C. Long vs. Gholston
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Thursday, April 3rd, 2008 at 2:50 pm in Oakland Raiders.
Third in a series regarding players the Raiders are evaluating as the NFL draft approaches April 26-27. The Raiders currently hold the No. 4 pick in the first round.
So let’s assume for the moment that Lane Kiffin was dead serious when he told the media of his wish for a defensive lineman with the No. 4 pick.
Unless they were to move down, the Raiders would be assured of having a shot at one of the top four defensive linemen available. Two of those, defensive tackles Glenn Dorsey of LSU and Sedrick Ellis of USC, were discussed earlier.
The other two are Virginia’s Chris Long (6-foot-3, 267 pounds) and Ohio State’s Vernon Gholston (6-3, 266), who unlike Dorsey and Ellis, are potentially explosive edge players. Both player soften played as outside linebackers but with the versatility to put their hand on the ground.
Long, son of Raiders Hall of Fame defensive end Howie Long, would be the nostaligic choice. He had 14 sacks and 23 quarterback pressures as a senior and plays every down from snap to whistle with equal parts intensity and enthusiasm.
“I don’t think of myself as doing anything extraordinary with my effort,” Long said at the NFL scouting combine. “ I think that’s just the way football is supposed to be played, at a high speed. I’m not a guy who does things half-speed well. So it’s been pretty natural for me to go that fast. You want to jump off the screen when people watch film of you.”
There’s a theory that Al Davis won’t be able to pass up a chance on a legacy _ particularly one with such a glowing resume as Long. Assuming Long makes a visit to Oakland before the draft, it would be the first meeting since Long was a child.
“My earliest memory of Al Davis was ducking in the car when I came to visit my dad at training camp because there were no families allowed in,” Long said. “I remember meeting him when I was a kid, but I have not seen him since.”
If Long is regarded as a relatively “safe” pick because of his knowledge, intangibles and desire, Gholston may have the more intriguing top end.
Like Long, Gholston can play either end or outside linebacker, with his “Leo” position at Ohio State giving him an opportunity as a rush end. He had 14 sacks as a senior, 8.5 as a junior and his stock has been on the rise.
NFL.com analyst Pat Kirwan recently had Gholston as the No. 1 overall pick, going to the Miami Dolphins. In a copycat league, the New York Giants’ ability to pressure Tom Brady in the Super Bowl will only enhance the ability of the most explosive pass rusher in the draft.
“I know how big the defensive line is. If you got a front four that can controlcthe game, you’re destined for championships,” Gholston said. “That was proven, the way they (the Giants) were able to take advantage of their speed and get to the quarterback.”
If there is a player capable of duplicating the sort of rookie success as an outside rusher as Shawne Merriman did with San Diego and DeMarcus Ware did with the Cowboys, Gholston is it.
He also may be the most stunning physical specimen in the draft, with a 4.58 40-yard dash on his pro day on field turf and 37 reps of 225 pounds with the bench press.
Defensive linemen on roster: DE Derrick Burgess, DT Tommy Kelly, DT Terdell Sands, DE Jay Richardson, DT Gerard Warren, DT Josh Shaw, DT William Joseph, DE Kalimba Edwards.
Burgess had to close with a rush to get to eight sacks, getting a late start in training camp because of hernia surgery and missing time with a calf injury early in the year. His sack numbers have regressed from 16 to 11 to 8 the past three seasons. Kelly’s contract says big things are expected of him.
“He’ll have a chance to be a three-technique and not jump around to a lot of different positions,” Kiffin said. “He’s got a lot to prove with that contract.”
Sands signed a big deal last season to prevent him from going into free agency, and he was essentially a non-factor. The Raiders will look to get him back to the form he had in 2007 when he played well enough to merit the big deal. Warren played well in spurts, much as he has in Cleveland and Denver. Richardson, a college teammate of Gholston, was a pleasant surprise as a fifth-round draft pick. Edwards ideally will replace the departed Chris Clemons, who had eight sacks as a third-down pass rusher.
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April 3rd, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Last suckas!!
April 3rd, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Dont do it
April 3rd, 2008 at 2:52 pm
OATMEAL COOKIES
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 1/3 cups butter
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar (firmly packed)
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons rum
3/4 cup raisins
3/4 cup Craisins
1 cup nuts
2 1/2 cups uncooked oats (regular)
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Soak the raisins and Craisins in the rum.
In a large bowl, combine flour, salt, baking powder, soda, and cinnamon. Set aside.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together the butter and the sugars. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition.
Add the vanilla and rum in which the raisins have soaked; beat until well blended. Add the nuts, and oatmeal to the dry ingredients and stir into the liquid mixture. Stir in the raisins and Craisins.
Mix for about 3 minutes.
Drop by large spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake in a 350°F oven for 10 to 14 minutes or until light brown, being careful not to overbake.
Makes 4-5 dozen cookies, depending upon size of cookies made.
April 3rd, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Nebraska is windy because the Chiefs suck and the Broncos blow.
April 3rd, 2008 at 2:53 pm
What is ghoulston taking. My man looks roided up.
April 3rd, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Nebraska is windy because the Chiefs suck and the Broncos blow.
GO RAIDERS!
April 3rd, 2008 at 2:54 pm
ooops, sorry about the duplication.
April 3rd, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Nebraska is windy because the Chiefs suck and Broncos blow.
GO RAIDERS!
April 3rd, 2008 at 2:57 pm
nO. 9
April 3rd, 2008 at 2:57 pm
The Raiders would be lucky to get C. Long with this pick, if he does get picked up though our secondary will look that much better, as Tony Dungy said, dbs are only as good as the time the opposing qb gets…
April 3rd, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Hey Cole,
Where did you get the recipe??
Just curious.
April 3rd, 2008 at 3:04 pm
my grandmother
April 3rd, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Here is an interesting rumor involving Culpepper: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Oakland-Raiders-289/Trade-Rumors.htm
April 3rd, 2008 at 3:06 pm
I’d be happy with either of these DEs with our pick. If we take Gholston, I realize it’s not ideal to have 3 undersized DEs in the rotation in 2008 (Burgess, Edwards, Gholston), but long-term you have to figure Burgess won’t be around much longer and Edwards might not either. I don’t like the idea of coming out of this draft without a pass-rushing end that we can count on 2+ years from now.
April 3rd, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Thanks inside source.
Anything else from 2006?!!!
April 3rd, 2008 at 3:15 pm
post 13 thanks for the misdirection.
April 3rd, 2008 at 3:20 pm
If one pays attention to Kiffin talking abut D-line, it seems that he always mentions the need to stop the run. Exactly what credentials does Gholston have as a run stuffer? He is a good pass rusher, sure, but often at the price of blown contain.
The difference between them that matters is that Long is far more fundamentally sound as a player. When Gholston moves down the line, he doesn’t stay square, Long does. Gholston loses leverage because he’s looking to make a play, Long will hold the point of attack and force the play inside to help.
We presumably will keep Burgess on the roster, which leaves us with one undersized DE who was a liability against the run last year with both loss of contain and inability to hold the point. Bringing in Gholston would give us two of those guys. The signing of Edwards from Detroit strongly suggests that Gholston is out of the mix.
Of the top D-linemen, Dorsey and Long fit best, as Dorsey can play some two-gap. But the best DTs for us in the draft (given that we signed Joseph as a back-up at the three technique) would be a two-gapper like Red Bryant, Trevor Laws, Pat Sims or Athyba Rubin. Hell, we might even take a look at lazy Frank Okam or former Bulldog Jason Shirley.
D-line is about stopping the run. I known passing downs, we’ll get to the QB. It’s 2nd and five that’s the problem.
April 3rd, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Its so nice to read about different players in the draft. Thanks JERRY.
I think Gholston is the favorite since Long will probably go #1 overall. More interesting will what will be the DRAFT DAY TRADES..to acquire a 2nd Round Pick.
Cant wait to hear more about the players we will look to trade.
CRISS CARR THANKS FOR YOU PASSION AND ENERGY WEARING THE SILVER AND BLACK !!!!! Good luck next year
April 3rd, 2008 at 3:23 pm
I have a confession to make. The reason the Raiders have suffered for over the last twenty years has been because of me. I remember watching Super Bowl XVIII with my father, a Raiders fan since the 60’s,. I was somewhat interested during the 1985 season, and I vividly remember Fulton Walker’s fumble versus the Patriots. I really became a fan in 1986, the year that Randall Cuningham had his big debut against the Raiders. A game that the Raiders had won until Marcus Allen fumbled the ball. I believe they went on to lose their last six games that year. I am bad luck and have cursed the Raider Nation. I thought, maybe, my luck had changed when the Raiders played Tampa Bay in the Super Bowl, but it was only a tease. It is has been a catastrophe ever since. I am sorry, and I apologize to all of you and all Raider fans everywhere. I cannot quit being a fan. And since I have another 40-60 years to live, I guess we better prepare for the long haul.Please don’t hate me.
April 3rd, 2008 at 3:24 pm
If we go d-line Ellis.
April 3rd, 2008 at 3:25 pm
http://bigbenlivingroom.blogspot.com/
April 3rd, 2008 at 3:26 pm
OG, thanks for that completely uninteresting link to your blog.
April 3rd, 2008 at 3:30 pm
A fat man with a mustache says the Raiders are going to draft McFadden on NFL.com.
April 3rd, 2008 at 3:34 pm
When does HT 6′2″ - 6′*’ help you stop the run? All this midget DT comments are kinda sensless considering TEAMS RAN THE BALL DOWN OUR THROATS.
We stop the run they are forced to pass.
Hypothec:
QB rivers is facing a 3rd and 7 Raiders start out in a regular 3rd down defense. All of a sudden 7 becomes 9
in the box. What/can rivers do?
April 3rd, 2008 at 3:41 pm
I hate midged DTs!
April 3rd, 2008 at 3:42 pm
midget…ooops
April 3rd, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Rivers hits Antonio Gates who runs over Michael Huff and scampers for a 50 yard touchdown.
April 3rd, 2008 at 3:44 pm
[...] Read more. Posted in Blog, Oakland Raiders | [...]
April 3rd, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Howie Long wasn’t a defensive end, he was a defensive tackle.
April 3rd, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Gholston should be our #1… Anybody who is faster, quicker, and stronger than Shawn Merriman is a need for us. He will make our whole D-line better…
And for all those saying hes too small to play D-end… The guy is 266.. For comparison: Osi Umenyiora is 261, Michael Strahan is 255, Patrick Kerney is 270, and Dwight Freeney is 268…
Perfect pick for us.
1. Gholston
2. C Long
3. Ellis
4. McFadden
5. Dorsey
April 3rd, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Check the stats with huff guarding gates with a “good” big toe. Nice one though cole ford. Now can i get a recipe for choc chip cokkies too.
April 3rd, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Thec,
Top 5 teams against the run in 07-08:
Titans
Brown, Tony
DT 6′3″ 285
Haynesworth, Albert
DT 6′6″ 320
Johnson, Antonio
DT 6′3″ 305
Vickerson, Kevin
DT 6′4″ 305
Taylor, Eric
DT 6′2″ 305
Giants
Cofield, Barry
NT 6′4″ 306
Leisle, Rodney
DT 6′3″ 315
Robbins, Fred
DT 6′4″ 317
Wright, Manuel
DT 6′5″ 345
Redskins
Askew, Matthias
DT 6′5″ 302
Boschetti, Ryan
DT 6′4″ 311
Griffin, Cornelius
DT 6′3″ 311
Montgomery, Anthony
DT 6′6″ 315
Golston, Kedric
DT 6′4″ 320
Packers
Bolston, Conrad
DT 6′3″ 300
Harrell, Justin
DT 6′4″ 310
Pickett, Ryan
DT 6′2″ 322
Montgomery, Mike
DT 6′5″ 265
Muir, Daniel
DT 6′2″ 298
Jolly, Johnny
DT 6′3″ 312
Washburn, Cliff
DT 6′5″ 275
Cowgirls
Siavii, Junior
DT 6′5″ 330
Johnson, Tank
DT 6′3″ 300
Ayodele, Remi
NT 6′2″ 300
Ratliff, Jay
NT 6′4″ 298
NO MIDGETS…
SIZE MATTERS IN THE NFL.
April 3rd, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Howie Long consistently slid along the defensive front, lining up against whatever O-lineman would afford him the biggest mismatch. Thus on one play he would line up @ the base end (the position he would be announced as in every pre game bio I ever saw) and, particularly in pass rushing situations @, say, what is today commonly referred to as the “3″ technique. Guy was virtually unblockable, whomever the opposition. Just ask John Hannah, ‘Pats HOF OLG that had the extreme misfortune to witness such performances first hand.
