Free Agency Priorities

Cornerback

Can DeMarcus Van Dyke or Chimdi Chekwa start as rookies? Based on how poor rookie cornerbacks normally fare, I’d say no. That means they’d need a veteran opposite Stanford Routt, who is far from a shutdown corner himself. 

Guard 

Wisniewski is going to play center for them, which fixes their center problem, but leaves them with a hole at guard. Robert Gallery is as good as gone as a free agent. Chris Carlisle isn’t very good either.

Safety

Michael Huff is now a free agent so if they don’t resign him, they’ll need to find a replacement at safety through free agency.

 

Draft Needs 

Cornerback

This team needed cornerback help even before they released Nnamdi Asomugha. Now they need two upgrades at cornerback. They ranked 19^th vs. the pass last year despite having Asomugha and a pass rush that accumulated 47 sacks. Neither Stanford Routt nor Chris Johnson (penciled in as starters now) are very good.

Resigned Stanford Routt, Drafted DeMarcus Van Dyke (#81), Drafted Chimdi Chekwa (#113) 

Guard

They allowed 44 sacks, 6^th most in the league. I’m cutting their tackles, Bruce Campbell and Jared Veldheer, some slack because they are young, but upgrades up front as needed. They could add one, if not two guards in this draft. 

Center

Along with guard, center is a huge need for a terrible offensive line.

Drafted Stefen Wisniewski (#48) 

Defensive Tackle

Richard Seymour is a free agent after two years with the team so unless they resign the 31 year old to a large contract or franchise tag him for an obscene amount of money, he’s gone. That was definitely worth a 1^st round pick. Great trade.

Resigned Richard Seymour 

Offensive Tackle

Back to the offensive line. A swing tackle for depth should be added behind Campbell and Veldheer, just in case. Langston Walker is a free agent and was terrible this year as a starter.

Drafted Joseph Barksdale (#92) 

Wide Receiver

Jacoby Ford and Louis Murphy look promising. Unfortunately, Darrius Heyward Bey has not turned into the #1 receiver. This need likely won’t be filled because Al Davis sung DHB’s praises in his most recent press conference.

Drafted Denarius Moore (#148) 

Tight End

Zach Miller is a free agent and if he isn’t resigned, they could add one through the draft.

Drafted Richard Gordon (#181), Drafted David Ausberry (#241) 

Running Back

Michael Bush is a free agent and wants to start somewhere so they’ll need a new backup for the explosive, but injury prone Darren McFadden.

Drafted Taiwan Jones (#125) 

 

The last 12 months or so have been a pleasant surprise for Raiders fans. First, they drafted well, not just drafting the best athlete. In fact, after years of drafting almost nothing but duds, they had one of if not they strongest draft classes this past year, based on how their rookies played this season. They went undefeated in the division, including two wins over the Chargers, snapping a 13 game losing streak against San Diego, and though they still missed the playoffs, their 8-8 record after years of 5-11 or worse is a welcome surprise.

Jason Campbell looks like the first legitimate signal caller this team has had since Rich Gannon and unlike Gannon he’s not going to randomly turn ancient one day. Darren McFadden has finally emerged as an explosive lead back, leaving 2009 7^th overall pick Darrius Heyward Bey as the only memory of what was once regarded as the worst drafting stretch in league history (JaMarcus Russell #1 in 2007, Darren McFadden #4 in 2008, and DHB #7 in 2009).

However, all of a sudden, it seems to be going downhill. Not only did Al Davis not pick up Tom Cable’s reasonably priced option to coach the team for the next 2 years, after a great coaching performance in 2010, Davis actually fined 120K for unexplainable reasons (actually Davis did explain them, but I couldn’t understand what the hell he was talking about. Something about Gitmo and JaMarcus Russell).

Replacing Cable at head coach is Hue Jackson, their offensive coordinator, who did a wonderful job with the offense last season. Jackson improved their offense from 31^st in the league at 12.3 per game last year to 6^th in the league at 25.6 this year. It remains to be seen if he has what it takes to be a Head Coach, however.

The Raiders also released easily their best defensive player, Nnamdi Asomugha for financial reasons (owed 17 million in the final year of his deal). All of a sudden, their secondary is very thin. They also will likely lose Richard Seymour, arguably their 2^nd best defensive player, in free agency.

Last and probably worst, Al Davis made an 100 minute public press conference, proving that not only is he still alive (I think…), but he’s also very much in charge of this team, contrary to popular belief after this team drafted much differently than Davis normally would (height/weight/40) last year. I still like my theory that Al Davis didn’t know the draft was on a Thursday in 2010 rather than a Saturday, as was normal. If Davis realizes it’s on a Thursday this year, we could see even more awful drafting by this franchise.

Or maybe I’m wrong and this team will improve to above .500 under Hue Jackson and Davis has changed his ways to keep up with the times and will have another strong draft. Maybe.

