Silver and Black Report

ZACH MILLER

• TIGHT END
• No: 80
• Height: 6-5
• Weight: 255
• Birth date: 12/11/1985
• College: ARIZONA STATE
• Acquired: Selected in the 2^nd round of the 2007 NFL entry draft (38^th overall)

Through the Oakland Raiders offensive struggles in recent years, the one bright spot has been tight end Zach Miller.

Since entering the league in 2007, the 24-year old improved upon his statistics every campaign. As a rookie, he tallied 44 receptions for 444 yards and three scores.

A year later, he topped those marks with a 56-catch season for 778-yards and one touchdown. Impressively enough, with the team going through instability at quarterback and defenses knowing that Miller was one of the lone threats in Oakland’s attack, the tight end posted a career high 66 receptions for 805 yards and three scores in 2009.

In October of 2009, Oakland upset the Philadelphia Eagles in front of their fan-base, highlighted by Miller’s 6-catches for 139 yards. His 86-yard touchdown catch and run – sprung by Louis Murphy’s stellar blocking – was one of the most memorable plays in recent Raiders history.

LAMARR HOUSTON

• DEFENSIVE LINEMAN
• No: 99
• Height: 6-3
• Weight: 305
• Birth date: 06/24/1987
• College: TEXAS
• Acquired: Selected in the 2^ND round of the 2010 NFL entry draft (44^TH overall)

The Oakland Raiders selected University of Texas defensive lineman Lamarr Houston with the 44^th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Entry draft.

In his career as a collegiate, Houston began as a quick end, but ended as a physical interior defender that won battles along the line of scrimmage. A three-time member of the University of Texas’ Athletics Director’s Honor Roll, Houston is an instinctive pass rusher with a wide base against the run, with an ability to locate the ball quickly. Houston’s vision and solid football I.Q allowed the Longhorns to stunt him often and vary assignments along the trenches.

Houston appeared in 50-games at Texas, starting 12 at defensive end and 21 at tackle. On 60 run plays directed at him, Houston held the ball carrier to 24-yards (0.40 yards per carry) for only two first downs and no touchdowns. He killed eight scoring drives with one fourth down and seven third down stuffs.

In Oakland’s recent minicamp, Houston made a name for himself with aggressive play, attitude and energy. He got into it with offensive lineman Langston Walker, and veteran running back Rock Cartwright shouted at the rookie for his nasty streak.

“That’s one of the things on film – we saw his motor. It’s just the relentless play time after time, and I think that’s important,” said Tom Cable.

WALTER MCFADDEN

• CORNERBACK
• No: 22
• Height: 5-10
• Weight: 180
• Birth date: 01/21/1987
• College: AUBURN
• Acquired: Selected in the 5^th round of the 2010 NFL entry draft (138^th overall)

The Oakland Raiders chose defensive back Walter McFadden with the 138^th overall selection in the 2010 draft. While at Auburn, McFadden earned one of the starting cornerback spots during his junior season. Known for his playmaking in the secondary, three of his nine interceptions went for scores, including a school record 100-yarder against Northwestern in the 2010 Outback Bowl.

McFadden played in 49-games at Auburn, starting his final 25 contests at left cornerback. In 2009, he was an All-SEC first team selection, while also adding All-American honorable mention from the NFL Draft Report.

In the Silver & Black’s minicamp last weekend, McFadden continued showing a nose for the football and displayed enough in his first outing that he could potentially be a contributor early in his career.

The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted McFadden’s brother –Bryant – in 2005, starting at cornerback for them during their Super Bowl before departing to Arizona in 2009.

JARED VELDHEER

• TACKLE
• No: 68
• Height: 6-8
• Weight: 312
• Birth date: 06/14/1987
• College: HILLSDALE
• Acquired: Selected in the 3^rd round of the 2010 NFL Draft (69^th overall)

With the 69^th overall selection in the 2010 NFL Draft, the Oakland Raiders selected Jared Veldheer out of Hillsdale College. The 2009 All-American selection and Super Three Region’s top vote getter for the Gene Upshaw Award (given to the top offensive lineman in the small college ranks) was one of the tallest to come out of the collegiate ranks in recent years. Veldheer has been described by scouts to have solid quickness off the snap, a long wingspan and a hard punch to neutralize edge rushers.

