Oakland Raiders: Safety Still A Major Concern

While the Oakland Raiders have taken some clear-cut steps to get better this off-season, there are still some question marks on the team in terms of depth and ability. One of those areas has got to be the safety spot, and while it is clear that Oakland has tried several times to grab players they think can make them better there, they have not been as successful as they would have hoped. With the training camp roster fairly set, any starting caliber players not on the team probably won’t be coming soon.

As was mentioned before, the Raiders have definitely not turned a blind eye to the position. They tried in free agency to grab restricted FA Sean Richardson, but Richardson’s contracted team, the Green Bay Packers, matched Oakland’s offer before he could sign with the silver and black. Then there was ESPN’S report from Jamison Hensley about the Raiders recent attempt at putting a claim on D.J. Swearinger, the released safety and former 2nd round pick of the Houston Texans. But the Buccaneers had waiver priority, and grabbed him first.

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The Raiders could have grabbed safety Landon Collins during the draft, but they decided not take him in the 1st round due to their apparent need at the wide receiver spot, and the fact that they felt they couldn’t pass on a talent like Amari Cooper. And if they had any thoughts of taking him in the 2nd round, the New York Giants killed it when they traded up with the Titans to grab him before the Raiders could pick early in the round.

Perhaps that is why Oakland traded back in the 2nd round, who knows? The bottom line is after all was said and done with FA and the draft the Raiders were in the exact spot they started in: Still looking for a potential high level starter at safety.

Allen was tied for second in the NFL among starting safeties in giving up touchdowns while in pass coverage in 2014 with 5, while being targeted a lot less than other starting safeties, per PFF.com.

Currently the Raiders have future 1st ballot H.O.F. player Charles Woodson slotted to start at the free safety spot. Woodson is a ball hawk, instinctive and smart in his gameplay. The problem is that he is old for an NFL starter at 38 (and will be 39 in October). Can he play at the highest level possible the entire season? The odds are against it, but he is currently the Raiders most experienced safety and is definitely not the biggest issue when it comes to that spot on the field.

The bigger issue is who will start along side Woodson. Oakland brought in Nate Allen, a younger guy from the Eagles that did pull in 4 picks last year and did show flashes of good play. He was ranked 28 out of the 87 graded safeties in 2014 by Pro Football Focus; not bad at all and much better than the potential waiver pick up Swearinger, who was ranked 78th.

But he was also repeatedly burned in coverage by wideouts and tight ends, and when you really look at the numbers, Allen had a poor year. Allen was tied for second in the NFL among starting safeties in giving up touchdowns while in pass coverage in 2014 with 5, while being targeted a lot less than other starting safeties, per PFF.com. He also gave up more yards in coverage than all but 11 other starters while in coverage. So it was feast or famine with Allen; he’d either give up a TD or grab a pick.

On top of all of that, none of the slated starters would be classified as run stoppers. Allen and Woodson are more of a free safety than strong safety; a big problem against a team that can consistently run great against any team’s front seven. Putting Allen or Woodson in the box doesn’t exactly put a lot of fear in any opposing team’s OC. This isn’t to say that these players can’t tackle, but the fact is they aren’t who any fan would pick to dominate in an Oklahoma drill in practice.

What about depth at the position? Oakland has a handful of guys that could be decent and are still in the process of becoming quality NFL safeties. Brandon Ross played admirably for Tyvon Branch after Branch was hurt last year, but likely isn’t a long-term solution. Other guys like Jonathan Dowling and Larry Asante might break through and surprise coaches in camp. But other than those names, and the undrafted rookies that are currently on the roster, there isn’t a whole lot of trust in the position.

Head coach Jack Del Rio will no doubt make getting his safety group ready for the season a priority, including putting a scheme together that doesn’t leave them out on an island too often. But the fact of the matter is that if the Raiders want to be comfortable with their safety position they will need to watch the waiver wire and camp cut lists very carefully. Whether it’s just for quality depth, or a diamond in the rough, Oakland can’t afford to ignore anything.

GM Reggie McKenzie is the kind of guy that will do this, of course, and don’t be surprised to see Oakland add another safety before week 1 of the NFL season. It is one of the few spots they have not really improved at since the end of last season, and one they need to get better at to compete in today’s pass first league.

Next: Raiders running attack a key to success

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