OAKLAND RAIDERS OFFSEASON THREAD
- Thread starter Solitary 1
- Start date
LAS VEGAS (AP)—Oakland Raiders wide receiver Javon Walker could be released from the hospital Tuesday, a day after he was beaten, robbed and left unconscious on a Las Vegas street after a night of partying, police said.
A large amount of cash and some jewelry were taken from Walker, who suffered “significant injuries,” police said.
Police Lt. Clinton Nichols said detectives are retracing Walker’s activities in the hours before he was found injured Monday morning on a street off the Las Vegas Strip.
“That’s one of the first things we do, backtrack what he did and where he stayed,” Nichols said, adding that the investigation was still in the early stages. “We knew there was a large amount of cash taken, and some jewelry.”
Nichols said he believed Walker would be released after a 24-hour stay at the hospital. A hospital spokesman said he had no immediate information about Walker’s condition.
A Raiders spokesman said the team was in the process of gathering information and had no further comment.
On Monday, police Officer Bill Cassell said in a statement that Walker was taken to a hospital with “significant injuries” and was in fair condition at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center.
Walker, 29, signed a six-year, $55 million deal with the Raiders after being released by the Denver Broncos in February.
Walker injured his right knee for the second time in his career last season and was limited to eight games and 26 catches in 2007.
Walker was a first-round draft pick by the Green Bay Packers in 2001 and had a breakout season in 2004 with 89 catches for 1,382 yards and 12 touchdowns.
He tore a ligament in his right knee the next season and played only one game.
He was traded to Denver in 2006 and bounced back with 69 catches for 1,084 yards and eight touchdowns.
Thats a damn shame. Hope he isnt hurt too bad.
A large amount of cash and some jewelry were taken from Walker, who suffered “significant injuries,” police said.
Police Lt. Clinton Nichols said detectives are retracing Walker’s activities in the hours before he was found injured Monday morning on a street off the Las Vegas Strip.
“That’s one of the first things we do, backtrack what he did and where he stayed,” Nichols said, adding that the investigation was still in the early stages. “We knew there was a large amount of cash taken, and some jewelry.”
Nichols said he believed Walker would be released after a 24-hour stay at the hospital. A hospital spokesman said he had no immediate information about Walker’s condition.
A Raiders spokesman said the team was in the process of gathering information and had no further comment.
On Monday, police Officer Bill Cassell said in a statement that Walker was taken to a hospital with “significant injuries” and was in fair condition at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center.
Walker, 29, signed a six-year, $55 million deal with the Raiders after being released by the Denver Broncos in February.
Walker injured his right knee for the second time in his career last season and was limited to eight games and 26 catches in 2007.
Walker was a first-round draft pick by the Green Bay Packers in 2001 and had a breakout season in 2004 with 89 catches for 1,382 yards and 12 touchdowns.
He tore a ligament in his right knee the next season and played only one game.
He was traded to Denver in 2006 and bounced back with 69 catches for 1,084 yards and eight touchdowns.
Thats a damn shame. Hope he isnt hurt too bad.
Source: Raiders to sign Keller today
By Sports
Wednesday, June 25th, 2008 at 9:46 am in Oakland Raiders.
UPDATE: Steve Corkran reports that Keller’s signing is official. The Raiders waived QB Erik Meyer to make room for him.
Looks like the Raiders’ backup quarterback situation is going to get a bit more muddled, with word coming from a source close to Sam Keller that the ex-San Ramon Valley High, Arizona State and Nebraska signal-caller will sign with Oakland today.
Keller worked out with the Raiders at a post-draft mini-camp, but left without signing a contract. The Raiders later re-signed Marques Tuiasosopo, who joined Andrew Walter as the main competitors to back up JaMarcus Russell.
Keller would join Erik Meyer and Jeff Otis, giving the Raiders six quarterbacks heading into training camp in July. Our reporters thought Keller was actually more impressive than both Otis and Meyer in May.
By Sports
Wednesday, June 25th, 2008 at 9:46 am in Oakland Raiders.
UPDATE: Steve Corkran reports that Keller’s signing is official. The Raiders waived QB Erik Meyer to make room for him.
Looks like the Raiders’ backup quarterback situation is going to get a bit more muddled, with word coming from a source close to Sam Keller that the ex-San Ramon Valley High, Arizona State and Nebraska signal-caller will sign with Oakland today.
Keller worked out with the Raiders at a post-draft mini-camp, but left without signing a contract. The Raiders later re-signed Marques Tuiasosopo, who joined Andrew Walter as the main competitors to back up JaMarcus Russell.
Keller would join Erik Meyer and Jeff Otis, giving the Raiders six quarterbacks heading into training camp in July. Our reporters thought Keller was actually more impressive than both Otis and Meyer in May.
The Walker gamble
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008 at 11:02 am in Oakland Raiders.
Second in a series of concerns regarding the makeup of the 2008 Raiders with the reporting date approaching on July 25 at the Napa Marriott:
C’mon. Aren’t you just a little bit nervous about the Raiders’ decision to sink some $16 million in guaranteed money into Javon Walker?
It was shaky at best even before his weekend of partying in Las Vegas left him with a broken jaw and a fractured orbital bone, according to police reports.
Raiders coach Lane Kiffin said at the club’s final OTA availability that Walker’s injuries were not an issue regarding being ready for training camp. We’ll take him at his word and assume Walker will be on the field on July 26, the day the Raiders hold their first practice on the Redwood School fields behind the Napa Marriott.
The thing is, even before Walker was found unconscious on a Vegas side street, there were indications he was in far from top form.
