OAKLAND RAIDERS OFFSEASON THREAD
- Thread starter Solitary 1
- Start date
Raiders hoping McFadden will be playmaker they desperately need
Contra Costa Times
Article Created: 04/27/2008 02:58:03 AM PDT
Apr 27:
Raiders trade Fabian Washington to RavensBay Area first picks don't fill needsRaiders get their man by picking McFaddenRaiders need Dorsey, love McFadden ALAMEDA -- Raiders coach Lane Kiffin said he knew months ago that Arkansas running back Darren McFadden "was the guy we had to have."
Months ago? Try years and years ago.
By selecting McFadden fourth overall Saturday, the Raiders drafted themselves a certifiable play-making threat, something their offense has glaringly lacked for far too long.
"I want to play great and make big plays," McFadden said to finish his conference call with the Bay Area media.
That short line is all we really needed to hear. And then he was gone. It was breakaway speed, at its finest.
He was the most dynamic weapon in this weekend's NFL draft. It so happens the Raiders needed a playmaker. Add it up and this fits as well as that white sweat suit
If McFadden plays as advertised, he'll give the Raiders a home-run threat that Davis has long desired but rarely found. Randy Moss provided it in his first four games of 2005. Napoleon Kaufman did the same with his wicked sprints from 1995-2000. Dare we bring Bo Jackson's two-decades-old heroics into this mix?
McFadden's 40-yard dash time (4.33 seconds) should impress you. So should his versatility, his back-to-back runner-up finishes for the Heisman Trophy and his ability to dominate amidst the nation's toughest competition, in the Southeastern Conference.
Fellow SEC product JaMarcus Russell, taken No. 1 overall last season by the Raiders out of LSU, will be responsible for getting the ball to McFadden for years
to come, if all goes according to plan.
One man (or two, if you count Russell) will not save the Raiders from their five-year freefall into the NFL dungeon. But their offense sure looks a lot more promising (and a lot less boring) by selecting skill-position phenoms with their top draft picks the past two years.
McFadden says he's ready now. He's not, and that's no reference to his alleged character concerns or impending contract squabbles. Rookie running backs simply can't be counted on for an immediate impact. The Raiders won't throw him in there full time until he learns their system, specifically the protection schemes and blitz-pickup duties.
But McFadden has a great tutor. That being top-notch running backs coach Tom Rathman. They've already bonded, and McFadden thinks his fumbling woes have been solved by Rathman's recommendations.
McFadden instantly gives the Raiders the two-back set that almost all NFL teams need to thrive and survive. The Raiders especially need it while establishing a threat at wide receiver, where Javon Walker and Drew Carter join Ronald Curry (nine combined surgeries among that trio, by the way).
McFadden is a great scare tactic. He'll make defenses worry, no disrespect to the 2007 breakthrough efforts of Justin Fargas, whose durability (and post-knee-injury speed) is a concern.
Look for Fargas to remain as the primary back in 2008 while McFadden works into a complementary role. The Raiders will want Fargas to repeat as a 1,000-yard rusher while McFadden chips in with 500 yards on the ground and perhaps just as many yards (or more) as a receiver.
A two-back tactic is what Raiders offensive coordinator Greg Knapp deployed quite well in previous stops at Atlanta (with Warrick Dunn and T.J. Duckett) and the 49ers (with Garrison Hearst and Kevan Barlow). It's also a scheme that draws comparisons to the New Orleans Saints' tandem of Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush, who Kiffin coached at USC.
"(McFadden) does have a lot of similarities to Reggie because he is a dynamic pass-catcher as well," said Kiffin, also noting how both backs excel with their speed and acceleration.
Considering Bush (6-foot, 203 pounds) hasn't evolved into as big a star as we expected, McFadden (6-2, 210 pounds) wisely pointed out their differences in style.
"Reggie Bush is a very shifty guy," McFadden said. "I like to get downhill and get running."
A year ago, it looked like the Raiders set themselves up with a solid 1-2 punch in LaMont Jordan and Dominic Rhodes. But that combo fizzled and is on the outs. As for the untested Michael Bush, he can always be used as a short-yardage or goal-line back.
McFadden can be used in so many different ways, and that surely excites the Raiders coaching staff. He's a game changer and a scoring threat, qualities recommended for a top-five draft pick.
The Raiders shouldn't have used this high pick on a defensive tackle, specifically LSU's Glenn Dorsey. If questions about Dorsey's health weren't enough to worry you, he especially didn't make sense considering the Raiders already committed heavily last month to Tommy Kelly as the anchor for their interior line.
McFadden makes more sense. He'll make more dynamic plays for what's been a drab offense.
Said McFadden: "I can be a very versatile player, I can move around and give them a different style."
Just move toward the end zone as fast as you can, Mr. McDreamy, and the Raider Nation will forever embrace you.
Contact Cam Inman at [email protected].
Contra Costa Times
Article Created: 04/27/2008 02:58:03 AM PDT
Apr 27:
Raiders trade Fabian Washington to RavensBay Area first picks don't fill needsRaiders get their man by picking McFaddenRaiders need Dorsey, love McFadden ALAMEDA -- Raiders coach Lane Kiffin said he knew months ago that Arkansas running back Darren McFadden "was the guy we had to have."
Months ago? Try years and years ago.
By selecting McFadden fourth overall Saturday, the Raiders drafted themselves a certifiable play-making threat, something their offense has glaringly lacked for far too long.
"I want to play great and make big plays," McFadden said to finish his conference call with the Bay Area media.
That short line is all we really needed to hear. And then he was gone. It was breakaway speed, at its finest.
He was the most dynamic weapon in this weekend's NFL draft. It so happens the Raiders needed a playmaker. Add it up and this fits as well as that white sweat suit
If McFadden plays as advertised, he'll give the Raiders a home-run threat that Davis has long desired but rarely found. Randy Moss provided it in his first four games of 2005. Napoleon Kaufman did the same with his wicked sprints from 1995-2000. Dare we bring Bo Jackson's two-decades-old heroics into this mix?
McFadden's 40-yard dash time (4.33 seconds) should impress you. So should his versatility, his back-to-back runner-up finishes for the Heisman Trophy and his ability to dominate amidst the nation's toughest competition, in the Southeastern Conference.
Fellow SEC product JaMarcus Russell, taken No. 1 overall last season by the Raiders out of LSU, will be responsible for getting the ball to McFadden for years
to come, if all goes according to plan.
One man (or two, if you count Russell) will not save the Raiders from their five-year freefall into the NFL dungeon. But their offense sure looks a lot more promising (and a lot less boring) by selecting skill-position phenoms with their top draft picks the past two years.
McFadden says he's ready now. He's not, and that's no reference to his alleged character concerns or impending contract squabbles. Rookie running backs simply can't be counted on for an immediate impact. The Raiders won't throw him in there full time until he learns their system, specifically the protection schemes and blitz-pickup duties.
But McFadden has a great tutor. That being top-notch running backs coach Tom Rathman. They've already bonded, and McFadden thinks his fumbling woes have been solved by Rathman's recommendations.
McFadden instantly gives the Raiders the two-back set that almost all NFL teams need to thrive and survive. The Raiders especially need it while establishing a threat at wide receiver, where Javon Walker and Drew Carter join Ronald Curry (nine combined surgeries among that trio, by the way).
McFadden is a great scare tactic. He'll make defenses worry, no disrespect to the 2007 breakthrough efforts of Justin Fargas, whose durability (and post-knee-injury speed) is a concern.
Look for Fargas to remain as the primary back in 2008 while McFadden works into a complementary role. The Raiders will want Fargas to repeat as a 1,000-yard rusher while McFadden chips in with 500 yards on the ground and perhaps just as many yards (or more) as a receiver.
A two-back tactic is what Raiders offensive coordinator Greg Knapp deployed quite well in previous stops at Atlanta (with Warrick Dunn and T.J. Duckett) and the 49ers (with Garrison Hearst and Kevan Barlow). It's also a scheme that draws comparisons to the New Orleans Saints' tandem of Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush, who Kiffin coached at USC.
"(McFadden) does have a lot of similarities to Reggie because he is a dynamic pass-catcher as well," said Kiffin, also noting how both backs excel with their speed and acceleration.
Considering Bush (6-foot, 203 pounds) hasn't evolved into as big a star as we expected, McFadden (6-2, 210 pounds) wisely pointed out their differences in style.
"Reggie Bush is a very shifty guy," McFadden said. "I like to get downhill and get running."
A year ago, it looked like the Raiders set themselves up with a solid 1-2 punch in LaMont Jordan and Dominic Rhodes. But that combo fizzled and is on the outs. As for the untested Michael Bush, he can always be used as a short-yardage or goal-line back.
McFadden can be used in so many different ways, and that surely excites the Raiders coaching staff. He's a game changer and a scoring threat, qualities recommended for a top-five draft pick.
The Raiders shouldn't have used this high pick on a defensive tackle, specifically LSU's Glenn Dorsey. If questions about Dorsey's health weren't enough to worry you, he especially didn't make sense considering the Raiders already committed heavily last month to Tommy Kelly as the anchor for their interior line.
McFadden makes more sense. He'll make more dynamic plays for what's been a drab offense.
Said McFadden: "I can be a very versatile player, I can move around and give them a different style."
Just move toward the end zone as fast as you can, Mr. McDreamy, and the Raider Nation will forever embrace you.
Contact Cam Inman at [email protected].
McFadden Q&A, Part II
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Sunday, April 27th, 2008 at 3:07 pm in Oakland Raiders.
For what I believe is the first time since the Raiders returned to Oakland in 1995, the club held a day-after, on-site press conference with their first-round draft pick. Running back Darren McFadden, wearing a suit and a Raiders baseball cap, was available to answer many of the same questions he did Saturday after being the No. 4 overall pick.
McFadden: Just want to let everyone know I’m very glad to be in Oakland and very happy to be a Raider.
Q: What do you know about this team you didn’t know 24 hours ago?
McFadden: I guess that I’m a part of it now. Twenty-four hours ago I wasn’t part of a team, I was sitting back and it was a waiting process for me.
Q: When in your heart did you know this would be where you were going?
McFadden: When I was on the way to the ceremony for the draft, I got a call from coach Kiffin who said if I was still on the board he was going to take me and after the first couple of picks I was still there, I knew then I was going to be a Raider.
Q: What is it like going in knowing you won’t be the main man right away?
McFadden: It’s something I’m coming into. It’s like going into college as a freshman, you’ve got to start all over from the bottom of the totem poll and just work your way back up.
Q: JaMarcus had a lengthy holdout, how important is it for you to get in camp on time?
McFadden: For me, it’s very important. I want to be out there playing, I don’t want to be sitting back, I want to be out there learning. The more time you miss, the less chance you have of playing. I want to be out there, so I’ll let my agent take care of that and I feel like he’s going to get it done for me.
Q: Have you been out in the Bay Area before?
McFadden: My first time out was when I came out here for a visit. I had a great visit out here. Coach Rathman took me out to eat and just enjoyed it a whole lot.
Q: You are accustomed at Arkansas to sharing the load with Felix Jones, is that something appeals to you here?
McFadden: However coach wants to run it, I don’t mind if he wants to share carries or give me carries, whatever you want to do with me, it’s something I enjoy a whole lot and I’m just ready to get out there and play football.
Q: A lot of your big runs have come between the tackles, how does your speed help you there?
McFadden: I feel like my speed helps me a whole lot between the tackles. If I see a little crease I’m going to take it and I’m going to hit it full speed. It’s like, once you get past the first line of defense and you hit the secondary I don’t feel like people are going to catch up with me.
Q: There has been a lot of talk about your receiving skills at Arkansas, but they didn’t throw a lot to the running backs there. Think it’s going to take a while to get up to speed in terms of route running and getting downfield?
McFadden: No, I don’t feel like it’s going to be a problem because I feel like I’m
a very versatile player, and being able to be moved out, split out as a receiver is something that I can do. We did a little bit of it at Arkansas, not a whole lot, but it’s something I’m always willing to do.
Q: There’s a certain number of carries before a RB gets into rhythm. Is there a target number for you?
McFadden: Not at all. For me, it’s just that when you get out there, you’ve got to make the best of your chances. So I don’t need a certain number of carries or anything to get going, just try to do the best with what they give me.
Q: How do you think you and JaMarcus will complement each other?
McFadden: I got to watch him play a lot in the SEC, because I’m a big fan of football. Anytime a game is on, I try and watch it. I got to see him a lot down at LSU. Like I said, I’d much rather being with him because I remember when we played against him, the defensive tackle had him hang on his jersey, and he just flung the ball 50 yards for a completion, so I feel like it’s something that would be a great asset for the Raider nation, for me and him to be back there in the backfield.
Q: What do you bring to the table as a RB?
McFadden: I feel like my size and speed. A lot of backs may be smaller with speed, but I feel like I’m a big back with speed. I feel like I can bring back to the Raider nation a big player, but it’s something the coaches talked about
with me, they said they’re missing from their offense was the ability to make big plays.
Q: In terms of your receiving, is there a difference between coming out of the backfield or lining up as a WR?
McFadden: For me, it doesn’t matter at all. Spread out, coming out of the backfield, I feel like I have pretty good hands.
Q: When did you get in? What have you done since?
McFadden: Actually, I got in late last night. We had a long flight from New York, about close to six hours, so I got in at about 12:30 last night. We just got up this morning, ate at the hotel and came here at around 12.
Q: Intimidated about coming to a big city? Are you going to hang out with JaMarcus a little bit?
