Needs Addressed On Day Two

 Posted by at 2:33 AM  No Responses »
Apr 302011
 

The Oakland Raiders tried to trade up for Colin Kaepernick, but were not successful.

Instead, the Raiders made the most natural pick they could and selected Steve Wisniewski’s nephew Stefen. Stefen will play center for the Raiders and become and instant fan favorite. His technique is sound and should be a starter for years.

The Raiders traded their 2012 second round pick for the Patriots third, pick 94 and fourth, pick 125.

The Raiders used their own third round pick to again draft the fastest player at the scouting combine in Demarcus Van Dyke. You might as well pencil in the fastest player at the combine every year. Al Davis loves his speed.

Van Dyke seems like a reach, but he’s got good physical tools and will be mentored by Rod Woodson. His teammate will be Stanford Routt, who was much like Van Dyke coming out of college.

Van Dyke is long and lean and Hue Jackson said he felt very comfortable with the pick.

With the pick acquired from the Patriots, the Raiders selected Joseph Barksdale a raw offensive tackle prospect. He’s got all the physical skills to be a starting caliber right tackle.

With this draft, the Raiders have drafted four out of five of next year’s probable starting offensive line.

LT Jared Veldheer

C Wisniewski

RG Bruce Campbell

RT Joseph Barkdale

2011 First Round: Situation Unchanged

 Posted by at 5:23 AM  No Responses »
Apr 292011
 

The Raiders came into the day without a first-round draft pick and finished the day without acquiring one.

Not much has changed. The Raiders still have needs and the same number of picks to work with. The only thing that happened today, 32 players were skimmed off the player pool.

Colin Kaepernick is still available and so are Da’Quan Bowers and Stefen Wisniewski.

Five of the top offensive tackles were taken in round one and the talent really thins out now. Raiders would be wise to look to the surplus of guards still available.

Brandon Harris and Aaron Williams are two highly-rated cornerbacks that were not taken in the first round.

It turns out a trade into the first round was not in the best interest of the Raiders. However, there are just a handful of top-tier players remaining that fit the Raiders most pressing needs. Don’t rule out the Raiders jumping into the early second round. Continue reading »

Raiders Draft Day Rumors 2011

 Posted by at 2:42 PM  No Responses »
Apr 282011
 

Remember these are all just rumors…

1. Raiders are willing to move back into the first round for the right player. (Believed to be for Nevada QB Colin Kaepernick)

2. Al Davis doesn’t think the Raiders have many needs.

3. Jimmy Smith  has been removed from the Raiders draft board (This is a purely smoke and totally incorrect, but heck I’m posting rumors here.)

**Check back, more rumors are sure to fly as the day is just getting started**

2011 Raiders Draft Preview

 Posted by at 1:37 PM  No Responses »
Apr 272011
 

The Raiders had a renaissance of sorts in 2010. A stellar draft class helped propel them to an 8-8 record and the first non-losing season since 2002.

The draft is nearly a national holiday for NFL fans, but for the Raider Nation it has become the national day of prayer. Praying and hoping Al Davis doesn’t do something completely crazy. Recent examples include drafting a quarterback with questionable work ethic and giving him $30 million guaranteed and drafting a raw and unproven receiver with questionable hands with the seventh overall selection.

It is Al Davis who calls all the shots on draft picks and his recent track record in recent years suggested the man may have lost touch with the modern NFL. Then came 2010, with what appears to be a great haul of picks including Rolando McClain, Lamarr Houston and Jacoby Ford. The Raiders also used picks to acquire Kamerion Wimbley and Jason Campbell.

Coach Davis, as new head coach Hue Jackson calls him, has just one glaring team need and a host of less significant ones. Will Davis reach for players with elite athletic ability or draft football players? Will he draft offensive lineman to give Jason Campbell a fighting chance?

The Raiders drafts are often a dichotomy between what is predictable and what is unpredictable. When given the choice between two similarly graded players, Davis will chose the faster one. While he may predictably target speed players he will also have a player or two graded absurdly higher than anyone expects making the Raiders draft picks wildly unpredictable.

What should Al Davis be looking to do in the 2011 NFL draft? Who might he have graded significantly higher than others? Allow me to examine each position group.

Quarterback

Starter: Jason Campbell

Backup: Kyle Boller

Third String: Open

The Situation:

With just one-year remaining on Jason Campbell’s contract, don’t be surprised if the Raiders consider drafting a quaterback to develop. There is a significant correlation between teams with new head coaches that draft a quarterback. Hue Jackson admitted during his pre-draft press conference he would love to add a young arm.

Who fits?

Colin Kaepernick’s quarterback coach of eight years is Roger Theder. Theder coached with Raiders offensive coordinator Al Saunders at Cal and was Jim Plunkett’s quarterback coach at Stanford. Kaepernick also has a big arm and the leadership qualities Hue Jackson requires. Based on all the smoke being blown around, the Raiders would have to move up to get the University of Nevada product.

Who doesn’t?

Ryan Mallett. His off-the-field issues will scare the Raiders away with the JaMarcus Russell era just one year in their rearview mirror. It will not matter at all to the Raiders that he has a huge arm and a great football IQ. He’s one the Raiders will keep off their list.

Don’t be surprised if…

The Raiders trade up to get a quarterback early.

Continue reading »

Interview with Draft Prospect Colin Kaepernick (Audio)

 Posted by at 3:00 PM  No Responses »
Apr 202011
 

Fast rising prospect Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick10) talks about his visit with the Raiders, his decision to stay home for the draft, the pistol offense and more.

Podcast: Embed

Thanks to Shawn Smith (@1stladyXAMSport) and Scott Smith (@XAMSports) for making the interview happen.

Special thanks to Kyle Kaepernick (@DarthKaepernick) and Rick Kaepernick (@QBDAD10) for sharing some secrets about Colin’s past.