The Oakland Raiders lost two important pieces to their running game this past season as Tom Cable and Robert Gallery dashed to Seattle to join the Seahawks.
Cable's loss will affect the team dramatically, as a change in head coach always does, but moving Hue Jackson from offensive coordinator to head coach will likely somewhat alter the team's identity. Even if Jackson and Cable are similar in style, every coach is unique and will alter the team in some fashion (which is why the Colts brought in Jim Caldwell in Indianapolis, who has no personality to affect change).
While Robert Gallery isn't a stud left guard by any means, he was a good run blocker with a lot of NFL experience.
His replacement is a 29-year-old former fifth-round pick of the Tennessee Titans. Daniel Loper didn't start with an NFL team until he left the Titans and played for the Detroit Lions in 2009. He only started five games and dressed for eight.
The Lions released him after the season, which allowed him to make his way to Oakland to become the backup to Robert Gallery.
For the second season in a row Gallery went down with a season-ending injury and Loper took his chance to shine—in a sense.
Loper essentially went by completely unnoticed. He was very quiet and had you not known he was there you would have just presumed Robert Gallery was still playing. For most players that is a terrible thing. For an offensive lineman, there is no greater compliment. An offensive lineman whose name you don't know is a happy offensive lineman.
However, while Loper impressed last season, he only started four games. This season he figures to be the starter from the off. There is a big difference between coming in and holding the fort down for a few weeks and being the team's long-term starter.
Considering Loper hasn't started 10 games throughout his six-year career, a 16-game season is a very long-term job for him. Loper's job would have been made easier if he wasn't playing inside a guy who is in a similar position.
Jared Veldheer started 11 games as a rookie last season. He wasn't perfectly reliable, but he showed an awful lot more than you would expect from a player in his situation. The Raiders' coaching staff appear to have complete faith in him for the coming season; there is no doubt that he will be the team's starter.
Veldheer isn't a star by any means and has been susceptible to speed rushers. However, he has time to develop into the franchise left tackle the coaching staff believe he can be. Veldheer will be vital for the Raiders this season though, so will need to have learned a lot from his rookie year.
With Darren McFadden looking to lead the team again with a huge year and Jason Campbell hoping for his receivers to develop, the left side of the Raiders' offensive line will be crucial for their assault on the AFC West.
The defense has suffered a significant loss with Nnamdi Asomugha leaving. Depending on how well they deal with that the offense may have to be even better than it was last year for them to even repeat an 8-8 season.
Loper and Veldheer will be vital in that quest.
Shannon Brown Kobe Braynt Andrew Bynum Jordan Farmar Derek Fisher Pau Gasol
Keine Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen