Raiders Hold On to Snap Road Game Losing Streak vs. Browns

Welcome in to the full recap of the Raiders' week 3 away matchup vs. the Cleveland Browns where the Raiders finally get that elusive road win on an early 10 AM start as they beat the Browns 27-20 behind Derek Carr's 2 touchdown performance and Charles Woodson's clutch INT in winding seconds of the 4th quarter to seal the game.

This is the feeling I got used to as a Raider fan. The Raiders are on the road, they're dominating the Browns in convincing fashion early on. The 2nd half rolls around, the Browns start to rally. I'm building up anxiety because they still had a chance to blow this game. And trust me Raider Nation, we've seen a lot of these games and we know the feeling of this team blowing a game on the road when they were playing so well all game long. But that was not the case today, the Raiders finally manage to win a road game in a long, long time, especially winning at a 10:00 AM start here on the West Coast.

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Derek Carr, 20 of 32 passes, 314 yards, 2 TDs. "Derek Carr is not the answer." "Derek Carr, all he does is check down." "His yards per average is terrible." "Derek Carr only posts great numbers during garbage time." Yes, he had a terrible preseason. Yes, he had a terrible home opener. But since that lost to the Bengals, Derek Carr has turned it on. He now has two games with 300+ passing yards and multiple TDs under his belt this season. Carr had another efficient game and handled the hostile Cleveland crowd like it was nothing. A lot of people questioned if he can repeat his performance from the Baltimore game, and he was poised, calm, and collected when commanding the huddle this game. The sky is the limit for Carr with the weapons and the running game he has at his disposal as the season goes forward.

Amari Cooper, 8 receptions, 134 yards. Cooper will encounter growing pains as a rookie with that fumble during the latter stages of the 4th quarter. But we can't let that mar how he performed this game, especially being shadowed by a good corner like Joe Haden. Let's admit, he straight up abused Joe Haden and the Browns' secondary on the first few passing plays that the Raiders started off with on their first drive. Cooper did to Haden like he did to Patrick Peterson in the third preseason game and the Browns' pass defense couldn't find a way to contain him. Despite the fumble, he'll learn from those mistakes, but Cooper played an outstanding game.

Latavius Murray, 26 carries, 139 yards, 1 TD. Tay Train, good job fielding together a solid game, but since I'm facing an opponent who has you starting in Fantasy, I'm going to be a little bitter about this post. The running game just couldn't get anything going from the start. But when the Browns couldn't stop the passing game of the Raiders, that opened up some plays for the running game. Murray was able to exploit some good solid holes up the middle against the Browns' run defense. This was a game Latavius Murray needed because he struggled the first few games and a lot of it had to do with the O-line. But since the Raiders' passing game was flying on all cylinders, that opened up some opportunity and kept the Browns' defense honest.

Sack party. The Raiders finally got some sacks after getting close to putting the QB on the ground. Khalil Mack had 2 sacks, Malcolm Smith, Ray-Ray Armstrong, and Neiron Ball each had 1 sack. The Raiders are going to need a whole lot of those. Maybe the Browns need to remember to never put their man on an island against Mack, but then again, the Browns' O-line had Aldon Smith and Justin Tuck to account for as well. But one sack that stood up was Neiron Ball's first career sack because that proved to be a huge one in the final seconds in 4th quarter and set up this next post.

Charles Woodson, 5 tackles, 1 INT. Man it was tough to see C-Wood continue to play with that injured shoulder he sustained during the Cincinnati game, but how he continues to play with that injury exemplifies his will to win. This is a young Raiders team that was on its heels on defense in the final seconds of the 4th quarter. Neiron Ball's sack was big, but C-Wood's 61st career INT was even bigger. The secondary was playing bad down the stretch and someone with veteran leadership had to step up. How fitting it was that C-Wood was the one who got in front of that last Josh McCown pass to seal it. That's what veterans do and Woodson has been closing out these kinds of games for a long time. He's just unbelievable.

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Pass defense. The secondary is bad, we already know that heading into the season. This game should've ended 27-3 if the Raiders had a better secondary. It's those quick passes that the Browns were executing on, especially on that 4th down play. Once again, the Raiders made an unknown tight end look like a Rob Gronkowski as they couldn't contain Gary Barnidge and they allowed some big plays down the stretch for the Browns when they were pinned down on their own 2 yard line. Coverage outside and down the middle in the pass, they are going to be on the improvement list unless Jack Del Rio and Ken Norton, Jr. can get it fix before the season is over.

Conclusion

Even though people will say that "hey it's the Cleveland Browns." They are a good football team and much like the Raiders, they just have a little more pieces to become a relevant team in the AFC North and they are beatable. But much like the Baltimore win, this win is a "feel good" moment for the Raiders because the monkey is off their backs. The road curse is over. Now with this win, the Raiders should feel more confident than ever that they can win anywhere. They get another favorable matchup on the road against "Da Bears" in Chicago with Jay Cutler out with a hamstring injury and injuries to their star receiver, Alshon Jeffery. A 3-1 start before going back home to face Peyton Manning and the Broncos? Why not? I'll see you guys next week for the Bears game.