Having undergone three knee surgeries, Walker was being hold out of the second practices of the mandatory minicamp and OTAs. On two occasions, totally umprompted, coach Lane Kiffin made mention of Walker’s weight, indicating conditioning was an issue.
Kiffin was merely doing some gentle prodding through the media, but you’d like to think Walker would have arrived in prime condition, especially after talking such a good game about how he wanted the Broncos pay for the mistake of letting him go.
His decision to go to Vegas and spray champagne before the club’s final OTA, in that light, is troubling. Rich, young players are going to have their fun, but Walker is 29 years old. He should know better.
A revealing story by ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson painted the picture of a player who may still be deeply troubled by the shooting death of teammate Darrent Williams, who died in Walker’s arms in a limo. Former teammates and coaches are legitimately concerned about him.
Walker can be a generous, caring, engaging person, but also talked his way out of both Green Bay and Denver, the first over a contract issue, the second over the way he was used.
While it’s true the Raiders have a reputation for being a haven for the misunderstood, the best M.O. is usually to get a guy who needs to prove something and do it at a reasonable or even minimum salary, so he is hungry and eager to please.
In this case, the Raiders agreed to pay $16 million to a player who the Broncos didn’t want at a little over $5 million.
Either Al Davis or Mike Shanahan is going to be really wrong here.
The 2008 Raiders will be all about the development of JaMarcus Russell as a franchise quarterback. While it’s way too early to tell how that will go, I like what I’ve seen in a handful of practices.
As Kiffin noted, the key to getting Russell on track is his supporting cast. Walker is a big part of that cast.
Walker has had exactly one truly elite season in his six-year career. In 2004, he caught 89 passes for 1,382 yards and scored 12 touchdowns for the Packers and Brett Favre. Walker had an above average season in 2006 with the Broncos, with 69 catches for 1,084 yards and eight touchdowns _ a little better than Jerry Porter’s best seasons.
Walker, as astutely noted by Ronald Curry, is expected to be the Raiders top receiver by virtue of his paycheck.
During minicamps, the top free agent wide receiver wasn’t Walker, but Drew Carter, who looks to be the first to develop a chemistry with Russell. Curry looked strong after having surgery to remove a bone spur, but there was no mention of any surgery regarding a bone spur in either of his hands, which seemed to fail him at times in 2007.
The rest of the receiving corps is full of question marks. Johnnie Lee Higgins had one spectacular minicamp practice and followed it up by dropping everything in sight. Arman Shields, the fourth-round draft pick, pulled a hamstring and fell behind seventh-rounder Chaz Schilens.
Free agent Todd Watkins had some impressive moments. Drisan James, Jonathan Holland, Marcel Reece and Will Buchanon are all longshots, hoping for a chance at the practice squad.
The Raiders need a reasonable facsimile of the Walker who caught four passes for 124 yards and two touchdowns at the Coliseum on Dec. 22, 2003, the night the Packers embarrassed Oakland 41-7 on Monday night.
Davis likes the idea of looking at a situation differently than everyone else.
The signing of Walker would certainly qualify.
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008 at 11:02 am in Oakland Raiders.
Second in a series of concerns regarding the makeup of the 2008 Raiders with the reporting date approaching on July 25 at the Napa Marriott:
C’mon. Aren’t you just a little bit nervous about the Raiders’ decision to sink some $16 million in guaranteed money into Javon Walker?
It was shaky at best even before his weekend of partying in Las Vegas left him with a broken jaw and a fractured orbital bone, according to police reports.
Raiders coach Lane Kiffin said at the club’s final OTA availability that Walker’s injuries were not an issue regarding being ready for training camp. We’ll take him at his word and assume Walker will be on the field on July 26, the day the Raiders hold their first practice on the Redwood School fields behind the Napa Marriott.
The thing is, even before Walker was found unconscious on a Vegas side street, there were indications he was in far from top form.
Having undergone three knee surgeries, Walker was being hold out of the second practices of the mandatory minicamp and OTAs. On two occasions, totally umprompted, coach Lane Kiffin made mention of Walker’s weight, indicating conditioning was an issue.
Kiffin was merely doing some gentle prodding through the media, but you’d like to think Walker would have arrived in prime condition, especially after talking such a good game about how he wanted the Broncos pay for the mistake of letting him go.
His decision to go to Vegas and spray champagne before the club’s final OTA, in that light, is troubling. Rich, young players are going to have their fun, but Walker is 29 years old. He should know better.
A revealing story by ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson painted the picture of a player who may still be deeply troubled by the shooting death of teammate Darrent Williams, who died in Walker’s arms in a limo. Former teammates and coaches are legitimately concerned about him.
Walker can be a generous, caring, engaging person, but also talked his way out of both Green Bay and Denver, the first over a contract issue, the second over the way he was used.
While it’s true the Raiders have a reputation for being a haven for the misunderstood, the best M.O. is usually to get a guy who needs to prove something and do it at a reasonable or even minimum salary, so he is hungry and eager to please.
In this case, the Raiders agreed to pay $16 million to a player who the Broncos didn’t want at a little over $5 million.
Either Al Davis or Mike Shanahan is going to be really wrong here.
The 2008 Raiders will be all about the development of JaMarcus Russell as a franchise quarterback. While it’s way too early to tell how that will go, I like what I’ve seen in a handful of practices.
As Kiffin noted, the key to getting Russell on track is his supporting cast. Walker is a big part of that cast.
