Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Hayden Surgery

Raiders 2013 First Round pick CB D.J. Hayden underwent a procedure recently to remove some scar tissue from his abdomen.  Apparently, the scar tissue was quite painful for Hayden in his first week of OTAs, and most of his fellow Raiders' defensive backs took notice.  Hayden will likely be out the full six weeks (projected recovery time) after his surgery.  This would leave him available for training camp, provided he's 100% and feeling ready.

Thanks to RaiderCentral on YouTube.


OTAs, Week 2, Players Talk

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Allen & Woodson

Thanks to RaiderCentral and SilverAndBlackReport on YouTube:

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

OTA Digest: 5.20.13

Thanks to RaiderCentral, SilverAndBlackReport and RaiderNationPodcast on YouTube:

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Some Airings, and McGloin

Thanks to RaiderCentral on YouTube:

Kluwe and McGloin added

Former Viking punter Chris Kluwe and ex-Penn State QB Matt McGloin were added to the Raiders off-season roster.

LB Jerrell Harris and LS Nick Guess waived.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Cribbs Signed

When healthy, Cribbs should help on special teams and be a solid WR presence with all sorts of room to contribute and mentor the younger Raiders.



Monday, May 13, 2013

Cut/Sign List: 5/13/13

Rundown by Silver and Black Report: LINK

Signed: 
CB Chance Casey-Thomas (Baylor)
LB Eric Harper (Grambling State)
WR Greg Jenkins (Alabama State)
TE Jeron Mastrud (Kansas State)
DE Ryan Robinson (Oklahoma State)
C Andrew Robiskie (Western Illinois)
CB/ST Mitchell White (Michigan State_

Cuts:
DB Adrian Bushell
C Deveric Gallington
CB Akwasi Owusu-Ansah
TE Mickey Shuler
LS Adam Steiner.

RaiderNationPodcast Weighs In

Thanks to RaiderNationPodcast on YouTube  

(Day 2 of Rookie Mini-Camp)

One Claimed One Released

Raiders claim WR Andre Holmes off waivers from New England.  Holmes was formerly with the Dallas Cowboys before the Patriots.  Holmes came from Hillsdale College just like LT Jared Veldheer.  He has great size, but hasn't found much of a role in 2 seasons of NFL participation.

Raiders release CB Adrian Bushell who came in from Louisville.  Seems the Raiders are happy with the new depth they've created...or Bushell just didn't impress them enough to warrant a possible roster spot.  


Mitchell White

After a successful tryout, CB Mitchell White out of Michigan State has been signed by Oakland.  White will likely be used for his special teams prowess, which was on display for over 40 Saturdays in East Lansing. 


Saturday, May 11, 2013

Thursday, May 9, 2013

2013 Post Draft Thoughts: AFC West

Denver Broncos



Total Picks: 7

Round 1 (28): DT Sylvester Williams North Carolina
Round 2 (56): RB Montee Ball Wisconsin
Round 3 (90): CB Kayvon Webster South Florida
Round 5 (146): DE Quanterus Smith Western Kentucky
Round 5 (161): WR Tavarres King Georgia
Round 6 (173): OT Vinston Painter Virginia Tech
Round 7 (234): QB Zac Dysert Miami Ohio

Notable UDFA:
CB Aaron Hester UCLA
OT Manase Foketi West TAMU
DE Lerentee McCray Florida
DL Romney Fua BYU
DE John Youboty Temple
LB Uona Kaveinga BYU

Best Pick: DT Sylvester Williams
Reach Pick: CB Kayvon Webster
Sleeper Pick: QB Zac Dysert

Analysis:  The addition of Sylvester Williams further upgrades a defensive line that added NT Terrance Knighton during the offseason.  Williams' blend of quickness and strength will strengthen a unit that had the best run defense in the NFL for the second half of the season.  I like Williams better than Vikings DT Shariff Floyd.  Though Floyd may be more active, Williams is much more versatile and a stronger anchor against the run.

