Schmitt came out of West Virginia as a 5^th round pick of the Seattle Seahawks back in 2008. He quickly established himself as a punishing blocker in the run game with the ability to be a threat in the passing game as well.

Just consider Schmitt a tight end lining up in the backfield.

Last season the Raiders were exposed for their lack of depth at fullback at one point going with rookie Richard Gordon as the lead blocker for Michael Bush.

Schmitt spent the last two seasons is Philadelphia and is infamously known for a bashing his head with his own helmet during a pregame introduction.

Raiders Sign Veteran FB Owen Schmitt - Just Blog Baby - Just Blog Baby - An Oakland Raiders Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and more.

Jason O. Watson-US PRESSWIRE

Jacoby Ford’s sophomore season was filled with false starts. The NFL season itself got out of the gate late no thanks to the lockout and that surely played a role in Ford’s injury issues. Like many players around the league Ford had to deal with hamstring soreness that prevented him from getting into game shape. That would create a snowball effect that ultimate concluded with a season engine ankle injury.

Ironically Ford’s injury occurred on his longest catch of the season. Such was the nature of the 2011 campaign for Jacoby.

When he was healthy enough to compete, Ford flashed the brilliance that made him an absolute steal in the 4^th round. Despite playing in only 8 games he managed to make 6 grabs of 20 yards or more, averaged 31 yards per kick return and even added to his collecting of house calls by finding the end zone twice including a 101-yard return.

What we’re all waiting for is for Ford to finally get meaningful reps with Carson Palmer. Keep in mind Palmer was without many of his best weapons during his rushed first season in Oakland. Before Ford’s season ended prematurely he and Palmer were just starting to develop a rhythm.

With a healthy Jacoby Ford the Oakland Raiders have an X-factor few teams in the league can boast of. Along with Darren McFadden, Ford gives the silver and back another player capable of changing the game with one touch. Of course keeping both Ford and Run DMC healthy is another story all together. Before last season there were no injury concerns with Ford so the real hope is that 2011 was the exception and not the rule.

Raiders Roster Review: Jacoby Ford - Just Blog Baby - Just Blog Baby - An Oakland Raiders Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and more.

There's not a whole ton to break down from this video, but head after the jump for a few thoughts.

The first 30 seconds featured a coach using the Jugs machine to fire off passes to receivers and defensive backs. They are not the most accurate or well "thrown" of passes. At the same time, Carlos Rogers spent a lot of time working with the Jugs machine as part of his process of improving his catching ability. He also got laser-eye surgery so that may have played a significant role, but the Jugs machine provides plenty of practice. I believe Vernon Davis spends a lot of time with the Jugs machine.

While yesterday's video from Monday did not feature a whole ton of material, it seemed to provide a bit more content than this one. It's better than nothing, but there's only so much we can take from defensive backs running wide receiver routes and linebackers jumping over some small padding.

The video wraps up with Randy Moss running a quick little route and catching a pass. Truly riveting stuff.

For now the team cannot run offense versus defense drills, but they are still able to work on some basics of playbook implementation. There is a limitation on their ability to work on play-calling adjustments depending on the offensive or defensive look, but they can work on fundamentals and other basics.

In other news, the 49ers are looking for input into the new Hall of Fame. They've invited many of the writers (I've linked to Matt Barrows' story on it, but all the news outlets have something to add on it) to give input. And, the fans get to send in questions, comments and suggestions to the writers. It's almost like we're sitting next to Joe Montana! Well...almost....OK, not really. But, it's nice that they're looking for outside input. To the links!

Darius Fleming, who just signed a four-year contract on thursday has torn his ACL and will be out for a while. Chances are he won't play this year and that's an unfortunate turn of events for a 5th round draft pick. | Flemming has torn ACL. (Inman)

Brainstorming sessions are going on for the 49ers new Hall of Fame and one of my favorites, Matt Barrows has been invited to give input on what should be included. He gives a rundown of the meeting. | Barrows in meeting about what to include in new HoF. (Barrows)

A.J. Jenkins is learning from one of his idols, Randy Moss. He owned a Moss jersey growing up and is now trying to soak up everything he can from the future hall of famer. | A.J. Jenkins learning from Moss. (49ers.com)

Jacksonville.com has a story on A.J. Jenkins, our number one pick who happens to be from there. It discusses how much his life has changed since becoming a first round draft choice. I lived in Jacksonville for a 6 months. Lots of mosquitos. | A.J. Jenkins on how his life has changed. (jacksonville.com)

