Angry Pope
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- Feb 2, 2006
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Inside Slant
Posted 6/29/2007 9:18 PM ET
According to the company line, the Raiders don't differentiate between strong safety and free safety.
There's a left safety and a right safety in the same way there is a left cornerback and a right cornerback.
That's why minicamp and Organized Team Activity sessions have featured both Michael Huff and Stuart Schweigert alternately playing as deep safety and as a safety in the box.
Huff, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2007 draft, played strong safety last season and distinguished himself in coverage against some of the top tight ends in the AFC West. Schweigert was the free safety, and is regarded as a solid player although the occasional blown tackle in space has been a maddening trait.
While no one is saying it, the Raiders appear to be moving toward easing Schweigert out of the picture in an attempt to get more plays out of Huff as a free safety.
The most recent evidence was Oakland's courting of free agent Donovin Darius, a 6-foot-1, 225-pound strong safety who does his best work in the box as a physical presence and run defender.
Due a $3.5 million salary from Jacksonville, Darius was cut after playing in just 12 games over the past two years because of a torn ACL, a torn labrum and a broken lower left leg.
That didn't stop the Raiders from giving Darius and his wife a tour of their facility which included a visit with owner Al Davis and the coaching staff.
Raiders coach Lane Kiffin was the defensive quality control coach for Jacksonville in 2000 and did much of his work with the secondary. Darius has 84 tackles for the Jaguars that season, the second-highest total of his career.
The NFL Network speculated the Raiders were poised to make an offer and would quickly close a deal. If that's what they had planned, Darius said he had other ideas.
"We made it clear we were going to examine our options," Darius said. "We're just starting this process. The Raiders made me feel welcome in every way. We have some decisions to make."
Darius turns 32 in August, but there is concern he's older than his years due to his physical style and his problems remaining on the field the past two seasons.
Of course, Davis capitalized once before when the 49ers thought Ronnie Lott was past his prime. The Raiders signed him in Plan B free agency and got two excellent seasons from the Hall of Famer.
Davis also blew it when Rodney Harrison all but declared his love for the Raiders after being released by San Diego. Harrison requested a visit and received it. But Davis didn't even attend the interview, and Harrison ended up signing with New England, where he became a key cog in a championship defensive team.
Even if Darius doesn't come to Oakland, the Raiders have positioned themselves to move Huff to free safety by moving Darnell Bing from linebacker to strong safety, signing free agent strong safety Colin Branch, and signing rookie Eric Frampton of Washington State, who could play either side.
NOTES, QUOTES
—OL Robert Gallery has been shuttled between tackle and guard, left and right. He's on the verge of being proclaimed a major bust after being the No. 2 overall selection in the 2004 draft. None of that bothers him as much as the bottom line.
In three years with the Raiders, Gallery's team is an NFL-worst 11-37.
"We haven't won a lot of games, and that's what we're here to do. It's not a whole lot of fun when you don't win," Gallery said. "I love this organization. I'm ready to get them back on track."
—After four years of futility, the Raiders are attempting to import success, since there is so little of it on the roster. Safety Colin Branch, who went to a Super Bowl as a member of the Carolina Panthers, is a case in point.
"I'm a veteran guy, I've been around, and was on a winning program in Carolina," Branch said. "Hopefully I can bring a little bit of that here, helping out in any way. Hopefully I can be a versatile guy who can do a lot of different things. It'll open my horizons up a little bit and show people I can do more than one thing."
—Center Jeremy Newberry, attempting a comeback after microfracture surgery, said his condition is beyond pain-killing injections.
"There's not a lot you can do in the joint to shoot it up," Newberry said. "I will have some soreness. That's just part of playing football. It's a weekly deal. I've been pretty good at dealing with that part of it."
—After spending his career at USC immersed in offense, working with wide receivers and eventually becoming the co-offensive coordinator, Lane Kiffin has spent has spent little time with defensive football since working for the Jacksonville Jaguars as defensive quality control coach in 2000 under Tom Coughlin.
Since becoming the Raiders' head coach this offseason, Kiffin has paid plenty of attention to the defensive side of the ball.
"I spend a lot of time with the defense. That's so I totally understand what we're doing and our philosophy and our schemes," Kiffin said. "We go in every day after this and watch film together as a staff so our whole staff understands it."
QUOTE TO NOTE: "Not to get sunburned." — Fair-skinned Raiders quarterback Josh McCown when asked his goals during a sunny day at the Raiders final voluntary minicamp.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
MEDICAL WATCH: No updates.
FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (not tendered offers)
—S Derrick Gibson (not tendered as UFA).
—RB DeJuan Green (not tendered as ERFA).
—OG Corey Hulsey (not tendered as UFA).
—LB Grant Irons (not tendered as UFA).
—DT Michael Quarshie (not tendered as ERFA).
