Are the Raiders Still
       Weak at Strong?

"Oakland has two fine linebackers at weak and in the middle, but haven't found their sure fire starter on the strong side.
That may change this year."

•  

   

                                                     

  Photo Paul Sakuma / AP

                                                                                 WR Darrius Heyward Bey

    

  Can it be that 7th overall pick Darrius Heyward Bey is officially a Raider? Thats the rumor, but qualifying it may be harder than Chinese math considering the Raiders penchant for secrecy regarding, well, just about all things Raider.

  Bey's apparent absence as the Raiders checked in to the Napa Marriott was duly noted by media vets, but he has had a nagging hammy injury and may be getting looked at still or fufilling other obligations.

  Calls to Bey's agent Tom Condon's office went unreturned, but sources say the deal could aready be done.

  Bey has till 9 am before he's officially late for camp but if he's not there look for him to be present for 2 a days starting Thursday. IF he's signed.

  Till then its all speculation.

  Just the way Al likes it.

  Its believed Bey's contract will be worth around $21 million guaranteed and around 6 years in length.

  Apparently Oakland has the other 09' draftees it wants to keep already locked up and if Bey’s deal is to be believed the Raiders are ahead of the curve as only 4 other teams have their number 1 draft picks on contract. Its not unusual for Oakland to lock down its chosen as they seem to settle their players business quickly and quietly with the notable exception of 1^st over all draft pick QB Jamarcus Russell in 2007.

  Interestingly, stories are circulating about 10^th overall pick Michael Crabtree the Texas pass catcher considered "the best wide receiver in the draft". Many lamented or laughed at the Raiders for not taking Crabtree despite rumors he has a major diva attitude problem.

  Those rumors may have validity because it would seem despite a broken foot, no combine numbers and no work outs, Crabtree apparently wants money usually assigned to only the top three highest draft picks.

  Al Davis has made it clear he is not above paying top dollar for talent he feels can help the Raiders win, but its doubtful even he would agree to that sizable fee.

   

                             

                      

  Most Raiders sign with Oakland amid little fan fare and hoopla accustomed by some teams, in fact, Oakland rarely announces any business at all.

  Though transactions have apparently happened, they’re rarely posted on the Raiders official site or anywhere else for that matter.

  IF Bey has signed expect to see him in camp with all haste since he has a lot to learn and would benefit greatly from practice with Russell to begin to build some kind of chemistry.

  Bey also needs work polishing a lot of aspects of his route tree, the crispness of his routes, his hands, his blocking and just about every part of what makes being a receiver a receiver.

  He’s not as far back as it may sound. Maryland ran a pro style offense and even with a sub par QB and an inexperienced offensive line, they beat some good teams and ended with an 8-5 record thanks in large part to Bey, who despite being constantly double teamed made critical catches and had several nice runs.

  Watching some of Bey’s highlights reminds one of plays similar to the Raiders offense once Cable took over. Screens and reverses by Bey could turn into big time plays.

  He may be limited at least the first half of the season and could be brought along slowly by Uncle Al, but if Bey can play and produce it will be a new day for Raider football as teams will have to account for a dangerous air attack as well as a top ten rushing team.

  Now if they can only get the ball into the end zone.

  With Bey on board, that could be not only possible, but inevitable. If the rumors from Alameda are true, Bey will be ready for daily doubles on Thursday.

   

   

   

   

   

•     Huff & Routt Need a 
               Break Out
  
  "Former 2nd round pick, corner back Stanford Routt was castigated last year for his under performance and safety Michael Huff has remained a ghost on Raider game days despite his lofty 1st round draft status.
  Assuming both men make the cut, 2009 will determine not only whether or not they can turn their careers around, but whether or not their future beyond 09' will have anything to do with the silver and black."
  
  
  

   

                                     

           
  

                                                                                DB Stanford Routt

   

  Last year RNS predicted it could be a make or break year for CB Stanford Routt.

  That was assuming of course DeAngelo Hall and Nnamdi Asomugha were the second coming of Mike Haynes and Lester Hayes.

  One of them was, the other was gone at mid season.

  At the start fo the year, it was felt pressure would be added to 6-1, 185 lb nickel back Stan Routt since teams might line up more receivers and throw against him with Oaklands top cover men on the edges.

  No one saw Hall’s complete inability to play in Oakland. Nor did we see coming Routt’s sub par performance.

  In fact, the job that was rightfully his when Hall left went to 29 year old Chris Johnson.

  We all know what happened there.