Oh, by the way; what does Howie’s HOF bio say? Not to mention countless football bios?
Just administering a bit of history.
antispy3
April 3rd, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Dakota, so being 6′1″ makes you a midget? Cole still waiting on the cookies what up?
April 3rd, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Jerry says:
The other two are Virginia’s Chris Long (6-foot-3, 267 pounds) and Ohio State’s Vernon Gholston (6-3, 266), who unlike Dorsey and Ellis, are potentially explosive edge players. Both player soften played as outside linebackers but with the versatility to put their hand on the ground.
NFL.COM Combine web site says:
Chris Long 6′4″ 275 lbs
Gholston 6′4″ 258 lbs
Not sure who to believe.
April 3rd, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Thec,
Just in terms of NFL DTs it does. But, that being said, there have been some decent DT midgets, like Jerry Ball.
April 3rd, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Dakota, Although i disagree with your assessment I will give you kudo’s for your information, and data.
You know your S#!t. Cole cookies, choc chip?
April 3rd, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Dakota are you serious? Height has nothing to do with success in the trenches… The winner in a trench battle is often the guy who has a lower base and better technique. Sedrick Ellis being under 6 is an advantage… If you don’t believe me, go find a high school physics book and turn to the chapter on “Leverage”
Your post about Dominant Defenses and tall Dlinemen is just a coincidence. There just aren’t too many DLinemen that are under 6′0″ tall… Its hard to put on that much weight in that body frame.
April 3rd, 2008 at 4:07 pm
This just in the bengals cut henry
http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d8078d384&template=with-video&confirm=true
Should we pick him up or no?
April 3rd, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Reggie White 6-5
Joe Greene 6-4
Alan Page 6-4
Randy White 6-4
Merlin Olsen 6-5
Jerry Ball 6-1
Hmmm, boy, should we pick a midget DT with the #4 pick overall? Yeah, if we want Jerry Ball, lol. Great use of the #4 pick! DE or McFadden before either of the DTs!
BHP hates skinny RBs, I hate Midget DTs…we all have our thing I guess.
April 3rd, 2008 at 4:14 pm
John Randle and Jerome Brown…6′1″ and 6′2″
April 3rd, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Michael,
Dorsey and Ellis are both right around 6′1″, not under 6′. Just fyi.
I guess the laws of physics are suspended on the gridiron because all the great DTs are 6′3″ and above…maybe Einstein can help us here?
NFL GMs have drafted 6′1″ DTs in the past, they just rarely amount to anything. It is not a coincidence.
April 3rd, 2008 at 4:18 pm
NFL.com: Jerome Brown
Height: 6-3
Weight: 295
Rookie Year: 1987
April 3rd, 2008 at 4:21 pm
John Randle was good for being a midget…exception, not the rule.
April 3rd, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Gholston has the much higher upside. We may already have seen the best that Chris Long can do, given that his Dad probably helped him develop his rush moves, etc. I would go with the guy with the higher upside.
And I think drafting a DE that can pressure the QB is more important than drafting a very good DT (although either of these is preferable to drafting DMAC). Do we need more proof of the value of pressuring the QB than what we saw in the Super Bowl?
April 3rd, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Dakota Regarding #32 Here are the defensive line starters including Ends and the Rounds taken:
Titans haynesworth lst Rd, LaBoy lst Rd, Starks 3rd Rd, Vanden Bosch 2nd rd.
NYG: Cofield 4th Rd, Robbins 2nd Rd, Strahan 2nd Rd, Mitchell 2nd Rd
Wash: Carter 2nd rd, Griffin 2nd Rd, Daniels 4th Rd, Golston 6th Rd.
GB: Harrell 1st Rd, Jenkins FA, Kampman 5th Rd, Pickett lst Rd.
Dall-ass Canty 4th Rd, Ferguson 7th Rd, Spears lst Rd. Of course both outside linebackers Ware and Ellis were first rounders
Now Us: Burgess 3rd Rd, Kelly FA, Warren 1st Rd, Richardson 5th Rd. Sands 7th Rd.
Almost every team has multiple first or second rounders on their dlines other than us. Does that make a difference????? Yes it does.
April 3rd, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Dakota lol…depends on the site….they are all over the place on Ht and weight…point is just depends on the player…exception to every rule sort of thing
April 3rd, 2008 at 4:24 pm
We all know Sapp wasn’t good against the run. I wonder how Randle and the other “small” DT’s have been against the run?
I know Sapp and Randle were both sack masters.
April 3rd, 2008 at 4:28 pm
C Long before Gholston w/o a doubt. Gholston may have a higher “ceiling” than Long, but at this moment in time C Long is great against both the run and the pass.
Gholston ISN’T good against the run right now and struggled in the 2nd weakest BCS conference other than the Big East.
Gholston is about potential.
Long is very technical and a solid all-around DE.
April 3rd, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Hey DSM, what did you do with turtle?
April 3rd, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Strictly Defensive Tackles:
Casey Hampton Shitsburgh Squealers Pro Bowl NT 6′0″ 325
Kelly Gregg Ravens NT 6′0″ Marvin Lewis thought he was their most underrated player
Vince Woolfork NE 6′1″. He’s no good.
Jamal Williams Discharge 6′2″ 348. I hate that guy.
These are some of the premier DT’ss in the league.
April 3rd, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Oakglenn- The difference between those guys and Ellis/Dorsey are their builds.
I don’t think either have the capability of putting on 20 or more lbs to get the wide body that the players you mentioned have.
April 3rd, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Im pretty sure that with our 1st round pick we are going to pick 1 of those guys (LOng and Gholston)
And in that order
April 3rd, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Long will be loooong gone by the time the Raiders pick.
April 3rd, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Actually DSM, remember all the guys I listed above have filled out. They’re men. These guys coming out are still 21-22 years old and are going to get bigger and fill out more.
April 3rd, 2008 at 4:48 pm
http://www.stltoday.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=5531494
Combine stats: Long vs. Gholston.
When you watch a DE at the combine the most important drills for a DE are 10 yard splits, bench, 20-yard shuttle and 3-cone drill.
10 yard splits:
Gholston: 1.53
Long: 1.53
Bench:
Gholston: 37
Long: did not participate
20-yard shuttle:
Gholston: 4.40
Long: 4.21
3-cone drill:
Gholston: 7.12
Long: 7.02
Chris Long had a better shuttle, 10 yard split and 3-cone than Mario Williams. Long had a Better shuttle and better 10 yard split than Kearse. And Long had the same 10-yard split a better 3-cone and better shuttle then Patrick Willis.
Chris Long has to be the pick if he’s on the board at #2.
(Anybody know why Chris Long didn’t bench at the combine?)
April 3rd, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Oakglenn,
I know Wilfork, J Williams, & Hampton were big DT’s coming out of college.
Obviously they are the same height, but I’m certain their weight was already up their.
Their frames are bigger than Dorsey/Ellis. These are the run stuffing DT’s who’s sack total isn’t big because of lack of speed.
If Dorsey/Ellis put on 20-25 lbs they won’t have the speed rush ability they had in college.
April 3rd, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Huff24, sore forearms…
April 3rd, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Sore forearms? Seriously? Isn’t Long supposed to be tough? Well…Long still beat Gholston in all the other categories even though Gholston is super athletic and built. Thats gotta say something.
April 3rd, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Haha…no…think about it…lol.
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:01 pm
I hope we Dont end up like the ny Jets fans “we want sapp …we want sapp, we want sapp” ” And with the 12 pick in the 1995 draft the jets select …” Kyle Brady” lmao
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:06 pm
DSM, you’re right about Jamal, but even now Hampton and Wilfork go about 320-325. These guys put on another 10 lbs, which if you ever saw them eat at the training table, they could do that in ONE MEAL, they’re going to be right there.
OK, give me four steaks, 6 chicken breasts, 4 pieces of Halibut, 8 chops, some of those ribs there….
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Don’t worry LA, we all KNOW what’s gonna happen anyway. Roger Godell comes to the podium. “And with the 4th pick, the Oakland Raiders select, Malcolm Jenkins, DB, Ohio State..”
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:11 pm
#63……so true , so true
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Post #14
TrevJo Says:
April 3rd, 2008 at 3:06 pm
I’d be happy with either of these DEs with our pick. If we take Gholston, I realize it’s not ideal to have 3 undersized DEs in the rotation in 2008 (Burgess, Edwards, Gholston), but long-term you have to figure Burgess won’t be around much longer and Edwards might not either. I don’t like the idea of coming out of this draft without a pass-rushing end that we can count on 2+ years from now.
———————-
TrevJo,
In this comment you mention that Gholston wouldn’t be ideal because he would be yet another undersized DE in the rotation. My question, how is he any smaller than Long? Per Jerry’s post above they both are the same size with Long only having one more pound.
“The other two are Virginia’s Chris Long (6-foot-3, 267 pounds) and Ohio State’s Vernon Gholston (6-3, 266)” - Jerry
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:26 pm
With the 4th pick of the 2008 NFL draft the Oakland Raiders have traded…..
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:26 pm
I guess you just have to decide as a franchise, whether picking Long or Gholston will be the better pick. Its like picking Manning or Leaf. You think you know but you don’t and then 1 ends up winning a Superbowl after year 8 while the other could barely make it past his rookie year. The one thing you can note however is that Manning had genetics so it was a safe pick and the Colts fans were pissed when they chose Manning instead because he never won any big games.
If Long and Gholston have similiar numbers and similiar size, then you might as well let pedigree answer the rest because I would think it means something. Now…it may not matter because I think its obvious that the Dolphins will either pick Long or Gholston with the 1st pick in the draft and to our benefit, Ware and Gholston seem to be more similiar so hopefully Parcells picks him and we end up with Long but we basically don’t have a choice in the matter because of the Dolphins, we just end up with whoever we end up with and we have to make it work regardless.
At least both guys have great ability.
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Dakota,
Me and you will have to agree to disagree. I think Ellis will be a solid DT in this league and his hieght shouldn’t be a problem. 2-3 Inches in length aren’t a problem in the trenches.. (WR/CB is a different story).
Lets see how it plays out this season…
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:27 pm
We could always do what the Vikings did 2 years in a row. We could let the 15 minutes go by without picking and let the Chiefs pick first. Haha. Wouldn’t that suck?
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:30 pm
To me, if you put workout warrior Vernon Gholston against the elite LTs of the NFL he will be negated.
If he had another D-limeman occupying the space and then he is free to roam, then the kid will do fine. I swear I see Aundray Bruce when I see Gholston. Serviceable yes, but no way worth a top pick.
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:31 pm
Eric Allen was one of the best short corners in the NFL. He played with the Eagles for a long time with McMillian on the other side and he was like 5′8 I believe. Allen was 5′10 if I remember correctly and that stat was raised I believe. Either way, both those guys were great and Allen was such a playmaker for us with Charles Woodson on the other side. You guys probably forgot that tandem but that tandem was so solid. You guys remember Terry McDaniel? He was a pimp. Now…I believe Albert Lewis played safety but didn’t he play some corner when McDaniel was here? I just can’t remember who played on the other side.
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:32 pm
Actually M, Gholston went against a future supposedly elite LT in the NFL in Jake Long and harrassed him all day. Actually got a Sack on him…
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:33 pm
M - If Parcells drafts Gholston at #1, he will be a ROLB for him. What do you think of Gholston in that role? Now, if Parcells drafts Long…does he put him at ROLB or RDE? To me…neither of these guys are big enough for the line that Parcells likes to play but they are big linebackers and Parcells loves big linebackers.
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Vikings Warroom on Draft Day.
Vikings Personnel Guy #1 “So, who did we end up taking??”
Personnel Guy #2, “Didn’t YOU make the selection?”
Guy#1, “NO! DIDN’T YOU???”
And we think WE GOT PROBLEMS getting consensus decisions on this blog.
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Yes, Michael,
one supposedly elite Big Ten tackle one time for one sack.
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Oakglenn - The funny thing is…the team had all off season to figure it out and then they had more time to think about it before they picked AND THEN they had 15 Minutes to think about it some more and they STILL couldn’t get it figured out. Not only did they do that but they did it 2 YEARS IN A ROW. Ridiculous.
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:39 pm
And they took Troy Williamson with one of the picks…
Idiots..
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:40 pm
You have to wonder if playing in a 3-4 Defense hindered Long’s stats in college. Don’t you think he should be playing on a 4-3? Could he have put up better stats as a DE in a 4-3? I would think so. 3-4 defenses are so tricky on the defensive line because the glory goes to the linebackers most of the time. Playing on the defensive line of a 3-4 is like playing offensive line. You get no love.
