SB Nation Bay Area: All Posts by Raymond St. Martin

NFL Scouting Combine open thread: Let's talk draft

2013-02-24T21:27:56Z

Hey Raider Nation, I have been parked in front of my computer and television for a lot of this weekend and I figured that I should throw up an open thread so that we can chat about the players we are developing man crushes on and are hoping to see in silver and black.

Personally, I have seen some players that have really opened my eyes and I am thinking that, with the right draft, the Raiders could do some decent things next year. My expectations are tempered as I believe that it will take a few years before this team can be a dominant force in the NFL again, but, with the proper mix and some Rasta Raider pixie dust, they could make great strides in 2013.

The underrated players who have really stood out to me, so far, are Zac Stacy and Earl Watford. I know that those two names aren't going to make too many of you jump for joy, but, they are both projected to be selected at the back end of the draft and I believe that both could contribute right away.

Watford is a very solid right guard prospect from a small school. He is powerful and pretty agile for a big man (5.06 forty) and that is what we need for a pulling guard in this new power offense. I will continue to scout him and hopefully he will be around at the top of the 6th or 7th.

Stacy has Alfred Morris 2013 written all over him. He is a straight ahead runner with a powerful build. He could be a complimentary answer to Darren McFadden out of the backfield. At 5-8, 216 pounds, he ran a 4.49 and benched 225, 27 times. With a current 6th Round grade, he could be a steal in the 6th Round.

Who is standing out to you?

2013 NFL Draft: Manti Te'o could shape Raiders future for next 10 years

2012-12-08T21:08:20Z

There, I've said the words, "2013 NFL Draft", that means that the NFL season is more about who will be here next year, keeping morale up and the team's upcoming position in next year's NFL Draft, than it is about getting to the Playoffs, beating the Broncos or seeing who will reach a career milestone.

Every member in the Raider Nation, from the Raider Raza to the Black Hole and the VIP Suites knows that this team is horrible. Not quite, 2011 Indianapolis Colt horrible, but, definitely, All-Time Raider horrible.

The team is led by a Defensive Head Coach and a wiz kid Defensive Coordinator, but, without a middle linebacker, there is no defense. Both, Head Coach, Dennis Allen and Defensive Coordinator, Jason Tarver, have created or helped coach dominant defenses. One thing that these defenses had in common was that they had dominant Middle Linebackers. In Oakland, they have a folly of a fool with no heart who would rather jog than run, shoot guns than practice and blames everyone, including the media, for his ineptitude. Oh, yeah, he also takes the easiest path to each play, can't tackle unless he guesses perfectly and his pass defense is so bad, the team decided it was best to play with only two linebackers on passing downs.

Fortunately, there may be a salve for this ailment in the upcoming NFL Draft. The Notre Dame Middle linebacker from Hawaii, Manti Te'o, is not only a Heisman candidate on the field, he is a Heisman candidate off the field.

Known for his commitment to the team and football in general, this is a young man who, when his girlfriend and grandmother died within hours of each other, stayed at school and didn't even miss a practice as he prepared to play Michigan State and Michigan. He didn't fly home and shoot a gun at a friend when he was supposed to be practicing, he prepared for and beat two arch rivals. Notre Dame didn't give up a touchdown in either contest and against Michigan he intercepted two passes.

He is a Heisman finalist because he is the heart and soul of the #1 Fighting Irish team and he has performed, on the filed, at an All-Time level.

This year, in particular, he has taken his game to the next level. In his three years previous, Te'o had zero interceptions and six total passes defensed. This year he has led the team in tackles while intercepting seven passes and defending 11 others. He has not spent as much time in the offensive backfield as he has less tackles, tackles for loss and sacks, but, he has become a much better all around player.

If the Raiders and unfortunate enough to be fortunate enough to draft him and Te'o can carry his play over into the NFL, the Raiders will be better next year and perhaps for the next ten years.

I mean, even if it is only his character that is on display every Sunday, it will be a huge upgrade over what we, as fans, have come to expect from Rolando "Whiff" McClain.

Oakland Raiders vs Dallas Cowboys: Preseason Game One: Second Half Thread

2012-08-14T01:37:22Z

Well, Raider fans, if you are still awake and not falling asleep at your computers, join me for the second half of this 0-0 game in Oakland.

The bottom line , though, is that a win is a win and the guys who are playing in the second half will want to WIN this game.

As far as the first half went, I would like to say that the defense was pretty awesome, especially the defensive line rotations, but, Dallas was pretty bad in the first half.

One thing I can say is that Rod Streater and Marquette King are putting some heavy pressure on Jacoby Ford, Juron Criner and Shanle Lechler respectively. An injury in Lechler's case and dropped passes by Ford and Criner may be moving some very surprising players up the depth chart.

Let's Go Raiders! It is time to do this in the second half and give the home town fans something to cheer about.

Oakland Raiders vs Dallas Cowboys: The offensive starters are out

2012-08-14T00:41:27Z

The stats looked pretty ominous for the Raiders starting Offense: (At least for those not named McFadden)

Carson Palmer: 3-6 for 33 yards (should be 5-6 for about 55 yards) with apick

Darren McFadden: 2 rushes for 20 yards, 1 rec for 18 yards

Jacoby Ford: 2 Drops

DBH: 1 catch for 7 yards

The defense was another story as LaMarr Houston, Des Bryant and Tommy Kelly just flat out got after the ball and wreaked havoc on the offensive backfield.

Rolando McClain also looked great with a hard hit and good coverage over the middle.

I didn't get to see much of the cornerbacks, but it is apparent that Tarver and Allen have these guys getting after the ball.

