What I will do is talk to you all about what the Raiders need to do going into the next year to improve this team at the positions I feel we are the weakest at.
Here are the current Raider Free Agents:
KEY
UFA: Unrestricted free agent; a player who has completed four or more accrued seasons and whose contract has expired.
RFA: Restricted free agent; a player who has completed three accrued seasons and whose contract has expired.
OFFENSE
- Jason Campbell QB – UFA
- Khalif Barnes T – UFA
- Kyle Boller QB – UFA
- Michael Bush RB – UFA
- Rock Cartwright RB – UFA
- Stephon Heyer OL – UFA
- T.J. Houshmanzadeh WR – UFA
- Marcel Reece FB — UFA
- Samson Satele C – UFA
- Chaz Schilens WR – UFA
- Darryl Blackstock LB – UFA
- Desmond Bryant DL – RFA
- Tyvon Branch SS – UFA
- Matt Giordano – UFA
- Quentin Groves LB – UFA
- Jarvis Moss DE – UFA
- Trevor Scott DE – UFA
- Lito Sheppard – UFA
- Jon Condo LS – UFA
- Bryan McCann – UFA
In previous blogs, here and here, I posted my comments on certain players and who balled out and who simply busted out. Well, because of the fact that the Raiders have a large amount of free agents and limited draft picks, I thought I would fill in the gaps on our glaring needs from the waiver/free agency wire.
Carl Nicks - Guard - Cooper Carslie is getting old and needs to be replaced. This guy is going to be a hot commodity this offseason. Hopefully courted by us.
Cortland Finnegan - CB - Standford Routt is not a top flight CB, but with the youth at that position, I would say we need to get rid of his 54 million contract and spend it on a guy who is tough and only commits penalties when he is punching someone in the face.
Calais Campbell - DE - Going to the 3-4...... we need some speed on the outside. Hybrid DE that can rush the end well. Has 21 career sacks at the age of 25.
Dwayne Bowe - WR - Chaz "Glass Chin" Schillins, and Louis "Cancer" Murphy are way beyond their time. We need those roster spots for people who actually want to play.
Brodrick Bunkley - DT - Going 3-4? Want a familiar face? Bring in one of your tools Allen.... No better place to start then your former team.
Reggie Wayne - WR - Wow, talk about a retread that could be had at a discount. I would love for this guy to provide a presence on this team that would help DHB and Jacoby Ford become a better squad. Paired with Dwayne Bowe, this may be too lethal of a team to have even your best day as a defensive backfield and not expect Carson Palmer to light it up.
Jon Condo - LS - Just sign him. He is a Raider for life.
Matt Giordiano - FS - Played well enough to earn and keep a starting job. He can only get better.
Tyvonn Branch - SS - Hard hitter, good blitzer and proven team member. Resign for sure.
Marcel Reece - FB - Need I say anymore? Just the name is synonymous with success. Pay him!
Michael Bush - RB - A quality backup to Darren McFadden who is often hurt. If we do not keep McFadden and trade him and make a run at Arian Foster (Who is a life long Raider Fan by the way) in my opinion, we don't skip a beat in the backfield.
Rock Cartwright - RB - Perennial special teams player who is always around the ball and does what he needs to to finish his career with the Raiders. He is a fan favorite and one of the old goats that the team looks to for leadership!
It is yet to be seen as to whether or not Jason Campbell will stick it out with the team. Just him being in the locker room last year polarized the WR group into who their loyalty was finishing out the season. I think if he is going to stay, then Carson has to go, but if not, he can not be in the Raiders locker room next to Palmer and cause a huge separation through the rest of the offense. Guys pick their guy. Carson was Hue's guy and came in and played great ball for the limited time he was exposed to the offense. Our productivity increased and our average yards per game in the air increased. Like I said though, Jason Campbell was the QB who began the success and guys don't forget that. I would be surprised if he stayed with the team and didn't bicker about not being named the starter.
Speaking of the QB position, can we just release Kyle Boller now please? I heard TO was looking for a new QB. We should look for someone to play and compete with Terrell Pryor for the 2nd spot.
Anyhow, that's what I think we should do to get this team better. Some you may agree with, some you may not, but I would love to hear why...... Speak now, or forever hold your peace.
 |
| Chaotic View |
This article is pretty straight forward. Most conclusions are legit. However, Jason Campbell is gone. Forget about him...too many crappy QB's for him to not get a shot somewhere as a starter. Also, Giordano should NOT be our starting safety. He managed to come up with some picks, but have you seen him try to stop runners? He must've got burnt 20 times this season trying to make open field tackles. Keep him on the roster bc he's cheap, not because he is good enough to start. Priorities for me are Bush, Reece and Branch. I also wouldn't rush into signing a DE, remember, Matt Shaunessey will be ready to go for training camp.
ReplyDeleteFrom our Team I want in this order: Branch, Reece, and Bush. Just remember Bush is a good compliment back but is not a full workload type back. He had 2 games at 100+yards and 2 at 90+yards. He isn't a very good blocker for his size. Someone is gonna overpay him and I hope it isn't us. Maybe he'll give us a discount because we were the only team to take a chance on him but I doubt it.
ReplyDeleteHey! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any problems with hackers?
ReplyDeleteMy last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up
losing several weeks of hard work due to no data backup.
Do you have any solutions to prevent hackers?
Also visit my web blog; natural cellulite treatment