Raiders Draft Review: Al Davis Wants More Speed...On the Field That is.

Raider fans went into the draft knowing that Al Davis loves to draft for speed.

And Al Davis sure didn't disappoint.

With 5 (or arguably 6) players drafted solely for their speed, Al Davis added speed to areas on the field in which the Raiders...well, already had speed!

Round 1, Pick 7 - Darrius Heyward-Bey

This is a pick that many Raider fans opposed at first, then quickly switched their tune about. Well, i still oppose it!

Bey is very fast. The fastest in the draft most say. But If you can't run routes, then you HAVE to be fast to catch the ball, and even if you do blow by the defense, well you still have to catch the ball. Bey couples his sub-par route running skills with inconsistent hands. He is fast, NOT quick! His initial burst off the line is not impressive. He is definitely a 3-4 year project if he wants to become a full-time WR. If not i can see him being a Devery Hendersen type player, who seems to either have 3 catches for 120 yrds, or nothing.

Round 2, Pick 47 - Michael Mitchell

After the Raiders selected Bey, Raider fans had hoped they would make it up with a solid second round pick. Instead, the they drafted a guy who ESPN didn't have a single highlight to show of the guy. Leaving most fans shaking their heads, some fans yelling profanities at their TV's (guilty), and a few fans experiencing sudden heart pains.

Like Bey, many fans have begun to come around to this pick. After regaining consciousness, Raider fans quickly found themselves Googeling, and Youtubing Michael Mitchell and stumbling across a Highlight tape that appeased them. In the film he shows that he is a big hitter with big play ability. But news flash raider fans, IT IS A HIGHLIGHT TAPE! They are supposed to WOW you.

Nonetheless, I have turned the corner on Mitchell too. But not just off his highlight tape alone. In 4 years at Ohio University, he tallied 212 Tackles (including 14.5 for a loss), 3 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, 7 Int's, and 13 Pass Deflections. He also ran a reported 4.40 at his pro day. With his big play ability Mitchell could turn out to be a force at the SS position for the Raiders. Which would allow Huff to go back to FS. With a lot of work he has the potential to be a bigger Bob Sanders.

Round 3, Pick 71 - Matt Shaughnessy

Matt got mixed reviews at his pro day. Some said he is going to be a stand up DE, while some said he didn't have the agility to be a stand up DE. Other teams insisted he would be a LB, while some said he is to stiff. At the East-West shrine practices, he played with his hands down at the DE spot. And even though he lacked the burst the scouts were looking for, he impressed some with his strength as he repeatedly got past Linemen using his strong hands.

This probably means that he could possibly have a future at the DE spot for a 4-3 scheme such as the raiders. They could use another threat coming off the end opposite Burgess.

Round 4, Pick 124 - Louis Murphy

Commented on as being a, 'Track Sprinter with good hands.' Sounds like a Raider guy to me. He ran a 4.32 at the Combine which immediately put him on Al Davis's radar.

He is another tall receiver at 6'3, and has been reported as being sure handed by some scouts. With other tall receivers on the Raiders (Javon Walker 6'3, Chaz Schillens 6'4, and Drew Carter 6'3) Murphy cannot just rely on his speed and height to make the roster.

With Heyward-Bey and Murphy, the Raider WR corps looks like this: Walker, Schillens, Higgins, Bey, Carter, Murphy, Watkins, Holland, and Shields. Expect that list to be trimmed to 5 or 6, with the Bey and Higgins the only sure shots at making the depth chart.

Round 4, Pick 126 - Slade Norris

Slade was scouted at being a Hybrid type of player. Moving from OLB to DE depending on the package. With Hybrid utilized mainly in 3-4 schemes, he will most likely be looked at to compete for an OLB spot.

In college Slade Norris was as versatile as they come. He started his career off with Oregon St. at the safety position. Before the end of the 2007 season he was moved to defensive end, and before the end of his career started at outside linebacker.

I look for Slade to make an immediate impact on special teams for the Raiders, and before seasons end, make a few appearances at the weakside OLB position. The Raiders tried every option they had at this spot last season and didn't address it in free agency.

Round 6, Pick 199 - Stryker Sulak

If Stryker makes the roster it will be because of one thing. Pass rush! During the East-West Shrine game practices, the scouts praised his nice up-field pass rush in drills. Which would lead me to believe that the raiders will be looking for him to be a 3rd down defensive rush specialist. If you can successfully rush the QB, there is always a roster spot for you in the NFL.

Of course there is a reason why he was drafted in the 6th round. The scouts also talked about how he has a lot of work to do in using his hands to get free from his man. While some scouts said he just wasn't strong enough yet, others said he didn't have the hand speed to do it, and some said he didn't have the technique. Any one of those traits can be worked on, but based on him going in the 6th round I have to believe it is at least any combination of 2, if not all 3 of them.

Round 6, Pick 202 - Brandon Myers

Myers definitely put together a 6th round draft pick worthy college career. In his first 2 seasons Myers was rarely utilized with just a single catch. In his 3rd season had 21 catches and 5 TD's. And in his senior season had 34 catches for 441 yards, and 4 TD's.

I actually like this pick. While those numbers wont jump out and grab you, remember he played at Iowa. They ran the ball like crazy with Shonn Greene, so you know he can block. He was also reported as having good upper body strength, and lateral quickness to mirror a defender.

But when you look at his receptions in total (56) to his TD's (9), he averaged a touchdown every 5 catches. With many of them being 10 yrds or less, he is an obvious goal line threat. And will be a TE that goal line defenses will have to respect as a receiver, and blocker. Kind of like wht Daniel Graham was for the Patriots.