The Official Oakland Raiders 2012 Offseason Thread
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Could Bush return to the Raiders?
By Steve Corkran
Tuesday, March 20th, 2012 at 8:00 pm in Oakland Raiders.
For as much as Michael Bush loved playing for the Raiders the past five seasons, he spoke often about the prospect of being the lead back. If not for the Raiders, so be it. He wants a chance to show what he can do as the lead back.
He got that chance last season as a result of an injury to lead back Darren McFadden. Bush started the final nine games and rushed for a career-high 977 yards.
Yet, Bush knows that regardless how well he played, he was just keeping the job warm for when McFadden returned from his foot injury.
Now that McFadden is healed and ready to go, Bush once again would be relegated to a complementary role in the Raiders offense.
Hence, Bush hit the free-agent market Mar. 13 in an effort to see if he could find the opportunity he has yearned for since he entered the league with the Raiders in 2007 — he sat out his rookie season while recovering from a broken leg he suffered in his final season at the University of Louisville.
For whatever reason, the market for veteran running backs such as Bush — regarded as one of the best on the open market — has been lukewarm, at best.
Bush has visited the Chicago Bears and Cincinnati Bengals. Both times, he left without a contract in hand. The Seattle Seahawks and New York Jets reportedly also are interested in Bush’s services. Interestingly, he has no chance of being the lead back in either Seattle or Chicago next season.
Therefore, it brings about the prospect of Bush returning to the Raiders in 2012 if he isn’t able to land a starting gig elsewhere.
That’s something few thought possible as recently as two weeks ago. Yet, now it seems more and more plausible.
Bush has said numerous times how much he enjoys playing for the Raiders. So, if all things are equal, it would seem to mean the Raiders have a strong chance of getting back Bush if things don’t change soon.
Don’t rule it out.
By Steve Corkran
Tuesday, March 20th, 2012 at 8:00 pm in Oakland Raiders.
For as much as Michael Bush loved playing for the Raiders the past five seasons, he spoke often about the prospect of being the lead back. If not for the Raiders, so be it. He wants a chance to show what he can do as the lead back.
He got that chance last season as a result of an injury to lead back Darren McFadden. Bush started the final nine games and rushed for a career-high 977 yards.
Yet, Bush knows that regardless how well he played, he was just keeping the job warm for when McFadden returned from his foot injury.
Now that McFadden is healed and ready to go, Bush once again would be relegated to a complementary role in the Raiders offense.
Hence, Bush hit the free-agent market Mar. 13 in an effort to see if he could find the opportunity he has yearned for since he entered the league with the Raiders in 2007 — he sat out his rookie season while recovering from a broken leg he suffered in his final season at the University of Louisville.
For whatever reason, the market for veteran running backs such as Bush — regarded as one of the best on the open market — has been lukewarm, at best.
Bush has visited the Chicago Bears and Cincinnati Bengals. Both times, he left without a contract in hand. The Seattle Seahawks and New York Jets reportedly also are interested in Bush’s services. Interestingly, he has no chance of being the lead back in either Seattle or Chicago next season.
Therefore, it brings about the prospect of Bush returning to the Raiders in 2012 if he isn’t able to land a starting gig elsewhere.
That’s something few thought possible as recently as two weeks ago. Yet, now it seems more and more plausible.
Bush has said numerous times how much he enjoys playing for the Raiders. So, if all things are equal, it would seem to mean the Raiders have a strong chance of getting back Bush if things don’t change soon.
Don’t rule it out.
yeah mcfadden needs to stay healthy, and if that means giving him less snaps, well so be it. we would all love to see him out there (no marty) every snap and gaining hella yards, but at what cost? him gettin injured? i'd rather him be a combo back with bush or jones and have him the whole year than have him be the full time back for 7 weeks
Probably the goal, but its hella hard to have self control and not put mcfadden in on every down, especially when its a close game or if your behind. Since we have legitimate threats on offense now other than mcfadden, I think he'll be less susceptible to injury.
Im excited about the offense, but nervous about the defense
Im excited about the offense, but nervous about the defense
I guess we will see how solid Shawntae Spencer is, just signed him
ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) - The Oakland Raiders signed cornerback Shawntae Spencer to a one-year deal Monday in their latest move to bolster their depleted secondary.
Spencer was released last week after eight seasons with the San Francisco 49ers and quickly found a new home across the bay with the Raiders.
"Shawntae looked at the opportunities and options and thought the Oakland Raiders were the best situation for him,'' said his agent, Peter Schaffer. "He was very impressed with the coaching staff and is very excited to be an Oakland Raider.''
Spencer is already familiar with Oakland's new defensive coordinator, Jason Tarver, who was a defensive assistant for most of Spencer's tenure with the 49ers.
Spencer started 72 games his first seven years for San Francisco, including all 32 in 2009-10. But he lost his job in training camp last year and spent most of his final season with the 49ers as a reserve.
