Seven reasons for optimism in 2009

By Os Davis  |   Tuesday, January 27, 2009  |  Comments( 8 )

Oakland Raiders
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As Week 17 ended, the Oakland Raiders capped a season portrayed as little more than doom and gloom in mainstream media. The statistics about consecutive losing seasons became rote, as did disparaging shakes of the head from Warren Sapp and Rich Gannon. Quite a few Raider fans here at RealFootball365.com have wondered (and continue to wonder, judging by a handful of emails) if the Raiders still haven’t bottomed out, whether the future remains bleak while Al Davis is pulling all the strings.

Fear not, Raider Nation, don’t believe the hype, et cetera! Here’s to thinking the 2009 edition of the team will be an improvement over those of the last six seasons, perhaps even markedly so. Courtesy of RealFootball365.com, then, seven reasons to look forward to the 2009 Raiders’ fortunes. You’re welcome.

• The hiring of coach and coaching staff. Unless Davis et al decide to stick with Tom “Default Head Coach” Cable in the top spot, an entirely new staff will be crafted for the 2009 season. Even should Davis go with another in his personal favorite mold of young unknown dude as head coach, the hiring will certainly be exciting for fans in terms of speculation and conversation; recall the wave of optimism in Detroit after the hiring of Rod Marinelli in 2006. Bad example.

(Incidentally, is the franchise going to sign Al Saunders or what? I mean, come on, no-brainer, right?)

Meanwhile, you’ve got to guess that the Raiders are running out of pitches here. As Scott Linehan signs on with those poor Lions, Dan Reeves reportedly interviews in San Francisco, and the Raiders’ reputation with regard to front-office relations, experienced names are taken off the board daily. All signs point to a rough 2009 season for the Raiders, but Davis has simply got to be patient and avoid temptation in 2010 to clean house again. Whomever Oakland takes on for the positions here, they’ll probably be around for a while.

In any case, change will come to Oakland. And change is good for both Obamanation and Raider Nation, right, fans?

• Continued improvement by JaMarcus Russell. Oh, gods, let it be so. Surely it’s been said before, but Russell just has mad skills. Mad, unrefined skills. Those following Russell in 2008 could see, when he was on, the unharnessed potential of a future Madden cover boy. (Meant in the best possible way, of course.)

• The roller-coaster ride of free agency. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, you’ll probably end up feeling both ways about the Raiders’ moves in free agency. At very least the franchise is willing to spend money to try and fix the problems here, while again we wonder if the front office will finally get it right and sign a proper offensive lineman or two. (Is anyone fearing reading a Contra Costa Times sports page headline involving Richie Incognito?)

Unfortunately, going into seasons past, Oakland has often looked decent on paper; after all, it can be pretty easy to talk yourself into name players like DeAngelo Hall and Javon Walker, if not the obscene eight-figure amounts paid this pair of question marks.

Ultimately, watching the Raiders in free agency is like riding a roller coaster: It’s too expensive, there are many exhilarating ups and downs, and you may be sick when it’s over.

• The draft. Ah, nothing says the optimism of spring like the NFL draft, and the exciting young offense the Raiders currently sport – Russell, Darren McFadden, Zach Miller, Johnnie Lee Higgins, Michael Bush, Chaz Schilens – is all a result of just two years of drafts. If free agency has been a rocky road for Oakland, somebody over there knows a thing or two about offensive prospects.

Surely this year, the Raiders’ll go for a lineman in Round 1 in an above-average year for prospects at the position. How does, say, Eugene Monroe sound, Raider Nation?

• Another year with Norv Turner heading up the San Diego Chargers. Talk all you want about the emergence of Darren Sproles and the at-home “upset” victory of the Indianapolis Colts in the playoffs. The Chargers are in decline and have been since Marty Schottenheimer, he who built this AFC West champion, was inexplicably canned following the Bolts’ 14-2 in 2006.

It’s way too early to make this sort of prediction, but it appears we have plenty of time: San Diego fans will be calling for Turner's head ‘round about Week 4, the Raiders will smoke them twice to sweep the series, and Mr. Turner will be writing Al Davis a position paper promoting himself for a position in Oakland come early January.

• Zach Miller’s first Pro Bowl-level season. And maybe even a trip to Honolulu if anyone outside of Oakland is watching the Raiders in 2009.

• And, in early 2010, Ray Guy’s nomination for and enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Finally.
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About Os Davis

Os Davis has taken a twisted route to get to RealFootball365.com in his nearly 17 years in professional writing, working in any number of capacities in the sportswriting, news reporting and film criticism worlds. In print media, Os has served as editor at a few publications, including Albuquerque's...
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CommentsComments: 8  |  Sign Up  View all comments
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No.1
02:38 AM
01/27/2009
Nice read Os. I think you are spot-on for most of your points. I would of course prefer Andre Smith OT out of Alabama, or Jason...
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No.2
svduran1		11:14 AM
01/27/2009
Russell, Darren McFadden, Zach Miller, Johnnie Lee Higgins, Michael Bush, Chaz Schilens: all good draft choices in the last two...
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No.3
La Milicia Negra		01:41 PM
01/27/2009
Craig.. Eugene Monroe will be gone before 7th pick, Crabtree will be gone before 4th.. Jason Smith, of Baylor, I said it...
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