A Wasted Opportunity

[the watchman]

So the dust has settled and the 2008 Draft is over. Over the next few days and weeks there will be much debate over the winners and losers – who had the best draft, who had the best value pick.  And there will be fans all over the US (and the globe) who will vehemently disagree with the pundits arguing their team should have got a least a B+; some fans will be so disappointed in their picks that they’ll say “hell, it should have been an F”.

Just like the next man I’m usually as guilty of over analysing the draft picks, when in truth the only true evaluation is how they pan out over the next 5 years.

When grading the draft though there are 2 aspects to consider. Firstly, does the pick have talent; secondly does the pick address a perceived need? Or should those aspects be analysed the other way round?

So how do we grade the Oakland Raiders draft? Did our draft picks meet a perceived need? No. Do they have talent? Yes, probably. Am I disappointed in the draft? Well, yes and no.

I’ll talk about individual picks later but I think the Raiders have missed an opportunity to strengthen the weakest area of the team. McFadden is an undoubted talent but he does nothing to stop the run. Over the last 2 years the Raiders have averaged between 130 and 140 yards per game and if you’re going to be successful in the NFL you need shut down the opposing team. <br> Don’t forget that the Raiders have to face LaDainian Tomlinson and Larry Johnson TWICE a year! The Broncos might not have a Running Back that I recognise but their scheme seemingly gives them 1000 yard backs every season.  All the progress that has been made might be undone because Kelly, Sands and Warren can not hold up the middle of the line.
I guess the Raiders are going to fight fire with fire by unleashing McFadden and Fargas on the division. The decision to take McFadden isn’t baffling, just misguided. It would have been interesting to see what would have happened if Chris Long had not been taken by the Rams, but as it was Ghoulston, Dorsey and Ellis were all still available when the Raiders came to make that pick; as were a number of premier offensive line players.

My pick would have been Glen Dorsey; some say he plays the DT position much the same way Kelly does. Now I don’t really understand 2 gap or 3 gap techniques but I can’t imagine it being a major problem accommodating him. As it is we’ll get to see him twice a year in the red of Kansas. Let’s hope that McFadden wins those battles or there will be a few “told you so” merchants gloating that the Raiders got it wrong. And no I won’t be one of them.

I have already alluded to the other area of perceived need, the offensive line and to which Oakland added precisely no-one. Last season did see an improvement and with Tom Cable’s scheme I’m hopeful rather than confident that we can see this continue into the forthcoming season.
Bizarrely, or is it just me, the Raiders traded a former first round pick for a fourth round pick (that’s a whole other story), and then chose …another defensive back. I’m not going to doubt the ability of Tyvon Branch but after signing two quality players for the secondary the addition of other another doesn’t make sense when the Raiders should have been adding depth to the o-line. I’d have to look at the other players taken in the 4th/5th rounds to see if there was a player who would have had value for the Raiders to take at that point.

The Raiders were hamstrung by having just one pick in the first 3 rounds; though it can be argued that our 2nd round pick went an established pro-bowl calibre player. Though they might not have drafted to help with perceived need the players they have picked do have talent and it is possible 2 maybe 3 of them will find their way on to the roster.

Round 1, Pick 4 Darren McFadden:
We all know about Darren McFadden. He is big, strong and quick, He has the ability to go inside and outside the tackles. Whenever he is on the field there will be a feeling he can take it all the way for a Touchdown. Will he start from Day 1? No, maybe not but there will be plenty of calls for him to do so. I’d also like to see what he’d be like on punt returns, could he be the Oakland Raiders Devin Hester?

Round 4, Pick 100 Tyvon Branch:
Branch is a hard hitter and is also pretty quick. The Raiders envisage him being more of a Safety than corner which has implications Stuart Schweigert who may well find himself off the roster.

Round 4, Pick 125 Arman Shields:
Tall and fast Shields suffered an injury to his knee early last season but looks to have fully recovered. As well as having the physical attributes he has the intelligence to go with it. He can play either in the slot or outside and looks to have been great value in the 4th round.

Round 6, Pick 169 Trevor Scott:
After playing 2 seasons as a Tight End, Scott switched to DE with fantastic results for the University of Buffalo leading the team in sacks and tackles behind the line of scrimmage. He is raw and needs to add both bulk and strength.

Round 7, Pick 226 Chaz Schilens:
Schilens is raw but has good size and speed. Depending on how may receivers the Raiders decide to keep may well determine whether he makes the final 53.