Walker has had exactly one truly elite season in his six-year career. In 2004, he caught 89 passes for 1,382 yards and scored 12 touchdowns for the Packers and Brett Favre. Walker had an above average season in 2006 with the Broncos, with 69 catches for 1,084 yards and eight touchdowns _ a little better than Jerry Porter’s best seasons.
Walker, as astutely noted by Ronald Curry, is expected to be the Raiders top receiver by virtue of his paycheck.
During minicamps, the top free agent wide receiver wasn’t Walker, but Drew Carter, who looks to be the first to develop a chemistry with Russell. Curry looked strong after having surgery to remove a bone spur, but there was no mention of any surgery regarding a bone spur in either of his hands, which seemed to fail him at times in 2007.
The rest of the receiving corps is full of question marks. Johnnie Lee Higgins had one spectacular minicamp practice and followed it up by dropping everything in sight. Arman Shields, the fourth-round draft pick, pulled a hamstring and fell behind seventh-rounder Chaz Schilens.
Free agent Todd Watkins had some impressive moments. Drisan James, Jonathan Holland, Marcel Reece and Will Buchanon are all longshots, hoping for a chance at the practice squad.
The Raiders need a reasonable facsimile of the Walker who caught four passes for 124 yards and two touchdowns at the Coliseum on Dec. 22, 2003, the night the Packers embarrassed Oakland 41-7 on Monday night.
Davis likes the idea of looking at a situation differently than everyone else.
The signing of Walker would certainly qualify.
Can Mario be super?
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Tuesday, July 1st, 2008 at 2:25 pm in Oakland Raiders.
First in a series of concerns regarding the makeup of the 2008 Raiders with the reporting date approaching on July 25 at the Napa Marriott:
There is a lot of speculation regarding the Raiders’ potential problems at tackle, with most of it centering on the left side and free acquisition Kwame Harris.
I am more concerned about the right side, where it appears Cornell Green was in the process of holding off second-year man Mario Henderson during the mandatory minicamp and OTAs.
Harris, the way I understand it, was personally approved by line coach Tom Cable, who deserves the benefit of the doubt considering what he did with the Raiders line last season. The Raiders think they can take some of the pressure off Harris with quick timing passes and blocking help from fullbacks or backs in motion, and think Harris can be a real asset on the second level in the running game.
This isn’t a knock at Green, who is coming off knee surgery and beginning his 10th season. He is your classic veteran backup, a good locker room guy who can fill in in a pinch without a significant dropoff.
In other words, the perfect guy to have around to help out a first-time starter.
In theory, that would be Henderson, whom the Raiders traded up to get in the third round in the 2007 draft. Henderson was so raw he suited up only once even though Green was gone after 10 games with a knee injury.
Instead of seeing Henderson take a quantum leap after his year of learning, there have been more red flags than in the parking lot at Arrowhead Stadium.
It was more than simply the sight of Derrick Burgess racing around Henderson during the mandatory camp, and other linemen doing the same. Burgess can make a lot of linemen look silly, especially when they’re prohibited from firing off putting them on the ground. Nor was it the fact that other linemen were also getting past him.
It also wasn’t all that big a deal to see Cable get into Henderson pretty good on occasion, because that’s what Cable does.
It was coach Lane Kiffin’s assessment of Henderson’s issues which make you wonder if the 6-foot-7, 300-pounder is ready to seize the job and make his mark as an NFL player.
“Pads will be big for Mario. Mario’s got a lot of tools but he needs to become a physical player,” Kiffin said. “To play on this line, we want physical guys and so that’s where Mario is going to have to really grow.”
And then there was this:
“There was a lot of ability there when we picked him,” Kiffin said. “There were some questions about how physical he was, about his passion for the game, for the position, so we’re trying to improve that.”
So he’s an offensive tackle on a run-oriented team who is neither physical nor has a real passion for the game _ which only happen to be two of the most important attributes a lineman can have.
Perhaps Henderson isn’t physical because he is not yet sure of his footwork or responsibilities. He was a late-bloomer of sorts at Florida State and the same thing could be going on in the NFL.
The “passion” issue is more troubling. Kiffin talked of developing the trait, but is that even possible? You’re either passionate about something or you aren’t. If Henderson isn’t consumed by the desire to be a great player, it doesn’t seem likely to happen because his coach said it should. That doesn’t mean he can’t be a professional, a clock-puncher who works at his craft even if he doesn’t love it, but it certainly could prevent him from being an elite player.
The most striking example I can remember of passion being an issue with an emerging player was with tight end Rickey Dudley. In researching a lengthy profile on Dudley in 1998, I learned that all his basketball coaches absolutely loved him and his football coaches never knew what to make of him.
Dudley loved basketball. As a player at Ohio State, he was the team captain, most inspirational player and requested to defend the opposition’s best player so he could lock him up.
As a football player, Dudley liked the sport but never loved it the way he did basketball. It wasn’t his fault, really, because that sort of thing can’t be faked.
If Henderson has issues with passion now, it’s fair to speculate he may always have them.
Catching up
– So the police report says Javon Walker has a broken jaw as well as a fractured orbital bone. If that report is correct, and frankly I don’t know if the officers check with the hospital to verify medical facts, then Walker is either one fast healer or Kiffin was being overly optimistic in saying the injuries weren’t an iassue for training camp.
– Jason Cole’s Yahoo.com story which reported that Al Davis was second-guessing some of his offseason decisions drew a stern rebuke from Raiders spokesman Mike Taylor.