Week 3: RAIDERS @ Cleveland Browns Q-by-Q Reaction

Q4:

OAK 27 CLE 20

I feel like I was going to have a heart attack during this quarter. But, I said it at halftime, the Raiders were known in the past to blow big leads, especially on the road. It almost happened as they shot themselves in the foot with that Amari Cooper fumble to put the Browns back within one TD. The defense clamped down on that final drive, but Charles Woodson stepped it up with the big INT. Bad shoulder at all, to come up with a clutch play like that. He's amazing. What a game! Stay tuned for the full recap.

Q3:

OAK 20 CLE 10

If only the Raiders made that stop on 4th down. That TD got the Browns back in the game, but what do they have to lose since they're down by two scores? But great response by Derek Carr and the offense after Josh McCown's long drive. He hits Marcel Reece for a catch and run and the Raiders are knocking on the Browns' end zone again. They just gotta close out now.

Q2:

OAK 17 CLE 3 

Good momentum heading into the 2nd half. Latavius Murray got the running game going, Derek Carr throws two TDs to Andre Holmes and Seth Roberts, the defense makes a goal line stand. Special teams almost forced a fumble, but it was ruled down by contact. Yes, the Raiders are indeed taking the win last week against Baltimore and they are building that confidence up. Onto the halftime report.

Q1:

OAK 3 CLE 0 

I was going to lose it if Ray-Ray Armstrong missed that tackle to end the quarter. It's a pretty solid opening for both the offense and defense. Carr was connecting to Cooper all quarter long and that matchup between Cooper and Haden? So far, Cooper is getting that edge. The passing game is sharp, but the running game needs to really get going. They tried it with a run off the edge by Murray that was called back, but ever since, they've gotten nothing. It's the only thing that's keeping the offense from firing on all cylinders.

RAIDERS-Browns Halftime Post

OAK 17 CLE 3

Welcome in to the halftime post of the Raiders' first road game vs. the Cleveland Browns in a Week 3 matchup where the Raiders have the momentum, leading 17-3 heading into the 2nd half.

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Amari Cooper, 4 receptions, 103 yards. It was a hot topic of debate heading into this game with how Joe Haden is going to shadow Amari Cooper like it was the heavy weight fight of the century. And so far, Cooper is dominating the battle against Haden. His route running ability dating back to his Alabama days is on another level. He may not be getting the TDs, but he made one of the best corners in the game look foolish during the first half.

Derek Carr, 12 of 21 passes, 201 yards, 2 TDs. Carr is for real. After throwing 3 TDs, 300+ passing yards against Baltimore, Carr is showing that consistency. There were a lot of questions surrounding if Carr can be consistent after the Baltimore game and after that showing in the first half, he's answering that question. He fielded a good solid drive at the start, took advantage of a roughing the kicker penalty by throwing a TD to Holmes, and using the hurry-up that Bill Musgrave imported from Philly, able to tack on more points by throwing a TD to Roberts.

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Covering Tight Ends. With the exception of Tyler Eifert, the Raiders' defense made Crockett Gilmore look good last week and now they're making Gary Barnidge look good. Who? So far, the defense have done a good job containing the run, keeping the Browns' receivers in check, and putting pressure on McCown, but honestly the defense needs to stop making these unknown Tight Ends look like the next coming of Rob Gronkowski. It's getting ridiculous out there.

Bottom Line

The Raiders build a good cushion for themselves. That's a good start in the first half. The only problem is that the Raiders have had a tough time closing out games when they build up a lead like this in the past, especially on the road. As a team lead by Jack Del Rio, they cannot look onto that fact and they must continue to stay aggressive on the playcalling on both offense and defense. Let's see what happens.

Lakers Bring Back Metta World Peace

Alright Laker Nation, it's been a while since I've posted anything Laker related on this blog with the NFL and the Oakland Raiders' 2015 season in full swing. Today, the Lakers bring back "The Enforcer," a key contributor to the Lakers' championship run during the 2009-10 season, and the man who is famous for this NBA Finals Game 7 post game press conference for the ages...

