Vance Walker will be the breakout player of 2013 in his new role as starting defensive tackle for the Oakland Raiders. He's a perfect fit as the 3-technique defensive tackle and will do well with Christo Bilukidi, Tommy Kelly and Pat Sims on the roster. He’s been spending the past four years as part of the Falcons roster and defensive tackle rotation. Before that, Walker was a standout defensive tackle from Georgia Tech, and I personally had him with a second-round grade in the 2009 NFL draft. When he was available in the seventh round in 2009, it was shocking. ...
Lately all the attention of the football world and the Raider nation has been on free agency and the upcoming NFL draft. The Raiders have been quiet the last few days, and there hasn't been a whole lot of news for the draft either.On that note, how about a look back into the history of the Oakland Raiders as we try to kill time in the offseason?This is a look at the five greatest coaches who have been a part of the team's history.Begin Slideshow
The Oakland Raiders have more needs than a clingy ex-girlfriend, but at least general manager Reggie McKenzie didn’t sit out the first wave of free agency. The Raiders released two players with out-of-whack contacts and signed three linebackers, two defensive tackles, two defensive backs, one defensive end and one offensive tackle. The signings lack big names, but they bring with them quality games. The Raiders added players that at the very least will play a significant role on the team in 2013. The Raiders' moves have been solid, but a few of them were also just to replace players they ...
After watching several unrestricted free agents sign with other teams so far in free agency, the Oakland Raiders made their first UFA re-signing of 2013. They brought back right tackle Khalif Barnes.Barnes has been in Oakland since 2009 and has had chances to sign elsewhere as a free agent before, yet he continues to end up back with the Raiders.In his time in Oakland, Barnes has been in and out of the starting lineup and in 2012 he struggled to stay healthy. In the nine games he did play last year, he shared the struggles of the zone-blocking scheme with ...
In 2012, Yoenis Cespedes was the most important acquisition of the Oakland A's offseason as the Cuban-born outfielder signed a four-year contract.In 2013, Hiroyuki Nakajima is the A's most important offseason acquisition. Nakajima may not have the track record of players like Chris Young and Jed Lowrie, but Nakajima will get more playing time than both of them.Nakajima, like Cespedes last year, is penciled into the A's opening day lineup as a starter at his natural position.It is unrealistic to expect Cespedes-like production out of Nakajima, but the comparisons between the two have some common ground. Nakajima is hitting just .194 ...
The first week of NFL free agency was a mixed bag for the Oakland Raiders. While they were able to sign quality players like Nick Roach, they also watched three of their best players sign elsewhere.Those top three players would be Brandon Myers, Philip Wheeler and Desmond Bryant. The Raiders also lost serviceable backups when they lost Matt Shaughnessy and Mike Goodson. On top of that, they released Michael Huff, who was arguably the best defensive back in Oakland, which isn't saying much right now, but it's still a tough loss.There is still one big-name Raider who has still yet ...
With the first week of free agency now in the books, we are starting to get a much better idea of what prospects the Oakland Raiders may look to target with their picks in the 2013 NFL Draft. Having holes on both sides of the ball, GM Reggie McKenzie will need all the picks he can get to rebuild this team. Already without both 2nd and 5th round selections, the Raiders were at least awarded a compensatory pick in the 6th round at the league meetings on Monday. While there is still quite a bit of time for free agency ...
The Oakland Raiders are trying to completely rebuild a defense that was ranked 28th in points allowed in 2012 and lost two starters to free agency. General manager Reggie McKenzie has signed a trio of linebackers to try to strengthen one of the team’s biggest weaknesses. The biggest loss this offseason was free-agent linebacker Philip Wheeler, who came to Oakland on a one-year deal last season and became one of the team’s best defenders. Wheeler replaced pass-rushing linebacker Kamerion Wimbley and became a versatile linebacker capable of stopping the run, dropping into coverage, blitzing and calling the defensive plays. Kaluka ...
Lack of free-agent signings and a general offseason inactivity will create some short-term pain within the fanbase. But it's the right path if the Oakland Raiders want to return to relevance again in the long term.After years of mediocrity, the Raiders finally have a chance to reboot the franchise and turn into one of the best teams in the NFL. They have to follow the right plan, though. That plan will lead into a bleeding of overpaid players' contracts and current talent to make way for future stars.It will turn one of the worst franchises in the NFL into a ...
More than halfway through spring training, the Oakland A's have been giving fans glimpses of what could be an even better team in 2013 than they were in 2012. In spite of the 9-10 record in the Cactus League, there are plenty of positives that provide optimism for the season ahead. So let's take it around the horn. First BaseBrandon Moss has done nothing to make A's fans lament the trade of Chris Carter to acquire Jed Lowrie. Moss has been solid defensively and has hit .333 with a home run and five RBI in 13 games. Daric Barton has been, ...