McFadden: No, I’m not intimidated at all. It’s going to be a new adjustment for me, something I’m going to have to get adapted to. I’m just ready to get here and get around the teammates, and get used to all those guys.
Q: There’s three veterans, 100-yard rushers. As a rookie, how do you try to fit in with those guys?
McFadden: For me, I’m just going in trying to learn from those guys. I know They’ve been here and they know how things work, so I’m just going in trying to learn from those guys. When the coach feels like it’s time to put
in there, I’m going to be ready.
Q: Coach Kiffin said what impressed him about you was when you were blocking on a kickoff return. Do you enjoy that part of that game as well?
McFadden: I enjoy the game of football, period, and anything that comes along with it. The blocking, going out and passing, I enjoy all of it. It’s one thing I do like. I know the play you’re talking about, was the Felix Jones
return, the kickoff return. I was blocking the safety guy for them, and hit him, knocked him down and (Jones) scored the touchdown.
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Sunday, April 27th, 2008 at 3:07 pm in Oakland Raiders.
For what I believe is the first time since the Raiders returned to Oakland in 1995, the club held a day-after, on-site press conference with their first-round draft pick. Running back Darren McFadden, wearing a suit and a Raiders baseball cap, was available to answer many of the same questions he did Saturday after being the No. 4 overall pick.
McFadden: Just want to let everyone know I’m very glad to be in Oakland and very happy to be a Raider.
Q: What do you know about this team you didn’t know 24 hours ago?
McFadden: I guess that I’m a part of it now. Twenty-four hours ago I wasn’t part of a team, I was sitting back and it was a waiting process for me.
Q: When in your heart did you know this would be where you were going?
McFadden: When I was on the way to the ceremony for the draft, I got a call from coach Kiffin who said if I was still on the board he was going to take me and after the first couple of picks I was still there, I knew then I was going to be a Raider.
Q: What is it like going in knowing you won’t be the main man right away?
McFadden: It’s something I’m coming into. It’s like going into college as a freshman, you’ve got to start all over from the bottom of the totem poll and just work your way back up.
Q: JaMarcus had a lengthy holdout, how important is it for you to get in camp on time?
McFadden: For me, it’s very important. I want to be out there playing, I don’t want to be sitting back, I want to be out there learning. The more time you miss, the less chance you have of playing. I want to be out there, so I’ll let my agent take care of that and I feel like he’s going to get it done for me.
Q: Have you been out in the Bay Area before?
McFadden: My first time out was when I came out here for a visit. I had a great visit out here. Coach Rathman took me out to eat and just enjoyed it a whole lot.
Q: You are accustomed at Arkansas to sharing the load with Felix Jones, is that something appeals to you here?
McFadden: However coach wants to run it, I don’t mind if he wants to share carries or give me carries, whatever you want to do with me, it’s something I enjoy a whole lot and I’m just ready to get out there and play football.
Q: A lot of your big runs have come between the tackles, how does your speed help you there?
McFadden: I feel like my speed helps me a whole lot between the tackles. If I see a little crease I’m going to take it and I’m going to hit it full speed. It’s like, once you get past the first line of defense and you hit the secondary I don’t feel like people are going to catch up with me.
Q: There has been a lot of talk about your receiving skills at Arkansas, but they didn’t throw a lot to the running backs there. Think it’s going to take a while to get up to speed in terms of route running and getting downfield?
McFadden: No, I don’t feel like it’s going to be a problem because I feel like I’m
a very versatile player, and being able to be moved out, split out as a receiver is something that I can do. We did a little bit of it at Arkansas, not a whole lot, but it’s something I’m always willing to do.
Q: There’s a certain number of carries before a RB gets into rhythm. Is there a target number for you?
McFadden: Not at all. For me, it’s just that when you get out there, you’ve got to make the best of your chances. So I don’t need a certain number of carries or anything to get going, just try to do the best with what they give me.
Q: How do you think you and JaMarcus will complement each other?
McFadden: I got to watch him play a lot in the SEC, because I’m a big fan of football. Anytime a game is on, I try and watch it. I got to see him a lot down at LSU. Like I said, I’d much rather being with him because I remember when we played against him, the defensive tackle had him hang on his jersey, and he just flung the ball 50 yards for a completion, so I feel like it’s something that would be a great asset for the Raider nation, for me and him to be back there in the backfield.
Q: What do you bring to the table as a RB?
McFadden: I feel like my size and speed. A lot of backs may be smaller with speed, but I feel like I’m a big back with speed. I feel like I can bring back to the Raider nation a big player, but it’s something the coaches talked about
with me, they said they’re missing from their offense was the ability to make big plays.
Q: In terms of your receiving, is there a difference between coming out of the backfield or lining up as a WR?
McFadden: For me, it doesn’t matter at all. Spread out, coming out of the backfield, I feel like I have pretty good hands.
Q: When did you get in? What have you done since?
McFadden: Actually, I got in late last night. We had a long flight from New York, about close to six hours, so I got in at about 12:30 last night. We just got up this morning, ate at the hotel and came here at around 12.
Q: Intimidated about coming to a big city? Are you going to hang out with JaMarcus a little bit?
McFadden: No, I’m not intimidated at all. It’s going to be a new adjustment for me, something I’m going to have to get adapted to. I’m just ready to get here and get around the teammates, and get used to all those guys.
Q: There’s three veterans, 100-yard rushers. As a rookie, how do you try to fit in with those guys?
McFadden: For me, I’m just going in trying to learn from those guys. I know They’ve been here and they know how things work, so I’m just going in trying to learn from those guys. When the coach feels like it’s time to put
in there, I’m going to be ready.
Q: Coach Kiffin said what impressed him about you was when you were blocking on a kickoff return. Do you enjoy that part of that game as well?
McFadden: I enjoy the game of football, period, and anything that comes along with it. The blocking, going out and passing, I enjoy all of it. It’s one thing I do like. I know the play you’re talking about, was the Felix Jones
return, the kickoff return. I was blocking the safety guy for them, and hit him, knocked him down and (Jones) scored the touchdown.
Q&A with Tyvon Branch
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Sunday, April 27th, 2008 at 11:58 am in Oakland Raiders.
Media conference call with Raiders fourth-round draft pick Tyvon Branch:
Q: Were you surprised when the Raiders called?
Branch: I hadn’t really been talking to them much. They called and expressed some interest, called to ask if my numbers were right, that was really when I talked to them.
Q: How do you think you’ll be used? Corner, safety, does it matter?
Branch: I really don’t know. I played both in college so it’s easy for me to transition from either position. I really don’t know what position they want, I’m going to come in and work, and they can put me wherever they need me.
Q: Did kick returns, did you do coverage as well?
Branch: Yeah, I did all the cover teams.
Q: Is that your ticket to the NFL at this point?
Branch: I really don’t know how they want to use me. I’m definitely a big special teams guy. I really like being on special teams. If they put me out there, I’ll go to work.
Q: Played more corner, are you comfortable with diagnosis back there and making calls on checkdowns?
Branch: At my school, I did a lot of the checks on defense and what I learn a defense I try to learn it from the whole secondary, to linebacker, how everybody fits, so making checks won’t be tough for me.
Q: With Nnamdi Asomugha, DeAngelo Hall at corners, do you suspect you’ll get some time at free safety or crack the lineup there?
Branch: I haven’t really gotten a chance to check out the lineups, and I’m just going to come in and work. If things work out, then they work out, and if they don’t, I’m going to work regardless.
Q: Traded up to get you, like the fact that you were a guy they were targeting?
Branch: I mean, it feels good just to be drafted. The fact that they traded up, it just feels good to be drafted to tell you the truth.
Q: Who gave you the call, who did you talk to?
Branch: I got a call from my secretary at first, I think. Then I talked to the head coach, then I talked to the position coach, and then I talked to the special teams coach. So I got a chance to talk to a bunch of guys.
Q: How did you feel after the combine, you ran one of the fastest times?
Branch: You know, I know I have the speed, and one of my best assets is my speed. I knew I was going to get out there and run good. I just wanted to open up some eyes at the combine.
Q: How does doing so much tackling in coverage on special teams help you as a tackler in the secondary?
Branch: We do a lot of tackling drills at my school, and I played linebacker (phone cuts out) for me.
Q: Your legal issue a few years back, something you write off to being young, and was it something the Raiders even asked about?
Branch: They never really asked me much about it. Character is real big. It’s a mistake. I learned from it. I bounced back. I graduated early so it really didn’t affect me much, but it was something I really learned from.
Note: In 2005, Branch was the driver of a car in which a passenger fired a pellet gun at a woman’s car in a parking lot. Branch was arrested along with four teammates and performed 50 hours of community service.
Q: When will you be out here, for the minicamp?
Branch: Yes
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Sunday, April 27th, 2008 at 11:58 am in Oakland Raiders.
Media conference call with Raiders fourth-round draft pick Tyvon Branch:
Q: Were you surprised when the Raiders called?
Branch: I hadn’t really been talking to them much. They called and expressed some interest, called to ask if my numbers were right, that was really when I talked to them.
Q: How do you think you’ll be used? Corner, safety, does it matter?
Branch: I really don’t know. I played both in college so it’s easy for me to transition from either position. I really don’t know what position they want, I’m going to come in and work, and they can put me wherever they need me.
Q: Did kick returns, did you do coverage as well?
Branch: Yeah, I did all the cover teams.
Q: Is that your ticket to the NFL at this point?
Branch: I really don’t know how they want to use me. I’m definitely a big special teams guy. I really like being on special teams. If they put me out there, I’ll go to work.
Q: Played more corner, are you comfortable with diagnosis back there and making calls on checkdowns?
Branch: At my school, I did a lot of the checks on defense and what I learn a defense I try to learn it from the whole secondary, to linebacker, how everybody fits, so making checks won’t be tough for me.
Q: With Nnamdi Asomugha, DeAngelo Hall at corners, do you suspect you’ll get some time at free safety or crack the lineup there?
Branch: I haven’t really gotten a chance to check out the lineups, and I’m just going to come in and work. If things work out, then they work out, and if they don’t, I’m going to work regardless.
Q: Traded up to get you, like the fact that you were a guy they were targeting?
Branch: I mean, it feels good just to be drafted. The fact that they traded up, it just feels good to be drafted to tell you the truth.
Q: Who gave you the call, who did you talk to?
Branch: I got a call from my secretary at first, I think. Then I talked to the head coach, then I talked to the position coach, and then I talked to the special teams coach. So I got a chance to talk to a bunch of guys.
Q: How did you feel after the combine, you ran one of the fastest times?
Branch: You know, I know I have the speed, and one of my best assets is my speed. I knew I was going to get out there and run good. I just wanted to open up some eyes at the combine.
Q: How does doing so much tackling in coverage on special teams help you as a tackler in the secondary?
Branch: We do a lot of tackling drills at my school, and I played linebacker (phone cuts out) for me.
Q: Your legal issue a few years back, something you write off to being young, and was it something the Raiders even asked about?
Branch: They never really asked me much about it. Character is real big. It’s a mistake. I learned from it. I bounced back. I graduated early so it really didn’t affect me much, but it was something I really learned from.
Note: In 2005, Branch was the driver of a car in which a passenger fired a pellet gun at a woman’s car in a parking lot. Branch was arrested along with four teammates and performed 50 hours of community service.
Q: When will you be out here, for the minicamp?
Branch: Yes
Raiders take SDSU WR
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Sunday, April 27th, 2008 at 2:41 pm in Oakland Raiders.
Using a compensatory selection from losing free agent defensive end Bobby Hamilton to the New York Jets, the Raiders took San Diego State wide receiver Chaz Schillens with their only in the seventh round, No. 226 overall.
The Raiders dealt their other seventh-round pick for the right to move up and take defensive back Tyvon Branch in the fourth round. He has run sub 4.4 times in the 40-yard dash times and has a 43-inch vertical leap. In three seasons at San Diego State, Schilens had 103 receptions for 1,603 yards and scored seven touchdowns.
Schilens is also apparently a willing blocker. In his combine question and answer session, Washington State defensive back Husain Abdullah listed Schilens as the player who hit him the hardest.
“He got me on a good crack back,” Abdullah said.
Barring any trades to pick up another seventh-round pick, the Raiders have concluded their 2008 draft.
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Sunday, April 27th, 2008 at 2:41 pm in Oakland Raiders.
Using a compensatory selection from losing free agent defensive end Bobby Hamilton to the New York Jets, the Raiders took San Diego State wide receiver Chaz Schillens with their only in the seventh round, No. 226 overall.
The Raiders dealt their other seventh-round pick for the right to move up and take defensive back Tyvon Branch in the fourth round. He has run sub 4.4 times in the 40-yard dash times and has a 43-inch vertical leap. In three seasons at San Diego State, Schilens had 103 receptions for 1,603 yards and scored seven touchdowns.
Schilens is also apparently a willing blocker. In his combine question and answer session, Washington State defensive back Husain Abdullah listed Schilens as the player who hit him the hardest.
“He got me on a good crack back,” Abdullah said.
Barring any trades to pick up another seventh-round pick, the Raiders have concluded their 2008 draft.
Raiders take Buffalo DE
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Sunday, April 27th, 2008 at 12:23 pm in Oakland Raiders.
Trevor Scott, a converted tight end from perennial Mid-American conference doormat Buffalo, was selected in the sixth round, No. 169 overall, by the Raiders.
Scott, 6-foot-5, 258 pounds, had 19 sacks in two seasons. He was not invited to the NFL scouting combine, but ran a 4.54 40-yard dash at a pro day workout.
