Making the Cut: Linebacker

by Rich Langford on Jun 22, 2010 12:41 AM PDT

The second piece in a series aimed at fighting off football withdrawals.

By all accounts, the starting linebackers are going to look as different this year as that reality TV actress Heidi Monfag before she popped up on my internet browser every day. It doesn't stop at the big money boob job either, the entire unit got a face-lift and botox.

Last year the Raiders kept 6, but as Scott spent more time at LB than DE, it was actually 7. They had 7 on the roster in '08. Does this mean they'll go with 7 this year? No. I don't even think the Raiders know that yet. They may decide to go with 8 as cuts here could get tough. If they keep 8, I imagine it will be based on the fact that the last LB looked better on special teams then the last DB.

After all, if the last LB or DB on the roster is playing defense in the regular season than the poop has struck the wind making device.

As it is now, these guys are first team and locks: McClain, Scott and Wimbley

These guys are close to locks: Howard, Groves and Brown. They are going to need Howard's pass coverage skills and he very well may end up starting. Personally, I am a little skeptical that Wimbley and Scott can both start. They are going to need Brown, because he is the only LB in camp that has actually spent any time at MLB in the NFL.

The long shots: David Nixon and Slade Norris. Nixon and Norris both saw limited action with the Raiders last year, but with the added depth, Lindsey Lohan has a better chance of coming out with another Disney movie than these guys do of making the team.

That leaves us with: Isaiah Ekejiuba, Travis Goethel and Sam Williams.

Sam Williams is actually the longest tenured non-kicking player on the team. Unfortunately for him, this likely means he'll be the one going. He made a solid contribution on special teams last year and he has plenty of game experience, but the Raiders have brought in younger and more versatile players.

Isaiah Ekejiuba, "The Nigerian Nightmare" was the leader on the kick coverage unit last year. He is young, cheap and hard working.

Travis Goethel will get every chance to make this team. He is a high character guy that could be a force on special teams. He played all the LB spots in college and this combined with his special teams ability could very well earn him the spot on the roster that his natural physical ability wouldn't.

As I said, the last player here could actually be competing against a DB and while they may not make an impact on defense they will most certainly make an impact on special teams.

Poll

________ will be a part of the final 53.

Isaiah Ekejiuba

211 votes

Travis Goethel

95 votes

Sam Williams

53 votes

Ekejiuba and Goethel

400 votes

Goethel and Williams

71 votes

Williams and Ekejiuba

188 votes

Click to the comments to see what is really going to happen.

82 votes

1100 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

overall rating - B

after McClain’s potential as he hasn’t played a down yet and Scott’s conversion, we know that Howard can cover TE on flat routes, I’m not in awe by this group. To be impactful, they will need to have a pack mentality instead of all the single tackles 5 yards after the line of scrimage. On paper, this group is lukewarm. Curious to see how they develop. Most keep Ekejiuba because of special team play; not convinced that Goethel makes the team unless he shows incredible special team play during pre-season.

by raiders4liffe on Jun 22, 2010 1:31 AM PDT reply actions

GOAT typo or clever cheap shot?

By all accounts, the starting linebackers are going to look as different this year as that reality TV actress Heidi Monfag before she popped up on my internet browser every day.

R.Z. Reports, you decide.

Haha. With that said, I actually have some hope for this LB corps. I feel Goenthel can be a solid contributer on ST and could become a serviceable backup for our LB group the way Ricky Brown is. I can’t wait til the final cuts so I can praise/curse the team to my heart’s content.

by Raider Zealot on Jun 22, 2010 1:43 AM PDT reply actions

Before you all bite my head off & say there are no plans to show 3-4 looks, if they decide to show some, Goethel will be valuable depth at ILB & ST.

Also Sam Williams reminds me alot of James Jett but not as productive. A guy who Al always liked & had a job because of that fact alone. This guy needs to go to allow the younger guys to develop & gain experience on the field since let’s face it. They all may see lots of playing time not only on ST but in case of injury. Knock on wood this year that is not a major concern though.

by TAW on Jun 22, 2010 7:56 AM PDT reply actions

Time to go

How long can they keep special-team only players? I realize Davis has his pets but Williams and Ekejiuba have to go. Reports indicate Ekejiuba is nowhere near good enough to actually play the position he is listed at. There are plenty of hungry young players around that can not only fill that role but actually play their listed positions as well.

by lurker88 on Jun 22, 2010 9:12 AM PDT reply actions

Keep Isaiah..Cut Goethel and Williams..

