ALAMEDA – I’ve received several emails over the course of the season about what the Raiders need to do at free safety.
Stuart Schweigert has been the target of criticism for missing tackles this season. Most assumed he would be benched when the Raiders signed Donovin Darius in the offseason because Darius could play strong safety and Michael Huff could replace Schweigert.
That didn’t happen because Darius didn’t make the team. But it looks as if Schweigert is now behind Hiram Eugene and Chris Carr in the secondary depending on the defensive set.
“Hiram’s playing really well right now,” said coach Lane Kiffin. “He’s tackling well and doing things.”
This goes along with how Kiffin has run things. Players that don’t play well will be benched, regardless of what they’ve done.
Prior to missing the Kansas City game, Schweigert had started 37 straight games.
Schweigert still plays on special teams. If he’s playing defense much the rest of the season remains to be seen.
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Kiffin is also blunt in his assessment of players.
After Sebastian Janikowski missed a 58-yard field goal against the Broncos, he limped off the field.
Kiffin wasn’t buying that his kicker was hurt.
“I think ‘I missed the field goal and blame it on my leg look as you walk off,’” is how Kiffin described it. “There was nothing to it medically. I just think he was kind of down and felt something but there wasn’t very much to it.”
Coaches often lie about how a player is doing not to make them mad. Kiffin doesn't have that problem.
--Jason Jones
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