Hiram

Eugene

Schweigert lost his starting job after getting injured halfway through last season, and with the addition of SS Gibril Wilson and rookie DB Tyvon Branch, he was deemed expendable. Hiram Eugene has more job safety.

Huff made six tackles, while Eugene didn’t make the box score. SS Tyvon Branch led the team in stops, forced a fumble, and remains the best IDP bet in this secondary. For the year, Branch is averaging eight tackles a game.

The free safety in Oakland’s scheme sits back in the deep middle, leading to few tackle chances. However, Huff didn’t take advantage of what opportunities he had there and his coverage of tight ends has fallen off markedly since 2007. The No. 7 overall pick in ’06 is looking like a bust.

Michael Huff started out well at his new position, but has tackled poorly and been beat in coverage the last two weeks. Hiram Eugene will be Huff’s competition and Eugene has had similar problems in past playing stints.

Chris Johnson beat Huff badly on his 76 yard touchdown run, so this could be Huff’s punishment for being out of position.

Eugene, 31, was due a $2.25 million base salary. The Raiders are slashing costs, and Eugene still wasn’t fully recovered after missing all of last season with a dislocated hip. Eugene is primarily a special teamer, so he’d been vastly overpaid by the old Oakland regime. The Raiders still have to make a decision on the future of Kamerion Wimbley’s $11 million base salary.