NFL team previews — AFC West
Aug. 22, 2000
|
 |
Raiders CB
Charles Woodson
|
Expectations are higher and patience is shorter among NFL owners these days, and the
success of the Rams last season has a lot to do with it. Coaches are expected to turn
middle-of-the-road teams into Super Bowl champions as Dick Vermeil and his staff did a
year ago.
That thought process puts coaches such as the Raiders’ Jon Gruden in a perilous
position going into the 2000 season.
Both Chan Gailey (Dallas) and Ray Rhodes (Green Bay) were fired after their respective
teams finished with 8-8 records last year. And while Gruden received plenty of support
this past offseason, the fact NFL coaches are given less leeway these days can’t make
it any easier for Gruden to sleep at night because his Raiders have produced consecutive
8-8 seasons with him in charge.
Managing general partner Al Davis fired Mike Shanahan after only 20 games as coach of
the Raiders from 1988 to ’89. Shanahan went on to win back-to-back Super Bowls in
Denver.
But Davis isn’t about to make the same mistake twice, and plenty of optimism
surrounds the Raiders these days.
Oakland re-signed prospective free agents Tim Brown, Bobby Hoying, Steve Wisniewski and
Greg Biekert only two months after signing RBs Tyrone Wheatley and Napoleon Kaufman to
three-year extensions. Then came the draft in April, when Oakland selected PK Sebastian
Janikowski, P Shane Lechler — both the top-rated players in the nation at their
respective positions — and WR Jerry Porter, among others. The Raiders’ primary
intent during the offseason was to bolster their special teams, the Raiders’
Achilles’ heel last season.
The addition of free agents such as WRs David Dunn, safeties Anthony Dorsett,
Je’Rod Cherry and Marquez Pope, CB Tory James, DE Regan Upshaw and LBs Elijah
Alexander and William Thomas will go far in the quest to fill the holes from last
year’s team.
A six-year playoff drought stares the Raiders in the face going into the 2000 season,
but an easier schedule than last season’s should help matters. And if the pieces to
the puzzle pan out, look for the Raiders to make a strong run at the AFC West title.
Top of page
| Quarterbacks |
Grade B- |
| Veteran Rich Gannon proved he is capable of being a
productive starter over the course of an entire season, posting career highs in just about
every statistical category last season. More importantly, Gannon consistently found ways
to keep the Raiders in every game and usually played as well on the road as he did at
home. He also started all 16 games despite suffering a broken left wrist and numerous
other injuries. Bobby Hoying is the primary backup, with veteran Rodney Peete the likely
third-stringer. Top of
page |
| Running backs |
Grade B- |
| The combination of Tyrone Wheatley and Napoleon Kaufman gives
Oakland one of the most potent RB tandems in the league. Wheatley showed last season that
he is capable of being a major producer if given the chance. Kaufman’s speed burst
and ability to slip through the smallest of openings is a perfect complement to
Wheatley’s between-the-tackles style. FB Jon Ritchie has developed into a third-down
threat as a quality receiver out of the backfield but is not a great blocker or runner.
Free-agent-signee Jerald Moore and Zack Crockett give Gruden several options on
short-yardage and goal-line situations. Top of page |
| Receivers |
Grade B+ |
| Tim Brown recorded his seventh straight 1,000-yard-plus
season and hasn’t shown signs of slowing up entering his 13th season.
