McFadden Q&A
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Friday, April 11th, 2008 at 3:49 pm in Oakland Raiders.
Since it seems in this forum at least that Darren McFadden is the biggest topic of conversation regarding the Raiders and the No. 4 overall pick in the draft on April 26, here is a transcript of McFadden’s media session at the NFL scouting combine?
Q: Are you the best player in the draft?
McFadden: I feel like I am the best player in the draft. I can do a lot of different things. I feel like I’m a very versatile player. I can go out there and line up at receiver, I can line up in the backfield and block, line up back there and run, I can throw a pass if you need me to. But like if I had to, I could play defense.
Q: Why did you decide to enter the draft early?
McFadden: I feel like it was kind of tough on me, but with my coaches leaving, it made it easier for me. But I felt like it was time, too.
Q: What kind of questions do you expect from NFL teams?
McFadden: I know I’m going to hear a lot of different questions. I’m going to hear things from the reason why I get up early, or the different incidents I’ve had outside of nightclubs, just different questions.
Q: How will you answer the nightclub questions?
McFadden: Just answer them and tell them what happened. I know I put myself in a bad situation I shouldn’t have been in, and I take full responsibility for it.
Q: Was the report out of proportion to what actually happened?
McFadden: I guess they had people telling them something, different things were happening, and I guess people’s words got misconstrued.
Q: Will all the off-the-field issues affect your draft stock?
McFadden: That’s something I haven’t been worried about at all.
Q: Was football an escape for you growing up in a tough environment?
McFadden: A lot of bad things were laid out in front of me, and at any point in time in life I could have took the wrong road. But I felt like I always stayed on the right road and did the positive things.
Q: How do you compare to Adrian Peterson?
McFadden: I admire Adrian Peterson. He’s a great running back and I feel like if I go in do all the work that I should do and put in the right work necessary, I could have the type of season he did.
Q: Is it important to be the first back drafted?
McFadden: Whether I am or if I’m not, I’m just going to go wherever I go and try and play my best.
Q: Is it important to be the first player drafted?
McFadden: Like I said, whether I am or I’m not, I’m just going to go play my best wherever I go.
Q: Are you eager to see what Felix Jones, your Arkansas teammate, can do as a feature back?
McFadden: I feel like I know what Felix can do. If he was the feature back at Arkansas, I feel like he’d have been the same. I feel like he could have started anywhere in the country if he wasn’t playing behind me.
Q: What do you need to improve on?
McFadden: I’ve just got to get adapted to the game speed and things like that, get in there and learn the different plays, things like that.
Q: How are your receiving skills?
McFadden: I feel like I have great hands because I played a lot of different positions growing up. I’ve caught a lot of balls through high school and things, so I feel like I have great hands.
Q: Do you think a team will utilize the “Wildcat formation” in the NFL?
McFadden: I don’t know if it could, but if it did, it’d be a great thing.
Note: In the “Wildcat” formation at Arkansas, McFadden took snaps from center as a quarterback and could either run or pass.
Q: Would you like to play in Dallas?
McFadden: For me, it doesn’t matter. I’m just going to go and do my best.
Q: Have you thought about playing with JaMarcus Russell?
McFadden: No sir, I haven’t. I haven’t thought anything about it.
Q: What do you like about Lining up at quarterback?
McFadden: It’s something I love to do, line up behind the center and take those direct snaps. Growing up, I played quarterback a lot, and it’s just something I love to do, be back there and be able to call the plays.
Q: Is there room for playing some QB at the next level?
McFadden: Well, I don’t know if there’d be any room for it in the NFL, but if a coach wanted me to do it, I’m going to do it.
Q: LaDainian Tomlinson has completed some passes for San Diego . . .
McFadden: He’s a great player, going back there and throwing touchdown passes like he’s a quarterback. It’s just a great thing to see a running back do that.
Q: Who is the second best RB in the draft?
McFadden: Well, everybody probably would have a different opinion, but mine would be Felix Jones.
Q: How would you explain your assets to a general manager?
McFadden: I feel like I’m a tough guy. You could have me in on first down or you could have me in on fourth-and-1. I can get long yards for you or I can get short yards for you.
Q: Thought about taking your place among legendary SEC backs?
McFadden: For me, it’s something I haven’t really thought about
Q: Your favorite running back?
McFadden: Growing up, I was a Terrell Davis guy. I used to watch Terrell Davis run.
Q: Why Terrell Davis?
McFadden: I don’t know, just Terrell Davis, Denver Broncos, John Elway, I just liked ‘em.
Q: Is there a lot of anxiety here at the combine?
McFadden: It’s very nerve-wracking. It’s something you go through for the first time, so it’s going to be nerve-wracking to you, but it’s something you have to deal with.
Q: Have you been asked a lot about Adrian Peterson, considering his success as a rookie?
McFadden: A lot of people try to compare me to Adrian Peterson and say we have similar running styles. He went in as a rookie and did great things, and that’s something I feel like I’m going to try in and do as a rookie also. It’s going to be tough, but I feel like I’m a hard worker and I feel like I’m going to do my best.
Q: Did you run the spread offense in college and would it suit you in the NFL?
McFadden: For me, I feel like I can adjust to any type of offense there is. I’m just a natural ballplayer, so whatever offense I’m put in, I feel like I’m going to be able to perform in it.
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April 11th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Helllllllllooooooooooooooooooooo
April 11th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
deuce
April 11th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
J-Mak 2 D-Mac all damn day!!
(only if Chris Long is gone)
April 11th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
No one on NFL Network has the Raiders taking McFadden.
April 11th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Raider Nation is slippin
April 11th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
He’s a Broncos fan, definately not wanted in Oakland.
April 11th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Naw he grew up a Cowgirl fan
April 11th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
like some1 said earlier
4th and Long!!
Just Long Jr Baby!!
Make it happen Al
April 11th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Oh well, another topic devoted to DMac. Not what I was looking for, but majority rules…it just would have been nice to take a break from all of the draft speculation for a change…
DMac junkies…ad nauseum…have at it…enjoy…
April 11th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Where’s Dakota??? LOL!!!
April 11th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Watching closely.
April 11th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Lets talk about Christian Okoye
April 11th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
I hated him…till I saw a program that showed what a cool guy he was off the field. He was a beast for a few years though.
April 11th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
I told you guys yesterday, don’t even bother discussing Darren McFadden because he IS NOT going to the Raiders. I have a deal worked out with Al so he can get Chris Long and I will get his #4 pick and a little extra. Why would you even want a guy like McFadden, who name drops Terrell Davis and John Elway and then says that he’s never given any thought to playing with your franchise QB? Does that sound like someone who wants to be on the Raiders? Lucky for you guys, my buddy Al has it all figured out.
April 11th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Post #6-Troof!
April 11th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
later mothaf@#kas
Go Lakers!
Where are you Dogg?
April 11th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
I wonder who the Raiders will take in the draft. Its the migy,migy,migy,migy MacDaddy! MacDaddy make ya,, JUMP,JUMP!
April 11th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Christian was on Joes vs pros one night, he still looks inb decent shape
April 11th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
I was thinking about going on joes vs pros next season
April 11th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
then after about 4 or 5 seconds i decided not to
April 11th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
funny site on NFL.com. Some guy named Mike Magawan from Silverandblack.com was saying Dorsey should be the pick. They asked him about Gholston and he said he would be a good pick because Burgess was upset. He said reason for Burgess being upset was that an unnamed member of management had overpromised him a contract. He went on to say that guy was fired and working for the Donkeys. Turns out Lombardi was actually sitting in the NFL.com studio with the other pundits talking about the draft. That had to get Lombardi po’d. High theatre. Lombardi seems to think Raiders go Gholston with Dorsey and Howie Jr. going 2/3.
April 11th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
C. Long or trade down and get a LT.
April 11th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
We all know its going to be mcskinny legs
April 11th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
its good that hes a bronco fan so bronco natives can have him run all over them twice a year and say damn that guys good… only fair haha
April 11th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
los pinche burros are going to suffer this year, and many more to come
April 11th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
what u talkin bout truancy
April 11th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
are u talkin to me?!?!?! are u talkin to me?!??!?!
haha
April 11th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
i mean the pinche broncos i call them burros, mules, jackasses, you know
April 11th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
yeah im witcha
April 11th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
T monitor I am still at work, and on the blog.
HahaahHHA
April 11th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
I really hope all the McFadden talk is a smokescreen for the real person we will take, DEFENSE!!!
April 11th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Bob Marley – My brother is a Cowboys fan and he was stoked as hell to hear that trade idea you dropped down. Crazy stuff man. I’ll take that deal anyday and everybody benefits from it. A Win-Win.
4th and Long…That’s hella funny right there. I like it.
April 11th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
draft fad n trade to boys for more picks
April 11th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
It doesnt matter who we take because the media and so-called football experts who most of them, never played the sport will find some reason to criticize the Raiders anyway. Wait and see.
April 11th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
they’ll say:
(if we take mcfadden): davis is a tyrant, insisted on mcfadden over the team’s needs, and Kiffin’s advice, and caved to the public pressure.
(if we take one of the D-line guys): Ryan is in charge, kiffin is a lame duck, and they were fools to pass on Mcfadden.
April 11th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
got a point
April 11th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
4th and Long
April 11th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Lombardi has us taking Gholston but I didn´t get to hear his reasoning, when I turned it on he was already on the Bengals pick, anyone heard what he had to say?.
April 11th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Fine, I´ll just wait for the replay in an hour.
April 11th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
I was D-line all the way. Then, I saw the DMAC highlight reel. Now, I’m a little more open to drafting him. But, I’m still pro D-line
April 11th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
#30 Way to go Thec way to go keep up the production. Havent heard much from Dakota so he’s doing the same. Keep up the good work. Rick you are so right, it doesnt matter what we do, we will always be critisized about what ever pick we take. We can win a superbowl and they will find some kinda way to piss on it. Tell people to send they’re complaints to Al Davis at Island of Doooooooooooooooooooooom
April 11th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
Bob Marley, Lombardi thinks C Long will be gone & the Raiders will take the “other” DE & Cinc. will get McfADDY. Of course you know how well Lombardi’s judgment holds up.
April 11th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Huff24
Great, so at least one Cowboys fan loves it too, now we just need to find a Dolphins fan willing to go for it with us and we´re in business baby….Lol.
April 11th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Mc Fadden looks like a chicken running between chihuahuas but the NFL is all pit bulls.
April 11th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
Either Dorsey, Long, Ellis, Gholston, McFadden, or trade down. Now when the draft comes I can say that I nailed it.
April 11th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Thanks TW.
April 11th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
If someone else gets mcfadden you can be sure that he will come back to bite us in the ass. It might be in a pre season game, it might be a Superbowl, none the less we need to pick him up to give jmac some help staying alive. Believe me. I work not far from the Raiders facility, and on a windy day I can hear everything Al says from the Island of Doom, only about 15 seconds after he says it. Thats my source. The defense will be addressed.
April 11th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
The Deal….
Mia takes Chris, Oak takes DMC.
Dallas trades 22 and 28 plus Bobby Carpenter to Oak for DMC and Fabian Washington.
Oak trades 22 and 28 plus Bobby Carpenter and Paul McQuistan to Mia for Chris Long and a 4th rounder.
Miami ends up with 22, 28 a LB and a RT-G.
Oak ends up with Chris Long and a 4th rounder
Dallas gets McFadden and Fabian W.
Mia gives up the 1st pick and a 4th
Oak gives up the 4th pick, Washington and McQ.
Dallas gives up 22, 28 and Carpenter.
Miami selects Kentwan Balmer at 22 and maybe Gosder Cherilus at 28.
April 11th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
That would be a nice deal. but what if someone else took dmac?
April 11th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
That would leave Oakland with having to pay the freight to sign the number on overall pick for the second year in a row. Something I don’t think they would go for. At least the forth overall will be slotted inbetween the third and fifth picks in what it will take to sign him.
April 11th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Koolaid…I got you…
Yeah, but the 4th pick will get about 19 to 20 million guaranteed anyways, the 1st pick being a DE would get around 28 million, it´s not that much of a difference spread out to 5 or 6 years.
That´s according to Mike Lombardi, he said it´s Draft siginig protocol that QB´s get a premium so a non-QB would not command more money than JaMarcus who got 29.2 guaranteed.
April 11th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
Marley, the only other interesting thing that happened on Path to the draft was a Raider sportsnews guy said Burgess was unsatisfied with his contract was because Lombardi (didn’t say his name) promised him a new contract($$$) & he was fired. Then they return to ask lombardi for more draft analysis.
April 11th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
Like I said, that´s what Lombardi says, not me….
”Miami will present offers to all the potential picks –probably one after another, with deadlines for each agent — based on a percentage of increase (anywhere from 3 to 10 percent) of the 2007 Joe Thomas contract from Cleveland. (Thomas signed a five-year deal valued at $42.5 million, with over $23 million in guaranteed money.)
Why not use the JaMarcus Russell deal from last year since he was the first pick in the draft? Parcells will not discuss that deal because in draft pick-signing protocol everyone operates under the premise that the QB deals are premiums and have no basis for other positions in the round. Therefore there is no reason to begin your percent of increase off a non-factoring contract.”
Mike Lombardi cnnsi.com
April 11th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
That sure is stretching it.
April 11th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
That’s pretty smart of Parcells, money really changes everything nowdays.
April 11th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
TW
Lol…yeah I did see that, what a wuss that Wagaman guy, he should have said Mike Lombardi, also Wagaman said ”that guy”.
It would have been great if Lombardi had taken offense and fired back.
April 11th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
yeah, I’m sure it was taped & Lumbo had no idea.
April 11th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
Does lombrd still work for the Donks?
April 11th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
There is no way we draft Gholston or C. Long. Burgess is already PO’d about his contract and if we draft one of those two they will be instantly earning way more than him. Then Burgess holds out and he’s a leader on the team I don’t think they would want to not have him out there.
April 11th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Next year is a contract year for Burgess. He needs to produce if he is going to get a big contract for the next year, either with The Raiders or with some other team.
April 11th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
TW
No he does not, Wagaman didn´t even know that, he said he still did.
April 11th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
We need those bookends, one to rush & one to cover the run. Pay them both. No McFaddy.
4th & Long
April 11th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
That’s why that swat little troll is on TV.
April 11th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
Actually, Burgess is signed for the next 2 seasons.
April 11th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Really? I must have bought into the rest of these guys. When are we going to restructure Namdi’s deal. That would be the smart thing to do.
April 11th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
Q: Has Nnamdi Asomugha signed?
A: “It’s a business. Nnamdi may look at it and think, ‘I’ve been here four years and then look on the other side and see a guy who hasn’t been here a day who has just gotten a big contract. We’re still talking to Nnamdi about a long-term contract. Obviously he doesn’t have a contract right now because we haven’t signed him. So Nnamdi is not working out with us right now because he really can’t. But Nnamdi is not allowed to negotiate with other teams because he’s an exclusive franchise player.” Lane Kiffin
Hopefully soon…
April 11th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
McFadden is a Donkey fan. Stock just fell.
April 11th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Hey everybody! Look Jerry I want some Gholston conversation on this here blog d@mmit!! I just finished watchin YouTube Gholston highlights the guy plowed J. Long like a sick heffer!!! If Al doesn’t pick Gholston, get you chedder ready for your D-Mac jerseys! Like it or not.
April 11th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
OK, I’ll keep the conversation going. I remember when the Iggles drafted McNabb, it seemed like everybody in the Philly area booed the HELL of it. They wanted Ricky “Puff-Puff” Williams. But you gotta say the dude has been somewhat of a success for them to say the least. Maybe that’ll be the case if we take baby maker! One can hope.
April 11th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
Hey! Did everybody just go out clubbin or what! Figures, just when I’m on the mike.
April 11th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Philly
The great thing is we can use anyone out of the projected top 6 players, we really can´t lose or be upset with any of them IMO.
April 11th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
I´m here, may still go out later on but not really feeling like it…..
April 11th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
Sorry Marl… I thought everyone left so I stepped away for a sec. I guess it’s just you and me man! Good point though. Your right that we could take any of those guys and still look like it was a good pick. BUT, I hope Al doesn’t forget we still need a big body, young receiver later in the draft.
April 11th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
On another note, I’m gettin a bit concerned about Nnamdi not signong yet. Come on Al, pay the guy already!
April 11th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
I have to agree with Marley, we are in a win win situation. Everything will work out just fine.
April 11th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
DMC freaks, time is running out on your romance with the skinny HB. Got your wedding dress yet? there is still time to marry him yourself just in case someone else gets him you can at least sleep with him.
Do you hear something ringing?? that’s not wedding bells is it??
TT just say NOOO………don’t go out like that… GEEzz………..too late.
April 11th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
I goo bobba lat draft. Oh, sorry guys, I’m having some liquid refreshments with wifey. BTW, she is soooo jealous of the blog! Raider love!! Yeah Baby, Yeah!!
April 11th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
BHP: Perfect that you are here right now, I just read an article from FoxSports about DMac and they also talked about my comparison to Robert Smith.
“It’ll be the ability to pound it inside on a regular basis that’ll be the key, and his upright running style will get him popped a little too often. With his frame, body-type, and speed, he could be the next Robert Smith. That’s not a negative.”
If we take him, he’ll be used in a lot of different roles, like he was at Arkansas. What’s the difference between the system he ran behind at Arkansas compared to the zone? I think he’ll excel in both systems.
http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/8012914/NFL-Draft:-Ranking-running-backs
I don’t agree with most of the analysis, but comparing him to Robert Smith and his “skinny legs” is quite similar. Especially considering DMac will only be 21 at the star of the season giving him a full year to reach the maturity level Smith had coming out of Ohio State.
Smith has been my analogy for months now. It’s nice to hear other people talk about it as well.
April 11th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
Hi old friends,..sorry to report my Norco addiction has kept me waway from my craptop…and I will come correct, Im all hopped up on them again tonight with some Meridian wine,…hey dont feel sorry for me, its my cross to bare….as far as the draft goes, only player worth drafting in the top 5 is Dorsey, all others are busts without doubt.
April 11th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Yo Priest! Why so much hate for D-Mac my man. I mean, I’d love to see Gholston help us bring back the S & B era of fear but I do think he could help the O (coupled with J-Russ) with Kiff offensive mind! Right??
April 11th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
The best case scenario would be find a sucker to trade the pick,…give the bread you would blow on 4th pick to Nhambdi,…and Burgess,..theyve earned it,…but doubt any team wants the 4th pick,…hey this Meridian vino is great,.and with the Norcos,…holy crap,…flyin high,..in a zone my friends,..schedule comes out next week,..my people on the island are trying hard to host Thanksgiving game….longshot however.
April 11th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Gholston is nothing,…barely held his own in weak Big-10…Gholston isnt an NFL player,..trust that,…take Jake Long if hes there and both Chris Long and Dorsey are gone, and they will be gone….no dmac at all please.
April 11th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Dakota Says:
April 11th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
“later mothaf@#kas
Go Lakers!
Where are you Dogg?”
What’s on your mind D? I’ve been hanging with my son all day, that little dude takes everything I’ve got and I love every minute of it. He’ll be 2 next month.
I still haven’t really shaken that sh*tty feeling from last night’s W’s game. It’s like I have a case of sports poisoning or something. Not looking too good for my boys. Your boys will be all right, even without Bynum.
I’ll be around, let me know what’s up. I guess if the W’s don’t make the playoffs, I will have to force myself to root for that other team from Cali not named the Clippers. Somewhere my future dead body just rolled over in it’s grave. Which is really strange because I plan on being cremated…
April 11th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Alameda Insider
Dude, what rock have you been under?!? Trust me the dude is not just a work out warrior! Go check out the numerous highlights on YouTube and then tell me if you still feel like that.
April 11th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Yeah he could help any team that gets him, my problem with him is well documented. As DSM pointed out his lack of ability to carry the load and that abundance of talent we already have at that position, is why I make fun of him.
I realize the kid is talented and if we had the need I would be lobbying for him as well. Although I do think there are some great HB’s in this draft that NEVER get a mention in here, he is definitely in the
top two
DSM I also agree with the cmparison to Robert Smith, Robert was very good between the tackles and was tougher to bring down.
April 11th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
And like Robert Smith…McFadden won’t do anything significant enough to make an impact and will eventually disappear while the next great back is focused on in the next draft. NEXT!
Reggie Bush was smart by selling out with all his endorsements. He knew that would be his biggest payday. McFadden isn’t even that popular.
April 11th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
BHP: I wish I could get you to understand my sole reason for wanting DMac and the logic behind it.
DMac isn’t going to be a situational player in the fact he’ll be on the sidelines when he’s not touching the ball.
