sounds to me like we could have had brown for an extra 1 mill a year. given their age, injury history, and performance, it doesn't make a lot of sense that we'd rather have grove given a 1mill savings. there's got to be more going on here--i.e., grove's is backloaded and more cap friendly.
we've just paid a boat load of money to 2 players cut by the raiders of all teams.

Doug Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Ive read that grove is exceptionally strong and is
> considered a very agile Center... two things that
> Satele doesn't possess. I agree that in
> retrospect coughing up the dough for Brown may
> have been a better move, but i am in no way upset
> with this move.

Satele is very agile for a Center. Not sure how strong he is compared to Grove, but it's been mentioned a number of times that Satele could move to Guard which he would fit well because of his agility.

But can he beat out Smiley? I doubt it.

.....................................................................................
“I'm here" You're welcome!" - Kenny Powers

DEPTH

and insurance.

.....................................................................................
“I'm here" You're welcome!" - Kenny Powers

why not resign Johnson then? I think Miami overspent..... the guy is an unknown

I'm shocked they spent that kind of money for a guy who's always injured, and I thought the same thing you guys did...we balked at Brown who is just a few mil more than Groves? 30 mil is a lot of dough, plus the guaranteed money. I didn't think Dolphins would spend that, after having two high priced players on the line already. I thought we'd draft a center.

But we coughed up the money, and even took a risk with the guy's size and injury history. That speaks volumes. That means Jeff Ireland has his eye peeled on one or two player in the draft. And we want them so bad that we're wrapping up the O line so we don't have to deal with it during the draft. The only question is, what does he want? Does he like a special linebacker? Or is he going for broke with WR Nicks? Or, are we shoring up the O line because we know we have to bolster the D line and pick up NT Ron Brace?

They have a plan, I just don't know what it is.

-------

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“I'm here" You're welcome!" - Kenny Powers



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/04/2009 04:02AM by eesti.

its not that much money considering 2010 is going to be uncapped

"Here's what we know. We know Grove has missed 19 games over the past
4 seasons. We know that the Raiders ground game hasn't performed
particularly well when rushing up the middle behind Grove. Football
Outsiders ranks the Raiders 30th in "Adjusted Line Yards" when running
up the middle in 2008 and 28th in the same category in 2006 (Grove
played in all 16 games in '06 and in all but 4 in '08). And we know
that Jake comes from a team that has most recently used a "zone
blocking scheme" - which doesn't necessarily translate well to the
kind of offense the Dolphins want to run."

Jake was inactive for four games last season and I don't know why
(injury, etc). But I also know that in the 12 games he started, Oakland
rushed for 1566 yards (131 ypg) and a 4.45 avg. In the four games
without him, they rushed for 421 yds (105 ypg) and a 3.93 avg.

.....................................................................................
“I'm here" You're welcome!" - Kenny Powers



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/04/2009 07:59AM by eesti.

I am still trying to figure this one out but I am trying to be objective so here a a few items of note...

The Raiders had the 10th ranked rush offense last year. Leading rusher was Fargas 853 yards. 3.9 ypc and 1 td.

The Raiders beat the Jets in week 7 last season. Grove vs Kris Jenkins...The Raiders ran for 153 Total yards, top rusher Justin Fargas 74 yards. Jenkins had 1 solo tackle, 2 assists and no sacks.

loss to the Ravens...47 total yards rushing. Ngata 2 solo tackles, 1 assist, 1 sack.

loss to the Dolphins...70 total yards rushing. Fergy 3 solo tackles but Grove did not play. he missed weeks 11-14

last 3 games of season...Grove started...

loss to the Patriots (3-4 def)...242 total yards rushing. Wilfork 2 solo, 1 assist. Mike Wright (NT) 2 solo, 1 FF, 1 sack

win vs Texans (4-3 def) ...139 yards rushing. Fargas 93 yards. DT Akoye 3 solo, 2 assist, 1 sack, DT Zgonia 1 solo, DT T. Johnson 3 solo, 1 assist

win vs Bucaneers (4-3 def) ...192 total rushing. Bush 177 yards rushing. Hovan 4 solo 1 assist, Haye 1 solo

Looks like he got his punch back toward the end of the season.

.....................................................................................
“I'm here" You're welcome!" - Kenny Powers

what is unknown is if he can stay healthy for 16-19 games in a row.

.....................................................................................
“I'm here" You're welcome!" - Kenny Powers

COmsidering Randy Moss was considered washed up when leaving the Raiders....to set records the next season as WR in New England.. Sapp personally has told close friends that no one really cares about playing football in Oakland. It is a place to get paid, party and then retire, or get cut from and sign with whomever contender you want after a one to 3 year stint, spent smoking pot, strip clubs and counting your money.. Grove is going to be the Randy Moss of the Center position.... I just hope he can give up smoking trees, like many of the other Raiders players admittedly do consistently, even before games... I have heard quotes that more then half of the 2007 Radiers failed at least one drug test and some failed up to 4 that year before being forced into retirement

ps- I hear the Raiders are sponsored by Backwoods....



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 03/04/2009 12:13PM by Crowder52.