Our O-line is crucial to our success. Since the future of the Raiders is now invested mostly on the Offensive end it is only important we upgrade our o-line. Although our line improved dramatically we ran alot of roll outs because we knew our Quarterback couldn’t hang in the pocket. Looking at alot of our games last year there were a couple of games we could’ve pulled out if we had a better passing game. Tennesse, Chiefs, and the Bears were a few games I felt we could’ve pulled out if our offense was better.

Black was horrible in a zone blocking scheme. So putting him in the same system doesn’t make sense. At least Kwame has some potential seeing he is in a new scheme.

if you were the 5th best rushing team in the league without a real runner. Let’s be honest, we like Fargas but he is not a top flight runner. Every team knew when they played the Raiders that all they had to do was rush the passer, there was no downside. There was no breakaway runner, no deep threat and no QB. Of course the line would look bad against the pass given those factors. Just calm down, don’t judge this year by what you saw last year. I agree Greene should not be a starter, but I am unwilling to flail away at Harris before he has played a game here. He was a 1st round draft pick, Cable thinks he can be a starter, that is good enough for me. Hendricks, the Tooz, and innumerable other players were told they couldn’t play before they came here, they worked out just fine.

But you have to have some faith in the organization and the coaching staffs ability to evaluate talent. The way the Raiders spent money this year in free agency they could have gone out and found someone else besides or in addition to Harris, but he was one of their first signings.

Tom Cable was able to “evaluate” Robert Gallery and determine that he was NOT an NFL left tackle but a left guard, a bold move considering Gallery’s draft position and salary. Cable has “coached” Gallery to be solid, if not above average at guard, with still more upside because of his young age. There is no reason to believe for now that Cable will not be able to coach Harris to be at least a suitable left tackle. With the offense being designed around Russel’s abilities and the left tackles strengths and weaknesses in advance, we owe the Raiders’ coaching staff at the very least, the benefit of the doubt.

I don’t think that is being blindly optimistic.

and 10 games in ‘07.
What did they do differently, they drafted a LT, and changed QB’s. GB won 4 one year, then 13 the next with no appreciable change in the team. All I am saying is that you cannot judge the Raiders in ‘07, and say the same thing will occur in ‘08. This team has undergone major changes in personnel. I am simply saying that every one blames last season on the O line, and I am saying that was not the sole reason for the 4 win season, anymore than run defense was the reason for all the losses. For the first time in 4 years the coaching staff is essentially unchanged. Maybe I see a glass half full and not half empty, but I also see major upgrades in offensive talent, and that alone make the O line look better. It seems to me that everyone wants to isolate one part of a team and say “woe is us”. I look at a team as a complete part, if one part is better then it has an effect on the team as a whole. Other than the Miami game I don’t remember Fargas breaking a run more than 10 yds. I am sure I am wrong but that is my memory. What happens if McFadden takes one of those 5 yd. gains and makes it 35 and a TD. You would praise the O line for opening the hole but in reality it was no better than last year when Fargas got 5 yds. That is my only point. The Raiders may only win 4 games this year, it just seems to me that they have upgraded in major areas, and the O line is not going to be the cause either way, anymore than they were responsible for the losses last year.

...is the OT. It’s a must that we get solid play from who ever it is that mans the OT positions. It’s unlikely that they will regress, they’ll be fine. McQuistan may be the answer on the right side in the long run. It’s really the left side that we are most uncertain about. Keep in mind that because Kiff and Cable have remained that the disarray associated with change has been suspended for now. They’ll only improve. That Russell can throw well on the run is also extremely beneficial. Not to mention, screen passes will be going for alot more yardage this year. I would venture to say, so far as…to the house!

Nice to see that some consider that a good many loses could have been wins. The offense will be on the field longer that the defense this year. Our defense won’t be defending drive after drive that begins in our territory. Those days are over. Remember how many drives our opponients began well within our territory? Our offense is much more suited to move the ball and score.

In any case,

Long Live Da Nation!

He’s a risk, and I’m not a fan of veteran free agents, but I think the Raiders should look long and hard at him.

He’s a pro bowl center that can play either guard position. He’s still relatively young. He asked to be released by the Browns so he can start, and if he’s healthy and good to go he’d definitely do that here.

Bring him in cheap, see what he’s got, and you’ve either gained a pro bowler or you let him walk after this year. I think he could be huge for us.

I personally dont see us winning moe than 8 games this season… Only some of our real needs were adressed during the offseason… Our most valuable signing was Gibril Wilson(in my opinion)... He will help us stop the run… But i think in next years draft we need to get ourselves a STUD LT… its neccesary(unless Harris has a good year)...

GO RAIDERS!!!