Four days to go until Draft '06...

What's Al Davis gonna do?

  • Draft Ngata @ 7

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Draft Vernon Davis @ 7

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Draft Vince Young @ #7

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    4
  • Poll closed .
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Crossbones

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We've talked about the possibilities every which way there is. So now what?

Who or what do you think Al Daivs will do on Saturday?
 
This question seems a little unfair since Al probably doesn't even know what he's going to do yet.

However... In the spirit of baseless speculation I'm going with Winston Justice. Al was openly displeased with the play of the offensive line last season and I think the hiring of Shell, Slater, and Co. signals a commitment to re-establishing dominance upfront. Ferguson will be gone by seven, leaving Justice as the obvious pick.

Disclaimer: This pick is based on the assumption that Williams, Leinert, Young, and Davis will be gone and that we don’t move up. Otherwise… Who knows.
 
I think this is the year Al Davis takes one of those "can't miss" safety prospects. After seeing what Sean taylor and Ed Reed have done after letting them go, and not being able to trade up to take Mario Williams with any kind of certainty (who would trade up to #4 just to take Hawk, welllllll maaaaaaaaybe). I think Al takes a difference-maker to complete the youth movement in the secondary.
 
Good points all.

I think we could easily go Huff as he looks to be the real deal. In spite of Al being gun shy of taking safeties in the first round Rupert's "completing the youth movement in the secondary" isn't a bad take at all.

Al also doesn't draft QB's in the first round (high)...somehow I have this feeling he's going after Matt Leinart. Don't ask me why. Frankly it makes little sense to me to draft a QB with Walter sitting on the bench being an Al Davis hand picked prospect (so they say). In spite of that it's what I think Al might do this year. Lots of things going for Leniart -- his winning record, he's a Heisman winner, he's left handed (which really makles no difference) and he's from USC (one of Al's favoirte breeding grounds). I think the Raiders either trade up to get Leinart or he could possibly fall to us at 7 although I doubt it. Either Tennessee or NY Jets will take him in spite of what they are saying. So moving up to #2 (which not my favorite idea) is what I think Al might have in store for us.

Gonna be fun. Saturday...9-5! Be there, baby!
 
Yeah, but one of the many circling rumors out there is that many are considering Huff as a CB. Personally, I think that is a very remote possibility, but with coverage skills, and versatility, not to mention physical range (CB to SS), Huff is a safety out of the Raider historical mold, like Tatum or Atkinson.
 
Rupert said:
Yeah, but one of the many circling rumors out there is that many are considering Huff as a CB. Personally, I think that is a very remote possibility, but with coverage skills, and versatility, not to mention physical range (CB to SS), Huff is a safety out of the Raider historical mold, like Tatum or Atkinson.
Agree. And I hear tell that Huff may not have the speed to play corner. Safety is the need area for this team and reports are this guy can lay the wood etc. Personally I'm not counting on Al Davis taking a safety at #7 but then who the hell knows. The reasoning is solid but when we're talking the Raiders most logic is out the window!
 
CrossBones said:
...but when we're talking the Raiders most logic is out the window!
The only logic that counts is in their warroom, and Al Davis has the final stamp of approval. So either sell him or forget it.
 
At 6' 204 Huff ran a 4.34 at the combine. He didn't do the shuttle or the 3-cone. Straight-line speed is excellent. The question would be his ability to change directions and turn and run, both of which are critical for corners.

Well, after a little digging I found his short shuttle and 3-cone drills from the pro-day at Texas. Average #'s 4.00 in the shuttle and 6.71 in the 3-cone. Both very good numbers. Based on those I think he could easily hang as a corner.

Advantage, Huff.
 
Personally, I think of Huff as a SS. You have to remember though, we like putting athletes on the field. Al didn't appear to have a problem with Bresnahan putting Gibson out at corner in goalline situations, where he was about 50:50 at covering the WR. I mean, you have to give the guy a little break for not being able to react to the obvious pushoff that wasn't flagged (although I expect a corner to be able to fight through it).
 
Rupert said:
Them's fightin' words. ;)
I figured they would be.

But Al ain't drafting a SS at #7 IMO. I think we have the corner position covered (no pun intened) and SS would as you said fill out the rebuilding of secondary. But #7 is a pretty dear price to pay for a safety...no?

This could happen:

1. Bush
2. Williams
3. Young
4. D'Brick
5. Hawk
6. V. Davis
7. Matt Leinart

I think the Titans will take Leinart when all is said and done and if not the NJ Jets will ake him despite their claims to the contrary. The fans at MSG or wherever would cut their nuts off if they passed on Leinart at #4.
 
Hey! I've always said you can get a good safety in the 4th round. Where was I saying over and over again that you don't have to be that smart or athletic to be a good safety? Somewhere. That said, Huff will probably be a great safety, still I maintain that you don't need a great safety to have a great secondary, just 2 good ones. We've got 1 that should be good this year and might be pretty good in the future maybe even very good if we're lucky.

Not only would Jets fans rip their nuts off if they passed on Leinart, they'd hurl them at the podium, TV screens, each other, where-ever, and they wouldn't stop throwing them until there wasn't anything left to throw.

Leinart doesn't slip to us. We either jump up to grab him or forget about it. And if we jump up, I'd rather see us grab Williams than Leinart. Williams could start immediately, Leinart would require at least a year, and shouldn't Walter be ready by then?

