Musings on roster trimming & possible Raider acquisitions (Now w/updates & further thoughts!)

by Raybin on Sep 1, 2009 6:53 AM PDT Comment 28 comments

Yahoo Sports NFL transactions page is here:

UPDATE #7: Really, at this point, you'd be better served to go to the various SB Nation blogs if you're curious about who is cutting who rather than that Yahoo Transactions page. It seems they pretty much suck at updating it in a timely fashion.

UPDATE #8: Interesting discussion going on below, lots of interesting names being thrown about. Mostly daydreaming, it is true, but fun! Also, I want to say that though the Raiders apparently knew what they were doing in cutting Sulak loose before training camp, they apparently didn't know what they were doing when they drafted him in the first place :-)

--I see Stryker Sulak was among the casualties in Green Bay, which shows that maybe the Raiders knew what they were doing in turning him loose before camp.

As for people I wouldn't mind seeing the Raiders pick up, there are a few names. (Of course I won't exactly be disappointed if none of them get snagged):

--Center Alex Stepanovich was cut by Pittsburgh and may be a better option at backup than John Wade. I believe he can also play guard, though I'm not 100 percent on that. His cut reflects less on him than it does on the fact that the Steelers are really deep at center currently.

--Defensive tackle Dusty Dvoracek was let go by the Bears. If the team wants to carry 5 DT's, he certainly can't be any worse than Terdell Sands and might be a whole lot better. He had 29 tackles and 2 defended passes in 12 games of spot duty last season.

--Cornerback Rod Hood was released by the Browns. He's a solid, if unspectacular, veteran and there's no doubt in my mind he is a better option as 4th CB than Bowie or anyone else currently on the roster. He might even be able to push Routt for the nickel spot.

--As for the Raiders first batch of cuts, I agree with LiveAdam in saying the only one that surprises me is Marcus Johnson. I had thought he was one of our better options at backup guard who could also be inserted into right tackle if it became necessary. I suppose the coaching staff knows something I don't, though. Or at least I hope so.

I'll update this when I can today/tomorrow as more cuts are announced and/or more thoughts strike me.

UPDATE: I see the Saints have opted to ditch ex-Raider Rod Coleman. Even though he's an former Pro Bowler, I can't imagine he's got much left in the tank. He was out of football last year and apparently his efforts in a comeback bid didn't impress Sean Payton. Even though Al loves ex -Raiders, I can't imagine him being signed. He probably can't be anything more than a 5th DT at this point anyway.

UPDATE #2: Nothing official yet, but I see some Rams fans over at Turf Show Times are speculating that Hollis Thomas may be one of those dumped by St. Louis. Thomas has no pass rush, but is an expert run stuffer and really clogs up the lanes. However, he's 35, prone to conditioning/weight issues and only played 8 games last year. So I think that's a no go too even if he is cut.

UPDATE #3: The Titans have cut center Matt Lehr. The SB Nation scouting report on his page says the following:

Assets	A smart, competitive player with good technique. Runs well and can pull and trap block. Has good functional strength.
Flaws	Lacks height and will never be a mauler. Needs help against better DTs.
Career Potential	Adequate starter.

I think the flaws outweigh the assets in this case.

UPDATE #4: The Bears have signed Rod Hood. Not suprised he got snapped up quickly. I wish we had one more solid corner. Who knows what's around the bend, though? The real bloodbath is coming soon when the trim-to-53 begins. Then it gets to be musical chairs.

UPDATE #5: Speaking of the Rams, I see they traded their 2006 first round draft pick CB Tye Hill and cut their second round pick from that year, TE Joe Klopfenstein. No wonder Scott Linehan doesn't have head coaching job anymore; he pretty much fan that franchise into the ground. And from what I've been reading, another former first round pick of Linehan's, Adam Carriker, is on the fence and is close to being cut outright. Things like this are why you never (or should never) hear of a Rams fan making fun of Al Davis' draft picks.

UPDATE #6: The Chiefs have cut Amani Toomer loose. I have a hard time believing he won't be able to find work for at least this season.

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No to Dvoracek and Coleman

Dvoracek tore his ACL in training camp and is out for the ’09 season. Even then he still may be better than Terdell Sands.

