After Further Review: Some thoughts from Round One

[AceRimRat]

After Further Review: Some thoughts from Round One
or, How to fill the time between No. 4 and No. 104

April 26, 2008
By Eric “Ace” Strauss, Raiderfans.net Staff Columnist

NEW YORK — Lane Kiffin has publicly lamented the lack of draft picks the Raiders have this year.

In fact, when the Raiders opted not to trade down from the fourth overall selection, barring acquiring a pick through other means, there will be 100 players chosen before Oakland’s next selection in the 2008 NFL Draft.

That would be choice No. 104 overall, on the draft’s second day, in the draft’s fourth round.

Then, it’s another long wait for Al Davis, Kiffin and the Raider Nation: Pick 169, early in the sixth round, comes next.

The Raiders round out their five choices with a pair of seventh-rounders: Nos. 213 and 226 overall — the latter a Minnesota pick acquired from the hometown New York Jets.

The Raiders dealt their second-round pick as part of the deal for cornerback DeAngelo Hall, their third-rounder to move up last season for redshirt freshman tackle Mario Henderson and their fifth-round pick for defensive tackle Gerard Warren. Meanwhile, the team got no compensatory choices from the NFL for the first time in several years.

Further Musings:

• Everyone has been reading all those “biggest bust” and “biggest steal” articles in the mainstream media in the weeks leading up to today. Everybody knows Todd Marinovich is often on the Top 10 bust lists.

But does anyone else think it’s something of an injustice that few, if any lists include former Raiders middle linebacker Greg Biekert?

The seventh-round selection in 1993 manned the middle from his second year through the 2001 season before being released in 2002. Not only was he a prototypical run-stuffing middle linebacker, he was in many ways the heart, soul and brain of the defense.

Who can forget the year he figured out Peyton Manning’s audible calls and led the Raiders to a second-half comeback win over the Indianapolis Colts?

While everyone’s fawning over sixth-rounder Tom Brady, let’s not forget a fellow who was picked after Patrick Bates, Billy Joe Hobert, James Trapp and Olanda Truitt in the Class of 1993, and outlasted them all, and plenty of others.

Oh, yeah, the Raiders once took some guy named Bo in a seventh round, back in 1987.

• Last year’s draft class produced 11 picks, only a handful of which made any impact in Silver & Black: Tight end Zach Miller (second round) started all season long, and defensive end Jay Richardson (fifth round) started 11 games after injuries decimated the defensive line. Punt returner Johnnie Lee Higgins (third round) got some playing time, and fullback Oren O’Neal (sixth round) showed signs of becoming a blocking force.

But with JaMarcus Russell (No. 1 overall) seeing his growth stunted by a long holdout, the Raiders got little else out of a group that included perpetual inactives Mario Henderson (third round) and John Bowie (fourth round), injured Michael Bush (fourth round) and Johnathan Holland (seventh round) and cuts Quentin Moses (third round) and Eric Frampton (fifth round).

• Maybe Chris Long didn’t end up in Silver & Black, but it could’ve been worse. Imagine if he had been available at No. 4 and the Raiders passed on him. Or worse, they passed on him and then the Kansas City Chiefs took him at No. 5.

That would’ve been a PR disaster — which the Raiders may not have cared about — and a disaster in terms of fan morale.

As it is, the Raiders will have to face another defensive lineman they passed on, Glenn Dorsey, twice every year, after the Chiefs picked him, and two others, Vernon Gholston and Sedrick Ellis, later in 2008 when they take on the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints, respectively.

• After the Raiders took Darren McFadden fourth overall, the next running back went at No. 13, Jonathan Stewart of Oregon to the Carolina Panthers. Then, there was a run on runners from picks 22 through 24, with McFadden’s teammate Felix Jones, Illinois’ Rashard Mendenhall and East Carolina’s Chris Johnson going in short order.

• McFadden was the Raiders’ fifth consecutive Top-10 pick: Tackle Robert Gallery was second overall in 2004, the seventh pick in the 2005 draft was traded as part of the Randy Moss deal, defensive back Michael Huff was chosen sixth overall in 2006 and Russell chosen first last year.

The Raiders have had a few other Top-10 picks in the past 15 years, including: Cornerback Charles Woodson fourth overall in 1998, defensive lineman Darrell Russell second overall in 1997 and tight end Rickey Dudley ninth overall in 1996.

• As always, the hometown Jets and Giants fans entertained.

Jets fans cheered Gholston at sixth overall, and booed Purdue tight end Dustin Keller after the Jets traded up from the second round to get the 30th pick.

Giants fans, in the enviable position of waiting until their team made the final pick of the round as Super Bowl champions (which drew cheers), roared for Kenny Phillips, the safety from Miami who will likely replace new Raider Gibril Wilson in the lineup.

• The three-hour, 30-minute first round was the shortest since 1990. This year, for the first time, teams had 10 minutes between picks in the first round.

[lwd8ball]

nice write up, draft went nice.... now i hope we can get some steals later on. or get some hidden gems between the ruble. Maybe we are gonna see some offensive lineman with a question mark when we get em like kiffin said , but then again can we trust kiffins words of late..... good job lane

[elvistcb]

The offense just became explosive with the addition of Mcfadden. This is going to be sick!

[Raiderrooter]

I can honestly say there were 4 scenarios that I would have been perfectly happy with. Draft McFadden ( which we did), draft Glen Dorsey, draft Verhnon Gohlston or trade down. I couldn't have faulted the Raiders on either one of those. I know alot of fan's didn't want or think we need McFadden but I think he can be a special player and maybe a staple for us for years to come. I still say Rhodes is the starter come week 1 but a healthy mix of him and Fargas and McFadden and yes maybe even Bush will keep everyone fresh and opposing teams off gaurd. Provided that Kiffin can learn to utilize them the correct way.

[MANDINGO]

i hope we can adress the defensive line.

[zkarekrow]

isnt it good that we got the best QB out there last draft and now the best RB?

[CHAMPION316]

Even thou we draft mad late I am very happy with the DMC pick because now loads of pressure is of Russell.

[RAIDERZ1000]

My apologies go out to every mother of a football player that we go against. Im soo sorry for your loss and that JR and DMC made your son look foolish out there. I hope we can do it again and again to him real soon.

[R8RFOX]

Great Pick. I will not complain! #1 rushing offense in 2008? Go Raiders!!!

[Brixity R8R]

We're RELOADED!