New LB is Preston Brown
Veteran middle linebacker can provide Raiders relief and inside presence to go along with Whitehead
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 Nicholas Mor
row 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 short-yardage 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 (6-4) 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 short-yardage first downs on each of his six carries
this season, good for 14 yards. He made a fourthand-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.