Huff’s time in Oakland could be wearing thin

By Brad Wilbricht  |   Monday, June 22, 2009  |  Comments( 10 )

Oakland Raiders
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Oakland Raiders safety Michael Huff has been a career disappointment thus far and his time in the Bay Area may be wearing thin. Rumors have surfaced that Raiders owner Al Davis is prepared to part ways with the former seventh overall draft pick if he’s unable to claim a starting position heading into the 2009 season.

Huff’s time in the Oakland secondary has been turbulent and culminated last season when he was replaced in the starting lineup by Hiram Eugene; in three pro seasons, Huff -- a former star at Texas -- has just one interception. With the Raiders' new-found dedication toward cutting dead weight and players not fully committed to the organization, Huff could quickly become the next casualty.

In addition to Eugene, Oakland grabbed Mike Mitchell in the second round of this year’s draft and former cornerback Tyvon Branch has completed his transition to safety. With all three of these players now competing at the safety position, Huff could soon find himself on the outside looking in.

Although Huff’s playmaking abilities have been severely lacking, his presence as a run stopper was significant up until last season. During his first two campaigns with the Raiders, Huff racked up 163 tackles. However, last season he managed to compile just 28 stops and was part of an Oakland defense that ranked 31st against the run.

If the Raiders’ front office decides to part ways with Huff, it will be a difficult decision considering the team’s lofty investment in the former Longhorn. With the No. 7 pick in the 2006 draft, Oakland could have selected other players -- Jay Cutler and Haloti Ngata, for example -- who have panned out much better.

Because Huff has regressed since his rookie season, the Raiders’ verdict to pull the trigger on a move like this is certainly justified. Additionally, Oakland has been preparing for this scenario by drafting younger players to battle Huff with the possibility of eventually taking over as a starter.

At this point in time, a change of scenery could be the best outcome for both parties involved. Huff would get a fresh start with a new team and the Raiders would free up room for their developing youngsters. However, given the inexperience that would be replacing Huff, a step back may be necessary in order to move forward.
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About Brad Wilbricht

Brad Wilbricht covers numerous sporting events including the NFL, NFL Draft and college football. His analysis is simulcast through several media outlets across the country. Additionally, Brad is a regular guest on a variety of talk radio shows and can be frequently heard on the airwaves. To ...
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CommentsComments: 10  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
mix-up		08:32 AM
06/23/2009
i believe that the starting safety positions will be filled by mike mitchell and tyvon branch/hiram eugene. Not Michael ...
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No.2
neil b		09:46 AM
06/23/2009
We've spoke about this before and if I remember right Huff is in his last year ( 900k ? ) of his rookie contract.If he wants a ...
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No.3
JustRa8dersBaby		10:58 AM
06/23/2009
IMO, it's difficult to give up on this guy. I'm not sure if he's just a bust or a product of Ryan not being able to utilize ...
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