Silver and Black Report

NICK MILLER

• WIDE RECEIVER/RETURNER
• No: 89
• Height: 5-9
• Weight: 180
• Birth date: 03/29/1987
• College: Southern Utah
• Acquired: Signed as a free agent in 2009

In his rookie season, Oakland Raiders specialist Nick Miller spent most of his campaign inactive after he was diagnosed with shin splints and later with a tibia fracture. The Silver & Black waited till December to place him on injured reserve after performing well in  training camp and good games  as a return man during pre-season action.

At Southern Utah, Miller tallied 55 receptions for 763 yards and 3 scores as a senior. He was named the Great West Conference Special Teams Player of the Year in 2008.

Oakland has waited a year for him to heal. And with an anemic kickoff return team in 2009, the Raiders hope that Miller can add some pop in 2010. But he’ll have to beat a slew of talents (Yamon Figurs, Jacoby Ford, Johnnie Lee Higgins to name a few)  this summer to get that opportunity.

JOHN OWENS

• TIGHT END
• No: 86
• Height: 6-3
• Weight: 255
• Birth date: 01/10/1980
• College: Notre Dame
• Acquired: Signed as a free agent in 2010

Nine-year veteran John Owens signed with the Oakland Raiders during the 2010 off-season. Primarily a blocking tight end, the 30-year old will try to earn a spot on the roster competing against Tony Stewart. Oakland wants to free up Zach Miller more and add some bulk to the edge of the offensive line in support of Hue Jackson’s ground attack.

The Detroit Lions originally selected Owens in the 5th round of the 2002 draft. Since, he has played for the Chicago Bears, Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks.

In his career, Owens has tallied 22 receptions for 178 yards and one score.

CHARLIE FRYE

• QUARTERBACK
• No: 3
• Height: 6-4
• Weight: 220
• Birth date: 08/28/1981
• College: Akron
• Acquired: Signed as a free agent on June 8, 2009

The Cleveland Browns selected Charlie Frye with the 67^th overall choice in the 2005 NFL draft. That season, he made his debut in week-13 versus the Jacksonville Jaguars and set a club rookie record with a 136.7 passer rating. A few weeks later, he led Cleveland to a 9-7 win against the Oakland Raiders. His final stats: 21-of-32 for 198 yards 0 touchdowns and 1 interception.

In 2006, he played in 12-games tallying 2,454 passing yards with 10 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. Against the Raiders that season, Frye completed 22-of-32 passes for 192 yards with 3 scores and 2 interceptions, in a 24-21 road victory for the Browns.

Frye went from starter to being traded in a matter of two days early in 2007. He was benched before halftime during the Cleveland Browns opener that season and the following Tuesday, they moved him to Seattle for a sixth round draft choice.

In December of 2009, the Silver & Black went with Frye in favor of JaMarcus Russell after Bruce Gradkowski was lost for the season. But against the Broncos, Frye was hurt and he was limited due to the trauma, even limping around during his performance against the Baltimore Ravens in the season finale before bowing out in that contest.

STANFORD ROUTT

• CORNERBACK
• No: 26
• Height: 6-1
• Weight: 195
• Birth date: 07/26/1983
• College: HOUSTON
• Acquired: Selected in the 2^nd round (38^th overall) of the 2005 NFL draft

Stanford Routt has been a starter and reserve player for the Oakland Raiders since he entered the league in 2005. Prior to playing at the pro level, Routt was a track and football performer in Houston and his 4.25 40-yard dash time at the Combine caught the eye of the Silver & Black.

As a rookie, Routt saw action in 14-games with two starts and in 2006, he tallied his first career interception.

This off-season, as a restricted free agent, Routt received a first and third-round tender. He is scheduled to make $3.268 million in 2010. Routt practiced with the team during minicamp, and in the summer, he’ll battle for a spot in the Raider rotation against rookie Walter McFadden, Joey Thomas and first year player Jeremy Ware.

CHRIS JOHNSON

• CORNERBACK
• No: 37
• Height: 6-1
• Weight: 200
• Birth date: 09/25/1979
• College: LOUISVILLE
• Acquired: Signed as a free agent on March 19, 2007

In February of 2009, the Oakland Raiders re-signed cornerback Chris Johnson to a four-year deal worth $11.3 million. Johnson cashed in on his three interceptions, 12 passes defended and forced fumble after replacing the dumped DeAngelo Hall midway through the 2008 season. His man-to-man prowess, the typical style Oakland has preferred through the years, was something Hall never adjusted to, and surely an approach that Raider owner Al Davis likes seeing on the field.

The former seventh round pick of the Green Bay Packers was actually one of the better defenders as that campaign wound down and his loyalty to the Raiders was a deciding factor on why he would remain in Silver & Black.

“It was the best opportunity for him,” agent Anthony Brown said. “His loyalty was to Mr. Davis for all the wonderful things he’s done for him.”

Johnson has the tough task of being the opponent’s main target in the secondary with Nnamdi Asomugha playing on the other side of the field. In 2009, he posted a career high 59-tackles, 18 passes defended and 3 interceptions.

