Day 2 Recap

Do these look like football schools to you?

With only one pick in the first two rounds of the draft, and only four picks through rounds 3-7, the Raiders needed to maximize the value of each pick. As a whole, Oakland drafted small school prospects who are not very polished but have great potential.

To start with, the Raiders traded with Dallas to pick at the top of the fourth round. After they saw two high value cornerbacks slip, Oakland selected Tyvon Branch of Connecticut. This was an interesting pick, since the Raiders are very stocked at this position. But, this pick signaled the end of Fabian Washington’s career in Oakland. In true Raiders cornerback fashion, Branch ran the fastest 40 yard time at the combine. He will contribute mostly on special teams as a returner and in nickle-dime situations. He is fast enough to defend speedy wide receivers.

In the middle of the fourth round, the Raiders traded cornerback Fabian Washington to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for their fourth round pick. The Raiders then selected wide receiver Arman Shields out of Richmond. Shields was injured for most of his senior season, but showed great upside. Interestingly, Shields was among the leaders in all the major categories at the NFL combine for his position, including 40 yard time (of course). Shields has nice size and can also contribute on special teams as a returner.

In the sixth round, the Raiders selected defensive end Trevor Scott out of Buffalo. Scott played only one season at defensive end but still managed to record nine sacks. Look for Oakland to utilize him in the same fashion that Chris Clemons was used. But, he could supplant Jay Richardson as the starter in a few years.

In the seventh round, Oakland selected wide receiver Chez Schilens out of San Diego State. Can’t really say much about him, but he is a big receiver. I would have liked to have seen wide receiver Marcus Monk of Arkansas getting selected here. He is a more proven receiver and is 6-4 and 222 pounds.

The Raiders did not address some needs that I thought were very glaring. First was the offensive line, when Oakland had the capability to draft left tackle Anthony Collins in the fourth round. Collins is a prototypical zone-blocking prospect and I was surprised that he fell that far. However, I trust Tom Cable’s judgment in who he decides will work in his system. If he feels that the Raiders have an offensive line that can compete in 2008, then I trust him. The defensive line problem was slightly addressed with the pick of Trevor Scott. I would have liked to have seen a draft pick concerning the outside linebacker position, especially with OLBs Ali Highsmith, Wesley Woodyard and Erin Henderson going undrafted.

Day 1 Recap

Who didn’t see this coming?

With the fourth overall pick in the draft, the Oakland Raiders selected Arkansas running back Darren McFadden. Even though Oakland is absolutely stacked at the position, Al Davis defied logic and selected one of the best running backs in the draft. Considering that the Raiders were 30th in run defense in 2007 and that Glenn Dorsey was surprisingly available, Davis could have made the perfect pick for Oakland. However, Lane Kiffin astutely noted that the Raiders have already invested big-time in Terdell Sands and Tommy Kelly to play the defensive tackle spots. Some analysts mentioned that Al Davis was looking for his own star running back in a division with Ladanian Tomlinson and Larry Johnson.

Whatever the reasoning was for taking McFadden, the Raiders must now make the best of the situation. The first order of business should be to trade or cut either Dominic Rhodes, Lamont Jordan or both. What is very intriguing is that Dominic Rhodes took a pay cut to stay in Oakland another year, and Oakland resigned Justin Fargas. It’s a very steep price to pay for two possible back up running backs. I don’t even need to bring Michael Bush into this discussion. Lamont Jordan is definitely an expensive and unnecessary luxury.

With our running backs in 2007, their success was mostly due to the offensive line scheme, as opposed to running back talent. This made our running backs interchangeable and replaceable amongst each other. That is why Lamont Jordan, Justin Fargas and Dominic Rhodes were all able to have several 100 yard rushing games. However, with McFadden in the fold, once the offensive line helps him to get into open space, he has the speed and elusiveness to take the play even further. Many draft pundits have noted that his legs go dead upon contact with defenders, but he is still capable of breaking a few tackles. Also, once McFadden turns the corner around the offensive tackle, it’s off to the races. McFadden may not be able to carry the ball 20-25 times in the NFL which means that our stable of back up running backs will be able to get more use.

