What is the Raiders BIGGEST need?

What is the Raiders biggest need?

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Crossbones

Crossbones

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As a prelim to the ongoing debates we are sure to have leading up to the NFL draft, what do you think the Raiders should do with their #1 pick?

What is the team's biggest need and how should it be handled?

There is always the BPA argument (which isn't a bad thing most of the time), the pass rush argument, the DL or front sever debate and, of course, what would a debate be without the quarterback controversy?

Be counted and tell us your reasoning.
 
Nothing more important than the OL

Where is OL?!?!?!

Give me a right tackle or right guard. When Walker comes back he'll be the other one. Grove back at center Gallery at LT and Sims at LG. Kick them in the ass and get this thing jumpin again.

I think the DL is good, a little old around the edges, but good. Sands is coming on bigtime. Kelly can play inside and out really well. Antajj Hawthorne will need to find a role, but I think he'll get some PT. Burgess is great. Brayton can do a good job in a DE rotation with Burgess. It would be nice to leave Kelly out at DE (or 5 technique DT - long story) what some call the base end. But with Sappington and Washington getting old he's going to have to move in at some point. We could go after a starting DE in the draft, but people looking at Kiwi are looking in the wrong direction, he's too freaking small to be a base end. Mario Williams is the right guy for the role, and I might jump at the chance to draft him, but I don't think that position is an immediate need. We can survive another season without a major infusion.

The Raider D made a nickel work pretty well as a base defense this season, and if necessary, could do it again next season. But my #2 NEED position is OLB. I know there are supposedly a LOT of guys available there, so let's get two, we're short at least that many.

Don't even talk to me about safety. Stu is ready. Not great, but improving. I'd take gibson back the way we were using the SS this season, and Cooper did a decent job in that same role. Gibson would be an improvement over Cooper though only slightly because of his size and speed. Cooper was better at taking on blockers and tackling while Gibson was better at manning up in pass defense. Neither guy made me hapy with their zone skills. An upgrade here is needed, but 3rd round is the earliest I would go.

I'd probably draft: best OL, best OLB, and another OLB before I'd go safety.
Alternately: I'd go DE (Williams), OLB, OG if I could grab a FA OT/OG. And thinking about it, I'd probably prefer to do it that way.
 
Good topic.

You know, even though I personally believe that the offensive line is the single biggest reason that this team stinks, and even though I also believe that you can NEVER have enough good defensive lineman, after much consieration......I'll say QB.

Again, I think Kerry Collins has been, to a large extent, a victim of poor circumstances around him, one thing is for certain: He is not and will never be a "great" QB. It's time. It's been time for years quite frankly to build this franchise around a talented young QB. Look no further than to Indy or Cinci as validation for this theory. Both are excellent football teams and both have the single most important position set for years to come. It's logical really.

Not trading up to nab Carson Palmer and passing on Ben Roethlisberger are and will continue to haunt this team for years. What am I saying?

If Matt Lienert is on the board, or we have an opportunity to trade up to draft him, I day we do it. I'm hearing a lot of comparison's to Tom Brady and frankly that IS worth the gamble.

Spend the FA dough on offensive Guards.
 
Defensive End or Bust!!!

Rupert said:
Where is OL?!?!?!
Click to expand...
D'oh. I knew I'd blow it. Unfortunately I can't change the damn thing! :mad:

Good analysis Rupert. And RIVL brings up the big question of QB now and down the road. I don't think Al will go QB, however, if Leinart was around that would be a very difficult decision I think. As usual, Al builds the teams to win now and he isn't patient enough to wait for Matt Leniart or any other rookie QB for that matter to get his licks. Look at Stabler. The man rode the pine for almost 3 yeras before it just got to the point where it was time. I'm not saying it isn't time but I think the team can win by building strong in the trenches both offensively and defensively.

So, you all know I'm gonna vote for DE when I get a sec...I watched Kiwi more yesterday and agree with Rupeert that he may not be strong enough to play the base DE. Super Mario on the other hand could be the answer to my dreams. If he's there when the Raiders pick I say we take this cat.

The DT from Oregon (Ngata) looks to be a monster and I wouldn't be unhappy if we took him I know Crow has stared a Jihad for this guy. He's a mean looking SOB and strong as an ox. The perfect replacement for Big Ted.

Although our OL has been total crap I still believe we can fix it through FA or in the second or third rounds. There have been a lot of gems coming out of the lower rounds and we really need to address the front seven with our first round pick. I also like A.J. Hawk but I know that is never going to happen as Al will not take a linebacker that high. So I'm back on the Sam Williams bandwagon and hope this kid can shake the injury bug and fill the OLB slot for us. The guy showed something towards the end of last season and then promptly got hurt. But Burgess has been hurt his whole career and he's made it the full season and look what happened. Could happen with Sam too..and remember Sam was an Al Davis hand picked project.

The quarterback thing is another subject but frankly like I said somewhere earlier I think we're going to have Kerry Collins as our starter next year. I don't see a lot of options out there.

