Draft review: 1997
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Sunday, April 15th, 2007 at 11:21 am in Oakland Raiders.
Third in a series reviewing Raiders’ draft classes since they returned to Oakland in 1995:
1/2_Darrell Russell, DT, USC
3/72_Adam Treu, OL, Nebraska
3/85_Tim Kohn, G, Iowa State
4/123_Chad Levitt, RB, Cornell
6/172_Calvin Branch, FS, Colorado State
6/193_Grady Jackson, DT, Knoxville
The top pick_In the days leading up to the draft, the Raiders dealt the No. 10 pick in the first round along with selections in the second and fourth round, plus wide receiver Darryl Hobbs, to the New Orleans Saints, enabling Oakland to move to No. 2 overall.
The target, ostensibly, was Ohio State tackle Orlando Pace. Except the Rams, the day before the draft, made their own deal, acquiring the No. 1 overall pick from the Jets. They took Pace. Pace and Russell were considered the two top talents in the draft. Oakland’s company line, after taking Russell, was that they were going to be happy with either man.
Russell, miscast as an end as a rookie, became a Pro Bowl player, only to ruin his career through his own lack of personal discipline. He ran afoul of the NFL substance abuse policy, and died in an auto accident last year while still on suspension.
Could have had_Walter Jones, a left tackle out of Florida State who has been equal or superior to Pace as a pro, was taken at No. 6 by Seattle.
Mr. Reliable_Treu is the Raider of longest service and has distinguished himself as a long-snapper, backup center and occasional starter when Barret Robbins was out due to injury or illness.
Draft bargains_Jackson, out of tiny Knoxville, became an effective and popular player at defensive tackle, a player of immense natural strength and surprising quickness. Only his weight (too high) and disposition (too nice) prevented him from becoming a Pro Bowl player. Branch is a special teams player who is now a Raiders scout.
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April 15th, 2007 at 11:39 am
jerry, what happened to all the quinn and russell updates? Jerry step up your game
Will Al Davis hire Don Imus to handle the post-game show on comcast?
April 15th, 2007 at 12:07 pm
Love this series, hate every “could have had.” Drafting is a miserably inaccurate process, which, I imagine, is why QB Coach is so frantic for draft updates.
Having the #1 pick is such a mixed blessing. I’m terrified at the magnitude of the mistake we could make. I feel like Al is a lock to take Russell, and he’s about as boom-or-bust as a player can be. Pass the Maalox…
April 15th, 2007 at 12:14 pm
lets get field turf similar to gillette stadium at the coliseum
draft quinn
sign al wilson
trade lamont jordan and fargas to giants from matthias kiwanuka
hire tom martinez as offensive consultant.
April 15th, 2007 at 12:22 pm
What if we would have drafted walter jones? We would have been set at left tackle and never would have drafted gallery. This reminds me of another Russell that we shouldn’t draft , Jamarcus Russell. DON’T DRAFT JAMARCUS RUSSELL!
April 15th, 2007 at 12:49 pm
Jerry would be wasting everybody’s time only talking about Russell and Quinn. Especially when there is nothing happening beyond speculation. This was a good draft for Oakland. Again though it was a character issue that kept a guy from being great.
April 15th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
Jesus Christ, who was drafting for our defense in ‘96 and ‘97?
Johnston, L. Glover, D. Russ….my god. Was Monte Kiffin working part time in Oakland?
Now we know why Al likes secrecy. Without knowing who to credit for drafting these players, there’s no one left to give credit to but him. Tie that with a league conspiracy to blame for out recent failures, and the mantra is set.
Well, the proof is in the pudding. At some point, Al has to get that 4th Lombardi trophy in his case. We shall see for seuth if he’s made a move in that direction by hiring Lane Kiffin, or if Al is going to continue to commandeer the team into the ground.
April 15th, 2007 at 1:18 pm
Hey QB Coach, what happened to your theory that we should draft two black quarterbacks and hire Doug Williams to coach them, then draft more black quarterbacks and turn them into RBs and then draft some more black QBs and turn them into WRs, oh and put in some field turf, that was my favorite in a long line of idiotic posts by you, keep up the good work, keep them coming and keep us laughing man. Your the craziest.