During the second round, all of the top wide receivers and other positions were still available and had Oakland not traded the second round pick for DeAngelo Hall, we could have selected Devin Thomas, James Hardy, Trevor Laws or Quentin Groves. All players who could have helped the Raiders out much more than DeAngelo Hall will. The Raiders should have definitely considered trading into the second round in order to have selected Desean Jackson, Malcolm Kelly or Limas Sweed when they fell to the mid-late second round. A possible trade package of Fabian Washington and Lamont Jordan could have netted us a late second rounder.

How good were the Oakland Raiders running backs in 2007?

How much did Fargas contribute to the running game?

Now with less than a week left until the NFL draft, there is going to be serious consideration for all of the top draft prospects. Darren McFadden has already met with the Raiders and many believe he will be drafted by the Silver and Black. One thing that could help determine whether or not he goes to Alameda is how effective or running backs were in 2007.

It should be noted that running back performance is directly related to how the offensive line performs. The folks at FootballOutsiders.com attempted to distinguish the performance of a running back from the performance of the offensive line. The following chart shows some offensive line advanced statistics for the 2007 season. In brief, Adjusted Line Yards separate the performance of the running back from the offensive line by assigning yard values contributed by the offensive line and not the running back. Also, Running back yards are the yards per carry by the team’s running backs. And the 10+ Yards % is the percentage of the team’s running yards that were 10 yards or greater, showing the amount of running plays unaffected by the offensive line. Find out about more Adjusted Line Yards and 10+ Yards % through these links.

	Adjusted Line Yards	Running Back Yards	10+ Yards %
Oakland Raiders	4.17	4.21	16%
NFL League Average	4.08	4.17	18%

We can deduce several things from this chart. The offensive line was responsible for most of the running backs success, due to the high adjusted line yards figure. Also, the 10+ Yards % was below league average, indicating that our running backs did not break huge runs and relied on the offensive line to do much of the blocking. However, the average yardage for our running back was above league average indicating that our running backs performed very well compared to the rest of the league. Our trio of running backs set the tone for the offense in 2007. In fact the Raiders were sixth in the league in average rushing yards per game. The running backs will only get better in 2008, especially if Michael Bush can emerge. The running backs did rely on the offensive line a lot in order to get their yards, but that does not indicate a lack of talent. It indicates the adeptness of the offensive line in the zone-blocking scheme to open up holes for the backs.

The interesting thing about our offensive line last year, is that is slightly above average in both in run blocking and in pass blocking. And, with Barry Sims gone, the line should look to get even better in 2008. Meanwhile, Robert Gallery has emerged as a mean run blocker at left guard. Our current stable of backs did very well in 2007 with an offensive line that can only get better. The line clearly showed an improvement with coach Tom Cable running the show. The front office also made some interesting signings during the off season such as offensive tackle Kwame Harris formerly of the 49ers. Many have dubbed him a draft bust, but who knows if he can rejuvenate his career in Oakland. There is still a big question at left tackle for the Raiders. If it is not addressed in the draft, then the possible starters will be either Mario Henderson or Kwame Harris.

A brief synopsis of the running backs in 2007:

Lamont Jordan

Lamont’s 2007 season was derailed by injuries. After starting out strong in the first two games of the season, Lamont injured his back and lost the starting job to Justin Fargas. However, with 144 carries he did get a decent amount of rushing attempts for the season. The Raiders will either restructure his contract to retain him for 2008 or will cut him to reduce the impact of his contract. Alternatively, the Raiders could trade him to a team looking for a starting running back for some picks in the NFL Draft.

