After 12 straight losing seasons, “The Black Hole” doesn’t seem so scary nowadays in the NFL. The Oakland Raiders haven’t made it to the playoffs since 2002, where they lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl 37. A huge part as to why the Raiders have dropped off is due to poor draft selections. Al Davis ran the show, and when it came to the draft, it was his way or the highway. All Davis cared about was speed and size. Ability never seemed to factor into the selection process.
In the 2004 NFL Draft, the AL Davis owned Raiders selected Robert Gallery, an OT from Iowa. While a good offensive line is a key to success in the NFL, an offensive lineman selected 2nd overall is a huge reach. Gallery played in the black hole for seven seasons. While he was never injured, he was constantly beaten at the point of attack by opposing DEs and LBs. Giving up 16.5 sacks in your first three seasons is not good by any means. In 2007, Gallery averaged almost one offensive penalty a game with 14 total that season.
The very next selection after Gallery was a man by the name of Larry Fitzgerald. The eight-time Pro Bowler hasn’t done much in the league other than six 1,000 yard seasons to go along with five 10 plus touchdowns seasons and a spectacular catch from Santonio Holmes away from being a Super Bowl Champion. Some fans view him as the player that got away.
Let’s fast forward a few years to 2007. The Oakland Raiders had the first selection in that year’s draft. The QB Position is one that teams take major risks. Every team is looking for that franchise QB. The downfall is that a bad pick, especially at the QB position, can set a team back for years. That’s exactly what happened when the Raiders selected Jamarcus Russell. The LSU Alum started 25 games in his three-year NFL career for Oakland. With only 18 touchdowns and 23 interceptions, to go along with a 7-18 record, shows you what the epitome of a bust.
One selection after Jamarcus in the 2007 NFL draft was none other than Calvin Johnson himself. Eight years in the league and he has produced monster numbers. A five-time Pro Bowl selection, three-time 1st team all pro, and broke Jerry Rice’s record for most receiving yards in a season. Can you imagine a team that could have Larry Fitzgerald and Calvin Johnson opposite each other?
Things have turned for the good in Oakland the past three years though. This team is on the rise even if their record doesn’t reflect that. Draft selections have been better, and ownership has let the GM and coaches do their job. The Raiders now have a franchise QB in Derek Carr, a playmaking WR with lots of potential in Amari Cooper, and a defense that is getting back to Oakland Raiders football.
Khalil Mack was a monster in his rookie season last year. The LB posted 75 tackles with four sacks and a forced fumble. After coming back from injury in 2013, second year CB DJ Hayden had ten pass breakups with one interception and 47 tackles. In this year’s draft, the Raiders selected DE Mario Edwards Jr. from Florida State. He will fit in nicely on a defensive line that already has DE Justin Tuck and DT Dan Williams. Let’s not forget the Raiders have signed LBs Curtis Lofton and Super Bowl 48 MVP Malcolm Smith. With the additions made this offseason on defense, the Raiders will certainly improve their 16th ranked pass defense and 22nd ranked rush defense.
Let’s flip to the offensive side of the ball. I touched on it a little earlier but never went into full detail. Derek Carr was taking in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He came in and instantly showed that he belongs in this league. With over 3,200 yards passing and 21 TDs to only 12 INTs, Carr is shedding that bad label his brother David brought to the Carr legacy. As stated earlier, Oakland has passed on a few future hall of fame WRs. They have learned from their mistakes though with the selection of Amari Cooper in this year’s draft. At Alabama, Cooper shined. In his three years playing for the Crimson Tide, Cooper totaled over 3,400 yards receiving and 31 TDs.
In the third round of this year’s draft, the team in black took TE Clive Walford out of Miami (Fla). He didn’t put up Kellen Winslow or Jeremy Shockey numbers at the “U”, but he had good production on a college team in flux. At 6’4 and 260 lbs, Wallford is another big target for Carr to play with. Oakland is playing it smart and getting their young QB weapons to help him, and this team grow right now.
The Raiders may have gone 3-13 last year, but five of their losses were by seven points or less. This team was competitive last year and has more firepower this year. I’m not saying they will make the playoffs in 2015, but 6 to 7 wins isn’t out of the realm. This team is full of talent and potential. A lot of times that does not mean anything in the NFL, but for this young Oakland team that’s all they have, and they are out to prove something to all the doubters.