That’s what most people can’t comprehend.
DMac’s going to be on the field a lot, however he’s going to be limited though to 20-25 touches a game.
This doesn’t mean he isn’t on the field, it just means he’s being used as a decoy forcing the D to account for him on every play, thus opening the gut for Michael Bush to get huge gains.
April 11th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Troy CB Leodis McKelvin is meeting with the Falcons this weekend, and Leodis has the same, um, confidence that the last high-profile Atlanta corner possessed: “I feel like I am the best corner in the draft. I feel like I belong in the top ten.”
(That trade with the Jets is looking more likely with the Falcons moving to the 6th spot and drafting McKelvin to replace DeAngelo Hall.
April 11th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Huff, where do you come down on Gholston?
April 11th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
re-post
RaiderDogg Says:
April 4th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
RaiderDogg’s Top 10 Mock Draft Picks
1. Dolphins – T Jake Long
2. Rams – DT Glenn Dorsey
3. Falcons – DT Sedrick Ellis
4. Raiders – DE Chris Long
5. Chiefs – DE Vernon Gholston
6. Jets – RB Darren McFadden
7. Patriots – CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
8. Ravens – QB Matt Ryan
9. Bengals – WR Devin Thomas
10. Saints – LB Keith Rivers
So how does my list hold up a week later?
April 11th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
There is no room for McFadden. We have 3 quality WR’s, 2 stud TE’s, 2 Stud FB’s and 3 Quality RB’s. How are you going to fit McFadden into the equation?
April 11th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
AI, Gholston has a chance to be very special, I really believe that. His get off is already right there with the top DE’s in the league. He has such great body control. Is very powerful throughout his frame. It’s just a matter of how bad does he want it.
It would not shock me if in 5 years he would be compared to the all time greats. he is just that talented.
Last year when I was scouting OSU he would just flash on film, you couln’t help but notice him and they used him smartly if the Raiders get him and use similarly he could wreak havoc.
April 11th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Dogg, that looks pretty accurate baring any draft-day deals.
April 11th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
PhillyRaider -
in my original post from April 4th I did make sure that this list was barring any trade
thanks for the feedback bro.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
what´s going on
April 11th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
I don’t know what to think of Gholston. I think he might be a better fit as an OLB in the 3-4 then a DE in the 4-3. A chiseled football player doesn’t always make for a great football player. I’m not sure if he can be a Umenyiora type or not. I’m really concerned about his consistent ability to stop the run and get after the passer. I feel more confident with Chris Long in that department. If Long isn’t available at #4 and we can’t trade for him, we should take Gholston because we are lacking talent very badly and I think Gholston is better than anybody left in free agency and has alot of potential. I would pick for need and since he does have talent, why not take the chance?
April 11th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
DSM I know what yu’re talking about quite rankly that’s where his value is. Trying to get him matched up. He could be a hell of a swiss army knife. When we drafted Timmy Brown that’s the way I wanted Art to use him, as well as Rocket Ismail, but we never used either of them that way. Timmy and Rcket were used on team but both could’ve been used out of the backfield.
That’s how i see DMC but and I know you hate the buts. BUT there is another kid that might be even better at it than he is, in fact that ere are two that might be better. That’s MY point we just dont have to pay top dollar to get that sort of weapon because there are 3 or 4 types that can be had.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
Yo, it’s 1am over here and I’m hangin with the Nation! Yeah Baby, Yeah! Dogg, where do YOU come down on my Gholston debate?
April 11th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
If that trade between the Jets and Atlanta does come off, who do the Jets take at number three?
April 11th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
These are Vernon Gholston’s 2007 stats as far as sacks or significant plays. Notice how a BIG TIME talent goes missing in games he should be flying by the LT and making plenty of sacks, especially for a top 5 player.
Youngstown State- no sacks
Akron- 1 sack
Washington- no sacks
Northwestern- 2 sacks, 1 fumble return 21 yards
Minnesota- no sacks
Purdue- no sacks
Kent State- 2 sacks
Michigan State- 1 sack
Penn State- 1 sack
Wisconsin- 3 sacks
Illinois- no sacks (their first loss of season)
Michigan- 3 sacks, one against Long
LSU- 1 sack
April 11th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
What about hurries and hits DSM? how did he fare with those?.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
Why would the Falcons take Ellis?
They don’t have a QB, and they need one bad.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
Matt Ryan Koolaid. Pennington is about done and the Jets feel they don’t have a future with Kellen Clemons. One thing that everyone in the league knows is you HAVE TO HAVE a marquee QB to compete. Matt Ryan is the #1 QB on the board right now.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
Jets take McFadden or Ryan
Only reason they move up is if they think Oakland would get McFadden or the Chiefs would get Ryan.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Raiderkoolaid – McFadden.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
BHP: What you aren’t comprehending is their’s a difference between a player like DMac and a smaller back like Chris Johnson or other small backs similar to Selvin Young.
DMac would be a special player that isn’t just a decoy for speed purposes. He’s a weapon that would ALWAYS have to be accounted for and the team wouldn’t be worried about putting him up against a LB for fear of injury like you would a scat back, the type I believe you are referring to.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Falcons would not take QB at 3 because of the cash. They have several picks to pay for this season.
They might look to take that other QB who is hot right now later in the draft.
Kid has a funny name. Sae him on NFL Network today.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Felix Jones and Chris Johnson are every bit as talented as DMC. There just not as big, but when you think of what rle they would play they may be better suited for it.
I know y most wont remember but there was a HB named Terry Metcalf who was amazing in that role. Also a more recent player named Joe Washington who played for the Redskins against us inour 83 SB win. Who was a lot like Felix and Chris. That guy JW was so awesome once he touched the ball.
I’m just telling you you guy’s are just too focused on one guy
April 11th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Bob Marley- Unfortunately I couldn’t find many stats for a D player. Maybe someone here knows?
I do know from reading several analysts he disappears for whole games. He has trouble against the run, against freakin Big Ten blockers.
He’s great at sacks, but in bunches. Is he going to be consistent?
I really don’t think so.
Gholston isn’t another Julius Peppers, Freeney, or Mario Williams.
IMO he’s a bigger boom/bust than DMac.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
About the Jets,
I have a feeling the guy they have wanted all along is Gholston and the Pats feel the same way, Gholston is a perfect fit for both and they both have a need. It could all be a screen so far and they maye be getting ready to anticipate each other to get him, which could end up benefiting us.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
DSM I comprehend much better than you think I’ve seen them all as far back as Gale Sayers, I think the one that’s not comprehending is YOU.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
From what I see in dmac,…I dont see anything special,…and with his off the field crap,..forget it,..Oakland not even considering him anyway,..had him over for lunch for smokescreen reasons,…I would take Gholston over Chris Long myself,..Chris wouldnt be considered if not Howies kid….hes another hyped for no reason dude,..this years draft class worst in history….Dorsey only great player….all others mediocre at best.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
One thing about sacks is with some rushers they DO tend to come in bunches. Kind of like some streaky hitters in baseball. Just the way it is.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Kid’s name is Flacco. Moving up the board. 6-6 230lbs and has a rocket arm.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
Most all DE’s get them in bunches very few were dominant enough to be consistent like LT, Deacon, Reggie, and Gholston is not in their league but he may be every bit the player that Strahan is, in that next level down. And IMO hat is well worth it.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
BHP: We can argue all day and it doesn’t matter. We might as well agree to disagree.
We’ll see what happens.
IMO I see DMac & Bush sharing the same backfield. The difference with DMac is he’ll carry the ball 15 times and probably average more than 5 yards per carry. Something a Metcalf couldn’t do (I was 9 so didn’t know about Johnson) consistently w/o getting hurt. In addition he’ll avg probably 5 or 6 receptions each game too.
It’s nice knowing the draft is very close and we can stop arguing and start rooting for whomever we pick.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Rick The Hunter Says:
April 11th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
It doesnt matter who we take because the media and so-called football experts who most of them, never played the sport will find some reason to criticize the Raiders anyway.
…………
I know. And how dare they? It’s not like we’re 19-61 in the last 5 years…
The reason why the press rips our draft picks is because they usually suck.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Derrick Burgess – 2005 – 16 Sacks
WEEK OPP RESULT TOT SOLO AST SACK STF STFY FF BK INT YDS AVG LNG TD PD
Week 1 @NE L 30-20
Week 2 KC L 23-17 1 Sack
Week 3 @PHI L 23-20
Week 4 DAL W 19-13 2 Sacks
Week 5 Bye
Week 6 SD L 27-14 2 Sacks
Week 7 BUF W 38-17 2 Sacks
Week 8 @TEN W 34-25
Week 9 @KC L 27-23
Week 10 DEN L 31-17 1 Forced Fumble
Week 11 @WAS W 16-13 2 Sacks
Week 12 MIA L 33-21 2 Sacks
Week 13 @SD L 34-10
Week 14 @NYJ L 26-10 2 Sacks
Week 15 CLE L 9-7 1 Sack
Week 16 @DEN L 22-3 1 Sack
Week 17 NYG L 30-21 1 Sack 1 Forced Fumble
6 Games – 0 Sacks
4 Games – 1 Sack
6 Games – 2 Sacks
DSM Raider – Burgess had 6 games with no sacks and hes a big time talent. This was during a season in which he recorded 16 sacks. Is he not a good enough player either considering he had 6 games with 0 sacks and 6 games with 2 sacks as that shows he got his sacks in bulk.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Oakglenn, time to play.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
I do realize DE’s get their sacks in bunches, but you also have to consider the level of talent a stud DE is playing against.
Honestly IMO he should be getting two or three sacks against Youngstown State, Akron, Washington, & Kent State. To only have one against those 4 teams is pretty bad.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
1. Darren McFadden Arkansas 6-1 1/4 211 4.33
4. Felix Jones Arkansas 5-10 1/8 207 4.47
Jones isn’t that much smaller than McFadden. In fact, he is shorter and almost weighs the same which tells me he has more muscle mass for his body.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Huff24- You fail to realize I’m talking about a college player against far inferior players compared to the NFL.
Studs in college should be racking up the big #’s to be worthy of a top 5 pick.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
K-Rock, I have Atlanta trying to get Joe Flacco at the top of the 2nd round, and Matt Ryan going to the Jets if Atl passes on him 3rd overall. Flacco is a really interesting guy in that he is a physical specimen, but played at Delaware, a Div 1aa school, (some of you know how I feel about Div 1aa) so his competition level is suspect. Of course another notable QB that came out of Delaware was this guy Rich Gannon. I think he finished his career with the Oakland Raiders if my memory serves me right.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
I can’t remember the players name and maybe someone can help me but he played with Jim Brown and was one of the first scatbacks that I ever saw, he was eventually traded to Washington Radskins.
I just remembered his name was Bobby Mitchell.
That’s who Chris Johnson reminds of he runs JUST like him and has that ‘how did you get over there so fast’ speed.
Bobby Mitchell that’s Chris Johnson
April 11th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
im pretty sure almedia insider has no idea what he talking about
April 11th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Who do you think was drawing the double teams against those guys.
It would be easy to say he should have all these great numbers in a 1-on-1 deal. Problem is, most teams can double a kid like Long. Virginia didn’t have anyone else.
In the pros…diferent story.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
BHP: So you would rather have a Bobby Mitchell than a Robert Smith?
That’s looney to me.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
DSM, you bring up a good point in #122, in that the college game is a different game than the pro game. In fact much different. Hence why some people evaluate talent as to what the guy did in college versus what they should be looking at, which is can his game translate to the pro game.
Jake Long, yes. Chris Long, yes. Glenn Dorsey, yes. Sedrick Ellis, yes. Everyone else, maybe.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
Michael Bush with Chris Johnson or Jamaal Charles would be pretty fun to watch, and we can still get a great player at #4.
With our current roster we might take a RB this year but odds are we won’t.
Back to the trenches if you want to win in the post-season.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
Also, don’t forget about Brohm.
Another guy that is interesting to me is Ainge out of Tenn. I think he is a sleeper at QB.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
BHP, I was thinking Marion Motley, but Motley was a big back.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
D@mn! I wen’t away for a minute and missed the explosion of posts. DSM, I like the stats on Gholston’s sack but two things; who was on the other side helping out and 2) what about run support. Isn’t that important too. I gotta tell you, the Raiders I remember intimidated people and I think the kid is out of that mold.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
# Oakglenn Says:
April 11th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
“(some of you know how I feel about Div 1aa) so his competition level is suspect”
……….
Listen to Mr. High and Mighty bashing D1-AA… Don’t think the athletic directors at 1-AA schools could take an NFL franchise to 19-61 in their first 5 years? I’ll bet most of the poly sci professors could.
“Of course another notable QB that came out of Delaware was this guy Rich Gannon. I think he finished his career with the Oakland Raiders if my memory serves me right.”
……
Don’t mention Rich Gannon without giving Jon Gruden his respect. Gannon never would have come to this Al Davis three ring circus without Gruden. Never in his life. Gannon used to make fun of the Raiders before Gruden was here. Something about how he used to come into Oakland with the Chiefs and “annihilate” us? You’ve seen the NFL films segment, I’m sure.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
DM-auburn;17 rushes-43yds;flordia inter.-19 rushes-61 yds;miss. st.-28 rushes-88yds;mississippi-22rushes-110yds.F.Jones:auburn-6rushes-42yds;flor. int.-17 rushes-89yds.miss. st-dnp;mississippi-15rushes-101yds.I could go on,but hopefully you get the point.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
BHP: Disregard the Looney comment, I was thinking of another Mitchell WR/KR for the Redskins in the ’80’s or ’90’s. Could be incorrect with the name.
Funny thing about this Mitchell guy though:
“Mitchell was blessed with three natural talents — exceptional speed, uncanny faking ability and balance — that were to vault him into pro football stardom. Yet in spite of these obvious abilities, the 6-0, 195-pounder was not drafted until the seventh round in 195B. Somehow, the word had gotten around that Mitchell suffered from “a bad case of fumble-itis”.
When I consider his size, there’s really not much difference in comparing him to DMac in terms of purely size considering this is 50 years later and expected increase in players size throughout the years.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Ok then Ohio,..but hey man Im a little flipped out on Norcos and wine,…but I do attend all home games and go to an away game a year, SD not included as we hot that one yearly,…did Miami last year,..Saints this year,..but hey, you in Ohio?…sucks for you if so…in my opinion draft anyone but McFadden,..he will be a major bust,..and an expensive one,…I would take Fargas over him all day long,..Bush is there also, ready,…why even take a chance on dmac,..dont need him,..he sucks anyway…so does living in Ohio.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
Ainge’ 2007 Stats
Att. Com. % Yrds TD INT Rating Rushing Stats
2007 519 325 62.6 3,522 31 10 135.5 16 -32 -2.0 0
Game by game lowest QB rating was 103.3
April 11th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Alameda…what prediction…are you going to get wrong…this time????
Quit the norcos too, dude. I’m afraid you’re going to OD right here on this blog.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
PhillyRaider- I can’t find the stats, but every analyst talks about his inability to get off the block to stop the run.
In this is against the Big Ten for crying out loud.
When he played Akron, Kent State, & Youngstown state and only managed one sack, I repeat ONE SACK that’s pretty bad.
Consider the mere fact that every player Ohio State lined up against they were better.
That simple fact even if he’s getting double teamed he should be producing at least one sack a game.
Consistency is huge and if he can’t do in college who is to say he’ll do it in the NFL consistently?
April 11th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Alameda Insider…
I’m going to the Saints game as well this year. Only a six hour drive from home.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
You guys remember I told you this, the guys on NFLN breaking down the draft said that sacks come off the edge, hence Chris Long or Gholston. Definitely. Can’t argue there. The point I make is smart teams, really smart teams, GET PUSH UP THE MIDDLE. You can’t let a Brady or a Manning stand there for 3 seconds and fire. They’ll pick you to pieces. If you can get an inside push, they have to move toward your ends, AND they get out of their comfort level of standing there. Those guys are not nearly as good on the run or with huge mits in their grills. THAT is going to be the new modern style of defense. A strong Push up the gut!!!
April 11th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
Gotta go guys. Take care.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
the BS you’re spewing goes for everyone,not just the players you don’t like,DSM
April 11th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
Oakglenn, you take the guys at NFLN seriously?
Was it the NFL network where Rod Woodson said that no matter what defensive players the Raiders get, they’re still going to lose with their awful scheme? Could have been ESPN, then again. But it was Rod Woodson…
April 11th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
Hi Repo,..my old buddy with the record for most nicks going,..I like this current one of yours though,..good movie with Estevez…my prediction is that we will fail to trade the pick,..and draft Gholston,…as far as my sad addiction to Norcos,..well, I have decided to never stop…the world we live in is a rotten place and they help me get through the day,..and the beer and wine go well with them.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
With those measurments Felix’s biuld is more conducive for a HB.
Not to make excuses for Gholston but if those teams rolled there protection at him that would be the answer. All I know is when I watched film of him he has great leverage and power and very good pass rush moves. I felt he was a top 15 pick before I really started to study him and when I did study him it confirmed my opinion.
Doesn’t mean a thing if he doesn’t play hungry because much of rushing the passer as is true with defense period is desire. How bad do you want to be great at it. Now if you want it bad enough with his talent and skill level he could be flat out scary…………….period. Same is true for C Lng and WE all should know he has the desire if anyone does C Long does. That’s 80% of the battle with young talented players.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
Rod Woodson…so negative. I’ve gotta tell ya, I hope that studio is the only place where Rod Woodson is so negative. I hope he just leaves it all in there. Because if he’s that negative everywhere he goes, people will just tune him out, man…
April 11th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
Actually K-Rock, then Ainge came in the Senior Bowl and just wowed everyone. He’s gonna go by the 4th round and make some team happy.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
Insider, glad to see Mr. positive, who’s always riding people in here for being negative, has such a bright outlook on the world. We shouldn’t point out how bad Al Davis is ruining this team, but we should pop norcos and drink all day, and curse the planet and all of it’s people. Just stop being so negative when it comes to the Raiders!
April 11th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
btw,i forgot that powerhouse chattanuga-DM-25rushes-122yds:F.Jones-13rushes-141yds.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Oakglenn, you know you’re going to bite at some point. So get it over with and jump in.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Here that? It’s Oak’s blood pressure steadily rising. He’s about to snap…I know our Oaky Glenn…
April 11th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
You gotta understand those Ohio State games against Akron, Youngstown State and Kent State are all the State of Ohio Super Bowl Games. Kids that go to those other schools are all the high school teammates, relatives and friends of the OSU kids and they’re unGodly miffed they got passed up by State, so they bring their A+ game. I’m not making excuses, it’s just the fact. Sometimes you go a little harder against your little brothers team.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
Oak, did your mom wash your mouth out with soap? Haven’t heard the “bitch ass woman” jab, yet. You were on a role yesterday, man.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
.PRIEST.
Your boy Ghoslton is skinny and light for a solid Bookend…YOU want thhis better suited for 3-4 hybird DE/OLB who was a work-out wonder (looks the part) and thats why people ask why he didnt dominate all year.????
McFadden has even more upside and you cant pass on him, you know AL will taje him dreaming of him running away for long memorable tds in vintage BO, Marcus Allen style.
Our BIGGEST need IS Run Defense so pick DORSEY but the best player is C.Long. but we on Senior Bowl we coached ELLIS..I say if its Als choice its McFAdeen, Think of post A.D, he will have left JMrcus Russel and McFadden, some of the best offensive firepower in back to back years with a solid set of new stars on defense and some hope to ‘just win baby’. We can have a new generation of young Raider fans grow up and share some succees in the playoffs. More Jersey sales hell you might see McFADDEN on MADDEN “12, GAME CALLED the APOCALYPSE
April 11th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
This repo guy is a loser right???
April 11th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
Erik Ainge reminds me of Derek Anderson, same built and similar styles.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
No, 3 trophies, that would be Al Davis you’re looking for. I’m sure I could manage an NFL team to more than 19 wins in a 5 year span.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
Madden,…I will probabaly not watch the news anymore,..I watched the local news last night here in Sacramento,..top three stories were all of killings,…the news is always so bad,..I know this doesnt matter to you but all three killings were done by black dudes,..no surprize,…those people are hard wired for stealing and violence and rape,..if you think thats a racist remark you are wrong,..its simply the truth….and Madden theres nothing to be negative about the Raiders these days,..a great off season so far,..Davis is doing a great job.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
Lefty, can’t say I’m the biggest Dmac fan out there and his interview did nothing to dispel that. Yeah, trophies, this guy is the dumbest loser on the blog. Everyone ignores him.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
Good angle, Alameda. Trying to bait me with the race thing, and all. But I’m not biting, tonight. I’m the one doing the fishing, and I’ve got my worm right next to Oakglenn’s mouth. I see a nibble coming any second…
April 11th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Game. YES!!
