kpholmes Posted March 10, 2007 Share Posted March 10, 2007 Jerry McDonald, of ANG Newspapers, reports Oakland Raiders FB Justin Griffith signed a three-year contract worth $3.8 million. Kiffin definetly has his mind set on the power run game... Rhodes, Jordan, Crockett and now Griffin. So... wheres the O-Line?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peepinmofo Posted March 10, 2007 Share Posted March 10, 2007 Jerry McDonald, of ANG Newspapers, reports Oakland Raiders FB Justin Griffith signed a three-year contract worth $3.8 million. Kiffin definetly has his mind set on the power run game... Rhodes, Jordan, Crockett and now Griffin. So... wheres the O-Line?? Griffin... Griffith... Whatever... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Vatican Hitsquad Posted March 10, 2007 Share Posted March 10, 2007 Jerry McDonald, of ANG Newspapers, reports Oakland Raiders FB Justin Griffith signed a three-year contract worth $3.8 million. Kiffin definetly has his mind set on the power run game... Rhodes, Jordan, Crockett and now Griffin. So... wheres the O-Line?? This is what bothers me. We picked up Newberry from the Niners, but I would think we would have went after a Tackle at least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Return Of S&B Posted March 10, 2007 Share Posted March 10, 2007 (edited) http://www.nfl.com/nflnetwork/story/10033511 The Raiders reached agreement Friday evening with Atlanta 's free-agent fullback Justin Griffith on a three-year, $3.8 million contract, completing a whirlwind day of activity in Oakland. The deal is contingent upon Griffith passing his physical. Not only did the Raiders sign running back Dominic Rhodes to a two-year deal, but they also did the same with a pair of free-agent tight ends -- former Arizona Cardinal Bob Wakefield and former Cincinnati Bengal Tony Stewart. Wakefield is considered a superb blocker, while Stewart is a jack of all trades. ***************** Griffith is a solid well rounded fullback that can block as well as catch the ball out of the backfield (FBs are often utilized that way in the WCO). It probably marks the end of Crockett who turns 33 this year. Crockett is an excellent short-yardage specialist but not a great blocker or pass catcher. Griffith will be the Raiders first true traditional fullback since Ritchie during the Gruden days. I actually like this signing more than the Rhodes signing because it shows the new coaches have a plan and arent afraid to clean house. Yes, they didnt sign a big name free agent Offensive Lineman yesterday, but they have tried... OL, Jordan Black from KC was offered a contract by the Raiders this week but turned it down for less money to play in Houston. Some say he is from Texas so he wanted to play closer to home...I think he didnt want to play for his division rival. and they have succeeded in signing one to a short term deal... OC, Jeremy Newbery was signed earlier in the week. He is a Probowl Center but has had problems staying on the field the past two years. If he does last the season without injury he is a great pickup because he is a much better starter at Center than Grove ever could be. DE, Derrick Burgess had injury issues before being signed by the Raiders and going to two probowls while in Oakland, so maybe Newberry's luck will turn around. As for the linemen signed by other teams., two were non-probowlers that were grossly overpayed... Browns signed OT Eric Steinbach to seven-year contract worth $49.5 million with $17 million guaranteed. Bills agreed to terms with guard Derrick Dockery on seven-year deal worth $49 million with $18.5 million guaranteed. (FROM NFL.COM: Last year, Steve Hutchinson deal was worth $49 million for seven years with $16.5 guaranteed. Dockery (guard) matches that, and Steinbach (tackle) just beats it. Both Steinbach and Dockery got more guaranteed money than Hutchinson.) Obviously, going into the draft OL is a need, so maybe the Raiders will have to take that route to help re-build the line...because the money these free agent linemen are receiving, the Raiders don't have enough cap space for. Edited March 10, 2007 by Return Of S&B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Return Of S&B Posted March 10, 2007 Share Posted March 10, 2007 This is what bothers me. We picked up Newberry from the Niners, but I would think we would have went after a Tackle at least. As bad as Gallery was last year, Grove was worse. I truely believe he is the weak link to the Offensive line. Newberry, if he lasts throughout the season, is a huge upgrade over Grove...but he is only short-term fix. I agree Tackle is a need, but the Raiders do not have the cap space to spend 49 mil on second rate Offensive Linemen (Dockery, Steinbach). I am starting to believe that drafting OT Joe Thomas is the way to go this April because he was a solid Tackle in college and has more upside than then a lot of these Free Agents getting huge contracts....hell even our own turnstile RT, Langston Walker, got a huge contract with the Bills. Rumours has is that Simms will be moving back to LT and Gallery back to RT like it was under Norv. Gallery had a better year when he played RT. At RT Gallery wont be exposed as much as he was at LT last year because he wouldnt be going against the speed-rushers that LTs normally go against. Not saying Simms is all-pro, but he did start for Gruden and Callihan at LT when the Raiders offenses were top-10 in the league so moving him back to LT should help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Vatican Hitsquad Posted March 10, 2007 Share Posted March 10, 2007 As bad as Gallery was last year, Grove was worse. I truely believe he is the weak link to the Offensive line. Newberry, if he lasts throughout the season, is a huge upgrade over Grove...but he is only short-term fix. I agree Tackle is a need, but the Raiders do not have the cap space to spend 49 mil on second rate Offensive Linemen (Dockery, Steinbach). I am starting to believe that drafting OT Joe Thomas is the way to go this April because he was a solid Tackle in college and has more upside than then a lot of these Free Agents getting huge contracts....hell even our own turnstile RT, Langston Walker, got a huge contract with the Bills. Rumours has is that Simms will be moving back to LT and Gallery back to RT like it was under Norv. Gallery had a better year when he played RT. At RT Gallery wont be exposed as much as he was at LT last year because he wouldnt be going against the speed-rushers that LTs normally go against. Not saying Simms is all-pro, but he did start for Gruden and Callihan at LT when the Raiders offenses were top-10 in the league so moving him back to LT should help. Good points, Gallery is not jut bad on the blind side- he's a liability. So the move to the other side can't hurt, and who knows what will happen if he plays as good as "medicore" again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piratesownninjas Posted March 11, 2007 Share Posted March 11, 2007 I am starting to believe that drafting OT Joe Thomas is the way to go this April because he was a solid Tackle in college and has more upside than then a lot of these Free Agents getting huge contracts.... Wasnt this the same thing that was said about Robert Gallery? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9ersdude Posted March 11, 2007 Share Posted March 11, 2007 Is Lamont Jordan done? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Vatican Hitsquad Posted March 11, 2007 Share Posted March 11, 2007 Is Lamont Jordan done? No, but they are definately a RBBC now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NAUgrad Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 Actually after reading this, it sounds like the Raiders are starting to make some decent moves. All highly ranked tackles are supposed to be the next coming including Pace and Gallery. One worked out, one hasn't so far. If the Raiders do spend their top pick on a Tackle, this team might get better quickly. Not going after high priced average linemen is actually a smart move for the Raiders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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