Oakland Raiders' Open Competition: Defensive End

Defensive end is a very often talked about position in the NFL. These guys are thought of as the primary pass rushers and make names for themselves by racking up sacks.

This year, it seems to be open competition. We have two former Pro Bowlers in Derrick Burgess, who was the first Raider to ever lead the NFL in sacks and Greg Ellis who joined us recently after being released from Dallas.

Then we have Trevor Scott who was a late round pick last year who tied the team lead and the NFL rookie lead in sacks. Also joining the competition is Jay Richardson, who has started opposite of Burgess the last two seasons and Greyson Gunheim who was the first called up from the practice squad last year.

Then we also drafted three rookies that are capable of playing defensive end.

Derrick Burgess

Derrick Burgess was the first Raider to ever lead the NFL in sacks; not Howie Long, Greg Townsend, John Matuzak, or Lyle Alzado. It was Derrick Burgess.

He joined us as a free agent in 2005 when he accomplished that milestone and in 2006 he was our team leader in sacks and returned to the pro bowl but didn't lead the NFL that year.

He has battled injuries the last two years and his numbers haven't been the same. He tied for the team lead in sacks in 2007 but didn't make the pro bowl and in 2008 he wasn't anywhere close to the team lead.

He hasn't been happy about his contract and is notorious for not being at the OTA workouts, which head coach Tom Cable frowns upon, so he may not be a Coach Cable favorite.

However, he has never shown up to camp out of shape and nobody has questioned his work ethic. He was rumored to being traded to New England, but I don't think it will happen unless given an offer that the Raiders can't refuse.

Greg Ellis

Greg Ellis has been one of my favorite players since entering the NFL in 1998. He has been to several Pro Bowls. In 2007, he posted a career high 12.5 sacks as am OLB in Dallas's 3-4 defense.

Ellis joined the Raiders wanting to return to a 4-3 Defensive end like he has played most of his career. He signed a three-year deal so that may be a sign that Burgess will walk in free agency next year especially with the youngsters stepping up last year and playing well.

Ellis brings a good veteran leadership mentality to the Raider defense and I believe he will be a factor. He was without question a good acquisition.

Trevor Scott

And now here is our cover boy Trevor Scott. Trevor Scott tied the Raider lead and the NFL rookie lead with five sacks last year. He was a sixth-round pick from the Univeristy of Buffalo.

He also played tight end in college. His first two career sacks were against Brett Favre, who is a legendary "Raider Killer". The kid has shown great potential and could easily become a pass rush specialist and eventually develop into an every down defensive end.

Jay Richardson

And now from THE Ohio State University: No. 98 Jay Richardson. Richardson is a fifth-round pick from the 2007 draft who surprisingly beat out a heavily favored third round pick named Quinten Moses for a starting position; Moses didn't even make the team that year.

Richardson has been the opposite of Trevor Scott; he's played the run well but hasn't been a good pass rusher. He is a very hard worker who never gives up and desires to get better, but is often beat when having to make a big play when it counts.

He recorded a safety against the Miami Dolphins last year which was a game where he was shut down for the most part. His tackle numbers did improve from 2007 to 2008, but hasn't done enough to establish himself on the Raider football team.

Coach Tom Cable is all about competition and Richardson is it. With new defensive coordinator John Marshall and defensive line coach Dwaine Board, they just may be the tools Richardson needs to succeed.

Greyson Gunheim

Here is a guy that I've been high on ever since he joined the Raiders last year as an undrafted rookie free agent, and that is Greyson Gunheim. Unlike Trevor Scott, I had actually heard of Gunheim prior to his Raider days. This guy has a motor that won't quit and will push competition to the limit.

He didn't make it through the final cut from training camp, so he signed to the practice squad and was the first one called up. He played a limited role mostly on special teams.

His most notable moment was in the last game of the season against Tampa Bay when he sacked Jeff Garcia for the game saving sack and the first of his career. I really favor this guy to make the team this year.

Matt Shaughnessy

Matt Shaughessy was the first of three rookies we drafted this year that are capable of playing defensive end. He started 46 of 50 games for Wisconsin at defensive end and recorded 109 SOLO tackles, 18.5 sacks, and 41.5 stops for losses.

He sounds like what our defense needs but he has an injury history. He tore his ACL as a freshman in college, but still managed to be recognized as an All Big 10 Honorable mention after appearing in 11 games and was recognized by ESPN and The Sporting News as a FIrst Team Freshman All American.

As a Junior he was recognized as Wisconson's Defensive MVP and was Second Team All Big 10. During spring training for his senior year, he broke his right fibula but still managed to start all 13 games as a senior and was All Big 10 Honorable Mention, but probably could've been better.

I think he will go one of two ways; he will either get injured in training camp and go to IR and be forgotten because so much competition was here for his position, or he will prevail with his heart and mental toughness and push the competition to the limit.

Stryker Sulak

No, it is not a nickname, it is what is on his birth certificate: Stryker Sulak. Okay so yeah his first name is Joseph, but he goes by his middle name Stryker. When a guy with a name like that comes around, all you can wonder is "Can he live up to his name?"

How has he done so far prior to becoming a Raider? How's three-time All Big 12 Honoree for you? How about career best stats as a senior of 55 tackles (29 solo and 15 for losses), 10.5 sacks, NCAA high 6 forced fumbles, 6 passed defended, and six quarterback hurries? I'm impressed.

The fact that his sack total is higher than his QB hurry total tells me that he can get to the quarterback and make the play. Weighing in at only 255 makes it seem like he'd be better off playing linebacker in the NFL, but that the same as what Trevor Scott weighs in at and he did well last year.

Sulak was a sixth round pick (again like Scott before him) in this year's draft and could end up being a big steal. Whether it be at defensive end or linebacker, I'll bet he makes the team.

Slade Norris

Slade Norris was actually drafted as a linebacker, but can play defensive end too. He started his NCAA career as a linebacker when he was a red shirt freshman and sophomore. He missed most of his RS freshman year due to injuries and had limited playing time as a sophomore.

As a junior he moved to defensive end and started to prevail. Combined in his junior and senior seasons he recorded 19 sacks; sounds like a good pass rusher but needs to be able to do more.

If he makes the team I don't think he'll be more than a special teams player and limited role on defense, but I thought the same thing in 2005 about a third round linebacker named Kirk Morrison, who had led the team in tackles ever since becoming a Raider.

I think he has a slim chance at making the team but you never know.

Derrick Gray

I refuse to ignore anybody on the roster and that includes this man Derrick Gray who was signed last year as an undrafted rookie.

Gray spent all of last year on the practice squad and was even tried at defensive tackle in training camp last year. Odds are against him making the team but you never know until the competition happens.

In 2007, as a senior at Texas Southern he had 76 tackles (24.5 for losses), 9.5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles.

I failed to mention this on Greyson Gunheim's page but undrafted rookies are just as much rookie material as first round picks. I remember in 2004 we signed a man named Tommy Kelly who could play defensive end and defensive tackle.

Nobody thought he'd make the team but he did and led us in sacks that year with four (we had a weak defensive line that year). He has been a force on our defensive line since then and is one of the highest paid DTs in the NFL.

Derrick Gray (as well as Greyson Gunheim) has the chance to do that, and only time will tell.