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Ok M, your right. One sack one time is nothing.
But if you look at Vernon Gholston’s measureables, they compare favoritely to other dominant pass-rushers in this league (Merriman, Ware, Freeney, Umenyiora).
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:42 pm
I just want to reiterate this. I wonder why Jerry hasn’t posted it yet.
Oakland Raiders 2008 Pre-Season Schedule
Date and Time Opponent TV
TBA San Francisco 49ers TBA
August 16 - 5:00 p.m. PST at Tennessee Titans FOX
TBA Arizona Cardinals TBA
August 29 (Time TBA) at Seattle Seahawks TBA
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:42 pm
M,
RE: Gholston.
I worry about the same thing. He will be serviceable, but he may not be as good as everyone expects him to be…..
He only had 37 tackles and 14 sacks compared to C. Long who had 75 tackles and 14 sacks in 07′……Gholston started and played in 13/12 games……..C.Long 13/13.
Too much of a ???? player.
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:43 pm
We always seem to be playing the Cardinals and Seahawks in the pre-season with the 49ers every other year. I guess its good since it keeps us mainly on the West Coast outside of our trip to Tennessee.
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:46 pm
Michael- How were Merriman, Ware, Freeney, & Osi vs the run in college?
I hate drafting “high ceiling” players that aren’t complete.
C Long is a complete DE and should thrive in the NFL.
Gholston has every opportunity to succeed as a DE, but he could easily become a pass-rushing specialist who isn’t good against the run.
Is this what we need?
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:46 pm
Huff24,
#78 is exactly why I think the Dolphins will pass on Chris Long.
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:50 pm
RaiderGlory,
thanks, I didn’t have the stats, just my impression. Kid Howie is the real deal. Gholston is the McFadden of the D-lineman. IMHO. Sexy but completely uncertain.
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Can someone explain the new forceout rule for me? The way I understand it…If you are on the sideline or in the corner of the endzone, the defender can push you out of bounds as you’re catching the ball and if the receiver does not get 2 feet in bounds before going out, its ruled an incomplete pass. Basically, the defender can legally pass interfere with the receiver in that area, to ensure he does not catch the pass inbounds. Supposedly, the reason that is implemented is to take pressure off the referees to make the call and it brings the game more inside since the field is already big, why restrict the game to the very edges and make things complicated.
Am I off base here?
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Hey R.A.w.
I don’t think the Raiders pick up Henry as I beleive he’s going to get a LOOOOONG suspension from the Comish. He might get a lifetime ban, as he’s already been suspended twice and obviously hasn’t learned his lesson, plus teams can now be fined or lose picks if they have a player doing these kinds of things on the team…What a waste of talent, but we’ve seen it before with players like Dexter Manley, Darrell Russell, Pacman Jones, and others who ruined their Career because they can’t stay out of trouble
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Huff24,
the new rule reads that if a receiver is picked up and carried out of bounds then the old rule may apply. Wanna bet that Nnamdi, Huff, DeAngelo will be the first players to have, under review, scrutiny applied to them for a “carrying” infraction?
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Probably because it’s on the Raider website, Huff24…
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:01 pm
CNNSI: Chris Henry
Municipal Court Judge Bernie Bouchard set bond at $51,000 on charges of misdemeanor assault and criminal damaging. Noting Henry’s previous arrests involving drugs, guns and alcohol, the judge called Henry “a one-man crime wave.” He ordered electronic monitoring if Henry makes bail.
LOL, one man crime wave…good one judge.
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:01 pm
New facemask rule.Inadvertent hands to the face on Dbacks when they make the intial chuck? Raiders play man. 15 yards, first down. LT grabs facemasks on any defender as he is challenged downfield. Any penalty?
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:02 pm
The Raiders don’t need to sign Henry. He hasn’t done anything in this league so why bother? If he’s done more off the field, then on the field, then why take a chance? At least DeAngelo Hall earned 2 Pro Bowls while being a malcontent for an example. I’d rather sign a guy with an attitude who will at least play the game the right way on the field. Chris Henry and Pacman Jones have done neither. They are thugs who haven’t learned to play on the field or live right off the field.
I would rather take my chances on Adarius Bowman later in the draft because he has talent and all he did was smoke the Mary Jane. Lets be honest here…I don’t smoke but I’d say 75% of the world does so its not a shocking thing to see a player get caught. He could be doing alot worse in my own opinion. I’m not advocating doing it but drinking alcohol is legal and thats get people into way more trouble than Mary Jane. Thats all I’m saying.
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:03 pm
Dakota,
did your local press headline when Cutler called out Brandon for being a useless so and so?
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:04 pm
DesertRaider24 - You lost me. What?
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Yeah, Raiderglory, that’s the big question. He has the measurables, but he doesn’t necessarily play at an elite level consistently. Is he really worth the money, and can he be coached to reach his potential? All the scouts believe Long is the safer bet, with Gholston as the one with the higher ceiling. But as everyone is pointing out today, that may be inaccurate as well, since Long would probably do better in a 4-3 versus the 3-4. Also, Long is reputed to be a very strong run defender. When Howie Long was playing he was sometimes compared to sack master Mark Gastineau of the N.Y. Jets. Gastineau was incredible as a pass rusher, but only marginal against the run. Howie Long is considered to be a better player than Gastineau because of this. Howie’s no doubt trained his son to be a complete player. If we have a choice then I think we should go with Chris Long, but it’s doubtful he’ll last until the #4
spot.
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Huff with regards to #85 it’s back to the old rule. You HAVE to get two feet in, or one knee etc absolutely. The difference is you as a defender could never make contact past the five yard chuck zone, but if you made contact while a receiver was in the air, he could be ruled to have come down in bounds “theoretically”. It was kind of ridiculous. Now he must come down in bounds and that’s a call that is reviewable, while the theoretical judgment call was not.
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:11 pm
I think everyone is making too big of a deal about Leinart partying. So effin what? The guy is 25 years old. Hes a QB out of USC. Hes a millionaire. Hes entitled to have fun at his age and if he wants to have hot women around him at parties while drinking out of a beer bong. Who cares? Its the off-season. Are these players not allowed to have a life at all? Whisenhunt must be a real d!ck to work for. Roethlisberger was sure happy to see him go. Now I can see why.
You have such a short time to enjoy your life while you’re young, let the guy enjoy being the starting QB while being a bachelor. To me…theres nothing wrong with that as long as hes not letting it affect him on the field. Speaking of that…how many times did great players in the 70’s enter the field after a long hard night of drinking and perform with spectacular results. ALL THE FREAKIN TIME so get over it.
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:13 pm
Oakglenn,
unless the receiver is deemed to have been “carried” out of bounds.
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:13 pm
Silver Blood,
I dont believe he will be there at #4 either…..
But Dorsey, Ellis and McFadden will..
The Question is…
Who should Al/Kiffin pick of those 3.
I think the Rams will be taking J Long and Atlanta will pick M Ryan!!
I guess i’m saying that Miami will be selecting C.Long!
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:14 pm
M - If LT grabs a Raiders face mask downfield, hes not getting called for it. No way.
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Huff,
The problem is..he was guzzing up a bunch of under aged drunk girls!!
I dont believe there is anything wrong partying….Shoot it was his own house…
The problem is he let those pictures of girls using that beer bong get out to the press and the public!!
Underaged girls!! Not very good press for the starting QB of the Arizona Cardinals!
Just not very good judgement.IMO!!
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Huff24,
Jim Brown had the right idea, he would give an uppercut to the jaw, no need for grabbing the facemask.
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Raider Glory - Underaged as in Under 21 or Under 18?
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:23 pm
M - Great point. Hopefully Michael Bush can be as aggressive.
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:25 pm
I believe under 21…..
It was reported that the girls were students at Arizona ST…..
But just for your’e info…..The legal drinking age in Arizona is 21 and over!!
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:25 pm
Well…Maybe they had fake I.D.’s?
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:26 pm
That would be my story. Haha.
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:29 pm
Huff,
I doubt Leinart was checking ID’s at the door of his own house.
He probably checked ID’s only if they were not good looking!! LOL!!
If there is a further investigation……I hear that the real question will be …Who supplied the alcohol???
For Leinarts sake, I hope those chicks brought there own beer!! But, I doubt it!!
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:40 pm
If I was Leinart…
I checked I.D.’s
I told everyone to bring their own beer.
And I had a sheet that everyone signed when they came through the door but my dog ate it.
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:40 pm
Pierogies Con Queso
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 10 minutes
1 cup processed cheese sauce (such as Cheez Whiz)
1/4 cup salsa
6 Mrs. T’s frozen Pierogies
In 9×9x2″ microwavable dish, stir cheese sauce and salsa together with 1 tablespoon water.
Cover with plastic wrap and microwave about 30 seconds or until liquified.
Stir in pierogies.
Cover and microwave on HIGH 6 minutes.
Let stand 3 minutes.
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:42 pm
I just wish the Draft was here already….I am so sick of McFadden, no Long, no Long, no Gholston, no Ellis, no Dorsey, no etc. etc. etc.
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:42 pm
M, I didn’t see that. So, basically there is no change to the rule.
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:42 pm
lol!!
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:42 pm
“Calf’s head with tongue and brain.”
Remove the brain from a calf head
Boil
2 quarts water
1 carrot
1 onion
1/2 lemon sliced
1 bay leaf
4 cloves
1 tablespoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Add the head and tongue - the last is optional.
simmer it covered until the meat is tender - for about 2 hours
If the tongue is used, it will take longer
Add the brains for the last 15 minutes of cooking. Dice them.
Cut the meat from the cheeks into small pieces.
Skin, remove the roots, then slice the tongue.
Prepare a sauce with
4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons flour
2 cups liquid, in which the meat was cooked
Reheat the meat in the sauce. Season it if needed. It is sometimes made rather acid with lemon, vinegar or wine. Serve it with chopped parsley.
This dish is sometimes served with the addition, at the last moment, of 1/2 cup scalded cream.
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:43 pm
What are pierogies?
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:43 pm
What’s a Pierogi?
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:44 pm
I have had cow head before. The Spanish guys I worked with called it barbacoa.
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Pierogi is sorta like an impanada huh?
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Anybody had Lengua before? Thats Cow tongue. Its very good. Its very tender meat and I recommend it with burritos and such.
Also…Eat Pozole. Its like Menudo but without the stomach lining, which I find gross. Anyways, it tastes great.
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Impanada’s are like Mini Half Pies in a way.
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:50 pm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierogi
These look like Pot Stickers.
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:52 pm
Pierogi are of an unknown origin. Myth has it that were invented in the kitchen of humble shoemaker Jonathan Hanigosky. He later died from choking on a rather large perogi. Friends say he died doing the only thing he loved, eating perogis. They have strong links to Slavic culture. These Slavic and non-Slavic peoples have pierogi as a part of their culture: Poles, Ukrainians, Romanians, Russians, Lithuanians, Latvians, and Slovaks. There is a definite similarity to Italian ravioli.
In East Asia, similar food is served, such as Chinese jiaozi, Japanese gyoza, and Korean mandoo. In some of the Indian states, similar steamed or deep-fried pastries are served, called as karanji or gujiya. These can have sweet or savoury fillings, are usually a semi-circular shape that has has crimped or fluted edges, not unlike the pierogi.
(A shoemaker made them? They can’t be very good and he died choking on one? Sounds like bad news to me.)
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:57 pm
KROCK,
Barbacoa is not part of the head of a COW…..
It’s beef with a rich brown sauce that marinates it!!
And it’s very GOOD!!
Go to a Chipotle’s and try the barbacoa burrito!!
You’ll LOVE it!!
Guaranteed!!
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:57 pm
I’m out. Peace.
April 3rd, 2008 at 7:02 pm
This is once classy dude:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,346152,00.html
April 3rd, 2008 at 7:03 pm
Cesos= Cow brain
Cabeza= Head of the cow
Lengua= tongue
Tripas= cow intestines
All might taste good!! NO DOUBT!!……..But all are part of the cow that can give you MAD COW DISEASE!!!
Be careful!!
April 3rd, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Dakota,
This might be a dumb question….But is the Brian Williams their talking about a black guy???
OR is he the once NBC late night news anchor white dude??
Brian Williams!!
April 3rd, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Check that!!
The curent anchor at NBC news!!
Brian Williams!!LOL!!
April 3rd, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Am I way late on the Akbar Gbaja Biamila signing? Is he an inside or outside LB?
