The Oakland Raiders have added two players to their offensive tackle stable by signing Erik Pears from the Denver Broncos and Khalif Barnes from the Jacksonville Jaguars. With the problems the Raiders had at both left and right tackle for 2008, any additions are welcomed. However, Mario Henderson played well late in the season and will be a fierce competitor to beat out for his starting role.
Barnes will be competing for the left tackle spot. In order to win out over Mario Henderson, he will have to show that he is going to be better than he was last year in Jacksonville. Some of his problems can be attributed to injuries in the interior of the Jaguar line in '08, but much of it rests on him. The Raiders had a penalty machine at left tackle last season in Kwame Harris, and can ill-afford the 3rd and 15 situations that Harris often left the Raiders in. One telling stat on Barnes is that the Jags averaged nearly 6 yards per carry to his side of the line.
Henderson stepped in when Harris was benched late in the 08 season and managed to have only one penalty and no sacks allowed despite facing some of the leagues better pass rushers. It is not going to be easy for Barnes to push him out of the starting gig. Likely, whomever doesn't start on the left side will move over to the right side. With Barnes being the better run blocker of the two and Henderson being the better pass blocker, it would make sense to have Henderson on the left and Barnes on the right.
The Raiders also signed Erik Pears who has starting experience with the Denver Broncos to add to the competition. Cornell Green started for the Raiders in 07 and 08, but was outplayed by Paul McQuistan once Green went down with an injury. James Marten and Mark Wilson will be competing for backup spots. McQuistan seems to be thought of as more of a guard by the coaching staff, but he played well at tackle in relief of Green.
The Raiders won't be looking for more at this position in the free agent market. Mike Lombardi reported that the Raiders promised Barnes they wouldn't pick a tackle in the draft, but if one of the top tackles is on the board it would not be out of the realm of possibility for them to make the move. Barnes is on a one year deal, and he does have a lot to prove. Henderson has to prove that he can do it consistently.
The battles at this position will be one to keep an eye on through minicamps and on into training camp.
SEE ALSO:
- Greatness at center a Raider tradition
- Raiders drafting success beyond first round
- Continuing silver offseason
- Raiders finally ink Barnes
- Davis-Kiffin battle could reveal secrets
- Raiders next moves?
- Highest priorities remaining
- State of the Raiders defense
- Where the Raiders offense stands
- Avoiding the quick fix
- Making all the right moves
- Winning trench warfare
Comments
Great article, Pat!
V=Cant wait to see who actually emerges as the starters next year. On eha=eck if battle for those starting tackles is to set in motion! The Raiders whould also look into getting some competition at guard given Carlisle's delining productivity.
I personally am pretty high on Henderson. To have done what he did that late into the season and with all that criticism he had gotten in training camp that year, he proved himself pretty well.
The fact that this guy has been consistently working out at the team facilities clearly portrays that "commitment to excellence" we need in our starters. I would love to see this guy continue his work..
Lets see now what Russell can do with some real time to flex that rocket arm of his1
Hmmm... Pat u raised some good points as to why Barnes should go for the right side knowing of his run-blocking with the Jags.
However, all reports seem to be indicating that Barnes has his eyes set at the left side.
Cable also seems to be wanting him at the left as well.
That combination of Gallery and Barnes on the right would make one hell of a highway for Mcfadden and the others! For all purposes, I think the Raiders signed Barnes for that blind side PROTECTION rather than for anything else, i would say.
We will just have to see...
The losing culture of the Raiders can in large part be directly tied to the meiocre "O" line of the Raiders. Henderson is just not good enough in space to be a LT so I hope Barnes is. Move Henderson to the RG to compete with Carisle and draft Andre Smith for the RT. Now with Pears and McQuistan the Raiders have some actual competition and a couple of reserves to get the job done
Then trade up to get a center or go after Antoine Caldwell. Get Brace for a NT in the 3rd or Brinkley at MLB to shore up the run defense. Please, no more primadonna WRs that get the lions share of the money. A SS in the 4th or Brace or Brinkley if they fall that far
Patrick,
Please stop quoting that punk Lombardi. I'm sure Davis knows who his "inside source" is, and is feeding him disinformation. Below is the real truth.
Bill Williamson, of ESPN.com, reports the agent for Oakland Raiders OT Khalif Barnes scoffed at the notion that the team promised Barnes they will not select an offensive tackle in the NFL Draft, contrary to a previous report. "I'm very doubtful Khalif was ever promised that and I don't put any validity into it," agent Ken Zuckerman said. "I talked personally to Raiders coach Tom Cable and he gave no such promise. Khalif knows the business and he is ready to compete to start whether the Raiders draft a tackle or not."
I watched Barnes play against the Steelers, Ravens and the Colts last year. In those three games he looked very good not only in run blocking but pass blocking as well.
This was against some very good defensive Teams and players. He also picked up the blitz well. They talk penelties but he only averaged just under 5 penelties per year as a starter and just under 5 sacks per year as a starter.
This guy is a much better Tackle then people give him credit for and is huge and very powerful. I think he was a great pick up by the Raiders and he is only 26.
If somehow Henderson or Pears can handle the LT spot, then Barnes would definately would be better off at RT. He is bigger and better suited for the right side than Henderson. I just don't see Henderson playing RT. Another senario would be Henderson on the bench, Barnes at LT and one of the other three (Pears, Green, McQuestrian) or a draft pick at RT. Henderson (since he was Davis' pick) will be be the player who dictates what the line-up will be. The last few games were encouraging but next year is next year and we need to see if he takes the next step or do we go in another direction.
I'm glad there is going to be competition along the offensive line this year. The absolute best part is that Mario will bust his ass to start anywhere on the line so he will be the guy who makes everyone better. The next best part is that, because of all the depth at offensive line in this year's draft, the Raiders will be able to get the 2nd or 3rd best left tackle in next year's draft late in the first, where they will undoubtedly be drafting (okay, this is optimistic, to say the least). Tom Cable is changing the face of the Raiders. By the time he's done he will be alongside John Madden as the second most important man in Raider's history, behind Al.
Umer, lets also see how these wideouts get open with time to run deeper routes..
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