Rupert
The Long Wind
- Joined
- Nov 2, 2005
- Messages
- 10,283
- Reaction score
- 3,678
HB: Lamont Jordan is a very good back. He’s not a speed guy, and not a particularly adept banger, so he’s right in the middle. Crockett appears faster on the field and punishes would-be tacklers more. Jordan delivers solid blows when he gets a head of steam, but has decent swerve to allow him not to take the punishment head-on. His ability to force tacklers into disadvantaged positions has helped him gain the tough yards or extend an already solid gain.
Zack Crockett is the #1 backup to Jordan, even though he is listed as the #1 FB. He brings a little extra energy to the position and seems to be more explosive when coming in off the bench, but you don’t pay for Lamont Jordan and bench him in favor of last year’s FB.
Justin Fargas is sitting on the bench as the only backup to Jordan at HB, but he doesn’t have the confidence of the coaches, the front office, or the fans. He has lightning quickness, and doesn’t shy away from the tough yards. Too bad his career-long (including college) struggles with injuries and fumbles still plague him. He’s apparently cleaned up the fumble troubles, but a bad taste remains in Al Davis’s mouth from watching him fumble early in his career with the Raiders.
FB: This has been a hybrid position for the Raiders. Crockett was ostensibly the starter at FB, but plenty of snaps have seen a TE or H-back in motion to fill the role. Crockett is a good blocker who has honed his abilities on years of Sundays after losing out to Wheatley as the starting HB and starting FB Jon Ritchie was sent packing. Omar Easy is listed as the backup FB on the roster, but he hasn’t seen many snaps as a FB on Sundays.
TE: Courtney Anderson is a specimen out there at TE. He’s bigger than the current crop of athletic TE’s, and therefore a little slower, but he’s got plenty of speed to keep LB’s honest and great directional and body control honed as a power forward on the basketball court. He’s got size to muscle through just about everybody at the second and third levels, but hasn’t demonstrated the ability to block DE’s on a regular basis. He’s disappeared from the passing game plan significantly this season, and his hands seem to have lost a little of their softness this season too. Sophomore slump, or just the malaise of the rest of the team rubbing off? It very well could be both.
Zeron Flemister and John Paul Foschi have been very good #2 TE’s this season, often doubling as FB when the play calls for it. Foschi was the better of the two, getting some action in the passing game, and laying down punishing blocks as a FB. These guys have done their best work as blockers, but we might see something different if they have to start for a possibly injured Anderson Sunday.
Randall Williams is listed as a TE, and often lines up in that role, but he’s more of a pass catcher than a blocker. I guess he could be considered a Shannon Sharpe-type TE, but he’s called on for his blocking skills as an excuse for leaving him on the field. When he lines up wide, he’s difficult to stop, like most TE’s with speed are. But since the offense doesn’t look for him that often, he’s not as effective as the WR’s he replaces in the offense.
So what work needs to be done here?
I think the real problem is that only two of these players have well defined roles in the offense. Jordan is the HB and Anderson is the TE. After that everyone has two roles.
Crockett has lined up wide, only to motion back inside. I'm not sure how many defenses consider him a credible receiving threat.
Foschi and Flemister have lined up in the backfield and been solid blockers.
Easy has seen most of his game time on special teams, as has Fargas.
Jordan leads the league in drops. I don't like him as a pass catcher, but I'll give him the off-season to develop that talent. The Raiders lack a true 3rd down or change of pace back. While Fargas could fill that role, it's unlikely he'll see much time on the field after his early fumble issues.
As muddy as these waters are, the Raiders could do worse than going into next season standing pat in these areas. The reason there are so many guys with multiple roles says a lot about their flexibility and abilities since they've pulled off most of what they've been asked to do.
Personally, I'd like a 3rd down back I can trust. I would give Fargas the chance to prove himself if the offense wasn't in disarray already. Crockett needs his role defined in my book. Either he's the #1 FB or he's the #2 HB. Shit or get off this pot. He's a good player with plenty to offer, so I understand wanting him on the field. If you set him up as the FB draft a credible backup HB.
