Oakland Raiders Don’t Need Marquee Names to Be Competitive in 2015
By Kevin Saito
No, it hasn’t been the offseason Reggie McKenzie and the Oakland Raiders faithful had hoped for. Armed with more cash to spend than some small countries and the desire to spend, McKenzie tried to land some of this year’s biggest free agents. But players like Ndamukong Suh, Randall Cobb, Julius Thomas, and DeMarco Murray opted to bypass the Silver and Black to sign lucrative deals elsewhere – which naturally has been a source of incredible angst among the Raider Nation.
Oakland’s failure to sign the marquee names in this year’s free agency class has of course, led to the usual jokes about the Raiders, as well as the typical scorn heaped on by sports journalists and Twitter trolls with nothing better to do than to pile on.
Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News is only one in a sea of a million, but he recently wrote that the Raiders, and their fanbase, should be go ahead and label 2015 as an “interim” year. Kawakami asserts that Oakland’s failure to land any free agents has to do with everything from the stadium situation, to McKenzie’s job security, to his relationship with owner Mark Davis and HC Jack Del Rio.
As much as it undoubtedly pains some Raiders’ fans to admit, Kawakami makes some valid points in his piece. There is likely some truth in his reasoning for the Raiders’ inability to land some of free agency’s biggest fish. But there are also a lot of assumptions that may turn out to be way incorrect – such as 2015 already being yet another lost season for the Raiders.
How about we let the Raiders actually play a little football before we declare the season a total failure, huh, Tim?
While the many issues Kawakami raises, such as stadium issue is undoubtedly a concern for some free agents, and the uncertainty of where they would be playing in 2016 – Oakland? Carson? St. Louis? San Antonio? – may have played some role in their decision making, it’s not nearly that black and white.
For starters, there has finally been some substantial progress with Oakland’s stadium situation. Though it’s a long way from a done deal yet, the city and county have finally joined forces to build a stadium and keep the Raiders in Oakland.
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Further, Kawakami suggests that McKenzie’s job status is a factor in the decision making of free agents. It’s a suggestion that borders on the absurd. While players may sometimes factor the man coaching the team into their decision making – as he is the one who is going to dictate scheme, playing time, etc., – who the GM is or isn’t is rarely, if ever, cited as a reason a player opts to sign with a team. Or not sign with a team, as the case may be. Unless that GM is John Idzik, and then it’s understandable.
But Kawakami’s biggest, and most absurd suggestion, is that because Oakland was unable to land some of the top free agents on the market, the Raiders may as well go ahead and throw the towel in on 2015.
McKenzie may have whiffed on some of the marquee names in this year’s free agent class, but he managed to add some good, young talent to the roster. Young talent that immediately makes the Raiders a better squad heading into the season.
One of Oakland’s biggest problems last season was stopping the run. The Raiders’ gave up nearly 120 yards per game, which put them in the lower echelons of the league. Opposing offense routinely gashed the Raiders defensive front for big gains, or to keep drives alive. Adding Dan Williams and Curtis Lofton – both proven and capable run stuffers – will help remedy that problem immediately. Malcolm Smith adds some depth and versatility to the linebacker group, and Nate Allen will help solidify the defensive backfield for Oakland.
Dec 8, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA; St. Louis Rams running back Zac Stacy (30) runs the ball under pressure from Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Dan Williams (92) during the fourth quarter at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the rams 30-10. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Adding Roy Helu and Trent Richardson to the backfield alongside Latavius Murray gives the Raiders some intriguing pieces and options. Helu is a fast, versatile weapon who can turn a simple swing pass out of the backfield into a big gainer. And if the Raiders can put Richardson in positions to be successful, and get him to play to his potential, he can add another powerful dimension to Oakland’s offense. And having a solid veteran like Rodney Hudson anchoring the line can only bode well for the Raiders’ running game.
Yes, Richardson is a big IF at this point, but he’s very young, has tremendous upside, and best of all, he is not going to cost the Raiders very much if he doesn’t work out. At worst, he’s a failed but cheap reclamation project. At best, along with Murray, he gives Oakland something it didn’t have last year – a very potent running attack.
No, none of Oakland’s signings moved the needle very much on the excitement meter. But they are all solid pick ups that will benefit the Raiders as a whole. The ten players McKenzie signed this offseason, while not Suh, Cobb, Thomas, or any of the marquee names, are solid additions who make the Raiders a better team than they were before free agency.
While Kawakami makes some valid points, the reason marquee names aren’t signing up to play in Oakland is far simpler than he suggests. The reason they aren’t knocking down McKenzie’s door is because the Raiders aren’t a winning organization. And haven’t been in quite some time. Quite frankly, Oakland has been the laughingstock of the league for more than a decade now. That, along with the perception that Oakland is the place where careers go to die, is what is keeping the NFL’s elite from donning the Silver and Black.
Players like Suh are smart enough to know that the Raiders need a lot more than the skills he possesses to turn their fortunes around. Why would a player like Cobb come to Oakland, where he would like be hailed as the savior of the franchise? While the adoration would surely be nice, it would be a whole lot of pressure, and a whole lot to live up to. If the team failed to meet expectations, what then, would be the perception of a Thomas, or a Murray? And why would any of them sign up for the backlash that comes with the possibility of another down year in Oakland?
The players want to get paid, this is true. But they also want a shot to win. Why would they work so hard, day in and day out, if not for the chance to be at the pinnacle of NFL success? The common wisdom right now is that the Raiders are a long way from getting to the basecamp of that particular mountain, let alone to the summit. Why would these players, these marquee free agents, sign on with a team that neither Kawakami, nor anybody else believes can win?
It’s not the GM, it’s not the stadium, it’s not even really the coach who dictates who the marquee names are going to sign with, as Kawakami suggests. It’s the money of course, but it’s also having the chance to win it all.
McKenzie is building the Raiders the right way. He’s building them for long term success. It’s a slow, frustrating process, to be sure. But rather than sign one big name in the offseason – a big name who alone isn’t going to right the ship – he’s adding foundation pieces, players who when combined, can help turn the tide for the Raiders.
Oakland has a franchise QB in Carr. He’s got some very solid pieces to build around in Mack, Moore, Carrie, Hayden, and Murray. He’s also got a mix of terrific veteran leadership in Charles Woodson, Justin Tuck, and James Jones.
And this year’s free agent haul only adds to what is quickly becoming a potent roster in Oakland.
Yes, there are still some holes that need to be addressed. The Raiders desperately need a big play receiver, an impact pass rusher, and can use a guard. They can also use some depth at key spots. But the team is trending upward.
Despite what doomsayers like Kawakami predict, the ship is heading in the right direction.
While it’s probably unreasonable to suggest that the Raiders will be in the hunt for the Lombardi trophy this season – but hey, stranger things have happened – they will at least be far more competitive within their own division. They’ve gotten much better, while the Chiefs, Chargers, and Broncos have arguably, either stayed the same or gotten worse.
Oakland was competitive in a number of games in 2014. And the roster as well as the leadership has only gotten stronger since then. The 2015 version of the Raiders will look much different, and with a new coach, new schemes, and new leadership, they will be far more competitive.
And with the solid young talent they have, the Raiders may even be pretty good if you gave them half a chance rather than do as Kawakami suggests, and throw in the towel on an “interim” year before it ever gets started.