April 3rd, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Rad.
He is a practice squad LB, lol.
April 3rd, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Here is a great site for movie reviews, release dates, news etc…
Just trying to be helpful.
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/
April 3rd, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Just wishfull thinking thanks Dakota.
April 3rd, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Rad, here are his stats:
YEAR TEAM G TOT SOLO AST PD SACK FF REC INT YDS TD
2003 OAK 13 7 4 3 0 1.0 0 0 0 0 0
2004 OAK 14 14 11 3 2 1.0 0 0 0 0 0
2006 SDG 3 1 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0
Career 30 22 16 6 2 2.0 0 0 0 0 0
April 3rd, 2008 at 7:37 pm
Later nation.
April 3rd, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Just say no to midget DTs.
April 3rd, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Down in South East TX where I live, the Mexicans call cow head barbacoa.
I is kind of like roast. Made from the cheeks of the cow.
I guess that is some differences between Spanish folks in Cali and Texas.
This white boy don’t know no difference.
I just hope it wasn’t dog!
April 3rd, 2008 at 7:59 pm
First game of pre-season is August 16th.
Man, it is going to be a long summer.
April 3rd, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Big shorter DTs are better against the run, but can’t block the QBs view and bat the ball as well.
But if you’re 6-1 and listed at 295 (or 335)….you’ve probably got huge legs and make big pileups, stuff run holes and get double teamed all day (so your linebacker can become famous).
April 3rd, 2008 at 8:20 pm
Huff24…I didn’t see anyone answer the question so hear is the CB who played opposite McDaniel. Lionel Washington. Now that was a solid CB tandem. Right on par with Woodson/Allen I would say.
April 3rd, 2008 at 8:43 pm
BREAKING NEWS:
There is officially nothing to blog about!
Pictures at 11:00.
April 3rd, 2008 at 8:55 pm
WoW - no one on??
Raider Nation is slippin..
Youll have a good one. As Greg Papa would say…
TouchDown RAAAIIIIIIIIDDDERRRRRRSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!
April 3rd, 2008 at 8:56 pm
For what it´s worth……
The latest buzz now has Miami selecting Jake Long first, according to Mayock on NFLN he said he asked 4 people which way would Parcells go and all 4 told him they thought it would be Jake. Then he said, STL would likely take Dorsey and ATL Ryan….talk about a dream scenario.
Charlie Casserly said Jake Long could be the most popular guy in the top 5 because he´d fit right in with either MIA, STL, ATL or KC.
Casserly also said it´s still too early in the process for any team to have settled their Draft board.
April 3rd, 2008 at 9:08 pm
I’ve said on this board a lot that I really like Jake Long. Shoot, they were throwing passes to him in the Red Zone in the Bowl Game against Florida!!!! If you’re throwing passes in the red zone to the LT he has to be pretty damn athletic.
The top 5 guys in this draft, Long/Long/Ellis/Dorsey/Mcfadden should all be very, very good players in this league.
April 3rd, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Good Read if youll haven’t read already
PALM BEACH, Fla. — Coaching the Oakland Raiders comes with challenges unlike those that other NFL coaches face.
Lane Kiffin, the latest to hold a job that seems to continually change hands, describes it as “very unique.”
That’s a diplomatic way of describing what it’s like to deal with the hands-on approach of his boss, Al Davis, who hasn’t exactly shown the greatest patience with his last several head-coach hires. And Kiffin was all about diplomacy at the NFL Annual Meeting this week as he publicly discussed for the first time what has been, well, a very unique offseason following his rookie year as a head coach at any level. Lane Kiffin and the Raiders are hoping their offseason moves will give them more to smile about in 2008.
The highlight (or lowlight) for Kiffin was a report — which the Raiders say is untrue — that Davis wrote him a letter asking for his resignation. To say the least, that set an awkward tone for every encounter Kiffin has had with the media since last season’s 4-12 finish. He made himself as scarce as someone in his position could possibly be while he and the Raider staff coached in the Senior Bowl (where much was made about the fact the clothes he wore didn’t have the Raider logo). He was practically invisible at the NFL Scouting Combine at Indianapolis.
Speculation has been rampant about just how much input, if any, Kiffin has had during the Raiders’ highly aggressive offseason shopping. The idea to retain defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, whom Kiffin said “felt it was in his best interest to go somewhere else” after last season, was Davis’. So was the idea to hire James Lofton, former Raider receiving great and Pro Football Hall of Fame member, as receivers coach.
Talk around league circles is that the only reason Kiffin hasn’t been fired is the $4 million he would be owed for the balance of his three-year contract, and that he could very well find himself out if the team doesn’t show significant improvement through the first half of the 2008 season.
Regardless, Kiffin, along with the Raider logo on his silver golf shirt, was front and center during the AFC coaches’ breakfast with the media. He didn’t offer details about what did or didn’t happen between him and Davis, beyond saying, “…where’s smoke, there’s fire. Obviously, there was something.”
Obviously. Whatever it was, however, isn’t terribly relevant now because the Raiders are moving forward with Kiffin. And Kiffin made it clear that he was moving along with them.
“Besides just to tell you guys so that you guys know what happened, I don’t really look back on it and worry about it or think about it all the time because that’s going to do us no good,” he said. “It’s no different than what you tell your players when they get beat in the first half or they fumble the ball or they throw an interception.
“You’ve got to move on and don’t worry about what happened before.”
The last five Raiders coaches
Name Years Record
Lane Kiffin 2007-present 4-12
Art Shell 2006 2-14
Norv Turner 2004-2005 9-23
Bill Callahan 2002-2003 17-18
Jon Gruden 1998-2001 40-28
Makes sense. So does Kiffin’s attitude toward questions about whether the Raiders overspent for the free-agent additions of receiver Jevon Walker, center John Wade, and safety Gibril Wilson, and for the trade for cornerback DeAngelo Hall. “That’s not my concern,” Kiffin said. “I’m excited that we’ve got some quality players that we could add to our roster and see how we can put them together.”
Something tells me Kiffin might have gotten a little helpful advice from some of his predecessors, including Jon Gruden. Gruden had a successful run with the Raiders before parting ways with Davis and ending up in Tampa Bay. Not coincidentally, Gruden’s defensive coordinator is Monte Kiffin, Lane’s father.
Like the 32-year-old Kiffin, Gruden was a young head coach who had his share of disagreements with Davis. It was especially helpful to Gruden that then-Raiders general manager Bruce Allen, who holds the same job with the Buccaneers, acted as a mediator between owner and coach.
“Sometimes Bruce would come in with four or five things that I knew were from Al, as opposed to Al coming in,” Gruden recalled. “Obviously, I would feel a lot more comfortable saying, ‘Come on, Bruce. That guy’s going to play right corner? Come on, man. You’re going to move that guy to tight end? You go tell the team that. If I tell them they’ll look at me like I’m a dufus.’ After that, Bruce would go back to Al and maybe that was the end of the story or maybe it wasn’t. Maybe I never got into some of those other discussions because Bruce was the middle guy.
“Al wanted to be heavily involved on the defensive side of the ball, but one place where I had to draw the line was to have him sitting in a meeting with my defensive coaches when I was meeting in a different room with the offensive staff. I wanted to be in there with him. Not that I was going to be able to stop him from saying anything he wanted to say. That was his absolute right as the owner of the team. I just didn’t want a situation where he would suddenly be showing up and chastising the defense or making changes or proposing changes when I wasn’t in the room.
“There really was a lot of give-and-take with Al. I remember one time he said he wanted us to play a ‘Nine Technique,’ where the defensive end would line up on the outside shoulder of the tight end while angling to the inside. I talked to one of our defensive coaches about it and he said we couldn’t play a Nine Technique with the personnel we had, that the times we had done so in the past it didn’t work. I put together a tape showing the times when we played Nine Technique that the tight end was able to run up and block the linebacker and the tackle fanned out and blocked the end. I gave it to Al and said, ‘There are a lot of Nine Techniques on this tape. Here are some concerns of our staff.” He didn’t seem offended by it at all. In fact, I think he loved it. I liked it, too. The greatest thing that came out of working for Al was that he made me learn defense. Otherwise, I would just have to always agree with him and I really don’t think he was looking for that. He was looking for a good, informed, in-depth football discussion.”
Despite his youth and the fact he previously worked as an assistant coach on the collegiate level (USC), Lane Kiffin is more than capable of having such discussions with the 78-year-old Davis, whose accomplishments as a former assistant coach, American Football League commissioner, and club owner earned him a spot in the Hall of Fame.
Kiffin might not share Gruden’s dynamic personality, but he does have his confidence. He is not afraid to let his boss know when he disagrees with him.
“Are we going to see eye to eye on everything?” Kiffin said. “No, no. I don’t think anybody is, especially when you have two people who haven’t worked together very long and have an age difference.
“But in the end, we come out together and do the best we can to put ourselves in the best position to win.”
April 3rd, 2008 at 9:55 pm
it is concievaable that the 4 best players in the draft(1.McFadden 2.C.Long 3.Gholston 4.Ellis) could be available at the #4 spot under that scenario…
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:06 pm
The link to #144. This should put an end to the Davis and Kiffin BS’ers.
Al is just bring up the next Championship winning coach his way.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story;jsessionid=F375E4F175B94AC2CBE8105F48C2BC49?id=09000d5d8078fb5d&template=with-video&confirm=true
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:08 pm
This is Big Al as he’s always been he just sees things interms of what a players capabilities are sometimes wrong most times right. But he is as sharp now as he ever was.
The coaches just have to show him that they know how to win football games, then do it and he’ll give whatever they want within his power but you have to cnvince him that you are capable of getting the job done.
I remember many years ago talking to coach Sumner and he had me cracking up with the stories about his battles with Mr. Davis, he will challenge your knowledge as well as your back bone and he wants to see strong leadership. If he sees that you’re weak the door will start to open and he will find a way to get rid of you. He is by far the most demanding owner in the business because he knows it inside and out. And not winnig just doesn’t compute t him if you have the tools to do so.
I think Kiffin not only is starting t understand Mr. Davis ut is starting understand how much he will learn under him. One thing he will never have to worry about is can he get the players he needs.
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:13 pm
On post 146….
That reminded me of some of the stuff Jerry wrote about Kiffin, Gruden and Davis a few days before Kiffin was hired:
”With his connection to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers through his father, there is a perception that Lane Kiffin wouldn’t be a serious candidate to coach the Oakland Raiders because of a negative review by a certain former coach.
If Kiffin has gotten the lowdown on the drawbacks of donning silver and black, why would he bother?
Because he may have heard more good things about being coach of the Raiders than you might think.
Yes, Gruden and Davis disagreed on some issues. That goes without saying _ conflict and debate are at the very core of how Davis operates.
Davis, Gruden would say, can be difficult and demanding. If you’re ever hoping for an “atta boy,” a pat on the back or a time where he says so much as a “well done,” you’d better look at another job.
Gruden didn’t pick all his coaches or the 53-man roster, but he was forceful enough about some things that he was able to sell Davis.
He picked his battles, prioritizing what he thought was most important, much like people in business do every day.
Frankly, as a 34-year-old head coach, he was probably better off having to run a Davis gauntlet rather than simply get his way.
He didn’t have Rich Gannon the first season. His quarterback was Jeff George. During a subsequent draft, Davis sat down with some media members and said, “Jon needed a quarterback who could move” with regard to Gannon’s acqusition.
It would be the same deal for Kiffin. If it looked as if he was making progress, Davis would be more inclined to get him what he wants and needs. The moment Kiffin showed weakness, Davis would assume more of a position of power.
Whether Kiffin, or New England’s Josh McDaniels, for that matter, eventually becomes the Raiders coach is up to Davis and the candidates involved.
But they woudln’t be scared away by anything Gruden had to say. In fact, it might be the opposite.”
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:16 pm
Good insight for those that believe his coaches have no say in how things get done
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:17 pm
I don’t think that write up says anything different than a couple of us have been saying for years now. Davis has his ideas, and he is going to want to implement them. I think when you have a wishy washy gutless yes man coach, it’s the perfect storm for failure. The coach just rubber stamps Davis’ plans, some work, some don’t, and the coach is the one who gets the flak. Anyone who works for Davis HAS to have some backbone. In fact even Raider Fan needs to have alot of backbone right now.
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Have a good night fellas.
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:28 pm
You must know your stuff so thoroughly that when something comes up you have an answer that’s well thought and deliver on it.
It’s very tough but if you can coach here you can coach period.
