Oakland Raiders: Nine Players Who Must Play Big For Team To Succeed

Jul 30, 2013; Napa, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders defensive players Tyvon Branch (33) , Jon Condo (59) and Omar Gaither (52) participate in warmup drills at training camp at Napa Valley Marriott. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

For the Oakland Raiders, the winds of change seem to be blowing – and perhaps, picking up a little steam. And no, the change we’re talking about has nothing to do with the future address of the team.

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There are some who feel that the Raiders are on the verge of something big. With two and a half solid drafts in the last three seasons, GM Reggie McKenzie has assembled a nucleus of explosive, young talent. For the first time in seemingly forever, the Raiders have a solid foundation of players to build upon and around.

With the likes of Derek Carr, Amari Cooper, Clive Walford, Mychal Rivera, Rod Streater, Latavius Murray, and perhaps even Trent Richardson, the Raiders have some very, very solid young talent on the offensive side of the ball. That core group of players has the ability to take Oakland’s offense to heights it hasn’t seen since Rich Gannon was under center for the Silver and Black.

And things aren’t too shabby on the defensive side of the ball either. With youngsters like Khalil Mack, Sio Moore, Justin Ellis, D.J. Hayden, Travis Carrie, and Keith McGill, combined with proven talent like Dan Williams, Curtis Lofton, Nate Allen, Justin Tuck, and of course, the ageless Charles Woodson, Oakland has a defensive unit that can wreak havoc on opposing offenses.

There is no question that the 2015 Oakland Raiders are a vastly more talented club – on both sides of the ball – than they have been in quite some time.

And they perhaps, found the missing piece of the puzzle, the thing that can tie all of that talent together in HC Jack Del Rio.

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Over the course of his coaching career, Del Rio has had some success, and has developed a reputation as a coach who can get the most out of his players. It doesn’t hurt that he’s put together an incredibly experienced staff, and one that has had plenty of success on the NFL level.

Though things are trending in a very positive direction for Oakland, their success – or failure – is going to depend on the players stepping up and playing big. Yes, football is a team sport, but the Raiders will need some dynamic individual performances, and players who can really produce, for this team to succeed.

Obviously, the Raiders need solid contributions from everybody in a Silver and Black uniform. But the team needs these nine players in particular to step up their game and contribute to the team’s success in 2015 and beyond.

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