But WTF? You've got a gut feeling. I wouldn't be upset if it happened. Hawk and Huff are the only real "need" picks near our draft position. I think both positions can be addressed later in the draft, so I'd LIKE to see us do something to set us up for years to come.

Williams would do that. Leinart could do that. Either Hawk or Huff would do that. Ferguson or Justice could help anchor the line for years to come.

Hell, we don't score enough, why try to stop teams if you can't score. Ask Baltimore how that's working out.
 
Hell I've been a Williams guy from the beginning. I just think if Al moves to #2 he's gonna get the USC kid...like I said just a gut feeling.

I sure wouldn't be disappointed if we could get Williams. In either case I'm worried about what we might have to give up...like our 2nd round pick...that woulnd't be cool but hey I guess I'll roll with whatever Al decides (like I have a choice).
 
If Al's willing to draft Huff as a CB despite all of his recent investment in the position then I have to think having Walter wouldn't affect his decision to take a QB.

All I have to say is... There is NO WAY Al can disapoint me this time around.

*Knocks on wood*
 
gst8 said:
All I have to say is... There is NO WAY Al can disapoint me this time around.

Young, Cutler, Leinart, Justice, some ridiculous reach like Jimmy Williams or Kamerion Wimbley (Not that they're bad players, but we could easily trade back and still get them or someone just as good.), etc, etc...

There are far too many ways that Al can fuck this up. If we had a top 2 pick, I could relax. If we were at 5 or 6, I could relax. At 7? I just know what Al is capable of. He's just as likely to find a way to fuck this up as not.
 
Well, you know, at #7 we are on the cusp of idiocy. I personally don't mind getting a "reach" so long as he's 1st round talent.

The idea of trading backwards and getting someone just as good (or the same player) and extra picks is a pipe dream. Al Davis just doesn't do that. Worst of all he trades up to get the same guy he could have had standing pat (so we're told - and I don't believe any of that shit - like we could have had Janikowski in the 2nd round - pure unsupportable BS - but don't take that for me endorsing picking a kicker in round 1 :rolleyes: ).

I agree that being in the top 5 I'd be pretty comfortable about what we're going to do and who we're going to get. At 7 the options are too varied, and the value drops off to the point of wanting more bang for your buck (like an extra pick).

At #7 I still say Huff as a SS (not as a CB). I wouldn't take any of the next group of LB's or OL's this high. We don't need another CB, RB, TE (just say no to Vern), WR (God forbid we take Jackson - another deep threat with soft routes - or one of the smurfs), Ngata reminds people of Russell/McGlockton even though we could use a NT, Bunkley is a penetrating DT and we've got a slew of them, I'd take Leinart but he's a at least 1 year (if not 2 or 3) away from contributing so adds no value this year.
 
Rupert said:
I'd take Leinart but he's a at least 1 year (if not 2 or 3) away from contributing so adds no value this year.

This TEAM is 2 or 3 years from being competitive IMO so I have no problem with that. I'd rather take a guy now and hope that his maturation process coincides with our team getting back to where it needs to be.

Of course... there's always the bust factor but Raider fans should be getting desensitized to that by now.
 
Al Davis, after having nightmares of Marinovich, is going to draft AJ Hawk at #7 :p
 
gst8 said:
This TEAM is 2 or 3 years from being competitive IMO so I have no problem with that. I'd rather take a guy now and hope that his maturation process coincides with our team getting back to where it needs to be.

Of course... there's always the bust factor but Raider fans should be getting desensitized to that by now.
I actually think we can be competitive this year. Playoffs is asking too much, but I think 500 won't be a stretch of the talent already on the team (well, maybe the talent we had last year - losing Big Ted strikes me as the biggest loss).

With the additions we've made and the return of some injured players we should be better talent-wise.

Bringing in Art and the OL specialists, we should be better on offense.

The new secondary coach should give us some punch we've lacked in the secondary for a while.

We've got lots of talent on DL, just a little thin at NT, other than that we should be alright.

So where are we lacking? SS (definitely starter we've got plenty of depth :rolleyes: ), OLB (starter - would be nice, depth - definitely), OL (starter - would be nice, depth - definitely), RB (depth - definitely).

I really think we could be a playoff team in 2007 if we draft well this year and next, and make some good acquisitions next off-season. SuperBowl? Well, that's 3-4 years off at the earliest. Couls Leinart be ready then? Sure, but so could Walter.

And yet I keep dreaming about Mario. Yep! Not a critical need. Not even depth needed. But he is such a huge talent with multi-year terror potential that I'd like to have him on our side. Period. I think Walter can do everything that Leinart can. Maybe not as smart (maybe just a little less, maybe) but with a stronger arm. Why am I going to doubt the kid?

Hawk also has the huge talent and terror potential, I just value DL more.

Huff has the talent, not necessarily the terror, but maybe, and I think he's a more immediate impact than Ngata or Bunkley.

Davis? Vern? Dude, we've got guys that can do what the offense needs a TE to do. Davis wouldn't have as large an impact as the others.

An OT or OG? I see what we've got as being good enough right now. Any kid would be a minor impact this year. Sims will be out soon, so he needs replacing. If we wind up with Slaughter or Walker or Garmon starting, they are relatively young and will still be solid in 4-5 years. So depth and future starters are needed. It doesn't mean I think we're great, I just don't see that drafting a kid will make much impact over the next 2 seasons.
 
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