Griffith out for 2008; Raiders’ big gap at FB re-exposed

By Os Davis  |   Tuesday, October 28, 2008  |  Comments( 42 )

Oakland Raiders
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Remember way back in the middle of the Lane Kiffin Era – August of this year, to be precise – when for two days that bizarre, seemingly quasi-fabricated story was told and retold about the then-head coach looking to morph a disgruntled Michael Bush into a fullback?

Today that story has been given new legs again, thanks to the season-ending injury to Justin Griffith on his amazing tumble for six on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens. After reviewing the X-rays, the decision stood, Griffith is on injured reserve, and the Raiders are even more desperately seeking a warm body at fullback than they were at camp time.

Matt Hahn was gone in May, and Oren O’Neal was placed on IR in the preseason. In the dog days of summer, Kiffin and/or Al Davis released and re-signed journeyman Luke Lawton (would you believe this guy’s been with seven teams – and two of them twice – in five seasons?), who will be sure to see some rare on-field action as the sole true fullback standing.

And, um, that’s about it for Raider fullbacks right about now: Luke Lawton.

As a result, head coach Tom Cable has announced he’s mentally toying with the Bush-as-fullback idea, but that "the team would probably have to bring someone in this week.” Of course, the former notion is getting play for the same reason it had under Kiffin: Opportunities for the latter are scarce.

Thomas Tapeh was released by the Minnesota Vikings less than two weeks ago, and ... uh ... former Mr. Irrelevant cum Super Bowl champion Jim Finn is out there and, well, he’s pretty good . . .

Cable and his Raiders certainly do not need the Griffith injury, nor does the fan base, which is again reminded of some long-term effects to the depth chart thanks to haphazard signings and inconsistency of coaching personnel for a half-dozen seasons. Some might argue that bigger fish in Oakland are to be fried than the fullback spot right now, and Lawton may well prove a competent fill-in, but desperate measures have been called for and those are never pleasant.

Neither, however, would be grumbling and half-hearted play from a displeased prospective converted halfback.

Raider Nation, are you ready for Boomer Grigsby?
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About Os Davis

Os Davis has taken a twisted route to get to RealFootball365.com in his nearly 17 years in professional writing, working in any number of capacities in the sportswriting, news reporting and film criticism worlds. In print media, Os has served as editor at a few publications, including Albuquerque's ...
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