Raiders Questionable Roster Calls
by B.A.Armstrong on Sep 6, 2010 5:52 AM PDT
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The Oakland Raiders may not have made any big splashes with their cut list from Saturday afternoon, but I must say that for me, personally, I was a bit confused by some of their choices. Certainly, I could narrow my list down to just a handful of guys who I thought should be kept or released. One thing that definitely catches my attention is the recently documented drama with the safeties.
The Raiders kept almost every 2010 rookie on their 53-man roster with one exception, 7th round pick Stevie Brown. I thought that Brown played so well that it was finally time to say goodbye to a consistent but never outstanding player named Hiram Eugene. Evidently there are reports that the Raiders wanted to keep free safeties Brown, Eugene, and Michael Huff while parting ways with both back-up strong safeties Mike Mitchell and Jerome Boyd.
To this point it still makes no sense to me why you would want to have three so-so free safeties and only one strong safety. So I'm just going to throw that whole theory right out the window now as if it never happened. Nevertheless, I still think Stevie Brown as a rookie is greater than Hiram Eugene as a veteran to be the back-up to Huff. But the fact of the matter is that it doesn't really matter what I think as long as Brown is eligible for the practice squad.
In another puzzling twist of fate, the Raiders released defensive end Jay Richardson. Richardson has been a reliable back-up for the team and fit the criteria of what the Raiders were looking for in their front seven on defense with his 280-pound bulk. Either the injury to Richardson's knee was worse than originally reported or the Raiders just committed defensive end suicide. I hope they don't expect Richardson to hang around like William Joseph does, because I just don't see that happening. I think some team will take the bait on Jay Richardson and he will be successful and could even eventually become a starter somewhere.
UPDATE:
According to Vittorio Tafur, the initial announcement of Jay Richardson's release has been overruled as the Raiders decided to place Richardson on the IR list. Richardson has started 22 games in three years for the Raiders and the move to cut him left some folks, myself included,scratching their heads.
According to Raiders.com, DE Alex Daniels and CB Joey Thomas will join the list as well. Currently, the Raiders already have QB Charlie Frye and WR Jonathan Holland on IR for the season.
But for Richardson, it could still mark the end of the road with the Raiders. He was penciled in to make $550 K this year, but would be a free agent at the end of the season. Still, I see no plausible reason why the Raiders wouldn't let Richardson just get healthy and come back next year at 100 percent and give him another try with a 75-man roster throughout most of training camp.
Continuing the moves that made my brain feel all scrambled inside, the Raiders decided to keep Sam Williams around for another year. I'm not sure there is another team in the league that puts so much value into their special teams unit, but here's the real kicker for me, the coverage units, which are supposed to be where Williams excels, have just plain flat-out sucked this preseason. I know Williams made some big hits, well a couple and none like the Mike Mitchell hit on Justin Forsett, but this was supposed to be one of those guys who was so "tough to cut" in my opinion. His shoes can definitely be filled.
Even if the Raiders plan to use Trevor Scott exclusively as a back-up to Lamarr Houston and Matt Shaughnessy, Williams presence on the roster gives the Raiders seven linebackers (not including John Condo) to play three positions: Thomas Howard, Ricky Brown, Travis Goethel, Rolando McClain, Williams, Quentin Groves, and Kamerion Wimbley.
Most definitely, from that group, Brown and Williams could've both taken the next train out of town and the Raiders would be just as well off without them. Brown is a tough competitor but his small 235 pound frame was not cut out for playing linebacker in the NFL and he definitely does not fit the mold of the "trying to get bigger" atmosphere around Raiders camp this year.
Nonetheless, it is a solid unit that the Raiders have this year, but I'm going to say this very politely, Al Davis better get back up on his horsey and ride back off to wherever it is that he goes when he is just letting the coach do their job. I don't like this new "secrecy movement" that Tom Cable has had with the press lately and I got a feeling the Davis' are the cohorts behind some of this roster mischief as well.
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Jay Richardson
was reclaimed by the Raiders then promptly placed on the injured reserve and obviously out for the season. Media reports say the Raiders will probably reach an injury settlement with Richardson then release him outright.
Your team is your child...You love it no matter what.
Just found that out and updated the post, thanks
I am here to inspire and light fires~~~Where there is smoke in the ears, there is me on the mind~~~
by B.A.Armstrong on Sep 6, 2010 6:48 AM PDT up reply actions
The truth about Richardson is that
he is not a really good prospect. Houston, Shaunessey, Scott are better options. In this league, guys have a shelf life of about 4 years unless they are really, really good, and Richardson is not really, really good.
Let’s not put Stevie Brown in the HOF quite yet, I remember a few years ago, a DB out of Cincy looked really good in exhibition games, and now is out of the league.
As for the Huff, Mitchell rumors floating around, I will believe them when something tangible happens, until then I mark it up to drunken sportscasters, or reporters wanting to float a story and a story is always better when the Raiders are attached to it.
while I respect your opinion
I disagree. I think Richardson would’ve pushed both of the starters for their gigs with the Silver and Black. Richardson came on strong last year and was looking forward to breaking out this year. I don’t think he is a four-year bubble player as you infer, I think he is a solid second stringer with great upside.