April 11th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
Bob, I like Ainge a lot. I like ryan, Flacco, Henne and of course my guy Josh Johnson. I just don’t like any of them nearly as much as Jam.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Local news just started tonight,..guess what,..a lady was murdered, with a hammer,…and guess who killed her?…thats right,..black dude,…del paso heights…sacramento…shocking news huh?…more Norcos please.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Ah, got the nibble! There’s our Oakglenn. I knew it would only be a matter of time.
So Oaklenn, why does someone who’s so high on Al Davis, one of the worst GM’s in all of sports today, if not the worst, have the nerve to insult the Division 1 AA level? As if the athletic directors there can’t manage an NFL team better than Al Davis… Most of the frogs in the science lab could.
Also Oak, you’re quoting the NFL network now on football opinions. So then, how’s about espousing on Rod Woodson’s comment about our defense? You ‘member…Rod said that no matter who we get on defense, we’ll still suck, because our scheme is still straight out of the AFL days.
What’s your take on that?
April 11th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
yer honor, i move we strike comment 159 from the record…
April 11th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
the thing that gets me is all these DM lovers always knock the other players we might pick,while they ignore all DMs flaws.they also ignore the team needs, needs we have to have to get better.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
hey Repo Man – YOUR remarks at DAVIS, show how much you know about what’s negative!. There’s a lot of people in here that hardly know a damn thing about running a pro NFL football team or how to even evaluate talent- the complainers the critics and haters always are the ones talking.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Maddem,..what you call racism I call me watching the local news,..hey bro you can go through life with your blinders on,..you know its the facts…just watch the news,..read the paper…you just dont want to admit the truth because it disturbs you, as well it should.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
No, let him talk, Florida Pete. There’s certainly a racist element in the Raiders headquarters. Some pretty hard core right wingers not too happy with the city of Oakland, and their go to comeback is usually shots at blacks, being that most of Oakland’s city assembly is black. Let Alameda show his true colors. He only talks this way because he knows that behind closed doors, as long as there’s no black employees around, it’s accepted at Raiders headquarters. Al Davis was an admirer of Hitler. Enough said.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
#159
must hate Al DAVIS TOO then, and ME….ignorant PUNK
April 11th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
Oakglenn
Yeah, I can´t say about Flacco or Johnson, never seen them play, but I did watch a couple of Ainge games the last couple fo years, he´s just inconsistent sometimes but there´s a place for him in the Pros.
Watched Henne a few times too but not so sure about him, can´t quite get a feel for him as a Pro.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
Eric, most 10 year old girls could inherit an NFL team today, and do better than 19-61 in 5 years.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
Lefty you bring up the best point. People say you take best player available, yet you have the lst, 2nd and 3rd, and 5-10 teams all drafting for need. We’re the only one not drafting for need. Great.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Eric, despite our disagreements on Al Davis, I’m feeling ya on the race thing. F’k Alameda Insider. This isn’t the first time he’s gone on these rants. He’s doing it just to bait me, but he’s going way too far and alienating even the few people that like him. I’ll let him hang himself with his own rope. Maybe I shouldn’t say that, though. He is on norcos and could take it as advice…
April 11th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
I don’t ignore other players or flaws DMac has.
I’ll rightfully say in a man blocking scheme he’d end up a bust unless he was playing behind Minnesota’s O line with Hutchinson & Co.
I think he’s a system player that will play exceptionally in our system more so than other backs.
If we were drafting 1st I’d be all over Chris Long. I doubt we’ll get him though.
C Long is the only surefire player IMO. Every other player in the top 10 has possible bust written all over them. Besides C Long I do see Jake Long excelling as a RT not a LT and that’s not worth a top 5.
What’s wrong with showing the other players flaws?
And by the way Oakglenn, considering your talk of Montana wanting to play for the Raiders was completely fabricated you should watch your tone dude on who you who you are calling a loser.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Goodnight my friends,…have a great weekend,..I wont watch the news anymore,…it will only get worse,…hey maybe when Barrack Osama is the prez he will make murder legal?…
April 11th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Oh this Repo guy is the insane guy who tries to ruin everything. I read about him. he’s kind of ignorant and a bronco fan.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
exlaraiderseasonticketholder/Dakota
SCOREBOARD
PACIFIC CHAMPS
April 11th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
3 trophies, funny how you could be more concerned with my Al bashing than an open racist spewing his views in here. Shows where your heart’s at.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
I’m the same way about Henne. I just don’t quite like him. flacco is really raw, Ainge’s stock is going up big time. Of course I just rave about Josh Johnson. He’s gone from 7th round to 3rd round.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
And, obviously Bush was the one that made murder legal. Ask any civilian Iraqi family that was “shocked and awed”, or anyone living in the 9th ward of N.O. in the fall of ‘95.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
“fall of ‘05″, as opposed to “‘95″
April 11th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
exactly Oak.Flaco is rising fast,why don’t we take him?Ryan is the top rated QB,why don’t we take him?because we don’t NEED them.we do need C.Long,Dorsey,Gholston,or Ellis.we should take one of them-and i really don’t give a damn which one.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Good Stuff like always Nation!
Im out til tomorrow – Have a Goodone
As Greg Papa would say….
TouchDown RRRAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIDDDDDEEEEEERRRRRRSSSS!!!!!!
April 11th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Strange how when that crazy stooge comes here racist language and bad people follow. I guess I understand now.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
Glad you finally came around to addressing the racism, 3 trophies. I know it was hard to pull away from defending Al for those long few seconds.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
Exactly Lefty!!!! Everyone drafts for needs, then we come up. Let’s draft Matt Ryan. That makes sense. Honestly I don’t think we are going to draft Dmac. Arguably the rookie of the year last in the NFL was not AP. It was Joe Thomas. Joe Thomas had the biggest effect on his teams wins and losses. So taking Jake Long, if he is there at 4 might be a possibility. but I am with you completely. chris long, Dorsey, Ellis, Gholston in that order for me.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
DSM Bobby Mitchell’s dimensions are almost identical to Chris Johnson’s, along with running styles I swear if you saw them run on a split screen you would swear they were the same guy. Even when they slow to a stop they do it the same.
Uncanny!! they’re almost identical
April 11th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
thanks jerry that was about as insightful as any interview our current commander and chief would give.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
if D.Dixon hadn’t tore up his knee and Oregon had played in the title game,all the mediots would be banging the drum for J.Stewart.he would have gotten big time exposure and would be better knowm.look at Mendenhal,his stock rose because of the Rose Bowl.most of the mediots never see west coast games,just like most fans living east of the Rockies don’t either.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
I Dress In Black-don’t insult Jerry like that!
April 11th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Repo guy has a bad vibe. he tries to fight with everyone and no one listens. Oakglen your right about Joe Thomas. That player is the rookie of the year in my book.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
Well, Oakglenn, you passed the test. I’m proud of you. This might be the first time you actually did ignore me, and thus followed your own advice for a change. I’ll try again tomorrow. It’ll only be a matter of time before you go back into Al defense mode. You’re so hot headed and feel so threatened by anyone who criticizes Al, that you’re bound to smoke that pipe again. Until then (and very soon), see ya.!
April 11th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
We have Dixon going in the 7th round. Maybe by Oakland.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
Funny thing about need:
Let’s see here-
Did Cleveland need Gerrard Warren or should’ve they drafted the best available player in LT, a small back coming out of TCU?
Do you think Al regrets taking Gallery over Fitzgerald, the best player available?
Cleveland finally played it smart and took Braylon Edwards the best player available in ‘05. Coincidence, not really considering Savage took the best player available while at Baltimore working with Ozzie.
Reggie showed he was worth it his rookie year but wasn’t used correctly last year. IMO he would be best in the zone blocking scheme like he ran at USC in a two RB backfield.
Do you think Detroit, Tampa, & Arizona regret not drafting Adrian Peterson? Please don’t try to compare Portis & Jamal Anderson (considering the money Cleveland paid him) to our situation with Fargas and an unknown (who I want to pair with DMac) in terms of health Michael Bush.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
3 trophies, I’m trying to fight with Oakglenn, without a doubt. And, don’t buy into his little high road act, tonight. He takes the bait 99 times out of 100. And, I’m well justified in baiting him. You don’t know how many times myself, and others, have come in here and just respectfully laid forth our criticisms of this team, only to have to listen to this jerk alienate us, insult us, and then in turn tattle to Jerry on us when we fight back. He gives as good as he takes. And, for once, he’s taking as good as he gives. I’m very proud of our little boy for not taking the bait tonight. But as Hugh Hefner says, “the night is young”. Maybe at around 12 or 1, I’ll bring out the volatile Oakglenn. We’ll see.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
If Houston had Reggie Bush right now instead of Mario Williams, I bet their offense would awesome.
Houston uses the zone blocking scheme and they would be loving his skills.
Had Reggie went to Houston there would be no talk of a bust because the system fits.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
another thing about DM-i’m tired of hearing about the tough competition he had to play against.the hogs played 13 games.of those 13 the played-Troy,Kent,No.Texas,chattanuga,Mississippi,Flor. international,and mighty Miss.St.that’s hardly what one would call a killer schedule.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
Repo Man- I don’t know if you remember or not, but Oakglenn has come into this blog and spewed this total garbage about how he talked to Joe Montana and he said he wanted to come to the Raiders but the Chiefs outbid them so went to KC. He says Joe is always at this church on Sundays somewhere in the area of Oakland/SF (I’m not from around there so I can’t pinpoint the community).
April 11th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
whoever you are you have a bad weird vibe.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
In the last three years DMAC has led the Nation in FUMBLES…
April 11th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
DSM, Joe Montana said that on the Joe Montana Show on KFOG when he played for the 49ers. I listened to the show and he said it.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
OakGlenn
Good job on the draft analysis and others non comments.
Read all the posts, good job as always, I can’t wait until the draft is over.
I still say trade down, and don’t go below 10 and find someone who will be a partner, we need more picks.
One can hope, night all.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
i don’t want to get involved in your personal fueds,but Oak never said Montana said he WANTED to come to the Raiders.he said Montana said he was coming to the Raiders.i believe there is a difference in those two statements.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
That’s 23 fumbles against college teams, whats going to happen in the NFL…
April 11th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
Lefty 12- How about these schools for competition. They are much rougher than Ohio State or Michigan had to play.
These are DMac’s stats against quality SEC competition. Notice the biggest stats came against the national champions:
Alabama- 33 attempts for 195 yards, 2 TD’s
Kentucky- 29 for 174 yards, 1 TD
Auburn- 17 for 53 yards,
South Carolina- 34 for 326 yards, 1 TD and a passing TD
Tennessee- 22 for 118 yards
LSU- 32 for 211 yards, 3 TD’s and a passing TD
April 11th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
Yeah, that’s what Montana said. He was being traded to the Raiders. That was long ago, but I remember him saying it on the Joe Montana show. He was beign traded. DSM, you should watch that repo guy. he’s definitely a loser.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
when you compare how he did in non-conf. games compared to conf. games it shows one thing-the conf. just might be over rated.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
Anyway, I’m outta here.
I’ll keep saying it, Chris Long is the man in this draft. He’s the only prospect I think has a guarantee to him.
DMac, Dorsey, Ellis, J Long, all have possible bust written all over them.
I say best available player with DMac because IMO that’s the best draft strategy and I’ve seen it used in Pittsburgh to great sucess. Baltimore & Cleveland also use this strategy and it obviously works.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
Casper that’s my BIGGEST issue with DMC, fumbles you can’t have a star player who puts the ball on the ground. I’m not just making a point on this blog.
That’s a HUGE problem and I really feel it’s going to cause him to fall 4/26/08 on draft day. You just watch.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
oh,that’s right the station you all take as gospel-ESPN-tells us the SEC is so superior to other conf.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
Of course Mike Lombarbi has Brandon Albert going to the Patriots at #7 and the pick makes perfect sense. That’s why the Patriots are perennial winners, they stack the “O” and “D” lines because they know the war is won in the trenches. The Giants proved the Patriots very good “O” line was not Superbowl perfect so the Patriots will make it so. If only AD could get a clue.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
I don’t know what Montana said but I know what is true. And it’s very true that he was very close to being a Raider ‘VERY CLOSE’.
Before we got Jeff Hostetler we almost had Montana. What happened I don’t know but it was serious.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
Baltimore?they took Boller because they NEEDED a qb.the took the DT(from oregon)because RayRay said if they didn’t improve there def. front he was leaving.Pitt. is usually in contention and can afford to take the best player available.plus they usually draft in the mid to lower 20s.what the hell has Cleveland ever won.they took Thomas because they NEEDED a left tackle.they traded up to take Quinn because they thought they NEEDED a qb.get your facts straight!
April 11th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
“If only AD could get a clue”?. What’s that mean??
how in the hell do you think he biult the teams in the past?? maybe the one that needs a clue is you
April 11th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Yeah, priest 3 trophies, I’m glad you guys know about that. Moron thinks I make sh** up. Like he does. Thanks Lefty and Dell. I appreciate it.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Kids are out again tonight bashing Al- please just root for another team!! You obviously weren’t raised correctly or have rebel against daddy issues?….My daddy wasn’t around so now I hate AL Davis,,,cause I wish I could grow a pair and talk to his or face, or anybody else for that matter.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
Every year one guy tumbles hard in the draft. Last year, Brady Quinn. The year before, Leinert was it? The year before, Aaron rogers. This year who is the guy who is going to tumble?????? Is it Dmac?????
April 11th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
mcfadden definitely will fall…to us at #4
April 11th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
REPO man I like your bold arrogance but I think you just revealed how old you are?
Ten your old girls can do what? what repo? call and set up meetings interview coaches -pay salaries?
then dumb fans can say I co do it better? you must be ten years old living in a fantasy world
April 11th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
Looks like DSM just hit the not credible list.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
Eric, No matter what the typical 10 year old girl does, she probably winds up winning more than 19 games in 5 years. Yes, I put the typical 10 year old girl up against Al Davis in modern day NFL x’s and o’s. Davis knowns nothing about the modern day NFL, so how much worse can a 10 year old girl be?
April 11th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
Eric, I’ll continue to bash Al and continue to root for the Raiders, thank you. Why do you think I’m bashing Al? Wanting the Raiders to win and calling for Al Davis’s retirement are synonymous with each other, because one will not happen without the other. Gruden was Al’s last chance. Now nobody will coach here (not even Kiffin, evidently), unless Al is flat out retired and it’s written in stone. Let me know when the Raiders hit their 8th win in a season with Al Davis still involved football operations.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
Personally tommy, I don’t think he’s gonna fall, or not fall far. But, hey, Quinn, and Leinert fell pretty good.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
Oakglenn, finally coming out from under your rock? I knew I’d get you, huckleberry. So, did you answer my question about Rod Woodson? You quoted some NFLN heads regarding x’s and o’s. So, how’s about what Woodson said on the NFLN? He said the Raiders defense can sign Superman and Godzilla, and it won’t help as long as we’re using Al’s archaic scheme. Comments?
April 11th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
btw DSm-per post 207-Arkansas lost 4 of those 6 games.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
Anyone that’s drafts a player and doesn’t consider his teams needs is a freakin’ idiot. Now there are levels of need vs talent available. But if you draft a guy because he is what someone deems the best player and you have no need for him. You are NUTS!!
And I know what you think you mean DSM but everyone drafts for need, EVERYONE.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
Lefty, how do you remember Oakglenn’s Joe Montana comments so well? Oakglenn, are we posting under different names, now? I see you’re done trying to ignore me. Are you back to your plan b strategy of posting under multiple names, pretending to be a group of people when you know it’s just your lonely ass, again?
April 11th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
this bad vibe guy is the same guy as DSM right??? He only talks to himself so he must be him. I’m out of here, he has a bad vibe.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
Repo,i told you i don’t want to get involved,but i do remember.some of us do have decent memories.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
yeh, 3 trophies, there’s only one Al Davis critic on the planet, and he takes on the life forms of not only Repo Man and DSM, but millions of others as well, including Marcus Allen, Jon Gruden, and Lane Kiffin; Moron.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
Priest, you can draft BPA, but only after you have a winning program. As a matter of fact, it is a smart philosophy on how to improve a winning program. But with losing programs its flat out crazy.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
Lefty, if you don’t want to get involved, then leave your punk azz out of it.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Thank you Lefty. 200 people have come forward and told this Moron I am NOT them. He is unbelievably ignorant and out of his poor pathetic mind, we all know it.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Believe me, there’s a method to our madness in going after Oakglenn. This guy is the nastiest person here when he so much as gets a feeling someone is dissing Al Davis, then he cries to the mods whenever people defend themselves against him. That’s why Jerry Mac’s mods don’t take his complaints seriously, anymore. Remember when Oakglenn said he was getting rid of the Davis critics, for good? What happened to that, Oaky? Could it be that the mods saw your IP behind more than half of the vile posts here, and figured out that you’re a fraud, and thus stopped taking you seriously? Sorry azz punk.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:32 pm
Oak, quit talking to yourself, and answer my question about Rod Woodson.
R. Woodson is one of your Davis haters. Have you written him? He says Davis’s defense is a joke. He said it on the NFLN. What’s your response?
April 11th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
actually repo dude,i was replying to DSM,not you.but then YOU asked me a question so i was answering you.there are many sorry azz punks around here.if i happen to be one so be it,thanks for welcoming me to your club.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
Oak even when teams draft BPA’s it’s for what that player can add to that team to help them when. Not drafting for need and drafting BPA is two diffeent things IMO. BPA could be the very thing your team NEEDS.
What I’m aying is if you draft a player you have NO need for you are crazy.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
Repo guy is creepy.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
Whatever Lefty. My same response applies. If you don’t want to get involved, then get out of the muck and onto the high road. Because right now, you’re involved. Daddy shoulda taught you better. Mind your own. But now you’re in here getting this punk Oakglenn’s back, and you’re going to get clowned, too.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
Silver and Black guy is cowardly.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
Example: the Raiders drafted Russell first overall right? would they be stupid enough to trade up to get Brady Quinn because ghe dropped so low?? hell no!
Well Brady Quinn at some point became the best player available if he had fell to them when the next pick came up they still would be crazy to put another chunk of money into another QB, even if he were the BPA.
Everyone drafts for need……….period
April 11th, 2008 at 11:41 pm
Oakglenn Says:
April 11th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Thank you Lefty. 200 people have come forward
………
Come forward? This is an anonymous comment section, retard. Not one person has come forward. For all we know, all of these clowns trying to get your back could easily be you, giving us the impression you’re more than one kool aid drinking Davis shill.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
Here’s an interesting article from RF365:
Raiders’ Davis outsmarting the salary cap?
Friday, April 11, 2008 | Posted by Joe Mayes
The buzz among NFL fans this off-season is that Al Davis has finally snapped. The Godfather is no longer running the show; he’s now just running around the garden with an orange in his mouth. He’s throwing money around like a sailor on shore leave with no thought of tomorrow. The once-proud franchise is in the hands of a senile old grandfather who appears committed to leaving his fortune to his 87 cats. The consensus is that that crazy Uncle Al has finally gone off the deep end.
In the immortal words of Lee Corso, not so fast, my friends.
Long-time Raider fans have watched Davis do some odd things in the past. Some have worked, others have not (see: Moss, Randall Gene). But with just 19 total wins over the past five seasons, something dramatic had to happen in order to awaken the moribund Raiders franchise from its collective malaise.
Last fall, Davis sold 20% of his ownership share in the Raiders. Of course, no actual ownership control was transferred so the net effect of this sale is that cash was freed up for Davis to take some drastic steps during this off-season.
And that he’s done.
The thing about Davis is that he’s always kept his own counsel, abetted by a very tight circle of advisors. The vision has always been his; the details are the only thing on which he seeks advice.
So when Davis signed Tommy Kelly to a seven-year, $52.5 million contract on the eve of free-agency, it merely marked the opening salvo in a battle to extricate the Raiders from the mire in which they’ve been stuck since their 2002 Super Bowl appearance.
Of course we all know what’s happened. Javon Walker signed for six years and $55 million. Davis signed Gibril Wilson for six years and $39 million. He traded this year’s second-round and 2009’s fifth-round picks to Atlanta for the privilege of signing DeAngelo Hall to a seven-year, $70-ish million deal. He signed Kwame Harris for three years and $14 million and locked down Nnamdi Asomugha by slapping the franchise tag on him, meaning he’ll get about $9.5 million in 2008 before going after the real money next year.