Dominic Rhodes

Rhodes was suspended for the first four games of the 2007 season, which severely hampered his chances of winning the starting job. He did start the last two games against Jacksonville and San Diego and blew up for 337 yards combined against the two teams. He renegotiated his contract to reduce the financial hit it would make on the Raiders payroll. He seems content with his current situation and will likely challenge Justin Fargas for the starting role in the 2008 season.

Justin Fargas

Fargas started the season as a reserve but was promoted to starter with Lamont Jordan injured and Dominic Rhodes suspended. He showed that he belonged with several strong outings, especially in the two game win streak against Kansas City and Denver. He finished with over 1000 yards rushing for the season and will look to increase that number coming into 2008. He signed a three year extension in the offseason worth up to $14 millon. He looks to be the starter heading into the 2008 season.

Michael Bush

Bush was expected to play during the last half of the season but was kept on the Physically Unable to Perform list because the Raiders did not want to cut a running back and have him sign with a division rival such as Denver or Kansas City. The Raiders would definitely like to see how he performs in a game situation, but for now all he can do is wait till 2008.

Chad Johnson in Silver and Black?

Will Al Davis come and get him?

Disgruntled Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson has stated that he will not play for the team in 2008, but he might be interested in the Raiders. In 2007, the Raiders did not have a primary receiving threat and one of our best receivers, Jerry Porter, left for a big contract in Jacksonville. However, in the 2008 off season the Raiders signed Javon Walker to a HUGE contract even though he has had numerous knee problems throughout his career. Also, Drew Carter was signed, and looks to continue his solid performance from Carolina. Adding Chad Johnson would definitely help our wide receiver corp.

Trading for Chad Johnson would only bring about past memories of the Randy Moss trade. The Raiders paid a steep price for his two years of service, and sent him to New England for next to nothing. Moss was limited by injuries, but he was also very lethargic on the offense once he realized he could not help the Raiders win. As we saw last year, all Moss needed was the proper motivation in order to keep him playing on a high level. There were questions about Randy Moss’ ego when he came to Oakland, but he was fairly low key during his stay. Chad Johnson has an enormous ego, but it would be embraced in Oakland much like in the Randy Moss situation. Having Chad Johnson on the Raiders gives Jamarcus Russell an enormously talented receiver. In fact, we would be a very dangerous team on the offense. Chad would take a double team whenever he is on the field and that would leave guys like Walker and Curry open to make plays. Even our tight end Zach Miller would be a bigger threat on the offense. This would be combined with our punishing group of running backs keeping the defense honest. The Raiders offense in 2008 would be very dangerous.

Probably the most important question of this whole situation is how the trade would be accomplished. In most cases, a trade for Chad Johnson would probably have to include a low first rounder or several second and third rounders. But in the Raiders case, a trade for Chad might involve the swapping of first round picks with the Bengals. The scenario could play out like this. In the 2008 NFL Draft, the Dolphins select Jake Long, the Rams select Chris Long, the Falcons select Matt Ryan and with the fourth pick, the Raiders have Glenn Dorsey at their feet. Cincinnati has long needed a defensive tackle to help with their run defense (sound familiar), they came close but a trade for Shaun Rogers fell through. They see that Glenn Dorsey is still on the board and the Raiders are looking to trade down with a team who might want McFadden or Vernon Gholston. A trade for the Raiders’ fourth pick and Fabian Washington is completed with a swap of Cincinnati’s ninth pick overall and Chad Johnson. Cincinnati could get their defensive tackle of the future and the Raiders could still get theirs (Sedrick Ellis).

One problem with a Chad Johnson trade would be his huge contract, but I’m sure the Bengals would have to take care of the bulk of salary. But in the future, his contract would provide quite a sizable salary cap hit for the Raiders. A small prize to pay for his talent.

Fourth Round Pick

The Raiders will pick 104th overall in the 4th round. Surprisingly, this is only the second pick the Raiders will have in the draft after their first rounder. The Raiders will need to get value with this pick at either the offensive line or the defensive line. If a defensive end or tackle is selected in the first round, then this pick will need to be an offensive lineman. If an offensive tackle is selected in the first round, then this pick will need to be a defensive tackle.

