In his article here, he quoted Groves as saying, “I might sign to another team next year.”

Groves continued: “You know, this league is funny. You can be here one year and gone the next. I could be here one day and gone the next. That’s the funny thing about this league. I pray I’m back though.”

The former Jaguar just wrapped up his second year with the Raiders. He started the campaign as a starter, but was replaced in the line-up when acquired Aaron Curry from the Seattle Seahawks before the trade-deadline.

“Yeah, I have no hard feeling toward the organization for what they did,” Groves said. “They went out and searched and found a better player, who’s a more natural hitter, put him in that spot and he did great so, I have no doubts, no regrets, nothing sad to say about that.”

Tyvon Branch touched on a few topics, mainly the team’s lack of discipline.

“Just getting smarter, go back and watch the film, see how we were making mistakes, the offsides and PIs and personal fouls. Try to eliminate those things,” said the free agent to be whom Hue Jackson wants back.

Cooper Carlisle put things in perspective, stating, “It’s definitely tough to swallow. If we win that game, we’re preparing for Pittsburgh. Instead, I’m cleaning shoes out of the locker.”

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Today, we look at who should give thanks for what has occurred so far this season in Silver & Black:

Michael Bush, RB

He’ll easily surpass Darren McFadden this weekend as the team’s leading rusher, as Bush is currently sitting on 599 yards, while the starter has been stuck with 614 since he got injured. Bush can enter free agency at the end of the campaign and land a hefty contract based on this year’s performances. He was projected as a first round draft choice prior to his senior season at Louisville, but a broken right leg derailed that. Now, Bush is in line to make up for some of that lost money.

Carson Palmer, QB

Pulled out of retirement, the former Bengal passer now has a new lease on life. He’s on a winning club that has high expectations in the coming years. Palmer has a stable of offensive talent, a secure left side of the offensive line and a head coach that wanted him badly. He got his wishes – out of Cincinnati and on a team that is an upstart.

Aaron Curry, LB

In the doghouse at Seattle, Curry was another acquisition the Raiders made in-season that landed them a starter. The former first round draft pick is playing better football, has fit in with Oakland and has a chance to head to the playoffs, instead of floundering on the depth chart on a four win team.

The Raider Offense…

Should be thankful for Jared Veldheer’s maturation into one of the better left tackles in the AFC. They also would like Stefen Wisnieski’s seamless transition to the pros at left guard and his ability to slide into the center spot when needed, Samson Satele’s steady presence and Cooper Carlisle and Khalif Barnes’ underrated play along the right side.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh, WR

Should give thanks to Palmer and Hue Jackson – both integral reasons why he has a job at this point in the season.

Stanford Routt, CB

The cornerback won’t make the Pro Bowl nor will he receive notoriety for his play, especially since the defensive backfield has allowed a lot of yardage in 2011. But, Nnamdi Asomugha’s high contract demands opened the door for him to land his big deal and has given him a shot to be the key corner in Oakland’s schemes.

Kamerion Wimbley, LB

Wants to give thanks to the San Diego Chargers. Prior to his four-sack performance on Thursday night a few weeks back, he was sitting on two sacks and appeared lost in Oakland’s defense.

Sebastian Janikowski, K

He gives thanks to a powerful left leg and the thin air at Denver. He is now part owner of the league’s longest field goal.

Raiders passing attack…

Is thankful for having Denarius Moore. The rookie could wind up as the team’s leading pass catcher. Yes, he was a fifth round selection.

Chaz Schilens, WR

Would like to thank Warren Sapp for being so boisterous about the Silver & Black. No one outside of Oakland would have known who the receiver was if not for his rant about the future Hall of Famer.

The Raider Nation…

Gives thanks to Al Davis, his life and legacy, which will be forever synonymous with the Oakland Raiders.

Hue Jackson

The head coach should give thanks to Jason Campbell, for being such a professional, especially after Oakland quickly acquired Palmer, following the former starter’s injury.

