Posted on Thursday, 7/16/2009 - 6:12 p.m. PDT — by strath
So Sulak was cut because the team decided to go with experience. Okay, fine. Still, this is wrong. Granted, he's gone the way of many low draft choices (Ryan Riddle or Anttaj Hawthorne) but this guy could've been a sleeper. Wasn't he a leader in forced fumbles, something this team is sorely lacking in? Schweigert was drafted partly because he broke Rod Woodson's interception record at Purdue and he was given more of a chance. Decent numbers at the combine, no bad report from the OTAs and no negative publicity and yet he's dumped instead of a malcontent like Andrew Walter. THAT'S the puzzling part. There are more deserving cuts and I'm not including Frantz Joseph. I won't be surprised if those two start elsewhere. Greg Ellis? How does the team know he'll transition well from the 3-4 of Dallas? Decent stats and a former 1st round pick but how many years does he have left? OTOH, this still doesn't address the run defense, still the biggest weakness but it doesn't help.
Joined: Mar 2007
Current Posts: 446
I feel like I'm not putting enough time into my Raider studies. Although I recently discussed Heyward-Bey with my friend from back east who's a Maryland fan. He was surprised as we all were to see him go so high.
Joined: Sep 2006
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Take free agency last year. Why sign the headcase Javon Walker when he wasn't exactly known for his speed. Actually, I don't know what he's known for. Or how about MeAngelo Hall, not known for man coverage but Al Davis singlehandedly dashed any chances of having a decent season with what was given up to get him. At least Heyward-Bey actually makes sense because of the speed aspect but Louis Murphy should be the star of the class.
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Start studying... All things Raider... I'm disapointed...Geezus, Man!
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Why is it that this kid could be a sleeper and yet our first to reaches are already busts? We already have a young team and I'm sure one of the main reasons we cut him was because he wasn't going to make the team let alone the practice squad. He was supposed to be converted to a LB and it apparently didn't work. I don't see the big deal in cutting someone who would probably be cut anyhow just based on what we have at DE. I'm not saying that we were right in cutting him, cause I would have liked to see what he was capable of, but whats the difference if it comes now or if it comes after camp?
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Current Posts: 230
He had sleeper status because of what he did in college and where he was drafted. He was being converted to a linebacker? Maybe, just maybe the team should've drafted a linebacker then.
The main reason I was rooting for him basically comes down to money. The team has most of their salary cap in 3 players: Nnamdi (deserved), JaMarcus (starting to come around) and McFadden (2 consecutive turf toes? You've got to be kidding me). In a small market like Oakland, with a dilapidated stadium and declining fanbase, low draft picks and UDFAs definitely count. I also wonder how much dead money they have to pay out. It's because of this situation that the team can't keep people. Rashad Baker was a great find that could've fought with Michael Bush for MVP in the Bucs game last year and really helped with safety depth but he left probably because the team couldn't afford him.
Are you sure about the DE position. The best player (Burgess) has been making noise for years about his contract, is on the decline AND wants to be traded. Jay Richardson can be okay versus the run but only has flashes versus the past. Trevor Scott was a nice surprise but will there be a sophomore jinx? Derrick Gray and Gunheim? Don't know much about them. Greg Ellis? Nice veteran pickup according to a Cowboy fan I know.
So how do you feel about cutting Frantz Joseph?
Joined: Jul 2006
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From what I was reading the Raiders had tried to convert Stryker to LB. I'm with you that if we wanted to draft a LB we should have taken one and not tried to convert a DE. As a lot of us Raider fans know though we convert a lot of guys from their original positions and sometimes it works, but more often then not it doesn't.
Again, you have good points. You would think that we could use all the talent we can get, however if you think about recent history they have been pretty good about cutting guys who just don't cut it. Its their fault for picking them up in the first place, but the problem gets taken care of. Remember Quinten Moses? Or how about Darnell Bing? These were guys that a lot of people were up set about when they were cut (Maybe not Bing so much, but some people were almost in tears it seemed) I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that after watching Stryker in the OTAs they decided that it wasn't working or maybe they changed their plans.
I personally don't think were set at DE, but someone thinks that we already have the guys coming to camp. Richardson and especially Trevor Scott are highly touted by the coaches. Could Scott turn into a Tyler Brayton for us? Yea possibly, but I think the odds are in our favor that he pans out. I like the addition of Ellis and as far as Burgess goes he is going to play his arse off! You figure he is in a contract year and if he wants to get paid by the Raiders or anyone else he is going to have to have a good year.
Don't know to much about Frantz Joseph so I can't really comment much on that. Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of having bodies at training camp and having competition. I'm just saying that I'm not going to roll over because some guys got cut. Donovin Darius was a nice pickup I thought, and it turned out he didn't fit the system and thats all these might be.