Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie used this offseason to infuse Oakland's locker room with a laundry list of veteran players.
After enduring back-to-back four-win campaigns, special teamer Taiwan Jones believes this year's more experienced roster will help the Silver and Black get out of the AFC West cellar.
"I truly believe that it's different here," said Jones, per the team's official website. "When you have veterans that have been in the game a long time and that have been able to accomplish the goals that we're trying to accomplish this year, it definitely feels good because you get to see and hear advice from those guys and hear them say that we're close and that it's possible."
McKenzie and coach Dennis Allen face mounting pressure to hike up the win total after owner Mark Davis said in February that his hand-picked regime has "no built-in excuses anymore."
Oakland's pass rush is vastly improved with the additions of LaMarr Woodley, Justin Tuck and first-round pick Khalil Mack. The big question comes under center, where the aged and inconsistent Matt Schaub has awkwardly been talked up by Allen as the equal to Peyton Manning.
Beyond the hype, NFL Media's Albert Breer reported last month that, internally, the team believes Schaub will be pushed by rookie Derek Carr. With some expecting the second-round pick to take over as early as September or October, Oakland's season -- despite the veteran influx -- is likely to boil down to the play of its youngest signal-caller.
In the latest "Around The League Podcast" the guys offer up their personal top 10 lists on the eve of the "Top 100" finale.
