Oakland Raiders: 5 Biggest questions entering 2017 training camp

The Oakland Raiders will open 2017 training camp with big hopes and expectations, but what are the big questions that remain?

With barely over two weeks until both Oakland Raiders rookies and veterans are scheduled to have reported to training camp, it’s time to think about what we need to see happen in those practices.

To figure that out, we’ll investigate the five biggest questions that need answering in Napa, CA. We have a couple basic factors to consider. Health, efficacy of units and individual players, and much more are all on the docket for the Raiders heading into training camp.

Starting with the dreaded injury-bug, let’s dive deep into the big questions:

5. Can the team stay healthy?

Every super-entity has a weakness. A team stacked from top to bottom usually has one of two major weaknesses: egos or an inability to stay healthy. Raiders are a humble bunch and present themselves as some quality individuals focused on the team, and not a collection of “me” guys as was the case in years past. But they do have health concerns.

Derek Carr was barely touched last year behind the massive wall of protection afforded by his offensive line. In a cruel twist of fate, taking sack No. 16 of the season wasn’t so sweet. In fact, the Raiders season had been put in jeopardy weeks prior to Christmas Eve when he broke his pinkie finger on his throwing a hand while taking a snap from under center playing against the Carolina Panthers.

The Raiders go as Carr goes. By no means am I questioning the man’s toughness, but I believe Raider Nation will feel much more comfortable seeing Carr with a glass of milk in his hands everywhere he goes.

Both Kelechi Osemele and Donald Penn gutted out some nagging aches and pains, up until it was discovered Penn was dealing with a knee issue more serious than previously thought. Osemele battled an ankle injury, among other things, nearly all season long. The star guard was absent for possibly the biggest game of the year against Kansas City, when they needed him most. Penn was unable to compete in the playoffs and the line suffered mightily on the edges against the Houston Texans.

Broken fingers went around as Michael Crabtree suffered from a broken phalange as well, and it drastically affected his ability to catch a football, even the most routine of passes. Amari Cooper would never let an injury be an excuse for a lack of production, because everyone gets banged up. But towards the end of the year, it was obvious that Cooper wasn’t right.

My personal theory on the health issues from a year ago is the team had to get used to playing meaningful games late in the season. While the trip to the playoffs and completing the season with a 12-4 record were personal bests for this version of the franchise, they still didn’t know what it required to stay healthy down the stretch and be getting stronger heading into the playoffs. Now knowing what lies ahead, they can now better prepare for it.