NFL Team Reports: AFC West
Several times a week, The Trenches will present team reports from Sporting News’ 32 NFL correspondents. Check back each day for the latest news on your team.
The Raiders’ biggest need is deciding what to do with one-time franchise QB JaMarcus Russell(notes). Coach Tom Cable has doesn’t view Russell as the long-term answer.
However, Cable’s stance won’t mean anything if owner/G.M. Al Davis fires Cable and hires another coach who sings Russell’s praises. If a new coach is hired, he must get more out of Russell than Cable and Lane Kiffin did in three years. Russell finished the season as the league’s lowest-rated passer and with the worst completion percentage. …
The Raiders must bolster their offensive and defensive lines. Several offensive linemen are past their primes, and only DE Richard Seymour(notes) is a top-tier player on the D-line. …
The Raiders have three running backs they deem starting-caliber, but only Michael Bush(notes) averaged more than 3.8 yards per carry this season.
— Steve Corkran
The coaches likely will continue to rest a few key starters, including WR Vincent Jackson(notes) and OLB Shawne Merriman(notes), in practice this week. Both are expected to play in their first playoff game, Jan. 16 or 17, but rest is paramount.
The expectation is Merriman, resting his foot since Dec. 25, will be as healthy as he’s been since the first week of the season. There is some concern that Jackson’s Achilles’ injury could linger. Jackson and Merriman, as well as S Eric Weddle(notes) (knee), DE Jacques Cesaire(notes) (elbow) and FB Jacob Hester(notes) (shoulder) were inactive Sunday.
The Chargers played most other starters just a quarter and escaped mostly injury free.
— Kevin Acee
Denver finished 8-8 for the second consecutive season, but this was an epic collapse in comparison. The defense was horrid in ’08 and everyone knew it, relying on an offense that had to outscore opponents.
This year’s team started 6-0 with a solid 3-4 realignment and an efficient offense before the season completed turned into a 2-8 finish. To cap it off, there was public dissension in the ranks, with WR Brandon Marshall(notes) and TE Tony Scheffler(notes) benched for the finale for a lack of “accountability.” Both will be restricted free agents, but it would be a huge surprise if either is back.
Denver will have to get the best trade package it can for Marshall and move on but unlikely will get market value for a Pro Bowl receiver with three consecutive 100-catch seasons. The team also must make widescale changes to its interior offensive line and get some playmaking talent on the defensive line. More explosion is needed on offense. Rookie RB Knowshon Moreno(notes) was solid but pedestrian, and the team desperately lacks a deep threat at wide receiver.
— Lee Rasizer
The No. 1 offseason priority is to provide more help for QB Matt Cassel(notes). The Chiefs have a lot of room to improve on the offensive line and need to give him at least one big-play receiver. While the offensive line improved during the second half of the season, the Chiefs would be better served by adding at least one solid player.
The best idea would be to find a left tackle and move LT Branden Albert(notes) to guard or right tackle. Albert failed to secure Cassel’s blind side this season. WR Chris Chambers(notes) was a nice midseason find, but his contract is up and he will be 32 next season. The Chiefs have no one else to stretch the field unless rookie Quinten Lawrence(notes) improves dramatically. …
The Chiefs need help at plenty of spots on defense but none more urgent than safety. Starters Mike Brown(notes) and Jon McGraw(notes) both will be over 30 next season, and a playmaker at the back of the defense would be nice.
— Adam Teicher
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