Oakland Raiders Team Report by Maurile Tremblay
| Oak Projections (9/3) | Passing Stats | Rush Stats | Receiving Stats | Fantasy | |||||||||||
| Change | Name | Pos | Att | Comp | % | Yds | TD | Int | Att | Yds | TD | Rec | Yds | TD | Pts |
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#fname# #lname# | #pos# | #NumberFormat("#pts#", '__,_____')# | ||||||||||||
| Totals | #NumberFormat("#tot_patt#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_pcmp#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#evaluate(100*tot_pcmp/tot_patt)#", '_____._')#% | #NumberFormat("#tot_pyds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_ptds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_int#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_ratt#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_ryds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_rtds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_rec#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_cyds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_ctds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_pts#", '__,_____')# | ||
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Quarterbacks Starter - Rich Gannon Backups - Marques Tuiasosopo, Rick Mirer Starting Quarterback: Rich Gannon has been in the league for 14 years, but has only been a legitimate starter for the last three. They've been three pretty good years, though: over 3400 yards and 24 TDs in each of them. Gannon is a smart quarterback with great mobility (especially for a 36-year-old). He doesn't have a strong arm, but he has a knack for spreading the ball around and making good things happen. He's a team leader who makes everyone around him better. I don't know how many years he has left, but he's shown no signs of slowing down yet. Backup Quarterback(s): Marques Tuiasosopo was a second-round pick last year, and is similar to Gannon in a lot of ways. He lacks a great arm, but makes up for it with his mobility and toughness. He was very impressive in the preseason last year, and looks to be the quarterback of the future. Rick Mirer is a former Offensive Rookie of the Year (with Seattle), but hasn't been able to replicate his success since then. Running Backs Starter - Charlie Garner Backups - Tyrone Wheatley, Randy Jordan, Terry Kirby Starting Running Back: The Raiders are the classic RBBC team. Charlie Garner gets a lot of the work between the twenties, but gives way to Tyrone Wheatley near the goal line. Garner is a capable all-around back who can run inside, run outside, and catch the ball out of the backfield. He wasn't as productive in 2001 as he had been the previous two years with San Francisco, but that's due to decreased opportunities, not decreased ability. Backup Running Back(s): Tyrone Wheatley rushed for 936 yards in 1999 and 1046 yards in 2000, but took a back seat to Charlie Garner last year, when he gained only 276 yards. He will try to rebound this year. He can be a bruising between-the-tackles runner when healthy, and is expected to play a much larger role this year under new head coach Bill Callahan than he did in 2001. However, it's hard to see him as an attractive fantasy option as long as Charlie Garner is in town. Fullback(s): Jon Ritchie, Zack Crockett: Jon Ritchie is the starting fullback, but never gets to carry the ball. Zack Crockett has become the Raiders' goal line specialist. In TD-only leagues, he may be worth a late-round selection. In yardage leagues, he doesn't get enough touches to be much of a factor. Wide Receivers / Tight Ends Starters - Tim Brown, Jerry Rice Backups - Jerry Porter, Reggie Barlow, James Jett Starting Receiver(s): Tim Brown, 36, and Jerry Rice, 39, are the oldest pair of receivers in the league -- by far. But they're also two of the most productive receivers in the league. Tim Brown is a smooth athlete who has become a great route-runner (an area he struggled with his first few years in the league) and a reliable pass-catcher. He has lost a step, but he's made up for it with craftiness. He is still very durable and productive. On the other side, Jerry Rice may be the best receiver in the history of the game. He is in fantastic physical condition, and is a muscular receiver who can wrestle the ball away from defenders. He can still get separation from defenders. These guys won't be able to keep going forever, but they've probably got at least one more year in the tank. Backup Receiver(s): Jerry Porter is a very talented athlete who has drawn rave reviews from coaches for his playmaking ability in practice, but he's stuck behind two of the greatest receivers in the game. He's got great size and athleticism, but hasn't had an opportunity to show his stuff yet, and may not get it this year, either. The Raiders don't use a lot of 3-WR sets. If one of the old guys goes down, however, keep your eye on Porter. He could be a good one. Tight End(s): Roland Williams, Jeremy Brigham, Mondriel Fulcher Roland Williams is a gifted athlete with the size/speed combination you look for in a tight end, but hasn't been able to put it all together to become a top-level player. With the Rams two years ago, he made too many mental errors (including a lot of stupid penalties). With the Raiders last year, he dazzled the coaches in preseason practice sessions with his physical tools, but never played to his potential in games. If things suddenly click for him, he could be one of the top TEs in the league. If they don't, his starting job could be in jeopardy. Place Kicker Sebastian Janikowski: The strong-legged foreigner has no training camp competition, but that doesn't mean he won't make things interesting anyway. He likes to party, and seems to have a knack for making headlines while doing it. If he can get focused on his kicking, however, he'll be one of the best kickers in the league. Defense The Raiders had an atrocious run defense in 2001, something they hope former Charger DT John Parrella can help them correct; he will replace the departed Darrell Russell. The Raiders lost DE Regan Upshaw early in training camp, which strains an already thin defensive line. The linebacking unit should be much improved this year, having drafted Napoleon Harris in the first round, and signing old-timer Bill Romanowski as a free agent. The Raiders' secondary is one of the most talented in the league, with Charles Woodson at one corner, and rookie first-round pick Philip Buchanon competing to start on the other side. The key to the Raiders' defense this year will be improving their ability to stop the run. Coaching As Jon Gruden departs for Tampa Bay, Bill Callahan takes over as head coach and will keep the rest of the coaching staff in place. Callahan had previously served as the offensive coordinator under Gruden. Marc Trestman is promoted to offensive coordinator while Chuck Bresnahan stays on as defensive coordinator. Intangibles The Raiders are the oldest team in the NFL by quite a wide margin, and this is the last year they'll be able to keep this group of players together, as they will be in salary cap hell in 2003. Everybody knows it's now or never. For most of these guys, this is their one last chance to make a strong run at the Super Bowl. Are they up to it? Will the older guys hold up for one more year? |