That is, was, and always will be a timeless post game press conference in my heart and this is coming from my bias as a Laker fan. So the Lakers sign Metta World Peace to a one year nonguaranteed deal according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. If I can interpret that, that means he's still likely to be waived off during or after the Lakers' training camp practices and preseason games as they trim their roster down to 15. So what are my thoughts on this signing? Clearly, MWP was voluntarily involved with the Lakers' workouts in the offseason, particularly training with 2nd year player, Julius Randle. I think that was the big hint that MWP could have a shot at returning to the purple and gold. This was a rumor that has been happening last month. It was pretty surprising that it took that long since Metta worked out in the facility and there was mutual interest from the Lakers to bring him back last month. Metta brings the Lakers a tough, defensive-minded veteran presence. Clearly, he's not 2010 Artest, he's not going to shut down the elite and athletic small forwards who are in their absolute primes right now, and he's definitely not going to elbow James Harden on the head again. He brings veteran presence on the defensive side of the ball for the Lakers. Not to mention, the Lakers have a gaping hole at small forward. Kobe Bryant at the twilight of his career and an erratic Nick Young are not going to fill the void at SF. So at least World Peace provides a short-term solution, but clearly Byron Scott and the Lakers are going to plug and play around with the SF position. As the old saying goes, once a Laker, always a Laker. Welcome back MWP!

Derek Carr's Game Winning TD Lifts Raiders Past Ravens in Thriller

Welcome in to the full recap of the Raiders' week 2 matchup vs. the Baltimore Ravens where the Raiders get the win behind a game winning drive by Derek Carr as they beat the Ravens 33-37 in a classic thriller.

First off, what a game. Last week vs. the Bengals was at an all-time low, an embarrassment in front of the home crowd. I said during that full recap, the Raiders can't afford to fall to 0-2, especially since they started the season with two home games. This week, they fielded a completely new product at home, competing relentlessly against a very good football team and a perennial playoff contender in the AFC North. The Ravens may not be without Terrell Suggs, but they are still good. It wasn't pretty, it wasn't perfect. At the end of the day though, it's better to win ugly than to lose pretty and the Raiders got that W.

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Derek Carr, 30 of 46 passing, 351 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT. Throwing hand injury? What throwing hand injury? All kidding aside, Derek Carr's game today was a tale of three categories. He was doing well for the most part, fielding together solid drives. He tossed two TD passes to both Cooper and Crabtree. It was going great, then Carr throws an INT. I thought that was going to be the game sealer and the Ravens were going to win. But Carr redeemed on that game winning TD to Seth Roberts. Yes, I am aware of the Carr haters out there and I like both Carr and McGloin, but people tend to forget about his competitive nature, toughness, and leadership in that huddle. He was taking a lot of hits from the Ravens defense and he was more composed in this game than the opener vs. the Bengals. Even with that costly INT, Carr continued to play and he racked up his 2nd game winning drive in his career.

Amari Cooper, 7 receptions, 109 yards, 1 TD. It was a rough debut for Cooper last week and at the start of this game it looked like it was going to be another rough week for Coop. He was struggling to hold on to the football and failing to make the catch before he runs off to rack up yardage. But he redeemed big time on a 68 yard bomb by Carr. I said to myself: "that's the Amari Cooper I wanted the Raiders to draft when I watched him in Alabama." I said in the halftime post that Cooper is going to go over 100 yards with the way he was playing. Because after that TD, he was starting to catch those balls and he played an excellent game.

Michael Crabtree, 9 receptions, 111 yards, 1 TD. Crabtree definitely turned back the clock this game. He looked like the Crabtree in 2012 with the 49ers, making a lot of key catches to move the chains for the Raiders. He didn't have a good preseason nor did he have a good game during the opener, but Crabtree definitely displayed those "excellent hands" as Jim Harbaugh used to say. Speaking of which, when was the last time we had a pair of receivers go over 100 yards receiving? It feels like a million years. Back on the subject, Crabtree came up big during critical moments.

Seth Roberts, 1 reception, 12 yards, 1 TD. Seth Roberts worked hard to get on this 53 man roster. He had a rough outing vs. Cincinnati, dropping some catchable balls and a lot of people were already calling for his head. To catch the game winning TD this game, it has got to be a feel good story for the undrafted rookie. I'm sure he'll remember this for the rest of his career. Even though he didn't do much, Roberts pulled a Malcolm Butler, even though this game wasn't Super Bowl XLIX and he won it.

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Defense. I guess you can say this is the only negative this game. The defense has just got to get better. They get an exception last week because they were on the field too long and the D-line couldn't generate any pass rush. This game, the whole defense was just plain terrible. They're still having trouble covering tight ends, the secondary is still terrible at covering the wide receivers, and not a single sack on Joe Flacco all game long. Ken Norton, Jr., I understand it's his first year calling plays, but this should demonstrate right now that the defensive philosophy he's bringing from Seattle is not working since the secondary is just garbage. He's gotta be more creative and blitz more since the D-line can't create havoc in the pocket by itself. I'm not saying get rid of the scheme and start over, but modify it a little to the defensive personnel on the roster.

