T1B

...any upside Pop

Free agent linebacker Greg Ellis will sign a three-year contract today with the Raiders, according to a source. Ellis visited the Raiders on Friday and agreed to the deal Sunday night.

Ellis spent his first 11 years in the NFL with the Cowboys before the team cut him two weeks ago to make room for Anthony Spencer. Ellis, who moved from defensive end to outside linebacker with the Cowboys in 2006, will go back to end with the Raiders.

I don't like this signing if I am Raiderfan from a personnel perspective. Greg hasn't played defensive end in four years, and there will be an adjustment period. He did look a little slower last year, but after 11 seasons, 1 torn achilles, and plenty of bitch sessions, thats to be expected.

Now from a coaching perspective, this is a good signing for the Raiders. Greg is a knowledgable student of the game and will lend plenty of experience to some of the younger raiderettes. He was influential in the development of Demarcus Ware and we all have seen where that has led.

You'll get a serviceable end this year, but all bets are off for next year. I wish greg the best though. He was a hard worker, and despite his disagreements with management, he always showed up to play.

It should be noted that Derrick Burgess (age, injuries, contract, falling production) has likely been shopped around and may very well be on his way out ... one way or another.
And Oakland has little depth at DE and isn't real strong at the position to begin with.

Some fans wanted the Raiders to draft DE with their first pick in the draft, that's how unsure the position looks.
So this move doesn't surprise me a whole lot.

I see this as an ok pick-up, but nothing to jizz to the ceiling over.
We're still pretty young on defense and adding a vet with some know-how isn't a bad idea.
Ellis HAS been a pretty darn good player.
Does he have much left?
I dunno.

I think Oakland will make some sort of move to shore up the MIDDLE of the D-Line before the games begin this season.

Excellent move.

Ellis paired with Burgess (in a contract year) means hell for the opposing QB's and int's for our kickass secondary.


The division is ours, motherfuckers.

RJ wrote: The division is ours, motherfuckers.

I love it when 'duh fan starts feeling froggy before training camp even begins.

That said, the division is certainly up for grabs this year and even the Silver and Whack has just as good a chance as the rest in this weak-ass division. Let's hope that 8-8 isn't good enough again this year. That shit is flat out embarrassing.

James, an Ellis & Burgess combo off the edges could be scary for teams when they face 3rd and long v. Oakland.
I DO like that.

But damn, man, we've been awful v. the run, and both of those guys are average at best v. the run.

In fact, I'd say Burgess is below avgerage v. the run.
He's smallish and gets pushed around, or flat out places himself out of position by trying to make a move toward the QB, far too often.

We need somebody who can get it done for us on 1st and 2nd downs, too.

Also, I'd like to think Burgess will be on fire this "contract" year, as you noted.
But his problem is that he just hasn't been able to stay healthy the last two years.
I don't know if contract year motivation can help a guy that much if his body just isn't cooperating.

Burgess had a TERRIFIC year for us in 2005.
16 sacks, 57 tackles.

Since then his numbers have been ...
11 and 50.
8 and 39.
3.5 and 24.

Looks very much like he's going the WRONG way.

I'm sure you know also that Burgess' "body language" and lack of participation in off-season activities are those of a guy who's just not real interested in being part of the program in Oakland.

I personally like the idea of moving him, if Al can bend someone over.
Or package him with a pick to make a trade for another DT.

I can't see us going to war with what we've got in the middle of our D-Line right now.


Food for thought.


But yeah, we'll cruise to the division title this year no matter what happens.

RJ wrote:The division is ours, motherfuckers.

If your shit franchise can actually win 8 games (in one season, NOT spread out over two), I think you may be right.

ucantdoitdoggieSTyle2 wrote:

RJ wrote:The division is ours, motherfuckers.

If your shit franchise can actually win 8 games (in one season, NOT spread out over two), I think you may be right.

Actually seven might do it.