Spayer419
Starter
2017 was a historic season for the Raiders. Playing their first season in Los Angeles the Silver & Black dominated the AFC en route to a 14-2 regular season finish. From their, the Raiders made easy work of a pair of backup QBs in the playoffs, and then dispatched the Max Jeter-led and 18-0 Chicago Bears for a victory in Super Bowl LII.
The Raiders were led by a young core: A fourth-year QB, third-year WR, second-year WR, second-year TE and the rookie of the year at running back. With so much talent returning, there is reason to believe that we could have a dynasty on our hands in Hollywood.
Off-season Recap
The Raiders philosophy for team building has been consistent throughout the course of this file: youth through the draft and inexpensive/undervalued vets through free agency. That strategy has paid dividends so far. The Raiders 2016 draft class was arguably the best the league has seen up to this point, with Evonte Patrick, Denolious Hatcher and Brenden Rucker blossoming into stars at their positions. On the flip side, veterans such as Haloti Ngata and Victor Cruz helped glue the team together en route to a Lombardi Trophy.
With Cruz and Ngata departing the Raiders employed a similar strategy, signing Julian Edelman to be Carr's new slot man. Edelman was not valued by most due to his lack of speed, but if there's on thing the Raiders don't lack on the perimeter it's speed with Evonte Patrick and Amari Cooper. Ray Malaluga enters as the new starting MLB, and Timmy Jernigan was a steal as a hybrid DE/DT to fit the Raider's new scheme.
In the draft the Raiders mostly whiffed, especially considering they traded their first round pick for Joe Haden a season ago. Considering that Haden had a pick-six to break the AFC Championship game open, and then sealed the Super Bowl with an interception on Chicago's last drive, the trade worked out well for LA. And in the second round the Raiders selected a new starting Left Tackle in Josh Hunter.
A Change in Scheme
Defensively the Raiders had an up and down season in 2017. Pass coverage was hit or miss, but it did come together down the stretch as Haden, Buchannon and Nelson gelled as new teammates. Aldon Smith led the league in sacks, and teams seldom had success running the ball against the Raiders front. Rookie Shontrelle Gordon developed spectacularly, and is now on of the bright young stars at the position today.
With that said, LA is not going to rest on its laurels. Realizing the immense amount of versatility that players such as Gordon, Mack and Smith bring to the table. Initially the Raiders flirted with the idea of switching to a Hybrid defense to stand Mack up in the 3-4. But after reviewing options in the preseason, the coaching staff decided to stick with a 4-3 while still dropping Mack in coverage by bringing unique blitzes to confuse offenses. The decision paid dividends in the 40-7 romp of San Diego in LA's opener, in which the Chargers offense could barely gain a first down.
Offensively expect to see much of the same from a unit that topped the league in 2017. Derek Carr should be a legitimate MVP candidate again, with the best stable of weapons in the league surrounding him. Amari Cooper looks to bounce back from an average 2017 campaign in which he missed 7 games, while Patrick and Hatcher strive to blossom in their third years. The big question is how Lunior Haynes will respond in his sophomore season after winning Rookie of the Year honors. After spending time running routes in the offseason, he could be a much bigger factor in the throw game this year.
Schedule
Chargers Glen Cieske
Broncos Imperfect611
at Steelers
Cardinals Jbek
Ravens pack1797
at Broncos Imperfect611
Browns BigTexas18
at Titans georgiafan
at Chiefs
Seahawks
at Chargers Glen Cieske
at Bengals Danperez
Bills Xxclaywilliamxx
at Rams NightHawkTH32
Chiefs
at 49ers
To put it frankly, the Raiders schedule is absolutely brutal.
The AFC West is arguably the toughest division in football. No team has given the Raiders more problems than the Chargers, and as always the two rivals will meet twice - including a week 1 tilt to kick the season off in prime time. The Broncos are also a team on the rise. Imperfect gave me a ton of trouble in our OT battle last year, and in my mind he had the best draft of anyone last Sunday.
If not the West, the AFC North is right there in consideration for toughest division, and the Raiders draw that entire division in 2018. The Raiders and Browns played twice last year, and BigTexas18 is a savvy user capable of beating anyone. That roster now aligns with his skill level.
In the NFC, the NFC West consistently sends 2 teams to the playoffs - so you could see a potential Super Bowl matchup multiple times when the Raiders play that division. The game to highlight is the week 4 showdown with Arizona. No one knows my play style better than Jbek, and this is a rivalry 24 years (and 50+ NCAA online dynasty seasons) in the making.
The two "random" draws from the AFC don't seem random at all, given that the Raiders will be playing the #2 and #3 teams from the AFC in Tennessee and Buffalo. The Bills will be in the mood for revenge, after losing in the regular season on a last-second field goal, and then getting pounded by the Raiders 40-13 in the AFC Championship Game.
