Welcome to Oakland, Michael Huff
As predicted by the Raider Nation in the Blogger Mock Draft, the Raiders have selected Michael Huff in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft. This guy can fly, hit and pick. He will raise the level of intensity on our defense. The return of "nasty" starts now.
I would have liked Leinart, too. Hopefully, this means that the Raiders still have a high opinion of Andrew Walter as sufficient competition or backup to Aaron Brooks. Could a trade still be in the works for Reggie Bush? I doubt it. I hope that Bush's talent doesn't get lost in the losing tradition of the Saints. That would be a tragedy.
So what next, in round two? Offensive line?
I would have liked Leinart, too. Hopefully, this means that the Raiders still have a high opinion of Andrew Walter as sufficient competition or backup to Aaron Brooks. Could a trade still be in the works for Reggie Bush? I doubt it. I hope that Bush's talent doesn't get lost in the losing tradition of the Saints. That would be a tragedy.
So what next, in round two? Offensive line?
posted by Raider Take at 10:20 AM
42 Comments:
I humbly submit 7 out of 7, dead on from the projected picks--> actual ones. The rest of the first is unimportant for our purposes.
Second round? Too early to call until we see who is available at #38, RT, but the guess would be an OLB...
Stick'Em, your new handle: Nostradamus
So Leinart goes to Arizona...Boldin, Fitzgerald, James, new stadium. Could bode well for Leinart, the Cardinals and those thirsty fans in the desert.
Stick'Em is too humble, so I'm going to republish his mock picks #1 through #7, as submitted yesterday afternoon, which are accurate right down to the Bronx cheers:
1. Houston Texans — DE Mario Williams, North Carolina State. The philosophy is never pass up a big-time pass rusher for a running back, and I'm sticking to it.
2. New Orleans Saints — RB Reggie Bush, USC. D'Brickashaw may be the actual pick, but anyone notice how narrow he looks to be the supposed next Orlando Pace?
3. Tennessee Titans — QB Vince Young, Texas. A lot of debate about Leinart vs. Young, but Young is too similar to the existing offense with McNair and has too much talent to pass up.
4. New York Jets — OT D’Brickashaw Ferguson, Virginia. The NY fans will boo, just like always.
5. Green Bay Packers — OLB A.J. Hawk, Ohio State. Hawk has Green Bay written all over him, like Ray Nitschke did.
6. San Francisco 49ers — TE Vernon Davis, Maryland. Can't give up on Alex Smith without some targets.
7. Oakland Raiders — DB Michael Huff, Texas. Instantly makes all the young DBs play better.
Huff vs Leinart.............BAD CHOICE AL!!! I cannot believe that the Raiders pass up a QB like Leinart. This is Al putting his "Speed" before "Talent" When Leinart kicks our ass we will remember this day. As this was not my choice...........I hope you can understand. How many DB's can we pick in the draft? Seems to me thats the only player we pick...other than a "Kicker". The Raiders suck at the first round..........Thats it! Huff is a player that is "Not" an impact player..........He will "Not" be a play maker........Another guy that we will have to wait and wait to see him fade away..........Bad Choice! Another Al Davis Project...like Doug Jolley and Mark Wilson...........Way to bring the fans to the stadium Al..Every Raider fan cannot wait to see Mike Huff play..........Sure
Well done, Stick'em. And I welcome Michael Huff, though I'm trying hard not to think that we're becoming for DBs what the Detriot Lions are for Wide Outs.
Where in the 2nd round? I hope somewhere in the defensive front seven. We may have the NFL sack leader, but Burgess also came close to out-sacking the rest of the team. More production up front will mean more picks for the secondary.
Raider Greg: I too wanted Leinart, but maybe this is for the best. Al Davis just doesn't believe in building around a young Qb. He has a special closet for Young Qb's, and he likes to put them in there and forget about them like an old sweater. As I write this, the Donkey's have just traded up to get Jay Cutler. I guess getting beat by Rothisberger in the playoffs taught Shanahan a lesson. It's a lesson Al Davis still has to learn.
Raider Greg rages...JS invokes the Lions' obsession with wideouts...Raider00 is bummed...All good points. I've got to remain optimistic that Huff WILL be different, and WILL make a difference, BUT I've also got this sinking feeling that Leinart is going to be a long-term stud in the NFL, and that an opportunity was missed today.
I also agree with Raider Greg that Leinart could have been a great face for the franchise, who, if he succeeded, would be a major star attraction.
a couple of years ago i fantasized about matt leinart being a raider. knowing that kfc was NOT the answer. fast forward to the 2006 draft and BAM there hs is! ripe for our taking.
i always say that defense wins championships BUT if leinart is available dammit TAKE HIM! this team badly needs leadership, this kid is a winner. this is what leinart brings to the table. my consolation is that at least he didn't end up with the broncos as what was rumored.
you don't take a safety that high UNLESS he makes the same impact that sean taylor, roy williams, polamalu etc. have made with the other teams. let's just hope this guy isn't another derrick gibson.
now let's go address those needs on the O line. damn.
I welcome Michael Huff to the Silver and Black.
