Raiders and 49ers 2011 Season Review

     Last year the Oakland Raiders went 8-8 not having a winning season since 2002. They brought in Jason Campbell hoping for better results from their quarterback position. After Campbell went down Raider Nation was preparing for a lost season once again. There were reports of Carson Palmer becoming a raider but most fans were skeptical. When the Raiders traded for Carson Palmer the NFL community were shocked that the raiders gave up so much for him. The Raiders suffered another set back with the injury of DMC, which then many people around the NFL thought 2011 was a wash for the Raiders. At the  end of the year many Raider fans looked at the bigger picture. The Raiders went 8-8, with a QB who was new to the offense, and their star player was out for most of the year. With a full training camp and a healthy DMC, Raider nation is looking toward a very bright future in Oakland. 

    In 2011 the San Francisco 49ers at last escaped mediocrity and now find themselves in the Elite category in the NFL.  When Jim Harbuagh came to San Francisco not many people thought they would make it to the playoffs, but they shocked the nation going 13-3 and entering the playoffs as the second best team in the NFC.  Alex Smith who was taken number one overall in the 2005 didn’t live up to expectations the 49ers had set for him when he was drafted. He had a solid year throwing for 3,144 yards and 17 touchdowns. The major factor in the 49ers epic run in 2011, was their pro bowl defense. They were considered as one of the top defenses in the NFL. They had 3 starting defensive players at the pro bowl in Justin Smith, Patrick Willis, and Carlos Rogers. Also, the 49ers had a rookie linebacker who flashed his immense potential. Rookie Aldon Smith registered 37 tackles with an impressive 14 sacks, and was a big contributor to their stout defense. In 2012 the 49ers addressed their WR needs adding Mario Manningham and Randy Moss. Coach Jim Harbaugh is hoping to improve their passing game to create a powerful offense that can compliment his stout defense. The 49ers are primed for another deep playoff run, but  many believe that if the 49ers want to win a Superbowl  Alex Smith is going to need to step up bigger than he ever has. 2012 is going to be an exciting year for bay area teams!

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Oakland Raiders: Training Camp Quick Hits

The Oakland Raiders opened training camp for the 2012 NFL season on Sunday, in Napa, California. There are some key elements to follow as camp progresses closer to the season opener against the San Diego Chargers on September 10.

The first thing to keep in mind is that this is the first training camp for new general manager Reggie McKenzie and first-year head coach Dennis Allen. It is already evident how McKenzie is going to run an organization. Now what remains to be seen is how Allen handles his duties now that the dawn of the season is here.

Allen's job is pretty cut and dry: improve this team and get them to the playoffs. That will be easier said than done with both the offensive and defensive units ranked 29th overall in 2011. Do not be surprised if Allen decides to "trim the fat" and make some surprising moves along the way, but he has this team headed in the right direction.

Now we will take a quick look at the positional units on the team and go over some quick keys to keep in mind for the opening of camp.

• Quarterback: Keep watch on how starting quarterback Carson Palmer adjusts to the new offensive system run by coordinator Greg Knapp. His West Coast scheme calls for a lot of quarterback movement with play-action and bootlegs. Mobility is key and Palmer lacks that. Also note that this is Terrelle Pryor's first full length training camp. His progression will determine what kind of future he has with the team.
• Running back: There is a lot of buzz going around on who exactly will back-up Darren McFadden. Will the team sign either Cedric Benson or Ryan Grant? Is Mike Goodson capable of holding on to the football? Is Taiwan Jones ready to step into a larger role? That development will be key for this team. The signing of fullback Owen Schmitt will be a key contributor to the backfield as well.
• Wide Receiver: Trading Louis Murphy made two statements. The door is open for rookies Juron Criner and Rod Streater to contribute this season. Both did well in OTA's and now will hope to continue the trend in camp. The other is that if you are not on board with what is going on with this team, you are out.
• Tight End: The progression of David Ausberry is key. He is the most talented one of the bunch and if he can show he can block, he'll be a key weapon for Greg Knapp's tight-end friendly system.
• Offensive Line: The one thing this unit has to do is cut down on the penalties. Allen seems like he is going to run a tight ship and will not tolerate sloppiness. Stefen Wisniewski should transition nicely over center. Watch how they handle the zone-blocking scheme.
• Defensive Line: This unit is one of the strong points on this team. They have potential to cause a lot of havoc in opposing backfields. Look for Tommy Kelly and Richard Seymour to be very motivated this season. Getting a healthy Matt Shaughnessy back is huge and look for him to take the next step and be an anchor on this line.
• Linebacker: This unit will be interesting to watch. Rolando McClain's off-field troubles are well documented. If he is lost due to suspension or jail, who fills in for him? Miles Burris may end up being one of the steals of the 2012 NFL Draft. He has already impressed and hopefully that continues on into camp.
• Cornerback: The big issue here is depth. Will the Raiders try and address it anymore than they already have? Doubt it. But they will most likely have to make due with who they got.
• Safety: Tyvon Branch is locked-up to a new deal and that is good news to a secondary that relies on his play so much. This may be Mike Mitchell's last camp with the Raiders if he does not show them something this season.
• Special Teams: This unit is the best in the league in terms of who they have placekicking and punting. There is nothing new to report or look into here. The return may be key. There are a lot of capable candidates, but the coaching staff is waiting for someone to step up and and grab that role.

Look for more updates and news as camp progresses but there are some things to keep in mind as the Raiders set to open training camp Sunday.

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