C Jake Grove

The fact that center Jake Grove will miss another game isn’t as massive a blow as say, the Colts losing Jeff Saturday, or closer to home San Diego losing Nick Harwick, but it still stings, especially in protect, where fill in center and 11 yr vet John Wade failed several times last week in a 15-17 loss to Miami.

Grove seemed better at protection, but consistently he fails to get second level and impeded the linebackers.

The former VT Hokie has suffered with a knee injury for the last 2 seasons. He had corrective surgery in the off season and said coming in, he felt better than he had in years.

That was good for him and bad for us considering his glaring immobility and lack of burst off the line.

Grove’s play in 08' has been fairly close to that of his fellow line men and that means average to sub par.

He also played with a tell tail gimme that allowed teams to tee off in pass rush. Ducking then raising his head while looking left to right before each snap, Grove telegraphed almost every snap.

Some claim it was to help the often flagged O line in away games where crowd noise can be a factor, but how does a clear gimme to the other team help our guys besides MAYBE keeping us on sides.

If Grove’s head moves are a voluntary even neccessary thing, what does that say about our O lines cohesiveness and quality?

"Here are top level professional line men who can’t execute the simplest of basics."

What ever the reason, if / when Grove gets back on the field, it needs to stop.

The former 2^nd round draft pick has been decent in the rushing game, but only just so and more credit is due the ZBS than the 6-4, 300 lb. Grove.

If last week is any indication, 11 yr vet John Wade needs to be cut loose after the end of the year.

On August 27^th when it was announced Grove had won the job at starting center over Wade many were shocked to hear the news.

Watching Wade in his first 08' start against Miami showed why Grove was sadly, the better option.

   C John Wade

Wade may have just been shaking off the rust after such a lengthy pine ride, but one would think such a wiley old vet would be able to account for blitzes and simple stunts. Several times last week he failed.

Besides missing cuts and blocks Wade consistently failed to move the pile and Miami played on our side of the line most of the day.

In the zone blocking system the center and guards are considered the most important pieces. Unfortunately, Oakland looks like it will need to shop next year not only for tackles, but for a center as well.

Grove can still play, he’s just no longer optimal and effective for the system being run.

Thats assuming of course the system doesn’t change again next year.

                                                                                                        P/KR/DB Justin Miller (#22)

Denver and Miami put in waiver claims for DB Justin Miller who was released by the Jets after they signed veteran Ty Law.

They weren’t the only ones looking to acquire Miller though, and because of their record, the Oakland Raiders were awarded his services.

Miller is most noted for his special teams returning ability and actually was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2006 after averaging over 30 yds a return and scoring 2 TDs.

Miller was the Jets 2^nd round pick (25^th over all) in the 2005 draft and immediately had an impact as a kick return specialist for New York compiling 1,577 yds and a TD his rookie year.

But on September 18^th of 2007 Miller was placed on IR after injuring his knee in a loss against the Ravens.

Earlier in August he struggled with a hamstring injury and missed all of the Jets pre season games.

2 months prior to that Miller was arrested for a misdemeanor assault after an early morning fight at a New York night club.

Miller struggled in coverage for the Jets, but in his short time there, he climbed to 3^rd on New Yorks all time return yardage list with 2,929 yds and 3 TDs.

  3rd all time in Jets return yds

Oakland hopes Miller can give them a spark on special team so that WR Johnnie Lee Higgins can concentrate on receiving for Oaklands MIA passing attack.

Higgins has been hot and cold on returns and more than cold recently.

Safety Tyvon Branch was tried on a few returns but looked shaky and unsure. He ‘s now on IR for the year after a shoulder injury. An injury to his right hand in pre season prohibited his ability in the return department as well. The shoulder injury will see him miss the rest of the year, capping a very disappointing 2008 for the former UConn DB.

The Raiders hope Miller can spark the Raiders special teams who looked good early on, but lost players to injury and because of injury to starters, some of the special teams better players moved up in the rotation and no longer play on return squads.

Miller and the Raiders hope that his dark days are behind him and he can begin competing again at a Pro Bowl level for the Silver and Black.

                                                                                                                          WR Ronald Curry

Even when Oaklands main 3 starters at wide receiver could make the field this year, fans noticed they have consistently been unable to gain separation from defenders.

Some have blamed new wide out coach James Lofton, some point to the departure of legendary Raider receiver turned Coach Fred Biletnikoff, who retired after 10 years at the post and yet others point to the fact Oakland has essentially, a rookie QB at the helm.

All or most of these may have contributed to the demise of the Raiders receiving game, but a closer look at the origin of this group of wide receivers offers a more viable and telling explanation for their lack of ariel attack.

Oaklands wing and prayer wide receiver corps was irretrievably damaged in week 3 of the pre season when Raider wideout Drew Carter blew his knee. Again.

Carter and the entire Oakland air corps was a major question mark coming into the season. Known as a gambler, Davis took a flyer on not one or two of his potential starting wide outs, he gambled on all of them.

Its safe to say the real surprise would’ve been if this long shot gamble had paid off.

Carter had suffered knee and ankle injuries through out his college career and was plagued with the same in Carolina who took him in the 5^th round of the 2004 NFL draft (163^rd overall). Carter immediately blew the ACL in his knee and sat his rookie season.