As Stick'Em pointed out a few days ago, there is a new hybrid breed of DB that can impact the D. Players like Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu can cover, blitz, and stop the run.
I would like to think that Michael Huff is our new swiss brand army knife DB. His combination of skills and overall versatility should be an excellent match for our young D/secondary.
Our base D of 4-3-4 as opposed to last year's "Big Nickel" of 4-2-5 will be much more effective with a guy like Michael Huff. Huff will be our "Where is Waldo" guy. The offense will need to identify where he is on the field. He can cover tight ends, slot receivers, blitz, be run support.
Stick'em, well done! That's incredibly impressive.
I only wish you weren't right on Huff. It's not that I'm against Huff, it's just that with Leinart still out there at 7, we should have taken a chance on someone who has a darn good chance of being someone's franchise QB. A DB can't lead you to a Super Bowl, but a QB can.
Raiders show once again that we are the laughing stock of the NFL draft. When all is said and done and the facts are on the table....The Raiders will be chosen to be "last" out of 32 teams in draft choices. This is yet another reason Al Davis should keep his crooked fingers out of the draft. Huff over Leinart..What a BUST! As I look at all the Raider sites.......Shock is the word. Who would have picked Huff over Leinart..........I am sure that Huff will be an "average" player..........But Leinart has the Magic that the Raiders need at the QB spot...........I'M FLIPPIN OUT HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!WTF AL!!
Raider Greg: If this makes you feel any better, look at it this way: Al Davis will get Matt Leinart to play for the Raiders...when he's 38 yrs old.
So who's the pick in Round 2?
You would guess it might be offense, since the 1st pick was "D"...
An O-lineman for Art?
I like Davin Joseph, but Max Jean-Gilles seems more like Al's type of roadgrader guard. Winston Justice MIGHT be there because of character concerns and is athletic like no other. Marcus McNeil is a dominant lineman, but has spinal stenosis and may slide lower than round 2.
So it depends on who's there at OL...
At some point the run on OLBs has to start... the Vikings just picked Greenway and Cowboys just picked Carpenter a moment ago at #18 as I write this.
At this point, DeMeco Ryans and Manny Lawson would be the top OLBs in my mind. But it depends on who's left at #38, so I'll guesstimate more clearly later.
2nd Round is Demeco Ryans if he's available. If not, then I'm thinking Rodrique Wright or LenDale White. I'm changing to Dominique Byrd in the 3rd Round, instead of David Thomas, then all Offensive Lineman.
I wasn't too shocked with him skipping Leinart for Huff. Huff is an impact player now that we need. He also grew up a HUGE Raider fan too. I was more shocked that the Bills did not take him, nor the Lions. Leinart, Edge James, Boldin, and an already strong defense....look out for Arizona in a couple years!
It's been the most bizaare draft so far....
WAIT, something just occured to me. Maybe Al has his sights set on Qb Croyle. ITS NOT TO LATE. We still may get our Qb. I'm hopeful again.
What if LenDale White drops to us in the second round? I know he's got baggage, but he'll have something to prove, and a healthy chip on his shoulder. A 250-pound hammer to spell LaMont Jordan and protect our QBs?
I just saw a live interview with LenDale White. The ESPN talking head asked him directly, "LenDale, what would you say to all 32 NFL teams who question your lack of work ethic?"
LenDale's answer?
"I can't really do nothin' 'bout that. I'm just gonna relax and have fun with my family today."
That's all I need to know. No thanks.
Bozo smoked weed and got popped. Bozo didn't work out at the Combine or his Pro Day. Bozo thinks he's already got it made. Once Bozo gets paid, his productivity will decline to nada.
Looks like the run is on for LBs at the top of the 2nd round...but to cure Raider Take's USC fetish (how many non-USC players does he mention? Bush, Leinart, White...LOL!)...
The best athlete left on the board is USC OT Winston Justice. Can't see Denver going there with their love of little O-linemen.
Unless there is a failed drug test - like what happened to Hawthorne last year and is happening to White now - the pick in the 2nd will be Justice.
Art gets his welcome home present Ally mentioned.
With the 2nd round pick, I would like us see us take one of the following;
Winston Justice (OT, USC)
Thomas Howard (OLB, UTEP)
Jon Alston (OLB, Stanford)
Max Jean Gilles (OG, Georgia)
Deuce Lutui (OG, USC)
Gabe Watson (DT, Michigan)
Yeah, this USC thing is weird. Bush is impossible not to dream about, and I like Leinart a lot...I never thought I'd be talking about the other two Trojans(Justice and White) here in the second round, but these are guys thought to be Top 15 picks not long ago...Suddenly they suck without having played a down since the Rose Bowl?...Baggage is a Raiders tradition. Watch out, here it comes...
Good call, Calico Jack, on the second round selection!
Okay, time to focus on the offensive line. I still think we need new blood at running back, too, not sure we'll get it in this draft.
Howard is one of those fast LBs who is great in coverage, but doesn't have the instincts to do more than one thing at a time (e.g., he'll bite like a gila monster on play action).
I hate to evoke the name "Gibson" before Howard plays an NFL down, but this is the same type of WLB/SS project pick...a classic Al Davis pick based on his size:speed ratio.
