Silver and Black Pride's Sunday Community Poll: Raiders Camp Positional Battles

i couldn’t care less about the future of the franchise or how much someone gets paid if garcia doesn’t start then we are throwing away another chance to win the division/go to the playoffs, im sick off people not understanding… ur best players play u dont think about we’ll three from now russell might help us win 9 games in a season maybe r maybe he’ll always be a lazy slob who got his money and doesnt really care about the game of football…i do know this that we can not afford another top ten pick like DHB, Russell and huff who may or may not help this team we have way to much salary tied up in these losers… we could have Haynesworth if it weren’t for these guys and their huge salaries

I have got mad respect for Coach Cable, he really deserves props for his camp strategy…He is focusing strictly on the mental part of the game the first 5 days, that is incredible. Well, let me break this down, most players, especially new players to the team, rookies and quite frankly many veterans don’t study to a point of knowing exactly where they are supposed to be. Coach Cable has the foresight to have the entire team working on only that aspect, no pads, no hitting, no throwing, no touching, just application of the plays. Observing foot work, placement, its brilliant.

The Raiders, are going to be a better team this year if they really learn that, and with Paul Hackett coaching the Quarterbacks we may just surprise some teams. All players grow up going to practice hitting and going through the motions and running plays reviewing them later to make corrections. Coach Cable’s strategy gets players understanding of what to do and more importantly why they are doing it before going live. I have been talking about the play calling not being predictable and the need for better execution, well, Coach Cable is well on his way to being able to call a play that is properly run, and when a play is executed properly you achieve the desired result.

The fact that there is a focus on the mental game team wise will help tremendously in the Raiders execution. I am very pleased with Coach Cables concept. Qute frankly, this is a major relief, the Raiders will have a fighting chance if players know what they are supposed to do.

The Raider Way you have some very good battles on the board, I believe Hiram Eugene, & JaMarcus Russell will start, unless J Russ has a terrible camp he is the starter, and Huff can’t hit, can’t tackle and should be traded or released unless this year he shows he can play. I agree that Morrison should be in the SAM I believe he is out of position, so you have posed an interesting battle there. At corner, we just have to see, Stanford Routt I thought would have been starting already but he seems to have a problem with coverage on every play, he comes of the bench in the nickel and does well, so Chris has the edge there he proved himself as a worthy starter and Stanford will have to really shine to unseat him.

Coach Cables stategy to training camp is excellent and I am confident there will be improvement this year.

I also want Branch to win along with Mitchell on the other side.

Both have the ability to be starting tackles just wonder who will wind up on the left side. Without a good blindside tackle, Jamarcus will never even have the chance to appraoch his potential

I wanna see how bey does along with chaz

1. Russell is starting unless he’s hurt.
2. Morrison is starting even if it is with Alston or with Brown.
3. Scott should easily win that job over Richardson.
4. I think they’re just giving Routt a “courtesy shot” against Johnson. I fully expect Johnson to be the starter.
5. Our weakest position in terms of depth is probably safety and so that’s why I voted for the safety battle.

From Jerry McDonald’s latest blog entry:

Some scouts believe Barnes’ best position would be at right tackle. Problem is, it was clear Barnes isn’t one of them given the way he answered the question when asked if he would be comfortable switching to the right side if Henderson prevails on the left.

"To be honest with you, no," Barnes said. "I haven’t did a right-side kick since I was in college. I just _ I’ve been so used to being in this stance for so long, it’d be awkward to be over there. So, I mean, I don’t know man."

I can’t blame him for his answer, I wouldn’t want to try doing things backwards after having done them a certain way for several years either. Being “comfortable” doing it is one thing…refusing to do it will be another entirely. If Henderson holds off Barnes for the starting LT spot, Barnes has to know he still can make the starting lineup at RT. He should seriously consider taking as many reps as he can at RT to get more comfortable with it in the next 3 weeks.

Man, was I so absent-minded to the point where I didn’t see Tom Cable’s shirt? In short, it’s awesome.

Michael Huff needs to really prove himself worthy this pre-season, though quite frankly, I don’t see how all of a sudden after several seasons he will get rid of his lack of hitting and tackling…, This guy is all but a bust, and I don’t see him lasting past this season if his play doesn’t improve drastically. He does have a shot this preseason and like most fans I want our players to be successful including Huff, its just hard to believe he will.

Safety is up in the air, I will give the edge to Branch only because Mitchell is a rook, however, as the season progresses he could make a move to start if Branch falters..so the sage continues…

I would love for Huff to show up, it would be a coup for the Raiders and he will have earned his position in the draft.