With the dust beginning to settle, the Raiders look to have approximately $137 million locked up in contracts for 2008, about $16 million over their adjusted salary cap of $121 million. While according to the collective bargaining agreement currently in place the NFL can take action against a team for exceeding the cap, until the beginning of the season only the salaries of the top 51 players plus bonuses (but not salaries) of the other players (up to 80) count against the cap. At this point, it’s not clear to me exactly where the Raiders stand against the adjusted cap of $121 million.
But you can bet Davis knows, down to the penny.
And before you panic about Davis selling out the future for the possibility of success in ’08 and ’09, keep in mind two things. First, most of the contracts mentioned above include only a portion of the money guaranteed in 2008 and 2009. That means Oakland can dump players — and contracts — following the 2009 season.
The current CBA allows either the owners or players to opt out beginning in November 2008, a scenario which appears likely to happen. If it does, there will be no dramatic change to the cap rules (other than an anticipated $7 increase next year) in 2008 and 2009. And assuming ownership opts out of the current CBA, there will be no cap in 2010.
Just in time for all the Raiders back-loaded contracts to kick in.
Sure this will cost the Raiders a lot of money but keep in mind the NFL well is not about to run dry. NFL revenues are more than $6 billion per year and while the league is carrying significant debt (Sports Business Journal estimates approximately $9 billion), a chunk of this money will continue to flow to the players. After the uncapped 2010 season, there’s no way to know what percentage of revenues will be committed to players but that gives the Raiders three seasons to determine if the recent signees are going to help return the team to glory. If not, most of the contracts can be dumped in time for whatever new agreement is in place at the start of the 2011 season.
In other words, Davis played the situation perfectly by making it rain in Oakland.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:46 pm
if somebody says something about you that i know is wrong,i will tell them so also.i don’t personally know anyone here.but i do believe that untruths should be corrected,no matter who they are about.you have the right to say whatever you please but name calling isn’t necessary and is immature.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
Garbage, TT. Just by the last sentence, alone. “Davis played the situation perfectly”…by grossly overpaying underachievers?
What the heck is RF365, anyway? Is this a credible news agency? Does RF mean “Raider Fan”, by any chance? Nice try.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
That’s why he is “Big freaking Al”
Good job Tommy T.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:48 pm
“immature”?!?
What is this, Lefty, a formal dinner party? This is a football related comments section. Go to a board about antique decorations if you’re looking for maturity, and stop being such a wuss.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
“Big freaking Loser”, more like, BHP.
19-61 in the last 5 years, dude. That’s not “big”.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:50 pm
did i hit a cord?
April 11th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
And Lefty, ever addressed your life partner Oakglenn about his “immaturity”? In the past year, that goofball has written the book on immaturity, here. Get real, moron.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
i should have said”did i hit a cord,youngen”?
April 11th, 2008 at 11:53 pm
Yes, you did hit a chord, Lefty; The chord that makes me make make fun of you. Go ahead and keeping pulling. It’s your dignity.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:54 pm
there you go again-spoken like a true child.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:55 pm
“youngen”? Do you normally chat with “youngens” on the internet, Lefty?
April 11th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
no,i usually ignore you.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
Don’t get so upset, it’s as credible if nt more than the other crap that comes out and everyone gives credence to.
Damn good job Tommy T.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:58 pm
Lefty, do you honestly think you’re fooling me right now? Do you honestly think you’re convincing me that you’re doing anything other than defending your life partner Oakglenn and, to extent, Al Davis? Do you honestly think I’m buying for one second that you have a problem with “immaturity” on this board, when your boy toy Oakglenn is by far the most immature person here? Quit trying to bs a bs’er. I may be immature, Lefty. But I’ve also got a head on my shoulder, and I’m all over your agenda like flies on Al Davis’s rusted pompadour.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:59 pm
I will tell you why I would like to se DMac with us, and it aint about a bunch of draft mumbo jumbo. Me and Oakland go way back, I was born here in 1957, all the crap you guys are spewwing has been said before. Alot of intelligent spewwing, dont get me wrong. But all I can remember is when Bo Jackson was in the game you just could wait for him to get the ball cuz he could take it in at any time, remember, the Bo years to me were exciting because of him. And it looks like to me that we may get that chance again with Dmac, not that I think hes in Bo’s level, but the closest thing we gonna get.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:00 am
TT&Priest-i’m not so sure the owners will void or back out of the CBA.they’ll probably try to tweak it somehow and the players would be crazy not to try to get an agreement in place.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:06 am
BHP, TT’s article is from a Raider fan site! have you lost your mind? Yes, the mainstream press gets it wrong from time to time, but more often than not, the mainstream press is right. And, they’re right abou8t Lane Kiffin and you know it. He’s in his lame duck year. It’s beyond obvious at this point, with everything happening. If Al drafts McFadden, it would be all but set in stone. I wouldn’t be surprised if Kiffin pulled a John Fox and quit right there at the draft.
BHP, the same balloon head who punched that up at the Raider fansite probably also wrote a diatribe in the summer of ‘06 about how Art Shell was going to bring back the toughness.
He probably punched up a hyperbole jizz fest in ‘04 about how Norv Turner would turn things around.
He probably wrote a beauty after the Gruden trade about how the draft picks we got for him would keep us at the top of the AFC for years!!
Believe me, the mainstream press, for all of their faults, are not nearly as laughable as the clowns who write for these Raider fan sites. These guys are on drugs.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:06 am
TM-two things.even though Bo was exciting we never won anything with him.don’t get me wrong,i loved the guy.second,and more importantly,DM couldn’t have worn Bo’s jock.the two aren’t even close.as a matter of fact,i doubt we’ll ever see anyone who could be compared to BO.a truly once in a lifetime player.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:07 am
Did I say good job Tommy T.
Oh! OK, I said it already. Good job Tommy T.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:09 am
We’ll see what it bares this year. Damn good job Big Al. Yuda MAN!!
April 12th, 2008 at 12:13 am
if there’s an uncapped year, then salaries will skyrocket to unimaginable levels, so what will be the cap limit when the cap is reinstituted, the cap limit will have to jump significantly, the money spent will be relevant to each team’s revenue, thus the cowgirls and pats will dominate the market and the bengals and bills will have trouble, etc.etc. of course most of hat is still going on, but for that purpose, it’s important that we have revenue, not just that we win, which we should be able to do, but to be marketable as well, we need superstar players like russell and mcfadden to explode and join the league leaders in jersey sales, we need the piece of sh!t bandwagoners back so that the team can make ridiculous money, so we can join in he spending spree and not be forced to sell significant stock in order to fund the team, the team should generate enough revenue to help pay the salaries, team merchandise sales jumps or falls by 30-40% based on the team’s record, so to pay the players, and to win, we must win, and preferably do it with our superstars, or at least have superstars, because the cap limit will be through the roof and davis can only sell so much of the team before giving up control, which he won’t do, bottom line, something we already knew(but from a different perspective),,,we have to win
April 12th, 2008 at 12:14 am
the site is called real football 365, it’s a general NFL site, not a raiders site
April 12th, 2008 at 12:17 am
the thing that makes me laugh about AD spending the money for players is the same ones who complain that we’re over spending are probably the same ones who complain the A’s trade their players before they’re about to sign huge contracts.go figure.like it’s their money coming out of their pocket.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:18 am
through steroids, we will eventually see players like bo again, someday, perhaps a hundred years from now, maybe more, we(well, probably not us) will see most players in the NFL with freak athleticism, most players will resemble mario williams and vernon davis and shawne merriman and rey maualuga and vernon gholston, they will simply be unnatural, that is a reality we may someday face
April 12th, 2008 at 12:20 am
TT-if it gets to the point were there is no cap,the players will in all likelyhood never approve of a cap again.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:21 am
right now, in the current market, the salaries doled out by AD are above average for their positions in the current market, the problem is that the media is comparing their salaries to those of the pro bowlers and all pros who havn’t hit the market yet, as inflation in salaries continues and the cap begins to rise, by the time these long deals are half way through, their salaries will either be average or below it, take that into account when you evaluate the “spending spree”
April 12th, 2008 at 12:22 am
No doubt Lefty, Bo was just BO. I’ve never seen anyone like him before or after.
I mean we can put that crap to rest DMC’s a player to be sure, but he has limitations……….period
Who ever wrote the article it’s as well thought out as the fools who write the dribble on mainstream news or any other. Some of the crap they come up with is about as adolescent as it comes, Monte, Carl and your diaper wearing roadkill on his head, stinky Glenn Dickey.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:25 am
i agree.i’ve mentioned that before.what seems outragous now will be either the norm,or below market value within a couple of years.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:25 am
the cap must eventually be reset if it does end up going away in order to maintain order, with the current popularity of football and the billions of dollars already involved in it, it would be irresponsible to allow billionaires to freely throw money around and let one’s wallet dictate the title, it would be ridiculous and illegitimize the league, the cap must stay, bu it looks as though there may be an uncapped year, which is ridiculous to begin with
April 12th, 2008 at 12:28 am
bo is the reason mcfadden is only the 2nd best RB prospect to come out of the draft, and why it would be extremely difficult, if not impossible(naturally…of course that’s implying bo was natural)…bo was a freak
April 12th, 2008 at 12:31 am
Priest-Poole is the one who really bothers me.he works for the Trib.i understand those Chron hacks,but not Poole.i hear him on the Sacto. station(radio)quite a bit and he is one vengful individual.AD or someone in the org. must have really put him in his place at one time or another.although the last time i heard him he was easing off a bit.maybe he’s tired of being left out in the cold.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:33 am
Tommy not to worry the revenue streams this team has biult will more than carry the load. Those Raider image stores aren’t there for no reason can you imagine one in LONDON??.
The luxury suites TV revenue, NFLN on and on and on. All that needs to happen is the Raiders to go to and win a SB in the next 2 or 3 years and it wil literally go crazy. This team has gone global well ahead of the curve. Now that communities such as the one LMN live in, Scottish Raider and all around the world as the Navajo nation are growing s we speaks the only thing left is to WIN………..period.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:34 am
Just wishing, Lefty but good point. Hell I aint got much more time than Al has to get a couple of trophies
April 12th, 2008 at 12:35 am
get a grip TT.if DM was all you say he’d be a shoe-in to go #1.if he was all you say some wouldn’t have him as not even the best back in THIS draft.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:37 am
TM-i hear where you are coming from-i’m older than you.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:37 am
HEll, All my family is in New Mexico, and on the Rez. They hate the donkies, they are all Raider fans. When I go to the Rez all you see are Bo Jackson throwbacks walkin around town.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:40 am
When I go back to NM to visit family, all I hear is they want my season tix stubs, for they’re collection, and what is the blackhole like.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:43 am
i suppose if they don’t have Direct tvs season ticket they don’t get to see our games.probably force-fed Donkey games.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:43 am
We picked up I am Legend, my woman got tv fired up, so time to go watch the movie. Adios my fellow Raider fans.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:45 am
Thats exacly right lefty, they cant afford direct tv at least not the ones on the reservation. My other cousins have the directv package. Nite all
April 12th, 2008 at 12:45 am
Lefty I used to spend quite a bit of time with the media, guy’s like Mike Wagaman who has been on the NFLN lately. It’s an infectuous disease that’s goes around and they start to take upon themselves to so-call educate the poor Raider fans on the goings on in the Org. Because they can’t have their way. Mr. Davis gives them very little quarter. He spends no time with them and demands the adminstrators do their jbs rather than cower to the media and thy hate it.
So it has become quite adversarial to say the least. They want stories to do their jobs and it’s hard because they can’t go to practice hang out with the players and the like, as a result they make up stories. And when we don’t win they kick us while they can. Sort of a payback but it is what it is. He wants them to concentrate on the job instead of becoming media darlings.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:49 am
Good night guy’s
April 12th, 2008 at 12:53 am
priest-why is it that are practices are closed and the players aren’t made available to the media?don’t most teams set something up to at least semi appease these guys?it seems as if if something positive came out once and a while it couldn’t hurt.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:55 am
bhp, we only have stores in california and had to close two in the last year and a half because of the drop in sales since we’ve been losing, we have to win to seel and have to sell to win, but al sold and spent and right now we appear to be in a position to be successful this year, but do to the losing the last few years one of the highest grosing teams in NFL history has struggled to gain money to support the team, we we’rent even close to the cap last year, but that’s because we had less money to spend last year than we were allowed to spend under the cap, so we must win…but i’m not worried, because at worst we are 8-8 next year, we should be favored in 12 of our games on next year’s schedule, and only 1 game appears as though we are a mortal lock to lose, in a dream scenario we could win 12+ games, but 9 or 10 s very possible, and probably likely
April 12th, 2008 at 12:58 am
it’s not the raider way to appease anyone or to care what anyone, let alone the media, thinks…if they don’t like it, screw em’
April 12th, 2008 at 1:00 am
Here, Here! TT goodnite
April 12th, 2008 at 1:01 am
Did Jack Tatum care when he knocked the crap out of Sammy white……………NO
April 12th, 2008 at 1:01 am
TT,i think you’re being overly optimistic.i can’t see us being favored in 12 games next year.unless we start out on fire,when we go back east there is no way we’ll be favored.but i do like your optimism.
April 12th, 2008 at 1:01 am
peace
i’m out as well
April 12th, 2008 at 1:02 am
Did Al care when he move to LA………………NO
April 12th, 2008 at 1:03 am
the papers and odds may not favor us, but we are better than our opponents in 12 of our games next year, and 3 of the other four are winnable, so it’s safe to say we should be able to pull off 9, maybe 10 wins
April 12th, 2008 at 1:04 am
now….i’m out
April 12th, 2008 at 1:05 am
I’ve been gone an hour or so. Am I to understand that while I was gone, Trojan picked us to win 12 this year? Please tell me I’m not reading that right. Goodnight. Don’t bother responding….
April 12th, 2008 at 1:05 am
Tommy-i know that’s the Raider way.but it would be nice if they threw a bone every once in a while.even if it was just for the loyal fans.and we know how AD values loyality,right.
April 12th, 2008 at 1:06 am
nite all
April 12th, 2008 at 1:10 am
didn’t pick us to win 12, i picked us to win 9, but 12 isn’t out of the question, i just won’t hold hold my breath, but we’ll definitely be in the wild card mix this year
i think i’ll get some sleep now, have a good night
April 12th, 2008 at 1:12 am
Dolphins fullback Reagan Mauia got pinched for punching somebody hahahahahhaha poor Tuna
April 12th, 2008 at 1:14 am
good nite for real this time
April 12th, 2008 at 1:58 am
no matter who we choose, D-Mac or D-line, We will be succesful next year. I’m looking to a 6-10 season to a 9-7 season or in between. most likely we will be fighting for a wild card spot next year. =)
April 12th, 2008 at 2:03 am
forgot to place this in the previous commnent.
JUST LIKE THE WARRIORS, WE (RAIDER FANS) BELIEVE!!!!
April 12th, 2008 at 2:40 am
We could of won 6 games easy if it wasnt for all those close losses !
April 12th, 2008 at 3:06 am
If Kiffin can double the win from last year, it would be great.
Finish 8-8, and you can pretend to a wild card spot, like the Steelers when they won the superbowl.
I don’t we can win the superbowl this year, but close to the playoff would be so nice.
April 12th, 2008 at 3:21 am
Draft 1DL (Long, Dorsey, Gholston, Ellis in that order), 4OL (no idea, but i am sure cable have his own), 6DL (i like the DE L Johnston), 7WR (i like M Monk from Arkansas), 7QB (maybe K Wright)
Picks 6, 7, 7 are for the depth, pick 4 has to see the field even if not starter, at least every game,
pick 1 has to be the starter by the half of the season.
April 12th, 2008 at 5:31 am
He better check that donkey crap at the door as he checks into napa for training camp.
April 12th, 2008 at 5:54 am
I just got this 55 min ago… there are 309 responses already?!?!?!?!
Daiem!!!1
April 12th, 2008 at 5:57 am
Let’s put misinfrmation to rest regarding labor unrest.{Hey,thats a catchy tune]
FREE AGENCY: Currently, players who are unsigned and have finished at least four NFL seasons are free. In the 2010 market, players will be free if they are unsigned after at least their sixth NFL season. In other words, 2009 would have to be a player’s sixth season, and he would have to enter 2010 unsigned. Let’s use Cleveland wide receiver Braylon Edwards as an example. In his original rookie contract, signed in 2005, the final year is 2009, which would be his fifth NFL season. Ordinarily, he’d be a free-agent in 2010 — if the team didn’t sign him before then or place a franchise tag on him. But under the 2010 rules, he won’t be a free-agent.
MORE RESTRICTIONS VIA FRANCHISE AND TRANSITION TAGS: Each team now can use one franchise-player tag and one transition-player tag — which pay the tagged player, respectively, the average of the top five and top 10 salaries at his position. In 2010, the revised deal would allow each team the use of a second transition tag. If a team chose to use all its tags, it could stop its best three players from hitting the unrestricted free-agent market.
RESTRICTIONS FOR THE TOP EIGHT TEAMS IN FOOTBALL: If the uncapped year is reached, the teams with the best eight records in football in 2009 will be severely restricted from jumping into the pool. It’s still not precisely determined how the system would work, but let’s say the Patriots are one of the top eight and want to sign a free-agent to a five-year, $20-million contract. They’d have to lose their own player or players to contracts totaling $20 million before they could sign the free-agent they want. Conceptually, that’s how this clause in the deal is going to work, but the exact mechanics of it are not clear yet. The purpose is very clear: The best teams are going to have tight leashes in free agency. And I can tell you from talking to a few traditionally good teams at the league meetings last week, they’re not happy about it.
All told, teams would be able to protect more players with tags, and would have fewer free agents because of the six-year rule, and the best eight teams would be playing with one hand tied behind their back. This is a good system for the players?
Five of the eight richest players in free agency this year would not have been unrestricted free-agents in an uncapped system requiring six years of service. Defensive lineman Tommy Kelly (Raiders) had four years of service and would have been restricted, as would five-year vets Jeff Faine (Bucs), Lance Briggs (Bears), Calvin Pace (Jets) and Asante Samuel (Eagles).
While I dont care for him the rest of this article could be found at Sports Ill peter king arcives.
April 12th, 2008 at 7:53 am
thanks uoatitw, good information
April 12th, 2008 at 8:20 am
water payton… hehhehe..
http://www.stuttgartdailyleader.com/articles/2008/04/10/sports/spts01.txt
April 12th, 2008 at 8:28 am
i don’t agree with everything in this article, but it’s not bad:
Paint It Black by Alex Chavez
Saturday, April 12 2008 @ 06:48 AM CDT
Contributed by: Ore
How Good Is Justin Fargas?
Things we can agree on: Fargas is fast. He came out of nowhere last year to have a productive season, rushing for 1009 yards on 222 carries while starting 7 games. Fargas runs hard, doesn’t avoid contact, keeps to himself, and seems like a great teammate. He waited patiently until he received his chance, then made the most of it. We can also agree that dating back to college, Fargas has rarely gone an entire season without missing games due to injury. That said, if Fargas stays healthy next year, he can have another productive season in Oakland’s one-cut running scheme.
What we may not agree on: Fargas is an average running back. We can break this down two ways – through stats, or through observation. Let’s begin with the numbers. Fargas started each game between weeks 10 and 15. He had zero rushes over 30 yards. These were his yards-per-rush averages: 3.5, 2.7, 6.3, 4.4, 3.8, and 3.4. We lost four of those games, with three of them (vs Bears, at Vikings, vs Colts) being non-blowouts. During that stretch, Fargas had a 4+ yards-per-carry average only against the Broncos and the Chiefs. Denver ranked 30th against the run last season, the Chiefs 28th. Fargas also had that monster game early in the season against the Dolphins, who ranked 32nd (dead last) against the run. He averaged 4.1 yards per carry as a starter, and 3.9 during December. His longest reception was for 17 yards.
So the numbers say that Fargas got fat against some very bad run defenses. Now that’s not his fault, he did what he should have done against them. But other than decent games against the Titans and Texans, Fargas didn’t accomplish much that would be described as overly impressive. We know the system takes average backs and helps them produce above-average numbers, so consider that when addressing Fargas’ stats last season. We saw Lamont Jordan break 100 yards on a few occasions. We could even say we were more impressed by Dominic Rhodes late-season 100-yard games against two very tough defenses – Jacksonville’s and San Diego’s. So while Fargas’ cumulative numbers look solid, his consistency, game-changing long plays, and pass-catching numbers were sorely lacking.
What did our eyes tell us? Well, we saw Fargas running hard and making good cuts, getting to the outside often, and running well against some soft defenses. Unfortunately, we also saw very little ability to make defenders miss, or ability to generate yards after contact. We saw Fargas’ upright running style, lack of vision, and lack of wiggle expose himself to numerous highlight-level de-cleater hits. We saw a guy with average to below-average hands who only once had more than three catches in a game. We saw some 15 and 20-yard rushes, but only one run longer than 30 yards all season.
