We got some help this week.

[Crow]

The Jets pulled off the upset and look like a team that could possibly win one more. Kellen Clemons, at least this week, gave the offense a real spark. If that carries over, they'll almost certainly take themselves out of the race to be #2 behind Miami.

The Rams picked up their 2nd win as well. Now that the Bulger/Jackson/Holt triumvirate is healthy and clicking, I don't imagine they'll be a problem for us.

The 49ers are our only real competition. They're not really good...at all. Anyone think Mike Nolan would cross the bay is the 9ers cut him loose?


So what to do with our #2/3 pick? Tough decision. I almost hope that the Dolphins take McFadden. That way, there'll be no reason not to address the D-line.

Should San Fran end up picking ahead of us, we're still looking at a no-lose situation with either Darren McFadden, Glen Dorsey, or Howie's Boy falling right into our laps. Any of the three would would instantly make us better.


So who is it? Who are we hoping for?

Dorsey, the big DT who would help keep our LBs clean and give us the type of presence inside that we haven't had since Darrell Russell played like he gave a fuck?

Chris Long, the Jared Allen/Aaron Kampman clone who is the rare "do it all, do it well, and do it consistently" DE?

Or McFadden, the stud RB who would take all kinds of pressure off of our big dummy QB even without the benefit of a strong O-line?


Some will say Jake Long, the brute run blocking OT. Personally, I don't think he's a great fit for the system, nor do I think his pass pro skills/athletic ability warrant a top 3 pick.


Trade down? Well, we could certainly use the extra pick after throwing away this year's 3 & 5. But can we really trade away the opportunity to land a truly elite prospect just to roll the dice on another Quentin Moses?

I think we have to take the gift that's being given to us. Whichever one of those 3 is on the board, we have to pull the trigger. We don't want to pass over yet another blue chip player and watch him blow up on another team. I've had my fill of that, to be honest.

[Freakshow]

If we do end up with #2 or #3, I think it's a no-brainer. We go for McFadden. Since this team is obviously reluctant to see what they have in Bush we have to take the big horse from Arkansas. He's in the mold of AP and a talent we'd be crazy to pass on.

Our glaring needs at o-line can be addressed later in the draft as most teams fill their trenches on day two. We can hit the d-line/d-end positions through free agency and although Dorsey or Long would obviously be great fits, this team sucks bad on offense and we need help there first and foremost.

The free safety spot is the other spot we desperately need help with. Either we move Huff over and take a hitter in the second round or we keep Huff where he is and take someone like Kenny Phillips early in the second.

Lots of holes to fill but I think if we had a tandom like Russell and McFadden in our backfield we'd be looking VERY strong at the skilled positions for the next decade.

[Jack's sore libido]

We should know by the end of this year whether or not Mike Bush has a place on this team.

I really hate to pass on a guy like McFadden, but we have so many bigger problems than McFadden.

I'm all about Jake Long, Chris Long and Glenn Dorsey.

[CrossBones]

We should know by the end of this year whether or not Mike Bush has a place on this team.We may have a better idea by Thursday. If Bush is activated then I feel comfortable that the coaches think we have something. If Jordan is flat out cut we probably do have something.

I really hate to pass on a guy like McFadden, but we have so many bigger problems than McFadden.I agree. We can make our running game go but we can't stop the run with what we have. We need a horse in the middle.

I'm all about Jake Long, Chris Long and Glenn Dorsey.Oh yeah baby! Just draft DL.

[raiderfreak7]

I see the argument over the next five months being "McFadden vs. Dorsey vs. Long". In that order.

[Jack's sore libido]

The other thing, of course, is a trade down.

Brohm and Woodson should generate some interest, but the teams interested will have to be high enough for us to feel comfortable dropping back, but still low enough to be bad enough at QB to want one of those guys.

I see potential trade-down partners as:

Baltimore
Chicago
Minnesota
Carolina
Atlanta

Those teams will all be in the 5-10 range, and all need QBs. Enough teams need QBs that none of those teams should be comfortable thinking that Woodson or Brohm will just drop to them.

[BigTron]

My top 3.

