What is it about the safety position for the Oakland Raiders? Other than the brief tenure of Hall of Fame member Rod Woodson, the Raiders safety position has been a glaring weakness.
The list of names who have manned that position such as Marquez Pope, Anthony Dorsett, and Derrick Gibson tend to set Raider fans into fits of rage. Stuart Schweigert was a favored whipping boy of the Raider Nation prior to his hasty exit before the 2008 season. Now, Michael Huff has taken the mantle as the latest failure to provide any safety support.
Huff was drafted with the seventh overall pick in 2006, with the Raiders passing on high profile quarterbacks Jay Cutler and Matt Leinert. Huff had fallen out of favor with the Raiders not too long after his rookie season as evidenced by Al Davis calling him former coach Art Shell's pick. There was a rumor on Profootballtalk that Huff is soon to be released. This move would come as no surprise, after he was benched for special teams standout Hiram Eugene at the free safety position.
As it stands, the Raiders have Eugene, Huff, second year player Tyvon Branch, and second round pick Mike Mitchell as their safeties. Undrafted free agent Jerome Boyd out of Oregon is expected to compete for a spot in the safety rotation, as well.
The question becomes why have the Raiders had so many problems at safety? Was a matter of continually bringing in bad players, or was it a matter of the scheme the Raiders run asking too much of the safeties?
It would seem to be a combination of both. The Raiders have been primarily getting safeties who are known for their hitting, but have poor form in tackling and are questionable in coverage. This would describe Derrick Gibson, Anthony Dorsett, Marquez Anderson and others. Stuart Schweigert was supposed to be a ball hawk, but he pulled in few interceptions. Huff was supposed to be great in coverage, and he showed flashes early by shutting down the tight ends that he was covering. However, his move to free safety, which was where he was supposed to take it to the next level turned into an unmitigated disaster.
Playing free safety in the Raiders system is not an easy position. The Raiders coverage schemes rely greatly on man to man coverage, often leaving the free safety with the responsibility for the entire deep area of the field. He has to be able to diagnose the play, and provide coverage support to whichever side of the field the play is headed. One wrong guess, and it is easy for him to end up on the wrong side of a highlight reel.
Because he was on the wrong end of too many highlight reels, Huff was benched midway through the season for Eugene, who is a better tackler, and the now departed Rashad Baker who was serviceable but not spectacular in coverage. He did see his playing time increase late in the season, and seemed to not look as lost.
With the youth the Raiders have at safety, it is going to be an intense battle in minicamps and into training camp for playing time.
NOTES: Look for updates from the mandatory minicamps throughout the day on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Comments
I agree, we have to get better at the safety position. With Tyvon coming back healthy it should make it very competive and hopefully solidify the two starters for the year. Tyvon is a good tackler and can pick off some passes, I mean he did make an INT with a cast on. Now healthy and with Mike "The Crusher" Mitchell coming in with the hard work attitude, can only make it a good showdown between those guys. The front four must cause havoc by stuffing the run and getting to the QB with pressure and sacks in order for the LB's and secondary to make plays. The O has been gellin for some time now and with the "Tripple Alliance" of Fargas, DMc and Bush and the "Trio of Wheels" in "Money" Lee-Higgins, Chizaz and "Daylight" Heyward-Bey the offense will move the ball alot better this year with more points on the board and more time off the clock, giving the D much rested legs to keep bringing it late in the fourth Qtr. 2009 AFC Champs! RAIDERS ALL DAY HOMIE!!
It still makes me wonder why they let Baker go over Eugene. Baker must have wanted more money...because it wouldn't have hurt to at least keep him for depth.
I wonder who they se playing free and strong this year. I heard somewhere that the Raiders liked Branch up in the box, then that they might want Mitchell to do that.
The Raiders defense hasn't found the two "inter-changeable" safeties just yet. Mitchell will be one, and he is interchangeable in my mind. The question is where Branch and Eugene fit in.
I heard the other day that the Raiders staff, or possibly the players-see Eugene as a defensive captain? He never played that great. He was just a better tackler than Huff and Schweigart and made less mistakes.
Mitchel and Branch will make a good Safety Duo. I'm leaning towards Mitchel as FS, since he he has the notch when it comes to speed, and coverage. I don't think Branch has the size to man the the box. Brings us back to Mitchel at SS, and Branch at FS.
I think scheme will really help with this too. Having a Mike like Frantz, with the size and speed or Morrison at SAM will ease the responsibilities of the SS having to play in the Box. The ability to Drop the Sam into coverage on a safety blitz, or being able to blitz the sam, or have him lock onto the TE, or RB frees up the SS.
This is what Cable means by they will address the D run stopping by scheme.
The safeties are able to do there jobs because they front 7 are doing there jobs. With Proper rotation at DT, LB, and DB. Fresher bodies on the field in the later 3rd into the 4th qtr. when the run seems to kill the raiders. The D is Gased.. The communication was horrible and the coaching was " Abysmal " Mr. Tribiani..
CRUSH the Enemies, SEE them Driven before you, and HEAR the lamentations of the WOMMENNZZZ!!!
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