April 15th, 2007 at 1:27 pm
Shut the f’k up, stirling. You’re the reason why Black people continue to bring up the race card. Black people probably would just let go of their racial grudges and contribute to the American dream if conservative, dick white blowhards like your smelly, redneck ass, would put your 10 gallon hats on and get back on your horses.
YOU REDNECK F’KS ARE JUST AS ANNOYING AS THE BLACKS! GO THE F’K AWAY, AND TAKE THAT BRAINLESS FK’N PRESIDENT WITH YOU!!!
ART SHELL’S HAT
p.s.
F’K YOU!!!
April 15th, 2007 at 1:28 pm
the raiders have had some pretty foul luck in the draft, and russell is a pretty big example. i always loved russell,and thought he was a great player. his story is truly a sad one. he obviously wasn’t ready for fame and fortune.
treu and jackson were great finds. i don’t understand why treu doesn’t figure in this years’ mix at center(or even guard).
we’ve taken a “who’s who” of defensive players in the last decade. this is the one thing that makes me sometimes question al’s “know how” for the game. we let guys like eric barton, grady jackson, and rod coleman go, but we keep the likes of alvis whitted, james jett, or courtney anderson?? i’m glad to see our recent defensive resurgence, but i’m worried al’s gonna “clean house” a year or two from now. surely he knows that defense wins championships, doesn’t he??
i really hope kiffin has a big hand in this year’s draft, even though i doubt it.
April 15th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
if kiffin wants player “A” and al wants player “B”, who do you think we’ll draft??
i just hope player “B” is calvin johnson!!!
April 15th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
hey art shells hat, i could care less if our players are black or white, I’m not a cowboy I’m a logger, I’m not a conservative I’m a liberal, and he’s not my president I’m a Canadian and he hates us too. my only point was that QB coach has wild ideas and they change like the wind.
ps I think your almost as crazy as QB coach. keep up the good work.
April 15th, 2007 at 2:10 pm
Hey cousin Art you never talk to me anymore since I lost my South Park gig
……that is no way to treat family
April 15th, 2007 at 2:17 pm
When we talk about the players we could have had…the same could be said for any team. Other teams could have had Tim Brown or Marcus Allen or many others.
April 15th, 2007 at 4:30 pm
Coach on Wheels - isn’t it kinda ironic that 6 out of 12 #1 pick QB’s were successful, since we are deciding on JR or Quinn if we take a QB. Chances are one of the two will be good and the other a bust.
How eerily similar is this to the Peyton/Leaf argument. Peyton and Quinn are almost clones…as are JR and Leaf. Compare arm strength, work ethic, year left college, etc, etc, etc….history has already given us the answer should it be a QB we select. Take CJ and trade down to Quinn.
April 15th, 2007 at 4:59 pm
CT - Exactly. Historically speaking Russell is a lot like Leaf and Quinn like Manning. I’ve read scouting reports for Leaf and Manning and you could almost just swap the names Russell and Quinn. Leaf showed up overweight to the combine too. Scary. Funny thing is, in Bradshaw’s day he would’ve been a free agent well before the Steelers had their run and he was villified in Pitt as a bust for years. It took him five years before getting to a bowl. That’s not much of a reality in today’s NFL.
Russell 1997 to Russell 2007 - spooky.
April 15th, 2007 at 5:03 pm
CT - Looking at the #1 list I see why Houston took Williams. The lowest bust factor is by far DE. Matusak, Too Tall, Selmon, Bruce Smith, man. Courtney Brown is the closest thing to a bust at DE. Forget JR, CJ, and BQ - draft a DE!
April 15th, 2007 at 5:05 pm
Gaines Adams it is!!!!
April 15th, 2007 at 5:57 pm
how bout trading away the #1 pick and accumulating more picks, and drafting laron landry, gaines adams, and yamon figurs.
April 15th, 2007 at 6:10 pm
the manning/leaf comparisons to quinn/russell is something that has been obvious to me for weeks. i’m from the same hometown as ryan leaf and got to hear all the same stories of leaf’s greatness as we do of russell. the similarities are scary. big-junior with a fairytale arm(once saw him throw a ball 70 yards in a high school game). the one notable difference is leaf is a pudgy, arrogant, prick while j-russ seems to be a pudgy, huggable teddy bear. i don’t neccessarily think j-russ will be leaf, but leaf is typical of what you get with a “big” qb–se andre ware, scott mitchell, and dante culpepper.
as far as brady quinn being peyton manning……..spare me.
manning and leaf are obviously extreme examples of star and bust. jruss has a greater shot of being leaf than quinn has of being manning, which is why we should take calvin johnson.
let the irving fryer and keyshawn comparisons begin…..
April 15th, 2007 at 6:20 pm
the raiders should brig in former george mason basketball player jai lewis for training camp and get him to practice at tight end, he was all-state in high school, and was in training camp with the giants last season, but left, due to him signing a pro basketball contract with a european team.
April 15th, 2007 at 6:37 pm
as long as were in europe, we should obtain the rights to the QB for the berlin thunder. did anyone see him last night?? that is what a mobile qb looks like.
April 15th, 2007 at 6:57 pm
If anyone’s interested, I posted a rebuttal to Coach on Wheels’ bust factor for #1 overall QBs. Somebody’s padding their stats, I think.
April 15th, 2007 at 6:58 pm
Whoops. It’s posted on the ‘96 draft blog.
April 15th, 2007 at 7:16 pm
DON’T BE SURPRISED IF THE RAIDERS DRAFT TWO QB’S. THE ONLY PRBLEM I HAVE WITH RUSSEL IS BEING ANOTHER D.RUSSEL. LIKE JAMIE DUKES SAID I HOPE HE DON’T HANG WITH POOKIE AND THEM .YOU KNOW IT’S ALOT OF POOKIES AND HOOD RATS THAT WOULD LOVE TOO BRING HIM DOWN.
.
April 15th, 2007 at 7:26 pm
al davis hates black people
April 15th, 2007 at 7:40 pm
Darrell Russell was in trouble for raping a girl while taping it wasn’t he? The woman said he put something in her drink at a club. I believe the tape proved that she was into what they were doing but I cannot remember.
Russell was a good player for a couple years before he just simply disappeared on the playing field.
Adam Treu has always done a good job filling in when needed and he did alright during the Superbowl considering he was forced into that one.
Grady Jackson was a steal but Double Double Animal Style cheeseburgers got the best of him and his career though hes been effective for most of the years hes played.
April 15th, 2007 at 7:46 pm
Someone mentioned us letting go of Eric Barton in the past. I’m still shocked by the release of Danny Clark. Why couldn’t we keep guys like Barton and Clark when they were effective. I can understand trading Napolean Harris for a guy like Randy Moss but had we not done that, I could have seen a starting trio of Weakside - Barton, Middle - Clark, & Strong Napolean Harris. That would have been a pretty sturdy linebacker core and they would be eating tackles for breakfast. Danny Clark could have moved to the Strongside position after moving Morrison to the middle and he would have been WAY BETTER than Sam Williams. I can imagine Thomas Howard, Morrison and Danny Clark fighting each other for tackles because they have all turned into tackle machines. I thought Howard would have started at strong side last year because he is so fast, he would be perfect for covering TE’s and RB’s out of the backfield. Maybe we draft another linebacker and start him at the Weakside and move Howard to the Strong. Then we’ll have 2 of our starting backers with experience playing the weakside so they can help out the rookie when he starts there?
April 15th, 2007 at 7:50 pm
Mark my words…Brady Quinn will be a #5 QB in the NFL. You can all remind me of saying that in the future. If I happen to be wrong…whats the worst that can happen? Thats the beauty of wishful thinking.
April 15th, 2007 at 7:50 pm
I mean a top 5 QB.
April 15th, 2007 at 7:52 pm
Al Davis made Art Shell the first ever black coach in the NFL, the first ever. He can’t hate them that much. keep up the good work there QB Coach.
April 15th, 2007 at 7:59 pm
Profootballtalk.com
SHIELDS RETIRED OVER MONEY?
A league source tells us that Will Shields has announced his retirement for one primary reason — money.
As in Shields wanted more of it, and the team wasn’t inclined to give it to him.
Per the source, Shields recently said that he is willing to play at least two more seasons.
It remains to be seen whether Shields’ retirement results in more money, or whether the Chiefs will let him walk.
