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Oakland Raiders CB Pat Lee
From www.packersinsider.com
I live in Wisconsin and have watched plenty of Green Bay Packers games in my life. I've seen a lot of Pat Lee. Lee was a second round draft pick out of Auburn in 2008. He was projected to be picked a little bit later and would have been a better pick then. He hasn't lived up to being a 2nd round pick but no one predicted injuries. Coming out of college he ran a 4.41 40-yard dash and had good quickness. He showed good coverage skills in college that has somewhat translated to the pros. In college wasn't the ball hawk bu had a few interceptions but was active in deflecting passes and causing fumbles. Early on he showed his solid tackling skills that have improved throughout his professional career. His coverage skills have gone from poor to above average/good.
My Take
Knee injuries have taken away that amazing speed of his and he was forced to slow down and try to lockdown on his coverage. When he's healthy he has filled in quite nicely as a nickel or dime CB.During the Super Bowl the Packers secondary were hit with injury after injury and at times Lee played as the 2nd CB and did great. He will know the playbook and does just enough as CB to be a solid pickup. The Raiders will love him covering the slots but his special teams play even more. A lot of younger developmental guys usually play special teams with some exceptions, and having a good veteran wrap up tackler will definitely benefit the Raiders. He is a decent return man and can get you to the thirty or forty yard line with one or two blocks on a regular basis. With the signing of Pat Lee, Reggie McKenzie has added quality depth at the cornerback position and added a leader on special teams. Do not be surprised if Pat Lee leads the Raiders in special teams tackles at the end of the season.
Now that we know the Green Bay Packers are not looking after Manny Lawson that leaves three other teams: Colts, Bengals, and the Raiders.Currently a Bengal, the 27 year old outside linebacker is a former first round draft pick by the San Francisco 49ers. A freak athlete coming out of college the potential was astounding. He has battled injuries (torn ACL in 2007) but when he is healthy he has been a nuisance to quarterbacks. He has 16 sacks in his career with a high of 6.5 in 2009. Manny can be a great value pick up not needing a huge contract which already is a huge plus for the Oakland Raiders.
Position Of Need
The Oakland Raiders desperately need a pass rush, specifically from an outside linebacker.Lawson is an all-around OLB. He brings his experience to the team and can plug a big hole left by Wimbley. That gives time for a rookie OLB or DE to develop. If Lawson stays healthy I can see another 6-8 sack season which will help a developing defense. This won't be a playoff team but the signing of veteran cornerbacks and Lawson will keep from a completely embarrassing retool year.A small pass rush from him will help the pass defense and the corners who all have something to prove. A healthy Lawson will improve pass rush, which generally will cause turnovers (see Super Bowl 45 Packers). The defensive backs of the Raiders can really benefit from Lawson constantly hurrying the qb. Manny has great pass coverage skills deflecting balls thrown his way throughout his career. This is a must have with Manning and Rivers in the division. He's a very solid value pick up for the Raiders.
Start Immediately
Raiders need an OLB that can start right away, Manny Lawson is fully capable with six years experience in the NFL.In 2009 and 2010 he started all 16 games and only missed one game in 2011 which was a down year for him statistically in the sack column. He mainly came in on third downs for the Bengals so if he's looking to start and eventually get locked into a bigger deal/contract then you come to Oakland and make a statement.
Coaching Staff
New head coach Dennis Allen is the first defensive minded coach since John Madden for the Raiders. We've read it over and over again. A former defensive coordinator, Allen wants to make the defense its strong point. The Raiders new defensive coordinator was on the 49ers staff when Lawson was there. He has ties to Oakland and rumor is Allen wants to switch the Raiders to a 3-4 defense. Manny plays that great.
The Right Direction
Reggie McKenzie has the Raiders heading to the right direction as an entire franchise. Releasing bad contracts and extra space, fixing up the financial situation, not signing big contracts on free agents, and wanting to build through the draft. McKenzie isn't going for a one and done playoff run he wants a dynasty and Lawson can be a big part of that moving forward. Lawson is young enough to stay for a few drafts and be that big veteran linebacker to help lead the Raiders deep into the playoffs.The Raiders are young, and with a new front office aren't that far off from retaking the AFC West.
