Offseason topic: Offensive Line

Langlier

Langlier

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Looking at next year we are going to have a depth chart of

LT: Sims, Henderson
LG: Gallery, Morris
C: Newberry*, Grove
RG: Carlisle
RT: McQuistan, Green

With Palmer/Wand/Wilson as random depth that I'm not counting on

Gallery and McQ are the only guys I'm happy with.

LT I'd like to upgrade... is that Henderson... I've no clue

Best case scenario - JORDAN GROSS or LEVI JONES get picked up in FA
Good Options - Henderson improves and this is a non-need, Sam Baker in Round 2, take Ryan Clady in round 1 via a move up.
Poor Options - Jake Long at #3 overall, Sims again, Gallery again*

at RG Carlisle is OK and I'd have no problem starting him again... however he is not an optimal type guy here... I'd like a guy that gets a lot more push in the RG and is more then a speedbump in the passing game.

Best case scenario - I'm not sure here... lots of options but none that I like.
Good Options - Carlisle returns, 4th round + guard, Green/Grove get a shot here.
Poor Options - Alan Faneca (poor system fit, too much coin)

and finally C
Best case scenario - Faine in FA (if he comes cheap). Still young, good system fit
Good options - Newberry returns healthy, Steve Justice in the 4th round
Poor Options - Newberry/Grove unhealthy

any ideas/hopes/options I havent covered?
 
Justice won't make it to the 4th. Faine would be a nice option to replace Newberry. I doubt Henderson is ready to start barring some catharsis.

I think we'll pretty much go with the status quo especially with the job Cable has done with these guys.

LT Flozell Adams
LG Bob Gallery
C Newberry
RG Carlisle
RT McNasty
 
Carlisle/Gallery is solid, hopefully Newberry gives us one more season and McQ steps up and continues his progression.

Im worried about Sims/Henderson though. There isnt a worse starting LT in the league.
 
I wonder if 2008 is the year that the Raiders finally say goodbye to Sims. Somehow I don't think so, not unless a Gross or a Flozell makes his way to Oakland. It'd be real nice for the Raiders to make an early splash and get a vet bodyguard for JaMarcus' blindside, and we will have plenty of cap room, but so will teams that are more attractive.

Assuming Henderson is not the second coming of Orlando Pace, and nothing suggests he is, I think we can lock Gallery, Carlisle and probably McSexy into three places. Newberry? Probably, but can his knees hold up? I don't think McSexy is a mortal lock at RT, but I'd love it. Are his feet quick enough to handle speedy pass rushers?

I think that the O-line will have some spirited competition, and center and RT are the positions most likely to see some training camp battles. I'd be shocked to see a rookie, or a 2nd tier vet knock off Sims.

Sims' play last year wasn't awful, but the false starts are unacceptable.

Mo Williams from Jax intrigues me.

I think Center is the position most likely to see a change. Last chance, Jake.
 
Ideally we'd sign a vet free agent and draft a guy high.
 
Langlier said:
Good Options - Henderson improves and this is a non-need, Sam Baker in Round 2, take Ryan Clady in round 1 via a move up.
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I'm probably going to get my USC fanboy card revoked after going against the grain with Sed Ellis and now Baker, but I think Baker projects better to a LG in a zone scheme at the next level... I'm hopeful with Henderson, but from what I saw of him, he may eventually end up our future RG... Clady could have used another year and is not going to be a day 1 starter, but the Hawaii game aside, he's got top level tools to work with...


Poor Options - Alan Faneca (poor system fit, too much coin)
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I agree with the too much coin angle, but I don't think the best pulling guard in the league would have much trouble adapting to what we do... Pretty irrelevant though, since a Faneca type signing is a million to one long shot...


Best case scenario - Faine in FA (if he comes cheap). Still young, good system fit
Click to expand...

I'd take him even if he didn't come cheap... Newberry is a short term fix at best and was disappointingly getting his ass kicked in the short run game way too often...



I'm starting to get my usual offseason Offensive line angina... Gallery and Cooper are adequate options at the guard spots, but I think we should have real concerns about what we currently have as LT, center and RT options... I'm also not ready to sell out on McQ as a long term solution based on flashing in a few games... I learned that lesson with Terdell Sands...

I don't know if the Saints would let Faine go easily after trading to get him unless they have someone they like behind him, but he would be a great get even if we probably would have to really overpay him... I didn't know that Levi Jones was a FA, but he'd work for me as would either of Carolina's guys... FA tackles get seriously paid though, I imagine we'd pick at Denver's scraps or do something like signing Kwame Harris and hoping Cable can do a 'Lincoln Kennedy to Oakland' like career save before we'd ever pony up for a top tier veteran...

What I'd unrealistically like: LT) Gross LG) Gallery OC) Faine RG) Carlysle/McQ RT) Jake Long

What I expect: LT) Kwame Harris LG) Gallery OC) Newberry RG) Carlysle RT) McQ
 
My highschool football team played against Kwame Harris. He is big and thats about it. Nothing that impressive. I wasnt on the field the same time as him however.
 
Center?

I've seen this cat play this year and he is a mauler.

He's the kinda guy the Steelers or Colts would draft in rd 3 and turn him into a pro bowl center

ADAM%20SPIEKER%20267.JPG


Dude paved the way for a top 10 offense in the country

6'3 308 lbs... grinder, ran a shotgun set alot so his long snaps are nails.. can long snap on punts.

I saw this dude a couple of times this year and rewinded my Tivo. Dude took on 2 defenders and held his ground.

