A Draft Day Debriefing
Leading up to the first round of the draft, I said that I would choose a QB like Leinart from the heart, and a need-filler like Huff from the head. I will gladly live with the latter, just as I would with the former. I’m just happy it’s not neither, which would be the case if I were a fan of the Bills or Texans (sorry, I just don’t buy the Williams-over-Bush equation, particularly for that team).
I have to admit that when Leinart was still there at number seven on Saturday, I was rooting for him (from the heart) as the pick. I think he’s poised and prepared for the NFL, and that he's got magic, too. More important, I’m just sick of the QB position as it relates to the Raiders. Aside from the Gannon intervention, it’s been an extended drought. I understand that QB talent is difficult to predict. The evaluation minefield is littered with detonated names like Leaf, Druckenmiller and Couch. But it’s also populated with successes like Manning, McNabb, Palmer and Roethlisberger.
Remember when Robert Gallery looked like a smart sturdy pick in 2004? Eight slots later, the Steelers selected Ben Roethlisberger. That’s what I’m talking about. We need to get this position under control. I’m hoping that Brooks and Walter can do that. I have faith. But Brooks is a castoff from the Saints and Walter hasn’t taken an NFL snap and has been injured for two straight years, so I think it’s reasonable that my faith will remain tested for the short term. Meanwhile, check out what JS has to say about the QB position in relation to the secondary. Good food for thought.
Okay, with that said, can I still be stoked about Michael Huff? Yes I can. Sure, I’ve expressed reservations about the Raiders taking yet another turn on the DB hamster wheel. But this guy is different. I’m sure of it. It’s a totally reasonable selection that will elevate our ability and intensity on defense.
The jury is out on Howard in the second round. Stick’Em ribbed me for my sudden USC fetish, but with both Winston Justice and Lendale White falling to the second round, I thought either would have been worth the risk. Both have baggage. Both are also acknowledged first-round talents. Are we looking for the best athletes or the best citizens? Baggage is a Raiders tradition. I’m not saying go after these guys in the first round. But when they’re sitting there in the second round, like ripe fruit hanging from the draft tree? I don’t know. Call me crazy, but…
Anyhow, a big welcome to Michael Huff. By all accounts, he’s a character guy, one who is genuinely excited to join the Raider Nation. He puts some serious nasty into The Nasty that Art Shell and the Oakland Raiders will wield in 2006.
Addendum at 8:34 a.m.: I should have said "best football players or best citizens" in my take. This use of the word "athlete" for "football player" is something I don't want to perpetuate.
Justice and White may not have been the best "athletes" in that 38th slot, but they are proven football players and acknowledged first-round talents. The Eagles nabbed Justice right after our second round pick, and the Titans, who know a thing about power running from the Eddie George era, selected White shortly thereafter. This is no coincidence. These are two teams whose coaches don't take crap from players, and who exert discipline from the top down. Justice and White didn't rob banks or smoke crack, and they've proven they can play football, the game, not the track meet.
It's just a bit ironic that we're restocking our defense at the top of the draft again, and specifically our secondary in the first round. We have to believe that THIS time they've got it right. Huff makes that belief pretty easy, so I'm not complaining.
I have to admit that when Leinart was still there at number seven on Saturday, I was rooting for him (from the heart) as the pick. I think he’s poised and prepared for the NFL, and that he's got magic, too. More important, I’m just sick of the QB position as it relates to the Raiders. Aside from the Gannon intervention, it’s been an extended drought. I understand that QB talent is difficult to predict. The evaluation minefield is littered with detonated names like Leaf, Druckenmiller and Couch. But it’s also populated with successes like Manning, McNabb, Palmer and Roethlisberger.
Remember when Robert Gallery looked like a smart sturdy pick in 2004? Eight slots later, the Steelers selected Ben Roethlisberger. That’s what I’m talking about. We need to get this position under control. I’m hoping that Brooks and Walter can do that. I have faith. But Brooks is a castoff from the Saints and Walter hasn’t taken an NFL snap and has been injured for two straight years, so I think it’s reasonable that my faith will remain tested for the short term. Meanwhile, check out what JS has to say about the QB position in relation to the secondary. Good food for thought.
Okay, with that said, can I still be stoked about Michael Huff? Yes I can. Sure, I’ve expressed reservations about the Raiders taking yet another turn on the DB hamster wheel. But this guy is different. I’m sure of it. It’s a totally reasonable selection that will elevate our ability and intensity on defense.
The jury is out on Howard in the second round. Stick’Em ribbed me for my sudden USC fetish, but with both Winston Justice and Lendale White falling to the second round, I thought either would have been worth the risk. Both have baggage. Both are also acknowledged first-round talents. Are we looking for the best athletes or the best citizens? Baggage is a Raiders tradition. I’m not saying go after these guys in the first round. But when they’re sitting there in the second round, like ripe fruit hanging from the draft tree? I don’t know. Call me crazy, but…
Anyhow, a big welcome to Michael Huff. By all accounts, he’s a character guy, one who is genuinely excited to join the Raider Nation. He puts some serious nasty into The Nasty that Art Shell and the Oakland Raiders will wield in 2006.
Addendum at 8:34 a.m.: I should have said "best football players or best citizens" in my take. This use of the word "athlete" for "football player" is something I don't want to perpetuate.
Justice and White may not have been the best "athletes" in that 38th slot, but they are proven football players and acknowledged first-round talents. The Eagles nabbed Justice right after our second round pick, and the Titans, who know a thing about power running from the Eddie George era, selected White shortly thereafter. This is no coincidence. These are two teams whose coaches don't take crap from players, and who exert discipline from the top down. Justice and White didn't rob banks or smoke crack, and they've proven they can play football, the game, not the track meet.
It's just a bit ironic that we're restocking our defense at the top of the draft again, and specifically our secondary in the first round. We have to believe that THIS time they've got it right. Huff makes that belief pretty easy, so I'm not complaining.
posted by Raider Take at 1:08 AM
37 Comments:
I'm excited about Huff replacing Wood at #24 as a Rover and matching up against Gates & Gonzales.
We will see him right away against Gates & Rivers on Monday Night.
I'm hoping for a pick.. ...
Raza: Thomas Howard looked great in coverage at the Sr. Bowl. Look for him to play SAM and be able to handle the AFC West TEs too.
All 3 picks so far are hard-working, high-character players.
This is the reason big name players with big potential like Gabe Watson, Max Jean-Gilles, Darnell Bing, and Rodrique Wright have not been drafted by Al Davis (or any other team) to this point. They all have shown inconsistent effort on the field.
I applaud this direction, as it is diametrically opposed to what has gotten the Raiders in this mess in the first place.
Gabe Watson has "Chester McGlutton" written all over him, so it appears Art Shell learned some things his first time around.
Look for more high effort players on Day 2.
I think this draft was as good as it can get with three picks. While I would not have been disappointed with Leinart, I would rather stay away from the QB in the first round. I still can't get the "can't miss Wilson," out of my head. The Raiders always have gotten their best QB's in free agency. At least you know what your getting when you get a free agent.
Huff is the safety I have been waiting for. I really wanted Sean Taylor when we got Gallery. I think Gallery can be a better pick but this is the year.
I must say that I think we did get the best athletes. Lendale White is nowhere near the best athlete. Justice is nice but he does not know how to act. I was still rooting for him in the second though.
Nice insight Stick em. I can remember last year I really thought we had a steal in Anttaj Hawthorne, bust. We need guys with strong work ethic and good motors. I think we did that yesterday.
