Image Caption: Dec 18, 2011; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders fans Chris Jenkins (left) and Alex Workman wear masks during the game against the Detroit Lions at the O.co Coliseum. The Lions defeated the Raiders 28-27. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

Our 2012 Detroit Lions schedule preview continues with the Oakland Raiders. The Lions will travel to the bay area for the third preseason game of 2012.

I want to thank Chris Shellcroft, editor at Just Blog Baby, for taking the time to answer my questions.

1. The Raiders didn’t have a draft pick until a compensatory selection in round three, how well do you think they did without the benefit of early picks?

Chris Shellcroft: Obviously you can’t really know anything about a draft class until sometime down the road. And even then it’s subjective depending on how you look at it (Oakland’s ’07 draft class was great if – big if here – you factor out a certain QB that went #1 overall). With regards to this year I’d have to say Reggie McKenzie did well considering the circumstances. He has no picks at all as Oakland didn’t select until 95th overall. He had a scouting department he didn’t hire that spent the year scouting players that might not be a fit for the new Raiders yet still managed to address so pressing needs and add some depth.

2. How has the Raiders organization changed over the eight months since Al Davis’s death?

CS: Well, put it this way. This new Raider organization is like a person that the last time you saw them they looked completely different than how they look now. At first you recognize them from somewhere but can’t place it. Then it all comes flooding back are you’re used to the new friend all over again. Every inch of the franchise has changed from the team website to the coaching staff. McKenzie left no stone unturned as he and Mark Davis went out and made this franchise in their image. It’s refreshing but frightening at the same time. Not that things were great when Mr. Davis passed but different doesn’t always mean better. We’ll have to wait and see.

1. 600 or 220?
This point came as a result of an interesting question I received in answer a pregame Q&A for Just Blog Baby, the Oakland Raiders blog on the FanSided Network. Chris Shellcroft asked me was whether it would be more likely we’d see a combined 600 passing yards or 220 penalty yards. I answered 600 passing yards was the more likely total to be reached and that is exactly what happened. I had hoped that the total would be reached thanks to a big day from Matthew Stafford. While that was the case, Carson Palmer was also able to light it up to push the passing total to 720 yards after adjusting for sacks. The penalty yardage total came in at 158 thanks to nine flags against the Lions and ten against the Raiders.

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1. 600 or 220?
I had the opportunity to answer a few questions for Just Blog Baby, the Oakland Raiders blog on the FanSided Network. One of the interesting questions Chris Shellcroft asked me was whether it would be more likely we’d see a combined 600 passing yards or 220 penalty yards. The better scenario for the Lions would probably be the 600 combined passing yards considering Matthew Stafford figures to do more damage than Carson Palmer. Then again, the Lions secondary has had its fair share of injuries.

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