Could Langston Walker Be the Answer at Right Tackle for the Oakland Raiders?

(Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

The right tackle position has been a cause of concern headaches and stress for many Raider fans. It has been a steady source of false-starts, holding call, QB hurries and numerous other problems.

This off-season many of us were under the impression that the loser in the battle to start at left tackle, Between Khalif Barnes and Mario Henderson, would become the new right tackle. But we were wrong and ended up with the often flagged Cornel Green again.

To not completely throw Green under the bus, though he has had trouble pass protecting, when he isn't being flagged for early movement he is very powerful in the run game.

Now with Green injured and Erik Pears playing the position Langston Walker getting a look isn't that big of a stretch.

So who is Langston Walker?

First let me start off by saying he is a behemoth of a man with tremendous strength and size standing at 6'8'' 366. Listed at 366 on the Raiders roster he is the heaviest play on the roster ahead of Khalif Barnes and Gerrard Warren both listed at 325. For tallest Raider he is a front runner as Erik Pears is also listed at 6'8'', to compare Mario Henderson and Robert Gallery are both listed at 6'7''.

Walker was drafted in the second round by the Raiders in 2002. He fits perfectly within two of the three criterias Al Davis alledgedly uses for drafting: Height, speed, and weight. But at the 2002 combine he did run a less than stellar 5.2 forty time, but hey he is a big guy.

Aside from our kickers Walker is the only player on the Raiders roster who played in the Raiders last Super Bowl.

He remained with the Raiders through the length of his contract then went to Buffalo via free-agency in 2007. Where he started all 32 games through 2007 and 2008.

In his seven years in the league he has played 98 games starting in 65 of them.

In 2009 Walker was moved to left tackle where he failed to hold down the starting role. The Bills failed to trade him, likely due to his huge contract, so he was released.

Now he is back on the Raiders.

Though don't get me wrong, he is not a sure thing and he does have his negatives as well.

For a positive he is a complete bull in the run game, but that is also Cornel Green's strength.

The knock on Walker is some believe he may just be too big to play in a zone blocking scheme. As it calls for more athletic line-men who are able to help on double teams then peel off to the second level and block line-backers.

At 6'8'' 365 many question whether Walker can be that athletic.

But one things for sure, if he can be that athletic I would rather have him than someone who frequently forgets the snap count.

And if he can be a solid blocker in the passing game there is no reason he shouldn't be playing

Only time will tell will Walker be a bulldozer paving the way for Raider running-backs like Justin Fargas or will he be nothing more than another forgettable free agent signing?

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