Conclusion

Overall, as an NFL fan, this was a treat to watch. Many of them would be like: "oh it's the Raiders, they'll get blown out." However, this was not the same Raiders team that was displayed vs. the Bengals last week. It was one heck of a game and the Raiders fought tooth and nail to get the W against a good Ravens team. This win should be treated as a momentum builder from here on out. Next game, the Raiders go on the road to Cleveland to face off against the Browns. One of the problems the Raiders have is that after a win, they don't build consistency and lose the next game. Not to mention, they were win-less on the road last season and have yet to win on the road with Carr at the helm. The Browns may have had the Raiders' number last year, but they are still beatable. I'll see you guys next week for the Browns game.

Week 2: RAIDERS vs. Baltimore Ravens Q-by-Q Reaction

Q4:

BAL 33 OAK 37

Oh my goodness, what an emotional roller coaster this quarter was. When Derek Carr threw that INT to Will Hill, I thought that was the game. The Ravens got the lead and it looked there was no chance the Raiders are going to drive and score. But, divine intervention exists! The Ravens gift wrapped two costly penalties and the Raiders score on the game winning TD from Carr to Seth Roberts, great redemption from the undrafted rookie after a tough debut last week and Neiko Thorpe sealed the deal with the INT in the final seconds. I'm going to catch my breath first, stay tuned for the full recap.

Q3:

BAL 20 OAK 30

Wow, our defense is sustaining a lot of injuries right now. Khalil Mack possibly has a groin issue, but it looked like he's alright for a couple of plays. D.J. Hayden went down, Justin Tuck went down temporarily. On the flip side, Carr and the offense are continually fielding solid drives. 1st drive stalled, had to settle for a Sebass field goal then the 2nd drive, Carr passed to Crabtree for a TD. The defense was a little better this quarter and the offense continues to be solid right now.

Q2:

BAL 20 OAK 20

The defense out there is struggling hard. No pass rush, can barely stop the Ravens, especially on 3rd and long and penalties are costing some stops here and there. Raiders offense is holding its own out there for the most part, fielding together some solid drives, two of them went for touchdowns. The Ravens managed to respond to tie it up at the end. Both teams are struggling defensively, but the Raiders' defense is coping that struggle more. Onto the halftime report.

Q1:

BAL 10 OAK 10

Well looks like that fast start evaporated quickly. It was a better start for the game as Carr connected to Amari Cooper for Cooper's first NFL TD. AC/DC was in full force for that play, then a forced fumble by Curtis Lofton, but the Raiders had to settle for three to go up 0-10. As this quarter rolled on, the pace started to swing in the Ravens' favor and they managed to tie it up before time expired. It's going to be another long game.

RAIDERS-Ravens Halftime Post

BAL 20 OAK 20

Welcome in to the halftime post of the Raiders' week 2 matchup vs. the Baltimore Ravens where it is all tied up at 20.

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Amari Cooper, 5 receptions, 95 yards, 1 TD. Congratulations to Amari Cooper for scoring his first TD in the NFL. He struggled with a couple drops early on, but that 68 yard pass from Carr is just what he needed. After that TD, Cooper hasn't dropped the ball since if I can recall and he is close to recording 100 yards reception. He should be able to tally that up by the end of this game because he's playing great for the most part.

Derek Carr, 16 of 28 passes, 228 yards, 1 TD. That aforementioned Cooper  TD wouldn't be possible without Derek Carr's 68 yard bomb. There were a lot of questions regarding Carr's throwing hand injury and so far, that has not affected his game. To say the least, Carr is okay and he is fielding a solid game with both teams struggling to stop anything.

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Defense. Aside from the forced fumble in the early first quarter, the defense is getting burnt like toast and injuries to that secondary are really showing. Charles Woodson is struggling to make tackles with that injured shoulder. However, the lack of a pass rush is the reason why this defense is struggling. Mack and Aldon Smith couldn't get their hands on Joe Flacco. And another negative, they can't get off the field on third down. 3rd and 15 at the winding seconds of the 2nd quarter, they couldn't stop Justin Forsett. It's not just that play, it's been happening all game.

Bottom Line

Bill Musgrave has adjusted his game plan on offense and the offense can't ask for a better start. It's a complete polar opposite to what was displayed last week against the Bengals. So for the offense, more aggressive plays, less conservative plays. Ken Norton, Jr. on the defensive side. News flash, you are not in Seattle anymore. A little blitzing would be nice since this Ravens O-line knows to double on Mack and Smith. If the Raiders are going to win this game, the defense has to step it up a notch. Let's see what happens.

Raiders Start on the Wrong Foot vs. Bengals

Welcome in to the full recap of the Raiders' home opener and regular season opener vs. the Cincinnati Bengals where the Raiders couldn't get anything going until garbage time as they get hammered by the Bengals 33-13.

Well Raider Nation, we've been on this road before. A lot of optimism during the offseason and once the Raiders hit the 1st game of the season, the optimism just fades out immediately. We expected AC/DC to light it up, Murray putting up big numbers on the ground, Mack and Aldon Smith slamming Andy Dalton to the dirt. None of those happened and to make matters worse, injuries piled on to the mess. Carr leaves in the 2nd quarter with a hand injury, Justin Ellis got injured, and most of the secondary got injured: Nate Allen, D.J. Hayden (though he was fine and able to play the whole game), and C-Wood at the end got shaken up. The domino effect was in full force from a negative standpoint.