If Kiffin can win the opener against Denver n National TV it will buy him a lot of say on just abut anything…………winning gets you everywhere with Mr. Davis
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:31 pm
good night BOB
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:34 pm
There is NO substitute for victory. Not only will a nationally televised win buy Kiff some cred with Davis, more importantly it will buy Kiff some cred with the players who desperately want to buy into something positive here.
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:38 pm
On an interesting note, the Raiders have not won a season opener since the 02 super bowl season. Sheeesh!
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:38 pm
Take a step back and think about this. This guy is only 32, maybe 33 by now… even in the best case scenario as a head coach in the NFL…..NFL……National Football League….are you kidding me. 99.9% of the people who run their mouth on this Blog would crap their pants if they tried to run even the most stable of NFL franchises. You have to give Kiffin credit….he is going to make mistakes, the BEST coaches do still…let alone when they were 32!!! He has to put up with Davis’ crap!?!! This experience will make him such a better coach in the future. Whether he lasts here or not….he will be an amazing coach either in college or the NFL. Period!!! Think about that for awhile…
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:46 pm
I’ve said it and I think that’s exactly why he took this job, THE CHALLENGE. This kid is not a quitter and and has biult a very solid foundation as a coach he KNOWS he can win here and he will.
He will learn more football here than anywhere else and will have the opportunity to win on top of it.
there are much easier situations elsewhere but they don’t all allow you the chance to win big, here you can, you just have to know your stuff and be confident, this kid is very sharp and Big Al knows it.
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:49 pm
Priest….how old are you?
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:49 pm
BJH, absolutely. Kiffin is an interesting guy in that he’s been around pro football his whole life. He was breaking down pro games as a little kid!! He knew Tony Dungy as a HC and Dungy is not a bad guy to learn from. He played QB at Fresno State, I think, When Jeff Tedford was the HC, and Tedford had to keep kicking him out of the coaches meetings. Then on to Pete Carroll’s program. So, he has the pedigree. He’s learned from very, very solid guys.
Clearly last year he made rookie mistakes, and at times was a little over his head, but he learned and I think all of us hope he grows into the position, and there’s really no reason to think he won’t. Once he grows into it a little more, and has more success, he’ll be a fantastic head coach.
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:50 pm
seriously how old are you guys? I am going to be 35 next month.
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:52 pm
I’m 54 why?
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:56 pm
I’m just saying ….I forget how young Kiffin is… I am amazed how people can talk trash on him. He has done an amazing job. We have been horrible…he has us going in the right direction.
I am a teacher and a coach. I am the head coach at an intermediate school. I put in a ton of time and effort just for that…I can’t even imagine what it takes to run a pro team. Let alone one with all the headaches the Raider job seems to entail…
Some people need to get a clue…
I am not saying those that happen to be on tonight…just in general.
April 3rd, 2008 at 11:01 pm
OG…what about you?
April 3rd, 2008 at 11:06 pm
You guys are taking too long…I am tired. No real point to my rant about age…just even more impressed with Kiffin after remembering his age. Hope he gets the chance to Grow and Mature with the Raiders. I would hate to be saying how great he has become with someone else.
Goodnight
April 3rd, 2008 at 11:07 pm
BJH, the issue with being a HC isn’t xing and oing. Anyone here on this blog can X and O. The issue with modern coaching is the personnel stuff. And I don’t mean arguing with the up stairs personnel suits to get players who fit your scheme. I mean relating to players and getting guys to buy into what you’re selling when THEY MAKE 6 times what you make, and they’re from different backgrounds and speak different languages, and those players think they know everything. Don’t ever kid yourself, once those guys put on a uni, instantaneously they think they can game plan as well. THAT’S the challenge. And it’s a big challenge.
April 3rd, 2008 at 11:08 pm
Hope it turns out like Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory! LOL! Big Al Screams at the kid and tells him to get out….messes with his mind….and then leaves the whole damn place for him to run…
HAHAHA…
Later.
April 3rd, 2008 at 11:10 pm
OG,
I agree…they seem to have bought in and like what the young coach has done. It would be nice to have some stability….say like Cowher had…
April 3rd, 2008 at 11:11 pm
going to bed…..pick this back up in the morning…I have a prep period in the a.m. I am sure I will be checking back
Later
April 3rd, 2008 at 11:12 pm
That is probably how it will end BJH.
He passed the test!
He didn’t get loud, or cocky, and blab team business to the media; he kept an even keel and remained focused on the draft, pre-season, season ahead.
That is awesome in my opinion.
April 3rd, 2008 at 11:21 pm
This is a weak class as far as the top 10 picks are concerned and how they relate to our needs. We need a LT, but Long may be a RT. We need a RDE, but long may be a better LDE or LB. Gholston may work out at RDE, but he may not be strong against the run. We need a DT, but not a 3 technique and Ellis and Dorsey are both 3 techniques, not the NT style we need. Long is the best fit overall, with Gholston a close second, but if they’re gone we’re hosed.
Trade Down if at all possible. Draft Rivers SLB and Sims, Okam, or some other NT in round 2 or pick up Baker or some other OT in Round 2 and trade washington for a third and pick up a NT in round 3. We’re only a couple of players away from fiedling a very strong team this year. D line is the most important, but don’t draft somebody that’s not compatable with our needs. We have two solid starters - Warren at the 3 technique and Kelly at the LDE, but Kelly is playing the 3 technique. If we want to stop the run, we need to move kelly to the LDE, Warren to the 3 tech., Draft Gholston or Long to play RDE, and trade burgess for a second to grab a NT. Problems solved, but since we’re not, we’re in for another long year against the run.
April 3rd, 2008 at 11:42 pm
Bullcrap IMO Jedi, you’re making these sweeping statements as if you know exactly what’s going to happen, and you don’t. IMO Ellis could easily play the NG, you guy’s are looking at his hieght and so was i until you really study him. I think he can play it especially in a 4/3. he is very powerful and quicj., smart and plays with tremendous leverage that’s all a NG needs in the 4/3
April 3rd, 2008 at 11:45 pm
and there is no way the Raiders want to trade Burgess, you guy’s are crazy. Trade Burgess you must be nuts.
April 3rd, 2008 at 11:52 pm
What’s up BHP!
April 3rd, 2008 at 11:53 pm
I think ol’ skinny legs can play the NG better than the midjet!
…kidding, just want to wake you up a bit =)
April 3rd, 2008 at 11:53 pm
*midget*
April 3rd, 2008 at 11:55 pm
burgess is one of the few elite DEs in the NFL, to let him leave or assist him inleaving would be ridiculous, especially in a contract year where you can expect at least 14 sacks, hell, he probably would have had 12-14 if he were healthy this year, and he’s extremely underrated against the run, the penetration he gets both into the backfield and laterally at the line of scrimage goes a great distance toward stopping the run…he is an ELITE DE, one of the BEST IN THE NFL
April 3rd, 2008 at 11:57 pm
Oakglenn, I actually think the opposite of Kiffin. I don’t think he seized enough control. In over his head? I thought he was too nice. Hopefully in his final season here he just does whatever the heck he wants and gives us at least one winning season, before James Lofton takes over.
Don’t bother responding to this because I’m not going to sink down to your level.
April 4th, 2008 at 12:00 am
Jedi - Stopping the run is simple, draft Frank Okam with the pick we get for FW.
I heard Okam on Sirius today and he’s an amazing kid. He was asked to compare himself to someone in the league and he compared himself to Shaun Rogers, just not as lazy. Okam led his lineman during conditioning drills and played most of the snaps (according to him). He’s pretty humble too. WHen asked what he needed to work on, he said “Sacking the QB”. He envisions himself as big DL that can also get to the QB. I’d like to see what BHP and Tommy Trojan think about his ability to rush the passer. We know Okam’s beef is a good fit against the run, but he’d be a steal if he had any pass rush ability. I’m not suggesting he could get double digit sacks, but QB pressures would definitely get Burgess/Kelly in double digit sack situations.
April 4th, 2008 at 12:01 am
BHP…I disagree, I don’t think that Kiffin is that smart because of all the descention, his recent comments and his insufferable march to develop his own identity. He is trying too hard not to be perceived as an AD lap dog. I think he is intelligent enough to do the job but he needs to work within the confines of what AD allows until he can sell his changes to AD on how he wants to run the team. Along the way he will learn from AD, get more freedom to make changes commensurate with his growing NFL experience and develop his own identity without having to work so hard for it.
Our biggest need is at LT, one that can pass block as well as run block period. The passing game has to complement the run because we all know that a well balanced offense will score points keeping the pressure off our run the defense. Thus, forcing our the opponents to throw the ball at our all pro CBs, the strength of our defense.
April 4th, 2008 at 12:02 am
first of all, his legs are not skinny..and 6ft is hardly a midget, his heigth mean he will not be knocking down balls, but that’s what a 6-7 345lb sands is for, ellis has a low center of gravity which make it easier to gain leverage…and example of such…(sorry for using myself as an example but it’s a good one)as a freshman in high school i was 5-4 115, and i started at LT, i gave up 2 sacks in 10 games, we ran a ZBS scheme and my height allowed me to gain proper leverage, and good hand placement(and professional athlete athleticism) allows ellis to take full advantage of this technique, height is not important in the trenches, and ellis isn’t exactly that short
April 4th, 2008 at 12:03 am
How’s it going Tommy? Didn’t see you in here as you posted while I was typing my last one.
I know you’ve referenced Okam a few times in here. WHat’s your take on his pass rush ability? He’s obviously not built for that but he claims he can get to the QB with some tuning of his skills. Do you think he’s got that kind of first step/footwork/handwork?
April 4th, 2008 at 12:03 am
Blackhole priest, Gruden practically had to lock Al Davis in a basement to build a winning team, and as soon as they became one, he was forced out. Do you really think any of us are that stupid when you talk about Al Davis giving his coaches a chance to win big? There’s a reason why no coach worth a damn with any NFL experience will ever come here. It’s because Al won’t let them win. He won’t let them build a team. He gives them bums like Gallery and Huff and expects them to motivate these guys into being actual hard hitting, tough playing football players, something they never were in their life. There’s only one owner in the league who signs players just because they can run fast, and expects his head coach to teach them to be football players. I’ll give you a hint, it’s the owner who’s 19-61 over the last 5 years.
Don’t bother responding to this. I will not sink down to your guys’ level tonight.
April 4th, 2008 at 12:06 am
I was just yanking BHP’s chain Trojan. I’m a big fan of both DMAC and Ellis. I’d prefer DMAC over any other prospect. I’d take Ellis or C.Long as a second option.
April 4th, 2008 at 12:07 am
okam has the explosiveness but needs help with his hand placement and footwork, but he would be an immediate factor against the run, that’s for sure…
April 4th, 2008 at 12:07 am
If we draft McFadden I honestly think Kiffin will quit right there on draft day, and that will be the story of the day.
Don’t bother responding to this.
April 4th, 2008 at 12:10 am
don’t worry shell we wont respond to your stupidity because the ignorance dislayed in your comments doesn’t deserve to be noticed, and i, and many others, will simply ignore anything with your name written on it
April 4th, 2008 at 12:10 am
As soon as McFadden walks up to the podium, Kiffin will walk up there, take the mike from him, and say, “By the way, I quit. I’m done with this s**t.”
There’s my draft day prediction.
Don’t bother responding to this because I’m not in the mood to argue with any of you tonight. Just let it go. Understand?
April 4th, 2008 at 12:12 am
Trojan I’m just telling you all what will happen on draft day if Al drafts McFadden. Kiffin will quit, right there on the spot. That’s a guarantee.
Don’t bother responding to this.
April 4th, 2008 at 12:12 am
TT…I agree with you about Burgess being an elite pass rusher but he is very average against the run. Too many times I have seen him rush way to the outside totally taking himself out of the running directed at his position.
April 4th, 2008 at 12:14 am
Art Shell’s Hat - sitting on top of the dome with the look on its mug like he just got smacked with a frying pan…
Kiffin is playing his role very wisely, to the point he must have gotten some outside consult.
Gruden was a media darling, and it made AD upset that ‘Chucky’ was being distracted from winning football games.
Kiffin was basically nonexistent thru the entire media frenzy.
He knew the Old Man was watching.
April 4th, 2008 at 12:16 am
We don’t have one defender that can play the run, Mad dog.
Our only hope to stop the run is to just blitz like 6 guys every down.
I’ve had enough of your guys’ crap for one night. I’m leaving, so don’t bother responding.
Goodnight.
April 4th, 2008 at 12:17 am
I think Burgess needs to be on the field as much as possible (even on running downs). It would just be better to see him at RDE with SAM support.
