Three things the Raiders can do now to improve and build a winner....

by Rodney Sacramento on Sep 9, 2011 5:54 AM PDT

1. Sign Leonard Davis, OL to play guard, 2. Resign Langston Walker, to play Guard as well, move Bruce Campbell to Right Tackle now, and 3. Bench Tyvon Branch for Mike Mitchell asap...Here is my reasoning, Davis and Walker are big bodies and we need to protect our QB and unlease our potent running attack...These two guys will help us do just that, I have never been a big Walker fan at Tackle, however, at Guard I believe he could thrive and he has played there for us before. Khalif Barnes has been nothing but a disappointment this preseason in my opinion, and we all knew Bruce Campbell was a beast athletically when we drafted him. I think its time to put him at right tackle and let him work, he played tackle in college and has the physical attributes to play in the NFL at that position. Considering Barnes performances we don't have anything to lose. These changes will unlease our beast of a running game at the highest level!!! We should have multiple thousand yard plus rushers on this team.

It is time to see the writing on the wall, Tyvon Branch can't cover, he doesn't hit and has NO respect by opposing offenses playing Safety, period!!! Mike Mitchell was a Linebacker in college, he loves to Hit and will lay the wood, and he also covers better than Branch...I can care less about certain stats on Tyvon Branch, he showed no aptitude to cover this preseason just like last season and he just doesn't lay the wood.. Mitchell on the other hand does and even if he gets beat a time or two at least he has one of the two attributes needed to play safety effectively, he will knock you out of your cleats running across the middle and covers far better than Branch...lol

A couple of other notes.. DHB will bench himself this year and probably early, we now have far too much talent for our worst WR to start now. I would love to see Wiz at Center with players like Davis and Walker on each side and Veldeer and Campbell on the outside, now that is Beef up front...

Poll

Should the Raiders Sign Davis & Walker, bench K. Barnes for B. Campbell, & T. Branch for M. MIthchell?

Yes, do just that...

29 votes

Yes, Sign Davis & Walker, but keep Barnes and Branch as starters...

23 votes

No, keep things exactly the way they are.

12 votes

No to signing L. Davis & L. Walker and Yes, to starting B. Campbell and M. Mitchell...

14 votes

78 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I was expecting to hear yesterday that Langston Walker is a Raider again. Barnes gets no drive off the ball and cannot

help our running game whatsoever. We’ll see how much his pass protection has improved Monday night but I have a sense of dread about Khalif. Woodson is making strides with Branch, the last game Tyvon was reading the QBs eyes like a real Safety and swooped in beautifully – he’s not the liability that either Barnes or Groves are for us. When will Mitchell be ready to play? What’s wrong with him?

S-O-B: ITS HOW I ROLL, DEAL WITH IT.
"I made a trade for Seymour. ..I thought it was a great trade. Still do. [Al Davis 1/2011]
"I love to win, even against my daughters, I want to win" Hue "Action" Jackson 8/19/11

by Sons-of-Blanda on Sep 9, 2011 6:23 AM PDT reply actions

Sons Mike hurt is leg in the opener against Arizona...He probably won't play Monday...

He is a far better safety that Branch…I played Cornerback and I watch the games over and over sometimes I record them. And Branch needs to sit for Mike and Branch can come off the bench…

by Rodney Sacramento on Sep 9, 2011 7:59 AM PDT up reply actions

I trust Hue

he knows how to run an offense. On the defensive side of the ball, I say leave Branch. I think he is going to play with a chip on his shoulder and really blossom for us this year.

"Bad is Back, thanks be to the Antichrist" - George Atkinson

by Ghost Raider on Sep 9, 2011 6:33 AM PDT reply actions

I trust Hue as well but Branch needs to sit and come off the bench...Mitchell is the better player..

by Rodney Sacramento on Sep 9, 2011 8:00 AM PDT reply actions

I think Al is waiting for the end of Week 1 to make some moves

This way, the salaries are not guaranteed and they will not affect our ability to pull in some compensatory picks. I have a feeling they will be making some major moves in the coming week…that’s just my gut feeling.

