Oakland Raiders: Jared Gaither to Raider Nation?

Okay Raider Nation, it is starting to look more like my hopes of keeping Nnamdi Asomugha are empty. I really wanted to see him back in Silver and Black, but I want $50 million too, and that hasn't happened either.

Let's have a moment of silence for Asomugha..................

Thank you for always being one of the Raiders worth the price of admission.

So what could offset the heartbreak of losing Asomugha?

How about getting Jared Gaither?

I love it!

Raider Nation has read enough of my articles about signing Gaither, but I think it's about to happen this time! According to Jason LaCanfora, the Raiders are negotiating with the 6'9", 340-pound left tackle.

http://blogs.nfl.com/2011/07/26/updates-on-florence-gaither-jackson-goldson/

The move would turn one of the worst pass-blocking offensive lines into one of the best.

Turn the page to see how.

Jared Gaither to Left Tackle

The fact that they're negotiating with Gaither so early tells me this is likely to happen!

Jared Gaither is an extremely talented left tackle who is just what the doctor ordered for quarterback Jason Campbell and the Raiders. It will be the first reliable left tackle he's had since Chris Samuele retired when Campbell was a Redskin.

The best thing about this move would be that Gaither last played in 2009 under Raiders' head coach Hue Jackson and offensive coordinator Al Saunders' offense. He comes to Raider Nation already knowing the offense better than anyone on the team not named Saunders, Jackson, and Kyle Boller.

Gaither allowed seven sacks in two years with the Baltimore Ravens in the vertical offense, so no problem there. He also excels in the running game with an 89 percent win percentage as the point of attack on a running play.

The Raiders will still be able to run left while Campbell's blind side is protected. 

Daniel Loper to Left Guard

Langston Walker played really well in Gallery's stead at the end of the 2009 season. Daniel Loper played well in Robert Gallery's stead in 2010, so I had to think of which way I should go on this one.

But there's one little thing.

Walker isn't under contract at this time and Loper is so he's our guy at left guard as of now. That isn't a bad thing at all, because I thought he outplayed Gallery last year, so that's an upgrade anyway.

He first caught the eye of the Raiders' coaching staff to make the team by pancaking Tommy Kelly in a drill.

We ran left last year all day with Gallery and Loper, so that's good enough for me.

Stefen Wisniewski at Center

The Raiders finally have their franchise center since Barrett Robbins went AWOL in Super Bowl week of 2003. It makes it all the more special that 6'3", 315-pound Stefen Wisniewski, nephew of Raider Steve Wisniewski gives the Raider what they need.

Not ony does he come from Raider bloodlines, but Wisniewski will be coached by his uncle while in Raider Nation. He's already a 3.9 student so learning from the man who's been teaching him all of his life to this point will have him absorbing the NFL game in no time.

The size Wisniewski brings at center is also a plus as the Raiders were undersized at the position in 2010.

Jared Veldheer to Right Guard

On Jay Richardson's radio show, Bruce Campbell told Richardson that he was moving to tackle. He didn't say which one, but if Gaither is the plan, it can't be left tackle.

This puts Jared Veldheer at right guard, which is a good thing because he is a masher in the run game. I remember last year's preseason game against Dallas where the Raiders got around three yards on a quarterback sneak because Veldheer, a center on the play, moved the pile.

He could end up at right tackle still because camp hasn't started yet.

But running inside won't be a problem if Veldheer lines up at right guard.

Bruce Campbell to Right Tackle

This is a bit of an unknown because in 2009 Raider head coach Tom Cable moved Campbell to guard on arrival. Then he didn't even give the man a chance there, and that is part of what cost Cable his job.

Now there's no Cable and Campbell looks like he will get a chance to play tackle on the right side. Should he falter, he will switch spots with Veldheer and the offensive line is still intact.

This offensive line will be a shade under 6'7" and 326 pounds per man.

That's much bigger and stronger that 2010's offensive line.

Jackson is really trying to build that "bully."

Overview

In other news, LaCanfora reported on NFL Network that the Raiders signed Jarvis Moss to a one-year, $1.25 million contract. They are also in a bidding war with the San Francisco 49ers over free safety Dashon Goldson.

If the Raiders win this war, they will be a more violent team on defense, as Goldson is a hitter. If the Raiders pull the double on this one, they'll have a sure-tackling free safety to go with an upgraded offensive line.

Suddenly, Stanford Routt and Chris Johnson at the corners doesn't sound so bad.

Paul Posluszny just signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars, so Kirk Morrison could solve the Raiders outside linebacker problem.

But if the current negotiations go well, the Raiders will be in the hunt and that's a start.