All things considered, if the Raiders can go 11-5 we'll be happy (4-2 vs AFC West, 3-1 vs NFC West, 3-1 vs AFC North, 1-1 vs Bills/Titans). That probably won't be enough for a division crown. But get in the playoffs, and LA will still be a favorite to win it all.
The Raiders were led by a young core: A fourth-year QB, third-year WR, second-year WR, second-year TE and the rookie of the year at running back. With so much talent returning, there is reason to believe that we could have a dynasty on our hands in Hollywood.
Off-season Recap
The Raiders philosophy for team building has been consistent throughout the course of this file: youth through the draft and inexpensive/undervalued vets through free agency. That strategy has paid dividends so far. The Raiders 2016 draft class was arguably the best the league has seen up to this point, with Evonte Patrick, Denolious Hatcher and Brenden Rucker blossoming into stars at their positions. On the flip side, veterans such as Haloti Ngata and Victor Cruz helped glue the team together en route to a Lombardi Trophy.
With Cruz and Ngata departing the Raiders employed a similar strategy, signing Julian Edelman to be Carr's new slot man. Edelman was not valued by most due to his lack of speed, but if there's on thing the Raiders don't lack on the perimeter it's speed with Evonte Patrick and Amari Cooper. Ray Malaluga enters as the new starting MLB, and Timmy Jernigan was a steal as a hybrid DE/DT to fit the Raider's new scheme.
In the draft the Raiders mostly whiffed, especially considering they traded their first round pick for Joe Haden a season ago. Considering that Haden had a pick-six to break the AFC Championship game open, and then sealed the Super Bowl with an interception on Chicago's last drive, the trade worked out well for LA. And in the second round the Raiders selected a new starting Left Tackle in Josh Hunter.
A Change in Scheme
Defensively the Raiders had an up and down season in 2017. Pass coverage was hit or miss, but it did come together down the stretch as Haden, Buchannon and Nelson gelled as new teammates. Aldon Smith led the league in sacks, and teams seldom had success running the ball against the Raiders front. Rookie Shontrelle Gordon developed spectacularly, and is now on of the bright young stars at the position today.
With that said, LA is not going to rest on its laurels. Realizing the immense amount of versatility that players such as Gordon, Mack and Smith bring to the table. Initially the Raiders flirted with the idea of switching to a Hybrid defense to stand Mack up in the 3-4. But after reviewing options in the preseason, the coaching staff decided to stick with a 4-3 while still dropping Mack in coverage by bringing unique blitzes to confuse offenses. The decision paid dividends in the 40-7 romp of San Diego in LA's opener, in which the Chargers offense could barely gain a first down.
Offensively expect to see much of the same from a unit that topped the league in 2017. Derek Carr should be a legitimate MVP candidate again, with the best stable of weapons in the league surrounding him. Amari Cooper looks to bounce back from an average 2017 campaign in which he missed 7 games, while Patrick and Hatcher strive to blossom in their third years. The big question is how Lunior Haynes will respond in his sophomore season after winning Rookie of the Year honors. After spending time running routes in the offseason, he could be a much bigger factor in the throw game this year.
Schedule
Chargers Glen Cieske
Broncos Imperfect611
at Steelers
Cardinals Jbek
Ravens pack1797
at Broncos Imperfect611
Browns BigTexas18
at Titans georgiafan
at Chiefs
Seahawks
at Chargers Glen Cieske
at Bengals Danperez
Bills Xxclaywilliamxx
at Rams NightHawkTH32
Chiefs
at 49ers
To put it frankly, the Raiders schedule is absolutely brutal.
The AFC West is arguably the toughest division in football. No team has given the Raiders more problems than the Chargers, and as always the two rivals will meet twice - including a week 1 tilt to kick the season off in prime time. The Broncos are also a team on the rise. Imperfect gave me a ton of trouble in our OT battle last year, and in my mind he had the best draft of anyone last Sunday.
If not the West, the AFC North is right there in consideration for toughest division, and the Raiders draw that entire division in 2018. The Raiders and Browns played twice last year, and BigTexas18 is a savvy user capable of beating anyone. That roster now aligns with his skill level.
In the NFC, the NFC West consistently sends 2 teams to the playoffs - so you could see a potential Super Bowl matchup multiple times when the Raiders play that division. The game to highlight is the week 4 showdown with Arizona. No one knows my play style better than Jbek, and this is a rivalry 24 years (and 50+ NCAA online dynasty seasons) in the making.
The two "random" draws from the AFC don't seem random at all, given that the Raiders will be playing the #2 and #3 teams from the AFC in Tennessee and Buffalo. The Bills will be in the mood for revenge, after losing in the regular season on a last-second field goal, and then getting pounded by the Raiders 40-13 in the AFC Championship Game.
All things considered, if the Raiders can go 11-5 we'll be happy (4-2 vs AFC West, 3-1 vs NFC West, 3-1 vs AFC North, 1-1 vs Bills/Titans). That probably won't be enough for a division crown. But get in the playoffs, and LA will still be a favorite to win it all.