This is the third piece in a series that will look at each position – the additions, subtractions, and pre-training camp depth chart as I see it.
For the wide receiver corps, click here.
For the tight end corps, click here.
Today’s Corps Players examines the Raiders offensive line personnel changes and how I project the offensive line to look.
The only real loss for the Raiders’ offensive line from last year is that the team allowed center Stefen Wisniewski to walk away in free agency. The team did offer him a contract to stay but it wasn’t in the neighborhood of what he wanted and by the time free agency arrived negotiations had essentially completely halted with both resigned to a parting of ways.
However, the team ended up being able to upgrade the position in free agency, signing Rodney Hudson away from the division rival Chiefs to play center for them. Hudson was drafted in the same draft as Wisniewski and, like Wiz, he started his NFL career at guard before being moved to center.
According to PFF, Hudson was one of the top centers of 2014, specifically being ranked #3 overall based on PFF’s scoring system, while Wisniewski was middle of the pack being ranked at only 22nd overall. Hudson earned positive scores from PFF in run blocking, screen blocking and pass blocking with the latter as his forte. Wisniewski had lesser but comparable scores in run and screen blocking but was rated substantially worse in pass blocking, which makes this signing look to be a considerable upgrade for the team.
Outside of center, all of the major positional pieces return for 2015, although not necessarily in the same spot on the line.
The left side of the line looks pretty set with Donald Penn again set to hold down the left tackle position and 2nd year player Gabe Jackson back at left guard.
Things are a bit more unsettled to the right of Hudson, however, with last year’s starting right guard, Austin Howard, shifting out to compete at right tackle and no definite player set to plug in at right guard.
If things go as the coaching staff hopes, the right guard position will be earned by fourth-round rookie Jon Feliciano. It’s never a good idea to assume that a fourth round rookie is a lock to seize a position, however. Feliciano had good starting experience in college but lacks elite athleticism and may have to learn the nuances of being in the NFL before really pushing for the starting role. Training Camp will be key to gauging where he is, physically.
Also in the mix at right guard are Khalif Barnes and Matt McCants, both of whom have played at offensive tackle for the Raiders, previously. Barnes also has extensive experience at guard.
In the Raiders first offseason mini-camp, Barnes was the starter at right guard with Matt McCants splitting in and getting time there, too. Barnes is a less-than-ideal starter due to his tendency to accumulate false start penalties but it’s better to start him than throw either McCants or Feliciano into the mix if they are not ready.
In 14 games (13 starts) playing right tackle and left guard last year, Barnes had only 3 false start penalties so perhaps this is an area in which he’s improved. I’m not holding my breath on this, however. It will feel like a loss if Barnes is the best option throughout training camp.
Ideally, Feliciano will seize the position and never look back. He has the size, core strength, and physicality to be a starting guard in the NFL. Watching video of Miami games, he does a good job of walling off defenders in the run game and he has a thick lower body so he can anchor himself in the passing game.
He has okay foot speed although it’s certainly not great. If he’s prepared to run – like pulling or working off his block to get to the second level – he moves fine. His biggest weakness is going against rushers who can convert power to speed. If he digs in against a power rush, he lacks the foot speed to burst into movement if a defender suddenly goes to a speed move around him.
Feliciano helps offset this with well-timed and powerful punches to knock defenders off balance or out of rhythm. He does best when he knows who he’s blocking and can set up to handle that player. Because of this, he may be susceptible to twists or stunts.
Even with these questions about him, Feliciano seems to be a good candidate for the starting right guard position. He’s no lock, certainly, but I like his chances.
At right tackle, Austin Howard will be competing with Menelik Watson and, perhaps, also Khalif Barnes and Matt McCants. Howard will certainly have the leg up as the starter and he has plenty of experience at that position. Prior to coming to Oakland and playing right guard in 2014, he started every game at right tackle for the Jets in 2012 and 2013.
According to PFF, who rates all OTs together regardless of which side they played, Howard was the 32nd ranked OT in 2012 and fell to the 47th overall in 2013.
The Raiders coaching staff hopes that a move back to right tackle will help Howard play to his strengths because he looked lost at guard in 2014 and the transition to that position was scrapped shortly after the season ended. For reference purposes, he was PFF’s 59th rated guard in 2014.
Having gone through the details of who is competing at each position, here is my projected starting lineup:
Starter: Improvement?
Left Tackle: Donald Penn Push. Last year’s starter
Left Guard: Gabe Jackson Push. Last year’s starter
Center: Rodney Hudson Yes. Hudson should be a decent upgrade over Wiz
Right Guard: Jon Feliciano Yes. I see an upgrade over Howard, who struggled.
Right Tackle: Austin Howard Push. Howard for Barnes could go either way.
As you can see, I think the offensive line changes have improved 2 of the 5 spots with the other 3 no worse. As with the wide receivers and tight ends on paper, at least, the team looks to have solidified their offensive line with some promising talent. Gamer are not played on paper, of course, but to this writer it appears the team is moving in the right direction.
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