Jason Slowey has overcome all odds to make the NFL. He was viewed as a project player when he went to college at Western Oregon (which I honestly can't remember having heard of...ok, I've been away for nearly 10 years, but I would have thought I'd heard of a division II school) and now he's in the NFL, even competing for a starting position in his rookie year. | Slowey overcomes odds. (SFGate)

Matt Maiocco says that Dashon Goldson will sign with the 49ers eventually. He doesn't blame the player for trying to seek a long term deal, but the reality is that the franchise tender will be $2 million more than he's earned in the first 4 years of his career combined, so sitting out games is not going to be an option. | Goldson will sign. (Maiocco)

A video here with the 49ers rookie receivers first impressions as well as Maiocco's take on this and Dashon Goldson's holdout. | Video on 49ers rookie impressions. (CSN Bay Area)

Video: Tarell Brown looking to improve on breakout season. (49ers.com)

Frank Gore will have the toughest time out of the 49ers stars this year, according to Mike Sando. There is increased competition and his possible successor will likely be playing behind him, pushing him for playing time. | Gore has hardest road. (Sando)

Don Banks gives us 7 strong hunches for the upcoming season and (if I'm adding links to national sports media then what is it...good or bad?) he thinks the Randy Moss of 2010 is what we're in store for. It's a sinking feeling that I think quite a few of us have, but the consequences of such a result won't be so dear now that we've added a WR with our first round selection. | Banks says Moss will be a bust. (SI.com)

Vernon Davis' brother has been declared incompetent to stand trial. On a psychiatrist's recommendation, the trial judge declared him unfit, and he will be sent to a mental institution where they will attempt to restore his sanity. The crime he is accused of is a particularly brutal slaying with a hammer. | Davis' brother declared unfit for trial. (CSN Bay Area)

Hopefully this will be the end of the Cohn v Davis feud, but there's no telling what made him escalate it in the first place. It appears as though Grant Cohn has removed the worst of his tweets and posts against Anthony Davis. BASG has them saved here if you missed them. I get the feeling he doesn't like Cohn. | Cohn removes posts about Davis. (Bay Area Sports Guy)

Being a Sheep

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The San Francisco Giants sent infielder Conor Gillaspie back to Fresno and called up infielder Charlie Culberson.
 
Culberson made his major league debut yesterday (Sunday), and also managed to get his first major league hit. It was a great moment to see his father fight back the tears, and his mother looking so proud on Mother’s Day!

The Giants made another roster move this weekend by activating relief pitcher Jeremy Affeldt from the 15-day DL. The counter move was to designate pitcher Travis Blackley for assignment to make room for Affeldt on the roster.

Bad Start, Great Finish

Friday night in Arizona wasn’t a great start to the 3-game set with the D-Backs. The Giants lost game 1 on Friday night, but managed to get the next 2 games to win the series. The G-men are 17-17, and currently 6 games back of the hated Dodgers in the NL West.

Hot Bat

Outfielder Melky Cabrera is swinging a hot bat for the Giants. He had a 4 hit game yesterday and is currently hitting .348 for the Gigantes. Let’s break his average down even more… From the left side Cabrera is hitting .304, and .462 (right-handed) off left-handed pitching!

Should we officially start the collection fund, so the Giants can re-sign Melky?

~King of Cali (Steven)

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Whoops! When Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter named Jim Johnson as the team’s closer, we made light of it, saying basically “who the hell cares?”

Boy, was OTR wrong…again (happens all the time, we’re used to it around here).

While it may not last forever, right now Johnson is smoking hot. He closed out the New York Yankees tonight and now has 12 saves on the year, tied for first in MLB. He has an absolutely insane ERA of 0.54. 0.54!

This is coming from a guy who had an ERA well over six in spring training. In our defense, it wasn’t like Buck Showalter was thrilled to name him as his closer at the time.

But, kudos to Johnson and shame on OTR (for now). This guy is pitching his ass off and could develop into one of the best closers in the league. Unless he doesn’t, because then he won’t.

Well, if this doesn’t warm your heart then you are just an ass. On Sunday, De Graafschap, a soccer team that no one has ever heard of, drew to a 1-1 tie in their second promotion/relegation game.

It was after they lost their first game, and the club ended up getting relegated.

Rogier Meijer was visibly dejected after the game. He sat on the field afterwards, and then had someone come out to console him. Who? His young daughter Saar, who ran out in her dad’s jersey to see if he was okay. He shook his head and laid back down on the pitch.

