After doling out huge contracts in the off-season, a 2-6 record at the midpoint isn’t exactly what the Oakland Raiders expected.

A 41-14 blow-out at home in the opener, the Lane Kiffin firing and the recent news regarding veterans that may be on the way out has highlighted a first half that has Raider fans losing faith whether or not this organization will ever turn it around with a 21-67 record since their Super Bowl loss at the end of the 2002 season.

QUARTERBACK

JaMarcus Russell has been the victim of bad offensive line play; conservative play calling and a set of targets that have not played very well.  He is young, raw and still looking to evolve as a passer. So mistakes are expected and part of the learning curve. But he has not looked overwhelmed or out of his league, especially considering the hold out last season, change of coaches and lack of cohesiveness in this organization. His 48.6 completion percentage has to improve. And his ability to trust his athleticism and become more decisive has to come along. Overall, not a bad start to his career, but not exactly the ideal situation you want to groom a young passer in.

RUNNING BACKS

The Raiders have the 8^th ranked rush attack in the league (121.5 per game). But that seems like a disappointment considering the trio they have at running back and what they accomplished last year. Justin Fargas’ injury hurt team, as they lost one of the few players on the roster that brings a lunch pail to work every Sunday.

Darren McFadden leads the team in rushing (341 yards), but 164 of those yards came in their lone road victory in Kansas City. Oakland has not exploited his game breaking ability, pass catching skill or utilized him in a diverse manner. And with turf toe injuries and inactive designations over the last few weeks, it’s hard to imagine that we will see the explosive player in 2008 that electrified the college ranks just a year ago.

Michael Bush has looked good in stints. But there aren’t enough carries to go around. And eventually, this trio will have to be trimmed down to get a better flow to this rushing attack.

The loss of Justin Griffith, lost for the season due to injury, will hurt in the locker room and on the sidelines.

WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS

No other unit on this roster has been as unproductive as the receivers. Johnnie Lee Higgins leads all receivers in receiving yards (170), a putrid number at the midpoint of the season and an unexpected name to have such ranking.

Javon Walker cashed in on a big contract, but the Raiders are not getting the production needed to justify such a deal. His six-year, $55 million contract with $16 million in guarantees could go down as one of the biggest bust signings in free-agent history. With only 13 catches in seven games, there is no doubt that the Raiders are looking to get out this deal, as they did with cornerback DeAngelo Hall.

Ronald Curry has been a huge disappointment, especially since he was the team’s leading receiver the last two seasons and a hard worker since his successful conversion to wide-out. He has uncharacteristically dropped passes and looked lethargic on the field in 2008, which has lead to his benching, in favor of the rookie Chaz Schilens.

Ashley Lelie has seven grabs and one touchdown reception, but like Walker, may have seen his best days in the past.

Zach Miller is the team’s best offensive player. He is their best edge blocker and Russell’s favorite target. Now, if they can only find a way to have him block on passing plays, run routes and make the reception all at once.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Oakland gambled going into the season with Cornell Green at RT and Kwame Harris at LT.

They have both failed and the Raiders will have to go back to the drawing board in the off-season to revamp that offensive line. Mario Henderson looked far better than Harris did at LT, when the former 49er was out of action for two games. Yet Henderson, who mauled his counterparts and showed he can handle the job, has not seen the field since Harris healed and got back into the line-up.

Tom Cable did a phenomenal job last season working with this unit. Now, he has to assess the rest of the way whether or not there’s anyone at tackle that can be depended on in 2009. If he remains as head coach for 2009.

DEFENSIVE LINE

Same old story here for the Raiders. They are allowing 157.6 rushing yards per game (30^th in the NFL), this after giving Tommy Kelly a record breaking contract for defensive tackles coming off an ACL injury. Terdell Sands was given a hefty deal two years ago, and neither has been able to stop teams from running through the sieve that is the Raiders front-four.

The pass rush has been hurt by the absence of Derrick Burgess, who has missed the last four games with a triceps injury. His presence can change the complexity of the defense and how Rob Ryan attacks. Without Burgess, the Raiders have not had anyone on the edge that opponents have to double team. Trevor Scott has shown glimpses, especially with his solid effort versus the Jets, but the lack of speed on the edges has altered the Raiders plan of attack.

LINEBACKERS

Thomas Howard and Kirk Morrison are solid players. But both have struggled due to the lack of protection in the front four, and their lack of big plays, unlike in 2007, where both had a knack of getting into passing lanes and coming up with big interceptions off tip passes.

Ricky Brown has not distinguished as a linebacker, and at this point, is a better special teamer. Robert Thomas, who started for Brown versus the Falcons, was placed on the IR with an hamstring injury.

DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD

Adding DeAngelo Hall to the secondary did not make the Raiders dominant in their pass coverage. His presence did not alter how Ryan could stack the line of scrimmage and stop the bleeding versus the run. Raider fans suggested all off-season how Hall could have a domino effect on the entire defense and elevate the play of the unit. That did not occur and Hall will wear a different uniform as the second half of the season unfolds.

Gibril Wilson leads the team in tackles, but not even his addition has helped what has been a poorest run stuffing unit now for years.

Nnamdi Asomugha is the best player on the roster. But he is out on an island in every game and no quarterback has enough guts to consistently test him.

Michael Huff’s move to FS has not been smooth. The once touted playmaker out of Texas has not shown any of the ball hawking skills he demonstrated as a collegiate.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Easily one of the few watchable units on the Raiders. Higgins has been very good on returns, Tyvon Branch made people forget about Jarrod Cooper, Shane Lechler is the league’s best punter and Sebastian Janikowski has been one of the only players that has provided thrills in 2008.

BEST & WORST

Offensive MVP – Zach Miller

Defensive MVP – Nnamdi Asomugha

Special Teams MVP – Shane Lechler

Most Improved – Johnnie Lee Higgins

Least Improved – Michael Huff

Biggest Surprise – Kalimba Edwards

Biggest Disappointment – Ronald Curry & Tommy Kelly

Best Rookie – Darren McFadden (Honorable mention: Tyvon Branch)

Best Free-Agent – Gibril Wilson

Worst Free-Agent – Javon Walker

Best-Kept Secret – Trevor Scott

Best Moment(s) – Zach Miller’s 63-yard pass for TD vs. the Chargers; made the game 12-0. Sebastian Janikowski’s GW 57-yarder FG in OT vs. the NYJ. 

Worst Moment(s) – Home opener vs. the Broncos and the shellacking vs. the Falcons

The Lane Kiffin sayonara award – DeAngelo Hall

3 Reasons for Hope

1. Russell has not been ruined so far, so there is hope in turning him into a franchise passer.
2. McFadden, Bush and Miller will be solid weapons for Russell in the future.
3. A purging of bad contracts may begin.

3 Reasons to Worry

1. Asomugha and Lechler, two of the better players on the team could be lost at season’s end.
2. Cable is just the ‘interim coach’, and if he can’t make a statement with a strong finish, yet another coach will be on the sidelines in 2009.
3. With the release of Hall, Oakland basically admitted to bad a personnel decision. Will there be enough harmony or symmetry between the coach and owner to do what’s best for the football team?