Preseason Gameday: @ Seattle

Well, as insignificant this week is to a lot of teams in the League, it couldn't be any bigger for the career of Terrelle Pryor.  It's easy to paint the fairy tale game for Pryor, but one should expect a few mistakes and a learning experience.  However, that doesn't mean Pryor won't have his moments, he always does.  Should be a good one to watch.  It is also a big game for Tyler Wilson, who has apparently been outplayed by Matt McGloin all camp.

Thanks to RaiderCentral on YouTube:

2014 ORDW Draft Profile: OLB/DE Anthony Barr - UCLA

UCLA Profile

Name: Anthony Barr

Position:  OLB

Class:  Senior

Height:  6'-4"

Weight:  248 lbs.

Date of Birth:  3/18/92

High School: Loyola

Hometown:   San Pedro, CA

Bruins Career:  

2013 Senior: N/A

2012 Junior: Started at outside linebacker in all 14 games ... Named to the Associated Press second-team All-America team ... First-team All-Pac-12 selection by the coaches ... Collegefootballnews.com's P12 Defensive Player of the Year ... Led the team in sacks (13.5) and tackles for loss (21.5) ... Second on the team in tackles (83) ... Ranked eighth in the nation in sacks/g average (0.96) and T-12th in the nation in tackles for loss/g average (1.54) ... His sack total was second in the nation behind Jarvis Jones of Georgia, who had 14.5 ... His tackles for loss total was tied for fourth in the nation ... His averages were ranked third in the Pac-12 in each category ... Had three tackles for loss in games against Oregon State and at Washington State ... Had six games with at least seven tackles, with high of nine stops vs. Stanford and vs. Baylor ... Had at least 0.5 TFL in each game played ... His total of 13.5 sacks ranks second on UCLA's all-time single-season list ... His total of 21.5 tackles for loss ranks fourth on that school single-season list ... Honorable mention all-conference academic team selection.

2011 Sophomore: Appeared in 12 games, with seven starts at f-back ... Also saw action on special teams ... Caught one pass at Houston for 11 yards and a touchdown ... Ran twice against San Jose State for 12 yards ... One rush against Texas (2) ... One rushing attempt for a one-yard score at Oregon State ... Did not see action at Stanford or against Washington State and at Arizona ... Caught one pass against Arizona State (3) ... Two rushing attempts at Utah for seven yards ... Had one rush for one yard at USC ... One rush for two yards in Pac-12 Championship Game at Oregon ... Named to the Pac-12 All-Academic second-team.

2010 Freshman: Saw action in all 12 games with four starts ... Came off the bench at Kansas State to make one reception (5 yds) and rush once (1) ... Made two receptions (12) against Stanford ... Played versus Houston ... Made one reception (5) and some key blocks at Texas ... Carried once (6) versus Washington State ... At Cal, he had one run (3) but strained his left calf in the first quarter and did not return ... Made his first career start at Oregon and had one catch (17) ... Started versus Arizona and made one reception (6) ... Came off the bench versus Oregon State and ran twice for a total of 10 yards, including one for 12 yards ... Started at Washington and made one reception (6) ... Started and made two catches for 15 yards at Arizona State ... Saw action against USC ... Offensive winner of UCLA's John Boncheff, Jr. Memorial Award for Rookie of the Year.

2013 Senior Highlights:

2012 Junior Highlights:

 Strengths (+):

Despite being new to the position the athletic ability of Barr allowed him enough to make up for his lack of technique and mechanics involved with rushing the passer. Showed the ability to put pressure on the QB despite his weaknesses, because of a high motor and and overall athleticism. Has some experience playing special teams and showed he could make plays there. Looked comfortable dropping into coverage and showed fluid enough hips to have success doing so against NFL TEs and backs.

Weaknesses (-):

Word on Barr was that he was working hard to improve his hand use. If this is true then we see an even more impressive player in 2013 as that was his biggest weakness on tape this past year. Along with his lack of hand use he also showed a lack of pass rush moves and usually failed to get to the QB if he didn't beat the OT the first try. With all of the talk that Barr has received the past few months I felt kind of let down when watching all of his games and he never "took over" a game -- never just dominated a team like we have seen other players do. Also doesn't possess that that elite closing speed when attacking the QB or RB. Struggled at times keeping his pad level low enough to not get washed out of plays. Would also like him to add some strength and overall weight so he can be stronger at the point of attack.

Raiders Outlook:

As I said above I was slightly disappointed when re-watching Barr's tape. I am not completely against drafting players that have switched positions in college or will do so upon entering the NFL. Unless the Raiders are planning on shifting to a 3-4 in 2014 the addition of Barr to the current roster would require him to adjust yet again to a new position. While the move from pass rushing OLB to DE wouldn't a huge struggle it would require him to have made huge strides in hand use, pad level, and strength at the point of attack -- all things he struggled with in 2013. Assuming the improvements can be made and he can begin to use his technique and not just his athleticism he could easily be on Reggie McKenzie's radar in the draft to improve the struggling Raiders pass rush. I just have doubts and questions about Barr and other pass rushers in this draft as the true DEs outside of Clowney have some real issues and most of the other pass rushers are OLBs, like Barr, in college. Barr is being touted as a 1st Round lock and possible top 10 pick -- what I saw on his 2012 tape would not make me want to draft him there. Now I tend to follow my gut on prospects and look for players that make an impact at their position, players that can change the game. I never saw that happen and will need to see Barr take over a game in 2013 and show better technique, particularly hand use, before I crown him as a top player for the Raiders to target.

Post Bears PS Game Press

Thanks to RaiderCentral2013 on YouTube:

Pryor Highlights (8/23 vs. Bears): Link
D.J. Footage (8/23 vs. Bears): Link

Injury Plagued Raiders Plug Holes

With the injuries to Left Tackle Jared Veldheer (torn tricep, likely out 10-12 weeks), UDFA OT John Wetzel (waived today), newly acquired free agent OLB Kaluka Maiava (leg related), and 2nd year OLB Miles Burris (knee)...the Raiders have brought in two position specific free agents.

Offensive Tackle Tony Hills, who was most recently released by the Buffalo Bills, but was drafted by and spent the most time with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Outside Linebacker Chase Thomas, who was brought into the New Orleans Saints organization as an UDFA.  Thomas was seeing time with the Saints 1st Team (due to injuries) recently.  Thomas had his most productive season in 2011 as a college player for Stanford.  Jason Tarver was the DC at Stanford in 2011, and likely had a strong say in bringing Thomas in to fill the gap left by Maiava and Burris.  The Raiders claimed Thomas off waivers today.

Monday Camp

Thanks to SilverAndBlackReport on YouTube:

Oakland vs. Dallas

The Scene From Ground Zero.

Thanks to RaiderNationPodcast and Raider Greg on YouTube.

Owamagbe Odighizuwa

Looks like one of the more exciting young DE prospects in the country will be out for 2013 with another hip problem.  With OLB/DE Anthony Barr, who apparently is even bigger and more explosive after last offseason, set to establish himself as the #2 pass rush threat of the 2014 NFL Draft behind Jadeveon Clowney... Odighizuwa could've been primed for a break out, National-Level year.  However, we'll have to wait and see how he recovers.

Link (NFL.com)

8.5.13 TC Footage

Thanks to SilverAndBlackReport on YouTube

TC Goodies

Thanks again to RaiderNationPodcast on YouTube!

Also, Jon Condo signed a 3-year extension: Oakland Tribune

Bombs Away

Four More Years for Janikowski in Oakland.

4 years, $19M, $8M in guarantees over the first two years of the contract.