OLB options (biggest NEED position)

[Guru]

1. AJ Hawk. Best OLB available in this years class. Can do everything. Outstanding football player. A very capable blitzer and equally as capable in coverage. Ballhawk with awesome instincts- will need very little time to settle into the NFL. Durable and good size. Can't miss Top 10 pick (Saints territory- they need a OLB even more than we do!)

2. Chad Greenway. Not at all far behind Hawk NFL potential wise. Like Hawk he is adept in every aspect of the position. He doesn't have quite the football instincts of Hawk, but he has a bigger frame. He's put up insane numbers for Iowa this year. He looks very comfortable in zone coverage, and he’s athletic enough to stay with just about any TE in the league in man. He hasn't had the supporting cast Hawk has had in Ohio and I believe would be excellent value and the most realistic option for where we will most likely be selecting in this up and coming draft. Will be gone by #20.

3. Bobby Carpenter. (Many think this slot should go to DeMeco Ryans- he is arguably the better prospect-BUT NOT WHAT THE RAIDERS ARE AFTER!) Carpenter could be this years Shawne Merrimen in terms of pass rushing ability. At 6"3 255lbs he has an imposing physique, yet it seems like he hits this extra gear when he's chasing the QB! He had more sacks than Kiwi and the same number as Mario Williams after 10 games. The downside to Bobby is that unlike Hawk/Greenway he's NOT an all rounder. He plays the run well and isn't afraid of taking on OL's with his size, but is not adept in coverage- which is something the Raiders have been lacking. However, the Raiders have also lacked a pass rushing threat from the OLB position. He is most likely a 2nd round pick, so IF we were to miss out on Mario/Kiwi/Hawk/Greenway somehow all would not be lost if we got Carpenter in the 2nd.


Other mentions: Spencer Havner, Ernie Sims, AJ Nicholson.

I'm not going to lie, i think Greenway will be our most realistic target and hope to hell we get him. He's got everything! In him we have a model football player. Student of the game with great size, no injury/off-field issues, college productivity, pass rushing threat, tackling technique and coverage ability!!!!!! The difference he'd make to our defense alongside Danny and Kirk would be immense.


If we miss out on Hawk/Greenway who would you like to see?

[*JW*]

Nice post Guru! I would like to see D'Qwell Jackson LB from Maryland if we missed out on them and he would be a SOLID 2nd round pick.

[MasterShake2388]

Abdul Hodge would be a nice pickup as well, he isnt gonna play ILB at the pro level.. too small

[R41D3R5]

If we could get all 3 of them we would have the best LB core in the league. Greenway, Hawk and Carpenter. Running backs it's game over in the AFC West. Sorry LT, Priest and Johnson, and whoever Denver has back there. lol

[Napo]

I would love to see AJ Hawk in a Raiders uni

[MasterShake2388]

i'd love to see AJ Hawk too, but the only way we'll get that high of a pick is if we blow the rest of the season
I think that the best OLBs after AJ hawk would be in order

-Chad Greenway (only due to experience over Hodge at OLB)
-Abdul Hodge (will play OLB in the NFL, is athletic enough to do so)
-Ahmad Brooks (too injury prone though)

[*JW*]

Question for Raiderfan2388 is Hodge quick enough for olb? Also do you know where he's projected to go?

[MasterShake2388]

Originally Posted by *JW*

Question for Raiderfan2388 is Hodge quick enough for olb?

I had the same question, and apparently he is.. hes supposively very quick, and runs a very good 40 time of 4.5
im gonna try and watch him this weekend, but yeah seems a lot of the draft sides credit him highly for his quickness and speed, hes a very good run defender according to them too.

[*JW*]

Do you know what round he's projected to go?

[MasterShake2388]

Originally Posted by *JW*

Do you know what round he's projected to go?

1st or 2nd so most likely he is a bottom of the first team.
which I think we will be at the 20th pick or lower with a 9-7 record so we should grab him.

[Collins4QB]

omg i think we should just trade down to AJ Hawk...we really need him!!!

[MasterShake2388]

Originally Posted by Collins4QB

omg i think we should just trade down to AJ Hawk...we really need him!!!

Trade DOWN?

[MasterShake2388]

and what do you see on the field that tells you we need an OLB that BAD?
AJ Hawk would be the best fit because we need an OLB, it is our biggest need but, by no means does the play at LB say we need an OLB desperately, but we do need one that is for sure and if you can get AJ Hawk.. then you get AJ Hawk but getting someone who probably wont be as good as AJ Hawk like a DeMeco Ryans, Bobby Carpenter, Abdul Hodge, or Chad Greenway wont hurt us at ALL we probably wouldnt even notice the difference.

[raider#84]

i think we go
1st-hawk or another top LB to make that position solid for years wit morrison,clark,hawk
2nd-DT- sapp hurt and getting older maybe hawthorne will be good
3rd-SS or through FA i hope fa we need experience

NEXT YEAR D
hamltion,Kelly,Sapp,Brayton- i like him
clark,morrison,hawk
Asoushma Washington
Woodson Stu
THATS BACK TO THE OLD TIME THAT IS MONSTEROUS
what u think