“You obviously don’t know Al Davis. Self-doubt is not part of teh equation with Al Davis. I’m not going to justify this tripe, this drivel by even asking (Davis) for a response,” Taylor said. “It’s ludicrous, it’s insane, it’s rumor-mongering and it’s irresponsible journalism.”
In one sense, Cole came off better in the Raiders eyes than Adam Schefter did when he reported (correctly, as it turned out) that Art Shell would be fired at the end of the 2006 season.
In that instance, the Raiders response was that Schefter was a “false rumor-monger.” Cole was simply involved in “rumor mongering.” Nobody said it was false.
Seriously, I have a hard time imagining Davis spilling all his doubts and fears regarding the offseason, not when the Raiders haven’t even reported to training camp.
If things don’t go well, the more likely scenario is silence, with someone else taking the fall.
– Warren Sapp told the St. Petersburg Times that his experience with the Raiders was “as dark as a black hole” and noted “stuff went on in that organization that shouldn’t go on in sports.”
What to make of it?
What did you expect? Sapp came from tremendous success at Tampa to a team with the worst record in the NFL during his tenure. Losing teams get bashed by departing players. All of them. Period.
Sapp is a more brash, profane version of Tim Brown _ a great storyteller and a remarkable quote, but someone who will fashion his answers for the best effect. When talking to NFL Films about the Bucs Super Bowl season, he said Jon Gruden took them the extra step and his hiring was necessary to get there.
Now he is saying Tony Dungy baked the cake, and all Gruden did was put on the icing. And you can make the argument that both answers are right.
Many thanks
A lot of people I talked to at my father’s memorial service Saturday who had read my blog regarding his death made mention of the string of heartfelt comments that followed the piece.
My family thanks you and I thank you.
I’d also like to thank Bay Area News Group-East Bay for making a “Toys for Tots’ contribution in my father’s name.
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Tuesday, July 1st, 2008 at 2:25 pm in Oakland Raiders.
First in a series of concerns regarding the makeup of the 2008 Raiders with the reporting date approaching on July 25 at the Napa Marriott:
There is a lot of speculation regarding the Raiders’ potential problems at tackle, with most of it centering on the left side and free acquisition Kwame Harris.
I am more concerned about the right side, where it appears Cornell Green was in the process of holding off second-year man Mario Henderson during the mandatory minicamp and OTAs.
Harris, the way I understand it, was personally approved by line coach Tom Cable, who deserves the benefit of the doubt considering what he did with the Raiders line last season. The Raiders think they can take some of the pressure off Harris with quick timing passes and blocking help from fullbacks or backs in motion, and think Harris can be a real asset on the second level in the running game.
This isn’t a knock at Green, who is coming off knee surgery and beginning his 10th season. He is your classic veteran backup, a good locker room guy who can fill in in a pinch without a significant dropoff.
In other words, the perfect guy to have around to help out a first-time starter.
In theory, that would be Henderson, whom the Raiders traded up to get in the third round in the 2007 draft. Henderson was so raw he suited up only once even though Green was gone after 10 games with a knee injury.
Instead of seeing Henderson take a quantum leap after his year of learning, there have been more red flags than in the parking lot at Arrowhead Stadium.
It was more than simply the sight of Derrick Burgess racing around Henderson during the mandatory camp, and other linemen doing the same. Burgess can make a lot of linemen look silly, especially when they’re prohibited from firing off putting them on the ground. Nor was it the fact that other linemen were also getting past him.
It also wasn’t all that big a deal to see Cable get into Henderson pretty good on occasion, because that’s what Cable does.
It was coach Lane Kiffin’s assessment of Henderson’s issues which make you wonder if the 6-foot-7, 300-pounder is ready to seize the job and make his mark as an NFL player.
“Pads will be big for Mario. Mario’s got a lot of tools but he needs to become a physical player,” Kiffin said. “To play on this line, we want physical guys and so that’s where Mario is going to have to really grow.”
And then there was this:
“There was a lot of ability there when we picked him,” Kiffin said. “There were some questions about how physical he was, about his passion for the game, for the position, so we’re trying to improve that.”
So he’s an offensive tackle on a run-oriented team who is neither physical nor has a real passion for the game _ which only happen to be two of the most important attributes a lineman can have.
Perhaps Henderson isn’t physical because he is not yet sure of his footwork or responsibilities. He was a late-bloomer of sorts at Florida State and the same thing could be going on in the NFL.
The “passion” issue is more troubling. Kiffin talked of developing the trait, but is that even possible? You’re either passionate about something or you aren’t. If Henderson isn’t consumed by the desire to be a great player, it doesn’t seem likely to happen because his coach said it should. That doesn’t mean he can’t be a professional, a clock-puncher who works at his craft even if he doesn’t love it, but it certainly could prevent him from being an elite player.
The most striking example I can remember of passion being an issue with an emerging player was with tight end Rickey Dudley. In researching a lengthy profile on Dudley in 1998, I learned that all his basketball coaches absolutely loved him and his football coaches never knew what to make of him.
Dudley loved basketball. As a player at Ohio State, he was the team captain, most inspirational player and requested to defend the opposition’s best player so he could lock him up.
As a football player, Dudley liked the sport but never loved it the way he did basketball. It wasn’t his fault, really, because that sort of thing can’t be faked.
If Henderson has issues with passion now, it’s fair to speculate he may always have them.
Catching up
– So the police report says Javon Walker has a broken jaw as well as a fractured orbital bone. If that report is correct, and frankly I don’t know if the officers check with the hospital to verify medical facts, then Walker is either one fast healer or Kiffin was being overly optimistic in saying the injuries weren’t an iassue for training camp.
– Jason Cole’s Yahoo.com story which reported that Al Davis was second-guessing some of his offseason decisions drew a stern rebuke from Raiders spokesman Mike Taylor.
“You obviously don’t know Al Davis. Self-doubt is not part of teh equation with Al Davis. I’m not going to justify this tripe, this drivel by even asking (Davis) for a response,” Taylor said. “It’s ludicrous, it’s insane, it’s rumor-mongering and it’s irresponsible journalism.”
In one sense, Cole came off better in the Raiders eyes than Adam Schefter did when he reported (correctly, as it turned out) that Art Shell would be fired at the end of the 2006 season.
In that instance, the Raiders response was that Schefter was a “false rumor-monger.” Cole was simply involved in “rumor mongering.” Nobody said it was false.
Seriously, I have a hard time imagining Davis spilling all his doubts and fears regarding the offseason, not when the Raiders haven’t even reported to training camp.
If things don’t go well, the more likely scenario is silence, with someone else taking the fall.
– Warren Sapp told the St. Petersburg Times that his experience with the Raiders was “as dark as a black hole” and noted “stuff went on in that organization that shouldn’t go on in sports.”
What to make of it?
What did you expect? Sapp came from tremendous success at Tampa to a team with the worst record in the NFL during his tenure. Losing teams get bashed by departing players. All of them. Period.
Sapp is a more brash, profane version of Tim Brown _ a great storyteller and a remarkable quote, but someone who will fashion his answers for the best effect. When talking to NFL Films about the Bucs Super Bowl season, he said Jon Gruden took them the extra step and his hiring was necessary to get there.
Now he is saying Tony Dungy baked the cake, and all Gruden did was put on the icing. And you can make the argument that both answers are right.
Many thanks
A lot of people I talked to at my father’s memorial service Saturday who had read my blog regarding his death made mention of the string of heartfelt comments that followed the piece.
My family thanks you and I thank you.
I’d also like to thank Bay Area News Group-East Bay for making a “Toys for Tots’ contribution in my father’s name.
Interior investments crucial in stopping the run
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Friday, July 4th, 2008 at 8:56 am in Oakland Raiders.
Third in a series of concerns regarding the makeup of the 2008 Raiders with the reporting date approaching on July 24 at the Napa Marriott:
During a practice during the Raiders’ mandatory minicamp, Terdell Sands could be found with one arm propped up against the hydraulic lift, gasping for breath during a team session.
The temperature was in the 70s _ a beautiful Alameda day _ and players are not allowed to wear full gear or engage in scrimmage-style contact.
Tommy Kelly, meanwhile, was hanging out with his defensive line mates, watching them go through drills as he continues to rehab the torn ACL which halted his season after seven weeks last season.
Since it was only June, it was no cause for major alarm, but it’s fair to question whether the Raiders’ attempts to stop the run in 2007 have a solid foundation.
The Raiders made big investments in both men to make sure they didn’t reach free agency. Sands, after a promising 2006 season, got a four-year contract and a $4 million signing bonus even though he wasn’t a fulltime player.
Kelly’s deal _ with $18.125 in guaranteed money _ caused jaws to drop around the league, in part because he has not yet proven he is an elite player and because of the ACL tear.
His contract was comparable to the extension Tommie Harris signed with the Chicago Bears. Harris was coming off an eight-sack season and a trip to the Pro Bowl. Kelly had one sack before going down with an ACL tear.
The Raiders are convinced Kelly’s move from end to the three-technique spot vacated by Warren Sapp will make him a premiere defender. Coach Lane Kiffin contends moving Kelly to various positions across the line hasn’t enabled him to settle in and become a dominant player.
Kelly will be watched very closely and be compared on a weekly basis with Glenn Dorsey of the Chiefs, for one of the reasons the Raiders passed on Dorsey was their commitment to Kelly.
On the surface, assuming Kelly’s knee rehab is going as planned, he would seem to be an upgrade over Sapp with regard to the Raiders’ biggest defensive weakness.
You’re probably as tired of reading the numbers as I am writing them, but the inability of the Raiders to stop the run was their biggest problem last season. Only Miami gave up more yards per game than Oakland’s average of 145.9. No one had a worse average per carry than their 4.8.
Oakland gave up 100 yards rushing to 10 different running backs, and while defensive coordinator Rob Ryan would like to think the stats were skewed by big runs, the fact is the Raiders were gouged on steady 4- to 5-yard gains as well.
Sapp was of little help against the run, doing as he has always done _ shooting the gap and attempting to destroy blocking schemes, even at the expense of a runner going past him. It’s the same thing that made him a probable Hall of Fame player in Tampa, where Tony Dungy and Monte Kiffin devised a scheme which allowed him to do what he did best.
The Bucs were able to protect him with linebackers that fit into gaps and a hard-hitting safety named John Lynch. Raiders linebackers Kirk Morrison and Thomas Howard, while two of the best pass defending linebackers in the NFL, had their problems shedding blocks against the run and the tackling and hitting of Michael Huff, and Stuart Schweigert in particular, was atrocious.
While regarded as a player who held the point of attack as an end, it’s worth noting the Raiders surrendered fewer yards per carry (4.5) in games Kelly missed than in the ones he played (5.2).
Ryan said Sands’ problems had to do with not getting low enough to use his leverage and be an inside force along the lines of San Diego’s Jamal Williams. Kiffin later referred to family tragedies which affected Sands’ offseason preparation and caused him to show up last season out of shape.
