May 4, 2008
Interesting things about the Oakland Raiders depth chart
Image details: San Francisco 49ers 2005 Headshots served by picapp.com
As of now, Harris is the starting left tackle.
Of all of the unique things the Raiders are known for, the one item that they're famously known for really isn't that unique. The air of mystery which is so profoundly reported, is not solely exclusive to the Raiders. Anyone that paid attention to the pre-draft hysteria could see that ALL NFL teams are constantly playing chess with each other and have secrets they love to hide. There's no doubt that the Raiders are usually better than most with their secrets. That's why it was odd when I went over to the Raiders website and found that the depth chart is already up.
First off, they must've paid a little attention to some of the complaints that Raider Nation has had with the simplicity of the site because they've added a cool little graphical representation of the depth chart. There are also some odd things about the depth chart too, and I'm not talking...Ok, so maybe the fact that Kwame Harris is listed as the starting left tackle still seems odd to me. But there are plenty of other oddities.
- QB -
- Russell
- Walter
- Meyer
- Otis
There are only two things odd about this: 1) There isn't another veteran QB to relegate Walter to third string and 2) Otis is below Meyer and he's a returning player to the team from last years' preseason.
- RB -
- Fargas
- McFadden
- Jordan
- Bush
- Echemandu
Fargas as the starter is a no-brainer, but Jordan ahead of Bush and McFadden as second string without ever putting on a jersey and stepping on the field? Some of you may not see this as an issue, but it doesn't look right to me.
- FB -
- Griffith
- O'Neal
Nothing odd about this except I guess the Hahn signing isn't official.
- WR1 -
- Walker
- McFoy
- Holland
- Buchanon
- Shields
- WR2 -
- Curry
- Carter
- Higgins
- James
- Watkins
Interesting to note that Shields is listed but Schillens is not. It's also surprising that Higgins is third on the depth chart behind Curry and not second behind Walker.
- TE -
- Miller
- Madsen
- Stewart
- Wakefield
- Strong
Nothing too different from last year.
- LT -
- Harris
- Henderson
- Wand
- Spieker
We finally find out where they project Mario Henderson. I'm surprised that a college center, Spieker, is going to move to left tackle. I'd be less surprised if he was moving to the guard position.
- LG -
- Gallery
- McQuistan
The fact that only two guys are listed here shows plenty of faith in Gallery.
- C -
- Wade
- Grove
- Boone
- Morris
No major surprise except that Boone is third on the chart. I guess it's safe to say that Grove is probably a bust. A second round pick should be the unquestioned starter by his third year.
- RG -
- Carlisle
- Rodd
Ok, so maybe I was being overly optimistic about the faith in Gallery. Either that or the Raiders have a bunch of faith in the guard position.
- RT -
- Green
- Henderson
- Palmer
- Wilson
Alright, so maybe we still don't know where Henderson is projected by the coaching staff. We do know that he's only an injury away from starting at this point.
- FS -
- Eugene
- Schweigert
- Wilson
There's no way that this is right. Is it possible they listed these guys backwards?
- SS -
- Huff
- Baker
- Cooper
- Branch
In case you're wondering, Baker was picked up off of waivers towards the end of last season from the Patriots. Nothing too surprising right now.
- CB1 -
- Hall
- Routt
- Starks
- Bowie
- CB2 -
- Asomugha
- Johnson
- Waddell
- Brown
Nothing mind blowing, but why did the Raiders waste the draft pick they got for Moss on Bowie?
- SLB -
- Thomas
- Williams
- Condo
- Gbaja-Biamilla
Thomas and Williams are exactly where they were last year. The long snapper, Condo, and Gbaja-Biamilla in the depth chart for this position is only odd because Gbaja-Biamilla had his most success as a defensive end.
- MLB -
- Morrison
- Brown
- Jackson
The only surprise is that Malik Jackson was an outside linebacker for Louisville.
- WLB -
- Howard
- Ekejiuba
- Alston
No changes from last season.
- RDE -
- Burgess
- Edwards
Kalimba Edwards is a backup to Burgess? I expected him to bookend the other side, but maybe that will come later.
- LDE -
- Richardson
- Scott
Two young guys, a rookie and a second year player on one side together while the veteran ends compete on the other. This can't be right.
- NDT -
- Sands
- Warren
- Joseph
I'm surprised that Warren isn't first on this list, at least going into preseason.
- UDT -
- Kelly
- Shaw
No surprise here, but Warren should be part of this list also since that's the position he's most comfortable with.
What's a depth chart mean right now? Hopefully, nothing. For the depth chart to have importance, the players have to be ranked by how they play. Since the Raiders have yet to step on the field together, this depth chart serves as only a starting point and it's unlikely that it will look this way at the start of the 2008 season. The only hope that the Raiders coaches, players, or fans will have is that the final depth chart has not been changed due to injury.
Discussion
16 Comments on "Interesting things about the Oakland Raiders depth chart"
#1
Posted by Thoughts from the Dark Side: Interesting things about the Oakland Raiders depth chart | The RaiderCa, May 5, 2008 12:07 AM
[...] Read more. Posted in Blog, Oakland Raiders | [...]
#2
Posted by Patrick Patterson, May 5, 2008 12:12 AM
I find it odd that McQuistan is listed as a #2 guard when he played well at right tackle last season.
#3
Posted by Interesting things about the Raider depth chart - Oakland Raiders Forum | Message Board - Where the, May 5, 2008 12:13 AM
[...] things about the Raider depth chart Thoughts from the Dark Side | MVN - an Oakland Raiders blog Blog Archive Interesting things about th... __________________ "While there is a lower class, I am in it, and while there is a [...]
