MVN - an Oakland Raiders independent news, commentary, analysis, and media site
Thoughts from the Dark Side
Oakland Raiders position analysis offensive line
To say that the Raiders offensive line was improved would be a major understatement. Tom Cable’s blocking scheme along with a move to guard has brought out the best in Robert Gallery. Near the end of the season, Paul McQuistan seemed to find a home at right tackle. Jeremy Newberry’s glass knees had another year left, and Cooper Carlisle quietly turned into a strong free agent acquisition last season. Barry Sims chugged along for one more year. These guys led the way for the Raiders to have the sixth best rushing attack in the league despite starting three different running backs.
Barry Sims had a serviceable year at left tackle as he always seems to do. This is the one place on the line where the Raiders definitely need an upgrade. Sims gets beat by speed rusher and has had a career long problem with false starts. He should be kept as a backup if possible because he could fill in about anywhere along the line.
Robert Gallery has found his home at left guard. He still needs to cut down on the penalties, but that is a Raider thing. A second year in the same position with the same system should finally get Gallery on track.
Jeremy Newberry was solid as the starting center, but he is a free agent. He has said that he would like to stay with the Raiders. The Raiders should give him another one year deal to see if his knees hold.
Cooper Carlisle was a grand addition to the Raiders line. He quietly did his job and did not get flagged often. I have heard rumors that he has voided the last year of his contract, but I could not find confirmation. If he did, then the Raiders would do well to bring him back for a little more cheddar.
Paul McQuistan struggled at first, but as the season wore on he found his home at right tackle. He was the starting right tackle when the Raiders had their three game sack free streak, so that says a lot right there.
Jake Grove’s status is uncertain. He lost the starting job to Newberry, but played well while Newberry was out with injury. It will be up to him to win back his starting job at center.
Mario Henderson is an unknown quantity. He was taken in the third round of the draft, had a lackluster preseason and spent the season on the bench. He can not be counted on to step it up this season, but it would be good for him if he did.
Free Agency Outlook: The Raiders need help at the left tackle position. They will likely go this rout for it. Flozell Adams and Max Starks are two names that have been popping up as possible Raider targets.
Draft Outlook: The Raiders could shock everyone and take Jake Long. Or they could do something even more shocking and trade down and grab Ryan Clady.
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, February 26th, 2008 at 3:10 pm and is filed under 2008 Raiders Offseason, 2008 NFL Draft.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
THE AUTHOR
- Oakland Raider Analysis: The Raiders will be improved over last season
- The Not Necessarily Incorrect Daily Update News Vol 3-Thoughts from a Reader’s Side
- Oakland Raider musings: Random Thoughts from the Dark Side on the Oakland Raiders preseason week 3
- Oakland Raider analysis: Looking into the crystal ball-20 fearless predictions for the 2008 Oakland Raiders
POLL
ARCHIVE
RECENT ARTICLES BY DIVISION RIVALS
SPONSORS
Online Seats
Ticket Specialists
Oakland Raiders Tickets Athletics Tickets
Coast to Coast Tickets
Oakland Raiders Tickets Oakland A's Tickets Golden State Warriors Tickets Oakland Event Schedule Concert Ticket Brokers
Barry's Tickets
Baseball Tickets Dodgers Tickets Raiders Tickets Concert Tickets Laker Tickets BroncoTickets.com
Great Seats
Oakland Raiders Tickets Oakland Athletics Tickets Golden State Warriors Tickets Theatre Tickets Concert Tickets
10 Responses to “Oakland Raiders position analysis offensive line”
February 26th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
[…] Read more. […]
February 26th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
If the Raiders get a FA OLT like Adams, who might have a couple of good years left, and if Branden Albert is still on the board when the Raiders pick in the second, they’d be insane not to snatch him immediately. He’s incredibly quick and athetic for a big man, and while I think that some clever OL Coach will turn him into a standout OLT, if nothing else, Albert gives depth at G for when Carlisle moves on.
February 27th, 2008 at 5:44 am
Flozell Adams and Max Starks are too big and slow for the Raiders cut-blocking scheme, and Starks is a RT more than a LT.
Hope Carlisle remains a Raiders, and Newberry is re-signed. The good thing about Newberry is that living always in the Bay Area, he won’t move, like when last year said when cut by the 49ers, he only will go to the Raiders because he ddidn’t want to change his home.
