Oakland Raiders 2010 Season Preview

Football Betting Lines

08/26/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - If the Oakland Raiders still have the gall to refer to their organization as the "Team of the Decades," they had better clarify which decades they mean exactly.

In the first three of the 10 years comprising the just-passed decade, the Silver and Black were a playoff group and even appeared in a Super Bowl. In the next seven, with apologies to the Detroit Lions, the Raiders were the "Joke of the Decade."

The first team in NFL history to lose 11 or more games for seven consecutive seasons, Oakland is a miserable 29-83 (.259) since 2003.

They've had five different coaches over that stretch, a number of doomed quarterback experiments, and at least one low-level assistant nursing a broken jaw.

Once-revered team owner Al Davis is 81, and having increasing trouble distancing himself from the perception that he's lost his grip on what it takes to build a successful NFL team in our post-millennium world.

Yet Davis and Raiders fans both have hope that the dark age for this organization will end in 2010, and that the seven-year itch will be scratched with some consistent winning.

"We thought that the decade of the 2000s would be ours, but boy we slipped," Davis told Sirius NFL Radio earlier this month. "We slumped. And now we come into the year 2010 and I really liken this team a great deal to the team of 1980 in which the great Jim Plunkett pulled us out of the doldrums, took us to the Super Bowl as a wild card and we had so many great players who eventually made their way into the Hall of Fame."

Much of Davis' enthusiasm has to do with the team's latest QB reclamation project, ex-Redskins starter Jason Campbell, who will help the team turn the page from the bleak three-season tenure of former No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell. Though Campbell is only 20-32 as an NFL starter and never lived up to his first-round billing either, the owner is making him the symbol of the franchise's attempt to rise from the ashes.

"I really predict great things for him," Davis told Sirius, adding that he sees Campbell as "a football player like I saw Jim Plunkett. He has everything. He was 13-0 in college at Auburn. He can throw up the field, he can run, he's big, he's smart."

Of course, Campbell won't be able to move this team up the AFC West ladder himself. The Raiders have other potential trouble areas, from a thin offensive line to a nondescript receiving corps to a defensive front seven that must improve its long-standing rank as one of the worst run-stopping teams in the NFL.

Still, Davis isn't alone in thinking the Raiders - who beat the playoff-bound Bengals and won at Pittsburgh and Denver over the second half of last year - are as close to being relevant as they've been in some time.

"I think we have our stamp on this team," said Davis. "It's our personnel, it's our picks, it's our want to be great once again, to join the ranks of the elite and get back that number-one rating in terms of wins and losses since we've come into the league. "

Below we take a capsule look at the 2010 edition of the Oakland Raiders, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:

2009 RECORD: 5-11 (3rd, AFC West)

LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: 2002, lost to Tampa Bay, 48-21, in Super Bowl

COACH (RECORD): Tom Cable (9-19 in two seasons with Raiders, 9-19 overall)

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Cable

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: John Marshall

OFFENSIVE STAR: Jason Campbell, QB (3618 passing yards, 20 TD, 15 INT with Washington)

DEFENSIVE STAR: Nnamdi Asomugha, CB (34 tackles, 1 INT)

OFFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 21st rushing, 29th passing, 31st scoring

DEFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 29th rushing, 7th passing, 23rd scoring

KEY ADDITIONS: QB Jason Campbell (from Redskins), QB Kyle Boller (from Rams), RB Rock Cartwright (from Redskins), RB Michael Bennett (from Chargers), TE John Owens (from Seahawks), T Bruce Campbell (4th Round, Maryland), OL Daniel Loper (from Lions), OL Jared Veldheer (3rd Round, Hillsdale (Mich.)), DT John Henderson (from Jaguars), DE Quentin Groves (from Jaguars), DL Lamarr Houston (2nd Round, Texas), DL Chris Cooper (free agent), LB Kamerion Wimbley (from Browns), LB Rolando McClain (1st Round, Alabama)