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS
—RB DeJuan Green has operated on the fringes of the Raiders roster without ever making an impact.
—DT Michael Quarshie, if retained, would have trouble making Oakland's final roster considering the interior players already on hand.
DRAFT CHOICES SIGNED
—CB John Bowie: 4/110; terms unknown.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
—TE James Adkisson: ERFA; terms unknown.
—RB Adimchinobe Echemandu: Not tendered as RFA; terms unknown.
—LB Isaiah Ekijiuba: ERFA; terms unknown.
—DT Anttaj Hawthorne: ERFA; terms unknown.
—DE Kevin Huntley: ERFA; terms unknown.
—DL Tommy Kelly: Potential RFA; $1.35M/1 yr.
—RB ReShard Lee: RFA; $850,000/1 yr.
—DT Terdell Sands: Potential UFA; $17M/4 years, $4M SB.
—OT Chad Slaughter: UFA; terms unknown.
—CB Duane Starks: UFA; terms unknown.
—LB Robert Thomas: Potential UFA; $6M/3 years, $1.5 SB.
—WR Alvis Whitted: UFA; terms unknown.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
—S Colin Branch: Not tendered as UFA by Panthers; terms unknown.
—OG Cooper Carlisle: UFA Broncos; 2 yrs, terms unknown.
—OG Ben Claxton: Waivers Falcons.
—OT Cornell Green: UFA Buccaneers; terms unknown.
—FB Justin Griffith: UFA Falcons; $3.8M/3 yrs, SB unknown.
—CB Chris Johnson: FA; terms unknown.
—QB Josh McCown (trade Lions).
—C Jeremy Newberry: UFA 49ers; $1.5M/1 yr, no SB.
—RB Dominic Rhodes: UFA Colts; $7.5M/2 yrs, $1.5M SB; 2007 cap: $2M.
—TE Tony Stewart: UFA Bengals; terms unknown.
—WR Travis Taylor: UFA Vikings; terms unknown.
—TE Fred Wakefield: UFA Cardinals; terms unknown.
—WR Mike Williams (trade Lions).
PLAYERS LOST
—OT Brad Badger (released).
—QB Aaron Brooks (released).
—DE Lance Johnstone (released).
—WR Randy Moss: Traded Patriots.
—CB Tyrone Poole (released).
—CB Kris Richard (released).
—QB Marques Tuiasosopo: UFA Jets; 1 yr, terms unknown.
—OT Langston Walker: UFA Bills; $25M/5 yrs, $5M SB.
Posted 6/29/2007 9:18 PM ET
According to the company line, the Raiders don't differentiate between strong safety and free safety.
There's a left safety and a right safety in the same way there is a left cornerback and a right cornerback.
That's why minicamp and Organized Team Activity sessions have featured both Michael Huff and Stuart Schweigert alternately playing as deep safety and as a safety in the box.
Huff, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2007 draft, played strong safety last season and distinguished himself in coverage against some of the top tight ends in the AFC West. Schweigert was the free safety, and is regarded as a solid player although the occasional blown tackle in space has been a maddening trait.
While no one is saying it, the Raiders appear to be moving toward easing Schweigert out of the picture in an attempt to get more plays out of Huff as a free safety.
The most recent evidence was Oakland's courting of free agent Donovin Darius, a 6-foot-1, 225-pound strong safety who does his best work in the box as a physical presence and run defender.
Due a $3.5 million salary from Jacksonville, Darius was cut after playing in just 12 games over the past two years because of a torn ACL, a torn labrum and a broken lower left leg.
That didn't stop the Raiders from giving Darius and his wife a tour of their facility which included a visit with owner Al Davis and the coaching staff.
Raiders coach Lane Kiffin was the defensive quality control coach for Jacksonville in 2000 and did much of his work with the secondary. Darius has 84 tackles for the Jaguars that season, the second-highest total of his career.
The NFL Network speculated the Raiders were poised to make an offer and would quickly close a deal. If that's what they had planned, Darius said he had other ideas.
"We made it clear we were going to examine our options," Darius said. "We're just starting this process. The Raiders made me feel welcome in every way. We have some decisions to make."
Darius turns 32 in August, but there is concern he's older than his years due to his physical style and his problems remaining on the field the past two seasons.
Of course, Davis capitalized once before when the 49ers thought Ronnie Lott was past his prime. The Raiders signed him in Plan B free agency and got two excellent seasons from the Hall of Famer.
Davis also blew it when Rodney Harrison all but declared his love for the Raiders after being released by San Diego. Harrison requested a visit and received it. But Davis didn't even attend the interview, and Harrison ended up signing with New England, where he became a key cog in a championship defensive team.
Even if Darius doesn't come to Oakland, the Raiders have positioned themselves to move Huff to free safety by moving Darnell Bing from linebacker to strong safety, signing free agent strong safety Colin Branch, and signing rookie Eric Frampton of Washington State, who could play either side.