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QUARTERBACK: F

Jason Campbell had a dreadful afternoon for the Oakland Raiders. He opened the first quarter with some positive plays, releasing the football with a defender on him to Michael Bush on a 3^rd and 6 after evading initial pressure in the pocket, scrambling for 9-yards on a 3^rd and 8 and using his legs to extend plays on other downs. But between the 1:05 mark of the 1^st quarter till the final quarter, Campbell did not complete a pass. His other completions of note; a 2^nd and 8, 8-yard completion to Darrius Heyward-Bey with a lineman converging on him and another dump off to Bush for 6-yards on a 2^nd and 7. On Campbell’s first interception, he tried fitting the football into a small window to his tight end, but Manny Lawson had positioning on Zach Miller. He showed poor awareness at the start of the 4^th quarter when he was almost sacked for a safety. On 3^rd and 3 late, Campbell was on target to Jacoby Ford, but the ball bounced of the rookie and into the hands of Takeo Spikes. The final stats: 8-of-21 for 83-yards, 2 interceptions and a rating of 10.7.

RUNNING BACKS/FULLBACKS: C

Michael Bush filled in as a starter for the injured Darren McFadden once again. He ended with an average of 2.4 yards per carry. The 47-yards were a non-threat to the 49ers, which got to Bush in the backfield often and slowed him down at the line of scrimmage. Marcel Reece was a no-show in the passing attack. Oakland curiously went to the fullback on their opening drive on 3^rd and goal at the back of the end zone, but to no avail. Reece was flagged for holding early in the 3^rd quarter, stalling a Raider drive.

WIDE RECEIVERS & TIGHT ENDS: F

Raider wide receivers have tallied only 10-receptions in their last three games. Going against a secondary that has allowed 227.6 passing yards per game, more should be expected out the under-developed targets. Heyward-Bey again dropped a pass and was overwhelmed at the line of scrimmage against physical cornerbacks and Louis Murphy’s lone contribution of note was drawing a pass interference flag on Shawntae Spencer on the game’s opening play (46-yard penalty) and gaining 43-yards on a reverse. Zach Miller did not record his first reception until midway in the 4^th quarter. The tight end converted on a 3^rd and 8 with a 22-yard catch and on the ensuing play, he demonstrated great concentration getting his hands on a deflection by Taylor Mays for 26-yards. Oakland’s targets needed to show up today. With Miller double covered, as the 49er coaching staff promised and McFadden out of the game, the aerial attack was all but dead and the receivers were ghosts once again.

OFFENSIVE LINE: F

The line was pushed around and failed to sustain any continuity in the ground game. Campbell used his legs far too often to avoid sacks and extend plays. Even when Campbell connected on tosses, he had a defender on him. San Francisco could’ve tallied more than two-sacks this afternoon if not for the mobility of the Oakland passer. Robert Gallery starter and played with no ill effects of the hamstring injury he sustained week-one. Parys Haralson beat Cooper Carlisle on a sack and Khalif Barnes was needed on several plays for added bulk.

DEFENSIVE LINE: D

The front four did a nice job of limiting the 49ers on the ground in the first half. San Francisco managed only 28-yards rushing at intermission, but the constant pounding and demoralizing second half effected their play, as Frank Gore ended with 149-rushing yards, 64 of them on the first play of the 49ers drive after Oakland chopped their lead to 10-9 with 8:21 remaining. A few plays later, Alex Smith connected with Vernon Davis for a 17-yard score and a 17-9 advantage. Matt Shaughnessy was the unit’s best performer on Sunday, versus the run and as a pass rusher, tallying 4-tackles a one sack. Lamarr Houston was flagged for a hit on the helmet and Richard Seymour was infracted a couple of times for offsides. Tommy Kelly notched a sack and at times got some good push in the middle of the 49er front.

LINEBACKERS: D

Rolando McClain had one tackle of note late in the game for a loss, but at that point Gore had done most of his damage. In coverage, the rookie played his best on a 3^rd and 13 in which he locked in on Gore out of the backfield and almost recorded his first career interception. Kamerion Wimbley had three-solo tackles, but rarely did he get to Smith on blitzes. Trevor Scott was the best of the bunch for a second straight week. Scott is proving to be a better weak side linebacker than defensive end.

SECONDARY: D

Nnamdi Asomugha almost landed with an interception on a 3^rd and 3 when covering Michael Crabtree. He covered Davis in the red-zone and was the best Raider defender in a shaky secondary. Chris Johnson also had a few assignments on Davis; playing him best on a 3^rd and 7 knocking him out of bounds to end a drive. Tyvon Branch and Michael Huff had a tough day covering at the back-end. Hiram Eugene was in the defensive backfield and sprinting towards Davis on his 17-yard score that made the game 17-9.

