the players respect him and no one else was really available, or would be able to work with Davis. 

Even if the Raiders have a successful season next year look for Cable to be on the cutting board. Al Davis wont care how many fans love him but if he is thinking that Hue Jackson is the coach of the future for the Raiders then look to see Cable gone. While Cable has done a great job with the group but if Jackson continues to win over players and fans as he has done look to him being the future coach of the Oakland Raiders.