Spencer for hire: new Raiders CB brings experience

Share

ALAMEDA -- For eight seasons, Shawntae Spencer had a unique view of the goings-on in Oakland. A cornerback for the 49ers since 2004, Spencer took more than a passing interest in the underachieving guys across the Bay."Just looking at it here, you can ask league wide, the Raiders are always the most talented team," Spencer said recently. "Size wise, speed wise, skills wise and things like that, but its just changing the culture, being disciplined, doing the little things right. The turnovers, the penalties, you have to eliminate those things to be competitive in this league."You cant beat yourself."Easier said than done, right? Yet, a more structured secondary and leadership are exactly the reasons the Raiders signed Spencer to a reported one-year, 825,000 free-agent deal on March 19. Along with being a somewhat soothing influence on the youngsters as a long-tenured veteran as the Raiders attempt to change not only a gameplan, but a culture under general manager Reggie McKenzie and coach Dennis Allen.And in new defensive coordinator Jason Tarver and secondary coach Johnnie Lynn, Spencer has some familiar faces -- and schemes -- from their days together in San Francisco."Yeah, (I'm) very excited for Shawntae," Tarver said. "(He) looks good, out here moving around. Just excited for him to have an opportunity. Always had very good cover skills. Looking forward to seeing him in this scheme because hes got a good feel for it."Last year, though, while Tarver was at Stanford, Spencer suffered a hamstring injury in training camp that eventually cost him his job. The 49ers released Spencer, who essentially thanked San Francisco general manager Trent Baalke for cutting him so early in the process."He was gracious enough and nice enough to say, 'You know what, lets do this in a timely manner,' instead of dragging it out until, you know, August," Spencer recalled. "So I do appreciate that on his behalf."Spencer said he also understood 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh going in a different direction."(The injury) kept me out pretty much three weeks of training camp so its understandable that when you got a new coaching staff and things like that, they've got to be able to see you," Spencer said. "You've got to put your resume out there and I didnt get a chance to do that because the hamstring injury was so bad. You know, you take the good with the bad, you learn from it and move on."Indeed, it was time for Spencer to turn the page."Pretty much here, everybodys got a clean start," Tarver said. "Theyre all competing and were looking forward to watching them compete."Tarver is especially looking forward to seeing Spencer and fellow free-agent signee Ron Bartell impart their combined 15 years of NFL experience -- they've started a combined 136 games -- and wisdom on the likes of 2011 draftees DeMarcus Van Dyke and Chimdi Chekwa, who have started five combined NFL games.We like that theyre veterans, we like that they both can play all types of coverages, we like that they both had success in the NFL," Tarver said of his presumptive starting cornerbacks. "But now, its a competition for all our corners. So were very excited to have those two and hopefully theyre very experience helps them, but all the guys are going to compete. But were excited about Ron and Shawntae. Like what theyre doing."Then there's this: Spencer and Bartell were born on the same day -- Feb. 22, 1982.With 11 career interceptions, Spencer is seen by some as more the ball hawk. A change in scenery won't change that. Not even with any preconceived notions."Its no nonsense," Spencer said of the current Raiders' climate. "You hear different things, you know, when I came in, about previous staffs and things like that and how different this one is. Its no nonsense. It doesnt matter who you are or what youve done. They want everyone to embrace the team concept and playing together and playing within each scheme."Its very in your face as far as Coach Allen, very, very instrumental on the defense, especially with the secondary, hes a secondary coach, he knows what it looks like, what its supposed to look like and thats what hes demanding from us."

Contact Us