Re: Rebuilding the Fear - Oakland Raiders M13 CCM
Stage #2 - FA Signing
Raiders' Signings:
WR Mike Williams - 4 yrs, $10 M
C Bryan Mattison - 1 yr, $750 K
RG Jamey Richard - 2 yrs, $1.5 M
League Signings:
CB Sean Smith to Colts - 5 yrs, $22.5 M
WR Michael Jenkins to Seahawks - 4 yrs, $10.6 M
QB Jason Campbell to Jaguars - 3 yrs, $9.72 M
Twitter Reactions:
Lavar Arrington was positive, at least for Mike Williams, saying the Williams got a good contract, great city, and a team that wanted him.
Trey Wingo thinks the Jags overpaid to bring Campbell in.
Stages #3 and #4 - FA signing
No signings news...
Raiders draft board uncovers a few more prospects:
CB Shaquille Carillon might have top-end speed and be flexible enough to run both man and zone coverage. Projected Low 3rd round.
RG Andrew Shaw might be a worthy alternative of top offensive line target Cale Welch is selected early. Well-rounded blocker with solid size. Projected Low 2nd round.
Stage: #5 - FA signing
Raiders' Signings:
RT Jordan Black - 1 yr, $1 M
Major League Signings:
CB Antoine Cason to Texans - 4 yrs, $11.48 M
DT Alan Branch to Seahawks - 5 yrs, $22.5 M
K Mark Nugent - 3 yrs, $5.67 M
HB Danny Woodhead to Packers - 4 yrs, $7.20 M
DE Jason Jones to Bucs - 4 yrs, $10.8 M
CB Tracy Porter to Broncos - 4 yrs, $7.6 M
Other News:
QB Carson Palmer and WR Darrius Heyward-Bey were placed on the trade block.
Stage #6 - FA Signings
Raiders' Signings:
LT William Robinson
LG Chris DeGeare
SS Emanuel Cook
Major League Signings:
CB Brent Grimes to Broncos - 5 yrs, $40.8 M
WR Greg Jennings to Colts - 5 yrs, $48.0 M (sheez)
QB Vince Young to Browns - 4 yrs, $18.0 M
QB Donovan McNabb to Texans - 1 yr, $7.4 M
QB Tavaris Jackson to Dolphins - 4 yrs, $19.8 M (LOL)
DT Sedrick Ellis to Bucs - 5 yrs, $22.9 M
QB Matt Schaub to Patriots - 4 yrs, $37.6 M
Stage #7 - Scouting
The Raiders had intended to make this a "linebacker draft", but the quality of linebackers coming out this year might force a change of strategy. There are just a few linebackers that have some combination of speed, tackling, instincts, and coverage that the team is looking for, let alone all of them together.
OLB Cedric Robins of Oklahoma remains on the top of the Raiders' board. He is one of those few that has most of what the team is looking for, according to scouts. Like many of the linebackers, even those that played under zone-heavy defensive schemes, coverage is not a strong point of this class.
OLB Austin Williams (UCLA) might be next man up if Robins is gone. He's pretty much the same. Main difference is that he hits like a ton of bricks, but has less fundamental technique.
MLB Jake Olson (UVA) is another choice, and he's actually not completely lost in coverage.
One thing for sure, the 'quality' of linebackers, at least if the scouts reports are correct, is going to make the team appreciate Rolando McClain all the more.
The corners aren't much better. There's more speed merchants, but, again, coverage and instincts seem to not be there.
"What are they teaching the kids down there? What good is a corner that can't cover?" One scout spoke, "At this rate, it might just be a class full of kick returners."
There is one intelligent Tampa 2 corner, Paris Cooper (Sam Houston). He's a very low projection for some reason, but he gets top marks for his zone awareness and play recognition.
The team did find speed in a very odd location. Defensive end. Quinterrius Fields from Fresno State is a blazing fast defensive lineman. Scouts at the combine made him run three times because they were certain the timing devices were off, but each time he ran the same. Fields is a speed rush - seems to be in the Dwight Freeney mold. He could be the team's first round pick as Seymour is going to move back inside with the team not looking at a 3-man front on defense.
