The Oakland Raiders' Cuts, Keeps, and Countdown To the Final 53

After 2 pre season games the Oakland Raiders are trying to firgure out there final 53, with only two more games left, one vs New Orleans Saints and a road game at the Seattle Seahawks.

This will be the last chance for certain players, let's look at what players are on the bubble.

These players MUST have great games.

I would like you to vote on who you think will win each battle, and also your take on players who are on the bubble.

QB: Charlie Fyre, Bruce Gradkowski

The battle between these two guys have been even, both have had limited success, while both have thrown interceptions and have had sloppy play. Bruce has shown a decent arm, and Charlie has shown his ability to run.

RB: Gary Russell, Louis Rankin

In the games Gary Russell has played in, he's played alot of RB and not so much FB. On the Oakland Raiders official depth chart he's not even listed. Russell has played decent vs backup units however, what role if any would he play on our team.

Louis Rankin played well vs the Dallas 3rd unit, however against the 49ers he was a non factor, RB is one of the Oakland Raiders deepest postions on the squad. It will be hard for either of these 2 guys to make the final 53.

FB: Gary Russell, Luke Lawton, Marcel Reece

You might be wondering why I have Gary Russell in the FB as well, some say he is a spilt between a RB/FB but from the games he's played in so far for the Sliver and Black he's played RB.

In fact he leads the Raiders in the pre season with 13 carries in two games.

Does Russell have enough vaule to make the Raiders? Another thing, Russell is only 5'11 and 215 pounds, that's not what you would call a blocking FB as Lawton and Reece both weigh 240 pounds.

Lawton played in this system last season, and Reece is known as an all around FB who has speed, power, heigth and can catch the ball.

As of now, I believe we are settled at FB with Oren O'neal, Marcel Reece, and Luke Lawton.

However alot of people thought Lorenzo Neal was going to be our starter, this process is still in the works.

WR: Jonathan Holland, Nick Miller, Todd Watkins, Shawn Bayes, Will Franklin

It's going to be very hard for any of these guys to crack the Raiders top 53 players. Oakland is deep at the WR spot with tons of talent.

Ahead of these guys are Chaz Schilens, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Javon Walker, Johnnie Lee Higgins, Louis Murphy.

That right there are 5 solid WR's who will have an impact for us this season, however with Chaz Schilens injury he will be out to start the season and most likey won't return until week 3 September 27th when the Raiders host the Denver Broncos.

The Raiders might decide to keep an extra WR, but keep in mind with Oakland being a running team and having Zach Miller on the field, there might be little need for a 5th or 6th WR option.

I feel that if Oakland was to keep any one of the guys listed above he will most likey have to play on speical teams.

At kick and punt return we are solid with two proven and skilled returners in Justin Miller and Johnnie Lee Higgins. I see little need to have a roster spot for a backup returner when we have other players on our roster who can return if needed.

Therefore all of the Nick Miller fans hoping that he makes the team, I just don't see it, I could be wrong, but I feel his size is to small and his options are limted in what he can do on the field.

The person I do think has an outside shot at making the team is Todd Watkins, and the reason is this. I feel Watkins at 6'2 and decent speed could be a great gunner for our team when we punt, and if needed on offense he could fill in as well. The fact that Watkins can be a gunner, I see him making it before Nick Miller.

Regardless I think it's a long shot, but if you feel otherwise I would like to hear what you think.

TE: Darrell Strong

Sorry Mr. Strong, but soon you will be cut.

Zach Miller, Tony Stewart, and Brandon Myers will be our TE's for 2009-2010. Enough said.

OL: James Marten, Marcus Johnson, Mark Wilson, Seth Wand, Jonathan Compas, Chris Morris 

It's hard to tell whats going on with our backup tackles and guards, with Barnes injury it's left the door wide open for one of these guys to shine but none have been standout.

I guess you can say there is a battle for the backup RG between Mark Wilson and Marcus Johnson.

DL: Greyson Gunhiem, Joe Cohan, Desmond Bryant, Ryan Boschetti, Terdell Sands, William Joesph

These are the guys who could be on the chopping block, who if any would you say needs to make the final 53 for our team to be better? Joe Cohan is the new guy who was brought in, still it doesn't mean he will make the roster, new players have been getting cut after one game, see Ricky Manning Jr.

Terdell Sands anyone? At 6'7 335 pounds he is the biggest player on the Raiders roster, maybe its time to cut some fat.

