Oakland Raiders: 5 Bold Predictions for the 2011 Season

Perhaps more so than any other team in the league, the 2011 season will be an important one for the Oakland Raiders. 

The team will have to roll with the punches, as this was a tough offseason for them having lost their most recognizable player in Nnamdi Asomugha to the Philadelphia Eagles on the NFL's version of national signing day.

The team went 6-0 in the AFC West in 2010, so it isn't a stretch to say they should win the division outright in 2011. 

Without further adieu, here are my five boldest predictions for the 2011 season. 

Darren McFadden Will Finish the Season with over 2,000 All-Purpose Yards

Some would say that 2010 was McFadden's breakout year, but I detest that notion.

Rushing for 1,157 yards and seven touchdowns is not a breakout year for a No. 4 overall pick.

McFadden was slowed by injuries throughout the season and there has been no indication of any lagging injuries during the first few practices of training camp.

But this year, McFadden will have a better offensive line in front of him with the addition of Stefen Wisniewski.

McFadden is sure to be even more explosive this year, and I think he will end the season as the No. 1 fantasy option going into 2012.

Lamarr Houston Will Lead the League in Sacks

He has all the tools to get this done, and if he can manage to stay healthy, it looks like he will start the season in the starting lineup. 

With Richard Seymour getting double teams and Matt Shaughnessy drawing away running backs, Houston and teammate Tommy Kelly have a chance to shine. 

Houston looks like he can be something special, and I think it will show this season when he storms the league with his tenacity and non-stop motor.

Jacoby Ford Will Be a Pro Bowler

Jacoby Ford stormed into the league in his rookie season and came up huge in the most clutch situations of the season.

This season, he will most likely be coming out of the slot, and this should make his numbers skyrocket. 

The guy reminds me of Wes Welker, except he adds a much more explosive deep-threat ability. He is scary good, and with Jason Campbell looking like he is going to be better, the sky is the limit for Ford, who quickly became Campbell's favorite target.

Hue Jackson Will Be Named Coach of the Year

When Hue Jackson came in last offseason, I was so stoked because I had read about his pedigree and was more impressed than any other hire Mr. Davis had made since he hired Jon Gruden. 

Now he is the top dog in Oakland and I expect the team to explode with success—and Jackson will (and should be) given the most credit.

What other candidates are there? Coach of the Year should be given to the coach that achieves the most with the least, and Jackson will be it.

He is already working on turning around Jason Campbell's career, and that will be the biggest reason for the team's success.

The Raiders Will Win the West

This isn't as bold as it seems, with the team sweeping the West last season. 

I seem alone on this one, but I think our overall team got better this year, especially since Jason Campbell will be in his second year in the same system for the first time in his career (scary).

Hue Jackson will lead this team back to the playoffs, and from there, our destiny is up in the air as anything is possible.