The Oakland Raiders are 3-11 heading into Week 16 against the Texans. The Raiders named Tom Cable as interim head coach after owner Al Davis fired Lane Kiffin earlier this season. Cable, who has 21 years of coaching experience, including four as a head coach at the college level, joined the team as an offensive line coach in 2007.
OFFENSE
Quarterback:Second-year quarterback JaMarcus Russell, the first overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, has thrown for 2,039 yards and nine touchdowns with seven interceptions this season. The strong-armed Russell has completed only 51.7 percent of his passes and has a quarterback rating of 71.9, third-worst in the AFC among regular starters. He has a 3-10 record as a starter this year.
Running back: Justin Fargas has rushed for 749 yards this season but only one touchdown. The Raiders used their first-round draft pick in 2008 on Darren McFadden, who has 451 yards and four touchdowns on 100 attempts this year. McFadden also is second on the team in receptions with 22 for 234 yards.
Wide receiver/tight end: Seventh-year receiver Ronald Curry has 19 receptions for 181 yards and two touchdowns this season. Opposite Curry is wideout Ashley Lelie, who has 11 receptions for 197 yards and two touchdowns. Tight end Zach Miller leads the team in receptions (50) and receiving yards (674). Miller also has one touchdown this season.
Offensive line: Left tackle Kwame Harris started the first 11 games this season but has been replaced by Mario Henderson, a third-round pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. Robert Gallery, who was the Raiders' first-round selection in 2004, starts at left guard. Fifth-year center Jake Grove anchors the middle of the offensive line. Cooper Carlisle starts at right guard and is in his ninth season in the league. Also in his ninth year, right tackle Cornell Green adds more experience to the offensive line.
DEFENSE
Defensive line: Defensive end Derrick Burgess is in his eighth year in the league and has started the past eight games for the Raiders. He has 21 tackles this season. Defensive tackle Tommy Kelly has 50 tackles and 4.5 sacks this season. Tackle Gerard Warren is in his eighth season in the league and has 33 tackles and four sacks. Seventh-year end Kalimba Edwards has 48 tackles and five sacks so far in 2008.
Linebackers: The Raiders' linebacking corps is led by fourth-year player Kirk Morrison. Morrison leads the team in tackles with 121 and has one sack and an interception this season. Thomas Howard, in his third season out of UTEP, has 86 tackles and one interception. Ricky Brown, also in his third season in the NFL, has posted 37 tackles this season in seven games but has missed time lately with a groin injury. Sam Williams and Jon Alston provide depth in the linebacker ranks.
Secondary: Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, named a starter for the AFC in the 2009 Pro Bowl, is the leader of the Oakland secondary. He has 37 tackles and one interception this season while being rarely targeted by opposing quarterbacks. Opposite Asomugha is cornerback Chris Johnson. Johnson is in his fifth season and has 24 tackles and two interceptions this year. Free safety Gibril Wilson has 117 tackles and two interceptions so far in 2008 and combines with strong safety Hiram Eugene to give the Raiders a formidable safety duo. Eugene is in his third season in the NFL and has recorded 42 tackles. Strong safety Michael Huff, the Raiders' first-round draft pick in 2006, has 22 tackles and five passes defensed.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicking: Kicker Sebastian Janikowski has made 21-of-27 field goals this season and has converted 18-of-19 extra point attempts. Punter Shane Lechler leads the AFC with a 48.8-yard average and 41.3-yard net average and was named to his fourth Pro Bowl on Tuesday.
Returning: Wide receiver Jonnie Lee Higgins handles the punt return and kickoff return duties for the Raiders. He has 38 punt returns for 423 yards and two touchdowns. Higgins also has 36 kickoff returns for 842 yards. Cornerback Justin Miller has handled 24 kickoff returns this season for 612 yards and two touchdowns.
