Can the Raiders be the Bay Area’s team in 2015?

With all of the turmoil surrounding their cross-Bay rival San Francisco 49ers, the Oakland Raiders have a chance to do something they haven’t done in over a decade: take over the Bay Area football spotlight.

Maybe everyone should’ve taken note about the soon-to-be rise of the Oakland Raiders when they beat the San Francisco 49ers 24-13 in Week 14 last year.

But there’s something different about the Oakland Raiders as they go into the preseason this year, something that hasn’t been around the organization since their last Super Bowl run in 2002.

Considering that the 49ers have had the Bay’s football spotlight for the past four years or so for the right reasons, the Raiders can capitalize on their opportunity to take that same spotlight back for the same reasons that the Niners had it.

However, just because the Niners experienced the equivalent of a mass exodus, doesn’t necessarily mean that the Raiders will automatically be the Bay Area’s team in 2015. They still need to do their job and, as the late Al Davis would say, “just win baby.”

Despite all of the hype surrounding the Silver and Black going into this season, it’s worth remembering that they still had one of the worst records in the NFL last year, finishing 3-13 after an 0-10 start. It’s a step down from the back-to-back 4-12 records they posted the previous two years, which is a big step backward from the consecutive 8-8 seasons they recorded in 2010-11.

At least, if there’s anything that can be said about Oakland, it’s that while they’ve been bad throughout the past 12 years, they were consistent at doing so.

While they were bad, however, the Raiders showed a lot of promise in the near future.

First and foremost, they have a legitimate potential franchise quarterback in Derek Carr. In his rookie season, Carr threw for 3,270 yards with 21 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and a 58.1 percent passer rating. While those aren’t numbers that will blow anyone away, when you put those numbers up against the Raiders quarterbacks of recent past, Carr added significant value to that position.

Carr was the first ever Raiders rookie quarterback to start Week 1 and was first among rookie quarterbacks with eight touchdowns under pressure (sixth overall in the NFL). His 21 passing touchdowns tied him for fifth all-time among rookie quarterbacks while his 2.0 interception percentage was seventh in the NFL. Carr’s 348 completions and 3,270 passing yards led all rookie signal callers in 2014.

Keep in mind, Carr did all of this with a cast of mostly mid-depth chart receivers and offensive talent. James Jones (now with the Giants), tight end Mychal Rivera and Andre Holmes were his top-three receivers while Brice Butler and Kenbrell Thompkins burst into the scene midway through the year.

“Carr has been the surprise of his class, producing and performing at a surprising level despite playing with an inferior cast,” Bucky Brooks of NFL.com said about Carr’s performance earlier this year.

“Carr’s a special young talent,” head coach Jack Del Rio said of his quarterback. “He’s got a really quick release, good decision-maker, he’s shown some of the grit we’re looking for, some of that toughness, so he’s a guy that we feel like we have an opportunity to build around.”

Now when you toss in first-round pick Amari Cooper to the offensive mix, Carr’s progression could go beyond what many predict since Carr now has a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver to throw to. Cooper has drawn rave reviews during rookie, mini and training camp so far with some dubbing him “the next Tim Brown.”

“One thing I can say about him is the guy gets better at something every day,” Carr said on Cooper’s solid development. “Whether it’s a step here on his route, you know, there’s so much in the NFL that goes on at the line of scrimmage. AS to college you’re just running by guys. And so he’s gotten so much better and so much growth in just that area. And he’s doing great things, whether it’s at the top of the route like he did today on a third down. Whatever it is, there’s little things he’s getting better at.”

Thompkins and Seth Roberts have had solid camps and should add good depth to what seems to be becoming a solid Raiders receiving group.

However, while the offense should continue to gain significant rhythm, the Raiders’ defense will have to be the one to hold it down for the young and growing Oakland offense.

Veterans like soon-to-be Hall of Famer Charles Woodson and Justin Tuck should be expected to lead the way, however Khalil Mack, who made his case to be the Defensive Rookie of the Year last year, will be a key to the Raiders defense as well. Free agent linebacker Malcolm Smith, rookie linebacker Ben Heeney (who has had a great camp) and second-round defensive lineman Mario Edwards Jr. potentially give the Raiders one of the tougher front sevens in the league.

Oakland’s schedule in 2015 also boosts their hopes for their first playoff berth in 13 years.

Compared to last season, the Raiders schedule this year seems like the league lowered their game difficulty from All-Madden to All-Pro like they were playing the Madden NFL video game. Oakland opens the season with three of their first five games at home and also finishes with three of their last five games at home, with their longest road trip lasting just two weeks, twice.

Of their entire 16-game schedule, they only play five teams who made the playoffs (Bengals, Ravens, Broncos twice, Lions and Packers). However of those five teams, they open the year against two of them in back-to-back home games (Cincinnati and Baltimore). With games at Cleveland and Chicago the following weeks before returning home to take on AFC West rival Denver, the Raiders could be a solid 3-2 heading into their bye week.

It’s been said year after year that the current upcoming season is supposed to be the Raiders’ year (as we’ve seen and said last year). So what makes this year different?

For the first time in a long time the Raiders have a sense of continuity and a drive that goes beyond just doing their job as pro football players.

For the first time in a long time in Oakland there is a sense of purpose that can be seen throughout training camp and throughout this offseason, something that has pushed the Raiders in the past and will push them in 2015.

The San Francisco Giants are living through their moment while the Niners just finished theirs. The Warriors began their time to shine in June – now it’s the Raiders turn to bring the Bay Area spotlight across the bridge to “little old Oakland.”

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