 

 

2010 Record: 8-8

Draft Position: 17 (first rounder traded to New England)

2010 Season Recap: Click Here

Offseason Needs: Click Here

Free Agents/Team Transactions: Click Here

Draft Grades: Click Here

Key Offseason Moves: Resigned Stanford Routt, Resigned Richard Seymour

Raiders blogger: Chris Hansen

 

2010 Posts 

Bye Bye Bust: Draft Picks Shining For The Raiders, Studs And Duds From Week 6, Studs and Duds From Week 5, Studs and Duds From Week 4, Studs/Duds Week 3, Studs and Duds from Week 2, Studs and Duds from Week 1, Oakland Raiders 2010 Season Preview

 

 

 

Safety

UCLA

6-0 202

Draft board overall prospect rank: #37

Draft board overall safety rank: #1

Overall rating: 79 (early 2nd)

40 time: 4.53

4/23/11: Rahim Moore caught a ton of attention after picking off 10 passes as a sophomore for UCLA. He was regarded as a consensus first round pick heading into the 2010 season and draw comparisons to top safeties from the 2010 Draft such as Eric Berry and Earl Thomas. However, he disappointed as a junior with only 1 pick. His inability to make plays drew more attention to his missed coverages and his struggles against the run. He’s still probably a 2^nd rounder this year because it’s a weak class, but there are questions.

We know this guy can make plays. What we aren’t quite sure of is why he had such a low number of picks this season. His stats suggest that he’s a one year wonder, but that upside is certainly there. Of course, safeties are more than just interceptions. He’s very fluid and athletic in coverage for a safety, but he’s not a good tackler at all. He misses tackles. He doesn’t have great form and the routes he takes to the ball carrier need some work.

He also lacks size at 6-0 202 and is only a free safety at the next level. He doesn’t have the coverage skills to be a cornerback. Bottom line, his ball skills will get him drafted in round 2 as they should. He’s got great upside and even Eric Berry had a “bad season” as a junior before declaring. He reads the quarterback very well and has good hands. He gets into good position to make a play, but just didn’t make them often this year.

NFL Comparison: Michael Griffin

 

 

Cornerback

TCU

5-10 183

40 time (projected): 4.43

Draft board overall prospect rank: #111

Draft board cornerback rank: #15

Overall rating: 67*

 3/15/10: Didn’t run because of his foot injury. He’s still a favorite sleeper of mine, but I was expecting his foot to be healed by now.

            There are very few things I can guarantee you, but one of them is this. The Football Fan Spot is probably the only place that has this guy listed as a 3^rd round prospect. He did an excellent job as a shutdown #1 corner for TCU. He played in 11 games and had 6 pass deflections, but only had 18 tackles. There are two ways you could possibly explain how he played that many games and had that few tackles, one, he let every receiver he guarded go for a touchdown, or two, quarterbacks rarely completed passes on him. Two is the most logical answer and it is the correct one. He didn’t have the toughest competition, but he shutdown everyone he faced. There are some concerns, how will he adjust to more athletic NFL receiver, especially since Priest’s athleticism doesn’t exactly jump off the page. He’s also small and not good against the run, but you can definitely see the upside here. He reminds me a lot of Quincy Butler, a former TCU cornerback, now of the St. Louis Rams. In his first season in the NFL, after bouncing around practice squads for years, Butler was a very good shutdown corner for the Rams this year, though in limited playing time, as opposing quarterbacks went 11 for 25 for 145 yards and a touchdown against him this year. Butler was underrated coming out of TCU and still is, and Priest should be that way too. He could get drafted in the 5^th round, but any earlier would be surprisingly. He’s definitely a risk and I’m not sure how he’ll respond to tougher competition, but he’s handled decent competition brilliantly thus far in his football career so some upside is there. I wouldn’t call him a future #1 shutdown guy and I wouldn’t even call him a lock to be a future #2 starting cornerback, but the potential is there for him to convert nicely to the NFL game and become a good corner and possibly even a Pro Bowler. Possibly.

NFL Comparison: Quincy Butler

*= For a breakdown of what this means, click here

 

Defensive End/3-4 Defensive End

North Carolina

6-6 284

Draft board overall prospect rank: #8

Draft board defensive end rank: #2

Overall rating: 91 (top ten prospect)

40 time: 4.72

Games watched: North Carolina/Louisville, Clemson/North Carolina, NC State/North Carolina, Virginia Tech/North Carolina

Positives

·         Physical freak

·         Nice size, height and bulk (6-6 284)

·         Long arms

·         Uses arms in the passing lanes well

·         Flashes brilliance

·         On occasions throws offensive lineman around like a rag doll

·         Makes frequent WOW plays where his incredible physical gifts make your jaw drop

·         Versatile player who has played inside and outside on the defensive line

·         Should be scheme versatile at the next level

·         2 years of great production (2010: 59 tackles, 15.5 for loss, 10 sacks 2011: 55 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks)

·         Great speed for his size (4.72 40)

·         Plays the run well

·         A wide repertoire of pass rushing moves

·         Explosive off the line

·         Great strength and power at the point of attack

·         Fast, strong hands

·         Great speed and bull rush

·         Long arms and great strength allow him to tackle smaller players without disengaging

