Heres a look division by division at a few NFL predictions. Who will win what awards? Which teams will disapoint? And what surprises will there be next season. Who will be the sleepers in each conferance?
After reading countless prediction articles heres my shot at an unbiased prediction on this years NFL season.
Lets take a look.
The Bengals are a team that has historically struggled, and is known for bringing in players with off-field issues and sub-par play. So how could we ever consider the Bengals possible AFC sleepers?
Well, if you don’t understand, let me explain.
First, here is a look at some of the Bengals off-season additions:
OT Andre Smith, LB Ray Maualuga, DE Michael Johnson, SS Roy Williams, DT Tank Johnson, WR Leveranues Coles.
Damn, these guys have been busy; and that’s not even all of the off-season talent they acquired.
So how do these guys help the team?
First off, Andre Smith.
Last year, the Bengals struggled because perennial pro-bowler Carson Palmer was plagued with injury. The Bengals shored up his blind side with 1st rounder Andre Smith. With protection, a healthy Palmer will not only throw for 4000+ yards, but make the Pro Bowl again. The signing not only improves the passing game, but also helps open up holes for the running game.
Next is Laveranues Coles.
He may not be equal to TJ, but he is good enough. Expect him to approach a 1000 yard season with Palmer as his QB.
Then, theres the defense. This is where things get scary.
LB Ray Maualuga – He is known for his brutal hitting power and nose for the ball carrier. He will help make the defense, especially the run defense, respectable.
DT Tank Johnson – This guy will not only help improve the run defense, but will make Maualugas job easier by eating up double teams and keeping defenders out of the second level.
FS Roy Williams – Sure, his coverage skills may be suspect, but like the aforementioned defenders, he will help shore up the run defense. He is basically an extra linebacker with his hitting power.
So with these three additions to the defense, teams will be forced to beat them through the air. With young and still green QB’s in the division like Joe Flacco, and whoever the Browns play, this falls right into the Bengals’ strength. And that is where the fourth defender comes in.
DE Michael Johnson – He arguably had one of the best combine performances at the combines. Johnson is a physical freak. At 6’7” 270, he was expected to be a pass-rusher out of a 3-4 defense. He ran a 4.7 40, 4.3 shuttle, jumped 38.5 on the vertical, pushed out 28 reps on bench, and had a broad jump of 128 inches. This guy will be a nightmare for opposing QBs.
Some would say the Bengals were to bad of a team to even think about a playoff push, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
A Bengals team with a healthy Palmer could have easily gone .500. On top of that, they competed with some of the league’s top teams. For example, they lost to the Giants in overtime and tied with the Eagles, two playoff teams.
Others would say the division is to hard. Really? Don’t they play the Browns twice a year?
And what’s to say the Steelers don’t suffer another Super Bowl hangover. After there last one, they came back with a disappointing 8-8 season missing the playoffs.
But more likely than that, what’s to say the Ravens don’t take a fall this year.
They not only lost there defensive coordinator, but a good deal of quality assistants. On top of that, Joe Flacco isn’t that great. Actually, he may be the most overrated QB in the league.
Last year, he hid behind the Ravens defense and didn’t even throw for 3000 yards. He only threw 14 TDs and nearly as many INT’s at 12. And then there’s that dreaded sophomore slump many young players suffer from. If his numbers come down, that is bad news for the Ravens.
You could also claim the Ravens are getting old in the tooth, and lost too much talent this off-season; but that’s still to be seen.
With that said, a Bengals Wild card birth behind the Steelers is not out of the question.
Who knows, maybe we could even see them atop the division.
Everyone knows the Oakland Raiders have arguably the most dangerous trio of running backs at there disposal. But what is the best way to utilize the three effectively?
I am sure everyone has there opinion on why there favorite back should see the bulk of the carries and whats the best way to shake, rattle and roll. If you don’t know what I’m talking about check out this article: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/198784-oakland-halfbacks-need-new-tag-part-ii
The consensus fan favorite to lead the Raider running attack is Darren McFadden. He brings flashy big play ability, acceleration and draft status. He is likely the most dangerous of the three able to score anytime he touches the ball.
The fan runner up would be Michael Bush, for his power size and vision. He finally got his chance to start week 17 with both Fargas and Mcfadden out due to injury. He took over the game leading the Raiders to victory in a 180 yard performance.