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Sunday, April 27th, 2008 at 12:23 pm in Oakland Raiders.
Trevor Scott, a converted tight end from perennial Mid-American conference doormat Buffalo, was selected in the sixth round, No. 169 overall, by the Raiders.
Scott, 6-foot-5, 258 pounds, had 19 sacks in two seasons. He was not invited to the NFL scouting combine, but ran a 4.54 40-yard dash at a pro day workout.
Selection of explosive back is about winning now
Nancy Gay
Sunday, April 27, 2008
The Raiders had a 1,000-yard rusher last season in Justin Fargas and a crowd of running backs behind him, eager for handoffs to move the chains for the NFL's No. 8 rushing attack.
Looking toward the future, you could assume the Raiders (4-12) would use the No. 4 overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft on a truly pressing need - perhaps a premier defensive or offensive lineman.
But with that $31 million quarterback, JaMarcus Russell, now the full-time starter, this is a win-now year.
Running back Darren McFadden may not have made the most sense.
But he was the win-now pick.
Owner Al Davis had his man last February, as soon as the Arkansas running back - already renowned for his bruising running style - lined up at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis and posted a eye-popping 4.33 second time in the 40-yard dash.
Breaking that run down further, scouts noticed he had run the final 20 yards in 1.8 seconds.
That's burst. Not bust.
Davis, insiders said, immediately zeroed in on a special player who reminded him of Marcus Allen. Many scouts believe McFadden, whose 4,590 rushing yards in three seasons at Arkansas are second most in SEC history behind Herschel Walker, will be every bit as good as the Vikings' Adrian Peterson, who led the NFC in rushing with 1,341 yards and 12 touchdowns as a rookie last season.
What about all the speculation about trading the valuable pick to gain more choices for an otherwise lean Raiders' draft board, or drafting defensive end Vernon Gholston or defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey to stop leaks on the NFL's 31st-ranked run defense?
Didn't matter.
All along, McFadden was the guy. The Raiders called him as soon as the draft began, to assure the hardscrabble kid from North Little Rock, Ark., who endured tremendous family dysfunction that he was their player.
No games. No B.S.
"I knew months ago that this is a guy that we had to have and we had to figure out a way to get him," said Raiders coach Lane Kiffin, who knew Davis had made this decision at the combine and would not be persuaded otherwise.
What is interesting is, from that day forward, Davis had the approval of every coach in the building, including the defensive side.
Now there is no excuse for not scoring points.
The bedraggled Chiefs got better instantly with the next pick, selecting Dorsey. Now Kansas City has a dominant run stuffer who will go after McFadden twice a year.
Every opponent will stack the box against Oakland. The Raiders will have to deal with this.
A great running back and rushing attack is the best tool a developing young quarterback can have, and Russell's job just got a lot easier. The Raiders will use McFadden in tandem with Fargas. Dominic Rhodes gives them a nice change of pace. Michael Bush? He's got an uphill battle to prove himself now in training camp after missing his entire rookie season.
LaMont Jordan - too bad it didn't work out in Oakland, either from the I-formation or in a two-back set. But you're gone.
As for questions about McFadden's character flaws, let's examine them closely. He grew up in a family of 12 children, in one of the most gang-infested areas of the country. Ever see the HBO documentary, "Gang War: Banging in Little Rock"?
His mother, Mini Muhammad, served five years in federal prison for drug possession. McFadden remembers days wondering whether Mini's crack addiction would take food out of his mouth.
One brother is a Crip; another a Blood. McFadden's publicized fights outside of Little Rock nightspots occurred when he was defending family members. Does that indicate a lack of good judgment? Yes.
But McFadden's burgeoning maturity also showed when he phoned Arkansas coaches and the athletic trainer the night of his second bust, apologizing hysterically.
He acknowledged at the combine that he may have fathered at least two children out of wedlock. McFadden, 20, said later that one of the DNA tests ruled he wasn't the father. He's awaiting results of the second.
Meanwhile, you don't hear too many folks roundly criticizing Tom Brady or Matt Leinart for fathering children without the benefit of marriage.
McFadden is young, and he'll come to the Bay Area with his older sister to watch over him. He'll grow up alongside Russell, another SEC product.
On a sleek first day of the draft, propelled by reduced time between picks and a limit to two rounds, most NFL teams made their selections based strictly on need. That explained the multitude of trades, the fact that seven teams picked defensive players in the first 11 picks, and an NFL record seven offensive tackles selected in the first round.
The 49ers with the 29th overall pick, even trumped the Mike Martz instinct to pick an offensive playmaker by drafting a player who will take over for retired team leader Bryant Young. Defensive tackle Kentwan Balmer, a huge nose tackle prospect from North Carolina, was an excellent first-round choice.
The first three picks were all for need - Miami signing No. 1 overall selection defensive end Jake Long last Tuesday; the Rams grabbing athletic, high-motor defensive end Chris Long at No. 2 and the Falcons putting the ghost of Michael Vick to rest by picking Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan at No. 3.
Maybe the Raiders broke rank a little at No. 4, picking the great athlete over the greatest need.
If you know Davis, this shouldn't surprise you. If you want Oakland to compete in the AFC West immediately, then McFadden to the Raiders was the obvious choice.
Nancy Gay
Sunday, April 27, 2008
The Raiders had a 1,000-yard rusher last season in Justin Fargas and a crowd of running backs behind him, eager for handoffs to move the chains for the NFL's No. 8 rushing attack.
Looking toward the future, you could assume the Raiders (4-12) would use the No. 4 overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft on a truly pressing need - perhaps a premier defensive or offensive lineman.
But with that $31 million quarterback, JaMarcus Russell, now the full-time starter, this is a win-now year.
Running back Darren McFadden may not have made the most sense.
But he was the win-now pick.
Owner Al Davis had his man last February, as soon as the Arkansas running back - already renowned for his bruising running style - lined up at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis and posted a eye-popping 4.33 second time in the 40-yard dash.
Breaking that run down further, scouts noticed he had run the final 20 yards in 1.8 seconds.
That's burst. Not bust.
Davis, insiders said, immediately zeroed in on a special player who reminded him of Marcus Allen. Many scouts believe McFadden, whose 4,590 rushing yards in three seasons at Arkansas are second most in SEC history behind Herschel Walker, will be every bit as good as the Vikings' Adrian Peterson, who led the NFC in rushing with 1,341 yards and 12 touchdowns as a rookie last season.
What about all the speculation about trading the valuable pick to gain more choices for an otherwise lean Raiders' draft board, or drafting defensive end Vernon Gholston or defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey to stop leaks on the NFL's 31st-ranked run defense?
Didn't matter.
All along, McFadden was the guy. The Raiders called him as soon as the draft began, to assure the hardscrabble kid from North Little Rock, Ark., who endured tremendous family dysfunction that he was their player.
No games. No B.S.
"I knew months ago that this is a guy that we had to have and we had to figure out a way to get him," said Raiders coach Lane Kiffin, who knew Davis had made this decision at the combine and would not be persuaded otherwise.
What is interesting is, from that day forward, Davis had the approval of every coach in the building, including the defensive side.
Now there is no excuse for not scoring points.
The bedraggled Chiefs got better instantly with the next pick, selecting Dorsey. Now Kansas City has a dominant run stuffer who will go after McFadden twice a year.
Every opponent will stack the box against Oakland. The Raiders will have to deal with this.
A great running back and rushing attack is the best tool a developing young quarterback can have, and Russell's job just got a lot easier. The Raiders will use McFadden in tandem with Fargas. Dominic Rhodes gives them a nice change of pace. Michael Bush? He's got an uphill battle to prove himself now in training camp after missing his entire rookie season.
LaMont Jordan - too bad it didn't work out in Oakland, either from the I-formation or in a two-back set. But you're gone.
As for questions about McFadden's character flaws, let's examine them closely. He grew up in a family of 12 children, in one of the most gang-infested areas of the country. Ever see the HBO documentary, "Gang War: Banging in Little Rock"?
His mother, Mini Muhammad, served five years in federal prison for drug possession. McFadden remembers days wondering whether Mini's crack addiction would take food out of his mouth.
One brother is a Crip; another a Blood. McFadden's publicized fights outside of Little Rock nightspots occurred when he was defending family members. Does that indicate a lack of good judgment? Yes.
But McFadden's burgeoning maturity also showed when he phoned Arkansas coaches and the athletic trainer the night of his second bust, apologizing hysterically.
He acknowledged at the combine that he may have fathered at least two children out of wedlock. McFadden, 20, said later that one of the DNA tests ruled he wasn't the father. He's awaiting results of the second.
Meanwhile, you don't hear too many folks roundly criticizing Tom Brady or Matt Leinart for fathering children without the benefit of marriage.
McFadden is young, and he'll come to the Bay Area with his older sister to watch over him. He'll grow up alongside Russell, another SEC product.
On a sleek first day of the draft, propelled by reduced time between picks and a limit to two rounds, most NFL teams made their selections based strictly on need. That explained the multitude of trades, the fact that seven teams picked defensive players in the first 11 picks, and an NFL record seven offensive tackles selected in the first round.
The 49ers with the 29th overall pick, even trumped the Mike Martz instinct to pick an offensive playmaker by drafting a player who will take over for retired team leader Bryant Young. Defensive tackle Kentwan Balmer, a huge nose tackle prospect from North Carolina, was an excellent first-round choice.
The first three picks were all for need - Miami signing No. 1 overall selection defensive end Jake Long last Tuesday; the Rams grabbing athletic, high-motor defensive end Chris Long at No. 2 and the Falcons putting the ghost of Michael Vick to rest by picking Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan at No. 3.
Maybe the Raiders broke rank a little at No. 4, picking the great athlete over the greatest need.
If you know Davis, this shouldn't surprise you. If you want Oakland to compete in the AFC West immediately, then McFadden to the Raiders was the obvious choice.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Teammates stunned to see Rhodes go
Everyone knew someone in the Raiders backfield had to go. The Raiders had three former 1,000-yard rushers and a promising prospect on the roster -- and that was before they drafted Arkansas' Darren McFadden fourth overall in the NFL draft.
But Dominic Rhodes, just one day after the draft? No one called that one, and his release from the team Monday caught several of his teammates off guard.
"I didn't expect that," veteran fullback Justin Griffith said. "Not at all."
Neither did Justin Fargas, who was given the Ed Block Courage Award at a banquet in Oakland on Monday night. Rhodes may have fell out of favor with management, but Fargas described him as a great teammate.
"Actually, I was a little surprised," Fargas said. "I didn't foresee that happening. Dominique is a good player and a good locker room guy that brings everybody up.
"Those are the kind of guys you want to have around, so when they let him go, it was a little bit of a shock, a little bit of a disappointment to me."
No one seems able to put a finger on where Rhodes went wrong. In 2006, he was the 100-yard star of the Colts' Super Bowl victory and should have won the MVP award.
He hit the free-agent market and the Raiders boasted out loud when they landed him.
He opened the season with a four-game suspension stemming from an offseason DUI. When he was activated in October, it was to play sparingly behind LaMont Jordan, then Fargas.
Rhodes didn't get a real chance to play until Fargas sprained his knee late in the season. Rhodes started the last two games and had consecutive 100-yard games.
In the offseason, he took a paycut from $3 million to $1.75 million to stay with the Raiders. Then, with no explanation, they cut him.
That leaves some teammates wondering when Jordan will be next. He's owed $4.7 million next year.
Posted By: David White (Email) | Apr 28 at 07:36 PM
Permalink | Comments (2) : Post Comment
Dominic Rhodes sent packing
The Raiders released running back Dominic Rhodes, a league source said Monday, ending the onetime Super Bowl star's stay in Oakland after one season.
Rhodes' dismissal is a first step toward unclogging a stockpiled backfield that got all the more crowded when the Raiders drafted Arkansas running back Darren McFadden with the fourth overall pick of the NFL draft Saturday.
Rhodes, once a 1,000-yard rusher for the Colts, came to the Raiders last season as a marque free agent. He missed the first four games of the season due to a suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy.
When he finally joined the roster, it was too late. Justin Fargas had control of the starting job. Rhodes started the last two games after Fargas was hurt and had consecutive 100-yard games.
After the season, he took a paycut from $3 million to $1.75 million.
In all, Rhodes had 75 carries for 305 yards with the Raiders.
McFadden will now join Michael Bush and former 1,000-yard starters LaMont Jordan and Fargas.
Adimchinobi Echemandu is also on the roster but won't likely be in the mix.
Come to think of it, there is no reason to think Jordan will be around after June 1. After restructering his deal last year, he's due $4.7 million next season and $5 million in 2009.
On Sunday, offensive coordinator Greg Knapp said he needs at least three quality running backs -- the number who started last year -- to be comfortable going into a season. Looks like Fargas-Bush-McFadden will be the three.
Posted By: David White (Email) | Apr 28 at 02:17 PM
Permalink | Comments (4) : Post Comment
Morning after: what the experts are saying
And, by "experts," we mean people who get paid by media corporations to pass instant judgement of what just happened in the two-day draft.
As I keep saying, only time will tell. Feel free to praise those who love the Raiders' draft and make fun of the others. That's what hardcore fans do best.
Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN gave the Raiders a B-, writing:
"We all know what Darren McFadden can do. I really liked Oakland's second-round pick, Connecticut CB Tyvon Branch. He can help out in the return game, and also has great catch-up speed. Wide receiver Arman Shields hurt his knee early in the season and fell off the radar, but he's a developmental receiver.
