The Raiders Should Shore Up Right Side Of O-Line Through Free Agency

Before I get killed with comments, "Raiders should draft an offensive lineman, go younger," 2009's free agent class of offensive linemen is a good one. 

The right side of the Raiders offensive line hasn't been that good. Cornell Green is at best a backup player but has started with the Oakland Raiders for two years.

Not because he has earned the right, but the Raider staff had expected the two-year player Mario Henderson to take the job from him. Henderson did not make any solid progress going into 2008, and the right tackle job was once again Green's.

Kind of funny that when Kwame Harris struggled, and was eventually benched, Henderson looked like he had found a home at left tackle. Almost instantly, the offense picked up and the passing game started to show up like it had not all year.

Both Harris and Green gave up 7.5 sacks in 2008, Harris doing so in 11 starts, Green in 16. Both sides could use upgrades, but I'm going to assume Henderson gets the job at left tackle since Davis gave him his vote of confidence at Cable's press conference.

Davis noted that Henderson was his pick in 2007, not Kiffin's (Davis also made sure to let everyone know that Kiffin wouldn't play Henderson cause he was Al's pick).

The right side of the Raider offensive line gave up a total of 12.5 sacks in 08', 7.5 from Green and 5 from Carlisle. Cooper Carlisle has also started for two years for the Raiders, looking like the Raiders most consistent offensive lineman in 2007, but he struggled in 2008.

Carlisle is an unrestricted free agent, and do to his lost presence in both the running and passing game, he will not be brought back.

Tom Cable explained at his press conference that he might look to add some beef to the offensive line, and maybe tweak a few things.

Cable could find what he's looking for in unrestricted free agent Mark Tauscher. Coming from a zone blocking system in Green Bay, he would fit right in and would instantly make the offense better with his experience.

However, the only downside to picking up Tauscher is that he is coming off of his 2nd torn ACL and will be 32 years old by training camp.

The Packers have said that they want to re-sign him, but haven't necessarily guaranteed him a starting spot, since in the zone blocking system (ZBS), almost any player can step in for another.

Tauscher is a great example of this, being a seventh round pick of the Packers in 2000, he came off the bench as a rookie replacing injured Earl Dotson, only to hold onto the starting job to present time.

Tauscher could look to test the market, and since he's coming off an injury would come cheaper than other offensive tackles. Not only Tauscher would be intriguing, since Kynan Forney is a free agent as well. You're probably thinking..."WHO?"

Forney was a starter at right guard for the Atanta Falcons from 2001-2007, starting 69 games.

He was signed last year by the Chargers as a backup, since Mike Goff has held down the fort at right guard for almost decade. Funny thing is, reports are Chargers will let Goff hit free agency as well.

San Diego must have had future plans for Forney and none for Goff, because they offered Forney a two-year extension back in December.

Forney turned them down.

Isn't it interesting that Forney turned down an extension with the Chargers, as he would be just about guaranteed the starter at right guard with Goff out of the picture?

Well, Forney worked with Tom Cable in Atlanta from 2004-2006 under the ZBS, when Cable was his offensive line coach.

The two could pair up again as the Raiders will look for a replacement for Carlisle. Forney has been known for being a nasty run blocker, and is a fairly decent in pass protection.

He knows Cable's system, and has a chip on his shoulder being that he fell out of favor with the Falcons before the 2008 season, was released, then picked up by San Diego only to be a backup.

Keep an eye out for both Tauscher (if not re-signed) and Forney in Free Agency Raider Nation, as they both will look to start elsewehere.

Oakland could be atop their list...

Other notable offensive linemen on the market:

OT Stacy Andrews
OT Khalif Barnes
OG Joe Berger
OG Elton Brown
OT Vernon Carey
OG Cooper Carlisle
OG Jason Fabini
OG Kynan Forney
OT Wayne Gandy
OG Mike Goff
OT Jordan Gross
OT Scott Jackson
OG Pete Kendall
OT Daniel Loper
OG Seth McKinney
OT Fred Miller
OG Chris Naeole
OT Jon Runyan
OT Marvel Smith
OT Max Starks
OT Mark Tauscher
OT Tra Thomas
OG Fred Weary
OG Floyd Womack
C Matt Birk
C Geoff Hangartner
C Brennen Carvalho
C Jeff Saturday