A year after a tumultuous training camp—which included the daily struggles of JaMarcus Russell and allegations of assault and domestic assault against head coach Tom Cable—the Raiders spent a serene month in the wine country to sort it all out.

Russell is gone, released after three years and zero progress toward validating his status as the No. 1 overall pick of the 2007 draft. Cable kept his coaching job but relinquished offensive coordinator and play-calling duties, concentrating on the overall picture.