AFC West Champs: Oakland Raiders
This article is about why I think the Oakland Raiders are playoff contenders.
How the Raiders built a playoff contending team from scratch on defense in about 2-4 years and why they will make the playoffs this year.
In 2013, cornerback DJ Hayden was drafted by the Raiders.
He was a defensive player they drafted back then to make a foundation for the team on defense in the long haul.
They brought in Charles Woodson from the Green Bay Packers, defensive end Justin Tuck from the New York Giants, and Ray-Ray Armstrong from the St. Louis Rams in 2014.
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They wanted to start fresh and build from the ground up.
Rebuilding is the term everyone thinks the Raiders are always doing.
However, acquiring these defensive players laid the foundation for the future.
The organization added these players attracted other veterans to want to play for them.
Next they wanted to rebuild their offense as well, add to their defense they were rebuilding.
Then they made a good acquisition on defense to improve drastically last year in 2014 before the draft. Justin Tuck from the New York Giants.
Next in 2014 they drafted more players to add to their offense and defense to start.
They also drafted quarterback Derek Carr, Defensive End Khalil Mack, Nose tackle Justin Ellis, Cornerback Tj Carrie.
The 2014 draft for the Raiders helped lay more posts to their foundation.
When the Oakland Raiders drafted Derek Carr, I was glad they did because he is the leader on offense they need.
The last time the Raiders had a quarterback as good as him was Rich Gannon.
While every other football fanatic was explaining, why the Raiders made a bad move drafting him, I disagreed highly with the exception of Raiders fans.
This is because when they drafted him their defense wasn’t great.
The Raiders drafted rookie Khalil Mack to be the heart of the defense.
Derek Carr and Khalil Mack were drafted to be the leaders on both sides of the ball, and franchise players for the Raiders now and in the future.
These two players will carried the team last year and will for the next few years and help the Raiders be a consistent winning team who makes the playoffs.
Last year in 2014 the Raiders showed promise and with more of the proper acquisitions and time; chemistry will build up and they will be on the verge of being great.
Earlier this year they added some more veteran players on defense and offense and drafted a highly potent wide receiver who has great chances of producing this season.
First on offense they brought in wide receiver Michael Crabtree from San Francisco 49ers then drafted wide receiver Amari Cooper.
On defense they brought in quite a few players.
And, again, don’t forget about Derek Carr.
They brought in safety Nate Allen from the Philadelphia Eagles, outside linebacker Malcolm smith from the Seattle Seahawks, and middle linebacker Curtis Lofton from the New Orleans saints this year in the off season.
Every player they acquired either won the Super Bowl with their previous team or been in the playoffs.
Even the players they drafted last year were in winning programs in college.
Derek Carr was a great athlete at Fresno State and that can translate to the NFL with the Raiders because he was at a school that did not receive a lot of attention.
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Many athletes that come from schools like Carr’s do well in the NFL.
The defense is experienced in the postseason.
We all know defense wins championships.
With the Raiders making these changes and hiring head coach in Jack Del Rio they have a chance to surprise everyone and be great in the upcoming years.
Del Rio has experience in the postseason as well.
On offense Crabtree has been to the Super Bowl and can compliment Cooper who has been in a national championship game at Alabama and Derek Carr who can only get better.
The Raiders only in time can improve.
In the AFC West the only competition I see for the Raiders is Kansas City.
Bottom Line: Oakland is ready to come out on top.
With seasoned veterans on both sides of the ball and a young team i see the Raiders making the postseason this year.
My bold statement is they will win the AFC West this year in 2015.