I am here to inspire and light fires~~~Where there is smoke in the ears, there is me on the mind~~~
by B.A.Armstrong on Sep 6, 2010 10:20 AM PDT up reply actions
and also
I never said Stevie Brown was great, I called him so-so. I just think that his “so-so” is better than Hiram Eugene’s “so-so” and they made a bad choice
I am here to inspire and light fires~~~Where there is smoke in the ears, there is me on the mind~~~
by B.A.Armstrong on Sep 6, 2010 10:21 AM PDT up reply actions
On that I can agree. I am not a Hiram Eugene fan
IT is also true that Richardson looked pretty good in a few games last year, but after 3 or so years he would have emerged if he was really talented. He was pretty limited to DE, whereas Huston can play tackle and Scott can play LB, only so many positions available on the roster.
Just bad info
This whole story is about Hiram and Stevie. It all boiled down to special teams play. Hiram the veteran or Stevie the rookie. Didn’t Stevie Brown miss his gap on the Louis Rankin punt return? That will get you the boot by the boss. Besides he was a 7TH round pick and he cleared waivers. I guess no other team sees his ability’s…….. I would like to see Mitchel develop into what we think he is. A hard hitting safety. It took Stanford Routt 3 years to get off the special teams and become a starter opposite of the great one Namdi…..
by AL Stinky Hitler Davis on Sep 7, 2010 4:58 PM PDT up reply actions
I agree with your remark about the "secrecy movement"
I saw Cable on that Raider Celebration and thought he was the most authentic I’d ever seen him. Foolishly, I believed the authenticity was there to stay. Watch his body language during the latest pressconferences – he’s back to fidgeting and his eyes scurry…
ya
It’s as if someone had a sit down chat with him. Somebody whose name is not supposed to leave the mouths of sports writers in a negative way or else you get phone calls from a certain organization, or worse banned from facilities!
I am here to inspire and light fires~~~Where there is smoke in the ears, there is me on the mind~~~
by B.A.Armstrong on Sep 6, 2010 10:22 AM PDT up reply actions
You're right B.A.
After being so progressive this off season this was one of those deals that had me shaking my head too. The Stevie Brown release sends a bad message to the rest of the team in that here’s a guy that busts his ass, does everything right , is always around the ball , makes big plays and that’s just not good enough. Guys like this always come back to haunt a Team , hope it doesn’t happen here. Mike Mitchell rumors? let’s hope they are just that-rumors. 3 weeks ago Cable and company were putting him in as a linebacker in certain situations to get him on the field more, what changed in 3 weeks time? As for the Cable guy, remember last year how he defended Ja3andout week after week and you could just tell it was someone else talking through him? Can you say Deja Vu?
You don't think the other 22 or so guys weren't busting their butts also?
Norris was cut, he blocked a punt, recovered a fumble for a TD,, and made some great special teams tackles. Tonga scored on a 35 yd. TD and was cut. It is the reality of a 45 man roster, some guys get cut even though they have looked good in the exhibition games. I doubt that it sends any message to the locker room, they are just glad they made the cut. These guys are competing against each other, and I guarantee you none of the veterans are losing any sleep over a rookie getting cut.
Brown, Tonga & Norris
should have been kept and Eugene, Pears & Rickey Brown should have been cut and I’ll throw in Sam Williams too, just for the good of the team.
We need new blood not the same old tired blood from (bad)years past.
With the exception of Sam, I agree with you. That Pears made it indicates how degraded we are at OT - I'm not a
detractor from Langston – he’d make a good Guard but is called to play RT which he manages near mediocrity – but if Gallery and any other starter is hurt at once we are done for.
S-O-B: ITS HOW I ROLL, DEAL WITH IT.
by Sons-of-Blanda on Sep 7, 2010 7:34 PM PDT up reply actions
there are about 50 erik pearses at any given time working out and waiting for a call from an nfl gm
we did not need to keep this one on the roster right now – it just makes no sense
I realize i’m likely preaching to the choir here
can anyone explain what happened to khalif barnes? he was brought here as an allegedly solid starter and has apparently been garbage… maybe I missed something…. wtf?
maybe its the tobacco i’m smoking but does anybody else remember hearing this on the stadium loudspeaker “pass in the corner of the end zone intended for #78 chad slaughter – incomplete”
those were the days
by lchristmas on Sep 7, 2010 9:35 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Barnes is a better player than Pears
S-O-B: ITS HOW I ROLL, DEAL WITH IT.
by Sons-of-Blanda on Sep 7, 2010 10:23 PM PDT up reply actions
With 3 DEs, LBs Wimbley and Groves are gonna be moving in and out at DE. So, maybe they needed Mitchell or Stevie
to fill in at LB when one of the OLB starters moves to DE. Stevie played both LB and S at Michigan and, like Asom1 (210), packs tremendous power for his size (215). Maybe Mitchell wasn’t good enough in the LB fill-in role.
