Raider’s Coach Tom Cable Speaks to Media About his 53-Man Roster
During a teleconference with local media today, Raiders Head Coach Tom Cable addressed to key questions regarding who made the cut and how didn’t and why.
One of the more surprising cuts was quarterback Jeff Garcia. Hindered with a reported calf injury sustained during camp (I said reported because I was there in camp during the time he “injured” himself, and I didn’t how he had hurt it). But that’s neither here nor there. The fact remains that he is no longer with the team. “First and foremost, we’re committed to JaMarcus Russell as our starter. I think when you look at the preseason and the practices in camp and the games that we’ve played, all four of the games, 3 of the 4 which Bruce [Gradkowski] and Charlie [Frye] played in, they were probably the most productive in terms of scoring points and moving this football team,” explained head coach Tom Cable. That much was clearly evident just by watching the preseason games.
The one thing that stood out during the initial reported calf injury in training camp, Garcia seemed melancholy; more dejected than a QB should be with just a calf strain. Last I remember, quarterbacks don’t throw with their calf and certainly shouldn’t have been an issue in certain training camp sessions where the practices were more half-speed walk-thru’s than the other full bore practices that he abstained from as well. Perhaps Garcia saw how this drama was playing out. Cable later said, “And I think the fact that whether or not he’s comfortable in his role as a backup…it is what it is. We know that JaMarcus is our guy and those are the two guys [Gradkowski and Frye] that did a great job in terms of performing on game day.”
And as to any rumors of Garcia wanting out, Cable responded, “There was some talk about whether or not how he would fit in to all that, but for right now the best way for me to approach it was the fact that those other two guys had played so well and we’re committed to JaMarcus.”
The other hotly debated competition with members of Raiderfans.net was which running back to we keep; Louis Rankin or Gary Russell? As I pointed out yesterday in my 53-man roster prediction, I chose Rankin over Russell because I remembered what coach Cable talked about all through camp; that he wanted versatile guys and team speed. Of the two backs, Rankin more fit that criteria because of his top end speed and him seemingly unable to be caught from behind after giving defenders the “circle button” move at the line of scrimmage to eaither break tackles or simply just to try to break a defender’s ankles like a Tim Hardaway cross-over manuever on the basketball court. “…It came down to production. That was a tough call no question. Gary Russell is a fine football player as is Rankin. I think the fact that with the release of Justin Miller, needing to make sure we had some depth at the kickoff return spot probably was part of the difference. But certainly Louis Rankin…he’s been pretty solid the whole way through and his improvement as a blocker I think is what put him on this football team,” said Cable. I however feel that keeping Rankin gives the Raiders an additional dynamic runner who has more of a running style of incumbent runninng back Justin Fargas. The difference being that Rankin is faster, can change directions on a dime, is younger and comes cheaper.
Other players cut were:
S Jerome Boyd
DB Darrick Brown
DE Greyson Gunheim
WR Jonathan Holland
OL James Marten
LB David Nixon
LB Slade Norris
LB Chris O’Neil
RB Marcel Reece
RB Gary Russell
K Ricky Schmitt
TE Darrell Strong
OL Marc Wilson
DT Ryan Boschetti
Jeff Garcia
Morlon Greenwood
Justin Miller
Terdell Sands
Seth Wand
Waived for injury:
Michael Hawkins
John Wade
Rashad Baker
