2019 Oakland Raiders Discussion

Up and Down

QB
Carr can't lose this job.
-Ponder struggled mightily
-McGloin tossed another pick
-Fajardo tossed a pick in garbage time
Bubble: Fajardo is on his way to the practice squad.

RB
+LTM
+Jones
-Dyer
--Richardson
Bubble: I'm not sure what's going to happen here. None among Dyer, Richardson, and Atkinson have come close to impressing.

OL
-A. Morris
---Bergstrom
Bubble: Bergstrom has to be on his way out; right?

WR
+Cooper
+Thompkins
+Roberts
Bubble: Thopkins and Roberts are fighting for that sixth WR spot. Can't see Carr's buddy making the team barring an injury.

DL
++Edwards
+S. Harris

LB
+Heeney
Heeney is going to make the team and see reps. He has the ability to displace Ray Ray during the season.

DB
-Hayden
-Dexter McDonald
S. Edwards
Bubble: Can Hayden be a bubble player when he's penciled in as a starter?

 

I remember when that guy was a big deal. The word "cut" seems to be synonymous with his career since...

 

He was ranked as "average starter" on PFF going into the 2014 season.

 

Maybe being with Norton again can rejuvenate his career. Mays is an imposing safety with good physical traits of speed, vertical and a noteworthy hitter. Still though, this move is being derided as par with the Richardson signing.

 

I have a ranking system going - like an aggregator. I'm finding lists of who people are projecting will wind up on the 53-man roster, and then I'm compiling those results and ranking the players according to how frequently and high they appear on the list. Players in bold make it.


QB
Three in play, and all three are pretty likely to make it.
Carr 12
Ponder 8
McGloin 4
Total: 3/53

RB
Five or six spots available (combined with FB); six players, maybe 7 with Atkinson, in play.
Murray 12
Helu 8
Jones 4
Dyer 4

FB
Reece 12
Olawale 1
Let's suppose Murray, Reece, Helu, Jones, and Dyer make it. That's 5 spots, and Jones doubles as a returner.
Total: 8/53

WR
Raiders won't keep more than six. Eight have a reasonable shot.
Roberts and Carr's buddy go to the practice squad.
Crabtree 12
Cooper 12
Streater 8
Thompkins 6
Holmes 5
Butler 2
Holliday 2
Roberts 1
Crabtree, Cooper, Streater are locks, I think; Thompkins, Holmes, and possibly Butler will fight for 2.5 spots (Raiders keep 5 or 6).
Total: 14/53

TE
Gabe Holmes goes to the practice squad.
Smith 9
Walford 8
Rivera 7
Raiders keep all three.
Total: 17/53

OL
How many will the Raiders keep? If eight, then it's fairly straightforward:
Penn 12
Jackson 12
Hudson 12
Webb 11
Watson 10
Barnes 8
Feliciano 6
Howard 6
Bergstrom 2
McCants 1
Penn, Jackson, Hudson, Webb, and Watson are all good bets. Barnes, Feliciano, and Howard are solid bets. Bergstrom and McCants out.
Total: 25/53

DT
Raiders could keep all four.
Williams 12
Ellis 11
Autry 5
Lumpkin 4
Total: 29/53

DE
Tough decisions to make here.
Tuck 12
Mack 12
Edwards 10
Mayowa 6
Harris 3
Wilson 3
Valles 1
Mack, Tuck, Edwards, and Mayowa make it. Harris and Wilson have a shot. Valles might not make it through waivers (and he's a LB, mind you, but someone listed him as DE), so practice squad is scary; he has awesome upside. Suppose the Raiders try to keep all seven.
Total: 36/53

LB
Raiders' LB corps looks great.
Smith 12
Lofton 12
Armstrong 10
Moore 10
Heeney 6
Ball 5
Smith, Lofton, Armstrong guaranteed; Moore and Heeney have a great shot. Ball, I'm not so sure.
Total: 42/53

CB
Raiders can keep four.
Hayden 12
Carrie 11
McGill 9
Thorpe 8
McDonald 1
Dockery 1
R. Dowling 1
Hayden, Carrie, McGill, and Thorpe seem the obvious choices. Carrie was Oakland's top KR last season. Doubt they want him doing that this season, mind you.
Total: 46/53

S
The release of Jonathan Dowling makes this a bit easier.
Allen 12
Woodson 12
Asante 7
Ross 3
Mays 1
Allen, Woodson, Asante, and Ross all make it.
Total: 50/53

Specialists
These are your specialists
Janikowski 12
Condo 12
King 12
Total: 53/53

Other practice squad players: Orr

 

Watson injured...taken to the locker room, very distraught. Blown Achilles? Not good.

 

Game takes:

- a tale of two halves... 1st half: Defense dominant. Offense has sync issues in the red zone.
- Cooper got loose in the second quarter. Such a smooth receiver. Apparently has played that position since the 6th grade.
- what Pound said...
- a sigh of relief to see Streater walk off the field after an awkward fall.
- Musgrave had the right idea in switching Taiwan Jones back on offense.
- surprised that Mack-Veldheer matchup was so one sided.
- Carr reverted back to being a rookie...if nothing is there, throw that damn ball away!
- another game, another costly mistake by Hayden. I'm really, really, really beginning to think Phillip Buchanon 2.0.
- what Pound said...
- that runback for a TD seemed to suck the life out of the first team defense.
- I hate those personal foul penalties even if it was inadvertent. Potential stop for the D that let the Cardinals off the hook for the game winning drive.
- S-Bass is in season form.
- Nate Allen with two game thefts. Nice... Charles Woodson = Ageless Wonder.
- Nothing to Ponder about... The Raider HOF QB McGloin should have #2 locked up.
- what Pound said...
- another game, another Bergstrom penalty killing a drive.
- This Moma... I thought it was Kellen Winslow out there. The father...not the son.
- hello Helu. Should be interesting how to divvy up the touches between him and Reece.
- I've never seen a #3 first round pick get brought down...by an arm tackle. Yeeesh!
- Mario Edwards doing work out there.
- I miss Mowins, Brown and Millen. Michaels and Collinsworth were OK. So is vanilla ice cream...
- get well soon Menelik Watson!

In closing: what Pound said!



^she reminds me of Holly Robinson.

 

- Raiders on Thursday Night Football up in the Pacific Northwest. Could turn ugly. Let's get out of there healthy and prep for Cincy.
- Fred Jackson... Buffalo Bills cut. No. Give Taiwan Jones more touches. Or the Son of Atkinson. A.B.R. [Anybody But Richardson]
- Forget about comparing Mack to Miller. If he keeps it up...thinking LT Lite.

 

I am too. With the beef upfront of Williams and Ellis...it will free him up to go hunting. As much as Leonard Williams would have been a monstrous pairing with him, we desperately needed playmakers on offense. Move the sticks and put up six. I hope Edwards keeps on the uptick. We still have the veteran savvy of Tuck.

 

He is...

 

I don't know I'd go that far. Brown compensated by at least moving his feet, using his strenght and anticipating angles to compensate for his stone hands. Samaki Walker would be better. Now, THAT dude takes the cake.