Oakland Raiders’ Future Is Looking Bright
The Oakland Raiders have made their picks and have their eyes on building towards the future.
The Silver and Black are once again banking on another successful draft class to help them put the “Pride and Poise” back into Raider Nation.
The Raiders will enter the 2015-16 NFL season with an optimism not seen in over a decade. The franchise who once proclaimed themselves to be “The Team of the Decades” is looking to re-establish itself amongst the NFL elite.
The key to any construction project, whether it be a sports franchise, or a 20-story building, is a strong foundation.
A strong, young nucleus is the key building block to the Raiders’ rebuilding process, and the cinder block for the Raiders is Derek Carr.
The blueprint that every NFL team uses to establish long term success must include a franchise quarterback. The Raiders are banking on Carr to flourish in that role.
Carr’s rookie season was filled with the usual ups and downs that most first year starters encounter. His inaugural season as the leader of the Silver and Black provided many lessons for the former Fresno State Bulldog.
Carr quickly found out talent wins out in the NFL. In college, coaches can sometimes lessen the disparity in talent, by out-scheming their opponents to equal the playing field.
Sure, coaching plays a significant role in the NFL. However, if that superior coaching isn’t being executed by superior talent, the results tend to be far less than superior.
Carr showed the poise and promise of a good leader in his rookie season but too many times, his downfall came when things were forced. Such as when a receiver was tightly covered, but he still tried to force a ball in a window that was never open.
Carr wasn’t necessarily being reckless but simply trying to make a play for his team.
Last year, Carr was forced to make many throws that required pinpoint precision. The Raiders’ receivers rarely got good separation from their defenders, forcing Carr to throw into much smaller windows — which often times led to costly turnovers.
Reggie McKenzie and Jack Del Rio both knew the importance of providing Carr with much needed weapons this offseason.
The Raiders needed a game changer on offense. They needed a player that strikes fear in the hearts and minds of defenders. A player whose mere presence will force defenses to soften up as the defensive backs exercise a little caution in covering him.
Amari Cooper was chosen to be that player. The Raiders used the fourth overall pick in the draft to give Carr the player who can strike fear in any defense.
Cooper has been striking fear in SEC defenses for the past three years and is looking to continue that trend in the NFL.
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During his freshman year at Alabama, he had 59 receptions for 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns. His 11 trips to the end zone broke Alabama’s 62-year-old record formerly held by Al Lary . His receiving and receptions total broke records once held by Atlanta Falcons star Julio Jones .
Cooper quickly established himself as one of the best receivers in college football, and the Raiders see no reason for that success not to translate to Sundays.
While a speedy outside threat is a necessity for any explosive offense. A reliable middle of the field target can be a young quarterback’s best friend.
The Raiders chose University of Miami tight end Clive Walford in the third round for that purpose. Walford had been rated the most complete tight end in the draft by most scouts.
Walford’s 121 career catches at Miami is a school record, and the Raiders are hoping he develops into a dependable third down target for Carr.
With the additions of Cooper and Walford, combined with the free-agent signing of Michael Crabtree, the Raiders’ passing game looks to be on the upswing.
Del Rio is relying on the additional firepower to lessen the burden on Carr, resulting in wiser decisions with the football.
Raider Nation finally has a reason to be optimistic after years of dashed hopes and dreams. With an offense being led by potential stars Carr and Cooper, a defense headed by the dominating force of Khalil Mack, the Silver and Black’s future is finally looking bright.