The Light at the End of the Tunnel: 2009's NFL Breakout Team | MLB Master's Blog

Remember Croakland a while ago. Went to the super bowl only to get themselves back at square one. Some said they lost their swagger after multiple losing seasons. The Raiders bascially fired a coach every season. They got ripped off by the Randy Moss trade, only receiving a fourth round pick while Moss broke several main receiving records en route to a 16-0 season with the Patriots and losing in the super bowl to the New York Giants. They also made smart moves like drafting Darren McFadden and Jamarcus Russell. In their upset victory against the Bucs they showed what they were made of. After firing promising coach Lane Kiffin, the youngest coach to be hired/fired in NFL history, they started winning. Nnamdi Asomugha is the best CB in the NFL, Derrick Burgesses is one of the best pass rushers, Zach Miller is a solid tight end, Tommy Kelly is a solid DT, and Kirk Morrison has made a name as a linebacker. Sebastian Janikowski is a great veteran kicker while Shane Lechler is one of the best punters in history. Robert Gallery is among the leagues best blockers.The running backs are great with an always solid Justin Fargas and a breakout season in Michael Bush and the team has revved up the engines. Another solid draft pick position will also help. Time to see the Raiders at the top of the NFL's worst division. Proof that rebuiliding does pay off.

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December 31, 2008 09:53 PM ET

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The Raiders MUST get Shane and Nnamdi re-signed. Thinks would have been much worse if not for Shane's punts constantly pinning teams near their own end zone. Nnamdi is the best corner in the league, hands down. He takes away half of the field.

Its nice to see Gallery finally find a home at guard, but teams don't draft guards in the first round. He was supposed to be a pro-bowl left tackle by the second season.

I still don't know what to do about Cable. The guys obviously play hard for him, which is half the battle. Say what you will about Davis, but the man has an eagle eye for good coaches, especially young ones. Remember his first choice was Sean Payton, and Kiffan was probably his 4th or 5th choice at the most He wasn't even his top choice from USC. He also nearly hired Bill Belichick but went with Gruden.

He needs a GM, plain and simple. Things haven't been the same since Bruce Allen left, although his job title was "senior assistant". What he did, however, was keep Davis off the coach's ****. Since he left with Gruden, the Raiders have been in disarray. He's old and is not able to keep his thumb on everything. He needs to let go in order to win. He won't even let Rob Ryan run a cover-2, because he's stuck in the '70s. I think Bill Parcells would be a great fit, as long as the old man can bite his tongue and let Bill do his job.

Mr.G in Central Cali

Modesto , CA

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January 7, 2009 06:51 AM ET

Wide receiver corps needs strong breakout player, Crabtree, Nicks, Heyward-Bey, one of these 3 should be available at #7. More pickings avail at T/G after Smith & Oher, without a great drop off in talent. DE/DT with 3rd pick focus on size, aggressive talent & strength, smarts to handle run or pass, room to grow. Would love Laurinitas but without trade up don't think it's possible he could fall to us in any round but the first, which should be the star WR pick without ?. Be sure "cable guy" & his cronies are long gone over the bridge 1st.
Al is the only genius the could have made this possible, to acquire this kind of talent over a few years of sacrifice. Now he can pick the right GM & Coach we can return to the glory days with a vengeance. Denver???s new coach ..."cable guy"!!!