Post by TheShadow on Dec 12, 2003 22:33:00 GMT -5
www.sacbee.com
By Gregg Bell -- Bee Staff Writer
ALAMEDA -- The Raiders are being chilled by a cold, cold draft this winter.
This week's long-expected news that defensive tackle John Parrella is on the
season-ending injured-reserve list -- and specifically that Parrella is
being replaced on the roster by undrafted wide receiver John Stone --
illustrates yet another reason why the Raiders have been so horrid this
season.
Stone's promotion from the practice squad is an indictment of rookie wide
receiver and fifth-round pick Doug Gabriel's production. And Gabriel is yet
another example of how little the entire 2003 draft class has contributed
compared to its '02 predecessors.
Throughout last season's run to the Super Bowl, coach Bill Callahan bragged
about how seven of the Raiders' eight rookie draft choices contributed to
the AFC championship. Each of the first four Raiders picks from '02 --
Phillip Buchanon, Napoleon Harris, Langston Walker and Doug Jolley --
started last year and have again this season.
Even the Raiders' last choice of the '02 draft, seventh-round pick and
quarterback-turned-receiver Ronald Curry, will see playing time on special
teams against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday at the Coliseum.
But the Class of '03? Five of the Raiders' 10 draftees from April are no
longer on the roster.
"Oh, I can't make that statement, that they are not as strong," Callahan
said. "I think it's too early to make that statement. We'll see how we
finish out. And, of course, they've got some time next year."
For now, both of the Raiders' third-round picks, promising running back
Justin Fargas and defensive end Sam Williams, are on injured reserve. The
team cut its final three choices: tackle Dustin Rykart, safety Siddeeq
Shabazz and wideout Ryan Hoag. Rykart and Hoag didn't even make it through
training camp.
The Raiders expected top draft choice Nnamdi Asomugha to challenge Terrance
Shaw for the starting right cornerback job. That would have allowed the
5-foot-8 Buchanon to move inside as a fifth defensive back against smaller,
slot receivers.
But Asomugha watched all of summer camp after separating his shoulder in the
first contact drill. He has yet to become a consistent force in the
secondary upon his return. Asomugha's one start, Nov. 30 against Denver,
came at safety, but only because Rod Woodson went on IR.
"Asomugha would have contributed more so had he not been injured in training
camp," Callahan insisted.
The domino effect from Asomugha's delayed progress is that Buchanon has
played an unintended, more prominent role in the secondary. His five
interceptions have overshadowed frequent lapses in pass coverage. And his
regrettable antics -- such as his helmet-shedding penalty that squandered a
prime Raiders chance for the go-ahead score late in the Nov. 23 loss at
Kansas City -- haven't helped.
The Raiders' second first-round pick, defensive end Tyler Brayton, is the
only rookie to start all 13 games this season. Brayton, Tim Brown, Eric
Barton, Napoleon Harris, Jerry Rice, Barry Sims and Charles Woodson are the
only seven of the 22 first-team Raiders to start every game.
Brayton struggled mightily against the run and with his pass rush until he
rebounded for his two best games over the last two weeks. He remains the
team's best rookie.
Just don't tell him that.
"I still have a long ways to go," Brayton said Sunday after hustling through
a loss at Pittsburgh.
So does second-round choice Teyo Johnson. He has just 13 catches in 13
games, with numerous drops and occasional alignment problems in the Raiders'
myriad offensive formations. Johnson's deficiencies as a blocking tight end
made journeyman O.J. Santiago an unexpected starter last month.
Fargas might have finished as the best rookie, with his slashing, dynamic
running on offense and kickoff returns. But fumbles in opposition territory
and his season-ending knee injury Nov. 16 derailed that hope.
Now Gabriel receives a thinly veiled demotion, even if Callahan isn't
calling it that. The 6-2, 215-pound wide receiver has the size and
opportunity to prove he can replace Jerry Rice and Tim Brown as Jerry
Porter's partner.
But Gabriel has played just one game at receiver, 10 weeks ago. He's also
averaging just 16.8 yards per kickoff return -- nearly five yards below the
NFL average -- since replacing Fargas.
Now the Raiders are considering replacing Gabriel with Stone to return kicks
this Sunday.
"I think everybody has struggled on that unit," Callahan said, in Gabriel's
defense. "He's done a good job considering the fact that he's been pressed
into duty."
But it's that considered fact that has damned these injury-ravaged Raiders:
Maximum pressing into duties with only minimum results.
The rookies' results are part of that.
"In a season like this, we expected more, but we didn't get it," Callahan
said. "And we're certainly hopeful that in the future they will be more
productive. And I am confident that they will be."
