Oakland Raiders - 2015 Projections

Oakland Raiders

Overall Outlook

The Oakland Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie has rebuilt the Raiders almost completely in his three plus years in Oakland. The top skill potions players are all McKenzie guys (Murray 2013, Carr 2014, Cooper 2015) and all have a ton of upside. The team has also done well bringing in talented FAs in Helu, Crabtree, Tuck, Lofton etc. Unfortunately, the Raiders play in a very difficult division, and it takes time for youth to emerge in the NFL. That said, look for Oakland to compete much better in 2015, but again produce a losing season.

Offseason Moves

Key additions: QB Christian Ponder, RB Roy Helu, RB Trent Richardson, WR Michael Crabtree, C Rodney Hudson, NT Dan Williams, OLB Malcom Smith, ILB Curtis Lofton, S Nate Allen, KR Trindon Holliday

Key losses: QB Matt Schaub, RB Darren McFadden, RB Maurice Jones-Drew, WR James Jones, WR Denarius Moore, G Kevin Boothe, C Stefen Wisniewski, DE/DT Antonio Smith, DT Pat Sims, DE/OLB LaMarr Woodley, CB Tarell Brown, CB Carlos Rogers, CB Chimdi Chekwa, S Tyvon Branch

Offensive Outlook

The Raiders have new offensive skill positions all over the field. The you talent should make the team a bit more competitive but also more inconsistent. With the weapons they have, and a schedule filled with high scoring teams, we see the Oakland offense getting plenty of opportunities to produce, Expect some solid numbers from the Oakland passing game, and average numbers from their running game in 2015.

Projections - 2015
QB1 - Derek Carr - Passing - 3500 yds / 20 tds  - Rushing - 175 yds / 1 td
RB1 - Latavius Murray - Rushing - 900 yds / 5 tds  Receiving - 40 recs / 300 yds / 1 td
RB2 - Roy Helu - Rushing - 300 yds / 2 tds  Receiving - 45 recs / 425 yds / 2 tds
WR1 - Amari Cooper - Receiving - 70 recs / 950 yds / 5 tds
WR2 - Michael Crabtree - Receiving - 70 recs / 800 yds / 6 tds
WR3 - Rod Streater - Receiving - 45 recs / 600 yds / 2 tds
TE1 - David Ausberry - Receiving - 50 recs / 500 yds / 3 tds

Defensive Outlook
The Oakland defense ranked 21st in yards allowed, but dead last in points allowed in 2014. The team had a brutal schedule and plenty of older players who had lost a step. To improve this year, the Raiders signed Dan Williams, Malcom Smith, Curtis Lofton, and Nate Allen. These additions, along with second year star Khalil Mack, should do well to improve their ranks.  Unfortunately, playing another tough schedule including SD x2, DEN x2, GB, DET, PIT, and BAL this year, offers Oakland's squad very few breaks in 2015.

Projections - 2015
DE1 - Justin Tuck - 40 total Ts / 6 sacks / 3 passes defensed / 4 total TOs
DE2 - Mario Edwards - 30 total Ts / 2 sacks / 3 passes defensed / 3 total TOs
DT1 - Dan Williams - 35 total Ts / 3 sacks / 2 passes defensed / 2 total TOs
DT2 - Justin Ellis  - 20 total Ts / 1 sack / 1 pass defensed / 2 total TOs
OLB1/DE1 - Khalil Mack -  100 total Ts / 4 sacks / 2 passes defensed / 3 total TOs
OLB2 - Malcolm Smith - 65 total Ts / 2 sacks / 2 passes defensed / 3 total TOs
MLB - Curtis Lofton - 115 total Ts / 2 sacks / 4 passes defensed / 2 total TOs
CB1 - D.J. Hayden- 80 total Ts / 0 sacks / 12 passes defensed / 3 total TOs
CB2 - Travis Carrie - 60 total Ts / 0 sacks / 10 passes defensed / 3 total TOs
S1 - Charles Woodson - 100 total Ts / 1 sack / 4 passes defensed / 2 total TOs
S2 -  Nate Allen-  75 total Ts / 0 sacks / 5 passes defensed / 2 total TOs

Schedule

See HERE for schedule analysis.
http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/schedule/_/name/oak/oakland-raiders

Depth Charts
ourlads.com

Pos	No	Player 1	No	Player 2	No	Player 3	No	Player 4	No	Player 5
Offense
LWR	15	Crabtree, Michael U/SF	10	Roberts, Seth CF14	12	Butler, Brice 13/7
RWR	89	Cooper, Amari 15/1	80	Streater, Rod CF12	18	Holmes, Andre W/NE
LT	72	PENN, DONALD CC/TB	69	BARNES, KHALIF U/Jax
LG	66	Jackson, Gabe 14/3	68	Feliciano, Jon 15/4
C	61	Hudson, Rodney U/KC	70	Bergstrom, Tony 12/3
RG	76	Webb, J'Marcus SF15	68	Feliciano, Jon 15/4
RT	77	Howard, Austin U/NYJ	73	McCants, Matt SF13
TE	81	Rivera, Mychal 13/6	86	Smith, Lee U/Buf	88	Walford, Clive 15/3	82	Holmes, Gabe CF15
QB	4	Carr, Derek 14/2	14	McGloin, Matt CF13
FB	45	REECE, MARCEL SF08	49	Olawale, Jamize P/Dal
RB	28	Murray, Latavius 13/6	22	Jones, Taiwan 11/4	26	Helu, Roy U/Was
Defense
RDE	91	TUCK, JUSTIN U/NYG	97	Edwards Jr., Mario 15/2	93	Edwards, Lavar W/Dal
NT	78	Ellis, Justin 14/4	92	McGee, Stacy 13/6
LDT	90	Williams, Dan U/Arz	96	Autry, Denico CF14
LDE	52	Mack, Khalil 14/1	95	Mayowa, Benson W/Sea
SLB	57	Armstrong, Ray Ray W/SL	56	ALEXANDER, LORENZO SF15
MLB	50	Lofton, Curtis CC/NO	51	Heeney, Ben 15/5
WLB	53	Smith, Malcolm U/Sea	58	Ball, Neiron 15/5
LCB	25	Hayden, DJ 13/1	31	Thorpe, Neiko SF14	21	McDonald, Dexter 15/7
FS	20	Allen, Nate U/Phi	32	Lambert, Keenan W/Sea
SS	24	WOODSON, CHARLES 98/01	42	Asante, Larry SF14
RCB	38	Carrie, Travis 14/7	39	McGill, Keith 14/4
Special Teams
P	7	King, Marquette CF12
PK	11	JANIKOWSKI, SEBASTIAN 00/1
LS	59	CONDO, JON SF06	86	Smith, Lee U/Buf
H	7	King, Marquette CF12
PR	38	Carrie, Travis 14/7
KR	22	Jones, Taiwan 11/4
Practice Squad
PS	34	Atkinson, George RB	74	Bell, Mitchell OG	5	Gilbert, Garrett QB	75	Harris, Shelby DE	65	Kistler Jr., Danny OT
PS	37	McDonald, Tevin FS	99	Orr, Leon DT	47	Shirley, Josh DE	94	Valles, Max OB	30	Edwards, SaQwan CB
Reserves
RES	84	Debose, Andre IR	71	Watson, Menelik IR	56	Williams, Chase IR	29	Ross, Brandian IR	35	Chekwa, Chimdi IR