Do we count on Fargas to churn out more 100-yard games next season against the Patriots, Ravens, Jets, Bills, Panthers, Bills, and Bucs? This would remind me of the way we just assumed that our defense would be great last year due to our returning all starters from a “top-8″ defense in 2006. One should always look to improve every area of a team, regardless of what transpired the previous season.
So what’s the plan next year? We split the carries at something of a 15-10-5 level between Fargas, Bush, and Rhodes. This assumes that Bush will be the pre-leg break beast we saw at Louisville. But what if he’s lost a step or that lateral quick-feet ability that made defenders grasp at the Autumn Wind? Then he’s just an average grinder, nothing too special. So while I like Fargas as much as the next guy, I am not going to pretend that the running back position can not be improved upon. And when you’re dealing with a position that will touch the ball 30 times a game, I think we can all agree it’s one that needs to be consistently evaluated and improved.
Whether you think McFadden could give us the first great mutli-threat runner since Charlie Garner and post 1,800 all-purpose yards in the Oakland system, or feel that Darren is overhyped, let’s not pretend that we’re rock solid at the running back position and would be wasting a pick if Al Davis decides to gamble a little on one of the few draft talents this year that could become a legitimate super star. Can he stop the run? Of course not. Can a quality run-plugging DT be found in round 4 or in post-June free agency? Probably a lot more easily than a runner who over the span of three seasons destroyed Georgia, USC, Auburn, Tennessee, Alabama, Missouri, South Carolina, and LSU all at least once.
Again, this isn’t to knock Fargas, or to suggest that we shouldn’t drive a defensive tackle. Instead my intent is to simply point out that there is room for improvement at the running back position – improvement that would help us score more points, rest the defense longer, and win a few more games. We were complacent with what we thought was a great highly-ranked defense in 2006. I won’t blame Davis if he learned from that mistake and simply drafts the best talent available regardless of position at the 4-spot in two weeks.
April 12th, 2008 at 8:37 am
Here is a portion of an article from an NFL analyist posted today…read em and weep would be DMc drafters.
Areas of Need
The Raiders biggest needs lay with arguably the most important units on the football field: offensive and defensive lines. Both need upgrades at almost every position within the unit.
Offensive Tackle – Robert Gallery is officially a bust. Barry Sims was cut. Kwame Harris was signed from the 49ers but he is really a bust, too. Jeremy Newberry is gone as well so the o-line is not in that great of shape. Another tackle to play opposite of Harris is a necessity but unless Jake Long falls past Atlanta (doubtful) or the Raiders reach for Ryan Clady, a new tackle won’t be selected until round four (the Raiders traded their pick in round two to Atlanta in the DeAngelo Hall deal and their pick in round three to New England).
Possible Targets (Round) – John Greco, Toledo (4); Oniel Cousins, UTEP (4); Tony Hills, Texas (4); Jeremy Zuttah, Rutgers (4); Kirk Barton, Ohio State (4)
Defensive Line – This need most certainly should be rectified (well made better) with the fourth overall pick in the draft. At four the Raiders will have their choice of Glenn Dorsey, Sedrick Ellis, Chris Long, and Vernon Gholston. Two of those four are guaranteed to be there. I say Long is more than likely gone (that’s a shame, too, because having Chris play for the same team Howie did would be sweeeeet). However, Darren McFadden will be available and may be enough to entice Al Davis to take him because of his freakish ability and the huge impact Adrian Peterson had last year. Taking McFadden would be a bad choice, only because of the team needs. Dorsey, Ellis, or Gholston are much better options.
Possible Targets (Round) – Glenn Dorsey, LSU (1); Sedrick Ellis, USC (1); Vernon Gholston, Ohio State (1); Kendall Langford, Hampton (4); Jason Jones, Eastern Michigan (4)
Just draft a better line baby!
April 12th, 2008 at 8:38 am
Just go to rivals.com, look at the Dorsey highlights. This beast can pass rush and play the run. He is able to expose Mcfadden’s weakness. Glen Dorsey is all over this guy (Run DMC) in the back field. We need D-line help 911.
April 12th, 2008 at 8:43 am
Tommy Trojan,
Great read and what I’ve stressed for weeks. Add in the cheapening of the 1,000 yrd season and Fargas’s accomplishments are not what they seem.
April 12th, 2008 at 8:47 am
TT, I read your last post 314. I dodnt know if this guy did this on accident or not but DMAC did not destroy USC.
April 12th, 2008 at 8:48 am
Dakota,
This is for you re Bynum:
http://cbs2.com/video/?id=64515@kcbs.dayport.com&cid=92
May miss 1st rd.
April 12th, 2008 at 8:50 am
Go Lakers! They gave up a 30 point lead to N.O. but still held on to win the pacific division. Just win baby.
April 12th, 2008 at 8:55 am
DMAC stats against USC:
9/17/05 @USC L 70-17 Att 13 Yrds 88 avg 6.8 lng 14
9/2/06 USC L 50-14 att 9 Yrds 42 avg 4.7 lng 17
Receiving 2 catches Yrds -6 avg -3.0
April 12th, 2008 at 8:56 am
The Fargas article misses the most important factor and that is the “O” line. The fact is any RB’s average will suffer against the better run defensive lines. Ours did and will continue to do so. So you do not get a better RB, especially in the Raiders situation until you get a better “O” line first.
DMc is the mirror image of Fargas in his running style and will eventually be hurt often himself.
April 12th, 2008 at 8:59 am
Thec…
good point
April 12th, 2008 at 9:03 am
Post 314, alex chavez should have done his research, should not have included USC in the mix. Granted that USC destoyed Ark those 2 games needed to pass more thus eliminating the use for DMAC. Being an USC fan I remember those smashings like they were yesterday. The 06 game we should have put up more points.
Also where was DMAC in the cotton bowl. Had a very pedestrian 100 yards against mizzou. Based on the “sec dominance” he should have raked up 350 yrds against them. Considering that the sec is ” the best conf”.
Point is you can take stats and make them say anything you want. Bottom line the only stat that counts is W’s and L’s and at the end of the day rings.
April 12th, 2008 at 9:05 am
ohh back to the game, 2nd half is starting now =)
April 12th, 2008 at 9:06 am
“Offensive Tackle – Robert Gallery is officially a bust. Barry Sims was cut. Kwame Harris was signed from the 49ers but he is really a bust, too. Jeremy Newberry is gone as well so the o-line is not in that great of shape. Another tackle to play opposite of Harris is a necessity”
every one of those statements is completely ridiculous, gallery is one of the best OGs in the league and far from a bust, barry was one of the worst OTs in the league and is replaced by a younger, better ZBS fit in harris, with a 3rd rnd pick from last year to compete with him, newberry was decent, but he is old and injured and honestly not the perfect system fit, so we added wade, who is a little younger, alot healthier, and a much better ZBS fit, we have two solid, more than capable starters at RT with green and mcquistan, would i like o see more competition at LT, sure, is our OL terrible, or even close, hell no, we have a solid OL right now and will likely add at least one more later in the draft
we need to stop the run but our defense is somewhat undersized and built to stop the pass, our LBs are a little smaller and built to run in space, our d-lineman are built to rush the passer, our DBs are built to cover in the open feild, one good D-lineman such as dorsey or long or ellis or gholston will turn our defense into the jaguars’ D, our D is built similarly to the colts, although is far superior in every aspect, but such a defense only works when one is scoring points, and we havn’t done that, we’ve added walker, carter, harris, wade, and have russell, curry, miller, fargas, and bush, mcfadden, along with russell, miller, and bush will form the foundation for one of the best offenses in the league, bush is a grinder, he’s a talented, consistent late gmae back with goal line profficienc and can be a threat on short passing situations, mcfadden is an intermediate-to-deep recieving threat, a homerun running threat and a great everydown back, bush provides relief and a great(and is stress GREAT) complimen to mcfadden, fargas is 28 and has a long injury history, jordan will be cut this seaso and rhodes likely next season, he’s had his salary cut because it didn’t justify his role this year, which will be as a KR option and insurance, mcfadden will help our team score, and opponents will be forced to score as well, rather than simply running 30+ times a game and winning a close game, they must pass to compete, and they will struggle to do so against our defense, but adding one defensive lineman will not turn us into the dominant run stopping team everyone is envisioning, especially not as a rookie, the 4th pick is not our only pick and the draf will still be there next year, both our lines could use a little upgrading, but that is true of every line in the NFL and ours are at least solid, next year there will be solid O and D lineman available whereever we pick in both the first, second, and probably third rounds if you want to go that route, but there will not be another darren mcfadden next year,and if there is even someone close, we likely would not be in a situation to draft him, so we take the best player i the draft this year and score some points, which will stop the run, and force the pass, which will no be accomplished, and we will win, at least 8 but probably 9 or 10 games this year, we should draft mcfadden but it’s not neccesary for me o convince you, davis is already convinced and that is all that matters, mcfadden will be a raider
April 12th, 2008 at 9:06 am
As much as I would like to have D-Mac or c.Long, or even Doresey or Gholston for that matter, I would rather have Namdi, and if we put another top 5 draft pick on this team then I fear we will not be able to pay Namdi the big contract he deserves. We need to try to trade doewn, as hard as that will be for Al, I hope Dallas goes all in for DMAC and gives us their two 1st rounders. Sorry guys, just my opinion…what do you guys think?
April 12th, 2008 at 9:10 am
TT, I read everything you post. IMO you are in the know. So what you say has a lot more cred than some joe like myself who only has an opinion.
April 12th, 2008 at 9:11 am
The Raiders need to cause more turnovers (upgrade of D-backfield, and a potential upgrade through the draft of D-line should help in this regard), not create more of their own by putting the ball in the hands of an Arkansan fumble machine.
April 12th, 2008 at 9:14 am
B-12 shot.
April 12th, 2008 at 9:15 am
TT, after reading your last post i am convinced that you know we are taking DMAC.
April 12th, 2008 at 9:16 am
resigning nnamdi will actually save us money because his cap # will be lower than the $9.5 M he will be paid this year, and by the time he starts gettig paid $10 M/yr the cap will be large enough to handle the inflation and his salary wll be common place, and cutting jordan and stu alone will pay for mcfadden, so afer cutting them and resigning nnamdi we may still have a few million to play with after signing the later picks, and we will either get a 3rd or a player for washigton, this team has not finished taking shape yet
and mad road dog, are you saying our OL isn’t better than last year, neither sims or newberry were fits for the ZBS, newberry helped because he was experienced and smart, but wade is a better ZBS fit and he is one of the smartest OL in the NFL, he is athletic and can move in space with good technique and his best attribute is that he is great at organizing the line and making calls, and harris is more mobile and has better hands than sims, sims is a better fit in a power scheme while harris is a better fit in a ZBS scheme, they were both out of place but now we have a line full of players that fit the system, we have good OGs and a smart C, and the interior of a ZBS OL is the key to being successful with such a scheme, and our OTs are capable starters, mcfadden is a huge upgrade over every one of our offensive players and from day one on would be our best offensive player, although hopefully russell will eventually claim that distinction
April 12th, 2008 at 9:17 am
I cannot find the article where it states the fear of Gholson being another Mike Mamula. Had a few good games, great combine to move up the draft charts but a bust as a pro.
April 12th, 2008 at 9:18 am
repost for Dakota,
Dakota,
This is for you re Bynum:
http://cbs2.com/video/?id=64515@kcbs.dayport.com&cid=92
May miss 1st rd.
April 12th, 2008 at 9:19 am
Thec..post 324
To be fair, in the Mizzou Bowl game McFadden had 21 for 105 yds in only 3 quarters, he didn´t play in the 4th as the game had slipped away.
April 12th, 2008 at 9:20 am
Thanks Exla…I hope we play Denver or Dallas in the first round then, instead of the Suns…Bynum would be a huge help against Shaq and Amare.
April 12th, 2008 at 9:23 am
thanks thec
but exla, gholsto was also very successful in college, he was identified early in his career as one of the best DEs i football and has been expected by many involved in the league since early his sophmore year to go in the top 15, last year he set the single season OSU sack record and was the only player to record a sack against jake long, he is talented and productive as well as athletic, he is far from mamula,
M, seriously, we’ve already had a lengthy debate explaining why mcfadden is NOT a fumble concern, we have dramatically upgraded our defensive backfield and have made solid additions to the DL, so could you lay off the ridiculous, faseshish propaganda
April 12th, 2008 at 9:25 am
exla, is saw a similar idea expressed on PFT, they usually have a link, but it’s a ridiculous statement so don’t bother
April 12th, 2008 at 9:25 am
bob, I watched that game. DMAC was pedestrian. I also watched his LSU game that went several overtimes, he was a beast. Your stating that he missed a QTR doesnt really hold weight with me. Mizzou did not have a better D that the LSU D, and yet he only got 105 yrds.
Like i have stated so many times i will be happy who ever we take. I would prefer D, but all directions point to DMAC.
April 12th, 2008 at 9:26 am
Dakota,
B-twelve be too benign, something stronger.
April 12th, 2008 at 9:27 am
Also, post 314 about Fargas..
I agree we have a good ground game, but it´s also true that there is room for improvement, wether we take McFadden or not.
Rushing yards: 6th
Yards per Carry: 4.1 exactly the league average
Rushing TD´s: 25th (without Culpepper´s 3).
First downs by Rushing: 26th.
So, we racked up a lot of yards but our efficiency can certainly be improved.
April 12th, 2008 at 9:28 am
Didn’t Gholston record 7 of his 14 sacks in two games last year? That makes me a little nervous. Jake long won the other 40 plays or so against Gholston that day.
Chris Long
McWhat’shisname
Jake Long
Gholston
Dorsey
Ellis
April 12th, 2008 at 9:28 am
Lefty 12- Due to you ridiculous argument last night about the so-called “SOFT” schedule DMac played against, let’s bring up the other prospects:
Gholston- PSU, Michigan, and losses against IL & LSU and of course a cupcake schedule as usual per the Big Ten
J Long- OSU, PSU, UF, IL, and of course a loss to App State and not as much cupcake, but a soft schedule.
C Long- Played against Wake Forest, Virginia Tech and a very soft schedule
DMac- Lost to Kentucky, Alabama, Auburn, TN & Missouri. But beat South Carolina and the national champs LSU. However you could also add Miss State as they were bowl bound.
Dorsey- They beat Virginia Tech, South Carolina, UF, Auburn, Alabama, Ten, & Ohio State. The only loss was to Kentucky.
Ellis- Nebraska, Cal, ASU, IL, & Oregon.
Now if you look closely, you see both Dorsey & DMac played tougher schedules than any of the other top prospects.
In fact Gholston & C Long played the weakest schedules.
Try another argument that’s based on facts. Every team is going to have a few cupcake games every year, but year in & out the SEC has a tougher conference schedule.
Bowl games are a good indicator:
LSU whipped Ohio State, 2nd year in a row the top Big Ten team gets spanked.
Alabama beat Colorado
Miss State beat UCF
Kentucky beat Florida State
Auburn lost to Clemson
Arkansas lost to Missouri
UF lost to Michigan
7 squads that went bowling with 4 winning and the top team spanking the Big Ten.
April 12th, 2008 at 9:30 am
Thec
You got me there, I did not watch the Bowl game but I´ll trust you, I did watch the LSU game and a few more.
April 12th, 2008 at 9:31 am
NFLDraftScout.com mock draft
4. Raiders RB James McFadden 6-1 211
“The Raiders have a full backfield, but it is loaded with mediocrity and questions. Can Al Davis resist the best running back he’s had since Bo Jackson?”
April 12th, 2008 at 9:31 am
If we take out the rushing yards we gained against the Dolphins we fall to 35th in the NFL in rushing, lol.
April 12th, 2008 at 9:32 am
TT, what number is DMAC taking? Can i get an authentic now? I know you guys are pressing them up allready or do I have to wait until we ” offically” draft him.
April 12th, 2008 at 9:35 am
I just have to say this: Whatever you think about Al Davis, just remove him entirely from the equation, and what are you left with? REPO MAN guy is a complete PSYCHO! I’m talking, clinically and certifiably. In fact, the next time someone snaps and opens fire with an automatic weapon inside a fast food restaurant or a mall somewhere, I fully expect to read that witnesses say he was muttering ‘19-61 in their last five years’ and ‘Come on, Oakglenn, take the effing bait.” What a piece of work!
April 12th, 2008 at 9:36 am
We can’t stop the run but everyone wants to talk about McFadden. Incredible. Unless this dude is also a stud run stuffing linebacker and is willing to play both sides of the ball, skip this nonsense and move on.
April 12th, 2008 at 9:36 am
A few Dominate NFL Backfields that won SB’s
Stabler/Davis/Van Egan
bradshaw/harris/blier
griese/morris/cszonka
Add to the List:
Russell/Bush/Dmac
Notice out of respect only NATION players get caps. The debate is offically over. DMAC is a allready part of the NATION.
April 12th, 2008 at 9:37 am
Tommy Trojan,
I was not in the least being facetious. Putting the ball on the ground is the most demoralizing happenstance a team faces.
I do realize that you among others have graded a single RB as the godsend of the draft. I have read the arguments, pro and con. I simply believe that line play is the difference on a football field.
April 12th, 2008 at 9:38 am
either 32 or 34, if if jordan is still on the team when we go to the the post draft mini-camp thn it is 32 for sure, if he is gone then it could be 32 or 34, other possibilities could include 20, 22, or 23, but hall will take one of those and none of them are popular RB numbers, my money’s on 32……..literally, i already have a 32 mcfadden, you can order one through raiderimage.com or 1-800-raiders, but it would have to be a custom jersey, which usually are about $250, but i get a discount and i already had an extra allen, so i had the name chnged to “mcfadden” which usually costs about $50, but again, i get a discount so it wasn’t close to that, i’m fairly confident it will be 32, although 34 isn’t out of the question
April 12th, 2008 at 9:40 am
The debate on what we should take is over. We are taking DMAC. Again I want us to take D but you guys are missing it. Its not up to us but to AL, AL is taking DMAC it has been posted here over and over again what AL is going to do almopst as if AL himself is posting.
I would even prefer trading down to get picks as we could address more needs but it is a forgone conclusion DMAC will be a member of the NATION.
April 12th, 2008 at 9:41 am
M, you’re right line play IS the difference, but our lines are not near as bad as you think they are, neither is below average, and we can always add more OL, we have 4 picks after #4 to address those areas, adding depth and competition and probably at least getting one, maybe two steals, and we have all our first day picks next year, we really do not have very many needs and players like mcfadden do not come around often, and the next time one does we will likely not be in a position to draft him
April 12th, 2008 at 9:42 am
To be fair about Gholston too…
While I´m in no way comparing both players, I remember hearing some of the same concerns about Mario Williams getting sacks in bunches when he came out:
”Critics point to the fact that 13½ of Williams’ 14½ sacks last season came in the Wolfpack’s final seven games and wonder about his consistency.” 4 in one game against Maryland.
Gholston is nowhere near Mario, but you get my point, I hope.
April 12th, 2008 at 9:45 am
he’s very bear mario, he’s a smaller mario, that’s it, he’s sleeker and a better pure rusher while williams is a better all around player, they are both freaks
April 12th, 2008 at 9:45 am
TT, I read on another post where you had done that to an allen jersey, as i remember you took a little jab for that from someone. Anywho thanks for the info and the clarity.
Hey TT, are we going to do anything during the draft like maybe get a second or third. This will make me sleep better knowing that we can get some LT and DE help, this draft is loaded. dont want to wait to the forth to start shopping again.
April 12th, 2008 at 9:46 am
TT & Marley- Do you agree that only C Long is the “surefire” draft pick meanwhile Gholston, J Long, DMac, Dorsey, & Ellis could all be busts?
April 12th, 2008 at 9:47 am
john, again, mcfadden will not be playing defense, although he is a capable safety, but the production on offense will indirectly help us to stop the run, simply read any of my posts on mcfadden and you’l understand mcfadden
and thec, what you think you know i know is not something i can admit to knwoing for certian under company policy, but you’re on the right track
April 12th, 2008 at 9:49 am
TT, I just went to raide rimage.com. Is that Alysaa Milano sporting NATION wear? damn she is not normally my type but she looks good in S&B.
Now that NATION office chair is nice.
April 12th, 2008 at 9:49 am
Even tho I have continually publiclly stated my desire for any of the top 4 defensive linemen, I am warming up slightly to McLuvin. We DO need a kick returner.