Kiffin said Sands is doing better this year, so we’ll assume maybe he simply wasn’t feeling well during the minicamp practice where he was obviously out of breath in a non-contact team session.
Ryan was retained as defensive coordinator by Davis even though both he realized it was probably in his best interests to move on and told Kiffin as much.
Any chance he has of sticking around past this year will depend on how much he can get out of Kelly and Sands. Davis’ 79th birthday is today, and assume a dominant interior defensive line is near the top of his wish list.
One less day
The Raiders have moved up their reporting day to July 23 and will hold their first practice July 24.
Lombardi’s blast
In his new role as a columnist for CNN-SI.com, Mike Lombardi has been careful in what he says about his former employer, but he opened up a bit when writing about Warren Sapp’s contention that “the phone rings quite a bit on that sideline” when discussing Sapp’s tenure with the Raiders with the St. Petersburg Times.
Wrote Lombardi: “Having worked in that “black hole” for eight years, I know exactly what Warren is talking about. And those calls to the sideline are from one man and one man only. At times I have been the reluctant messenger on a few of them myself. They are never pleasant.”
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Friday, July 4th, 2008 at 8:56 am in Oakland Raiders.
Third in a series of concerns regarding the makeup of the 2008 Raiders with the reporting date approaching on July 24 at the Napa Marriott:
During a practice during the Raiders’ mandatory minicamp, Terdell Sands could be found with one arm propped up against the hydraulic lift, gasping for breath during a team session.
The temperature was in the 70s _ a beautiful Alameda day _ and players are not allowed to wear full gear or engage in scrimmage-style contact.
Tommy Kelly, meanwhile, was hanging out with his defensive line mates, watching them go through drills as he continues to rehab the torn ACL which halted his season after seven weeks last season.
Since it was only June, it was no cause for major alarm, but it’s fair to question whether the Raiders’ attempts to stop the run in 2007 have a solid foundation.
The Raiders made big investments in both men to make sure they didn’t reach free agency. Sands, after a promising 2006 season, got a four-year contract and a $4 million signing bonus even though he wasn’t a fulltime player.
Kelly’s deal _ with $18.125 in guaranteed money _ caused jaws to drop around the league, in part because he has not yet proven he is an elite player and because of the ACL tear.
His contract was comparable to the extension Tommie Harris signed with the Chicago Bears. Harris was coming off an eight-sack season and a trip to the Pro Bowl. Kelly had one sack before going down with an ACL tear.
The Raiders are convinced Kelly’s move from end to the three-technique spot vacated by Warren Sapp will make him a premiere defender. Coach Lane Kiffin contends moving Kelly to various positions across the line hasn’t enabled him to settle in and become a dominant player.
Kelly will be watched very closely and be compared on a weekly basis with Glenn Dorsey of the Chiefs, for one of the reasons the Raiders passed on Dorsey was their commitment to Kelly.
On the surface, assuming Kelly’s knee rehab is going as planned, he would seem to be an upgrade over Sapp with regard to the Raiders’ biggest defensive weakness.
You’re probably as tired of reading the numbers as I am writing them, but the inability of the Raiders to stop the run was their biggest problem last season. Only Miami gave up more yards per game than Oakland’s average of 145.9. No one had a worse average per carry than their 4.8.
Oakland gave up 100 yards rushing to 10 different running backs, and while defensive coordinator Rob Ryan would like to think the stats were skewed by big runs, the fact is the Raiders were gouged on steady 4- to 5-yard gains as well.
Sapp was of little help against the run, doing as he has always done _ shooting the gap and attempting to destroy blocking schemes, even at the expense of a runner going past him. It’s the same thing that made him a probable Hall of Fame player in Tampa, where Tony Dungy and Monte Kiffin devised a scheme which allowed him to do what he did best.
The Bucs were able to protect him with linebackers that fit into gaps and a hard-hitting safety named John Lynch. Raiders linebackers Kirk Morrison and Thomas Howard, while two of the best pass defending linebackers in the NFL, had their problems shedding blocks against the run and the tackling and hitting of Michael Huff, and Stuart Schweigert in particular, was atrocious.
While regarded as a player who held the point of attack as an end, it’s worth noting the Raiders surrendered fewer yards per carry (4.5) in games Kelly missed than in the ones he played (5.2).
Ryan said Sands’ problems had to do with not getting low enough to use his leverage and be an inside force along the lines of San Diego’s Jamal Williams. Kiffin later referred to family tragedies which affected Sands’ offseason preparation and caused him to show up last season out of shape.
Kiffin said Sands is doing better this year, so we’ll assume maybe he simply wasn’t feeling well during the minicamp practice where he was obviously out of breath in a non-contact team session.
Ryan was retained as defensive coordinator by Davis even though both he realized it was probably in his best interests to move on and told Kiffin as much.
Any chance he has of sticking around past this year will depend on how much he can get out of Kelly and Sands. Davis’ 79th birthday is today, and assume a dominant interior defensive line is near the top of his wish list.
One less day
The Raiders have moved up their reporting day to July 23 and will hold their first practice July 24.
Lombardi’s blast
In his new role as a columnist for CNN-SI.com, Mike Lombardi has been careful in what he says about his former employer, but he opened up a bit when writing about Warren Sapp’s contention that “the phone rings quite a bit on that sideline” when discussing Sapp’s tenure with the Raiders with the St. Petersburg Times.
Wrote Lombardi: “Having worked in that “black hole” for eight years, I know exactly what Warren is talking about. And those calls to the sideline are from one man and one man only. At times I have been the reluctant messenger on a few of them myself. They are never pleasant.”