Roy, I should have said "best football player or best citizen" in my take. This use of the word "athlete" for "football player" is something I don't want to perpetuate. I was a bit blurry-eyed when I wrote this. Anyhow, for the sake of distinction:
Philip Buchanon: Athlete
Jack Tatum: Football Player
Justice and White may not have been the best "athletes" in that 38th slot, but they are proven football players and acknowledged first-round talents. The Eagles nabbed Justice right after our second round pick, and the Titans, who know a thing about power running from the Eddie George era, selected White shortly thereafter. This is no coincidence. These are two teams whose coaches don't take crap from players, and who exert discipline from the top down. Justice and White didn't rob banks or smoke crack, and they've proven they can play football, the game, not the track meet.
It's jut a bit ironic that we're restocking our defense at the top of the draft again, and specifically our secondary. We have to believe that THIS time they've got it right. Huff makes that belief pretty easy, so I'm not complaining.
darnell bing in the fourth round. hmmm, i guess that questionable work ethic you speak about just garnered us a big hittin SS with end of the first, top of the second round talent. nice value pick. makes the defensive backfeild pretty interesting now doesn't it?
as far as total draft love....i'm lovin it, thought we reached a little in the third, got two first round talented guys and now we grab another highly rated saftey. very very nice. the "big nickle" we run is starting to look pretty nasty if we're stickin' with it.
hey stick'em, you changed my thinkin' before the draft to accept and love huff, tell me and the rest of these guys about him again. and what he's gonna mean to the guys around him.
Raider Take,
Do you think that Washington, Routte or Morrison were bad choices. I think they are going to be good players. In the case of Morrison maybe better than good. Our drafting has not been great whether we draft Offense or Defense. Our best players have almost always come through free agency.
I definitely would have taken Justice but White seems suspect at best. He has been labeled lazy by some scouts and that is the worst trait for a football player. I take Howard over White all day. I am perfectly happy with Jordan. We don't need another power runner, what we need is a third down speed back. We got three players who love the game and play hard.
Ahh, I feel much better now that I got my USC problem child value pick! You know I've been lobbying for that.
Pantyraider: I already am unhappy with this draft....with the possible exception of Huff (though I still would have liked Leinart)....if the Raiders waste a pick on Marcus Vick, I'm definitely throwing in the towel.
Stick 'em: Don't look know, but the Raiders have thrown character and consistent effort out the window and chosen S Darnell Bing to start the second day. I think his Wonderlich scores probably barely beat out Vince Young's. Isn't this guy just a dumber Derrick Gibson?
Food for thought: If the Raiders had won the pre-draft coin toss with the Whiners, would they have picked TE Vernon Davis? The guy's going to be a dangerous weapon for them.
Roy, it's not that I think Washington, Routt or Morrison were bad choices. In fact, a Washington and Morrison may turn out to be great choices, certainly better than picks like Buchanon and Gibson. But as the SF Chronicle aptly puts it today: "In five of the last six drafts, the team has chosen a defensive back in the first round. If the strategy worked, it would have sent itself into retirement by now."
(I also encourage all to read JS's take linked to my take.)
As for free agency, among our "big" signings this year are Poole and Starks...Two DBs!
Our lines were shaky last year. We didn't stuff the run and pressure the QB enough last year (despite the exceptional play of Burgess), and our QB got pressured way too much. I sure hope Howard and the Irish Giant will make an impact on those fronts.
RT, i figure the addition of howard pushes brayton back to end on first and 2nd down, replaced by johnstone on 3rd. thats makes for much better and even push to the qb. the irish giant if installed to gaurd would leave just the right tackle position up for grabs to whoever wants it....cough, cough...WALKER!! wake up!!. or maybe we'll draft one. lol. sims moves to left gaurd, if he aint happey with that show him the door. we'll use one of the two vets we just signed. either way it's got to be a better set up than last year debacle.
Darnell Bing is an excellent value pick in the 4th round. Is there any doubt that Radio Gibson will be getting a pink slip come June 1st? Bing is a more traditional SS in terms of being a big, hard hitting, run stuffer.
My question to the Raider Take crew is whether or not this selection means that Caveman Ryan will be using the Big Nickel again as a regular defensive package?