LB: David Nixon, Sam Williams, Slade Norris, Jon Alston, Morlon Greenwood, Napoleon Harris

Greenwood and Harris were signed late to add much needed depth to the Raiders LB unit, does that mean that Nixon, Williams, Norris and Alston aren't up to par for a NFL LB?

I won't even look at the current depth chart for the Raiders LB because there is still alot of work to do with this unit.

Kirk Morrison and Thomas Howard look to have solid years, Ricky Brown has stepped his game up, making the final roster won't be easy for anyone.

Sam Williams over the years has been decent on speical teams, we'll see how it pans out.

Slade Norris, David Nixon, Jon Alston? I don't know, now that Greenwood and Harris are on the team those names look weaker to me.

CB: John Bowie, Michael Hawkins, Darrick Brown

Anytime you bring in a player at a postion this late in training camp means that the postion overall needs some help, what does Michael Hawkins have that Ricky Manning Jr doesn't?

I'm guessing that these moves mean that John Bowie and Darrick Brown haven't been cutting it.

Both Bowie and Brown played very bad against the 49ers fourth string offense, Nate Davis passed all over these guys for 18 points in the fourth quater.

Who out of these 3 guys do you see maybe making the team, if any?

Right now we have 4 CB's so im sure we are looking for one more.

Also, does anyone know anything about Michael Hawkins ???

FS/SS: Rashad Baker, Jerome Boyd

You got to look at it like this...

Tyvon Branch, Hiram Eugene, Michael Huff, Mike Mitchell.

Mitchell has been hurt which has given Jerome Boyd the chance for more playing time, Boyd has played well.

Once the season starts we should be four deep at FS/SS with the ones listed above.

If any I see a battle between Rashad Baker and Jerome Boyd.

Rashad had a decent season last year for the Sliver and Black, but Boyd has been solid in camp and the two preseason games, he leads Oakland with 11 tackles in the preseason so far.

Too close to call right now, where going to have to wait and see. Maybe one gets cut, maybe both of them. Who knows?

TOTAL OF: 35 PLAYERS

Ok, now that we have gone over the players who are still a debate to make the final roster lets look and count how many players who will 100% make the final roster.

OFFENSE

QB: JaMarcus Russell, Jeff Garcia

RB: Darren Mcfadden, Michael Bush, Justin Fargas

FB: Oren O'neal

WR: Chaz Schilens, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Javon Walker, Johnnie Lee Higgins, Louis Murphy

TE: Zach Miller, Tony Stewart, Brandon Myers

OL: Mario Henderson, Robert Galley, Samson Satele, Cooper Carlisle, Cornell Green, Khalif Barnes, John Wade, Erik Pears

DEFENSE

DL: Greg Ellis, Trevor Scott, Tommy Kelly, Gerard Warren, Jay Richardson, Matt Shaughnessy

LB: Kirk Morrison, Thomas Howard, Ricky Brown, Isaiah Ekejiuba

CB: Nnamdi Asomugha, Chris Johnson, Stanford Routt, Justin Miller

FS: Hiram Eugene, Michael Huff

SS: Tyvon Branch, Mike Mitchell

SPECIAL TEAMS

K: Sebastian Janikowski

P: Shane Lechler

LS: Jon Condo

TOTAL OF: 43 PLAYERS

What does this all mean? Well from the looks of it, there are only 10 slots left and 35 players trying to make our roster. Now, relook this article up and down, and you be the coach of the Oakland Raiders, look at our needs and depth, who should we keep and who should we cut.

So now, out of these 35 players, pick 10 players to make the roster.

QB: Charlie Fyre, Bruce Gradkowski

RB: Gary Russell, Louis Rankin

FB: Luke Lawton, Marcel Reece

WR: Jonathan Holland, Nick Miller, Todd Watkins, Shawn Bayes, Will Franklin

OL: James Marten, Marcus Johnson, Mark Wilson, Seth Wand, Jonathan Compas, Chris Morris 

DL: Greyson Gunhiem, Joe Cohan, Desmond Bryant, Ryan Boschetti, Terdell Sands, William Joesph

LB: David Nixon, Sam Williams, Slade Norris, Jon Alston, Morlon Greenwood, Napoleon Harris

CB: John Bowie, Michael Hawkins, Darrick Brown

FS/SS: Rashad Baker, Jerome Boyd