Winning with a `rookie’ QB depends on run game
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Sunday, July 6th, 2008 at 11:52 am in Oakland Raiders.
Fourth in a series of concerns regarding the makeup of the 2008 Raiders with the reporting date approaching on July 24 at the Napa Marriott:
JaMarcus Russell isn’t a rookie quarterback in the way that Dan Marino and Ben Roethlisberger were rookies.
Two of the most notable success stories for rookies at the NFL’s most important position reported on time, with Marino taking over for David Woodley after five weeks in 1983 and being elevated to the No. 1 spot for the final 14 games in 2004.
Marino’s Dolphins went 12-4 and bowed out in the first round of the playoffs. The Steelers, under Roethlisberger, went 15-1 and lost in the AFC championship game to New England.
Any chance the Raiders have of getting to .500 and beyond with Russell in 2008 will be to follow the same blueprint the Dolphins and Steelers did with their true rookies. Marino and Roethlisberger were protected from youthful mistakes by cutting down their passing oppportunities because of stubborn running games.
The 1983 Dolphins ran the ball on 56.2 of their snaps (568 rushes, 442 passes), while the 2004 Steelers ran on a whopping 63.3 percent of their plays (618 rushes and 358 passes).
The Raiders, as currently constituted, appear to have a good chance at keeping Russell’s chances for mistakes down through the run. Marino and Roethlisberger also had solid defenses in place, which kept the play-calling sure and safe _ an area of concern for the Raiders.
In 2007, the Raiders ran with a greater frequency then they did in 2000, the year they led the league in rushing and won their first of three division titles. Putting three backs over 100 yards in a game and led by Justin Fargas, the Raiders ran 508 times and pases 451, a 52.9 percent rate which exceeded the 52.3 percent of 200 (520 rushes, 475 passes).
It was a remarkable show of persistence by Kiffin for two reasons. First, the Raiders were often behind making it easier to abandon the run. Second, the 2000 Raiders had their amount of running plays inflated because of scrambles by Rich Gannon which were called as pass plays in the huddle.
Oakland should be even better equipped to run the ball in 2007, having added Darren McFadden to the mix and with the emergence of Michael Bush to join Fargas. Oakland also replaced Barry Sims with Kwame Harris at left tackle, and while there are legitimate questions regarding Harris’ pass blocking skills, he was a big factor in Frank Gore’s big year with his run blocking in 2006.
As encouraging as that is, it remains to be seen whether Rob Ryan can concoct a truly stout defense which will enable the Raiders to games, and Russell, under control. There is also the issue of pass blocking should Oakland fall behind and be forced to throw. A big pass rush, particularly against “rookies,” results in sacks and forced throws for interceptions.
Kiffin made it clear Russell’s success, or the success of any young quarterback, has to do with his supporting cast. As much as I like what I’ve seen from Russell during minicamps and OTAs, and Oakland’s ability to run the ball, the Raiders’ ability to defend and pass block will determine whether he can return the franchise to respectability.
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Sunday, July 6th, 2008 at 11:52 am in Oakland Raiders.
Fourth in a series of concerns regarding the makeup of the 2008 Raiders with the reporting date approaching on July 24 at the Napa Marriott:
JaMarcus Russell isn’t a rookie quarterback in the way that Dan Marino and Ben Roethlisberger were rookies.
Two of the most notable success stories for rookies at the NFL’s most important position reported on time, with Marino taking over for David Woodley after five weeks in 1983 and being elevated to the No. 1 spot for the final 14 games in 2004.
Marino’s Dolphins went 12-4 and bowed out in the first round of the playoffs. The Steelers, under Roethlisberger, went 15-1 and lost in the AFC championship game to New England.
Any chance the Raiders have of getting to .500 and beyond with Russell in 2008 will be to follow the same blueprint the Dolphins and Steelers did with their true rookies. Marino and Roethlisberger were protected from youthful mistakes by cutting down their passing oppportunities because of stubborn running games.
The 1983 Dolphins ran the ball on 56.2 of their snaps (568 rushes, 442 passes), while the 2004 Steelers ran on a whopping 63.3 percent of their plays (618 rushes and 358 passes).
The Raiders, as currently constituted, appear to have a good chance at keeping Russell’s chances for mistakes down through the run. Marino and Roethlisberger also had solid defenses in place, which kept the play-calling sure and safe _ an area of concern for the Raiders.
In 2007, the Raiders ran with a greater frequency then they did in 2000, the year they led the league in rushing and won their first of three division titles. Putting three backs over 100 yards in a game and led by Justin Fargas, the Raiders ran 508 times and pases 451, a 52.9 percent rate which exceeded the 52.3 percent of 200 (520 rushes, 475 passes).
It was a remarkable show of persistence by Kiffin for two reasons. First, the Raiders were often behind making it easier to abandon the run. Second, the 2000 Raiders had their amount of running plays inflated because of scrambles by Rich Gannon which were called as pass plays in the huddle.
Oakland should be even better equipped to run the ball in 2007, having added Darren McFadden to the mix and with the emergence of Michael Bush to join Fargas. Oakland also replaced Barry Sims with Kwame Harris at left tackle, and while there are legitimate questions regarding Harris’ pass blocking skills, he was a big factor in Frank Gore’s big year with his run blocking in 2006.
As encouraging as that is, it remains to be seen whether Rob Ryan can concoct a truly stout defense which will enable the Raiders to games, and Russell, under control. There is also the issue of pass blocking should Oakland fall behind and be forced to throw. A big pass rush, particularly against “rookies,” results in sacks and forced throws for interceptions.