Then there’s Justin Fargas, the player fans tend to underestimate and throw under the bus. He is known for his reckless abandon, non-stop motor and 110 percent effort. He also came of the bench in 2006 to replace an injured Lamont Jordan to rush for over 1000 yards, leading the Raiders sixth ranked rushing attack.
So whose my favorite and how do I think the Raiders backs should be used?
Well, my favorite is Michael Bush?
I don’t mean to beat a dead horse but here’s how I think they would be best used.
First of all, though many may not like it, Justin Fargas should be the starter. He should see the most carries.
Why, might you ask? The answer is simple.
First let me say one thing that bothers me is how quick some fans are to throw the guy under the bus. Did we all forget what he did coming off the bench when Jordan went down with an injury? Now a days 1000 yards is impressive especially if you don’t start the whole season.
Some people are even calling for Louis Rankin to replace Justin Fargas, that is complete BS. Has Rankin ever done anything in the NFL? Has he ever rushed for 1000 yards? Has he ever rushed for 160+ yards against a division rival? Has he ever Rushed for 170+ yards against a thought to be playoff defense? I thought not, our other three backs have.
Justin Fargas is a veteran and a team leader who leaves it all on the field. Not only that, but he is a two time “Commitment to Excellence Award” winner. The team votes on the award and I’m willing to take the team’s word for it that he deserves it. If Fargas wasn’t the real deal his team-mates would not have voted him to win.
So if Fargas is the starter how should the other two be used?
First Darren McFadden: Though he is the most dangerous he should be used sparingly. As last year proved, he has durability issues. First it was injuring his toe in week two, then it was suffering a shoulder injury which required surgery. McFadden should be used as an occasional change of pace back spelling Fargas and as a receiver either in the slot or out of the backfield. He needs to be kept fresh throughout the game so that he is always a threat.
Now on to Michael Bush. It may seem like theres little left for him, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Bush should be used as a short yardage and goal-line back pounding it in for TDs and first downs. I will even go as far as to say we should treat Fargas and McFadden like the black running-back from Varsity Blues. Fargas and McFadden should not score without breaking 20 yards.
On top off that, Bush should be used as a closer. He should see the majority of the carries in the fourth quarter assuming the Raiders have the lead.
Honestly if the Raiders have the lead in the fourth, I don’t want McFadden to even touch the ball. He’s too valuable and seemingly fragile and, secondly, he has a fumbling problem.
In this scenario Fargas would be the “work horse,” McFadden would be the “secret weapon,” and Bush would be “the Hammer.”
So is this the best way to use the three Raider backs?
Everyone knows the Oakland Raiders have arguably the most dangerous trio of running backs at there disposal. But what is the best way to utilize the three effectively?
I am sure everyone has their own opinion on why their favorite back should see the bulk of the carries and whats the best way to shake, rattle and roll. If you don’t know what I’m talking about check out this article: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/198784-oakland-halfbacks-need-new-tag-part-ii
The consensus fan favorite to lead the Raider running attack is Darren McFadden. He brings flashy big play ability, acceleration and draft status. He is likely the most dangerous of the three; able to score anytime he touches the ball.
The fan runner up would be Michael Bush, for his power size and vision. He finally got his chance to start week 17 with both Fargas and Mcfadden out due to injury. He took over the game leading the Raiders to victory in a 180 yard performance.
Then there’s Justin Fargas, the player fans tend to underestimate and throw under the bus. He is known for his reckless abandon, non-stop motor and 110 percent effort. He also came of the bench in 2006 to replace an injured Lamont Jordan to rush for over 1000 yards, leading the Raiders sixth ranked rushing attack.
So who’s my favorite, and how do I think the Raiders backs should be used?
Well, my favorite is Michael Bush.
I don’t mean to beat a dead horse but here’s how I think they would be best used.
First of all, though many may not like it, Justin Fargas should be the starter. He should see the most carries.
Why, might you ask? The answer is simple.
First let me say one thing that bothers me is how quick some fans are to throw the guy under the bus. Did we all forget what he did coming off the bench when Jordan went down with an injury? Now a days 1000 yards is impressive especially if you don’t start the whole season.