S-O-B: ITS HOW I ROLL, DEAL WITH IT.
Will we ever know?
I doubt it. Yes, I know everybody else was busting their collective asses too,and i’m not a
Stevie Brown or Mike Mitchell apologist by any means. The point about big plays was that while others made them too this guy was consistent in making them in multiple games whenever he was on the field. I’m a sucker for guys like Mitchell and Brown in that they remind me of the guys we had in the 70’s-same fire and drive. Fargas was like that too.
See ball - get ball; Stevie has that basic program along with the athleticism
S-O-B: ITS HOW I ROLL, DEAL WITH IT.
by Sons-of-Blanda on Sep 6, 2010 11:44 AM PDT up reply actions
Amen.
In today’s world it’s all about the almighty dollar,and sometimes the drive and play suffer because of it , although we all have to eat. Seeing a little “old school” attitude once and a while is refreshing, like a guy who scores a TD and just flips the ball to the Ref instead of doing a dance. Ahhhh, isn’t it your multi-million dollar job to score TD’s moron? R.F.F.R.
i think they definitely should have kept Stevie Brown isntead of Hiram Eugene. I would be just fine with keeping Richardson and dumping Ricky Brown. McClain clearly has the MLB job nailed down, and Travis Goethel has been impressive enough to take over as backup MLB, leaving Ricky Brown out of the picture. There’s no use having 3 ILB’s unless you are running a 3-4, which the Raiders aren’t. We have an excess of OLB’s, so its not like Ricky would have a future there.
Keeping Jay Richardson and Stevie Brown over average veterans Ricky Brown and Hiram Eugene would definitely have been a positive step. Luckily, Stevie Brown is on the practice squad, and hopefully will be called up at some point
by raiderrocker18 on Sep 6, 2010 1:17 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
+1
That’s exactly what I’m trying to say, in a nutshell
I am here to inspire and light fires~~~Where there is smoke in the ears, there is me on the mind~~~
by B.A.Armstrong on Sep 6, 2010 1:47 PM PDT up reply actions
Perhaps they are just going to groom him for next year in the hope he takes over for Huff. then.
I agree I liked him better in Preseason than Eugene, but Eugene is a veteran with starting experience. He is a more trust worthy back up and special teams player right now than Brown.
Lets just hope no one poaches him from our practice squad.
Cable Bumaye! Raiders Bumaye!
The practice squad grows.
RAIDERS
The Raiders have added TE Kevin Brock to their practice squad
2 minutes ago via ÜberTwitter
"You're all like big fat failure turtles." - Edge
by Rated-R Superstar on Sep 6, 2010 3:25 PM PDT reply actions
It's all politics
I don’t know the value of keeping Eugene over Stevie Brown. It couldn’t have been between Mitchell and Brown. That’s what does not make sense was how the controversy was presented in the media. Mitchell seems to be a one trick pony with his big hits but is poor at positional play. He can’t play Free Safety which is the only place to put him since Branch owns the strong safety spot.
somebody pop the opponent's rb consistenty please
c’mon people.
Think we're putting too much stock
in the pre-season. Bennett’s looked damn good in the pre-season, but nobody has any notions of him starting at running back week 1.
I like Stevie Brown..........
and I am not saying he is going to be the best safety ever but he seemed to make some huge plays in the pre-season . I would like to see him get a chance . Bennet may be our go to in the running game at some point , I am not convinced that Mcfadden will stay healthy and I also am worried about my man Bush .
Bongsmoke
Maybe we should look on the bright side
At least we are talking about a controversy regarding the 53rd roster spot and not a whole lotta other b.s. that we’ve had to deal with in recent seasons from malcontents or lackey assistants.
Winners always have high expectations...losers whine about schedules (or blame Dorrell).
+1
SUCH an excellent point. Nice macrocosmic perspective, SJB.
Take a deep breath all and rejoice again that we don’t have to sit there anymore in our lazy boys, beers warming and tasting shitty, watching in horror yet again as JaFatass takes the field . . . and we can smell the scent of doom emanating from the turf like the rank odor from an ancient hooker.
We have our problems, but at least we now have 3-4 decent QB’s who are just SO exponentially better than that poor slob it’s ridiculous.
Either Michael Huff or Chris Johnson should have been cut in order for Brown to be on the roster. They had awful preseasons. My vote would be Michael Huff. He has had one decent season which was last year since he has been on the team but that was only a few games at the start and then he faded. That run play against Forte when he got planted in the ground and he ran pass him was embarassing and instead of wrapping up a run by Gore in the 49ers game he tried to make a big hit and he bounced off him for that big run. He always seems to be late in breaking up pass plays too. Chris Johnson was hurt and only played the last preseason game and got torched consistently but I will chalk that up to not practicing.
by Archangel25 on Sep 9, 2010 12:22 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
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