The Oakland Raiders begin training camp this week in Napa and after a rough couple of seasons and a 4-12 record last year, the franchise is ready to turn things around and that will all begin on Thursday when the team meets up to start summer workouts.
The team is bringing a number of new players, including free agent signings and draft picks to camp, with names like Charles Woodson, Tracy Porter, Kevin Burnett, Nick Roach and Mike Jenkins adding talent to the roster. General manager Reggie McKenzie made a number of moves in the offseason to help bring the team out of a tough financial situation, including trading for quarterback Matt Flynn and moving the expensive contract of Carson Palmer to the Arizona Cardinals in another deal
McKenzie made most of the moves on defense this offseason, including drafting cornerback D.J. Hayden, but he also put a focus on the offense in the draft, taking players like Tyler Wilson, Menelik Watson, Nick Kasa, Latavius Murray and Brice Butler to help add more youth, speed and explosiveness to the unit. With Darren McFadden entering a contract year, the offense is hoping to improve and if he can stay healthy and play at least 13 games, the team should be much better off, as he has never played that many in one season in his career.
The team is coming into camp with a new running scheme from head coach Dennis Allen and coordinator Greg Olson and if McFadden can't stay healthy, the team has some decent depth at the position with Murray, Marcel Reece, Rashad Jennings as well as Jeremy Stewart. The wideout position has depth as well and with Darrius Heyward-Bey not back after being released, someone between Jacoby Ford, Josh Cribbs, Butler, Denarius Moore and Rod Streater will need to step up, with Streater and Moore like starting the season as the top two recievers for Flynn.
The tight end position will be crucial for Flynn as he begins to start for the first time in the NFL and after losing leading receiver Brandon Myers to the Giants, the team hopes that someone from a group that includes David Ausberry or Richard Gordon, Mychal Rivera, Nick Kasa will step up to give him a solid target. Myers led the team with 79 catches and now that production will have to come from elsewhere.
The Raiders have fallen on hard times and they appear to finally be back on track, but it remains to be seen what the collective talent is on the roster and both McKenzie and Allen are hoping it's better than 4-12. Here is the training camp roster, stars next to the names mean likely starters.
Quarterbacks: Matt Flynn, Terrelle Pryor, Tyler Wilson, Matt McGloin
Running backs: Darren McFadden, *Marcel Reece (FB), Rashad Jennings, Latavius Murray, Jeremy Stewart, Deonte' Williams, Jon Hoese (FB), Jamize Olawale (RB-FB)
Wide receivers: Denarius Moore, *Rod Streater, Jacoby Ford, Juron Criner, Josh Cribbs, Brice Butler, Conner Vernon, Sam McGuffie, Andre Holmes, Tray Session, Isaiah Williams, Greg Jenkins
Tight End: David Ausberry or Richard Gordon, Mychal Rivera, Nick Kasa, Brian Leonhardt
Offensive line: Center: Stefen Wisniewski, Alex Parsons, Andrew Robiskie, Guard: Tony Bergstrom, *Mike Brisiel, Lucas Nix, Lamar Mady, Jason Foster, Tackle: Jared Veldheer, *Khalif Barnes, Menelik Watson, Alex Barron, Willie Smith, John Wetzel
Linebacker: Sio Moore, *Nick Roach, *Kevin Burnett, Miles Burris, Kaluka Maiava, Travis Goethel, Kaelen Burnett, Keenan Clayton, Billy Boyko, Eric Harper
Corner: *Mike Jenkins, *Tracy Porter, D.J. Hayden, Joselio Hanson, Phillip Adams, Chimdi Chekwa, Coye Francies, Chance Casey, Taiwan Jones, Cory Nelms, Mitchell White
Safety: Charles Woodson, *Tyvon Branch, Usama Young, Reggie Smith, Brandian Ross, Shelton Johnson
Special teams: Chris Kluwe, Marquette King, Sebastian Janikowski, Eddy Carmona