NFL.com's analysts are projecting D.Bing to be converted to LB.
I like versatile players and having guys who can play more than 1 position. I also don't mind an ocassional project. However, all things being equal, I want guys who you don't need to convert or project into a new position that they have never played in college. I want guys who are a natural fit for their position not a stretch.
If you take a look at some of our defensive players drafted the last 4 years it seems to be stocked with players who we attempted to convert to play a different position than they played in college or seem to be fish out of water based on their body type/speed;
Brayton, Irons, Williams, now Bing. Note: I don't count Huff since he can play SS,FS, CB very well. It is not a stretch, project, or conversion but a natural fit for Huff to play all 3 positions.
I don't buy the whole theory that Bing is slow for a safety but will be fast for a LB or that he has the natural size to play LB. Name 1 example of a college safety successfully converting to LB. (Urlacher?). The point is that if you have to think that hard to name 1 example than there is probably a reason that this coversion isn't a prudent route.
My take:
Huff is a fine pick.
Howard's a bit dodgy.
The Irish Giant will never make the team.
Darnell Bing will be the steal of this draft.
None of it matters because we need a running back.
I love the Raiders, but we're such losers sometimes. seriously, I can hear the raider personnel discussing their logic, "I like this kid he's got long arms."
Sixptstar: I agree with your view to a certain extent. I think the word 'character' is a very loaded and subjective term when it comes to judging football players.
Their are many degrees of character and different value judgements. Clearly everyone wants a player who is a good citizen, has a strong work ethic, a team-first guy, and above all, a talented football player.
However, if player X made an immature decision when he was a young man in college (who hasn't made a mistake in these formative years away from home) doesn't necessarily mean this is a bad player/person. I think character counts but there are a lot of variables & circumstances that need to be properly weighed before writing someone off.
Of course above average football talent can always tip the balance for a team taking a so called chance on a player. Another important variable for tipping the balance one way or the other is whether the player in question loves football, is a warrior you want in your foxhole, practices hard.
For every bad character (ie. Dimebag Darrell Russell) who flames out there is another player of questionable character who rises above (ie. The Tooz).
Another critical factor to consider is whether or not a team/organization has a coaching staff with strong leadership in place who demands accountability.
At the end of the day what really counts is how the player in question performs on the field on Sundays not whether or not he is involved in charitable organizations in his free time.
I would hope we add depth to DT and RB with the upcoming June 1st cuts.
Our DT rotation/depth (Sapp, Sands, Kelly, Hawthorne) isn't as bas as some might think.
Speaking of cuts, I would like to see Gibson and either Poole or Starks be given the blade. We currently have the following DBs
Fabian Washington (starting CB)
Nnamdi Asomugha (starging CB)
Stu Schwiegert (starting FS)
Huff Daddy (starting SS; FS/CB)
Stanford Routt (nickel CB)
Jerrod Cooper (back up safety)
Darnell Bing (back up SS)
Chris Carr (KR/backup CB)
We have adequate depth in the entire secondary. Gibson/Starks or Poole take up valuable roster spots without being able to contribute to special teams.
Here's the word on Paul "Malachai" McQuistan. He's not as much of a reach as it first sounded, and by all accounts Malachai gets after his man like he's possessed (which he is, BTW - LOL!)
Here's the Shrine Bowl for Roy
He's got a twin brother, Pat (not Paul) McQuistan who looks just like Malachai and also played OL at Weber St.
When the Cowboys drafted Pat late today, they put the EXACT same picture they had up of Malachai yesterday. Thought I was in Bizzaro World until I figured out the twin thing...
Best of all, Malachai is a farm boy, which completes the Children of the Corn scenario.
For FRKY: Here's the game film on Huff and a take from Mike Ohara:
“Michael Huff is part of a developing breed of elite safeties. They can't be stereotyped or pigeon-holed into one style of play.