Defensive Tackle

Ahtyba Rubin

A standout defensive tackle out of Iowa St. impressed at the combine. He benched 225 lbs 35 times and is projected to be a nose tackle in a 3-4 defensive system. The Raiders would be able to utilize him as a space eating defensive tackle that could tie up at least two offensive lineman, much like Ted Washington did during his stay. Rubin would be an awesome value pick in the fourth round.

Marcus Harrison

Another value defensive tackle out of Arkansas, Harrison ran a 5.00 40, which is very impressive. However, he did struggle with injury problems during his senior year and that could factor into where he will be drafted. He is capable of getting into the backfield and will look to help the Raiders with their run defense.

Offensive Tackle

Jeremy Zuttah

Zuttah would be a great pick here in the fourth round, since he has above average speed and athleticism for an offensive tackle. He would be great in the Raiders’ zone-blocking scheme and could possibly take over the left tackle spot in a few years. He ran a sub 5.00 40 which is amazing for a player of his size. Also, Zuttah is amongst the strongest offensive lineman at the combine with 35 bench presses

Oniel Cousins

Cousins has the ability to play in the zone-blocking scheme, and he has the versatility to play all the offensive line positions. He is not quite as strong as other top offensive lineman, but he makes up for it with his athleticism.

Who is Michael Bush?

Do you know this man?

Many draft pundits are saying that the Raiders will draft Darren McFadden with the fourth overall pick, despite the amount of running backs they already have. They mention Justin Fargas, Lamont Jordan and Dominic Rhodes. However, they fail to mention possibly the most talented running back currently on the roster in Michael Bush.

The Raiders drafted Michael Bush with the first pick of the fourth round in the 2007 draft. He played extremely well while he attended Louisville and was among the top running backs in his graduating class. But, he was injured early in his senior season and did not play again. Highlight reels of his college exploits have shown up all over the internet and he is just as great a game-breaking talent as McFadden is projected to be. Check out these highlights to see how he plays. He could be the steal of the 2007 draft in a few years, once he is given time to play. He remained on the physically unable to perform list for the entire 2007 season and is projected to compete for playing time in training camp. He could be the breakout candidate for the 2008 NFL season (The donkeys are up first!).

Bush is a compact back, 6″1 and about 245 pounds. He runs very well between the tackles in order to gain yardage. He is an absolute workhorse whenever he runs through the middle because he knocks linebackers back with his momentum. However, he can also run outside of the tackles on screens very effectively and once he gets into open field, he has the strength to break a tackle or two. He seems to always gain yardage after contact by diving forward whenever his legs get tackled. He will absolutely thrive with the zone-blocking offensive line scheme, as it will open up numerous holes for him to run through. A powerful running game will enable opposing defenses to respect the pass, further helping Jamarcus Russell to develop.

For the 2008 season, a one-two punch with Justin Fargas would be enough to power our running game. Not to mention that we also have Dominic Rhodes ready and willing to come off the bench in order to play, with his new restructured contract. Lamont Jordan will either be cut or traded since his contract is unfavorable. Our fullback Justin Griffith, will be plowing the way for our running backs and should do a great job.

Glenn Dorsey or Sedrick Ellis?

Will Terdell Sands be enough next year?

The Raiders still need to improve their dismal defensive line, preferably with a game-changing defensive tackle. With the fourth pick, the Raiders could possibly either select Sedrick Ellis or Glenn Dorsey. If both are available which do the Raiders select?

Dominating, but will his knees hold up?

