Raiders Notes: Opening game a few days away
The Oakland Raiders waived offensive lineman Erik Pears to make room for recently signed defensive lineman Jay Alford.
Yamon Figurs got the opening day nod for kickoff and punt returns. “Probably just the explosiveness. He touches it, and you got a chance for something big every time. That’s a dimension, as we talked about at the end of last season, all through the spring, OTAs, through camp, was developing a return game. We have a number of good returners here. I just think right now, he’s the guy we’ll go with.,” said Tom Cable on why Figurs gets the first shot to revitalize and all but dead special teams in 2009.
Figurs deserves the start. Johnnie Lee Higgins is way too inconsistent and the veteran played well enough on special teams and on offense in the summer, earning his way onto the roster.
In a surprise, Trevor Scott, who jolted the Silver & Black last season with some solid play at linebacker, will be back at defensive end – starting!
He will get the start over Matt Shaughnessy. Scott was expected to play on the weak side of the formation at linebacker all spring, but Oakland felt better putting Quentin Groves there and moving their former draft pick back onto the line to get the best players on the field.
“It’s just getting the best 11 players on the field. That’s really what it comes down to,’’ Cable said. “And not that Matt Shaughnessy’s not, because he’s a dynamite player. This just gives us more quality depth to have on the field at all times.”
Oakland has been mum on Travis Goethel’s injury. With the league mandated disclosure policy regarding injuries, the club listed him with a lower back ailment.
Walter McFadden (hamstring) and Michael Bush (fractured thumb) are the other Raiders wounded.
Chaz Schilens will be out for Sunday.
Desmond Bryant (elbow) was limited in practice.
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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist
