Las Vegas Raiders Thread

Woodson would be a positive if we could retain his services, Would he play with Branch or are the two vying for the same position?

And now they have resigned Jason Tarver, with a good squad his Defense could be a top 10 one.

I've never been that impressed with the neutrality of the official NFL website or many of the other mainstream websites covering the NFL towards the Oakland Raiders, but this off-season the bias in the coverage has gone into overdrive.

I would have thought that given that these websites have long reported the lack of talent on the Raiders roster and the oversized contracts offered by Al Davis, that the signing of experienced former Pro Bowlers on relatively modest contracts would have been greeted as a significant improvement, but instead every signing has been reported with sniping comments about their age, injuries, lack of form or the fact that they were only signing for the money( as if any free agent isn't)

The Raiders signed Matt Schaub, a former Pro Bowl player, who despite a rough year, has a career QB rating of near 90 and whose contract is voidable with no cap hit, for just a 6th round pick, to replace former undrafted free agent Matt McGloin and Tyrelle Pryor. Its clearly an upgrade in experience and past performance, at a low cost. Yet the media has largely panned the move, though they haven't explained who they should have signed instead and if they had not signed an experienced QB and had instead drafted a QB they would have been panned for not having an experienced QB to mentor the rookie.

The signing of Maurice Jones Drew to replace Rashad Jennings was also pilloried, yet if he had instead been signed by Pittsburgh or New England, it would have been reported as a solid/great signing, yet he's the same player no matter who he signs for.

The signing of Justin Tuck(age 31 - 11 sacks last year) and Lamarr Woodley(age 29 - 5 sacks last year) were both dismissed on the basis of age and production, yet Demarcus Ware(age 31 - 6 sacks last year) going to Denver, Julius Peppers(age 34 - 7 Sacks last year) going to Green Bay and Jared Allen( 32 on Apr 3rd 11.5 sacks last year)going to Chicago were all highly praised. Not to mention the wholesome praise for New England re-signing 32 year old Vince Wilfork to a new 3 year deal despite him starting just 4 games last year.

I don' think you can dispute that in almost all cases, the Raiders free agent signings are better than the players they are replacing, but the media coverage suggests the opposite

Matt Schaub > Matt McGloin/Tyrelle Pryor
Maurice Jones Drew >= Rashad Jennings
James Jones > Denarius Moore/Rod Streater
Austin Howard > Tony Pashos
Kevin Boothe > Mike Brisiel/Khalif Barnes/Lucas Nix
Lamarr Woodley > Jason Hunter
Justin Tuck(at RDE) >= Lamarr Houston

while you could debate the merits of Tarell Brown, Antonio Smith.

They are also strongly in the running to sign DeSean Jackson, but doubtless the NFL.com scribes will be drafting 2 reports in preparation for his signing, one emphasizing his stats/production, in case he signs for certain teams and a report emphasizing his off field problems, if he signs for the Raiders.

He might not be but his signing hasn't made the WR corps worse and thats the key. Plus Schaub can throw the ball, he's proven that he can play, we just have to hope that last season was aberration.

I dont know if it will Leslie, but I suppose the approach most Raiders fans are taking is, are the new signings an upgrade over the incumbent? In a lot of cases, the answer is "Yes". Having said that, we may regret not signing Jackson. He was of an age where his best days were still potentially ahead of him. It would have opened our options in the draft further, now we may need to draft a playmaker early, as opposed to making the selection of the best player available. Schaub needs legitimate targets to make the defense honest.

I dont know enough about them to be honest Leslie. Watkins seemed to draw most of the hype up to now, but as I havent seen them I cant make that call. Do you know much about them?

Ah yes the Al pick, pure speed. The only criteria being the 40 yard dash. And thats why we've never been known as a team that could build through the draft.

Leslie91 wrote: »

Haha yes. But Watkins is no Heyward-Bey. He can catch a ball thrown his way ha ha ha. I will never understand the DHB pick, even Al got a pick right once every 10 yrs but that one was a stinker.

Heyward Bey, Jamarcus Russell, Rolando McClain, Robert Gallery, a veritable rogues gallery of failed hype and false dawns.

Prefab Sprouter wrote: »

Last time he played in Oakland was the game following Al Davis's death, no?

The game between the Raiders and Texans, played the day after Al Davis's death was actually played in Houston in 2011.

Last years game was also played in Houston, so the last time he played in Oakland was in 2010.

I would also be in favour of trading down for multiple picks. The team's roster has improved, no question. But even if we got Mack or Clowney, they are only one player and we arent in a position where one gamechanger will transform us. We would still have deficiencies in other areas. Getting an additional 2 or 3 lower round picks would definitely help.

Draft Day!!! The day when our glorious team normally makes a monumental gaff and manages to overreach on at least 2 picks, thereby denying us the chance to climb out of the hole we perpetually find ourselves in.

We badly need playmakers, so take Clowney, Mack or Watkins if they are available, otherwise trade back a few spots and take Aaron Donald.

I agree taking Manziel would be too big a risk and while Robinson,Matthew or Lewan might be touted as solid low risk picks, I remember Robert Gallery's praises being sung loudly when he was drafted and how we were told that he would be one of the top left tackles for the next decade, only for him to end up at guard. We need players that can change the game on offence or defence and offensive linemen(while necessary) don't do that.

Of course taking the highest rated player at a position isn't any guarantee of success either, in 2007 when Jamarcus Russell was picked, Russell and Brady Quinn were seen as the only QBs of first round quality and both were expected to go in the top ten, yet while both went in the first round neither was a success. Gallery was the top OT when he was picked, Rolando McClain was the top linebacker going into the 2010 draft and Michael Huff, the top safety going into the 2006 draft.

I think we are due a top pick who actually turns into the NFL player that he was forecast to be when drafted.

And the chance to pick up Derek Carr too, and there are still WR's out there. this might be a good draft for our team.

Not too sure about Carr, I hope he develops into the top QB that the so called draft gurus seem to think. But I wonder where the inspiration for picking a QB so early comes from, with Reggie McKenzie and Dennis Allen being told they have to win now or else, I would have thought they'd have preferred to go for an immediate impact player, which barring injury to Matt Schaub, Derek Carr won't be. You have to figure that Mark Davis wants a franchise QB in place and may have influenced this pick.

Gabe Jackson sounds like a solid pick, he was a 4 year starter in college, was listed as a 2/3 round talent and should slot in immediately at left guard, where he should be a huge asset in goal line situations. Being able to trade down a few spots, pick Jackson and get another pick in the 4th round makes sense too.