The OL looks like this:

Gallery
Sims
Grove
FA
Walker (or Sims)

I'm in for this and I think it will be better. It has to get better.

Get me Super Mario to anchor this DE for the next 10 years...the pressure this guy will bring will make our secondary better immediately. Throw in some cover 2 (I know Rupert hates that idea) and we can improve this defense a lot. If the OL can improve which I think it will, Collins will be better. Jordan will be better. Add in a healthy Randy Moss and we're on our way back.
 
Close the polls, all 3 votes are in.
 
CrossBones is right. If we draft a QB, there's no way we're starting him. Al Davis lost his freaking mind when Tui had the ball knocked out of his hands a couple times. Imagine what happens when a rook QB gets a yellow spot on his trousers. Al will blow a freaking gasket.
 
You both are probably right. What I think should be done and what Al will likely do are two different things entirely !!!!

He might shock us all and draft that Debrikesha Fergueson (OT) kid as well. Sims is looking worse by the nano-second, Walker may or may not be a starter and Gallery & Grove need to step up in 2006. So, picking up another supposedly Blue Chip OT wouldn't suprise.

I would be pleased with Fergueson, Lienert, Williams or Ngata for different reasons and you could probably make a case for any one of them.
 
WHAT!?!? None of us expects a linebacker??? But we need at least 1 starter (I'll accept Williams as a starter and not complain about injuries). But after him???

Ryan Riddle? He's a hybrid DE/OLB more in the 3-4 mold than in the 4-3 mold. We desperately need more backers as evidenced by our using the nickel as our base defense for the majority of the season.

But we're ALL right, it's not our biggest need. A close second to OL I think. So why would I draft a DE before an OLB, cuz we got a starter in the 3rd last season and we can get one there again. Imagine getting a better one in the 2nd. WOW!
 
We got trouble my friends, right here in River City!

Rupert said:
WHAT!?!? None of us expects a linebacker??? But we need at least 1 starter (I'll accept Williams as a starter and not complain about injuries). But after him???

Ryan Riddle? He's a hybrid DE/OLB more in the 3-4 mold than in the 4-3 mold. We desperately need more backers as evidenced by our using the nickel as our base defense for the majority of the season.

But we're ALL right, it's not our biggest need. A close second to OL I think. So why would I draft a DE before an OLB, cuz we got a starter in the 3rd last season and we can get one there again. Imagine getting a better one in the 2nd. WOW!
Click to expand...
Bottom line is we have some issues. It's like you don't know which way to turn first --- OL, DL, QB, LB, SS....YIKES! :eek:

The more I look around the more I think RIVL might have something. The Raiders might just take that Ferguson kid to bookend Gallery. As I understand it, Fergie is another natural LT. That might leave Gallery at RT, slide Sims to LG and find ourselves a decent RG in FA...we might be set. Al is more likely to take another OL first rather than a linebacker.

It's true that the defense did better but I'm not sure how much better. (I think it seemed a lot better than it was because we were so frustrated with the offense it was the only thing of a positive nature we could hang our hat on). Burgess helped with the pass rush but it was pretty one dimensional...i.e., if Burgess didn't get some heat the QB had a lot of time to pick our man secondary apart. And most games they did a good job of it. That's why I say we still need that stud base DE and the kid Mario Williams might be our man. He's on TV this Saturday in the morning. Dude is 6'7", 290 and apparently can bring the heat hard. :eek:

Tough problem in the War Room this year. Maybe it'll be more clear after FA and we see what shakes out there. ;)
 
If Al Davis likes someone, the NFL will know and force him to trade up to get him. So if we like Super Mario, word on the street will be the Dolphins are going to trade up to #2 to get him, so Al will make the deal, and then someone else will trade into #1 and draft him and we'll pick up Bush as a consolation prize. Then behind our stellar OL Bush will get clobbered, blow out an ACL or two, and be lost for a couple seasons, never returning to the form he showed in college.

There's the ticket.
 
Remember, this wasn't just about the draft. It was about FA too.
 
I would really like to see us package some picks (or player combination) to obtain two top 10 picks in the first round. What what that take? Our 2nd & 4th rounders, maybe?

It will probably never happen, but how about getting say Fergueson and Williams, or Ngata and AJ Hawk? I would love to see us play it that aggresively.

San Diego landed Merriman (what a player !!) and the DT who looks pretty solid as well (name escapes me?).

Rupert - I assume you like AJ Hawk, if you we're Al, would you take him if Williams was already off the board?

Crossbones - My thoughts exactly about we could take Fergueson. I still believe that Al believes that having a dominant O-line is the way to go on offense. He assembled a pretty damn good line during the Gannon era and the drafting of Grove & Gallery in 2004 support this philosophy, regardless of the results this far. It could happen..
 
Typo City above !!!

Rupert - What do you think of Spencer Havner (LB) from UCLA? He might be a bit smallish at OLB in the NFL, but Odell Thurman is looking pretty good in Cinci in the same role. Havner is fast and makes big plays. I think he will be available in the 3rd...
 
