New LB is Brown; time changed for game vs. Chiefs
ALAMEDA » The Raiders have operated without a true middle linebacker since Vontaze Burfict was lost for the year on suspension four games into the season.
That changed Monday with the news that veteran Preston Brown was signed to a contract Monday. Brown was waived by the Cincinnati Bengals last week in the days preceding their 17-10 loss to the Raiders Sunday at the Coliseum.
After four seasons with Buffalo, Brown signed a one-year contract with Cincinnati and then agreed to a three-year contract extension worth a maximum of $16.5 million. But with the Bengals struggling, Brown was demoted as strong side linebacker before a 49-13 loss to Baltimore and then waived.
“He had three straight 100 tackle seasons as a Buffalo Bill, went to Cincinnati and things didn’t work out,” coach Jon Gruden said at his weekly press conference. “He has intangibles that you look for in a middle linebacker. He’s charismatic, he’s an intelligent, physical guy. Football junkie. He’s been productive in this league.”
Since Burfict was suspended, Tahir Whitehead and and Nicholas Morrow have rarely left the field and the Raiders have played predominantly nickel defense, only occasionally going to a true 4-3 defense with a middle linebacker, a weakside linebacker and a strong side linebacker. Whitehead played all 63 snaps against Cincinnati and Morrow 59. The next highest linebacker was Will Compton with six snaps.
Brown (6- foot- 1, 255 pounds) will give the Raiders that option as well as another strong tackler in shortyardage situations.
If Brown, 27, is brought along in a manner similar to other recent acquisitions, he could see action right away Sunday when the Raiders (64) visit the New York Jets (3- 7). Both D. J. Swearinger (38 snaps) and Dion Jordan played just days after being signed to contracts and getting a crash course in coordinator Paul Guenther’s defense.
“We’ll put him in the room with ( linebackers coach David) Lippencott and Guenther, see if he can get caught up quickly and we’ll try and fast-track him,” Gruden said.
To make room on the roster, the Raiders placed wide receiver and core special teams player Dwayne Harris on injured reserve,ending his season. Harris has battled foot and ankle problems all season and has played in only three games.
INGOLD STAYS PERFECT » Alec Ingold, the undrafted rookie free agent from Wisconsin, has rushed for shortyardage first downs on each of his six carries this season, good for 14 yards. He made a fourth-and-1 against the Bengals, getting three yards to the 1 before a penalty pushed the Raiders back and they settled for a field goal.
“The defense was calling out the play and it really didn’t matter,” Ingold said. “The offensive line kind of looked at each other like, ‘ let’s go get this one yard.’ There’s some pride in that.”
Ingold’s role is similar to the one Zack Crockett (now a Raiders scout) had in Gruden’s first tenure in Oakland as well as Mike Alstott in Tampa Bay.
“The great short-yardage teams that I know, you know we’re running it, they know we’re running it and everybody knows we’re running it and we can still find a way to get that one yard,” Gruden said.
Besides the six rushes — all for first downs — Ingold has a touchdown on his only reception.
“If there’s a better fullback in the league I’d sure like to see him,” Gruden said.
Ingold, a running/passing high school star in Green Bay who converted to fullback at Wisconsin, has no intention of going to Gruden and asking for more touches.
“I’m never going to ask for the football but if you give it to me I’m going to do something with it,” Ingold said. “I think that’s how I like to play football.”
RILEY GETS ANOTHER CHANCE AND DELIVERS » Until playing 25 snaps against the Bengals, safety Curtis Riley had only two snaps on defense since a poor game in Week 3 against the Minnesota. After that game, the Raiders went exclusively with Erik Harris and Joseph at safety. When Joseph was lost to a foot injury, Swearinger was signed and he split time with Riley along with Harris against the Bengals.
He responded with four tackles and a pass defense — and also played 15 special teams snaps. Riley, 28, has performed well in kick coverage after losing his spot in the secondary.
“You can’t go into every week thinking about what happened last week,” Riley said. You’ve got to keep moving and getting better. You play your role. If they’re going to put me out there (on special teams) I’m going out there to play my ass off. The good thing about this team is everybody knows their role and they play it.”
Gruden appreciates the way Riley handled his business.
“When you have a bad game or a game that’s not up to your standards, you get knocked out of the rotation and your role diminishes, a lot of people want to quit an go home,” Gruden said. “They become distant. But ( Riley) has maintained a lot of life on the practice field. He deserved an opportunity to redeem himself.” JORDAN’S INSIDE PRESENCE » Signing Jordan to the roster enabled the Raiders to allow Maxx Crosby, Clelin Ferrell and Benson Mayowa to remain exclusively on the outside, with base end Josh Mauro returning after a two-game absence with 18 snaps.
Considering Jordan hadn’t played in nearly a year, Gruden liked what he saw.
“Dion gives us another guy with length that can go inside on the guards and give us some athleticism and some chase-down ability,” Gruden said. “I think he showed he still can do that. We’ll continue to work to get him in football shape and try to get him some more turns.”
CARLSON’S SURPRISING CONTRIBUTION » Moments after delivering an extra point that gave the Raiders a 14-7 lead following Derek Carr’s 3-yard run, kicker Daniel Carlson was face to face with the possibility of the Bengals tying the game.
Brandon Wilson, the NFL’s leader in kickoff returns, took the ball three yards deep in the end zone, found a lane and was on the verge of breaking free. Maybe someone would have had an angle and caught him, but the possibility of a 103-yard kickoff return was real.
Carlson, however, with help from Derek Carrier, made the stop. Carrier said it was his first tackle since getting called for a facemask during a game last season.
“I was in the right spot at the right time — a fairly athletic play,” Carlson said with a smile. “I just hope I don’t have to make too many of those.”
• The Raiders game on Dec. 1 against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium has been moved into the late slot for television from 10 a.m. to 1:25 p.m.