2006 Oakland Raiders Preview

2006 preview of the Oakland Raiders football team from Maddux Sports. Don't forget Maddux once football rolls around for NFL Picks and be sure to bookmark the free live NFL odds feed covering 16 quality sportsbooks up to the minute odds for your convenience.

Art Shell is back after a dozen years as the Raiders “new” coach and Tom Walsh is back in the NFL after a 12 year hiatus as the team’s offensive coordinator. Like the failed Bills, the Raiders are reaching back into the past to try to make a brighter future. Yet it’s doubtful the once proud Raiders will improve this year.

Oakland could have drafted Matt Leinart or Jay Cutler. Instead, they’re starting their third underachieving vet QB in three years—Aaron Brooks. In his 8-year NFL career, he’s connected on 56.4% of his passes and garnered a rating of 79.7. For every 3-touchdown passes, Brooks has tossed 2.1 interceptions. Hopefully he’s fleet of foot. Last season Oakland QBs were sacked 45 times.

RB LaMont Jordan (272 ATT, 1,025 YDS, 3.8 AVG, 9 TDs) made major strides and will hopefully continue to improve. He needs more support on third downs and from backup ball carriers.

The club has a great stable of receivers, including Randy Moss (60 REC, 1,005 YDS, 16.8 AVG, 8 TDs), Jerry Porter (76 REC, 942 YDS, 12.4 AVG, 5 TDs) and Doug Gabriel (37 REC, 554 YDS, 15.0 AVG, 3 TDs). Injuries plagued them last season. If they can stay healthy, they’ll score.

The defensive line was good last season, featuring Derrick Burgess, who notched a league high 16 sacks. However, key ingredients of that line are missing. Warren Sapp is ailing and out and Ted Washington and Ed Jasper followed the free agency money trail.

The linebacking group is a major concern, as it was last season, while the secondary has been severely thinned with the free agency exits of Charles Woodson and Renaldo Hill. Last season the Raiders grabbed only 5 interceptions. Rookie safety and first round pick Michael Huff may help but New England castoffs Tyrone Poole and Duane Starks will have little effect.

2006 Oakland Raiders Predictions

Owner Al Davis may be the poster child for ancient owners who need to fade into the past. Until the doddering Davis sells the franchise, this team is going nowhere. Games against San Francisco, Houston and the Jets could result in wins, but the Black and Silver will most likely finish in dead last again in the AFC West.

For more info on the Raiders AFC West division rivals check out the Chargers, Chiefs, and Broncos team previews from the MadduxSports.com experts.

For more info and news on the 2006 Oakland pro football team visit the Raiders team section at NFL.com.

For more info and news on the 2006 Denver pro football team visit the Broncos team section at NFL.com.