State of the Union: Oakland Raiders

Much has been made regarding t the rumors that have swirled around the Raiders this off-season. Let’s take a break from the annual firestorm and take a look at the Silver And Black from an X’s and O’s standpoint. Offense While JaMarcus Russell gained valuable experience under center in 2007, the fact that he missed his entire rookie training camp can not be ignored, and his progress from year one to year two must be measured accordingly. Russell will continue to experience growing pains and make mistakes as a result. The focus will be his making smart decisions with the football. Familiarity with the offense will help, and look for Kiffin to encourage his young quarterback to utilize his tight end and running backs in the passing game to ease the pressure, while showcasing his arm-strength deep downfield on occasion to keep defenses honest. It is Russells’ ability to improve over last year’s performance that is the most important factor for the Raiders as they ... (link)