(Blogger note: Branch went in the fourth round).
Dr. Z of Sports Illustrated put the Raiders on his short list of teams that did well, saying:
"Mainly because I called this one right in my mock draft, and I needed wins real bad. Al Davis has a mob of runners, but none of them like McFadden. He runs a 4.33, and in the old days, the typical Raider running back, Mark Van Eeghen, Marv Hubbard, that bunch, couldn't cover 20 yards in that time. So everyone's keeping fingers crossed that the bright lights of Oakland don't ensnare the young man. Ghosts of Teddy Hendricks and John Matuszak are everywhere."
Because there's always got be a critic, here's what Mike Williamson of Scouts, Inc. blogged:
"This might ignite some of you, but that pick of McF was the worst of the entire draft. Needless to say, I am not a huge believer in McF, but trust me, I do see the allure. Still, Oak is NOT -- I repeat, NOT --one player away and cannot take a luxory selection like this when the best player in the draft (Dorsey) is still sitting there and he fills a massive need. That is why they are the Raiders. Used a high pick on Bush last year. Signed Fargas this offseason. Signed Rhodes the free agency period before. All this at a position where it is easiest to find players. Bad."
(Blooger note 2: please forward all hate mail to his inbox, not mine).
Lastly, a voice from somewhere in the middle. NFL.com's Vic Carucci put the Raiders in his "We'll See" category, saying:
"Arkansas running back Darren McFadden might very well have been the most talented player in the draft, but could the Raiders truly afford to use the fourth overall pick on a player at a position where they are pretty well stocked? The Raiders needed a defensive tackle more, and took a big chance by passing on Dorsey. Considering that they traded for DeAngelo Hall, the apparent fourth-round reach for cornerback Tyvon Branch, from Connecticut, is a little puzzling. Wide receiver Arman Shields, from Richmond, also looks like he might have been a reach in the fourth."
In the end, this draft's true grade -- the hindsight one -- will fall on McFadden. Just like last year's drafted will be dictated by No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell.
That's why I give the draft a three-letter grade: TBA.
Teammates stunned to see Rhodes go
Everyone knew someone in the Raiders backfield had to go. The Raiders had three former 1,000-yard rushers and a promising prospect on the roster -- and that was before they drafted Arkansas' Darren McFadden fourth overall in the NFL draft.
But Dominic Rhodes, just one day after the draft? No one called that one, and his release from the team Monday caught several of his teammates off guard.
"I didn't expect that," veteran fullback Justin Griffith said. "Not at all."
Neither did Justin Fargas, who was given the Ed Block Courage Award at a banquet in Oakland on Monday night. Rhodes may have fell out of favor with management, but Fargas described him as a great teammate.
"Actually, I was a little surprised," Fargas said. "I didn't foresee that happening. Dominique is a good player and a good locker room guy that brings everybody up.
"Those are the kind of guys you want to have around, so when they let him go, it was a little bit of a shock, a little bit of a disappointment to me."
No one seems able to put a finger on where Rhodes went wrong. In 2006, he was the 100-yard star of the Colts' Super Bowl victory and should have won the MVP award.
He hit the free-agent market and the Raiders boasted out loud when they landed him.
He opened the season with a four-game suspension stemming from an offseason DUI. When he was activated in October, it was to play sparingly behind LaMont Jordan, then Fargas.
Rhodes didn't get a real chance to play until Fargas sprained his knee late in the season. Rhodes started the last two games and had consecutive 100-yard games.
In the offseason, he took a paycut from $3 million to $1.75 million to stay with the Raiders. Then, with no explanation, they cut him.
That leaves some teammates wondering when Jordan will be next. He's owed $4.7 million next year.
Posted By: David White (Email) | Apr 28 at 07:36 PM
Permalink | Comments (2) : Post Comment
Dominic Rhodes sent packing
The Raiders released running back Dominic Rhodes, a league source said Monday, ending the onetime Super Bowl star's stay in Oakland after one season.
Rhodes' dismissal is a first step toward unclogging a stockpiled backfield that got all the more crowded when the Raiders drafted Arkansas running back Darren McFadden with the fourth overall pick of the NFL draft Saturday.
Rhodes, once a 1,000-yard rusher for the Colts, came to the Raiders last season as a marque free agent. He missed the first four games of the season due to a suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy.
When he finally joined the roster, it was too late. Justin Fargas had control of the starting job. Rhodes started the last two games after Fargas was hurt and had consecutive 100-yard games.
After the season, he took a paycut from $3 million to $1.75 million.
In all, Rhodes had 75 carries for 305 yards with the Raiders.
McFadden will now join Michael Bush and former 1,000-yard starters LaMont Jordan and Fargas.
Adimchinobi Echemandu is also on the roster but won't likely be in the mix.
Come to think of it, there is no reason to think Jordan will be around after June 1. After restructering his deal last year, he's due $4.7 million next season and $5 million in 2009.
On Sunday, offensive coordinator Greg Knapp said he needs at least three quality running backs -- the number who started last year -- to be comfortable going into a season. Looks like Fargas-Bush-McFadden will be the three.
Posted By: David White (Email) | Apr 28 at 02:17 PM
Permalink | Comments (4) : Post Comment
Morning after: what the experts are saying
And, by "experts," we mean people who get paid by media corporations to pass instant judgement of what just happened in the two-day draft.
As I keep saying, only time will tell. Feel free to praise those who love the Raiders' draft and make fun of the others. That's what hardcore fans do best.
Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN gave the Raiders a B-, writing:
"We all know what Darren McFadden can do. I really liked Oakland's second-round pick, Connecticut CB Tyvon Branch. He can help out in the return game, and also has great catch-up speed. Wide receiver Arman Shields hurt his knee early in the season and fell off the radar, but he's a developmental receiver.
(Blogger note: Branch went in the fourth round).
Dr. Z of Sports Illustrated put the Raiders on his short list of teams that did well, saying:
"Mainly because I called this one right in my mock draft, and I needed wins real bad. Al Davis has a mob of runners, but none of them like McFadden. He runs a 4.33, and in the old days, the typical Raider running back, Mark Van Eeghen, Marv Hubbard, that bunch, couldn't cover 20 yards in that time. So everyone's keeping fingers crossed that the bright lights of Oakland don't ensnare the young man. Ghosts of Teddy Hendricks and John Matuszak are everywhere."
Because there's always got be a critic, here's what Mike Williamson of Scouts, Inc. blogged:
"This might ignite some of you, but that pick of McF was the worst of the entire draft. Needless to say, I am not a huge believer in McF, but trust me, I do see the allure. Still, Oak is NOT -- I repeat, NOT --one player away and cannot take a luxory selection like this when the best player in the draft (Dorsey) is still sitting there and he fills a massive need. That is why they are the Raiders. Used a high pick on Bush last year. Signed Fargas this offseason. Signed Rhodes the free agency period before. All this at a position where it is easiest to find players. Bad."
(Blooger note 2: please forward all hate mail to his inbox, not mine).
Lastly, a voice from somewhere in the middle. NFL.com's Vic Carucci put the Raiders in his "We'll See" category, saying:
"Arkansas running back Darren McFadden might very well have been the most talented player in the draft, but could the Raiders truly afford to use the fourth overall pick on a player at a position where they are pretty well stocked? The Raiders needed a defensive tackle more, and took a big chance by passing on Dorsey. Considering that they traded for DeAngelo Hall, the apparent fourth-round reach for cornerback Tyvon Branch, from Connecticut, is a little puzzling. Wide receiver Arman Shields, from Richmond, also looks like he might have been a reach in the fourth."
In the end, this draft's true grade -- the hindsight one -- will fall on McFadden. Just like last year's drafted will be dictated by No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell.
That's why I give the draft a three-letter grade: TBA.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Teammates stunned to see Rhodes go
Everyone knew someone in the Raiders backfield had to go. The Raiders had three former 1,000-yard rushers and a promising prospect on the roster -- and that was before they drafted Arkansas' Darren McFadden fourth overall in the NFL draft.
But Dominic Rhodes, just one day after the draft? No one called that one, and his release from the team Monday caught several of his teammates off guard.
"I didn't expect that," veteran fullback Justin Griffith said. "Not at all."
Neither did Justin Fargas, who was given the Ed Block Courage Award at a banquet in Oakland on Monday night. Rhodes may have fell out of favor with management, but Fargas described him as a great teammate.
"Actually, I was a little surprised," Fargas said. "I didn't foresee that happening. Dominique is a good player and a good locker room guy that brings everybody up.
"Those are the kind of guys you want to have around, so when they let him go, it was a little bit of a shock, a little bit of a disappointment to me."
No one seems able to put a finger on where Rhodes went wrong. In 2006, he was the 100-yard star of the Colts' Super Bowl victory and should have won the MVP award.
He hit the free-agent market and the Raiders boasted out loud when they landed him.
He opened the season with a four-game suspension stemming from an offseason DUI. When he was activated in October, it was to play sparingly behind LaMont Jordan, then Fargas.
Rhodes didn't get a real chance to play until Fargas sprained his knee late in the season. Rhodes started the last two games and had consecutive 100-yard games.
In the offseason, he took a paycut from $3 million to $1.75 million to stay with the Raiders. Then, with no explanation, they cut him.
That leaves some teammates wondering when Jordan will be next. He's owed $4.7 million next year.
Posted By: David White (Email) | Apr 28 at 07:36 PM
Permalink | Comments (2) : Post Comment
Dominic Rhodes sent packing
The Raiders released running back Dominic Rhodes, a league source said Monday, ending the onetime Super Bowl star's stay in Oakland after one season.
Rhodes' dismissal is a first step toward unclogging a stockpiled backfield that got all the more crowded when the Raiders drafted Arkansas running back Darren McFadden with the fourth overall pick of the NFL draft Saturday.
Rhodes, once a 1,000-yard rusher for the Colts, came to the Raiders last season as a marque free agent. He missed the first four games of the season due to a suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy.
When he finally joined the roster, it was too late. Justin Fargas had control of the starting job. Rhodes started the last two games after Fargas was hurt and had consecutive 100-yard games.
After the season, he took a paycut from $3 million to $1.75 million.
In all, Rhodes had 75 carries for 305 yards with the Raiders.
McFadden will now join Michael Bush and former 1,000-yard starters LaMont Jordan and Fargas.
Adimchinobi Echemandu is also on the roster but won't likely be in the mix.
Come to think of it, there is no reason to think Jordan will be around after June 1. After restructering his deal last year, he's due $4.7 million next season and $5 million in 2009.
On Sunday, offensive coordinator Greg Knapp said he needs at least three quality running backs -- the number who started last year -- to be comfortable going into a season. Looks like Fargas-Bush-McFadden will be the three.
Posted By: David White (Email) | Apr 28 at 02:17 PM
Permalink | Comments (4) : Post Comment
Morning after: what the experts are saying
And, by "experts," we mean people who get paid by media corporations to pass instant judgement of what just happened in the two-day draft.
As I keep saying, only time will tell. Feel free to praise those who love the Raiders' draft and make fun of the others. That's what hardcore fans do best.
Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN gave the Raiders a B-, writing:
"We all know what Darren McFadden can do. I really liked Oakland's second-round pick, Connecticut CB Tyvon Branch. He can help out in the return game, and also has great catch-up speed. Wide receiver Arman Shields hurt his knee early in the season and fell off the radar, but he's a developmental receiver.
(Blogger note: Branch went in the fourth round).
Dr. Z of Sports Illustrated put the Raiders on his short list of teams that did well, saying:
"Mainly because I called this one right in my mock draft, and I needed wins real bad. Al Davis has a mob of runners, but none of them like McFadden. He runs a 4.33, and in the old days, the typical Raider running back, Mark Van Eeghen, Marv Hubbard, that bunch, couldn't cover 20 yards in that time. So everyone's keeping fingers crossed that the bright lights of Oakland don't ensnare the young man. Ghosts of Teddy Hendricks and John Matuszak are everywhere."
Because there's always got be a critic, here's what Mike Williamson of Scouts, Inc. blogged:
"This might ignite some of you, but that pick of McF was the worst of the entire draft. Needless to say, I am not a huge believer in McF, but trust me, I do see the allure. Still, Oak is NOT -- I repeat, NOT --one player away and cannot take a luxory selection like this when the best player in the draft (Dorsey) is still sitting there and he fills a massive need. That is why they are the Raiders. Used a high pick on Bush last year. Signed Fargas this offseason. Signed Rhodes the free agency period before. All this at a position where it is easiest to find players. Bad."
(Blooger note 2: please forward all hate mail to his inbox, not mine).
Lastly, a voice from somewhere in the middle. NFL.com's Vic Carucci put the Raiders in his "We'll See" category, saying:
"Arkansas running back Darren McFadden might very well have been the most talented player in the draft, but could the Raiders truly afford to use the fourth overall pick on a player at a position where they are pretty well stocked? The Raiders needed a defensive tackle more, and took a big chance by passing on Dorsey. Considering that they traded for DeAngelo Hall, the apparent fourth-round reach for cornerback Tyvon Branch, from Connecticut, is a little puzzling. Wide receiver Arman Shields, from Richmond, also looks like he might have been a reach in the fourth."
In the end, this draft's true grade -- the hindsight one -- will fall on McFadden. Just like last year's drafted will be dictated by No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell.
That's why I give the draft a three-letter grade: TBA.
