Back in February, just off his first season as head coach of the Raiders, Jack Del Rio told reporters that he knows exactly what his team needs to do in 2016.
After leading Oakland to a 7-9 record in 2015 – a big improvement on the 3-13 mark of 2014 – Del Rio sees another big jump this coming season.
“To me, the next thing is to get double-digit wins and host a home playoff game,” he said. “That’s where you want to go next. That comes with the work that has to be put in. For me, it’s not a matter of a vision or being able to talk about it. It’s a matter of us putting in the work, going out and executing.”
Since Del Rio made his pronouncement, the Raiders have been busy, adding one of the NFL’s best guards in Kelechi Osemele, linebacker Bruce Irvin, cornerback Sean Smith, safety Reggie Nelson and a draft class that includes possible defensive contributors in safety Karl Joseph, lineman Jihad Ward and linebacker Shilique Calhoun.
Now, with next month’s training camp approaching fast, NFL Network analyst (and former NFL scout and player) Bucky Brooks is one who believes Del Rio can accomplish his goal and is wise to make it public.
“I think it’s realistic,” Brooks told Eddie Paskal, who writes for the Raiders website. “The big thing about having a home playoff game – it gives you an opportunity to win. Home-field advantage is huge in the postseason, and so every team that makes the tournament wants to have a game in front of their own fans because you feed off the energy of your fans, so (he's) putting that out there and making that a very reachable goal. I think Jack Del Rio understands what he has and he’s trying to get his guys to kind of step up to the expectation and the standard.”
Brooks believes the Oakland offense with Derek Carr at QB and Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree as receivers can be “prolific.” He also sees a defense that has been greatly strengthened this offseason.
Raiders
“I think everybody has high hopes for the Raiders this year,” said Brooks.