Some people are even calling for Louis Rankin to replace Justin Fargas, that is complete BS. Has Rankin ever done anything in the NFL? Has he ever rushed for 1000 yards? Has he ever rushed for 160+ yards against a division rival? Has he ever Rushed for 170+ yards against a thought to be playoff defense? I thought not, our other three backs have.
Justin Fargas is a veteran and a team leader who leaves it all on the field. Not only that, but he is a two time “Commitment to Excellence Award” winner. The team votes on the award and I’m willing to take the team’s word for it that he deserves it. If Fargas wasn’t the real deal his team-mates would not have voted him to win.
So if Fargas is the starter how should the other two be used?
First Darren McFadden: Though he is the most dangerous he should be used sparingly. As last year proved, he has durability issues. First it was injuring his toe in week two, then it was suffering a shoulder injury which required surgery. McFadden should be used as an occasional change of pace back spelling Fargas and as a receiver either in the slot or out of the backfield. He needs to be kept fresh throughout the game so that he is always a threat.
Now on to Michael Bush. It may seem like theres little left for him, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Bush should be used as a short yardage and goal-line back pounding it in for TDs and first downs. I will even go as far as to say we should treat Fargas and McFadden like the black running-back from Varsity Blues. Fargas and McFadden should not score without breaking 20 yards.
On top off that, Bush should be used as a closer. He should see the majority of the carries in the fourth quarter assuming the Raiders have the lead.
Honestly if the Raiders have the lead in the fourth, I don’t want McFadden to even touch the ball. He’s too valuable and seemingly fragile and, secondly, he has a fumbling problem.
In this scenario Fargas would be the “work horse,” McFadden would be the “secret weapon,” and Bush would be “the Hammer.”
So is this the best way to use the three Raider backs?
Its always been said that Al Davis has a hand in all things Raider: The draft, the free agents, the stadium and especially the defense.
Many speculated that rather than let John Marshall do his job and run a defense he would be forced to run the Al Davis defense, rather than his own.
A few qoutes from both Marshall and players alike made this inevitable reality seem even more real.
When asked how his defense would differ from Rob Ryans, Marshall replied,”my hair won’t be as long.”
After hearing that I thought. “Really thats it, Damn maybe it wasn’t Rob Ryan maybe were in for the same old bs.”
When he was asked how he would address the porus Run defense Marshall said.
“That has everything to do with technique, and it has a whole lot to do with attitude and tackling,” Marshall said. “Those are the areas, disengaging blockers, fundamentals.”
So hes going to going to go over basic fundamentals with the Oakland Raidersand teach them how to tackle. Shouldn’t a profesional NFL team have the fundametals down?
When asked about how he felt working under Al Davis Marshall said.
“I know he knows defense,” Marshall said. “The great thing is, is he is like me. He’s long in the tooth and he’s old school.
Great, so the Raiders are going to be running Al Davis’s “old school” defense that dominated back in the day when dinosaurs roamed the earth.
Even Nnamdi Asomugha was skeptical of the “new look” defense the Raiders were implementing in camp.
“That’s like a wait-and-see type of thing because even in camps previously we were doing a lot of blitzing and doing multiple things defensively and then we got into games and we were pretty basic,” star cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha said. “So, it’s like a wait-and-see type of thing.”
Maybe the most disturbing qoute that ensured this was Al Davis’s defense came from Raiders defensive-end Jay Richardson.
“We all know this is Al Davis’s defense, and we love it”
Fast forward to the Raider Cowboys game thursday night how did Al Davis’s defense look.
Well not much like a typical Al Davis defense. Sure alot of the plays were the infamous Raider four man rush press man coverage that Raider fans are so used to. But they brought alot more pressure and implemented a fair share of blitzes, stunts and even zone coverage. Though some of the Raiders looked a little rusty in zone. On a few ocassions d-linemen even dropped back into coverage.
So much for going over basic fundamentals and running an old school defense.
Well if this is still Al Davis’s defense then how do you explain what happened last night. Some would say what happens in preseason means nothing. But a better answer is that the Raiders two defensive coordinators, Davis and Marshall, Have learned to coexist. What we say last night was a combination of a press-man-coverage and an attacking defense. And it looked good.
Recently when asked about his heavy emphasis on fundamentals Marshall said.
