What separates Asomugha from the great Raider CBs?

The 2006 National Championship Florida Gators had a Reggie Nelson at FS. His nickname was “the Eraser” because he did everything you guys have just described. He could make reads and either intercept passes or block balls from targeted receivers. He knew how to bait the QBs to throw his way. He was very impressive at stopping the run. That’s what we need and I think Asomugha would fit great at FS if he chooses to make the change. He could be our “Eraser”.

He is very fast and has really long arms and he’s very smart. He is able to diagnose plays and make good reads. He is also an excellent “textbook” tackler. I think he got where he is today because of his football intelligence and physical skills, primarily speed and technique.

However, he is nowhere near invincible. When game planners go after him, he can be burned. Teams just choose to work around him for whatever reasons (maybe reputation or maybe they just don’t want to chance it). I keep going back to the Patriots loss a few years ago when Matt Cassel went after Nam ALL GAME and carved him up very badly. I have to believe this was Belichick game planning sticking his middle finger at Al.

If you don’t believe me, look up the stats wherever they are. Matt Cassel, standard of mediocrity, showed no fear whatsoever, made Nam look foolish and did not let up even when the game was well decided in the 4th Q.

Shutting out a teams #1 receiver goes a long way towards making a team one dimensional.

Look what we did to the Chiefs. You take Bowe out and now were able to blitz just about everyone.

For teams with two solid WRs taking one out means you can layer your coverage on the other with a safety over the top.

Nmandi doesn’t lack INT’s because he doesn’t bait the QB. He lacks INT’s because QBs don’t even throw to his half of the field, baiting would do nothing for that.

If Al Davis is such a fucking genius for voiding Nmandis contract why the hell couldn’t he at least try to get picks from the best CB in the game?

He didn’t void it. Aso didn’t meet the qualification in the contract to get the optional year. That’s not Al’s fault nor it is Aso’s because he can’t control him being injured.

For example, if baseball had an option for another year based on plate appearances or innings pitched, it’s not voiding the contract if the player doesn’t meet the qualifications to get extended.

It will be a huge loss if we don’t get him back! Yea he might be expensive but take a look at all the other players that Al gave money to and did not live up to their contracts! We should definitely make a push for him!

Sign Bailey, and you will see Nnamdi getting picks left ans right.
Nnam is a great CB. He is the greatest Raider CB simply because dudes aren’t stupid to throw his way.

Nnamdi is great. A HoFmer!!!

Asomugha WILL Be a Hall of Famer. EVERY Corner gets burned; however he hardly does. But, you male a very good point. He is not worth the money we might end up paying him.

The stats you present are very good. You know your stuff, Sons.

not with a cap. 17 mil is enough to pay 2 pro bowl level secondary players or 3 almost pro bowl players in the secondary.

You are only as strong as your weakest link. Especially in pass coverage.

Who the hell cares if Nnam is on his guy like stank on shit if one of the safeties is blowing coverage?

Asomugha.he is the best tackler out of all the Raiders DB’s,he has great skills in dissecting plays.he has been outspoken in his desire to be moved around in the defencive scheme.they should have moved him to FS years ago.he wont get fooled on the play action like Branch and Routt do all the time.as for baiting.some one said that him baiting QB’s wouldn’t do any good because they just dont throw at him.so you think a QB see’s what looks like a wide open WR and doesn’t throw his way cause Nnamdi is supposed to be covering?i dont think so!plus Nnamdi is good enough that he could set up his WR so he could drop coverage thus baiting the QB to throw there only to have the FS step in and make the pick.If the Raiders bring him back they should definitely consider moving him to FS

Nam is a talent, know doubt, but he isn’t worth the $16+ mil.

39 INT’s…..39!!!!!!

very well done piece Sons of Blanda and I very much agree. Would much rather spend that newly freed-up near 17 million on re-signing our key players that are FA (Bush, Gallery, Miller, Seymour) and thus have more money on free agents, than spend it one CB who isn’t making the plays to validate his contract.

Nothing like Tatum and Atkinson. No Skip out there either.

For what he makes, you have to find a way to get him involved.

I could not have put it any better, myself. Very well done, and I’m inclined to agree with you on all your major points.