Shields retiring only makes things easier for the Raiders.
April 15th, 2007 at 8:05 pm
Profootballtalk.com
CULPEPPER GETTING CUT? Miami is pursuing Green again.
Georgia Tech coach Chan Gailey calls Calvin Johnson a once-in-a-lifetime guy.
Raiders QB Andrew Walter is ready to compete — even if he’s competing with the No. 1 overall pick.
As part of his Friday workout with the Bucs, WR Calvin Johnson stood behind coach Jon Gruden and caught passes all around him.
April 15th, 2007 at 8:06 pm
From Rotoworld.com
“Pretty solid sources” in the Raiders’ organization reportedly say Calvin Johnson is atop the club’s draft board by “a clear-cut margin.”
This comes from ESPN’s Len Pasquarelli; ESPN’s Chris Mortensen said the same in a recent online chat. Pasquarelli contends the bigger debate is whether JaMarcus Russell or Brady Quinn is the top QB prospect.
Source: ESPN Insider
April 15th, 2007 at 8:46 pm
Calvin Johnson is the #1 player on everyones draftboard, there is no question about that. That’s why picking him should be a no brainer. There are question marks about Russell and Quinn.
April 15th, 2007 at 9:40 pm
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April 15th, 2007 at 9:47 pm
Andrew Walter as starter, Tim Rattay as backup and CJ as our 1st rounder. It cant be that hard to figure out, Al. I bet Lane Kiffin is telling you each day.
Lets hope for a 8-8 season, thats a big jump. But it will make the rest of the League, the division - the world respect us. Respect would make the push division-champs easier.
As for the 2008 campaign. Thats the year we’re ready to be compared with NE, IND, and other recent top-teams. Thats when Kiffin thinks this is his team. For now its a carwreck i the garage - and he’s having fun rebuilding it, Us fans will have so much more fun when Kiffin pulls out of the garage and takes the team for a spin.
Next year we draft a ‘franchise’ QB this year is all about rebuilding.
Kids keep your hands above the blanket…
April 15th, 2007 at 11:25 pm
Quinn’s Notre dame experience with a “pro-style” game would give him the edge as far as immediate need and likely, the Raiders are.
He also fits more of the apparent “westCoast hybrid” sysyem Kiffin’s instituting.
Definitely not my favorite, but on paper, Quinn’s go the edge over Russell in Okland at least.
Still want CJ to restore a legimtimate air threat and open running lanes like the millineum Raiders did.
Passs to establish run.
April 15th, 2007 at 11:28 pm
I would say….Run to establish the pass
April 15th, 2007 at 11:29 pm
Art shell’s hat got handed to him as he was walking out the door.
Good riddance.
Spewing stupidity.
Its like a parastoltic chain reaction.
One person barfs up some racism, some one reciprocates.
Once Black people (yeah, I said black, deal with it) drop the slavery crutch and white people admit their lying f’in hypocrits, espousing religious and societal morality and privately escewing them all, we’ll never get along.
Gotta get real bfore you can deal.
April 15th, 2007 at 11:33 pm
rich gannon’s love child:
“I hope Kiffin has a hand in this years draft.”
I think so.
Like the Big Tuna said “Gonna let him cook, you gotta let him shop for the groceries.”
CJ in Silver and Black!
April 15th, 2007 at 11:37 pm
Huff24:
“I thought Howard would’ve started strong side, he’d've been perfect covering TE Rbs comin outa the back field.”
Me too.
Wonder if Bing’s gonna rotate in during pass defense.
His questionable cover skills at safety should translate into great cover skills at LB.
Now if he can only stop head hunting every play, keep his feet under him and drive thru tackles, we’d be on to something…
April 15th, 2007 at 11:48 pm
Even though I like Schweigert and believe he should start, I would almost like to see Darnell Bing at FS. With his size and knack for the kill, he could help bring back that head hunter mentality over the middle of the field. Roy Williams had established that at FS before moving to SS. Sean Taylor is that style of player. I think Eric Turner was the last and closest thing we have had back there in awhile and God rest his soul. I like Huff at SS because he plays a Rover position that allows him to move into the slot and back into the deep field as well as position himself all over the field while the FS stays back and plays the safe and deep zone. Darnell Bing might let some TD’s go if he was back there whereas Schweigert plays the safe zone nicely, keeping the deep ball from hurting us.
