The loss of Sims is much more than a loss of potential.

We had two guys playing DT last weekend that don't belong there. One is definitely a DE, the other is a tweener. Neither is a true DT.

But based on his NFL career to date, Sims doesn't belong in there, either. Last spring people were calling him a bust, not the anchor of our D-line. We're all hopeful that he's about to show us otherwise, but I guess I'm saying that you can't miss what you never had. Plus remember the bigger picture here, I'm comparing the loss of Sims to that of proven Pro-Bowlers. I'm not at all happy to lose Sims, but Roaf and Surtain would be much bigger losses IMO.

It's quite simple. We have warm bodies at CB and LT. We don't at DT.

I don't care how good or bad Sims is, we have to line up and play on Sunday. Period.

What about Svitek?

I'm most concerned about Roaf simply based on the talent level of the player.

I'm most concerned about Sims based on the apparent severity of the injury.

sorry to be so pedantic...

You're arguing from a depth perspective, I'm arguing from a quality starter perspective. Both views have some truth in there. But if all you're concerned about is the lack of warm bodies, they're a dime a dozen. We could sign a journeyman DT today. Pro-Bowl LT's and CB's are a little harder to come by.

Well, for one, he's an offensive lineman now. If they kept him for the sole reason of developing him into a tackle, moving him back to the defensive line would be a very bad thing to do at this point in his training.

Second, wasn't he a defensive end? He's only like 280, we have enough tweeners to plug the gaps at DT the way it is. We need another 310lb widebody.

We already have a quality backup at LT. Our running game was downright dominant in the 3rd quarter, without Roaf. Not only that, but without the starter at RIGHT TACKLE too.

If this wasn't the Raiders, I would say you're right about Surtain. If this was Denver, and we were facing Rod Smith and Ashley Lelie, I'd say Surtain is the KEY piece. Shut down Smith and they have no consistent threat in the passing game.

But this is the Raiders. One, they can already overwhelm our defensive backfield with talent, even if Surtain plays. And second, they're going to throw the ball up for grabs several time in this game. A pro bowl CB has a marginally better chance of knocking that ball down as William Bartee.

In a game like this, the difference maker of all difference makers will be pressure up front. Sims was the only DT on the field on Sunday that got pressure.

If we're only talking about the injury impacts on this weeks game, then we might be closer on our opinions. I've been talking in terms of long term impacts, which hopefully are not an issue anymore.

AHA...yeah, I guess I didn't make that clear.

All along, I've been talking about the Raiders and nothing more. I guess the mentality I've always had is that there's only one game on the schedule at any given time.

I was never considering long-term affect in my comments...

Thanks!

A few hours ago (before DV's press conference) I would have said Roaf, but now I'll go with Sims because it sounds like his is the only injury that's going to cause a signficant loss of time. Roaf is the more important cog in the Chiefs machine though.

Surtain
Roaf
Richardson
Simms

Surtain getting knocked out worried the piss outta me. Or maybe it was the beer but either way thats not something I wanna see, our best most expensive CB with head trauma

Sims because a foot injury does not heal quickly.

Roaf is more important to the team, but it sounds like the injury is not serious and he will be back soon.

Roaf is my biggest concern. Hammys have a way of lingering all season long.

Surtain may miss another game, but I don't think his injury will have the same lingering affect.

Sims may be out with a foot injury, but at this point, I'm getting kinda used to Sims being out with some injury.