Angry Pope
All Raider
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2006
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Team Report
Posted: August 27, 2006
Steve Corkran
REASONS FOR OPTIMISM: Coordinator Rob Ryan has the personnel to make the 4-3 his base defense. The team added speed and playmaking ability by selecting SS Michael Huff and OLB Thomas Howard with its first two draft picks -- and both are expected to start. Starting opposite Howard will be Sam Williams, who missed last season with a knee injury. Williams is fast and strong and can blitz and cover, but can he stay healthy? Special teams figure to be a strength. K Sebastian Janikowski is poised to rebound from his worst season, and Shane Lechler is one of the league's best punters. DB Chris Carr excelled on kick returns last season and has worked hard to improve as a punt returner. WR Randy Moss is healthy, and, assuming he meshes with new QB Aaron Brooks, could approach his career averages (79 catches, 1,268 yards, 12 TDs). RB LaMont Jordan will benefit from pushing himself harder in the offseason.
REASONS FOR CONCERN: Three of the projected starters on the offensive line are playing different positions than they played last year. Robert Gallery moves from right tackle to left tackle, Barry Sims goes from left tackle to left guard, and Langston Walker moves from left guard back to right tackle. The line also will rely on RG Paul McQuistan, a rookie, and C Jake Grove, who is battling a shoulder injury. First-year offensive coordinator Tom Walsh's scheme is heavy on running plays and downfield throws. Expect the offense to endure growing pains. WR Jerry Porter is unhappy with his role and wants to be traded. His desire to leave is threatening to be a divisive issue. Brooks has yet to prove he can play at a high level for an entire season. That doesn't bode well for a team that needs him to hit Moss with several deep balls every game for it to compete in the strong AFC West.
CORKRAN'S BOTTOM LINE: The Raiders look improved, but too many things need to go right for them to be considered playoff contenders. After all, they were 1-11 in the division the past two years. Success likely will be determined by how well new coach Art Shell lays the foundation for the future.
SNAPSHOT WITH CB NNAMDI ASOMUGHA: Can't-miss weekly dining tradition: Thursday nights at Zack Crockett's house. Every week. He's the best chef on the team. Weirdest pregame ritual: Jarrod Cooper's. He takes a shower, shaves his whole body, gets an IV bag, puts Polo sports cologne on his jersey and then puts on his headphones. Funniest trash-talker: It would have to be Randy Moss because he trash-talks just to get himself going. He's liable to say anything just to get a laugh. Worst ride: That would be mine. One of my cars that I drive to practice is a 1996 Nissan Maxima. It has a doughnut tire that I've just never fixed. It's never washed. The leather on the seats is off. It's my practice-day car. It gets good mileage, too. Huddle moment: My second year, I don't remember who the linebacker was, but the guy who was calling the plays didn't know what it was. So we had a few guys throwing out plays that we should run. Time was running out. We went with what Charles Woodson said. Beware of this guy in the locker room: Doug Gabriel. One year, Doug put a shoe box in my locker. It said "Nike" on it. I thought it was some Nike shoes. Inside was a live snake. Unique vanity plate: Warren Sapp has "QBKILLA."
Posted: August 27, 2006
Steve Corkran
REASONS FOR OPTIMISM: Coordinator Rob Ryan has the personnel to make the 4-3 his base defense. The team added speed and playmaking ability by selecting SS Michael Huff and OLB Thomas Howard with its first two draft picks -- and both are expected to start. Starting opposite Howard will be Sam Williams, who missed last season with a knee injury. Williams is fast and strong and can blitz and cover, but can he stay healthy? Special teams figure to be a strength. K Sebastian Janikowski is poised to rebound from his worst season, and Shane Lechler is one of the league's best punters. DB Chris Carr excelled on kick returns last season and has worked hard to improve as a punt returner. WR Randy Moss is healthy, and, assuming he meshes with new QB Aaron Brooks, could approach his career averages (79 catches, 1,268 yards, 12 TDs). RB LaMont Jordan will benefit from pushing himself harder in the offseason.
REASONS FOR CONCERN: Three of the projected starters on the offensive line are playing different positions than they played last year. Robert Gallery moves from right tackle to left tackle, Barry Sims goes from left tackle to left guard, and Langston Walker moves from left guard back to right tackle. The line also will rely on RG Paul McQuistan, a rookie, and C Jake Grove, who is battling a shoulder injury. First-year offensive coordinator Tom Walsh's scheme is heavy on running plays and downfield throws. Expect the offense to endure growing pains. WR Jerry Porter is unhappy with his role and wants to be traded. His desire to leave is threatening to be a divisive issue. Brooks has yet to prove he can play at a high level for an entire season. That doesn't bode well for a team that needs him to hit Moss with several deep balls every game for it to compete in the strong AFC West.
CORKRAN'S BOTTOM LINE: The Raiders look improved, but too many things need to go right for them to be considered playoff contenders. After all, they were 1-11 in the division the past two years. Success likely will be determined by how well new coach Art Shell lays the foundation for the future.
SNAPSHOT WITH CB NNAMDI ASOMUGHA: Can't-miss weekly dining tradition: Thursday nights at Zack Crockett's house. Every week. He's the best chef on the team. Weirdest pregame ritual: Jarrod Cooper's. He takes a shower, shaves his whole body, gets an IV bag, puts Polo sports cologne on his jersey and then puts on his headphones. Funniest trash-talker: It would have to be Randy Moss because he trash-talks just to get himself going. He's liable to say anything just to get a laugh. Worst ride: That would be mine. One of my cars that I drive to practice is a 1996 Nissan Maxima. It has a doughnut tire that I've just never fixed. It's never washed. The leather on the seats is off. It's my practice-day car. It gets good mileage, too. Huddle moment: My second year, I don't remember who the linebacker was, but the guy who was calling the plays didn't know what it was. So we had a few guys throwing out plays that we should run. Time was running out. We went with what Charles Woodson said. Beware of this guy in the locker room: Doug Gabriel. One year, Doug put a shoe box in my locker. It said "Nike" on it. I thought it was some Nike shoes. Inside was a live snake. Unique vanity plate: Warren Sapp has "QBKILLA."