You know what would make a good story? Something about a clown who makes people happy, but inside he's real sad. Also, he has severe diarrhea.

by Buster Bluth on Sep 9, 2011 8:05 AM PDT reply actions

Sounds logical ...

and I’m very hopeful that you’re right on the matter. Need glaring help at a couple of positions and I just can’t see it going unaddressed.

by VJH5404 on Sep 10, 2011 10:25 AM PDT up reply actions

Agreed @ Buster...very good point..

by Rodney Sacramento on Sep 9, 2011 8:40 AM PDT reply actions

" Tyvon Branch can’t cover"
All this talk about mike mitchell, really? he cant cover like branch you serious? all he can do is tackle? branch has more ints then mike, and had the most tackles on the team last year. Im glad teams dont give him respect, that means a more better chance of interceptions. Mike mitchell is a great hitter but as an overall player hes not at his full potential. I’d rather have branch out there honestly, the guy is very underated.

RAIDERS NATION
"There only can be one nation, The Raider Nation"

by AlwaysWinBaby on Sep 9, 2011 8:57 AM PDT reply actions

Good assessments

on offense but why not bring in more and better safetys and linebackers; hopefully the “after-week-one” theory is correct for the way we have been absent in shoring-up our obvious deficiencies. (From what was on display in the opening game should put us on notice)! Also, (minus possessing a coaching certificate) if we continue or insist on the Neanderthalesque defensive scheme our team is known for, we are doomed from that very point! The recent novel idea of a 3-5-3 defense (with Big Dick on the end) seems like terror for opposing teams. Statistics may borne out, Seymore reeks more havoc when he is on the end. We have a plethora of young and mature linemen who can adequately man the interior and allow him to do what he does best, pimp slap offensive linemen and gobble up qb’s. Go Raiders!!!!

by Realtooreal on Sep 9, 2011 10:53 AM PDT reply actions

@ AlwaysWinBaby...Yes, Branch was the leading tackler, and over the last two seasons actually, however

The statistical service STATS, LLC has opponents completing 31 of 46 passes for 428 yards and eight touchdowns against Branch in 2010. Also Football Outsiders, had Branch ranked 70th among NFL safeties in one pass defense category and 62nd in another And that is the problem, as a former CB myself and to be fair, strong safety is one of the toughest coverage positions in football, given the proximity to the line of scrimmage, the angles involved and the traffic encountered covering routes, it can be tough. With that said, the lack of improvement is what bothers me…Though his responsibility is primarily to cover RB’s & TE’s, in my opinion play would be better with Mitchell. I agree that Branch is a solid tackler and so his Mitchell, however, Mitchell hits hard as well and in game situations has proven to play better in pass coverage. And Branch is NOT underated, he is what he is, a good tackler and an average Defensive Back… At the end of the day, I want what you do…For the Raiders to dominate and Win…Go Raiders!!!

by Rodney Sacramento on Sep 9, 2011 11:37 AM PDT up reply actions

I actually agree on Defense Realtooreal...we do need more strength....

Our offense is right there and ready now to dominate and really put up points if we can give Jason time… J-Camp doesn’t have a quick release, we all know that and many always complain about that. Well, Ok, but he’s our starter so lets give him the time he needs so he can be effective.. That is why I focused on OL like that because we have everything else…Great running attack, and Wideouts that can play and catch passes…However, adding a linebacker and safety is a great idea…

by Rodney Sacramento on Sep 9, 2011 11:12 AM PDT reply actions

Yes, painfully holding my breath

on J-Camp holding onto the ball too long. He still seems to be almost half-awake in knowing that is a problem. Definitely the offensive line has their job ‘laid out in front’ if he continues that tendency; plus in all reality we need to procure great backup qb’s too because of that same reason.

by Realtooreal on Sep 9, 2011 12:02 PM PDT reply actions

Really?

Campbell was sacked 3 times in four games while completing 70% of his passes. Granted it was preseason, but I saw a much more comfortable QB executing the offense relatively well between the 20’s. The Red Zone was bothersome, but we had no DMC in any game, and Ford was a token player in the final one. When you factor in play calling being vanilla, I doubt our offense has shown any of their true make up through those first four scrimmages.

we never retreat we always ATTACK!!!

by transparent58 on Sep 10, 2011 12:27 AM PDT up reply actions

Transparent58, Campbell is playing better, he is indeed more comfortable now...