April 12th, 2008 at 9:50 am
no, i think that c.long and ellis are surefire and that under a traditional blocking system, so is j.long…to me dorsey has the highest bust risk, followed by gholston and then mcfadden, but only if mcfadden is inserted in a traditional man blocking system, which we don’t have to worry about since he will play in a ZBS
April 12th, 2008 at 9:51 am
They are both freaks but Mario should be the best DE in the league for the next decade. Gholston does not have that potential IMO.
April 12th, 2008 at 9:51 am
yes, she designed some jewlry for us and is advertising for us, although she is doing it in general for the NFL, but most teams do not have a large chain of self owned and operated stores to advertise such things
April 12th, 2008 at 9:53 am
bob, gholston has the potential to be one of the best, he has the potential to be jason taylor in his prime while williams has the potential to be something we’ve never seen before
April 12th, 2008 at 9:53 am
TT,
I have never said that our lines are bad. I have never been a Gallery hater, or a Sims hater etc.
Underperformance by Sands hasn’t had me name-calling him Turd, or I never blamed Sapp for what he could not do.
Last season’s D-line was hurt very much by the injuries to Kelly and Burgess. Who’s to say that other players aren’t going down this year. The interior rotations of the D-line are essential as the game and season wear on. Having more capable bodies is far better than just plugging someone in because of necessity.
Harris is the wildcard. Cable magic or the same overmatched fellow as he was across the Bay.
Plus, I can’t wait to have a look a long and healthy career for one Michael Bush.
April 12th, 2008 at 9:54 am
TT, I hear you loud and clear bro. I just had an epiphany while reading this blog this morning. I was taken back to when you and i first got into our first disagreement then it hit me.
April 12th, 2008 at 9:58 am
Niiice =)
it took us almost all game, but our little Zambian Katongo scored the game winning goal! Peeeuw =)
April 12th, 2008 at 9:58 am
I am a big USC fan, Our offensive firepower is going to be USC like.
April 12th, 2008 at 9:58 am
DSM
I don´t think they will be busts, none of them, they all have the work ethic and the skill. Outside of Dorsey´s stress fracture concerns, I do feel McFadden is the biggerst risk but one well worth it.
April 12th, 2008 at 9:59 am
That aside, Whats up, Nation?
April 12th, 2008 at 10:00 am
Tommy post 365….agreed.
April 12th, 2008 at 10:02 am
i hear you M, but we’re not at a point yet where we can draf players because our starters might get injured, we have solid starters and we now have adequate depth along most of the DL, with the RE spot being made up of two role players, who together make a solid starter, we could use help along the lines but neither line is so bad right now that we should pass on the best player in the draft, this is our one chance to get a mcfadden, this there will be another jake long, ryan clady, glenn dorsey, sedrick ellis, and vernon gholston in every draft, or at least a comparable player, the same can not be said of mcfadden
April 12th, 2008 at 10:04 am
Morning Nation
April 12th, 2008 at 10:04 am
i’m talking about bust risk, if long went to a ZBS line he would have a high risk, if(when) mcfadden runs behind a ZBS line he will have very little risk, i’m not saying any of them them are certain busts
April 12th, 2008 at 10:09 am
Putting DMAC in a ZBS system is like R. Bush at USC.
Now Couple DMAC/MBush you have what USC had in White/Bush. Or look at New orleans with Duece/Bush.
R. Bush N.O’s head oach doesnt know what to make of him.
April 12th, 2008 at 10:09 am
PhillyRaider Says:
April 11th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
“Yo, it’s 1am over here and I’m hangin with the Nation! Yeah Baby, Yeah! Dogg, where do YOU come down on my Gholston debate?”
PhillyRaider -
Sorry for the late response, I was throwing out my back last night
As far as my thoughts on Gholston, I’m not as high on him as most. He seems to disappear for plays at a time and I’m not sold on his run d. I think if the Raiders are going to use a top 5 pick on a DE he better be able to stop the run as well as rush off the edge. I am convinced that if the Raiders take him that he will be a bust, but I attribute that more to my Raider paranoia than anything else.
April 12th, 2008 at 10:12 am
Funny (for us) fact that I was reminded of yesterday, in 2002 the Chiefs traded up 2 spots to select DT Ryan Sims, they could have stayed at their spot and ‘’settled” for either John Henderson or Albert Haynesworth. Suckers.
Not that it has anything to do with the current talk, I just got a kick out of it.
April 12th, 2008 at 10:12 am
Jake Long, Dorsey, Ellis, Gholston, in that order.
No McDaddy….
April 12th, 2008 at 10:15 am
Bob, yeah haynesworth would look good in S&B right now.
the cooks, and donkeys have zero clue as to where they are going. They can label us all they want but we are going to go at least, bare minimum, bargain basment price of 8-8. In 3 years if not sooner we will hoist the SB trophy. I am convinced of this.
April 12th, 2008 at 10:16 am
RaiderDogg,
I am of similar impression about Gholston.
Then again, for me the mistrust of HYPE is not second nature, it is always in the fore.
April 12th, 2008 at 10:16 am
So do I Bob. Word around the league is Dorsey has laid to rest any issues with his stress fracture injury. While I completely agree with you that his injury might be one of the most scary in sports, have you taken a second look at Dorsey?
April 12th, 2008 at 10:16 am
Two weeks away, and I think I really am leaning towards Dorsey, if healhy, as the guy I’d like to see fall to us.
TT, I hope you are saying bust potential for Dorsey only because of his injury risk.
I just think back to last year. I was hoping Dorsey came out and we would get a shot at him or Branch. That was before we actually ended up with #1, and before JR had the big game against ND. I was thinking we’d end up with #3 or so and could take one of the DTs.
Nothing’s really changed for me along the Dline that should take me away from that thinking. Sapps gone, and Sands is a backup. We need an impact player at DT. I think Kelly COULD be that guy, but I think Dorsey and Kelly together would dominant.
April 12th, 2008 at 10:18 am
in a power scheme(in NO), and an underachieving one at that, bush is forced to make a move behnid the line of scrimage to get past the d-lineman but when he does, there is a LB in his face, when they have him run, it is nearly always laterally, but at USC bush would typically run straight up the A or B gap, put a move on a LB and be in the open field, they are having him break to the outside and put a move on multiple players, that rarely works, what they need to do is at least mimic a ZBS blocking style and kick out the DE laterally so bush can get laterally withou having to deal with bothe the end and the LB, get a player like bush in the open field with any LB and he will win 9 out of 10 times, it’s amazing NO doesn’t do this, but their Ol is lacking in athleticism and built more ofr power, drive blocking the DL and having a powerful back like deuce shrug off arm tackles by D-lineman and either fall forward over LBs or break them off entirely, , mcfadden has better hands than bush when running so he is able to better avoid arm tackles and to break off defenders coming laterally but it’s dificult to be succesful in power scheme without elite power, unless such line is one of the best run-blocking lines around, such as in PITT, DAL, or MIN, but that requires 4 or five good, big OL which is hard to do, which is why it’s easier in a ZBS system, but it’s still somewhat of a new commodity and only so many know how to teach it
April 12th, 2008 at 10:19 am
‘Fins sincere about Jake Long. With present offensive makeup Long would be the “lynchpin” that ties their offensive personnel together.
Jets will trade into the second pick to obtain McFadden, giving into Raiders DMac “smokescreen.” Their FA ovvensive moves precludes this. Signing such an expensive pick @ RB will be alleviated by the dearth of a second round selection.
Dorsey goes to the Falcons. This will solidify their D-line and offset the loss of Rod Coleman. They may address the QB spot @ the top of the second round.
This allows the Raiders the luxury of entertaining offers for their fourth selection or opting for Chris Long. If, say, the ‘Pats feel the need to trade into this position (to select Vernon Gholston, DE-OLB) the Raiders then can select Branden Albert to play LT. He seems perfect for the zone blocking scheme. If this scenario holds true but the Chefs beat Al to the punch the Raiders can select Ryan Clady. In any case the Lambs will select Chris Long. The extra pick would allow the Raiders to concentrate on the D-line, either Jason Jones, DE from E.Michigan or Red Bryant,DT from Texas A&M. Matt Forte of Tulane or Jamaal Charles of Texas could be RB candidates @ this spot.
Hopefully they can somehow get their hands on Jerome Simpson, WR from Coastal Carolina. Perhaps with a potential pick obtained from, say, Jacksonville for Fabian Washington in the third round. Can’t say enough about the guy. Big, fast, tough, fearless, skilled. Immediate contributer on ST’s. perhaps a punt returner/gunner.
Tony Hillis, LOT from Texas will be this year’s Michael Bush. Like Duane Brown of VaTech he is a converted HS TE. Has overcome a serious knee injury (late HS) and, just as he was making strides on the O-line sustained a broken leg. Has not been able to participate in ambulatory drills for the scouts. Thus may be available as late as the fifth round (obviously would have to trade into this spot).
My other favorite, SS Tyrell Johnson of Arkansas ST. has been “discovered” by the draftniks and is slated to be gone by the middle of the second round. Would have provided ST relief while developing into a future starting role.
Enough speculation for now. Supposed to be 70 here in the 206-425. So, gotta enjoy.
Late
antispy3
April 12th, 2008 at 10:19 am
re-post
RaiderDogg Says:
April 4th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
RaiderDogg’s Top 10 Mock Draft Picks
1. Dolphins – T Jake Long
2. Rams – DT Glenn Dorsey
3. Falcons – DT Sedrick Ellis
4. Raiders – DE Chris Long
5. Chiefs – DE Vernon Gholston
6. Jets – RB Darren McFadden
7. Patriots – CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
8. Ravens – QB Matt Ryan
9. Bengals – WR Devin Thomas
10. Saints – LB Keith Rivers
So how does my list hold up a week later? This list is assuming that there are no trades or pick swapping…
April 12th, 2008 at 10:23 am
jhill, he settled the issue of when he had any breaks or knee troubles which were being rumored but it is a fact that he has a lingering stree fracture, he hasn’t played in months so it’s fine right now, 16+ games and i’m not sure it will hold up, but talent wise he is right there with long and right behind mcfadden
April 12th, 2008 at 10:24 am
*whether he had any…
April 12th, 2008 at 10:25 am
anybody have any Warrior tix for me tonight?
April 12th, 2008 at 10:26 am
Dakota, regarding your comment that the Raiders would be 35th in the league in rushing without the Miami game. First, there are only 32 teams in the NFL so we could only be 32d, not 35th.
Second, you can’t just take away all the yards from a game for any team, they would clearly fall well below their rank. At a minimum, you would have to replace the yards lost from the Miami game with the average yards from the remaining 15 games and then see where we would rank. I bet if you did that we wouldn’t drop more than 3-4 spots.
April 12th, 2008 at 10:27 am
IMHO, Our team is setting up to be almost a mirror of the colts. But where we differ is on the offensive side of the ball. We have the RB fire power, where they are stronger in the recieving corp. the wild card is Jmac. Not suggesting he is manning but if he plays as advertised we will challege ALL.
our D is a mirror of theirs small and fast. where i think we out shine them on D is our secondary.
April 12th, 2008 at 10:28 am
Daaraiders -
in Dakota’s defense, I think he was being sarcastic bro…
April 12th, 2008 at 10:29 am
Oakglenn
I think Dorsey is clear of the knee injury that hampered him last year, remmeber they were saying he had secret surgey but apparently that was false.
But the stress fracture issue, which he has played trough and played well still concerns me, it´s usually an overuse injury and the guy has not played a Pro snap yet.
At 300 pounds and with the brutal requirements of the NFL I fear it can flare up anytime, maybe not right away but 3 or 4 years down the road, and I read that injury does not really heal, it needs prolonged rest to get better but it´s always there.
Pardon my Doctor impersonation, I´m sure if NFL doctors have no problem with it I shouldn´t have one either.
April 12th, 2008 at 10:30 am
i used to try to make case for mcfadden until i read thiS blog and he said he was a donkey fan and admired elway and t. davis makes me want to PUKE!!!!!!!!
April 12th, 2008 at 10:30 am
Again TT the issue with 384 is you have SC linemen blowing opponents off the ball, openening those lanes for Reggie. If Bush was running behind say the Cal Poly O line and ran for 3 thousand yards, you may have soemthing there. That’s been my point with McLuvin. That Oline for Arkansas is pretty damn good.
April 12th, 2008 at 10:32 am
Oakglenn..besides that, he´s a great player and I´d love to have him.
April 12th, 2008 at 10:34 am
Cal Poly’s O-Line is NFL quality, don’t talk sh*t
April 12th, 2008 at 10:35 am
I really liked seeing R,Bush running those wheel routes. Couldnt be stopped. see DMAC doing some of the same in S&B.
April 12th, 2008 at 10:35 am
can a brother get some feedback on my post #386? I value all of the opinions of the people presently on the blog right now. Do you know how rare an occasion this is?
April 12th, 2008 at 10:36 am
It’s interesting Bob, because these poor college athletes are more prone to being overused than pro athletes. Think of Dorseys case. One loss, and LSU is out of the national championship picture. + you only have him for 4 years anyway. + the kids see themselves on sportscenter and KNOW they NEED the exposure, so they don’t come out of games.
Now in the pros, the teams have made huge $$$$ investments in them, they have agents, and they know to take care of themselves, + one loss will not knock them out of the championship normally. So while it is an EXTREME concern, a think pro doctors have cleared Dorsey to be a high pick.
April 12th, 2008 at 10:38 am
usc lineman never blow people off the ball, they make monster holes with technique and movement, but never blow someone off the ball in the traditional sense, they are a farm team for a ZBS line, someone like radovich or spanos could be a starter for us, and just may
ray, on the bright side, he’s watched alot of TD and has modeled his game after a ZBS RB and has always played in a similar system, the deia sensationalized the very average QB in denver and most of america fell in love with him in the 90’s, he was the rival of the great brett favre, or at least that was how he was portrayed, mcfadden was an impressionable kid in the 90’s, it’s hard to blame him, he will love them even more when he’s doing to denver what LT has long done to us, you spend 10 years with a team, that’s your team
April 12th, 2008 at 10:38 am
I have a friend who was a lineman for Cal Poly in 1970 until he left to go live on a beach in Hawaii to avoid selective service.
April 12th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Please no McDaddy, he’s as dumb as a box of rocks.
April 12th, 2008 at 10:43 am
RaiderDogg, post 386 your mock looks good. I would however suggest you switch DMAC to the 4th pick.
for accurracy’s sake.
April 12th, 2008 at 10:47 am
Thec -
Thanks for the feedback, I told myself that once I posted my top 10 that I was going to stick to my guns.
I appreciate the response bro, and I wouldn’t be too upset if McDadden ended up a Raider…
April 12th, 2008 at 10:49 am
raiderdogg, the rams will not pass on long, they’re moving carriker inside to 3-technique where he is a better fit, so they have a bigger hole at DE than DT and little is old, they will ake chris long, atlanta will likely take dorsey because even they know it’s way too early for ryan, we will take mcfadden, the chiefs seem infatuated with ryan, which is good because he has very high bust potential and would be in an already terrible situation in KC, but gholston is a possibility since allen is leaving KC next year and will likely come here to oakland, expect the jets to take gholston or possibly ellis if gholston is gone, the pats don’t have the scenodary need everyone thinks, it’s their system, not the fact that law or samuel were great, amazing CBs, when law left he was an average player, samuel stepped up and turned into a superstar, the pats have a great system that puts the #1 CB in a situation to succeed and teaches them the fundamentals of the cover two and zone schemes, if a Cb ever spent time in bothe our D and their he would learn all the skills neccesary to be the best all around CB in football, but we alreay have that, the pats will likely look at LB which is by far their greatest need, look for rivers, he could play OLB, ILB, or even S in their defense and they need the newest member of the USC “Club 55″, they seem to have an affinity for those guys, baltimore will jump on ryan if he’s there or likely take one of the CBs, mckelvin or DRC, the bengals will probably land ellis which is a ridiculous steal at #9, and look for the saints to take a CB
April 12th, 2008 at 10:50 am
Here’s a list of awesome RB’s who played behind great lines in college or made their lines look great:
Eddie George
Eric Dickerson
Marcus Allen
OJ Simpson
Barry Sanders
These are just a small group of elite college RB’s who played behind a dominant offensive line. I could find several others but don’t want to waste my time.
How similar will working in the zone be to that of Arkansas’s scheme?
April 12th, 2008 at 10:50 am
I do agree with the Raider paranoia Dogg. I think I’m catching a case of it right now, even with C. Long.
One question, did he lift at his pro day? I wondered why he didn’t lift at the combine, but did everything else.
I don’t know TT …
Sort of like last year, come draft time. I would’ve loved to have Peterson, but I “knew” QB was the bigger need for the #1 spot. I NEVER thought we would take Calvin Johnson, and would’ve been floored by that pick.
This year? Dmac just doesn’t excite me like AP Did last year. Why? I have no idea. Even if he did, like last year’s need for a QB was evident based on who was available, I say that our need this year is evident and it’s DT.
I’ll heed the injury warnings on Dorsey, and pray that the Jets want Ryan or McFadden bad enough to trade up with us. Ellis at 6 would do it for me.
April 12th, 2008 at 10:52 am
my top 10
1.Dolphins-Jake Long
2.Rams-Chris Long
3.Falcons-Glenn Dorsey
4.Raiders-Darren McFadden
5.Chiefs-Matt Ryan
6.Jets-Vernon Gholston
7.Patriots-Keith Rivers
8.Ravens-Leodis McKelvin
9.Bengals-Sedrick Ellis
10.Saints-Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
April 12th, 2008 at 10:54 am
McFadden has two paternity suits and two nightclub “altercations.”
No McDaddy, please. We need linemen.
April 12th, 2008 at 10:55 am
Sure, I’ll comment Dogg. I said this late last nite, the actually Rookie of the Year last year was Joe Thomas the LT of Cleveland. The only reason he didn’t get the award is all the other offensive linemen in the league would have had a fit, if one of their own got nominated for something positive. Give awards to the “star athletes” is what the Olinemen will say. They just want to go to work, so Oline #1 would not be out of the realm of possibility for Bill Parcells.
No one knows where St.Louis is going to go here. And this is the entire linch pin of the draft. Rumour has it they take Chris and move Carriker back inside. Dorsey would be the obvious pick here. Good choice.
Again, the ATL can go in tons of different ditrections. I would take Sedrick here, no doubt, but I don’t think ATL will for two reasons. Losing Patrick Kearney their DE to Seattle really hurt them, and they are going with Harrington and DJ Shockley as their QB’s?????? Don’t think so. I would think you would get either Chris Long or Matt Ryan here.
Now, while your scenario is a dream come true for me, having a 6′3″ 270 lb guy that runs a 4.71 40 and plays lights out all the time, I think he is gone to STL or ATL. That puts either Gholston/Ellis/McLuvin in this spot. I take Ellis.
The Cheats need tooooooo much help on offense to take Gholston. Is Brodie Croyle the answer???? If he is, than Ryan Clady is too.
All this just put the yets in the cat bird seat. They want Matt Ryan. Pennington is not getting it done anymore and Kellen Clemons just isn’t the answer. McLuvin or Gholston would be perfect here as well. If the Atl takes Chris Long, the New York Yets take Matt Ryan.
New England: Gholston. Hands down.
It’s right here in the draft that BSPN shows the poor schlub who’s stock is falling faster than Enrons. That poor guy in my write up is mcLuvin. You guys can take it from here.
April 12th, 2008 at 10:56 am
I just don’t get the Rams taking C. Long. Didn’t they take the DE from Nebraska last year with their #1?
I would think they would take Dorsey.
And Atlanta just HAS to take Ryan, don’t they? They can’t possibly expect to sell a single ticket with Redman as their clear #1, can they?
April 12th, 2008 at 10:56 am
DSM, the system is very simialr, his system essentially was a ZBS system in which the line focused on lateral seperation to create holes and used misderection to get the runner in the open field, it’s basicall the same system
April 12th, 2008 at 10:59 am
BTW, TT you’re exactly right with the write up on SC linemen. They normally out technique guys, when they’re not just blowing them up.
April 12th, 2008 at 11:02 am
the falcons have 3 2nds and all of the 2nd(brohm, henne, flacco) round QBs are better than ryan, the rams are moving carriker(the DE/DT from nebraska) to DT, so DE is a greater need for them, and the falsons lost rod coleman and are desperate for DL help, they will take dorsey, and it’s already written in stone that mcfadden is a raider, there’s just 2 weeks before the NFL can officially acknowledge it
April 12th, 2008 at 11:02 am
does anyone know how mbush is coming along? I wonder why we sat him last year when he could have played?