They aren't miniature linebackers who bury their helmets in the pile to stop running backs. And they aren't whippet-quick sprinters who patrol the deep secondary to cut off the passing games but leave the hitting to their teammates. The best safeties have the versatility to excel as defenders against the run and pass. They are close to the action, wherever it is.
Huff wants to be in the class of the new breed -- the Ravens' Ed Reed, the Steelers' Troy Polamalu and the Redskins' Sean Taylor. The Cowboys' Roy Williams makes such an impact as a hitter he ranks in the elite category.
Huff showed enough ability in pass coverage and as a run defender in four years at Texas to rank as the No. 1 defensive back in this year's draft. Huff will give any team the luxury of having a safety who can line up in the slot and cover a wide receiver in passing situations.
"I think it's kind of a new breed of safety with myself, Polamalu and Ed Reed of the Ravens," Huff said at the NFL combine workouts. "Safeties have to do more than just stay in the middle of the field and hit now. They have to cover and blitz and do it all, and that's what I like to do."
Huff played safety at Texas, but he also has the ability to play cornerback. That makes him a 21st century version of Ronnie Lott, who was part of the San Francisco 49ers' 1981 draft class. Lott played cornerback and safety for the 49ers during his Hall of Fame career. "I was deep free safety, or I was strong safety in the box, or covering the slot, or outside covering," Huff said.
"I don't really have any percentages, I was all over the place." Whatever the position, safety or cornerback, Huff is in a class by himself in this year's crop of defensive backs.
Huff ought to be ready to play against the best at the next level. At Texas, he practiced against the best. He had to cover wide receiver Roy Williams, the Lions' first-round pick in 2004, and defend against quarterback Vince Young. Huff remembers going one on one against Williams and says it prepared him for the NFL. "Going against probably one of the best receivers in the nation, and seeing the success he's having in the NFL, kind of makes me feel better about myself," Huff said. "Every day was intense. Every day he brought his 'A' game, so I knew every day I had to bring my 'A' game."
Young was off limits to full contact in practice, which probably was a good thing. "Sometimes he'd break into the open field, he'd try to give you a move and try to make you look bad, so it got intense," Huff said. "But if we hit Vince, we probably wouldn't play that Saturday. So we had to back off. Stay away."
Huff didn't back off on game day. He got to the ball carrier, and the ball. He had 44 pass breakups and scored five defensive touchdowns as a Longhorn.
"I love getting into the end zone," Huff said.”
'nuff said
I was surprised we picked up Bing in the 4th. NFL is reporting that he is moving to OLB because that is exactly what Art Shell said in the press conference about him. Art asked him to put on 10 pounds to play outside, and smack the TE spot in the face, and cover the run gaps.
I think it's a gamble, but it's a good gamble pick for the 4 spot. I was hoping we could've picked up the likes of Dominque Byrd at TE, and Rodrique Wright at DT. Byrd is one of the most underrated TE's, who has excellent blocking and receiving hands. He saved USC's undefeated season countless time last year, and they should have done a play-action-pass to him on 4th and 1; instead of the obvious White up the middle (especially with Bush on the sideline). St Louis got a steal there.
I was definitely surprised to see Rodrique Wright (UT's DT) go in the 7th round. He's a workhorse, and a solid player. We should have picked him up in the 6th. Those are the only two things I would have changed. Overall, I thought we went with necessity, and that is not a bad play. We will see how the gamble with Bing plays out.
Raider Take,
I agree with much of what you write, only how can you not draft db's when our defensive backfield has been horrible? It is not if our other first round picks have been solid, think Stinhcomb, McGlockton, Fredrickson, Russell, Marinovich and even Anthony Smith. Not an impressive list. I think we are going to sign more free agents in June. As a whole the Raiders need to start drafting better. I think Huff, Howard and Bing will all help us stop the run. Hopefully some coaching can reinvent our OL because we have talent there but for some reason it is not clicking.
Stick em,
Nice report on the ginger kid. I am even more optomistic!