Spencer, a second-round pick out of Pittsburgh in 2004, has 11 interceptions and 58 passes defensed in his career. His most productive season came in 2005 when he had four interceptions. He had three interceptions in 2010 but struggled at times in coverage that season. He allowed 48 catches on 75 passes his direction for 631 yards and four touchdowns that season, according to STATS LLC.
His role with the Raiders is not immediately clear. Oakland cut its two starting cornerbacks from last season in Stanford Routt and Chris Johnson and signed free agent Ron Bartell last week. The only other cornerbacks on the Raiders roster currently are Chimdi Chekwa and DeMarcus Van Dyke, who played sparingly as rookies last season.
ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) - The Oakland Raiders signed cornerback Shawntae Spencer to a one-year deal Monday in their latest move to bolster their depleted secondary.
Spencer was released last week after eight seasons with the San Francisco 49ers and quickly found a new home across the bay with the Raiders.
"Shawntae looked at the opportunities and options and thought the Oakland Raiders were the best situation for him,'' said his agent, Peter Schaffer. "He was very impressed with the coaching staff and is very excited to be an Oakland Raider.''
Spencer is already familiar with Oakland's new defensive coordinator, Jason Tarver, who was a defensive assistant for most of Spencer's tenure with the 49ers.
Spencer started 72 games his first seven years for San Francisco, including all 32 in 2009-10. But he lost his job in training camp last year and spent most of his final season with the 49ers as a reserve.
Spencer, a second-round pick out of Pittsburgh in 2004, has 11 interceptions and 58 passes defensed in his career. His most productive season came in 2005 when he had four interceptions. He had three interceptions in 2010 but struggled at times in coverage that season. He allowed 48 catches on 75 passes his direction for 631 yards and four touchdowns that season, according to STATS LLC.
His role with the Raiders is not immediately clear. Oakland cut its two starting cornerbacks from last season in Stanford Routt and Chris Johnson and signed free agent Ron Bartell last week. The only other cornerbacks on the Raiders roster currently are Chimdi Chekwa and DeMarcus Van Dyke, who played sparingly as rookies last season.
Its a good time for the raiders to go back with a defensive minded HC! I think Allen and tarver will have this defense playing respectively, all we need os a linebacker or two.
Its funny people are already counting us out of the division race. Saying broncos and chefs are gunna be competting for the Division title, when in reality we havnt really got worst. We upgraded at the corners IMO, because routt wasn't gettin it done last year, and Johnson got burnt all year or we had a rookie Playing. Plus the whole defensive scheme bullshit that chuck ran is gone.
Our d line is pretty much intact, especially having Shaughnessy back. We went from 2nd in sacks in 2010 to 15th last season with basically the same unit, minus Shaughnessy. So I think he will have a great year if he stays healthy.
Our offensive line has improved already. Satele signed with the colts, so Lil wiz will be playing center, and IMO our line did hella good last year with satele out and wiz at center. Carlisle will most likely play between wiz and veldheer, with brisiel at RG. Brisiel already has experience with pollack, so he will fit in smoothly. Hopefully we replace Barnes at RT, which anyone will be an instant upgrade, I'm thinking barksdale.
Our offense weapons will all be back. Al Saunders will help knapp know the abilities of all the weapons. Palmer will have fine to work with his recievers more, which can only help. And he'll have a healhy DMC in the backfield. We have the best offense in the afc west hands down.
Mckenzie has made this team better already, while working the cap and gettin rid of non team players. I think the afc west is up for grabs, and it will be a tight division, but if we stay relatively healthy, we're taking it.
Its funny people are already counting us out of the division race. Saying broncos and chefs are gunna be competting for the Division title, when in reality we havnt really got worst. We upgraded at the corners IMO, because routt wasn't gettin it done last year, and Johnson got burnt all year or we had a rookie Playing. Plus the whole defensive scheme bullshit that chuck ran is gone.
Our d line is pretty much intact, especially having Shaughnessy back. We went from 2nd in sacks in 2010 to 15th last season with basically the same unit, minus Shaughnessy. So I think he will have a great year if he stays healthy.
Our offensive line has improved already. Satele signed with the colts, so Lil wiz will be playing center, and IMO our line did hella good last year with satele out and wiz at center. Carlisle will most likely play between wiz and veldheer, with brisiel at RG. Brisiel already has experience with pollack, so he will fit in smoothly. Hopefully we replace Barnes at RT, which anyone will be an instant upgrade, I'm thinking barksdale.
Our offense weapons will all be back. Al Saunders will help knapp know the abilities of all the weapons. Palmer will have fine to work with his recievers more, which can only help. And he'll have a healhy DMC in the backfield. We have the best offense in the afc west hands down.
Mckenzie has made this team better already, while working the cap and gettin rid of non team players. I think the afc west is up for grabs, and it will be a tight division, but if we stay relatively healthy, we're taking it.