Reasons for Thanksgiving

The aren't exactly having a banner year. At 2-8, the season is essentially over, and all that is left to play for is pride and NFL draft status.Still, there are few gleaming beacons of hope on the edges of what has become a vast sea of despair, and most of them reside on the defensive side of the football:1) 4 Brett Favre White jersey
Young Secondary: Every starter in the Raiders' secondary is 25 years old or younger. Nnamdi Asomugha is the veteran of the bunch, but with only four years of NFL experience under his belt. Thus far, that experience has translated into a team-leading four interceptions. At free safety, Stuart Schweigert comes in second, with three years of experience; and the 25-year-old safety is also showing signs of maturity. He is currently second on the team with 71 tackles, 58 of which are solo. Alongside Nnamdi Asomugha, speedster Fabian Washington is in just his second year, but has three INTs of his own this season and is starting to raise eyebrows with his playmaking ability. Finally, last but not least is rookie safety Michael Huff. The fact that he's starting is reason enough to be thankful. Huff hasn't reeled in his first NFL interception yet, but he has been a steady contributor and has collected 4.5 tackles for loss.2) Young Linebackers: Kirk Morrison and Thomas Howard have been solid all season long. Morrison, who is just a second-year player, leads the team in tackles with 81 and has also snagged two interceptions. Alongside, Howard has been solid as well, chipping in with 64 tackles of his own; though he's not quite the playmaker Morrison has become. But then again, he is just a rookie.3) Derrick Burgess and Warren Sapp: Every good defense needs a couple of veterans to serve as anchors, and the Raiders have just that in DT Warren Sapp and DE Derrick Burgess. Sapp is definitely getting long in the tooth, enduring his 12th NFL season, but he seems to have plenty left in the tank. The former Miami Hurricanes' standout is set to turn 34 next month, but is still a lethal pass rusher, notching six sacks through 10 contests. And, speaking of sacks, Burgess is also cranking them out at an impressive pace. The six-year vet may not match last year's league-leading total of 16, but racking up eight through 10 games isn't too shabby.4) Rob Ryan: Not much needs to be said here. Ryan seems to be the only competent coach on the staff, and is the chief engineer behind the Raiders' eighth-ranked defense. If not for Ryan's scheming, Oakland would likely be the laughingstock of the league and, possibly, winless.Which Dallas Cowboys jersey
brings us to...5) The NFL Draft: Sometimes, its all about the yin and yang. Although the Raiders sit at 2-8 on the season, and have long been eliminated from playoff contention, fans can take solace in the fact that they will likely have a top-five pick come April. Let's just hope that pick, and several others, are devoted to the offensive side of the football. (22)