I cant imagine him taking half as much as what his original contract would have paid him to stay with the same team. If the Raiders are going to keep him it will take double digit millions per year. He might take 8 mil a year to play for New England or GB or NY Jets but i dont think he would take it to play for us. I would love to see him play the rover for us like GB does with Woodson. I think it would be great to move him to safety too and with our defense a move to safety wouldnt completely eliminate his one on one chances while allowing him to make more plays. Id love to see him be able to play the middle of field and take away some of those killer big plays. I agree with SOB, that Jacksonville game ends differently if we have Aso as safety. Id rather not pay him 16 mil a year though, no matter how good he is. He just doesnt make the impact on the field enough to warrant top QB pay day numbers

with the Raiders voiding Nnamdi’s contract we will get a compensatory draft pick in 2012. Mr. Davis is a sly fellow. Here is the link.

is a better CB for the time and day than Nnamdi. He did not have the speed but his bump and run along with intimidation was what made him a complete CB. The league made him a target and made him a target in every game. He would get the most ridiculous calls against him. Nnamdi is great for sure. However he takes too much $ wise to make it worth while to keep him. There are several players that are or will be FAs this year and we could shore up the secondary through a complete group effort. Cut the fat (CJ, McFadden, Scott, Ware, Porter to start) and get some blood in there that makes a difference. If we could get a new FS or SS that can cover then we can ditch some safeties maybe.

Very unimpressed with the john fox hire, mr ed seems to be in over his head there

He does his job like a champ and when you get guys like Manning or Rivers to not even throw near the guy then his job is being done . Nowdays with recievers being way bigger and faster then ever why would you “bait” a qb to throw to them? Especially guys like Calvin Johnson / Andre Johnson types who can use their bodies to sheild smaller db’s out and make you pay for not covering them . I love my old Raiders especially Lester and Willie but the game is different now . If I am a D-coordinator I love the fact that half the field is shut down . The problem is to get the other guys to step up. Look at Brown/Haynes both stepped up and we had top notch safety help you had to throw to someone . Or look at Allen/Woodson with Turner at S. I am just sayin that Nnamdi is the shit man! I hope he decides to come back !
 GO RAIDERS!!!

In the current NFL landscape, it’s damn near impossible to not have one or two holes in your secondary. Not many teams have a great tandem of corners or safeties, much less above average players at all 4 spots. Nnamdi is probably the best shut down corner in the league. There’s not a lot of wiggle room for debate on that. However, his salary is freaking outrageous. If losing one of the best defensive players in the league allows the Raiders to keep Seymour (who in my opinion is more vital to the Raiders D than Nnamdi) and Gallery (who is the only really good O-lineman we have), well, then I wish him the best in his future endeavors.

Come on.

Oh, it’s a knife from Raider fans. But regardless, I think the Raiders will re-sign him at a still high, but not as huge contract. Comparing INT stats with a guy who plays with a crap secondary around him is not a fair comparison. The only time any QB’s threw Nnamdi’s way this year was when his ankle was hurt and he was a step slow. The rest of the time, they picked on the weak links around Nnamdi.

I loved Lester Hayes, but he got beat for WAY more TD’s than Nnamdi ever has. That’s not shown in the stats in the post.

And one of the best players in the entire NFL, we need him more than anyone else

Al gives him this big ass contract, then LATER decides it was too much?? It didn’t occur to him when they were typing it up that it was a lot of money? And since when is Al worried about money?

If Nnamdi leaves, it’ll be the 2nd biggest fuck up in recent history. You can’t replace a guy like him, and if we lose him, it really sets us back. I say we do anything to kep him in Oakland.

Browns defensive coordinator Ryan interviews with Cowboys

Rob Ryan appears ready to land on his feet with the Dallas Cowboys.

The Cowboys met with Ryan on Friday and both sides came away impressed, according to a league source

Oh! Ya! baby!!…You deserve each other!!!…

There is mutual interest and the sides are working towards a deal but nothing will get finalized by Friday night. There is an expectation on both sides, however, that a deal will come together quickly.

If Ryan joins the Cowboys, it would leave Arizona, Carolina, Denver and Cleveland (where Ryan is technically still employed) as the remaining teams still seeking a defensive coordinator.

Now add the Raiders to that list of needing a new “DC” but it ain’t a gonna be “SOB” again…

We are using INTs to judge a CBs value.

Nnamdi gets thrown at a handful of times per year, and rightfully so. The whole point about “baiting” the QB to throw at him doesn’t make any sense, he can’t bait them if they don’t even look his way.

The problem is that because of our defensive scheme it’s easy to pick us apart without ever throwing at Nnamdi. Offenses can work around him. The scheme prevents us from moving Nnamdi around in zones and other coverages — he is always on one guy or one side so QBs just throw everywhere else.

This looks like a classic case of shit-on-good-player-when-he-may-leave-through-free-agency syndrome. It happens all the time, in every sport. Suddenly they’re not as good as they were a month ago.

but that would be a telling stat – that is to say, how many times has a QB looked in Nnamdi’s direction, seen that the receiver was well-covered, and been forced to check down? THAT would be a telling stat, and that would show how great a CB Nnamdi really is.