Here we go. The drama. The interruptions. The controversies. The distractions. The vulnerabilities. The Raiders aren’t even to their second preseason game and already they are feeling it.
This is the life of a contender, a pressure the Raiders haven’t worn in a long time. This is the weight of expectations, and we’re about to find out if they are strong enough to handle it.
Advertisem*nt
If the culture change was thorough enough.
Yes, the Raiders are talented. Yes, they have the makings of a sexy pick to at least make the AFC Championship Game. In Las Vegas, more bets were placed on the Raiders to win it all than any other team.
But this could also be a colossal disappointment. They also have the makings of a disaster season if they can’t handle the trappings of burgeoning elitism.
Super Bowl or soap opera. It could go either way.
Which is it gonna be, Raiders?
So far, the storylines are relentless.
First, the Raiders punctuated the stadium drama by, ya know, MOVING TO VEGAS. That pending departure, the second time the franchise has committed adultery on Oakland, hovers over this team, this season, this city.
Drama.
Donald Penn, the critical left tackle responsible for securing quarterback Derek Carr’s blind side, holds out for money.Arguably the NFL’s best offensive line is missing valuable camp time as a unit.
Interruption.
To make up for the loss of Latavius Murray, and smooth over their planned move, the Raiders signed Marshawn Lynch, the unofficial mayor of Oakland. And in his first appearance, he caused an uproar by going Beast Mode on the national anthem.
Controversy.
Five days later, starting cornerback Sean Smith is charged with felony assault for allegedly beating up his sister’s boyfriend.
Distraction.
And Smith’s woes underscore, if not exacerbate, the biggest, most-obvious football concern: the Raiders defense still looks suspect.
The secondary seems in for a long season, especially on the outside, and the unit is banking on a lot of young players to grow up quick.
Vulnerability.
And still to come is the heat that comes with being a contender. The spotlight, the attention, it’s enough to stamp out potential. That alone can break up unity and disrupt chemistry.
Advertisem*nt
That’s in addition to the inevitable injuries, the unpredicted declines in some players’ production, especially the elder ones, the growing pains of rookies and second-year players holding key roles.
This is new ground for the Raiders, who’ve spent nearly two decades in irrelevance. They aren’t sneaking up on anyone. They are a prime target of their foes, the objects of the nation’s interest, the subject of persistent chatter.
The destined teams rise above it. The veteran teams eliminate it. The unworthy teams succumb to the elements. The Raiders are not veterans at this. But are they destined or unworthy?
They are just as primed for dysfunction as they are greatness.The warning signs are as neon as the promise.
Coach Jack Del Rio is swimming in the deep end, where his coaching will likely determine how far the Raiders go.
We haven’t seen him swim — his motivational tactics, his schematics, his in-game adjustments — in these waters. Last season, the Raiders averaged the most penalties and the most penalty yards in the NFL. Needless to say that needs to improve.
They get three of their first four games on the road, the fourth at Denver — can you inagine the chatter should they start 2-2 or 1-3?
The defensive coordinator, Ken Norton, Jr., is on thin ice and the new assistant head coach for defense, John Pagano, is live-in proof.
The Raiders drafted a stud at cornerback — who is more known for being accused of rape. A grand jury opted not to indict, but the accusation will follow Gareon Conley for a while.
The Raiders had avoided the police blotter for years. Now when the stakes are as high as ever, Smith, one of their highest-paid players, is staring at a seven-year sentence if convicted. This is what can happen when you hit the big time, or at least the cusp of it.
The question now becomes whether the Raiders have the discipline, the resolve, the leadership to overcome the weather at these heights and, most important, get out of their own way.
Advertisem*nt
This is where Del Rio and Carr will earn their money, by steering this ship and avoiding the ice bergs. Times like these, seasons like this, are why head coaches and quarterbacks are so valuable.
Khalil Mack, the defensive superstar, needs to be part of the steering. Even if Bruce Irvin is the champion veteran, Mack is a foundation and in line for a huge pay day. This is his calling.
The good news: the Raiders just might have enough talent to survive their exposure. Offensively, they are that potent.
The sobering news: it might take one season of getting familiar with this new existence to prepare them for a Super Bowl run. This experience, plus upgrades, could set them up for perennial contention.
The scary news: this window might be small, and eventually the price of so many young studs will eventually force some core changes. They have to pay Mack and Amari Cooper next year, after paying Carr and Gabe Jackson this year.
The Raiders were able to spend on their roster because their best players were on rookie deals. Eventually, the cap space will run out and major changes will be needed. They’ll be good as long as they have Carr. But is this a ceiling? If so, they need to win big now over the next couple years, cash in on their draft gems before they break the bank.
In order for that to happen, the Raiders are going to have to button up their operation and ward off the monkey wrenches hurling at their season. It’s already clear, their high hopes for success are at high risk for derailment.
Which is it going to be?
(Top photo:Christian Petersen/Getty)
Marcus Thompson II is a lead columnist at The Athletic. He is a prominent voice in the Bay Area sports scene after 18 years with Bay Area News Group, including 10 seasons covering the Warriors and four as a columnist. Marcus is also the author of the best-selling biography "GOLDEN: The Miraculous Rise of Steph Curry." Follow Marcus on Twitter @thompsonscribe
