Oakland Raiders

“We're not losers anymore,” Tom Cable proudly told his team after they trounced the Kansas City Chiefs 31-10 to raise their record to .500, cap an unbeaten year in the division, and called it a season while other teams were getting ready to start the playoff. And then Cable had the we stripped from that comment as Al Davis declined to pick up the option to retain Cable's services. The move was widely mocked, and met with scorn by some of the Raider players themselves. Simply not being losers is never going to be good enough for Al Davis, and the reality is Cable's fate was likely sealed long before.

But the door closing on Tom Cable only opened one for Hue Jackson as he slid from his successful one year stint as offensive coordinator and into the head coaching position of the Oakland Raiders. The Raiders players seemed to approve of the Jackson hiring. Any chaos or distention perceived or real at the time of Cable's departure now seems like it was the distant past.

The Oakland Raiders have used the lockout as a chance to come together rather than drift apart. Richard Seymour paid for an offseason workout put on by Competitive Edge sports that by all accounts was the most organized of any team's player led workouts. Virtually every Oakland Raider under contract was in attendance, as well as most of the rookies. They have plans to workout again in July if the lockout continues. Beyond those team wide sessions, wide receivers Louis Murphy, Darrius Heyward-Bey and Jacoby Ford have spent time couch surfing at Jason Campbell's house so they could workout, run routes, and work on timing.

The Raiders had numerous free agents at the end of the 2010 season, and consequently were the busiest team re-signing their own players before the lockout shut everything down. Despite their spending spree they still have some of the bigger names on the free agent market. LG Robert Gallery and FS Michael Huff are both in line for decent paydays, and of course there is the star of this free agency class, Nnamdi Asomugha.

The Raiders did what they could to fill any holes created by possible free agent departures in the 2011 draft. G/C Stefen Wisniewski was the team's first pick, and Hue Jackson has already said he expects Wisniewski to be the starting center. Wisniewski will be joined on the offensive line by LSU's Joe Barksdale. Barksdale is a three year starter in the SEC at tackle, and will be in the mix for the starting RT spot. Other than the linemen, the Raiders went speed, speed, and more speed.

Cornerbacks DeMarcus Van Dyke and Chimdi Chekwa will battle for immediate playing time at corner. Speedy RB Taiwan Jones is a big play running back that may also get some kick return opportunities. And the pick with the best value was the Raiders the fifth round selection of WR Denarious Moore. Moore's is another speedster, but he is also a natural pass catcher that attacks the ball.

It is a big year for the Oakland Raiders. While they still have some big free agent moves hanging in the future. The fan base (and the owner) are thinking playoffs in 2011.