“I’ve never been of the belief you can’t teach old dogs new tricks,” he said. “You just kind of have to stay with it longer, have patience and push them harder.”
So how do fundamentals have anything to do with “new tricks”. Well I don’t think Marshall was talking about any of the Raider players. He was talking about Al Davis. And apparently he taught that “old dog” Al Davis a few new tricks.
As Raider fans we need to accept the fact that both our defense as well as nearly everything else Raider is and will be run by Al Davis. His way has been arguably the best way for 40+ years no reason to change that now.
The Raiders new defense is a combination of old and new, Man defense and attack defense, Al Davis and John Marshall.
Sure theres no doubt in my mind that this is still an Al Davis defense, but it is also a John Marshall defense. And two great minds is better than one.
Who knows what we will see from the Raiders new defense
Many Raider fans who just saw the depth chart that the Raiders recently released may have a few questions.
One question I asked myself was: Where is Teredell Sands?
He isn’t even listed on the roster.
Thank God.
This comes as a surprise to some because Sands was expected to remain on the roster, splitting time at nose with Gerrard Warren. And because Sands fits two out of three of Al Davis’s infamous drafting criteria of “HWS” (height, weight, speed), many suspected the old man would have a say in keeping him.
At 6’7”, 335+ pounds, and often overweight, this D-tackle has been nicknamed “Turtle” Sands, the turd, and numerous other nicknames involving expletives.
Due to his lack of conditioning, sub-par play, and character issues, he is often out-matched on the field, leaving Raider linebackers to fend off o-linemen.
Many fans would even blame him for the Raiders’ dismal run defense. Since he’s been a Raider, the best run defense the team has posted is 22nd. I will even go as far as to blame Sands for the heat Kirk Morrison takes.
Last year, under Rob Ryan, after a victory over the Broncos, Shane Lechlar said a few things about Sands’ wife. Even though whatever Lechlar said was probably true, Sands proceeded to punch Lechlar in the face, reportedly breaking his nose. Both players continued the season with no punishment. Lechlar continued his pro-bowl year, and Sands continued to suck.
When I heard about this, I figured, hey, one of our worst players nearly injured one of our best…It’s time to show this guy the door.
Fortunately for us, Lechlar manned up and played.
His inconsistent play has continued recently, as reports from practice have him on his back a few times a day, being bullied by the likes of Samson Setale and even Paul McQuistan.
Unlike Rob Ryan, it would seem John Marshall doesn’t put up with overweight, under conditioned head-cases.
Marshall has even gone as far as displacing Sands with Desmond Bryant, an undrafted rookie who has been impressive in camp. And with Ryan Boschetti, an off season acquisition known for his non-stop motor, Marshall obviously values effort and potential over height and weight.
So, what are the Raiders going to do with Sands?
I would suspect they are going to hold onto him until final cuts, and maybe try to get a trade out of him. Nose tackles are a very valuable commodity. But unfortunately for the Raiders, only good ones are of value.
So what is Sands worth?
Well, not much right now. Maybe his value will go up if another team faces an injury on their D-line, then his value might increase to a sixth or seventh-round pick.
But as of right now, I’m sure the Raider-Nation would take a a Big Mac and fries if any team was willing to take this piling-heap of dead weight off our hands.
I would like to see what everyone else thinks. Is Sands really as bad as we all thought? And what do you think the Raiders will do with him?
The Oakland Raiders have just released an unofficial depth chart for their first preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Here’s a look at it.