Coleman is a pure under-tackle, where we have plenty of depth. In fact, if Kelly, Warren, Joseph, and Bryant make up the DT rotation for the Raiders, we’ll have 4 under-tackles and really no nose-tackles.

If the Raiders bring in a new backup C/G, I think they’d have to be better than Chris Morris rather than Wade. I don’t see how Wade makes the final roster after this injury has kept him out most of the preseason, plus Morris is more versatile because he actually plays guard.

Slade Norris destroyed the periodic table, because he only recognizes the element of surprise.

ESPN’s draft coverage missed the moment when Al Davis and Tom Cable each took turns using Mel Kiper’s mock draft as toilet paper. - Chris Shellcroft

by LiveAdam on Sep 1, 2009 8:04 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I had no idea...

…Dvoracek was out for the year. LOL at the Terdell Sands quip, by the way.

Agreed on Coleman. I think his ship has sailed.

The center position is really starting to discourage me because I just read an article detailing Satele’s struggles. I’ll post it as a fanshot in a minute so everyone can see.

by Raybin on Sep 1, 2009 9:05 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

to me

even if the guy is a WELL experienced veteran who’s had success i the league can greatly help your team by mentoring the younger guys. Veterans are important.

by patriotguy on Sep 1, 2009 9:50 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm still waiting

for Richardson to start instead of Scott. Until then my opinions on the potential of the run D are skewed by poor rotation of talent.

To that end I think Warren would hold up much better with Richardson helping him on his side than Trevor Scott.

Until then, I see no reason to look for a new DE or non-rotation DT. Also don’t get why many are hating on Kelly. He’s our best pass rushing DT and is probably our best run stopping one unless Warren gets some help. You’ll notice, most of the opposing team’s runs are off tackle to the right side, where Warren and of course Scott are. Kelly and Ellis have held up pretty well. Surprisingly well actually.

Team needs that would be easily attainable in my opinion:

backup guards
a good #4 corner
MLB depth so that brown never has to go back to starting at MLB.

other than those three things, this should be a good roster. Notice there’s only one offensive need, which is a backup spot. Yes Green needs to be replaced, but there’s not many starting quality right tackles that would fit a zone scheme.

The offense is looking pretty good and could be very good once the run game is used in actual games.

Defense needs some depth but nothing major. Just Scott needs to be put back into his role of being purely a nickel rusher.

"You'll take my life but I'll take yours too. You'll fire you musket but I'll run you through. So when your waiting for the next attack. You'd better stand there's no turning back"- "The Trooper" by Iron Maiden

by KA1Z3R on Sep 1, 2009 1:02 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

I’m not judging too harshly just yet, because I think Richardson’s presence on the end would tighten the run D up considerably. I’m just throwing some DT names out there because a lot of people are talking about the position right now, you know? I don’t have much of a problem with Kelly…..I wouldn’t have a beef with Warren either, except for the one thing that has been the black mark against him his whole career: his tendency to take plays off. This actually plays into a FanPost I’ve been wanting to write.

Wholeheartedly agree on the #4 corner. In fact, that’s the only thing I can really hope the Raiders can find amidst the flotsam from other teams. I’m just a fantasy GM/personnel freak so I love writing about these kinds of things.

by Raybin on Sep 1, 2009 1:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I hear ya man

that’s why I love it when the offseasons roll around so I can start evaluating and planning out FA moves by teams. Hell evaluating teams and players is what I do best.

For now, #4 corner is the only need that can easily be addressed and needs to be as quickly as possible. Though I’d definitely like a backup MLB (I’ve heard rumors that Harris was released or is going to be soon) so that if Morrison gets injured, we don’t have a replay of the Saints game. Most of the Saints passes were towards the middle of the field where Brown was playing a zone. All game long he was being picked apart. Plus this also elevates Alston to start at SLB which is a disaster for the run D.

by KA1Z3R on Sep 1, 2009 4:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yup

I think Alston has proved with this camp he’s a great asset on special teams and a servicable backup, but not a starter.

Something to consider with regard to the shaky #4 CB and Routt’s inconsistency at nickel: A veteran FA who used to be great, but can only be a good nickel/dime CB now and who can be acquired on the cheap. I’m thinking off the top of my head:

Chris McAlister
Ty Law
Patrick Surtain

I have to believe that any of those guys are superior to Bowie, et al as our dime CB and can push Routt for the nickel position. McAlister could even play safety if injuries start to occur.