KEY DEPARTURES: QB JaMarcus Russell (released), QB J.P. Losman (to Seahawks), RB Justin Fargas (to Broncos), RB Gary Russell (not tendered), WR Javon Walker (to Vikings), T Cornell Green (to Bills), LB Kirk Morrison (to Jaguars), LB Jon Alston (to Buccaneers), DE Greg Ellis (released), DT Gerard Warren (to Patriots)

QB: While Campbell must look like Johnny Unitas to Raiders fans when compared with Russell, fans would be wise to temper their enthusiasm about him just a bit. Though he has high-end physical skills and is twice the leader that Russell was, the former first-rounder was oft-criticized in Washington for his aversion to taking chances down the field. Given Davis' preference for a vertical, big-strike offense, that's an allergy that Campbell is going to want cured. The rest of the depth chart is interesting, as Bruce Gradkowski (1007 passing yards, 6 TD, 3 INT) seemed to be in line for the No. 2 job after playing well late in 2009, but ex-Raven and Ram Kyle Boller (899 passing yards, 3 TD, 6 INT with the Rams) inserted himself into the mix with a strong preseason coupled with Gradkowski's injury struggles. It seems unlikely that the team would keep two veteran QBs as backups, but stranger things have happened around this franchise. Ex-Redskin Colt Brennan seems like a long shot to stick at this point.

RB: While Campbell is going to be under great scrutiny, it will also be worth keeping an eye on a running back group that has underachieved in recent years. Darren McFadden (357 rushing yards, 1 TD, 21 receptions) has yet to live up to his top-five billing amid myriad injuries, and the former Arkansas star has been bypassed on the depth chart by the bigger and more durable Michael Bush (589 rushing yards, 3 TD, 17 receptions). The Raiders will look for contributions from both players, but Bush is likely to be the first man in. Oakland brought in another former Redskin, Rock Cartwright (228 rushing yards, 27 receptions, 1 TD with Washington), mainly to handle kickoff returns. His presence on the roster makes journeyman Michael Bennett's (65 rushing yards with the Chargers) status tenuous. At fullback, Luke Lawton (7 receptions) has been a generally reliable player over the past couple of seasons, but will be unavailable until Week 3 due to a steroid suspension and was hampered by concussions in the preseason. Those situations could open the door for second- year man Marcel Reece (2 receptions) to serve in the role.

WR/TE: The makeup of the Raiders' receiving corps has long been a chicken-or- egg argument. Were Oakland's wideouts unproductive because they lacked talent and/or skill, or did they struggle due to the lack of a capable quarterback to get them the ball? Clearly, the Silver and Black are banking on the latter, because there are few new faces here. All eyes will be on former first-rounder Darrius Heyward-Bey (9 receptions, 1 TD), who had a terrible rookie season and was outplayed by guys like Louis Murphy (34 receptions, 4 TD) and Chaz Schilens (29 receptions, 2 TD). Murphy and Schilens are still in the mix, though Schilens had knee surgery during the preseason and might not be ready for Week 1. That will afford an opportunity to someone like Todd Watkins (8 receptions), Johnnie Lee Higgins (19 receptions), or speedy rookie fourth- rounder Jacoby Ford (Clemson). The team's most reliable target, tight end Zach Miller (66 receptions, 3 TD), will again be in the lineup, and Brandon Myers (4 receptions) and Tony Stewart (10 receptions) again appear set to back him.

OL: Whatever strides the Raiders might make at quarterback and/or wide receiver will be rendered moot if this group can't protect Campbell and make holes for the running backs. The bad news is that there's not an elite-level lineman on this group, the good is that 80 percent of the line is expected to remain intact. On the left side, tackle Mario Henderson is adequate and guard Robert Gallery - who missed 10 games last year with a back problem - has become a reliable piece when healthy. Henderson and right guard Cooper Carlisle were the only Oakland o-lineman to start every game a year ago. The trouble spots are at center, where neither Samson Satele nor Chris Morris is any great shakes. Though Satele will probably be the guy on opening day, there's a chance the team could try third-round project Jared Veldheer there. Then there's right tackle, where prodigal son Langston Walker is not really a long-term answer. The team would probably like to see Bruce Campbell (Maryland), a fourth-round pick who some thought would go much earlier, emerge as a viable candidate at the position.