By Gregg Bell -- Bee Staff Writer
ALAMEDA -- The Raiders are being chilled by a cold, cold draft this winter.
This week's long-expected news that defensive tackle John Parrella is on the
season-ending injured-reserve list -- and specifically that Parrella is
being replaced on the roster by undrafted wide receiver John Stone --
illustrates yet another reason why the Raiders have been so horrid this
season.
Stone's promotion from the practice squad is an indictment of rookie wide
receiver and fifth-round pick Doug Gabriel's production. And Gabriel is yet
another example of how little the entire 2003 draft class has contributed
compared to its '02 predecessors.
Throughout last season's run to the Super Bowl, coach Bill Callahan bragged
about how seven of the Raiders' eight rookie draft choices contributed to
the AFC championship. Each of the first four Raiders picks from '02 --
Phillip Buchanon, Napoleon Harris, Langston Walker and Doug Jolley --
started last year and have again this season.
Even the Raiders' last choice of the '02 draft, seventh-round pick and
quarterback-turned-receiver Ronald Curry, will see playing time on special
teams against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday at the Coliseum.
But the Class of '03? Five of the Raiders' 10 draftees from April are no
longer on the roster.
"Oh, I can't make that statement, that they are not as strong," Callahan
said. "I think it's too early to make that statement. We'll see how we
finish out. And, of course, they've got some time next year."
For now, both of the Raiders' third-round picks, promising running back
Justin Fargas and defensive end Sam Williams, are on injured reserve. The
team cut its final three choices: tackle Dustin Rykart, safety Siddeeq
Shabazz and wideout Ryan Hoag. Rykart and Hoag didn't even make it through
training camp.
The Raiders expected top draft choice Nnamdi Asomugha to challenge Terrance
Shaw for the starting right cornerback job. That would have allowed the
5-foot-8 Buchanon to move inside as a fifth defensive back against smaller,
slot receivers.
But Asomugha watched all of summer camp after separating his shoulder in the
first contact drill. He has yet to become a consistent force in the
secondary upon his return. Asomugha's one start, Nov. 30 against Denver,
came at safety, but only because Rod Woodson went on IR.
"Asomugha would have contributed more so had he not been injured in training
camp," Callahan insisted.
The domino effect from Asomugha's delayed progress is that Buchanon has
played an unintended, more prominent role in the secondary. His five
interceptions have overshadowed frequent lapses in pass coverage. And his
regrettable antics -- such as his helmet-shedding penalty that squandered a
prime Raiders chance for the go-ahead score late in the Nov. 23 loss at
Kansas City -- haven't helped.
The Raiders' second first-round pick, defensive end Tyler Brayton, is the
only rookie to start all 13 games this season. Brayton, Tim Brown, Eric
Barton, Napoleon Harris, Jerry Rice, Barry Sims and Charles Woodson are the
only seven of the 22 first-team Raiders to start every game.
Brayton struggled mightily against the run and with his pass rush until he
rebounded for his two best games over the last two weeks. He remains the
team's best rookie.
Just don't tell him that.
"I still have a long ways to go," Brayton said Sunday after hustling through
a loss at Pittsburgh.
So does second-round choice Teyo Johnson. He has just 13 catches in 13
games, with numerous drops and occasional alignment problems in the Raiders'
myriad offensive formations. Johnson's deficiencies as a blocking tight end
made journeyman O.J. Santiago an unexpected starter last month.
Fargas might have finished as the best rookie, with his slashing, dynamic
running on offense and kickoff returns. But fumbles in opposition territory
and his season-ending knee injury Nov. 16 derailed that hope.
Now Gabriel receives a thinly veiled demotion, even if Callahan isn't
calling it that. The 6-2, 215-pound wide receiver has the size and
opportunity to prove he can replace Jerry Rice and Tim Brown as Jerry
Porter's partner.
But Gabriel has played just one game at receiver, 10 weeks ago. He's also
averaging just 16.8 yards per kickoff return -- nearly five yards below the
NFL average -- since replacing Fargas.
Now the Raiders are considering replacing Gabriel with Stone to return kicks
this Sunday.
"I think everybody has struggled on that unit," Callahan said, in Gabriel's
defense. "He's done a good job considering the fact that he's been pressed
into duty."
But it's that considered fact that has damned these injury-ravaged Raiders:
Maximum pressing into duties with only minimum results.
The rookies' results are part of that.
"In a season like this, we expected more, but we didn't get it," Callahan
said. "And we're certainly hopeful that in the future they will be more
productive. And I am confident that they will be."