SB Nation - Jack Crawford

SB Nation Reports On Oakland Raiders Offseason

Shmuckreport — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:45:04 -0000

Over at SB Nation headquarters, resident NFL savant Joel Thorman has been taking a closer look at the NFL offseason, breaking it down team-by-team. He recently took a microscope to the Oakland Raiders, discussing some of the problems as well as their upside heading into the 2012 season.

Last Season: 8-8. Didn't make playoffs.

Offseason pickups:

The Raiders free agency was more about who they lost than who they gained. Among the players exiting Oakland are Kamerion Wimbley, Kevin Boss, Michael Bush, Stanford Routt and Jason Campbell.

The best addition might end up being offensive guard Mike Brisiel, who arrived from Houston with a five-year contract. He'll be a starter and replaces Cooper Carlisle on the offensive line.

2012 NFL Draft:

Utah offensive tackle Tony Bergstrom (95th overall), San Diego State LB Miles Burris, Penn State DE Jack Crawford, Arizona WR Juron Criner, Georgia State DE Christo Bilukidi and Penn State OLB Nathan Stupar.

They Make the Playoffs If...

Darren McFadden and the running game can be one of the best in the league once again. Carson Palmer is a key as well, but it's Oakland's running game that will determine its success. A solid season on the ground for the Raiders offense will only help Palmer and the passing game, especially with some of the Raiders deep threats at receiver. The secondary also needs to demonstrate that it has the ability to slow down two key quarterbacks in the division in Peyton Manning and Philip Rivers.

You can check out Mr. Thorman's full analysis of the Raiders here.

For more Raiders talk, head to Silver and Black Pride.

Current Oakland Raider May Have Influenced Raiders Draft Picks

James Arcellana — Wed, 09 May 2012 16:54:37 -0000

The Oakland Raiders have been a one man show for years. When it came to the NFL draft, there was no question who was calling the shots. Every single pick made by the Raiders from 1963 up to the 2011 draft was with out a doubt, an Al Davis pick. While there may have been people in Davis' ear, it would have been shocking to learn that Davis actually sought out advice from a source other than his brilliant football mind.

Now, as the Al Davis era has come to an end, and the Reggie McKenzie era begins in Oakland, the first non Al Davis draft has brought to light some clear differences between the old regime and the new one. First, there was the drafting of wide receiver Juron Criner, a guy who never would have work the Silver and Black in Al Davis' time. Criner was a third round talent who dropped to the fifth round due to a very poor showing in the forty yard dash at the NFL combine. Emphasis on speed, however, was not the only change that has come to the Raiders draft class. It now appears that the Raiders sought out the advice of a current Raider in deciding whether or not to pick certain players in the 2012 NFL draft. Take a look after the jump to see which player and what they told the Raiders scouts.

Despite having only played one full season in the NFL, the Oakland Raidersreportedly sought information from Stefen Wisniewski when deciding whether or not to draft former Penn State players Jack Crawford and Nate Stupar. Clearly, Wisniewski had some insight into these players as he was only one year removed from playing with them at Penn State. Asking Wisniewski what he thought of these players is not something that should shock many. However, the fact that he discussed this with the media should. Had Al Davis ever sought out the advice of a player regarding the draft, he surely would have told the player not to discuss such a conversation with the media. Apparently, Wisniewski was never given that instruction in the new regime. Wisniewski told reporters that the Raiders had in fact inquired into what he thought of the two Penn State prospects and Young Wiz had only good things to share.

Penn State Devastated By Injuries

Adam Bittner — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 03:58:01 -0000

Penn State released some of its injury information today, and it's full of bad news for Joe Paterno's Nittany Lions.

Safety Nick Sukay is done for the season with a torn pectoral muscle, joining offensive tackle Lou Eliades and tight end Garry Gilliam on the shelf for the rest of 2010.

Additionally, tight end Andrew Sczcerba, wide receiver Curtis Drake and defensive end Eric Latimore were ruled out of next weekend's game at Minnesota, and probably longer.

Penn State also listed six players, defensive end Jack Crawford, safety Andrew Dailey, defensive tackle Jordan Hill and linebackers Bani Gbadyu, Gerald Hodges and MIchael Mauti as "possible" for Minnesota. What exactly that means on a case-by-case basis is unclear, but fortunately for Paterno and the coaches, they at least haven't been ruled out yet.

For more, check out Black Shoe Diaries.