Philly got some Justice. Wonder what Justice must have said to Mike Lombardi that turned the Raiders off this much?
I gotta agree with stick 'em about Howard. Really hope I'm wrong, but a bad pick. The best-athlete-available theory with no thought to the fact that the guy is just an average football player.
At least LenDale White can play, regardless of his baggage. He would've been a better pick to back up and share time with Lamont Jordan. Fargas is pretty much a proven bust - can't take a hit, fumbles too much, totally non-physical.
I'm very disappointed in the Howard pick. A high 2nd rounder should be able to come in and play right away...and all the scouts say he needs work.
I'm with X, I would have preferred White or Justice in that slot (sudden USC fetish acknowledged)...Calico Jack had Howard along with others, including Justice, in his second round wish list...Calico, what is your take on Howard, relative to the comments by Stick'Em and X?
Howard was probably the best OLB on the board and the fastest LB in the entire draft (4.42 forty time).
The question on 'em is his football IQ. As the best athlete available philosophy goes, draft the elite athlete and have your coaches teach 'em how to play.
Howard can blitz, cover TEs, and move sideline to sideline. The problem is he doesn't seem to know which one to do at any given time and will take bad angles.
I don't have a problem with rolling the dice on Howard; he's got first round talent.
Just be aware he's yet another pick we'll probably have to be pretty patient with and I would rather have had a 300# athlete project like Justice than a 240# athlete project like Howard.
I couldn't be happier. Although Leinart would have been a sexy pick QB's are extremely hit and miss. Are best QB's have always come through free agency. Finally Al seems committed to rebuilding our D. Michael Huff and Thomas Howard have what Al loves, speed.
Raider Greg,
It is the Niners that have to worry about Leinart, not us. Your sure Huff will be average, you must know something the "fake" experts don't.
We just picked up an Irish giant at guard in the third round. Nice to see the O-Line get some draft love.
McQuistan 6-6 312lbs, four year starter at division II school. Smart and motivated excellent pick for #69.
Who the hell is McQuistan?
He looks like that red-headed Malachi kid killing folks in Children of the Corn!
Hope he plays that way, but I smell a reeeeach!!!
Stick em
I'm assuming you missed his senior bowl. He excelled in his first taste of top competition. He has the size and strength and apparently he is coachable.
Stick'Em is unstoppable today. Not only does he nail picks one through seven, he actually wields a legitimate Children of The Corn take. Growled the devil boy: "He wants you too, Malachai!"
I don't know if this is a reach or not. My day job (yes I have one) tends to get in the way of my breaking down game film on Division II third rounders. I do know that Winston Justice would not have been a reach in the second round.
Roy, welcome, great takes, keep bringing it!
Raider Take
Nice Blog! I will be visiting more.
I can't believe people are so upset with Huff, our secondary was awful last year. 5 int's plus he can stop the run. Lienart would not have even stepped on the field until next year. Walter has a bigger arm and some mobility why waste our third round pick.
Roy Bettencourt, he wants you too, Rooyyy!
I remember the Senior Bowl. In it, Gabe Watson and Max Jean-Gilles (both of whom were avaiable when the Raiders picked in the 3rd, BTW) were wrasslin' like a Bigassasaurus vs. a Giant Silverback on Skull Island!
But alas, there was no Malachi McQuinlan at the Sr. Bowl. He musta been in the Shriner Bowl or the Division AA Battery Bowl or whatnot.
Stick em
Err, it was one of those damn bowls. I agree though that Winston Justice would have been nice but perhaps the coaches feared that living in Oakland would not have been a good thing for a problematic player. He needs to be in a mellow place, not sure if he is but how could Al pass on Howard? Our D has killed us, well our D and that piece of crap Collins.
Just yankin' yer chain a little Roy - LOL! No harm meant. Welcome aboard!
It's draft day and I love all picks, great and small! If Art Shell was himself a tackle at Div AA Maryland Eastern Shore Community State School for the Children of Blind Lithuanian Immigrants, then my guess is Art knows small school tackles better than any of us do.
I think O-line coaches often see a different player than the Mel Kipers of the world. Perhaps the coaches look for different traits than the talking heads/draft guides do?
Malachai McQuistan plays with a mal streak and is a very hard worker, from everything I can read - haven't seen him play personally.
That's good enough for me.
Stick'Em and RT - You might get a kick out of this side note. Malachi McQuistan has a twin brother (Pat) who was drafted by the Cowgirls in round 7.
Go to
http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/2006/mcquistan_pat
to see his priceless mug shot.
Mama Malachi broke the mold when she gave birth to Paul & Pat!
I raise my pint of Guiness to the McQuistan twins.
Good grief! Classic. Can you imagine the grocery bill at the McQuistan house a few years ago?
Did you guys see on foxsports.com, rumors, that the Titans are looking to cut McNair and bring in KFC???? Good luck with that one.
Huff is a potentially great player, but he wasn't the right pick.
That said if we did run away screaming form the Quarterback question once again, then Huff was the right pick.
We should have taken Leinart, but yet again we ran away screaming like a teenage girl in a slasher flick.
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