April 16th, 2007 at 12:00 am
If we don’t draft Calvin J and we decide to go with Quinn, it would be an awesome situation to get Dwayne Jarrett with the hope that he could fall to the 33rd pick in the draft. We could have a franchise QB who can start immediately if needed or groomed for one year if we choose because of Andrew Walter. Dwayne Jarrett or even Steve Smith could start immediately because of the knowledge of Kiffin’s system.
I almost want Andrew Walter to start regardless of whether we draft a QB or not because if we draft a QB, I would like Walter to get another chance at showing off his skills. I would like to see Walter have a successful future if not in Oakland and his one year start with us could be his showcase year where he gains other teams interest.
I’m also really surprised at how Gruden never attempted to pick up Tuiasosopo even though he became a free agent. Why go after Jeff Garcia and Jake Plummer when his boy was in the open market?
April 16th, 2007 at 12:03 am
I agree we have gotten no production out of Schweigert. No interceptions, no big hits, no coverage ability. We at least need a guy back there that’s going to put the hat on somebody.
Let’s get a another young prospect back there to push him for his job
April 16th, 2007 at 12:10 am
I want Calvin Johnson. But if decide to go with Quinn, whatever. Just as long as we don’t draft Jamarcus russell i’ll be happy, this guys got bust written all over him. But is quinn really that much better than walters. I think walters has a better arm, quinn better feet.
April 16th, 2007 at 12:35 am
Here is some real good footage on Andrew Walter with Arizona State AND the Oakland Raiders. He looked pretty good with Oakland despite little time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuXtvgS_mYU
April 16th, 2007 at 2:33 am
I trade down and take Peterson. Get some more picks from a team desperate for CJ. Heck, get a new running game in with Rhodes, Jordan and Peterson plus a ton load of new picks to reload the roster. Cut the NON-CONTRIBUTERS and RELOAD. That’s the best way as I see it right now.
April 16th, 2007 at 2:35 am
I say draft a RB. We’d missed out on Eddie George in 1996. This might be deja vu!
April 16th, 2007 at 2:38 am
Plus, taking Peterson lower would save cap money. Peterson get a low cap dollar salary. We’d can still keep Moss. The new picks get some more wideouts and CUT the Francis, Whitted, or whoever ain’t making it on the Roster. Raiders ain’t gonna resign Porter in the future.
April 16th, 2007 at 2:41 am
Raiders run all day! This would prevent blitzes and sack. Walter gets time to throw .. Moss or Porter, the NEW SPEED DEMONS rookies wideout, heck, we’d can still take another RB with the extra picks from trading away the No.1 selection.
April 16th, 2007 at 2:43 am
I’m NOT lock to one player. I see an opportunity to improve the Raiders team as whole and get back to winning football games. I NOT a fan of players in the draft but only players who can get it done!
April 16th, 2007 at 2:48 am
Raiders need a LT like the Bolts. I say chance it with Peterson, he’s got durable issues, but with the extra HIGH picks, why not select another RB. Bush? Lynch? Whoever is HIGH on the RB list. Take 2 RB HIGH in this draft.
April 16th, 2007 at 2:50 am
Worst case scenario. CJ is aRaider. CJ is the BEST wideout prospect and can’t miss athlete in this draft. He is NOT Dudley! LOL… Raiders still have a weapon besides Moss.
April 16th, 2007 at 4:27 am
Oakland Fan - I think you misunderstood Huff24…”Darnell Bing might let some TD’s go if he was back there whereas Schweigert plays the safe zone nicely, keeping the deep ball from hurting us.” Oakland Fan, that meens Stuart is covering -
I get it as schweigert did not do the tv-tackles or INT put he kept the others out of our endzone - I guess thats what the primary job for a FS
HUFF24 Your right on. Put Huff at SS an keep Stuart at FS - he is a important character for the team and teammates of the field.
HUFF24 I would say, regardless of we take CJ, Steve smith is the maaaan - he reminds me of hmm yeah - steve smith. Jarret is good, but we dont need him.