Stage #2 - FA Signing
Raiders' Signings:
WR Mike Williams - 4 yrs, $10 M
C Bryan Mattison - 1 yr, $750 K
RG Jamey Richard - 2 yrs, $1.5 M
League Signings:
CB Sean Smith to Colts - 5 yrs, $22.5 M
WR Michael Jenkins to Seahawks - 4 yrs, $10.6 M
QB Jason Campbell to Jaguars - 3 yrs, $9.72 M
Twitter Reactions:
Lavar Arrington was positive, at least for Mike Williams, saying the Williams got a good contract, great city, and a team that wanted him.
Trey Wingo thinks the Jags overpaid to bring Campbell in.
Stages #3 and #4 - FA signing
No signings news...
Raiders draft board uncovers a few more prospects:
CB Shaquille Carillon might have top-end speed and be flexible enough to run both man and zone coverage. Projected Low 3rd round.
RG Andrew Shaw might be a worthy alternative of top offensive line target Cale Welch is selected early. Well-rounded blocker with solid size. Projected Low 2nd round.
Stage: #5 - FA signing
Raiders' Signings:
RT Jordan Black - 1 yr, $1 M
Major League Signings:
CB Antoine Cason to Texans - 4 yrs, $11.48 M
DT Alan Branch to Seahawks - 5 yrs, $22.5 M
K Mark Nugent - 3 yrs, $5.67 M
HB Danny Woodhead to Packers - 4 yrs, $7.20 M
DE Jason Jones to Bucs - 4 yrs, $10.8 M
CB Tracy Porter to Broncos - 4 yrs, $7.6 M
Other News:
QB Carson Palmer and WR Darrius Heyward-Bey were placed on the trade block.
Stage #6 - FA Signings
Raiders' Signings:
LT William Robinson
LG Chris DeGeare
SS Emanuel Cook
Major League Signings:
CB Brent Grimes to Broncos - 5 yrs, $40.8 M
WR Greg Jennings to Colts - 5 yrs, $48.0 M (sheez)
QB Vince Young to Browns - 4 yrs, $18.0 M
QB Donovan McNabb to Texans - 1 yr, $7.4 M
QB Tavaris Jackson to Dolphins - 4 yrs, $19.8 M (LOL)
DT Sedrick Ellis to Bucs - 5 yrs, $22.9 M
QB Matt Schaub to Patriots - 4 yrs, $37.6 M
Stage #7 - Scouting
The Raiders had intended to make this a "linebacker draft", but the quality of linebackers coming out this year might force a change of strategy. There are just a few linebackers that have some combination of speed, tackling, instincts, and coverage that the team is looking for, let alone all of them together.
OLB Cedric Robins of Oklahoma remains on the top of the Raiders' board. He is one of those few that has most of what the team is looking for, according to scouts. Like many of the linebackers, even those that played under zone-heavy defensive schemes, coverage is not a strong point of this class.
OLB Austin Williams (UCLA) might be next man up if Robins is gone. He's pretty much the same. Main difference is that he hits like a ton of bricks, but has less fundamental technique.
MLB Jake Olson (UVA) is another choice, and he's actually not completely lost in coverage.
One thing for sure, the 'quality' of linebackers, at least if the scouts reports are correct, is going to make the team appreciate Rolando McClain all the more.
The corners aren't much better. There's more speed merchants, but, again, coverage and instincts seem to not be there.
"What are they teaching the kids down there? What good is a corner that can't cover?" One scout spoke, "At this rate, it might just be a class full of kick returners."
There is one intelligent Tampa 2 corner, Paris Cooper (Sam Houston). He's a very low projection for some reason, but he gets top marks for his zone awareness and play recognition.
The team did find speed in a very odd location. Defensive end. Quinterrius Fields from Fresno State is a blazing fast defensive lineman. Scouts at the combine made him run three times because they were certain the timing devices were off, but each time he ran the same. Fields is a speed rush - seems to be in the Dwight Freeney mold. He could be the team's first round pick as Seymour is going to move back inside with the team not looking at a 3-man front on defense.
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