Dorsey had a dominant senior year, even though he had to deal with injuries. He helped lead LSU to the national championship game, eventually winning it. He did not work out at the combine, but did perform admirably at his pro day. While at the combine, doctors thoroughly examined his knees and concluded that there were some underlying injuries that might affect his play in the future. With this new found information, Dorsey slipped down some draft boards. However, after a great pro day workout, he is back among the elite prospects and looks to be selected in the top five. Compared against Ellis, he has an inch in height and weighs slightly less. Dorsey is great at getting penetration past the offensive line, and getting to the running back and quarterback. He is an excellent run stopper and will look to succeed in a 4-3 system as a possible two technique. If the Raiders were to take him, they could possibly move Tommy Kelly to defensive end and pair Dorsey with Terdell Sands at tackle.

Silver and Black Sedrick?

Sedrick Ellis also had a great senior year, when he took PAC-10 offenses by storm. He finished as the consensus top PAC-10 defensive lineman and was arguably the best defensive tackle in the nation. He followed up a Rose Bowl victory by competing in the Senior Bowl. In Mobile, he completely manhandled the best offensive lineman in the nation in practice and recorded a safety in the actual game. He is great at getting leverage right from the snap, and has enough strength to bowl over offensive guards. He was among the leaders in bench presses and was among the most athletic defensive tackles. Interesting sidenote, USC reportedly had to buy 200 pound dumbbells for him to use in the weight room. With the Raiders, he would likely see double teams, which would free up our linebackers to make plays. He would also likely replace Warren Sapp’s presence on the defensive line as a two technique, although he can also play nose tackle in a 3-4 system.

Bottom line, either tackle will immensely increase the Raiders defensive front. I would go with Sedrick Ellis over Glenn Dorsey because he does not have as much injury risk. However, if Ellis is gone by the time the Raiders select, I would not hesitate to pull the trigger on Dorsey. Both will have excellent careers in the NFL, but which one will be with the Raiders?

Jake Long or Vernon Gholston to Miami Dolphins?

Which is the answer to the Dolphins’ woes? (Another classic Ohio State vs Michigan showdown)

Reports have been flying that the Dolphins are in contract negotiations with the agents of Jake Long and Vernon Gholston, either of which they could select with the top pick. This is surprising since many draft pundits had the Dolphins selecting either Matt Ryan or Chris Long with the first overall pick. The Dolphins need both defensive and offensive line help and it looks like Bill Parcells is going to address them in the draft. Remember, the Dolphins have two first round picks since New England lost their own first rounder, the Dolphins second round pick essentially becomes a first round pick. The pick that would make most sense would be Jake Long being the top overall pick. The Dolphins cut a few offensive tackles and he would be able to start at right tackle immediately. Also, Gholston to the Dolphins also makes sense since he would be playing across from Jason Taylor and helping out with the pass rush. The combine really helped increase Gholston’s draft stock and he could go as high as number 1. If one of them is selected, it would definitely change who the Raiders select at number 4. It could mean that the Raiders would have a chance to draft Chris Long. A new revised draft of the first five rounds could look like this:

1st pick- Dolphins select Jake Long

2nd pick- Rams select Vernon Gholston

3rd pick – Falcons select Glenn Dorsey

4th pick- Raiders select CHRIS LONG!

Chris Long would help our beleaguered defensive line with the pass rush. He also does not give up on plays and will chase the running back down. This would be an amazing pick and not even Al Davis could screw this one up. However, if Chris Long is gone and Gholston is still around, I would not hesitate to pull the trigger. Check out this video of Gholston bull-rushing past Jake Long because it certainly makes you think about who should be the first overall pick. Also, if Jake Long is still around, I would just as easily draft him since he has great potential and he displayed some speed in the combine. Size and speed would be great in our current offensive line zone-blocking scheme. I would get Tom Cable’s opinion on this pick, though.

First Round Trade Possibilities

While the Raiders possess the fourth overall pick, trading down in the first round would help address more needs with additional picks. I will evaluate several trade possibilities using the trade value chart.

Is D-Mac running off to Dallas or the New York Jets?