April 4th, 2008 at 12:18 am
good ridance
April 4th, 2008 at 12:19 am
TT - Any idea if Ellis is scheduled for a visit with the team?
April 4th, 2008 at 12:23 am
Another question; Is our scouting department so good at disguising themselves during proday w/outs that nobody in the media knows that Oakland is present? When I read snipets that follow pro days I see several teams mentioned as being in attendance but never Oakland. The scouting dept must have to complete three stages of “Ninja Warrior” before they can interview for the job.
April 4th, 2008 at 12:46 am
NFL.com
Needs Analysis: The Raiders drafted their quarterback last season, now they must find a No. 1 receiver (despite acquiring Javon Walker). The team has long had a need at offensive line and should address that early. The team spent some money on the defensive line in free agency, but could still use some youth at defensive end and defensive tackle. The Raiders have two stellar cornerbacks but could use an upgrade at safety to play opposite of the excellent Michael Huff.
—————————————————–
Uh, what about Gibril Wilson.
Good night all.
April 4th, 2008 at 12:52 am
Good night guy’s
April 4th, 2008 at 1:02 am
very few people in the organization, even up at 1220, know what’s going on as far as who we’re really considering, it’s all speculation…although i thill think it will be mcfadden
April 4th, 2008 at 3:26 am
Here is a list of mock draft picks.
http://www.walterfootball.com/draftdata.php
April 4th, 2008 at 3:47 am
If Davis didn’t want a yes man as a coach then why did he hire White, Bugel, Shell x 2, Callahan and Turner? All were yes men. Were they his only options? Something about Al must like the fawning of his coaches (Ryan) about him. But it sounds like it’s over at least until the season starts and if they start losing I wouldn’t expect Kiff to make it to the end of the season. Which only shoots us in the foot again. Lack of stability is the major issue with this bunch and while it’s true winning cures everything the Raiders have always been unstable and moreso of the last 20 or so years with Gruden bringing the most stability and having a GM though not his title in Allen helped immensely. If Al is looking to retire who is going to fill those shoes? Does some of the goof balls in the organization make you feel comfortable?
April 4th, 2008 at 3:54 am
Assasin…
typical! the most important acquisition this year, and they forget we got him. if they had said, we need to draft a QB in the 1st, because Aaron Brooks cant be on top for ever, then they really show how clever they were =)
April 4th, 2008 at 4:55 am
I think the Raiders had better find a way to continue to upgrade the defensive line and either Long or Goolston would be the logical choice. They had also better be seeking to find ways to upgrade the offense. Finding a way to draft Kelly (the wide receiver from Oklahoma) would give JaMarcus and excellent set of receivers. I believe Kelly will be one the most explosive wideouts in the game
April 4th, 2008 at 5:18 am
Good Morning Raider Nation!
April 4th, 2008 at 5:31 am
howdy!
April 4th, 2008 at 6:10 am
Interesting theory on the phins letting the clock expire so they don’t have to pay first pick price and then being able to jump in to get a player whenever they want at a lower price. Remember the Viqueens screwed up a couple of years ago and didn’t get their choice to the podium on time.
http://www.miamiherald.com/616/story/480998.html
April 4th, 2008 at 6:44 am
Amy Trask don’t play - she would be good in place of Mr. davis.
April 4th, 2008 at 6:49 am
exlaraiderseasonticketholder, good morning. I was thinking the same thing yesterday. they did that on purpose, did not want to spend the money they knew exactly who they wanted. They had a whole year to plan it out.
April 4th, 2008 at 6:51 am
NFL Top 10 Raider highlights feature Fargus being run down as he tries to cutback. Did not have to speed to take it in. I know his combine speed was comparable to McFad but obviously has lost that next gear.
April 4th, 2008 at 6:51 am
http://www.nfl.com/videos;jsessionid=AFCA3FD4B7FCCF47D1CCA3015534E267?videoId=09000d5d80739727
April 4th, 2008 at 6:52 am
The day that Big AL retires (which he’ll never do)or passess will be a truly sad day. We’ll probably be strapped with some owner who cares about nothing but getting paid like most of the other owners in NFL. Winning is all Big AL is about. Love him or hate him everyone knows Big AL wants the Raiders to Win.
April 4th, 2008 at 6:56 am
Raider Fans,
What are your Top 10 Raider moments. Mine was watching Rozelle have to hand the Championship Trophy to Al Davis after the Raiders beat Washington.
April 4th, 2008 at 7:02 am
Holy Roller, Stabler was and is my favorite QB of all time.
April 4th, 2008 at 7:03 am
Bo Jackson running Over Bosworth.
April 4th, 2008 at 7:07 am
thec,
that was one of my favorites too, was the beginning of the end of his career. shoulder injury my ass, that hit shook him up mentaly and he realized he was overhyped.
April 4th, 2008 at 7:09 am
Thec
From Wikipedia:
Jackson turned in a 221-yard rushing performance on Monday Night Football in 1987 against the Seattle Seahawks. During this game, he ran over Seahawks star linebacker Brian Bosworth, who had insulted Jackson and promised in a media event before the game to contain Jackson. He also made a 91-yard run to the outside, untouched down the sideline. He continued sprinting until finally slowing down as he passed through the entrance to the field tunnel to the dressing rooms with teammates soon following.
Great moment!
April 4th, 2008 at 7:14 am
Ex & Woj, I had the pleasure of watching that game live albeit on the TV. Awsome. Woj, you are 110% correct. that was like the end of Boz. thats what football was about, that what we need to get back to. a mean nasty not dirty but mean and nasty team that will put your lights out. Thats NATION football
April 4th, 2008 at 7:17 am
the raiders of the 70’s were the S#!t period. the battles with us and pittsburh. but watching stabler and crew you allways thought they would win, no matter how far down they were. Although stabler didnt have the stats he had a lot of heart.
April 4th, 2008 at 7:18 am
Morning Nation,
Hopefully Michael Bush can lay the goal line lumber almost as good our dear ol’ Bo or a certain Mr. E. Campbell.
April 4th, 2008 at 7:25 am
exlaraiderseasonticketholder, my top ten would probably be my earliest memory that convenced me to follow the Raiders. I was born & raised in Texas (you don’t have to feel sorry for me) & my only memory of watching football was Dallas on Thanksgivings. It was boring & they usually lost. I hated Tom LAndry (hat, suit, no smile, computer picks players, etc..) THEN one afternoon in 1970 I turned on the Raiders (fortunately in Texas we got EVERY Raider game at 1pm, Dallas played in the mornngs). With 11:24 remaining and the Raiders trailing 17-13 in Oakland against the Browns, QB Daryle Lamonica was knocked out of the game and George Blanda came in to replace him. Cleveland scored 20-13. Blanda then led the Raiders on a 69-yard scoring drive 20-20, with 1:34 left to play. Oakland intercepted 34 seconds remaining.Blanda hooked up with Dixon to get down to the Cleveland 37. With just seven seconds left, Blanda nailed a 52-yard field goal (52 FREAKIN’ yds from a strait ahead kicker!!!) to win the game on Monday Night Football. I was sold on the Raiders & football because this was exciting (not like Dallas). This was what football was all about!! The next 4 games I saw the Mad Bomber hand off for 2 yds, 2nd dwn drop back get sacked, drop back & throw a bomb for a TD on 3rd dwn. Blanda eventually had to come in & lead a TD drive & kick a field goal to win it w/3 secs left. That season & those 5 games sold me on the Raiders forever. Because the Raiders were the major game in the afternoon (Dallas played on the other channel) I got Oakland every Sunday for 10yrs until I moved to Denver. Thnx for bringing that up,Exlaraider, I never get tired of telling that story to Bronco fans here.HAhahaha…
Stabler Forever!!
April 4th, 2008 at 7:31 am
McFadden
April 4th, 2008 at 7:39 am
question,
so why hasn’t Al signed Justin Gatlin to a 15 year 150 mil contract yet, not enough?
April 4th, 2008 at 7:40 am
I do believe the height will be an issue with Ellis, but not with Dorsey.
Dorsey has the 2nd longest arms of anyone at the entire combine, and that’s how height relates to the DT position. This is a real big time player and will continue to be in the NFL.
We pretty much cannot lose with our pick, as there are 4 or more players worth taking 4th.
April 4th, 2008 at 7:41 am
January 2—In front of a sellout crowd of 67,800 at the Coliseum, the Raiders overcome a 17-point fourth quarter deficit to beat Denver, 33-30, in overtime to qualify for the playoffs for the 18th time.
This was the first game I ever saw sober. And it was a great game. The SB victory over the Redskins was sweet too. I bought some white jeans to wear with my black jersey and Danny (one punch) Bunker came real close to beating the crap out of my drunk butt. He was a avid skins fan
April 4th, 2008 at 7:42 am
BHP - Everybody projects Ellis to the 3 tech. - I’m just going off what the scouts said - He played some NT in a 3-4 at USC, but everybody projects him to DT 3 tech at the NFL level - I haven’t heard any different. If he does project to NT in a 3/4 or 4/3, then great, but nobody has put him there - same with Dorsey. We need a Haloti Ngata type of player (like Sims, Okam, etc.) - in fact, I was hoping we’d take him over Huff a couple of years ago. I agree, you can’t project people based on measurables alone, but 6′1 300 = 3 technique everytime. Jerry Ball was like 6′1 335, the good NT’s in 3-4’s are usually 6′1-6′3 and 325+, and that’s what we need to play opposite the 3 technique.
I just personally think our Run D problems go much deeper than NT, especially since we run a Man 2 Man Scheme. Burgess is a major liability against the run because he is so undersized against RT’s. He gets his cheap sacks against these slower guys by lining up very wide, which leaves a gaping hole between him and the the DT next to him. The DT next to him is supposed to be the NT, but we played G. Warren out of position there (he is a 3 technique despite his size) which means that whole side of the line was a cluster f**k last year. Sapp definetly lost a step, and Richardson is a natural LDE (where Burgess plays), tough against the run at the point of attack, with limited pass rush ability. Richardson is back-up talent anyway. That is a terrible line. I keep reposting these thoughts, but if comes up, I’ll keep doing it. You can’t put the best 4 players out on the field if they don’t fit thier positions. An extreme example was us playing Sapp at the 3-4 DE his first year. Total disaster. That’s how a little kid (or terrible GM) plays Madden. Sapp is a 3 technique, nothing more nothing less, and was a great one.
Here’s what fixes our D line problems:
RDE (The Rush/Speed End) Long or Gholston/Edwards
DT (3 tech) G. Warren/Joseph
NT (Run Stuffer) Draft Pick For Burgess / Sands
LDE (Power/Strong Side End) Kelly/Richardson
We could also plug Grady Jackson into the NT position for a year, but getting one of the top prospects in round two in exchange for Burgess and moving Kelly to where his natural position should be solves all our problems, provides solid depth across the board, and fixes our run game while improving our pass rush (Kelly is good for 8-12 sacks against slower ROT’s, Long or Gholston should be good for 10-15 if they pan out, G. Warren should add another 6-8, and we’ll get a couple of cheap ones out of the NT).
Al will of course never do that, so we’ll be stuck with this:
Edwards/Richardson
Kelly/Joseph
Warren/Sands
Burgess/?
If that’s what we go with, I promise you we finish in the bottom 1/3 of the league against the rush again this year, probably near the very bottom because not too many teams are going to want to throw against us (until we have to throw 8 or 9 in the box to try to stuff the run).
That is a terrible D line with Burgess overmatched against the run, Edwards only good as a backup, Warren playing out of position at NT, and only Kelly being good at DT.
Let’s vote: which line would you rather have?
April 4th, 2008 at 7:43 am
Might as well order your McFadden jersey today. Don’t worry Terp, BHP, Mista I will back order yours on draft day.
April 4th, 2008 at 7:53 am
I say no to mcfadden because you shouldn’t take a running back that early and having to pay him lots and lots of money with that gauranteed money only to lose him because of one hard tackle to his knee.Look at what happened to Adrian Peterson last year.He was very lucky because if that hit he took on that knee was on a slite small degree of an angle,his career would have been over.With all of the money that Al Davis spent this year,I don’t think that he’ll take a chance on paying mcfadden that kind of money and maybe lose him to that dreaded hit to a knee especially when he has got some running back who are more than capable of doing the job this year.
April 4th, 2008 at 7:55 am
RaiderTW,
I was at that Blanda-Cleveland game. We were all used to Raider comebacks, but I think secretly we didn’t give old George a snowball’s chance from 52 yards. But, a chance is a chance for a miracle right? I was toward that endzone where he made it. About ten yard line. As the ball was flying, you could see that it had a chance. The crowd went as wild as any I’ve ever been in. People were screaming, hugging, crying… an indelible and incredible memory for me. Thank you for bringing it up.
