Dec 2, 2012; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders owner Reggie McKenzie attends the game against the Cleveland Browns at the O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

The Oakland Raiders were a franchise without their leader and in total disarray. The head coach was making moves like the “greatest trade in football” and the financial situation was as bad as our government’s. Ok it wasn’t that bad, but things looked rough. In stepped Reggie Mckenzie with an axe and a lumberjack flannel. Raider Nation hungry to improve on an 8-8 season watched in awe as Hue Jackson’s bully was disassembled like a toy in Sid’s bedroom. (Toy Story is a classic!)

I’ll be the first person to confess that I wasn’t to pleased to watch Louis Murphy, Stanford Routt, or even Carson Palmer be shown the door. A four win season drives a fan a little crazy. Its like that horrible day when one decides to watch Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull. Well unlike Steven Spielburg and George Lucas, Reggie McKenzie and Dennis Allen have a chance to make things right. And after another wave of cuts, Mckenzie has finally started the building process.

The linebacking problem of Oakland was the first to be solved. A group of savvy veterans have been added in hopes to replicate what Phillip Wheeler managed to accomplish one season ago. Not to mention the progress of young Miles Burris who looks to have a very promising career in the silver and black.

McKenzie didn’t stop there as he re-signed Khalif Barnes (as is tradition) and picked up veteran offensive tackle Alex Baron. All the while under the radar signings on the defensive line such as nose tackle Johnny Jones and defensive tackle Vance Walker signified the opportunity Dennis Allen would have the ability to turn over to a 3-4 defense.

McKenzie’s squad still looked weak. With an aging quarterback and a severe problem in the defensive backfield questions were left to be answered. And for the first time in what seems like forever the Raiders found themselves in the mainstream of NFL action. The move for Matt Flynn has been seen as positive by most. McKenzie sees talent in the player that he watched develop behind the State Farm discount double check star, and the staff in Oakland seem very confident in his ability. Not only did McKenzie manage to find a possible franchise quarterback (emphasize possible), but the GM also sealed a deal with former Saint Tracy Porter. The veteran presence of Dennis Allen’s former pupil, in my opinion, will be a huge contributor to Oakland’s lacking secondary.

I think for Matt Flynn, a guy that’s had an opportunity now to be in the league for five years as a backup quarterback, to learn, to grow, to develop, I would say he’s not unlike some other guys that you’ve seen go through the same type of process,” – Dennis Allen comparing Matt Flynn to Matt Schaub.

Holes are still left on Oakland’s roster to fill. Another free agent corner such as former Dallas Cowboy, Micheal Jenkins, would be a prime addition to a once depleted secondary. With the draft on the horizon one is left to ponder the possibility of trading the third overall pick for a late first rounder and maybe a second to third round pick. Certainly a team like the Bengals or Bears would consider trading up for a big difference maker. Trading would give the Raiders the ability to seal a first round defensive lineman and still receive a potential star defensive back like Tyrann Mathieu who exploded in front of scouts.

September 9 2012; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos defensive back Tracy Porter (22) reacts to his return for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Sports Authority Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Reggie McKenzie has a long way to go to bringing his team to the promise land. After starting his new regime with just four wins the man has endured his share of criticism (maybe even some from me) and perservered. Questions are still to be answered. Will Matt Flynn be the next Schaub or the next Palmer? Will the new cornerback tandem be the next Asomugha/routt or the next Spencer/Bartell? Without a doubt McKenzie is determined to pull this mess together into a masterpiece.

Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

There is plenty of uncertainty going forward for the Oakland Raiders so it only makes sense for Reggie McKenzie to try and minimize the drama during the season. One such issue sure to be talked about non-stop will be Darren McFadden’s contract situation. He’s entering the final year of his rookie contract and the oft injured yet talented runner figures to be a hot commodity as his skill level is impossible to ignore.

That’s led McKenzie to state his desires to open contract talks with McFadden sooner than later.

Despite his many injuries McKenzie has called McFadden “as tough as the come”. Raider Nation would agree as the zone blocking scheme proved his true nature as a runner. McFadden isn’t interested in dancing at the line. He’s looking to lower his shoulder and do damage behind a bruising offensive line.

In fact most of McFadden’s injuries have been of the random and freakish variety. So McKenzie has no problem talking long term with Run DMC in mind even though said freak occurrences have happened every year McFadden has been in the league.

However there are sure to be plenty of provisions in McFadden’s deal preventing him from collecting scratch while sitting on the sideline. That’s just the business of pro football. No matter what it’s nice to know the Raiders rebuild isn’t a complete overhaul. Sure, McFadden’s injury issues are of great concern but there is no way this team is better without him nor do playmakers of his breed simply fall from the sky.

Keeping McFadden in Oakland is top priority and that is refreshing given the miserable year he and the entire offense suffered through in 2012. Give McKenzie credit, his first year on the job was one with a steep learning curve but he’s not so foolish as to assume there is no talent on the team worth keeping around. Inking Tyvon Branch illustrated that and keeping McFadden in Oakland would be another great accomplishment given the current cap situation.

Nov 11, 2012; Baltimore, MD, USA; Oakland Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M

Reggie McKenzie said a lot of things today. For the first time in months the first time general manager of the Oakland Raiders opened up to the media offering his thoughts on what has been a disappointing and dismal season. Raiders.com has the entire transcript which is must read material for all of Raider Nation.

Naturally the questions McKenzie fielded all pertained to the sad state of the franchise, specifically the miserable month of November.

Now if you were expecting anything salacious to come out of McKenzie’s mouth then hold your breath waiting for Jerry Jones to takeover the Raiders. The new GM in town isn’t wired that way. There’s no doubt changes are coming at the end of the season but McKenzie didn’t go as far as singling out who is on the hot seat and who isn’t. But he did say everyone and everything is going to be “evaluated” from top to bottom once the season is over.

Dennis Allen, like McKenzie, is a rookie to his job but that hasn’t quieted the talk of his possible dismissal in year one of his head coaching career. McKenzie was non-committal on Allen beyond this season. All that means is the season isn’t over yet.

McKenzie made a point to make sure everyone is aware that nothing is decided yet. He’s giving the final five weeks of the season to determine the future of this football team from players to coaches to equipment managers. You name it, McKenzie wants to see improvement.

“Hey guys, players, coaches, my scouts, equipment guys, I’m not going to get after, from the standpoint of who’s safe, who’s in or out, I don’t like to discuss anything during the season. Because it’s my job to evaluate this team, and that’s done on a weekly basis, so at the end of this thing, I have my evaluation of not only Coach Allen, but every player and my thoughts of every coach.

“But it’s my football team, and I’m responsible. We have a great line of communication, so that’s not going to be an issue, at all. It’s my job to evaluate the situation, and I’m going to get that done. We’re going to do it the right way. I can’t build a team without effectively evaluating what’s going on. You’ve got to do it the right way, week to week. We’ve got five weeks to correct that now. I’ll be doing some evaluations in these five weeks.”

Bottom line being just about everyone has a five week audition. Ah hem…McKenzie included.

Don’t think for a second that the apple fell far from the tree in the Davis family. There is no way Mark Davis will be content to sit through another month like total disaster that was November. There isn’t anything to indicate Davis is willing to reboot again one year into his tenure as owner. But McKenzie already knows what his boss expects.

What would be unexpected is for the Raiders to start a new GM search this offseason. That said progress must be made over the course of the last five games. That’s the motto going forward.

“Mark and I talk all the time. The bottom line is we want to see progress, and that November month, nobody was pleased with. Nobody. He and I discussed that quite a bit, trying to put a finger on it, but we want to see better play, and we’ve got five games to do it.”