After the Raiders "bullied" the Jets it is easy to forget the team has inadequacies. Even though the Raiders have a very imposing defensive line and are tied for third in the league with 10 sacks, the defense is still allowing nearly 290 passing yards per game. What is also looked over in the Raiders 2-1 start is the inconsistent play of the kick coverage units. The Raiders were exposed on a couple long kick returns despite recovering a fumble by Antonio Cromartie. The punt coverage has been terrible and is a huge weakness on this team. Stanford Routt and Tyvon Branch are the only healthy members of the Raiders secondary who were on the team last year. With the injury to DeMarcus Van Dyke (knee) coupled with his lack of development, the Raiders are extra thin in the weakest area of their defense. Chimdi Checkwa, is showing why he was drafted and made the roster. After Chekwa's promising performance the starting cornerback position could be his for the taking with Chris Jo...
It was 2009 the last time the Raiders played the Saints in the preseason. The New Orleans Saints were still the "Aints" and the Raiders were a team headed into the Tom Cable era without a true identity. That game-also in Oakland and the third preseason game-was a 45-7 shellacking at the hands of the eventual Super Bowl Champion Saints. The Raiders would win five games, none by more than four points. Preseason is usually a time to evaluate individual performances over team performance, but the first half of the third preseason game is the closest we will get to predicting how a team might play during the regular season. The coaches scheme a bit and the starters play at least a full half. Let's take a look at third preseason games over the past few years. 2007 first-half score Rams 3 @ Raiders 17. Rams would finish 3-13. The Raiders would finish 4-12 If it had been any other team besides the Rams, would the Raiders have even won? Both teams were terrible in 2007 and the fac...
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Michael Huff agreed to terms with the Raiders. Was Tyvon Branch not a fit at free safety or was it Michael Mitchell not ready to be the starter on the strong side? The Raiders 2010 secondary remains intact less Nnamdi Asomugha. The Raiders went 1-1 without Asomugha in 2010. The secondary should continue to be strong in 2011 with the additions of rookies Demarcus Van Dyke and Chimdi Chekwa at cornerback. Huff's versatility is perhaps his best trait as he can also help out at cornerback when needed. Next up, Zach Miller, but he must wait for Kamerion Wimbley to sign his long-term extension.
I asked Raider Nation to grade the draft picks on a scale of A to F. Love (A), Like (B), Wait (C), Hope D and Hate (F) were the options. Draft grades mean nothing, but what you, the fan, thinks of the draft actually does mean something. Fan grades are a reflection of how much confidence the fans have in the front office. So let's get to the grades... Stefen Wisniewski A - Love Grades: 38 B - Like Grades: 30 C - Wait Grades: 0 D - Hope Grades: 3 F - Hate Grades: 1 Overall GPA: .901 (A) Wisniewski receives a low A letter grade by the fans. His uncle's legacy in silver and black certainly had a lot to do with his reception, but the Raiders needed lineman badly also and this probably boosted his stock. Demarcus Van Dyke A - Love Grades: 2 B - Like Grades: 9 C - Wait Grades: 46 D - Hope Grades: 14 F - Hate Grades: 1 Overall GPA: .609 (D) Ouch, Demarcus Van Dyke receives a near failing grade from Raiders fans, but it is interesting to note that the vast majority voted to wait on Van ...