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Oakland raiders: Getting to know Latavius Murray.

Gregory Simon — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 23:37:22 +0000

When the Raiders picked a huge running back in the 6th round, it didn’t raise eye brows. The Raiders are always looking for that “diamond in the ruff” in true Al Davis fashion and they might have found him; enter Latavius Murray, #34. The 6’3”, 230 pound back arrived on the practice field in rookie camp looking more like a tight end or a full back. Built like#34, Bo Jackson, Latavius is an athletic specimen. But, who is this late round pick by our beloved Oakland Raiders.

Latavius is fast for a big man. At his pro day at Central Florida, he ran two 40 yard sprints at 4.40 or below. He is built like Michael Bush and has drawn great accolades for his pass catching abilities similar to Bush. One of his best attributes are his hands. His hands are as reliable as they are rock solid. Latavius had ZERO fumbles in the last 400+ carries in his college career. (That’s amazing all in its own.)

Did I mention he’s big? Built in the same mold as Eric Dickerson (and runs similar to him) he has both the gift of speed and power. He never gets caught from behind and I would not want to be the DB in front of him neither. I can see Coach Allen using him in a lot of 3^rd down with Marcel Reece in the same backfield. Could you imagine the nightmare in coverage that would bring to any line backing corps?

The “L” Train

For the 2013 Raider depth chart, it looks like Darren McFadden (for the first 4 games), Rashad Jennings and then Latavius. I feel that Latavius will fit in our power run scheme better then Jennings and Latavius will be named the Raiders #2 starter (2013 sleeper) by the start of the 2013 season. I also feel that Latavius will be the rightful heir of the #1 spot once McBroken gets hurt again. Call me crazy but the writing is on the wall for DMC. Contract year + Rookie drive = Free agency for DMC. I would love to see DMC have an all pro year but he’s only had ONE year over 1000 yards which is a low and outdated goal in this days NFL.

God Bless the Raiders and God Bless the Raider Nation!

Greg Simon

JBB Staff Writer

@simonizr

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http://www.raiders.com/news/article-1/Latavius-Murray-Media-Session/52776953-7783-44cc-a901-7ea948509ff7

Reality Check at Running Back

Gregory Simon — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 20:20:17 +0000

What’s up Raider Nation? As I sit here in front of my computer in my Raider sandals and my Jim Otto 00 jersey, I can’t wait for some football. I’m dying! I think about my Raiders every day. Today I was thinking about our running back situation. Darren McFadden point blank is a stud running back. (I’m not telling you all something you already know, am I?) The thing is, DMC need some support, in a bad way. If you think that Taiwan Jones is ready and a capable backup you need to put down the pipe and the PS3 controller. Taiwan Jones looks to be 180 pounds soaking wet and runs straight up like Eric Dickerson. That running combination will lead to the start of his new found clip board technician carrier. (Harvey Williams 2.0)

Photo Associated Press

The Raiders have 4 running backs in camp. Unless we sign someone, trade for someone or find a diamond in the ruff, we are in trouble. Our RB roster is a who’s who of “who the hell is he”. We traded off unproven lineman Bruce Campbell to the Panthers for Mike Goodsen (aka Butterfingers Goodsen). Did Raider Reggie see something in him that we didn’t. I sure hope so.

With the likes of Cedric Benson and Ryan Grant still out there as free agents, the Raiders priority should be to protect DMC. I mean we lost our last half of the season because we were without DMC’s talent. (Ask Hue Jackson about that.) We need a healthy DMC. We need depth at running back. I need to put on more than my sandals and my Jim Otto jersey!!!

Greg Simon

Staff Writer for JBB

@simonizr

Michael Bush A Luxury Raiders Can’t Afford

Chris Shellcroft — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 17:29:29 +0000

Kelley L Cox-US PRESSWIRE

Earlier in the week I listed all the reasons why the Raiders were prepared to let Michael Bush walk away as a free agent. Yesterday the team pretty much spelled that out with the use of the franchise tag on Tyvon Branch.

At this point it’s just a numbers game.

It’s just that simple.

The franchise number for Branch comes in around $6-million, for Bush it would be about a $1-million more. Mere pennies to Al Davis but to Reggie McKenzie it might as well be a Dr. Evil’s worth of a million bucks.

More than just the savings, we’re also talking about the difference between a full-time player in Branch and a part-time contributor in Bush. I don’t want that to sound disrespectful to Bush in anyway as his 2011 was anything but part-time labor. Part-timers aren’t getting 25+ touches a game, pushing Bo Jackson out of the franchise record book or playing injured cause they know the team needs them.

Bush did all of that and then some last year. But as we all know Oakland, California, is Darren McFadden country. Even when he’s injured and Bush is playing well all the talk is about how soon Run DMC will be back on the field.

McFadden is beast of a different breed. He’s that classic car that only runs well a few times a year but on those occasions there is nothing like hearing the motor hum and the tires squeal on a Sunday afternoon.

For 2012 McFadden would have made less than Bush had the Raiders tagged their talented backup. Even if you’re putting your chips on that sure bet of McFadden missing more time next season it’s just not good business sense to keep that much money tied to one position on the team. Not when young running backs emerge from obscurity every season in the NFL like so many supermodels that are Sports Illustrated pinups today and Zumba instructors tomorrow.

Not when McKenzie is swimming in a sea of over-committed contracts.

Stop for a moment and really think about the state of this franchise. Even if Mr. Davis were still running the show he too would have to make tough decisions. Obviously Davis didn’t add the salaries of Carson Palmer and Aaron Curry to the books. No matter what though, his accountants would still have been mired in a salary cap quagmire no thanks to those phat cat dealings done without discretion.

Therefore the Michael Bush dilemma never was one. McKenzie’s hands are tied. Keep throwing money at an offense that is a top ten unit and slash more salary from a bottom-dwelling defense. That’s not a formula for success.

Having Bush in silver and black was an absolute luxury for the Raiders. They got his services at a steep discount. Chances are they’ll get a similar deal again. What is true in the business world holds equally true in the NFL. Why pay a veteran top dollar when there’s a hungry college grad out there willing to do the same job on the cheap?

Finding another Bush isn’t as easy as shopping for bacon at Safeway…right Romo? Fact of the matter is the Raiders could have easily dropped four of their last five games with Taiwan Jones missing blitzes as they did with Bush racking up 100-yard games.

It’s just that simple.

What else is simple is the logic on running backs. Check the facts and you’ll see the average NFL runner is lucky to get 2 and ½ years of pro ball. Justin Fargas was once a 1,000-yard rusher. Harvey Williams too.

Bush gets nothing but love from Raider Nation for his services. He’s worked hard to get into a position to get his due. He shouldn’t get caught up in silly sentiment. This is a business and it is now or never for Bush to get his. The Raiders can’t pay what he’s worth but somebody else can and will.

It’s just that simple.