Mykle VanHausen

The Oakland Raiders suffered a humiliating 2006 at the hands of NFL foes, unkind media and a Coaching staff from 1988.

During the tumult and quite unnoticed by the casual observer was the conundrum of a league leading defense and an abysmal bottom dwelling offense mirrored exactly by Oaklands so called "Special Teams " in 2006.

With the only kicker ever drafted in the first round (Sebastian Janikowski, 17th overall in the 2000 draft) and undoubtedly one of the finest punters in the league in the personage of one Shane Lechler, the Oakland Raiders should be sitting pretty, right?

Right?

Wrong.

Lechler continued to prove he is one of the premier punters not only in the league, but in the history of the league.

Last season was no exception as the 8 yr. veteran posted the best numbers of his career with an average of 47.5 yds. per punt.

His contributions were chronically diminished by lax Raider coverage teams that allowed nearly 13 yds per return and ended the season 30th in the league.

J.Kow on the other hand, started strong, but suffered through the back half of the season.

After shedding 16 lbs. in the 05 offseason and a promising 6 for 6 in pre-season, dissapointingly, Janikowski missed 7 kicks in 06' including 3 in row during a week 13 loss to the Texans by *gulp* 9 points.

Making only 18 out of 25 attempts in 06' and finishing with a 72%field goal average, hes probably the only Raider whose stats were actually helped by Oaklands inept offense last year.

Paradoxically the Raiders return teams showed similarly baffling swings of production like a kick return team averaging nearly 25 yds per kick (thanks to 2nd year man Chris Cooper)and ranked 2nd in the league, compared to a kick return defense that allowed a 28.6 yd average per return, the worst in the NFL.

Fresh from a season assisting Air Force Special teams over achieve in 06, Brian Schneider takes the reigns of the Jeckyl and Hyde Raider units from the verbose and occasionally violent Ted Daisher who departed for Cleveland at the end of last year.

Schneider can hopefully instill some Air Force discipline to the riddling Raiders, because a rule change in the off season now makes penalty yards assessable at the end of the return if the foul occurs pre-kick or mid flight. (A rule I suspect will reduce re-kicks, boost scores by giving better field position and make room for more precious commercial time for the greedy corporate thugs muscling into our game.)

Shoring the coverage teams with violent hitters like WSU Safety stand out Eric Frampton, Darnell Bing and Raven aqusition BJ Ward and collison specialists like Stewart Schwiegert, Jarrod Cooper and speed burner John Bowie selected in 07 with the 4th round pick New England surrendered for blaggart Randy Moss,
Bowie is one of the rare track and field experts (Championed in the 100 meters) who actually is a good tackler.

Bowie, Bing and Ward (if he can shake last years frequent migraines)will give "The Schneid" more options and genuine hope of making immediate improvements to Raider kick coverage.

The Raiders are hoping an infusion of young players and a talented, young Special Teams Coach will go a long way toward balancing an inexplicably see-sawing special teams unit that has the potential and personnel to lead the league.