Huff
Johnson
Brown
Scott
J.R

Although I don’t think Brown will beat out Morrison have always said Kirk would be better as a SAM.
Is there a battle at WR? Chaz from all reports is the NO.1 from there JLH, Murphy, and DHB (in that order) until DHB proves he can hold on to the ball.

The position that im looking at is the tackle postion, and you dont even have that on your poll COME ON! that battle between Henderson and Barnes is going to be good. and alittle competition at every position dont hurt.
J Rus has it locked on QB, the man at the top will make sure of that (DAVIS).
The WR’s who the hell knows, but dont count out Walker from all account he is ready to go and is itching to practice.
I’ve always liked Routt from the day he was with the raiders, but starting him oppisite Nnamdi might not be so bad he did spit time with Fabian Washington for a time the last couple of years.
I dont know how anyone thinks Ricky Brown is going to beat out Kirk for the mddle linebacker spot and Jay Richardson has underproduced the last year.
But whatever and whoever starts let just win some games baby!

he did nothing for us any way…would like one solid veteran Marvin Harrison anyone???

The battle at wide out will be interesting I am getting tweets that even Nick Miller is having a great camp, be careful there may be some surprizes this year DHB is going to get considerable playing time, to much cash, to high a draft pick not to. Javon Walker, Schil, and J Lee Higg will also share duties. If Walker is healthy, J Walk seems to have a renewed attitude and desire to play and it should show in his game. I don’t think we need Marv Harrison and he is a great receiver, our roster is stacked with excellent talent at the position, I do still want Derrick Brooks, and MIke Vick as a number 3.

Tackle should go to Henderson, it is basically his position to lose, they are not having a real battle for the spot, if Henderson falters it will be Barnes, however, Henderson has to lose the position, no matter what they say in the media.

You actually chose positions where there are battles, not positions where a player has to lose his spot. Of course, there are many battles going on and any player can lose their job except for maybe a few. J. Russ will need a miserable camp to not start, Huff is not starting unless he has a spectacular camp, to many real game failures for it to be any other way, I really feel for Morrison because he is out of position, but again it is his position to lose. Richardson-Scott battle, I call it that because again it is Richardson’s position to lose, however, this battle is probably the closest because roster spots will be on the line here when you add Matt Shaughnessy to the picture, of course, if they all perform extremely well, we may keep them all, but this is a battle royale here and Scott has come to take Richardsons position. WR Shawn Bayes is also having a great camp, all of a sudden Raider Way you have some new blood fighting to be on this roster.

So the fight continues, though there are incumbents I can say we have youngsters in there fighting for it, my twitter is jumping with Raider updates…I have a strange feeling that the Raiders are going to beat up on some teams, I know it may seem like wishful thinking, but we are healthy and fast.

I agree with you on the talent level at the WR position. I just think we need a veteran presence to teach these youngsters route running, attitude, and what it takes to be a WR at the NFL level. I know J-Walk is technically a vet but do you want our youngins learning from him or someone the likes of Marv?..Im just saying..As far as Huff your right he hasnt earned a safety spot in my eyes and he’s been given too much playing time to prove that..He’s a ball hawk but doesnt catch it when its thrown right to him doesnt hit ..at least Gibril Wilson hit…take my chances with Eugene or Branch and Mike Mitchell

I can’t argue that Marvin Harrison would not be an upgrade and yes he would provide leadership and training to a young receivers corps. J-Walk is capable but he is no Marvin Harrison, work ethic, route running, speed, nothing, not in the same league. The one difference with Marv verses say D. Brooks, and M. Vick is the price for him. Marv will not play for the kind of money the others will, does that mean we shouldn’t look at him, as I have mentioned in the past a veteran presence when that veteran is a true perennial all pro is worth having on the roster. That is the difference between J-Walk and Marv, and D. Brooks they have been league leading consistent all pros, even Vick as lead his team to a NFC Championship game so you have that element that Walker doesn’t have.

We are deep enough and fast enough at WR to be successful if players are coached properly. But I can agree with you on this, Marv would enhance the Raiders team no doubt.

Russel & Garcia! Haha. But first! I’ll say my prediction who WILL start at the beginning of the season.

A. Huff will start over Eugene

B. C-Johnson will start over Routt

C. Morrison will start over Brown (DUH?!; NO CONTEST!)

D. Scott will start over Richardson (Even though he hasn’t started a game in his career, he has recorded more sacks than Richardson w/ 2 yrs playing. )

E. Russel will start over Garcia. PERIOD!