FanNation - The Republic of Sport

Last years Offensive line was terrible...and saying that is a compliment. This year, the line has been re-vamped. The Raiders organization signed 2 pro-bowl lineman to hopefully shore-up a drowning line. The first of which was Jeremy Newberry. Jeremy was in place in San Francisco when he sustained a knee injury which ended his season. The following season, the same knee hurt him and he didn't play a single game. That is when San Francisco released him. His knee is said to be better, but only time will tell. If he is 100% healthy, then we should see and immediate improvement in the place he is put at. The second person that was signed was former Denver Bronco Cooper Carlisle. Though he is long removed from his Pro Bowl appearance, he can easliy fit into a pathetic at best O-Line. He is projected to play at center, a position which is now sadly vacant due to the release of life-long Raider Adam Treu. The Raiders have had bad luck at the center position for a long time...need I remind you of the Barrett Robbins Super Bowl fiasco? For those of you who don't remember, Robbins failed to show up in the Super Bowl after his Bi-Polar diagnosis took a turn for the pole of manically- off unreasonable no-show. He had spent the entire two weeks off drinking in Tijuana, Mexico and was sent to the hospital and didn't play the game...obviously. Poor guy, but he should have taken his meds, huh? Anyways, off the depressing story, the O-Line is in a state of emergency and looks as if Hurricane Katrina struck the Oakland offensive line. With new O-Line Coach Tom Cable at the helm, we should do better, especialy if we are spoiled and he him for more than 1 year...unlike our other coaches. What a disgrace. Robert Gallery so far is about as useful as aforementioned Robbins in the Super Bowl, but hope, pray, and beg for Cable to fix him, because he is smart, fast, strong, big, and hard working...it just won't click for him though. Blame it on 4 different O-Line coaches and schemes every year he played. It's sickening to see such young talent to go to waste. We also are returning the only semi-bright spot of our O-Line returning: Paul McQuistan. He was a third round pick in last years draft and wouldn't have had the chance to start on many other teams. Good thing we got him though, because he seems like he can be a great lineman in the future. Thats it for now. Keep bleeding da Silver and Black!