April 4th, 2008 at 7:55 am
M, mornin M. Bush is a bust. forget about him. He wont even suit up for us. we need to cut him now. a total waste.
April 4th, 2008 at 7:57 am
Dakota,
I’d rather have a vest made from mammoth wool. Got any of those lying around?
April 4th, 2008 at 7:58 am
Dakota,
Mastodon would do in a pinch as well.
April 4th, 2008 at 7:59 am
Thec,
Why would you guess that about M. Bush?
April 4th, 2008 at 8:01 am
What else is there to talk about? Let’s see, hmmmm, okay I got it:
In your opinion, which Raiders team is the greatest of them all? 67′, 69′, 74′, 76′ 80′, 83′, 02′, some other year?
My vote goes to th 76 team. 13-1, won the SB. But I am not old enough to have seen much prior to 1984 (which may explain my lack of loyalty to Al Davis, lol).
April 4th, 2008 at 8:01 am
Dakota,
When Madden 2009 comes out, what will you rate D-Mac
April 4th, 2008 at 8:02 am
M, we were told yesteday that a certain RB was ripping it up in camp. Want to keep it wrapped. If you look at my later post you will see where i truly stand on this subject.
Just say no to DMAC
April 4th, 2008 at 8:03 am
I got to see them 76. the 70 raiders where the one and only.
April 4th, 2008 at 8:04 am
Sorry i meant 70’s raiders. but 76 the bicentennial of our nation.
C
April 4th, 2008 at 8:07 am
M,
If you got the money, I got the Woolly. But if you are not a rich man, I can get you a Columbian mammoth vest for 1/3 the price of a Woolly.
I could even throw in a pair of short-faced bear boots at half price.
http://www.mammothsite.com/exhibits.html
April 4th, 2008 at 8:08 am
Thec,
je comprends.
April 4th, 2008 at 8:10 am
Dakota,
I didn’t even realize that short-faced bear wore boots. Perhaps why they’re extinct, couldn’t sneak up on anything.
April 4th, 2008 at 8:12 am
Memo,
I would probably rate him 7 point below AP across the board, with the exception of the speed and inj rating. Speed he gets a 98 and to the inj I would add 15 point to whatever AP has.
As much as I like McFadden, I have no illusions of him being more gifted than AP, or any of the great NFL backs, I just think he will be a very good RB for a long time for the Raiders, and that he has the potential to be great if everything works out just right.
April 4th, 2008 at 8:12 am
M,
They were soft soled boots.
April 4th, 2008 at 8:15 am
M, I would have loved to be there, I didn’t see a live Raider game until 1979 in the South stands in Denver. I was warned about not openly rooting for Oakland in the S stands so every time they scored I just started laughing. Everyone looked at me but no one said anything. I bought my 1st program it had a Jim Otto painting on the cover.
April 4th, 2008 at 8:19 am
The 76 team had weopons on both sides of the ball.
This team should be in the discussion of greatest of all time. f the fins and 72 its all about the NATION.
April 4th, 2008 at 8:20 am
RaiderTW,
Were you at the Raiders/Broncos game in Denver last year? I was, and when I saw the safety by Warren developing I jumped up and yelled SAAAAFETY just before he got Cutler in the end zone, lol. I swear 30,000 people turned and looked at me and gave me the evil eye.
When we lost, the fans around me were pretty decent about it, but if Jano would have made that second FG, I doubt they would have been as cordial.
April 4th, 2008 at 8:22 am
hmmm… a lot of people seemed to be concerned over Ellis/Dorsey’s height/weight combo. I was too. But the dude that plays NT for the Ravens (a damn good to great defense ranked #2 vs run last season) is almost the same size.
Kelly Gregg (NT) for Ravens: 6′0″ 310lbs
Sedrick Ellis: 6′ 0.5″ 300lbs appx
Glenn Dorsey: 6′ 1.5″ 300lbs appx
So I guess what I’m say is it the height thing really doesn’t matter as much as how well they play the position. Again, if the Raiders feel confident either can play NT and do it at a very high level; picking Ellis or Dorsey becomes a very likely prospect.
1. CLong
2. VGholston/Ellis/Dorsey
3. JLong/Clady
Other high ranked defenses:
Steelers 3rd ranking > Casey Hampton (NT) 6′1″ 325lbs
Skins 4th ranking > Montgomery (DT) 6′6″ 315lbs
etc….its not so much about size as much it is about the player being able to play the position. Stopping the run is also all about attitude
April 4th, 2008 at 8:22 am
The ‘83 team is considered the greatest Raider team of all time according to big Al.
April 4th, 2008 at 8:26 am
Terrapin,
well done on 245. Nice perspective.
April 4th, 2008 at 8:27 am
I like the ‘76 team mainly because they WHIPPED the big bad steelers TWICE & it was the only break between the 4 SBs they won by an AFC team. I started hating the Broncos when they stole my change to see the dream SB matchup for me: Dallas (all my friends & family rooting for Dallas the white hat good guys) vs The Raiders( big bad mofos opposite of the clean cut computerized cowboys) Again the refs stole AFC championship with the Lytle fumble. Sometimes I think I hate the Donkeys more than I like the Raiders!!!
April 4th, 2008 at 8:27 am
76 team was a work of art. how manny HOF from 76?
April 4th, 2008 at 8:30 am
I was born in 1976, lol. I do not remember that season for some reason.
April 4th, 2008 at 8:31 am
Take a loot at this clip or Gholston just man handling Jake Long.
April 4th, 2008 at 8:32 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yot9ClPvZDg
April 4th, 2008 at 8:32 am
Dakota lol. You missed a good Raider team. Real smash mouth exciting football. Everyone on that team has a personality. with weopons on both sides of the ball.
April 4th, 2008 at 8:33 am
Just passing info along:
http://www.sportsnetwork.com/default.asp?c=sportsnetwork&page=/nfl/news/ABN4142705.htm
April 4th, 2008 at 8:34 am
If the dolphins are going to take C Long can’t they just sign him right now since they have the over all 1st pick? Or are they waiting for somebody to make an offer to move up ? Only 3 more weeks to speculate who to take or who not to take.
April 4th, 2008 at 8:37 am
Yeah Dakota, if tou missed Otis Sistrunk, Ted Hendricks, Jack Tatum, Ben Davidson on the same defense you missed something real special. Even Rob Ryan couldn’t jack that team up!!! Len Dawson still hates Ben Davidson for that hit he took. Does anyone know that Ben Davidson was in the famous porno “Behind the Green Door”?
April 4th, 2008 at 8:37 am
Poor LTs, they win 30 out of 31 battles with a player on any given game-day and people just look at the one play where they failed, lol.
April 4th, 2008 at 8:40 am
Davidson did another porn flick cohnan the barbarian
April 4th, 2008 at 8:41 am
Interesting:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Davidson
“He has appeared in a few films including M*A*S*H and Conan the Barbarian. He portrayed Porter the Bouncer in Behind the Green Door. He also played a convict football player in Necessary Roughness. He also played himself in a Miller Lite ad featuring John Madden and Rodney Dangerfield.”
April 4th, 2008 at 8:45 am
Greatest version of the national anthem I ever heard. Oak Coliseum. Lou Rawls. Man! (’72, on or about)
April 4th, 2008 at 8:48 am
With the 4th pick, we dont need to agonize over the pick. The pick will pretty much be made for us, with whoever is left. Regardless we should end up with a servicable D Lineman.
My favorite hands down is C. Long. Watching that guys gets me fired up. If hes still on the Board than its a no brainer.
April 4th, 2008 at 8:48 am
I met big Ben in Pleasanton at a little gym at the fair grounds and he was riding his bike there and the bike had to be at least 5ft high what an imposing figure
April 4th, 2008 at 8:49 am
M,
This one gets my vote for best national anthem, lol:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcgRBkT69L8
April 4th, 2008 at 8:51 am
Looks like Jerry is having a live blog today and he did not invite us……..
http://www.contracostatimes.com/raiders/ci_8772559?nclick_check=1
April 4th, 2008 at 8:53 am
Maybe he´s had with us….pending upon schedule, I´m showing up anyways…lol.
April 4th, 2008 at 8:55 am
hey Bob, that link doesn’t work…
April 4th, 2008 at 8:56 am
The Raiders lead the league in actors: John Matuzak/B. Davidson/Bubba Smith/Lyle Alzado/romanowski/John Madden
I know there is more, who else?
Broncos: lead the league in wife beaters.
April 4th, 2008 at 8:58 am
Don’t forget Howie doing all the Chevy Commercials!
April 4th, 2008 at 8:58 am
Howie Long
April 4th, 2008 at 8:59 am
H Long: Firestorm.
Wow, Otis Sistrunk was in carwash!! Also something called Doc Hooker’s Bunch [TV]
April 4th, 2008 at 9:00 am
TW, here is a picture of Al Davis in a movie:
http://tesla.liketelevision.com/liketelevision/vidsamples/nosferatu2.jpg
April 4th, 2008 at 9:05 am
It doesn’t matter who we Draft.
COOOOOAAAAACCCCCHHHHHIIIINNNNNGGGGGG!!!!
Coaching and Chemistry.
Trust in your teammates….being unselfish. Doing your job!!!
April 4th, 2008 at 9:08 am
you forgot Carl Weathers in the Rocky movies and Preditor
April 4th, 2008 at 9:14 am
Stopping the run is the only thing that will improve this team,after that everything else will be easy.
April 4th, 2008 at 9:15 am
Quagmired..
Sorry about that, just go to the contra costa times raiders section and in the left column you´ll find a link that says inside the raiders live blog.
April 4th, 2008 at 9:15 am
GET TO THA CHOPPA!!!
April 4th, 2008 at 9:18 am
Huh…check out the Cowgirls NT: Jay Ratliff > 6′4″ 298lbs. Cowgirls ranked 6th vs run last year. Just saying.
& the Swedish Blue Birds (re: those hideous canary unis): Mike Patterson (DT) 6′0″ 292lbs, Brodrick Bunkle (DT) 6′2″ 306lbs. Swedish Blue Birds ranked 7th vs run in ‘07. Just saying.
If the player can play NT the player can play NT.
April 4th, 2008 at 9:18 am
LOL!!
Let me guess???
Predator!!
April 4th, 2008 at 9:25 am
278….Arnold heading out of Sacramento
April 4th, 2008 at 9:28 am
You’re one ugly mothafaaacker!
April 4th, 2008 at 9:30 am
If it bleeds, we can kill it.
April 4th, 2008 at 9:30 am
If this team even whiffs at a top 10 ranking vs the run next year assuming a slightly better offense the Ws sould follow big time. This team can be so close if things are done right.
April 4th, 2008 at 9:30 am
Predator II sucked.
April 4th, 2008 at 9:33 am
That movie inspired a lot the hair styles you now see in most of the nfl secondary.
April 4th, 2008 at 9:33 am
being taller than 6′1″ has nothing to do with stopping the run. Ellis is the real deal. Ellis > dorsey. Ellis if he wanted to could compete in body building. I honeslty doubt dorsey is stronger. Who had the best game in the senior bowl. Ellis is the mad hands down. he can play 3 or 4 teq. We need to stop the run, and we need a pass rusher. Take the best avail between C. log, S. Ellis.
April 4th, 2008 at 9:37 am
FA signings and the wheeling and dealing may not be over for the Raiders yet, but assuming everything remains constant heading into the draft I’m looking for the following to happen:
Draft DE to start
Draft NT to potentially start
Draft LT to compete with Harris
Anything else is a bonus.
April 4th, 2008 at 9:37 am
I don’t worry about ranking in run stopping in the nfl as much as within the division. That is the main problem.
April 4th, 2008 at 9:42 am
I’d love it if the Raiders could draft Long. On top of the Howie connection, he seems like the type of guy who will inspire his teammates to work harder and thus make the entire unit better. Also, his athleticism is highly underrated. He’s not just a hard worker. He’s a great athlete too. Having said all that, I can’t imagine why he’d be available at No. 4. I wonder if the Raiders have given any thought to trading up to No. 1. I highly doubt it, but it’s clear Al is putting all his chips in the center of the table this off-season. Good for him.
I predict Gholston will be the pick … if the Raiders stay put.
April 4th, 2008 at 9:44 am
post #263 is awesome lol hahaha
April 4th, 2008 at 9:45 am
Useful tip….
Go to usatoday.com sports, look for the top 500 elegible players database and click on the players you want to get the scouting report.
