Raiders Five Needs This Offseason According to Scouts Inc.
Defensive tackle: Veteran DT Warren Sapp is set to retire. The team traded for and received solid production last season from underachieving DT Gerard Warren. The team signed DT Terdell Sands to a long term deal, but like Warren he is an underachiever who plays when he is in the mood to play. Former DE Tyler Brayton needs to play outside to be effective. Oakland finished 31st in the NFL in run defense because this unit was aging and inconsistent.
Wide receiver: With JaMarcus Russell slated to move into the starting lineup next season, they need to provide him with more weapons outside. WR Ronald Curry signed a lucrative extension, but he is never going to develop into anything more than a No. 2 and although he was healthy last season, he is a guy who has been injury-prone over his career. WR Jerry Porter is a free agent who needs a change of scenery and even though the Raiders have consistently drafted players at the WR position in recent years, none of their young talent is developing.
Defensive end: The Raiders currently only have three defensive ends on their roster under contract for 2008. UFA Tommy Kelly played end last season, but is best suited at DT and there is no guarantee he will even be back in 2008. Pass-rushing DE Derrick Burgess saw a huge dip in his production due to injuries. Even if Burgess can return to being a double digit sack producer, the team needs to get bigger and more physical versus the run from the DE position.
Offensive tackle: Former first-round pick Robert Gallery moved from LOT to LOG last season and that move allowed him to finally look like he could develop into a quality starter at the NFL level. The team has no choice, but to leave him at OG at this point. However, that move means the team still needs to solve its OT puzzle. Veteran Barry Sims was at LOT last season and is at the end of his career. ROT Cornell Green is a UFA and the team needs to upgrade this position. The Raiders have bodies at OT, just not any quality ones.
Strongside linebacker: The Raiders’ biggest issues on defense are in the front four. They are pretty solid overall in the back end, but the team could use a little more youth at the SLB position. They have two quality young starters at the MLB position with Kirk Morrison and WLB position with Thomas Howard. SLB Robert Thomas has not been as consistent as they would like and adding a playmaker at this position would give them three very good players to build their front-four around.
This post has 7 comments
February 26th, 2008 at 11:58 am
The team nees to address the defensive line with the forst two picks of this year’s draft. A starting WR can be taken in the 4th or through FA. trade away both Jordan and Rhodes and use these picks into either another WR, OT or depth at SLB. PLEASE, do waste a pick on Darren McFadden.
February 26th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
This is going to be a good season. Firstly, I look forward to any change defensively. Last year offensive needs were tested and addressed then Kiff said he was disappointed that he couldn’t lean on the defense during some of those 3 point losses early in the season (I.E. Denver). So, with much anticipation, I am looking forward to getting rid of a ball-n-chain player like Warren Sapp who never really did squat for the Raiders. Bring on Ellis, Long, or another defensive stud -we already have the secondary in pro form (except Schweigert -I can’t believe that dude’s still on the roster). Trade Porter, Rhodes, and Walters to the Dolphins and patch up that line…make it solid and then see where we need to go to get Jamarcus some help. Too much to do in one year but with the right moves we’re really not that far off from having a stellar defense. That’s how the Giants did it.
February 26th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
The Raiders need to get a new owner. All of his personal picks SUCK! or are totally outta football. The problem with the Raiders is in the front office and who ever sits with Davis picking talent. The Raiders don’t even have a GM for god’s sake! New ownership with a willingness to hire quality football minds and find a coach to actually coach the team and help find quality talent is the only answer. Until then, the Raiders will be lucky if they can scratch a .500 season. No play offs or division titles until Mad Al is gone!
February 26th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
Al Davis is insane
February 27th, 2008 at 11:48 am
Berrian in FA market. draft the best wr in round 2, curry in the slot. get a ORT in FA and take the first pick on the OLT. 3-5 rounds take D linemen. Last rounds, take safety and wr’s. The sports writer said it right. the Giants won, not because of the safeties, but because of a crazy potent pass rush, the likes of which I had not seen much of all year by anyone. Washington is not that bad and NNamdi is great, so let’s redo the line. oh, and a new LB in FA if there is one available.
February 28th, 2008 at 5:57 am
I think that if chris long DE is availabe we should take him, if not the other long at OT would be a great fit, and if hes not then we should take darren mcfadden. I know we have enough running backs but with the players we need alredy taken we need to take the best player available, or we could at least trade hime for two more 1st round picks to the dallas cowboys and get two more quality picks. for the second round I think we should get cromartie, I hate to say it but Fabian washington isnt what everyone thought he was going to be at least not yet and he would be a good #2 corner then putting stanford routt as third we wouldnt have to worry about DB’S for another 8 yrs. Dont get me wrong though with that first pick we should also try and get sedrick ellis and adress our OT position and our receiver position in free agency
February 28th, 2008 at 8:15 am
c.long would be the best option in the draft to pair with burgess. mcfadden would probably be the best pick for nebody but we’re not in the position to pick best available. once they shore up the d-line oakland will be straight. Rex Ryan will be coaching to kind of thank al davis for his trust in him and kiff will be coaching to make sure he has a job somewhere else when al lets him go(just like he did gruden, i guess al will never learn). this team will go from 4 wins to 9 this year. basically we will have at least 5 new quality starters this year. counting 1st 2 picks and Russell and bush. I’m sure they will pick up some FAs to.