Ah, hell. I'm too much a Raider fan.
Renew 'em all.
I've watched the changes being made this off-season with more that just some interest. For the most part, Hue Jackson appears to be in charge.
Player changes:
- Keeping Rock Cartwright - good
- Franchise tag on Kamerion Wimbley - sound good
- Resigned Stanford Routt - 3 years, $31 million . . . this is what I'm talking about Al. I'd throw at him all day long. Sheesh. Maybe he'll really impress me this year. He certainly doesn't lack confidence, and he did have a lot of balls to defend . . . whatever. It's not my money - directly. Dump him and do everything to keep Nnamdi. Who would replace his leadership back there?
- Adios Robert Gallery - "The only thing that was mutually agreed upon is his numbers were way out of line with ours," said Raiders senior executive John Herrera. Gallery wanted $8 million per year. Hmm . . . less than Routt. Big thing here will be who they replace him with. I wouldn't say he is at the top of league linemen, but I thought his game has improved the past few years. An upgrade of the line is needed, especially with pass defense.
- Keeping Richard Seymour - Very good. Worth the $30 million? Probably. He is a leader and a force to be reckoned with.
- Keeping John Henderson - Good. That puts the D-line in good shape.
- Contracts offers to Zach Miller and Michael Bush - Very good. They want to be able to match any offer made by another club. Loosing either of these two guys would be a hit for the Raiders.
Coaching changes:
I'm not going to focus on who has left, other than John Marshall, but more on who has joined the Raiders.
- Staying: Hue Jackson - It really looks like he is in charge of the Raiders. I know he had a very positive impact on our offensive play last year, and am very hopeful he will have the same level of commitment from his players that we saw them give Cable. Good.
- Gone: John Marshall - I liked what he did with the defense this year. There were games that we just looked incredible (San Diego, Kansas City, Denver, Seattle), but then there were games where I just couldn't understand what was going on with the defense (Colts, Jaguars, Miami, 49ers). Will the Raiders take the progress and improve, or will we look like the past seven years? Only the play will tell.
- Staying: John Fassel - At times special teams looked outstanding, and at times, horrible. It is hard to understand why you can't get more consistency out of special teams play - other teams get it. Is it the smarts of the players? He has two years as the head guy on special teams. This time better be the charm . . . Disappointed.
- Staying: Greg Biekert - I thought he might be gone, but he was specifically announced as staying, and since the improvement in LB play was visible, and he joined in 2010, I'm thinking this is good.
- Joined: Chuck Bresnahan - He did a good job for us under Jon Gruden, and I'm hopeful he will be a solid replacement for Marshall. Good.
- Staying: Sanjay Lal - I saw some improvements in routes that were run by the young receiver core of the Raiders, but still not where it should be. Disappointed.
- Staying: Brad Roll - As strengthening and conditioning coach, I wonder . . . it seems the Raiders have had a lot of hamstring problems last couple of years . . . I'd look around.
- Staying: Kevin Ross - There were a lot of young guys in the backfield this year, and for the most part they performed rather well. Good.
- Joined: Al Saunders - He's got a pretty darn good resume, and has worked with Hue Jackson in the past - that's a definite positive for the team. Very good.
- Staying: Kelly Skipper - Two young running backs who can start, and both performing really well this year. The past two years he's been the running backs coach. Very good.
- Staying: Mike Waffle - The defensive line has made great stride in both talent and play. Very good.
- Joined: Steve Wisniewski - Can he still play? Just kidding. Honestly, who knows about this. They brought him in as an assistant so that's good. Good players can't always coach, but boy, I'd love to see him succeed! Very good.
- Joined: Rod Woodson - I LOVED this guy on the field. I also have felt his commentary on TV was good - he certainly sees the game. Like Wisniewski, I'd love to see him succeed. He is an assistant. Very good.
- Joined: Bob Wylie - I'm not really that impressed with his recent resume - sharing OL duties with the Broncos, CFL (three years & two teams) assistant with the Cardinals & Bucs. A critical area needing improvement, and I don't feel he is the guy, but maybe he is all we could get . . . Disappointed.
What do you think? Let me know!
Photo Credits:
All photos from the Raiders website
Thanks for all the info. As you know I am a converted Raider fan I bowed to peer pressure. I have loved following them the last few years and this was great info to get. I am glad about Rod Woodson and Steve W. I think that they could make a difference.
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