Very complete and the info comes from nfldraftscout.com which IMO is the best of such sites out there, they charge for most of their info but you can get the general overview from the usa today page for free.
April 4th, 2008 at 9:46 am
i like gholston hes a stud!!!!!!! but if little howie isnt there davis will draft dmac i just know it
April 4th, 2008 at 9:49 am
Dakota
911 @BK
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EykZnm_VgU&feature=related
April 4th, 2008 at 9:50 am
I doubt the Tuna passes on Cris Long, he seems to draft defensive players when rebuilding a franchise
April 4th, 2008 at 9:51 am
It includes a player comparison-projection, not exact matches they say but more like similarities….
Sedrick Ellis compares to La’Roi Glover
Glenn Dorsey to Warren Sapp
Chris Long to Aaron Kampman
Darren McFadden to Marshall Faulk
To name a few…
The most complete info that I have been able to find out there.
April 4th, 2008 at 9:52 am
Chris Long could fall. Miami could go J.Long or M.Ryan or even Gholston. SLouis - I’ve read their fans say they’ll likely draft a DT to push Carriker back out to DE - as they say is his natural position (Dorsey/Ellis?). And Atlanta could chose anyone but their head coach is a big time line freak from Jax so I’ve read. Believe it or not Chris could fall right in our laps. You never know.
April 4th, 2008 at 9:53 am
Has anyone heard of a Sean Penn movie called The Inian Runner? It had Kenny Stabler in it !!!!!
1991
David Morse
Viggo Mortensen
Valeria Golino
Patricia Arquette
Charles Bronson
Sandy Dennis
Dennis Hopper
Benicio Del Toro
April 4th, 2008 at 10:05 am
I think C. Long could be just as good as Howie. Kampman’s a good player, but I think Long could be considerably better than that.
April 4th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Exla,
#292…UNREAL!
Ma’am, we are not going to send deputies down there to enforce your Western Bacon Cheese Burger!
CLASSIC!
I am sending that one to everyone I know, lol.
April 4th, 2008 at 10:07 am
Dakota,
I should be this lucky, lol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcsE6IPHVic&feature=related
April 4th, 2008 at 10:09 am
I think the Dolphins Taking Gholston and the Raiders Taking Long would be a win - win for everyone I mean the AFC west is Is dominated by top running backs and the AFC east is Only a one team race with the Patriots who obviously like to throw the ball. Only Problem I just don’t see Gholston getting the big 1st pick contract. I’m Still holding out hope the Dolphins will trade down.
April 4th, 2008 at 10:11 am
Who was the guy that played “Hunter” in that ’80’s TV series? Wasn’t he a Raider?
For the life of me I can’t think of his name!
April 4th, 2008 at 10:11 am
Does anyone read BSPN draft conversations its a joke what is up with the black hole across the us they come up with some weird shiiiit and there is some mucjh bogus stuff on there as well as some good opions anyways GOODMORN nation!!!1
April 4th, 2008 at 10:14 am
the dude that played on that show was a ram
April 4th, 2008 at 10:15 am
Exla,
4 days! I had that problem in high school, but no pills were involved, lol.
This might have solved the problem without having to alert the authorities:
http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/4513/cfooderof2.jpg
April 4th, 2008 at 10:16 am
Hunter - fred Dryer LA rams
April 4th, 2008 at 10:22 am
Speaking of Ben Davidson, Porn and Hunter, how does it go, to get your porn name you add your first pet’s name to your first address or something like that?
If so mine would be…..Hunter Chicago.
April 4th, 2008 at 10:49 am
Mine would be Smoky Peiffer. hahaha
April 4th, 2008 at 10:57 am
Dakota,
I quess there are certain words that trip the moderator. My last post did it. I suppose you can mess up this blog by using others names but can’t mention dysfunction pills.
April 4th, 2008 at 11:33 am
ExLa,
Yeah, I tried to mention the blue pill once before and got nailed for it, lol.
April 4th, 2008 at 11:35 am
Mine would be Bozer Bruce, now thats pimp.
April 4th, 2008 at 11:35 am
Oh man thank you! I’m at work and was going nuts, but now I feel better. Fred Dryer.
April 4th, 2008 at 11:36 am
“La Jolla Shores Dr.” would be a horrible last name for a porn star Dakota ha ha
April 4th, 2008 at 11:40 am
What It Doo Nation
If youll dont know already, Jerry McDonald gonna be on in 20 mintues to have a live chat with all of us - so get you’re questions ready
April 4th, 2008 at 11:43 am
Fred Dryer was a great player….he played DE at like 220 lbs.
Those were the days when you could also have a DE like Jim Marshall who played at 6´1 and 235 pounds. Art Shell ate him for breakfast in the super bowl!
April 4th, 2008 at 11:51 am
Whats up everyone!
April 4th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
You guys are foregeting the best Raider actor of all time- Linebacker Carl Weathers A.K.A Apollo Creed
April 4th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Jerry answered one of my questions! Boo Ya!
April 4th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
What if we drafted dorsey or Ellis and tried to move them to the “elephant” DE position and kept Kelly at the undertackle position. I think we need to draft def. but I just wished the tacles were more NT types.
April 4th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Naw I think it would be fascinating if we pulled off a trade of fabian washington dominic rhodes/ or jordan, a 4th round pic and next years second for chad johnson. And with the 1st pic draft mcfadden. So on o that would leave us with johnson, walker and curry at wideout, mcfadden ,fargas, and bush at back, with miller and madsen at tight end, to go along with griffith and oneal at fb. To go along with our revamped d. On paper i’d give us at least 11-5. With all the media groupies on our jock.(; sounds sweet huh?
April 4th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
ERIC:
YEAH, THAT WOULD BE AWESOME, BUT I THINK WE GOT A BETTER CHANCE OF JOHN MADDEN COMING OUT OF RETIREMENT AND COACHING THE RAIDERS AGAIN THAN PULLING OFF THAT TRADE FOR JOHNSON.
April 4th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
I agree with a lot of what you say, JediRaider, about our defensive line and what we should do in the draft. You make some very good points about the best way to stop the run. Let’s hope someone in the Raider draft board room is listening.
April 4th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
Smokescreen??
“I’d like more linemen…”????
Sounds more like Kiffin vs. Davis… a case of “I want” vs. what he (Davis) wants.
All you smokescreen experts have enhaled too much smoke.
Attention NFL Shoppers: Al Davis to trade Burgess (and his tiny winy contract that has NOT been RESTRUCTURED or recently signed to a big contract), Washington, Rhoades (restructured), and Schweigert.
Burgess lands us no less than a 2nd round pick, Rhoades a 3rd, Washington a 3rd, and Schweigert a 5th.
As much as I hate to say it, Al goes after RunDMC (musch to my dismay) then picks up a MLB (run stuffer) and DE and DT in subsequent rounds.
April 4th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
isn’t anyone monitoring these posts? These are really bad!
April 4th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
I haven’t posted as often as normal as I’ve been studying, but I’ve read a lot of posts and it’s quite funny how I described DMac and how we could use him in the Reggie role in Kiffin’s offense and several people including Turtle and BHP called me freakin nuts for my desire to bring him on board.
Kiffin confirms my beliefs on how we would use him and people thought I was crazy for his ability to be used in the offense, in a “two-headed RB monster” ala Reggie & LenDale White at USC.
Dakota and I have been on the ‘wagon before our season even ended and have been ridiculed for our “ridiculous love” for him meanwhile Bob Marley, Tomm Trojan, among others have joined the bandwagon.
Remember, I’ve always been for Chris Long first but I believe there’s no way in hell St Louis will pass on him if Miami does so it’s DMac and MB time.
April 4th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
Hey guys all this talk about a a dline man is nice but I
will bet my house that dfad will be our pick i know we
just re signed fargas and rhodes but big Al is not going to let this barn burner bye. Is it logical no put hey were raider fans there is no logic
April 4th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
you can find good lineman just about anywhere in the draft in any draft, but you can only find a player like mcfadden at the top of the draft, and only in certain drafts(how many years between LT and AP were drafted? and between LT and barry? and between barry and OJ?), but we don’t plan on being at the top of the draft next year, or any time soon, so let’s take the superstar, all-world offensive player while we have the chance, our O and D lines are adequate, they’re not good enough to win us any games on their own but not bad enough to lose us any games on their own, and we have pretty good WRs and what we believe will be an all-world QB, we have the best secondary i the NFL and one of the best LB cores, there will no be another mcfadden for who knows how long, but i can guarrantee that we can solidify either our O or our D line with our first next year, and we do have four picks available after #4, so we should take mcfadden while we can…
April 4th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
a decent DL with great players behind them suddenly becomes a very good DL, and an adequate OL in it’s second year under cable with several key new additions and better skill position players suddenly becomes a good OL, factor in the additions we have made to each line, they’re not blockbusters but they’re solid signings, factor in that burges and kelly will be healthy next year and thathall is a drastic improvement over washington and that wilson is one of the best run defenders of all NFL S’s, and that he is also a general playmaker, , factor in that russell will have a year of practice and study and an entire offseason to prepare and that better recievers will be open sooner and the OL will need to block less, but they’re already better, this team looks like a playoff team, not a legit title contender but a lock to be in the wildcard discussion next year…how many holes do we really have, we have a QB, we are good at RB, we are two deep with very good FBs, we have a good TE, we have decent WRs, he have two good Gs, we have two capable starters at C, we have two decent starters at RT, we have a need at LT although we appear to have decent players contending for the job, we have an elite DE and a good DT, we have multiple options at the other DT spot and several capable of starting but it is arguably our greatest need, or you could argue that a bookend is our greatest need although we have a decent run option and a decent pass rush option in rotational roles, we are set with two pro bowl LBs and two adequate starters at LB, our secondary is great from top to bottom, a great coverage S a great run defense/hart hitter/playmaker, and we have two elite cover corners, one who also a playmaker, so for all the cynics and pessimists…we have 3(DT, DE, LT) real needs and our OLB and and WR spots arguably could use some improvement, but all of our needs already have what are rotational options/arguably adequate starters/quality depth, this team is capable of winning, regardless of who we draft, if Russell is half of what we drafted him to be this season then we will make the playoffs…
April 5th, 2008 at 3:50 am
Mc FAD-den, Mc FAD-den, Mc FAD-den. you all make good sence and thou this is my feeling I’m still not buying it…
Except for one little thing Kiffen said that is bothering me. He said that they were NOT going after a running back… WHAAAAAA???
Lane is too smart for that. you never say that even if it’s true. At this point it could be anything like a lil misdirection…
Maybe they want McFAD-den and believe someone above will take him? Or NOT?
The thing that intrigues me is that he said it and Lane is a smart SOB guys…
Frankly I can’t wait to find out. I’ll say this, Al’s making this off season very interesting…
Hopefully, the season turns out to be as much fun…
Oh and what’s with all of these recipes?!?!?!?! The CHEF’s blog is elsewhere…
I try not to be negative especially with fellow RAIDER FANS so please guys… this ain’t the place…
GO RAIDERS!!!!!!
April 5th, 2008 at 11:12 am
I think Kiff was being coy to ward off Jerry or the Jets from trading up. There are still some descent DT out there in FA or if we can get a 2nd and 3rd or 3 and 4th for some of our baggage then Al will pick DMac (in for visit soon), then a OT in 2nd or 3rd, DT/LB in 3rd or 4th, and a QB in the 6th or 7th. If we can get LSU’s QB in the 6th or 7th as #3 on the depth chart that would be great. Then hopefully next year Al can trade Walter for a 3rd or 4th round pick to make up for that lost 5th round to ATL.
April 5th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Gholston is horrid, Delawrence Grant 2.0, please keep him far from this team.
April 9th, 2008 at 8:54 am
Great Article On Darren McFadden!!!!!!!! and Raiders..
http://bigbenlivingroom.blogspot.com/
April 10th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Someone answer one question for me. Besides Chris Long having the last name Long like the legendary Howie Long, lets just say theoretically if his name was Chris Jones. What makes him so great? Would the Raider nation want the guy if he was named Chris Jones? It just sounds like we are getting caught up in this he is a Legend like his Dad thing and this is coming from a guy who wants to see McFadden wearing #34 in honor of the old Bo Jackson taking it to the house 6.5 yards a pop days. ha ha ha LOL!!!!! If Long gets 12 solo sacks this year (great season)that is less than the Raiders totaled last year and what was our record? Come on Raider nation we need a home run hitter!!!!
March 26th, 2009 at 3:50 am
As a far-away (Europe) Giants fan, I am always looking for new sites with G-Men information.
May 8th, 2009 at 8:25 am
Change Me…
…