WR 12 Darrius Heyward-Bey, 15 Johnnie Lee Higgins, 87 Shawn Bayes/10 Jonathan Holland
LT 75 Mario Henderson, 70 Khalif Barnes (injured), 65 Seth Wand
LG 76 Robert Gallery, 79 Paul McQuistan, 51 Chris Morris
C 64 Samson Satele, 71 John Wade, 51 Chris Morris
RG 66 Cooper Carlisle, 63 Mark Wilson, 78 Marcus Johnson
RT 74 Cornell Green, 72 Erik Pears, 69 James Marten
TE 80 Zach Miller, 86 Tony Stewart, 83 Brandon Myers
WR 81 Chaz Schilens, 18 Louis Murphy, 19 Todd Watkins/89 Nick Miller
FB 41 Lorenzo Neal, 46 Oren O’Neal, 45 Marcel Reece
RB 25 Justin Fargas, 20 Darren McFadden, 29 Michael Bush
QB 2 JaMarcus Russell, 7 Jeff Garcia, 5 Bruce Gradkowski/3 Charlie Frye
DE 91 Trevor Scott, 77 Matt Shaughnessy
DT 93 Tommy Kelly, 94 William Joseph, 92 Derrick Gray
DT 61 Gerard Warren, 67 Desmond Bryant, 73 Ryan Boschetti
DE 99 Greg Ellis, 98 Jay Richardson, 97 Greyson Gunheim
OLB 55 Jon Alston/57 Ricky Brown, 58 Slade Norris
MLB 52 Kirk Morrison, 57 Ricky Brown, 50 Isaiah Ekejiuba
OLB 53 Thomas Howard, 48 David Nixon, 54 Sam Williams
SS 33 Tyvon Branch, 34 Mike Mitchell, 30 Jerome Boyd
FS 31 Hiram Eugene, 24 Michael Huff CB 21 Nnamdi Asomugha, 22 Justin Miller, 39 Darrick Brown
CB 37 Chris Johnson, 26 Stanford Routt, 35 John Bowie
K 11 Sebastian Janikowski, 4 Ricky Schmitt
P 9 Shane Lechler, 4 Ricky Schmitt
LS 59 Jon Condo, 80 Zach Miller
KR 22 Justin Miller, 15 Johnnie Lee Higgins
PR 15 Johnnie Lee Higgins
Though the Raiders released this list as unofficial and it is still only preseason, the list raises quite a few questions regarding who is or isn’t where. Let’s take a look a few positions on the Raiders depth chart that are a little surprising.
First off, the starting WRs are rookies Darius Heyward-bey and Chaz Schilens. Though Schilens isn’t a surprise to anyone following, it is a bit surprising DHB is ahead of Johnnie Lee Higgins. The Raiders may just want to see how he performs against top NFL corners.
The second team WR’s are Higgins and Murphy. While the third team’s WR duties will be split between Shawn Bayes, Jonathan Holland, Nick Miller and Todd Watkins.
The next questions involve the running backs. The tailbacks listed are Fargas, McFadden, and Bush while the fullbacks are Neal, O’neal and Reece. The HB depth chart could have been easily predicted but the first surprise comes at the FB position.
It would seem that Oren O’neal is being listed with the second team because he has recovered and is ready to truck some fools in order to open up some lanes for the Raiders running backs.
The next question is regarding Marcel Reece.
Apparently, he beat out Gary Russell and Luke Lawton for that third spot. Both Lawton and Russell are unlisted on the depth chart that was released by the Raiders, and so is Louis Rankin.
Next at D-end, Scott and Ellis are listed on the first team while Richardson and Shaughnessy are listed as 2nd teamers. At first glance, it looks like the Raiders are bringing the heat this year with their first team. I would guess that the second team actually consists of co-starters.
As the first team is better suited for pass-rush, the second team is better suited for stopping the run.
Then at DT, there are quite a few surprises. Tommy Kelly and Gerrard Warren are listed as starters which is no surprise. But Terdel Sands isn’t even listed on the depth chart which raises questions about his days in Oakland being numbered.
Then take a look at the second team Defensive Tackles because both are surprises.
At the 3-technique is William Joseph, who a bit of a surprise as he did little last year. Next at the 1-technique nose-tackle, the big surprise is undrafted rookie Desmond Bryant who is more of a DE/DT tweener standing at 6’5” 288 pounds.
He may be undersized to play the nose though Bryant did play all four positions along the D-line in college.
Next, the third team consists of Boschetti and Derrick Gray, who we all thought was a DT.
The linebacker position is where a lot of questions are raised. Alston and Brown are listed as co-starters at strong-side, Brown is also listed as 2nd team middle-linebacker, and behind him is special team’s standout Isaiah Ekejiuba.
Two rookies are on the second team. Slade Norris is working at the strong-side while David Nixon has been releiving Thomas Howard on the weak side. Nixon seems to be beating out Sam Williams, who appears to be moving to the weak side.
The defensive backfield turned out pretty predictable. Tyvonn Branch and Hiram Eugene are starting at safety while Nnamdi and Johnson were listed as the starting corners.