Unable to stay healthy and reliable, the Panthers cut the 6-3, 200lb wide out, but on March 12^th, Oakland took a chance and signed the free agent.

Carter looked good early, but began to fade as the season approached, then on August 23^rd in a meaningless blow out pre season game against Arizona, Carter was compacted awkwardly by a tackle and tore his left ACL on Oaklands stadiums hard packed baseball in field.

In this one pre season game Oaklands 08' wasn’t quite derailed, but it was a major setback to the Raiders offensive game plan.

In response to Carter’s injury Oakland signed recently jettisoned wide receiver Ashley Lelie. The 6-3, 195 lb former 1^st rounder had fallen on hard times and had been dumped by the 49ers after an unimpressive visit there.

Lelie was a former 1^st round draft pick by the Denver Broncos in 2002, but his production had fallen off and the Broncos were ready to move on.

                                                               WR Ashley Lelie

Lelie was seen as nothing more than an experienced stop gap. He likely might not have made another squad, but Oakland was desperate and gave Lelie a simple one year contract.

He has done nothing to show he’d like to stay in the League next year or merit any kind of contract extension.

Speaking of contracts, one receiver who was expected to contribute was the $55 million dollar man, Javon Walker. His embarrassing and public beating and robbery this off season showed not only poor judgement on his part, but on Oaklands as well.

In "the Davis Letter" sent by the embattled owner to then Coach Lane Kiffin, Davis pinned the acquisition of not only disgraceful DB DeAngelo Hall, but the oft injured Walker squarely on traitor Lane’s shoulders with a stern admonition warning him, "Do not run from that now."

Though some teams seemed genuinely interested in the 6-2, 215 lb Walker’s services before Oakland signed him, most were shocked at the amount the Raiders shelled out to the still promising, but definitely damaged former one time pro bowler.

So far, Walker hasn’t required a 5^th surgery on his knees, but thats likely because he’s never on the field.

A supposed ham string injury has nagged Walker all year, but many question his mental health and whether he can even play football anymore.

Much was made of an attempt to retire in the pre season, but the overture was down played by Walker and the Raiders.

In hind sight, the majority of fans wish his generous offer had been accepted.

WR Ronald Curry won one of the least wanted trophies in sports, the Ed Block courage award. No offense to Ed, but most who receive it have to struggle against great personal odds and usually career threatening injuries to attain the honor.

Curry was a long shot 7^th round draft pick the Raiders converted to wide out. He had the quickness and skills to learn the job, but was brought down with back to back Achilles tears. Despite the injuries, Curry rehabbed, won the Block award and made his way back onto the starting roster.

The 6-2, 210 lb Curry mentioned pre season he’d put on several pounds of muscle with new weight coach Brad Roll and after foot surgery for bone spurs in May, said he felt better than ever heading into the season.

His new found bulk couldn’t help him gain separation from defenders and even when he did, he could not catch the ball. The once sure handed Curry now rides the pine behind another less developed late round selection, last years 7^th round draft pick 6-4, 208 lb WR Chaz Schillens.

                                                                                                                 WR Chaz Schilens

Oaklands patch work, rag tag receiver corps was more of a pipe dream than a winning scheme and its really no wonder its blown up in their faces.

Carter’s knees and ankles were ticking time bombs, Lelie was washed up before he signed, Walker may never fully recover from the death of Darrent Williams and has an injury history worse than Carter’s and Curry was a long, long shot that seems to have not paid off so far.

Some have placed blame on new wide out Coach James Lofton and he may bear some responsibility, but when you look at what he had to work with, the outcome and under production seems almost inevitable.

For those wondering why the Raiders wide receivers can’t get separation from defense backs the answer is simple.

They aren’t very good.

Photo Paul Sakuma / AP

                                                                                    MIA WR Javon Walker

Just when Oakland fans thought it couldn't get worse or weirder.

The Raiders have given the media and Raider haters (often the same thing) more than enough ammo over the 1st half of the 08' season and unfortunately there will probably more before its done.

With changes being made left and right in embattled Oakland some wonder where they might stop.

Interim Coach Tom Cable has stated they feel under producing WR Javon Walker is still in good graces and is capable of making contributions more consistently.

If not, he may be another player that walks away with millions in unearned Raider money.

No claimed CB DeAngelo Hall and no one really thought teams would. Now that he’s been released to free agency, he’ll likely have to rework or sign a new contract should teams take him on.

Hall is likely to contribute with another team if put in the right situation and coverage. He is a fine athlete, but struggled mightily with the Raiders man and press coverage schemes.

Oakland puts its corners on an island man on man more than most teams would ever dream of, something Hall was ill equipped to do.

One gets the feeling Hall was playing his own game rather than listening to what Coaches were telling him.

Though the parting of ways seemed amicable, expect to hear Hall once he gets settled with another team, what a circus Oakland has become.

There is still hope for the Raiders and a good showing this Sunday against the Carolina at home would do a lot to get the Raiders back on track and back into a divisional race that thanks to under performing rivals is really anybodies to take at this point.

As it has been since the beginning of this entire mess, the only real cure isn't firing, hiring, benching or fining,it winning plain, but apparently, not so simple.