Dallas Cowboys

I’m sure by now everyone has heard of Jerry Jones’ obsession with Darren McFadden and that the Cowboys have two first round picks. Would they be open to trading up for Darren McFadden? Jones has stated that he will not be moving up in the first round but you never know what may happen on draft day. A few teams that pick behind the Raiders would be open to drafting McFadden should the Raiders pass, namely the Jets or the Patriots. If the Raiders did trade their pick to the Cowboys, compensation would include both of Dallas’ first rounders, the 22nd and 28th picks, and their second rounder, 61st overall. This would be a smart move for Oakland since it would enable us to draft both a defensive tackle and an offensive tackle in the first round. The second rounder could be used on the best available wide receiver. The Cowboys could draft McFadden and trade Marion Barber III away for some draft picks.

New York Jets

The Jets might look to trade up to snatch Darren McFadden as well. They could use an impact running back to compete in the division with the Patriots. McFadden might not get past the Chiefs if the Raiders pass on him. The Jets definitely have the short end of the stick this draft, since many of the impact defensive and offensive players may not be around when the Jets select at number six. The Jets may trade up to the Raiders selection in exchange for their 6th pick overall, their two fourth rounders and a fifth rounder. With the 6th overall, the Raiders could still get a defensive tackle like Glenn Dorsey or Sedrick Ellis, depending on who falls. The fourth rounders could be used on a wide receiver and an offensive tackle.

I’m going to Cincinnati?

Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals might want to move up even higher in the first round to select a franchise defensive tackle in either Glenn Dorsey or Sedrick Ellis. At least one of them is going to be available when the Raiders select, if not both. However, they might not fall to the Bengals at number 9. The Chiefs could also be after a defensive tackle, and they would likely take which ever one falls past the top 4 picks. After failing to secure a trade for Shaun Rogers in the off season, the Bengals still have a need for a top-tier defensive tackle. Both Dorsey and Ellis will appeal to them and they may be willing to acquire the Raiders 4th pick in exchange for their 9th pick and their second rounder, 46th overall. This trade would put the Raiders in an interesting position, enabling us to draft the best outside linebacker in the draft in Keith Rivers. We could use the second rounder to draft an offensive tackle.

Will Matt Ryan follow the path of Rex Grossman?

Chicago Bears

This trade would be the least likely of the three but it is still possible. The Bears might want to acquire quarterback Matt Ryan to secure their future as Rex Grossman is too inconsistent. Matt Ryan might not be available once the New York Jets draft, as they also have quarterback needs. A move up in the draft would have Chicago trade their 14th pick, their second rounder, 44th overall and a menagerie of 5th, 6th or 7th round picks. The Raiders could use the 14th pick to draft an offensive tackle like Ryan Clady or Jeff Otah. And the second rounder could be used to draft a wide receiver.

Pick Number 4 Addressing Needs

The Raiders have the 4th pick in this month’s coming draft and there is still not a consensus choice among Raiders fans. Some say they want to address the defensive line by drafting Glenn Dorsey or Vernon Gholston. Others want to draft McFadden or Jake Long. Where do we really need help?

Needs

Offensive Line

Jake Long                                                            Ryan Clady

This offseason, the Raiders cut last year’s starting left tackle, Barry Sims. This was an interesting move since it alludes to the fact that our offensive line coach, Tom Cable, thinks Mario Henderson is at least as good as Sims. If that is the case then Jamarcus Russell’s blindside could be in a dangerous position. We traded this year’s third rounder for Mario Henderson and he has not accomplished much in his one season with the Raiders. It would seem a little risky to put the livelihood of our future superstar quarterback in the hands of a second year player who failed to supplant anyone on the offensive line last year. It should be noted that we signed tackle Kwame Harris from the 49ers this offseason, but he played primarily at right tackle and did not impress across the bay. Kiffin has mentioned that they have been practicing with Kwame Harris at left tackle, which must mean that he has more mobility than average for a tackle. Ever since last year’s improved offensive line play, I have faith in Kiffin and Tom Cable to fix any problems. Since the Raiders utilize a zone-blocking scheme, the traits we look for in our offensive line differs from traits that might be seen in traditional offensive linemen. For instance, speed and athletic ability are much more valuable than size and bulk for linemen. This scheme decreased the amount of sacks allowed last year and increased the amount of rushing yards. If we were to draft for the offensive line, we would be looking at Jake Long or Ryan Clady. Long not only has size and strength, but he has mobility too. He ran one of the fastest offensive line 40s at the combine. If he is taken, he could probably start at left tackle on opening day or right tackle at the very least. Clady is slightly smaller but he played in a zone blocking scheme during his college years at Boise State. He is quick and has huge potential at left tackle. However, he is not valuable enough to draft him with the number 4 pick. Best case scenario: Either draft Jake Long or trade down and grab more draft picks and take an offensive lineman early.

