Comments on: Camp analysis: Offensive line

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Sat, 15 Aug 2009 04:44:25 +0000

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By: BetterFly

BetterFly — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 19:53:54 +0000

Agreed on James Marten; he is a big, agile and smart lineman which the Raiders could very much use. Not that draft pick rank means everything, but he was a top of the third round pick and has the legacy of BC linemen. Perhaps the Raiders will evaluate talent based on performance and potential, not whatever system they are using now.

By: Raidercowgirl

Raidercowgirl — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:28:54 +0000

Just wondering why yall say James Marten came from the Cowboys practice squad? He has never been there practice squad and is way over talented to ever be on anyones practice squad.

By: RaiderJohn

RaiderJohn — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 21:23:18 +0000

Dear Jamarcus Russell,
In a year where all the TV analysts are saying this is your make or break season I disagree. Typically the rule is 3 years before the “bust” tag can be applied and your first year didn’t count because of the hold-out. That contract is done, feed and house your family well and give us fan-family what we deserve; A Super Bowl!! Not this year, no pressure but in time? Yes, I believe in you.
So as a big fan of yours and an active member of the Raider Nation I have to ask you: ARE YOU READY? Are you ready to quiet the critics? Are you ready to handle the media? And most important are you ready to be the LEADER of the Oakland Raiders for the next 15 seasons? In the huddle, in the locker room, off and on the field, down by 7 with 1:32 in the 4th? ARE YOU READY?
Your skill is a gift, a god-given gift that was given to you for the purpose of winning and entertaining. And you ARE a RAIDER, so let’s do this huh? I don’t know yet if they gave you that right tools to be a true passer with DHB. Khalif Barnes etc..but only time will tell. And Garcia? They just put him there to light your fire. That’s all. You are the starter for now, but listen to Jeff because he has been around the block a few times seeing that he is 39 years old and all. But also know this, you are 24 years old right? You have your whole life ahead of you, don’t you want to go to the hall of fame some day? I think it’s possible but you need to apply yourself as a leader NOW! That’s where it starts.
While critics say what they say about you, they rarely mention the positive. Never have a seen you blame your WR’s or your O-line men, or slag off your team mates in the media (think Ryan Leaf), You seem to be accountable on the field. Never mind the big arm, that’s just something you already have. You were born to do this.
This season understand this; our defense against ranks worst against the run, and this will not allow you much time to even be on the field as teams will again know to simply eat up the clock on the Raiders by running the ball over and over. This was not addressed in the off season. The schedule is also VERY difficult. This means that 2-6 by mid-season is very possible. But it won’t be your fault necessarily , the organization is to blame for not putting the right people in place. Garcia will come in, he’ll win a couple games and the analysts will go crazy. Warren Sapp will be beaming with arrogance (even though he praised you a few months ago, what’s wrong with that dude?), and people will say “I told you so” BUT they will be wrong. I know there is greatness in you, I know you are pro-bowl material, and I know you can take US to the Super Bowl.
So go into this season as the leader of the Oakland Raiders, hold your head up high, get the team to play for you and gather around you and respect you as a LEADER!!

-A true fan

By: OFL71

OFL71 — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 19:12:01 +0000

The line on both sides is suspect at best.
Hopefully Lorenzo will help with pass protection.
We need to use less Fargas and more Bush/McFadden.
And the most obvious…it’s time to start drafting along the line,so many high picks the last few years and nothing to show for it on either side of the line.

By: Terrapin

Terrapin — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 14:23:03 +0000

The Oline will obviously be key to JRs development. The Ts are an upgrade (at least at 1st glance, we’ll see on the field). If Mario does indeed turn out to be “Super” – JR will be one step closer to absolute dominance.

Giving any QB in the NFL enough time to dissect plays is paramount to treason – even more so if that QB has the perceived talent/ability that Russell possess.

Give Russell enough time and it’ll be Star Wars all over the field – freakin’ intercontinental missiles being launched all over stadium. With the speed at wideout – the key to it all is the Ts.

By: Scottish Raider

Scottish Raider — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 13:28:18 +0000

Crow, excellent analysis.

We must hope that a few of the following happen:

1) Henderson continues to remain solid in pass-protection but starts to make a contribution to the running game.

2) Barnes fall-off last season was temporary and he rediscovers his excellent rookie form.

3) James Marten starts to show why the Cowboys were so disappointed to lose him.