Im happy to see that the walter support is growing. HE IS OUR MAN! yeah i too wondered why gruden didnt pick up Tui. Perhaps he had seen enough??
April 16th, 2007 at 5:20 am
Bing is a SS. Play him there and move Huff to FS. Bing ain’t no LB, he plays like a DB and should either start or backup at DB. The draft I definately look to take and trade scenario for the 1st selection. Looking at the points require to move up, I take all of Falcons 2007 draft picks and trade the lower ones up for 3-4 rounders. So, Raiders get 10 picks in the top 100 players. This is just my thoughts.
April 16th, 2007 at 6:56 am
I realize that the more time that goes by the more analyzing and over-analyzing I do. Part of me wonders whether it is actually CJ or Quinn that is the guy teams want. Sure CJ is the BPA, but teams always gravitate to that perceived franchise QB. I see Quinn as being the need pick by Oakland, Detroit, Browns, Minny and Miami.
I feel 100% that Detroit takes Quinn if we don’t. I think the whole McCown trade to Oakland depends on whether Detroit gets Quinn.
April 16th, 2007 at 7:26 am
No one player will turn a team around. The Raiders need more talent than one player, I feel it necessary as a pro football fan that the Raiders need to move the pick, thus getting more higher round picks to improve the team as whole. Forget the hype… let get some teams seriously interested getting the most points value, taking their picks and draft more talents.
April 16th, 2007 at 8:31 am
Jared Zabransky, I think this kid will be the dark horse qb of this draft. Just needed to get that posted
April 16th, 2007 at 8:51 am
Culpepper a Raider? LOL… this is a good opportunity to pick him up. The Raiders don’t have to risk alot of UPFRONT garantee money to a QB with the 1st selection, sign Culpepper to a cheap performance laden K, the Raiders are set. Let Culpepper REDSHIRT a year to rehad, this is the same with Russell, except Raiders get a vet with no garantee money. LOL…sites say he might get RELEASE!
April 16th, 2007 at 9:08 am
If Culpepper gets released he’s either going back to Minny, or to Oakland… I think he’s going to take Oakland, given that we have Moss. Whatever crap they had, I think they want to foget about it. Plus Minny’s coach traded away Culpepper last season, I doubt he resigns him.
April 16th, 2007 at 9:12 am
Culpepper fumbles a lot… Isn’t that the knock on Walter? and other than a couple good years where he was surrounded by HOFer Chris Carter and Moss with Jake Reed as the 3rd option he has been very average with the lone exception being the one year he threw 30+ TD’s with Moss injured. I’d rather take a risk on Walter than Culpepper.
April 16th, 2007 at 10:11 am
Fumbling is common among QBs. If you never played QB before, it’s hard to understand, the center may be culpable, the ball slippery, etc. I sign Culpepper, he’s been thru playoffs and experienced tough times, he don’t need to be groom or taught, just come in a play. Hope he signs with the Raiders. Trade the pick and get higher picks is the way to go.
April 16th, 2007 at 10:14 am
The Bucs and Falcons gotta give the points value if they want CJ. I really take a hard look at Peterson, he may be had in the lower top 10 or middle 1st rounds, plus, Raiders get the extra picks to select many more talented players in this draft, whether it be defense or offense.
April 16th, 2007 at 10:22 am
New blog up!
April 16th, 2007 at 10:41 am
I played QB and had several scholarships to USC, Oregon, Texas, and Florida… But thanks for the refresher Raiders Fanatics! ha ha
April 16th, 2007 at 2:36 pm
Hp off the Schweigert bashing!
The kid amy not be glamorous, but his coverage is solid (Bing’s is suspect) and he has nearer 200 tackles in as many years.
They may be ankle busting turf divers, but he is DEFINITELY a major reason why Oaklands defense improved to #3 overall and why thier pass defense was #!!
April 16th, 2007 at 6:14 pm
Raider fanatic… I live in Boise, and have seen Zabransky play many times. I’m not a scout, or a personnel guy, but I would have serious reservations using a pick on him. Questionable arm strength and decision-making; tends to make the bad throw a little more than a person would like to see. I think his team and his coaches made him look better than he really is.
We have needs in some areas where we could possibly get a better player than Zabransky with the same pick. Just my 2 cents…