2009 Oakland Raiders Team Preview/Predictions
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2008 Record: 5-11
ATS: 7-9
Bill Callahan, Norv Turner, Art Shell, Lane Kiffin and now Tom Cable. That’s the uninspiring coaching lineage of the Oakland Raiders franchise since 2003. Since that time, the franchise has yet to win more than six games in a season (note to self: Raiders regular season win total is set at six) and the team has been as dysfunctional a family as The Bluths.
Heading into 2009, the Raiders don’t have a clue about their direction.
Interim head coach Tom Cable, who barely edged out a couple of scarecrows to become the Raiders head coach last season when Lane Kiffin was dismissed, was extended. Even though the Raiders are grooming their former No. 1 pick overall, JaMarcus Russell, to be the supposed quarterback of the future, they signed veteran Jeff Garcia, who openly stated he only wanted to play for a team where he can start.
While the Raiders needed to improve both their offensive and defensive lines in the offseason, both were neglected. The Raiders are left with a team that lacks direction, identity and a foundation for the future.
Starting with the positives, the Raiders may have the deepest backfield in the NFL. Michael Bush, Darren McFadden and Justin Fargas are three very capable runners. Fargas is more of a plugger while Bush and McFadden could probably start for a lot of teams.
They’ll have to carry the load as the Raiders are very thin as far as receiving weapons.
The main question surrounds Russell and whether he’s actually a starting quarterback in the NFL. Bringing in Garcia isn’t exactly a vote of confidence and it actually just confuses things. If Garcia starts, it means that the Raiders will – for some reason – be trying to win some games this year. If they start Russell, at least they’ll be able to find out if they do have their franchise quarterback, even though it is looking more and more like they don’t.
On defense, the Raiders are just as much of a disaster.
Their defensive line has crumbled. Derrick Burgess used to be a Pro Bowler but now he’s a faded. Tommy Kelly was once the highest paid defensive tackle in the NFL and he’s just as much a waste of money as when the Raiders signed him.
Their secondary has Nnamdi Asomugha, who might be the best corner in the NFL, and the linebacking corps has some bright spots in Kirk Morrison and Thomas Howard, but on the whole, this is still a defense that is several bricks short of a load.
On top of all of those problems, the Raiders don’t have the leadership or coaching to take them through this trying time. They also don’t have the foundation of young prospects to carry them into their next era.
There is no next era in Oakland. Right now it’s just a black hole.
Super Bowl Odds: +7550
Conference Odds: +2850
AFC West Odds: +260
2009 Raiders Predictions
Place they’ll finish in AFC West: 3rd
Place they’ll finish in AFC Conference: 14th
Over/Under Season Wins Prediction: Under 6
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Dave Golokhov has written for BETUS Sportsbook, Sportsfanmagazine.com, FOX, Askmen.com, Sports-central.org, and the FOXSports.com Funhouse.
4 replies on “2009 Oakland Raiders Odds | Preview | Picks”
Ick!!! The Raiders are truely a mess-top to bottom. The only thing standing in their way from yeat another last place finish is the equally deplorable situation in Denver. Jamarcus isnt the answer!! They might win a few games if Garcia were at the helm, but for some reason, the coaching staff is sticking with California Vince Young. Could be the worst all around team in the league. Al David might be run out of town – if Tom Cable doesn’t break his jaw first.
Hey Dave… Derrick Bergess isn’t even with the Raiders anymore…. you could have just titled this artical… I hate the Raiders…what a bunch of garble …
This clown doesn’t know what he is talking about. The Raiders are a young team on the rise with a lot of up and coming talent. They just addresses the defensive line with the acquisition of Richard Seymour, and they did address the offensive line last year with the acquisition of Khalif Barnes and Samson Satele and Chris Morris. The Raiders offensive line wasn’t too bad last year, and was beginning to gel. Look for improvement this season at the offensive line. The Raiders are now loaded at receiver, tight end, running back, and they are set offensively with just some seasoning. Jamarcus Russell has had 16 career starts and has won 5, better that Peyton Manning’s first year, when he only won 3 of his first 16 starts.
The defense is slightly improved, and if the Raiders can pound the ball with runs and establish a little time-of-possession, the Raiders defense can stay off the field a little more, and improve their run defense into the low twenties, which in the weak AFC west is probably good for 8-9 wins which could contend for a division title!
Thanks for the passion Dan