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Marcel Reece, 3 receptions, 26 yards, 2 TDs. We can thank Reece for preventing a Bengals shutout. Although Matt McGloin was responsible for delivering those on-point throws to him, McGloin didn't have that great of a game with the 1st team offense and the offense as a whole was terrible all game long. Though both of his scores were in garbage time, Reece eased my depression from this game a little bit.

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Offense. Leave it to our offense to let the defense hang around and gas out. I thought the opening drive on the game for the offense, it set the tone that this game was going to be a long game. A couple of overthrows by Carr, waste of downs. I understand that Musgrave wanted to tune up some AC/DC early on by getting Cooper involved, but stick to your principle man and go by your principle of running the ball first. Penalties from the O-line also negated some big plays. Cooper and Olawale had big gains and Rodney Hudson and Austin Howard committed some penalties after the play or before the play to negate some positive yardage. The whole offensive game plan was terrible and Carr's injury added more insult to injury. Hopefully it's not anything serious in regards to Carr's hand. As much as I equally like McGloin as I like Carr, it'll put the offense back at square one since McGloin didn't take too many first team reps.

D-line pressure. Raiders got Aldon Smith, Khalil Mack, and Justin Tuck and they have Justin Ellis and Dan Williams to eat up some space inside, Andy Dalton's gonna be rattled right? Well, the hype of that lineup died down. They couldn't get any pressure on Dalton all game long. They batted down some balls, but look at the whole stat line for the defense, especially on the d-line, 0 sacks. Also doesn't help that Ellis walked out with an injury and the defense was gassed all game long since the offense couldn't extend drives. That left the secondary hanging and they got toasted big time because the D-line couldn't get in Andy Dalton's face.

Conclusion

Like I said at the end of the 4th quarter reaction, the Raiders have a lot to work on. It's understandable that it's a new coaching staff, there are new players, and there are new systems installed on both offense and defense. However, if I'm Jack Del Rio, I'm not happy with the way the season started. I laid out goals that I want to bring the Raiders back to greatness and win the division, but to start off the season like this in front of the home crowd is unacceptable. The Raiders get another shot at home next week taking on the Ravens and it's going to be essential that the Raiders don't start 0-2, especially since they opened up with two home games this season. However as history shows, the Ravens have had the Raiders' number in head-to-head meetings. It's going to be another tall task, but 0-2, with both losses on your own home field is not an option otherwise it'll be another long season of futility. I'll see you guys next week for the Ravens game.

Week 1: Home Opener RAIDERS vs. Cincinnati Bengals Q-by-Q Reaction

Q4:

CIN 33 OAK 13

Well, at least some points were put on the board, preventing a shutout. But honestly, this is something the Raiders have got to work on. The offense was out of sync the whole game until McGloin found Marcel Reece twice in the end zone, the defense was gassed out, and even with Aldon Smith in the lineup, the defense couldn't put Andy Dalton on the ground all game long. Horrible start to the season, there's a lot of things that need to be worked on. Stay tuned for the full recap.

Q3:

CIN 33 OAK 0

Q2:

CIN 24 OAK 0

You can't ask for a more deflating start. There are no words for the first half. To make matters worse, the injury bug is starting to bite for the Raiders: Nate Allen, out, Justin Ellis, out, and then Derek Carr injured his hand while running for the first down marker. The Bengals are making it look easy and Hue Jackson must be grinning on the sidelines that he is sticking it up on Reggie McKenzie from three years ago so far. Onto the halftime report.

Q1:

CIN 7 OAK 0

That was an ugly start in the 1st quarter. The offense going a quick 3 and out and the defense allowing a Jeremy Hill TD (thanks Ray-Ray). However, things are starting to slow down a little and a great way to end the 1st quarter? A catch and run from Amari Cooper from a Derek Carr pass. AC/DC started the fuse, but things were a little chippy as both teams committed some unsportsmanlike penalties.

RAIDERS-Bengals Halftime Post

CIN 24 OAK 0

Welcome in to the halftime post of Raiders' first game of the 2015 season vs. the Cincinnati Bengals where the Bengals are dominating the Raiders right now, pitching a 24-0 shut out in the first half.

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None. What was there to talk about?

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Offense. Awful start. A quick three and out to start the game, Carr overthrowing Cooper, Crabtree, and several other receivers. Carr goes out, McGloin comes in, but the offense is just discombobulated. Not much going on and the game plan the Bill Musgrave came up to start is terrible. It's not working! Where's the no huddle? C'mon Musgrave! It's inexcusable with all the weapons the Raiders have, they can't even drive downfield and put some points on the board.