The more I think about this (forget the coaching topic. That is harder to predict than the 1st pick IMHO) the Raiders will almost assuredly go OT or DT with this pick - meaning that Fergueson or Ngata will be the next Raider.

Bush, Lienert, Williams will be gone before we pick. We don't need antother CB either.

Whether or not Gallery develops as hoped is almost immaterial. Sims is DONE (or better be !!) at LT so we need a new one. Perhaps Chad Slaughter might get a look-see, but c'mon, our plans can't be based on Slaughter or Sims IMHO.

As for Ngata, he makes equal sense. Washington & Sapp are done or nearly done. Kelly is sort of a tweener and Sands is still probably a depth player.

BUT, having Ngata, Kelly, Burgess and TBD wouldn't look too shabby would it?
 
Well personally I'm A Mario William guy. Ngata looks like a beast but I'd prefer to solidify our pass russ by getting this guy Williams. He's a stud and would fix us up for a while at DE. With Burgess playing his role, moving Brayton back to DE for good, and Hamilton there too I think we'd have our selves a really good pass rush.

Kelly slides down into the UT position and either replaces Sapp or rotates with him. Ted Washington maybe around one more year...

Problem: I don't think Williams is goping to last until the 6th pick. :mad:

That is going to leave us with a chocie (probably) of A.J. Hawh whom Al will never take that hight, Ngata, or even Kiwi.

I'm a little off Kiwi as I wasn't so impressed with his play in that bowl game the other night. But really can't grade him on one game. The other time I saw him he play he looked pretty good to me but then hurt his leg in the seond quarter of that game and I didnt see him again until last week. He's got a motor though. My fear is that Al is going to reach for somebody we might be able to get later.

As Rupert and I discussed the other day, however, this is one reason Al doesn't trade down. When he's say in the 20's he's more likly to reach and try and find that diamond in the rough, that super star, the glitz player than nobody else thinks is that good. Towards the top of the draft Al is a little more predictable because he thinks he's going to get the glitzy player there anyway. So he's not as apt to "reach" up high.

Vince Young? My predication is that Al moves up to draft Young and then converts him into a TE. :p (Just kidding).

I think Young is copming out after that monster game in the Rose Bowl. Why not? His stock will never be as high.

Maybe Houston will take him and they can trade David Carr to us. Personally I think Carr is still going to be a good NFL quarterback. But there is no reason to think he's gonna be any better in Oakland than he has been in Houston. Reason? He's getting zero protection in Houston and the way things are right now he's get no more in Oakland. Still I like the kid.

And for the record, in spite of all the ogling of Vince Young, give me Mat Leinart anytime. That kid is going to be great in the NFL!

Late!
 
Right, Williams won't be there at #6 so I'm not discussing him at this time.

David Carr - I'm right there with you. Young, but experienced, good mobility, good arm - Houston would be crazy to dump and we would be crazier not to sign him at almost any cost IMHO.

Vince Young - Hard to say, but what an amazing performance. I think his throwing motion would prove disaterous at the next level for some reason. Still, I wouldn't be opposed to taking a risk, maybe?

Lienert? Agree. This guy is the real deal. The NFL is and always will be a 'system' game and Lienert would be an awesome building block for Oakland. Did you see that strike to the tall WR? Exactly what Collins & Moss should/could have been doing all year. Even better than that was a throw he made to the sideline late in the game while being flushed out. Was looking to PASS the whole time and put in the most perfect of spots when he did throw - total poise. Small play in the scheme of things, but that showed me a lot.

Problem? The Jets or Saints will take him.

So, I'm back to Ngata or Fergueson and you're right about Al playing it safe when drafting this high:

Darrell Russell
Charles Woodson
Robert Gallery

All we're considered, logical & safe picks at the time.

I'd still like to see us trade multiples to get another top 15 first round pick. The Charger draft in 04' was awesome.
 
Two offensive linemen in the first two picks. We have to try cos we know the root of an effective offence is the line.

Sims will be 33 or 34 next year and seems a little bit heavy. Fast DE put him in a lot of trouble. Gallery must grow up and assume his impact player role. So the right side may be the place to locate these picks.
 
I see that Michael Vick's younger brother is entering the NFL draft after being booted out of VT for essentially being a jackass.

I'm praying that Al Davis isn't thinking this is the guy he should draft. This has AD Pick written all over it IMO. Fuck.

Vick would boost merchandise sales and would create a lot of press about him & the Raiders. Moroever, if Vick Jr. pans out, he can be labeled a "genious" again. Frankly, I've never seen the dude play, but everything I've heard or read causes me concern. I say PASS on this dude, but like I said, Al Davis pick written all over it....
 
Biggest need is a coach who doesn't fall asleep the instant he starts looking at game film.
 
Well I think our biggest need is a quarterback who is a leader, has a winning attitude and plays smart. I don't know if I would use our 1st round pick on a quarterback, and I doubt Mr. Davis would use his 1st pick on a quarterback either. Getting rid of Kerry Collins will be the best move we can make this season. He has proven he is not a winner!
 
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