Right Offensive Guard: Khalif Barnes vs. Jon Feliciano
The Raiders entered the draft with a need to fill at right guard. They waited until the fourth round to address the matter, and they did so by drafting Jon Feliciano. The only other option at the position currently on the roster is veteran jack-of-all-trades Khalif Barnes.
The Candidates
----------- Height Weight Age Exp. and Games Played
Khalif Barnes 6'6" 320 33 11 Seasons 137 Games
Jon Feliciano 6'4" 323 23 0 Seasons 0 Games
Barnes: Since joining Oakland in 2009, Barnes has turned into an important player for the team. He's never been the best offensive lineman. But what he has done is turn himself into a player capable of helping the team in several different roles. No matter where there's a gap along the offensive line, Barnes has been able to start at the position and perform effectively.
Barnes hasn't received much of a vote of confidence from new head coach Jack Del Rio, who prefers to use Barnes not as a starter but as a swing player, ready to fill at any other spot along the offensive line. But that doesn't mean Barnes won't start. He's not an exciting name, but he's capable of getting the job done.
Feliciano: Feliciano has the measurables and the attitude to be a starting guard in the NFL. He's a natural mauler, and there's a nastiness to his game that lends itself to effective play. On film, it's evident that he's a very good run-blocker, and he's just as solid in pass protection.
What also jumps out on Feliciano's film is that he's a bit heavy-footed. Once he gets his hands on his man, he can push him around. But he struggles dealing with speed. This is why be projects as a guard. But even moving him to the inside of the offensive line won't be enough to mask this flaw in his game. He still has to learn how to deal with the speed and quickness he'll be facing.
Projected Starter: Barnes
If you haven't read Feliciano's story, you can check it out here. There's no way not to root for him after seeing all that he's been through to make it this far. He'll be the starter eventually. However, the fact is that Feliciano still has a way to go before he's capable of playing every down in the NFL.
Feliciano's development will be very important not just over the summer and in camp, but through the beginning of the season. The job is his for the taking, and Del Rio will be ready to plug him in as soon as Feliciano can do the job.
But to start the 2015 season, it'll be the unspectacular but effective Barnes manning the right guard position. No, it won't always be pretty. And if you've seen enough Raiders games, you know that it's just a matter of time before he gets called for a false start (although he was better in that department last season). Barnes isn't the exciting option. But he is the safer one. And to start the season, he's also the right one.