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by steelyeri » Thu May 20, 2004 12:26 pm http://www.raiderfans.net/forum/showthr ... adid=15794
Raiders Add Bobby Hamilton
May 19, 2004
By Victor Cotto Raiderfans.net Staff Columnist
Bobby Hamilton
The Oakland Raiders continue to add experience and depth to their defensive line, signing former Patriot defensive end Bobby Hamilton.
The former Jet and Patriot is a Rob Ryan favorite, and is viewed as an ideal defensive end in the 3-4 scheme that the Raiders will feature this season. Hamilton joins Ted Washington as the second defensive linemen to bolt New England this off-season, and join the Silver and Black.
At 6-5, and 280 pounds, the 10 year veteran will compete with Tyler Brayton, Akbar Gbaja-Biamila and Chris Cooper during the pre-season for playing time and possible roster spots.
Hamilton was a key cog during New England’s championship runs, providing steady yet, unspectacular play at defensive end. Well liked by teammates and coaches for his work ethic, Hamilton has played in 118 league games with 74 starts in nine NFL seasons.
Hamilton, 32, came in to the league as a rookie free agent with Seattle in 1994 and was placed on injured reserve during the preseason. He spent four seasons with the New York Jets (1996-99), before signing a free-agent deal in New England prior to the 2000 season.
In 2000, Hamilton led all defensive linemen in tackles with 79 and has compiled 335 career tackles, 16 sacks, four fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and one interception since entering the NFL in 1994.
Since hired as defensive coordinator, Rob Ryan has implemented various schemes and will inject various characteristics of the Patriot defense he was a part of for several seasons. Adding Washington and Hamilton gives some familiarity to a newly assigned situation for Ryan and help other player’s transition more smoothly into the new look defense for the Silver and Black.
Raiderfans.net has learned that Ryan is pleased about the signing, a player he feels comfortable working with knowing his abilities and his role in his schemes.
The Raider defensive line has completed an over-haul during the off-season that also featured the arrival of Warren Sapp and the departure of veterans like Trace Armstrong, Rod Coleman and Lorenzo Bromell. Oakland’s run defense ranked at the bottom of the NFL last season.