SPECIAL TEAMS: C

Ted Ginn Jr. had 85-total yards of returns. Jacoby Ford had what could have been a momentum swinging 47-yard kick return after the 49ers went up 10-6 on Crabtree’s 32-yard score. But Stevie Brown was flagged for an illegal block in the back. Oakland punted 3-plays later. Shane Lechler showed off his powerful leg with 6-punts that averaged 53.5 per. Sebastian Janikowski was 3-for-3 with a long of 40-yards.

COACHING: D

Oakland had a few stints of being very aggressive with their play calling; opening the contest with a flea flicker and the reverse for big yardage with Murphy. Other times, they went into a cocoon and played too conservatively. Hue Jackson’s play calling left a lot to be desired in many spots, especially in the red-zone, where Oakland continues to struggle, highlighted by a play early in the game in which Marcel Reece was their main option out of the backfield in the end zone. On defense, John Marshall had his share of blitz packages, especially on running downs. But many times, they threatened with extra defenders but only rushed four against a passer that needed to be rattled. Oakland was flagged 8 times for 60-yards, lost to winless club and failed again to notch back-to-back victories. Miek Singletary’s team shot themselves in the foot just as many times and hung around enough to take advantage of a lackluster Raider performance on offense. At one point in the third quarter, the 49ers had more penalty yards (123) than Oakland had total offense (119). All of that falls on Tom Cable. After Gore’s huge run, Oakland’s balloon was deflated. A lowly offensive output (179-total yards of offense), 5-of-15 on 3^rd downs and two turnovers are all indicators of a team not ready to take that next step.

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

QUARTERBACK – C-

JaMarcus Russell’s accuracy problems were on display on Monday night. On a few occasions, he overthrew or sailed passes that were nowhere near his intended targets. The hefty passer was 8-of-18 in the first half for 111 yards, one interception and a 41.7 rating. Some of his highlights include; an 11-yard pass to Zach Miller on 3^rd and 7, and on the Raiders second drive, Russell scanned the field after play-action, finding Miller for 30 yards. He even showed some out of pocket awareness, rolling away from pressure at times to rid himself of the football and running for 4-yards on a 3^rd and 3. Russell ended 12-of-30 for 208 yards, 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. The offense was stagnant because of his wild throws at times, but to his credit, on 4^th and 14 with over 2 minutes remaining in the game, he hit his rookie target for a clutch 57-yard touchdown pass that gave the Raiders a 20-17 lead.

RUNNING BACKS – B+

Darren McFadden almost showed his whole repertoire. The speedster had 17 carries for 68 yards; running with power between the tackles, showing his burst through lanes and to the edges and even laying some vicious blocks. His fumble in the 2^nd quarter led to a San Diego touchdown. Michael Bush scored the game’s first touchdown and ended with 55-yards rushing. The product out of Louisville keyed a big play on Oakland’s second quarter scoring drive. On 3^rd and 10, Bush picked up a blitzing linebacker, allowing Russell to connect with Louis Murphy for 15-yards on 3^rd and 10. Six plays later, Oakland took a 10-7 lead.

WIDE RECEIVERS & TIGHT ENDS – C

If not for Louis Murphy and Zach Miller, this would be an ‘F’ grade. Miller was in pro-bowl form, tallying 96-yards on 6 receptions. Murphy was shafted out of his 2^nd quarter touchdown. But he bounced back to finish with 87-yards on 4 grabs. His touchdown late in the game would have been one of the more memorable moments in recent Raiders history if not for the collapse of the defense. Darrius Heyward-Bey was non-existent. The first-round draft choice dropped a nice gainer on a 1^st and 10 after the Chargers tied the game at 7. His speed down the field did facilitate an illegal contact infraction on Quentin Jammer on 3^rd and 10, who locked in on the receiver throughout the route. Heyward-Bey is clearly not ready to contribute on a consistent basis. Tony Stewart’s 13-yard reception showed some fight after making the grab, hitting the turf and picking up extra yardage. Johnnie Lee Higgins dropped what would have been a 1^st down on a 3^rd and 14 play, but he was clobbered and could not hold on to the pass. His 19-yard run on a reverse was a highlight, especially with Russell getting out in front to block for him.

OFFENSIVE LINE – B+

For three quarters, the Raiders mauled the San Diego front-seven. Mario Henderson, Robert Gallery. Chris Morris, Cooper Carlisle and Cornell Green were assertive, faster and more explosive at the point of attack, and played with a physical nature not seen in years along the trenches. But in the 4^th quarter, they couldn’t sustain their dominance and the production on the ground dropped off substantially in the second half. Green was flagged for a false start in the opening drive, then again in the 4^th quarter on a 3^rd and 4, and then a holding infraction a few plays later on 1^st and 10. Carlisle played his best game as a Raider and Henderson made a nice first impression as the teams left tackle.