Teammates stunned to see Rhodes go
Everyone knew someone in the Raiders backfield had to go. The Raiders had three former 1,000-yard rushers and a promising prospect on the roster -- and that was before they drafted Arkansas' Darren McFadden fourth overall in the NFL draft.
But Dominic Rhodes, just one day after the draft? No one called that one, and his release from the team Monday caught several of his teammates off guard.
"I didn't expect that," veteran fullback Justin Griffith said. "Not at all."
Neither did Justin Fargas, who was given the Ed Block Courage Award at a banquet in Oakland on Monday night. Rhodes may have fell out of favor with management, but Fargas described him as a great teammate.
"Actually, I was a little surprised," Fargas said. "I didn't foresee that happening. Dominique is a good player and a good locker room guy that brings everybody up.
"Those are the kind of guys you want to have around, so when they let him go, it was a little bit of a shock, a little bit of a disappointment to me."
No one seems able to put a finger on where Rhodes went wrong. In 2006, he was the 100-yard star of the Colts' Super Bowl victory and should have won the MVP award.
He hit the free-agent market and the Raiders boasted out loud when they landed him.
He opened the season with a four-game suspension stemming from an offseason DUI. When he was activated in October, it was to play sparingly behind LaMont Jordan, then Fargas.
Rhodes didn't get a real chance to play until Fargas sprained his knee late in the season. Rhodes started the last two games and had consecutive 100-yard games.
In the offseason, he took a paycut from $3 million to $1.75 million to stay with the Raiders. Then, with no explanation, they cut him.
That leaves some teammates wondering when Jordan will be next. He's owed $4.7 million next year.
Posted By: David White (Email) | Apr 28 at 07:36 PM
Permalink | Comments (2) : Post Comment
Dominic Rhodes sent packing
The Raiders released running back Dominic Rhodes, a league source said Monday, ending the onetime Super Bowl star's stay in Oakland after one season.
Rhodes' dismissal is a first step toward unclogging a stockpiled backfield that got all the more crowded when the Raiders drafted Arkansas running back Darren McFadden with the fourth overall pick of the NFL draft Saturday.
Rhodes, once a 1,000-yard rusher for the Colts, came to the Raiders last season as a marque free agent. He missed the first four games of the season due to a suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy.
When he finally joined the roster, it was too late. Justin Fargas had control of the starting job. Rhodes started the last two games after Fargas was hurt and had consecutive 100-yard games.
After the season, he took a paycut from $3 million to $1.75 million.
In all, Rhodes had 75 carries for 305 yards with the Raiders.
McFadden will now join Michael Bush and former 1,000-yard starters LaMont Jordan and Fargas.
Adimchinobi Echemandu is also on the roster but won't likely be in the mix.
Come to think of it, there is no reason to think Jordan will be around after June 1. After restructering his deal last year, he's due $4.7 million next season and $5 million in 2009.
On Sunday, offensive coordinator Greg Knapp said he needs at least three quality running backs -- the number who started last year -- to be comfortable going into a season. Looks like Fargas-Bush-McFadden will be the three.
Posted By: David White (Email) | Apr 28 at 02:17 PM
Permalink | Comments (4) : Post Comment
Morning after: what the experts are saying
And, by "experts," we mean people who get paid by media corporations to pass instant judgement of what just happened in the two-day draft.
As I keep saying, only time will tell. Feel free to praise those who love the Raiders' draft and make fun of the others. That's what hardcore fans do best.
Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN gave the Raiders a B-, writing:
"We all know what Darren McFadden can do. I really liked Oakland's second-round pick, Connecticut CB Tyvon Branch. He can help out in the return game, and also has great catch-up speed. Wide receiver Arman Shields hurt his knee early in the season and fell off the radar, but he's a developmental receiver.
(Blogger note: Branch went in the fourth round).
Dr. Z of Sports Illustrated put the Raiders on his short list of teams that did well, saying:
"Mainly because I called this one right in my mock draft, and I needed wins real bad. Al Davis has a mob of runners, but none of them like McFadden. He runs a 4.33, and in the old days, the typical Raider running back, Mark Van Eeghen, Marv Hubbard, that bunch, couldn't cover 20 yards in that time. So everyone's keeping fingers crossed that the bright lights of Oakland don't ensnare the young man. Ghosts of Teddy Hendricks and John Matuszak are everywhere."
Because there's always got be a critic, here's what Mike Williamson of Scouts, Inc. blogged:
"This might ignite some of you, but that pick of McF was the worst of the entire draft. Needless to say, I am not a huge believer in McF, but trust me, I do see the allure. Still, Oak is NOT -- I repeat, NOT --one player away and cannot take a luxory selection like this when the best player in the draft (Dorsey) is still sitting there and he fills a massive need. That is why they are the Raiders. Used a high pick on Bush last year. Signed Fargas this offseason. Signed Rhodes the free agency period before. All this at a position where it is easiest to find players. Bad."
(Blooger note 2: please forward all hate mail to his inbox, not mine).
Lastly, a voice from somewhere in the middle. NFL.com's Vic Carucci put the Raiders in his "We'll See" category, saying:
"Arkansas running back Darren McFadden might very well have been the most talented player in the draft, but could the Raiders truly afford to use the fourth overall pick on a player at a position where they are pretty well stocked? The Raiders needed a defensive tackle more, and took a big chance by passing on Dorsey. Considering that they traded for DeAngelo Hall, the apparent fourth-round reach for cornerback Tyvon Branch, from Connecticut, is a little puzzling. Wide receiver Arman Shields, from Richmond, also looks like he might have been a reach in the fourth."
In the end, this draft's true grade -- the hindsight one -- will fall on McFadden. Just like last year's drafted will be dictated by No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell.
That's why I give the draft a three-letter grade: TBA.
Rob Ryan Q&A
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Sunday, April 27th, 2008 at 5:47 pm in Oakland Raiders.
With coach Lane Kiffin busy trying to lure undrafted free agent to Oakland, coordinators Rob Ryan and Greg Knapp met with the media to discuss the 2008 draft.
Ryan’s transcript:
Q: Are you looking at Tyvon Branch as a safety or a corner?
Ryan: We think he’s going to be a safety for us. He’s going to be a good, solid player. You talk about his versatility, I mean, that jumps off the tapes when you’re watching. He’s a hard-hitting young man. He’s really fun to watch. We picked him off a lot of tapes. We’ve seen just about every game they’ve played this year and really we’re excited about him, and I know our special teams coach Brian Schneider is really excited about his returnability also.
Q: Do you see a guy like that on tape and decide he’s a safety or talk to his coach?
Ryan: We do all the research there is, talk to all his coaches. We want to find out as much information about a young man as possible. The two guys that we picked on defense, they’re both real solid character people, guys that we really think are serious football players and we’re excited about them. Both of them have redeeming qualities and we really like the way that young man hits. It’s fun to see a guy throw his body around and tackling. We know we had an issue there and we’re looking to upgrade and I think we did that with that pick.
Q: How does Trevor Scott look considering he’s played end for only two years?
Ryan: I think that’s the thing, when you see that young man, you do see potential. To me, he’s getting stronger every day. You can see even his weight’s going up, his strength’s going up, every day. It’s interesting, they moved him from tight end where he’s obviously a good player for two years, but really took off for two years of pretty good production as a defensive end. Hopefully he’ll be the next Gerry Philbin.
Q: Will he play on the right side?
Ryan: We’ve seen him at both. He played in the all-star game where my father coached. Unfortunately, they got clipped in the end on a nailbiter. But, this guy’s a really good talented young guy. Keith Millard will really make something special of him, I hope.
Q: How important is speed in assessing prospects?
Ryan: Yeah, I think in the National Football League, speed’s always huge. It’s real important in the National Football League because that’s the difference between saving touchdowns on defense and making touchdowns on offense. Speed kills, and it’s true, and we’ve got two excellent prospects that can run. They’re good solid young players but the thing we like about them is both of them can run and both of them are talented.
Q: Your thoughts on Fabian Washington being dealt to Baltimore?
Ryan: I think we think we have better players here. He was a fine player for us and we wish him the best. I’d like to really talk about the players that are here and we’re excited about what we have coming up this season. Obviously, you add DeAngelo Hall and the production of Stanford Routt and Nnamdi with Chris Johnson, it’s exciting.
Q: Will Sands and Kelly be able to slow the running game?
Ryan: I think we have very talented defensive tackles here. The thing about run stopping and things like that, I think the first thing is we’ve got to fundamentally work on our tackling, which we’re going to address. There’s a couple things in our scheme that we’re getting fixed, you just blame me for .. I know we could have done better. We’ve got that worked out. We’re tired of watching tape. We can’t wait to get started back at it. Obviously, moving Tommy Kelly inside is going to be huge for us. And also, Gerard Warren is out here working every single day. We’re excited about those guys, no question about it.
Q: some projected Trevor Scott as an outside linebacker?
Ryan: He’s a defensive end. Maybe those were 3-4 teams or whatever but he does that outstanding speed so I could see how people would project him there. But we see Trevor as a developing defensive end.
Q: Might you use more 3-4 defense?
Ryan: Down the road, we’ll see. Anything’s possible. But we like what we have and how our defense is setting up and we’re looking forward to working with them and improving and being an outstanding unit.
Q: Is Scott raw with his technique right now?
Ryan: Oh yeah. I think you can tell the guy’s a little bit green obviously playing two years at the position. Again, guys can make great leaps when you take them and mold them and teach them technique. And I think this guy’s going to ascend. He’s a good solid player right now, even before we get him. We’re looking forward to developing him and watching him grow.
Q: What caused you to move up to get Branch in the 4th round?
Ryan: I’m not exactly sure on what teams were there. I know several teams had him at the top of their boards of the people that we know. You get feedback as a coach ‘wow that’s a great pick’ and everybody is excited about that pick but no one’s as excited as the raiders and us on defense, that’s for sure.
Q: how hard did you push for the DeAngelo Hall trade?
Ryan: DeAngelo Hall, when I see him I get a swagger. I get an excitement. I feel good about it. His attitude and everything about him just makes you, you can’t wait for the season. You know I’m a positive person and things like that. But you can really feel good about what you have in front of you when you see the eyes of DeAngelo and what he brings to the table. And how I’m just a coach, but I’m excited because know what he’s going to bring and what it’s going to mean for us on defense.
Q: Does Hall help your run defense?
Ryan: Oh hell, no question about it. We’re looking for this year and like I say, those corners, it’s going to be fun.
Q: A better set of corners in the league?
Ryan: No.
Q: Is it close?
Ryan: Nope.
Q: What do you have in William Joseph and Kalimba Edwards?
Ryan: I think we’ve got two guys in my mind that are proven players that we’re excited about. It’s not everyday that you can add players that have been in the league and have been successful in this league and we added to very fine players.
Q: How do you replace Sapp on and off the field?
Ryan: Warren Sapp’s a Hall of Fame player and a Hall of Fame person so it’s going to be tough. But life goes on and it’s great he went out on his own terms in retirement. I wish him nothing but the best. But obviously you have a Hall of Fame player around, they’re not around very much. They’re around in our building but most people, you don’t see them everyday. But he’s special, no question about it.
Q: Will Huff’s role change a lot?
Ryan: Well really guys, I’m just going to leave that for now. We’ve got so many calls to make so I’ve got to get some more free agents. But we’re excited about those guys. And again we’re very confident about where we’re at on defense and I think it’s going to be better than it’s ever been here, for me, that’s for damn sure.
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Sunday, April 27th, 2008 at 5:47 pm in Oakland Raiders.
With coach Lane Kiffin busy trying to lure undrafted free agent to Oakland, coordinators Rob Ryan and Greg Knapp met with the media to discuss the 2008 draft.
Ryan’s transcript:
Q: Are you looking at Tyvon Branch as a safety or a corner?
Ryan: We think he’s going to be a safety for us. He’s going to be a good, solid player. You talk about his versatility, I mean, that jumps off the tapes when you’re watching. He’s a hard-hitting young man. He’s really fun to watch. We picked him off a lot of tapes. We’ve seen just about every game they’ve played this year and really we’re excited about him, and I know our special teams coach Brian Schneider is really excited about his returnability also.
Q: Do you see a guy like that on tape and decide he’s a safety or talk to his coach?
Ryan: We do all the research there is, talk to all his coaches. We want to find out as much information about a young man as possible. The two guys that we picked on defense, they’re both real solid character people, guys that we really think are serious football players and we’re excited about them. Both of them have redeeming qualities and we really like the way that young man hits. It’s fun to see a guy throw his body around and tackling. We know we had an issue there and we’re looking to upgrade and I think we did that with that pick.
Q: How does Trevor Scott look considering he’s played end for only two years?
Ryan: I think that’s the thing, when you see that young man, you do see potential. To me, he’s getting stronger every day. You can see even his weight’s going up, his strength’s going up, every day. It’s interesting, they moved him from tight end where he’s obviously a good player for two years, but really took off for two years of pretty good production as a defensive end. Hopefully he’ll be the next Gerry Philbin.
Q: Will he play on the right side?
Ryan: We’ve seen him at both. He played in the all-star game where my father coached. Unfortunately, they got clipped in the end on a nailbiter. But, this guy’s a really good talented young guy. Keith Millard will really make something special of him, I hope.
Q: How important is speed in assessing prospects?
Ryan: Yeah, I think in the National Football League, speed’s always huge. It’s real important in the National Football League because that’s the difference between saving touchdowns on defense and making touchdowns on offense. Speed kills, and it’s true, and we’ve got two excellent prospects that can run. They’re good solid young players but the thing we like about them is both of them can run and both of them are talented.