Ray-Ray Armstrong. It's been a given that Ray-Ray is not a fan-favorite. On the Bengal's 1st opening drive, they went for it on the 4th down and Ray-Ray couldn't seal the edge and couldn't even tackle Jeremy Hill. Due to that missed tackle, Hill beats Heeney and walks in. He hasn't been good in the preseason and on the first game alone, he should on notice because once Aldon Smith masters the playbook, Ray-Ray should be demoted immediately.

Penalties. The O-line and their penalties had a lot to do with the awful start on the offense. Rodney Hudson gets called for an unsportsmanlike conduct, cost some field position after Cooper made one heck of a catch and run. Austin Howard gets called with a hold and an unsportsmanlike conduct to negate a big run by Jamize Olawale. This is the same Raiders we've looking at for the last 12-13 years, costing the offense some big plays due to some penalties.

Bottom Line

The team honestly needs a reboot in the 2nd half. The game plan didn't work as they planned it, the Raiders just need to start over, get something positive going to overcome this embarrassing start, especially the offense. And to do that, they have to do it without their primary quarterback and hopefully Matt McGloin gets some long throws going since he's a risk taker. Let's see what happens.

Raiders Sign Aldon Smith

So as I was getting up from bed and about to do my morning routine before finishing up and posting my regular season preview for the 2015 Raiders, I checked on my phone and my notifications blew up with the news that the Raiders have signed Aldon Smith to a one year deal. Bleacher Report confirmed it, Yahoo! Sports confirmed it, then NFL.com and ESPN broke the story and my first impression was "wow, holy *expletive!*" Even though it was this late in the free agency/waiver period, I never thought that Reggie McKenzie would take a chance at a guy with multiple red flags. This is a type of move I never saw coming and it felt like Al Davis' ghost possessed Reggie McKenzie for a day and triggered this move.

On official word, the Raiders have signed have signed Aldon Smith to a one year contract worth $8 million according to Levi Damien of Silver and Black Pride. He reportedly received offers for more money, but he turned them down and wanted to stay in the Bay Area. And how amusing that a few minutes after Aldon Smith signed with the Raiders, the Santa Clara DA charged him with three misdemeanors on hit-and-run, DUI, and vandalism he committed back in August. Will the NFL suspend him immediately? I don't know, but I've heard that it'll take a year for the court to sort this out and he could face suspension next season rather than now.

This is a big if. If Jack Del Rio and Ken Norton, Jr. can get Aldon Smith to overcome his off-field troubles and focus on football, this signing changes the dimension of how this defense is portrayed. Because teams are going to have big trouble to try and contain Khalil Mack. If opposing offenses dare to double or triple team Mack, it leaves Aldon Smith open for opportunities to sack the quarterback. So, basically this signing means the Raiders got help for Khalil Mack for cheap! Again however, the key here is that Aldon Smith needs to stay out of trouble and if he can keep himself clean, somebody arrest Reggie McKenzie because he just committed a highway robbery with this signing. Even though it's a one year deal and considering there will be distracting headlines from the media in regards to the off-field troubles and the charges pending in court, the idea of having Mack, Tuck, Edwards, Jr., Dan Williams, Justin "Jelly" Ellis, and now Aldon Smith on that front seven, this Raiders defense is going to cause a lot of havoc to every offensive line that stands in their way.

2015 Oakland Raiders Regular Season Preview: A More Competitive Team?

Welcome in to the regular season preview for the 2015 Oakland Raiders presented by yours truly. The NFL season is upon us once again and it kicked off last night with the Steelers-Patriots and Sunday is fast approaching. Unlike previous previews in this blog, this preview will be divided into sections into what I think are going to be important plotlines to look out for as the Raiders embark on a new season. Followed by the headlines will be the typical schedule breakdown and my final thoughts to where this team will end up by season's end. Let's get right down to business.

Jack Del Rio - The New Sheriff in Town

For the time being, Jack Del Rio is possibly the best thing to happen for the Oakland Raiders since Jon Gruden was hired. The experiment with Dennis Allen failed big time and Reggie McKenzie received big time criticism for the hire. Reggie McKenzie got another shot to find "his guy" and that next guy was ex-Jacksonville Jaguars Head Coach and Denver Broncos Defensive Coordinator, Jack Del Rio. If you compare the hirings of Del Rio and Dennis Allen, there is a huge difference. Del Rio brings instant credibility and respectability that Dennis Allen would never achieve. From his press conference, Jack Del Rio had one goal in mind: to bring the Raiders back to greatness. He's made his mark on this team already. He already cut a fan favorite in Sio Moore and used it as a message that basically there are no givens on this team, players have to work hard to earn what they want. Del Rio has assembled the best coaching staff he could get and he assembled the best strength and conditioning staff that'll keep these players conditioned and free from multiple injuries. If you go down the list of this coaching staff: Mike Tice, Ken Norton, Jr., Jethro Franklin, Bill Musgrave, Brad Seely, etc. This staff is probably the best coaching staff the Raiders had in a long time on paper because some of them are the best at what they do, while others coached at other winning programs at least for one season or more.