DEFENSIVE LINE – A-

Richard Seymour aligned himself all over the line of scrimmage and was a disruptor on all night recording 2-sacks in his debut. Greg Ellis, another acquisition this off-season, also notched a sack and played equally as well versus the run and when chasing down Philip Rivers. He stripped LaDainian Tomlinson on a 3^rd and 8 deep in their own territory, as Oakland stopped the Chargers in the red-zone after the big kickoff by Sproles. The run defense looked nothing like the abysmal group of recent past. They held the Chargers to 77 yards rushing (21 in the first half), with physical play, disciplined gap control and linebackers and safeties that jolted through San Diego’s blocking schemes. Gerard Warren was steady all evening, while Tommy Kelly has flashes of total control in his game. Trevor Scott had a non-stop motor all night, and surprisingly, defended the run very well, a glaring deficit in his game all pre-season. The front-four was able to put pressure by themselves, allowing John Marshall to drop his linebackers in coverage; a move that ultimately hurt them as the game wound down.

LINEBACKERS – C-

Thomas Howard was the best performer of the night on this unit. On consecutive plays in the 4th quarter, he darted across the line of scrimmage to tackle Darren Sproles for a 3-yard loss, then lined-up in front of him out wide and clobbered the little rusher on a screen to force an incomplete. Ricky Brown had his ups and downs, but shined in the first half in run defense. Inexplicably, this got too much depth in coverage late in the game, allowing the Chargers to pick up chunks of yardage on their march to the game-winning drive.

SECONDARY – B+

Nnamdi Asomugha was stellar all evening, showing off his tackling abilities in run support and blanketing the field, as rarely did Rivers attack the pro-bowler. One of the few times he did, Asomugha was beat by Vincent Jackson on a 15-yard pass for a score. Asomugha had late help from Stanford Routt on the play. Chris Johnson had his moments; mauling Sproles on a dump off on a 2^nd and 12 in the first half and jumping underneath a slant route and almost getting a pick. But with Asomugha on the other side, Rivers attacked the riskier cornerback and got most of his 252-yards on him and safety Tyvon Branch. Branch was exceptional tackling around the line of scrimmage and to his credit, did an admirable job against one of the better pass catching tight ends in the NFL. But Antonio Gates did amass 83-yards on 5 receptions and when San Diego was successful moving the ball, it was when they attacked everyone in the secondary not named Asomugha. Michael Huff had a fumble recovery, handled Gates on a few tosses that went incomplete and on a 3^rd and 3 as San Diego moved into field goal range, the safety recorded an interception of a deflection. Even Hiram Eugene got in on the act, showing toughness on a few tackles and holding his own in deep coverage. This group helped a lot in run defense.

SPECIAL TEAMS – D-

Sproles had some momentum swinging returns, as he finished with 170 yards on kickoffs. Trevor Scott looked lively on the coverage units, as well as Todd Watkins and the rookie Mike Mitchell who had a nice stop in the second half on a punt. Louis Rankin was a non-threat on kickoffs and Higgins was quiet. Shane Lechler had a solid punting game (48.8) and Sebastian Janikowski booted both of his field goal attempts cleanly.

COACHING – A-

Tom Cable and his staff did a wonderful job preparing for the Chargers, playing it safe throughout the game, corralling the team as needed, opening up the playbook at times and ultimately getting this club primed for the opener. Cable made the right call on that 4^th and 14 touchdown to Murphy, as they got San Diego crossed up on the play, and changing the pace of the stagnant game with the reverse to Higgins. On the 3^rd and 5 prior to the nullified Murphy score, Cable called a time out, composed the team and ran a nice play that should have been a score if not for the referees overrule. John Marshall should have stayed in attack mode late in the game, as Oakland was more imposing and physical than the Chargers throughout the game. Schematically, dropping back the linebackers and giving Sproles and Rivers the shorter routes was their undoing. Nonetheless, this coaching staff did a nice job. They weren’t at fault for Russell’s wildness and the team not being able to sustain their physical play over four quarters.

Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

The physical play of the Raiders on both sides of the ball

Oakland set the tone early with their powerful ground game. After the 1^st quarter, they had a dominating 81-yards rushing. On the other side of the ball, San Diego was only able to produce 9-yards on the ground. Tom Cable’s offensive line pushed aside the Charger’s front seven in the first half, which allowed Darren McFadden and Michael Bush to combine for 105 yards at intermission. Mario Henderson mauled Shawne Merriman at times; Robert Gallery, Chris Morris and Cooper Carlisle shoved aside any Charger opposite them and Cornell Green played over his head on occasion. Oakland’s defense also flexed their muscle with hard-hitting and relentless pressure. Tyvon Branch looked every part of a strong safety when around the line of scrimmage, Richard Seymour, Greg Ellis and Trevor Scott brought the heat and Tommy Kelly and Gerard Warren actually looked stout in the trenches. Oakland has not played with this physical nature in a long time. Did they wear down as the game ended? The linebackers getting depth in their coverages late and John Marshall hitting the brake pedal as time expired was disappointing, but overall, San Diego will feel the effects of the brute play of the Raiders this morning.

VERDICT: GOOD

The new acquisitions on the defensive line

Greg Ellis and Richard Seymour tallied all three Raider sacks. Seymour played every position along the front-four, was disruptive, and his utilization drove San Diego’s offense nuts. His play appeared to have elevated the performance of others and solidified a line that was in desperate need of a force in the interior. Ellis was the steady veteran he always is. Whether on run defense or chasing Philip Rivers down, Ellis provided more than what Derrick Burgess had in his last two campaigns in Silver & Black.

VERDICT: GOOD

JaMarcus Russell’s up and down night

At times, Russell hindered the offense, missing wide-open targets and looking like the passer still in development. Other times, he looked poised, steady and like a quarterback evolving. His 57-yard bomb to Louis Murphy in the 4^th quarter was clutch, especially after his accuracy struggles and missing a few plays on that same drive after a sneak in which he hurt himself. Ultimately, he has to make more positives plays to help this team perform at a higher level. The touchdown to Murphy, which the referees overruled, was a nice flash.

VERDICT: TIE

Darren McFadden getting his touches

Oakland has to continue to feature this dynamic talent. He is a scary weapon that can provide some moments of excitement. The Raiders used him well on runs, splitting out as a wide receiver and motioning him all over the formation. More screens to the speedster should be mixed into the game plan. There is no denying that he can run the ball between the tackles as well, as he can handle the pounding with his chiseled frame. Ball security is an issue, but until further notice, he should be the main ball carrier on this offense.

VERDICT: GOOD

Special Teams, not so special

Last year, the Raiders played well on coverage units. In the opener, they allowed momentum-swinging plays to the diminutive Darren Sproles. After Oakland took a 7-0 lead, on the ensuing kick, Sproles busted a 66-yard return. Then when they took a 10-7 lead, Sproles replied with a 59-yard burst.

VERDICT: BAD

John Marshall’s debut

For the most part, good, but the first year defensive coordinator inexplicably dropped his linebackers deep into coverage, allowing key yards late in the 4^th quarter to Sproles out of the backfield. Oakland forced a turnover in the 1^st half after the Chargers drove deep in their territory, a fumble by LaDainian Tomlinson; his first in 993 touches. The front-seven played physical and was disciplined. But the breakdown late could have been prevented scheme wise after the Raiders punished the Chargers all night.

VERDICT: TIE

NOTE: Game Grades will be posted soon…

Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

On the opening kickoff, Isaiah Ekejiuba made a stellar tackle on the Dallas 14-yard line. The special teams ace just continues to play at a high level on the coverage units.

On 3^rd and 11, and their backs to the end zone on their opening drive, Dallas was pressured into a quick toss down the sidelines, as the Raiders blitzed and forced Tony Romo to get rid of the ball quickly.

On their own 32, the Raiders begin their attack with a JaMarcus Russell pass to Chaz Schilens for 11 yards. Three plays into the Raiders first drive, Russell under throws the speedy Darrius Heyward-Bey on a bomb down the sideline, which falls incomplete after bouncing off the arms of the defender and receiver. On the next play, 3^rd and 8, Russell buys some time by rolling out of the pocket and again throws deep, but this time, his under throw forces a flag (48 yard penalty), as Schilens cannot haul in the football. Russell needs to do more of this in order to prolong plays and stretch the field. The play sets up the Raiders at the Cowboys 8 yard line.

