Raiders' Gradkowski twice tried to hook up with Texans

[CloakNNNdagger]

Never remember about hearing about this. Hopefully this doesn't come back to bite us.

Quarterback Bruce Gradkowski's search for a home in the NFL took him from Tampa Bay to Cleveland and St. Louis before he arrived in Oakland early last year. Along the way, he attempted to hook on with the Houston Texans team that comes to Oakland on Sunday.

Twice in 2008 Gradkowski worked out for the Texans. The Texans opted the first time to stick with Matt Schaub and Sage Rosenfels. Gradkowski suffered an injury during his second workout and wasn't offered a contract.

"That was a rough year for me," Gradkowski said. "Now I'm back on track and excited to go into this game."

A few months later, Gradkowski was signed by the Raiders and worked his way into the starting lineup last season and, again, this season. The Texans ultimately signed Craig Nall.

"Every time he has gotten a chance, whether with Gruden (Jon, former Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach) or now (the Raiders), he's done some good things," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. "The fact that he can move around and make plays off schedule is something everybody in this league hopes they have in a quarterback. He's definitely got that. I'm very impressed with the job he's done."

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[Lucky]

I would trade Orlovsky for Gradkowski any day, and twice on Sunday. We got the wrong Pole.

[Nawzer]

I've always thought that Gradkowski was a good qb. He never got a fair shot imo in Tampa Bay and now he has a legit shot at becoming the Raiders qb for a long time.

[m5kwatts]

He's not the type of QB thats gonna blow up a workout anyways so it doesn't surprise me.

[thunderkyss]

I guarantee Gradkowski will "hook up" with a few Texans tomorrow.

First off, & I'm hoping he hooks up with Mario. I'm pretty sure there will be several meetings, with at least two of them going down as sacks.

I'm also predicting he'll meet my boy, Antonio Smith. May not go down as a sack, may be more along the lines of "Roughing the passer" but that's how he rolls.

I also hope my boy Quin makes him regret ever wanting to hook up with the Texans, by way of a Pick 6.

And lastly, I'm sure Bernard is going to schedule an onfield meeting with Mr. Gradkowski. If you're squeemish.... even just a little, I advise you don't watch.

[Cerberus]

Originally Posted by thunderkyss

I guarantee Gradkowski will "hook up" with a few Texans tomorrow.

First off, & I'm hoping he hooks up with Mario. I'm pretty sure there will be several meetings, with at least two of them going down as sacks.

I'm also predicting he'll meet my boy, Antonio Smith. May not go down as a sack, may be more along the lines of "Roughing the passer" but that's how he rolls.

I also hope my boy Quin makes him regret ever wanting to hook up with the Texans, by way of a Pick 6.

And lastly, I'm sure Bernard is going to schedule an onfield meeting with Mr. Gradkowski. If you're squeemish.... even just a little, I advise you don't watch.

No, no, no. He is going to hook-up with Texan (in the true sense of the word) WR Johnnie Lee Higgins from Sweeny, Texas.

[FirstTexansFan]

Rumor I heard was he was gonna hook up with Texan Bill (duck!)

[gtexan02]

With our secondary, Im sure he'll look like an probowler

[GP]

Originally Posted by Lucky

I would trade Orlovsky for Gradkowski any day, and twice on Sunday. We got the wrong Pole.

rep your way. :still_chuckling:

[BSofA04]

So Gradkowski will have something to play for tomorrow...f-ing greaaaaat!

[MEGA SWATT]

Originally Posted by BSofA04

So Gradkowski will have something to play for tomorrow...f-ing greaaaaat!

It won't matter. GMAMFB.

[CloakNNNdagger]

Originally Posted by BSofA04

So Gradkowski will have something to play for tomorrow...f-ing greaaaaat!

Originally Posted by TEXANS4MARIO

It won't matter. GMAMFB.

He will be going for an

[Kulluminatii]

Originally Posted by CloakNNNdagger

He will be going for an

Hopefully he'll get his "revenge" .

[False Start]

Meh. He doesn't strike fear into my heart as a QB. He is decent, but nothing to fret about IMO.

Hopefully I wont be eating these words this evening.

[thunderkyss]

We'll see how bad our pass defense really is. If people start talking about Gradkowski as a top 10, or even a true starting QB, we'll know we suck.

For the record, I don't think we have a CB problem. I'll be watching Demeco, Diles, Adibi, & Barber. They need to step up their game. We're going in thinking the Raiders have a stout running game. If we aren't honest, & try to cheat on that, we'll get burned on screens & draws, just like the previous three weeks.

I'll also be watching our DLine. They have to be able to recognize run vs pass, in order to set the ends & clog the middle when they need to, or squeeze the edges & press the middle when they need to.

[Texas T]

Originally Posted by thunderkyss

We'll see how bad our pass defense really is. If people start talking about Gradkowski as a top 10, or even a true starting QB, we'll know we suck.

For the record, I don't think we have a CB problem. I'll be watching Demeco, Diles, Adibi, & Barber. They need to step up their game. We're going in thinking the Raiders have a stout running game. If we aren't honest, & try to cheat on that, we'll get burned on screens & draws, just like the previous three weeks.

I'll also be watching our DLine. They have to be able to recognize run vs pass, in order to set the ends & clog the middle when they need to, or squeeze the edges & press the middle when they need to.

This has been my thought. Everyone has been talking about how the secondary in not that bad it's been the caliber of QB they've faced. Well no one would ever put the G-man in the same category as the others so if they still give up a boatload of yards we will know we definitely have a problem.

[thunderkyss]

Originally Posted by Texas T

This has been my thought. Everyone has been talking about how the secondary in not that bad it's been the caliber of QB they've faced. Well no one would ever put the G-man in the same category as the others so if they still give up a boatload of yards we will know we definitely have a problem.

Exactly, except I'm saying pass coverage, not secondary. I agree our secondary has been playing well. I believe our LBs Have been killing us. Watch for 100 yards receiving to RBs, FBs, & TEs.... & pay attention when we are in zones, when the reCeivers get the ball, which part of the field they are.

And scheme. If you watched what Washington did with their zones, they were rolling the CBs & safeties all over the field, Matt sees the CB drop off the receiver, throws the ball, and you see Laron Landry rolling down to cover the WR.

Or if the safety drops down to pick up a RB, the CB would roll over the top to cover the tightened. Our DBs are either man, short, or deep. I think that is a little predictable.

[Wolf]

Originally Posted by Texas T

This has been my thought. Everyone has been talking about how the secondary in not that bad it's been the caliber of QB they've faced.

problem I have with the statement that is going around(not singling you out, it is that I have heard the statement at work and around the web) is that in order to go to the playoffs and do some damage in the playoffs, you have to beat a Manning, Brady,Rivers etc etc..

The Texans will have to fix the defense (secondary, front 7 (or should I say 8 with pollard coming in to help).. and if it is due to inexperience in the secondary. well I hope that learning curve kicks in around week 12 or sooner

[gtexan02]

Irony

[Ryan]

Dude has some gnads for running into Pollard twice and gettin the piss knocked out of him. But also incredible stupidity.