The Oakland Raiders are entering the 2013 season with hope after going just 4-12 last year and while a Super Bowl is out of the question, an 8-8 record is something the team can achieve and one reason is due to players that Reggie McKenzie brought in, including Matt Flynn, Charles Woodson, Nick Roach and Sio Moore.
The Raiders had a busy offseason while unloading some bad contracts and signing a host of new players, including Charles Woodson, Nick Roach, Mike Jenkins, Tracy Porter, Kevin Burnett as well as a number of other vets. The team did a good job in the draft based on projections as well and added a potential star with DJ Hayden in the first round. McKenzie got a quarterback for the future in Tyler Wilson as well as Sio Moore and a number of offensive stars in Latavius Murray, Nick Kasa and Brice Butler.
The Raiders went 8-8 the previous two seasons before 2012 and the team was inconsistent for most of last year while Darren McFadden was injured. If McFadden can stay on the field more than the 12 and 7 games he has over the past two seasons, Flynn will have a better time running the offense and defenses won't be able to gang up on the pass. McFadden can be an explosive player when he is healthy and his skills at catching passes out of the backfield will only benefit the Raiders as well.
The team hasn't had a winning season in years and since making to the Super Bowl they have won just 49 games and lost over 100, but McKenzie and coach Dennis Allen feel that the franchise is turning the corner and this season could be the first big step in that process. As the 2013 season approaches, there are a number of players to keep an eye on, including Flynn at quarterback.
Starting for the first time on a consistent basis in his career, Flynn will get the chance to show why he was solid as Aaron Rodgers' backup for years and he will likely get the first start of the season no matter how good Wilson looks in training camp. Another Wilson already beat out Flynn last season so it is unlikely they will do it again. He threw six touchdown passes in a game once and the Raiders will be hoping for work like that.
McFadden is the biggest question mark, as when he is healthy the team knows how good they can be, but he has never started more than 13 games in any season. In 57 games in his career he has rushed for 3,334 yards and 18 touchdowns, but he has also missed 23 games in his career. This season will be huge for McFadden going forward as he is in a contract year.
Nick Roach and rookie Sio Moore will be a big part of the improving defense, as will Charles Woodson, who is back in black for the first time in years. Roach is a leader and an underrated linebacker and he is expected to be the top tackler for the team, while Moore proved he could play in college by making 72 tackles, 8.5 sacks and knocking down 11 passes last season. The three players should help improve the defense big time.