Good points, Roy. Hopefully, this draft breaks the pattern of largely unimpressive defensive draft picks over the past five years. If that turns out to be the case, I'll be happy.
I think that DT is a big part of the equation, however. What if, after Huff, we selected Winston Justice to help shore up the O-Line, then picked a DT in the third round instead of the Irish Giant?
The Eagles thought they were going to have to make a hard choice between Bunkley and Justice in the FIRST round. They ended up getting both of these guys, with Justice coming right after our second round pick. Very interesting.
As far as defense being this huge need, as I keep hearing (and I can't argue with it), I recall the Raiders crashing and burning on offense last year. Turner and Collins were a huge part of that problem, but I submit that offensive line and running back were also part of that equation. No disrespect to LaMont Jordan, who earned some nice stats, but he alone cannot carry the running game, especially behind a porous line. We were impotent in the red zone, and this lack of a balanced offense, coupled with consistent pressure on the QB, resulted in disaster (of course, the situation was exacerbated by Collins being the worst type of QB for that kind of situation). I hope the new QB and the Irish Giant will help save the day.
Raider Take,
Nice amendment. But as you know, Al is in love with athletes. Story of our life. I think you are exactly right when you say Reid and Fisher don't take crap. Unfortunately, the perception of the Raider coach (any Raider coach)is that he is Al's puppet. It is difficult to command respect when the players don't think you have control. For this reason, it is important for us to get character guys and shy away from troubled people. Justice had more than one incident. That being said, I would have liked to get him.
As for our Offense crashing and burning. The fact is we have way more talent on offense than we do the "D". Our WR position is stacked, as is our OL. For some reason, the line did not live up to its potential.
Although I'm not entirely unhappy with Huff as our pick, I'd have been much happier with Leinart. Now we're going to spend the next decade (or more) constantly comparing the two. If Leinart crashes and burns in Arizona (always a possibility since they *are* the Cardinals), then we look good. But if Leinart leads them to the Super Bowl, we're going to look like idiots. Unless Walter can step up and show franchise QB potential, the Raiders still lack a future at this position.
On that same note, the Thomas Howard pick in the 2nd round also needs to be scrutinized. Don't forget, this is the pick that the Raiders were hesitant to give up to the Vikings for Daunte Culpepper. If Howard doesn't pan out and Culpepper flourishes in Miami, this would be another opportunity to land a franchise QB that the Raiders blew this offseason.
Good points, Doobie, about keeping a wary eye on those two QBs over the next few years.
I hear you, Roy. The thing about being stacked at wide receiver is that talent at the WR position can easily go to waste if protection, balanced attack and passing are out of whack, as we saw last year.
Perhaps the thing that scares me most right now is that the greater sports media are giving generally favorable marks to the Raiders on this draft. Since we know the media typically get things wrong when it comes to the Raiders, this alone is cause for concern!
RT: I hate to 2nd guess things before these players even play a down in the NFL...but I tend to agree with you about the Philly draft.
In each of the first 4 rounds, the Eagles drafted a couple of spots behind the Raiders. Here's what they came up with:
R1/14 Brodrick Bunkley (DT)
R2/39 Winston Justice (OT)
R3/71 Chris Gocong (DE)
R4/99 Max Jean-Gilles (OG)
Again, not to 2nd guess Huff Daddy, Howard Johnson, Malachai, and Bing-a-Ling, but in hindsight I wouldn't mind trading them for the Eagles' 4 above...well, I still love Huff, so...
Check back 3 years from now and see if Justice and Bunkley are on parole, and if Jean-Gilles has eaten himself out of the league.
Then we'll know for sure. Right now it's all just speculatin', and at least we are not speculatin' 'bout which Raider will be a bust first...
Something to be said for safe picks, and I feel safe with a Raider draft for once in a lonnnng time!
The Philly draft was impressive.
I like that they built their draft roster by focusing on the trenches.
I am convinced that Huff is a special player who will make an immediate impact with his confidence, playmaking skills, and leadership qualities.
