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Oakland Raiders Camp Battles: Safties-Gibril Wilson, Michael Huff, Jarrod Cooper and who else will be the last line of defense?

By Patrick Patterson | July 10th, 2008

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The camp battles saga comes to the last of the positional breakdowns tonight with a discussion of the safety position. There will be a look at special teams, followed by an overall wrap, but this is the last of the positional breakdowns. The Raider Nation ran Stewart Schweigert out on a rail after last season, so the player that the Nation blamed for everything from the Raiders’ porous run defense to the fact that gas is now 4.39 a gallon, has gone to Washington. The Raiders brought in Gibril Wilson from the New York Giants and that move is expected to allow Michael Huff to play more in space, which is what is believed to be his strength. Beyond those two, the safety picture is much more cloudy. Special teams standout Jarrod Cooper is expected to make the team, but who else?

Projected Starters: Gibril Wilson and Michael Huff

After former starter Stewart Schweigert walked, the Raider Nation replied with Wesley Snipes’s old line, “See ya, wouldn’t want to be ya!” and Al Davis brought in the hard hitting Gibril Wilson from the World Champion New York Giants to give the Raiders’ secondary an enforcer they have not seen in several years. This move frees the thus far solid, but far from spectacular Michael Huff over to the free safety spot where he will be able to use his speed and the ball hawking ability he showed at Texas to improve on his career interception total of one. The one thing that Huff has excelled at is containing the tight ends in the AFC west, which is a rather tall order considering that division is home to Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates. There is no more whipping boy, and the Raider Nation expects results from these guys.

Projected Depth: Jarrod Cooper and Hiram Eugene

Jarrod Cooper’s play on special teams earned him a new contract this past offseason, and if history is any indication, he will be there knocking the heads off of return guys. He is also valuable as depth as a safety as he can be a force in the box as a run stuffer. Look for him to be used in short yardage situations as well as special teams. Hiram Eugene took over for the much maligned Stu and didn’t do any better. His experience as a starter makes the fourth safety position his to lose, but he had better bring his A game or he will.

Outside Looking in: Rashad Baker and Darrick Brown.

Darrick Brown is an undrafted free agent which likely makes him a long shot. Darrick Brown was picked up off waivers from the New England Patriots near the end of last season. He has been one of those players often hanging around who are considered depth guys.

What to look for:

During preseason, the Nation will get their first look at the post-Stu safety tandem of Huff and Wilson. Look for Eugene to be pushed hard in camp by Brown and Baker.

WildCard:

There is some talk that Tyvon Branch may be thought of more as a safety, which combined with Branch’s expected role as a return man could spell the end of Hiram Eugene’s tenure in Silver and Black.

Passing the last thirteen days before camp here at TFDS!

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 10th, 2008 at 2:14 am and is filed under 2008 Oakland Raiders Training Camp, Camp Battles, Raiders News, Rashad Baker, Darrick Brown, Michael Huff, Hiram Eugene, Tyvon Branch, Raider Nation, Jarrod Cooper, Raider News, 2008, Gibril Wilson. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

10 Responses to “Oakland Raiders Camp Battles: Safties-Gibril Wilson, Michael Huff, Jarrod Cooper and who else will be the last line of defense?”

azraider37 says:

July 10th, 2008 at 11:54 am

You obviously have more inside than I do, but I heard that Branch is for sure going to be a safety. With Branch’s return skills (i hope he has return skills) he should beat out Eugene. Hiram was terrible last year. I keep thinking of him getting blown up on the goal line last year for that touchdown. I think I would have retired after that due to embarrassment.
KUSHMAN says:

July 10th, 2008 at 6:04 pm

yes i can’t wait to see gibril turn into a bob sanders type enforcer, which i think he will accomplish early on in the season… getting the raiders up to speed, being a leading tackler in that backfield, and pairing up well against receivers with hall and asomugha (like they need the help haha) … they are definetely going to be fun to watch play together, that’s for sure.

ps WHAT IS THIS IM HEARING ABOUT THOMAS HOWARD KIDNAPPING HIS WIFE?! i guess its nothing too serious because i havent seen nothing about it on here! care to shed some light rob or pat? thanks.
MrMojo4321 says:

July 10th, 2008 at 8:06 pm

Branch played the safety position, this year against the West Virginia Mountaineers in an effort to get more speed on the field. It didn’t go so well. With that said, he never once looked as bad as Eugene consistently did. I hope Branch earns the spot, athleticism alone is worth the risk.
One Nation…
raidermomo64 says:

July 10th, 2008 at 11:44 pm

Can’t wait to see Aso, Hall, Huff, & Wilson go after it. Shut down backfield. Go Raiders!! 10-6
Rolni says:

July 11th, 2008 at 6:32 am

Branch is safety for sure!!!
inonewordraider says:

July 11th, 2008 at 1:12 pm

Huff is gonna finally shine w/ Wilson taking alot of pressure off of him and Huff will be playing in more comfortable situations. Pick your poison to throw at Hall or Aso and Routt is a nice third DB. Our linebackers can cover better than any DB’s in the league. We should lead the league in interceptions
KUSHMAN says:

July 11th, 2008 at 5:09 pm

NVM about the thomas howard kidnapping thing, my buddy read the article wrong.. it was about him being cleared of that charge. thank god for that… dont let women keep you down howard!! RAIDER NATION NEEDS YA!!!
pat. T says:

July 11th, 2008 at 7:27 pm

Like i’ve said all along i think Wilson will help our team, in an aspect that we’ve lacked that past couple years and thats physicality… Which is very important to be able to stop the run… And Huff will most likely learn alot from having a veteran, Superbowl champ playing just a couple of feet away from him…

But i think Wilson will also bring leadership to a young, but potentially great defense…Wilson, Morrison, and Hall will be the motivational voices of the defense… But what makes Wilson’s leadership abilities more important are that he has been there and done that… Only thing that his resume is lacking is a Probowl invation.. Which by the way he should’ve already received already… Being that he played in the NFC and if Roy Williams gets invited every year, well than Wilson was way overdue…

GO RAIDERS!!!
Tom says:

July 12th, 2008 at 2:07 am

Comparing Gibril Wilson to Bob Sanders is insane. Wilson is a solid play that has a lot of tackles but is not a play maker. He rarely lays the wood on a receiver. I watched every giant game last year and he only make one big hit and that was on Randy Moss in Week 17. Moss wasnt even involved in the play so it meant nothing. Maybe two or three times a year makes a diving play on the ball but Bob Sander ? Not so much.

I do agree that he should have gone to the pro bowl over roy williams. Adrian Wilson, Atari Bigby, Laron Landry, OJ Otogwe should all go before Horse Collar goes. It is a Dallas thing.
pat. T says:

July 12th, 2008 at 1:38 pm

Tom i agree with you that you cant compare Gibril Wilson to Bob Sanders(defensive player of the year)… But i dont know about Otogwae or Bigby, because they came on at the end of last season…

Your right Wilson isn’t a flashy safety… But remember last season he played free safety because of injuries… And he’s the type of safety that will run around making plays al over the field… He’s an in the box safety similar to Roy Williams only he’s alot better in pass coverage… Lets remember that since he started his first game he’s averaged more tackles than any other safety… Thats about 6 tackles a game… And hell while it would be nice to see him lay out people… Really what we need here in Oakland is some one who will make the tackles… And thats what he is someone who wont be the flashiest player, but he will make the tackle and he’ll be better in the box, in his original position strong safety… And Michael Huff can turn into the flashy player to run all around the field making interceptions and things of that nature…

But like i said the only thing he’s missing is a Probowl invitation to complete a pretty nice resume…

GO RAIDERS!!!