#4
Posted by Spencer Mills, May 5, 2008 1:00 AM
There are definitely some surprises here.....
1. Everyone, including myself thought Huff would play FS and Wilson SS. I think this might be a mistake along with the order of FS as Rob points out.
2. Warren Backing up at the NT? I thought he would come in there on passing downs, and that could explain his placement, but he is a one gap 3 tech if there ever was one. Thats why The Donkeys traded him, cause they needed a two gap space eater and Warren is not it.
3. I too am surprised with Kalimba's placement, and still believe he will split time with Richardson more.
4.I thought Henderson would be starting at RT, and thats still possible, but 2nd is not that bad at this point for a 2nd year developmental project.
5. I though Bush would be 3rd on the dept chart, as I also thought Jordan would be gone by now. I still see his release or trade coming.
OakFoSho
#5
Posted by Rolni, May 5, 2008 4:50 AM
I think it's not how the final DC will look like!!
QB-->right and add a vet
RB-->Fargas and then Bush+DMC...Jordan will go
FB-->right
WR-->Walker,Curry,Carter,Shields,Higgins,Watkins,McFoy
TE-->right
LT-->Harris will start and hopefully will be good
LG-->Gallery no brainer he will be an elit runblocking LG
C-->right
RG-->right i think Rodd will get some playing time and maybe next year he can be our starter at RG
RT-->i think thats gonna be McQuistan or Henderson...
CB-->Aso,D-Hall,Routt,Bowie,Johnson
FS-->i think Huff will play here then Stu,Tyvon
SS-->and Gibril here and Cooper the back up
RDE-->i like J-Rich here a lot he will be a force against the run...and Kalimba will come here for passing downs
LDE-->D-Burg will start and Scott will learn...maybe Joseph comes in on running downs
NT-->Sands they are high on him, than Warren on passing downs
UT-->Kelly
SLB-->Thomas or Hartwell on run downs and Williams on pass plays
MLB-->right
WLB-->right
#6
Posted by inonewordradier, May 5, 2008 8:13 AM
This means nothing, it will be played out in the preseason. I really do hope Scott can make the team and can contribute, although Kelly sure would have looked nice at that end spot w/ Dorsey at the three tecnique (I'm still not over it)
#7
Posted by justwinbaby209, May 5, 2008 10:15 AM
Harris better do something with that ugly jersey he's wearing in that picture haha
#8
Posted by LDizzle, May 5, 2008 10:16 AM
It is my understanding that the staff is rather high on Meyer at QB. He could have Tony Romo type of potential (undrafted small school stud). That may be why he is above Otis.
Yeah the safeties do look backwards. That's funny.
They always have so many receivers in camp that they don't list all of them until some cuts are made. Schillens will be there eventually so long as someone else gets cut first.
Moving AGB to SLB could be a good thing. It might be just what he needs to succeed. Especially considering that is a position of need which may give him his best shot of making this team if he can be a tweener.
#9
Posted by LDizzle, May 5, 2008 10:17 AM
I'm just happy to see they finally have a depth chart up. I was pretty scathing when I wrote them an email saying that I have to go elsewhere to get any news on this team.
#10
Posted by Raider Blues, May 5, 2008 1:55 PM
Like I said in the Subtle Nonchalant post
Bowie for Moss was a statement to Moss to get lost! you're a liar and a bum! Play when you feel like it?!
We traded him for nothing to tell him just that. As much as everyone praised the Cheatriots for the steal of the 4th round it was M. Bush who Al picked up in the 4th round that will prove to be the steal of the 4th round not Moss.
Just Win Baby!
#11
Posted by ArtBone, May 5, 2008 8:58 PM
Kwame Harris will nit be at left tackle for long. He is not a good pass blocker. He lost his starting postion at left tackle in San Franny and then they switched him to right the last couple years and lost the starting gig last year cuz he sucks there too. He was a bust of as 1st round pick and now the RAIDERs expect him to cover the left again..oh GOD! Jemarkus better have some sort cusion for his spine. McQuistan stands a better chance covering the blind side. Kwame is better rrr..."gooder" at right then left.
#12
Posted by raidernut, May 6, 2008 12:54 AM
There is no way this is right. They don't even have rob ryan or greg knapp as a coach. I think they were just trying to make the website really nice because it really is an embarrassment compared to other teams website.
#13
Posted by silver&black88, May 6, 2008 6:42 AM
sounds like a whiner fan, how did it feel to not have a top 10 pick even though sf had a joke of a season (especially giving it to the pats)? I mean come on, at least across the bay we were competitive often. It also must feel real good knowing that we got Aso after you got your "bust" in the '03 draft. We'll take the bust because in Cable we trust.
#14
Posted by ArtBone, May 6, 2008 6:19 PM
HUh? Come again?:b Is 88 for James Adkisson or do you engage in ball bouncin?
#15
Posted by indianaraiderfan, May 7, 2008 12:25 AM
to all the fantasy football "experts", madden playing, football card collecting "kings"...
this is not afc west "poker"... get over the super bowl hangover, the RAIDERS, have improved alot of different areas to be a competitive football TEAM.
there is talent all over the roster, now it's up to the coaching to do there job... Kiffin will need a lil more than 1 year to develop consistency... especially in the second half of the season.
i look forward to the 2008 season!!
#16
Posted by eks, May 13, 2008 11:51 AM
If the O-line holds up and everyone on offense plays to their potential....scary. To see Bush and Mcfadden split along side Russell....what a site. A lot of height weight and speed. Next years draft should be nothing but o-line, d-line and maybe a receiver. But that's next year. I think given the talent for this year, Oakland stay's competitive for a wild card. 9-7
Recent Posts
More raiders Posts
Division Rivals
Regional Teams
Leave a comment