I think that Howard's performance in 2006 will be the "X" factor. If he plays well we will look back at this draft with a favorable impression. The jury is still out on whether or not his has the football smarts/instincts to be someone we can count on.
With the additions of Huff, Bing, and Morris I would anticipate Radio Gibson, Starks (or Poole) and Trieu be given their walking papers.
As far as our D-Line, we need Sands, Kelly, and Hawthorne to step up.
I do think we have added to our QB pressure package with Johnstone, Brayton (playing DE), Huff, Bing, Howard, and Williams (if healthy). All of these guys will give Caveman Ryan a few more wrinkles to add to his blitz packages and ability to rush off the edge. I look forward to 3 and long when we have Burgess & Johnstone coming off the edge and either Huff/Bing/or Howard blitzing. This in turn should create more turnover opportunities.
ok the suspense is overwith. nothing spectacular happened as i thought it would. personally, i grade this raider draft a C.
the huff choice is ok but i would have loved to have leinart.
a few misc. things: pantyraider: let's not judge the fans with your comment about being wimpy. for all we know, there might be very good reasons why they are wimpy as you say. i for one, have a sick and dying parent that needs 24/7 care. i try to get to as many games as possible but i simply cannot. she takes a fair amount of my time. does that make me a bad or wimpy fan? sorry if i sound harsh.
marcus vick? glad we didn't waste our time.
we didn't get leinart, but i do hope now that walter will get his fair shake and not end up doing a tui for the last 5 years.
what i could see is that we are building a fast defense (and defense wins what?) one that hope fully will be flying all over the place making tackles (good tackles BTW, not this ole crap). a fast defense with versatile players who can be plugged in anywhere, anytime. this is the quickest way to create a punch you in the mouth identity which this team badly needs. might as well start on the defense.
anyway, i guess we'll see how this draft shakes out here in the next few months.
RT, I hate to go against you on this but the draft "experts" giving the Raiders a positive score should not be seen as sort of a good thing. In many of the previous year they have given the Raiders drafts have been graded as poor with way to many reaches. I'm sure we can all agree (at least from what I read on these boards) that that has been true. The Radiers have had some bad drafts latley and the "experts" have pointed it out. That they haven't total panned this draft has got to somewhat of a sign. We got a good player in the first round, instead of reaching on a player like Fab Washington. We got need players in areas like OL and LB. Just from looking at the pre-draft scouting reports on many of these guys, I'm becoming a bit more positve about the picks made. Whould I have like to see Lienart? Heck yeah! But I'll take what we got and look forward to next year.
Go Raiders!!!!!!
That should have been, should be seen as a good thing. I need to proof read a gooder.
Go Raiders!!!!!!!
Wtdavid, those are fair points. My take on the media was a bit tongue-in-cheek...However, remember, who were constantly telling us that Kerry Collins was having a great year! Makes me a bit suspicious of their motives.
I agree with a lot of what you say, and we are definitely united on one thing: Go Raiders!
Well it's hard for me to get much media coverage of the Oakland Raiders in Charleston, SC so I can only go by what I get from ESPN (which only talk or write about the Raiders to bash them), Oakland Tribune website (whose writers can be pretty harsh sometimes) and the Raiders website (which is so suger coated it hurts my teeth). I only recently found the Raider Take site and it's been good to get more fans opinions, especially those that are closer to the team.
Keep up the good work, and thanks to all that post who give me something to read when I get bored at work.
Go Raiders!!!!!
CJ: Though the Eagles got some big names, remember, they took some big gambles. Maybe they weren't paying attention when TO's self-immolation took a contender team with him to Candy@ssland...
On the other hand, the Raiders got a 4-time Academic All-American long snapper in Chris Morris and an Ivy League Guard in Kevin Boothe. In addition Huff, Malachai, and Howard are all high intensity, motivated players. I have no clue what kind of person Mr. Irrelevant is, but isn't this by definition a moot point?
