Eight curveballs you could see from Oakland in ‘08

By Anthony Carroll  |   Friday, August 22, 2008  |  Comments( 28 )

Oakland Raiders
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There are two fun elements to every NFL season: Predicting what will happen throughout the year and then watching it happen (or, most likely, not happen).

Chances are, if you look back at your ‘08 fantasy football draft in Week 17, for example, you’ll laugh. No one player is ever a sure thing (though some come very close) and no week is ever predictable. There are always curveballs.

With less than three weeks before the Oakland Raiders hit the field on ‘Monday Night Football’ against the Denver Broncos, let’s take a look at eight of these curveballs that could occur in 2008.

• Stanford Routt leads the team in interceptions. No quarterback wants to throw the ball Nnamdi Asomugha’s way, and first-year Raider DeAngelo Hall already has ligament damage in his right hand. And, let’s face it, he’s not the most consistent cover man. The 25-year-old Routt doesn’t have the big name, but he’ll make plenty of big plays in 2008.

• Michael Bush leads the team in rushing touchdowns. As of now, Yahoo! has Bush owned in only five percent of all active fantasy leagues run through its site. Not surprising. The 24-year-old, though, has more carries this preseason than any other rusher on Oakland’s roster and also has the only ground TD. Just as former powerhouse running back Zack Crockett led the Raiders in rushing TDs from 2001 to 2003, don’t be surprised if Bush does the same in 2008.

• Zach Miller leads the team in receiving yards. See here.

• Paul McQuistan finishes as a starter somewhere on the O-line. Aside from center, it seems the 25-year-old has the ability to play anywhere along the offensive line. And although the former third-rounder has never put together a full season as a starter, he always seems to end up finishing as one. McQuistan has 12 career starts at right tackle, right guard and left guard in his two short years in the NFL. Chances are, he’ll finish ’08 starting at right tackle.

• Tommy Kelly records 10 sacks. Kelly, the $50.5 million man, will do what ex-Raiders D-lineman Warren Sapp did four times in his 13-year career with Oakland and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- reach double-digit sacks. The 27-year-old has never recorded more than 4½ sacks in a single season, but has plenty to prove in 2008 and not much room for error. This is Kelly’s year.

• Javon Walker gets benched by Week 8. It already appears head coach Lane Kiffin has had enough of Walker’s $55 million, zero production arrangement with the team. It’s only been two preseason games and the young head coach has already claimed he’s “concerned” about the 29-year-old wideout, who earlier this summer had to be talked out of retiring from football all together. A bad start to the Walker saga could mean a bad ending.

• Stuart Schweigert gets cut by the New York Giants midseason and re-signed by the Raiders. Never mind. I don’t want to make anyone mad.

• The Raiders win in Week 1. For the first time in six years.

Anthony Carroll can be contacted at
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About Anthony Carroll

Anthony Carroll began writing for RealFootball365.com on Sept. 26, 2005, making him one of the longest tenured contributors to the “365” team. As a senior writer, Anthony has taken on the task of delivering original content to the silver and black faithful year round, despite having to deal ...
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