April 12th, 2008 at 11:05 am
kirk in both of those “altercations” he was protencting his younger brother, and last i checked, it wasn’t illegal to have sex, or to get a women pregant, i don’t care if he has to spend all all his money on a bunch of illegitimate kids, as long as he produces, which he will
April 12th, 2008 at 11:07 am
he’s at 100%, we sat him because we didn’t want to cut jordan or rhodes and have them picked up by KC or Denver, but bush actually could have played at anytime during the second half of the season and actually would have been fine for a few games in the first half, i don’t agree with the reason and actually think it’s ridiculous but that’s the reason, but he’s 100%
April 12th, 2008 at 11:07 am
You guys really need to freeken pay attention.
I want D line help to stop the run. Not gonna happen.
I want to trade dwon. not gonna happen. I dont want DMAC, thats what is going to happen. I am not a gambling man but i am willing to take all bets on this one. DMAC is allready a member of the NATION, and whoever wants to bet or spectulate as to what is going to happen you are wasting your time, and or money.
For those of you who post on this blog you need to pay attention.
April 12th, 2008 at 11:09 am
well thec, at least you understand the reality but there really is very little reason not to be happy about it
April 12th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Dogg
About your mock, I fully agree with Tommy on post 406 and 409 but I would have the Raiders select between McFadden and Gholston with NYJ taking the one we don´t.
I would also disagree about the Ravens pick, I think they won´t pass up the value of Ellis at that point, Cincy goes for Derrick Harvey and NO has to settle for a CB or Jerod Mayo.
April 12th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Thanks for all of the feedback and solid breakdowns. You guys bring it every time and I appreciate it.
OG -
Got a line on some Warrior tix for tonight?
April 12th, 2008 at 11:09 am
right on Bob, thanks for the feedback.
April 12th, 2008 at 11:11 am
I allways thought he was at 100% nice, very nice. Also nice to see that the Raiders will be to pro football what USC is to college football.
RUSSELL/BUSH/DMAC = nightmares for ted cotrell.
April 12th, 2008 at 11:11 am
BTW I will re-post my list again next Friday night and the Friday night before the draft to see how it holds up. It’s funny how much things change day to day, week to week. We’ll see how it stands up.
April 12th, 2008 at 11:13 am
TT, I have said it before I would be thrilled at who ever we got. I am also thrilled at having USC in the NFL. We should win at least 1 in 3. if not sooner.
April 12th, 2008 at 11:14 am
NO won’t take a LB unless rivers is available, mayo is a huge reach in the top 15 and NO has already added vilam and dan morgan, vilma is one of the best LBs in the NFL and if morgan can ever stay healthy, which is a big if, so is he, they will take rivers if he’s there, they could potentially trade up a few spots for ellis but it’s most likely a CB, wih the ravens picking, and hitting, with ngata they probably won’t take ellis, pryce and gress still have some tread on the tires and rolle’s drop off make CB a greaer need than DL, it’s possible but not overly likely
April 12th, 2008 at 11:15 am
The way it’ll play out -
Either
Miami – Jake Long
StLouis – Dorsey
Atlanta – Ryan
Raiders – Chris Long
or
Miami – Ghoulston
Stl – Jake Long
Atl – Ryan
Raiders – C Long
When you look at what other teams neds are and what they’re doing, it clears things up. Miami is tryin to get a deal done with Jake Long or Ghoulston
St Louis needs are LT, DT before DE
Atlanta needs are QB, DT
With all this information it looks like C Long will be ours at #4.
April 12th, 2008 at 11:16 am
How come we wont go after spikes or trotter?
April 12th, 2008 at 11:16 am
Just watching youtube and came across the greatest back ever, Barry Sanders ultimate highlight video.
I’m not comparing him to anyone, just posting a link to watch him. He was amazing to watch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqvU5R2EYeE&NR=1
I always wanted to see Barry rush behind Emmitt’s line for one game and see what kind of crazy numbers he’d put up. I bet he would’ve averaged over 2,000 yards a season behind the Dallas O line in the ’90’s.
April 12th, 2008 at 11:17 am
SC will likely win the title, with LSU having so much truble at QB and losing dorsey, the only threats are OSU and georgia, but we’ll take OSU out of it early in the season
i’m just hoping my aztecs can beat ND in the opener
April 12th, 2008 at 11:17 am
Mayor Ron Dellums has devised a plan to meet all of Oakland’s elctrical energy needs for the next decade.
“We have in the works an efficient and environmentally friendly way to light up our city”, Dellums told reporters. “Under construction is a treadmill device upon which Darren McFadden will run very fast over a short period of time. The treadmill will churn turbines providing the electrical output”.
When asked if this will take up too much of McFadden’s time, thereby diminishing the hours with which he could practice proliferation Dellums responded, “No, he’s very fast, he’ll have plenty of time to do both.”
April 12th, 2008 at 11:18 am
Kirk,
McFadden was found NOT to be the father in the 1st suit and the 2nd is being contested as well. This is an old issue and no longer relevant.
April 12th, 2008 at 11:18 am
About the Rams, Carriker was drafted to play inside, Linehan said so from the start and at 6′6 300 he´s better suited there anyway.
They also found a very decent DT in the 5th round last year named Clifton Ryan and they still have La´Roi Glover for 1 or 2 years.
Leonard Little should also play 1 or 2 more years but the other DE spot is wide open, even with the re-signing of last year free agent bust James Hall who got cut went unsigned and was brought back.
I think they would take C. Long over Dorsey.
April 12th, 2008 at 11:18 am
COW, I really respect your opinions, and posts but the NATION will be taking DMAC no matter who is on the board.
April 12th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Coach I think you are right with this one… except I am not sure who we will take.
Miami – Jake Long
StLouis – Dorsey
Atlanta – Ryan
Raiders – Chris Long
April 12th, 2008 at 11:21 am
COW, with carriker moving to DT, DE is a greater need than DT for the rams, MIA is also negotiating with c.long and ATL will not take a QB in the first and they alsoneed a DE, i won’t guarrantee my whole top 10 but i’ll guarrantee my top 4
1.MIA-j.long
2.STL-c.long
3.ATL-dorsey
4.OAK-mcfadden
April 12th, 2008 at 11:25 am
Can we move Rhodes to Kickoff, and punts? He wont be seeing the field otherwise.
Jordan will be cut, eche i dont know what we do with him, but we also have 2 o’neil, and griff.
April 12th, 2008 at 11:26 am
Oakglenn, the Falcons addressed the Partick Kerney loss last year by drafting Jamaal Anderson, DE from Arkansas. Although he logged nary a sack (and only 30 tackles) he was viewed as a projection type of player well suited for the “base” (6′6, 280 lbs., long arms, etc.) end. John Abraham cost them multiple draft choices and garnered 10 sacks last year. Thus, DT will be their focus. With the loss of Rod Coleman seems Glenn Dorsey would be a possible upgrade, health issues aside.
Falcons possess two second round selections. Thus they can address their QB needs (Joe Flacco, Brian Brohm, Chad Henne) along with O-Line.
Adam Carriker is listed on the Lambs roster as a NT. Seems a little far-fetched to me. After all the guy is 6′6″ and 296lbs. Probably better suited as a three technique. Rams have a vacancy for both edge pass rusher & OT. They want to trade down, as do all the teams in the “Fab Five.”
Idle speculation remains for two more weeks.
Late (one more time)
antispy3
April 12th, 2008 at 11:28 am
Our starting Backfiled will be:
RUSSELL/MBUSH/DMAC
April 12th, 2008 at 11:28 am
TT, kinda hard to argue against those top 4.
April 12th, 2008 at 11:30 am
Antispy 3, Who the Raiders are going to pick is a far gone conclusion it will be DMAC period.
You can take that to Vegas.
April 12th, 2008 at 11:31 am
TT -
I’ve been saying for months how much I would love it if some how, some way Keith Rivers would end up in the Silver & Black. He is my favorite player in the draft by far. Also I still think that Trevor Laws would be a solid pick up in the 2nd if the Raiders could get a hold of a 2nd round pick some how.
April 12th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Thec
Are you saying the Raiders would draft McFadden over Chris Long in the remote case Long is available?.
April 12th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Gotta go hey NATION thanks for the moment of clarity, you know who you are.
For those of you who are not paying attention, pay attention.
We will win 1 in 3 if not sooner.
Late
April 12th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Check out these great NFL running backs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAJgXu8sftI
April 12th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Post 444 Bob, I am truly convinced that we take DMAC no matter what. Long wont be on the board any way.
but yes bob we take DMAC.
April 12th, 2008 at 11:36 am
we have read what the NATION is going to do for weeks now. Should be obvious if you pay attention.
April 12th, 2008 at 11:37 am
Carriker as a DT is a reach, wouldn’t you think. The guy was not drafted at 13 last year to be the Rams DT of the future. He blew up the combine as a DE prospect, not DT. Now if he ended up being a bust there and is now a project at DT, then that’s another story. And I doubt that he is a better prospect than Dorsey or Ellis at that position, so I think DT is very much in play at #2.
TT, I think you made an argument sometime ago that players fall into the 2nd round for a reason. I think it was when you were comparing C Johnson to McFadden. So to say that Henne, Flacco, and others are as good as Ryan is a contradiction.
April 12th, 2008 at 11:41 am
The reasoning behind each pick aka the method to my madness:
1. Dolphins – T Jake Long (possible franchise LT for many years, plus he will be the one that accepts the money that the Phins are willing to spend)
2. Rams – DT Glenn Dorsey (Considered by many as the best player in the draft, a dominant force inside to compliment Carriker and also free Carriker up to play more DE)
3. Falcons – DT Sedrick Ellis (to replace Grady Jackson and get some consistent push up front)
4. Raiders – DE Chris Long (Belongs in the Silver and Black, plus he is a perfect compliment to Burgess as well as being his eventual replacement. Dust off the old #75)
5. Chiefs – DE Vernon Gholston (to compliment Jared Allen and eventually replace him)
6. Jets – RB Darren McFadden (too hard to pass up at this spot)
7. Patriots – CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (to replace Asante Samuels)
8. Ravens – QB Matt Ryan (the qb of the future, although I am starting to think that the Ravens like Joe Flacco)
9. Bengals – WR Devin Thomas (to replace Chris Henry and maybe eventually take 85’s spot)
10. Saints – LB Keith Rivers (how can the Saints pass up on this kid, he is a future defensive star in the NFL!)
April 12th, 2008 at 11:43 am
Adding C Long would be a marketing coup for Al.
Not only would C Long immediately solidify the D line, but the D would become instantly better and overall the team would be .500 if not higher.
C Long’s jersey would be selling like crazy in addition to other Raiders merchandise.
People forget about one core item in a smaller market team like the Raiders, marketability is huge for their players.
DMac would be the next best player after C Long and would also provide big time marketability as RB’s typically do.
April 12th, 2008 at 11:47 am
jhill, carriker was drafted at 13 because he was great at DE and DT and could play either, he is not as good as dorsey or ellis as a pure DT but he is good enough that DT is not a major need for them, and they have no DE opposite little who is old, they will take chris long, and ryan is seen as a top prospect because of his intangibles and is one of the most overrated players in the draft, he is a good leader and has a good arm but he makes bad decisions and his accuraccy is streaky, he comes up big in clutch moments but is inconsistent, flacco is the best throwback QB, brohm i the best west coast, QB and henne has the best all around skills, ryan has the best intangibles and those have allowed him to become very overrated as he is lacking in skills, he does not have 1st rnd talent, he has potential to be successful in the right situation but the only situations he has a chance in that are likely are NYJ and BAL, but he will not end up in ATL, they have too many needs overall and there are plenty of good QBs in the 2nd
April 12th, 2008 at 11:47 am
Dogg- I like your top ten. Although I think given Samuel was overrated due to Belichik’s system and he’ll take Rivers at #7 due to Bruschi & Seau’s age.
I think NE will plug in another CB and they’ll do fine.
I would hope your wrong about KC taking Gholston and instead have them take Ryan. Ryan could then become a major bust and we can all laugh it off.
April 12th, 2008 at 11:50 am
raiderdogg, the reason for your picks is you want long and not mcfadden and have convinced yourself it’s possible, the phenomenon is known as cognitive dissonance, your mind struggles to cope with the reality of a situation and it’s easier to change your thoughts than it is to change reality, but the plain and simple reality is that chris long will be gone and mcfadden will be the pick, and even if long is there it will still be mcfadden
April 12th, 2008 at 11:50 am
From what the Rams were saying about Carriker it looks like they want him at DT.
“La’Roi is starting at our 3-technique tackle,” Linehan says. “Carriker is playing nose and can play 3-technique. He’s going to find his way into our opening-day starting lineup. He’s very strong and has probably the best hands of any D-lineman in the draft, which helps him play the run and shed blocks. He understands he has to occupy people, take on two blockers and has the ability to run down the line and make the tackle.”
Scott Linehan
”….Instantly, Carriker will be installed at defensive tackle and be expected to help the team’s ailing run defense.
At 6’6, 308 pounds, Carriker spent most of his college career playing the “Base” end in Nebraska’s defensive scheme.
In that scheme, Carriker was technically an end but where he lined up in relation to the offensive line was the equivalent of where he would lineup as a defensive tackle in the NFL.
”The best thing he does is he plays the run,” Linehan said. “He’s one of those guys that is a coach’s dream and a very disruptive player. He understands that a lot of times the role of a defensive tackle is to eat up blockers so that the linebackers can run free. I am really, really excited about this pick. In a crunch, he can probably play every position on our defensive line, but obviously we are going to place him there at defensive tackle to start out.”
Scott Linehan
April 12th, 2008 at 11:52 am
Dogg, I hope you are right.
If we take McFadden, someone needs to teach him “where babies come from.”
April 12th, 2008 at 11:53 am
J Russell is the star of offense. The one who will be marketed. Offenses with great QB play do not need star RBs, they make star RBs.
Addai is good b/c he plays with Manning
Faulk and Maroney are good b/c they play with Brady,
Rudi Johnson blows up when Carson Palmer starts ballin.
Good QB play means no 8 man fronts to run against, EVER.
A QB like Rivers needs a RB like LT. Same with a QB like Trent Green or Brady Croyle, they need a Larry Johnson.
J Russell shouldn’t need Dmac.
April 12th, 2008 at 11:54 am
dsm, we’ll be at least .500 regardless of who we draft, but it’ll be mcfadden, who can get us to the layoffs, one d-lineman will not change our overall defensive scheme, our D is built to shut down the pass and to bend but not break against the run, that works very well when we are scoring poits but we have failed to do so and mcfadden will provide us with that opportunity…..how many imes have i said that? just this morning I must have said it five or six times…
April 12th, 2008 at 11:57 am
I did not know that about Carriker …
Good info Marley and TT
April 12th, 2008 at 11:57 am
you’re right great QBs open up the run and great RBs open up the pass, when you have both you can do whatever you want
April 12th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
russell and mcfadden will eventually be the equivalent of manning and LT, and throw in bush as steven jackson to back up LT and miller is essentially another todd heap, although he could develope into a jason witten type as well, that would/will be one hell of an offense, and by the time all of that comes to fruition, our D will still be relatively young and intact
April 12th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
that is the eventual long-term potential of the offense we are building
April 12th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
A fat balding Asian guy just walked by with a Jacksonville Jaguars Byron Leftwich jersey on.
?
April 12th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
I totally agree. I’ve said this before, but I think Leinart’s success at USC was more due to Bush & White then his receivers.
I think if we had DMac & Bush in the same backfield, Russell would have a lot of freedom in terms of choosing his targets thus allowing him time to make his throws.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
I guess the question is how is Russell going to be used?
Are we a running team or a passing team? And not just for this year, right?
Is there even going to be 25 carries available for the RB position as a whole? Surely Bush is in the mix for what 15 carries or so?
Would we really draft Dmac at 4 for 10-15 carries? Would we really bench Bush so Dmac could have more touches?
April 12th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
leinarts success was do to the fact that he is smart and accurate, and he can move well, he is a perfect fit in a WCO and is a good fit for the “manage the game” role that whisenhunt looks for in a QB, he just needs to stay healthy and work harder, he’s been lazy and immature so far and needs to spent some more time in the weight room and preferably on the tread mill to stay healthy
April 12th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
dmac will see 15-20 touches a game and bush 10-20, we are building a team that can run and pass, right now we are a running team but we are beginning to make our team more two dimensional, the will see the bal at different times, mcfadden will start the game, score, break some big runs, get us down field, bush will be used in the goalline and to run the clock out, and they are both useful in the passing game(both throwing and catching), leaving every option open regardless of who is on the field
April 12th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
#456 — reminds me of an old, bad Gomer Pyle joke. Just change the name to Darren, and the punchline goes something like this…
Lou-Ann: “Gosh, Darren, that’s not my belly-button.”
Darren: “Well surprise, surprise, surprise! That’s not my thumb!”
TRADE DOWN TRADE DOWN TRADE DOWN
April 12th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
TT -
We may disagree but I wouldn’t attribute my perspective to the phenomenon known as “cognitive dissonance”. I attribute it more to how I honestly think things will go down.
It has nothing to do with my feelings for any player in the draft. I do like Chris Long but I wouldn’t be upset with a McDadden pick either. If I had my way the pick would be traded down and the Raiders pick up Keith Rivers and Trevor Laws in the 2nd with a pick included in the trade down.
I appreciate the psychological dissertation but honestly it doesn’t apply here. Honestly i don’t think you know me well enough to try and draw such a conclusion.
Is it possible that you suffer from “cognitive dissonance” yourself? Considering how well known your feelings are for McDadden one could easily draw a similar conclusion about yourself.
Thanks DSM and Kirk, I always appreciate the feedback, positive or otherwise.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
bush and mcfadden are both capable of doing it all but both are more proficient at there own strengths than the other, and having two great backs means you have no drop off in production and one of them should always be fresh and they are more likely to stay healthy long-term
April 12th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
We’ll do fine in the draft if we pick someone based on realistic needs (Dorsey, or trade down if not available), and avoid being slaves to tired Raider mythology that only sounds good in the off season, but never actually wins games (McFadden, aka Moss II, Chris long…he’s overrated).
Just build a real team, Al. Ignore that nutty little voice in your head that says the mystique is still there. Remember, that’s what led you to sign Moss.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
well guys i appreciate the stimulating conversation and debate, but i’m out
i’m not putting up with maddenraider’s BS today
April 12th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
the way you guys fight over Dmac and others.. i would have to guess you are all obama/clinton supporters!
April 12th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Where’d my tiny violin go?
April 12th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Michael Bush & DMac will be in the same backfield throughout the game. Yes there will be obvious times where DMac or Bush are on the bench, but for the most part Bush will be the back behind Russell meanwhile DMac is in motion.
DMac on any LB is a major mismatch and he could cause more than one d player to account for him thus leaving two wideouts in one on one in addition to Miller getting space.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Dogg, I’m actually on the East Coast right now, so no shot at Warrior tix for tonite. Not normally a problem tho.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
And, TT, what stimulating conversation would you be referring to? All I see is your usual shilling for the team. Nothing new or stimulating, there.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
wait, there are clinton supporters here?!?!?!…….break out the fire and pitchforks!!!
April 12th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
TT, last night, did you predict we’d win 12 games this season? Elaborate on that, please. I need a laugh.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Repo, good advice. We need linemen not Baby Daddys.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
i predicted 9
April 12th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
‘afternoon, Oakglenn. You did well last night, young Jedi. Let’s see if you can take the high road two days in a row. I’m betting you can’t. Any takers?
April 12th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Tommy, you’re supposed to ignore me. Oakglenn’s going to get pissed at you.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
i could give a crap whose mad at me, if i cared what others thought i would be a cowgirl fan
April 12th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Forgive me then, Tommy. I just sort of skimmed the thread last night. I thought you somewhere predicted us to win 12. I’m glad you didn’t. It’s a relief to know you’re not that crazy.
9’s a bit of a stretch, too, with Kiffin in a lame duck year and Lofton likely running most of the offense (which means Davis will be running most of the offense..). Our defensive scheme? 9 wins? ha ha. I’ll quote Rod Woodson, “You can’t win playing man coverage as much as they (the Raiders) do.”.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
No, Tommy, you dont’ get it. Oakglenn is the self proclaimed ombudsmen here of civil debate, and he’s made a rule that you guys can NOT respond to me. Are you questioning Oakglenn’s authority? You’ve got balls.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
with the #1 and #4 CBs in the NFL you can, and with 9 or 10 wins this year kiffin will likely get an extension
April 12th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
My view is that we can’t lose, whetever we choose to do:
Would Jake Long be a great addition? Yes, we need a stud RT with power and attitude. Long is also someone who might, if his footwork can be improved, be make a great LT.