Q: Your thoughts on Fabian Washington being dealt to Baltimore?
Ryan: I think we think we have better players here. He was a fine player for us and we wish him the best. I’d like to really talk about the players that are here and we’re excited about what we have coming up this season. Obviously, you add DeAngelo Hall and the production of Stanford Routt and Nnamdi with Chris Johnson, it’s exciting.
Q: Will Sands and Kelly be able to slow the running game?
Ryan: I think we have very talented defensive tackles here. The thing about run stopping and things like that, I think the first thing is we’ve got to fundamentally work on our tackling, which we’re going to address. There’s a couple things in our scheme that we’re getting fixed, you just blame me for .. I know we could have done better. We’ve got that worked out. We’re tired of watching tape. We can’t wait to get started back at it. Obviously, moving Tommy Kelly inside is going to be huge for us. And also, Gerard Warren is out here working every single day. We’re excited about those guys, no question about it.
Q: some projected Trevor Scott as an outside linebacker?
Ryan: He’s a defensive end. Maybe those were 3-4 teams or whatever but he does that outstanding speed so I could see how people would project him there. But we see Trevor as a developing defensive end.
Q: Might you use more 3-4 defense?
Ryan: Down the road, we’ll see. Anything’s possible. But we like what we have and how our defense is setting up and we’re looking forward to working with them and improving and being an outstanding unit.
Q: Is Scott raw with his technique right now?
Ryan: Oh yeah. I think you can tell the guy’s a little bit green obviously playing two years at the position. Again, guys can make great leaps when you take them and mold them and teach them technique. And I think this guy’s going to ascend. He’s a good solid player right now, even before we get him. We’re looking forward to developing him and watching him grow.
Q: What caused you to move up to get Branch in the 4th round?
Ryan: I’m not exactly sure on what teams were there. I know several teams had him at the top of their boards of the people that we know. You get feedback as a coach ‘wow that’s a great pick’ and everybody is excited about that pick but no one’s as excited as the raiders and us on defense, that’s for sure.
Q: how hard did you push for the DeAngelo Hall trade?
Ryan: DeAngelo Hall, when I see him I get a swagger. I get an excitement. I feel good about it. His attitude and everything about him just makes you, you can’t wait for the season. You know I’m a positive person and things like that. But you can really feel good about what you have in front of you when you see the eyes of DeAngelo and what he brings to the table. And how I’m just a coach, but I’m excited because know what he’s going to bring and what it’s going to mean for us on defense.
Q: Does Hall help your run defense?
Ryan: Oh hell, no question about it. We’re looking for this year and like I say, those corners, it’s going to be fun.
Q: A better set of corners in the league?
Ryan: No.
Q: Is it close?
Ryan: Nope.
Q: What do you have in William Joseph and Kalimba Edwards?
Ryan: I think we’ve got two guys in my mind that are proven players that we’re excited about. It’s not everyday that you can add players that have been in the league and have been successful in this league and we added to very fine players.
Q: How do you replace Sapp on and off the field?
Ryan: Warren Sapp’s a Hall of Fame player and a Hall of Fame person so it’s going to be tough. But life goes on and it’s great he went out on his own terms in retirement. I wish him nothing but the best. But obviously you have a Hall of Fame player around, they’re not around very much. They’re around in our building but most people, you don’t see them everyday. But he’s special, no question about it.
Q: Will Huff’s role change a lot?
Ryan: Well really guys, I’m just going to leave that for now. We’ve got so many calls to make so I’ve got to get some more free agents. But we’re excited about those guys. And again we’re very confident about where we’re at on defense and I think it’s going to be better than it’s ever been here, for me, that’s for damn sure.
Greg Knapp Q&A
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Sunday, April 27th, 2008 at 9:00 pm in Oakland Raiders.
With coach Lane Kiffin busy trying to lure undrafted free agents to Oakland, coordinators Greg Knapp and Rob Ryan met with the local media to discuss the 2008 draft.
Knapp’s transcript:
Q: How is Arman Shields’ knee?
Knapp: “He’s fully recovered. He got hurt early enough in the season that there was time for recovery. So, he’s ready to go. We’re very excited about getting him. Here’s a guy that’s a 4.41 receiver that has a great knack to get vertical after the catch. He seems to find window in zone, along with the speed that he has. He showed a great knack to get yards after the catch and so he has enough versatility to play outside in a one-on-one matchup as well as put him in the slot. In our interview, back at the combine and when we talked to him out here, really sharp guy. Really sharp guy.”
Q: What was the knee injury?
Knapp: “I don’t get into the medical stuff. I just, ‘Clear or no clear?’ ”
Q: Is it a nice problem to have so many running backs to sort through?
Knapp: It is. My background from being in the league is that you need more than one. You need two, for sure, and probably three. Last year was a case and an example. We went to three guys at the running back spot. There’s no doubt that you need a definite combination because the season’s so long and now the game is so physical. The defensive side has gotten much faster, stronger and quicker. So, you can’t have enough backs. This kid’s versatility is just unbelievable watching him do the things he has done, from quarterback, being outside, catching the ball out of the backfield, not to mention the running back himself. It made a lot of sense when you have a guy with that kind of ability that, even though we had some quality guys already in place, it’s a great weapon to have.
Q: Can you draw any comparisons between McFadden and anyone you’ve seen?
Knapp: No. He’s unique. In my experiences, his home-run ability is very unique from what I’ve seen on the college tape. Hopefully, that will transfer over to the pro level, as well. What does make it even more so is that ability to move him around and to put him in different places. Some of you guys might know my background, where I came from, we did a little bit of the offense where we had a guy named Mike Vick take the hand-off and do some of the run game that way. This guy did that for the last couple years there at Arkansas. So, he provides an option where that could also be used.
Q: Was it important to add speed at receiver?
Knapp: You bet. Good point. We definitely want to increase our speed. Both the guys, Chaz and Arman run a 4.41, 4.42 40-time and really can stretch the field. And with Chaz, you get a 6-4 guy, a big target for the quarterbacks to throw to. With Arman, you get a little more experience, a guy that has played at a higher level and that has done a lot of good things, as well.
Q: How much of a project is Schilens?
Knapp: I don’t know. Each guy, from my experiences, sometimes the guys from a program that maybe weren’t exposed as much just didn’t get that exposure to vault them higher in the draft. They go to the right place that has the right fit that allows that guy to grow faster. That’s kind of how we see him fitting in with us. He’s going to be a really good fit for what we do on offense, so it may grow faster than what maybe his draft round was for him.
Q: You get greedy as an offensive coordinator?
Knapp: Heck, yeah. Ultimately, it’s what’s best for the team. But when you have a guy what that kind of ability, that does give you potential that anytime he touches the ball, he could go the distance. Yeah. I’d be lying to you if I didn’t say you get a little greedy sometimes. But ultimately, what’s best for the team is what counts. Because that’s what makes this game great, the team support.”
Q: What is Fargas’ reaction to getting McFadden?
Knapp: He is such a quality guy. Obviously we call the players right away, they’re in that room when we draft somebody, especially a significance like Darren is. And his talks with his position coach, Tom Rathman, he was excited for the team: ‘Hey, if that’s gonna help our team, then let’s go do it.’ And look at the role he’s had the last couple years, before he became a starter last year, and how much of a pro he was with you guys and around others. That’s who he is. And so I’m sure he’ll make this a transition that’s as smooth as possible. Because that’s Justin, that’s his makeup.
Q: What did you see in Kwame Harris that convinced you he could be your left tackle?
Knapp: I was in San Francisco the year he got drafted. And really liked what I saw in his athletic ability, his smarts, and power. He’s a very good run blocker. He just, unfortunately, went through what’s very tough in this business – three coaches in four years. And so he has unfortunately not had a very strong foundation for him to build from. Because each time a new coach comes in, they’re gonna want to do it their way. But the traits that I saw coming out, we evaluated as a staff, and we saw, ‘Hey, here’s something he still does well.’ And he just needs to hopefully get a steady hand of teaching it and training him a certain way. His power in the run game is outstanding. His quick feet in pass protection is good. We just gotta develop some of the techniques to be more consistent.
Q: You see similarities between him and Gallery?
Knapp: Yeah, I think we saw great progress last year, and I think it’s just gonna continue in that same form. With some stability here, that’s gonna help him become a better player.
Q: Can Javon Walker recapture his all-pro level?
Knapp: Yes, definitely. It’ll be based on how much he recovers off the knee. But he’s doing great there, his progress has been excellent. And what I have found, guys like that, that have already reached a certain status – and I was with him at the Pro Bowl, back in ’04 when he went there from Green Bay – they’ve got something to prove now. And they’ve got a little hunger and they’ve got a little fire. And he is gonna make it exciting for us, because he’s that determined. And the pros that are like that you want around you, cause he’s gonna make it show to everybody, ‘Hey, I wasn’t done. Here I am again.’ And he’s doing it right now in the offseason.”
Q: What do you look for now in undrafted free agents?
Knapp: Yeah, it’s more based on what our needs are, what is our open slots available. And we’ve done a great job, the personnel department, front office in conjunction with the coaching staff have filled a lot of the needs, whether it be through free agency or our draft. So one of those slots may be a quarterback. We only have two proven guys on the roster right now, might be a free-agent quarterback. Fullback situation, we only have two on the roster right now. So we’re gonna look at our needs to fill the rest of the roster spots, not so much what is out there at other positions if we’re already, at this point, set in numbers.
Q: How much has JaMarcus progressed this offseason?
Knapp: Because we’re not allowed to do team settings it’s hard to tell. But as far as the classroom goes, he’s done a great job. He’s been meeting for an hour and 45 minutes Monday, Tuesday and Thursday since March 10th. We’ve been on the field for an hour on those same respective days and to see the progress of the footwork and the correlation we’re getting in the classroom as far as quizzing and taking the test. We give him study guides each week to take home and bring back, the quizzes we’ve given in the classroom, he’s really progressed fine. It’s exciting to see because this is when you see a lot of growth. It’s those guys after their first year into their second year. We don’t get to do as you might have read about the hard-wiring of the quarterback with a rookie QB because we don’t pick him up until like May 16. Even then you’re jumping into OTAs so the time we get to spend now really of really wiring a guy’s brain on how to play the position in our offense is during this time. We’ve seen great strides in the classroom and in the individual stuff and now we’re hoping to see it in the OTAs when we
start team practice.
Q: Do you grade those quizzes like a teacher?
Knapp: No. A lot of them would be like right now I would throw out in the mmiddle of watching a play, ‘What’s your progression here, what’s your footwork, who’s your first read on the defense.’ Obviously the feedback I get like you would all get with me in reaction is, ‘Oh that’s good. He’s stepping up quicker.’ Some of the things he’s brought up to us really has impressed me. Like when we started this offseason back March 10th we showed something on the board and he goes, ‘Why are you asking me that question coach? That’s the one you asked the night before my workout at LSU.’ He was exactly right. We were putting up a quiz against a certain defense if this guy were to blitz where would the ball go to. He was like, ‘You got something new for me, don’t you?’ And that’s exciting. Because if you’ve got that kind of recall on a night that was very important to him a year ago way before the draft you know he’s into it and really wants to become a better quarterback.
Q: With more speed do you call same plays with better results or add more to playbook?
Knapp: It will still depend on who you’re playing. It will be about matchups. It’s trying to place the guy in the right spot to go against that certain defense. The more speed you can get the more matchups you can potentially create. Ultimately we’re not going to change a whole lot of plays. If you try to show that consistency we talked about earlier, the scheme will still stay the same. We may use a couple of different parts of it that allow for this matchup with this guy or a running back on a linebacker or a receiver on a safety whatever it may be. You try to place them in formations to use the same type of plays but to try to get that speed advantage.
Q: Will JaMarcus be at voluntary minicamp?
Knapp: A rookie minicamp. He will not be allowed to participate. The rookie minicamp is only with players who don’t have any accrued years. It’s rookies and or tryouts that first weekend.
Q: What does John Wade do for you?
Knapp: Great experience, 10 years in the NFL. Very familiar with our protection schemes. He has to learn the vernacular but the same types of reads were being applied to what he was learning in Tampa Bay. Just knowledge of the run game. He did some of the stuff we did, not as much as we do here, but he seems to be a quick learner from what we’re finding out from Coach Cable in their classroom meetings and on the field.
Q: Was Newberry too expensive?
Knapp: It’s a matter of timing. He wanted an opportunity to look at other things as well. It was just one of those situations where John Wade became available to us and we went out and signed him.
Q: Can Bush come to rookie camp?
Knapp: I believe so. I’m almost positive he can because he did not get the accrued year because he was on PUP.
Q: How is Mario Henderson progressing?
Knapp: He’s making good progress too. Him and JaMarcus are in that same boat. That first year to second year experience. I’m excited to see him go. It’s harder to evaluate a lineman maybe because you need to see him go in pass protection and the team stuff. But as far as seeing him progress physically in the weight room and in the conditioning he’s
really made great strides.
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Sunday, April 27th, 2008 at 9:00 pm in Oakland Raiders.
With coach Lane Kiffin busy trying to lure undrafted free agents to Oakland, coordinators Greg Knapp and Rob Ryan met with the local media to discuss the 2008 draft.
Knapp’s transcript:
Q: How is Arman Shields’ knee?
