Raiders not expecting company?
SFGate.com
Texas Tech receiver Michael Crabtree knows the way to Santa Clara, but not Alameda yet.
After a week of calling and emailing agents, the following top-10 prospects are confirmed to NOT be scheduled to visit the Raiders before the draft (at least not yet): Missouri recever Jeremy Maclin, Texas Tech receiver Michael Crabtree, Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Raji or Alabama left tackle Andre Smith.
In other words, the four players most linked to the Raiders and their No. 7 overall draft pick, as far as mock-draft guesses go. One team source said the big-name players indeed have not been scheduled for visits.
So what gives?
Maybe the agents and players have taken a vow of silence at the Raiders' request. That'd be no surprise. One team observer said Raiders owner Al Davis has tried to put the major clamps on leaks within his inner circle in recent months.
Perhaps there's a second, more plausible, explanation. Could it be the Raiders have seen and heard enough between the Senior Bowl to recent Pro Day workouts?
"Honestly, sometimes these visits are way overrated," one agent said. "Maybe if you have character concerns or want a medical checkup it helps."
NFL teams are allowed to host 30 players, not counting locals, and many teams use them up. The 49ers are hosting, among others, USC quarterback Mark Sanchez, Ole Miss left tackle Michael Oher, Andre Smith, B.J. Raji and Michael Crabtree. The Broncos are also seemingly hosting every first-round prospect under the sun.
But, as one AFC scout put it, "Between the Senior Bowl, the Combine and Pro Days, there's more than enough time to gather information. A lot of times those visits are just smokescreens."
Ah yes, the Senior Bowl. Remember how Tom Cable spent the week in Mobile, Ala. scouting players on the Raiders' behalf even though he was no longer under contract? Talk about a golden move, at least seeing he got the job over Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride two weeks later.
Cable met personally with a small host of top prospects, including Raji, Cal Poly receiver Ramses Barden and who knows how many others. So, when Cable interviewed them a second time at the NFL Combine -- which he did with those two players -- it allowed him to ask follow-ups or press for new information.
Compare that to the first Senior Bowl for the previous new coach, when Lane Kiffin spent half the week putting his coaching staff together when he could have been focusing more on the players. But then, that's where he interviewed Cable for the offensive line job, so it worked out rather well for the Raiders.
A team source said the Raiders will bring in players during the second half of this week. For now, it looks more like they'll focus that time more on non-first round prospects. The Raiders have just five picks, so exhausting due diligence is understandable.
Even then, watch them draft a player they barely spoke to -- as Tyvon Branch said happened last year when they drafted him in the fourth round out of Connecticut.
Expect the Raiders to use these visits more for players they don't have a lot of information on, including those who did not attend the NFL Combine -- perhaps Auburn defensive tackle Tez Doolittle, who posed shirtless for a Raiders scout after a recent workout. Just don't expect those names to surface.
It won't be long until we find out what's really going on. Three more weeks is all.
** One lesser-known prospect has already popped up on the visitor's list. The Raiders will host San Diego State outside linebacker Russell Allen in mid-April, according to Scout.com.
** Also, NFL.com reports the Raiders will attend a private workout for William & Mary cornerback Derek Cox, owner of a 4.39-second time in the 40.
** Speaking of drafts, what the Raiders would give for a do-over in the first round of the 1991 draft. Looks like former quarterback Todd Marinovich just can't stay out of trouble.
** Note: I have begun a weeklong vacation to be spent in my hometown of Selma (Ca, not Ala), but keep checking back. Pre-written blogs will be posted throughout the week, including Mock Drafts 4.0 and q-and-a's with Khalif Barnes and Isaiah Ekejiuba. If there's breaking news, someone on the Chronicle staff will post something for me.
SFGate.com
Texas Tech receiver Michael Crabtree knows the way to Santa Clara, but not Alameda yet.
After a week of calling and emailing agents, the following top-10 prospects are confirmed to NOT be scheduled to visit the Raiders before the draft (at least not yet): Missouri recever Jeremy Maclin, Texas Tech receiver Michael Crabtree, Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Raji or Alabama left tackle Andre Smith.
In other words, the four players most linked to the Raiders and their No. 7 overall draft pick, as far as mock-draft guesses go. One team source said the big-name players indeed have not been scheduled for visits.
So what gives?
Maybe the agents and players have taken a vow of silence at the Raiders' request. That'd be no surprise. One team observer said Raiders owner Al Davis has tried to put the major clamps on leaks within his inner circle in recent months.
Perhaps there's a second, more plausible, explanation. Could it be the Raiders have seen and heard enough between the Senior Bowl to recent Pro Day workouts?
"Honestly, sometimes these visits are way overrated," one agent said. "Maybe if you have character concerns or want a medical checkup it helps."
NFL teams are allowed to host 30 players, not counting locals, and many teams use them up. The 49ers are hosting, among others, USC quarterback Mark Sanchez, Ole Miss left tackle Michael Oher, Andre Smith, B.J. Raji and Michael Crabtree. The Broncos are also seemingly hosting every first-round prospect under the sun.
But, as one AFC scout put it, "Between the Senior Bowl, the Combine and Pro Days, there's more than enough time to gather information. A lot of times those visits are just smokescreens."
Ah yes, the Senior Bowl. Remember how Tom Cable spent the week in Mobile, Ala. scouting players on the Raiders' behalf even though he was no longer under contract? Talk about a golden move, at least seeing he got the job over Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride two weeks later.
Cable met personally with a small host of top prospects, including Raji, Cal Poly receiver Ramses Barden and who knows how many others. So, when Cable interviewed them a second time at the NFL Combine -- which he did with those two players -- it allowed him to ask follow-ups or press for new information.
Compare that to the first Senior Bowl for the previous new coach, when Lane Kiffin spent half the week putting his coaching staff together when he could have been focusing more on the players. But then, that's where he interviewed Cable for the offensive line job, so it worked out rather well for the Raiders.
A team source said the Raiders will bring in players during the second half of this week. For now, it looks more like they'll focus that time more on non-first round prospects. The Raiders have just five picks, so exhausting due diligence is understandable.
Even then, watch them draft a player they barely spoke to -- as Tyvon Branch said happened last year when they drafted him in the fourth round out of Connecticut.
Expect the Raiders to use these visits more for players they don't have a lot of information on, including those who did not attend the NFL Combine -- perhaps Auburn defensive tackle Tez Doolittle, who posed shirtless for a Raiders scout after a recent workout. Just don't expect those names to surface.
It won't be long until we find out what's really going on. Three more weeks is all.
** One lesser-known prospect has already popped up on the visitor's list. The Raiders will host San Diego State outside linebacker Russell Allen in mid-April, according to Scout.com.
** Also, NFL.com reports the Raiders will attend a private workout for William & Mary cornerback Derek Cox, owner of a 4.39-second time in the 40.
** Speaking of drafts, what the Raiders would give for a do-over in the first round of the 1991 draft. Looks like former quarterback Todd Marinovich just can't stay out of trouble.
** Note: I have begun a weeklong vacation to be spent in my hometown of Selma (Ca, not Ala), but keep checking back. Pre-written blogs will be posted throughout the week, including Mock Drafts 4.0 and q-and-a's with Khalif Barnes and Isaiah Ekejiuba. If there's breaking news, someone on the Chronicle staff will post something for me.