DL: Though his presence didn't translate to a win increase, Richard Seymour (47 tackles, 4 sacks) gave the Oakland defense an immediate blast of credibility when the Patriots shockingly dealt him to the Bay Area on the eve of the 2009 season. The group around Seymour, who plays inside in Oakland's base 4-3 look, has been enhanced as well. Second-round draft pick Lamarr Houston (Texas) has the versatility to play inside or outside, and ex-Jaguars tackle John Henderson (36 tackles, 3 sacks with Jacksonville) has Pro Bowl citations on his resume'. Big-money tackle Tommy Kelly (54 tackles, 1 sack) is still hanging around as well, and ends Matt Shaughnessy (29 tackles, 4 sacks) and Jay Richardson (23 tackles, 3 sacks) are decent edge rushers who each appeared in all 16 games a year ago.

LB: Raiders fans should be highly encouraged at how the Raiders upgraded the linebacking corps in the offseason. From a pass-rushing standpoint, Oakland dealt for Kamerion Wimbley (68 tackles, 6.5 sacks with Cleveland), who along with Trevor Scott (38 tackles, 7 sacks) should be able to make up for the production that departed when the team failed to re-sign Greg Ellis. On the inside, first-round pick Rolando McClain (Alabama) is a major upgrade over Kirk Morrison, who is now with the Jaguars. McClain's size alone gives Oakland more of a dimension in the run-stopping game. The Raiders have decent depth at LB as well, as Thomas Howard (79 tackles, 2 sacks) and Ricky Brown (30 tackles) both have starting experience and Quentin Groves (28 tackles, 1 INT with the Jaguars) is an occasionally active pass-rusher.

DB: Give a lot of credit to the Raiders secondary, which has done a nice job over the past few seasons with very little in the way of consistent help from the front seven. With a better group playing in front of them, the secondary might finally be recognized as one of the best in the league. At corner, Nnamdi Asomugha is acknowledged as elite, and Chris Johnson (67 tackles, 3 INT) has converted himself from a marginal NFL player to an above-average NFL corner. Stanford Routt (28 tackles, 1 sack) is still in the mix at CB as well, and seventh-round pick Stevie Brown (Michigan) has opened some eyes with a good camp. At strong safety, Tyvon Branch (119 tackles, 1 sack) was a 16-game starter and isn't going anywhere. The unending competition between Michael Huff (55 tackles, 3 INT) and Hiram Eugene (33 tackles, 1 INT) at free safety might not subside anytime soon. Both players have their moments, but neither has been consistent. Many pundits laughed when the Raiders reached for safety Mike Mitchell (13 tackles, 1.5 sacks) in the second round last year, but Mitchell was on the field for all 16 games in 2010 and actually looks to be developing into a decent player.

SPECIAL TEAMS: As usual, the Raiders have very little to worry about in the kicking game. Punter Shane Lechler made his third straight Pro Bowl (and fifth overall) after posting the second-best single-season punting average (51.1 avg.) in NFL history, while kicker Sebastian Janikowski (26-29 FG) was a Pro Bowl snub. Cartwright (22.3 kickoff return avg. with Washington), who has 222 kickoff returns since breaking into the league in 2002, was brought in to handle those duties in Oakland. Higgins (5.2 punt return avg.) is just two years removed from a three-touchdown year as punt returner, and will get the first crack there this year. Rookie Jacoby Ford has a chance to be in the mix as well. Jon Condo, who played in the Pro Bowl last year, begins his third year as the Raiders' long-snapper.

PROGNOSIS: Though many Raiders fans are as optimistic as the team's owner about the prospects for a renaissance this year, the jettisoning of JaMarcus Russell was hardly a cure-all. Campbell is a better quarterback but is unproven in his own right, and playing with a new supporting cast, to include a highly suspect offensive line, is not necessarily going to allow him to deliver on his promise. Things figure to be better defensively, and if that group can keep the Raiders in some games, and Campbell and the offense develop some early chemistry and have good luck with injuries, there's a chance this team can enter December with something to play for. That might not sound like a return to glory, but after the past seven years, it has to be worth something.