Would Chris Long be a great addition? Yes, a high energy, high effectiveness DE would be a massive bonus. Long would cause mayhem and allow Burgess to attack, attack, attack.
Would Vernon Gholston be a great addition? Yes, this guy is a freak and has the highest upside of anybody in this draft. If the character matches the muscles, LT is reborn in Oakland.
Would Glenn Dorsey be a great addition? Yes, he is the best DT since Sapp – a real leader, a real powerhouse. Dorsey improves everybody around him.
Would Darren McFadden be a great addition? Yes, give him space and he is the most destructive runner to enter the NFL since Bo. Great speed, great balance, great awareness. If the Raiders think they can great an offense that puts DMC in the land of opportunity, this guy has the skill to take this team to the promised land.
We can’t lose. Even a trade down isn’t a bad option.
Relax, we are bathing in ambrosia.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
i’m a man, i make my own decisions
April 12th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
i agree for the most par scottish but j.long is not a good ZBS fit and would struggle in our system but it doesn’t matter, he’ll either go 1 or 2, mcfadden is the greatest addition
April 12th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
.500 is a definite possibility.
We should at least get win one each against both Denver & KC. Possibly upset SD for one win.
Bills, Texans, Jets, Ravens, Dolphins, Falcons, Saints, Bucs, & Panthers should all be winnable games.
There’s no way we don’t win 8 games this year with our offseason signing and eventual draft picks.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Kiffin’s gone after this season, TT. He’s not interested in being Davis’s puppet. Kiffin’s future was etched in stone with the signature Davis free agent acquisitions this off season. Kiffin subtly mocked every one of them in that press conference. He is not signed on. He is not “in”. He’s out, after this year, if Davis doesn’t can him beforehand, which is also likely because Davis will need someone to scapegoat mid season for our losing.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
DSM, we don’t win more than 4 games this year. You’re not reading between the lines. Kiffin is gone. Your judgment is clouded by your desperate belief in the organization’s mantra.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
# Tommy Trojan Says:
April 12th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
i’m a man, i make my own decisions
……..
Oakglenn’s not going to want to hear that. Again, he’s demanded that you guys don’t respond to me. Prepare for a whiny Oakglenn guilt trip, coming your way.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
OG -
whats happening on the right coast my friend?
Scottish -
Nice post. Bathing in ambrosia, good sheet man.
TT -
BTW no hard feelings intended earlier, just a little reverse psychology for the psychologist
Repo Man -
All you Repo Men are all out to f*ckin lunch!
April 12th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
the pats are he only sure loss, we will likely lose a game against SD, we should sweep KC and will probably sweep denver, it’s possible to split SD, the saints seem like a difficult game, the jets and texans would then be the next hardest with all the other games being ones we should be favored in for sure, there are 15 games on this schedule we could win, 12 we should win, factoring in the unknowns we should win 9 games and 10 would not surprise me, 7 or less would surprise me and 11 or more would surprise me, other than that the only surprised ones will be maddenraider and BSPN, hey…maybe maddenraider works for BSPN
April 12th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
We are bathing in ambrosia, Scottish? No team is bathing in Ambrosia while Al Davis is their GM.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Scottish Raider is right — no matter which way the Raiders go, there are enough positives for everybody.
I do not want to take McFadden. But, he COULD be a great pro, and I’d support him if he were chosen.
We have too many needs to fill, and there are too many good players in this draft — there are superstars to be drafted after the Top-10 picks are gone.
TRADE DOWN
April 12th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Somebody help me here, but did one of the Davis believes just accuse moi of being “out to lunch”? That’s the pot calling the kettle black….
April 12th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
“Davis believers”, as opposed to “davis believes”, post 499.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Only two more weeks! Then WTF are we going to argue about?
April 12th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
daze, we don’t have near as many need as you think, but i’m not starting that debate again, don’t have the time
i think i’m finally out for now
April 12th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
we’ll argue about whether or not we should have drafted mcfadden
have a nice day
April 12th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Hayes, you can’t just sign players and expect them to get it done on their own. That has been one of the biggest Raider flaws in the past 20 years. Just players, but no system. Plus, these players aren’t that great, to begin with. I’d say if you have a defensive line that can stop the run, and a smart as hell qb with talent, like Gannon, you would then get a lot more mileage out of the players basically being the bosses. But Russell? We don’t even know if he’s a Kerry Collins yet upstairs, let alone a Rich G. Our defensive line couldn’t stop the run if the opposing team announced which gap they were running to before every snap.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Repo Man -
it was a direct quote from the movie which is your namesake.
MR you know how I feel about you. I wish you and OG would just stop bitching at each other all the time. But other than that I know that you can add to the conversation if you would just put your differences aside.
We don’t all have to agree but some of this sh*t is getting old. Oakglenn is a friend of mine and a good guy. He’s passionate about the Raiders and I for one appreciate what he brings to the table.
I have no problem with you being the resident realist it’s the other nonsense that blows.
Go back and watch Repo Man and you will find that my quote is actually appropriate if you think about it.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Dogg,
Thanks for setting that guy straight earlier, lol.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
A wise man once told me the way to win a football game is to “score more points than the other team”. Plain and simple that’s what has to be done. Now how to do it is another can of worms, and at time a pandora’s box. Some teams build great defenses, some high powered offenses. Some believe in running the ball and stopping the run ala Pittsburgh, Jacksonville. Others Pass the ball first and when ahead stop the pass or create turnovers late in games. I could go on and on, but my point is We the Raiders have not created an identity yet. Our offense plain and simple sucks. We can’t be down with 2:15 left and on our 30yrd line and win the game. We don’t have the talent. We can’t be up with 3:15 on the clock in the 4th and run the clock out. We suck we don’t have the talent. Offensively we don’t have the talent and above all at this point it has to be adressed. However we do it.
Now just think of how many potential 08 probowlers we have on defense: Burgess, Morris, Howard, NA, Hall, and maybe the new safety Wilson.
Now Offense: Maybe the TE Zach Miller.
Remember 2008 season we know maybe JR in a few years.
This is why we will go Offense 1st round.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Kiffin is out. Lofton, and to an extent, Davis, are running the offense. Davis is running the defense. We all know that.
On offense, we’re back to 2006. Running backs will be receivers, or they will block. We’ll run the ball about 15 times a game, and that’s on the high end. There will be a few games where we run the ball less than 10 times. Russell will either get killed in the pocket and be out for the season with an injury, or he’ll take the lickings and start to want out of Oakland, anyway.
On defense, we’re playing man coverage, coupled with a defensive line that can not stop the run. Opposing offensive coordinators will have no reason to not run the ball 2 downs per every 3, and throw down field once every 3. They’ll do this methodically.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
# RaiderKen Says:
April 12th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
A wise man once told me the way to win a football game is to “score more points than the other team”.
……
Does your wise man work for the NY Giants, Indy Colts, Pitt Steelers or New England Patriots, the last 4 SB winners? If not, then I don’t care who he is or what he said. I want to win. And defense wins championships. And you have to stop the run. A wise man said that, too. The difference is, he was right.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
TT, you probably need a nap after all the analyzing you’ve been doing here. Believe it or not, most others on this blog watch the same game you do.
Just as you have overrated Matt Leinart — you probably think we should’ve drafted him, too — you’re mistaken if you think this Raiders team is one player away from the Promised Land.
A blown knee, a pulled muscle or ankle sprain, and this team has NO receiving corps.
With a running game that already has the talent and potential to be in the league’s Top-5, it’s important to fill needs that definitely exist elsewhere.
There will be another “greatest since Bo” running back to look at next year.
TRADE DOWN
p.s. I saw Bo make 2 of his longest 3 runs from scrimmage — both times at the L.A. Coliseum (one was the time he got caught from behind at the 1-yard-line).
Bo was an amazing athlete and guy. I have a hard time comparing McFadden to him in any way just yet.
April 12th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
I’ve got your back Dakota.
I’m off to see if I can get some decent Warrior tix for tonights sold out game. The W’s chances of making the playoffs are pretty slim now, but that’s not going to stop me.
Have a good afternoon all.
April 12th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Repo — don’t know if you and I are in disagreement here…this team absolutely needs a strong, consistent system and coaching staff.
I have some pretty strong feelings on the subject — especially where loyalty to the team/owner who gave you your shot comes in.
In this draft I would like to target, in order, the DL, WR’s and OL before anything else.
TRADE DOWN and load up for this year AND the future.
April 12th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
# HayesDaze#37 Says:
April 12th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
“I have some pretty strong feelings on the subject — especially where loyalty to the team/owner who gave you your shot comes in.”
……
Don’t be such a drama queen. It’s 2008, and everyone in this global economy is a free agent. The onus is on Davis to make Kiffin happy so that he wont’ want to leave, not on Kiffin to kiss Davis’s ass when he doesn’t need to. It’s not 1963. Kiffin comes from a football family and has options, yet Davis is treating him like he’s off the street.
There is no reason for Kiffin to be loyal to Al Davis. He isn’t a dog. He’s a football coach. He was hired to coach. If a better offer comes? So be it. It’s on Davis to make the Raiders a more appealing job for Kiffin, not whine like a baby when kiff flirts with other options.
April 12th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6EHSUT4mpQ
Does anyone know the song in this video? and i mean the second song, not the undertaker theme, the one based on 300.
April 12th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Very few employees of the Raiders, coaches or otherwise, grew up Raider fans. They don’t have the emotional attachment to the Raiders and Al Davis that some of you guys do. So I can see how it’s hard for you guys to understand how they don’t feel any need to be loyal to Al Davis. They shouldn’t. They were hired to do a job, and in this country, you always have the option of quitting. The only real move a business owner can make to secure an employee is by making the job more desirable for that employee. What does Al Davis not understand about that? He hires a guy, treats him like an unruly step child, and is then shocked when the guy looks for another job. He’s unreal! Not only is Al Davis out of touch with the modern day x’s and o’s of the game, he’s out of touch with the modern day business world and the modern day job market, as well. I really feel sorry for him. He needs to be intervened with. Somebody, his son, wife, Madden perhaps, needs to shake him into reality.
April 12th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Repo man
That was actual a joke! something all your posts are. You above everyone should know this.
My point was that teams go about building in different ways. No team goes about it exactly the same way, but they have great players on both sides of the ball. We are so off balanced it’s not funny. 1st round Offense.
April 12th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Hayes-Who wants to trade up??? Everyone in the top 10 knows they can get their 1st or 2nd choices regardless, wo no sense in trading up. Dallas doesn’t want to spend the $$$ to do it, so who wants to trade with Al? I’m all for it if it’s possible, but Al can make some trades (Sands, Washington, Routt, Schweigert, Rhodes, Madsen, O’Neil, etc.) for 2 or 3 picks in 2-5 rounds. It may cost Al 2-3 players for each pick.
April 12th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Repo’s scrappin’ for a fight…
I never said anything about Kiffin. But, if I did…yeah, I’d say he should be loyal, too. At least until he’s been given a reason to be otherwise.
None of the BS I heard in the media made me believe Kiffin and Davis were being other than loyal to each other. I personally think the “subterfuge” is being played-up just for our entertainment.
I’m a big Kiffin supporter, and a bigger Davis supporter — as long as his screw-ups are done in an effort to improve this team. Old or young, it’s Al’s team to do with what he pleases. Since I’m so heavily-invested in it, I hope they both keep doing their jobs as well as they did last year.
There are a few coaches to whom I would apply the “ungrateful” term to — namely Shanahan and Gruden, albeit for different reasons. And no, I’m definitely NOT a Gruden hater — he gave us exactly what we needed, when we needed it.
But, Gruden saw his opportunity for leverage and used it. If Kiffin tried to leverage his position at an early stage in his career (like the rumors state), it would only go to show just how much he still needs to learn about being a professional coach (and would also go a long way in defining how loyal to a program he really is).
What that has to do with the fact that I want to trade down in the draft, I don’t know.
April 12th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Repo Joke. the guy is a bad joke. like his posts.
April 12th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
KC –
I think we’re sitting exactly where the most teams would like to get to. If the Dolphins sign somebody quick, the other teams that want to move up will become lots more active.
The #4 pick this year is just as good as the #1, and a whole lot cheaper to pay. The phones are going to be ringing off-the-hook.
April 12th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Repo weirdo comes in here saying idiotic stuff to get everyone riled up and at each others throats. But when no one falls for it he goes nuts and posts as others and starts belching racist crap.
April 12th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Six degrees when I woke up this morning…….zoinks
April 12th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
89 degrees on my patio
April 12th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
**sigh**
April 12th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Loving So Cal Weather this way anyway I really hope we pick this guy up we can pick up a DT later on in the rounds or through FA we havent had a star back sincem Allen & Jackson it will feel good to run all over the Donkeys Chockers & Quiefs
April 12th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Silver and Black, I can dispel your theory here and now. There’s no way I can prove I’m not the guy posting the racist stuff (although the mods could certainly confirm that I’m not, if they would be so nice), but going by your logic, if the person who’s posting racist stuff is doing so because nobody is paying attention to him, then it can’t be me because my posts ALWAYS get responses. I can throw out a couple of critiques of Al Davis, S&B, and keep this blog on fire all day. So go back to the drawing board if you need a theory demonstrating that I’m likely the racist troll.
April 12th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Silver and Black, here’s a list of the people who’ve responded to me in the past few hours:
Tommy Trojan
Hayssaze37
RaiderKen
Raider Dogg
Kirk (in agreement, evidently)
And, yourself.
So, if I’m the one making racist comments, then it’s certainly not for a want of attention.
April 12th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
BTW, everyone on the list above, you guys are ALL going to get it from Oakglenn. Remember, he’s your guy’s self proclaimed King here, and he’s forbidden any correspondence with me…himself an exception, of course. But no good self proclaimed King isn’t also a hypocrite, right?
April 12th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
HayzeDaze, your explanation for your loyalty point isn’t cutting it. Still a bit too dramatic, for me.
Shananahan is going a bit far back, so I’ll talk about Gruden. Gruden wanted control of the final roster, plus 15 million over 5 years, certainly reasonable considering he dug this franchise out of the grave it was in before his arrival. That’s not asking a lot. Control of the final roster just means that he decides who gets cut in the preseason. It doesn’t mean he has complete control of the team, as many in the Davis crowd tried to spin it in order to make him look unreasonable. IMO, Bob Lomante, Gruden’s agent, didn’t do a good enough job getting that word out, and Davis’s side of the story is about all that made the light of day. It was assumed that Gruden wanted to take over the city of Oakland. Not true. He just wanted to choose his own 53 man roster in Augest, from the players that Davis, Allen, and himself have already brought in.
Also, let’s say Gruden did want complete control. So what? It’s not like it’s permanent! You guys always use these overly dramatic terms like “Throw him the keys”, as if we’re signing over the franchise to him…
tsk tsk, come here, a little closer. Let me whisper a little secret to you….
*Davis can still fire him whenever he wants. Davis still owns the team. Gruden never made a bid for managing general partner…*
Capiche? Sheesh!!!
You guys.. man, relax……
Nobody is going to rustle the team away from Al Davis, the way Al Davis did from Wayne Valley, of course. Davis is too smart for that.
But in today’s business world, you have to make quality employees happy, or they will go elsewhere. Gruden was a quality employee. Gruden asked for something that was not unreasonable. Davis rejected his proposal, only offering an extension of the contract Gruden already had (after Gru’s original proposal), and then of course, when it was obvious Gruden was going to leave, Davis then offered him a raise that matched Gruden’s proposal as far as yearly salary, but for 3 years instead of 5. Way too little, way too late. But Al knew Gruden wouldn’t agree with it. The whole idea of it was so that Davis’s constituency (you guys) could say that Gruden was offered a raise. The classic red herring. It would have been great if Gruden would have showed him up, Charles Woodson style, but Gruden had a better deal awaiting in Tampa. Since the trade, Gruden has won 3 division titles and one Super Bowl championsip. Davis got to the super bowl the following season, but is 19-61 ever since, with no playoffs. Not stellar team management.
Loyalty’s for the birds. It’s all about winning, and getting the guys that can help you win. They only owe you what you’re paying them to do. Somebody like Al’s wife, son , or maybe John Madden need to scream that into Al’s hearing aid.
April 12th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
This team has been comatose since Super Bowl 37, with the only signs of life coming from Kiffin and things that he brought in; Zone blocking, use of the run, better team chemistry and consistency, harder practices, etc. Amazing, still some have the nerve to bash him. It’s as if they enjoy the franchise being dead. Like a cranky old man awakening from his nap. They don’t want to win. They just want to go back to sleep, and blame the press for how bad we are.
April 12th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Daze – I hope you’re right, but anyway you figure it Al shouldn’t be able to go wrong with that pick. But I hope we don’t take Gholston, I think he may be a bust if he doesn’t develop his skills-he’s 1 dementional right now. But when June 1 comes Al should be able to fill any remaining holes that wasn’t addressed in the draft.
April 12th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Well…I guess I will be the lone dissenter on this blog when it comes to “O” line. If we do not replace “Turnstile” Harris at LT and Green at RT before the season starts JR will be in big trouble trying to learn the game. The ZBS does not play out as well when it comes to pass blocking as it does run blocking. Yes, I will be happy if we draft defense first since our options are limited. But DMc is a luxury we canot afford right now and there will be RBs in the future drafts.
April 12th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
In the long press conference Kiffin had at the owners meeting he mentioned all the names of the offensive line and by position. Did anyone notice he named Harris left tackle and no back up. Also Green right tackle with Henderson back up. No mention of Mcquistan Not even at Guard. That is didrespectful after he out performed Green at that position at the end of last year. So my question to the Nation. Is he on the trading block?
April 12th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
no one would trade for that ugly red head
April 12th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
it kills me how u guys think teams will give up 2 and 3 round picks for guys who werent even that good on our team…i think they would rather take their chances on 21 or 22 year old rookies
April 12th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Who said anything about what round or even if it is a trade for a pick it could be a player swap.
April 12th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Ok, lets think about it, take a rookie who most likely won’t contribute his 1st yr unless it’s special teams or take 2-3 seasoned vets who maybe in a different enviornment will succeed. (2-3 players for 1) That’s been Al’s M.O. – Jim Plunket, etc… He just does it through F/A. I’m sure other coaches or GM’s feel other teams do not make the most of the players and their team may just be able to get it right.
April 12th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Returning after hiatus (& fun) in the sun. One day spring in the Pac Northwest will be over soon (sunset).
Scottish; way to align the troops with the “anybody would allow the glass to be half full” premise. Are you running for public office? MP for the S&B?
Just in. . . whomever the Raiders draft has my support. Even when Al opted for Derrick Gibson (wanted Todd heap in a big way, Seabass (wanted a trade up for Julian Peterson), or even as far back as 1986 when our beloved Raiders opted for Bob Buczkowski from Pitt I supported the selection. Like most of you ardent Raider bloggers I have had my share of preferred selections that the Raiders failed to make, only to see them enjoy NFL success.
According to my preferences the Raiders could have had an offensive line in the late 80’s/early 90’s that would have consisted of, from left tackle to right tackle, of Jim Lachey, Larry Allen, Don Mosebar, Steve Wiesniewski & Siupeli Malamala (RT @ U of Washington whom went onto success with the Jets. Came out the same year as the slothen footed, yet highly acclaimed, Greg Skrepenek). Well, would have beenm for only one year. But factor in one Max Montoya and, well, dominance would have been realized. Al never takes my calls, though (a loss felt by all of us).
Also; the Raiders will continue to run the ball more than they pass, until 2009 @ the earliest. Even in the Raiders heyday they utilized a ball control attack (Marv Hubbard, Mark van Eeghen, Clarence Davis) and then went downfield. This was with The Snake, a veritable coach on the field under center.
Until JRuss can master the fine art of reading defenses on the run and utilizing all the playbook his decision-making and accompanying play calling will be controlled.
Despite Al’s efforts the two factors that remain unsolved are adequate run-stuffing two-gap DT’s and adequate OT’s. That is why I still can’t comprehend the lure of McFadden. Sure he entices with his potential but, in my view he remains a luxury that may not come to floriation.
And, for those of you whom seem to possess a monopoly on whom the Raiders will draft; there is no way you can know for sure. So many intangables remain between now and the actual draft. It amazes me.
Then y’all (well, not all of you. But angst reigns supreme from those that this discription applies to) go on to disparage all opinions that differ from yours.
This is a blog; an exchange of opinions. You don’t have to like those belonging to others. However, respect of other opinions would be appreciated.
Anyway, it’s a nice early evening & my girlfriend will be here any minute. Time for the games to begin (was on the east coast all week. Let’s see if all that absence and fonder hearts thing takes effect).
late
antispy3
April 13th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Oakland will take McFadden.
April 14th, 2008 at 8:34 am
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