The NFL and HBO network have just announced that they have selected the Oakland Raiders to be on Hard Knocks, they will show us what a Raiders training camp looks like from the inside. It’s going to be very interesting to watch Coach Gruden and all of the Raiders new faces in a TV Show. With all of the hype that the announcement has caused. Today we’ll be doing an analysis of the Oakland Raiders Division, the AFC West…please join me…
DENVER BRONCOS
Key Departures
S Darian Stewart, OG Billy Turner, CB Bradley Roby, TE Matt LaCosse, EDGE Shaq Barrett, QB Trevor Siemian, QB Case Keenum
Key Arrivals
CB Kareem Jackson , OT JaWaun James, CB Bryce Callahan, QB Joe Flacco
Best Draft Picks
TE Noah Fant, TE, Iowa (Rd 1)
OT Dalton Risner, Kansas State (Rd 2)
QB Drew Lock, Missouri (Rd 2)
DT Dre’Mont Jones, Ohio State (Rd 3)
EDGE Justin Hollins, Oregon (Rd5)
Analysis
Last season Case Keenum was a major disappointment for the Broncos as the starting QB. Due to that, the Broncos opted to send him to the Redskins and bring in veteran Joe Flacco to command the offense this season. In addition to adding Flacco, they have selected QB Drew Lock in the second round to be the QB of the future.
On the defensive side, the Broncos have a very solid roster. Commanded by the dangerous Von Miller and cornerback Chris Harris, the Defense is the strongest unit of the team. This will greatly help the Broncos new Head Coach, Vic Fangio, who is a great defensive mind. Although they have very good defense, I do not see the offense having enough power to give the Broncos a good campaign. I believe that just like last year, they will have a very difficult season and they will not be in the Playoffs.
*2019 Projection: 6-10
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Key Departures
EDGE Justin Houston, C Mitch Morse, CB Steven Nelson, S Eric Berry, WR Chris Conley, EDGE Dee Ford
Key Arrivals
QB E.J. Manuel , WR Sammie Coates, DB Dontae Johnson, RB Carlos Hyde, S Tyrann Mathieu, LB Damien Wilson, EDGE Alex Okafor , CB Breshaud Breeland, EDGE Frank Clark
Best Draft Picks
WR Mecole Hardman, Georgia (Rd 2)
S Juan Thornhill, Virginia (Rd 2)
DL Khalen Saunders, Western Illinois (Rd 3)
CB Rashad Fenton, South Carolina (Rd 6)
RB Darwin Thompson, Utah State (Rd 6)
Analysis
The Chiefs will once again be the team to beat in the AFC West. Kansas City has a great team, but their success depends 100% on Patrick Mahomes. They have had some important losses, like RB Kareem Hunt, and star WR Tyrek Hill is suspended by the team for his off-field problems. Even with these losses, I think the Chiefs have both the right players and the coaching staff needed to replace them without suffering too much their absence.
On the defensive side, the Chiefs traded Dee Ford and waived Justin Houston and Eric Berry, but they bring in Frank Clark as well as Tyrann Mathieu to solidify the defense. Combining these moves with the change of Defensive Coordinator, they must improve a unit that was their weakness last season. I believe that if Mahomes doesn’t get injured and plays at the same level that he played last year, the Chiefs will be a very serious contender to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.
*2019 Projection: 11-5
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
Key Departures
S Jahleel Addae, WR Tyrell Williams, CB Jason Verrett, DT Darius Philon
Key Arrivals
LB Thomas Davis, QB Tyrod Taylor
Best Draft Picks
DL Jerry Tillery, Notre Dame (Rd 1)
S Nasir Adderley, Delaware (Rd 2)
OL Trey Pipkins, Sioux Falls (Rd 3)
LB Drue Tranquill, Notre Dame (Rd 4)
Analysis
What can we say about the Chargers that has not been already said? Year after year, QB Phillip Rivers and company look like very solid Super Bowl contenders. But when the time comes, they choke.
This season will not be an exception, thanks to a very powerful offense and a defense that is one of most effective units in the league. Once again, the Chargers look like a very serious contender to fight the Chiefs for the AFC West crown. But with the Chargers, things usually do not turn out as planned. I personally believe that they will return to their old habits of choking and losing games in the last seconds. Although they will be in the fight for a ticket to the Playoffs, they will not have as good a campaign as last season.
*2019 Projection: 9-7
OAKLAND RAIDERS
Key Departures
WR Jordy Nelson, OT Donald Penn, QB AJ McCarron, WR Seth Roberts, RB Marshawn Lynch, TE Jared Cook, OG Kelechi Osemele, CB Leon Hall, S Reggie Nelson, OL John Feliciano
Key Arrivals
WR Antonio Brown, OT Trent Brown, S Lamarcus Joyner. WR Tyrell Williams, WR J.J. Nelson, LB Vontaze Burfict, LB Brandon Marshall, EDGE Benson Mayowa, EDGE Josh Mauro, TE Luke Willson, Signed RB Isaiah Crowell, QB Mike Glennon, S Curtis Riley, G Richie Incognito
Best Draft Picks
EDGE Clelin Ferrell, Clemson (Rd 1)
RB Josh Jacobs, Alabama (Rd 1)
S Johnathan Abram, Mississippi State (Rd 1)
CB Trayvon Mullen, Clemson (Rd 2)
EDGE Maxx Crosby, Eastern Michigan (Rd 4)
CB Isaiah Johnson, CB, Houston (Rd 4)
TE Foster Moreau, LSU (Rd 4)
WR Hunter Renfrow, Clemson (Rd 5)
Analysis
Year after year the controversy has surrounded this team, this season is not an exception. The Raiders have been reinforced like no other team in the league, though they have also brought many players with very controversial pasts and explosive personalities. Such is the case of WR Antonio Brown, G Richie Incognito and LB Vontaze Burfict. The Raiders also had a great Draft with 3 first round selections, thanks to this they have added some talented young players to the team. Oakland is one of the teams that have been reinforced the most to start this season, but his success will depend a lot on what QB Derek Carr will do. After a full year of learning in Gruden’s system and for the first time in his career, he will have a high level group of WRs commanded by Antonio Brown.
This season, the Raiders success will also depend on how the coaching staff manages to keep the locker room together and motivated with such a nasty schedule. Oakland will travel a lot of miles, in addition to having a period of 6 weeks where they will not play a single game at home, something never seen in the NFL before. If they manage to win at least half of their games during the first half of the season, they will have the chance to fight for a Wild Card slot to the Playoffs. Personally, I don’t see the Raiders with a real chance to fight for the AFC West title though.
*2019 Projection: 8-8
That’s all for this week, stay tuned in to BellyUPSports.com for more divisional analysis!!