·         Succeeded even when double and triple teamed

Negatives

·         Relies too much on his physical gifts

·         Technique needs work

·         Takes plays off (even admitted it himself, giving himself a C for effort)

·         Inconsistent motor

·         Refused a move back to defensive tackle during his senior season

·         Inconsistent play

·         Senior season was inferior to junior season

·         Taken out on some passing downs as a senior on a talented North Carolina defensive line

·         Production and play doesn’t always live up to his physical abilities

NFL Comparison: Jason Pierre-Paul

Quinton Coples has a rare package of physical gifts and he makes WOW plays on occasion. He’s 6-6 284 with 4.72 speed. He’s in excellent physical shape with low body fat and powerful muscles. He’s got great height and long arms and excellent lateral movement skills. He is impossible to block one on one and he has success against double and triple teams as well. He can tackle players without fully disengaging with one arm. His physical skill set is so rare that only Jason Pierre Paul really compares and Coples is about 10 pounds bigger and stronger.

However, he’s spoiled by his physical gifts. He doesn’t have a strong work ethic and gave himself a C for effort last season, which is pretty accurate. He plays too high at times and has less than stellar technique. He was off putting in interviews as being overly cocky and refused a move to defensive tackle last season. He didn’t get along well with his coaches either, reportedly. Needless to say, his play doesn’t always live up to his physical gifts.

Moving outside to defensive end full time in 2011, he had 55 tackles, 15 for loss, and 7.5 sacks, down from 59 tackles, 15.5 for loss, and 10 sacks in the previous season. The decrease in production was somewhat a result of seeing extra attention from the defense and he was impressively effect even against double and triple teams. However, his senior season was still inferior to his junior season and you never like to see a player tend in that direction. Because of this, his draft stock fell from top 5-7 to 10-early teens. Dallas probably won’t pass on him at 14 though.

He’s scheme diverse and a former Parcells scout called him the ideal fit for a 3-4 scheme as a defensive end because of his size and his ability to rush the passer at his size. He’ll also fit a 4-3 as a left end and can move inside to defensive tackle on passing downs. He definitely has the upside to be an elite pass rusher at the next level regardless of scheme. He’s also above average against the run and impossible to block one on one when he is trying.

Whether or not he’ll try is the problem. If a player isn’t putting forth his best effort in college, why wouldn’t he do the same in the NFL once he’s getting paid, though I assume the new NFL rookie salary cap will help make sure he’s still motivated as he won’t be given a huge contract right off the bat. In fact, I have a feeling that has a lot to do with why there were so many good rookies last season, especially in the top 10.

Jason Pierre Paul was a prospect I had a lower grade on because I questioned his tape and why his tape was inferior to his physical gifts. I had both Derrick Morgan and Brandon Graham (two guys with great tape) rated higher than him and obviously I have been proven wrong. There were less character concerns surrounding JPP, but if Coples is motivated, he can be just as dominant of a player. Even with the rookie salary, he’s a boom or bust prospect, but there’s definitely upside here. He could be one of the best defensive lineman in the league in 2-3 years.

 

Mikell gives them a major upgrade at safety and is an above average starting safety and 7 million per year, which is what he got, is about right for an above average starting safety, maybe a little much because I don’t know that safeties other than Troy Polamalu and Ed Reed help your defense a ton. However, will he be an above average starting safety over the 4 years of this deal. He’s 31 in September. 

Grade: C

 

5 years 29 million is way too much to pay for Quincy Black, with 11.5 million guaranteed. Black is nothing more than an average starting linebacker in this league. They overpaid.

Grade: D

 

 

Safety

Northern Iowa

6-4 224

40 time: 4.40

Draft board overall prospect rank: #181

Draft board safety rank: #16

Overall rating: 56*

                4/14/10: Let’s take a journey through time, it’s 2009 (big stretch) April of 2009 in fact, April 25^th 2009. It’s the 2^nd round of the NFL round and the Raiders are on the board. Which fast 40 time player will Al Davis take? It turns out it was Michael Mitchell, who I had never heard of before that day, and I did several 7 round mock drafts last year. It turns out that Mitchell, a safety from Ohio, was viewed as a 2^nd round prospect by at least one other team, and a 3^rd round prospect by several others. That same thing, on a slightly smaller level, could happen this year with Quentin Scott. Scott is a hard hitter from a tiny school with linebacker size and good speed and fluidity. His teammates have nicknamed him Taylor Mays and he had some hits last year that were on that level. Unlike Mays, he can actually hold his own in pass coverage so he could legitimately play both safety positions at the next level, or at least he has the potential too. The only thing is his weak level of competition so we have to take what we saw of him in pass coverage with a grain of salt, but I love his upside and I think he has the potential to be a surprise 4^th round pick. Or I could be wrong. I am kind of just going out on a whim thinking he’ll be drafted that early based on his uncanny comparisons to Michael Mitchell, but I have a good feeling about his draft position and an even better feeling about his potential.

NFL Comparison: Michael Mitchell

*For a breakdown of what this means, click here