Everyone wants to just give the AFC to the Patriots.
While I agree that on paper the Patriots are the best team in the NFL, I don’t
agree that there aren’t other teams that can beat them. The Oakland Raiders are
one of the teams that I feel can give the Patriots some major problems. The Raiders
are one of the teams this off-season that didn’t make splashy free agent
signings (unless you consider the 30+ year old Lynch splashy). They had a great
draft and this team was an injured quarterback away from playing in last year’s
super bowl.
Key Additions:
Marshawn Lynch: I’m giving the
Raiders this one because I have no faith that bringing in an old ass Lynch will
somehow make that offense that much better. This is a pass first offense and
Derek Carr makes this team go. Lynch will bring some power and toughness to
this offense. I strongly doubt that he will be a 1000-yard rusher this season.
He will be a huge factor in short yardage and that will pay off on the goal
line. In reality This was already a good offense and Lynch should fit in and
play his role really well.
Cordarrelle Patterson and
Jared Cook: Patterson and Cook have a chance to take this offense to the next
level. They both bring speed to this offense. Patterson is an explosive wide receiver
that Minnesota couldn’t really figure out how to get the ball. He isn’t a great
route runner and doesn’t make tough catches across the middle. He is a deep
threat and can take a bubble screen 70 yards to the house. Cook is one of the
faster tight ends in the league; he is almost like a third or fourth wide receiver
when he is on the field. He is a matchup nightmare because of his speed and
ability to get open. Cook has struggled with injuries throughout his career and
the Raiders are hoping that he can stay healthy. If Cook is able to stay healthy,
putting he and Patterson, with Crabtree and Cooper, give the Raiders the
ingredients for a lethal offense.
Obi Melifouwu and Garcon
Conely: The Raiders first two picks addressed their biggest weakness, their
secondary. David Amerson and Sean smith of two solid corner backs but neither of
them are a legit number one shutdown corner. Those two as a second corner paired
with a shutdown corner would give a team two good players on the outsides. Smith and Amerson are the recipe to a 24th
ranked pass defense (yards allowed per game). While Melifonwu and Conley are
young players, they offer versatility and can give this defense two play-makers.
With Sean Smith legal issues one or both of these two young players will need
to step up and be a good player for this team this year.
Review:
The Oakland Raiders can be scary good this season.
Defensively this team has some things to figure out, but like most team in the
league they have talented players. If they can get some solid contributions for
rookies, Melifonwa and Conley this defense can be much improved. Kalil Mack is
an outstanding pass rusher. Mack and Bruce Irvin make up one of the best pass
rushing duo’s in the league. Karly Joesph had a very good rookie season and
should take the next step this year. Much of the Raiders issues defensively are
scheme related. They have talent now they just have put it all together, and
that will start with a scheme that features those two pass rushers. If the
secondary can give Mack and Irvin time to get to the quarterback, lookout!
The additions of Patterson, Cook and Lynch on the
offensive side of the ball should make things easier for Derek Carr. Carr was
having an amazing year last season before his unfortunate injury. He’s had an
entire off-season to rehab so he should start the season healthy and ready to
rock. The Raiders have one of the better offensive lines in the league. “Beastmode”
should be able to wear down defense. Cooper and Crabtree on the outsides will
be hard to stop. They only team that can stop the Raiders is the Raiders. This
team can go as far as they want to go. If they believe that, then they may find
themselves playing in February!
Comments
Post a Comment