Jerome Boyd, who is a SS/LB tweener, is listed at 3rd team SS after seeing reps at both safety and linebacker during OTAs.
Finally, there are a few questions being raised on special teams.
First, who the hell is Ricky Schmitt.
Secondly, Zack Miller is listed as a long snapper. Will the Raiders really use him to snap the ball in preseason or is he just a reserve incase Jon Condo goes down?
Lastly with returners, there are absolutely no surprises. It’s exactly the same as last year. There is no Nick Miller, Samie Parker or Tyvonn Branch anywhere in the line-up. So much for the plan for someone to replace Higgins on punt-return so he can focus on being a better WR.
So what do you guys think? Does this unofficial roster mean anything?
Lately within the Raiders organization there have been flashes of QB controversy. There are a select few Raider fans calling for Garcia to start over Russell. This has mainly been caused by media pundits and a few of the fans that have been blinded by the media’s talking heads.
But in all reality, how Russell and Garcia actually compare, one is much better than the other.
In order to come to a decision lets take a look at the Raiders QBs past seasons.
First Jeff Garcia, a nearly 40-year-old veteran QB, has limited arm strength but still possesses decent mobility for his age
Born in Gilroy, he attended San Jose State and even played for that team across the bridge. Heres a look at his stats last year: 2,712 yards passing, 12 TDs, 23 sacks, 6 INTs, 12 games played, 90.2 QB rating, 7.2 yards per completion and a 64.9 completion percentage.
JaMarcus Russell: 6’6”, 265-pound QB about to start his third year out of LSU. Born in Alabama, he has tremendous physical ability and is quite mobile for his size, he is much like a QB in a tight-end’s body.
Last year his stats were pretty unimpressive: In 15 games he threw for 2,423 yards, 13 TDs, 8 INTs, 6.6 yards for pass, 31 sacks and a 77.1 QB rating.
Currently there are quite a few knocks on Garcia: First last year he missed four games due to a calf injury. This year the injury has resurfaced during non-contact drills. Wow, this elderly QB is starting to look pretty fragile. I wonder how he will make it through a game let alone contact practice drills.
Then there’s the constant distractions Garcia has been causing this offseason. No matter how many times Cable states that there is no QB controversey, Garcia finds it necesarry to go against the team’s best interests and opens his mouth to the media. This can only hurt the team and shows Garcia is not on the same page as the coaching staff.
Next is his questionable arm strength. At 6′, 205 he is an average sized man. But football is a sport of the above average. Garcia’s lack of arm strength may negate the speed of our offense and his lack of height may hinder his vision.
Also if you chart Garcia’s production over the years it has been on a downward trend. At 39, how much more can this guy have left in him? I would say not much more.
Now onto the negatives on JaMarcus Russell.
First his attitude. He has been said to have a very laid back attitude and many even question whether he even cares about the game anymore.
Some will say he is acting like a thug or a diva because of his pregame attire including fur coats, loads of jewlery and designer glasses. Others cite the entourage he is often seen with locally or in his hometown or a few photos that have surfaced of him having a good time.
Guess what, the laid back attitude, it’s called confidence. His attire and entourage? Come on. Give nearly any black (or even white) male in his early to mid 20s a $60 million contract you will see the same thing.
Then there’s the beleif that he is just to stupid to play QB in the NFL. That could not be further from the truth. At least not according to any of his former coaches and the wonderlic test in which he scored a solid 24.
Also look at the offense he led in LSU which implemented both spread and pro-set formations. Tell me that is not complicated as hell.
Then the reports that Jamarcus Russell is fat. Reports have had him at 300-plus or 270-plus. In college he played at 265. In a recent interview Russell said, “I may be a little heavy.”
What does that mean? Well it means exactly what he said: he may be a little heavy. Two-seventy-plus no way. But give him a break, its the offseason and why wouldn’t you expect a player, at any position, to play heavier at the next level.
So is there even a point for this rant? Yes.
Heres what I think the Raiders should do.
The Raiders need to cut Garcia NOW in order to avoid a QB controversey.
Why might you ask? Simple.
Garcia was brought in to mentor and push JaMarcus to get the best out of him and to act as a backup in case Russell goes down.