1. McFadden - wanna make JR's life way easier? I think a exciting playmaker behind him running and catching the ball would be a great way to make defense's stay honest. He is an exciting playmaker and Rb's are better to be had young. Michael Bush, Fargas and DMC would be a very nice young stable for the future. Bush and DMC are awesome pass catchers out of the back field AND DMC can line up at WR! He would help out alot. Griffith, Z.Miller and the RB's would provide a very nice group of safety targets for our young QB to check down to. FIRST DOWN! We have been able to run the ball this year. We have shown a commitment to running so we need a gamebreaker back there to take it to the house. There are no great WR's worth taking in the top 5. Gosder Cherilous is a better fit at LT for us than J.Long anyway. A better running game will eat more clock and keep the D off the field, thus helping the D-LIne and O-LIne loook slightly better.

2. Dorsey- Our run d blows. Dorsey is a monster. I wouldnt complain if we passed DMC for Dorsey. He would be a great addition to this soft defense.

3. C.Long - a great leader and football player. I love DE's who can play everydown and be effective. Obviously another great pick.

[BigTron]

I was watching Gosder Cherilous the LT from BC. He cut blocks all the time and has good size and decent feet. He would actually be a good fit for our system i think. He might slip into round 2 but could end up in the first if he tests well. He actually is the OL guy i would like to see us make a run at. Dont forget we could trade someone for a pick, move down and get more picks. Also do we get any compensation for losing anyone?

[BigTron]

Oh yeah. Jordan Gross is worth alot of money to us IMO. I would throw major coin at him.

[Jack's sore libido]

I was watching Gosder Cherilous the LT from BC. He cut blocks all the time and has good size and decent feet. He would actually be a good fit for our system i think. He might slip into round 2 but could end up in the first if he tests well. He actually is the OL guy i would like to see us make a run at. Dont forget we could trade someone for a pick, move down and get more picks. Also do we get any compensation for losing anyone?

We should get compensation for losing Moss, but we won't.

[BigTron]

Langston Walker?

[Crow]

Trading away a player doesn't really warrant a comp pick.

Forgot about Lang. He signed a large ass contract. Problem is, we were really active in FA. That's going to count against us. We may get a 6 or 7, maybe both if we're lucky.
I see the argument over the next five months being "McFadden vs. Dorsey vs. Long". In that order.

Nice problem to have, eh?

[CrossBones]

New England has the 49er 1st round pick. If things keep up NE could pick ahead of us...McFadden in NE? great.

[Jack's sore libido]

Trading away a player doesn't really warrant a comp pick.


I didn't mean that seriously.

Just saying that Moss was practically a free agent, the way he handled it.

[Stanny]

Trading away a player doesn't really warrant a comp pick.

Forgot about Lang. He signed a large ass contract. Problem is, we were really active in FA. That's going to count against us. We may get a 6 or 7, maybe both if we're lucky.


Nice problem to have, eh?



Don't we get compensated for the fact that the FA's we picked up all basically got the boot along with the trade for Mike Williams?

I would love to see Al packaging up Lamont and Porter to try and land a 3rd and late round pick maybe to the Bears....Then try to steal Berrian on the FA market. I'll take a 5th or 6th for Stuey...hell even a 7th, any takers?

[BigTron]

I would give up a 12th round pick in the 2019 draft to get rid of Stu.

[CrossBones]

Crap.

November.

Again.

...and we're talking about the draft.

I want my Raiders back. :cry:

[Crow]

Don't we get compensated for the fact that the FA's we picked up all basically got the boot along with the trade for Mike Williams?
The Mike Williams trade was just a bad business decision. No comp for that.

Also, we added starters like Cornell Green, Cooper Carlisle, Jeremy Newberry, Justin Griffith, and Daunte Culpepper. Add to that the fact that we brought in Dominic Rhodes, and I'd say we've more than canceled out the loss of Langston. I'm pretty much ignorant as to how this stuff works. But from where I sit, the only thing that would get us a pick is the size of Lang's contract with the Bills...which was pretty frickin' large.

I look for a comp in the 6-7 range, but no more.

[Crow]

Crap.

November.

Again.

...and we're talking about the draft.

I want my Raiders back. :cry:
Bring back Hostetler!

[Rupert]

Bring back Hostetler!
He was gritty but once he injured his shoulder his arm was toast. Remember the bursa sac going as well? Fluid just filled his throwing elbow during the game. He was a mess after that shoulder injury. Busted his ass game in and game out. Even won a game by calling high school plays with a concussion. Dude was absolute nails. Too bad he got damaged. Waaay too bad.

[Rupert]

What did I hear the other day? Something like Brody Croyle was the first home grown QB to start for Kansas City. Al Davis sure seems to subscribe to that strategy more often than not. Except for the Snake, who's had significant time as a home grown starter for the Raiders? Wilson and???