In terms of the players we drafted, I hope they are successful and turn out to be with the Oakland Raiders for many years. I think they all have talent and could shine with the correct coaching and mentoring. The Raiders still need help and some holes to fill. I’m sure that the coaching staff will be watching the June 1st cuts with interest to see if there is anybody who can help address those needs.
Currently Rhodes and Schweigert have trade value and they may well find themselves wearing a different uniform in the near future. Lamont Jordan is vulnerable and it would be no surprise if he was cut sooner rather than later.

[R8RMR]

Nice article! You must have put in some overtime to get it out so quickly. 

[Aeyjay]

The coaching staff has basically asked us to trust them with this draft. They think that the lines we have will be able to do the job. Cable knows which oline he wants and is very high on Harris and with the existing players having another year under the same scheme (something Gallary has only done once before and even then he had to switch positions) we will be a better blocking team. I can get on board with that in the running gamebut am yet to be convinced in the pass blocking.
Now onto the D , we have basically put all our eggs in Kelly's basket. If he is not the player Ryan thinks he is then we are screwed on defense. That may seem extreme but the only major change this year will be Kelly replacing Sapp with Warren and Sands playing the other spot. This descion could be the differance between 6-10 and an above .500 record. This was THE crucial player descion of the offseason and like I said the coaching staff are asking us to trust they will be right. Pass rushing hasn't reallybeen addressed but a fully fit Burgess and Richardson, Edwards and maybe Scott we won't be any worse than last year and hopefully our new and improved secondary will help this.

Depth Chart

qb - Russell,Walter , FA/Dilfer/june cut
rb - McFadden,Fargus,Bush
fb - Griffith,Oneal
wr - Walker,Curry,Carter,Higgins,one other from the list of many speed freaks
te - Miller,Madson,Stewart/Wakefield
lt - Harris
lg - Gallary
c - Wade
rg - Carlisle
rt - Green/Henderson/?
de - Richardson,Edwards
dt - Sands,Warren
dt- Kelly,Joseph
de - Burgess,Scott?
lb - Thomas,Williams
lb - Morrisson
lb - Howard
cb - Asomugha,Routt
cb - Hall,Bowie,Johnson
fs - Huff,Branch
ss - Wilson,Cooper
k - Jano
p - Lechler
pr/kr - lots of possibilities here we'll see I guess

when you look at that the only player drafted this year that will have an impact this year is McFadden.

[R8RMR]

Thanks Aeyjay. We have no choice but to trust that they have got it right. My own feeling is that we will struggle on both sides of the ball initially. If the players don't step up as expected we could be having another early pick in next years draft.

[Gazzara]

Nice article fella.  I have dugg it from the front page.  If anyone else thinks it is worthy, get yourself an account and start digging.

[jonesbonesy]

branch has been picked as a kick & punt returner

[Aeyjay]

Branch will start out as a special teamer but Ryan has said he will play safety as well. Whether he will be good enough to displace Schweigert I doubt but maybe in a few years.

[R8RMR]

Branch will start out as a special teamer but Ryan has said he will play safety as well. Whether he will be good enough to displace Schweigert I doubt but maybe in a few years.

I have never been that high on Stu and I don't think it would take too long if he has the right stuff.

[the watchman]

Schweigert is a back up now but he's being paid as a starter. Both he and Eugene Hiram will do well to make that final 53.

[R8RMR]

Stu will probably make it but I don't see him being there for much longer. You never know, the money factor may come in to play before too long anyway.

[the watchman]

All depends how much we have to fork out to McFadden. Lower round picks tend not to get to much though.

[R8RMR]

It will a lot. It depends a to a great extent on how they structure the contract. But he will want a bundle in guaranteed money.

[the watchman]

Lets hope he gets it done quickly and we have no repeat of last year. I would have at least kept Rhodes till the contract was signed. Dont want to be going into the season with Fargas and Bush cos McFadden held out.

[R8RMR]

We still have Jordan at the moment. Besides there was a great deal of discussion before the draft about losing either Jordan or Rhodes and still being OK at RB even without getting McFadden.

[daz91]

its good to hear someone thinking the same as me  i watched mcfadden a lot throughout last year and thought he'd be an awesome fit (which dont get me wrong he will be) but i was in two minds who we should really take when we still see Glen Dorsey sat there, which i dont even think mayock thought was a possibilty . Dorsey is a fantastic force and it makes it worse the fact he's playing at arrow head and we do have some great RBs that last year showed they could get the job done. I guess we'll just have to hope DMc turns it on in the PROs like we know he did in college.