NOTES, QUOTES
—OL Robert Gallery has been shuttled between tackle and guard, left and right. He's on the verge of being proclaimed a major bust after being the No. 2 overall selection in the 2004 draft. None of that bothers him as much as the bottom line.
In three years with the Raiders, Gallery's team is an NFL-worst 11-37.
"We haven't won a lot of games, and that's what we're here to do. It's not a whole lot of fun when you don't win," Gallery said. "I love this organization. I'm ready to get them back on track."
—After four years of futility, the Raiders are attempting to import success, since there is so little of it on the roster. Safety Colin Branch, who went to a Super Bowl as a member of the Carolina Panthers, is a case in point.
"I'm a veteran guy, I've been around, and was on a winning program in Carolina," Branch said. "Hopefully I can bring a little bit of that here, helping out in any way. Hopefully I can be a versatile guy who can do a lot of different things. It'll open my horizons up a little bit and show people I can do more than one thing."
—Center Jeremy Newberry, attempting a comeback after microfracture surgery, said his condition is beyond pain-killing injections.
"There's not a lot you can do in the joint to shoot it up," Newberry said. "I will have some soreness. That's just part of playing football. It's a weekly deal. I've been pretty good at dealing with that part of it."
—After spending his career at USC immersed in offense, working with wide receivers and eventually becoming the co-offensive coordinator, Lane Kiffin has spent has spent little time with defensive football since working for the Jacksonville Jaguars as defensive quality control coach in 2000 under Tom Coughlin.
Since becoming the Raiders' head coach this offseason, Kiffin has paid plenty of attention to the defensive side of the ball.
"I spend a lot of time with the defense. That's so I totally understand what we're doing and our philosophy and our schemes," Kiffin said. "We go in every day after this and watch film together as a staff so our whole staff understands it."
QUOTE TO NOTE: "Not to get sunburned." — Fair-skinned Raiders quarterback Josh McCown when asked his goals during a sunny day at the Raiders final voluntary minicamp.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
MEDICAL WATCH: No updates.
FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (not tendered offers)
—S Derrick Gibson (not tendered as UFA).
—RB DeJuan Green (not tendered as ERFA).
—OG Corey Hulsey (not tendered as UFA).
—LB Grant Irons (not tendered as UFA).
—DT Michael Quarshie (not tendered as ERFA).
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS
—RB DeJuan Green has operated on the fringes of the Raiders roster without ever making an impact.
—DT Michael Quarshie, if retained, would have trouble making Oakland's final roster considering the interior players already on hand.
DRAFT CHOICES SIGNED
—CB John Bowie: 4/110; terms unknown.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
—TE James Adkisson: ERFA; terms unknown.
—RB Adimchinobe Echemandu: Not tendered as RFA; terms unknown.
—LB Isaiah Ekijiuba: ERFA; terms unknown.
—DT Anttaj Hawthorne: ERFA; terms unknown.
—DE Kevin Huntley: ERFA; terms unknown.
—DL Tommy Kelly: Potential RFA; $1.35M/1 yr.
—RB ReShard Lee: RFA; $850,000/1 yr.
—DT Terdell Sands: Potential UFA; $17M/4 years, $4M SB.
—OT Chad Slaughter: UFA; terms unknown.
—CB Duane Starks: UFA; terms unknown.
—LB Robert Thomas: Potential UFA; $6M/3 years, $1.5 SB.
—WR Alvis Whitted: UFA; terms unknown.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
—S Colin Branch: Not tendered as UFA by Panthers; terms unknown.
—OG Cooper Carlisle: UFA Broncos; 2 yrs, terms unknown.
—OG Ben Claxton: Waivers Falcons.
—OT Cornell Green: UFA Buccaneers; terms unknown.
—FB Justin Griffith: UFA Falcons; $3.8M/3 yrs, SB unknown.
—CB Chris Johnson: FA; terms unknown.
—QB Josh McCown (trade Lions).
—C Jeremy Newberry: UFA 49ers; $1.5M/1 yr, no SB.
—RB Dominic Rhodes: UFA Colts; $7.5M/2 yrs, $1.5M SB; 2007 cap: $2M.
—TE Tony Stewart: UFA Bengals; terms unknown.
—WR Travis Taylor: UFA Vikings; terms unknown.
—TE Fred Wakefield: UFA Cardinals; terms unknown.
—WR Mike Williams (trade Lions).
PLAYERS LOST
—OT Brad Badger (released).
—QB Aaron Brooks (released).
—DE Lance Johnstone (released).
—WR Randy Moss: Traded Patriots.
—CB Tyrone Poole (released).
—CB Kris Richard (released).
—QB Marques Tuiasosopo: UFA Jets; 1 yr, terms unknown.
—OT Langston Walker: UFA Bills; $25M/5 yrs, $5M SB.
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