Skip to main content

Better Than Nostradamus? Predictions Revisited

Revisiting 20 early predictions from last May. How did I do? I said then I was as steadfast as a politician making campaign promises. I only changed one before the season began (projected win total).

Lets take a look.

1. The quarterback depth chart will be Jason Campbell, Bruce Gradkowski, JaMarcus Russell barring injury.

2/3 right? 1/2 right? It was 2/3 correct when the season started. Conservatively, 1/2 right. Who cares about the 3rd QB?

Score: 0.5

2. The Raiders will win nine games or more.

Close, but no cigar. I later amended this prediction to eight games, but I have to stick with my May prediction here.

Score: 0

3. Darren McFadden will have 1500 all-purpose yards

Nailed it. (Jack Black voice)

Score: 1

4. The offensive line will continue to be Achilles Heel of the team.

Debatable? Not in my mind.

Score: 1

5. The Raiders will have a top ten defense.

By yards, the Raiders ranked 11th. Again, I was very close. No credit for being close.

Score: 0

6. The Raiders will have a top 15 run defense.

Not very close. The Raiders ranked 22nd in yards/per carry against and 29th in total yards.

Score: 0

7. The Raiders will have a top ten running game.

Ranked second by total yards and second in yards per carry. Maybe I was too conservative?

Score: 1

8. Jason Campbell will improve on his 2009 season statistically.

Any chance of improving was derailed by his benching.

Score: 0

9. Rolando McClain will be the defensive rookie of the year.

I was drooling over Suh last May, this one was always wishful thinking.

Score: 0

10. Tyvon Branch will be a Pro Bowl alternate.

Missed it. He's still a candidate to do it in 2011.

Score: 0

11. Stanford Routt will be a starting corner by season's end.

Not only was he the starting corner, he played pretty well. Al Davis rewarded his play with a huge contract.

Score: 1

12. Bruce Campbell will be a beast on special teams, but won't see the field as an offensive lineman very much.

Beast on special teams? Tough to tell. He played special teams. He didn't see the field as a lineman much.

Score: 1

13. Nnamdi Asomugha will be thrown at more this season.

From 28 in 2009 to 29 in 2010. I'll take it.

Score: 1

14. Richard Seymour will register more than six sacks.

5.5 sacks in 13 games. Prorated over 16 games that would be 7. Half point for prorated correctness.

Score: 0.5

15. Jared Veldheer will start at least one game at tackle.

Started one game at center and 10 at tackle. Projects as the starter at left tackle next season.

Score: 1

16. Cooper Carlisle will be cut before the start of the season.

Whiffed. He wasn't cut and he started every game. He still wasn't very good in pass protection.

Score: 0

17. Kamerion Wimbley will be the most productive offseason acquisition.

I think it is safe to say I nailed this one also. He's now the Raiders franchise player.

Score: 1

18. Jacoby Ford will return two kicks/punts for a touchdown

This was a bold prediction, since Ford was a rookie. Aren't you glad I was right?

Score: 1

19. Darrius Heyward-Bey, Louis Murphy, and Chaz Schilens will each have 50+ receptions.

DHB had 26, Murphy had 41 and Schilens had 5 receptions. 72 total. What was I thinking?

Score: 0

20. Michael Bush will lead the team in touchdowns.

McFadden had 10, Bush 8. Bush did lead the team in rushing touchdowns. Again, close.

Score: 0


OVERALL SCORE: 10 out of 20 with a couple close ones and a couple major whiffs.

Props to @PFF_Rick, who reminded me of these predictions and my relative success.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Oakland Raiders Swing for the Fences in 2016 NFL Draft

[embed align="center"]http://gty.im/153039819[/embed] These aren't your daddy's Oakland Raiders or even your younger self's Raiders. If anything, these are your newborn's Raiders or your puppy's Raiders. These are the Raiders we've never seen before. Indicative of the freshness of the franchise was their 2016 NFL Draft. No longer slave to a high draft pick and desperate needs, the theme of the draft for the Raiders was upside. It's as if general manager Reggie McKenzie got so used to hitting his draft picks out of the park that he started swinging for the fences. We'll have to wait a couple of years before we know if he struck out or if he'll continue his Ruthian ways. First, McKenzie boldly went with a safety at No. 14 overall. Kyle Joseph is coming off a torn ACL and fills a major need, but safety isn't a premium position. Only a handful of safeties have been drafted in the first 14 picks in the last 15 years and include names like Ea

The Raiders aren't who we thought they were....they're better

The Oakland Raiders are tired of being the team that will be good in a year or two. The team expects to win now and it is winning now. We thought the Raiders needed more talent. We thought that being in the playoff hunt was a year away for this team, but we were wrong. This isn't the team we thought they were, they're better. On Sunday, they moved to 3-3 on Sunday with a 37-29 win over the San Diego Chargers that wasn't close until the final minute. It was also the Raiders second road win of the season. The last time the Raiders had two road wins by their sixth game was 2011. Before that, a five-year streak from 1998-2002. The Raiders went 8-8 in 1998, 1999 and 2011 and narrowly missed the playoffs each year.  They made the playoffs in 2000, 2001 and 2002. They didn't have a losing record in any of those seasons because teams that can win on the road are usually pretty good. As the season matures, there is more and more evidence that some of the "best-case scenario

Looking Forward: Raiders 2012 Free Agents

Khalif Barnes - Weakest link on the offensive line with youth behind him. Raiders will look for for other options. It's not as if there aren't a dozen Khalif's on the street each year. Darryl Blackstock - Was a Chuck Bresnahan guy, but found a home on special teams. Would have to make the team as a reserve LB and special teams guy next training camp. Wouldn't be surprised to see him back as a camp body or gone entirely. Kyle Boller - Hue didn't have enough confidence to turn to Boller. Expect the Raiders to look elsewhere for a backup to Carson Palmer. Jerome Boyd - Was nothing more than a reserve and special teams player. Some good moments and some very bad ones. Camp body again and fate will depend on the defensive coordinator. Tyvon Branch - About the only consistent producer in the secondary. Raiders will want to bring him back. Desmond Bryant - He's been great in limited action and can play inside and out. Key reserve. Michael Bush - He'll find a home a