Yet ANOTHER Oakland Raiders Mock Draft, Rounds 1-4

Let the guessing game begin!

I have been reluctant to write a mock draft because there have been about a billion of them written in recent weeks; the Internet is flooded with them.

They all have one thing in common; they are speculative and are no better than a shot in the dark...at best.

I don't operate that way; I'd rather deal in absolutes.

What can we do with the talent we have? Why is this guy or that guy a good or bad signing? Questions like these are in my wheel-house as an old coach.

Trying to guess what Al Davis will or won't do is not what I'm good at, nor what excites me about writing.

What follows will be just another ridiculously, over-analyzed, over-criticized, blindfolded stab at what amounts to one outsider's subjective opinion about what will happen on April 22-24 in New York city...with one major exception; I don't actually believe I know what will happen!

I will be using my 37 years as a card carrying member of Raider Nation to attempt to predict what Al Davis will do and my thoughts as a former coach to decide if I think it's what's good for the team.

Sometimes, Al Davis will draft a guy that is good for the team, sometimes he won't. When he doesn't, I'll offer suggestions as to who I think would be a better fit and why.

So shake up your "Magic Eight Balls," wish upon a star, trust a politician, and keep believing that our government has your best interests at heart. Why not? All of these things have the same chance of being accurate as trying predict the NFL draft!

With the eighth overall pick in the 2010 NFL draft, the Oakland Raiders select...

Bruce Campbell-OT Maryland. 6'7"-310 pounds

This is the prototypical "Al Davis guy." A workout warrior, the fastest offensive tackle in the draft and looks good in shorts. However, there are some gaping holes in his game.

He struggles in space. He gets lost and out of position when asked to block a linebacker in space. In the zone blocking scheme that Tom Cable and Jim Michalczik employ, this is a fairly serious problem.

A better fit would be Trent Williams from Oklahoma or Brian Bulaga from Iowa. Both of these players have better feet and are more technically polished than Campbell.

With the seventh pick in the second round, the Oakland Raiders select...

Terrence Cody-DT Alabama. 6'4"-349 pounds

Cody weighed in at the Senior Bowl at 370 pounds. He dropped down to 360ish for the combine. He dropped down further for his pro day weighing in at a svelte 349 pounds.

This weight issue concerns me, but at least the weight loss shows that he takes this seriously and is willing to work. He shows good instincts and holds up well at the point of attack. Let's face it, this guy will eat up space in the trench.

His biggest weaknesses include not showing a very good burst at the snap, he tires easily and he doesn't use his hands very well against blockers. He gets blocked pretty consistently and you rarely see him blowing up a run play in the back field.

If Al Davis is planning a change to the 3-4, this will be a great pick. I don't see that happening so I don't see this as such a great idea. I feel that a more athletic player would fit the Raiders system better.

Dan Williams from Tennessee, Jared Odrick of Penn State, D'Anthony Smith from Louisiana Tech and Geno Atkins from Georgia would all be better picks in this position. They appear to be just as strong or stronger than Cody and are a lot better suited to play in the 4-3 the Raiders currently employ.

With the fifth pick in the third round, the Oakland Raiders select...

Vladimir Ducasse-OT Massachusetts. 6'4-332 pounds

He played tackle in college but is projected to move to guard. He is big enough, long-armed enough and athletic enough to play tackle. However, there is lot of potential for him to be a great guard. That's something the Raiders need.

He shows great toughness and a nasty streak that make him an excellent run blocker. He also displays great awareness to adjust to stunts and twists to provide good pass protection.

He has his flaws however. He makes great reads when pulling on a sweep or counter run, but has a tendency to get "heavy-legged" and lazy once he's engaged.

His arms wind up on the outside of the defender's shoulders and gives up leverage or gets caught holding. This is something that is easily remedied with coaching.

Vladimir's versatility and athleticism makes him a valuable pick and the first pick in this mock that I agree is the right pick at the right time.

With the eighth pick in the fourth round, the Oakland Raiders select...

Phillip Dillard-ILB Nebraska. 6'0"-245 pounds

Dillard is a tough, hard-nosed football player with good instincts and great size. He has the potential to be a decent starter in the league. He continuously diagnoses plays correctly and makes solid tackles between the hash marks.

His weaknesses would be that he's a little stiff in the hips and lacks elite speed. In fact, it's my opinion that he is barely fast enough to be a linebacker.

If he turns out to be any slower than what he shows on tape, he might be better suited as a defensive end. With the addition of Kamerion Winbley, that's a position the Raiders don't need.

I don't think that Dillard is a bad pick, but Boris Lee from Troy might be a bit better. He is much more athletic and fluid. He avoids getting caught in the wash when in pursuit and is a vicious tackler that wants to punish the ball carrier.

His main weakness is size. He's only 238 pounds but plays much bigger.

There it is. My attempt to predict the unpredictable. If you think I'm crazy, make a comment and tell me why.

If you think I've got it right, you're the crazy one!