Silver and Black Report

The Oakland Raiders continued to purge their roster of undesirable contracts on Monday when they released tackle Kwame Harris and fullback Justin Griffith.

Cutting both players cleared $8.3 million in cap space.

Harris, 26, signed a three-year $14 million deal last off-season and was given the starting left tackle spot in 2008. As the season wound down, his woes in pass protection and undisciplined play led to his demotion and eventual release.

The Raiders signed the former 26^th overall pick of the 2003 draft in hopes of getting the most out of his footwork and ability under the tutelage of Tom Cable. But Oakland gave up on the project just like the 49ers did when they realized that Harris was a defeated player and in need of a change of scenery.

Griffith suffered a torn ACL at Baltimore in October. His veteran leadership helped the younger players during camp, in the locker room and throughout the regular season. But with Oren O’Neal on the roster – also recovering from a major knee injury – and his cap number, the Raiders felt they could part ways with the pass catching fullback who is adept within the zone-blocking scheme.

Oakland will need to add a fullback due to their many questions on that unit and lack of depth there.

In total, the Silver & Black have saved $14.6 million in cap room since last week whey parted ways with Gibril Wilson, Ronald Curry and Kalimba Edwards.

Most of Oakland’s acquisitions from 2008 off-season have moved on; dating back to the in-season cut of DeAngelo Hall.

Another signing last year that may be on the verge of being released is wide receiver Javon Walker. Many reports indicate that Oakland will bite the bullet and rid themselves of the unproductive target, as he is due a $5 million bonus on March 3.

If the Raiders release the former Packer and Bronco, he will account for $14.16 million against their cap in 2009. At this point, it appears that Oakland is willing to absorb that hit now and move on with their younger and cost efficient set of receivers.

ANALYSIS

The Raiders had to get rid of Harris. Penalties, mental lapses and inconsistent play at left tackle as they try to develop a very talented and pricey quarterback could not be afforded. Not to mention that heavy cap number for inept play.

His career as a starter is likely over, as teams have seen him fail now in San Francisco and Oakland. Harris is tainted goods right now, and with his malaise and lack of confidence, its back to square one in order to revitalize a career that appeared promising coming out of college. He’ll probably land as a back up somewhere. Raider fans hope it’s in the AFC West.

Mario Henderson is the leading candidate to get the left tackle spot. The Raiders will likely need two new tackles. And with the draft having some intriguing options that are justifiable talents at their 1^st round spot, Oakland could target a tackle to help fix an offensive line that could have a lot of new starters in 2009.

Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

GET RUSSELL READY FOR MORE ACTION

JaMarcus Russell took his first real beating at the pro level. And what better team to do it than the physical Baltimore Ravens, led by Ray Lewis and the alleged ‘bounty’ hunter, Terrell Suggs.

Even through the tough afternoon, Russell found ways to get back up and complete some tosses with relative ease that many passers around the league can’t even dream about. His 60-yard bomb to Chaz Schilens was a thing of beauty. And getting the ball to Zach Miller on a couple of occasions with Raven defenders draped on him showed the type of moxie that this team will need out of their passer to legitimately call him the ‘franchise.’

“But today … you just keep on fighting,” stated Russell after the Raiders 29-10 drubbing. “Myself, I’m not gonna let ‘em stop me until I can’t throw it anymore. So no matter what it is – a hit or whatever – I’m just gonna keep punching, punching, until I get what I want, as far as in life as well as football.”

This Raider team, who is looking straight down the barrel of another losing season, has to find a silver lining. And that should be the continued development of Russell.

“You have to grow up fast. I think in certain situations, you become better. It’s tough out there, man. I promise. I mean, you can see,” said last year’s first overall pick.

At this point; its time to unleash his boundless talent. Yes, the running game is the backbone of this lowly attack and there isn’t much at wide receiver to compliment Russell’s great abilities. But why hold him back in his second year because of the team’s inability to find adequate targets? Why play conservative football because you are afraid of what he may not be able to do?

It’s time for the Raiders to stop babying Russell. He showed he’s a big boy, standing up to a rugged Ravens and getting back up to keep plugging away.

“To fight for my team. Just to show them that I’m capable. When you show toughness like that, it brings back up your level of play.”

TALKING TO HOWARD

I spoke to Thomas Howard after the game, and he didn’t seem to worried about the rush defense, especially after allowing 242 yards versus the Jets last week, and 192 yesterday against the Ravens.

“I don’t think the Jets ran for that many yards against us last week. I mean they only scored, what, 10-points against us last week. If that. I don’t know how many they had tonight…

But I felt we did pretty well against the run. The pass is what hurt us. A couple of big pass plays; one to [Williams] and the one to Flacco.”

Reality is, the Raiders have struggled against the run. A continuing theme from recent years, when they consistently ranked at the bottom of the NFL in that category. This after emphasizing all year the importance of Gibril Wilson’s acquisition and moving Tommy Kelly back to tackle.

As for that trick play where Joe Flacco was able to haul in a 43-yard pass from Troy Smith, Howard stated, “They made a god play. That’s Cam Cameron. He does trickery type stuff like that. We saw that when he was in Miami. We saw that a ton when he was in San Diego.”

“We had coverage on it, and it was a great play. I’m really surprised by Flacco; that he can run as well as he can.”

GRIFFITH DONE FOR THE YEAR

Oakland announced on Monday that fullback Justin Griffith will need season ending surgery on his right knee.

He tore the ACL in the third quarter yesterday and the managed to score on a 2-yard touchdown toss. “You lose a terrific person, a lot of leadership,” coach Tom Cable said. “He’s solid as a rock. He comes to work every day. He does things to the best of his ability every opportunity he gets. Someone who’s familiar with the system. You’re losing quite a bit there.”

This is the second fullback the Silver & Black has lost this season. During the pre-season, the bruising Oren O’Neal also went down with a knee injury. The only remaining fullback on the roster is the seldom-used Luke Lawton.

Although Griffith is not a focal point of the offense, his steady presence and knowledge of Cable’s zone blocking scheme has helped others on the roster improve the Raider rush offense the last two seasons. More adept at pass catching and not really known for typical punishing blocking at fullback, Griffith has compiled 35-receptions for 250 yards and 2 scores since becoming a Raider.

Huff hovering in the secondary

The Oakland Raiders finally have the right alignment in the secondary. One reason for the optimistic outlook in the defensive backfield is the return of Michael Huff to his natural free safety position. Now, his athleticism will be on displayed, not shackled by the rigors of playing closer to the line of scrimmage, a duty that belongs now to Gibril Wilson.

Huff recorded an interception against the Arizona Cardinals last night during the Silver & Black’s 24-0 defeat. A sight many fans hope to see more often now that he is at that spot where he was most effective as a collegiate.

“I’m getting more chances to make plays,” Huff stated. “Instead of focusing on one guy, worrying about being in the box covering tight ends, I can just read the quarterback and make plays.”

OH BOY – O-Line woes

JaMarcus Russell is a statuesque quarterback. He doesn’t go down easily and is mobile enough to scamper away from pressure. But the Raiders have to be very worried about what his protection will be like in his first season as a pro.

Last night, the Cardinals sacked him four times, and it could’ve been six if not for his physical attributes.

With his ongoing development, which is one of the major keys to this organizations resurgence, a lack of quality depth at quarterback and the need for him to stay on the field and provide the team a big-armed passer, it is imperative that the offensive line plays a lot better in pass protection.

“I was very discouraged,” Lane Kiffin said of the pass blocking. “It just kind of reminded me of who we are.”

Tackles have struggled all pre-season and if last night was an indicator of what could occur, Russell will have a tough season in the pocket evading pressure and looking for anyone to step up down the field to make plays for him. Or worse, Raider fans may have to see their prized passer on the sideline injured.

OUCH – Injuries to key contributors

“Very disappointing night, right from the start,” Kiffin stated. “That’s the last thing you want to have happen in a preseason game. It wasn’t a very good sign.”

Fullback Oren O’Neal who was expected to be a key contributor on short yardage situations and goal line packages at fullback was injured on the opening kickoff and will likely miss the entire season. A proto-typical lead blocker, O’Neal is just the opposite of what Justin Griffith is as a fullback, and that variation of style was going to help the Raiders change up the pace as needed in their powerful rushing attack.

The left knee injury will be revaluated, but early signs are not promising.

Free-agent acquisition Drew Carter was also lost to a left knee injury in the 1^st quarter.

When he went down, it appeared to have deflated the Silver & Black’s night before it even got started.

“The outcome really doesn’t matter,” Kiffin said. “We lost two significant parts of what our offense hoped to be, so not very good from that perspective.”

Justin Griffith elaborated: “Aw man, those are frontline guys. Just to see those guys go down, that takes the air out of the team.”

GAME NOTES:

• Javon Walker had his best outing of the summer, compiling 60-yards on four receptions.
• Huff was not the only one to record an interception. Cornerback Stanford Routt and safety Rashad Baker picked off Matt Leinart also.
• Johnnie Lee Higgins bounced back from his last effort versus the Titans, this time on kickoffs, amassing 88-yards during three returns.
• Sebastian Janikowski and Shane Lechler were given the night off again, and replaced with Aaron Elling and Glenn Pakulak.
• Oakland felt they needed to put a jolt in their passing game last night. That led to the smallest output in rushing yards all season (54-yards) and a shutout defeat. After losing Carter and the offensive line being so shaky, it is clear that if this team doesn’t emphasize the run and cannot pound away at opponents on the ground, it will have many problems putting up points in 2008.
• Conversely, the rush defense that appeared a lot better over recent weeks and that has been troublesome for the Raiders in recent years allowed 215 yards last night.
• DeAngelo Hall played briefly with his injured hand.