Last Year: 

Record: 7-9

Offense: 333.5 YPG (24th), 22.4 PPG (17th)

Defense: 363.6 YPG (22nd), 24.9 (22nd)

In 2015, the Raiders took major strides towards 1 day being a legitimate playoff contender. They were 1 of the more exciting 7-win teams in the league and the arrow is clearly pointing up with this franchise. On offense, it all starts with Derek Carr, who is on the verge of becoming a top-tier NFL QB. Last season, he threw for almost 4,000 yards and had 32 TDs and only 13 interceptions. The Raiders had a 1,000-yard rusher in Latavius Murray, who is an up-and-coming back in this league. At receiver, rookie Amari Cooper lived up to his draft hype, accumulating over 1,000 yards receiving in his rookie season and Michael Crabtree had a nice bounce back season leading the team with 85 receptions. Defensively is where the Raiders seemed to struggle more. Khalil Mack is already 1 of the top 3 NFL defensive players in the game, but after him the Raiders really didn’t have a ton of consistent play from their other players outside of Charles Woodson, who is retired, and Dan Williams, who is only a run stopper.

Offseason: 

Key Acquisitions: OG. Kelechi Osemele, LB. Bruce Irving, CB. Sean Smith, S. Reggie Nelson

Key Loses: S. Charles Woodson, LB. Curtis Lofton, DE. Justin Tuck

2016 Outlook

Coaching Staff

HC: Jack Del Rio

OC: Bill Musgrave

DC: Ken Norton Jr

ST: Brad Seely

 

Projected Depth Chart

Offense

QB. Derek Carr, Matt McGloin

RB. Latavius Murray, Taiwan Jones

FB. Marcel Reece

WR. Amari Cooper, Andre Holmes

WR. Michael Crabtree, Max McCaffrey

WR. Seth Roberts

TE. Clive Walford, Lee Smith

LT. Donald Penn, Matt McCants

LG. Gabe Jackson, Jon Feliciano

C. Rodney Hudson, Ross Burbank

RG. Kelechi Osemele, Michell Bell

RT. Austin Howard, Menelik Watson

Defense

DE. Khalil Mack, Jihad Ward

DT. Dan Williams, Leon Orr

DT. Justin Ellis, Stacy McGee

DE. Mario Edwards Jr, Denico Autry

OLB. Bruce Irving, Shilique Calhoun

MLB. Ben Heeney, Daren Bates

OLB. Malcolm Smith, Korey Toomer

CB. Sean Smith, DJ Hayden

SS. Karl Joseph, Dewey McDonald

FS. Reggie Nelson, Nate Allen

CB. David Amerson, Keith McGill

NB. Travis Carrie

Special Teams

K.Sebastian Janikowski

P. Marquette King

Breakdown

Offense: 

Offensively, the Raiders showed flashes in 2015, but the overall number suggested that they still have not arrived. Outside of adding the top guard in free agency in Osemele, they pretty much are bringing back the exact same players at all the key positions on offense. The Raiders can simply make a major leap and improve on offense just from their young players getting better. QB Derek Carr has 1 of the strongest arms in the NFL and he’s mobile. If he can continue to get better with his accuracy and pose in the pocket, he can be lethal. In the backfield, the Raiders might have the best FB in the NFL in Marcel Reece, who can contribute as a runner, blocker, or receiver and Murray is a good young back, who is huge at 6’3 230 pounds and can carry the load as a feature back. Oakland has 2 legitimate receivers in Amari Cooper, who can be a true number 1 guy, and Michael Crabtree, who is 1 of the best possession receivers in the NFL and a very good number 2. The Raiders have a lot of good young talent and now they could have 1 of the better offensive lines in the NFL to help block for them. The addition of Osemele was huge and when you pair him with center Rodney Hudson and LG Gabe Jackson, who was the team’s best offensive lineman last year and could be a Pro Bowler, I think the Raiders could have 1 of the best interior offensive lines in the NFL. They’re not as strong at tackle and though Donald Penn is a decent starting LT, who can still hold his own, Austin Howard is average at best at the other tackle spot. The Raiders will be 1 of the most balanced offenses in the NFL with the ability to run and pass.

Defense: 

The Raiders had 1 of the best offseasons of any NFL team and the biggest reason why was because of all the moves they made to improve their defense. They were very active in free agency and their first 3 picks in the draft were on defense and all 3 of them should contribute right away. Up front, the Raiders didn’t make any changes and they really didn’t need to. Khalil Mack is an absolute monster at DE and Mario Edwards Jr has the potential to be the full time starting DE and be a solid contributor opposite Mack. There are no pass rushing threats in the interior, but Dan Williams is a load of a run stopper in the middle. At the next level, the Linebackers aren’t great and are undersized, but they also cover well and can move. It’s a group that looks better with the addition of free agent Bruce Irving who can play LB on the edge or off the line and should get an opportunity to both in the Raiders sort of hybrid defense. Malcolm Smith was the team’s best LB last year leading the team in tackles and though he’s not a thumper and can improve with his instincts, he’s fast and he can cover. In the middle, 2nd-year 5th-round pick Ben Heeney looks to take over the starting MLB job and he’s in the same mold as Smith – an undersized cover LB. The Raiders have enough beef and quality run stoppers up front that they should be able to protect their undersized LBs. In the secondary, the Raiders needed major change and they got it. They went out and signed CB Sean Smith, who will be the team’s number 1 corner and David Amerson returns after a breakout year where he was cut by the Redskins after 2 games, picked up by the Raiders, and then proceeded to record 4 interceptions and end up being the team’s best corner. At Safety, it will be a completely new look with 2 new starters in veteran free agent signing Reggie Nelson, who has been a good safety for years and rookie Karl Joseph, who they took in the 1st round of the 2016 NFL Draft. If the Raiders LBs can hold up, this can be 1 of the better defenses in the NFL in 2016.

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