1^st and goal from the 8-yard line, Schilens hauls in a 6-yard pass on a slant. The following play was a hold on RG Cooper Carlisle. 2^nd and goal from the 12-yard line resulted on a dump off to Lorenzo Neal for a loss of 2 yards. 3^rd and goal, Russell on the other side of the formation hits Schilens with another slant well short of the end zone. The penalty was a drive killer, but Sebastian Janikowski was able to boot a 23 yard field goal to give the Raiders a 3-0 lead.

Nnamdi Asomugha left the game, Stanford Routt took over, and Romo hit Roy Williams for 12 yards. A few plays later, Routt was penalized for a hold covering Williams. On their second drive, Dallas has set the tone with a nice quick pace, changing the cadence and snap count and keeping the Raiders off balance. Patrick Crayton surprised everyone on the Raider defense with a 13-yard end around rush. The Cowboys have nice rhythm on offense, but a hold along the offensive line, nullifies a touchdown run and pushes the ball back to the 11-yard line. Two plays later, Romo hits Jason Witten for an 11-yard touchdown toss. The Raider show blitz on the play, drop back 7 into coverage, and Romo maneuvers around in the backfield to evade pressure and find the pro-bowl tight end. After the Raiders took a 3-0 lead, the defense yields to Jason Garret’s attack, allowing Dallas to go 71 yards on 9 plays to take a 7-3 lead.

Justin Miller returns his first kickoff for 17 yards to the 20-yard line.

On the first play of the Raiders second drive, Keith Brooking blitzed, and mauled JaMarcus Russell, as he went through the line cleanly and sacked the QB for an 11 yard loss. Darren McFadden looked explosive on his first carry for 13 yards. On 3^rd and 8, the Raiders converted when Russell threw a perfect out patter to Schilens for 16 yards. On the next play, Russell ran for 17 yards, scrambling after the play breaks down, showing very good decisiveness in taking off for the big gain. Russell again tries to hit Heyward-Bey deep, this time on a 2-step drop and fade pattern, which fell incomplete. Carlisle is penalized again, this time for a false start. On 2^nd and 15, Dallas collapses the pocket and knocks down Russell’s pass at the line of scrimmage. The Raiders pick up 9 on a screen to McFadden; Shane Lechler comes on for the punt as the drive ends at the Dallas 39 yard line.

Lechler drops the ball on the Dallas 5 yard line, downed by RB Gary Russell.

As the 1st quarter clock runs out, McFadden breaks off a 45 yard run. Bruce Gradkowski is now at QB.

Score after the 1st Quarter: Cowboys 7 – Raiders 3

Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

Robert Gallery is firmly entrenched at guard

The Oakland Raiders needed a complete makeover along the offensive line this off-season. So far, they’ve upgraded both tackle spots and added a new Center to the mix. But will that be enough to provide a solid foundation for JaMarcus Russell’s development and to open up holes for their talented crop of rushers?

Kwame Harris is gone, and someone else will likely occupy Cornell Green’s right tackle spot. That alone will improve the play of the line, especially at both tackle positions, which were a reason why Oakland’s offense sputtered and could not provide a solid wall for Russell.

Chris Morris, John Wade and Samson Satele are the contenders at center. Jake Grove signed a huge deal in Miami, so the Raiders picked up the Dolphins center the last few seasons – Satele – in hopes that his style will fit the zone-blocking scheme that Tom Cable utilizes. Oakland won’t add a center in the draft, as it appears that they have enough there already to go into camp with.

Along the interior, barring any injuries, Robert Gallery and Cooper Carlisle will be firmly entrenched at left guard and right guard. Veteran Paul McQuistan is a back up for either starter, but there is nothing much after that. Marcus Johnson has seen time at tackle and guard while in the league, but its unknown whether or not he can provide enough stability at guard to warrant a spot as a back up there.

Most of the movement this off-season has been at tackle, and this is where Oakland will have to show the most improvement with all the talent brought in this off-season. Khalif Barnes is the front-runner for the left tackle spot and Erik Pears and Mario Henderson could have a nice battle in camp along the right side.

Oakland looks to have more reliable players along the trenches, but will that shy them away from spending their 7^th overall selection on one of the many solid linemen available this draft?

The Raiders have done enough along the offensive line and can afford to go in another direction with that top pick. But if they feel like they need more talent there, which it appears like they do, targeting interior linemen or young tackles to develop should be a focus when they go through the selection process during the draft.