Carr, Cooper, Murray, and Others = Potential High-Powered Offense?

Christmas came early for Derek Carr. With the emergence of Latavius Murray last season and the addition of Amari Cooper to create the exciting duo of the future in AC/DC, the Raiders have a potential to be a high-powered offense. I'm not saying they're going to be "The Greatest Show on Turf 2.0," but this offense has the potential to do some damage by putting a lot more points on the board than relying on Sebass to kick field goals after multiple stalled drives. In order for the Raiders' offense to work, there are three keys in my opinion: 1) the establishment of the run game, 2) the offensive line, and 3) Derek Carr's growth and chemistry with Amari Cooper, Michael Crabtree and the rest of the receiving corps. The running game is especially going to be important. Aside from the Kansas City game Thursday night, there isn't a good enough sample size to determine if Murray is the real deal. He did look good in the preseason though because opposing defenses are starting to account for Cooper and Crabtree and other mismatches like Marcel Reece and if Murray gets going, it opens up the playbook. As for Derek Carr, his preseason performance wasn't up to par. No touchdowns, 2 interceptions (one for a pick six), but he seems to have a great feel of the No Huddle approach that Bill Musgrave imported from Chip Kelly's offense with the Philadelphia Eagles. He's got actual weapons to throw to and a Center in Rodney Hudson in which he can effectively communicate with to audible and change the play and the protection. In terms of the offensive line, Hudson's addition stacks up the left side with Donald Penn and Gabe Jackson anchoring that side. The left side looks elite. The right side though, is a huge problem and with Menelik Watson out for the year, there is no confidence in Austin Howard or J'Marcus Webb to hold out that front. The right side of the offensive line will be looked at very closely. So we go back to the question, is this offense potentially potent? If the three keys I mentioned work out, then the sky's the limit for this offense.

Unleash The Mack Attack!

Last season, even though Khalil Mack finished runner up for Defensive Rookie of the Year, he ranked higher than Aaron Donald and C.J. Mosley in the NFL's top 100 list for 2015. Even though Khalil Mack was stout against the run, he didn't show too much of his pass rushing prowess. This season with Mack converting from a outside linebacker to a defensive end full-time, it's as clear as daylight that his pass rushing prowess are going to be emphasized more. In the third preseason game, Mack was an absolute beast vs. the Cardinals! He constantly abused the offensive tackles and he sacked Carson Palmer twice. There were a lot of concerns coming in about the pass rush of the defensive line and from the preseason games, Mack is making the D-line a lot more decent than expected. Even though he wasn't making the sacks, he was still able to clamp down the pocket of opposing team's offense. He was drawing double teams, even drawing triple teams, allowing guys like Denico Autry, Shelby Harris, Justin Ellis, and Mario Edwards, Jr. to create some pressure in the pocket. Mack will definitely be the player offensive coordinators will have to game plan for and with the tutelage of Del Rio and Ken Norton, Jr., Khalil Mack is primed to have a big season and he has the possibility to dethrone J.J. Watt for Defensive Player of the Year this season.

Shaky Secondary

Perhaps that this position will be the most micromanaged position on defense throughout the whole season. Reggie McKenzie didn't address this position that much, challenging the young guys like Keith McGill, T.J. Carrie, and D.J. Hayden to step up. During the 53 man roster cuts, the Raiders stocked up on unproven cornerbacks and kept only one safety to back up Nate Allen and Charles Woodson. Aside from T.J. Carrie and the ageless wonder C-Wood, this secondary has the worst depth on the team. The main guy to watch in particular is D.J. Hayden. He's finally able to get through offeseason activities while keeping himself healthy. However, he has disappointed throughout the preseason, allowing some big plays and drawing penalties. The time is ticking for Hayden to live up to that 12th overall pick and live up to being the shutdown corner Reggie McKenzie envisioned him to be. The impatience can be felt and Hayden has to either put up or shut up. Going back to the secondary in general, they are going to win the game or lose the game and they have a high chance of costing the Raiders some games and put the defense on the field for a long time. There is absolutely every right to be scared about the way this secondary will play, especially that they'll be tested harshly throughout the season against some of the best receivers in the league with the way the team's schedule is played out.

