There's No Need to Worry About Richard Seymour

Raider Nation has been worried sick about the whereabouts of Richard Seymour.

For what?

Many have speculated that he doesn't want to be with the Raiders anymore. I've even heard a ridiculous suggestion to trade him for Albert Haynesworth.

The truth is no one in the world wants the franchise tag nor should they report mini camps and risk injury without a long-term contract. Tom Cable has told numerous reporters that the long-term contract was being negotiated.

Of course it is.

Al Davis gave up a first-round pick for a reason and Seymour knows this. Seymour also knows that at age 30, this will be his last big contract. So why hurry it?

There is no reason for it. You have to remember his first game with the Raiders against the Chargers. Seymour got off of the plane from Boston and gave Raider Nation two sacks.

He was the reason we had a chance to win that game.

Seymour finished the season with just four sacks last year, but Nnamdi Asomugha only had one pick last year. Their impact was still felt on the field in a big way.

Sack production generally goes down when you're the only proven threat on the defensive line. You see constant double- and triple-teams as you are the one they won't let beat them.

It's a lot like Asomugha never being thrown at.

Many wonder why he would want to play in Oakland now when he was hesitant to come from the start.

He sees the draft and free agent signing just like we do.

He probably knows what's going on beforehand. Help has arrived for Seymour and it should be the kind of help that allows him to be a dominant statistical player.

Despite being double- and triple-teamed, Seymour was still able to get numerous pressures and hits on opposing quarterbacks. They should turn into sacks next season as he sees less double- and triple-teams.

So what help does he have coming?

As a pass-rusher, he has Kamerion Wimbley.

Wimbley was a first-round draft choice in 2006. He would then burst on to the scene with a rookie-high 11 sacks.

However, Wimbley would have the same problem as Seymour had last season. Wimbley's production went down as he was the Brown's lone pass-rush threat to be gameplanned around.

Like Seymour, Wimbley was still able to put pressure on the quarterback. Playing with Seymour should make opposing offenses have to pick their poison.

The emergence of Trevor Scott should also help tremendously. He is another one of those OLB/DE hybrids that fit the elephant scheme employed by defensive coordinator John Marshall. Scott came on last year for seven sacks in limited duty.

Two big additions came through the draft and free agency. DE/DT Lamar Houston was drafted in the second round to help stuff the run.

Then there the big signing from a few days ago. Defensive tackle John Henderson was brought in to solidify the Raiders run defense. He should keep first-round middle linebacker Rolando McClain clear of blockers to make plays.

All of this help in the run game should also help Seymour's sack numbers.

How?

If the Raiders stop the run, there will be more opportunities for Seymour as teams will have to throw the ball more.

Seymour knows what he has coming in and he will be there when we really need him.

He'll be there when the lights come on!