Garcia has done his job and been a huge distraction in the process. He has even pushed Russell to the point of hosting his own private passing camp. Garcia’s services are no longer required.
Having a solid backup who only causes distractions is not beneficial to the team. Garcia’s job is to hold a clipboard. Charlie Frye and Gradkowski can do that just as well if not better.
If Garcia remains on the team as soon as we face our first loss BSPN, NFL Network and every radio talk show will be lining up to interview Garcia. When this happens Garcia will be quick to throw JaMarcus and the Oakland Raiders under the bus, likely declaring himself the deserving starter.
This will only split Raider Nation and maybe even the locker room.
Also, dumping Garcia now will allow backup QBs Frye and Gradkowski to get the most reps possible in case Russell does go down.
This time of year if your an Oakland Raider fan there seems to be a lot of things to be concerned about. But on the other hand there also is a lot of things to be hopeful for. Here’s a list of things we should watch for coming into the season.
Javon Walker
Hes been called a huge mistake, a free agent bust and a flat out waste of time and money. But this offseason things seem to be looking up for him. In workouts with the training staff he looks good its been said by observers that; he has great acceleration and catches the ball at the highest point possible.
He seems to catch everything thrown to him and is looking to be a great target for JaMarcus. Some even say he is faster and in better shape than ever possibly in the prime of his career, believers of all the good Walker news may even predict him as the comeback player of the year.
But personally I am still skeptical of him and not about to put all my eggs in Javon’s basket. It is just camp and he hasn’t even gone up against a real defense yet. Lets wait to see Walker put on some pads before we declare him back to good form.
Robert Gallery
He recently underwent an emergency appendectomy after recording a 104 degree fever. He is expected miss two weeks of practice and be eased back into the lineup.
This is an area of concern because he may miss valuable practice time and could possibly struggle early on in the season.
On the other hand it may develop some depth allowing other guards like Paul McQuistin and Marcus Johnson more snaps. Also Gallery’s appendicitis may be a cover for another condition as appendectomies are not usually necessary and are often done along with another surgery.
Paul Mcquistan
Well I am a big McQuistan fan but things are not looking to promising for him. At least not they way Desmond Bryant has been handling him.
The battle between DT Desmond Bryant and Paul Mcquistan is not going to well for McQuistan who has been man-handled, beaten like a drum, and dominated. I will even go as far as to say Desmond Bryant has been beating Paul Mcquistion like a redheaded step child.
Desmond Bryant
An undrafted rookie DE/DT tweener out of Harvard he is not only smart but very athletic at 6’6” 288 he ran a 4.9 40. Obviously from what you read above this guy is showing a lot of promise. But one question you should ask yourself is. Is Desmond Bryant really that good or is Mcquistan really that bad, or is it a combination of the two?
Khalif Barnes
Well things are definitely looking questionable for him as it is seeming more and more unlikely he will beat Henderson for the starting left tackle job. Tom Cable was asked if he’d consider moving the loser of the left tackle position to right tackle. Cable replied “definitely I want to have the best players on the field.”
When Barnes was asked about playing right tackle he seemed unsure saying he hasn’t done that since college. He also claimed he was very comfortable in the left tackle stance. On a plus note Barnes is not ready to concede defeat in the battle for left tackle.
On a side note Tom Cable wants the O-line starting line-up to be set by Sunday.
Oren O’neal
Last preseason he suffered a possible career threatening injury in a ACL and LCL tear. But guess what? He is back in camp. He moves well especially for a fullback and despite the fact that its a near miracle he is still able to walk he has no visible limp.
A healthy Oren O’neal splitting time with veteran Lorenzo Neal will mean a lot for the Raiders running game
Darius Hayward-Bey
Well there are mixed reports. He is said to be great on crossing-routes but struggles on some of the deeper routes many believe he was brought in to run. Most recently in practice he allowed a total of three balls to hit the turf in one practice.
But hey, on the bright side unlike a few other rookie receivers at least he is at practice and signed to a contract.
Derrick Burgess
His future as a Raider is still up in the air. He has been absent from practices and is holding-out for a bigger contract after three years of crying about his contract.
Also a rumor has risen the Raiders and the Patriots are at a stalemate in trade negotiations, the current rumor states the Patriots are offering a third and a fourth rounder for the former sack master but the Raiders want more while the Patriots aren’t budging.