Schedule Breakdown

Last season's schedule was a living hell for the Raiders in terms of opponent difficulty and the travel considering they had to give up a home game to play in London. This year, the schedule is a little favorable this time, but it is still tough, considering the Raiders play the AFC North, who had three of their four teams make the playoffs last season and the NFC North, who had two teams make the playoffs. Referring back to the shaky secondary section, they're going to be tested harshly against the likes of receivers such as Antonio Brown, A.J. Green, Calvin Johnson, Alshon Jeffery, Randall Cobb, Brandon Marshall (considering they play the Jets this season) and they have to face Demaryius Thomas and Jeremy Maclin twice a year within their division. Luckily, the Raiders get the benefit of a doubt that they start with two home games against Cincinnati and Baltimore to start the season and they go on the road against Cleveland and Chicago. You can't ask for a better start than that. Despite the Bengals and the Ravens making the playoffs, the team does have some flaws and they can be defeated. The Browns and the Bears are definitely beatable. So it is possible they can get off a good start. The only question is can the Raiders take advantage of it? In terms of battling divisional rivals, the Raiders have a chance to beat the Broncos, Chiefs, and Chargers at least once. The Raiders don't have to be 6-0 in the division, but they have the talent to be competitive and snatch at least one win against their three AFC West division rivals.

Conclusion

Last season, we were filled with disappointment yet again because we thought the 2014 Raiders have a chance to shock the NFL world with the veterans they signed. Had they've been in their 2009 form, yes that team would've been a Super Bowl contender. But they were all past their prime and that's the reason why the Raiders couldn't win a game until the season was already out of reach. But this year, this team is filled with a lot of young talent and quality free agents that are still in their prime and in their late 20's. They finally have a coaching staff that'll bring out the best this team's talent and have a common goal to bring the Raiders back to greatness. A lot of experts got this team going 6-10 and that's a realistic view because in no way shape or form are these Raiders Super Bowl bound. One thing's for sure though, this team can't be taken lightly anymore. Yes, until the Raiders show something, teams are going to put the automatic "W" on them. But under Jack Del Rio, if you sleep on this Raiders team, they are going to give you a rude awakening. This Raider team is competitive enough to snatch some upsets against good teams and they should be coached up to win against teams they should be able to beat. 6-10 is realistic, but I'm going higher at a possible 7-9 or 8-8 season. I understand, there is still some holes to fill on this team, but a high energy coaching staff, a young team with some proven veteran players, the 2015 Raiders are going to show the NFL that the team's future is very bright. GO RAIDERS! ALL IN!

Week 1 vs. Cincinnati Bengals, Q-by-Q Reaction, Halftime Post, and Full Recap Post on Sunday, September 13, 1:25 PM Pacific Time

*Stay tuned for my thoughts on the Raiders signing Aldon Smith today, it should be up shortly after this preview is posted*

My 2015 Fantasy Football Team:

Team name: #Sackslap

Starters:

QB: Tom Brady (NE)
WR: Dez Bryant (DAL)
WR: Julio Jones (ATL)
WR: Jeremy Maclin (KC)
RB: Justin Forsett (BAL)
RB: Andre Ellington (AZ)
TE: Jordan Cameron (MIA)
K: Cody Parkey (PHI)
DEF: Baltimore (BAL)

Bench:

RB: Arian Foster (HOU)
RB: Doug Martin (TB)
WR: Marques Colston (NO)
TE: Tyler Eifert (CIN)
TE: Heath Miller (PIT)
QB: Joe Flacco (BAL)

Sio Moore Traded to the Indianapolis Colts

It appears Sio Moore won't be on board for the "New Generation" after all. After seeing the field minimally this preseason since coming back from major hip surgery, the Raiders have decided to move on by trading Moore to the Indianapolis Colts. In exchange, the Raiders will receive a 6th round pick from the Colts for next year's draft.

My thoughts: As a fan, it's always shocking to see a fan-favorite go and Sio Moore since he was drafted back in 2013, was a fan favorite of Raider Nation. He was the juice and the energy for the defense and when Mack was drafted last year, we had a lot of optimism that Mack and Moore would be the duo that'll kill opposing quarterbacks for years to come. It was a series of questions throughout the preseason and it evolved into a topic of interest. Where was Sio throughout the preseason? How come Jack Del Rio and the rest of coaching staff were holding him in? How come they didn't give him a chance to see if he was 100%? Because if there were any setbacks on Moore's rehab, he would've just been placed on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list and likely placed on Injured Reserve, saving him to live to fight another season. But with this trade, it was obvious that there was something suspicious going on between Moore and the coaching staff behind the scenes. And yes, Moore's attitude problems stemmed back to last season, both on and off the field. And with his recent antics since coming back to social media, particularly calling out CSN Bay Area reporter, Scott Bair on Twitter, that was the last straw because he just couldn't contain himself to rant on the media and put his focus squarely on getting back to football. This trade is a significant sign that Del Rio has zero tolerance on players who would rather spend more time doing silly antics and stir up controversy than focusing and performing to the best of their ability. Sio Moore, with the talent he has, will be missed and this trade brings even more questions on Reggie McKenzie's 2013 draft picks. Yet, at the same time, this trade defends Reggie's vision of this Raiders team consisting of high character guys who love the game of football and want to put in the work for the love of the game.