The only true wisdom consists in knowing that you know nothing.

by JaKe. on Jun 22, 2010 12:54 PM PDT reply actions

I Agree

Isaiah will make the squad, but Goethel probably won’t. He will be a practice squad player. That guy we drafted last year in my opinion, Slade Norris, will make the roster.

If Winning Isn't Everthing, Why Do They Keep Score? - Vince Lombardi

by Rayder K on Jun 22, 2010 2:02 PM PDT reply actions

I think what is going to hurt Norris, that I failed to mention

is that he is more in the now overcrowded ilk of DE/OLB pass rushing type.

I think when people are being funny, they are actually being serious and when people are being serious, it's actually really funny.

by Rich Langford on Jun 22, 2010 2:27 PM PDT up reply actions

versatility

true that Norris is in a currently crowded spot, but he showed good potential last year. If he can also play ST well then he should be a certainty to make it, unlike those that can only play ST.
what they need is more versatility out the the STers and to weed out the one-dimensional types.

by lurker88 on Jun 22, 2010 3:10 PM PDT up reply actions

+ 1

Players like Norris and Myers are viable replacements and solid on Special Teams.

S-O-B: ITS HOW I ROLL, DEAL WITH IT.

by Sons-of-Blanda on Jun 22, 2010 3:26 PM PDT up reply actions

Still, Norris is facing a log jam, which makes his d skill set less valuable.

I’d say there is more value to the last LB on the roster in special teams play and Ekejiuba has proven his worth here, but he has almost zero value on defense. It’ll be one of the more interesting battles in camp I think.

I think when people are being funny, they are actually being serious and when people are being serious, it's actually really funny.

by Rich Langford on Jun 22, 2010 4:25 PM PDT up reply actions

I was going to ask about Slade, too. I believe he pushes a Goethel, or even another primarily STer

to practice squad, or even off the roster. There will be at least one surprise with the lbs. It could very well be one changing back to DE on the roster, or bigger.

All performing could absolutely affect what kind of options we leave open for how much 4 man front we show. If all these guys are just too hard to decide on, we’ll see Goethel and Brown still around, primarily for the ILB depth, but we could see four of them on the field, and often.

We could even see Howard lined up in a safety like spot in some looks, with three other backers on the field playing the lb spots. I’m loving the possibilities all of these guys give us, and can’t wait to see what the ultimate outcome is in preseason! We won’t know what the starting lineup will look like until the end of the second quarter of the third game, and I hope it’s still difficult to tell!

You could have worse spots to have a logjam, if you know what I mean, in today’s game.

"If your only ambition in life, is to be a better person; well, that's just the best ambition you can have..." Wayne "Rabbit" Bartholomew

by brhynno on Jun 22, 2010 6:17 PM PDT up reply actions

It is nice to have this depth.

This team has really improved 1-53 this year. It’ll be interesting to see how creative they get. I would love to see a couple looks in preseason like you just described with Howard in a kind of 46 safety position.

I think when people are being funny, they are actually being serious and when people are being serious, it's actually really funny.

by Rich Langford on Jun 22, 2010 7:51 PM PDT up reply actions

I really like out LB's

once again I will say that I hate the using the term ‘starter’ as I feel that someone like howard will see as much of the field as Wimbly so i guess we will have ‘starters’ in the 43 just like we have 2 starting running backs.

I am also excited about what Groves will bring to the team I think he will be used at DE as well as outside.
The cuts will be tough as Sam Williams has been as good a Raider as we have had so it would be a shame to see him go and Ekejiuba has been one of the best special teamers in the league but you would also expect the rookie to get a good shot at making the team. In short – I have no idea.

Oakland is ground zero, the womb and breast, the DNA of the Raider phenomenon. Al Davis is the St. Joseph, foster father, of the immortal and divine team, Oakland a modern Bethlehem and L.A. as another Egypt. - Sons-of-Blanda

by Ozraider on Jun 22, 2010 5:58 PM PDT reply actions