Check it out, it’s too cute:

Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

We’re not even into training camp yet and already there is talk of yet another 5^th round gem of a wide receiver that’s been unearthed by the Oakland scouting department. Last year it was Denarius Moore that stole the show with his preseason performances as a rookie. This time around it’s Arizona receiver Juron Criner that’s turning heads.

In the first OTA session that was open to the media Criner is reported to have put on a show featuring one 20-minute span in which he made four eye popping grabs.

Jerry McDonald reports that Criner’s early coming out party featured  a sick sideline catch on a 60-yard bomb thrown by Terrelle Pryor, a tumbling TD catch on a 50-yard toss by Carson Palmer that found Criner coming up with the ball between DeMarcus Van Dyke and Tyvon Branch and an impressive adjustment on a route over the middle in which Pryor threw ball behind Criner yet he still managed reach back and bring the ball in.

While Criner could prove a real find as a 5^th round pick his talent has been on display in the PAC-12 where he was among the most productive receivers in college football’s best offensive conference. Criner’s ball skills have always impressed it was his consistency that was lacking as a Wildcat.

None the less, the Raiders might have hit the lottery once again as it looks like yet another talented receiver will be in the mix for a sure to be heated camp battle.

As for the comparisons to Moore…we’ll have to wait on that. Moore did his preseason damage during contact drills as there were no OTAs due to the lockout last offseason. So it is a little unfair to put the two side by side at this moment. Also, Moore has the type of blazing speed Al Davis loved to use in order to stretch the field. While Criner did do work on deep balls today it still remains to be seen if he can be that type of threat in an NFL contest.

Perhaps the ultimate irony is that the men who helped make Criner a Raider are no longer with the organization after Reggie McKenzie’s recent restructuring. Either way, it appears as if we could have another weapon in the passing game. Stay tuned. Things are already getting interesting in Oakland.

Juron Criner Drawing Denarius Moore Comparisons - Just Blog Baby - Just Blog Baby - An Oakland Raiders Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and more.

Picture is courtesy of Marko Realmonte.

Last night was a great win for the San Francisco Giants. It’s a sweet way to start a 7-game homestand. I wish I could say Ryan Vogelsong was the winning pitcher, but he wasn’t. Vogelsong tossed seven innings and allowed just one run.
 
For those of you keeping track of the run support Vogelsong is getting. It’s not much at all… He’s only received nine runs of support over his last six starts. I’m sure he’s just happy the team got the win, but at some point the team needs to get him some “W’s” for his outstanding performances.

Big Fly

Outfielder Gregor Blanco showed that he also has some pop with the bat. Blanco hit his first homer of the season last night for the Giants.

Shutdown Reliever

This man isn’t the closer, but he’s a shutdown reliever! Sergio Romo is currently 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA. He hasn’t allowed a run this season. Romo is 1-of-5 Major League pitchers that hasn’t allowed a run this season.

Hit Streak Ends

Melky Cabrera failed to get a hit last night to snap his 11-game hit streak. Cabrera was hitting .468 during his streak. Who’s starting to think the Giants may have got the better end of the Jonathan Sanchez and Cabrera trade?

Sellout Streak

Last night was the 100th consecutive sellout for the Giants at AT&T Park.

~King of Cali (Steven)

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Let it be known that if you’re got a true skill you’ll always be able to find work in the National Football League. Just ask Jon Condo who’s made a career as a long snapper.

By no means is Condo’s job glamorous in any way. The only time anyone ever notices a long snapper is when something goes horribly wrong. Otherwise it’s among the most invisible jobs in all of sports. But Condo doesn’t need to apologize for his important yet overlooked line of work. His millions in the bank are more than enough recognition along being the rarest of all football rarities – a long snapper with job security.

The general public might not know much about Condo but football minds certainly do. That’s why he’s been to the Pro Bowl twice in the last three years. Condo is also among the reasons why the Raiders have the best special teams in the league.

If there is some concern for Condo it’s got to be his future as a Raider. Reggie McKenzie isn’t in the scholarship business and Condo has done well for himself living off of a couple nice Al Davis contracts. Currently he’s on the books for two more years but there’s no telling if McKenzie will stay the course. Having a great long snapper is very much a luxury in the NFL and no team has enjoyed that luxury more than the Raiders.

Raiders Roster Review: Jon Condo - Just Blog Baby - Just Blog Baby - An Oakland Raiders Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and more.