I’m still not sold on Brown at SLB. What’s Willie McGinest up to these days?

by Raybin on Sep 2, 2009 5:56 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Add a name to the veteran CB list

R.W. McQuarters

by Raybin on Sep 2, 2009 6:14 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Man

you don’t want Law or Surtain. they haven’t lost a step, they FELL down the steps. they were both part of the destruction of KC.

maybe, if Law wanted to, he might be a servicable safety, but i doubt his ego would let him go that direction.

by bansky on Sep 2, 2009 3:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Anyone who was questioning Kirk's value to the team...

…and if he should be given a contract extension needs to only look at what Brees did to Brown in the middle of the field like you mention. Kirk would not have let that happen, at least to the extent that it did.

I apologize because I keep having these random thoughts! But i can’t help it…as Eminem once said, it’s just the way I am.

by Raybin on Sep 2, 2009 6:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kirk would have stopped the middle of the field pass attack

Morrison is still a feared coverage linebacker and could have had a field day out there.

That also means the Saints were cautious to pass to the corners, translation; Howard and Morrison should have productive seasons covering the middle section or just outside the hash mark areas.

A coverage group of Nnamdi, CJ, Branch, Eugene, Morrison, and Howard frees up Brown to do some of his fancy blitz work, something we’ll see much of this year.

It’s not the D’s fault necessarily, it’s the fault of the Raiders lack of linebacker depth and incorrect usage pf Richardson.

by KA1Z3R on Sep 2, 2009 1:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Redskins' DT Anthony Montgomery Available?

John Czarnecki of FoxSports seems to believe that DT Anthony Montgomery may be able to talk his way out of Washington after being replaced by Albert Haynesworth. Czarnecki suggests the Panthers trade for Montgomery in the article, but the Panthers recently traded for the Browns’ Louis Leonard.

5. DT Anthony Montgomery to the Panthers: Ever since the Panthers lost mountain man Maake Kemoeatu at defensive tackle, GM Marty Hurney has been looking for a big replacement. Washington’s Montgomery is 6-foot-6, 320 pounds and very unhappy about being demoted from the starting lineup with the arrival of Albert Haynesworth.

Montgomery isn’t going to see hardly any playing time behind Haynesworth, and was an important rotational DT for the 8th ranked defense last season. The Redskins put a 5th-round RFA tender on Montgomery during the offseason; maybe the Redskins would be willing to take a 4th or 5th rounder for him now?

Slade Norris destroyed the periodic table, because he only recognizes the element of surprise.

ESPN’s draft coverage missed the moment when Al Davis and Tom Cable each took turns using Mel Kiper’s mock draft as toilet paper. - Chris Shellcroft

by LiveAdam on Sep 1, 2009 2:53 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

would definitely be a good move

by KA1Z3R on Sep 1, 2009 4:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would be all for it

The more I think about it, the happier I am with the Ellis/Kelly combo. It’s the other side of the line with Warren and Scott that makes me nervous. Signing Montgomery and cutting Warren or Joseph loose wouldn’t cost me a second thought.

by Raybin on Sep 2, 2009 5:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

While I'm thinking of it...

…no disrespect to Justin Fargas, but he’s our best expendable asset at this point. Looking at an aging Clinton Portis and kinda “meh” backups, I wonder if the ‘Skins would be willing to make Fargas and Montgomery the centerpieces of a swap. I don’t even know if he’ son the front office’s (read: Al) radar though and if they’d be willing to part with Huggy Bear in any case.

by Raybin on Sep 2, 2009 6:02 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oops

Just re-read your post and saw that the price on Montgomery would be much lower than Fargas. I’d be all for giving up a 4th rounder for him.

by Raybin on Sep 2, 2009 6:04 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Response to all your comments

I wish Ellis were playing at RDE rather than LDE, but I’ll have to live with it. Ellis and Kelly on the left side of the DL is OK with me as well. I wouldn’t necessarily cut Gerard Warren; the problem is that he’s really playing out of position. As big as he is, he’s still a one-gap penetrating defensive tackle, and doesn’t clog up lanes the way a real nose-tackle would. If Kelly and Warren were the rotation at UT and the Raiders actually had some real nose tackles the rotation would be significantly better.

