Darius In...Stu out?

With the great signing of safety Donovan Darius, Rob Ryan's defense should now be in the top five this year. For instance, Darius was known as a team leader in Jacksonville, and is a great player when healthy. Kiffin adding him to the team makes the secondary and the defense so much better. Why? VETERAN PRESENCE. Ryan doesn't really have a true safety with a lot of experience, and now he does. This will make the safety core so much better with someone with a lot of knowledge coming in...to start.

Previously, Huff & Stu were going to be the starting safeties for 2007 & possibly beyond. But from all of the signing's of safeties including rookie Eric Frampton (not to mention Darnell Bing moving from linebacker back to safety), and now Donovan Darius, Stu could be out of the starting line-up. He will still come in on some different packages and such (not COMPLETELY gone) but will not start at free safety with former 2006 first rounder Michael Huff waiting to take his true position once again. Although Stu is a decent player and a fan favorite, he doesn't have the "ball hawk" talent he used to and will be pushed from the the starting core. Stu will still see time and won't get cut. However, more than likely he will play special teams, and come in for the defense at times. I do respect Stu and wish him the best of luck in training camp, but i think due to his lack of missed tackles and plays over the past couple of years shows that he will no longer start for the Raiders. Especially with new-comer Donovan Darius, who will push everyone of the safeties to their best abilities to beat him out in training camp.

The Darius signing is not bad at all for the Raiders, it is great. Ryan will have a knowledgeable strong safety (who knows what he is doing-not meaning Huff)who will have an immediate impact. I expect nothing more than for Darius to start strong safety next to Huff, who will be the free safey. This is also good for Bing & Frampton, who look to have a lot of potential and what a great guy to learn from.