In addition, at the time of the Oakland Raider’s 1st round draft choice, LSU standout Glen Dorsey was still available. Dorsey, who many feel is one of the best defensive tackles to come into the NFL in years, would have been a perfect fit on the Raiders’ defensive line. Furthermore, Glen Dorsey is the type of physical phenom that Al Davis would have loved to have on his defense.
However, in spite of all of the aforementioned reasons as to why Glen Dorsey would have been the perfect fit for the Raiders, Dorsey is now in a Chiefs uniform and McFadden is wearing the Silver and Black.
While I am personally a New York Giants fan, and therefore I consider myself to be unbiased in the decision making of the Raiders, I question how smart of a decision it was to draft McFadden. I undoubtedly believe that he will be a very successful pro running back, but the running game of the Raiders already holds the likes of Lamont Jordan, Justin Fargas, and Michael Bush (Dominic Rhodes was released to make room for McFadden), all good to very good backs.
However, in spite of my skepticism, it is possible that Oakland’s draft choice can work out for the best.
After all, it seems that every top tier team in the NFL needs a certain identity. For the Giants, it was the ability to get the quarterback. For the Patriots, it was the airborne attack. For the Steelers, it was hard nosed play on both sides of the ball.
What if the Raiders develop an identity as a hard nosed rushing team? Who knows what will happen. I guess only time will tell.
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5 months ago
I think the '08 draft might be the proverbial straw that broke the halloween costumed freaks back, so to speak.
Was rather entertaining glancing at various teams boards after the draft to see fans reaction.
There was no shortage of Raider fans now truly convinced that Al has completely lost it, as if there was ever a doubt.
Raiders were 6th in the NFL last year in rushing. SIXTH!!!. not 26th, or even 16th...SIXTH!!.
The needed another nunning back like Al needs another tooth in his comb...had more than enough.
Amazing that they would pass on arguably the best player in the draft, that plays a position they desperately needed to fill, to sign a RB, who's knocks include "skinny legs" "goes down easily" "little lateral movement" and, worst of all "runner who, in the 3 years in played, fumbled more times than ANY OTHER RB IN THE COUNTRY.
Dorsey will be a thorn in the Raiders side for years to come, courtesy of yet another Al blunder.
from 5 months ago
You should be more worried about the fact that things are going to be a lot more like they used to be around here before Bill Walsh showed up, for a very long time to come.
And furthermore, at 6'1" I don't think Dorsey is going to be batting down many Russell passes (or anyone's passes) for that matter. Good thing the Chief's decided that 6'6" Allen was too expensive so they could pay an unproven nose tackle $30 million guaranteed.
from 5 months ago
Wow, well written by a lifeless fourty winer fan. Did you guys even draft anybody. The local news did'nt even mention the winers. also think about the youth factor, & while your checking rankings, check ya self.
true raida fan
from 5 months ago
Chris, DTs aren't ever really known for pass rushing. They are run stoppers. What he was trying to say is that Dorsey is going to be shutting McFadden down two games every year. I don't think McFadden is going to be all that good regardless. He isn't a complete back. Al Davis is a fool. Fargas ran for over 1,000 yards and the Raiders were one of the best rushing teams in the NFL. Their defense was terrible, of which my Packers can attest to. Dorsey was arguably the best defensive player in the draft and they passed on him. He shouldn't have been there at #4 but he was and Davis passed on him. He's a fool I tell you. The Raiders are going to be in miserable salary cap hell pretty soon. What were thinking signing Javon Walker to that kind of contract?
5 months ago
Mike, your bias is showing again.
I doubt you'd be seeing this argument, if Mike's team picked McFadden....he'd be singing their praises...until he realizes that York wouldn't stoop to paying McFadden.
As it is, the Raiders look at McFadden, as a great upgrade. If you have a car that misfires, needs new tires, and might get you from point A to point B, and someone offers your a Ferrari, what do you do?
Well, if you could fit into the ferrari....I'd go for something fun.
The Raiders have a lot of stronger points to look forward to this year, plus, the added benefit of great corners, that will allow more players in the box, to stop the run.
For someone who likes to complain about the Raiders, I noticed this comment was lost on Mike.
Lastly, I heard a lot of the bashing on McFadden. Skinney legs, etc. Only question would be then, is why didn't the entire draft think of him as a bad pickup, and would the Jets have been foolish to take him?
Probably not.....only the Raiders can make mistakes, according to Mike.
5 months ago
Same old Mike49er from MVN.....boring and always hating.
If Dorsey is the very best from the '08 class....why did the Fins,Rams...pass on him?
The DMC move is both a offensive and defensive move.
1. It prevents KC from getting him.....the Raiders wanted the "elite" rb to compete with SD and KC.
2. DMC provides too much versatility on the "o" side of the ball...gives Russell much needed breathing room, similar to what JB provided Big Ben in Pit.
3. Believe it was more the Cable scheme than Fargas.
Mike49er, I realize that you "hate" Al, and believe we are all a "blind" fan base....perhaps. But at the end of the day, we love our team, and respect what Al has done in the past, and respect his right as an owner today.
Just stop the hating, and be a man...provide your profile.
Tony
I'm truly sad for you dude....your'e embaraased to even write a profile of yourself on Bleacher.
5 months ago
It's not a bad pick, because McFadden will make the offense more dynamic. Why not have one good back in the backfield when you can have two?
But need-wise, going defense might have been a better idea...or better yet, trading the pick for more picks.
5 months ago
Glenn Dorsey was the pick here, simple and plain. Sapp retired, and they could have replaced him with the closest thing to him. A no brainer.
from 5 months ago
We replaced Sapp with Kelly, and there is a lot of speculation that Kelly will play the three gap technique. Gerrard warren is playing NT for us now... You act like our D got worse this offseason.
And whats to say Sapp doesn't come back after we start the preseason 4-0, and watches our offense put up two consectutive 45 plus point outings?
5 months ago
Jeremy,
Great Read, but I cant help just to make some quick points here.
Firstly, when the Raiders went to give Kelly that lucrative contract for 6 years, they thrushed into his hands the three technique DT position. Coincidently, Dorsey plays the three technique DT position and it would not make sense for the Raiders to spend their first and only pick on the first day of the draft on Dorsey when they alreay have a person they hold strong belief & investment in to play that position. Let me just add that Kelly led the team at DT with 30 tackles and 1 sack in just nine games before suffering from a season ending knee injury. These were the words spoken by Kiffin in the press conference after the draft justifieing his selection.
Secondly, Lane Kiffin, in my mind, is an offensive genius. He was evidently shown to be the man behind the Mcfadden pick when he said that "Mcfadden was always our pick since the beginning". I believe that he has the power to shape Mcfadden up into a great running back tandem with Bush and Fargas just as he did in his days at USC with Reggie Bush and Lendale White. This will also take pressure off of Russell who now has a big-play, verstaile RB at the backfield who can run for huge gains.
Once again, Great analysis!
from 5 months ago
Def great points, if everything works out that way, drafting McFadden would turn out to be the right decision. I still see Dorsey as being a slightly better pick, but who knows. McFadden could end up doing some good things for the Raiders' offense.
from 5 months ago
Jeremy we are not worried about facing dorsey twice a year, because he has NEVER tackled McFadden, therefore its our gain.
5 months ago
Good Question with the article, Jeremy. I feel that the Raiders did make the right decision. I felt that the Raiders couldn't go wrong if they selected Darren McFadden or Glen Dorsey and an argument can be made for both being drafted. However, Darren McFadden does have more upside and potential to be an immediate success than Dorsey. I also feel that if Glen Dorsey was 6'4" 320 lbs. we probably wouldn't be having this conversation. The Raiders will have to watch Dorsey develop and face him twice a year but I feel that Al felt that he didn't want to face Darren McFadden twice a year. The Raiders do have 4 veteran Defensive Tackles on the roster Tommy Kelly, Gerard Warren, William Joseph and Terdell Sands that will have to get the job done.
5 months ago
Its not like the Raiders were just one player away they picked 6th in the draft for a reason. Most Scout 'experts' say to pick the best player no matter what position or even need. McFadden could very well be a stud from day one and have a rookie season like Adrian Petereson, or he could be an average back we don't know yet. Based on need and loses Dorsey might have been a better fit, because they had great RB's and Michael Bush who was considered a top prospect before he broke his leg in college that forced him to sit out his rookie year. I'm fine with the pick but would have opted for Dorsey who might have a better impact this season.
from 5 months ago
You make some good points here. However, I think the problem is that most football fans at there are too quick to label a quarterback or running back as the "most talented" player in every draft because their talents are more easily recognized by the naked eye and their stats are easier to analyze. However, many scouts do believe that Dorsey is the most talented player in this draft. In addition, McFadden had an incredibly large number of fumbles in college, which is a huge concern for the running back position. Like i said earlier, in the end McFadden could end up as a great pick, and I am certainly rooting for him to succeed. However, as of this moment I believe that Dorsey is the better player as well as the better fit.
from 5 months ago
His fumbles were due to him not locking his elbow over the ball, many players have this problem in college. It will not be a factor in the pros.
5 months ago
Tommy Kelly is the key to this whole debate. If he somehow magically becomes the man he is paid to be then Darren Mc fadden was a good pick. Good. Not great. The unproven Vernon Gohlston Could have been a great pick. We could have had a NY Giants type defense with legit corners. But if Kelly dosn't eat the spinach and turn into an absolute terror next year raider fans will have to sit their and watch LJ and LT run up down our throuts while Dorsey is shuttin down fargas and DMC. Hopefuly Kiffin knows what he is doing and Kelly will thrive in the 3 tech. Having the two great corners wont matter that much look at the broncos D with Ivey and Bailey. Oh and everyone who thinks Tommy Kelly is a great run stopper, our team put up better run numbers without him in the line up last year.
from 5 months ago
McFadden owns Dorsey, look what happened the last meeting they had. McFadden sinlehandidly tore up LSU.. this was no fluke. Dorsey will never shut down our run game. We were sixth last year in the run. We just made the biggest improvement to the most dynamic part of our game.
5 months ago
One more point on the McFadden Dorsey debate. I do believe we should have taken Dorsey but if you look at the LSU Arkansas game McFadden shat on the tigers for what 225? 3TDs? That was against the best defence in NCAA.
5 months ago
Posted by Chrissy: "You should be more worried about the fact that things are going to be a lot more like they used to be around here before Bill Walsh showed up, for a very long time to come.
And furthermore, at 6'1" I don't think Dorsey is going to be batting down many Russell passes (or anyone's passes) for that matter. Good thing the Chief's decided that 6'6" Allen was too expensive so they could pay an unproven nose tackle $30 million guaranteed."
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What in God's name are you talking about? "be a lot more like they used to be around here before Bill Walsh showed up"??
I'm sure that makes sense...somewhere..somehow...to someone.
But hey, for fun, chew on this for a bit.
How's it feel knowing that even with Bill Walsh being long gone, and the Niners having a #1 in the draft in the last five years, and actually leading the league in starters lost to injuries, two years in a row, that during that same span, the Raiders were actually WORSE???
LMAO knowing how much that chafes ya..
5 months ago
RaiderCArd: "Mike, your bias is showing again.
I doubt you'd be seeing this argument, if Mike's team picked McFadden....he'd be singing their praises...until he realizes that York wouldn't stoop to paying McFadden.
As it is, the Raiders look at McFadden, as a great upgrade. If you have a car that misfires, needs new tires, and might get you from point A to point B, and someone offers your a Ferrari, what do you do?
Well, if you could fit into the ferrari....I'd go for something fun.
The Raiders have a lot of stronger points to look forward to this year, plus, the added benefit of great corners, that will allow more players in the box, to stop the run.
For someone who likes to complain about the Raiders, I noticed this comment was lost on Mike.
Lastly, I heard a lot of the bashing on McFadden. Skinney legs, etc. Only question would be then, is why didn't the entire draft think of him as a bad pickup, and would the Jets have been foolish to take him?
Probably not.....only the Raiders can make mistakes, according to Mike. "
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Hmmm...let's see...what you're saying is....if your car needs spark plugs...and a muffler...and a radiator...but has good tires...IF you have a choice, instead of fixing the leaky radiator, buying new plugs, or replacing that duct-taped muffler,...you'll buy even newer Michelin's????
Yeah...makes total sense.
And please...save that "better corners...now we can stuff the run"..YOU HAVE NO ONE TO STUFF THE RUN..plopping in bodies means squat. Which has nothing to do with the fact you signed a mouthy prima donna, who's got zero self control, who's prone to taking on the HC and assts on the sideline (which you can ill afford, considering the last person who was a bigger marshmellow on the sidelines, than Lame Kiffin, was your PREVIOUS HC, Art Shell...if those two didn't blink, you wouldn't know they were alive) not to mention Hall's injury prone..but hey, let's not let facts get in the way...
So, let me see if I have this straight..YOU'RE saying that you are happy with passing on Dorsey? That the Raiders wouldn't be in better shape today if you had chosen Dorsey instead of McF?
5 months ago
Little Tony: Same old Mike49er from MVN.....boring and always hating.
If Dorsey is the very best from the '08 class....why did the Fins,Rams...pass on him?
The DMC move is both a offensive and defensive move.
1. It prevents KC from getting him.....the Raiders wanted the "elite" rb to compete with SD and KC.
2. DMC provides too much versatility on the "o" side of the ball...gives Russell much needed breathing room, similar to what JB provided Big Ben in Pit.
3. Believe it was more the Cable scheme than Fargas.
Mike49er, I realize that you "hate" Al, and believe we are all a "blind" fan base....perhaps. But at the end of the day, we love our team, and respect what Al has done in the past, and respect his right as an owner today.
Just stop the hating, and be a man...provide your profile.
Tony
I'm truly sad for you dude....your'e embaraased to even write a profile of yourself on Bleacher.
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First off, I am truly busting a gut and laughing my ass off at the "be a man..provide your profile" lol...you actually spend time clicking on peoples PROFILES??? ARE YOU SERIOUS?? Why the hell would you not just care about a profile, but actually consider yourself "manly" because you entered..of all things...a profile??
You know, as much as I'm sure it's funny as hell...I can't be bothered clicking on anyone's profile, including yours..sappy as I'm sure it is. What is this? Myspace? lol...geez...yeah..dude..you're a "stud" because you rely on profiles to equate something.
But hey..I'll play...what, exactly, do you want to know? I mean...you're clicking on profiles for a reason..somethings gnawing at you..some info you feel is necessary for you to slinker on back to the shallow end of the gene pool..so what, exactly, is it you need?
And NO, McF DOESN'T provide 'MUCH MORE VERSITILITY"..as I stated, you were SIXTH IN RUSHING..Can you grasp that?
And what part of "He goes down after being touched" "has no lateral movement...I.E. GOES STRAIGHT AHEAD..and "fumbles a lot" confuses you?
Raiders already had RB's..you needed Dorsey...AND BLEW IT..PLAIN AND SIMPLE.
I wonder..Raider fan...if any of you can figure out, on your own, what is the MAIN REASON that every..I mean EVERY pundit of the press is giving the KC Chiefs the title of BEST DRAFT??
Anyone???
Any particular player come to anyone's mind?
Take your time, Raider fan.
Back to your "whimper"..why did Rams and Fins pass on him if he was the best?? First off, didn't say he was the best..I stated what many if not MOST draft analysis have stated, which is he's arguably the best player in the draft..key to drafting is getting SOMEONE YOU NEED.. (yes, yes, I know...that concept is foreign to Raiders and Geritol Al, but to most in the NFL, when possible, fill a hole.
from 5 months ago
IDK, could it be that they had more draft picks than anybody else?? two first rounders?
KC made the worst move in the last couple of years... give "Jared ( league sack leader) Allen" to the Vikings in exchange for "Branden Albert" is just plain stupid.
The Chiefs will win maybe 4 games thios year. While we take the west..
5 months ago
Oh..and for the record...I DON'T HATE AL..I love the guy.
Swear to god..on my children..I want him to stay where he is for at least another 30 years.
What I love is he's destroyed the Raider organization, and will continueing doing so for many a year to come.
Love the guy :)
Look at all the fodder he provides for Non-Raider fans..it's almost priceless :)
5 months ago
Its not like the Raiders were just one player away they picked 6th in the draft for a reason. Most Scout 'experts' say to pick the best player no matter what position or even need. McFadden could very well be a stud from day one and have a rookie season like Adrian Petereson, or he could be an average back we don't know yet. Based on need and loses Dorsey might have been a better fit, because they had great RB's and Michael Bush who was considered a top prospect before he broke his leg in college that forced him to sit out his rookie year. I'm fine with the pick but would have opted for Dorsey who might have a better impact this season.
5 months ago
Im not a Raiders fan so to speak but I do think they made the best decision they could make.The best way to help a quarterback is with a good running game and McFadden will give them that for sure,also the main knock against McFadden is that he supposedly doesnt run hard and that he shys away from contact well guess what he wont have to run hard the Raiders have Justin Fargas and Mike Bush for that. So now the Raiders will have an explosive runner to go with there between the tackles rushers making there rushing attack complete.
5 months ago
A good point you have GSG McFadden lit the tigers defense up he had 220 yards and 3 touchdowns in that game. Oh and by the way Dorsey had 1 solo tackle. Color me stupid but I think id have to score that one for McFadden.
5 months ago
As for who will have the biggest impact as a rookie for there team this year? I dont think it will be Dorsey or McFadden I think it will be Chris Long for St Louis.Long playing on turf will make him even faster he should easily record double diget sacks.I also wouldnt be surprised to see Jerod Mayo have some impressive stats you just know Billichek will use him all over the place.
5 months ago
I also think Jonathan Stewart will be the panthers starting running back by the start of the season and I think he will rush for 1300 yards easy and could have 8-10 tds as well.This is my oppinion anyway.
5 months ago
Mike49er,
I think you should read my comments from above and then tell us what you think.
Take Care!
5 months ago
Truth be told I wasn't a big fan of drafting someone we wanted (DMC) over someone we needed (C.Long, Dorsey, et al). DMC will definitely be an impact player from day one, but thought we had a few other holes we needed filled before we chose to have a 6 RB roster. Yeah I know, we just released Rhodes, so we now have 5, but you get my point.
And, I don't care what Mike or any of the other haters have to say. They are obviously followers of BSPN. People always mock what they do not understand.
from 5 months ago
Ahhhh...so what you're saying is you agree with me.
Now, was that so hard??
And no, don't much follow ESPN, but, considering you agree with what I said, rather perplexing that you kind of just contradicted yourself there, lol.
And I'm not a "hater"...I'm the voice of reason. :)
It is my way. :)
5 months ago
It seams to me that everyone is forgetting that we did sign some new players and existing players to play on the D line. T Kelly a DE $$$$ and W. Joseph a DT to name a few. Dorsey would have been great for a 3-4 D and guess what, Ryan is going with the 4-3 D. Dorsey was not our pick at #4. McFadden is the perfect fit because I have a strong feeling that L Jordan wont be with the Raiders at the start of the season. We needed a play maker and I hope that McFadden is that player. Not taking anything away from J Fargas but he could use some help from McFadden. I said it before and I will say it again, J Fargas and D Mac will make a good RB tandem. Another thing, having McFadden is going to take pressure off of J Russel also.
5 months ago
-HATERS keep HATING-
Lets see what the HATERS have to say on where we stand after our eight game in the regular season.
5 months ago
Although it's tempting to believe that, in addition to bolstering the secondary in free agency, the defense warranted the Raiders' first-round pick, there is persuasiveness to the logic of picking McFadden.
First of all, the Raiders need a standout running back. LaMont Jordan never became the HB that the Raiders hoped he'd become, and now he's become more injury-prone. Justin Fargas is also injury-prone. Michael Bush may have great potential, but he's an unknown quantity in the NFL right now. So although superficially the Raiders already have plenty of running backs, they can still use help in this area.
Second, much of the difficulties of the defense can be reduced if the offense would only (1) stay on the field for more than three downs, and (2) score more touchdowns. McFadden should help in this regard.
Third, having a real big-play running threat takes the pressure off of Russell to try to accomplish miracles throwing the ball - this is made more significant by the fact that Russell doesn't have any truly great receivers to throw to.
In the NFL, the best defense really can be a good offense. If the Raiders can up their offensive points output to 21-24 per game and boost their time of possession by five minutes or more, they'll be much more competitive even if the defense still needs work.
5 months ago
well raiders fans, i hope this pick works out for you. I can understand the bitterness and frustration you guys must feel since tampa stole your coach and your chances at a ring and youve been the laughing stock of the league ever since. so lets hope this drafting of a running back when your head coach even went on record before the draft and said you didnt need another running back works out for you. im not a firm believer in russell but thats ok, because mcfadden can play qb as well. so maybe this was the steal of the draft as you guys actually got a qb and a rb!
5 months ago
Posted by Umer: "Jeremy,
Great Read, but I cant help just to make some quick points here.
Firstly, when the Raiders went to give Kelly that lucrative contract for 6 years, they thrushed into his hands the three technique DT position. Coincidently, Dorsey plays the three technique DT position and it would not make sense for the Raiders to spend their first and only pick on the first day of the draft on Dorsey when they alreay have a person they hold strong belief & investment in to play that position. Let me just add that Kelly led the team at DT with 30 tackles and 1 sack in just nine games before suffering from a season ending knee injury. These were the words spoken by Kiffin in the press conference after the draft justifieing his selection.
Secondly, Lane Kiffin, in my mind, is an offensive genius. He was evidently shown to be the man behind the Mcfadden pick when he said that "Mcfadden was always our pick since the beginning". I believe that he has the power to shape Mcfadden up into a great running back tandem with Bush and Fargas just as he did in his days at USC with Reggie Bush and Lendale White. This will also take pressure off of Russell who now has a big-play, verstaile RB at the backfield who can run for huge gains.
Once again, Great analysis! "
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This is not whether or not you have a DT, because it sure wasn't whether or not you had an adequate stable of RB's either, because, as you know, you did. Fargas, in limited play, gets over a 1000, LaMont, before he was hurt, led the league in rushing yards..so, again, it's not like you had to have a RB.
No where, on any "Needs" chart, did it list the Raiders even entertained the idea of using a pick, much less their top pick, on a RB.
One of your pressing needs was DL, a run stopper. You were what? 31st or so against the run? Raiders allowed 10 different runners to get over a hundred yds rushing.
Re: Kelly
You actually did better last year AFTER Kelly left after game 7.
Prior to Kelly ending his season with a knee injury, with Kelly playing different positions, Raiders gave up 5.2 avg. YPC. In the 9 games after Kelly was sidelined, Raiders D improved to 4.5 per carry.
In other words, Kelly not only wasn't the definitive answer, but the numbers say you obviously were badly in need of a big solid run stopper.
Sure, both players will be playing the gap tackle, but what's also obvious is not only was Kelly able to play other positions, had Kiffin been reluctant to switch Dorsey around, Kelly wasn't exactly tearing it up BEFORE his injury.
Had he been ineffective this coming year, or worse yet, had lingering knee problems, you had an immediate upgrade. Had he stayed healthy, and played another position, your D line immediately jumps up from a concern to very solid. At this point, you're where you were last year, right?
Still a concern.
And your running game? Last year was solid. Now it's still solid.
You had a much better chance at a HUGE upside getting Dorsey, than you did McF, IMO.
For that matter, Raiders "needs" for the draft were listed as "WR, OL, DL, S, LB"
You didn't need a RB, or CB, yet that is what the Raiders chose in their first two picks.
You happy with that?
I doubt it. No more happy than I am that the Niners chose a guard, when we could have gotten a much needed WR for that pick, including DeSean Jackson. Granted Baas has been injured, and we needed depth, but, IMO, a WR was more pressing...just as, IMO, a RB and CB was anything but pressing for the Raiders.
Back to that list..you still need help at S, OL, and LB..
Now, I think everyone is quite aware that, while you had the #6 best rushing last year, those numbers are askew because a lot of those yards were amassed while playing against 5 or 6 of the absolute worst run defenses in the league last year..don't get me wrong, props go to Fargas and all for performing, but there's a reason the numbers dropped way down when playing against solid defenses last year, and most of that goes towards the OL's inability to make holes (much like the Niners OL's same inability last year..Gore couldn't find a hole if his life depended on it).
Point is, that same O line will struggle to make holes for McF, who's not known for breaking tackles, or even making players miss..he's fast when he gets in the open, but the key phrase there is "WHEN he gets in the open"
IMO, Fargas was your guy, in that he not only broke tackles, but had a quick stutter step that froze defenses, letting him break outside the pursuit.
Admit it Raider fans...when you saw Dorsey still available...much like when you saw Matt Leinert still available..weren't you already celebrating your good fortune??
It's not that McF isn't good..it's just that you had a chance to elevate your DL in a huge way, and, for some odd reason, Al chose not to.
5 months ago
NFL Draft 2008: Did the Oakland Raiders make the Right Choice?
Answer: No, they did not. Sedrick Ellis would have been a better pick than McFadden... and guess what, GLENN DORSEY was still there...
I would like to make one comment. Someone said above that the Chiefs made a mistake in trading Jared Allen. Regardless of whether or not that is true, their DRAFT DAY was by far the best of any team... given that they had 2 first-round picks, they could afford a luxury pick in Dorsey. The Raiders could not, plain and simple...
Greg: Just because Dorsey never tackled McFadden does not mean that McFadden is automatically the better player. Arkansas was probably smart enough to not run their lighting-fast and mediocre-strength running back RIGHT AT Dorsey...
5 months ago
I think the Key will be the play of Kelly. If Kelly steps up as a 3 DT than passing on Dorsey is not a mistake because you would be sitting one of the two for at least 40% of the time. Dorsey is a little small to be playing the NT position. So in that sense he was also a little of a luxary pick if Kelly performs. Most Draft Experts were rating DMC as the best player but was playing at a position that the top teams did not need.
The Run Defense will depend more on Sands and improve tackling than either Kelly or the possibility of Dorsey. I also expect more 8 men in the box for the Raiders as they depend on the Corners to man the Island.
from 5 months ago
Yes, but... Kelly won't perform. I'd wager my left nut on that. (Well, almost anyway. A significant amount of money.)
5 months ago
I think McFadden is a Brandon Jacobs type back big upper body small legs easy to tackle I think he is a good change of pace back but i don't think he will every be a superstar. One thing to keep in mind is he is a fumbler 18 in college he will be playing against bigger stronger defensive player and they will know he likes to fumble. Al Davis blew it again.
5 months ago
Well buc fans, Its nice to see you still live in the past. You stole our coach, false.... He was given to you. Save us your useless comments and go find a quarterback....and a whole offense for that matter.
5 months ago
Well buc fans, Its nice to see you still live in the past. You stole our coach, false.... We gave him to you. You beat us in superbowl 03, true... but that was your first and only, you pride your self on this? Hmmm well you are a buc fan. Save us your useless comments and go find a quarterback....and a whole offense for that matter.
from 5 months ago
well at least our owner wants our coach and didnt try to force him to quit this offseason, lol. Im actually rooting for the raiders because they have been bad for so long now and I like to see new teams at the top. Besides, didnt you guys get like ten thousand draft picks for gruden and some cash? what happened with that whole deal. to be honest the biggest problem with the raiders is al davis, if he would stay out of the day to day dealings you guys would be in much better shape. good luck for 09!
5 months ago
i think mcfadden is a great pick because it will take some pressure of russell. And maybe we had already signed with mcfadden before the draft like the dolphins did, because everyone thought the rams were getting dorsey nd so we couldnt draft him newayz
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