The best performance was probably from Marquette King. Yep, that's right, the rookie punter who clobbered three punts, including one that should have been touched down inside the 5 yard line, but Chimdi Chekwa let it roll into the end zone.

Oakland Raiders vs Dallas Cowboys Pre-Season Opening Game Thread

2012-08-13T23:45:04Z

Oakland Raiders vs Dallas Cowboys

O.co Coliseum, 5PM PST, ESPN (Chucky is in the House)

Oakland +1.5

Here we go Silver and Black, it is time to get the silver and black paint out, turn on the grills and get ready to watch some football. If you are reading this, then you are probably like me, NOT, at the O.co Coliseum, so this thread will keep us up to date on the action.

Fortunately the Raiders are on ESPN so most of you won't have to watch justin.tv or any other "Link".

In this game I am looking forward to seeing my boys get in some work. And NOT get hurt.

I'm looking for Dennis Allen to get his feet wet and I look forward to seeing how he runs the team. This will be is first game at the helm of the pirate shin in Oakland and from what every player has told me off the record, they LOVE this guys and the energy that he has brought. (On a side note, the defensive player have man crushed on Tarver ad I can't wait to see the D mix some things up.

The game will be on in 20 minutes, so let's get after this Oakland!!!

What are your keys to the game? Who are you stalking, umm, watching closely. I'm going to be watching the DB's, LB's and DT's. In my opinion, they all hold the key to how this season will play out.

Cheers,

Saint!

Oakland Raiders vs Dallas Cowboys

O.co Coliseum, 5PM PST, ESPN (Chucky is in the House)

Oakland +1.5

Fortunately the Raiders are on ESPN so most of you won't have to watch justin.tv or any other "Link".

In this game I am looking forward to seeing my boys get in some work. And NOT get hurt.

The game will be on in 20 minutes, so let's get after this Oakland!!!

What are your keys to the game? Who are you stalking, umm, watching closely. I'm going to be watching the DB's, LB's and DT's. In my opinion, they all hold the key to how this season will play out.

Cheers,

Saint!

Marcel Reece is back in the fold

2012-06-04T22:13:31Z

Marcel Reece has signed his exclusive rights restricted free agent tender and will be an Oakland Raider in 2012.

Per the Raiders press release today:

The veteran participated in the Raiders' Organized Team Activities (OTAs) with his teammates on Monday.

The 6-foot-2, 250-pound Reece has played in 30 career games with 16 starts since joining the Silver and Black as an undrafted free agent in 2008. His career totals include 54 receptions for 654 yards and five touchdowns, and 47 carries for 234 yards and one touchdown.

This is great news for Raider Nation as Reece, the former undrafted rookie free agent from the University of Washington, has shown himself to be a dynamic weapon on scripted plays and also on busted plays.

Reece's elite size and speed make him a mismatch against most defensive players.

More to come on this, but, go ahead Raider Nation, celebrate the fact that we, the Nation, have another one of our guys back in the fold.

Oakland Raiders to add Joey Clinkscales to front office

2012-05-09T04:56:39Z

Let's hear it for Reggie McKenzie, again. Now, I'm not going to pretend that I knew anything about Joey Clinkscales, other than that he was the New York Jets VP of College Scouting, before I wrote this, but, what I do know is that the old regime had to go as soon as Mr. Davis passed. It was clear that Al hired his guys to work directly with him and to carry out his wishes and without him around anymore it is time for this franchise to operate the way that new GM Reggie McKenzie sees fit.

I applaud how Reggie has gone about this process. He has gone out and gotten "His guys" and took his time in making the moves that didn't necessarily need to be made as he was loyal to the old timers that were around in his playing days by letting them stay through the draft and free agency before letting them go.

Now, here is what I could dig up on Clinkscales:

Here is a one on one video after last year's Jet Draft

I guess he was in the market for a job LinkedIn (I mean, who has a LinkedIn in the NFL?)

Looks like he may have put on some weight from his playing days

Just what position he will hold here, we don't know, but, I have to chalk up another one for Mr. McKenzie. Everyone knew that he wanted Clinkscales and he got him.

Cheers,

Saint

Oakland Raiders select OG Tony Bergstrom at 95

2012-04-28T04:04:56Z

There it is Raider Nation. The first pick of the Post Al Davis Era is in the books!

Tony Bergstrom is a beast of an O-Lineman who anchored the line on an 8-5 team that beat Georgia 30-27 in the 2011 Sun Bowl.

At 6'5" and 313 pounds, Bergstrom was all an All Pac-12 Selection in 2011 who will probably move inside to Guard for Oakland. Bergstrom plays with a mean streak and he looks to team up with Wiz, Veldheer and Brisiel to give Oakland a beefy, mean offensive line.

It is funny to see how different the Oakland Raiders are operating in their first draft without Al Davis around. They resisted the temptation to trade away the 2013 Draft for some gifted athletes this year and instead of selecting a project corner with the 95th pick, they chose a solid Offensive Guard who has the make-up of a player who could be around for the next 10 years.

You know I used to always be jealous when other teams would select good football players with their picks and the Raiders would always choose the best athletes. I really like this pick...A Lot!

From Walter Football:

4/24/12: At the Senior Bowl, Bergstrom showed off some nice power and quality athleticism. He held his own against the defensive linemen that other All-Stars were struggling with. Bergstrom has the strength to anchor against bull rushes while his time playing on the edge helped him to slide with speed rushers.

The senior was a first-team all Pac-12 selection in 2011. He was a three-year starter at right tackle for the Utes. In the NFL, Bergstrom would probably be better off if he moved inside to guard.

What do you think Nation? Now that it has sunk in, what are your thoughts about this new direction?