The stage was set, the air was crisp, and the feel of football was in the air. It was time for the Raiders to roll out their new and improved squad on the green grass of Jerry Jones' baby, and Raider Nation was breathless with anticipation.
Questions abounded: Will this look like an NFL offense? Can the team win the game in the trenches, and thus, stop the run against a versatile attack? What's Rolando McClain going to do? Lamarr Houston? DHB? Can this team have the look of one that is finally headed in the right direction? Will the pain and suffering finally end?
Well, none of those questions can have answers that are fully quantified after the first preseason game in which teams are traditionally sloppy and shaking off the rust of a long off-season. We did, however, get a glimpse of a few things.
This Looks Like An NFL Offense
Jason Campbell didn't set the world on fire, checked the ball down a couple of times when he had time in the pocket, and just missed on a couple of deep throws. But after years of futility behind center, the Nation can be encouraged by what we saw. The route trees were more complicated, Campbell saw more than half the field and the playbook was wide open.
Campbell looked rusty and even a little nervous at first, which he later admitted he was, but he also looked calm and poised on the third drive of the game, and began to find a rhythm with his offense.
His uncanny knack for the play-action fake and ability to freeze the defense will assist the running game and the vertical passing game. He also took a few shots down field and showed good touch even if those passes fell incomplete. Louis Murphy fought for the ball the first time, and caught it the second, but just slightly out of bounds. DHB did nothing of significance, but they did try to get him the ball first thing.
The Cowboys seemed to be itching to get to Campbell, bu...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Oakland Raiders
