Raiders Need To Sign Bush Long Term

 Posted by at 8:00 AM  2 Responses »
Aug 082011
 

Darren McFadden’s most recent injury has made it even more clear how important it is for the Raiders to ink a long-term deal with restricted free agent Michael Bush.

On Thursday, coach Hue Jackson revealed that McFadden was out for at least two weeks with an orbital fracture. Michael Bush signed his restricted free agent tender on Saturday, after a practice Friday in which Louis Rankin and Rock Cartwright took all the snaps.

In a press conference a few days ago, Jackson joked saying that McFadden looked handsome and he had no doubt the running back will return in two weeks. Jackson also reminded every one of last preseason when McFadden missed a considerable amount of time due to a hamstring injury and came back to have 1157 yards and a break-out season. Still, McFadden has yet to play an entire season without missing time.

It’s the elephant in the room-McFadden is prone to injury.

There is a severe lack of depth in the Raiders running-back depth chart. After McFadden and Bush, there is rookie Taiwan Jones and veteran Rock Cartwright. If Bush isn’t re-signed long-term, the Raiders will need to find another back, or hope that Jones is ready to take over for Bush next season. It’s no small task and Taiwan Jones isn’t exactly the “bruiser” that is needed as a change-of-pace to McFadden.

McFadden should return before the season starts, but the Raiders need to work something out with Bush, because there isn’t a back on the roster that can replace him.

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$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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