2019 Oakland Raiders Discussion

Streater re-ups... Cobb says no stays in The Tundra, can't say I disagree. It's cool. He likely thinks Raiders will draft a wide-out and does not want mentor role. Hudson is a good signing to stabilize the O-Line. Son of Wiz is gone...too bad. McKenzie not going crazy and throwing $$$ around. Building for the future around Carr and Mack...not the short term.

 

Is Streater's remaining official?

 

Ooops...misread a blurb. Streater offered a second round tender. Speculation is that he will stay. Hope so...

 

Iupati would be another good pickup.

 

Raider Nation fans getting antsy about McKenzie playing whiffle-ball with free agents. I was skeptical of these "name" players signing with the S&B. Best path is through the draft like last season then get solid if not "splashy" complementary pieces. Cobb is not a game-breaker. Jones from Baltimore? Not even a second or third option let alone a starter. Suh? That $$$ he is getting is akin to mortgaging the future when the developing impact players you draft will command bigger salaries when their rookie contracts are up.

 

Young guys like Hudson can be building blocks. I'm happy. And I knew him at FSU. Crazy.

 

Raiders close to a deal with Terrance Knighton per Rotoworld.

 

Quick update on some of the names we've been linked to:

Jermaine Gresham TE
Good pass blocker, has caught 46-64 passes in each of his five seasons. Very consistent there. Averages under 10 yards per reception, but he has scored 24 TDs in five seasons. He is a two-time Pro Bowler. Could be a good fit for the two TE set with Rivera, and he is a good blocker.

Da'Norris Searcy S
He's the 6th ranked FA Safety from last season's numbers. Usama Young and Branch, both released by Oakland, are 22nd and 23rd by comparison. Searcy is said by some to be the best DB available after Rahim Moore. Could be a HUGE upgrade.

Terrance Knighton DT
Knighton doesn't do much in the pass game, finishing 23rd in Pass Rushing Productivity last season (and that's a trend for him). He is, however, a top 10 run stopper. He was third on PFF's list of Interior Linemen, after Suh and Paea. You'd have to go down to about 40th before you'd find an Oakland player on the list (among FAs) - Pat Sims. I'm not sure what the plan is, though, with Antonio Smith and Ellis penciled in inside. Tuck has one of the DE spots sewn up...

 

In for Gresham. Searcy is cool but Moore would be better. Looking forward to serving opponents Pot Roast next season. Lupati to the Cards. Hudson-Jackson-Penn is not Dalby-Upshaw-Shell but it is a more than a competent trio and a heck of a start.

 

I don't know what the $$$ are but he and Norton know each other. Hopefully it is nothing extravagant. Smith is decent if not spectacular.

S Branch to KC...C Wiz probably to Denver.

 

Malcolm Smith played 12 games last season, picking up 0.37 Win Probability Added. He posted 13.3 Expected Points Added, and good enough for 1.11 +EPA/G. His .48 Tackle Factor was third best among Seattle's LBs. His numbers compare relatively well with Oakland's - his WPA would be 4th best, his 13.3 EPA would be 4th best, his EPA/G would be 5th best, and his tackle factor would be 4th best. That said, Rotoworld has him as their 2nd best 4-3 OLB. Smith was rated as "good" entering last season on PFF.

Moving Smith into the LB corps would mean replacing a player rated "poor" with one ranked either "average" or "good" - moving the defense from a cumulative -1.5 to +1.0, meaning Oakland's Defense is now better than average on paper.

 

Raiders going with no FB this season. So, they move Marcel Reece to H-Back and sign Lee Smith, blocking TE. Interesting stuff. Three years, $9M deal for Smith.

 

Lee Smith graded out positively overall, at +0.3. Ausberry, by comparison, posted -0.3. Unlike Rivera, who grades out as below average, Lee grades out as average. Smith doesn't catch many passes (20 in four years), but he does catch a high percentage - 20 of 25 targets - and scores (12% of targets) and picks up first downs (40% of targets) well. It looks like a good signing.

 

Fearful Oakland will pay stupid money for DeMarco.

 

In layman's terms to me, "good" means reliable.

I think it is a positive that Reece is being utilized more. I believe you have echoed that need in one of your posts. Agree that has to be in order to take pressure off young LaTavius. It is looking like the Raider offense will be more varied given the early reads.

Small steps...small steps. Can't wait for draft day!

 

I hope he ends up in Jacksonville.

 

We're going to have some different looks - more Reece running patterns and on the move.
More two TE sets.
More no huddle.

I don't want DeMarco. He's a good RB, but he's coming off a dreaded 400-touch season.

BTW, some outlets are saying we "lowballed" Terrance Knighton. I'm glad we did. I think his view of his value is overblown. For comparison, he also was offended by Denver's offer - so, maybe he's a little unreasonable.

 

Searcy out...now a Titan. Come on down...Rahim Moore? Agree on DeMarco Murray. Could be though that management has reservations about LaTavius staying healthy. Hell, just bring back Run-DMC. With a revamped O-Line, a power running advocate in Musgrave/Tice and less carries...he could have an impact or at least something.