Why the Oakland Raiders will win the Superbowl next season...

This is my first post on Steemit, so I have decided to keep it simple... I will make a BOLD prediction in that my favorite team the Oakland Raiders will win it ALL next year!

With the most recent acquisition of coach Jon Gruden, I believe that we have a proven leader within the coaching ranks and more importantly someone who finally knows how to use Derek Carr properly and can turn him into an upper echelon QB which we have NOT had since the likes of 2002 NFL MVP Rich Gannon was behind center for the Silver and Black.

I believe with the departure of Latavius Murray last year, we got greedy by signing MarShawn Lynch in who i also felt that inept coaching doomed him from the start of the season. With the new OC (Greg Olsen - he sucks IMO, but Gruden is calling the plays) I am hoping that we get away from the "ZBS" aka Zone Blocking in which our line looked mediocre and that is SO far from the truth. Our offense line is really a bully and just to simply needs impose its will against it opponents.

I am actually glad that we got punched in the mouth @ Washington on SNF this season, as it truly "exposed" the deficiencies that we had as a team and the previous season's record of 12-4 was "superficial". It served as an humbling and yet embarrassing experience for our players and fans alike. Our WRs corp is a promising one and I will give a pass to Amare Cooper who had a large case of the "drops" this season but I don't believe this will continue, I am hoping we sign his 5th year option and let him play for a big money extension. Crabtree is another receiver who has produced but not enough to justify his antics and salary. If Laundry is available via free agency or another marquee receiver then we need to kick the tires on them and have a look. Seth Roberts is another WR who had too many drops but he is our slot receiver for the time being. Jared Cook is the MVP of the offense IMHO he simply showed up and did his job and was a great roster addition via Reggie Mac.

On to the defense... which is our Achilles heel for the past several years. Khalil Mack... is simply the best player in football defensively speaking... (better than Van Mueller of the Donks, lol) he simply goes 1000% on every play and he has to be double and triple team just to stop him. The other folks on the line have NOT done enough to get the damn job done!! Mario Edwards who always teases but never lives up to his potential is expendable simply because he has had ample opps to impress and dominate to get sacks and just has been handled at the LOS. I am SO glad that we got Navarro Bowman as he fit just like a glove and provided much needed leadership and actually led the team in tackles after coming over in the middle of the season for the KC game. I believe we need one more LB as we will like retain the 4-3 as our base defense.

Our secondary, was terrible with the likes of Reggie Nelson (too old and slow) and Joseph who showed flashes but is playing out of position @ SS, when he is a FS and of course Sean Smith who looked like trash especially during the Washington game. I will say that once Norton was taken out of his misery, under Pagano he actually look decent and showed a vast improvement, which is leading me to believe the "system" was the problem based on the fact that you have to have the proper personnel to run a particular defensive system in any sport. Connely our first rounder showed the potential to be a shutdown corner (I will not anoint him as the next Terry McDaniel or Charles Woodson) yet but I think you know what I am trying to get at.

Our special teams, was very good with King punting and dancing but I'd like for him to more driven and focused as we have had some great punters in our franchise history. (Guy, Gossett, and Lechler). Our kicking game is going to be IMPORTANT and I for one was very surprised in our new kicker who started strong but faded as the season went on. He is NOT Cole Ford for one thing, but he has some BIG shoes to fill if "Seabass" decides to hang them up, in which I believe he is going to do. We should bring in another kicker and let Tavecchio feel some pressure, so he can "tighten up".

Jon Gruden, Reggie McKenzie and staff have their work cut out for them! There will be a purging of sorts and there needs to be as JDR was never accountable enough nor did he hold the players to such an exacting standard which gave them a false sense of just showing up for the paycheck and nothing else. We have our core intact and it is going to be ONE HELL OF A RIDE. I have waited long enough (I became a fan in 1985 - 2nd grade) to see my team win a Superbowl as we could not get the job done in 2001 (Tuck Rule) and 2002 (Bill Cally sabotaged and threw the game on purpose).

It will be refreshing or exasperating to revisit this post and marvel at my genius or cringe at my ignorance. Nonetheless, I CAN'T WAIT!!!! RAIDERS4LIFE!!!!