PROSPECTS TO WATCH

Sebastian Vollmer, T, Houston

An all-conference left tackle, Vollmer allowed only one sack in 610 pass attempts last season in Houston. Born and raised in Germany, and still learning the nuisances of the game, this is the type of project that can entice the Raiders. They will be able to start the veterans acquired this off-season and hope that Vollmer learns under the close tutelage of Cable. His size and attributes will be hard to pass up in the middle rounds.

Xavier Fulton, T, Illinois

Anthony Parker, G, Tennessee

Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

The Oakland Raiders acquired a starting center on Monday when the Miami Dolphins sent 24-year old Samson Satele to the Silver & Black for a sixth round selection in April’s draft.

The trade also included a swap of fourth round selections, as the Raiders dropped from the 104^th overall slot to 122^nd.

Satele was expendable after the Dolphins signed ex-Raider Jake Grove to a five-year, $29 million contract, with $14.5 million in guarantees. Their second round draft choice in 2007, which started every game the past two years, was not what Tony Sparano wanted in the middle of the trenches, looking for a more physical presence in the interior to go along with the more power running game they are trying to adopt.

Grove, who played in Oakland the past five seasons, has had durability concerns and has only started 16 games only once in his career.

“We signed another center and feel like we had to get better in that area,” Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland said on Monday. “It’s pretty critical that we did.

“We saw there was some value out there with Samson. We felt like if we kept Samson we would have moved him to guard and let him compete.

He continued, “But we found out there was significant value for Samson.”

This trade may sway the Raiders away from drafting a center in next month’s draft. Oakland had a need at center, filled it with a player with starting experience in the league, and with both guard spots locked up, Satele quickly becomes the distant front-runner to nab the job in 2009.

Chris Morris and John Wade remain on the roster, but it will take a miracle for either to surprise Cable enough to earn the top spot. Morris is not physical nor is imposing on the field, but his style does lend itself to the zone blocking system Cable teaches.

Having stability with Cooper Carlisle, who just signed a five-year deal, and Robert Gallery at guard will go a long way in trying to bring back a steady presence in the trenches.

It will be interesting to see what they do at right tackle especially after making it clear that recently inked Khalif Barnes will be protecting JaMarcus Russell’s blind side. Mario Henderson is the leading candidate to win that job. And owner Al Davis has talked up his play at the end of 2008 in various occasions during the off-season.

So if Henderson shows consistency and takes well to right tackle, we may be seeing a line that will have Barnes (LT), Gallery (LG), Satele (C) and Carlisle (RG) barring any injuries in the summer.

Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

As expected, the Oakland Raiders are not a major player in the frenzy that is the first few days of free agency.

After inking Chris Johnson, Shane Lechler, Nnamdi Asomugha and Isaiah Ekejiuba to deals; and tendering restricted free agents Jon Alston, Jon Condo and Ricky Brown, the Silver & Black are just passive observers and looking for cost efficient ways to improve a team that has approximately $6 million in cap space to play with.

With the draft coming up and the likelihood of them keeping their 7^th overall selection, a lot of creativity will be needed if they plan to bring in any significant free agents.

Some believe that Javon Walker may still be cut before he gets his roster bonus. But that will just hinder an already tight salary situation.

Jake Grove is still a free agent and the Raiders have expressed interest in bringing him back. Tom Cable wants him to stick around and Grove, who was happy about the coaching hiring, wants to remain in Silver & Black. But negotiations have been stalled due to monetary terms, as the Raiders would like to get him signed to a multi-year deal.

It’s imperative they keep some semblance of continuity on that offensive line, especially since guard Cooper Carlisle has been fielding offers from other clubs and could be lost.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have contacted Carlisle and reports indicated that they might be interested in bringing him in as a reserve. Carlisle still feels he can play at a high level, which bodes well for the Raiders, because he was their best lineman in 2007 and was a steady presence throughout 2008, although his level of play slipped as the year went on.

Carlisle, 31, fits Cable’s zone blocking scheme, but the Raiders may try to deviate from that some in 2009 in their efforts to return to a more power ground game.

If that is the case, it will be interesting what occurs to both Grove and Carlisle, both who fit better Cable’s philosophy.

As for the Michael Bush rumors, its hard to believe that Oakland will entertain any offers for a young rusher who is making very little money and that can spearhead an offense that has no pop.

Oakland must rely on their ground game in 2009 and hope that Bush and Darren McFadden can develop into studs to alleviate the pressure on JaMarcus Russell.

Justin Fargas is still around. So if the Raiders do plan on trading from an area of strength, they should part ways with Fargas, who signed last year a three-year $12 million deal and is expected to get a $1 million roster bonus.

