The Oakland Raiders went and had themselves one heck of an offseason. Really, it's not a stretch to say that it may be the franchise's best in a decade or more. Sure, there's the normal caveat of not knowing how everything is going to pan out, it's still early, blah, blah, blah, and sure, the 2016 NFL Draft still remains on the docket and Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie could pull any manner of moves prior to kickoff of the 2016 NFL season and turn this whole line of thinking on its head.
But as things stand today, the silver and black look to be in pretty good shape for 2016.
Fortunately for them, and especially for young franchise quarterback Derek Carr, and thanks to some favorable scheduling, the ascending Raiders have the chance to start the season on a really positive note, meaning say, a 3-1 or 2-2 record and a few strong games for Carr through the season's first four weeks.
The Raiders and Carr, who kick off 2016 with games against the New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons, Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens, have about as favorable an early season run as any team in the league, at least from an offensive standpoint.
Of those four defenses, three - New Orleans, Tennessee and Baltimore - finished bottom-10 in the league last season against opposing quarterbacks.
The formerly Rob Ryan-lad Saints were, of course, atrocious, allowing an average of 284 passing yards per game in 2015, the second-worst mark in the league. Opposing quarterbacks generated an astounding (and league-leading) 116.2 passer rating against the moribund Saints 'D.'
Remember the shellacking Kirk Cousins put on them in week 10?
And while you should always assume a statistical re-balancing of sorts, pushing the Saints and new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen closer to the mean, New Orleans isn't going to be able to fix all of their secondary holes overnight.
Advantage Raiders.
The Falcons, after a hot start of their own to begin the Dan Quinn era, plummeted back to earth and finished the season in the middle of the pack defensively and, well, overall. They allowed an average of 242.6 yards per game last year, which was 15th. And while another season of growth for pass rusher Vic Beasley and another year in Quinn's scheme could have the Falcons climbing up defensive leader boards, going off last year's numbers, the Raiders should have plenty of opportunities to score.
This one's about even, though I'd give the Raiders the edge thanks to the addition of Kelechi Osemele and the re-signing of Donald Penn.
The Titans were actually fairly stingy defensively from a yardage standpoint last year, allowing just 229.9 yards per game through the air, but they were also susceptible to big plays and let quarterbacks roll up a 101.3 rating. Unless new Tennessee GM Jon Robinson can land about three defensive starters with those six picks in the first 76 selections of the draft, the Titans 'D' isn't magically going to get better overnight.
Again, advantage Raiders.
The traditionally stingy Ravens, who suffered through a strange and injury-riddled 2015, likely won't be as inept defensively as they were last year. You can probably assume they won't again allow opposing signal-callers to average a 99.6 rating, the sixth-worst total in the league, so despite their final rating they look like the toughest out of the bunch for Carr.
Baltimore GM Ozzie Newsome also seems like a man on a mission this offseason, intent on adding talent to the middle and backend of his defense. All-Pro safety Eric Weddle was a start and you can bet Newsome and head coach John Harbaugh will do what they can to keep it going during the draft, but when guys like Jermaine Whitehead and Brennen Beyer are penciled in as starters over former draft picks Matt Elam and Arthur Brown on your formerly staunch defense, things may be a little tougher than hoped.
This one's pretty even too, though it's hard to bet against Harbaugh's Ravens.
In the end, whatever improvement, statistically or in terms of record, the Raiders make in 2016 will be their own. With a stronger offensive line and a more balanced attack the Raiders have the makings of a legitimately fearsome offense in place.
Whether they can capitalize on their favorable early-season schedule won't have anything to do with the defenses they face, but on their own development and the steps they continue to take as a unit under Carr and offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave.