Defensive LIne

Chris Long                                                                   Sedrick Ellis

The Raiders locked up defensive tackle/end Tommy Kelly this past offseason. He will predictably fill Warren Sapp’s retired presence as a three-technique on the defensive line. Currently, our other starting tackle is Terdell Sands, who played dismally last year right after signing a huge contract. The Raiders were horrible at stopping the run last year and an improvement on the defensive line is the starting point for improving this. Drafting Glenn Dorsey or Sedrick Ellis would improve our sack count and allow our linebackers to make plays on the running back. As is, our defensive line is not adequate since the only change that occurred was the loss of Warren Sapp to retirement. Best case scenario: We draft Sedrick Ellis with number 4 or trade down and hope he falls to us. In terms of our defensive ends, the only presence we have on the pass rush is Derrick Burgess. He had a downer last year, but he looks to bounce back, especially if he gets help opposite from him in the draft. This help could come in the form of Chris Long or Vernon Gholston. Both played defensive end and outside linebacker in college and both are tremendous athletes. Both can get to the quarterback and help stuff runs outside the offensive tackles. Best case scenario: Chris Long amazingly falls to us and we draft him with the 4th pick overall.

Outside LInebacker

Keith Rivers

Kirk Morrison and Thomas Howard can both be future Pro-Bowlers. They are great in coverage and look to improve on run-defense. However, the platoon of Robert Thomas and Sam Williams at outside linebacker is not enough. Neither are sure tacklers and an upgrade is at the bottom of the list of needs but it could still be addressed. Best case scenario: Trade down and draft Keith Rivers in the middle of the first round.

NOT Needs

Darren McFadden

To start with, I should say flat out that we do not need another running back. Last season we we’re among the top in the league in rushing yards even though we had a mediocre offensive line. Not to mention the fact that we have Lamont Jordan, Dominic Rhodes, Justin Fargas and Michael Bush as possible starters. What could Darren McFadden bring to the Raiders in the event that we do draft him? Well, I’m sure by now you’ve seen highlight videos of him at Arkansas running past everyone in the SEC. You may have even seen him throwing a pass or two in their Wildhog formation. Bottom line, McFadden has the ability to break the game open with a huge run. Paired with J-Russell, our quarterback and running back positions would be set for a decade. However, in case some people forgot, we still have a home-run threat in Michael Bush. Look up some videos of him busting out huge plays back at Louisville. We picked him up in the fourth round of the 2007 draft after he broke his tibia early in the college football season. He was projected to be a top ten pick when the 2007 draft came around but he dropped due to his injury. Now he is fully healed and will look to compete for playing time against our other running backs. Dominic Rhodes took a pay cut in order to come back in 2008 which means that Lamont Jordan will be either cut or traded. Hopefully we can get a draft pick for him.

Availability

Who will be available when the Raiders draft at number 4?

Jake Long will be gone to Miami at number 1.

Chris Long will be gone to St. Louis at number 2.

Glenn Dorsey will be gone to Atlanta at number 3.

And with number 4, the Raiders select Sedrick Ellis or Vernon Gholston

Vernon Gholston on the prowl