The Raiders have kept a lot of their own players to start this off-season.

That may not seem impressive because they did only manage five victories in 2008.

But considering that Asomugha and Lechler were two of those players –probably the best at their positions in the NFL – its good to see that the Raiders are trying to make the right transactions, not the flashiest ones.

Then again, they are trying to fix the mess that was last season’s flashy spending spree. 

Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

This is the first installment of SBReport’s unit analysis. As we quickly approach training camp and bring you live coverage from the Oakland Raiders Alameda training facility, SBReport will break down every component of the Silver & Black’s squad. Today, we focus on Tom Cable’s offensive line, their ability to sustain their success paving lanes for a group of talented ball carriers and hopefully keeping JaMarcus Russell upright in his first season as the Oakland Raiders starting quarterback.

 CENTER

Who’s in the mix?

Jesse Boone #70; Jake Grove #64; Chris Morris #51; John Wade #71

 Neither one of these guys will conjure up images of Jim Otto or Dave Dalby. But with the zone blocking system that Cable utilizes, Wade should be the most consistent player in camp due to his adaptability and experience.  He spearheaded the offensive line at Tampa Bay for five seasons, and after a year with Jeremy Newberry; Wade’s presence should solidify the center spot.

 Who could surprise?

 Morris has split time in OTA’s with Wade, and Lane Kiffin has talked about the third year pros ability to grasp Cable’s scheme. He may not be physically imposing or have a lot of the attributes of a Jake Grove, but he catches on to the concepts of the zone blocking scheme and doesn’t botch many assignments.

 “If he makes this team, its going to be a lot because of the system”, commented Kiffin in June.

 TACKLE

Who’s in the mix?

Cornell Green #74; Jonathan Palmer #78; Kwame Harris #77; Mario Henderson #75; Mark Wilson #63; Seth Wand #72

 The prevailing thought since his arrival is that Harris will be at left tackle. Much maligned while in San Francisco, Harris now must convince coaches that he can be steady enough to block Russell’s blindside. If he is not the answer, Mario Henderson and Jonathan Palmer will be candidates to occupy a vital position that will surely need a major upgrade in 2009 if the Raiders ultimately fail to turnaround Harris’ career. His three-year contract is friendly for Oakland in the first year, and if he doesn’t pan out, the Raiders can cut ties with the former first rounder without many repercussions.

 At right tackle, if Henderson stakes his claim to that spot with a very good pre-season, the job will be his. Paul McQuistan played admirably when Cornell Green was lost for the season in 2007, but he may be better off at guard and as a back up due to his versatility.

 Who could surprise?

 The Raiders expect good things from Henderson, who is entering his second season as a pro. He has the frame needed to handle playing tackle, and if Harris is situated on the left side, Henderson could be the other bookend. Obviously, two young and raw tackles blocking for Russell is a scary proposition. But what other alternatives are out there? Green was the starter last season on the right side prior to his injury, but he was flagged to often and didn’t provide the stability needed to earn the job again.

GUARD

Who’s in the mix?

Brandon Rodd #60; Cooper Carlisle #66; Paul McQuistan #79; Robert Gallery #76

Carlisle and Gallery are entrenched at both guard spots and will be looked at as one of the strengths of this line. Carlisle was the team’s best lineman last season and now, with Wade next to him, the Raiders feel that the consistency along the interior could trickle out to both ends of the line of scrimmage. Both are solid at run blocking and now, with the presence of Wade, the Raiders could be more potent running the ball between the tackles. Especially with the slew of rushers they have that hit the line of scrimmage quickly and can burt through openings when given daylight. 

 Who could surprise?

 Gallery will be at left tackle for the second straight season, coached by Cable now over two campaigns; a key since he has seen his fair share of coaches come and go and has been moved around the line since he was drafted in 2004. He should feel more comfortable at guard and will only get better knowing he has found a home and a scheme he can be functional in.

 SBReport will bring you live coverage of Raiders training camp when it opens on July 23^rd, throughout the entirety of camp and into the pre-season. Stay logged on for unit analysis, exclusive audio commentary and press conferences from players and coaches, captured by our on the site reporters,  daily images from the team’s practices and content found no where else.

 Also, issue #2 of Silver & Black Report the Magazine is almost here; with a look into the life’s of Thomas Howard and Kirk Morrison, featuring exclusive audio from both as they talked to us about their life at the pro level and plans for 2008.