  Routt played 3^rd fiddle again and finished the year with only 16 tackles.

  RNS wrote an article about Chris Johnson last pre season touting him as one to watch and mentioning his 08' off season trip to Deion Sanders DB clinic "PRIME U".

  It apparently paid off.

  Actually spoke with Routt several times last year in the pre season and up until about mid season when he stopped blogging as much . Hopefully he started concentrating more on football.

  He may have, but not before being called to task by interim head coach Tom Cable among others.

  Routt was castigated for his lack of effort on special teams and attitude.

  Whether thats improved remains to be seen.

  As far as we know, Routt did NOT attend Mr. Sanders clinique this year, but seriously should have.

  Spoke with him last year about Johnson's trip to Deion town and Routt seemed like he'd never even heard of his team mate let alone gleaned any useful tips.

  It will be interesting to find what 09' has in store for Oaklands secondary, especially for Routt who, as predicted last year, will again be in the spot light when teams try to figure out how to throw the ball against the Raiders corner men.

  If the 5 yr vet doesn’t choose to play up to his potential the former 2^nd round pick and Houston track star may find himself unemployed in 2010, but, if he lives up to his vast potential, we could see one of the finer secondaries in football even when Aso or Johnson are off the field.

  09' is the time for Routt and another member of the Raider secondary to shine or get off the pot.

  Former 7^th overall selection safety Michael Huff will need to have a break out year in 09' if he is to remain a part of the silver and black beyond this season.

  It won’t just be the young, inexperienced players like safety Tyvon Branch and Michael Mitchell who’ll be on the hot seat come opening day, some of its veterans in the secondary will be under scrutiny too.

   

   

   

      Michael Mitchell  

•                      Missile
  
  "Could it be the Raiders finally have a speedy, hard hitting safety to strike fear in the hearts of opponents and solidify its unique approach to defense? Raider fans certainly hope so..."
  
  

•                     

                                                                                                  #34 Michael Mitchell

   

  After the smoke cleared from Al Davis’s day one draft day, agog broadcasters like NFL Networks Mike Mayock and ESPN’s Mel Kiper gathered themselves and later apologized for panning Mitchell’s selection with the 47^th pick in the 2^nd round.

  It was unusual, but considering it was Al Davis, thats pretty much the norm.

  The 6-0 220 lb Mitchell was an unknown to most, but after he posted a 4.43 40 time at his pro day, benched 225 lbs 22 times and demonstrated a 37 ½ inch vertical, he made Davis’s radar and a few others like the Chicago Bears.

  With little known about the Ohio University player back in late April, few realized that not only is he fast and strong, he’s a brutal, punishing hitter, something the Raiders have lacked lo’ all these years.

  Mitchell has excellent size to speed ratio and a knack for lighting up wide outs who stray across the middle and for blasting running backs in the flat.

  He uses his incredible speed to fly into opponents backfields on blitzes and level ball carriers when attacking the line or in the box.

  Paired with super fast 2^nd year man and 2008 4th round pick, Tyvon Branch, Oaklands safety blitzes could be deadly.

  Sending them both would be akin to watching two sidewinder missiles launching from an F-15.

  Mitchell may be a guided missile, but he’ll need to make better reads in the NFL and may have some trouble with the adjustment. His tendency to look for the kill shot can cause him to miss when on an island as well.

  He’s also relied on his exceptional athleticism against lesser competition. He’ll need to learn disciplined play to stay healthy and not get burned, but all in all, Mitchell could be the intimidating monster Oaklands built backward / secondary first defense requires.

  With experience at strong and free, it will likely be which ever young Raider Safety is better in deep coverage that plays strong.

  Branch would seem to be the edge. Mitchell’s aggression and inexeperience can cause him to bite on fakes and double moves.

  Considering the defense will likely stay very similar to when Rob Ryan ran it ("Just with more discipline.") the Raiders may continue to have no designation as such, but it would stand to reason the former Bobcat would play in the free safety spot at least to start.

  Have to watch him the Raiders camp begins in earnest. He missed out on 3 weeks of work outs due to a college technicality and came up with a "sore leg" at the May 8-10th mini camp.

  He also was unable to complete his March 12th pro day drills when he tweak a hammy.

  No word on whether its the same leg or even the same problem.

  Theres a lot of time left before the season, but it would be nice to know his leg is all right and he’s ready to light things up.

   

  Video highlights of Mitchell from Plan B.

   

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0e4yTwmHyc&feature=related