2007 Outlook:

With the number one pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, the Oakland Raiders select quarterback JaMarcus Russell, LSU! There it was. Unfortunately for Raiders fans, that was the highlight of your 2007 season. It's all downhill from there. The freefall for the past four years since their 2003 Super Bowl loss have culminated in the rebuilding process that began with this most recent draft. Disgruntled wide receiver and former team captain Randy Moss is now out of the picture and there's a new sheriff in town, newly hired head coach Lane Kiffin. Last year he was the offensive coordinator for college football juggernaut USC and now he's in control of one of the most storied franchises in all of football. Kiffin will have his work cut out for him, but he appears eager for the challenge. Maybe he'll even be able to win a few football games along the way.

2007 Draft Review:

The NFL draft was an overwhelming success for the Oakland Raiders. Quarterback JaMarcus Russell is a big, strong, talented player who will be able to carry this franchise on his shoulders through the rebuilding process. Just as they opened up the draft with a smash, they also hit a homerun with the first selection of day two with former Louisville RB Michael Bush. Sidelined for most of his senior season due to a broken leg, Bush has first round talent and will be their running back-of-the-future if he stays healthy. With 11 total picks, the most in the draft, the Raiders chose to sprinkle talent across the rest of the depth chart. Overall, this draft was a resounding success for Oakland. Draft Grade: A

Key Acquisition:

There were more than a few draftniks who speculated that the Raiders were going to draft WR Calvin Johnson with the top overall pick, but owner Al Davis and his staff went with JaMarcus Russell. By selecting their franchise quarterback, the Raiders made the right choice and set themselves up nicely to build towards the playoffs once more. With the recent addition of Culpepper, JaMarcus will have a veteran Quarterback to lean on during his learning process and perhaps may even sit for sometime while Culpepper leads the team.

Key Departure:

The key departure for this Raiders team is without a doubt, WR Randy Moss. But in this case, his loss is actually a gain. Moss had become a disgruntled distraction for this team both on and off of the field. By ridding themselves of the clubhouse cancer, Oakland can truly begin the rebuilding process. Porter is happy and the Oakland clubhouse has been completely different this off-season without Moss' antics plaguing and infecting everyone around him.

Offensive Preview:

Oakland has worked hard in the offseason to improve on one of the worst offenses in the NFL from last season. RB Dominic Rhodes from Indianapolis will be serving a 4 game suspension to begin the season, he will add another dimension to the running game upon his return, as will Justin Griffith from Atlanta and rookie draftee Michael Bush. Incumbent LaMont Jordan appears to be on top of the running back pile, but his perch is tenuous and a couple bad games will cost him his job. JaMarcus Russell will learn by fire this season as the starting quarterback. It will be a big adjustment to learn the NFL game, but he's a tough kid who should be able to handle the pressure. His primary targets in the passing game will be fiery wide out Jerry Porter and former first round bust Mike Williams. This season will definitely be a lesson in perseverance for rookie head coach Lane Kiffin.

Defensive/Special Teams Preview:

The one bright spot for last year's team was the defense. During 2006, this unit allowed only 284 yards per game, which was the third best in the league. Defensive end Derrick Burgess will look to build upon his Pro Bowl performance from last year, when he led the team with 11 sacks. DT Warren Sapp will also be back to help anchor the defensive line. Second-year SS Michael Huff and CB Nnamdi Asomugha will lead the secondary along with FS Scott Schweigert. Sebastian Janikowski is back to handle the kicking duties for another season and he'll team up with Russell to form the heaviest kicker-quarterback combo in NFL history (Janikowski weighs 250 lbs and Russell tips the scales at 260 lbs).

Season Prediction:

This will be a season filled with a lot of bumps and bruises for the Raiders as first-time coach Lane Kiffin and rookie JaMarcus Russell deal with the NFL's steep learning curve. The team is a bit better, but there remains too many questions on the offensive line. The defense will likely be a bright spot, however they cannot stay on the field for 45 minutes per game and expect to be effective. At least Oakland will put themselves in position for another top 5 draft pick next offseason.

Projected Finish

3 Wins, 13 Losses (4th in the AFC West)

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