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Archive for January, 2015
The NFL is a copycat league. The Oakland Raiders must learn from their past miscues and the blunders of other franchises to avoid a disastrous 2015 season. The offseason isn’t officially underway yet but early planning and a bit of research will help bring the Raiders out of the AFC West cellar and into the playoff picture, eventually. There were some poignant lessons to be learned from the 2014 season. The Raiders' front office should also take note of their past history that has descended the team to futility. Despite finishing with a 3-13 record, Reggie McKenzie and newly-hired head coach Jack Del ...
The Oakland Raiders are heading into yet another offseason with more questions than answers. After a 3-13 season, the team is in the process of completely rebuilding its coaching staff. That's a big step in the right direction, but it won't mean much if the new coaches don't have the personnel on the field to turn things around. Last offseason, Oakland had more than $60 million to spend, but what the front office did with these funds was unimpressive to say the least. Rather than bring in real difference-makers, Reggie McKenzie instead opted to try to fill as many roster spots ...
Once spring training is all said and done, the Oakland A's will roll out a 25-man roster nearly 40 percent different than the 2014 version. Of course, it's hard to know exactly how an Opening Day roster in April will look two full months ahead. There are too many variables. Injuries could happen. Heck, trades can still happen. Guys who should be locks can stink up spring training. Guys lowest on the totem pole could impress. No one knows in January. Let's take a stab at it anyway. Doing so may refresh your memory of who's still left from the last regime and ...
The Oakland Raiders have hired Jack Del Rio to be their new head coach. How will Del Rio impact the Raiders? Have the Raiders found their franchise quarterback in Derek Carr? Watch as Stephen Nelson and Raiders running back Maurice Jones-Drew discuss the Raiders' future in the video above.Read more Oakland Raiders news on BleacherReport.com
The Oakland Raiders are either incompetent or ingenious. New head coach Jack Del Rio and his handpicked offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave weren’t hot coaching candidates and have spotty resumes, but that didn’t deter a team that hires new coaches every couple of years like clockwork. Fans are obviously hoping that somehow hiring Del Rio, Musgrave and what is likely to be a similarly uninspiring defensive coordinator will result in NFL success. On Monday, the first puff of white smoke billowed from the creosote-lined combustion chamber in Oakland. Musgrave will implement a version of Chip Kelly’s no-huddle offense, according to ESPN Insider Adam ...
Charles Woodson has proved that he can still play at a high level in the NFL even in his late 30s. It therefore comes as little surprise that the Oakland Raiders have decided to re-sign the seven-time All-Pro.    The Raiders announced the news on Monday: Ian Rapoport of NFL.com passed along comments from Woodson's agent on the terms of the agreement: Woodson began his career with the Raiders when they chose him No. 4 overall in the 1998 NFL draft. After carving out quality years there before fleeing to Green Bay and winning a Super Bowl, the veteran returned to Oakland prior to ...
Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane has had the busiest offseason of any GM, making nine trades involving 27 players in total. His most recent deal, swapping shortstop Yunel Escobar for Washington Nationals relief pitcher Tyler Clippard, was his best one of the winter. Beane acquired Escobar and utility man Ben Zobrist from the Tampa Bay Rays for catcher John Jaso and prospects Daniel Robertson and Boog Powell on January 10. The Athletics needed someone to fill in at short after allowing Jed Lowrie to walk, and they got their man from Tampa Bay. But it was Zobrist, not Escobar, as he was flipped ...
Initially, it was good news to hear about the Oakland Raiders' interest in interviewing former Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith for the defensive coordinator position, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com: If you're aware of Smith's NFL track record, the news was quite invigorating considering the Raiders' young, developing defensive front. Dianna Marie Russini of NBC4 Washington followed up with some deflating news for Smith supporters in Raider Nation: This is a bit surprising considering Smith and new head coach Jack Del Rio worked well together for six seasons in Jacksonville. Del Rio was the head coach, and Smith was the defensive coordinator. Together, they ...
No player is more important to the Oakland Raiders' success in 2015 than quarterback Derek Carr. Nearly everything the Raiders do this offseason revolves around the second-year quarterback out of Fresno State—from coaching staff changes to the draft. Owner Mark Davis said he originally wanted to hire an offensive-minded head coach before Jack Del Rio proved he also knew offense. The Raiders hired Bill Musgrave as offensive coordinator with Carr in mind, even if doing so lacked much ingenuity or inspiration on their part. Now that former Raiders quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo has accepted a job with the Cleveland Browns as their offensive ...
After a crazy offseason, the Oakland A's have a completely new infield, designated hitter and much more. But how effective will the new pieces be? How long will they keep Oakland competitive? How long will they be in Oakland, period? The A's signed Billy Butler and traded for well-known names like Brett Lawrie, Ike Davis, Ben Zobrist and Tyler Clippard. Additionally, the team acquired multiple prospects that are on the verge of contributing at the major league level. If Oakland is to make the postseason for the fourth consecutive year, the new faces must contribute immediately and effectively fill big shoes left by ...