The 49ers made a huge splash in free agency this off-season going after receivers.They brought in former NY Giant WR Mario Manningham, re-signed Ted Ginn Jr., and of course the 'big' name receiver in Randy Moss. On paper and maybe in Madden this looks pretty good if not great for a Super Bowl run. There are enough reasons why in reality it's not though.
Is Randy Moss the answer to lock the division? Wrap up the one seed? Or even get the 49ers over the hump and go to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1995? I'll have to settle down the hype and tell you why he is NOT the answer.
First a little history lesson. Randy Moss was possibly the most feared receiver in the professional football averaging almost 13 touchdowns a season in his first tenure with the Vikings. Questions about his work ethic arose and he was becoming a problem in and out of the locker room. He was traded to the Oakland Raiders who were hoping to jump start the passing game the Raiders had just a few years before. With injuries nagging him and the team just not performing on a high level, Moss has openly stated (later on) he had lost interest in really trying for the Raiders due to their lack of winning. In his two seasons with the Raiders he barely combined for double digit touchdowns (11). After two average seasons he is traded to the Patriots.
3765 yards, 47 tds, 250 catches. A three year stat line that included the record breaking 2007 season in which the Pats went 16-0. Randy Moss definitely rejuvenated his career. All was well in New England....but wait. Moss was on the last year of a four year contract, supposed meetings occured discussing the future of the offense and what Moss' new 'role' would be..This is all speculation of course until a week one post game game press conference in 2010 confirmed this. Moss has 5 receptions for 59 yards in a week one victory and publicly admits about being 'unhappy' and 'unappreciated'. This is Randy's best chance for a Super Bowl ring and he still downs the media and his playing situation even after a victory.This results in being traded to two other teams in the same season! (Patriots to Vikings to Titans)
1. Now why won't he work in San Francisco? You can not take his promise of change seriously. You assumed after going to New England where you know Belichick wasn't going to accept quitting on plays or a bad attitude that he changed. After a few great statistical seasons and even after a victory he still had to have things his way. He needs his boss to tell him he was doing a 'good job'. This is a grown man that needs to be coddled in such a way?! I figured Pro Bowl selections and wins were showing you were doing a good job. I'm pretty sure, especially when it's going to count, that Harbaugh isn't an A for effort kind of guy. There are too many WRs on this team and Alex Smith isn't going to force passes to please him. The ball is going to be spread out to the quick open man.That's how the offense is designed. The real Moss attitude will be out sooner than later which brings me to point two.
2. Alex Smith. Alex Smith is a decent quarterback, more of a clock manager though. He has a fantastic defense and a great running game. He, like March Sanchez, just has to not screw up. Complete a few passes, no turnovers, drive the field, let the run game lead you and everything's ok. Harbaugh knows how to work with what he has. Alex made some great throws in the season, I won't say he's terrible, but we all know he still has problems with overthrows when he's jittery or just plain throws it to the dirt. After so many of these again Randy Moss will easily lose it and go after the the young qb. If Harbaugh does plan to open up the offense Smith isn't the guy to do it with. There are a few more options for him but Smith isn't that type of qb and Moss isn't that type of receiver anymore.
3. 35 years old. He'll pretty much be 36 when the playoffs come around. In his last season of play (2010) he played in all 16 games and started 11. He had 28 receptions, 393 yards, and 5 touchdowns. Yes he had three different teams, coordinators, and playbooks but isn't this the man who basically ran fly routes? He has taken an entire season off which contributes to me believing he will not have that over the top speed anymore. Is he football conditioned? A year off you can lose that game speed easily. If you watched the 2010 season it's pretty evident that he doesn't have much if anything left in the tank. He didn't bring anything to Minnesota or to the Titans. He gives up on blocks, gives up on routes, just stands on the sideline, and walks away from coaches while be talked to. Watch games and videos of him and you see this from his first stint with the Vikings to the Titans. If things aren't Moss' way he doesn't play. If he barely contributed in 2010 in football shape, what's he going to do two years later?
