The Raiders are likely going into 2011 with Jason Campbell as the starting QB (smart move) but they have to decide on what to do behind him with Bruce Gradkowski, Kyle Boller and Charlie Frye on the roster right now.  29-year old Jason Campbell played in 13 games for the Raiders last season and he completed 194 of 329 passes (59%) for 2,387 yards with 13 TD passes and 8 INTs (84.5 QB Rating).  Campbell also carried the ball 47 times for 222 yards (4.7 ypc) with 1 TD run last season.  Campbell has now played in 65 games in his NFL career and he has completed 1,196 of 1,966 (60.8%) passes for 13,247 yards with 68 TD passes and 46 INTs (82.6 QB Rating).  Campbell has also carried the ball 200 times for 1,008 yards (5.0 ypc) with 4 TD carries so far in his NFL career. 

27-year old Bruce Gradkowski is a so-so backup QB with a weak arm.  The Raiders would be smart to either get rid of him or sign a better QB to handle the #2 role with Gradkowski sliding to #3 on the depth chart.  Gradkowski played in 6 games for the Raiders last season and he completed 83 of 157 passes (52.9%) for 1,059 yards with 5 TD passes and 7 INTs (66.3 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 12 times for 41 yards (3.4 ypc) last season.  Gradkowski has now played in 32 games in his NFL career and he has completed 362 of 680 passes (53.2%) for 3,883 yards with 20 TD passes and 23 INTs (65.9 QB Rating).  He has also carried the ball 79 times for 332 yards (4.2 ypc) with 0 TD carries.

29-year old Kyle Boller will likely be let go during the off-season.  He played in 3 games for the Raiders last season in which he completed 2 of 4 passes (50%) for 25 yards with 0 TD passes and 1 INT (30.2 QB Rating).  Boller also carried the ball 7 times for 18 yards (2.6 ypc) last year.  Boller has now played in 63 games in his NFL career and he has completed 846 of 1,491 passes (56.7%) for 8,770 yards with 48 TD passes and 51 INTs (70.4 QB Rating).  Boller also has carried the ball 167 times for 534 yards (3.2 ypc) with 2 TD runs. 

29-year old Charlie Frye spent all of last season on Injured Reserve due to a fractured wrist.  Frye has played in 26 games so far in his NFL career and he has completed 419 of 676 passes (62%) for 4,154 yards with 17 TD passes and 29 INTs (69.8 QB Rating).  He has also carried the ball 72 times for 347 yards (4.8 ypc) with 4 TD runs in his NFL career.

VERDICT:  The Raiders will likely keep Gradkowski or Frye and draft a QB this April in the 3rd or 4th round to develop behind Jason Campbell.

The Raiders have promoted 45-year old Hue Jackson from the offensive co-ordinator position to the head coach.  Jackson has been a coach at the NFL level for 10 years now.  He was the Redskins’ offensive co-ordinator in 2003 and the Falcons’ offensive co-ordinator in 2007.  Jackson really improved the Raiders’ offense last season as they averaged 25.6 points per game, 155.9 yards rushing per game (4.9 ypc) and 198.8 yards passing per game (QB Rating of 77.5).  Jackson will be the Raiders’ 7th head coach in the last decade which is pretty darn amazing when you think about it.  I like this hire for the Raiders as Jackson did a really good job of improving the offense last season.  It will be interesting to see who Jackson picks to be his defensive co-ordinator as that side of the football needs rebuilt if the Raiders are going to make it to the playoffs in 2011.

The Raiders have voided 29-year old CB Nnamdi Asomugha’s contract due to him not achieving the needed stats to guarantee his contract.  Asomugha played in 14 games for the Raiders last season and he made 19 tackles and he defensed 6 passes.  Asomugha has now played in 122 games in his first 8 years in the NFL (all with the Raiders) and he has 310 tackles, 62 passes defensed, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 11 interceptions (1 returned for a TD).  Asomugha really excelled in 2006 when he intercepted 8 passes but after that he wasn’t really challenged much as he only has 3 interceptions in his last four years.  The Raiders will miss Asomugha because he shuts down one side of the field.

The Raiders have declined 46-year old head coach Tom Cable’s option for 2011 which was valued at $2.5 million bucks.  Cable led the Raiders to a 8-8 record this year and they finished in third place in the AFC West.  But, Cable was also 6-0 in the AFC West and that has to be worth something right?  I guess not!  The Raiders were 17-27 (38.6%) in Cable’s three years as the head coach.  The Raiders were .500 this season for the first time since they lost the Super Bowl in 2002.  I think this was a terrible move unless the Raiders get a star type coach.

The Raiders ran the ball on offense and they were excellent on defense yesterday winning by playing old school football.  Jason Campbell was in game manager mode as he completed 15 of 25 passes for 155 yards with 1 TD pass and 0 INTs.  He also carried the ball 4 times for 33 yards (8.3 ypc) in this game.  Kyle Boller finished up this game by completing his only pass attempt for 5 yards.  Michael Bush was very solid for the Raiders in this game with 137 yards rushing on 25 carries (5.5 ypc) with 1 TD run.  Bush also caught 4 passes for 34 yards (8.5 avg) in this game.  Jacoby Ford only caught 1 pass for 35 yards but he also carried the ball 2 times for 22 yards (11.0 ypc) with a TD run yesterday.  Zach Miller (5 rec, 31 yards) and WR Chaz Schilens (3 rec, 24 yards, TD) also helped out in the passing game.  The Raiders finished up with 209 yards rushing on 37 carries (5.6 ypc) and they also completed 16 of 26 passes for 135 yards as they had possession of the ball for 33:28.

The defense was incredible for the Raiders as they had 7 sacks and a lot of big game turning plays yesterday.  LBs Rolando McClain (9 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss and 1 pass defensed) and Kamerion Wimbley (7 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, 3 sacks and 4 QB hits) led the way for the Raiders’ D in this game.  Cb Stanford Routt (5 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 2 passes defensed and a interception that he returned 22 yards for a TD) and safety Michael Huff (2 tackles, 2 passes defensed and 1 interception) also had big impacts in this game for the Raiders.  The Chiefs finished up with 115 yards rushing on 29 carries (4.0 ypc) and they also completed 13 of 36 passes for 86 yards.  The Raiders finished in third place in the AFC West with a 8-8 record, but they were 6-0 in the division!