Davis Has Given Jackson Tools For Offensive Success

 Posted by at 12:00 PM  No Responses »
Sep 212011
 

Can you remember when the Raiders were without a real deep threat? On multiple occasions the Raiders had a roster filled with receivers who could only run in a straight line? The Raiders also had their fair share of divas at the position. Remember when Oakland’s pass offense revolved around dump offs and check downs? Remember when it seemed Justin Fargas was the only reliable weapon the Raiders had?

Do you remember all the years Zach Miller led the Raiders in receptions and receiving yardage? Do you remember feeling the entire Raiders team squawk after Miller signed with Seattle?

I am sure you remember the excitement in the media when the Raiders announced that Kevin Boss had picked Oakland over his other suitors. All the articles stated, “Well, he is a better blocker,” and Al Davis let a pro bowl tight end slip away. The Raiders were blasted for letting Miller go to Seattle and accused of taking Miller’s talent for granted. Kevin Boss has yet to play a snap and the Raiders haven’t skipped a beat on offense.

The Raiders offense has actually greatly improved since Miller’s departure. The Raiders are averaging over 370 yards and 29 points a game while averaging 5.9 yards per play so far this season. The Raiders boast the second leading running back in the NFL and even with four offensive players inactive, the Raiders still posted 454 total yards. If the defense can ever play consistently the Raiders will be a playoff team.

The truth is, with as many weapons as the Raiders have, even Brandon Myers would have the fans forgetting about Zach Miller. Did Al Davis know something we did not? Given an off-season with no workouts that his offense would gel together without relying on a premium tight end? Not signing Zach Miller saved Al Davis up to 20 million dollars and given the offensive production thus far that money can be put to better use on the defensive side of the ball.

Al Davis had faith in Jason Campbell. Davis gave Campbell the weapons and a coach to get the best out of him. Davis knows that Campbell, like Michael Bush, is in his contract year. Players generally perform their best in contract years. Even with a list of injures, the Raiders have playmakers. If rookie Denarius Moore receives the playing time he deserves he might have more yards than Julio Jones and A.J. Green combined.

Al Davis record of failures is long, but few give Davis credit for success. Give Davis the credit, he saw something in this offense and saved a lot of money by signing Kevin Boss instead of Zach Miller.

$2.6 Million in Hand is Worth it to Bush

 Posted by at 12:57 PM  1 Response »
Aug 062011
 

Michael Huff tweeted he was having breakfast with Michael Bush this morning in Napa. A short time later the Raiders announced Bush had re-signed.

Bush ends his quasi-holdout and reports to camp. The Raiders need the body as Darren McFadden broke his orbital bone and Rookie Taiwan Jones is nursing a hamstring injury. Michael Bennett also has a “nick” leaving Rock Cartwright to pick up the slack.

Bush should practice today for the first time in 2011 with the recently signed Kevin Boss.

The Raiders also signed receiver Chad Jackson. He’s another camp body with kick return skills.

Tight End Talk

 Posted by at 5:40 PM  No Responses »
Aug 052011
 

Panic arose with the loss of Zach Miller, lest we forget from the ashes many times a Phoenix arises.

Kevin Boss got his first opportunity after the departure of all-pro tight end Jeremy Shockey from New York. Bringing in Boss was a sound business decision at less than half the cost of Miller.

The Boss signing aside, let’s look at the current roster:

 

Brandon Myers

The third-year player has looked poor in camp, but still may have been the default starter had Boss not been aquired. His lack of consistency puts him on the roster bubble. Myers is a reasonable in-line blocker, but he has lapses in passing game.

 

David Ausberry

Potentially Marcel Reece 2.0 at the tight end position. Converted from wide receiver his senior season at USC. He is literally still growing into the position and needs to add bulk. He continues to turn  heads in camp with his speed (4.52) and fluidity. The departure of Miller may afford him a roster spot due to his receiving skills.

 

Richard Gordon

Rookie from Miami is known primarily for his blocking skills (only 10 catches in collegiate career). Is a surprising athlete (returned 5 kick offs for 21.8 average) that looks to be a practice squad candidate at least. He has good hands and is thickly built. If the Raiders choose to cut Myers and carry three tight ends Gordon could make the roster. At very least Gordon is destined for the practice squad.

 

Kevin Brock
An NFL vagabond (6 teams) is just a camp body.

 

With the addition of Boss and two promising rookies on the roster the Raider Nation can exhale, the sky is not falling! It was just a bump in the road.

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Like A Boss: Kevin Inks Deal

 Posted by at 9:13 AM  2 Responses »
Aug 052011
 

Adam Schefter reports the Raiders agreed to terms with tight end Kevin Boss on a four-year, $16 million contract.

The contract includes $8 million in guarantees. Zach Miller will make about twice as much and the production of each will likely be very comparable.

Kevin Boss is a better seam threat than Miller and a slightly better blocker. He isn’t quite the receiver Miller is, but he will be provided with greater opportunity in Oakland than he was in New York.

If the Raiders offensive line also improves, the Raiders wouldn’t have to bring in a sixth offensive lineman to run block. This creates doubt in the mind of the defense, particularly in the red zone, because Boss is a capable receiver.

Boss is the type of tight end Al Davis values. A tall, big-bodied red zone threat who is a good blocker. This was a match from the very beginning.

The Raiders receivers will still have to make up the difference between Miller and Boss as a receiver, but not as much as you might think. Easily worth the $3 million per year the Raiders save at a non-premium position.

Cap Relief: Routt, Seymour Restructure

 Posted by at 4:45 PM  4 Responses »
Aug 042011
 

Adam Caplan reports, Stanford Routt has restructed his deal with the Raiders for much needed cap relief.

Richard Seymour also restructured and he could save the Raiders as much as $11 million against the cap.

The Raiders knew all along how they were going to get under the cap or they would have been cutting players left and right.

The question now is if the Raiders can create enough room to sign Kevin Boss. Darren McFadden is missing from practice and could be restructuring as well.

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