After a 12-year playoff drought, a coaching carousel, useless draft picks and losing seasons, the Oakland Raiders face the most important offseason in their history.
The future of this organisation will depend on one piece of business, the hiring of Jim Harbaugh.
Over the years, the Raiders have tried everything to turn the franchise around, from splashing in free agency to trading multiple picks for a has-been quarterback. The only missing link was a leader savvy enough to pull this storied franchise out of oblivion.
The Raiders don’t have anything to lure free agents with. What they offer is a losing reputation, a new owner with minimum status, a rundown stadium and no elite superstars. They need to offer something more than their famous Raider Nation. They need to offer a reason to play there.
What Harbaugh can bring is a name and a coach that players would like to play for.
Through his career he has developed an intense yet effective way of coaching that has transformed teams almost immediately. The way he carries on his business creates an intense environment in the locker room that brings the competitive side out of his team.
In the space of twelve months Harbaugh brought a struggling 6-10 San Francisco 49ers under Mike Singletary to a 13-3 record and was one game away from a Superbowl. The dramatic turnaround shows how imperative a head coach is in this league.
Similar to what Pete Carrol has done in Seattle, Harbaugh has instilled an ‘us versus the world’ attitude into his players. This attitude brings with it a somewhat controlled confidence in which he sets.
So where to now?
The Raiders’ front office has done well the last few years – but the previous year has seen general manager Reggie McKenzie under constant criticism due to the record, and rightly so.
Although his treatment has been somewhat harsh as fans need to understand that a general manager’s job is not just to produce wins but also ensure harmony financially.
With the late, great Al Davis taking full control of every facet of the Raiders prior his death, a number of big mistakes were made. It was always going to take a long time to turn this franchise around in terms of becoming financially astute.
With McKenzie, the Raiders now have some right pieces in place to be able to produce wins in the future. Let me be clear, he does deserve criticism, but only for results on the field. Off the field the man has been good.
Last offseason the team missed out on several crucial free agents due to the ‘lack of pull’ of the organisation. This offseason will be the same unless they get a superstar coach like Harbaugh.
Yes, he has made mistakes along the way, the hiring of Dennis Allen certainly at the forefront. But what he has provided is the framework of running a healthy football team. The way the Raiders are now run in terms of day-to-day operations has changed dramatically since the days of Al Davis.
The other thing McKenzie has provided is the acquirement of able and willing young talent ready to take this team forward.
The draft has provided the Raiders with a promising franchise quarterback who has had more completions in his rookie season than Peyton Manning did. Two linebackers that can prove to be the best partnership in the league in Khalil Mack and Sio Moore, and young offensive linemen like Gabe Jackson, Stefen Wisniewski and Menelik Watson who are developing and are consistent starters.
All these players were draft picks made by McKenzie. His evaluations have not only been based on talent but also attitude. These young players are eager to learn.
To aid their development McKenzie also acquired veterans willing to mentor. The right mix of youth and experience has seen this team flourish during the last weeks of the season.
The appointment of Harbaugh will give the team immediate cache in free agency going into 2015.
With the young talent and building blocks in place and a coach of Harbaugh’s calibre, free agents will look at Oakland as an opportunity instead of a quick payday.
Going into this offseason, the Raiders need to take a defensive approach. In a conference that boasts Peyton Manning, Phillip Rivers and Alex Smith the management needs to look at ways of getting to the quarterback.
With several defensive linemen becoming free agents, the Raiders need to throw money at one that will be their main man – Ndamukong Suh and Jason Pierre-Paul could fit the bill.
If not, Gerald McCoy or BJ Raji are decent signings along with the drafting of USC’s Leonard Williams or Missouri’s Shane Ray. With two signings the Raiders would be one of the most capable pass rushing teams in the NFL.
If they decide to head the other direction, protecting the franchise quarterback is always the sensible choice with decent linemen becoming free agents in 2015. In the draft they need to add some firepower to Derek Carr’s offence. Amari Cooper from Alabama will be a welcome option as he is being dubbed the next AJ Green.
Make no mistake about it, another draft similar to this year and two or three capable free agents along with the right coach will turn the Raiders into a playoff team.
In terms of ownership, Mark Davis has done a decent job in ensuring his father’s legacy. He has let the football minds make the footballing decisions – a rare trait among today’s owners.
His next move will perhaps be the most important one, the acquiring of Harbaugh. Let’s see if the Raiders can finally turn the corner and go back to greatness.
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