Let's Congratulate The Oakland Raiders, and I Picked Miami in May

It's official.  The Oakland Raiders have now transcended the class-line between Lower class (four wins or less) into the beyond of Lower Middle Class (5-7 wins).  Keep in mind that three playoff teams from 2007 have fallen from the top and into the bottom rungs plus one team that was 10-6, Seattle, Green Bay, Jacksonville and Cleveland. 

The difference between the four is that Green Bay is in transition with Aaron Rodgers at the helm and finished with six wins.  Whereas, Seattle (4-12) and Jacksonville (5-11) and Cleveland (4-12) struggled with injuries and inconsistency.  Usually a team with no glaring holes that loses anyway is under a psychological weight, and thus, is merely in need of internal changes rather than changes on the field.

The Oakland Raiders though have now finished with a record of 5-11.  Big deal right?  Well, that is certainly better than 2005-2007 in which the Raiders finished 4-12, 2-14 and 4-12.  But those years showed nary a sign of life, but they'd somehow win a few games anyway.  The difference I saw in 2008, is that Oakland was able to castoff the psychological weight of Al Davis and just play football.

The Raiders do however, need a better coach to coordinate the potential talent on their roster.  I suggest a name to Al Davis that he already knows. Miami offensive coordinator, Dan Henning.  Henning helped the Carolina Panthers rebound from 1-15 in 2001 to 7-9 in 2002 and then 11-5 and a Super Bowl appearance in 2003.  He has now helped the Miami Dolphins institute the Wildcat and lead the Dolphins to a record of 11-5 and a postseason berth, after finishing 1-15 in 2007. 

And for those who remember or have the intelligence to look it up, Dan Henning was the offensive coordinator of the NY Jets in 1998 when they appeared in the AFC Championship game after finishing 1-15 in 1996; where he helped make QB Vinnie Testeverde a proficient passer and develop WR Keyshawn Johnson and coordinate RB Curtis Martin. 

Henning's experience also runs back to the Super Bowl days of the Washington Redskins in the 1980s, where Henning earned two rings as the offensive coordinator of the Redskins.  Henning helped orchestrate the defeat of John Elway in the 1987 Super Bowl with QB Doug Williams and RB Timmy Smith (remember him?), but also develop the careers QB Joe Theisman, "The Posse" of WRs Art Monk, Ricky Sanders and Gary Clark, the comeback of RB John Riggins and of course, "The Hogs."

Henning has had a few stints as a headcoach, but I think he deserves another shot because many of the losses were by less than 6 points (like Miami in 2007).  The trouble is...Al Davis once offered the job to Henning (in 1988) but Henning turned down the offer, because well, he thought Al Davis would interfere on situational calls (hmmmm...). 

In addition, Davis even tried to lure Henning to the Raiders by acquiring QB Jay Schroeder from Washington for future ProBowl OT Jim Lachey.  But as The Beatles once sang, "Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend."

Either that, or enter the Bill Cowher sweepstakes.  But Henning has helped rebuild teams that had terrible offenses.  Whether he was dependent on Bill Parcells and Joe Gibbs, I don't know but his track record is extremely long (which is a good thing).  Either way though, Al Davis—like Gibbs and eventually Parcells—is a Hall of Famer.  The pieces all seem to fit so perfectly.

ON OAKLAND'S PERSONNEL:

No more Justin Fargas as the lead runner.  Michael Bush and Darren McFadden are the future of that backfield.  I respect what Fargas has done in Oakland, but the Raiders need to move on.  Also, to not giveup on WR Johnnie Lee Higgins and WR Chaz Schilens.  Surely, they still need to learn, but I can envision them as go-to receivers for JaMarcus Russell. 

And to please not torture DE Trevor Scott like they did to DE Tyler Brayton by shifting him around to different positions.  Scott needs a chance to learn the position and develop, and I think, could be another Jared Allen.

As for the Draft: If Michael Crabtree declares, they should take him; or load up on tackles (offensive and defensive).

Free-Agency Wish List:

DT Albert Haynesworth; C Matt Birk; re-sign CB Nnamdi Asomugha and P Shane Lechler; cut, DT Gerard Warren, LB Sam Williams, RB Justin Fargas, OT Cornell Green, WR Javon Walker and DT Terdell Sands.  You wouldn't believe how much money Oakland would save.

Some parallels of personnel: Henning helped develop WR Steve Smith and then Ted Ginn II.  Henning coordinated Stephen Davis and DeShaun Foster, and now Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams.  Henning also helped make proficient passers from Jake Delhomme and Chad Pennington.  In the Raiders case: Johnnie Lee Higgins; Michael Bush and Darren McFadden; and JaMarcus Russell.

Finally, I picked the Miami Dolphins to contend in May!  Why did I not put money on that?!