Across the Pond by Dave Wilson
Look for the Raiders to Draft...
Each team has a type of player they like, and through the draft and free agency they look for players who fit that mould or their system. The Raiders are probably more this way than most other teams.
Al Davis loves great athletes. He uses the theory that you can teach a great athlete to be a football player, but not teach a good football player to be a great athlete. It is a philosophy that has merit, and has produced varying results over the years.
One thing Al loves is speed, and where you find the fastest guys on the board at any position, you will usually find Al drafting them. Plentiful examples are Stanford Routt, Carlos Francis, John Bowie, Michael Huff, Fabian Washington, Tyvon Branch, & Darren McFadden.
With an eye to that theory, the following players will be looked at closely by the Raiders with a view to drafting them.
I would be very surprised if none of them end up in Oakland by the end of April 26th.
Darius Heyward-Bey – WR - Maryland. He ran the fastest 40 at the combine, a 4.30. Has good size, has showed well post season workouts and in interview. Doesn’t have the production of some other receivers, but at Maryland it wasn’t an offense geared to give him big numbers. My dark horse for the number 7 pick. People who know Al won’t be surprised if Heyward-Bey gets his name called here.
Michael Johnson – DE – Georgia Tech. At 6’ 7”, running a sub 4.7 40, and possessing great all round athletic ability, don’t be surprised to see Al roll the dice on this guy if he is still there in the second round. He could be great as a pass rusher.
Connor Barwin – DE - Cincinnati. Although very raw, Barwin is an outstanding athlete (4.59 40, 40 ˝ inch vertical jump) and has Al Davis pick written all over him. He is a bit of a project due to lack of experience, but has the non stop motor and work ethic to make it at the next level. Another defensive end converted from tight end, just like last years Trevor Scott, but maybe even better. Round 2 or 3.
Chip Vaughn – S – Wake Forest. Can run 4.4 speed at 6’ 2” and 221 lbs, is an impressive physical specimen and very much looks a Raider type guy. Would not be an instant starter, but would provide depth and make an instant special teams contribution and could develop into a good in the box safety.
Of course we have already had a clue that the Raiders were interested in Vaughn as he was the first scheduled visit to Oakland prior to the draft (not that this ever means a lot with Al). He will be over drafted if we take him before round 3.
I have to say I’m still not sold on B.J Raji for Oakland at the number 7 spot, and I don’t think Al is either.
I accept that we need inside run defenders, and in that category he has put himself at the top of the class, but this is a weak group.
Raji matches up well in 1 to 1 drills, and although I think he is underrated as a pass rusher, he does not read and react well, and even when he beats his man can end up some distance from the ball and is slow to diagnose the play. Add to this he recently tested positive for drugs so his stock has fallen significantly.
Also has suspect stamina and weight issues. Not as good on the field as he is in drills, and there is the ‘testing positive’ issue there too
Although not fitting the Al Davis mould Brian Robiskie is another player I expect Oakland to look long and hard at, especially if they don’t take a receiver in the first round. That player in the first round could of course be Michael Crabtree, which would come as no great shock to anyone.
Robiskie’s father is a coach and also a friend of Al’s (Al drafted him in 1978), so Al will have the inside track on him.
Brian Robiskie is not an amazing athlete, but is a good bet to contribute in his first year which is exactly what the Raiders need. He is also a very safe pick, and will play in the league for a long time.
He is a very football smart player who does everything well. Apart from not having top end speed, there isn’t much not to like in him as a player.
The draft is as ever a great American institution, and it doesn’t happen like this anywhere else in the world. It helps keep parity between the teams, and provides a huge area of interest for the fans.
It is always of course more interesting as Raider fans than others, as you just never know which way Al will go. History though, seems to have given us a fair guide.
As a late footnote, does the signing of Jeff Garcia (whilst claiming Bruce Gradkowksi from waivers) mean Andrew Walter will get his wish and get traded on draft day? I think maybe it does.
And finally......for anyone who has sent me an e mail in the last few months and not received a reply, my mail address on the site s wrong, and should be arcossthepond@tiscali.co.uk . My apologies to anyone who thought I was ignoring them. Link below has been corrected.
All the best,
Keep those e mails coming.
Dave
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