Oakland Raiders: 5 Most important 2017 training camp battles

2. Battling Expectations

With roughly 15 years and counting from its last appearance in the Super Bowl, the Oakland Raiders are expected to contend for the Lombardi Trophy and, as previously mentioned in the piece, Carr has tripled down on team expectations.

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The team is now going to be held to the standards set by its fearless leader of the “Ministry of Darkness.” Anything short of an AFC West crown and a ring ain’t good enough.

Last year the Raiders were a feel good story, finishing 12-4 and building on a respectable 7-9 record from the previous season. Now, 2017 will be a year that they sneak up on no one. The Raiders have arrived and are on the radars of absolutely everyone who knows what a football is. Last year was the classic teaser year. The year which you see the inexperienced up-and-comers dazzle the league and fill you with hope, only to suffer the type of adversity which either cripples an entire franchise or is the precursor to historical significance.

How will players respond to the added focus, the added scrutiny, more media and/or other people being all up in their mix? Learning to deal with success and increased expectations is a process as difficult as changing a losing culture. At times it can be absolutely stifling and cause distractions which can lead to the team losing focus.

However, with the distraction that relocation has continuously bought may have given them more than a glimpse at what life at the top is like. The Raiders are a relatively even-keeled bunch and mentally tough. Being super motivated by the franchise player they will be ready.