Only the 5^th player selected out of the small college, the 6’8, 312 pound talent from Grand Rapids Michigan started all 46-games he played in at left tackle. In his last 2-years, Veldheer produced 216 knockdowns, 30 touchdown resulting blocks and an 85.5% grade for blocking consistency.

Oakland is giving Veldheer a look at the tackle position. And prior to the draft, the Raiders owner already had his eyes on the prospect. “It was a great honor to meet a football legend like Mr. [Al] Davis,” Veldheer said. “He said he had watched my tape and liked the way I played. He discussed with me how he wants to win another Super Bowl. I told him I’m definitely on board with that.”

JASON CAMPBELL

• QUARTERBACK
• No: 8
• Height: 6-5
• Weight: 230
• Birth date: 12/31/1981
• College: AUBURN
• Acquired: Via trade with the Washington Redskins (4^th round pick in 2012 draft)

The Oakland Raiders made a splash on draft weekend when they acquired Jason Campbell. The former 25^th overall selection in the 2005 draft spent five years in Washington, playing in 52-games, compiling 10,860 passing yards and 55 touchdowns. “I look at this as getting to start over,” said Campbell. “I talked to Mr. [Al] Davis, and he wanted me for two years. He wants me to help their team to a new level.”

At 28, Campbell has the starting experience and ability to grab a hold of the starting role in Oakland and give the Raiders something they have not had in a long time – stability under center.

In 2009, he topped all his career marks with 327 completions, 507 attempts, 3.618 passing yards, 20 touchdowns a completion percentage of 64.5% and a rating of 86.4. Campbell has managed to start every game the last two years and improve on his statistics every campaign since entering the pros.

Upon his arrival in Oakland, Campbell received a one-year extension through 2011.

JACOBY FORD

• WIDE RECEIVER
• No: 12
• Height: 5-9
• Weight: 185
• Birth date: 07/27/1987
• College: CLEMSON
• Acquired: Selected in the 4^TH round (109^th overall) of the 2010 NFL Entry Draft

The Oakland Raiders traded up to the 109^th overall slot in the 2010 draft to take the speedster out of Clemson. In 2008-09, Jacoby Ford was a NCAA 60-meters indoor champion and had a streak of 18 straight victories in 60 and 100-meter races as a collegiate.

Ford started 27-of-48 games at Clemson, catching 143 passes for 1,986 yards and sixteen touchdowns. He also carried the ball 58 times for 494 yards and two scores. The return specialist tallied 479-yards and two touchdowns in 49 punt return attempts.

In his senior season, he started at flanker leading the team with a career high 56-receptions for 779 yards. He also carried the football 18-times for 122 yards.

In Oakland, he’ll try to polish his route running and become more of a consistent target for a team in need of an upgrade and explosion at wide receiver. His size makes him a good option in the slot, in an attempt to lose him in traffic, get him in space, giving him the football in the open field on shorter routes in order for the swift playmaker to use his speed and mimic similar situations that occur during returns. Tom Cable has stated that he expects Ford to compete for both punt and kickoff return duties.

BRUCE CAMPBELL

• OFFENSIVE LINE
• No: 74
• Height: 6’6”
• Weight: 315
• Birth date: 05/25/1988
• College: MARYLAND
• Acquired: Selected in the 4^TH round (106^TH overall) of the 2010 NFL Entry Draft

The Oakland Raiders got one of the most chiseled and athletically gifted linemen in the 2010 draft when they selected Bruce Campbell. Campbell started 17-of-27 games while at Maryland and in his starting assignments, the tackle recorded 116 knockdowns/key blocks with eleven touchdown resulting blocks.

Months before the draft, pundits and draft experts pegged him Oakland’s first round draft selection, instead the Silver & Black got good value on the draft’s final day by choosing a player at an area they had a need at. He stated after the draft, “I always feel like I have something to prove ever since the talk…ever since the combine where people said I was just a workout warrior. I always felt like all that stuff is good, but I am actually a good football player. So now I can prove to everybody that I am a good football player thanks to the Raiders.”