I could stand pat at TE and be happy. I'm not sure that Williams's blocking is up to TE snuff, and I'd rather have his slot available for a true backup HB. That said, there's probably a WR slot that can be freed up for a true backup HB. Hmmm.
Zack Crockett is the #1 backup to Jordan, even though he is listed as the #1 FB. He brings a little extra energy to the position and seems to be more explosive when coming in off the bench, but you don’t pay for Lamont Jordan and bench him in favor of last year’s FB.
Justin Fargas is sitting on the bench as the only backup to Jordan at HB, but he doesn’t have the confidence of the coaches, the front office, or the fans. He has lightning quickness, and doesn’t shy away from the tough yards. Too bad his career-long (including college) struggles with injuries and fumbles still plague him. He’s apparently cleaned up the fumble troubles, but a bad taste remains in Al Davis’s mouth from watching him fumble early in his career with the Raiders.
FB: This has been a hybrid position for the Raiders. Crockett was ostensibly the starter at FB, but plenty of snaps have seen a TE or H-back in motion to fill the role. Crockett is a good blocker who has honed his abilities on years of Sundays after losing out to Wheatley as the starting HB and starting FB Jon Ritchie was sent packing. Omar Easy is listed as the backup FB on the roster, but he hasn’t seen many snaps as a FB on Sundays.
TE: Courtney Anderson is a specimen out there at TE. He’s bigger than the current crop of athletic TE’s, and therefore a little slower, but he’s got plenty of speed to keep LB’s honest and great directional and body control honed as a power forward on the basketball court. He’s got size to muscle through just about everybody at the second and third levels, but hasn’t demonstrated the ability to block DE’s on a regular basis. He’s disappeared from the passing game plan significantly this season, and his hands seem to have lost a little of their softness this season too. Sophomore slump, or just the malaise of the rest of the team rubbing off? It very well could be both.
Zeron Flemister and John Paul Foschi have been very good #2 TE’s this season, often doubling as FB when the play calls for it. Foschi was the better of the two, getting some action in the passing game, and laying down punishing blocks as a FB. These guys have done their best work as blockers, but we might see something different if they have to start for a possibly injured Anderson Sunday.
Randall Williams is listed as a TE, and often lines up in that role, but he’s more of a pass catcher than a blocker. I guess he could be considered a Shannon Sharpe-type TE, but he’s called on for his blocking skills as an excuse for leaving him on the field. When he lines up wide, he’s difficult to stop, like most TE’s with speed are. But since the offense doesn’t look for him that often, he’s not as effective as the WR’s he replaces in the offense.
So what work needs to be done here?
I think the real problem is that only two of these players have well defined roles in the offense. Jordan is the HB and Anderson is the TE. After that everyone has two roles.
Crockett has lined up wide, only to motion back inside. I'm not sure how many defenses consider him a credible receiving threat.
Foschi and Flemister have lined up in the backfield and been solid blockers.
Easy has seen most of his game time on special teams, as has Fargas.
Jordan leads the league in drops. I don't like him as a pass catcher, but I'll give him the off-season to develop that talent. The Raiders lack a true 3rd down or change of pace back. While Fargas could fill that role, it's unlikely he'll see much time on the field after his early fumble issues.
As muddy as these waters are, the Raiders could do worse than going into next season standing pat in these areas. The reason there are so many guys with multiple roles says a lot about their flexibility and abilities since they've pulled off most of what they've been asked to do.
Personally, I'd like a 3rd down back I can trust. I would give Fargas the chance to prove himself if the offense wasn't in disarray already. Crockett needs his role defined in my book. Either he's the #1 FB or he's the #2 HB. Shit or get off this pot. He's a good player with plenty to offer, so I understand wanting him on the field. If you set him up as the FB draft a credible backup HB.
I could stand pat at TE and be happy. I'm not sure that Williams's blocking is up to TE snuff, and I'd rather have his slot available for a true backup HB. That said, there's probably a WR slot that can be freed up for a true backup HB. Hmmm.