Knapp: “He’s fully recovered. He got hurt early enough in the season that there was time for recovery. So, he’s ready to go. We’re very excited about getting him. Here’s a guy that’s a 4.41 receiver that has a great knack to get vertical after the catch. He seems to find window in zone, along with the speed that he has. He showed a great knack to get yards after the catch and so he has enough versatility to play outside in a one-on-one matchup as well as put him in the slot. In our interview, back at the combine and when we talked to him out here, really sharp guy. Really sharp guy.”
Q: What was the knee injury?
Knapp: “I don’t get into the medical stuff. I just, ‘Clear or no clear?’ ”
Q: Is it a nice problem to have so many running backs to sort through?
Knapp: It is. My background from being in the league is that you need more than one. You need two, for sure, and probably three. Last year was a case and an example. We went to three guys at the running back spot. There’s no doubt that you need a definite combination because the season’s so long and now the game is so physical. The defensive side has gotten much faster, stronger and quicker. So, you can’t have enough backs. This kid’s versatility is just unbelievable watching him do the things he has done, from quarterback, being outside, catching the ball out of the backfield, not to mention the running back himself. It made a lot of sense when you have a guy with that kind of ability that, even though we had some quality guys already in place, it’s a great weapon to have.
Q: Can you draw any comparisons between McFadden and anyone you’ve seen?
Knapp: No. He’s unique. In my experiences, his home-run ability is very unique from what I’ve seen on the college tape. Hopefully, that will transfer over to the pro level, as well. What does make it even more so is that ability to move him around and to put him in different places. Some of you guys might know my background, where I came from, we did a little bit of the offense where we had a guy named Mike Vick take the hand-off and do some of the run game that way. This guy did that for the last couple years there at Arkansas. So, he provides an option where that could also be used.
Q: Was it important to add speed at receiver?
Knapp: You bet. Good point. We definitely want to increase our speed. Both the guys, Chaz and Arman run a 4.41, 4.42 40-time and really can stretch the field. And with Chaz, you get a 6-4 guy, a big target for the quarterbacks to throw to. With Arman, you get a little more experience, a guy that has played at a higher level and that has done a lot of good things, as well.
Q: How much of a project is Schilens?
Knapp: I don’t know. Each guy, from my experiences, sometimes the guys from a program that maybe weren’t exposed as much just didn’t get that exposure to vault them higher in the draft. They go to the right place that has the right fit that allows that guy to grow faster. That’s kind of how we see him fitting in with us. He’s going to be a really good fit for what we do on offense, so it may grow faster than what maybe his draft round was for him.
Q: You get greedy as an offensive coordinator?
Knapp: Heck, yeah. Ultimately, it’s what’s best for the team. But when you have a guy what that kind of ability, that does give you potential that anytime he touches the ball, he could go the distance. Yeah. I’d be lying to you if I didn’t say you get a little greedy sometimes. But ultimately, what’s best for the team is what counts. Because that’s what makes this game great, the team support.”
Q: What is Fargas’ reaction to getting McFadden?
Knapp: He is such a quality guy. Obviously we call the players right away, they’re in that room when we draft somebody, especially a significance like Darren is. And his talks with his position coach, Tom Rathman, he was excited for the team: ‘Hey, if that’s gonna help our team, then let’s go do it.’ And look at the role he’s had the last couple years, before he became a starter last year, and how much of a pro he was with you guys and around others. That’s who he is. And so I’m sure he’ll make this a transition that’s as smooth as possible. Because that’s Justin, that’s his makeup.
Q: What did you see in Kwame Harris that convinced you he could be your left tackle?
Knapp: I was in San Francisco the year he got drafted. And really liked what I saw in his athletic ability, his smarts, and power. He’s a very good run blocker. He just, unfortunately, went through what’s very tough in this business – three coaches in four years. And so he has unfortunately not had a very strong foundation for him to build from. Because each time a new coach comes in, they’re gonna want to do it their way. But the traits that I saw coming out, we evaluated as a staff, and we saw, ‘Hey, here’s something he still does well.’ And he just needs to hopefully get a steady hand of teaching it and training him a certain way. His power in the run game is outstanding. His quick feet in pass protection is good. We just gotta develop some of the techniques to be more consistent.
Q: You see similarities between him and Gallery?
Knapp: Yeah, I think we saw great progress last year, and I think it’s just gonna continue in that same form. With some stability here, that’s gonna help him become a better player.
Q: Can Javon Walker recapture his all-pro level?
Knapp: Yes, definitely. It’ll be based on how much he recovers off the knee. But he’s doing great there, his progress has been excellent. And what I have found, guys like that, that have already reached a certain status – and I was with him at the Pro Bowl, back in ’04 when he went there from Green Bay – they’ve got something to prove now. And they’ve got a little hunger and they’ve got a little fire. And he is gonna make it exciting for us, because he’s that determined. And the pros that are like that you want around you, cause he’s gonna make it show to everybody, ‘Hey, I wasn’t done. Here I am again.’ And he’s doing it right now in the offseason.”
Q: What do you look for now in undrafted free agents?
Knapp: Yeah, it’s more based on what our needs are, what is our open slots available. And we’ve done a great job, the personnel department, front office in conjunction with the coaching staff have filled a lot of the needs, whether it be through free agency or our draft. So one of those slots may be a quarterback. We only have two proven guys on the roster right now, might be a free-agent quarterback. Fullback situation, we only have two on the roster right now. So we’re gonna look at our needs to fill the rest of the roster spots, not so much what is out there at other positions if we’re already, at this point, set in numbers.
Q: How much has JaMarcus progressed this offseason?
Knapp: Because we’re not allowed to do team settings it’s hard to tell. But as far as the classroom goes, he’s done a great job. He’s been meeting for an hour and 45 minutes Monday, Tuesday and Thursday since March 10th. We’ve been on the field for an hour on those same respective days and to see the progress of the footwork and the correlation we’re getting in the classroom as far as quizzing and taking the test. We give him study guides each week to take home and bring back, the quizzes we’ve given in the classroom, he’s really progressed fine. It’s exciting to see because this is when you see a lot of growth. It’s those guys after their first year into their second year. We don’t get to do as you might have read about the hard-wiring of the quarterback with a rookie QB because we don’t pick him up until like May 16. Even then you’re jumping into OTAs so the time we get to spend now really of really wiring a guy’s brain on how to play the position in our offense is during this time. We’ve seen great strides in the classroom and in the individual stuff and now we’re hoping to see it in the OTAs when we
start team practice.
Q: Do you grade those quizzes like a teacher?
Knapp: No. A lot of them would be like right now I would throw out in the mmiddle of watching a play, ‘What’s your progression here, what’s your footwork, who’s your first read on the defense.’ Obviously the feedback I get like you would all get with me in reaction is, ‘Oh that’s good. He’s stepping up quicker.’ Some of the things he’s brought up to us really has impressed me. Like when we started this offseason back March 10th we showed something on the board and he goes, ‘Why are you asking me that question coach? That’s the one you asked the night before my workout at LSU.’ He was exactly right. We were putting up a quiz against a certain defense if this guy were to blitz where would the ball go to. He was like, ‘You got something new for me, don’t you?’ And that’s exciting. Because if you’ve got that kind of recall on a night that was very important to him a year ago way before the draft you know he’s into it and really wants to become a better quarterback.
Q: With more speed do you call same plays with better results or add more to playbook?
Knapp: It will still depend on who you’re playing. It will be about matchups. It’s trying to place the guy in the right spot to go against that certain defense. The more speed you can get the more matchups you can potentially create. Ultimately we’re not going to change a whole lot of plays. If you try to show that consistency we talked about earlier, the scheme will still stay the same. We may use a couple of different parts of it that allow for this matchup with this guy or a running back on a linebacker or a receiver on a safety whatever it may be. You try to place them in formations to use the same type of plays but to try to get that speed advantage.
Q: Will JaMarcus be at voluntary minicamp?
Knapp: A rookie minicamp. He will not be allowed to participate. The rookie minicamp is only with players who don’t have any accrued years. It’s rookies and or tryouts that first weekend.
Q: What does John Wade do for you?
Knapp: Great experience, 10 years in the NFL. Very familiar with our protection schemes. He has to learn the vernacular but the same types of reads were being applied to what he was learning in Tampa Bay. Just knowledge of the run game. He did some of the stuff we did, not as much as we do here, but he seems to be a quick learner from what we’re finding out from Coach Cable in their classroom meetings and on the field.
Q: Was Newberry too expensive?
Knapp: It’s a matter of timing. He wanted an opportunity to look at other things as well. It was just one of those situations where John Wade became available to us and we went out and signed him.
Q: Can Bush come to rookie camp?
Knapp: I believe so. I’m almost positive he can because he did not get the accrued year because he was on PUP.
Q: How is Mario Henderson progressing?
Knapp: He’s making good progress too. Him and JaMarcus are in that same boat. That first year to second year experience. I’m excited to see him go. It’s harder to evaluate a lineman maybe because you need to see him go in pass protection and the team stuff. But as far as seeing him progress physically in the weight room and in the conditioning he’s
really made great strides.
Draft wrap
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Monday, April 28th, 2008 at 11:40 am in Oakland Raiders.
The smallest draft class in Raiders history had great measurables. Now all they have to do is measure up.
Everyone knows about the skills of running back Darren McFadden. UConn defensive Tyvon Branch was one of the fastest defensive backs at the combine. Wide receiver Arman Shields ran a sub- 4.4 40-yard dash, and was a warrior on three-cone drills and the like at the combine. Wide receiver Chaz Schillens was another size, speed projection with moderate production.
Defensive end Trevor Scott ran a 4.54 40-yard dash in his private workout.
These guys not only looked good getting off the bus, they got off it faster than most.
With just five members in the Class of ‘08, the Raiders look to stock their roster for the rookie minicamp starting May 9, signing undrafted free agents. Teams will scramble for these guys, with the stone reality being that of all the undraftables the Raiders bring in, it’s possible none of them will make the 53-man roster.
You hope for a Barry Sims, Tommy Kelly or Chris Carr. Last year, the Raiders didn’t find a single undrafted free agent worthy of making a team coming off a 2-14 season.
So how did the Raiders fare this year?
Go ahead and give it your best guess, because that is all it is. Trash ‘em if you wish, give ‘em an A-plus, grades are meaningless and pointless until the players actually take the field.
It seems clear, however, that at least in Kiffin’s mind, putting together a team will be more difficult than it was last year because of free agency and the draft. It probably didn’t win Kiffin any points with Al Davis when he said it, but the coach allowed that the goal was to make it hard to determine the final 53. Last season, Kiffin said it wasn’t all that tough with the Raiders because they simply weren’t all that talented.
It was a classic Davis draft, but it’s up to Kiffin to fit the pieces together.
There remain huge question marks, as gifted starting quarterback JaMarcus Russell is little more than a glorified rookie. The defense still has to prove it can stop the run and looks to be at least one pass rusher short, unless you’re optimistic enough to see Scott as an instant impact player out of the Mid-America Conference.
But there is more talent on hand, with a head coach just getting back his sea legs as well as a defensive coordinator and several key assistants in the last year of their contracts.
There is also one of the easiest schedules in the NFL, although you could make the argument that a team with 19 wins over five years has no easy games.
A few notes and observations in the 22nd blog entry since Saturday morning:
– The rookie minicamp, which begins May 9, is not open to players with an accrued year of experience, according to offensive coordinator Greg Knapp.
That means even if Russell wanted to come, he couldn’t.
– Not so for Michael Bush, who spent the season on PUP and doesn’t have an accrued season. The drafting of McFadden had to be discouraging for Bush, with some projecting him as the Raiders feature back by 2009 or 2010. Now he’s fighting for scraps with Dominic Rhodes behind Justin Fargas and McFadden, providing Rhodes remains on the roster after accepting a cut in pay.
Bush is fully rehabbed, but the level of intrigue regarding his skill has changed in tone, judging from Kiffin’s off-hand reference to Bush Saturday.
“We’re kind of piled there with a number of really good running backs and guys coming back, including Michael Bush, who we really don’t know enough about yet,” Kiffin said.
The fact is Bush practiced for only a short period of time, during the season, when teams are looking for quickness and timing and not laying each other out. One sideline observer of the closed sessions thought he looked slow.
Still, some players look slow who actually are moving well. You never really know until they’re running from (or over) opponents during a game, and the Raiders never gave Bush that chance last year.
With Fargas’ running style, Bush can still be an injury away from playing time and will finally get the chance to show what he can do in training camp and the preseason.
The Raiders, by the way, didn’t overpay Fargas, and should he show signs of wear, Bush could still end up playing in tandem with McFadden.
– Ex-Raider personnel exec Mike Lombardi was floating the idea on the NFL Network that the New Orleans Saints might be interested in making a deal for LaMont Jordan, given Reggie Bush’s role as a change-of-pace back and the fact that Deuce McAllister is coming off a knee injury.
More likely would be the Saints simply waiting for Jordan to be cut and getting to him quickly with an offer far less than the $4.7 and $5 million salaries scheduled for 2008 and 2009.
– Most everything about McFadden’s skill set sounds fabulous, and perhaps it is. Just like it was supposed to be with Reggie Bush two years ago. In the draft, nothing is a sure thing.
– Good to know a single conversation with Tom Rathman has cleared McFadden’s fumbling problem at Arkansas, although I’m guessing the college coaches may have mentioned the same fundamentals a time or two. I like Rathman, but I doubt he’s the only running backs coach around who can teach backs how to carry a football.
– That said, fumbling can be cured. In his early training camps, Fargas was a frequent fumbler and now it isn’t an issue.
– Shields missed 10 games last season with a posterior cruciate ligament injury, but is in no way this year’s Michael Bush, a player who essentially lost his final year in college due to injury and was babied through training camp because of a badly broken leg.
