Jason Campbell
With Wednesday being the mandatory reporting date, it is time for the last pre-camp look at the Oakland Raiders. This is what can go wrong in camp.
The Raiders hope to be building off of a strong offseason workout program, and parlay that into the turnaround the team desperately needs. Yesterday, was a look at what the Raiders need to do right. Now, on the eve of it all beginning for real, its time to look at what can go wrong that would send the wheels spinning off resulting in yet another season of misery.
The worst thing for the team would be for the offensive line not to gel once the contact begins. Practicing putting their "hats" in the right place is one thing, but come this weekend, they will really have to block and manhandle the guy in front of them. That was an issue in 2009, and the moves along the line to acquire Bruce Campbell and Jared Veldheer are not expected to make immediate impacts. The other acquisition Daniel Looper is going to be competing with Cooper Carlisle for the starting right guard position, but is more likely a depth player. With Cable no longer being the de facto offensive coordinator as well as head coach, he is expected to spend more time with his old unit pushing the offensive linemen. If this unit fails, the team is doomed-period.
The attitude of winning the right way and a real esprit de corps has been an obvious change for the team. There isn't the malaise that has been hanging over the team like fog off the bay for the past several years. However, this is something that is new and improved with the Oakland Raiders. Locker-room chemistry has been little more than a whispered rumor in Alameda. However, it has manifested over the offseason, and is tenuous. Bringing in a player with an attitude problem could easily upset the tenuous balance. Another subplot along the lines of the Cable-Hanson bout last offseason would be another potential disaster. Right now, the Raiders are actually drama-free. However, if division start forming in the team, this positivity will once again fall by the wayside.
Nothing would be more disastrous for this team than a key player going down to injury in camp. The Raiders don't have a lot of depth at most positions, so if one of their front line guys go down, it is a recipe for disaster. Robert Gallery missed ten games due to injury in 2009 and the entire line suffered. Chaz Schilens broke his foot in camp, and his absence set the receiving corps back during the season. A key camp injury could easily derail the season before it has a chance to get going.
Comments
Let's just pray that there no serious injuries this camp!
It seems as if your articles are written to self promote past horribly written articles, as indicated by the numerous links to such sprinkled throughout your article(s). I suggest you find someone to proof read your articles, as there are numerous grammatical errors, thus decreasing the readers collective value in your opinions.
It is quite obvious an injury to a key player will cause problems for this team or most any team in this league. How about telling us about some of the lower tiered rookies that could possibly step up? What happened to the players such as Nixon that were on our practice squad last year? Please refrain from hashing over the same worn out cliches and drivel we all see every day on BSPN. I welcome you writing about something we don't know, as you insult our collective intelligence with old news.
Good article Patrick...just have to hope for the best,this I believe will be breakout year with the Russell virus removed from roster....Enjoy your insight Patrick...keep up the good work....Roll Tide and Go Raiders!!!
The Offensive line will be the key to our success this season. Cable has to make it his number 1 priority during training camp. Hopefully, if the line isn't gelling early into camp, the Raiders will make a trade for a quality lineman, like a Jared Gaither of the Ravens...
Geez, Daniel Looper must be fairly worthless if he can't beat out a 70 year old man to start at right gaurd. Spartacus is right. It would do us well to trade for one more solid lineman.
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