Kiffin made it clear Russell’s success, or the success of any young quarterback, has to do with his supporting cast. As much as I like what I’ve seen from Russell during minicamps and OTAs, and Oakland’s ability to run the ball, the Raiders’ ability to defend and pass block will determine whether he can return the franchise to respectability.
Last call for Michael Huff
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Tuesday, July 8th, 2008 at 11:54 am in Oakland Raiders.
Fifth in a series of concerns regarding the makeup of the 2008 Raiders with the reporting date approaching on July 24 at the Napa Marriott:
Other than a temporary oasis provided by Rod Woodson in his last great year as a Hall of Fame player, the safety positions have been a wasteland since the Raiders returned to Oakland in 1995.
When the Raiders came back, Eddie Anderson had begun to slide and neither he nor Derrick Hoskins provided much in the way of playmaking, although both were capable of delivering the occasional big hit.
It’s been a revolving door ever since, th the likes of Darren Carrington, Anthony Newman, Marquez Pope, Anthony Dorsett, Ray Buchanan, Derrick Gibson and Stuart Schweigert, with some others I’m sure I forgot, and probably with good reason.
Erase Woodson’s eight interceptions in 2002, which included the signature defensive play of the season _ a 98-yard interception return for a touchdown against Brian Griese in Denver _ and you’d be hardpressed to come up with many instances where Oakland safeties made a play that turned a game in their favor.
Only Woodson, acquired through free agency, went to a Pro Bowl, and the Raiders have not had a safety that they drafted and developed themselves reach a Pro Bowl since Vann McElroy in 1984 _ nearly a quarter-century ago.
That was supposed to change when the Raiders drafted Michael Huff out of Texas in 2006 with the No. 7 overall pick, installing him at strong safety.
The Raiders were roundly criticized in some quarters for bypassing USC quarterback Matt Leinart. I didn’t agree at the time, and still don’t. I’d take JaMarcus Russell over Leinart in heartbeat as the quarterback of the future.
But the jury is still out regarding Huff. For two years he has been a solid cover safety in a division where Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez reside, not to mention a Denver team that loves bootlegs and throwing to the tight end.
When you’re drafted No. 7, you expect more than coverage ability, and Huff has just a single interception in 32 starts and one forced fumble. He has handled himself professionally since the day he arrived, but Huff is extremely slender, more of a blade than a hammer, and while can make the occasional sharp tackle, Huff has intimidated no one.
The solution in Year 3? Move Huff to free safety and see if he has the ball skills to make some plays. It was made possible by the acquisition of Gibril Wilson through free agency. Wilson played both sides with the New York Giants, but his ability to be physical in the box makes him more suited to the strong side.
If Wilson can provide the sort of physicality of, say, a Bob Sanders in Indianapolis, Huff will get the opportunity to demonstrate he can still be a worthwhile selection at No. 7 overall by coming up with some turnovers on the back end.
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Tuesday, July 8th, 2008 at 11:54 am in Oakland Raiders.
Fifth in a series of concerns regarding the makeup of the 2008 Raiders with the reporting date approaching on July 24 at the Napa Marriott:
Other than a temporary oasis provided by Rod Woodson in his last great year as a Hall of Fame player, the safety positions have been a wasteland since the Raiders returned to Oakland in 1995.
When the Raiders came back, Eddie Anderson had begun to slide and neither he nor Derrick Hoskins provided much in the way of playmaking, although both were capable of delivering the occasional big hit.
It’s been a revolving door ever since, th the likes of Darren Carrington, Anthony Newman, Marquez Pope, Anthony Dorsett, Ray Buchanan, Derrick Gibson and Stuart Schweigert, with some others I’m sure I forgot, and probably with good reason.
Erase Woodson’s eight interceptions in 2002, which included the signature defensive play of the season _ a 98-yard interception return for a touchdown against Brian Griese in Denver _ and you’d be hardpressed to come up with many instances where Oakland safeties made a play that turned a game in their favor.
Only Woodson, acquired through free agency, went to a Pro Bowl, and the Raiders have not had a safety that they drafted and developed themselves reach a Pro Bowl since Vann McElroy in 1984 _ nearly a quarter-century ago.
That was supposed to change when the Raiders drafted Michael Huff out of Texas in 2006 with the No. 7 overall pick, installing him at strong safety.
The Raiders were roundly criticized in some quarters for bypassing USC quarterback Matt Leinart. I didn’t agree at the time, and still don’t. I’d take JaMarcus Russell over Leinart in heartbeat as the quarterback of the future.
But the jury is still out regarding Huff. For two years he has been a solid cover safety in a division where Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez reside, not to mention a Denver team that loves bootlegs and throwing to the tight end.
When you’re drafted No. 7, you expect more than coverage ability, and Huff has just a single interception in 32 starts and one forced fumble. He has handled himself professionally since the day he arrived, but Huff is extremely slender, more of a blade than a hammer, and while can make the occasional sharp tackle, Huff has intimidated no one.
The solution in Year 3? Move Huff to free safety and see if he has the ball skills to make some plays. It was made possible by the acquisition of Gibril Wilson through free agency. Wilson played both sides with the New York Giants, but his ability to be physical in the box makes him more suited to the strong side.
If Wilson can provide the sort of physicality of, say, a Bob Sanders in Indianapolis, Huff will get the opportunity to demonstrate he can still be a worthwhile selection at No. 7 overall by coming up with some turnovers on the back end.