Shields had great numbers at the combine and was shown running and jumping on the video presentation on NFL.com. He even wiped out on the field during one drill and popped right back up.
– Judging from the weight the Raiders gave the speed and strength workout numbers, I’m wondering who Oakland would have taken if someone had jumped up and selected McFadden before they had a chance.
I’m sticking with Vernon Gholston, given Kiffin’s assurances that Kelly is the Raiders’ three technique and that it didn’t make sense to take Glenn Dorsey, a natural three technique.
(I told you during my ill-fated mock draft I was sticking with Gholston and going down with the ship . . . glug, glug, glug)
– The trade of Fabian Washington was a dump job on a far smaller scale than the one that occurred last season when Randy Moss was dealt to the New England Patriots for a fourth-round pick.
Defensive back John Bowie became the man acquired for Moss, Shields came to the Raiders a year later at No. 125 in exchange for Washington.
Moss forced the Raiders hand through his insistence he wanted no part of the program. Washington nudged the Raiders to unload him based on his spotty play and general indifference.
In 2006, Washington might have been the Raiders best defender at training camp. He was all over the field, making plays. True, those plays were coming against the horribly inept offense of Tom Walsh and Art Shell, but I remember writing at the time it looked as if Washington was ready for a breakout year.
Instead, Nnamdi Asomugha was the one who blossomed while Washington ranged from below average to above average. He was nothing special at training camp last season and ended up losing his starting job to Stanford Routt.
Worse yet, it never really seemed to bother Washington. Even corners who deserve to be benched are usually proud enough to give at least a stiff upper lip and insist they are quality starters. Washington was fine with it, and seemed to coast through the season happy to be on the team and collect a paycheck.
He also wasn’t exactly what was advertised. His speed was undeniable, but Washington simply wasn’t physical enough to play the sort of press coverage the Raiders need. At one point, with a group of writers, Washington conceded he probably weighed 170 pounds and had never been 175 in his life. He was listed at 5-foot-11, 185 pounds.
Washington ends up as another Phillip Buchanon and Derrick Gibson on Oakland’s first-round defensive back scrap heap, except in Buchanon’s case, the Raiders manged to take Houston for second- and third-round draft picks.
– All the trade speculation was no more than a yearly tease. Jeremy Shockey, Jason Taylor and Chad Johnson (not to mention Michael Huff and Derrick Burgess) are all still with their respective teams. The Cowboys managed to complete a deal for penal code-challenged cornerback Pacman Jones.
– It’s only a mild surprise the Raiders didn’t draft any offensive linemen. They’re not looking for the same players as everyone else. The Raiders most consistent offensive lineman last season was right guard Cooper Carlisle. The Raiders got him as an unrestricted free agent last year with virtually no competition. He came from Denver, schooled in the zone blocking system.
– Once you get to the fourth round, everyone is a reach. That’s they they’re being drafted in the fourth round. So don’t even bother applying the “bust” tag to any player who has no better than a 60-40 chance to make the roster anyway. Once you get to the fifth round, sometimes you’re happy if they make the practice squad.
Johnnie Lee Higgins was getting glowing reviews a year ago. He may or may not be any better than Shields or Schillens. We’ll have a better idea in July.
– According to the University of Buffalo Web site questionaire filled out by football players, the three people Raiders’ draftee Scott would like to invite to dinner are The Rock, Mike Alstott and George W. Bush.
– Commissioner Roger Goodell, who pushed the idea of shortening the amount of time between rounds and making it more viewer friendly, should have made a unilateral decision Sunday to end the draft when a long-snapper was selected.
That would have been in the sixth round, No. 189, when Seattle took San Diego State long-snapper Tyler Schmitt.
– Either that or when the first person named “Pierre” was drafted. That was also in the sixth round, when Pierre Garcon, a wide receiver out of Mt. Union, was taken by Indianapolis at No. 205 overall.
– Remember how Davis made such a big deal over Kiffin’s recruiting acumen? Kiffin had been in the living rooms of the country’s top high school players, so in theory he had already done a great deal of background.
Ten USC players were drafted Saturday and Sunday. For the second straight year, none by the Raiders.
Chances are good there isn’t a single player drafted in the Class of ‘08 that ever had Kiffin in his living room as a USC recruit. Kiffin said McFadden wasn’t recruited because they knew he wasn’t coming West.
None of the other four draftees _ Branch, Shields, Scott or Schilens, had the look of a USC recruit.
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Monday, April 28th, 2008 at 11:40 am in Oakland Raiders.
The smallest draft class in Raiders history had great measurables. Now all they have to do is measure up.
Everyone knows about the skills of running back Darren McFadden. UConn defensive Tyvon Branch was one of the fastest defensive backs at the combine. Wide receiver Arman Shields ran a sub- 4.4 40-yard dash, and was a warrior on three-cone drills and the like at the combine. Wide receiver Chaz Schillens was another size, speed projection with moderate production.
Defensive end Trevor Scott ran a 4.54 40-yard dash in his private workout.
These guys not only looked good getting off the bus, they got off it faster than most.
With just five members in the Class of ‘08, the Raiders look to stock their roster for the rookie minicamp starting May 9, signing undrafted free agents. Teams will scramble for these guys, with the stone reality being that of all the undraftables the Raiders bring in, it’s possible none of them will make the 53-man roster.
You hope for a Barry Sims, Tommy Kelly or Chris Carr. Last year, the Raiders didn’t find a single undrafted free agent worthy of making a team coming off a 2-14 season.
So how did the Raiders fare this year?
Go ahead and give it your best guess, because that is all it is. Trash ‘em if you wish, give ‘em an A-plus, grades are meaningless and pointless until the players actually take the field.
It seems clear, however, that at least in Kiffin’s mind, putting together a team will be more difficult than it was last year because of free agency and the draft. It probably didn’t win Kiffin any points with Al Davis when he said it, but the coach allowed that the goal was to make it hard to determine the final 53. Last season, Kiffin said it wasn’t all that tough with the Raiders because they simply weren’t all that talented.
It was a classic Davis draft, but it’s up to Kiffin to fit the pieces together.
There remain huge question marks, as gifted starting quarterback JaMarcus Russell is little more than a glorified rookie. The defense still has to prove it can stop the run and looks to be at least one pass rusher short, unless you’re optimistic enough to see Scott as an instant impact player out of the Mid-America Conference.
But there is more talent on hand, with a head coach just getting back his sea legs as well as a defensive coordinator and several key assistants in the last year of their contracts.
There is also one of the easiest schedules in the NFL, although you could make the argument that a team with 19 wins over five years has no easy games.
A few notes and observations in the 22nd blog entry since Saturday morning:
– The rookie minicamp, which begins May 9, is not open to players with an accrued year of experience, according to offensive coordinator Greg Knapp.
That means even if Russell wanted to come, he couldn’t.
– Not so for Michael Bush, who spent the season on PUP and doesn’t have an accrued season. The drafting of McFadden had to be discouraging for Bush, with some projecting him as the Raiders feature back by 2009 or 2010. Now he’s fighting for scraps with Dominic Rhodes behind Justin Fargas and McFadden, providing Rhodes remains on the roster after accepting a cut in pay.
Bush is fully rehabbed, but the level of intrigue regarding his skill has changed in tone, judging from Kiffin’s off-hand reference to Bush Saturday.
“We’re kind of piled there with a number of really good running backs and guys coming back, including Michael Bush, who we really don’t know enough about yet,” Kiffin said.
The fact is Bush practiced for only a short period of time, during the season, when teams are looking for quickness and timing and not laying each other out. One sideline observer of the closed sessions thought he looked slow.
Still, some players look slow who actually are moving well. You never really know until they’re running from (or over) opponents during a game, and the Raiders never gave Bush that chance last year.
With Fargas’ running style, Bush can still be an injury away from playing time and will finally get the chance to show what he can do in training camp and the preseason.
The Raiders, by the way, didn’t overpay Fargas, and should he show signs of wear, Bush could still end up playing in tandem with McFadden.
– Ex-Raider personnel exec Mike Lombardi was floating the idea on the NFL Network that the New Orleans Saints might be interested in making a deal for LaMont Jordan, given Reggie Bush’s role as a change-of-pace back and the fact that Deuce McAllister is coming off a knee injury.
More likely would be the Saints simply waiting for Jordan to be cut and getting to him quickly with an offer far less than the $4.7 and $5 million salaries scheduled for 2008 and 2009.
– Most everything about McFadden’s skill set sounds fabulous, and perhaps it is. Just like it was supposed to be with Reggie Bush two years ago. In the draft, nothing is a sure thing.
– Good to know a single conversation with Tom Rathman has cleared McFadden’s fumbling problem at Arkansas, although I’m guessing the college coaches may have mentioned the same fundamentals a time or two. I like Rathman, but I doubt he’s the only running backs coach around who can teach backs how to carry a football.
– That said, fumbling can be cured. In his early training camps, Fargas was a frequent fumbler and now it isn’t an issue.
– Shields missed 10 games last season with a posterior cruciate ligament injury, but is in no way this year’s Michael Bush, a player who essentially lost his final year in college due to injury and was babied through training camp because of a badly broken leg.
Shields had great numbers at the combine and was shown running and jumping on the video presentation on NFL.com. He even wiped out on the field during one drill and popped right back up.
– Judging from the weight the Raiders gave the speed and strength workout numbers, I’m wondering who Oakland would have taken if someone had jumped up and selected McFadden before they had a chance.
I’m sticking with Vernon Gholston, given Kiffin’s assurances that Kelly is the Raiders’ three technique and that it didn’t make sense to take Glenn Dorsey, a natural three technique.
(I told you during my ill-fated mock draft I was sticking with Gholston and going down with the ship . . . glug, glug, glug)
– The trade of Fabian Washington was a dump job on a far smaller scale than the one that occurred last season when Randy Moss was dealt to the New England Patriots for a fourth-round pick.
Defensive back John Bowie became the man acquired for Moss, Shields came to the Raiders a year later at No. 125 in exchange for Washington.
Moss forced the Raiders hand through his insistence he wanted no part of the program. Washington nudged the Raiders to unload him based on his spotty play and general indifference.
In 2006, Washington might have been the Raiders best defender at training camp. He was all over the field, making plays. True, those plays were coming against the horribly inept offense of Tom Walsh and Art Shell, but I remember writing at the time it looked as if Washington was ready for a breakout year.
Instead, Nnamdi Asomugha was the one who blossomed while Washington ranged from below average to above average. He was nothing special at training camp last season and ended up losing his starting job to Stanford Routt.
Worse yet, it never really seemed to bother Washington. Even corners who deserve to be benched are usually proud enough to give at least a stiff upper lip and insist they are quality starters. Washington was fine with it, and seemed to coast through the season happy to be on the team and collect a paycheck.
He also wasn’t exactly what was advertised. His speed was undeniable, but Washington simply wasn’t physical enough to play the sort of press coverage the Raiders need. At one point, with a group of writers, Washington conceded he probably weighed 170 pounds and had never been 175 in his life. He was listed at 5-foot-11, 185 pounds.
Washington ends up as another Phillip Buchanon and Derrick Gibson on Oakland’s first-round defensive back scrap heap, except in Buchanon’s case, the Raiders manged to take Houston for second- and third-round draft picks.
– All the trade speculation was no more than a yearly tease. Jeremy Shockey, Jason Taylor and Chad Johnson (not to mention Michael Huff and Derrick Burgess) are all still with their respective teams. The Cowboys managed to complete a deal for penal code-challenged cornerback Pacman Jones.
– It’s only a mild surprise the Raiders didn’t draft any offensive linemen. They’re not looking for the same players as everyone else. The Raiders most consistent offensive lineman last season was right guard Cooper Carlisle. The Raiders got him as an unrestricted free agent last year with virtually no competition. He came from Denver, schooled in the zone blocking system.
– Once you get to the fourth round, everyone is a reach. That’s they they’re being drafted in the fourth round. So don’t even bother applying the “bust” tag to any player who has no better than a 60-40 chance to make the roster anyway. Once you get to the fifth round, sometimes you’re happy if they make the practice squad.
Johnnie Lee Higgins was getting glowing reviews a year ago. He may or may not be any better than Shields or Schillens. We’ll have a better idea in July.
– According to the University of Buffalo Web site questionaire filled out by football players, the three people Raiders’ draftee Scott would like to invite to dinner are The Rock, Mike Alstott and George W. Bush.
– Commissioner Roger Goodell, who pushed the idea of shortening the amount of time between rounds and making it more viewer friendly, should have made a unilateral decision Sunday to end the draft when a long-snapper was selected.
That would have been in the sixth round, No. 189, when Seattle took San Diego State long-snapper Tyler Schmitt.
– Either that or when the first person named “Pierre” was drafted. That was also in the sixth round, when Pierre Garcon, a wide receiver out of Mt. Union, was taken by Indianapolis at No. 205 overall.
– Remember how Davis made such a big deal over Kiffin’s recruiting acumen? Kiffin had been in the living rooms of the country’s top high school players, so in theory he had already done a great deal of background.
Ten USC players were drafted Saturday and Sunday. For the second straight year, none by the Raiders.
Chances are good there isn’t a single player drafted in the Class of ‘08 that ever had Kiffin in his living room as a USC recruit. Kiffin said McFadden wasn’t recruited because they knew he wasn’t coming West.
None of the other four draftees _ Branch, Shields, Scott or Schilens, had the look of a USC recruit.