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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Feb 18, 2008
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Say what you want about ESPcrap but at least John Clayton has been fair. He seems to be the only one does his work over there. He has the Raiders #3 in 5 Teams to watch this year.
1. Carolina
2. St. Louis
JaMarcus Russell is the wild card here. No one knows whether he's ready to be a winning starter. Last season, Lane Kiffin wisely kept him on the sidelines until late December, giving him a chance to learn without failing. Now it's time for him to prove himself.
Al Davis had the most aggressive offseason. He invested $182 million in contracts for Javon Walker, Drew Carter, Kwame Harris, DeAngelo Hall and Gibril Wilson. He spent $62 million more to keep defensive tackle Tommy Kelly and halfback Justin Fargas. And he drafted running back Darren McFadden with the No. 4 overall pick in this year's draft.
But the biggest reason for hope for the Raiders is the schedule. They go from having a .516 strength of schedule to a projected .438, giving them optimism for a four-game improvement. The only team with a 2007 winning record that the Raiders will play in the first 12 games is the Chargers, in a Sept. 28 home game. Until December, they play a .395 strength of schedule. How can they not "Just win, baby"? They should have a winning record going into their final four games.
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Reputation:95
Level:Superstar
Since:Sep 21, 2007
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By the time we get to our Bye week them guys will be all over the Raiders!
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Reputation:96
Level:Superstar
Since:Jul 23, 2007
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While I like that he is optimistic and I am too I don't like to look at the strength of schedule and use that as a basis this early. I like to watch the preseason and then after watching games 3 and 4 of the preseason I like to say oh yeah this team is gonna be good or that team. You know because as we have seen before you don't really get to know what a team can do until at least the third game of the preseason. That is when you see the starters for the entire first half and sometimes even the third and fourth quarters.
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Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Dec 16, 2006
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I agree with those points as well, at least Clayton is usually non-biased.
And P1 I don't think preseason means sh!t. Look at 2006 season Art Shell won 3 out of 4 preseason games and only 2 in the regular season, so even though I like preseason I don't think it means anything except getting the rust off IMO
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:May 23, 2007
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Totally agree about the strength of schedule part...I believe there is definitely hope based on the schedule and it will come entirely down to QB and our ability to stop the run. Here is my proposed results with brief explanation.
Sep 8 - Broncos - WIN
Sep 14- @Chiefs - WIN
Sep 21 - @Bills - LOSS
Sep 28 - Chargers - LOSS
Oct 12 - @Saints - LOSS
Oct 19 - Jets - WIN
Oct 26 - @Ravens - WIN
Nov 2 - Falcons - WIN
Nov 9 - Panthers - WIN
Nov 16 - @Dolphins - WIN
Nov 23 - @Broncos - LOSS
Nov 30 - Chiefs - WIN
Dec 4 - @Chargers - LOSS
Dec 14 - Patriots - LOSS
Dec 21 - Texans - WIN
Dec 28 - @Bucs - LOSS
This would put us at 9-7, which to me sounds to good to be true but we have a pretty easy schedule this year. We play teams 6 times that finished with 5 or fewer wins, basically the same as us.
Other than those 6 games which I have to believe we can win, I am picking us to beat an 8-8 Houston team at home at the end of the season. A 7-9 Carolina team that people feel underachieved last season but whos QB is coming off Tommy John surgery of which no major QB has ever had. And a win, a split, with a 7-9 Denver team.
I am also predicting losses against a 9-7 Tampa Bay team whos record is inflated by arguably, I said arguably, the WEAKEST division in the NFL.. A 7-9 New Orleans team that has talent but may have been a one year wonder. And a 7-9 Buffalo team that benefited from playing the Jets and Dolphins twice each, outside of those 4 wins they were 3-9...for arguments sake, lets say 3-7 outside of their division...If I am going to knock the 4 wins, I have to credit the 2 losses to the Patriots.
All three of those losses are winnable games for us, but I am sure some of you will question some of the wins I picked as well. I truely believe that we are a year or two, and a proven QB, away from turning this thing around and contending for a wild card but it is hard to pick against this schedule.
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Jan 19, 2007
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Lose TWICE to the Dolts. No. I don't think so. This isn't 2007 (or '06, or '05...) They won't be the powerhouse people expect them to be.
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Reputation:96
Level:Superstar
Since:Oct 21, 2007
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I like some of your predictions... but not others... most notably, our loses to the Donks, Saints and Pats. You have to figure, our strength is in our pass defense and rush offense. The Donks don't have a #1 receiver anymore. We match up VERY well against the Saints and with their aging LB corps, we should run all over them (do you really see Dan Morgan lasting an entire game against Oren O'Neill and Michael Bush crashing down on his vegetable head?). As for the Patriots... call me crazy, but I can't think of another team that has the ability to step up to their pass offense like we can. On the flip side, their secondary is hurting and their LB's are old... how are they going to take care of Darren McFadden in the flat??? Unfortunately, I also think the Texans will beat us again. I don't know why, they just always seem to have our number. The Panthers match-up is a toss up, if we can stuff their RB's, we'll win handily.
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Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Aug 31, 2006
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Lose TWICE to the Dolts. No. I don't think so. This isn't 2007 (or '06, or '05...) They won't be the powerhouse people expect them to be.
Why is that...? Chargers are better at every single position.
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