Is Carr & Co. ready to jump to next level?
NAPA — If ever a team needed a chance to hunker down together for training camp and get away from the noise, it might be these Raiders. And no, it’s not for the reasons one may normally think.
The Raiders check in to the Napa Valley Marriott on Thursday as one of the league’s official darlings of the offseason. Nary a day has passed without the team receiving some sort of praise from the national media.
The team’s social media de-
partment has cramped fingers from regurgitating out constant stream of glowing reviews. It’s an almost scary level of respect for a team that’s gone 13 straight seasons without a winning record or playoff appearance.
Such can become the case though when you go into an offseason and address your biggest issues, plus return one of the more promising young quarterbacks in the league in Derek Carr.
“They’ve got the makings of a good team, they really do,” ESPN analyst and former NFL coach Herm Edwards said. “They have a chance to win 10 games. But there’s no margin of error. They’ve got a tough schedule. But they’ve got a shot. I said after the draft, these guys should win 10 games.”
The difference between 10-win potential and 10 wins on paper is immense. The depth of the Raiders’ talent has gradually improved in Reggie McKenzie’s five years as general manager. This is his best compilation of talent in terms of players and coaches. But a few missteps can send a team off course.
The Raiders were briefly in the playoff conversation last season, with a 4-3 start generating talk of contention. Three straight losses followed and burst that balloon.
While the Raiders aim to avoid that this year, here are five other questions that must be answered as the Raiders prepare for their Sept. 11 opener in New Orleans:
Can Carr make leap?
Carr’s progression from rookie to sophomore was admirable. He led four fourthquarter comebacks, threw for nearly 4,000 yards and his 53 touchdown passes through two seasons is second only to Dan Marino.
News flash: The jump to the next level will be even more difficult.
Some of the shine of Carr’s solid second season disappeared over his final five games. He threw seven of his 13 interceptions, didn’t have a passer rating above 79.0 in any game and twice completed less than half of his passes. The Raiders need a complete season from Carr and for him to thrive in December to end their playoff drought.
Who leads defense?
The Raiders lost two major voices with the retirements of Charles Woodson and Justin Tuck.
Khalil Mack is the defense’s unquestioned star, but he’s not exactly the vocal type. Newly signed pass rusher Bruce Irvin is comfortable in that role and free agent cornerback Sean Smith will help in the secondary. But that could be asking a lot from two newcomers who may not know all the personalities.
The offense has Carr and a veteran line to lean on. The defense needs to make sure it has a similar foundation in leadership.
Will Murray get help?
Latavius Murray’s first full season as a starter saw the former sixth-round pick finish second in the AFC in rushing with 1,066 yards — Oakland’s first 1,000-yard back since Darren McFadden in 2010.
But he averaged only 3.5 yards per carry over the final five games of the season and his in-game splits — 4.3 per carry in the first half, 3.6 in the second — are clear signs he needs a reliable backup to help spell him.
Roy Helu Jr. starts camp on the physically unable to perform list following offseason hip surgery and is a big question mark. Taiwan Jones is already in his sixth season and has had some chances. The hope likely lies in DeAndre Washington, the team’s fifth-round pick from Texas Tech. The Raiders need him — or somebody — to add a change of pace to the last year’s 28thranked rushing attack.
Who’s at right tackle?
The Raiders are fairly settled at most of their starting positions … except right tackle. The competition is familiar as Menelik Watson and Austin Howard battle for the second straight year.
Watson had the leg up in 2015 before rupturing his Achilles in the third exhibition game. Howard handled the job for the first 13 games before suffering his own season-ending injury.
Both should be good to go now and the competition will be wide open to see who starts along what is expected to be among the league’s top offensive lines.
Who backs up Carr?
McKenzie traded up for the first time in his general manager career to grab Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook with the second pick of the fourth round.
That opened questions regarding the future of fourthyear backup Matt McGloin. The Raiders could decide to keep three quarterbacks — McKenzie mentioned his preference to have three after drafting Cook — but the battle to be Carr’s backup should be intense.