The addition of Montee Ball in the 2nd round means the end of the road for either Willis McGahee or Knowshon Moreno.  My guess is that Moreno will either be cut or traded.  Ball has great vision as a runner and is very effective between the tackles.  Coach John Fox knows how to handle the running back by committee approach and ultimately the Broncos would probably like to have Ball and last year's rookie Ronnie Hillman settle in as their two top backs.  

Kayvon Webster was a surprise reach pick at #90 overall, especially with higher rated prospects like BW Webb, Tharold Simon and Terry Hawthorne still available.  Quanterus Smith was a good value pick in the 5th round, and if he can get back into full health and keep his nose clean, the Broncos could have themselves a very good defensive end to grow into the vacancy left by Elvis Dumervil.  Zac Dysert was a great value pick that fell on their laps and he could end up being the long term answer at QB over last year's pick Brock Osweiler.

Kansas City Chiefs


Total Picks: 8

Round 1 (1): OT Eric Fisher Central Michigan
Round 3 (63): TE Travis Kelce Cincinnati 
Round 3 (96): RB Knile Davis Arkansas
Round 4 (99): LB Nico Johnson Alabama
Round 5 (134): CB Sanders Commings Georgia
Round 6 (170): C Eric Kush California (PA)
Round 6 (204): FB Braden Wilson Kansas St
Round 7 (207): DE Mike Catapano Princeton


Notable UDFA:
QB Tyler Bray Tennessee
DE Brad Madison Missouri
DT Rob Lohr Vanderbilt
C Mario Benavides Louisville
DE EJ Epperson Ole Miss
QB Dayne Crist Kansas
WR Drew Terrell Stanford

Best Pick: LB Nico Johnson
Reach Pick: RB Knile Davis
Sleeper Pick: CB Sanders Commings

Analysis: Big Red Andy Reid's first draft with Kansas City was a mixed bag at best.  Eric Fisher fits the Andy Reid lineman mold better than Joeckel, not to mention a higher potential ceiling.  I never got the feeling that the new staff was sold on Luke Joeckel compared to Fisher.

Travis Kelce is one of the better all around tight end prospects and some liken him to a poor man's Rob Gronkowski....if only they were that lucky.   The biggest reach in the entire draft belongs to the Chiefs in selecting Knile Davis at the end of the 3rd round.  There were better prospects available at the position in Jonathan Franklin, Andre Ellington and Joseph Randle to name a few. Not only is Davis injury prone, he's also suspect in pass protection, consistency and ball security.  Injuries didn't seem to be a concern with Davis, and if that were the case, they would have been better served drafting a superior player like Marcus Lattimore.

Nico Johnson looks like he could step in immediately into the starting lineup next to Pro Bowler Derrick Johnson.  5th round pick Sanders Commings is an underrated player who can contribute at multiple positions in the secondary and can eventually become a starter.  UDFA Tyler Bray has franchise caliber skills, but his off-field concerns completely knocked him out of the draft.  He was considered to have the best arm talent (touch, accuracy, throwing angles, strength) of the QB prospects in the draft.  He could be the long term answer in KC behind Alex Smith.

Oakland Raiders


Total Picks: 10

Round 1 (12): CB DJ Hayden Houston
Round 2 (42): OT Menelik Watson Florida State
Round 3 (66): LB Sio Moore UConn
Round 4 (112): QB Tyler Wilson Arkansas
Round 6 (172): TE Nick Kasa Colorado
Round 6 (181): RB Latavius Murray Central Florida
Round 6 184): TE Mychal Rivera Tennessee
Round 6 (205): DT Stacy McGee Oklahoma
Round 7 (209): WR Brice Butler SDSU
Round 7 (233): DE David Bass Missouri Western

Notable UDFA:
WR Connor Vernon Duke
WR Sam McGuffie Rice
CB Adrian Bushell Louisville
OT John Wetzel Boston College
RB Deonte Williams Cal Poly
S Shelton Johnson Wisconsin


Best Pick: LB Sio Moore 
Reach Pick: DT Stacy McGee
Sleeper Pick: TE Mychal Rivera

Analysis: Though there are those critical of Oakland's inability to land more for their trade down with Miami, the Raiders were able to secure 2 draft picks with 1st round grades in DJ Hayden and Menelik Watson.  Credit is due to the Raiders' war room for doubling their draft picks by trading down instead of trading away future picks.  Hayden was Mike Mayock's top rated cornerback and he possesses good speed and quickness at the position.  Even with the offseason additions at CB, GM Reggie McKenzie wasn't afraid of drafting a player that he wanted.  

Watson could fill the long standing need for an upgrade at right tackle and allows Khalif Barnes to kick inside and give the Raiders the size it needs for the power run scheme.  Though Watson is short on experience, his line coach at FSU had the ultimate praise by saying he's the most talented player he's ever coached.  Linebacker Sio Moore could turn out to be the best pick for the Raiders and ultimately man the middle of the defense.  4th round selection Tyler Wilson could be the QB of the future.  He has the mental toughness and the ability to improvise that could make him a fan favorite.

Tight ends Mychael Rivera and Nick Kasa were good pickups in the 6th round, seeing as how there are only 3 TEs on the current roster with a whopping 12 career receptions. Both TEs could get significant playing time right away.  Rivera is a smooth pass catching TE who needs to get stronger as an inline blocker.  Kasa has the higher ceiling but is raw compared to Rivera.  He'll have to gain more experience while he grows into the position.  It also doesn't hurt that Rivera's sister (actress Naya Rivera) is easy on the eyes.


The worst pick for the Raiders was defensive tackle Stacy McGee, but how bad could that be in the 6th round?  DE Paul Kruger and CB Jordan Poyer were still available when McGee was picked at the end of the 6th round.  

David Bass is an intriguing small school edge rusher who had a very productive college career.  Reggie McKenzie and the scouts did a good job rounding up a good group of UDFAs, namely WR Connor Vernon and CB Adrian Bushell who both had mid to late round draft grades.

San Diego Chargers



Total Picks: 6

Round 1 (11): OT DJ Fluker Alabama
Round 2 (38): LB Manti Te'o Notre Dame
Round 3 (76): WR Keenan Allen Cal
Round 5 (145): CB Steve Williams Cal
Round 6 (179): DE Tourek Williams FIU
Round 7 (221): QB Brad Sorenson Southern Utah

Notable UDFA:
DT Kwame Geathers Georgia
CB Marcus Cromartie Wisconsin
DE Brandon Moore Texas
TE Ben Cotton Nebraska
CB Josh Johnson Purdue
OT Nick Becton Virginia Tech
S Kenny Okoro Wake Forest

Best Pick: OT DJ Fluker
Reach Pick: None
Sleeper Pick: WR Keenan Allen

Analysis:  New GM Tom Telesco had a very good first draft class.  The Chargers have one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL, so after missing out on the top three tackles, they got themselves a very good player in DJ Fluker.  Fluker will probably amount to being a right tackle, but I think he has the feet and overall athleticism to play left tackle.  

The Chargers traded up and got themselves great value with Te'o in the 2nd round.  Te'o is probably in the best situation possible going to San Diego where he won't be playing under the intense microscope of a smaller market or the hard nosed East Coast.  

Previously thought to be a 1st round talent, wide receiver Keenan Allen in the 3rd round was also a great value.  Allen isn't the type to be a downfield threat, but he's strong after the catch and gives Phillip Rivers another target to move the chains.

UDFAs Kwame Geathers, Josh Johnson and Marcus Cromartie all have a realistic chance of making the roster at their respective positions.  Geathers is a mammoth space eating NT and there's only one returning NT on the roster in Cam Thomas.  Cromartie gives the Chargers good size and length at CB or free safety.



Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Cribbs

Reportedly, WR/KR Josh Cribbs, formerly of the Cleveland Browns was brought in to Oakland, passed his physical, and the Raiders extended a contract offer to him.  Cribbs did not sign as at least 3 other teams apparently showed interest soon after.

Cribbs was almost exclusively a special teams player in 2012, and battled through his knee injury.  In 2011 he caught 41 balls for 518 yards.  Cribbs has 11 special teams touchdown runbacks, 8 on kickoff returns and 3 on punt returns, in his eight year career thus far.


Saturday, May 4, 2013