Oakland gave him time at guard in their recent minicamp in an attempt to give him more reps with the second team. “We need to expose him a little bit,” head coach Tom Cable said.

“This is actually my first time playing offensive guard and my first time on the right side,” Campbell stated. “Its just football. It’s still the same thing, just that I have a little more help and I’m inside. It’s not that bad at all.”

ROLANDO MCCLAIN

• LINEBACKER
• No: 55
• Height: 6’3”
• Weight: 255
• Birth date: 07/14/1989
• College: ALABAMA
• Acquired: Selected in the 1^st round (8^th overall) of the 2010 NFL Entry Draft

The Oakland Raiders selected Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain with the 8^th overall selection in April’s draft.

At middle linebacker for the Alabama Crimson Tide, McClain was part of Nick Saban’s first recruiting class, quickly becoming the signal caller on defense and eventually winning the Butkus Award in 2009. The unanimous All-American first team selection becomes the first linebacker to be taken by the Silver & Black since Napoleon Harris, who was chosen in the first-round in 2002.

At 6’3, 254 pounds, McClain provides the Raiders with bulk and playmaking ability in the middle of the formation.

McClain replaced Kirk Morrison and quickly gained the respect of teammates: “Man, he’s bigger than I thought he was,’’ veteran linebacker Thomas Howard stated of the rookie. “He works hard, he’s a smart player and he jumped right in and he was able to control the defense. Like a middle linebacker is supposed to, he has great feet to be such a big guy, humble, hard worker.”

He talked about what he will bring to Oakland when he got drafted: “Just my intensity, not just as a football player but as a leader, teammate and friend to these guys. I’m accustomed to winning. I know these guys are, and just ready to get back to winning the way we used to win. I know the Raiders haven’t had a great season the past few years, but I mean, hey, everything’s made to turn around, everything happens for a reason, and I think Coach Cable as well as myself and a lot of these other guys are gonna turn this program around, and we’re gonna get back to winning, get back to the playoffs, get back to having fun and playing good football.”

TODD WATKINS

• WIDE RECEIVER
• NO: 19
• Height: 6’2”
• Weight: 190
• Birth date: 06/22/1983
• Hometown: San Diego, CA
• College: Brigham Young University (BYU)
• Acquired: Claimed off waivers February 13, 2008

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RONALD CURRY

• WIDE RECEIVER
• No: 89
• Height: 6’2”
• Weight: 210
• Birth date: 05/28/1979
• College: North Carolina
• Acquired: Selected in the 7^th round (235^th overall) of the 2002 NFL Entry Draft  

 Ronald Curry went from the practice squad, to being a key cog in the Oakland Raiders offense. Upon entering the league, Curry had no position which to latch on to, so the Silver & Black utilized him as a scout quarterback, on special teams as a returner, with some brief glimpses in the secondary as well, in order to take advantage of the great athleticism he possessed.

 In 2003, he played 15-games, only starting twice at wide receiver, but he led the special teams unit with 17 tackles. When 2004 arrived, Oakland quickly learned that their patience would be worthwhile as Curry compiled 50 receptions for 670 yards and six scores while becoming a go to guy for then quarterback Kerry Collins.

 His shinning moment that season was during a Sunday night match-up versus the Denver Broncos. Curry torched Oakland’s rival for 110 yards receiving, and with the Silver & Black trailing, his amazing one-handed grab in the back of the end zone during a snow storm cut the lead to 24-19 and provided Raider fans with one of the memorable moments in recent team history. The Raiders eventually won that game, and the winning score in the 4^th quarter was set up by a Curry 63-yard grab.

 Since, he has sustained Achilles injuries that have kept him off the field for extended periods, has been hindered this off-season by foot ailments, but his work ethic and unwavering determination is what has made him a productive NFL target and a fan favorite.

 In 2006 and 2007, Curry amassed a combined 117 catches, 1,444 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns, while being one of the better 3^rd down converters in the league.