The word on the odd man out, Darnell Bing, is he may have left school because the academics were too much for 'em.
Having gone to college with a prominent basketball program, and having seen first hand some of the athletes in some of my classes get passing grades, though the only times I actually saw them in class were the first day and the last one, I say:
Verily, if you cannot make it based on those kinda standards, you not only are NOT the brightest crayon in the Crayola box, very likely the teacher is probably still trying to teach you not to eat 'em cause they look like they might taste like watermelon and strawberry!
But with Bing taken in the 4th, the risk is acceptable that he can convert to LB. Had Bing-a-Ling been chosen in the 2nd, I might have thrown a Chuck Taylor through the TV screen at 'em!
So, my long-winded point is, we are left with no major reaches and no major character concerns.
When was the last time we could say this about a Raider draft?
You can listen to all the bozos saying, "The Raiders drafted for need" or "The Raiders just drafted the fastest players available again"... but I tell you - this time I think Al and Art drafted for ATTITIDUDE.
Yes, pigs CAN fly, and a 77-year-old curmudgeon of a cranky geezer can try something different every once in a while - LOL!
Kiper and the rest of the draft grading "gurus" whining, "They would have had an 'A' if only they hadn't passed on Leinart" can go straight to Hades in a school bus full of rabid, man-eating, Tibetan howler monkeys for all I care!
The Raiders get an "A" for ATTITUDE in the '06 draft.
'nuff said
Stick'Em: There are many refreshing angles & themes to this draft. In my book, this draft has Art's fingerprints all over it. The reoccuring themes of our 6 selections (throw out Mr. Irrelevant);
Tough (T), Physical (P), High Character (HC), Need (N), Motivated(M);
Huff (T,P,HC, N, M)
Howard (T,P, N, M)
McQ (T, P, HC, N, M)
Bing-a-Ling (T, P, M)
Boothe (T,P,HC,N,M)
Morris (T,P,HC,M)
I am confident that Shell will be able to take McQ, Boothe, and Morris and mold them into quality back-up for 2006 and potential starters in the future or if a starter gets hurt.
Great draft, we did not reach for a kicker or a punter in the first round. I don't think too much of the draft; you get young college players, woo! Its the coaches job to forge them into NFL players. Without good coaching a team will be drafting in the top ten every year, and all that college talent won't help. Let's hope Shell & Co fare better at forging these kids into NFL players than Norv & Bill C.
Here is the exact reason I am soooo grateful the Raiders did not draft Matt Leinart.
"After this, it's all business, all NFL." LMAO - Yeah, right, except for those trips to the clinic where Leinart will be sitting next to Ron Mexico reading People magazine.
We won't have to read cr@p like this in the headlines, while Huff takes care of business!
No-one can tell me that passing on Ben Roth and Matt Leinart is great drafting when you've decided to go with Kerry Collins and Aaron Brooks instead.
Two huge mistakes when you don't have a Quarterback, people said Gallery was the safe pick, the best pick, the lockdown LT, what has he done? NOTHING.
At the very worst we could be just about to begin the Ben Rothliesberger era, what we have instead is a 3rd year LT who has yet to play his true position, and a guy the 'aints had had enough of.
That stinks.
The fact is Gallery was the wrong pick then and the wrong pick now, we didn't need a LT.
Passing on Matt Leinart was absoluteley ridiculous, this will go down as our biggest draft mistake for a decade.
Mark my words.
"What about Andrew Walter?" I hear you say, what about him?
The invisible man? the smokescreen? the phoney "QB of the future" - there is no confidence in Walter, we've proved that by annointing Brooks as the starter already.
Walter won't play until Brooks play is utterly indefensible, becuase we're shit scared of young QB's.
I feel sorry for the guy, i think he has a ton of potential, but he's on the wrong team, he'll never get a chance to prove himself, becuase while we're happy enough to watch shitty play from vets as infinitum, we're can't bear to watch a kid make mistakes and develop.
PATHETIC
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