Michael Huff or Hiram Eugene: Who Should Start for the Raiders?

Who would you rather see be the starter at safety for the Oakland Raiders for the 2009-2010 season, Michael Huff or Hiram Eugene? That is, if you had to pick between these two guys only.

Last season Michael Huff started the first five games of the season at FS after 32 starts at strong safety in 2006 and 2007.

Once Tom Cable became the coach, Huff was benched for Hiram Eugene. Huff's role on the team became a spot backup and special teams player.

Now that Gibril Wilson is a Miami Dolphin, there is a chance that Huff could return to strong safety in 2009, where he played his first two seasons as a Raider, and for Eugene to remain at FS.

From the outside looking in, it looked like Michael Huff was in the doghouse all season under Cable.

Cable has been on record saying that it doesn't matter who you are on this team, he wants players who produce—the players who produce will be the ones who play.

Not only were moves happening on defense, but on offense as well, as Chaz Schilens and Johnnie Lee Higgins were inserted into the starting lineup for Ronald Curry and Javon Walker.

If Cable is a straightforward, no BS type of guy, will Michael Huff have the chance this offseason to win back his starting role at FS or SS for the Oakland Raiders?

It's hard to get a solid read on Michael Huff. Coming out of Texas the same year they won the National Championship, his stock may have been a tad bit overrated. However, you can't deny Huff has talent, but what good does it do us if he's sitting on the bench?

Is it fair to say that the Raiders made a mistake by drafting him seventh overall in the 2006 draft? I just find it hard to label the guy a "bust" this early in his career.

To me there is a difference when judging players with less than four years' experience; there are great players, average players, and the lowest would be "bust."

Is Vince Young a "bust?" Is Vernon Davis a "bust?" Is Donte Whitner a "bust?" With first round players making so much money and all the hype around their names, it's so easy to label players who don't perform great in the early stages of their career a bust. I consider them to be average players.

This is a make or break season for Huff.

Hiram Eugene became an instant favorite of Coach Cable due to his hard work in practice and the effort he showed on Sundays. Eugene was able to steal Huff's starting role and never looked back.

Going into the upcoming season, there isn't a clear-cut starter at either FS or SS for the Oakland Raiders.

To add to the battle for a starting role in the secondary is the second round draft pick Mike Mitchell, who the Oakland Raiders are very high on considering they drafted him with the 47th overall pick out of 256 draft picks in the NFL draft 

If Mitchell proves to be what the Raiders think he can be, there will be a battle for starting roles in the secondary.

Here are some ways it could play out

FS Hiram Eugene, SS Michael Huff

FS Hiram Eugene, SS Mike Mitchell

FS Mike Mitchell, SS Michael Huff

FS Michael Huff, SS Mike Mitchell

Although there are a lot of different combos that could happen, my question to you is, who would you rather have playing safety if you had to pick between Michael Huff and Hiram Eugene?