However, he still holds the ball, no problem, he just isn’t a quick release QB which means we need to give him time….Adding at big body, Leonard Davis hopefully and Langston Walker or at least one of them and the addition of Barksdale should give Campbell the time he needs to rip defenses apart. What we will both agree on Transparent58 is that we finally we have the combination and depth at Receiver to really score, especially when teams have to respect our running game.. That was my only point there, Campbell doesn’t drop back and just fire the ball, never has.. Watching him at Washington same thing, but he can deliver with time, so we need to just give it to him…The Colts gave it too Peyton Manning, he needed it because it took more time for his receivers to get open after Harrison left….Go Raiders!!!!

by Rodney Sacramento on Sep 10, 2011 4:57 AM PDT up reply actions

From what I have heard,

Bruce Campbell(RG) and Joe Barksdale(RT) will be starting at some point this season. If that is true, the starting unit would be Veldheer-Wisniewski-Satele-Campbell-Barksdale. I would always be happy with a veteran signing, but it would also be nice to see this group grow together, considering 4 of the 5 are either rookies or 2nd year players.

Oakland Raider Faithful

by Raider_Horror on Sep 9, 2011 1:02 PM PDT reply actions

This is what I hope will happen before the season's end. I think these are the players of the future.

At this time though, we need to be careful because bringing them in immediately can be disastrous. The focus should be to bring them in as they accumulate enough experience until they can start, which I believe can happen before the end of the season if the coaches do it right.

by RaiderPsycho on Sep 9, 2011 5:22 PM PDT up reply actions

i love Branch as a man

i mean he has blog here that so cool

okay i have cerebral palsy arthris and chronic fatigue as well i have a great life and loveing folks some days are better than other days i got a make-a-wish in 2001 and saw my favorite team the broncos it was the trip of a lifetime i wish everyone couild have gotten to enjoy that with me i know some of u hate the broncos and that okay but i bleed organ and bule for my mnr fans but i bleed orange and blue denver will rise again resident broncos fan for every blog resident broncos for stampede bule thanks shvd98z24 real name jeremy woodard nettleton high class of 02 yes i am a raider

by j-man on Sep 9, 2011 7:32 PM PDT reply actions

lol

so’s that mean, as a player, not so much?

"tough times call for perseverance and a tough mind. I have been told that I can't play football before. We all know what happened with that. #neverquit"--Mark Herzlich

""The massive Raider Nation is beyond doubt the sleaziest and rudest and most sinister mob of thugs and wackos ever assembled."--Hunter S. Thompson

by brhynno on Sep 10, 2011 12:49 PM PDT up reply actions

he is a good player

but u have to keep things even as far as pernoal/professal i was in a pe class adavatie pe for peopie in wheelchairs or people that was slower and every day i played 1-on1 on team basetball and 1 game i wouild have 1 teammate 1game and the next game a new one my point is when i was complete i wanted to win and i was good on D

by j-man on Sep 10, 2011 4:22 PM PDT up reply actions

From what I remember from last year, Mitchell is the better run stopper / tackler

but was not as good as Branch in pass coverage, he would get sucked in by play fakes and get burned.

by Oceanside Raider on Sep 9, 2011 9:06 PM PDT reply actions

Both are works in progress

Mitch did very well manning up on TEs. But Branch is the more polished player at this point. None of it really matters until Mitch is healthy, anyway, but I see them going with three safeties for nickle, then having DVD come in with the dime. Huff drops down to Nickle CB. Branch moves to FS, Mitch comes in as the SS. Until then, we’re stuck with either Boyd or Chekwa.

we never retreat we always ATTACK!!!

by transparent58 on Sep 10, 2011 12:31 AM PDT up reply actions

I agree that Tyvon Branch is a great guy, he is more experienced than Mitchell as well,

However, like anything else Mitchell can only perfom based upon the time he has on the field… Of course, it is only my opinion and I again watched him play in College…I also watched Terrelle Pryor at OSU for two years every Saturday… I believe Mitchell will improve to a point in coverage faster than Branch has…He is one of the worst cover Safeties in the NFL, and that is a FACT…So I am not going to sugar coat it because he is a great guy… Look at Strong Safety its tough play in coverage anyway, even a preimminant Strong Safety like Troy Palamalu, had over 400 plus yards receiving gained on him as well, yet he is a game changer in coverage and against the run… I would love to see Tyvon step his game up, I want him to do well, however, I don’t want to keep doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. You just won’t get them…Go Raiders!!!

by Rodney Sacramento on Sep 10, 2011 5:17 AM PDT reply actions