He's the exact kinda player that the Steelers or Cowboys or Pats would take and turn into a pro-bowler

Not sure where he'll go.. and doubt he lasts till rd 4 (top pick in rd 2) But if he's there like Bush was last year....

Might wanna think about this cat...
 
hawaiianboy said:
I didn't know that Levi Jones was a FA, but he'd work for me as would either of Carolina's guys...
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jones is not an FA... yet. hes likely to be released as he lost his starting gig and costs a ton of coin.
 
Ugly Nipples said:
Center?

I've seen this cat play this year and he is a mauler.

He's the kinda guy the Steelers or Colts would draft in rd 3 and turn him into a pro bowl center

ADAM%20SPIEKER%20267.JPG


Dude paved the way for a top 10 offense in the country

6'3 308 lbs... grinder, ran a shotgun set alot so his long snaps are nails.. can long snap on punts.

I saw this dude a couple of times this year and rewinded my Tivo. Dude took on 2 defenders and held his ground.

He's the exact kinda player that the Steelers or Cowboys or Pats would take and turn into a pro-bowler

Not sure where he'll go.. and doubt he lasts till rd 4 (top pick in rd 2) But if he's there like Bush was last year....

Might wanna think about this cat...
Click to expand...


right now the two guys on my radar are justice and lichtensteiner. both are mid round guys (3 - 6). Justice is about as perfect for the ZBS as you can find for a C
 
I don't think Gross would have any better luck as a LT here than he did in Carolina. As a RT with McQ sliding into RG? Now that could be interesting, bordering on dangerous.

Not sure why this hasn't come up before, but Carolina's LT Travelle Wharton is a FA as well. Probably a guy worth checking out since he plays the need position.

Sean Locklear seems like he'd probably transition better to the left side than Gross. Obviously just a theory, with maybe a dash of hope sprinkled in. But he's a really good player and might be worth overpaying a little if the team thinks he can handle the move.


I figure we ride Newberry for another season and hope like hell his knees don't buckle. Neither the best nor the smartest option to latch onto. But with Faine being the top FA center, it's stands to reason we'll get outbid.

On the other hand, I'd still like to see us give Casey Wiegmann a call. He's old and small. But we all know the man can play a little ball. Having both him and Newberry would make me feel a lot better about the situation.

Maybe Cable can get out of Grove the level of play that made him a 2nd round pick. That'd damn sure be nice. But after watching Shaun Rogers wipe his ass with the guy, I'm going to have to see it to believe it.
 
Crow said:
I don't think Gross would have any better luck as a LT here than he did in Carolina. As a RT with McQ sliding into RG? Now that could be interesting, bordering on dangerous.

Not sure why this hasn't come up before, but Carolina's LT Travelle Wharton is a FA as well. Probably a guy worth checking out since he plays the need position.

Sean Locklear seems like he'd probably transition better to the left side than Gross. Obviously just a theory, with maybe a dash of hope sprinkled in. But he's a really good player and might be worth overpaying a little if the team thinks he can handle the move.


I figure we ride Newberry for another season and hope like hell his knees don't buckle. Neither the best nor the smartest option to latch onto. But with Faine being the top FA center, it's stands to reason we'll get outbid.

On the other hand, I'd still like to see us give Casey Wiegmann a call. He's old and small. But we all know the man can play a little ball. Having both him and Newberry would make me feel a lot better about the situation.

Maybe Cable can get out of Grove the level of play that made him a 2nd round pick. That'd damn sure be nice. But after watching Shaun Rogers wipe his ass with the guy, I'm going to have to see it to believe it.
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I'm a much bigger fan of Gross then either Locklear (overrated i watched him pretty much every week because of local tv) or wharton (who is a good pass protector but i dont like him in a ZBS)

weigman wouldnt be a bad option #2 at C if grove doesnt step up i still like a few of the late round guys in the draft
 
I kinda thought Gross would fit as a LT in a ZBS scheme. The pass blocking is the issue. Didn't watch much Panthers? What's the scoop on him? Didn't watch the Panthers much, what with they being so unwatchable.
 
massraider said:
I kinda thought Gross would fit as a LT in a ZBS scheme. The pass blocking is the issue. Didn't watch much Panthers? What's the scoop on him? Didn't watch the Panthers much, what with they being so unwatchable.
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Gross won't ever be confused with walter jones as a pass blocker... however he can anchor and has good feet... He also is one of the better run blockers in the game. Putting him next to gallery gives us a very good left side... Fargas or Bush would have huuuuge cutback lanes.
 
Even two second tier free agents and developmental guy on the line would be great.

Say a Travelle Warthon and Alex Stepanovich to compete at LT and C/G and a Duane Brown or Drew Radovich late.

Added depth and a couple potential starters.

I doubt Jordan Gross or Sean Locklear has us on the radar, as far as free agent destinations go.

We'll be lucky to land one big name guy at ANY position (Im hoping Berrian, Briggs or Dansby in a pipe dream)
 
Oakland Raiders starting G Cooper Carlisle was able to void the final year of his two-year deal and will be a free agent his agent Frank Murtha confirmed to Scout.com.
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So that leaves us with Carlisle and Newberry unsigned, the questionable Sims penciled in at LT and the relatively untested McQ at RT... Only LG with Gallery seems set...

Welcome to the Raiders Tom Cable, welcome to the Raiders....
 
hawaiianboy said:
So that leaves us with Carlisle and Newberry unsigned, the questionable Sims penciled in at LT and the relatively untested McQ at RT... Only LG with Gallery seems set...

Welcome to the Raiders Tom Cable, welcome to the Raiders....
Click to expand...

THAT IS GREAT!!!!!!!!!

OK maybe not.....
 
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