Former AFC foes go toe-to-toe.

Tomorrow the Oakland Raiders and Seattle Seahawks will meet in the final preseason game, renewing an old AFC West rivalry, reuniting a couple former coaches with their previous employers and giving 22 players their last chance to make the roster.

Once the game concludes, the business at had will be to drop the total of 75 players down to the opening day total of 53.

While the game is primarily about the players trying to avoid being dropped, the subplot revolves around John Marshall and Greg Knapp. Marshall’s defense will be pitted against Knapp’s offense in a battle between two coordinators who swapped places in the off-season.

Knapp was relieved of his play calling duties a year ago in Oakland when Tom Cable inherited the title of interim head coach and eventually took over the offense. Marshall coordinated a disappointing Seahawk defense in 2008 and was let go at season’s end to make way for a new coaching regime.

While there is little at stake between the two men – aside from pride – the marginal players are the ones who know this could be their last chance to make an NFL roster in 2009.

Here is a look at a few players who have a roster spot on the line Thursday evening.

Gary Russell – He seems a safe bet to get a spot in the crowded Oakland backfield. Russell has been explosive at times in the preseason and has plenty of NFL experience as a member of the 2008 Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers. His size and speed make him ideal for the power running game Coach Cable employs. About the only thing standing in Russell’s way is a horrendous showing or the numbers games. Otherwise, expect him to be part of the final 53.

Could this be the end of Miller's time in Oakland?

Nick Miller – The speedy UFA wide receiver from Southern Utah has the look of a guy who could find himself played by Mark Whalberg on the big screen one day. He’s had his ups and downs but has impressed along the way. Jonathan Holland is his main rival to getting a coveted spot in the Raider receiving core. However, it would appear that the practice squad is calling for Miller.

Jerome Boyd – Jerome has been an experiment. The former Oregon Duck was a pass rushing linebacker in college but has been spending his time as a safety during the preseason.  Due to injuries, he has seen extended game time with the second team defense. There is a real dog fight in the Oakland secondary and Boyd is in the trenches with former number one pick Michael Huff.  With Rashad Baker recently brought back into the fold, there is reason to suspect both Huff and Boyd could be on the outs. Of course, Boyd still might get an invite to the practice squad.

Charlie Frye – Unless the Raiders decide to carry four quarterbacks into the regular season, it would seem that Frye is all but guaranteed to be on the waiver wire after Thursday. Bruce Gradkowski has looked sharp when he’s taken control of the offense in the preseason. Frye has had his moments, but overall just hasn’t been as crisp.

End of the road for Terdell.

Terdell Sands – Sands wasn’t even listed on the team’s depth chart. He saw no playing time in the 38-point loss to the Saints last week. Desmond Bryant, a UFA from Harvard, has taken advantage of every opportunity he’s had on the field and is a virtual lock to make the roster. Tom Cable has downplayed Sands’ lack of playing time but the facts scream out that his disappointing tenure in Oakland is all but over. If Sands makes the roster it will be only because he has blackmailed Al Davis.

The most important aspect to look for is the overall effort of the Raiders after the demoralizing loss to the Saints over the weekend. Not many of the starters will play but there is still a chance to show some heart and get a little momentum for the Monday Night opener against the Chargers.

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Neal's California homecoming was never meant to be

As evidence by the 48% of JBB readers who voted Neal as the best acquisition of the off-season, the four time Pro Bowler was already a fan favorite. Yours truly even sung his praises not so long ago in hopes that his veteran leadership would be instrumental in righting the Raider ship adrift at sea for the last six years.

The Raiders are rolling the dice on Oren O’Neal to be healthy enough to carry the load as the first team fullback after sustaining a severe knee injury last season. Lorenzo Neal’s roster spot was quickly filled as the Raiders re-signed safety Rashad Baker one day after the former Raider was released by the Philadelphia Eagles.

Without reading too much into the roster moves made today, one can conclude that Neal’s 38-year old body just wasn’t up for the rigors of the NFL any longer. The reintroduction of Baker into the secondary also would suggest that rookie Michael Mitchell is further away from returning from his hamstring injury than anticipated.

To compound the rising frustration in Raiderland, the San Francisco 49ers handed the Silver and Black an old school thrashing in the morning session as the two teams continued their joint practices. Chronicle beat writer David White called it, “quite possibly the worst practice ever.”

While the afternoon session was reported to have been an improvement, there are still glaring weaknesses in defending the run.

With the two-a-day sessions coming to a close and a date with the 49ers on Saturday looming, Tom Cable is beginning to adjust his roster to compensate for injuries. More cuts will be made and as this off-season has gone thus far, you can be sure to expect more of the unexpected.

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The revolving door of Raider safeties is so large that it stretches from the Coliseum in Los Angeles to the Coliseum in Oakland.

The 2008 season saw the unraveling yarn of the lineage of Raider safeties finally come to its core. Gibril Wilson was brought in from the world champion New York Giants and was expected to be a fixture at safety for the next six years. He lasted but one year having been released this off-season.

Wilson’s inabilities in pass coverage, combined with a vocal discontent for the front office, ultimately led to his departure. His counterparts faired no better. Michael Huff may never live up to his high draft status. The former Longhorn was benched less than half way through the season and hardly saw the field again. Tyvon Branch was drafted as a cornerback but was eventually moved to safety before seeing his rookie year cut short by injuries. Hiram Eugene has spent the past two seasons filling in, yet has never played well enough to be a full-time starter.

Now, the last line of defense is a gaping chasm. Sure, there are men on the roster who are listed as safeties, but history will tell you that their days as a Raider are numbered.

Since 1995, there is but one safety that has stood out as a true franchise caliber talent: Eric Turner.

Turner was a dynamic defensive back formed from the mold of past Raider greats to play his position. After attending UCLA, he was selected as the second pick in the 1991 draft by the Cleveland Browns. Turner became the highest ever drafted defensive back. In 1997 the Raiders brought the California native back home. Turner played just three seasons for the Raiders. His first season would be his lone full season as a Raider. In 1998, Turner took the field just six times yet still managed to intercept three balls, returning one 94 yards for a score. In 1999, he would play in just 10 games, the final 10 games of his career.

Tragically, Turner was privately battling cancer. To the shock and surprise of many, Eric Turner passed away at the young age of 31 on May 28^th, 2000. Ever the warrior, he kept his suffering a secret, never discussing it with anyone other than his family.

The Raiders have tried most every approach to fill the void at safety.

They’ve gone with first round draft picks such as Patrick Bates, Derrick Gibson and Michael Huff. Each of the aforementioned was given the dubious label of “draft bust”, though Huff is still on the roster and could have one last chance in 2009 to prove his worth.

The Raider brass has tried going with veterans such as 34-year old Anthony Newman, 37-year old Rod Woodson and 38 year-old Albert Lewis.

Woodson is now in the Hall of Fame and was a member of the last Raider team to play in the Super Bowl. However, Woodson entered the Halls of Canton as a cornerback and not a safety and as a Steeler and not a Raider.

The rest of the group has been a hodgepodge of draft picks, veteran free agents and journeymen of the NFL. Derrick Hoskins, Lorenzo Lynch, Darren Carrington, James Trapp, Charles Mincy, Marquez Pope, Anthony Dorsett, Johnnie Harris, Marques Anderson, Ray Buchanan, Stuart Schweigert, Jarrod Cooper and Rashad Baker have all played the part but never truly fit the role.

Eddie Anderson was the last Raider safety to hold onto his job for more than three seasons. He was a fixture at free safety from 1990-1995.

With a new coaching staff in place, a locker room filled with harmony and a promising young roster, the 2009 edition of the Silver and Black has the look of a team on the verge of a breakout.

There are still holes to be filled on the roster and the draft is just around the corner.

Perhaps the Raiders will turn to the college ranks again to fill the safety positions. Maybe they will again invite a veteran into the fold. One could argue that there are some unknown talents on the current roster ready to step up.

One thing is for sure. It has been a long winding road for the Raider franchise and its last line of defense. If Tom Cable wants to prove his mettle as a miracle worker, then he’ll pull a rabbit out of his hat and develop a Hall of Fame safety to join past Raiders in Canton.

Then again, just getting this franchise back to the playoffs will be more than enough, but getting a full-timer at safety would be a nice treat as well. 

Chris Shellcroft