As for Fargas’ trade value, I think you give him too much credit. If we traded him to the Redskins he’d go from being the 3rd RB on our squad to the 3rd RB on their squad, behind Portis and Betts. Fargas still has more value to us than really any other team, so he’ll be around, even if this is his last year with us.

Slade Norris destroyed the periodic table, because he only recognizes the element of surprise.

ESPN’s draft coverage missed the moment when Al Davis and Tom Cable each took turns using Mel Kiper’s mock draft as toilet paper. - Chris Shellcroft

by LiveAdam on Sep 2, 2009 9:50 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

not a bad pick up if we could do it

i also agree with scott just not being ready yet. i really think hes the biggest run liability and it seems that it doesnt matter really whos at the UT spot, they just cant hack they’re job which is keepin two guys occupied every down …. i think kelly has been at least puttin in effort though. him and ellis dont look to bad out there even in the woopin we just recieved, they just kept gettin caught outa position when they were in the middle of spins or some kind of rip/swim move. montgomery fits the bill for what we need …. big ol’ nasty haus who people hate to work against and people love to work with

by frank7da2tank on Sep 2, 2009 1:20 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Great Posts

I believe the best talent will be available at the end of the week, when rosters have to be paired down. There will be real talent available by players who just missed the final cut, can’t give any names yet because we don’t know who they are, however, once teams make final cuts I am sure we will find talent that is ready to come in and contribute right away.

by Rodney Sacramento on Sep 2, 2009 5:58 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, the end of the week will be real fun to watch

I thought it’d be worthwhile to track the early releases and see if any diamonds in the rough turned up

by Raybin on Sep 2, 2009 6:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Since I really don't like Cornell Green...

…and I’m looking at the free agent list….

Jon Runyan is still unsigned.

Just sayin’.

by Raybin on Sep 2, 2009 6:14 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

And if it's versatility we're after...

…Jason Fabini is a FA and can play RT and guard.

It’s fun to bandy about names at DT and all, but I only expect the Raiders to address the depth at CB when it comes to signing players cut by other teams or other free agents….but man, i’d love if they could find another RT dropped into their lap.

by Raybin on Sep 2, 2009 6:26 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

cuts

they should cut routt. the guy is getting killed out there. also, i would cut or trade garcia. it looks to me like both frye and gadowski are keepable. and cheaper. then cut fargas. cut sands.

by njr8erfan on Sep 2, 2009 10:11 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

No way

Routt worries me every time he steps on the field, but there are no better options at nickel CB right now. Both Frye and Gradkowski have looked solid, but I wouldn’t trust the season to either if Russell went down. Gotta keep Garcia.

Why cut Fargas? You can’t let a solid player like him go and get no return. If he can’t be traded to address a position of
need, he should be retained. I’d love to see Sands get cut, but if they keep 5 DT’s, he’s staying. I’d cut Boschetti over Sands any day.

by Raybin on Sep 2, 2009 10:53 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not worried about Routt

I’m just a little cautious when we go to a nickel set. We’ve seen Routt be anywhere from a top-tier nickel corner who looks like he should be starting, to bring no better than an average dime corner. Routt is inconsistent, but his chance to make big plays in coverage (whether that bean INT or a swat on 3rd. down) is something that Raiders like about him and it’s why he’s still on roster. I actually think he was really good last year, he’s just off this year in camp and preseason. Then again, wasn’t he last year?

Once again, I never jump to conclusions in preseason, but I think that Routt will be fine when the season starts. But dear god we need a dime corner.

by KA1Z3R on Sep 2, 2009 1:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can't cut Routt

Despite all the investment into drafting and signing defensive backs (in my opinion at the expense of the rest of the defense) over the past 5 years, the depth is rather minimal.

"If you don't take out his battery, he's going to keep going all day."

by S Jay Bruin on Sep 3, 2009 12:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Actually Raybin you're right

by Rodney Sacramento on Sep 2, 2009 1:10 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Meaning Raybin that it makes sense to track guys

at this point in training camp, and yes there are real diamonds out there that won’t make the squad not based on their talent, but on a overwhelming amount of talent at their position.

by Rodney Sacramento on Sep 2, 2009 1:12 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs