Silver and Black Report

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Continuing with a season of many moves, the Oakland Raiders signed T.J. Houshmandzadeh today, reuniting him with his former passer in Cincinnati.

The 34-year old wide receiver signed one-year, $910,000 after Palmer encouraged the Raiders to take a look at him. Hue Jackson worked with Houshmandzadeh when he was a staffer with the Bengals.

Oakland traded for Aaron Curry and Carson Palmer, brought back Lito Sheppard this week, after he was on the roster with the team in the summer, and added to a wide receiver depth chart, with Houshmandzadeh, that already featured youthful talent.

He tallied 79 catches for 911 yards and three touchdowns with the Seahawks in 2009 before his lone stint with the Ravens. There he posted 30 catches for 398 yards and three touchdowns. He’ll be remembered in Baltimore for a backbreaking fourth-down drop in a playoff loss to Pittsburgh.

The move continues to demonstrate how much influence Jackson will have on the roster and all personnel moves, as Oakland is in a transition period after the death of Al Davis.

Jackson got the Curry deal finalized a few weeks back, encouraged and helped facilitate the Palmer trade, and now bring in another familiar face he has worked with and feels comfortable with.

This move was done on the eve of Darrius Heyward-Bey’s best stretch of football since entering the league. Oakland will also like to get Jacoby Ford going as a pass catcher, as the second-year pro is at his healthiest and Jackson has talked about getting one of his prized talents the ball more often. Rookie Denarius Moore has shown glimpses, but his ups and downs are to be expected in his first season.

Oakland hasn’t incorporated Kevin Boss into the passing attack much and Marcel Reece, who’s strengths are as a pass catcher out of the backfield and line up wide versus linebackers and safeties, will be coming back, another of the many weapons Jackson has to his disposal.

There’s only one ball to go around, and with Darren McFadden sidetracked the last four game [has not tallied over 100-yards rushing in a game], it’s imperative Oakland get back to running the ball and basing everything they do on offense off their ground game.

The next question is, who will be cut to make room for Houshmandzadeh?

Early candidates include Chaz Schilens, who is known more for his injuries than his minimal contributions, a veteran like Derek Hagan, or fullback Manase Tonga.

If it were my choice, I would release Schilens. Often injured and really just another physical specimen who looks good in pads, but has not shown enough consistency to be a solid contributor at this level.

Hagan’s experience, ability to get open on 3^rd downs and professionalism is needed. So far, he’s taken well to the younger players staying ahead of him for the most part along the depth chart, after arguably, playing the best football out of all the targets in the pre-season. Unless he wants out and a chance to play elsewhere, there’s no need for Oakland to part ways with Hagan.

Manase Tonga could be another victim, as Reece looks to be primed for action after several weeks of inactivity.

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The Oakland Raiders open a very important home stretch this weekend when they face the Cleveland Browns.

They have three home games in four weeks – sandwiched with a bye – to propel themselves atop the AFC West. But all the focus should remain on the next one. “We got another opportunity to go out and get another win under our belt here at home in front of our fans, and I think that’s what our players are looking forward to doing,” said head coach Hue Jackson.

This Cleveland contest could have all the makings of a trap game if the Raiders don’t stay focused at the task at hand. Pat Shurmur’s bunch is coming off a bye week and is traveling to the west coast frustrated after a poor performance against the Titans. Oakland shouldn’t feel too comfortable at home, thinking that the emotions of their first game in the Black Hole without Al Davis will be an easy one. Especially since they have two games against west rivals right afterwards.

Cleveland’s coach stated yesterday: “I think they’re a very talented team.  They’re some of the best looking players you’re ever going to see in the league.  I think they played a very resilient game [on Sunday].”

The same fire Oakland had against the Texans, the same intensity they played with through four quarters this past Sunday, will be needed to snag their second straight victory.

“I don’t know how that’s going to affect this week, but I do know that [Al Davis] meant so much to that organization and I’m sure they’re going to play hard,” said Shurmur.

Shurmur on Monday talked about three key players who are battling injuries before their trip to Oakland:

“You noticed today in practice Joe Haden wasn’t out here.  He’s continuing with his rehab and we felt leaving him inside was the best approach right now.  Alex Mack, as you saw, was out here.  He was able to get some mental reps on some of the stuff we’re getting ready for Oakland, but he wasn’t able to perform either. Joshua Cribbs was out here, he was limited.  He’s feeling much better so he was out here and did some things a little more than we thought, so, he’s moving forward there.”

CHAZ NEEDED THAT…

Raiders will try to get the ball into Jacoby Ford's hands more often as the year goes on.

Chaz Schilens contributed to the win versus the Texans with an 18-yard score and 25-yards receiving. His first touchdown of the season was needed, now that Louis Murphy is practicing and getting ready to make his return. Schilens needs to produce more as a pass catcher or he could get lost in the mix with Darrius Heyward-Bey playing the best football of his career and Jackson’s desire to get Denarius Moore and Jacoby Ford the ball more often.

PRIMING FOR PRYOR

When asked if the Raiders needed to make a move for Terrelle Pryor, this is what Jackson stated:

“No, we don’t. Obviously we get a weeks exemption on that. He’ll count as the 54th player and until we make a decision exactly what were going to do in that direction then we have to do anything. So I think we’re going to in a really good spot as far as Terrelle Pryor is concerned.”

Manase Tonga could find his way back to the practice squad once Marcel Reece is healthy. Tonga will probably be the guy moved when Pryor’s exemption runs its course. If Oakland decides to put another player on injured reserve, as they did with Ricky Brown, then that can open up a spot, as well.

WINNING IT ALL?

Jackson: “Why not us? I said that way back in training camp, and I’m not going to quit saying it. Why not? Why can’t we not win it all if we keep working and getting better. And please, nobody say that Hue Jackson said we’re going to win the Super Bowl. That’s not what I said. I said why not us. Just like every other team that’s sitting at 5-0, 4-1 or whatever that is. I’m sure their coaches are saying why not us neither. Who knows what’s going to happen over the next several weeks of the season. Why not the Raiders? Why can’t we not win it if we continue to grow and get better and keep working at this thing.”

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The Oakland Raiders signed six players who finished the 2010 campaign on the practice squad to reserve/future contracts.

Per the Silver & Black’s press release:

Included in the group are WR Damola Adeniji (Oregon State), WR Shaun Bodiford, pictured to the right wearing #10 (Portland State), TE Kevin Brock (Rutgers), G Alex Parsons (USC), CB Joe Porter (Rutgers) and FB Manase Tonga (BYU).

Four of the six players were on the Raiders practice squad for the entire 2010 season, as Bodiford, Parsons, Porter and Tonga spent training camp with the Silver and Black and were all signed to the practice squad in September.

Brock was signed to the Raiders practice squad in September after spending training camp with the Dallas Cowboys, while Adeniji was added in October.

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

The Oakland Raiders have begun their summer training camp and SBReport.net has been there to snap images of the Silver & Black in action. Here are some early glimpses of the players participating in drills, preparing for pre-season games which are a few weeks away.

Michael Bush (#29) could get the bulk of the carries in 2010. A strong showing in camp and during the pre-season could secure that, as the Raiders can then utilize Darren McFadden in the diverse fashion many envisioned him at coming out of Arkansas.

Rookie Jacoby Ford’s (#12) speed has been used in offensive drills. If he can show maturation in route running, release off the line of scrimmage cleanly and a grasp of Hue Jackson’s playbook, Ford could push for playing time.

Manase Tonga (#41) is in a advantageous position. Luke Lawton is facing an early season suspension and Marcel Reese, although confident, by no means has a choke hold of the fullback position. Hue Jackson has some power packages in his playbook, and Oakland will need a strong lead blocker to push piles during short down and distances.

Rock Cartwright (#25) came over from Washington during the off-season. But his roster spot is not guaranteed just because he has a good working relationship with Jason Campbell. They are a lot of bodies at running back, and Michael Bennett still has live legs. So Cartwright will have to prove valuable with his leadership and skills on special teams as well to justify making the squad.

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Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist

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.

Here’s an early list of all of the un-drafted free agents that have signed with the Oakland Raiders.

Fullback Manase Tonga (BYU), linebacker Brashton Satele (Hawaii), offensive lineman Alex Parsons (USC) and fullback Chane Moline (UCLA) will all don Silver & Black uniforms to start their careers.

Moline and Tonga will compete for a roster spot, as the Raiders were in need of a fullback this off-season with the questionable status of Oren O’Neal, and whether he’ll ever round out to be the player he was early in his career when he showed promise of being a punishing blocker and the suspension Luke Lawton.

Lawton is not adept at blocking at the point of attack, but supplanted O’Neal last season due to his quicker feet and versatility. Moline was a solid pass catcher at UCLA, hauling in 6 score in his final campaign as a collegiate.

Tonga, at 5’11 and 245 pounds, offers a bulkier option and a lead blocker that could potentially slam into the line of scrimmage and open up holes for Hue Jackson’s ball carriers.

Satele, a swift defender, will join his cousin Samson, who was the starting center for Oakland last season.