Can JaMarcus Russell lead his Oakland Raiders to finally get a winning year in the 2008 NFL Season?

Because the Silver and Black desperately NEEDS a winning year.

And just like any team starting a new campaign, the Raiders are once again full of hope coming into the 2008 NFL football season. Those guys have spiraled downwards since losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2002 Super Bowl and they have not yet recovered since.

Though not much was expected from the Oakland Raiders last year, top pick JaMarcus Russell decided to hold out into the season leading to Josh McCown and Daunte Culpepper leading an offense that started off well but struggled after the bye week in Week Five.

Runningback LaMont Jordan was off to a solid start until he injured his back, and when he healed, found that his job has been taken away from him by Justin Fargas, who rushed for over 1,000 yards, but failed to finish the season for the fourth time in his five year career.

The defense, while having a good young linebacker corps and two solid corners, struggled to stop the run, surrendering over 150 yards on the ground to their opponents in half of their games.

Looking at their off-season moves this year, one area of concern is that they may have overspent to restock their roster somewhat with talents like safety Gibril Wilson, cornerback DeAngelo Hall, and receiver Javon Walker. Although all are good pick ups, they failed to do much to address one of the worst run defenses in the league, and that could go back to haunt them again this year.

Tommy Kelly, who is coming off an ACL injury, will move inside to replace the retiring Warren Sapp at defensive tackle, but other than that, there are no major changes among the front seven on defense.

The things that the Oakland Raiders need to improve for them to have a winning season is to get better against the run. They also have to get improved play from quarterback JaMarcus Russell, who struggled in limited play late last season.

Lengthy contract negotiations kept him out of camp last year and put him behind in his development. But with a full camp and preseason under his belt this year, he should be ready to start displaying some of the talent that made him the overall no.1 pick.

The Raiders will need it.

Who will win Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, Florida? Bodog sportsbook has the odds.

New York Giants 17.00

New England Patriots 4.50

Dallas Cowboys 7.00

Indianapolis Colts 8.50

Want more odds? Visit Bodog sportsbook for more football betting odds and the best betting lines on some of today's biggest sporting events.

Oakland Raiders JaMarcus Russell