4) Johnson fits well at RG and adds more muscle and power than Carlisle can offer.

I agree with Jerry about the likely starters. I just think we might end up with a line that looks like:

LT: Barnes
LG: Gallery
C: Satele
RG: Johnson
RT: Marten

By: exlaraiderseasonticketholder

exlaraiderseasonticketholder — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 13:25:28 +0000

Morning All,
From TMZ:
Feds: Francis Paid Off Guards with Raider Tix
Posted Jul 25th 2009 12:40AM by TMZ Staff

Federal agents believe there’s a reason Girls Gone Wild kingpin Joe Francis had such a wonderful time during his 2007 jail stint in Reno — they claim he bought off his jailers with gifts, including tickets to see the Oakland Raiders!

Three former Washoe County jail employees were arrested for allegedly taking all sorts of lavish gifts from the porn king in exchange for jail favors — like unrestricted phone use, the ability to sneak in food and protection from disciplinary action.

According to the feds, Aaron Weinstein, one of Joe’s GGW producers played the role of delivery man — allegedly dropping off a slew of gifts to the jail employees, including a $4500 Cartier watch, a $5000 gift card to Sax Fifth Avenue, $3,200 in cash, a big screen TV, a home entertainment system, airline tickets, and, of course, tickets to see the Oakland Raiders lose.

Weinstein was also arrested and charged with paying off a public official. If convicted, he faces up to 2 years in prison and serious cash fines.

By: Florida Pete

Florida Pete — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 13:24:42 +0000

raider nation is vewwy vewwy quiet…

shhhh…

By: Crow

Crow — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 11:08:52 +0000

Projected starters: LT Mario Henderson, LG Robert Gallery, C Samson Satele, RG Cooper Carlisle, RT Khalif Barnes

————————————————————-

**LT Mario Henderson: He’s been getting wildly overhyped since taking over for Kwame Harris. It’s amazing how good “below average” looks when it takes the place of “god awful.”

Henderson has nonexistent run blocking ability and a highly dubious work ethic. Yes, he held Mario Williams without a sack, but he also got his arse handed to him when we tried to run. If NFL Network shows the replay of Williams blowing by Henderson untouched and making the stop on a run going away from him, I may become incontinent.

Sadly, I expect a major disappointment here. I believe that anyone expecting Henderson to play 16 games like an NFL caliber LT is going to be covering their faces in shame before the bye.

**LG Robert Gallery: In my opinion, the only player on the 2008 O-line who could start and play well anywhere in the league. Apparently, someone thinks Jake “Hurty” Grove falls into that category. I guess we’ll see soon enough.

**C Samson Satele: Miami shipped him off in favor of Jake Grove. That concerns me. Nevertheless, he has the mobility to be effective on the move in this scheme. Question is, can he do any better against Jamal Williams than he did against Kris Jenkins or Vince Wilfork? Our inside running game in week 1 will depend on it. Should be no concern for Darren McFadden fans. He can’t run inside anyway.

**RG Cooper Carlisle: His ‘08 falloff is well documented, yet Al gives him a multiyear contract as if he thought CC can wake up young again in 2009 as easily as he woke up old last season. Here’s to hoping my guy Paul McQuistan can handle zone blocking better than he’s given credit for, or that Marcus Johnson left his propensity for poor play in Minnesota.

**RT Khalif Barnes: This guy was a quality LT for a few years, or at least he looked like one at a glance. But after losing his inside help to injury, his game completely fell off. Still a steady run blocker, his inability to stop (or, on some occasions, slow down) opposing pass rushers is one of the primary reasons some talking heads are pointing at David Garrard as a QB on the hotseat.

Personally, I think Garrard is a very good QB who spent most of 2008 running for dear life.

Now, in hopes of allowing JaMarcus Russell to stand in the pocket unmolested, we bring in a new turnstile. Suffice to say that Garrard won’t miss him. One can only hope that a move to the strong side and a new scheme will help Barnes regain his old form. But, one could rightfully fear that those two very significant changes could just as easily make the 2009 season an even more disastrous event for the formerly steady tackle.

By season’s end, I expect Henderson will be banished to the bench with either Barnes or Pears getting a shot at LT, if not both.

Poor JaMarcus. No wonder he doesn’t put in the effort to be a good QB. He knows he’s going to get beaten to a pulp every Sunday no matter what he does.