Satele & Barnes are Good Fits for Raiders O-Line
The Oakland Raiders have been making some quality moves on the offensive front and they have quietly added some solid players at low risk contracts that will fit their offensive scheme well.
The Raiders employ a zone-blocking scheme in thier offense, which favors athletic ability and technique over the pure power & size of a player. The key to zone blocking is to stretch the defense horizontally, creating vertical seams at the point of attack which allow the running back to quickly get to the second and third level of the defense.
Samson Satele is a very athletic center who moves extremely well for a big man. He has great feet, getting his 6′3″ 310lb frame in motion quickly. Khalif Barnes is an extremely good road grader but has been known to have lapses of bad play but he also has great feet and will elevate the level of the ground attack wherever he goes.
Oakland also picked up Erik Pears, a former Denver offensive tackle, in free agency to compete with Cornell Green & Mario Henderson for the right tackle position.  Starting Guards Robert Gallery and Cooper Carlisle are returning, so this unit looks to be VERY much improved.
FANTASY IMPACT: It might be another rough year in Oakland unless JaMarcus Russel makes some major strides at the quarterback position. I love their stable of runningbacks but the question remains the same in Oakland; “Which RB will get the carries?”
My money is on Darren McFadden to eventually separate himself from the pack this year. I love Michael Bush and I think he’s got a shot to be a great RB one day but it might not happen until he’s with another team. I look for the committee to rush for a respectable total as far as yardage though.