According to Gruden, James Jett is as strong and sharp as he has been in recent memory and
remains a serious deep threat with sprinter’s speed. Porter and the free-agent
addition of Dunn give Gruden a more attractive group than he had last season. Veterans
Terry Mickens, Kenny Shedd and the quietly surprising rookie Marcus Knight are expected to
provide some depth for the Raiders. The big, athletic Rickey Dudley is primed for a
monster season at tight end in the final year of his contract. The only concern is how his
back holds up after offseason surgery. Veteran Derrick Walker was re-signed during
training camp to help the team’s run blocking. Top of page |
| Offensive linemen |
Grade B- |
| All five starters return from last season’s unit, but
there is one new face and two position changes. Second-year player Matt Stinchcomb
replaces incumbent Mo Collins at left tackle after missing his rookie season with a
shoulder injury. Collins moves to right guard, and incumbent Barry Sims moves to the
bench, where he will be the primary backup at both the tackle and guard positions. Barret
Robbins developed into one of the league’s top centers in ’99 and anchors a line
that features a pair of 320-pound-plus players on the right side. If Stinchcomb and
Collins adjust to their new roles, the Raiders again should possess one of the
league’s top rushing and passing attacks. Top of page |
| Defensive linemen |
Grade B |
| Veterans Russell Maryland and James Harris are gone, and
Grady Jackson and Tony Bryant are in as replacements at right tackle and left end,
respectively. Jackson and Bryant played well in supporting roles last season, but
they’ll be expected to make bigger contributions in 2000. Playing on a line that
includes DRE Lance Johnstone and DLT Darrell Russell should help considerably. Veteran
Regan Upshaw has been reunited with his OL coach from his collegiate days at California
and is looking to turn his career around after a disappointing ’99 season with Tampa
Bay and Jacksonville. The Raiders will be counting on Chuck Osborne, rookie Junior Ioane
and Josh Taves to play key roles in their DL rotation. Top of page |
| Linebackers |
Grade C+ |
| The re-signing of Greg Biekert rectified the problem at
middle linebacker, but coming up with two dependable players to play on either side of
Biekert will not be easy. Second-year pro Eric Barton, who started the last three games on
the weak side last year, has the inside track at keeping that spot. However, he will be
challenged by 10-year veteran William Thomas. Elijah Alexander and Travian Smith are
competing for the strong-side spot, though Alexander has the edge because of his
experience and Smith’s tendency not to play within the defensive scheme. If Barton
and Alexander have problems adjusting to their roles, this could be Raiders’ biggest
problem. Top of page |
| Defensive backs |
Grade B+ |
| The success of Charles Woodson will probably play a big role
in determining the overall success of the defense. One of first-year defensive coordinator
Chuck Bresnahan’s first moves was to allow Woodson to shadow an opposing receiver,
regardless of where that receiver lines up. If Woodson handles the change well, it will
make life easier for fellow CB Eric Allen, as well as newly acquired safeties Anthony
Dorsett and Je’Rod Cherry. Darrien Gordon, Tory James, Johnnie Harris and Marquez
Pope should provide adequate depth at what may become Oakland’s deepest position. Top of page |
| Special teams |
Grade B- |
| This was the area targeted by Gruden for a major overhaul. He
selected Janikowski in Round One, Lechler in Round Four, added coach Bob Casullo from the
collegiate ranks and acquired a handful of players capable of being coverage or return
men. All signs point to the special teams as being the Raiders’ most improved area.
How the unit performs likely will determine whether Oakland stays in the race for an AFC
West title. Top of page |
Back to 2000 predictions chart
Back to team previews main page |
|
 |
The Archives
2000 - 2001 Season |
| Online writers — features and
columns by our PFW staff, columnists, AFC reporters, NFC reporters and contributing
writers |
| College football — articles,
college notepad, key college game previews, PFW's college top 10 |
| Fantasy football — articles,
injury reports, weekly fantasy tips, weekly matchups, The Fantasy Doctor, mock drafts,
draft boards, "In our opinion" daily fantasy columns |
| Free-agency |
| General features — Internet
features, features from our print edition, Hall of Fame features, team reports, training
camp reports |
| Handicapper's Corner —
staff selections, games of the week, PFW Players of the Week, NFL standings, weekly
handicapping columns, predictions |
| "A closer look" —
in-depth analysis of general football topics |
| "In our opinion" daily columns
— opinions on general football topics |
| "PFW spins" —
short-takes on current events |
| Joel Buchsbaum
— college player evaluations, NFL player analysis, NFL draft coverage, NFL notepad,
NFList, college game previews and other NFL articles by PFW's contributing editor |
| NFL Draft — player evaluations,
printouts, feature stories, commentaries, draft recaps |
| Ron Pollack —
articles and commentary by PFW's editor-in-chief |
| Season in review —
the 2000-2001 NFL season |
| XFL — the inaugural year |
|
