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Best Turnaround -
P1Huntington Reputation:96 Level:Superstar Since:Jul 23, 2007
	May 15, 2008 5:57 pm Score: 95
	<p> Well I did pick my favorite team but there is are good reasons to believe they will be much improved this coming season. Last year they had a rookie head coach who instilled a new attitude in the locker room. The acqusition of many free agents during the offseason should help in areas where help is needed. Those positions of greatest need being WR and Safety. It is well known that the Raiders had a horrible run defense last year but if you saw any of the games and looked at the stats there was a theme which was the big play. Teams were consistently able to break out for a long run. The Raiders were tied for last with the most 20+ yard runs(18) and again tied for last with the 40+ yard runs(5). The problem wasn't necessarily the defensive line it had a lot to do with the Free Safety position. Whether overpaid or not Gibril Wilson is a much better tackler than Stuart Schweigart and he takes better angles on the ball carrier. </p> <p> On offense the addition of Darren McFadden, and a healthy Michael Bush to an already stout running game will go a long way in the development of JaMarcus Russell. Not only will these two help the offense score more points, which by itself helps to win games, it will also keep the defense off of the field for longer periods of time so that the squad may be fresh in the fourth quarter. For those who doubt the importance of this let me say to you that of the 12 losses Oakland had last season there were 5 games that the Raiders had the lead either going into or at some point in the 4th quarter. Had this team been able to hold onto the lead it would have been a 9-7 ball club which is not spectacular by any means but it is significantly better than 4-12 and it would have meant being out of the cellar in the AFC West. </p> <p> So there are my reasons. What are yours for who you chose?</p>
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Best Turnaround -
A_Ahouse Reputation:96 Level:Superstar Since:Apr 8, 2007
	May 15, 2008 6:20 pm Score: 95
	I agree the Raiders. For the reasons you mentioned, plus you can't forget about adding D-Hall to a secondary with Nnambi Aso. Also, Russell should be pretty prepared to play well this season. At minimum he will play better than the QBs the Raiders had turning over the ball every other series last year.
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Best Turnaround -
M-A-R-S Reputation:94 Level:All-Star Since:Feb 20, 2008
	May 15, 2008 6:26 pm Score: 94
	I picked the Rams (my hometown team). They really weren't that bad last year. They just got obliterated by injuries, most notably to the offensive line, but also to the secondary, linebackers, and franchise players Steven Jackson and Marc Bulger. This year they've added Chris Long (and will have Leonard Little back from injury), so the pass rush should be much improved. And the second half of their schedule looks very soft. So if the Rams can tread water in the first half of the year, they could position themselves for a run into the post season thanks to the fact that they're in a weak division.
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Best Turnaround -
P1Huntington Reputation:96 Level:Superstar Since:Jul 23, 2007
	May 15, 2008 6:29 pm Score: 93
	I hear ya mars. I don't think the Rams were as bad as their record indicates either. Believe me Raiders fans know exactly how bad a season can be when the offensive line is bad. We won just as many games (2) in 2006 when ours was horrible. Oh and by the way TOM CABLE IS A GENIUS!
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