February 27th, 2008 at 6:08 am
Not all OL can play in a ZB scheme. And the Raiders shouldn’t sign older players since they are not even close to being a playoff team. If they do sign an older FA it should be Newberry. If there is a FA that is familiar with ZB and is on the younger end of his career then sign him. Otherwise develop what you draft and have on the roster now.
February 27th, 2008 at 6:39 am
You have looked at one part of the offensive line. They absolutely sucked when it came to pass blocking and Robert Gallery was still being taken to the ground by linebackers. I don’t know what Raider team you were watching. Go back and look at some film of defenses running stunts on the Raiders left side and you will see what I am talking about. We hear this same story every year that the offensive line has shown great improvement, its not true. Grove should be cut, Henderson wasn’t even active for most games. Sims and Gallery make up the worst guard and tackle tandem in the NFL. Cables scheme for run blocking has hidden the real problem of pass blocking. If you pat attention to the time q/b had in the pocket you would understand how bad the o/line still is. In fact, you could probably change every starting o/lineman. Not one of them could start on a “contending” football team. We won four games, hello. Do you wonder why? We don’t have one quality w/r, we have a one legged running back, and the q/b isn’t in camp yet, but will report soon. Isn’t that just great. We need a safety, we need a run stopper, we need another linebacker, we need a pass rusher. You think this team is close to fixing their problems? and the coach is pissed at the owner, what else can go wrong. Every member of the team should be in camp practicing or cut them. This team sucked and being a friend to the players like Ryan is, only hurts the discipline the team lacks. But I will be there in secion 228 again this year enjoying the tailgate party we will put together. Well, at least we can hope.
February 27th, 2008 at 7:34 am
Save for the fact a run stuffing DT has to dominate the Raiders thinking I like the potential of trading down and utilizing early draft choices on OLs. If McFadden’s star continues to loose luster and the accompanying free-fall can stop @ #4 perhaps the Raiders could retrieve Dallas’ two #1’s. Not likely but then the Raiders could draft Chris Williams, Branden Albert and Trevor Laws. Three solid, if not spectacular pcks with enough of a pedigree and upside to build around. Add Tyrell Johnson, SS from Arkansas St. (just ask Texas and Tennessee what they think) and some of the Raiders gaping holes will become a thing of the past; in the not too distant future.
Coupled with FA acquisitions like DJ Hackett, Seahawks WR and Anwon Odom, DE from Tennessee, this would give the Raiders significant momentum in which to build around. If they are able to keep the incumbent coaching staff (and accompanying offensive philosophy) intact the Raiders will possess enough “young” depth and potential to grow along with their young burgeoning “franchise QB (in the guies of Jemarcus Russell).
February 27th, 2008 at 8:12 am
It definitely makes more sense to draft “O” line starting with J. Long because Henderson is a ? and so is Carlisle’s stay. I want defense but have been pushing more for the “O” line in the past year. We need offense worse and if our 60 million dollar QB is going to survive, we better get him some protection.
February 27th, 2008 at 10:38 am
In terms of Quality, we need 2 d linemen, 3 wr, two o linemen, and a safety. we have the qb, rb te cb down. I say draft one d line and get another in FA. draft 2 o line and 1 or 2 wr and get 1 or 2 in the FA market. I still like Berrian.
February 27th, 2008 at 10:39 am
And the Raiduhs should look at whoever Detroit doesn’t sign, like Shaun McDonald (sic?).
February 28th, 2008 at 1:00 am
First of all, most teams in the NFL run mostly to the right. Why? Because, the left side of the line, mainly the LT, is reserved for pass blocking specialists. Sure, some elite LTs are good at both (Flozell), but for the most part, LTs are pass blockers first. This is why the Raiders should pick up Flozell. Even if he is not perfect for the ZB scheme, he will still hold it down against the pass rush. On the other hand, Flozell has always been mobile enough for the power rush game, and gets to the second level very well, so there is no evidence that he is not mobile enough to play the ZB scheme. I think that the people who are saying this, don’t understand the tools that Flozell has. There is no doubt that Flozell would be a huge plug in a huge need, and would allow the Raders to Focus on the other area of great need, DT.
OakFoSho
Leave a comment