Quick look at Oakland

By Ryan Ebert, Ryan@nflen.com

     Matt Flynn now leads the way for Oakland.  With targets such as Jacoby Ford, Joshua Cribbs, Denarius Moore, Rod Streater, and Juron Criner to throw to, Flynn seems to have a good chance of making big plays with these speedsters.  But the offense isn't run through him.  It all depends on how RB Darren McFadden does and if he stays healthy a full sixteen games.  McFadden is the key to the Raiders like Adrian Peterson is the key for the Vikings and Jamaal Charles in Kansas City.  Offensive Coordinator and head coach Dennis Allen need to remember that and not overlook it, but also take care of their star RB by having newcomer Rashad Jennings fill in at times in order for them to have success in the long run.  

     First things first though, it all starts at the offensive line.  Oakland brought in Alex Barron to help and give depth.  They were 8th in passing offense last year, but that certainly doesn't show their success; it actually shows their failures as a team.  The defense didn't help the offense and the offense didn't help the defense.  The line does have some nice pieces up front in Stefen Wisniewski, Khalif Barnes, and veteran Andre Gurode.  Second round pick Menelik Watson hopes to be a good tackle for the team.  The team was 28th in run offense last season as well.  While some of that does attribute to the loss of McFadden but also to the chemistry between the QB and the O-line and the chemistry of the O-line.  The line needs to perform much better this season to be a force in the AFC.

     The receiving overall corps looks good enough.  Palmer was able to throw for 4,000 yards with the crew so why can't Flynn?  But there is no TE that scare any opposing player at all.  Either the Raiders are satisfied with who they have or they are thinking about getting one in free agency.  Last year's top target Brandon Myers left leaving David Asuberry as the top TE.  Ausberry only had seven catches the entirety of last year.  Overall barring injuries, the receivers Flynn will be throwing to should hold up.

     Looking at the defense, the biggest news from the offseason is the homecoming of DB Charles Woodson.  Woodson will complement fellow Pro Bowl caliber S Tyvon Branch, but the rest of the secondary is a concern.  Oakland has Mike Jenkins, rookie D.J. Hayden, Tracy Porter, Phillip Adams, Joselio Hansen, and converted RB Taiwan Jones at CB along with a few smaller names.  Jenkins and Porter are solid as well as Hansen, but can they create chemistry good enough to stop opposing offenses consistently enough?  Woodson, being a veteran, should come in and help mentor the young DBs in their craft and develop that chemistry.

Oakland also brought in LBs Kaluka Maiava, Nick Roach, Jason Hunter, and Kevin Burnett.  Personally I think that they can simply use those players to start with Burnett at MLB, Nick Roach at OLB and Hunter on the other side; but the Raiders do have a player already that can do well with Omar Gaither who will fight for a starting position.  Essentially, the LB group looks good if they can execute well on the field.

     Richard Seymour is gone from the defensive line which is a huge loss to the defensive front.  Tommy Kelly left for New England and Desmond Bryant to Cleveland.  The players brought in, Vance Walker and Myles Wade are going to need to step up their game to help this defense.  Pat Sims is the only player brought in with a name that be an influence on the line.  There really are just a number of questions along the defensive front.  Who will step up on the line and be the force that's needed to create problems for the QB?

     Good pieces are in place for Oakland, but the key is chemistry.  Chemistry between each position, between each person, and between each side.  The offense needs to come together as well as the defense.  With Matt Flynn at the forefront of the team now he needs to do his responsibility of working with his receivers and RBs and get the defense to do the same.  If this Oakland Raiders team can do that, they will make some noise in the season.