Special teams returners
During returns this year it may likely be Miller time, I’m not just referring to Justin but also Nick Miller, a rookie WR out of Southern Utah, who has been doing work on punt return. He is a likely replacement for Johnnie Lee Higgins, who many believe will be focusing on playing WR this year.
Michael Huff
Already proclaimed a bust by many pundits and even quite a few Raider fans. Reports on him this offseason are pretty inconclusive as there have been mixed reviews. It’s been said he seems always a step behind in coverage and often looks confused reading plays.
But contrary to some other reports have him flying around the field looking solid in coverage especially in man. To further credit him Nnamdi Asomugha is on record predicting a breakout year for Huff who has seen a good deal of snaps with the 1st team a FS.
Kirk Morrison is loved and adored by many Raider Fans and most Raider fans would consider him as the leader and heart of the defense because he has led the Raiders in tackles for the last few years.
At first glance, Morrison is a highly talented line-backer, often praised for his speed and coverage skills.
Kirk Morrison was born a Raider. Throughout Morrison’s youth, his father owned and still has season tickets for the Raiders. Morrison attended a local highschool and played college ball at SDSU but then returned north to his home town when the Raiders selected him in the 2005 NFL Draft.
Most recently, Morrison even defended JaMarcus Russell and the Raiders 1st day draft picks on the TV show Rome is Burning, which was hosted by the fill-in — and bumbling idiot — Keyshawn Johnson.
Is it possible though that all this has blinded Raider fans to Morrisons’ many flaws?
Lately Morrsion has received some criticism by frustrated Raider fans who claim that he isn’t as good as often made out to be.
Sure he has many tackles, but on the other hand, it can be argued that he is rarely seen attacking the line of scrimmage, and that he is rarely the agressor by waiting for backs to come to him after a few yards.
Some have cited Morrisons’ habits of over pursuing and an inability to shed blocks as he is often helplessly blocked from plays. Few have even asserted that Morrison is soft and overrated, and will cite his lackluster performances, one as recently as the Raiders last victory over Tampa Bay in 2008.
To make the matter worse for Morrison, recent personnel moves by the Raiders, seemingly indicate that the Raiders may lack confidence in Morrison, and that he now looks expendable.
Firstly, Morrison is in a contract year, so if he wants to cash-in next offseason, then the Raiders may defer from resigning him, especially when his on-field performance is questionable.
Secondly, there is the moving of Ricky Brown from strong to middle linebacker during OTAs. During practices, Brown has played with the second team defense, while Morrison as expected has played with the 1st team.
Thirdly, there is the signing of Sun Belt Conference standout Frantz Joseph who was second in the nation in total tackles last year with 154. Many people are very high on Joseph despite his undrafted status, which arguably resulted from play in a smaller conference. Moreover, Joseph also failed a drug test, in which he tested positive for marijuana.
Finally, Chris O’Neil has been asked to inside-linebacker rather than his natural position of tight-end, in the hope that his outstanding special teams coverage and open field tackling can transfer to the defense.
Those moves have seemingly indicated that the Raiders lack confidence in their middle-linebackers.
Let me ask you this though, if Morrison is so good: why are the Raiders clearly trying to replace him?
To Morrison’s credit, some have blamed his “soft play” on Rob Ryan’s “vanilla” prevent style of defensive schemes. Another factor is the sub-par performance of the D-line against the run, especially at the nose-tackle position.
The time for making excuses for Morrison is over, because he is a grown man and a 6’2” 240 pound NFL line-backer. Rob Ryan has been replaced by John Marshall and the D-line has been improved, though I must admit that the nose-tackle position is seemingly neglected.
Rather than, the mediocrity of being content with racking-up tackles, I want to see Morrison attack the running-backs by meeting them at or behind the line of scrimmage.
I want to see Morrison strike fear into ball carriers and hit as hard as a “great” linebacker should. I want to see Morrison attack and defeat blockers, rather than play on his heels.
If Morrison fails to do this in 2009 and only continues his “average” play, then he will not silence his critics, and I will not expect him to return in a Raider uniform for 2010.
On a side note, there has been speculation that Morrison will be moved to play strong-outside backer or SAM — the position he started his rookie year.
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