Pacific-10 Conference odds

Teams that should be in: Stanford

Oregon and USC get their tickets punched after taking care of business this weekend. Yes, the Trojans' computer numbers aren't great, but there's no way the third-place team in this league is getting nixed. Grudgingly, I added Arizona after consultation with our Bracketologist. I don't know that Arizona will lose its last three (including a Pac-10 quarterfinal game), and even if the Cats do, I still can't see how they'd be left out, given the overall profile. That said, it bears watching, as three more L's would leave them at 18-12 (9-9) and on a 6-11 skid entering the Dance. It would be nice to see the Wildcats get at least one W in the Bay Area next week, as Cincinnati (albeit without Armein Kirkland and with a worse profile) was axed after a similar slide last season. I just couldn't rationalize having some of the other teams as locks and not having Arizona in that category -- there just aren't enough good teams behind the Cats to threaten their spot, it seems. Stanford has its fate in its own hands with the Arizona schools coming to the Farm to close out the regular season next weekend.

Should be in:

Stanford [17-10 (9-7), RPI: 40, SOS: 21] No shame in not getting a win in L.A., but that makes the home game against Arizona State a must-win ahead of what could be an intriguing meeting with Arizona should the Cats lose at Cal. Getting to 11 Pac-10 wins would make Selection Sunday much more comfortable, but 10's probably more than enough this season. The Cardinal have nonconference wins over Texas Tech and at Virginia to lean on, although they also lost badly to Air Force and Santa Clara at home.

Southeastern Conference odds

Work left to do: Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Mississippi State It looks more and more possible that no one from the SEC West will make the NCAAs. How weird is that? Tennessee and Vandy move into the locks category after more good work this weekend. Kentucky stays there, although it would be smart for the Cats to handle Georgia at home Wednesday ahead of a trip to the Swamp. Could a disaster scenario (two more L's and a first-round SEC tourney exit) somehow dislodge the Cats despite their incredible computer numbers? Still unlikely, but not worth chancing it. Work left to do: Alabama [19-9 (6-8), RPI: 43, SOS: 47] The tough L at Tennessee was understandable, and even created some hope. Unfortunately, that hope was dashed by a home loss to Auburn, which leaves the Tide in some real trouble. There's still no signature win on the profile (no, Kentucky doesn't count), and the computer profile is weakening rapidly. The Tide conceivably could beat Ole Miss and win at Miss. State to get to 8-8 and clinch at least a share of the West crown, but that's probably not enough right now. The Tide will need to do some work in the SEC tourney. Georgia [16-10 (8-6), RPI: 52, SOS: 23] This is the team with the best chance to make it from this section right now. The Bulldogs rebounded from a terrible performance at Ole Miss to beat down Miss. State. Now they are at Kentucky (king of the RPI 51-100 win) and home to Tennessee. That would be worth a lot of computer points to get both (which is doable), as both teams are in the top 11 in RPI. Finishing at least 9-7 is an absolute must, and I would feel much better about the Dawgs' chances if they got both to get to 10 SEC wins. They also beat Gonzaga, but lost to ACC bubblers Georgia Tech and Clemson. Mississippi [18-10 (7-7), RPI: 63, SOS: 79] Like everyone else in this division, Ole Miss gacked up a chance to stake a claim, losing by double figures at South Carolina. Even 9-7 likely is not nearly enough with a nonconference profile devoid of anything notable. Mississippi State [16-11 (7-7), RPI: 66, SOS: 37] With a chance to get in the mix, these Bulldogs were leashed by their Georgia counterparts. Could they get to 9-7? I guess -- although winning at Arkansas, then beating Alabama is no lock -- but would that mean all that much for a team with this overall profile? Probably not. There's nothing of note (on the good side) in the nonconference profile.

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