He also provided one of the better quotes of the year when he stated, “If you really want to look at it, you can go 8-0 and you might end up 10-6. There’s a possible way you can actually do it.”

LOUIS MURPHY

• WIDE RECEIVER
• No: 18
• Height: 6-2
• Weight: 200
• Birth date: 05/11/1987
• College: FLORIDA
• Acquired: Selected in the 4^th round (124^th overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft

Oakland Raiders wide receiver Louis Murphy was one of the few bright spots in a dreadful 2009 campaign. The rookie posted 34-receptions for 521-yards and 4 touchdowns, all team leading stats on the receiving corps.

Some of Murphy’s best moments came in big spots; especially during Oakland’s victory at Pittsburgh, scoring from 75-yards late in the 4^th quarter and the game winning touchdown with nine seconds left from 11-yards to seal the win. In his first game as a pro, Murphy almost was the Raiders savior with a 57-yard touchdown haul with 2:34 remaining on a 4^th and 14, but the San Diego Chargers scored as time wound down, preventing the Florida product from being the hero in that contest.

Murphy had his ups and downs, but on a grounded aerial attack, he showed good spirit and enough production to project him as a solid prospect that may contribute to this team in a major capacity.

He even impacted the team with his blocking, springing Zach Miller loose for 86-yards and a score with two vital blocks on the same play against the Philadelphia Eagles.

JEREMY WARE

• CORNERBACK
• No: 23
• Height: 5-10
• Weight: 185
• Birth date:
• College: MICHIGAN STATE
• Acquired: Selected in the 7^th round (215^th overall) in the 2010 NFL Draft

After a stellar pro day at Michigan State, Jeremy Ware impressed the Oakland Raiders enough that they used a 7^th round choice on the speedy defender. His 4.37 seconds 40-yard dash put Ware on the map earlier in the spring, as he felt that the Silver & Black could be a landing spot. “Oakland’s coaches indicated they really like me speed, my ability to tackle in the open field and my ability to play man-to-man coverage,” Ware said after the draft.

As a senior, he appeared in all 13 contests, starting 12, garnering honorable mention All-Big Ten by coaches after posting a career high in tackles (52) and two sacks.

He originally enrolled at South Carolina in 2005 where he was red-shirted before transferring to the Spartans in 2006. Ware missed most of 2007 with a shoulder injury, but then played in 12 games the following campaign.

Ware was awarded the President’s Award for Perseverance his final year in Michigan State.

MANASE TONGA

• FULLBACK
• No: 41
• Height: 5-11
• Weight: 245
• Birth date: 02/28/1984
• College: BYU
• Acquired: Signed as an un-drafted free agent in April 2010

Manase Tonga signed a free agent deal with the Oakland Raiders after the 2010 NFL Draft. The San Mateo, California native earned letterman honors as a senior at Brigham Young University, seeing action in 12-games and rushing for 166 yards on 40-attempts while also recording 271 receiving yards and totaling eight touchdowns.

The versatile fullback finished his collegiate career with 696 rushing yards (3.9 yards per carry), 799 receiving yards and 22 scores (16 on the ground and 6 via the pass).

While at the NFL combine, the fullback was described as an adequate blocker while in college that needs to improve on his techniques to become a functional performer at the pro level. His nimble feet and traits as an offensive threat are a plus, but his lack of range and blocking deficiencies are what need to improve for Tonga to make a NFL roster.

PAUL HUBBARD

• WIDE RECEIVER
• No: 16
• Height: 6-2
• Weight: 225
• Birth date: 06/12/1985
• College: WISCONSIN
• Acquired: Signed as an undrafted free agent following the 2009 NFL Draft

In September of 2009, the Oakland Raiders added the athletically gifted Paul Hubbard, who was looked at as a raw player that needed a lot of development.

A former 6^th round draft selection (2008 Draft) of the Cleveland Browns, Hubbard played his college football at Wisconsin where he posted a 4.38 in the 40-yard dash at the school’s Pro Day. While in minicamp with the Browns, Hubbard stated, “I’m trying to fit in on this team any way possible. Whether it’s on special teams or if they need another receiver to come in and give one of the other guys a break. I can go in there and make sure something good happens — whether it is blocking or if they decide to throw the ball. I’m going to know my plays and I’m going to know what to do.”

While in high school, Hubbard was a teammate of San Diego Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson.

JEROME BOYD

• SAFETY
• No: 30
• Height: 6-2
• Weight: 225
• Birth date: 05/26/1986
• College: OREGON
• Acquired: Signed as an undrafted free agent following the 2009 NFL Draft

The Oakland Raiders added Jerome Boyd after the 2009 draft, inking the then linebacker before he was released on September 5^th, 2009 and then re-signed to the practice squad the following day. At the end of the season, Boyd was promoted to the active roster, but was a non-factor on the field.

While in college, he was a two-time Honorable mention All-Pac 10 (2007-2008). Boyd was clocked running a 4.33 in the 40-yard dash in Oregon. In his final season, he was fifth on the team with 80-tackles, fighting through injuries and ailments all campaign which led him to receive the Bob Officer Award as the program’s player who excelled despite adversity and injury.