Justin Griffith out for the Season

by Raider76 on Oct 27, 2008 5:34 PM PDT Comment 14 comments

Damn. Damn. Damn. Another blow to our running game. First we lose Oren O'neal our best blocking fullback, then McFadden gets turf toe and now we have lost Justin Griffith for the season. Here is the article taken from Yahoo Sports:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AqOY.oXpyimQ0HCyHLFTeq2R2bYF?slug=ap-nflbriefs&prov=ap&type=lgns

The bad news from the Oakland Raiders’ blowout loss at Baltimore carried over into Monday with the news that starting fullback Justin Griffith would need season-ending surgery on his knee.

Griffith tore the ACL in his right knee late in the third quarter of a 29-10 loss to the Ravens. He stayed in the game for a few plays and managed to score Oakland’s only touchdown on a 2-yard catch. He was hit hard by Ray Lewis on the play and knocked out of the game.

An MRI on Monday determined the severity of the injury. Oakland will place Griffith on injured reserve and look to sign another fullback.

“You lose a terrific person, a lot of leadership,” coach Tom Cable said. “He’s solid as a rock. He comes to work every day. He does things to the best of his ability every opportunity he gets. Someone who’s familiar with the system. You’re losing quite a bit there.”

The only healthy fullback on the roster is Luke Lawton, who has mostly played special teams after being brought in late in training camp when Oren O’Neal went down with a season-ending knee injury.

Lawton played in 11 games last season for the Colts at running back and on special teams. He had five rushes for 13 yards and four receptions for 29 yards, including a one-yard reception against Jacksonville on Dec. 2 for his lone career touchdown. Lawton also played four games for the New York Jets in 2005.

Cable said moving tailback Michael Bush to fullback, a position he worked at briefly in training camp, was an option, but that the team would probably have to bring someone in this week.

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Raiders Need To Open Two Roster Spots

The first will open by putting Justin Griffith on IR, and should replace him with Marcel Reece. I loved Kiffin’s idea of making Reece a FB/TE hybrid back, given his unique skill sets. Given the injury, Griffith probably won’t be brought back next year, so the tandem should really be O’Neal and Reece next season. Since we’re still in a rebuilding mode, we need to give our young players as much playing time as possible.

The Raiders also need to find another roster spot to bring in another defensive tackle. I love Fred Wakefield’s effort, but the D-line suffers so much from overworking Kelly, Warren, and Sands and having to use Wakefield at all. Heck, even William Joseph has to be better than Wakefield at this point.

"I love being here. I love these players. I'm loyal to these players and this team, all right? I'm on the side of the players and the Raiders. And anybody who isn't on the side of the Raiders, then I'm not with them." - Randy Hanson, DB coach.

by LiveAdam on Oct 27, 2008 8:55 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Fullback found

The Raiders are expected to sign today Jason Davis from the Chicago Bears practice squad. Davis is listed at 5-foot-10, 245 pounds. He has the peripherals but will have to learn the ZBS. Griffith is a big loss and we are now going to have to hope that Luke Lawton can really step it up.

Your team is your child...You love it no matter what.

by TheRaiderWay on Oct 28, 2008 6:28 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I would either play Bush at Fullback;

assuming McFadden is healthy enough to play behind Fargas, and then I would incorporate Madsen in the mix with double TE sets and use motion to set up screens and roll-outs to help Russell complete more high percentage throws.

"What do we do with Crosby? Well, in my neighborhood, trash goes out on Mondays." ~ Nico

by MMunoz33 on Oct 28, 2008 9:21 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Bush

would not like that. He wasn’t too thrilled when Kiffin placed him there earlier this season.

by Raider76 on Oct 28, 2008 11:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bring Back Zack!!!

Brink Back Zack!!!

But when they start scheming us the way these guys did, and we weren't particularly ready for it, anything can happen."

by saint on Oct 28, 2008 9:52 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

One of my

favorite Raiders.

by Raider76 on Oct 28, 2008 11:36 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I couldn't agree more

Zack Crockett was the best fullback this team ever had (other than Van Eeghen playing fullback in Super Bowl XI where he was awesome). Crockett blocked, Crockett ran with the same fury as Fargas and strength as Bush, and he caught passes like Griffith (though not to as high a degree) Crockett was amazing and deserved to stay. Though I’ve heard he either retired or is playing for the Bucs.

"Whoever appeals to the law against his fellow man is either a fool or a coward. Whoever cannot take care of themselves without that law is both. For a wounded man shall say to his assailant, 'If I live, I will kill you. If I die, You are forgiven.' Such is the rule of honor." Omerta by Lamb of God

by KA1Z3R on Oct 28, 2008 2:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Zack was awesome!

Play more Conan!

by oaklandSMASH on Oct 29, 2008 2:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ray Lewis

Everyone is constantly saying he has lost a step and is an aging MLB. This is just another notch on his belt for those naysayers. He is still the best MLB in the NFL bar none and has even become a smarter player and harder hitter at this point in his career. Just add Justin Fargas to the list of RB’s he’s knocked out of action, and mind you, these are all good, clean, yet vicious hits, not the cheap shots that so many players get their props on.

Rexx

by Rexx on Oct 28, 2008 10:04 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Ray Lewis has lost a step

and an injury doesn’t make him a good/bad/whatever player. It’s a joke to assume that he hit someone SO hard he shredded his ACL, it’s all about how he was positioned when he got hit. I watched Nate Burleson tear his ACL this year and he was never touched…..

You guys are real sensitive about Lewis slowing down a little aren’t you? I’m not sure why it’s such a big deal, he’s still a great line backer and a sure fire HoF’er. You don’t need to run around telling everyone “Ray is still good! I swearz! Look how he ended this guys season!”

by RaiderPete on Oct 28, 2008 12:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs